The Irish Laurel
It's THE SIMPLE THINGS . . .
This and That
After a long hiatus from posting…I’m back.
This spring brought a desperately needed, heart mending and a soul refresher time. Summer is bringing a continuing of heart healing and of growth.
So I’m back to the blog with a bounce in my step. Also since I’m in a soul refresher time, I refreshed my blog with a bit of an updated look!!
This spring and summer we have worked much in our yard. Flowers and plants and trees have grown, and the green growth is thick this year from a cool and very wet spring.
I have found some great buys and that I want to share:
This Spring Bamboo plant is SO life like and I found it at 50% off in the store at Jo-Anne’s. It is beautiful and just the right size at 16 inches. Here is the link if you want to buy it online: Fresh-Picked Life Like Spring Bamboo plant
Next on the list: I need just a little something for the long sofa table behind our sofa. I have two lamps on it, but just needed a little bit more. Found these items at Hobby Lobby…used my gift card!! Love the look of the bird…kind of “rough” with the look of hand carved from wood. And then these two stones, which reflect the “season” we walked through.. All on sale!
In the mist of all of this, we are enjoying our time with our grand kids…missing our oldest, but she will be arriving later this summer for a visit. We have been busy with many activities and summer projects
- updating our landscaping
- delivery of a load of mulch
- planting flowers
- a “dreaded’ garage sale, only one day but worth it.
- major garage clean out
- purchase of a new garage door, will be delivered next week.
- installing new garage door
- power washing outside of house
- downsizing in many rooms – spring cleaning and sorting still continuing!
The to-do list is NOT finished yet!
Next posting will be sharing a recipe or two. Along with photos of the summer.
Two Easy Recipes!
Do you ever have days where it feels like you are cooking the same ol’ things all the time but you want something easy… EASY…but satisfying but yet different than the “regulars”. That’s where I was a few days ago. SOOO I made a wonderful, satisfying quiche.
- photo courtesy of allrecipes.com (since I forgot to take photo!)
2019…What Word do You Claim for this Year?
You may have seen on Facebook, social media or blogs…people are claiming a “word” for the year 2019! A word that will give you direction…a goal of sorts, a word for growth. I have chosen Joy. But the word itself encompasses more than just a word. To have Joy, to experience it, to claim it really takes more. AND it doesn’t mean “happy”. To have true
Flowers, Apps, and Food!
Though it’s almost the middle of August, school will be starting in a few weeks, flowers are still a’blooming! I’m not ready to give up summer!
Great Apps or programs I have found, just had to share!
Flowers a’Bloomin’ and Organization
We have had some hot days, some warm days, and some cool days, but rain in between! My flowers have loved it all and so has my ground cover.
Great Links:
Organization..wow, found some great ideas!
Free printable grocery list, I love the sections!: Click here
Free printable Pantry Labels! LOVE! Lots of choices, including”chalkboard” and border-less labels for clear sticky paper: Click here
Hanging measuring cups and spoons (WHY didn’t I think of that!) Get them out of the drawers and hang them! MINE are now hanging inside my spice cupboard! Found this on Pinterest!
Can and/or soup stackable can rack for the pantry...wow space saving! I have 2 on order right now! Here is the photo and Amazon link: Click here
Chip Bags! What is worse than a pile of chip/snack bags piled up in the cupboard? Viola’..no more with this handy idea, which by the way I’m going to do in my pantry: Click here
And the last one, not under organization but free printable wall art for the kitchen or dining room. They are 8 x 10’s…I’m going for the one “but first coffee”…perfect! Click here
Ode to the Spruce & an Easy Shrimp Dip Recipe
Our lovely huge Blue Spruce Pine Tree (well once it was lovely) has been slowly dying for the last year and a half. In it’s days of greatness it was thick and beautiful and was home to many birds. But it’s life came to an end this past week. We hired a tree company to take it down and what a great job they did! A few photos of the demise of our tree. The tree company also pulverized the stump and it’s many large roots, which gave us about 15 loads of mulch that we added to all our landscaping in the backyard. We will be replacing that area of our yard with one or two trees. Looking at the varieties of trees that have blossoms in the spring!
Need an easy recipe to take to a get-together this summer? This is a yummy “quick-to-put-together” dip.
Shrimp Dip
(8 oz) block cream cheese, softened to room temp.
3 tablespoons mayonnaise (Miracle Whip)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons celery, chopped fine
1 tablespoon onion, chopped fine
sliced green onions, for topping (optional)
2 (4 oz) can tiny shrimp (it calls for 1 can, I used two…. more shrimp=yummier!)
(the tiny shrimp come in a can the size of a tuna can)
**some variations of this dip call for 1/4 tsp. of Worcestershire sauce
Directions:
- With hand mixer, mix the wet ingredients
- Then fold in the veggies and shrimp
- Serve with crackers, potato chips, or sliced fresh veggies
- Refrigerate leftovers (or chill before serving)
- Enjoy!!
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Kathy’s Faith, Family, Food and Decor. Sharing of everyday moments.
