Hi all…

First I must say thank you to everyone who left well wishes on my last post…. its been taxing ….and to make matters worse I went from one thing to another…. but I am better …. I so adore my blogging friends …. you are the BEST!!…….

I also must thank everyone for all the support  for Deena and her Run for a Cure   ….   how gorgeous she is … what a survivor this one…

The lovely Deena ……. One HOT momma!!!

Now….I want to introduce you to a little guest I have living in ….of all places …… my ivy …. which is right outisde my kitchen window  ….

She is a hoot!!…. a bit of a pickle and lets me know if/when I get too close ….

One day I looked up to see this ………

I had planned to white wash the clay pot …. alas…. Mother Nature said its not to be….however………if I really wanted to …I suppose I could simply wait until she goes to eat….  it hasnt been much of a priority at the moment though……..  I have been having too much fun watching all the goings on between momma and daddy  ….  below are some photos of her in action …so to speak….

GO AWAY!!! ….. she chews me out every once in a while …

Checking me out…. isnt she adorable??

Me thinks ….she thinks …. I can’t see her…..  tee hee….

Since I took these photos…. she went and had little babies… I am in the process of trying to get some pics of the cuties…. however… momma is not cooperating…. she SCREAMS at me…. and they are quick to bob their heads up and down….. so I cant capture them very well… they move too fast…… but I will do my best….

Now ….I realize that winter is over…. but I wanted to post this particular shot because it was PJ’s first snow (it was meant for an earlier post but things got in the way so better late than never)….. and she just cracks me up with her silliness…..

She is a cutie!!  Can you tell I am biased and one proud puppy momma?

Thats it for now…. sorry so short but…..I will be back soon…. do check the blog as I plan to do a post as my little family progresses  …. I am in the process of accomplishing a lot of things I had been unable to do for quite some time …things that had been put off due to my surgery and illness……  like putting my house together …. which…. let me tell you is a feat in itself……..  sign up for my feed to catch up on the goings on since I havent been a faithful blogger of late….

LOTS OF HUGS TO YOU AND CIAO FOR NOW!!

JO

Hi dear ones….

This post is going to be semi short…. I usually dont talk about health issues on here…. however…  this time I will because I will be out of comission for a short while… at least until I am feeling better…. 

Normally this is a taboo subject for me….   When I mentioned to a new and dear friend how I dont like to talk about things like this on my blog… she said…. Why not?  It is all a part of who you are…. the good and the not so good and you should share those parts of you with your readers…..  so I have taken her advice this time…. 

I just got back from the emergency room of our local hospital  ….. had been there most of the night because I noticed something that was not quite right (details avoided here) … along with a severe headache …. and major back pain …. the lower half….

Needless to say …I have a kidney infection….  something I have never had before ….  though kidney disease is a major factor with other members of my family …. it has not affected me until today…. 

I was put on an IV of very strong antibiotics….I have been given four different prescriptions for more of the above along with pain medication … just to give you a general idea of how awful this was…. I have been told to rest and drink a LOT of water and liquids…. so that is what I plan to do….   

I may do some blogging …. or blog visiting …..but I wont post until my head clears up a bit and the brain starts functioning again …. so …..  of course… I am begging forgiveness ….  I know I know… you are saying in your mind … does she really have vintage jewelry???  hmmmm

Seriously folks….  listen to your bodies….. this all makes sense now that I look back on things….my not feeling well on and off for quite some time….hot and cold feeling…..tremendous fatigue……waking up with a cold sweat….. back aches…. head aches….  etc…. it took something more serious than some of those symptoms though to shake me up and make me realize there was definitely something wrong ….. so  … pay attention .. listen ….  you will thank yourself

Since I am not allowed to break promises to myself or my friends… I PROMISE….  I will get that post out as soon as I possibly can ……

LOTS OF HUGS AND

CIAO FOR NOW!

LOVE JO

Hi my dear friends….

My jewelry post is coming but for now I am asking for a favor… I know …. I know… whup me with a wet noodle…  as its way overdue  …. but once you read this …. I know you will forigive me …

I realize that times are tough ….  the economy isnt where we need it to be but I need help ….. in order TO help…… someone dear to me…. with a goal…  if you cant … hey you cant… this is not a pressure post… and I completely understand if you are not able…   

The friend is Deena… she is a sweet soul and a breast cancer survivor … I admire her strength   …  to me she is special ….  she has a page on the Susan G. Komen website and it is called THE RACE FOR THE CURE   …. where one can donate …. she is trying to reach a small goal of $500… which isnt a lot… if you are unable to donate… perhaps you can help us by getting the word out and providing a link to her page….  she has $150 so far…  UPDATE:  SHE HAS NOW REACHED $175.00…  UPDATE:  NOW AT $180.00….. UPDATE: WOOO HOOO… UP TO $210.00 !!  UPDATE: $230.00 AND COUNTING!!  Almost half way there !!!…. UPDATE:  $280.00 !!!  …. Halfway and then a few!!!  UPDATE:  WOW!!!  $305.00  !!!!  Just a few more days left  …..

This is such a wonderful cause… as we all know… and there are many of us whose lives  have been touched by breast cancer either directly or indirectly…  

If neither is possible …… a word of encouragement will do the trick too…. whatever your dear hearts are able is A OK !!!  …. 

THE LINK IS:  http://www.komenpeoria.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=1030&px=1042424

I truly appreciate the wonderful friends I have made here and I look forward to many more years of blogging with you   …..   the other day I realized that it has been over a year that I started blogging and that some of the same people that first left comments are still with me today…. this is such an honor to me… I value you …. for being you….

LOADS OF HUGS TO ALL

CIAO

JO

Once again I had planned on this post being about some of the lovely jewelry that belonged to my mom…. however …. something caught my eye…. I know I have been gone for quite some time…. I wont go into it all because I want this post to be a happy one… just suffice to say there have been some things going on in my life that have taken a lot of starch out of me…

I thank everyone  for all their emails and comments of concern…. and my dear friends who know the whole story … and have supported me through the rough spots….  

I am back now…

Please double click on the link below… it brought tears to my eyes… so have a box of kleenex handy…. let me know what you think….

It will truly touch your heart and souls … as it is most uplifting!!!

Remember never ….  never ….. never give up ….

  Click here: YouTube - Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics)

CIAO FOR NOW

SMILE ITS CONTAGIOUS!!

HUGS

JO

First off ….the foot…   I am pretty much done with the Dr…  will never quite walk properly again…  may have trouble getting shoes on…. as my foot wont fit in them with the pads (orthotics) I have to wear…. actually wont fit without them either…. still swollen…..still no feeling in toes …. but hurts… I know that doesnt make sense but I understand this to be normal….  However …. I am happy I had the surgery done… its just taking a lot longer than I thought for it to heal… 

Had been having back pain and trouble walking since the accident ….  thought that once the foot was fixed it would correct itself …. not so …. foot Dr ordered an MRI…seems I have a few dics out….  seeing a specialist soon….  will know more once I do…. on that note….

I had planned on this post being about some of the pretties I have of my mothers…. however I seem to have caught the bug that is going around…. so will be away for a bit…since I am under the weather…..  will have photos of the goodies when I come back…

Speaking of weather…..temps here are in the teens and below…  BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE!! 

CIAO FOR NOW

HUGS

JO

The Holidays are over…. we are facing a new year…  new challenges…. a new beginning….

I am excited about this …. I have a good feeling about it…. while I know life is full of surprises …. life really does….. just happen….  sometimes it does ……..just get in the way…… I will however try my best to take whatever gets in the way and make the best of it…. one can only try right?   …

In honor of a dear friend… Sandi Mc Bride…… who does not make resolutions … rather promises….  I have decided to do the same…. I LOVE this idea… a lot!! 

Resolutions …. they don’t always work do they?  They seem to get broken before they even get started… 

A promise… however…. should never be broken… one must never make a promise ….then break it…. tsk tsk…… I like to think I have never broken a promise….  while I may be a procrastinator… (actually the definition of the word is …”JO”  ……yep …. go take a look at the dictionary … it’s in there…. I ‘ll even do that pinky thing for you… does that count? )….. anyhow… I like to think I don’t make promises I can’t keep …. so … if you get my drift….. shame on me for breaking ANY promises I make to myself…

Below a few promises to me from me and one or two for you … 

Though I have a foot that doesnt always cooperate with me…  I am planning on changing my lifestyle to a healthier one…. eating better…. moderate exercise… things I can do for not only my physical side…  but spiritually …. mentally….  when you take care of the whole package it all falls into place doesnt it?  I am not good at that… making it all work together …. so that is my first PROMISE….

Next …. I plan on getting myself out of a not so great situation….  I won’t elaborate ….only say that its going to take a lot of work …. may even take longer than a year…. but its baby steps in a RIGHT direction….

Also …. one hour a day…. thats all one hour a day devoted to creating… (thats hard cause once I get into it … I sometimes can’t stop) ….. even IF life DOES get in the way…. 

One hour devoted to getting my house in order…

One hour a day to take care of the household business….

One hour a day to paying bills …. phone calls …

I am not sure why it all seems so hard….  I mean thats only four hours….  five if you count the exercising…. (once the foot cooperates that is)  right?  …. why have these daunting tasks always seemed SO impossible ?   I mean …..that leaves at least two hours for the things that get in the way…   ok …. not so realistic is it?   But I can devote at least one hour to creating and one to getting the house in order……  the rest shall happen as it should…

Patience …. understanding…. virtues that I have been unable to conquer …  especially the first one ….

Last…. I hope to bring a gentler ….. kinder me to the fore front….  I can sometimes be a pickle… yes … a pickle … sour  …. sour and salty ….  ok…. I am going to become a SWEET pickle !!  How does that sound?   A smaller sweet pickle at that …. 

Definition of a sweet pickle….

pickle cured in brine and preserved in sugar and vinegar
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Ok then…. I CAN……. be sour… salty …. sweet ……all at the same time  ……

This I know for sure…. 

I raise my glass ….. to resolutions to be broken …. promises that can’t  …… dear blog friends that I have had the wonderful pleasure of getting to know…   this past year…  hopefully new friendships to be made ….this new year … And ….

The biggest jar of sweet pickles ever!!

CIAO FOR NOW!!

HUGS

JO

The Holidays are upon us ….  baking cookies …. singing favorite songs……. spending treasured time with our families …. friends……making new memories …..

With that I wish all my blog friends a Very Merry Christmas …. A Happy New Year!!  A Happy Hanukah!!

No matter what language …. no matter what religion….. one thing is universal in all our hearts …. minds…. souls….

PEACE ON EARTH…. GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN….

Below is a gift … to our friends …..all over the world … all over blogland… across the miles… 

TO EACH AND EVERY ONE I WISH YOU…..

Afrikaans - een plesierige kerfees
Arabic - I’d milad said oua sana saida
Argentine - Felices Pasquas Y felices ano Nuevo
Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Basque - Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bohemian - Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian - Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Breton - Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian - Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Chinese - (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan          (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun
Cornish - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Cree - Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish - Glædelig Jul
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
English - Merry Christmas
Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian - Ruumsaid juulup|hi
Farsi - Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish - Hyvaa joulua
French - Joyeux Noel
Frisian - Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
German - Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek - Kala Christouyenna!
Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew - Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi - Shub Naya Baras
Hungarian - Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic - Gledileg Jol
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian - Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latvian - Prieci’gus Ziemsve’tkus un Laimi’gu Jauno Gadu!
Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
Manx - Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori - Meri Kirihimete
Marathi - Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo - Merry Keshmish
Norwegian - God Jul
Pennsylvania German - En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Polish - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese - Boas Festas
Rapa-Nui - Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rumanian - Sarbatori vesele
Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Slovakian - Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce
Sami - Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan - La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic - Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serb-Croatian - Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina
Singhalese - Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak - Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene - Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto
Spanish - Feliz Navidad
Swedish - God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Tagalog - Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil - Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Thai - Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu - Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese - Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh - Nadolig Llawen
Yugoslavian - Cestitamo Bozic
Papua New Guinea - Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu

WITH THAT BEING SAID…. I WILL BE BREAKING UNTIL AFTER THE NEW YEAR!

BUONE FESTE NATALIZIE!!!

CIAO FOR NOW !!

HUGS

JO

Hello and thanks for visiting today …..

When the weather gets colder outside …. I always love something that has some warmth to it for a meal ….

At times its hard finding a dish thats healthy…. well if you like spaghetti then this is a mouth watering recipe that is both fillings and delish!!…  You see… I use a secret ingredient….

Is it in the sauce?  no way …. its in the spaghetti….

What ….. kind of spaghetti is healthy?   wheat?  well it is….. but thats not what I use… hehe

No… what I use is spaghetti …. squash!!  Less carbs…. veggies …. meat (of your choice) …sauce…

What could be better than that…. vegetarians could use tofu in place of the meat ….

This meal takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to make. depending on the size of your squash …  simple …. easy … oh so yummy!!

Ingredients;

1 ~ Spaghetti Squash …. cut in half lengthwise …. seeds removed

Fresh garlic (I use many cloves… like ten….. or more) but its all up to you …. 

1 ~ pkg of Italian sausage links…. (again if you wish you could use chicken or tofu… etc)… slice links into small rounds (I use hot and spicy) …. again a matter of choice

1 ~ onion sliced thin

1 lg + 1 med can of Tomato sauce 

Thats it….

Start with your squash …. once its cut lengthwise … place in a deep dish skin side down …place a pat of butter (I use smart balance) inside the cavity…. and add water to the bottom of the dish…  Bake in a 35Oo oven …… between 30 to 45 minutes

It should look like this

Next ….  while the squash is baking…place olive oil in bottom of pan …throw in your garlic …. saute….

Slice your sausage …. I find that by freezing …. then partially defrosting…. it makes it easier to cut

Then brown in pan with garlic …. 

Next add sliced onions ….. continue browning …. once finished ….

Pour in your sauce …. bring to a boil …. then let simmer …

Continuously check your squash…. it should be tender when a knife is pushed through … should look like this ….

I know …. you say that doesnt look like spaghetti .!!!… but watch the magic fork…

TA DA!!  Magic …. almost like angel hair pasta ….

Now for the good part…

Take your sauce …. Pour it over the squash right in its skin… get ready to devour…

Ok….. so the bread isnt so healthy but the rest is …

Should you have a manly man or meat and potatoe kind of guy… then here is another way to serve this hearty meal …..

Can’t get any better than that!!

On another note…  since my surgery I have been quite inactive which has led to some extra added weight … another reason for my wanting healthy but hearty meals….

While at a whole foods store …. I found the most delectable honey…  home grown…pure … raw… looks more like peanut butter ….   they call it the nectar of the gods…. I do believe they are right…

Heavenly with a cup of tea…

On the back of the card it says..

“Just Imagine”

It took 60,000 workers….

950,000 trips to produce this pound of raw honey!

One bee spends its entire life filling a thimbleful of honey!

Now that is what I call dedication ….

If you are interested … write me through my contact sheet on my website for this mans phone number

I do hope you enjoy trying out this …. in my opinion …. culinary delight ….

Til next time….  dont forget to sign up for the updates to my blog along the sidebar…. makes it so much easier to keep up with posts….

I hope to grace you with some fascinating vintage items that belonged to my mother… since I am trying as best I can… slowly and surely I am getting some things done around the house each day …..  for as long as my foot can handle… which has allowed me to discover some delights that have been packed away in boxes….

More art …. coming your way too …. and that surprise I keep talking about…

So … CIAO FOR NOW!!!

JO

Ok its whup me with a wet noodle time again …. I forgot my camera ….  shame on me because this was so much fun ….would have been great to have pictures

Instead I shall describe in detail so your mouth can water…. while I try to take you on a fantabulous feast for the taste buds…..

It all started Sat night the 15th with a group of eight of us … three whom had birthdays in November… one the 4th….one the 6th … one the 18th…(mine) ….  yes I kept it a secret… or thought I did….  (more on that later)…..

Now……imagine ……what is called a salad bar…. with very little salad…  but several different types of cheeses….salmon smoked in alder wood…… roasted peppers…. caper berries.(ohhhhh my are they delish)…priscuitto….hearts of palm…. artichoke hearts….  goat cheese ….bread… shrimp….  asparagus….  sushi….  lobster bisque….potatoes au gratin…. I cant even remember it all….. ok … apparently 50 some odd items of delicious starters before you even get to the good stuff…

It was a progressive dinner…. so once you sit down with your plate loaded with goodies from the salad station…. these gaucho clad carvers …. as they are called …come around with skewers of every kind of meat you can imagine….. that they drop on your plate.. if you want…..sirloin  (melts in your mouth)  ….. filet mingon wrapped in bacon (my fave also)…. filet with garlic… just filet…. chicken wrapped in bacon….parmesean crusted chicken…. lamb chops (my other fave)… leg of lamb….  pork ribs… beef short ribs…. brazilian sausages…… pork tenderloin….trust me …….it was All good…..   I know I am forgetting something here….. all this for one price….. along with that we had a bottle of their house wine (not included) …. a Brazilian cabernet savignon…  lovely….  and the waitress wanted us to have some dessert …. uhhhhh yeah right!!…..

The name of this fab place…. Texas De Brazil….  http://www.texasdebrazil.com/   …..  I highly recommend you try it if you find one in your area….. the cuts of meat are all tender… delicious….  high end ….. the service delightful….  every time a person got up from the table the wait person… would fold your napkin or get you a new one and fold it at the table…… join their e-club to get some great deals … like a free birthday dinner or 50% off  coupons…. specials for your anniversary…. you name it ….  I know I sound like a commercial…. but it truly was an experience…..

The next day we had brunch at my brothers house….. got very silly  …. had a great time….

Then on Tuesday….. the actual day of my brithday….. my daughters and their friends took me out again … for dinner at Bonefish Grille…. Bang Bang shrimp and ahi tuna… a must for me whenever I go there…. a different group …….seven this time…. a good time was had by all….

I got the cutest plant… one of many lovely gifts…. called a money tree…  its an asian twisted bonsai tree that gives the owner…. good luck…  wealth …….prosperity  etc……. its quite unique which is why I mentioned it since I have never seen one before…. see pic below….

Then yesterday I limped on crutches to my mail box to find a package inisde…..  I got excited when I saw where it was from …. and tried to “run” across my driveway… doesnt work when you are limping…. to get into the house as quickly as possible in order to see what I might find inside….. again I was thrilled …. a beautiful print  …. and a darling scrabble necklace from my dear friend and one of my many favorite artists Gail McCormack ….. http://www.gailmccormack.com/   …. ohhh her work is so stunning….

You can see the pendant next to the print ….. below that is a closeup… sorry not so good and I forgot to take a photo of the back of the pendant as its mounted on a scrabble piece…. pretty clever I must say

So for now I will be taking a posting break…  will be visiting …. but wish to spend time with family…. get some things together around the house…. keep soaking this foot …. keep hoping I can get shoes on soon but that part isnt looking so good….. and wishing the pain would go away……  the cold weather seems to make it worse….

Sometimes we just want it to hurry up and get better…. Patience … A virtue I cant seem to master

WISHING ALL MY DEAR FRIENDS A HAPPY THANKSGIVING…. ENJOY YOUR TIME WITH LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS

HUGS AND CIAO FOR NOW!!

JO

Well …….there was a bit of excitment last election day for me  …. but it wasnt about the election …… though a new President was of course important … this was a little different …

 See I had a secret  …  it was a hard  one to keep….. I was filled with …..anticipation …anxiety  ……  the reason ??  ….. you will know shortly…. 

I also had a blog friend help me with my secrect …..  to  add an element of surprise on that particular day ……  it had to do with New York …. well not really …but sort of….  in a round about way….

OK OK OK …. I know … GET!… to the point…. 

Well I dont know…………… I had to wait a while for all of it to come to fruition  ……  I think maybe ?  you should too….   no!!! … you say……   Get on with it Jo !!! ….hmmmm  ……

See …  it can be hard when you are waiting …. right ?  ….. now you know how I felt ….  hehehe ..  See Bill I had to wait too …

Oh alright….on with it then ……

I am sure a lot of you will recognize the face below.

 If you dont …..  This is Natasha Burns…. www.NatashaBurns.com   coming all the way from Australia to the USA for Silver Bella….. 

Well here is the thing… she is talking on the phone at a Restaurant in New York…. where my partner in crime and blog buddy…. Barbara    www.BarbaraJacksier.blogspot.com  …..presented her with a package…  the person on the phone is the person who gave her the package…. this was a little surprise that Natasha had won in a giveaway I had (we wont go there as to how long ago that was) but… in this picture she is finding out who the person is by reading the card …hehehe

Below is the surprise …. well two surprises …. I am the person she is talking to…. I got to talk to Barbara too … what a sweet person she is for helping me out with this … it was planned a few weeks before they hooked up  so that I could get a chance to “meet” Natasha ….. though not in person …. it was enjoyable just the same…. 

Now I am excited because the surprise is the painting ….. I did this beautiful rose painting that she won…..  I am pleased ……. proud at how lovely it turned out ….especially since I must have re painted it several times….   a perfectionist I am…. I also wanted it to be special for Natasha…..but this rose was not an easy subject either….

I will be offering prints of the painting in the near future for sale on my website  www.NeereAnDearCreations.com  … It will be named the Natasha as she is the one and only owner of the original…… this painting was taken from a photo by my friend Cat over at  www.ShabbyChicCatsgardencloseups.blogspot.com   … Her photos are quite stunning

So the moral of this story is…. sometimes waiting can be worth it ….

Ciao for now

JO

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