Ivy Bend

Happy Groundhog Day!

2012-02-02T01:15:00.000-05:00

Repeat along with me:

IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY! (Make it a good one!)

Couldn't you just go for . . .

2012-01-30T04:08:00.001-05:00

A nice, big mug of cocoa--with marshmallows?

Or how about with whipped cream?

Of course, plain will do in a pinch.

I mean, it is the end of January, and it's COLD.

How do you like your cocoa?

Cut the cake ...

2012-01-27T00:23:00.002-05:00

And since we're on the subject of weddings, what would a wedding be without a cake.

Here's what mine looked like.

These days, I might go for something like this.

Or this.

I'm pretty much a purist. I'd have white cake. But I've been to weddings where the cake has been chocolate, or had a jelly filling (raspberry), or didn't look like a wedding cake at all. (One wedding had ten different wedding cakes and guests could choose what flavors they wanted.)

What did your cake look like?

Always a Bridesmaid

2012-01-26T00:54:00.001-05:00

To fill out my bridal collection, I decided that not only did I need the bride and groom, but also figurines that represented the rest of the bridal party.

Sadly, this little lass is the only one I've found. But isn't she cute?

Marriage is a Serious Affair

2012-01-25T00:50:00.001-05:00

Look at the expressions of this bride and groom. They bear out the phrase that "marriage isn't a word, it's a sentence."

I bought these guys for $5 at an estate sale. They were mounted on a green circular box with faded green crepe paper glued to its side. That got tossed before I even entered the house with my new-to-me bride and grom.

They look so solemn. I had hped giving them a loving home would have made them happy, but, alas, they will never smile. I wonder why the Japanese factory worker (for they are maked Napco). gave them such dour expressions.

Care to speculate?

Modern Bride ... okay, just a little dated

2012-01-24T00:55:00.000-05:00

I bought these guys at a yard sale in Wisconsin. They are about 30-40 years younger than most of my collection, but they're still old-fashioned because the bride isn't bare shouldered.

Most brides today opt for dresses that don't cover their shoulders, let alone their arms. (Whatever happened to the modest, blushing bride?) Worse, unless the bride is very thin, these dresses show every molecule of fat. And in summer, tan lines. Can you say "tacky?"

Wasn't Kate Middleton's dress gorgeous?

I hope more brides take a cue from her lovely dress.

Happy Happy Wedding Day

2012-01-23T00:44:00.001-05:00

The other day I was asked about my collections. One I don't think of often is my brides and grooms.

I probably would have never started collecting wedding cake toppers if one of my cats hadn't broken my own. It was a glass heart. Larry knocked it off the shelf and it broke into a million pieces. It was rather unique. I've never seen another one like it.

So is it any wonder that wedding cake toppers--and especially vintage ones--fascinate me?

I thought for the next couple of posts I'd share my collection with you. This one is the first topper I bought. I got it at an estate sale. I'm not sure what I paid for it, but I know it was $5 or less. I figure the real bride must have married in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

What did your wedding cake topper look like?

P.S. Happy Happy Wedding Day was a song by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. You can hear a sample right here.

Fighting the urge to bake

2012-01-18T06:42:00.001-05:00

Did you put on weight during the holidays? I did ... but worked at losing it. (All those leg lifts have to be good for something, right?)

And yet ... I feel deprived. I didn't bake up a storm this year.

I did make one batch of sugar cookies, but I used store-bought dough. They were okay, but I learned to my horror afterwards that the frosting I bought had transfats!

So lately I've been thinking a lot about baking a cake. A delicious, lovely cake. I took down not one but about five of my recipe books and couldn't decide. So instead, I went online and looked at cakes. Beautiful cakes. Lovely cakes. FATTENING CAKES.

Isn't this one gorgeous? But it's unlikely I could pull off that kind of decoration. (What? Am I kidding? I'd never in a million YEARS be able to decorate a cake as pretty as that.) But this one ,,, maybe ...

Then again ... I DID do all those leg lifts and kick backs ... do I really want to have done all that for nothing?

*Sigh* At least I can dream about cake while I eat my bowls of lettuce.

How about you? Is dreaming of dessert enough? Or do you need the real thing (too)?

Winter takes its toll ...

2012-01-16T06:26:00.000-05:00

Winter seems to go on forever, doesn't it? One of the things I hate about winter (besides being LONG, COLD, and DARK) is that ...my ski gets really dry. We're talking alligator skin.

I feel like I need to slather my skin with hand cream day and night just to keep up. But worst of all are the tiny little, but extremely painful, cuts I get around my thumbs.

These suckers are PAINFUL!!!! But I have finally found relief.

The first time I applied it, I thought, "Gee, this smells like nail polish." (And guess what? It comes with a little brush just like nail polish.) The instructions said, "To remove, use nail polish remover."

You mean I spent my hard-earned bucks on special liquid bandage fluid when all I really needed was to coat the wound in a little clear nail polish?

The wonders of modern science.

Have you tried any miracle cures lately?

Growing Old Sucks, Part III

2012-01-13T06:15:00.002-05:00

Okay, I promise -- after today I won't do another growing old sucks post ... well, not for a while at least.

What's today's topic? Cholesterol.

My last bloodwork showed my cholesterol was a little high. We're not talking in the 400 range. It was 233, and since 200 should be the high end of normal, my doctor has threatened me. "Get it down," she said.

So, I'm eating oatmeal every day. (Ick.)

Actually, I don't like my oatmeal too sweet, so instead of brown sugar or even maple syrup, I've been eating it with raisins to sweeten. And you know what ... it's not half bad. I can eat it for a few months and not get too bored with it. (I hope.)

Meanwhile, I also eat a handful of almonds every day. (Well, 10 actually.)

And in case the oatmeal and almonds don't do the trick, I've also resorted to . . .

(Double ick.)

Have you tried natural means to try and curb the forces of nature?

Growing Old Sucks, Part II

2012-01-11T06:07:00.000-05:00

Another of the wonder things that happens as you age is that your eyesight departs. Well, partially. In fact, while my close-up vision has deteriorated, my long-range vision has improved. So much so that I no longer have to wear glasses to drive. Yes, I once again have 20/20 vision.

YAY!

However, as mentioned above, I can no longer read anything in small print. Not without my cheaters. That is, reading glasses.

Another thing about aging is that you forget where you put stuff, so I have to have about 20 pairs of the things scattered around the house so that wherever I perch to read, reading glasses will be ready and waiting for me. Luckily, The Dollar Tree sells them for a buck each, so having so many pairs lying around the house (and in my purse, etc.) wasn't a huge expense. But why, oh why, can I never seem to find a pair when I need them?

How about you? Do you have cheaters, too?

Growing Old Sucks

2012-01-09T06:55:00.000-05:00

No doubt about it, growing old sucks.

First, women have to suffer with menses for a very LONG period of time. (Um...about 40 years.) And then we are blessed with menopause, which is like having a volcano exploding inside you 5-10 times a day, bringing with it lots of heat and no comfort.

So far the only thing good about menopause is that it has allowed me to start collecting fans. Boy, do I have a LARGE collection of fans. I have electric fans placed strategically in my house. . . .

. . . but I also have a lot of the hand-powdered models, too.

Of course, not only do I have rattan ones like that above, but I also have quite a collection of paper fans that I've picked up at yard sales all over the area.

They come in all shapes and sizes, and one thing they have in common is that they are pretty. And they actually work, too.

I don't believe in hormone replacement therapy, but I am trying Flaxseed Oil capsules.

... so far so good.

What natural remedies have you used to fight off the dreaded hot flashes?

It's about (scheduling) time ...

2012-01-04T01:29:00.001-05:00

Did you all have a wonderful Christmas? I sure did. And not only was santa very good to me, but so were my family and friends.

My friend Tonya Thomas gave me this super keen calendar. Since we go junking during the summer months, tt seems quite appropriate.

What's the subject of the calendar in your kitchen?

Toss it all away?

2012-01-02T06:34:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, the Rochester newspaper ran a story that more or less said that to get your life under control you must go through every room in your house and TOSS EVERYTHING OUT.

Um ... that doesn't set right with me. Okay, they weren't quit as ruthless as that. They suggested you go through junk drawers (on my list of things to do) and medicine cabinets, and clear out all the clutter. Yeah, yeah, yeah. (And by the way, what are we supposed to do with all these outdated drugs in the meds cabinet? They tell you not to flush them, and not to toss them in the trash either. How about mixing them with dirty kitty litter?)

As someone who has spent a lifetime collecting pretty things, it's heresy for me to even think of getting rid of my treasures. Although ... I must admit that pruning the collection would allow for new additions.

Will I start my Etsy business this year? It's on the docket. I just need to find another 10-12 hours in the day.

How about you? Will you do your spring cleaning early this year?

The glad game!

2012-01-01T00:02:00.000-05:00

See you in the new year!

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

2011-12-25T06:32:00.000-05:00

Junk Food Tonight!

2011-12-24T06:01:00.001-05:00

Holy cow! It's Christmas Eve and you know what that means? JUNK FOOD TONIGHT!!!

For years the Bend clan (small as we are) has gotten together on Christmas Eve and indulged in stuff that's just plain fattening, definitely not good for us, and De-Lish! This year will be no different.

The top thing on the menu is Pink Dip. For as long as I can remember, we've had Pink Dip at every get together. It's easy. Eight ounces of cream cheese, ketchup, a little drop of milk, a little minced onion, and mayo. We don't measure anything. Just toss the stuff in until it looks and tastes right. Sometimes I use "horsey" sauce instead of mayo -- sometimes cocktail sauce instead of ketchup. It's never the same and it's always good. (With either potato chips or veggies.)

Pizza. We usually buy it from Sam's Club just because we can heat and serve it when we want, instead of waiting for the pizza delivery guy to show. It's the one with everything on it -- but we pick off the (icky) canned olive slices. Sorry, Terri--but you're the only one who likes them. (Maybe I'll put them in a little Rubbermaid container for her.)

About five years ago, I got an antipasto recipe from Taste of Home magazine. It's all mixed up together like a salad, instead of the traditional way of serving it. My family really likes it so I make it every year.

Shrimp with hot (horseradish) cocktail sauce. The truth is, I'm shrimp intolerant--can't eat the stuff without barfing--but the rest of the family loves it, so it's always on the menu.

We'll also have nuts, holiday peanut M&Ms, and Christmas cookies. Yum.

And then tomorrow, we'll do it all over again.

What's on your Christmas menu?

Merry Christmas!

Where Did December Go?

2011-12-23T06:09:00.006-05:00

I've been meaning to do my holiday baking for weeks now.
Oops! Suddenly Christmas is only two days away and I haven't even started!

Double oops!

Today my agenda calls for finding a recipe online and collecting three others from the files. Hitting the grocery store for missing ingredients is next on the list. I WILL make the dough for the cookies I promised my brother back in December 2009. (In fact, Dec. 25th, 2009.)

Tomorrow I will bake two cakes and the cookies.

Sunday I will bake a pie before the turkey goes into the oven. (And I have to prepare the veggies, too.)

Why, oh why, didn't I do my baking before this?

Well, Christmas, which seemed so far in the future, suddenly snuck up on me.

Still, we will have cake. We will have cookies. We will have pie.

I've got that computer-generated calendar going now, so next year I'm scheduling baking a LOT earlier. Please hold me to it.

What last minute prep is on your list of things to do for the next couple of days?

For the man who has everything . . .

2011-12-22T06:54:00.006-05:00

"The only suitable gift for the man who has everything is your deepest sympathy."

-- Imogene Fey, American writer

That tired old wreath

2011-12-21T06:16:00.002-05:00

Our Christmas tree is up. So are the stockings (well, three of them). Our Christmas cards are hanging in the entryway on the cork wall. (Yeah, 1960s retro, but then that's when our house was built. I painted it a neutral brown so it kind of disappears, and it's great for hanging the Mariner's Compass quilt wallhanging my Mom made and oh yes! The Christmas Cards every year.)

The one thing I haven't done is hang the wreath on the front door.

It's a grapevine wreath with a garland of little gold stars and a big red bow. And I'm sick of it.

I put it together about 12 years ago and like it well enough, but it's the same every year. I was thinking I should remove the star garland and put something else shiny on it, as well as change the bow, but It's been snowy and I didn't think about it until yesterday and I'm about shopped out. The idea of going out in the cold and snow one more time is just too much. And anyway, I was in Micheals the other day and just about everything is GONE. I waited too long.

Is there some Christmas decoration around your home that's well worn and could use a face lift?

It's all wrapped up!

2011-12-20T06:07:00.002-05:00

Next to the music, and the lights, and the decorations, I love wrapping Christmas presents best. Some years I have a major wrapathon (while watching It's A Wonderful Life). This year I've been drawing the process out. The other day, I wrapped just the stocking stuffers. Then I wrapped the baby's toys. (Yes, we have a baby in the family this year. Actually, I should say the world's cutest most mellow baby. Even when she's crabby, she doesn't cry. How her mom lucked out, I just don't know.)
Yesterday I wrapped a bunch of presents, and I'm not finished yet.

I find it difficult to choose the wrapping paper. I always reserve the prettiest for my Mom. Mr. I and I always wrap all our gifts with the same paper. (That is, all my presents will be wrapped the same, and I'll wrap his with a different paper but they'll all be the same. Then we number them with Post-It notes.)

I'll have to sneak in some more time and do more wrapping later today.

Are you a wrapper? Do you like it and how elaborate do you get with wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons?

What Are You Serving This Christmas?

2011-12-19T06:19:00.008-05:00

Before the turkey had time to cool on our Thanksgiving table, we were already discussing what to have for Christmas dinner.

Holiday meals are pretty much the same in my family. We start out with snacks and drinks. For family affairs, this ritual cannot begin without pink dip and potato chips. (The dip is very easy: 8 ounces of cream cheese, ketchup, mayo, two tablespoons fresh grated onion, and two tablespoons of milk or cream. I can't give you the exact amount of ketchup and mayo -- the actual recipe has been lost to time. I just keep adding unti it feels right. Mix. Chill. Enjoy!) We also have cheese and crackers. This year I'm contemplating a hot dip to go along with the goodies . . . then again, if we fill up on junk, will we have room for what will be a far too big dinner?

For dinner, we seem to have the same veggies year after year: Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, roasted potatoes, creamed onions, and a recent addition, butternut squash. (My brother makes it and it's fantastic. Odd fact: he will not eat it. Go figure!)

Here's what was discussed for the entree.

Spiral Ham

Usually ham is our Easter staple, and I've never really been a fan of it -- until last year. We had a spiral ham that was absolutely delicious. We got the leftovers and ate a ton of sandwiches and at least every couple of days ate the easy-peasy Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe. Oh, I feel like Pavlov's dog just at the thought of that wonderful spiral sliced ham dinner.

Prime Rib Roast

When I was growing up, we had a prime rib roast most weeks for our Sunday dinner, so I always wondered why so many people think it's such a big deal. Of course in those days, you could get a prime rib roast every week of the year. These days, it's been made the favorite of the restaurant trade and the only time we ever see them is at the holidays.

Of course, not prime rib is worth eating if you haven't made Yorkshire pudding. Oh, I love it, especially if the oven and fat is hot enough ant it puffs up all golden and crispy. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. I'll eat it both ways.

Roasted Turkey

Why were we even CONSIDERING another turkey when we had barely begun to eat the one that had been nicely sliced on the table? But, there we were debating the merits. My Dad, Bless his Heart, and my Uncle were not fans of turkey, so in years past we would always have a pork roast and a turkey. Dad's gone and my Aunt and Uncle now have dinner with their immediate family so here we were discussing the possibilities.

I voted for the ham. Mr. I wanted to save the prime rib for my Mother's birthday dinner (in the week after Christmas), and the rest of the table voted for roasted turkey--again. The logic being that we only really eat the bird twice a year--even if it's a month apart. Let's go for turkey again.

Okay, this is not a hardship on my part because I get the leftovers (again) and I love to make turkey pie, turkey soup, turkey salad, sliced turkey sandwiches, and even turkey curry.

So, what will be on YOUR Christmas dinner plate next Sunday?

The Weather Outside Is Frightful!

2011-12-16T05:23:00.002-05:00

We are not snowed in, thank goodness, but we're sick of it already. And it isn't even officially winter yet.

Read on the news yesterday that our town will probably be above average for snow for December.
No kidding!

My plans for the day are to rake the roof, shovel the driveway (that Mr. Plowman doesn't get) and STAY INSIDE.

Yesterday I went out five times in the yard for various chores (it was garbage day, took out the mail, raked the roof, shoveled, retrieved the mail) and I couldn't get warm again for anything. Not even with longjohns, sweats, polar fleece and a granny square afghan.

Hurry April and May!!! (And I don't mean people.)

What's the weather like where you are?

The Christmas Cookie Crunchless . . .

2011-12-15T06:40:00.001-05:00

I'm not the only one who's feeling the Christmas crunch. The tree is up, so are the lights, most of the shopping is done. So why don't I feel in a particularly Christmasy mood? It isn't the economy. (Goodness knows, when I get my 401K report any minute now, I may regret that statement.)

The weather? (Sort of.)

So, what's with this feeling of melancholy?

I've come to the conclusion that my problem is cookies.

I keep threatening hubby that I'm going to make some Christmas cookies. I keep looking at recipes (the newspaper has a new recipe every night for twelve days) and pawing through magazines, but the truth is that cookies just aren't going to happen. When I recently visited Syracuse, I walked past the bakery department in Wegmans and stared at the cut-out cookies, the macaroons, and the almond paste cookies. (They're ten bucks a pound, so were I inclined to bite, the cost keeps me in line.)

Mind you, we're not the kind of people to sit down and eat a bag of chips or a package of cookies. In fact, I rarely have them in the house. Our problem is portion size. And the worst? We both work on computers. That means sitting for most of the day.

Come January 1st, we're on a diet.

Still, if I'm depressed about the IDEA of starting a diet, imagine how crabby I'll be when I'm actually on it. How about you?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow -- NOT!

2011-12-14T06:50:00.002-05:00

Inevitably, about this time of year someone will lament "no White Christmas?"

I always think that person is either a recluse or has been brainwashed by one too many a chorus of the Irving Berlin song.

I live in upstate New York--in a snow belt. The words "lake-effect snow" petrify me.

My ideal Christmas is sunny, the grass is green, and the forecast says clear skies for the foreseeable future. It's happened more than once--and those are the Christmases I love the best. No skidding down icy roads doing those last-minute errands or visiting friends and relatives. No shoveling and heart attacks.

While today's forecast is NOT for mega inches of the stuff, I know it's on the way. It's just waiting to catch me/us offguard. And then . . .

ARRRRRRGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So shut up Bing, Rosemary, Danny and Vera! Stop! Go away!!

Am I the only one already longing for spring?

Christmas Paper Weight

2011-12-13T06:54:00.001-05:00

I confess: I'm a big-time lover of Christmas. I love everything about it. The lights, the trees, the food, the music. And I love to read just about everything about this wonderful holiday season.

I have another confession: I cannot part with old Christmastime magazines. I have Christmas issues of Country Living and Country Home (this one is from December 1999) that go back to the 1980s, and every year I haul them out and reread them (or at least look at the pictures).

I have issues of old (English) Country Living magazine from years gone by that my mother gave to me. Old December issues of Better Homes and Gardens, Cottage Living, Martha Stewart Living, Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and much, much more. I remember the articles and still manage to enjoy them. (I like and always reread one in the December 2000 issue of ME's Home Companion called "Have A Merry Mitzvah" (by Rachel Kornblum) about how Jewish people do good deeds at Christmastime like take their Christian colleague's shifts in hospitals, go caroling in Nursing Homes, etc. It includes pictures of the two cutest little girls--who are probably in college by now.

Then there are all my favorite Christmas "annuals." Christmas with Victoria. Christmas with Southern Living. Country Woman Christmas.

Last week I mentioned a few of the books I love to reread at Christmastime. I have a bunch of Christmas children's books. Naturally, The Polar Express; but then I have some that you've probably never heard. "Emma's Christmas Wish" by Sallyann J. Murphy (and illustrated by Cary Phillips), Christmas Tree Sam by Helen D. Olds (copyright 1952--before I was even born; got it at a garage sale for a quarter); A Pussycat's Christmas by Margaret Wise Brown (illustrated by Anne Mortimer); The Christmas Robin (an English "Ladybird" book), adapted by David Hately from the Wise Robin by Noel Barr; and the extremely tacky (photographic) Merry Christmas America: A Front Yard View of the Holidays.

At some time during the holiday season I will listen to Patrick Stewart read (an abridged version of) Dickens' A Christmas Carol (and look at the wonderful illustrated version of the book by Italian artist Roberto Innocenti.

Come the day after Christmas I'll put all these books and magazines away until next year. But they'll be waiting for me to take out and enjoy again, and again, and again . . . .

Do like to read holiday books and magazines?

Old fashioned or modern?

2011-12-12T06:00:00.002-05:00

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.”

-- Bob Hope, American comedian and actor

Vintage Christmas Cards

2011-12-08T06:32:00.000-05:00

A lot of people think that sending Christmas cards is a PITA. I disagree. I love to send Christmas cards and I love to receive them, too.

I bought a bunch of new-to-me vintage cards this summer -- put them somewhere safe, and now I can't find them. It's not that I want to actually send them out to people because truthfully, not many people seem to like the old-fashioned (or should I say vintage) artwork on my wonderful, beautiful, terrific, cards. : (
The days of me buying expensive cards (or anything else--except books and music) are over, so I usually buy my cards after Christmas during the 50-75% off sales, and if you hit the stores early, you can get some nice ones.

I'm looking forward to pulling my list together and doing my cards. Sometimes I include a Christmas letter to a few old friends, but mostly I just scribble (and if you saw my handwriting, you'd agree) a few lines. I like to hear from my pals, and I must be one of the few people who actually enjoys receiving those holiday letters filled with news.

Last year I participated in a "card exchange" with strangers from one of the cozy mystery lists I read (we compare notes on the mysteries we read). I got a couple of letters from people I didn't know--filled with news about even more people I didn't know. One was written by the family's adorable little dog--and included a picture.

I loved it! (I wear bangs so that people can't see the words SUCKER that's written on my forehead.)

I keep a lot of the cards I receive, too. One of my favorite cards came from my Grandfather. He died back in the 1980s. Every year I pull out that card and hang it. I look at the words he wrote and lament the fact I barely knew him. But he wrote "love Grandpa" and I have no doubt he did love me. It never fails to move me to tears.

Christmas cards are one of my favorite things about the holiday season. How about you?

Trotting out holiday favorites

2011-12-07T06:23:00.000-05:00

On a recent visit to my local bookstore, I wandered through the mystery section to see what was new. On all the cap ends were holiday mysteries. Lots of them. Whoa!

A quick look at the copyright dates proved that these were NOT new books getting preferential treatement, but that the bookstore was trotting out seasonal backlists to satisfy readers' desire to get in the holiday spirit with a little touch of murder.

Some bigger-name authors get their holiday books re-released every year with "new-improved" editions, with extras. (Can you think of a better thing? New editions--something every collector will want and NEED!) Ka-ching, ka-ching!

I told another writer friend that we needed to write holiday books that could be trotted out every year. Unfortunately, it's usually the publisher--not the author--who decides these things.
Every year I trot out my favorite holiday books, too. Here are just a few:

What are your favorite Christmas books?

Mail Early!

2011-12-05T06:58:00.001-05:00

"Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas."

-- Johnny Carson

Pass the dressing, please!

2011-11-24T06:51:00.001-05:00

And Tomorrow Is . . .

2011-11-23T06:49:00.001-05:00

Bopping around the Internet, I've read a lot of Thanksgiving posts from friends and virtual friends. Like them, I'm grateful for a lot of things: my husband and best friend, my mother, my brother, my cats, my friends....

I'm grateful for turkey. (I LOVE turkey--especially the dark meat.) I love stuffing. I love Indian food. I love Mexican food. Green beans. Potatoes. (Gee, I'd better stop talking about food, or next thing you know my head will be in the fridge and I'll be scarfing leftovers.)

I'm grateful for MUSIC! I'm grateful for a non-leaky roof over my head. (And it's rained so hard for the past couple of days I was thinking about building an ark!) I could just go on and on and bore you...so why don't I just say

It's Gotta Be Perfect

2011-11-22T06:30:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving: Two days and counting. Once again, I've started my holiday housecleaning late.

But that was Monday of a holiday week. Added to that, I've caught a cold. The last thing I want to do is tackle the months of cleaning I didn't take seriously while working on some project or other. Oh, my house isn't a the kind of hovel you see on "Hoarders." There might be clutter in the way of books and magazines (I like to read), but underneath it's fairly clean and usually not too untidy.

I have never been a Martha Stewart wannabe. Okay, maybe 10% of me might aspire to that level of domestic divadom, but the rest of the time I handle household tasks when they need to get handled and not before. (Like, why do laundry until you run out of underwear and socks?)

And then the holidays arrive. Madison Avenue not only wants us to buy beyond our means, but ancillary industries (women's magazines and TV shows--in fact, entire TV networks (Food Network, HGTV, etc.)) want us to have perfect homes. Perfect, antiseptically clean homes, with the perfect decor, perfectly laid tables with a feast worthy of a millionaire.

What makes us buy into this stuff? I think it's guilt. These days, everyone is pulled in so many directions, and we're bombarded with images that have little to do with our real lives. And then the nostalgia factor kicks in. We MUST do it as we've done it before. We MUST have a perfect family, that looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

The reality is that our lives aren't perfect. Our families often disappoint us (and you know who you are). The house isn't perfect. The one place you didn't dust is the place where your brother writes the date. The cat barfs on the rug five minutes before the company arrives--and sometimes waits until they sit down to dinner.

Can't we just have a nice, peaceful holiday? Enjoy each other's company and not worry about the dust or the cat hair on the couch?

Nope. I'll be cleaning like a fiend for the next two days. Gotta bake those pies--and roast that turkey. After all, it's gotta be perfect.

How about you?

It's all about bustling!

2011-11-18T07:04:00.006-05:00

My poor husband. His sanity is at risk. And there's not much he can do about it. It's all in my hands.

You see, despite my rant of a few weeks ago . . . I like the holidays. In fact, I love the holidays. A LOT. I love the lights, the decorations, the food, buying presents, wrapping them. Mostly, I like holiday music. And movies, too. And since November 1st, I've been playing my CDs and watching the movies, all of which drives Mr. Ivy NUTS!

I've been playing the holiday music a lot, too. The CDs are put away for ten months of the year, so it's like renewing an old friendship when I haul them all out. My favorite is actually a cheapie I got at the grocery store. It's called Popular Christmas for a New Age. I think it cost me five bucks. And since then, I've found copies at garage sales. (Apparently not everyone loves it as much as me.) I've now got four--YES FOUR--copies of it. That means I can play it in my car, and have a copy of it in three different rooms of the house. (Okay, I also buy a lot of boom boxes at garage sales.)

Hubby and I have side-by-side offices (I have to go through his to get to mine). Naturally, as soon as the first strains of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" start up, he wails, "Oh, jeeze, the noise has started--again!" (That's where the sanity comes in.) We do have an agreement that I will NOT play the vocals until Thanksgiving . . . but I've already kind of cheated on that one. (Just a little.)

The one part of the holidays that I absolutely love but try to avoid is the cookies. The cakes. The candy. The hot hors d'oeuvres. The cold hors d'oeuvres. The eggnog. The chips and dips. Oh, I could go on, and on (and on). But man--over the lips and forever on the hips.

I've got six more weeks of music, decorations, and lights. And I'm going to revel in it. How about you?

The Last Rose of Summer

2011-11-01T06:39:00.003-04:00

Friday, during the early hours of the morning, we had our first killing frost. We live by a farm and we went to see how the unpicked crops had faired.

Not well.

It's so sad to see so much unpicked produce -- that maybe a food pantry could have used -- ruined. From past experience, we know that the all those peppers will rot. (Millions of them.) The farmer told us that their kids work full-time jobs and they only have the two of them to pick acres and acres of produce. We'd seen them out there for hours on end, but they couldn't make a dent in picking all that they planted.

As we were coming back into our yard, we noticed one last bloom on our climbing rose. Sadly, the stem shattered. But, we'd seen a rose tip in water at a lovely tearoom once, and so that's how we enjoyed it.

Just beautiful, isn't it?

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T06:53:00.001-04:00

The Greed Season Begins

2011-10-28T06:08:00.011-04:00

They're starting to arrive, mixed in with the political flyers--circulars and catalogs proclaiming BIG SALES full of bargains. Clothes, jewelry, small appliances--anything you want or need and it's all ON SALE--at BARGAIN prices!

GO BUY IT, NOW!!!!

You know, until the last year or so, it never occurred to me that our entire economy is entirely based upon GREED. Capitalism depends on people wanting EVERYTHING they can get their hands on, whether they need it or not. Businesses, from tiny to gigantic, want us to max out our credit cards and strive to acquire EVERYTHING. And we fall for it!

I was caught up in that treadmill myself. A few years back, my mother asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said EVERYTHING. And I still do ... but, I'm finding that while I may still want everything, I'm learning to live with only what I really need. And you know what, I don't always need to pay retail for what I need, either.

How did we come to this "avarice is everything" type of life? (And more importantly, what does it say about us as a people?) We've allowed ourselves to be seduced by ads and TV commercials--with colorful photography--to want everything and RIGHT NOW. From hamburgers to hummers--and the bigger the better.

For instance, take fast food commercials. They make every burger or slice of pizza look like a million bucks. Usually with long strings of gooey cheese (stretched in slo-mo), or hamburger buns that look like they've been sliced with a laser beam. When you get the actual food at these establishments, the meat is gray and the buns often look like someone sat on them. The cheese is gooey all right, but it's so stringy you need a pair of scissors to cut it before you can stuff it into your pie hole. No wonder there's an obesity problem in this country. You can't watch TV for more than ten minutes without some fast food giant telling you to EAT IT ALL and hang the calories.

It's time to say ENOUGH. It's time to go back to gilding walnuts and stringing popcorn to decorate the tree. It's time to say "family first" not "consumer debt" to the holiday season. It's time to say, "I will not go into hock so some CEO (of a company where the labor has be outsourced offshore) can collect his multimillion dollar golden parachute."

What do I want for Christmas? A few books. Maybe a couple of CDs. But do I want my family to go into hock for it?

NO!

I'm going to try for a more simple holiday season this year. I have a feeling, I'll enjoy it a whole lot better.

How about you?

Oh, how I love to rake leaves--NOT!

2011-10-24T06:31:00.001-04:00

Over the weekend, Mr. Ivy and I drove through Central New York and admired the brilliant colors--spectacular oranges and reds stood out against the evergreens and deep blue sky. Just gorgeous. Lots of the best trees weren't in the woods, but in regular people's yards. And ya know what happens when they fall? Someone is gonna have to rake them up.

Why is it that TV commercials (and usually for some kind of pain reliever) try to convince us that raking leaves is fun? It's not. It's back-breaking work. Yesterday I raked a bunch of leaves. Mostly, I dragged them. Hubby walked around the yard (about a million times), with the proton pack (otherwise known as a leaf blower) and herded the leaves into BIG, l-o-n-g piles, while I raked them onto a long green tarp, and dragged them around the side of the house, through the backyard and into the field behind us.
E-I-G-H-T-E-E-N times.

Okay, it was my idea to rake the stupid things. I figured if it rained (and it looked like it might), it would be a lot harder trying to scrape wet leaves off the grass--or worse, try to find any grass under the wet leaves come spring. So, out we went to take care of the leaf problem.

Two hours later . . .

To reward myself afterwards, I decided to take care of the catnip crop. More fun! Years ago, we decided to buy a catnip plant to give our guys a treat. Since then, that one little plant has produced hundreds of children scattered around the yard. To some people, catnip is nothing more than a weed, but to our cat, Buster, it's his drug of choice. And we are his enablers.

A few weeks back, I went around the yard and rounded up all the plants. I put them in the garage to dry and have been meaning to do something with the leaves. Yesterday was the day.

Buster came out into the enclosed porch, while I ripped the leaves from the stalks outside on the picnic table. A lot of catnip dust flew into the air, and Buster tried to jump through the screen to get it. While I did the harvesting, a bumble bee paid me a visit, sitting on the watering can. It was in the 50s, and Mr. Bee was quite tired (and probably cold). He rested for a while, and we conversed, then he flew off, hopefully for home.

Like my beans, this catnip crop was stellar. We've got more than enough to last the winter . . . uh, unless Buster learns how to open Tupperware.

Oh, and guess what: it rained all night. We got those leaves up just in time.

Have you done your raking yet?

A sucker for watercolors

2011-10-18T09:44:00.000-04:00

Okay, I admit it ... there should be a self-help group for people who fall in love with one particular item and don't care what form it comes in. For me, it's watercolors.

I saw this one at a yard sale over the summer, and even though it's no longer "in" to have these kinds of images around (that form of Country is sooooo passe these days), I fell in love with this original watercolor of a young girl. It's just darling.

I don't yet know what I'm going to do with it, but it's just so sweet. Don't you agree?

Aren't they adorable?

2011-10-11T07:06:00.000-04:00

As I've mentioned before, the yard sales have been few and far between. But for some reason we were blessed with fantastic weather this past weekend, which caused a bunch of people to have sales--even though they hadn't advertised them. (Maybe I can just sniff them out.)

The best stop, though, was in Wolcott at the Presbyterian church's rummage sale. Look what I found!

And here's the back side of the poppies.

And the back side of the rose mug.

I want to believe that these are hand painted. (One of them is signed.) But I'm just not sure. Sadly, the cups themselves are cheap. (They look like Fire King, but they aren't marked.) But who cares when you can drink out of such lovely mugs.

My latest junking find . . .

2011-10-07T06:14:00.003-04:00

Ohh look what I got last weekend at one of the (very few) sales we found. They're getting few and far between this time of year but I was so pleased to find this beauty.

The lady who sold it to me told me she used to have a lot of them, but got BORED of collecting them. Her loss, my gain!

Harvest Festival Report!

2011-10-05T05:57:00.007-04:00

Goodness, where does the time go? I just realized I went to the Sodus Harvest Festival almost two weeks ago. Well, here's the report.

My friends and I wanted to get there early because for the past two years we've arrived near lunchtime only to find that the apple crisp has been sold out. So guess what--there was NONE this year! Not only that, but last year we had the most amazing Mexican food sold by a local (authentic) Mexican restaurant. They didn't show up, either. (And they don't appear to be listed on the Chamber of Commerce brochure, anymore ... and since this was a chamber function . . . .)

After wandering around, we decided to buy a bag of kettle corn. Before I could take a picture, we'd gobbled it up. (Oops.) But I did find a copy of the logo on line.

Since nothing much was happening, we inspected the contestants for the biggest pumpkin contest.

Believe it or not, these are the small ones. (above)

We figured that big boy in the back was the winner and got to talk to the guy who owned it. (He was quite proud, and rightly so.) All the "contestants" were going to be lifted by a crane and dropped to earth to smash into a million bits. What fun! (NOT!) In fact, the guy told us he had no intention of letting them smash his pumpkin--not after all he'd done to grow it. He intended to take it to church to let the kids climb over it until it rotted. (Then he'd cut it up for the seeds.)

So ... that was the fun (?) of the Sodus Harvest Festival. Will we go next year? Why not? What else have we got to do on a cold and rainy weekend in September?

Waste not, want not . . .

2011-10-03T06:07:00.007-04:00

Every year my next-door neighbors plant tomatoes next to their house. At least five plants. Every year they pick one or two of them and let the rest of them rot. Every year I vow I'm going to go over and steal them.

(So far I haven't.)

What a waste.

And add a layer of butter . . .

2011-09-30T06:46:00.000-04:00

Okay, I admit it. I collect far to many things. But if you collect small items, they don't make quite so much clutter.

Something I've always been attracted to are butter pats. They're just so darn cute! Here's one I found at the Pultneyville Community Sale a couple of weeks ago.

Since I'm a sucker for blue-and-white china, I had to have this. Cost: $1.

In case she gets thirsty . . .

2011-09-28T06:55:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite coffee-table books is called Extraordinary Touches for an Ordinary Day, by Jo Packham, which is basically about putting together sweet guest rooms.

One of the things mentioned in the above book was adding a small carafe and glass. I've been looking for one for years and finally found one at the big Pultneyville Community Sale (which seemed to have been put on mostly by people like me; antiques dealers who were no longer in business and selling off their former stock--cheap!)

I found this little hand-painted beauty.

My sister-in-law comes to visit every now and then. I hope she enjoys our guest room. I've tried to make it pretty and comfortable. Now, if she gets thirsty in the night, she won't have to get up in search of water.

A little bit of summer ... all year long

2011-09-26T06:49:00.000-04:00

I love church sales. The beauty of them is ... they happen all year long (but mostly in the summer).

I saw this little urn filled with silk roses at a church sale. It had a price tag of $2.

Isn't it darling? I know come winter I'm going to long for my garden ... but with this little beauty, I'll have a touch of summer all year long.

Just for fun

2011-09-22T06:34:00.000-04:00

It's the end of the season and the yard sales are drying up. But as a last hurrah! Pultneyville, NY puts on a community yard sale in mid-September, and that's where my junking buddies and I went this past weekend.

The free boxes were great! I got a book of New Yorker cat cartoons and a tiny book of walking tours of Scotland with gorgeous photography. At one sale, they had copies of Mad Magazine for a dime each. I bought two (with Harry Potter spoofs) and now I wish I'd bought every copy. I haven't laughed so hard in years. (I'm getting a subscription!)

One of my purchases was just for fun. These little quilted cubes. Aren't they cute?

I'd say that the above picture is about the actual size of the tiny, hand-stitched cubes. I'm going to hang them on my Christmas tree this December.

They came with a little cross stitched draw-string bag.

This picture is smaller than the actual size of the bag -- but not by much. It, too, will find its way to my Christmas tree this year. And the price for these three handmade items? Twenty-five cents. Some people just don't value hand-made items.

But aren't they darling?

My biggest purchase

2011-09-20T08:32:00.003-04:00

When I was a dealer in an antiques arcade, my bread and butter was "smalls." For one thing, they didn't cost a lot, and I usually sold enough to make my rent. Period. Profit? If I made one, it was usually less than $10. I stayed in the business for so long just because I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt. And I still do. I just buy a whole lot less these days.

So, what was my biggest purchase this summer? A pitcher and ewer. (Did you ever notice how many times the word "ewer" is used in crossword puzzles?)

Anyway, this one is a beauty . . .

. . . or it was. What you can't see are the cracks in the back side of the pitcher.

So why did I buy such a flawed pitcher? First of all, I LOVE brown transferware. I had a yellow pitcher and ewer sitting in the same place in my guest room for years, but it was something someone made in ceramics class. Mind you, it was pretty nice, and it had yellow flowered decals. But it wasn't an antique. I bought it in the hopes that one day I'd have an antique one to put in its place. The yellow one cost me $4 at a yard sale in Oswego, NY. This one came from a yard sale in Fair Haven, NY. The woman was downsizing for a move to Florida and was selling her treasures. When I saw the price tag on this ($5) I knew I had to have it, cracks and all. She figured it was at least 150 years old. I'm not so sure . . . but it's got to be at least 100 years old.

I love it. How about you?

New for the garden

2011-09-08T07:13:00.000-04:00

For years I have begged Mr. Ivy for a burning bush. I know, I know--why didn't I just buy one myself? After all, in the spring I wanted hollyhocks and I bought two fine specimens (which REFUSED to grow, no matter how much I watered them or how much Miracle Gro I gave them), and I bought myself a very robust honeysuckle plant, too. But I didn't think to buy myself a burning bush.

Well, my begging (nagging?) did not go unnoticed and on Tuesday Mr. Ivy presented me with a burning bush. Only it's green. And it has rained for two days straight and who wants to plant a bush in the rain?

Still, I'm hoping that by next fall my bush will look like this.

What's new in your garden?

Toil, toil, today ... with hot dogs and potato salad on the side

2011-09-05T07:42:00.000-04:00

I don't really need it . . .

2011-08-31T06:53:00.000-04:00

Every week or so I get an announcement from Replacements Ltd. telling me they have GREAT PRICES on my good china.

The only problem is, we have different definitions on what's a great price. Great price for me is CHEAP. Great price for them is "your order could buy me a new Mercedes!"

My china is Royal Albert's Silver Maple design, which has been discontinued for years. Many years ago, my grandmother gave my mother a tea set of the pattern and the truth is my mother wasn't exactly thrilled. But I loved it from the day I saw it and I was thrilled when Mum gave it to me after I got married.

But it was only a tea set. Cups, saucers, cake plates. So one year, with my work bonus, I bought eight place settings. Not the additional serving pieces, just the dinner plates, cups saucers and yet again cake plates. Since then I've bought a few odd pieces--and I do mean odd. I now have a bon-bon dish, a sugar and creamer, 1 salt shaker, 1 egg cup, and 2 small platters.

For all the years I have been receiving those emails, I've longed to get a teapot that would go with my good dishes. The fact that I only use the dishes once a year (because I'm not putting them in the dishwasher, and during a big family dinner, I don't have the time or room (in my tiny kitchen) to stack and hand wash them. So once a year it is.

And no teapot.

Oh, but I want that teapot. I dream about it. I visualize how I would rearrange my entire china cabinet just to accommodate it.

Then I look at the price list and say: $189 (plus shipping) for a teapot you will never use?
Get real, girl!

Somewhere there's a spendthrift inside me just aching to bust loose. But until that teapot comes down in price (or hell freezes over), that isn't going to happen.

What frivolous thing have you been denying yourself?

Happy Anniversary To You!

2011-08-29T18:01:00.000-04:00

The yard sales weren't quite as good this week, but as the junking season starts to wane your faithful correspondent and her chums (who seem more interested in coffee and doughnuts than the thrill of the hunt) went forth to forage and once again triumphed.

The first score was this darling little petal dish . . . or is it a shell? And is it a soapdish or is it a condiment dish? Who knows. I just know it's CUTE! It's post-war Made-In-Japan.

At the same sale, I found these steak knives. Actually she had four packages of them, and I scored two. They're made in Japan, too, so you know they're probably 20 or more years old, but in mint condition.

And then I got this 25th Anniversary bone-china (made in England) tea cup. The truth is, we'd been to this sale at least twice before. The last time I was there I decided not to get the cup, but as it was still there I figured it was meant to be. And since it was only a dollar -- why not?

I figure if I turn it around, no one has to know that it's a 25th Anniversary cup. And if I hold onto it long enough, I'll have been married that long anyway.

I also bought myself a little ivy rubber stamp for a quarter. It's terribly cute and for a quarter, how could I miss?

So what do you think of this week's treasures?

Greetings! Cards a Plenty!

2011-08-26T07:01:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned earlier this week, the sales last week were terrific! I got all those lovely dishes ... but I also bought a HUGE box of old greeting cards.

I am a SUCKER for memorabilia from the 1950s and early 1960s, and these cards sure fit the bill. The entire box (and it was a BIG ONE) sold for only $3. I swear there must have been several hundred cards in the box. Not all of them were keepers. But I sorted through them and made three piles. Those I wanted to keep, those I'd be willing to sell, and those that would go in my next (catch-and-release program, if I may borrow the phrase from the Yardsalebloodbath blog) yard sale.

Inside the big box were many smaller boxes of greeting cards. One of them was totally devoted to welcome-to-the-world baby cards.

Isn't the above card darling? Sadly, the ribbon didn't scan as pretty as the rest of the card. Or how about this one?

Don't you just want to pick up that baby and kiss it? And what about this next one?

Wouldn't you want to be this person's secret pal?

Or how about this . . . ?

There must have been at least 10 "thinking of you" cards. Isn't this doggy card sweet?

This house card was die-cut, so that the roof and chimney are part of the card, but the pink skyline isn't.

There were a whole series of these thinking-of-you cards with the gingham background. And there were a whole box of "satin"card like the one below, printed on some kind of pseudo-satin fabric. Lovely. Just lovely.

The scanner just couldn't do the following birthday card justice. The "front" side" of the card (the right side) has lovely sparkles, but I scanned the backside as well because ... well, you just don't get cards like this nowadays.

And these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cards in that box. There must have been over 500 cards--most of which are not that remarkable. But the ones that are (about 100-150) are exquisite

Or, at least I think so. Maybe you would, too.

Big-time Yard Sale Scores!

2011-08-22T07:02:00.002-04:00

It's been wayyyyyy too long since I blogged about my yard sale scores. The reason? THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY!

Along with the long weather drought, there's been a long yard-sale drought. The pickings have been small to nothing for weeks on end. If it wasn't for the doughnuts and coffee at the Alton Coffee Cup, my two junking pals and I would have had no joy at all on our recent junking forays. All that changed this week.

First of all, there was a big car show in Wolcott (NY) this weekend. What a load of pretty vintage cars. (And did I have my camera with me? That would be a very big NO!) But part of the celebration was a community yard sale. Yes! Lots and lots of sales.

My first score was at a former bed and breakfast. I got two (count 'em) bone china sugar and creamer set for the insanely low price of a buck each.

These were from a sales promotion from the old A&P grocery store in the early 1960s (or so an antiques dealer once told me). I already have the same set (along with 6 cups and saucers and luncheon plates), but how can you pass up that kind of a deal?

This is the other sugar and creamer set, which was marked Ansley Bone China England. Not sure what the pattern is.

At another sale, I found these sweet rose plates -- three of them -- for yet another outrageously low price. (Can you say less than a buck?) I do think they would have been prettier without all that gilding, but they are nice nonetheless.

My last score in the china department was from the Wolcott Historical Society. They were practically giving this cup away, and I didn't dispute the price. Isn't it darling?

And here's its pedigree.

Of course, that wasn't the end to the scores for the weekend, but that's enough for this post. Check back later in the week!

A box lot of delight!

2011-07-18T19:02:00.001-04:00

Saturday I went to an estate sale. No big deal. I was there about a month ago, but they seemed to be getting desperate to get rid of the stuff. This time they had box lots of items. I was attracted to a box lot of glassware, and in particular one tiny, heart-shaped cup. (This must be my month for box lots.)

Isn't it darling? The person who owned it must have loved tiny cups. There were five of them in the box. Sadly, one of the prettiest ones, with an old rose pattern, was badly chipped. It's going into the trash. : (

Here are the four of five items that were worth keeping.

They're all tiny and all delightful.

What's going to happen to the rest of the box lot? (Which contained a couple of glasses, a few tea light holders, some badly chipped salt dabs, a St. John Fisher mug, a shot glass, and a small wire basket from The Dollar Store? It's going into the catch-and-release plan (to steal a phrase from the Yard Sale Bloodbath blog), that is--I'll put them in my own yard sale later this summer.

The Linen Box Lot

2011-07-12T08:12:00.000-04:00

My, I've been remiss. I've been junking and buying up wonderful stuff and just haven't had a chance to write about it.

Last week, one of my favorite purchases was a $2 box lot of linens. I love box lots. You never really know what you've got until you unpack them.

This box lot was a bit of a disappointment. It had more men's handkerchiefs and nylon scarfs that were cut up than anything else, but it did have a number of doilies, a pair of kid gloves (so small I can't get my hands in them--and I have little hands), and a pair of yellow cotton gloves, and enough doilies to keep me happy.

Here are a few of the things after sorting the wheat from the chaff. Now, they're off to the Oxiclean bath!

Have you found anything good in a box lot?

Have a Happy!

2011-07-04T08:08:00.000-04:00

Is that all there is?

2011-06-27T07:12:00.001-04:00

On Saturdays I usually hop in the car with my best two girlfriends and we go out junking. (And, yes, sometimes we sing. One of the girl's favorite new song is "Friday" by Rebecca Black. Yeah, it's cute, but it gets tiresome.)

Anyway, we hit at least 9 or 10 sales and there was just NOTHING there. Okay, there was stuff, but not stuff we wanted. Here's my booty:

Bone china mug, reproduction Fire King Jadite mug (the price was right) and a willow cup from Syracuse China. (The saucer was marked "Blatt Band" and "Made in Sweden" - and we know where the Syracuse cup was made, right?)

And though it wasn't a hot day, July is right around the corner.

We did enjoy each other's company and laughed and stuffed ourselves at lunch afterwards, and that was the best.

Did you find anything good this weekend?

.

2011-06-19T07:20:00.000-04:00

Reading for pleasure

2011-06-15T08:03:00.004-04:00

I love to read. I'm sucker for books that nobody loves, too. So is it any wonder I rescued a book from a free box at one of the yard sales on Saturday. As if that wasn't bad enough, this had been a library discard. It's called Adopted Jane.

Here's the Amazon description: Jane Douglas has lived at an orphanage for long as she can remember. Reliable and sensible, she has watched other children come and go, but never once has any family wanted to adopt Jane. Then one magical summer Jane receives not one, but two, invitations to live in a real house with a real family for a month each. If only the summer could last forever.

I read it over the weekend and it's a sweet book. I think I'm going to keep it.

I also hit another sale and found a copy of Mastering The Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle.

Of course, I probably would have NEVER bought it if I hadn't seen the movie Julie & Julia, which I've now seen at least ten times. The woman who sold it to me said, "Someone's going to be cooking." I said, "Not me. I only want to page through it because I saw the movie." She said, "I learned a lot from that movie." I said, "I learned NOT to crowd the mushrooms!" and we both laughed.

I imagine I'll get an hour or two of pleasure flipping through this cookbook. (The movie really intimidated me when it comes to trying any of the recipes.)

What books have you recently acquired?

What I found while junking . . .

2011-06-14T08:01:00.002-04:00

Finally. Going to yard sales is starting to become fun again. Once again I scored some nice stuff for not much cash.

My first purchase as a lovely little china plate with roses. Isn't it sweet?

Next up, I got a hand-painted china tray. I guess it's a dresser tray ... I just love it.

Went to a sale put on my the local ambulance corp and found this sweet little cup with roses on it. (Seeing a theme here?) It was only a dime. No saucer, but it looked lonely and I couldn't resist.

I love it's pedigree, too.

I got a few other things, but I'll save them for tomorrow.

So, what do you think?

Did The Money Pit Claim Another Life?

2011-06-13T05:43:00.001-04:00

So there I was, checking to see if my stained doilies were bleaching out in the sun. Soak them with lemon juice, hang them up to dry. Voila! Pretty whites once more. Only the stains on these were pretty bad. (Had someone tried and failed to tea dye them?)

Then, feeling all Martha Stewarty, I decided to check on my new red climbing rose. The first bloom! It's gorgeous.

So as I was passing the money pit (in-ground pool), I notice a very tiny little swimmer, tiring fast. Whoa! A chipmunk. "Hang on, little chipmunk!" I called (yes, I actually did), and ran for the net skimmer (with the million foot pole). I scooped him out and he (well, it looked like a he), gratefully stopped paddling. I carried him over to the ivy in the shade and he closed his little eyes and straightened out his little limbs. I don't know if he was already dead, but I'm pretty sure I didn't find him in time. I gently laid him on the ivy and he sank into it.

Sometimes they revive. Sometimes they don't. I always feel awful if I can't save whatever is drowning. How frightening it must be to weigh about 8 ounces and be unable to get out of a 26,000 gallon pool.

I find myself looking out the window a lot more in the summer months, just because I try to look out for the creatures that go flying across the concrete and don't know there's an ocean in front of them hidden over a small rise of concrete.

I sure hope the little guy made it.

And now for something completely different

2011-06-07T07:08:00.000-04:00

Today on the blog, I’m interviewing my long-time friend Tonya Thomas. She’s a writer who has had some success writing about “women in complicated relationships.” She’s pulled together five of her short stories and put them into one package, which is available on Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords (which sells all e reader formats).

What made you write the stories contained in THE EDGE AND I?
I’ve wanted to be a novelist for most of my life, but getting published isn’t exactly easy. I hoped to “break” into the business by writing short stories. And I did it.

Did you personally experience any of the events in your women’s fiction stories?
Yes. But I won’t tell which story is semi-autobiographical. But feel free to guess.

There's a lot of hardship in these stories. My favorite was Trapped In An Abusive Relationship. I've known women who've been in that kind of situation.
I write about strong women who don't always make the right decisions when it comes to relationships. But in the end, they manage to pull their lives together. My deepest hope is that someone will read my stories and be inspired to change their own lives--or the lives of someone they know to be in a desperate situation.

Where did you get the title of your newest release?
LOL--my cover designer and I came up with it. I tossed her a bunch of picture ideas and a bunch of titles and told her to choose something, since coming up with titles isn’t my forte. She tweaked it and voila! The Edge And I has a lovely cover.

Tonya and I often go to yard sales together. Will you ever write about our junking expeditions?
Hmm…I never thought about it, but I suppose I could make it a mystery story. I’ll think about it.

Of course, I’ll want to read that story first--just to make sure you get all the details right.
Of course.

What’s next on your writing agenda?
I’m working on a fantasy saga. Right now I see at least six stories in the series. I hope to have the first one completed before the end of the year.

Thanks for visiting today.
Thank you for having me.

Please visit Tonya at her blog (A Touch Of Tonya) or on Facebook. (She’s also on Twitter as @TonyaThomas1) And you can visit her Amazon store, too.

An Office Make-Over?

2011-06-03T07:49:00.001-04:00

And so I have decided to do a make-over on my tiny office.

This sounds really easy, right? Paint the walls. Maybe get a new carpet remnant. And add a few shelves. Oh, and did I mention there's a slight money shortage?

The truth is I've been looking at yard sales for two years now, trying to find some bookshelves that will fit. So far no good. I did visit a thrift store the other day and there sat the perfect sized shelf. It had two very big problems. Price ($20) and condition. The thing was peeling paint like crazy. I would bet that the shelf was built before 1969, which means it's probably got lead paint on it. It would need a lot of sanding, and I really don't want to deal with lead dust.

I'm looking for something along these lines:

I don't want to buy a cheap chipboard shelf, either. So ... my search will go on.

What's on your yard sale wish list?

Just stop it, Betty!

2011-06-01T07:28:00.000-04:00

A few months ago I needed a recipe for cookies and I signed up on the Betty Crocker web site. At the time I thought it was a good idea. Okay, so I knew Betty would probably contact me periodically and try to sell me something. It goes with the territory.

But now I'm getting emails a couple of times a week. Betty is trying to knock me right off my diet.

She's sending me recipes for all kinds of good stuff that's bad for me. Stuff like cakes and brownies and cookies. Okay, I'm weak-willed, I want to not only MAKE all this stuff, but eat it, too.

So just cut it out, Betty.

Or else!

What's tempting you from YOUR diet?

Peace to all on Memorial Day

2011-05-30T06:16:00.000-04:00

No sales this week

2011-05-27T08:29:00.000-04:00

The weather has been terrible lately, and quite often when I arrive at a yard sale ... it's not there. Or rather, because of the rainy weather, the person putting on the sale has closed up.

That's always a disappointment because at least I made the effort to come to their sale. But I can understand that if it's cold and dank, you wouldn't want to be huddled in your garage or under a tarp on the hope that one or two people will show up.

This week Mr. Ivy and I have a house guest, so no sales for me. But my best friends will go to the yard sales without me. They have my list--they know what I like, so I'm hoping I get a call around lunchtime tomorrow from one of my friends saying, "We got you ...."

I'm crossing my fingers.

In the meantime, June 4th is usually the big street sale in Lyons. That's my favorite sale of the year and I'm hoping it's still on, because not only do I usually find some nice bargains, but one of the houses sells fried dough. Yum! Not good for the waistline, but comfort food for the soul.

I'll let you know!

The Quest

2011-05-16T07:05:00.000-04:00

Can it really be three years since I gave up my booth in the antiques arcade?

Of course, my booth was never as cool as I wanted it to be. First of all, I never had the money to invest in the kind of stock I wanted to sell. And there's no guarantee if I had better stock that I would have had better sales. (Many of my co-op neighbors had the kind of stock I wanted to sell, and they weren't doing any better than me.)

I bought most of my stock from garage/tag sales. I used to start shopping for stuff I could resell in early April, going to any and every garage sale. With the price of gas, I haven't been to many sales this year. But this weekend, we did make the rounds.

It's painful not to be able to buy the stuff I normally would. I saw so many vintage orange juice glasses in mint condition for a quarter (which were guaranteed to sell for $2.99 each...eventually), and jewelry, and dishware, and Pyrex and....

These days I "shop" for other things. My family puts in requests and I go find them. My mother collects hankies with crocheted edges. Got two of them for her on Friday. Mr. Ivy wanted a meat tenderizer. Got one of them. For myself, I'm looking for blue plates. (I'm decorating a bedroom and have chosen blue and white plates.) Found a really old one for a quarter and, even better, a bag of plate hangers (at least 15--they're a bit tangled) for $2.

A portion of my booth was devoted to used books. I can't stop looking at all the titles when I walk into a sale, and Saturday I found something I've been looking for for about a year: a beautiful hardcover edition of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (illustrated by Tasha Tudor) for fifty cents. (I've already read half of it. I'd seen two movie versions of the story, but never read the book.)

And then the holy grail of my searches: 1950s "Made In Japan" Christmas figurines. First up, a Santa & Mrs. Claus sitting on a see-saw music box; wind it up and it plays "Jingle Bells" while the Santa and Mrs. bop up and down (for $2). And then at the North Rose Ladies Auxilery sale at the fire hall, a duplicate of what started my collection about 15 years ago: a Santa and reindeer "candelabra" that spells out NOEL. Now, do I really need a second one? Of course not, but it was only a buck. In mint condition--IN THE ORIGINAL BOX!!!!!!

In all, I spent less than $10, but boy, what cheap entertainment.

What are you looking for at tag sales and flea markets?

Time to hit the yard sale trail . . .

2011-05-13T15:21:00.001-04:00

And the garage sale season is on!

Yesterday I had to run an errand to return something to a friend, so I decided to drop by a rummage sale on the way.

Unlike other years,the church decided that they needed to make a LOT of money, and so priced just about everything high. They had many willing customers,so I guess they didn't need much of my cash. Unlike other years, where I've spent up to $12 -- yesterday I spent a measly $2.35. I bought . . .

I've seldom spent more than a buck for a theorem painting, but the picture was so pretty and the frame was lovely as well that I decided--what the heck--and shot the wad of $2. I also bought a 10 cent fan and a set of shoe laces for a quarter.

I pulled out of the parking lot and headed south down the road and soon found another sign. As it happened, the sale was next door to the home I grew up in. Sadly, that house has not been treated well. Weeds choked the yard. The yard lights hung broken from the brickwork, and the brick flower boxes were in major disrepair. I wanted to cry to see the home my Dad made so many wonderful improvements to falling apart, with even a broken window on the garage.

But I went on to the sale and bought . . .

I've got plans for these beauties. Herbs on my kitchen counter.

I also bought a Christmas figurine. The original price of 79 cents was written in grease pencil, crossed out,and a new price of 59 cents was written on the bottom. I paid 25 cents for her. She's going to join the choir of other figurines in my china cabinet.

I also bought a water bowl for my darling felines for a quarter and a square plate with Colonial figures. (Did I mention that I collect square plates?)

So now here's the group shot. I spent a grand total of $4.35. Not too shabby.

What was the last thing you bought at a yard sale?

Spring Flowers

2011-04-29T06:55:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I bopped outside with camera in hand and visited my front yard, looking for stuff to take pictures of. First up was the rhododendron right outside the front door. It's in need of some shaping, but I'm afraid to hack at it for fear of killing it. (As it is, the icicles took out a big chunk of the back of the plant this winter.)

But the big treat was that a huge bee was out there, dipping into the pollen. This new camera has a telephoto lens and -- whoa! There he was, big as life. (And see the pollen on his butt! Is that cute, or what?)

Next to the rhodo we have a little stand of daffodils. They're the spring plant that keeps on giving. They've been out for over a week, and we've had a couple of really hot (Wonderful!) days, but they're still pert and perky. (I have to learn which setting gives me a sharper background. Hey, it's only been a couple of weeks--give me time, give me time!

We didn't plant the tulips out front -- and usually we have only one straggly bloom, but this year we had more--go figure! (And I'm certainly not complaining.) Sadly, tulips seem to last a day or two (especially if it's hot). As you can see, they're already getting a little brown around the edges, and they'd only been open a day.
Of course, while spring is great for flowers, it's also great for weeds. Why do they look so pretty when they flower--and so ugly when they turn into puff balls of seeds a day or two later?

The former owners told us they had a row of ornamental cherry trees along the side of the driveway, but the ice storm of 1991 took out all but one. It's the oddest looking tree because it's tall with very short (they all broke in the storm) limbs. Most of the year it looks like it needs to be put out of its misery. But for a couple of golden (or should I say platinum) days in the spring, it flowers and almost looks pretty. (Well, it does look pretty close up.)

I stopped using my SLR camera about ten years ago and almost exclusively used a point-and-shoot. And when we got our first digital cameras, they, too, were point-and-shoot. I love my "big-girl" camera and realize how much I missed taking really good pictures.

A No Construction Zone!

2011-04-28T06:43:00.001-04:00

The other day, I looked out the bathroom window and noticed a robin sitting on the roof, looking around. It jumped to the ground, looked around some more, and then jumped onto the faux craftsman lamp we have next to our front door. It then flew back to the roof, back to the driveway, and then back to the lamp, obviously satisfied with itself.

"There's a bird out here thinking about building a nest," I told Mr. Ivy.

Nothing happened and we forgot about it.

Until this morning. Mr. Ivy went to get the morning paper and, HELLO!, there was a fully built nest. It wasn't there last evening. After breakfast, Mr. Ivy went out and removed the next. (He didn't tell me this, of course.) Three hours later, I went out to put a letter in the mailbox. HELLO! There were all kinds of dead grass and sticks up on the light again.

Thinking it might be filled with bird cooties, I took off my shoe and knocked the nest down, and went back inside. "Mr. Ivy!" I called, rather annoyed. "I thought you were going to remove that nest."

"I did."

"Oh, yeah!"

"Yeah!"

He came out and was astounded at how much work this robin had accomplished in just under three hours. By the end of the day, I'm sure there would've been several eggs in that nest. In order to discourage the bird, we put a heavy piece of broken patio block up there. (You can never find a rock when you need one.)

Mrs. Robin was quite upset, as would any mother-to-be, but we didn't want to lose the use of the light, and the nest would've been a fire hazard, not to mention the bird poop that we would've had to scrub off the house and step (we've been there, done that).

Yes, it was all for the best. So why do I feel so mean?

Look out! DUCK!

2011-04-27T06:30:00.003-04:00

We bought our wonderful house despite the fact it came with an in-ground pool. We'd looked at scores of houses (and I'm not kidding--more than 80, I kept track), but this was the only one that "spoke" to us. Mind you, it was a compromise for me. I'd always envisioned living in an old farm house, or maybe a Victorian. This is a contemporary ranch, which I've spent the last 14 years trying to countrify.

And then there's that in-ground pool. Once the snow melts, I nag until Mr. Ivy pumps the top of the pool cover off. This year he was on top of it before I could say a word. ("Good dog, Ubu!") Then nature conspired against us and it has rained enough for us to consider building an Ark.

I suppose we could pump it thing off in the rain, I mean, I don't understand how the submersible pump works. I was always taught electricity and water don't mix. Mr. Ivy usually waits for a nice, dry, warm day to do it. It had better be nice today, because yesterday we had our first (and I hope only) visit from Mr. and Mrs. Duck.
Our neighbor to the south encourages ducks to swim on her pool cover. She thinks it's cute. It is not cute when our fowl friends leave their calling cards in the form of excrement. What are these birds eating? Steers?

Right now the pool has at least six inches of water on it. That's just fine for wading say Mr. and Mrs. Duck. I can see The Money Pit out my office window and ripples in the usually still water alerted me to their presence. It's annoying to find one or more of the cats watching our little ducky visitors and not say a word to us. ("Meow" would suffice.)

When I see ducks, I dash out yelling and clapping my hands, letting the know they are not welcome. They flap their wings and take off, using language that would curdle milk as they tell us just what inhospitable hosts we are.
But the biggest reason to discourage ducks, besides their calling cards, is the potential for duck deaths. On two occasions we've had Mama Duck decide our pool would be a fine place to bring up her babies. The first time this happened Frank was alone, trying to deal with ducklings who could swim faster than he could catch them. There were eight fatalities that day.

I was angry and upset he hadn't been able to save any of the ducklings. And then it happened to me.
I found you can easily get Mama duck out of the pool, she flaps her wings and goes airborne. The babies aren't so lucky. The water is about 6 inches from the concrete deck which may as well be a mile to a baby duck. While you try to scoop up the ducklings, Mama is on the shore screaming instructions to "stay away from those humans at all costs!" So you try like mad to fish them out and they swim away, dive underwater, laughing at you the whole time. This can go on for hours.

Then they start to get tired AND suffer from hypothermia.

Working together, we were able to save three of eight. Those three were more dead than alive by the time we got them out of the pool. They laid on the grass for an hour or more before they revived enough for Mama to lead them away. Meanwhile, five of their siblings lay on the garden compost. There are few more heartbreaking sights.

So while it sounds mean that we discourage the ducks in the spring, there's method to our madness. Still, as long as ducks have bird brains, I'm sure we'll have to deal with the situation again.

What The Easter Bunny Brought

2011-04-26T05:48:00.001-04:00

When I was a kid, our dentist was shyster. He drilled away most of our molars, filling them with lead amalgam, forced us to endure expensive fluoride treatments (and to this day I detest fake grape flavor in any form), and emptied my father's wallet of much money. One dad Dad said, "Enough!" We changed dentists and mysteriously stopped having cavities. (Yeah, and thanks to Dr. M I've got a mouth full of crowns and implants because eventually all those molars fell apart, leaving nothing but fillings.)

Because we had such bad teeth, the Easter Bunny used to bring us other stuff; like records and books. I liked that better anyway. (Once I got a Beatle Album. I still have it and it's in good condition!)

Easter Baskets kind of fell by the wayside when I was in my late teens. That changed when I got married. Mr. Ivy was used to doing Easter Baskets and by God we were going to have them! But now it wasn't my teeth that was the issue, it was weight. DON'T GET ME ANY CANDY! I'd holler. He gave me candy anyway. But I have trained him to tone it way down.

This year he got herring, sardines, anchovies, mixed nuts, a bag of pistachios, a can of Underwood chicken spread, and a genuine Russell Stover peanut butter "egg." Meanwhile, my basket contained three packages (or ready-to-eat) Indian lunches: Rajma Masala, Pav Bhaji, and Alu Muttar (ooooh! Yum, yum, yum), a jar of extra hot Chinese mustard, a small bag of Virginia peanuts and a tiny box (4 pieces) of Russell Stover (private reserve) chocolates.

Do you think the Easter bunny went all the way to India for my lunches?

How about you? What was in your Easter Basket?

A refreshing side dish . . .

2011-04-25T06:54:00.008-04:00

Years ago, Waldorf Salad was a staple at our holiday dinners. It was made by a former family member and it was really nice. But since she's no longer a part of my family, I've had to do without.

Until this week.

My mother-in-Law presented me with a fruit basket. Now I'm not much of a fruit fan, but I also hate to waste good food. So I gave away the oranges and wondered what I should do with the apples, grapes, and pears.

Pears are a no brainer. We often eat them sliced with our dinner. We're fond of Empire apples, but not Red Delicious, and guess what kind of apples came in the basket?

So I thought--why not make a Waldorf Salad?

I got on the Internet, found a recipe and within about 15 minutes had whipped up something delish for our dinner. (Lucky I had all the ingredients on hand, eh?)

I've still got four more apples, but no more grapes (and they're not cheap this time of year). Aha! You can substitute raisins for grapes.

Guess what I'm making this week?

What's your favorite fruit recipe?

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T06:58:00.002-04:00

Rain On The Roof

2011-04-22T06:39:00.001-04:00

Why does it always seem to rain during daylight hours and ruin perfectly good days? Days that should be filled with baseball games, picnics, boating, gardening, and other enjoyable stuff.

Okay, the flowers/crops need the rain. I get that. But the days are gloomy and depressing.
On the other hand, I love to fall asleep at night with the sound of rain on the roof. It's kind of magical. It lulls you off to dreamland in a peaceful way.

Mind you, I'm not opposed to an occasional night-time thunderstorm, either. I love to watch the sky flash with lightning. I'm not so keen on the wind that accompanies said storms. I fear toppled trees that take power lines with them. (Our little post office was hit with a tree during a storm just the other day. Took out a HUGE portion of the roof--right where the customers stand to have their letters and packages weighed. Scary!)

A recent weather report said we had a 60% chance of rain overnight. Oh goody, I thought--another night of rain on the roof. Unfortunately, the weather man, with this "predicting dartboard" was wrong again. Come on, with all the supposed improvements in weather prognostication, you'd think they could get it right at least 50% of the time. I know, I've crabbed about this in the past in respect to snowstorms, but they're apparently no better at predicting summer weather, either.

In the meantime, I do have a number of thunderstorm CDs. I can play any one of them any time I please (which is just about every night), so I never have to be without some form of soothing, night-time rain. But I prefer the real thing.

How about you?

Sucidal Worms

2011-04-21T06:37:00.003-04:00

April showers bring May flowers -- and they also bring out the worms.

It rained A LOT yesterday, and sure enough, this morning the driveway was full of suicidal worms. When the drive was wet, they probably thought it was a fine idea to wiggle out there and warm up, but now that the sun is out and the drive is drying -- so are they. And the dim bulbs (well, to be fair -- they have no real brains) just lie there and die.

I was coming back from taking the trash can to the curb and saw a BIG, FAT, GOOSHY worm near the garage and, I don't know what came over me, but I felt sorry for it. So I did something I never thought I'd do. I donned a gardening glove, picked it up, and placed it back in the dirt. Hey, worms are good for the garden, right? Nature's engineers and all that.

All I can say about the experience is ICK -- major ICK. But, hopefully s/he'll survive and reproduce and my garden will flourish, right?

If not, there're a lot of robins around looking for lunch.

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby

2011-04-20T06:50:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time, I read a story about a little girl from the city, who visited her country relatives in Vermont. These relatives made maple syrup. She was left alone with the boiling sap and at a crucial moment, did something (for some reason, I thought she put in a little pitcher of cream), and saved the whole batch. She wasn’t just some dumb city girl anymore—she had saved the day.

That’s about as close to making maple syrup as I’ve ever been. But I can’t say the same of my friend Janet. Every year, she and her husband tap the sugar maples on their property on the shore of some frozen lake way up in Michigan, and then boil the sap for what seems like a million years (I think she said it was two weeks—but that can seem like a million years when you have to keep stoking the fire) and eventually—TA DA! Maple syrup.

I think she said (some reporter I’d make, eh?) that she had to accumulate between 50-70 gallons of sap to make two gallons of syrup. No wonder the stuff is as expensive as French perfume and sold by the ounce!

As it happens, I am the happy recipient of a jar of Janet's 2011 maple syrup production!
Confession time: I have NEVER had real maple syrup before. I know, I know—how sheltered can one woman be? I’ve only had the fake stuff…and truth be told, don’t like it much. I have had maple candy, which costs the moon and is so sweet you can only take tiny bites. So it was with much anticipation that I planned Sunday’s breakfast. Ahh, lovely Mennonite bacon, extra crisp homemade waffles, and Janet’s maple syrup.

Let me tell you, that fake crap ain’t passing my lips from this day forward. The homemade stuff was divine, and Hubby said it was better than a lot of Vermont maple syrup he’s purchased over the years--and in fact, the BEST he's ever tasted. We’re already planning on a repeat of Sunday’s breakfast. In fact, many repeats – at least until Janet’s maple syrup is gone.

I saw a story posted on AOL saying that Maple Syrup is in hot demand because there have been several bad seasons for collecting sap. Prices are as high as $100 a gallon for the pure stuff. Which makes Janet's gift all that more valuable, and thoughtful.

Hmmm…now to figure out how to stay on Janet’s syrup distribution list.

Do you eat the real stuff or the imitation syrup?

Back to Winter?

2011-04-04T05:53:00.002-04:00

Ugh. Snow.

That was my first reaction when I looked out the window this morning. It's not a lot of snow, hardly more than a trace. But there's something very depressing about seeing snow covering your snowdrops, crocuses and around your daffodils.

The other day we had April showers. Yeah, and they promise May flowers. So April snow only brings...slippery roads, sidewalks, and COLD!

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for spring. I'm ready for flowers and open windows and fresh breezes. I'm ready to have the sliding glass doors open all day so the cats and come and go into the enclosed porch when they want. I'm ready to hear the wind chimes playing a tune. I'm ready for sunny skies and planting my potatoes and tomatoes.

I'm ready for summer.

Unfortunately, the calendar isn't.

Dreaming of Cupcakes

2011-04-01T06:43:00.002-04:00

Trying to eat healthy is hard, especially when all you can think about is fattening food.

Lately I've been dreaming about cupcakes. Beautiful cupcakes.

Okay, four cupcakes is too many.

How about just one?

Wouldn't just love to eat that? (And with a cup of tea?)

Like a Raging Rhino

2011-03-29T06:28:00.000-04:00

I don't always sleep well. In fact, sometimes I lie awake for HOURS and HOURS on end. This week has been pretty good. No staring at the ceiling ... at least too much.

But the other night, something woke me up. A sound. I wasn't sure what it was. I waited. Nothing. So I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

Then I heard it again. It sounded like ... a horse, galloping. It stopped. I waited. Nothing. So I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

Then I heard it AGAIN. Okay, sometimes my cat George (who has the feline equivalent of OCD) will have one of his "twitchy" moments, and will run around like a racehorse. I looked down at the bottom of the bed, and sure enough he was gone.

I got up, and (our cat) Katie was sitting in the hall looking at the ceiling. I looked at the ceiling. And heard it again. Like thundering hoofs. On the roof.

I went into the guest room and there was George, sitting on the bed, looking at the skylight. He started purring the minute I walked in, self-satisfied, as though saying, "Ha! It's not me."

Then we heard it again. A sound like galloping overhead. Again and again we heard it it. And eventually we saw it: A rogue squirrel. It jumped over the skylight and stopped, its fluffy tail (not a good ruse to hide its rodent-ness) hanging over the skylight.

That's it? A squirrel. Running the Squirrel 500 on my roof at 4:52 a.m.!!!

Good grief.

Spring Cleaning!

2011-03-28T06:12:00.001-04:00

Saturday, I decided to clean my office. Mostly, that meant going through my closet to make room for the stuff that's been sitting on my floor for months on end.

I found all kinds of wonderful and not-so-wonderful stuff.

I found lost jewelry. I found many tubes of chapstick and gluestick. I vacuumed. I dusted. I spent about five hours just working on this one room . . . and it's still not where I want it to be. Mostly, it's my desk that's still a mess. (Although I still have yet another pile of papers to go through and file/toss.)

There's a lot to be said for living a tidy life. Now if I could just do it on a regular basis.

Have you started your spring cleaning yet?

Well what do you know -- I'm CHEAP!

2011-03-25T06:16:00.005-04:00

I've never lived in Scotland. I've visited there four times (and have come to the conclusion it's the most beautiful place on Earth), and when it comes to finances, there's no doubt I'm a Scot. (Hey, my paternal grandmother was born in Levin, so I come by it honestly.)

It's difficult to actually come right out and say I'M CHEAP, so I try to couch it by saying "I'm thrifty" (or if I want to sound REALLY noble, frugal). That said, you can't skimp on certain things in life, like useful appliances (dishwashers and laser printers immediately come to mind), and fresh fruits and veggies will always taste and be better for you than canned.

But when it comes to decor, well, I'm a skinflint. A big part of that comes from me hounding garage (tag) and estate sales for the past 12 years. See, I used to be a vendor at a gift/craft/antiques co-op. My specialty was "smalls." Stuff that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, both for me and my customers.

So it really bugs me when fru-fru New York City based magazines deign to share with their readers the secret to finding "real" bargains. Come on, can you even buy a bagel in NYC for less than five bucks? Then don't tell me an old lamp I can get for under $5 at a garage sale is a steal at some fancy boutique for just under $200.

Yes, I know that prices are a LOT higher in a large metropolitan area. So why don't these so-called experts hit smaller cities/rural areas looking for real bargains for their readers?

I've decorated a good deal of my home in garage sale finds. I bought a pine corner cabinet for $100; solid cherry end tables for $70; I've got a beautiful (still in the box from Blenheim Palace, England) reproduction Victorian tile tray for $3. Most of my bone china tea cup collection was purchased for less than $5 per specimen.

I've decorated the stairway down to my basement pub (complete with brass rails) with square plates. I refuse to pay more than $1 each (and have paid as little as 5 cents for some of them). Just last summer I bought a brass floor lamp with a nice shade for only $6.
My point: don't believe these magazines. Especially ones that tell you you can find bargains at flea markets. Forget them! I haven't seen a bargain at a flea market in over ten years. (Probably because all those editors of decorating magazines are willing to spend so much more than an item is worth.)

I gave up on Country Living and their ilk simply because the average reader doesn't have a million dollars to sink into decorating her house. They ought to change the names of these magazines and aim for their true audience: Country Living for the Stinking Rich, or Cottage Living in only 50,000 square feet!

Meanwhile, garage sale season is only a week or so away. What treasures will I find this year?

Picture(s) of the Day: My Bathroom

2011-03-21T06:20:00.001-04:00

A few years ago we were really tired of our bathroom, but who can afford a $40,000 gut job like they do on HGTV. Sarah Richardson thinks nothing of spending that much on a total makeover--right down to the studs.

Obviously we don't have Sarah's budget. So, we did it all for about $2,000 (yeah, YIKES--much more than we'd planned on spending) and have been quite happy with the results.

We bought the dresser at an antique arcade (the same one where I had a booth for 12 years). It was small, so we had to special order the sink. (That was a lot more than a regular sink, I might add.) The jar was $1.50 at a yard sale and I fill it with Yardley soap from the dollar store. We did real beadboard instead of paneling, which was expensive, too. And after we yanked out the old double sinks and awful Formica (in dark brown) cabinets, we had to have the floor under it done. (You can't match tile that's 40 years old it turns out.) Those are two of our cats watching the wall drip. (They're easily entertained.) I got the Starfish at Joanne's in their bargain bin. I think it's cute. (I actually got three and now all three hang there.)

I saw that color brown paint in a bathroom redo in an issue of MidWest magazine. We're not afraid of color and against the white beadboard, it looks nice. The prints (on the right) I had for years, but they had crummy frames, so I bit the bullet and bought new frames at Joanne's with sale coupons.

And here's what it looks like over our tub (we have a separate walk-in shower, so there's no fear of it getting ruined.

Mr. Ivy was nervous when I told him I wanted to hang an old sideboard mirror in the shower, but it turned out nice. So we now have a kind of Victorian bathroom room in a contemporary ranch house. Oh well, we like it.

Have you remodeled your bathroom?

Happy St. Paddy's Day

2011-03-17T05:54:00.001-04:00

To celebrate the day, Mr. Ivy and I always make Irish Soda Bread. Maybe you'd like to make it, too. This is the recipe we always use.

Irish Soda Bread
4 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1½ cups buttermilk
¼ cup corn or canola oil
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
1 cup golden raisons
1 tablespoon milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Foil-line a baking sheet, lightly grease.

In a large bowl, stir the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, buttermilk, and oil together. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the buttermilk mixture. Add the caraway seeds and raisins. Stir until a soft dough forms.

With floured hands, shape the dough into a large ball on a lightly floured board or waxed paper. With a sharp knife, make an X across the top of the dough. Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the top with milk. Bake in the center of the oven until golden brown (30 to 40 minutes).

Serve warm with butter.

Picture of the Day: My Guest Room

2011-03-14T06:10:00.000-04:00

Oh dear, another day with nothing to say. Okay, here's a picture the north end of my Guest Room. I had a lot of fun collecting everything you see here, and most of it came from yard sales. (I got the chair and dresser from an antique shop.)

The mirror was a $5 splurge from Salvation Army. I stripped layers of paint and voila! A lovely oak frame was underneath. The bowl and ewer cost me $4 at a yard sale in Oswego. The colonial pictures were $5 at Goodwill and the other two (on the right) were $2 each at a yard sale. The EXTREMELY heavy waste basket is from the 1950s and I got that at an estate sale for 50 cents. We saw the same wallpaper at a darling B&B we stayed in in Vermont and were lucky to find it in a discount bin at Sherwin Williams. The other frames (on the wall and dresser) are counted cross stitch that I did.

What's your guest room look like? Do you have treasures from yard sales in it?

If it's Friday--it must mean fish!

2011-03-11T06:57:00.001-05:00

During lent, we always have fish for dinner on Fridays. Now this isn't a bad thing unless you're going to be evil and have a delicious fish fry. Fried fish, french fries, and something green to (pretend) to balance everything out.

We usually have fish on Fridays anyway, so lent isn't a big deal. And we're usually good. Broiled cod with a mixture of mayo and dill weed is nice. Or recently we saw a recipe on the Internet (I think on the Rochester TV station) where they wrapped cod in Prosciutto. (The prosciutto gets nice and crispy under the broiler for a minute or two.) Sometimes Mr. Ivy will make scallops, too.

But mostly I want my fish fried. And I want it to be haddock. A nice, thick fillet. Fried with beer batter. (Add a martini to that and you've got heaven on a place mat.)

Getting primed for a Royal Wedding

2011-03-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

I collect stuff. Lots of stuff. And one of the things I collect is Royal Family memorabilia.

This is the latest addition to my collection.

Are you looking forward to the royal wedding?

Picture of the Day

2011-03-08T06:03:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I sit down to write a blog entry and say to myself -- what the heck can I write about today.

I know -- I'll fudge it with a picture. And that's what I've done today.

This is the top of my 7-day dresser (a tall narrow dresser with 7 drawers, supposedly for 7 days worth of underwear. Wow--women in the olden days wore a LOT of underwear!) My Mom made the quilted wall hanging in the background. Pretty, huh? That's a fake wedding picture Mr. Ivy and I had made at the State Fair some years ago. (Before the real wedding.) What fun!

What's on the top of your dresser?

An everyday celebration

2011-03-07T06:06:00.001-05:00

I admit it, I'm an anglophile and I love all things English. Especially an English tea. I love to get out the good dishes and make egg salad, cucumber, and salmon finger sandwiches.

And what else do you need for a nice English tea?

Scones!

Here's a really easy recipe I use when I want to whip up a batch in a hurry.

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/3 cup finely chopped dried apricots (or sultanas, raisins, currents)
3 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup whipping (heavy) cream
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons sugar

Heat oven to 425ºF. Grease cookie sheet. Mix Bisquick, apricots, 3 tablespoons sugar, the whipping cream and egg until soft dough forms. Turn dough onto surface dusted with Bisquick; roll in Bisquick to coat. Shape into ball; knead 10 times.

Pat dough into 8-inch circle on cookie sheet (if dough is sticky, dip fingers into Bisquick). Brush dough with milk; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Cut into 8 wedges but do not separate.

Bake about 12 minutes or until golden brown; carefully separate wedges. Serve warm.

Be my friend on Facebook

2011-03-04T06:21:00.000-05:00

I have become a /Facebook-aholic. I check it on a daily basis -- and sometimes more than once.

This is not good. This is a terrible time sink. I have to admit, I still like some things about MySpace better than Facebook. I mean, you can see your potential friend's profile BEFORE you invite them to be your newest chum. (This weeds out the and pedophiles and other sex offenders.)

I've found some wonderful new friends and readers on MySpace, but it's just too much trouble compared to the ease of using Facebook.

I don't have many friends on Facebook, but I'd love to meet more women who are interested in the same kinds of things I am. You can find me at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000845902464

Will you be my Facebook friend?

Up To My Ears In Cords

2011-03-03T06:23:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I pulled all the entertainment centers apart and hooked them all up again.

What's with that?

Well, our CD player died about two weeks ago. We've been listening to Happy Hour music on a baby boom box I got for 75 cents at a church sale. A great deal, huh? Well, someone blew the speakers out (no doubt blaring the bass at maximum decibels), so it wasn't a treat to hear our favorite music. So, off we went in search of a new CD player.

We already knew that CD players are hard to come by. (Heck, boom boxes are hard to come by, too--why do you think I bought one at a church sale?) As it happens, PLACES to buy CD players are just as rare.

Now that Circuit City is gone, the only "chain" appliance store in the area is Best Buys. Only, when we got there, the shelves were strangely empty. They had floor models of two Sony CD players, but a check with the computer told us they had none in stock and didn't plan to stock them, even though both models won't be discontinued until 2010. "Wanna buy the floor model?" No. "Okay, you can order it online." And pay for shipping. Hmm.

Then we remembered The Stereo Shop. As it happens, we both bought our very first CD players from the Stereo Shop. They had one of the same Sony CD players in stock -- didn't plan to order any more. ("Not a hot item. Most people use their DVD players.") What the heck, we took it. (And $2 cheaper than Best Buy with no shipping charges.) We bought locally, left a smaller carbon footprint, and had a good product by a good company. (Did I mention my 30 year-old Sony Trititron TV still has a great picture?)

We also had a bad (naughty) DVD player. It doesn't like us. You can fart around for five or more minutes just trying to convince the thing to play a DVD. The only reason to keep it is because it also has a VHS player in it, which plays beautifully. Too bad we play more DVDs than tapes, eh? As it happens, Aldi had a little DVD player on sale for $25. Aha! The answer to all our DVD problems. And, as it's soooooo tiny, I could put it on top of the CD player in my office (the one I bought from The Stereo Shop over 20 years ago and is still going strong). So I unhooked the JVC DVD in my office, opened the box to the new one (I asked the girl at Aldi, "Is this a good brand?" She shrugged and said, "Ya got me, but it's flying outta here like crazy") and hooked it up. (BTW, I never read directions. Why bother?) The thing worked like a charm.

Next up, the new CD Player and moving the JVC DVD player to the living room. But first, I had to unhook the old CD player (which was actually a DVD player--and one we hated from day one), and rescue the five CDs it had been holding hostage since it died two weeks before. Next, plug in the wires to the amplifier. Couldn't be easier. Next, hook up the DVD player. Only the cord was too short. Down to the basement to search for a strip plug. Back to the living room. The plug won't stay in the wall. Back to the basement to find another strip plug. Back up to the living room. Unplug the TV and lamp and plug into the strip cord. Back to the DVD Player. Find Harry Potter DVD in back of TV, which has been missing for two years. Hook up yellow, white, and red wires to back of TV (also a Sony). Loop DVD cord out the back. Too short. Back to the basement for an extension cord. Only it's a fire hazard to "daisy chain" an extension cord to a strip plug. Unplug the strip plug, plug the TV and lamp back into the wall. Move to the other side of the wall-length entertainment center; unplug the CD and tape players, plug into the strip plug, plug strip plug into the wall. Can't reach the extension cord. Haul out step ladder, climb onto top of Entertainment Center, using husband's cane (from newly installed full knee replacement) to hook the extension cord, haul it over to the side and plug into wall. Turn on all appliances: Yea -- they work.

Put Harry Potter DVD in DVD player, hit play. Nothing happens. Pull TV back out, make sure cords are in all the way; put TV back. Hit play. Nothing happens. Walk to office, call brother on phone. He's not home. He will call back in five minutes. He calls back. He's now at Sam's Club. Too noisy to talk. Will call back. Five minutes later, he calls back. Explain situation. He gives advice and says call back if it doesn't work. Go back to TV. Check wires again. Flip channels looking for an AUX channel around 90. No AUX channel, but discover we have the Hallmark Channel on our basic cable. (Do we NEED the Hallmark Channel? Will we ever watch it?)

Sit in front of TV pondering problem while listening to Dr. Oz explain how to grow a new bladder. Punch all buttons on remote. Suddenly, Harry Potter appears! Oh-oh! Forgot, when plugging directly into TV with DVR, must turn off TV button--switching to video!

Yea! Back in business.

And that's why I didn't get anything else done yesterday afternoon.

A feline hunger strike

2011-03-02T06:09:00.001-05:00

When mealtime comes for our cats, they eagerly mill around the kitchen, waiting for the sound of the lid being ripped from the can. Two, if not three of them show up, wanting to lick the lid. Three of the four eagerly sit up. (Buster looks like a little prairie dog when he sits up.)

But then three of the four cats sniff their food, glare at me, and walk away.
Grrrrrr.

Hey, this is Friskies. And it's not like we feed 'em the same gunk every day. Supposedly, we're giving them 10-15 different flavors. We buy it in case lots -- usually 15-20 cases at a time. Then I painstakingly separate them so that they get a different flavor for every meal. They don't seem to like the "classic pate."

It used to be that none of our cats liked any form of tuna/fish. But suddenly, it's only the tuna that immediately gets scarfed down. And oddly enough, some times the food that was so repugnant in the morning, is totally gone in the evening.

Lately, I've tossed out more food than they've eaten. In fact, I've come to ask them, "Should I save time and just throw this away now?"

They glare at me.

The problem is, you never know what flavor of food will be available when you hit the store. We usually buy the food at PetSmart. Sometimes they have LOTS of variations of tuna -- last time we only managed to find one kind. Foolishly, we only bought one case. The cats have let us know their disapproval.

I had a couple of coupons for Friskees Select cat food, and boy did they like it. It disappeared in minutes. The only problem is, that cat food is double the price of the regular Friskees.

I know, I know--we really shouldn't be feeding our cats commercial cat food, especially after what happened with tainted pet food. But our cats don't like "real" food. Okay, two of them will eat a piece of cheese here and a piece of ham there, but offer them chicken or any other kind of meat, and they act as if they're being offered poison.

Anybody else bugged by your pet's eating habits?

The Great Sushi Experiment

2011-03-01T06:01:00.000-05:00

Here at Ivy Bend, we like to think we're pretty daring. (We're not, but we like to think it.) And so we went to the grocery store and bought some sushi. After all, isn't it lovely?

Our verdict? Eh ... kind of bland. This was the crab/avacado sushi. I just wasn't that exciting, and since we're not wasabi or ginger fans, we didn't dip it in a lot of sauce.

So, I guess we'll just have to stick with Indian, Chinese, and Mexican food. Food with heat. Food with LOTS of flavor.

Are you a sushi lover?

New to my cupboard

2011-02-28T06:45:00.001-05:00

I don't get to the antiques co-op (where I used to have a booth) too often these days, but every time I do I find some little treasure for a bargain. Okay, the bargains there aren't as good as they are at yard sales, but one must make due until Spring returns and so do the tag sales.

Look at this little beauty. Isn't it cute? It's heavy restaurant China and says:

Inca
Ware
Shanango China
New Castle, Pa.
U.S.A.

I must have a thing for chocolate mugs for I now seem to have three of them that are in regular use.

Do you have any kind of a theme going in your cupboard?

Girly Update

2011-02-25T06:02:00.002-05:00

For Valentine's Day, Mr. Ivy gave me a little package with four different nail polishes. (Okay, I bought it and said, "You can give this to me in my Christmas stocking," but he forgot and found it in February and gave it to me for Valentine's Day.)

So, I finally broke out a bottle and for the past week I've been wearing nail polish. Mind you, I haven't worn nail polish on my fingers for quite a while. For one thing, I keep my nails short. I can't type if they get long. (Or it seems to me I make a LOT of mistakes if I wear them longer then my fingertips.)

I like to see my fingers with nail polish on them, but I tried the red and thought--ick, that looks awful. I think if you have short nails you really need to wear light colors. So I've got on light pink with sparkles and it's quite lovely, I must say.

I keep looking at my fingers as I do stuff and for days I thought...that looks very familiar. Why is that, and then I Saturday I knew. Nail polished fingers remind me of my Aunt. Lots of times she wears nail polish (or she did--I know her toenails are polished, because she showed me. (Great color, too.))

So when I'm looking at my fingers I'm thinking of her and what a wonderful cook she is. I've actually had to do some cooking this weekend (okay, mostly reheating but that's cooking to me) and I find myself watching my fingers. And I'm thinking, you know, I've got the Auntie cooking genius when I wear this silly polish. I swear the food has tasted twice as good.

Bottom line: from now on, I'm wearing nail polish when I cook.

How about you? Do you wear nail polish?

Eating Healthy

2011-02-24T06:40:00.003-05:00

A member of my family was recently diagnosed with "pre-diabetes" and told to lose weight and eat healthy. That got me thinking about how we eat, which isn't healthy enough.

For the past year, I've been trying to make changes. First up, I've pitched several of our non-stick pans. I'll be looking to replace them with Revereware or Farberware. (I've already replaced the pots--now to get another skillet or two.)

But what about food?

We eat far too much processed food. I've been switching over to lower fat and lower sodium soups, etc., and when I went to look for a can of black beans yesterday morning, I realized I'd used the last one up. It was time to break out the bag of real, dried beans.

According to the Idaho Bean Commission:

Each half-cup serving of dry beans provides six to seven grams of protein, meets at least 10% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein, yet costs about 20 cents per serving.
A single half-cup serving of cooked dry beans counts as one, one-ounce serving of lean meat in the USDA Food Pyramid Meat and Beans group, and as a full serving of vegetables in the Vegetables group. (And there are LOTS of other fascinating facts up there, too.)

I've never cooked dried beans before. Who has time to watch a pot on the stove? Instead, I rinsed and picked through the beans, like the package said, and tossed them into a girl's best friend: my crockpot.

Once the beans were cooked (on high for about three hours), I figured I was ready to go. Now to make them palatable--and that means curry paste. Okay, that's processed, too, but there's no added sodium, and I know exactly what's in today's lunch.

We need to eat more real fruits and vegetables. That would be easy for me -- not so easy for my husband. But he's agreed to try.

It's a start.

P.S. Anybody got a good black bean recipe?

Spider-mania

2011-02-23T06:37:00.001-05:00

It's no secret that I don't like bugs. Of any kind, but the bug that strikes to most terror in my heart is spiders. I hate them.

Spiders LOVE to live near water. My friend Brenda, who lives on a big pond, told me that they spray a couple of times a year to keep the spiders at bay. I worked with MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for years, so I'm not fond of poisonous chemicals and what they do to people -- so spraying isn't an option in my book. I'm very grateful for Mr. Fly Swat, and I use him often.

It really annoys me to walk into a room in my home and see a web hanging from one of the track lights and attached to the armoire/entertainment center. Grrrrr. I hate looking at my collection of knick-knacks and seeing cobwebs attached to them. Didn't I just dust them a week ago and now they're back???

Before I go to sleep, I do my nightly bug watch. Check the corners of the ceiling and work my way to the middle. Any spider up there had better be prepared for death, because I'm not going to sleep with one in my bedroom.

I remember one morning waking up and reaching for a tissue and there, sitting on my nightstand was a spider. AHHHHHHHRRRRRGGGGG!!!

Last night, I couldn't sleep, so I got up to check my e-mail. (Doesn't everyone?) And there, smack-dab in the middle of the screen, was a SPIDER. Usually I'd let out a little scream -- but as everyone was sleeping (husband and cats) I had to stifle my scream and just squish Mr. Spider.

My aunt wouldn't approve of this wanton killing spree. I know spiders are good. They eat other bugs. But they could live Long and Happy Lives if they didn't enter my living space. It's that simple.

Are you afraid of spiders?

Wanted: One Shopping Pal

2011-02-22T06:29:00.001-05:00

Years ago, I had a friend and we did lots of cool stuff together. This friend--oh, let's for the heck of it just call her Judy--and I used to go to the movies, attend local meetings, and SHOP.

Then she moved away. Although I've made other friends, none of them have been shopping buddies. I miss that. I miss going to look at dishes, and furniture, and BOOKS, and office supplies, and music and stuff. And the thing is, while I still love to window shop for these things, I hate doing it alone.

Lots of times I'll think about going to mall to look at china (not to buy, I already have a beautiful set of "good" china) and glassware. I love walking through Macy's Home Center and seeing all the pretty patterns and baubles. I love looking at the Egyptian Cotton sheets, and all the wonderful small appliances that I don't need or have room for in my tiny kitchen. But I don't have anyone to share that with.

I love to go in Michael's or Joann's and look at the material, the crafts, the pictures frames, the stickers, and the candles, but usually I'm with Mr. Ivy who can't get in and out of those places fast enough. (He can't stand the ever-present scent of potpourri.)

The only thing I don't like to shop for is clothes -- or shoes. That's just painful.

Sometimes when my friend Nancy comes home to visit, we go to bookstores, but often we just sit in a restaurant and gab for hours. We need to so some serious shopping when she comes back in April.

Until then, I'll just think about shopping. If nothing else, it saves money.
Do you have a shopping pal?

I dot a code in da doze . . .

2011-02-21T06:04:00.001-05:00

I haven't had a cold in several years--but I've got one now. As colds go, this one isn't too bad. On the misery scale of 1 to 10, I'd say I'm only at about 6.5. But I'm sure it would be much higher if it wasn't for my neti pot.

If you've never used one, it can be . . . kind of disgusting. Like when you were a kid and went swimming and water got up your nose when they made you dive into the deep end. Ick! Only this is kinda worse. You're actually rinsing your sinuses and cleaning them of germs and other crud. Click on the video below if you want to learn a lot more about it.

One of the worst things about having a cold is waking up in the middle of the night and NOT being able to breathe. I got through the night just fine.

Have you ever used a neti pot? What's your best home remedy for the common cold?