tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325652072011-07-30T21:36:46.681-07:00It's random, indulgent, and about as deep as a mud puddle but twice as much fun to play in. Recipes, quirky news to make you smile, and goofy websites that your host, Whimsy, takes you on a tour of while desperately trying to find the lighter side while struggling with the less fun things life keeps throwing her way.Whimsynoreply@blogger.comBlogger731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-25627201627424593612009-10-16T09:11:00.000-07:002009-10-16T09:52:29.208-07:00

Wow, this weather has me in a serious funk. Despite all the jokes about Seattle being rainy all the time, it really isn't. Usually if the weather is drab it's just really gray with a little rain and we almost always get a good sun break at some point during the day. Not much of that this week. It's rained every day and this morning it was pouring for the walk to K's school. By the time I got home

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-62554826658049112262009-06-11T11:35:00.000-07:002009-06-11T12:20:07.449-07:00

We now have an 8 year old. Wow, the time sure blurs by!We had an insanely fun time at Chuck E. Cheese for the big day and K got toooooooons of wonderful fun gifts. She's used/played with everything a bunch already with one exception...the Easy-Bake Oven.She wasn't really sure about it, but we (her loving 'rents) were positive this would be a great gift, so we got it for her in spite of her less

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-34975318625028860422009-04-27T09:06:00.001-07:002009-04-27T09:11:15.381-07:00

This morning I knit 10 rows on the scarf I'm working on... while walking Krash to school... and chewing gum.All at the same time!Now all I need is an MP3 player and some audio books and I'll be one more step to fulfilling my plot to take over the world!

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-56849171805000373262009-04-02T09:04:00.000-07:002009-04-02T09:38:37.273-07:00

Well, Krash has been having quite a year this year. The adjustment to her new school hasn't been without problems. The main one being the amount of homework she gets each week. In her other class, she got two pages a day. One side for math, the other for English practice.Now she gets, on average, three to four pages a day and a weekly spelling list to write sentences for (14 words, 12 sentences).

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-88696500232426943292009-04-01T08:58:00.000-07:002009-04-01T09:35:21.529-07:00

or God likes a good April Fool's gag as much as the next guy.So I get up this morning, start getting Krash ready for school and look out the window. And it's SNOWING. I'm not kidding, either, I know it's April 1, but seriously. Snow. For about 5 minutes big, fat wet flakes were coming down like nobody's business. Now it's what we would have called a "wintery mix" back East, but here, I just call

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-71704808568316191962009-03-15T13:52:00.000-07:002009-03-15T14:37:15.275-07:00

Whee! I got 5 projects finally in the finished pile! Most have been off the hook/needles for a few weeks now, and it was starting to bug me that I had such a stack of almost but not quite done projects.Heather's Mittens by Spillyjane Knits. I did a minor modification to allow the thumb to come out for texting. :)Two coffee slings: I've made 4 or 5 of these things now. The last I wanted to be a

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-61521206324519538572009-03-11T08:03:00.000-07:002009-03-11T08:21:49.275-07:00

Man, been busy-busy this week already and it's not even half over!I have something like 5 or 6 knitting projects that are almost done. The knitting is finished and they just need the last finishing touches. Some more, some less, but the end is in sight. So this week has been Bust-Out-Those-Darn-Projects Week!Yesterday was felting day. I refelted and reblocked the bag I've had for close to 2

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-25046706965534340092009-02-27T09:43:00.003-08:002009-02-27T09:50:34.199-08:00

I haven't posted anything in forever that was just plain feel-good news (because man...is it hard to come by these days). Then I found this story today that made me all kinds of warm inside. :)

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-12383998486212927552009-02-26T09:51:00.001-08:002009-02-27T10:12:58.459-08:00

So, I got a grip (again) and school is under control once more. Thank goodness!Of course, things can never be all good.Last week we lost Fu. He'd been in a bad way for a few months now and we really struggled with whether or not to put him under the additional stress of going to the vet. Yes, the money thing also played a part to some extent, but we watched him for signs that his quality of life

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-5429842687663784582009-01-16T23:35:00.006-08:002009-03-15T14:41:35.077-07:00

Frustrated venting time. I went back to school last month and I knew it would be a challenge. I knew it would test my ADD-addled brain to the limits of its ability to stay organized and focused. But...but...I thought it would at least be fun. I always liked school before, but now...I'm frustrated, stressed, and loathing most of my assignments. *sneef* I keep hoping it will improve. Maybe

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-14303828869542839102009-01-04T00:59:00.002-08:002009-01-04T01:38:43.310-08:00

Where have I been? Feels like everywhere! Well, from one ocean to another at least. Yup, we moved from Tax-achusetts back to Washington.Yes, it was fairly sudden and it was not exactly fun, but I'm glad to have done it. I also feel strangely relieved to be back in the beauteous Pacific Northwest.More changes include me going back to school for my Associate's degree and eventually a Bachelor's

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-55383949996843256892008-05-20T06:05:00.004-07:002008-05-20T06:32:02.954-07:00

Is it really spring? It must be since the weather can't seem to decide between heavy rain, light rain, or rain only when I go outside to walk to the bus with no umbrella. It's not all bad, though, it's trying to warm up, with more days that are nice enough to leave the jackets at home. The flowers are all up and Krazee K is getting anxious for school to be over...always a sure sign that summer

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-44380662887276237722008-05-20T04:25:00.005-07:002008-12-02T08:56:31.679-08:00

I got this recipe from a kid's show whose name now escapes me because it was last year and I neglected to write the name down. :(In any event, this is a great alternative to warmed s'mores, particularly with summer coming on when something a little cooler might be more appealing. Another bonus here is that it's very kid friendly so even the littlest ones can help out with making it.Ingredients:1

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-30570200617709967882008-05-19T18:35:00.003-07:002008-08-08T06:24:51.160-07:00

My original potato soup recipe was, what my best friend Fiona called a pre-triple bypass meal. It had a full pound of bacon, ¼ pound butter, and heavy cream in it. Oh, and a potato or two. Needless to say, with the Man-thing on a low cholesterol diet now, this recipe had to take on a serious revamp.Looking around on ye olde intarwebs for some ideas, I found that a lot of potato/veg soups are

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-53900284212620941062008-03-17T04:32:00.003-07:002008-03-17T04:44:56.331-07:00

I know I haven't been active with posting the last few months, but this winter's just been plain tough on me this year. I've lost two grandparents and have had a house full of a particularly nasty flu for weeks. Toss in some standard winter blues, mix well with a handful of cabin fever, and you've got a pretty glum little Whimsy.I do have 3 recipes saved in my drafts that I have been trying to

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-44789665802752806382007-12-19T05:17:00.000-08:002007-12-19T06:03:52.917-08:00

There are things I love about living in New England, and one of those is that very few people here will touch salmon because the local stuff is all farm raised and just plain nasty tasting. That means that when the Man-thing's company gets gift packs of smoked Pacific salmon, we get all of it. Mmmmm..... This is a properly layered dip, but it's also great all mixed together and then served

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-67537346946308850052007-12-04T02:22:00.000-08:002007-12-04T02:30:29.786-08:00

Dorothy M TharpDecember 3, 1925 - December 3, 2007Mother, Grandmother, Friend...and the best darned cook anywhere.Give Grandpa a hug and kiss from his granddaughter, Big D.I'll miss you.

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-17828175261883966342007-11-05T06:30:00.000-08:002007-11-05T08:18:45.900-08:00

I've been asked and asked and asked by many people when I was going to post again to ye olde blog here and the best I could answer for the last few months was, "When I feel like it." Yeah, a pretty poor excuse, but my writing urges have been pathetically low lately. As in...nil. I just haven't wanted to write anything. Not emails, not blog posts, nothing. Nada. Zilch. I don't know why, but

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-80300271212402193872007-06-10T19:55:00.000-07:002008-12-09T16:02:49.046-08:00

Well, we've been wonderfully busy, thus the relative quiet here on the blog. Starting with one of the big ones, Krazee K turned six and her birthday was a roaring success. She got cute clothes that she adores, two books that have been on her favorite list at the library for some time, some new LeapPad titles to play with, a Hello Kitty from Build-a-Bear that is her new best friend, and a

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-6739495247200734362007-04-24T16:58:00.000-07:002007-04-24T17:29:30.893-07:00

Nothing beats the heat like cool, crisp cukes. Yeah, everyone knows this recipe, I think. It's so darned tasty, and versatile going with everything from burgers to teriyake. Not enough can be said about this great and simple side dish, it was a staple during the summer courtesy of my mom's green thumb and huge garden throughout my childhood.Ingredients:1 cucumber, sliced into thin circles1

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-87774422786663670192007-04-24T16:01:00.000-07:002007-04-25T10:45:28.952-07:00

The other day while grocery shopping, I stopped to look at a teriyake marinade that was on special. It's no secret I miss the myriad little teriyake shops scattered throughout the Seattle area almost as thickly as espresso stands, so it certainly sounded like it would be a good addition to the new menu plan. Turning the bottle over to check the fat/cholesterol amounts, it dawned on me that I

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-15650850969085381152007-04-20T10:06:00.000-07:002007-04-20T11:17:25.024-07:00

The way kids can go through Play-Doh and other clay type craft stuff can get expensive. We always buy the mini cans of Play-Doh because it keeps the stuff from all drying out so fast. Krazee K, however, has decided that she much prefers salt dough anyway. I think partly because she can use all of my oddball kitchen gadgets which I won't allow near the Play-Doh. (Yeah, they say it's non-toxic,

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-46010650666115684322007-04-14T16:47:00.000-07:002007-04-14T16:52:53.004-07:00

A gorgeous photo of the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters, taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.More about this photo here.

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-66259200757624489212007-04-14T05:35:00.000-07:002007-04-14T06:05:15.516-07:00

This is a super good, super easy side or even a main dish if you throw in enough veggies and a bit of meat. Just remember to cook your rice well enough in advance to let it cool, otherwise it will continue cooking while you combine all your ingredients. If this happens, the rice has a naughty habit of turning into mushy paste and is not nearly as appealing to eat.Since we're on a low

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-52121998003721666542007-04-12T09:18:00.000-07:002007-04-12T09:31:54.841-07:00

Well, I finally got around to my follow-up visit with a sleep specialist after my sleep study a couple months ago. I don't know why, but I do get a perverse pleasure from watching doctors scratch their heads over me. It's obvious something is wrong, just not exactly what.I do have some mild apnea, apparently, but still in the normal range, if on the high side. BUT...when I'm dreaming, my apnea

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-14057891700152976732007-04-10T16:00:00.000-07:002007-04-10T15:04:11.444-07:00

So, Easter has come and gone.I never did get to my baking, though I've got my finger's crossed to still do some Spring yummies this week. My freezer is filled with leftovers from the monster pork loin that came with our last grocery order. I'm still trying to figure out how a listing of 5 to 7 pounds of pork loin ends up being closer to thirteen pounds when it arrives. The three of us barely

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-35089366901588435022007-04-10T13:56:00.000-07:002007-04-10T14:39:37.571-07:00

Few things beat the dreary cold and wet of early spring quite like a bowl of soup for dinner. Even better when the soup's main ingredient has been slow cooking for an hour or better. Of course, you have to be an onion fan to like this particular soup. ;)This recipe does take longer than most I prefer (I like to keep meals to 30 minutes or less if at all possible) but it is a very non-fussy

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-84771848982414762622007-04-02T06:59:00.000-07:002007-04-02T07:40:55.532-07:00

We had a pretty good weekend. Yesterday we went to the outlet mall and I finally got some stuff for storing all my spices and teas I got for Christmas. I need more still, but at least we finally found somewhere that carries things that will work. I got some magnetic back tins for the teas that I can keep right on the side of the refrigerator to help reduce clutter inside my already packed

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-44000271505537512472007-03-27T06:07:00.000-07:002008-12-09T16:02:49.264-08:00

Krazee K has been keeping me on my toes the last couple weeks by exerting her independence. While I think it's great that my normally cautious girl is stretching her wings a bit, it's still a challenge to direct her in things other than cutting her hair or getting her into trouble.Today, for example, she wanted to side-track through the park in front of the city hall just before the school on

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-68269220356925584032007-03-16T12:15:00.000-07:002008-12-09T16:02:49.801-08:00

I know my mom used to say this whenever I would go on some snarky rant or other, or when I was having a bitchfest over life in general. While I think that getting frustrations out of one's system to a sympathetic ear can be healthy, excessive pity parties are more often than not completely self-serving excuses to not move forward. And, since there are plenty of blogs out there that are little

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-85269343040712568702007-01-15T06:28:00.000-08:002007-01-15T07:10:31.321-08:00

Well, another crazy holiday season is over, thank goodness.Right after I posted last, the house got hit by the flu. K got it first, and missed a full week of school and included a trip to the doctor. Then, naturally, I got it. Somehow, we still managed to get the holiday baking done and the little winter dioramas made up for K's teachers. Of course, I didn't think to take pictures until they

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-87314884901997916032006-12-03T13:48:00.000-08:002008-12-09T16:02:49.927-08:00

Well, we're now better than half-way done with the holiday season here at the Whimsy home. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and my birthday all passed by with no major disasters happening, which is always good.I've been cheerfully plying my crochet hooks and knitting needles the last week or so. With my birthday money I bought some "Quick and Thick" chenille yarn in black and made myself a very nice

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-86360961409210989522006-12-03T13:30:00.000-08:002006-12-03T13:47:12.273-08:00

Not too long ago in an earlier post I talked about a coconut cream pie recipe I had found that sounded too good to be true. Well, like most things, it was.The instructions were incomplete (just when is it you're supposed to add the 3/4 cup of sugar, anyway?) and the bit where you add the cream cheese was confusing, so with some consultation we finally decided on the best way to do it.The

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-62388248102317182772006-11-18T20:13:00.000-08:002006-11-21T11:30:03.212-08:00

Sitting and watching the Food Network tonight with the Man-Thing, I asked him if there were any particular treats he'd like on my Christmas baking list. Naturally, the answer was "No, not really." He's always so helpful like that.Puttering around the kitchen doing the dinner dishes, I was still ruminating over my holiday baking. So many choices, so little space and time. I then started

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-34437280743393578092006-11-18T09:18:00.000-08:002006-12-03T13:39:59.986-08:00

I don't think I know a single adult who doesn't get at least a little stressed during the holiday season, and it's right here nipping at our heels. For me it always starts in October with getting costume(s) done for Halloween, then it's starting to wonder if I'm going to be able to cram a Thanksgiving feast into my miniature kitchen yet again while trying to compile wishlists for the crew to

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-24053904708160620522006-11-08T06:12:00.000-08:002006-11-08T09:19:36.349-08:00

This is a fluff blog. I promised myself that I would concentrate only on things that were happy, uplifting, all that.... Today, though, I read an article that has me so twisted up in a knot that I just have to get it out.I have been opposed to the No Child Left Behind policy since the very start. Do I think that we should continue to let kids fail in school? Absolutely not, but this

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-39878996813114054152006-11-06T17:01:00.000-08:002006-11-06T21:12:14.736-08:00

Yes, squee. The grocery store was filled with happy noises today when I hit the meat section and discovered they had skirt steak in stock. Skirt steak!!!! Okay, now I know this isn't one of the most popular cuts of meat, in fact this is the first time I've ever seen it outside of an actual butcher store. If you don't know what it is, it's a cut from the bottom ribs, tons of marbling and

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-72485560156805634962006-11-05T19:45:00.000-08:002006-11-05T20:45:37.622-08:00

I'm in the process of adding some of Blogger's beta features to the site here, so any general wierdness that you see...please ignore. You'll notice one thing that I think is pretty spiffy, the heirarchal archive of posts. I might get it back to the more soothing blue soon (I hope, but I might not bother, the green is rather easy on the eyes).(This message will self destruct as soon as I get it

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1162783825827807732006-11-05T18:55:00.000-08:002006-11-07T11:06:18.425-08:00

One of the things I miss most about moving from Yakima (and now so far away that even the regular visits we used to make are out of the question) was Fiona's fabulous Shepherd's Pie. Of course, she used real lamb (a luxury if you've ever priced the little cuties) which really helps make the dish. Fi's such an awesome cook, though, she could probably make it with kibble and it would still turn out

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1162689666416407772006-11-04T15:48:00.000-08:002006-11-07T11:05:27.834-08:00

Alright, I know I've been way lax on updating the ole blog here, but I've been all sorts of busy!Here's the list of what's been up in Whimsy's World:First, school started for our little Krazee K this fall. Kindergarten is nothing like it was for us when we were little. Even her teacher says it's more like first grade than the old Kindergarten. So it's taken me a bit of time to adjust to the new

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1159967556246158612006-10-04T06:06:00.000-07:002006-11-07T11:03:58.105-08:00

What are the chances that a baby should escape the watch of her babysitters and manage to climb to a third floor balcony, slip, and find herself dangling from a single chubby fist? Every parent's nightmare and all too imaginable. Baby's can be devilishly fast.What are the odds that someone walking underneath should hear the frightened crying above and manage to get under the child in time to

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1158672278240870412006-09-19T06:14:00.000-07:002006-11-07T11:02:41.948-08:00

Arrr! 'Tis the day o' the year when we all be encouraged t' get in touch with our (arrr?) inner-pirate. So quit yer bellyachin' and to arms, matey! We'll swill some grog and hoist the mizzen afore the day be done!(Okay, so I really suck at talking like a pirate, but it's still fun. :D)Technorati Tags: talk like a pirate day, pirates, silly, yarr!

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1158428882839934902006-09-16T10:25:00.000-07:002006-11-07T11:02:06.898-08:00

Long leaf tea is by far the best, as anyone who's ever tasted the difference between the 'real' thing and what you get when you dunk those standard tea bags in a cup of hot water will be quick to point out.Times are definitely changing.Lipton is going to be the forerunner in this new revolution in tea bags. The nylon material making up the bags isn't entirely new, I've had some tea made from

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1156786592252847972006-08-28T10:32:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:59:59.650-08:00

A woman in China thought she'd give her dog a brief driving lesson. Maybe she should have had the pooch take an eye exam first...they didn't get very far. Fortunately no one was injured in the subsequent accident, though the car was dinged up and the police were (to say the least) not amused. UPDATE: I would have the full AP article linked here, but when I checked it during the course of adding

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1156786030676894492006-08-28T10:26:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:55:11.185-08:00

After losing his license because of health problems two years ago, an 85 year old man was using his riding lawnmower to help him get around, usually driving on the sidewalks. The police nixed that idea when they found out about his little trips and told him no more.When an anonymous woman found out about Mr. Steinbach's predicament, she donated a motorized scooter that had been bought for her

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1156431024298584782006-08-24T07:32:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:54:09.526-08:00

Back on the theme of beverages with hidden health benefits, I ran across this article this morning:Tea 'Healthier' Drink Than WaterI drink tea (usually hot) regularly, though not daily. I miss my sun tea jar terribly this summer, but apparently it isn't something that many people make here on the East Coast, so I couldn't find a replacement. I made many assumptions on things that would be '

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1156383591324449372006-08-23T18:36:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:52:43.258-08:00

I was always a sucker for my old EZ Bake Oven. I loved that thing as only a kid can. I have no idea what ever happened to it, I think after I ran out of mix packets it got left behind. I know you can make cakes with regular cake mix, but Mom (understandably) didn't want me to raid her pantry for full sized boxes of cake mix. Hehe.Anyway, I found this grown-up computer geek version of the EZ

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1156357802202953312006-08-23T11:25:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:51:56.337-08:00

You know, when I moved my blog and recipes here, I was looking for some keen sites that were silly, frivolous, goofy, and/or fun. One that I was kicking myself for not saving was this one. I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was called, then another site I visit semi-regularly turned up with a link for it submitted by another reader.Serendipity!!As soon as I get this posted, I'm

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1156296942063229652006-08-22T17:55:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:51:11.571-08:00

I am shamelessly copying this off the back of a jar of mayo. Enjoy!Servings: Serves 4Ingredients:1.5 lb Chicken tenders or chicken breasts cut into fingers1 C. Mayonaise1/2 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese2 C. Italian Flavored Breadcrumbs or Plain Breadcrumbs with a Tbsp. or two of Oregano, Italian mix seasonings, etc.Procedure:Preheat oven to 325°. In a pie plate or wide, shallow bowl, combine

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155738360356427632006-08-16T07:23:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:50:27.121-08:00

Yes!! I'm so excited. I have proof that I've been treating my body right all these years. Really!Coffee is good for you! Can't take the caffeine? Decaf is just as filled with antioxidant goodness and may seriously improve your chances at fighting diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer.After years of being told pretty much anything and everything you put in your body unless it was

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155648497007617552006-08-15T06:28:00.000-07:002006-11-05T19:26:38.076-08:00

Well, it's a perfectly gray and dreary morning, this morning. I've been up for a couple hours and still haven't managed to get much done. At least the apartment smells wonderful from the bread baked last night, the machine beeped just in time for me to make the Man-Thing's lunch.Even though it's a balmy 72F outside, the damp is making it feel quite a bit cooler. I have the windows open and the

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155530572615172222006-08-13T21:27:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:48:51.125-08:00

Admittedly, not all these links are whimsical, but they're all at least PDC (Pretty Darned Cool!) in nature.I started to add some of my collection of oddball links to the sidebar before I realized that odds are I'll spend most of my time updating and republishing the template (since that's where the pesky things were sitting) than finding more PDC links to add to my collection...er...share with

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155521722169247222006-08-13T19:15:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:48:15.381-08:00

Here's a story that speaks for itself. I thought it was great. :)Fla. Man, 86, Pays $1 Ticket From 1946PALM HARBOR, Fla. - William Fogarty doesn't understand the fuss. He just forgot to pay a parking ticket. When he finally realized it, the 86-year-old retiree made good and mailed in a money order, to pay a $1 ticket he got 60 years ago.Fogarty got the ticket in Norfolk, Va., in May 1946. Soon

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155520854018674572006-08-13T19:00:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:46:57.510-08:00

Okay, I'm just speechless here with laughter over this idea, but here goes...Remember those huge, clunky rotary telephones that weighed somethinglike 30 pounds? Well, now you can get one that is a svelt 2 poundsand...are you ready for this? CORDLESS!!!Yup, kids. Have a bit of nostalgia while taking your Port-O-Rotary with you where ever you want to go!And, if you don't have the $499 to drop on

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155519271504499972006-08-13T18:34:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:45:38.831-08:00

Okay, I know Pong sounds like a lame game to play on your computer, but this is a riot to play! Think...Pong meets Packman with gravity wells and a "lazy" button for when you're feeling...well...lazy!Check it out if you have a few spare minutes. It's pretty goofy, absolutely pointless, and thus entirely worthy of playing. Heeheehttp://www.2flashgames.com/f/f-579.htmTechnorati Tags: pong,

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155514570313246312006-08-13T17:16:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:44:50.380-08:00

Debbie Phillips comes home to find her house spotlessly clean. How cool is that?! Of course, there's only one problem. No one, not even her, knows who did the cleaning. Not her husband, her neighbors, and of course the police just laughed when she tried to report it.They do figure it out...but I'll pretend I didn't read that far down in the article. I want to sit back with my morning coffee,

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155505863912919162006-08-13T14:49:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:43:07.815-08:00

This is my own take on my friend Fiona's rather infamous Lavender Shortbread. I haven't quite got mine perfected as she has hers, but with practice I hope to get it there some day.Servings: Depends on size of cookies madeIngredients:1 C butter, softened1/2 C sugar1 tsp almond extract2 1/2 cups flour1 1/2 tsp dried lavender blossomsProcedure:Preheat oven to 300 F.Use an electric mixer to cream

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155505666911781792006-08-13T14:46:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:42:02.090-08:00

This is a great, easy side with a lot of flavor that goes fantastic with poultry and pork. Best of all, it only takes a minute longer than just boiling the carrots to begin with!Serving Size: Serves 4 to 6Ingredients:Small bag of baby carrotsSalt1 Tbsp Butter1 Tbsp HoneyCinnamonCloveNutmegProcedure:Boil carrots in lightly salted water until fork tenderDrain water and add butter, honey, and

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155505570400138182006-08-13T14:44:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:31:28.016-08:00

A hearty side dish that will stand up to the most flavorful main course. Ripe olives tossed in at the last minute adds a lovely cool surprise at the table.Prepared ahead of time and chilling in the refridgerator allows the flavors to mellow, blend, and sweeten, making this a divine addition for a picnic when served cold.Servings: 4 servingsIngredients:2 medium onions, sliced2 Tbsp olive oil3

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155505278320265872006-08-13T14:39:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:30:02.321-08:00

Growing up, the holidays just weren't the same without my grandma's cinnamon baked apples on the table. The recipe isn't difficult, but if you're cramped for oven space, yet another dish baking for 25 to 30 minutes can be a hassle.This one tastes just as good as my grandma's but it's done in only a few minutes. Another great thing about it is that because you can make them one at a time in the

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155505135065897852006-08-13T14:36:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:28:52.485-08:00

One Leftover Night we had a while back, I didn't have quite enough for us, so I let everyone else have the yummy leftovers while I scrounged around for something that I could make for just me.I then got into trouble with my husband because he thought mine looked way better than his.... Now we have it on a semi-regular basis.A restaurant we used to visit served 2 lb. burritos very similar to this

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155504805273096502006-08-13T14:29:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:26:26.805-08:00

This recipe specifically calls for a Pampered Chef stoneware deep dish baker. It is a Pampered Chef recipe also. Since I have a baker, I don't have to alter the recipe other than preferred ingredients. I really should try it with a cookie sheet some time, just to see how necessary the stoneware really is for success in this recipe.I imagine you could use a regular pizza crust, but it wouldn't be

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155504533215575462006-08-13T14:25:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:25:47.243-08:00

If I were to list my favorite condiments and cooking ingredients, Miracle Whip would not number among them. It's not that the fine makers of this label are putting out shoddy products, it's just that the taste isn't one I normally go for.If you feel the same way, please don't discount this absolutely yummy dish. It's one of my family's favorites and we have it on a fairly regular basis. That and

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155504340076619042006-08-13T14:22:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:25:06.632-08:00

This has always been one of my all time favorite dishes. Serve it with some quick steamed carrots and some rice pilaf (Near East brand is my current favorite for easy pilaf). With a green salad as a starter, you'll have a meal so good that your family will think you either want something or that company was supposed to be coming over and cancelled.Servings: Serves 4Ingredients:1/4 cup

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155502942923654082006-08-13T13:52:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:24:23.154-08:00

This is my tuna spread recipe that has evolved over years of tweaking and trying new things to breathe new life into the rather tired idea of tuna sandwiches.For a long time I just added a smidgen of Old Spice brand dill mustard with the mayo and called it good. Since moving to the East Coast, I can't find a lot of the familiar products that I had come to rely on, Old Spice condiments being one

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155502228865477652006-08-13T13:45:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:23:28.925-08:00

If you haven't tried this before, you don't know what your missing. *drool*Servings: 2 to 10, depending on how greedy you are!Ingredients:2 jars (6.5 oz) marinated artichoke hearts1 20 oz pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained1/2 cup sour cream1/2 cup mayonnaise1 garlic clove, pressed3/4 cup grated Parmesan Procedure:Preheat oven to 375ºF.Drain and coarsely chop artichoke

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155501948646490062006-08-13T13:32:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:22:39.423-08:00

I had some apples I needed to find something to put in before they went bad, running out of breakfast cereal was just what I needed to decide what to do with them!This is a darker applesauce than what you usually see, but it's also much richer in flavor than what you might be used to.This isn't just something that works for breakfast, although it is to die for with some cinnamon-raisin bread

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155500489451750692006-08-13T13:16:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:21:53.477-08:00

I have no idea how old this type of treat really is. While this one is modern in that I've combined several recipes to make it, the idea behind the flavors used together dates back centuries.Servings: Depends on how big you make the cake slices...Ingredients:Spice Cake1 1/4 C all-purpose flour3/4 C sugar1 tsp baking powder1 tsp ground cinnamon1/2 tsp salt1/4 tsp ground cloves3/4 C milk1/3 C

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155355136078365292006-08-11T20:51:00.000-07:002006-11-07T10:20:28.085-08:00

This is a fabulous after dinner drink that doubles as a dessert and can be found on the menus of many restaurants that offer flambe selections.This is a fire-retardant and slightly lower proof version that is just as good on cold winter nights or romantic evenings. (Valentine's day IS coming up after all!)Ingredients: (Per person)1 wide-rimmed red wine glass per personSmall wedge of freshly

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155354661340801612006-08-11T20:49:00.000-07:002006-11-06T21:02:13.378-08:00

Summer is over and the chill of autumn has set in, or perhaps it's the deepest part of winter and you need something to perk up those grey days.Whether company is coming over or it's just the regular gathering of family, this will warm the entire house with the smell of slow cooked fruit and spices.Servings: 8 to 10 servings depending on cup sizeIngredients:8 Cups water1 12oz can frozen

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155354438068238192006-08-11T20:44:00.000-07:002006-11-06T21:00:59.440-08:00

You can either use the handy search feature at the top of the page for "Recipes" or you can come here for a (hopefully) more organized list of internal links as I get them added.Beverages:Spiced CoffeeHot Cranberry PunchCafe RicoIndulgences:Lavender ShortbreadSpice Cake with Rose SyrupFriday Morning ApplesauceAppetizers:Hot Artichoke DipSomebody Loves Me Tuna Spread (theme and variation!)Main

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155352264507038022006-08-11T20:07:00.000-07:002006-11-06T21:01:19.444-08:00

Coffee is a popular pick-me-up in the mornings for many people, yes, even me, the Coffee Goddess. It's so easy to make, just start up the pot and by the time you're done showering for work, you have a load of fresh jitter juice to get you going.You're coffee's always been there for you, so why not give that morning ritual a little extra attention that it deserves for being such a faithful

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32565207.post-1155305493449466172006-08-11T07:11:00.000-07:002006-11-05T19:26:36.746-08:00

Whimsy?Sure, whimsical aims seem like a pointless effort, but when I look in the news today I see so much negativity there are days when I want to just crawl back into my bed and pull the covers up over my head and try and pretend I can just make it all go away.Now, I know I can't do that, and don't get me wrong, I am very concerned about the things going on in the world and I do follow the news

Whimsynoreply@blogger.com0