Choice Morsels

This rendition of, "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch," from YouTube performed by the Small Town Titans is, next to the original cartoon song,  the best one I've ever heard! Turn up the Volume & Enjoy! (Click the bottom right corner of video to enlarge to full screen.)

Get a head start on ordering those Christmas cards and other seasonal delights!  'Tis the Season Teal Holly Wreath Photo Card Looking for Holiday Cards? Go HERE for a full selection of folded, flat, photo and non-photo Holiday greetings! If you're interested in my card designs,  Go HERE to peruse my  Best Holiday Greetings Collection!  Meowy Christmas Mug Looking for Holiday Mugs? Go HERE for a full selection of  photo and non-photo Holiday mugs! Coastal Beach Christmas Tree Skirt Looking for Holiday Decor? Go HERE for a wide selection of  Christmas pillows, Tree Skirts, Christmas Stockings & Keepsake Photo Gifts, including Photo Ornaments! Snowflake Christmas Table Cloth Looking for Holiday Linens? Go HERE for a wide selection of Holiday Table Runners, Table Cloths, Place Mats,  Aprons, Kitchen Towels, Cloth Napkins & Paper Napkins! Next ...

I got this idea from someone else's post in my Google+ and thought it great to pass along! We all have tons of photos around---in our phones, saved in our computers, sitting in boxes waiting for that being made"someday" into a memory book! Heres's some easy ideas for putting those photos to use: 1 )  Enjoy your photos right on your computer screen! Select "Slideshow" in your computer screen Personalization setting, choose a file of photos for "browse," and enjoy a shifting display of your photos! The time is automatically 30 minutes, but can be set to other options. (This means you'll have to save your camera and phone photos to your computer to have a file to browse---if you haven't already.) 2)  Make a Calendar! For yourself of your last vacation or a family photo one to send to relative! It's a great Holiday gift idea! Lots of options online for making calendars.  Also you can walk into Walmart and use their photo g...

A few amusing Pins from my humor Pinterest board: #1)   Quote by Albert Einstein combined with a photo kids all on smart phones: "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots." Years ago, back in the 70's, I read a short science fiction story about technology advancing to the point here on earth where people didn't ever have to leave their homes. They could do everything remotely by computer: socialize, earn a living, order food or whatever they needed. No one talked face to face.  Everyone forgot how. Seeing technology today, I often remember that story and it gives me deju vu.  #2)  Statue of Liberty with Light Saber. #3) Millenial Anti-Theft Device   We've successfully raised an entire generation that, for the most part, can't drive a manual transmission. 

Today's "find" is using Coffee Grounds in the garden! I usually keep a small bowl on the counter lined with a plastic bag (like a Walmart bag) and to empty my grounds into, then I  dump the wet grounds into a 10 x 13 foil pan, shake it to spread them out and let them dry  in the sun. I find them easier to sprinkle over soil if they're dry. I understand you can ask Starbucks for used grounds and they'll give you a large quantity---good if you want a lot. Things to Do with Coffee Grounds: *  Sprinkling grounds over the surface of soil around Hostas and other garden plants is a great deterrent for snails & slugs, who don't like the texture. *   Dig grounds (wet or dry) into the soil in around any acid-loving plants: Azaleas, Roses, Hydrangeas, Camellias, Blueberries & Citrus Trees. Mostly for a nitrogen boost to your soil. Looser soil also attracts earthworms, who enrich the soil. *   Make your own liquid feeder "tea" for...

Todays "find" is a few photos I took in Crystal River, Florida. We recently drove down to Homosassa Springs, Florida to visit Hubby's half brothers & sisters, though our motel was in the adjacent hamlet called Crystal River.   The Days Inn there was a Denny's attached, so it was a great place to stay! We live on the Panhandle and Crystal River/Homosassa Springs are on the western side of the Peninsula south of Gainesville, but north of Clearwater about a 7 hour drive away. The area is small town America, both towns situated around  two large rivers that pour into a delta on the Gulf and are surrounded by State and National wildlife preserves and parks. I took this shot below off a pier looking across the wide expanse of river at boats and residences on the opposite side: This next shot is across a river bayou is typical of the scenery in the area: lots of Live Oak trees draped in Spanish Moss: Here's a view down one street in ...

I walked out to take a photo of my daffodils today and found this: A bumble bee tucked inside a daffodil trumpet, sound asleep: Typically, it's the Drones you find napping like this, completely motionless. They only have one job, and, once done, they're otherwise useless around the hive, so the Workers kick them out. They really have little else to do, but sleep the day away. (This is a Brown Belted Bumble Bee.)

I was actually busy Wednesday, so I didn't get around to doing a Garden Pic post, so I decided to show off the first blooms of my Daffodils today! It means, for Northwest Florida, winter is generally over.  I ordered some veggies seeds to day from a company called Seed Savers, which is devoted to saving the diversity of our worlds flower and vegetable seeds, because varieties are gradually becoming homogenized by big farming. Many of their seeds have fascinating origins; some donated by families who've owned and grown them for generations! I ordered a bush zucchini, bush green beans & a drought resistant kind of spinach. I plan on buying tomato plants locally. I'll want to get going on the veggie garden around mid-March. Today, I planted the potted Hyacinth bulbs I'd purchased a couple week ago into their permanent location outside and used my weeding tool to dig up numerous Spider Worts that are where I don't want them.  They're pretty, but i...

That's the question Hubby likes to ask all the teenage baggers as they walk our groceries out to our car after we're done shopping at the Commissary on base. (They work strictly for tips.) The answers are always interesting; some more then others. Enginerd Shirt The #1 answer is: " I'm going to be an Engineer. " I don't know why that's so popular. They never specify what kind of engineer though, since there are many different fields of study. So I doubt they actually know anything about it. The #2 most common answer is :  " I plan on joining the Military. " Most say they're planning on finishing the college first, so they can go in as an Officer, while a couple others planned to directly enlist after high school. (Both boys and girls) One we met more recently said  his plan was to attend the Air Force Academy---he'll probably end up being some kind of engineer. The 3 best answers we've ever heard are: 1) ...

Today, photos of our outdoor and indoor Christmas trees decorated for the season! Outside: Our Oakland Holly Tree It's first year for getting decorated!This is it's 3rd Christmas. Just the right size to slip a set of bush lights over! I figure we'll enjoy decorating it as long as it's a reachable height. Inside: Festive Frazier Fir There's just something magical about looking at a tree full of brightly colored lights, in the dark, and listening to the soft sounds of Christmas music.  It makes me relive so many happy childhood memories! Many of the ornaments on the tree are antique now, being 50 years old, considering I've had a couple of them, since I was 10.  I have still have a set of glass ornaments my sister, Jane, sent Hubby and I, when we were first married, making them around 35. All five, still good as new, grace the tree every year, then get stored in their original box.

Bad Photographer Wanted Nowadays, to all our great aggravation, you've seen these reCAPTSHA things you have to click on in order to sign-in to places online, right? I've decided being a photographer for them would be the perfect job. Imagine. Just wandering around taking pictures of whatever. Pieces of signs. Parts of buildings. Random parked cars. Sections of highway. No worries about framing or lighting or clarity. If it's blurry, that's even better. Imagine a reCaptsha company want ad: Wanted: Bad photographers. Photograph anything. We'll pay $$ for nonsense. ****** Are Your Eggs Hammered? Google has a "translate" feature so if you come upon something  written in a foreign language you want to read, you can simply click "translate," and get it in your language. But I tell you, using this feature to translate things to American English can have really amusing results! Once upon a time I clicked on a Pinterest recipe ...

Everyone has a smart phone FULL of photos! Why not turn those photos into a fun calendar for yourself or as a gift for friends and family? I've selected 3 to show you, but you can see tons more Photo Calendar options HERE . Choose from 3 calendar sizes, 16 interior appearance options and 7 coil colors! Colorful Pattern Personalized 18 Photo Template Calendar! Cheerful patterns adorn every page! Just personalize the year & family name & add your photos! See more creative ideas by this artist here . Navy Watercolor Stripe Photo Calendar! A simple elegant layout that just takes 13 photos! A great way to show friends and family all the special moments of your life! See more wonderful ideas by this artist here . Scrapbook Style Photo Memory Calendar! A beautiful one-of-a-kind calendar! Every page unique! Holds 16 fun family photos plus has an optional space for jotting down a "memory" for each photo, a`la scrapbook style! Just pers...

I was very touched when I read this inspiring story on Good News Network: This elderly gentlemen, Lawrence Silk, served 3 different tours of duty in Vietnam. Now 84 in a memory care home with dementia, he wakes up everyday haunted by a need to do his duty and ship back out for war and is constantly upset his care-givers won't let him go. His family reached out through social media for a military official to visit their father and give him some kind of commemoration for his past service to try and put their Dad's worries to rest. Air Force Lt. Colonel LaFrazia, who served in Mr. Silks same Vietnam squadron, heard this and offered to visit Lawrence. He gave him a Certificate of Appreciation from the Air Force, a USAF Civil Engineering Badge and also Challenge coins from Prime Beef and Red Horse units for his service as a combat engineer in order to reassure him his duty was finished and his service honorable. Col. LaFrazia givng Lawrence his Certificate of Appreci...

Today's "find" is another great Inspiring News story! This young man with cerebal palsy landed his dream job of working for Security at the Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida! (photo by Work Opportunities Unlimited) He got this opportunity with the help of a community based organization called "Work Opportunities Unlimited." The Stadium assistant manager, Alex Inman, said they hired him because they felt he could do an excellent job! There's a full video available on this story here . and you can read more Inspiring News stories here at the   Good News Network !

I don't know about you, but I'm sick of seeing nothing but bad news on the news media. So, I went looking for something better and found The Good News Network  that features nothing but positive and inspiring news stories! So, for Friday Find's today, I'm going to feature a few highlights from one of those inspiring stories:   8 Stories of Cops Being Absolutely Awesome in 2015!  (To see all the stories and read the details, visit the link above.) Police officers see a man in a wheelchair trying to mow his lawn, stop and mow it for him! ***** Police officer finds homeless family sleeping in car in city park and puts them up in a motel! ***** Police officer made a 6-year old Autistic Boy's  dream come true! ***** Police Officer stops at girl's lemonade stand and finds out she's trying to earn money for an iPad, since her family is financially struggling, and surprises her with a special gift! ***** I especially ...

The Ocala National Park is the second largest nationally protected park in the Florida! Located East of Ocala, Florida, it's  It's 607 acres of protect Florida eco-enviroments ranging from springs to conifer forests to wetland prairies and is spread over 4 counties. Established in 1908, it's the oldest national forest East of the Mississippi and the Southern most national forest on the continental U.S. Camping: There are 14 developed campgrounds, each with it's own name. Amenties vary from campground to campground. Only Salt Lake Campground has full hook-up service for RV's. Several others have dump stations & shower facilities, while others offer a primitive camping experience. Cabins: Two cabins are available for rental for a small group or large family. One for 10 people; the other, 12. Recreation: The Park features natural springs for swimming and a lake for canoeing, boating & fishing. There's also picnic areas, extens...

Today, we're talking diaphragmatic breathing & how to do it. Call it "belly breathing," if you like. It's a method of deep breathing where you fill the lower portion of your lungs with air FIRST.  Belly breathing helps lower stress or anxiety and sends higher levels of oxygen throughout the body, the lymph system & the brain. I first learned the  diaphragmatic or "belly breathing" technique through a anxiety workbook I did. The author pointed that as newborn infants we all automatically breathing diaphragmatically and I've seen my share of fresh newborns as a Air Force medic and it's true. They do.   It is only as we grow older we start "chest breathing," with our upper lungs. Of course, some athletic training & sports re-train proper breathing techniques and  certainly Yoga does.  Learn to Belly Breath: #1) To begin, either lay down comfortably or sit comfortably. #2)  Place one hand on your chest and place...

Since I used to be a florist, I thought for "Friday Finds" today, I'd introduce you to varieties of "Green Flowers," you can request in a bouquet for St. Patricks Day, whether for table arrangement or a gift of wrapped flowers! Green flowers do run a wide variety of green shades ranging from dark to light, including a lime tone citron. I've organized these from least expensive to more expensive. These are all naturally green in color. None are dyed. Green Button Mums: Fugi Mums: Carnations:  Gladiolas: Bells of Ireland: Green Hypericum  Nickname is "Coffee beans" in floral business. These are actually St. John's Wort berries. Green Hydrangeas A pricier option, these are young heads that haven't colored yet. Green Anthuriums If you want something more expensive & tropical Green Roses: Also a pricier option, these are usuall...

Capture the past on your walls! Decorate with cool vintage travel posters you can frame & hang! Here's 3 of my favorites! Chicago Illinois Vintage Travel Poster SS Normandie French Line Vintage Ship Ad Poster Colorful San Francisco Travel Poster I've shown you some fantastic posters, but vintage ad art is available on tons of things, like shirts, mugs, phone cases, cards, stamps & lots more!  Food ads, travel ads, product ads! To see all, go here ! ***** Have a great weekend and see you for Good Eating Monday!