~Bad Haiku Friday~

Weird Habits

Weird is only weird
When others say that it's so
My habits aren't weird!

I have no habit
That might be unorthodox
Strange or odd I'm not.

Normal is the word
Easy to see that I am
Just Queen of the world!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

My sincerest thanks to my sister-in-law, Linda, for sending me this card and to Mary Engelbreit for creating it!  Now, for even more fun please visit Laura at Catholic Teacher's Musings for Bad Haiku Friday and for Haiku My Heart visit here.

Tea Talk and Zucchini Relish

Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.

Chaim Potok

I'm having...A new tea by Lipton.  It's called Island Mango and Peach White Tea.  It flavor filled and refreshing.  I sweetened it a bit with Splenda.

My teacup is...One of my favorite mugs. It says exactly who I am.

I'm feeling...satisfied.  I canned the Zucchini Relish yesterday and there is such a feeling of satisfaction.  I think they turned out well.  We will be taste testing it today at work.  There are some fine palates there.

On my mind...finishing the laundry...I want it done before the weekend in case we decide to do something special.

Zucchini Relish

Finally, for all who wish to have it, here is the recipe for Zucchini Relish.

Wash zucchini, DO NOT PEEL.  Cut out seeds.

Shred zucchini-10 cups

4 cups chopped onion

5 tablespoons canning salt

MIX-- Set out at room temperature overnight.

Next day--Drain, rinse, and drain again.

Put in bowl with:

5 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups vinegar (I used cider vinegar)

2 large green peppers, diced

1 large red pepper, diced

1 teaspoon celery seed

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon turmeric

1/ teaspoon black pepper

Put in pan and cook until it boils.

Put into jars with lids (makes 6 pints)

Put into pressure cooker and pressure up to 5 pounds.  Or place in a pan and cover jars with water about 1 inch over the tops and boil for 10 minutes.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house? Share a cup of tea or a cool refreshing drink with us.

~Adventure Tour Express~

When I was considering an adventure to share I thought I might share what I think has become my first real adventure and it entailed a lot of moving. I had never lived very far from home. And even though I was not living has home when I was in nursing school, I went home nearly every weekend.   Ron and I married after graduation and then along came wee child, Laura.  Adventures are like that you know.  Then in January, 1970 Ron received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers.  And so this adventure begins!

Ron's Commissioning Ceremony
Originally uploaded by MeteoriteMan2010

Ron's first orders were to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. So our journey began with a trek from Englewood, Colorado to Alexandria,Virginia. This was when I first realized what being homesick was all about. We lived in a furnished apartment. Ron was gone all day and it was just Laura and me. We'd go for walks and play, she'd nap and I'd read. No phone. One day I walked with Laura to the supermarket and make a phone call to Mom just to say hi! Silly I guess but I'd not gone weeks without talking to her.

Soon one day Ron came home and told me he had orders to Ft. Carson, Colorado!  We were going home!!!!  Even more exciting we were expecting again and so we had terrific news to share with family and friends!

So in June we packed up again and moved to Ft. Carson.  We were able to visit his family that lived there in Colorado Springs and travel north to Denver to visit my family there.  It was an adventure in itself just being a military wife.  The day our furniture arrived Ron was on maneuvers for a week...Thank God for Sis, who helped manage Laura while I was checking all the boxes.

Again in October Ron came home and announced that the entire battalion was being moved to Ft. Ord, California.  The trip to Ft. Ord took us through Salt Lake City and then across the Salt Flats of Utah.  There is no place to stop between Salt Lake City and Wendover, Nevada...I was eight months pregnant.  (One learns to appreciate rest stops, especially when there are none. )

We lived in temporary quarters on post for a short time until we could rent an apartment and be placed on the post housing list.  We found a small apartment in Seaside and were there when David arrived on my 24th birthday and just 10 days before Christmas.  Just 3 months later we moved in to housing on post where we stayed for 3  years.

I will tell you honestly, that I learned more in that one year about who I was and what strengths I had then at any other time in my life.  We only moved 5 times that year.  And we had moved from coast to coast!

Ron and I were only in the Army for 3 1/2 years.    And I will also tell you that I admire families that must endure the rigors of military life as a career and do it with courage and strength.

For those who serve this country and that means the husband or wife who must stay home as well as the military personnel who serve abroad, I say, "God bless you every one!!!"

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Please join in the fun! Share your adventure. I can hardly wait. Just link your post with Mr. Linky. I'll visit soon!

Zuchinni Reiish

zuchinni
Originally uploaded by HOARYHEAD

I am not a fan of zucchini squash. But because I have insisted that my children eat what has been placed in front of them I have tried over the years to find a way that I could eat it. I have baked, boiled, broiled, grilled, and pickled. To date the only way I have been able to eat it is in zucchini bread and in my estimation that doesn't count because it doesn't flavor the bread. Last fall I was offered a sample of zucchini relish and, oh my goodness, it was heaven. So today I embark on a new adventure. I'm going to make zucchini relish.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

A reminder to all who wish to board the Adventure Tour Express, it will begin today at 6:00 p.m. CDT.  I'm looking forward to this week's tours.  You only need to copy and paste the button below and then link your post to the one here at A Bit of the Blarney.  Safe travels to all!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

This picture collage personalized with Smilebox

Taking a walk in the garden after the rain offers us a variety of beautiful attractions.  After this particular rain, because of the high humidity the dew lingered long enough for us to enjoy the glistening of the water drops left behind.  They bring to mind the waters of baptism.  The crystal clear beauty as the sun reflects its light through the drops.  That newness of life they reflect!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

I would also like to remind you that Wednesday is Adventure Tour Express.  Be thinking about the adventure you would like to share on our journey together!