Planted: Poetry Monday

  

 

 

 

Poetry Monday's once a week.

I bet you know which day.

I don't participate every time,

But today I've come out to play.

My friends assign each week a theme,

Potted Plants is what they chose.

Now it's up to all of us,

to put our thoughts into prose.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planted

"Dumb as a potted plant," they say, 

an insult, the saying's meant to relay.

Just sitting there in a pot of clay,

no understanding of joy or dismay,

 

But plant life, is it really that bad?

Sitting in the sun sure makes me glad!

Never make beds or vacuum their pad,

no political views to be heard . . . or had. 

 

 

 

 

Naturally beautiful sitting there,

don't apply makeup nor comb their hair.

some grow flowers, or peppers or pear,

no matter who you are, they'll always share.

Yes, there's no yummy breakfast meal,

but remember this is part of the deal,

no need to slice, or crack or peel,

nor chapped dishwashing hands to feel.

 

French Toast Breakfast Hoagie

 

 

"Dumb as a potted plant," they say,

but looking around me with dismay,

I have to wonder, just for one day,

might it not be nice to be that way?

 

 

 

Wait!

Read more poetry, 

you're not through.

Some talented writers

are in this crew:

 

On the Border

Messymimi's Meanderings 

Mother Owl 

 

French Toast Breakfast Hoagie

                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients (makes 2):

2 hoagie rolls

2 TBSP butter

4 eggs, divided

1/4 cup milk

salt and pepper to taste

1/3 cup shredded colby jack cheese

4 slices Canadian bacon

Directions:
*Cut the rolls in half, but not all the way through. Carefully open, making sure to keep the top attached to the bottom.

*Whisk together 2 of the eggs with the milk, salt, and pepper.

*In a large skillet, melt 1 TBSP butter over medium heat.

*Dip both sides of the rolls in the whisked egg mixture, then place, open side down, into the melted butter. Cook until the bottom is browned. 

*Flip, press down slightly, and cook the other side. Remove from the pan, place on a plate, and spread the colby jack cheese on the bottom half of the inside of the roll.

*Melt the remaining butter in a small skillet. Cook the Canadian bacon, flipping once, just a minute on each side to heat. Place in the rolls over the cheese.

*In the same small skillet, cook the remaining 2 eggs according to your liking, fried or over easy. Place one egg on each sandwich, slice and serve.

Hide nor Hare: Word Counters

 

 

Counting my words again. 

Today my fellow Word Counters and I are sharing our monthly group post. Each month one group member picks  a number between 12 and 50. All participating bloggers are then challenged to write something (or a few somethings, as the case may be) using that exact number of words. Today we all share what we came up with. 

 This month's number is 43. 
It was chosen by Diane of On the Border.

As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I've chosen the theme Missing (i.e., where have all the rabbits gone?).

 

~ I write, each year at this time, about nature, what we see in our yard. I talk about the flowers that grow in my gardens, the trees along the wood line, and the critters (large and small, scary and interesting) who wander about.

 

~ I've written about woodpeckers pecking holes in our siding, costing us hundreds of dollars in repairs each year. I've written about the majestic hawks who come right up and sit on our deck. And the owls who perch on our roofline to hunt.

~ Turkeys who come to visit, sometimes right up to our door. There are geese, deer and fawns, moles who do their own damage, but to our lawn, a fox now and then, possums, moles, raccoons, and the pedestrian rabbits, spiders, squirrels, bees, flies . . .

~ Today, some are missing. I'm not sure why. I went to sit on the back deck today, looked down to see a spider crawling on my leg, decided my three seconds outdoors were enough and came back in. Nope, spiders aren't missing. Figures.

~ My giant bees are. First time I saw them, I ran, screaming. Eventually they'd buzz around me while watering my plants, then follow me on to the next pot. We'd meet daily, they were harmless, friendly even. We got used to each other.

~ Yes, I've been drinking. But that doesn't change the fact that after years of expecting to see them, this year I'm watering alone. Of course the smaller yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets, you know, the ones that sting, they're still around. Of course.

 

Blackberry Lemonade Fizz

~ The strangest thing is the rabbits. Normally, they're everywhere, like the squirrels. We see them all over the lawn, from large rabbits, to tiny babies in nests dug into holes in our lawn, to young ones, scurrying away when we open the door.

~ Rabbits are everywhere in spring. There's a reason they say "breed like rabbits." This spring, we saw none. The woods, the lawn, the gardens, neither hide nor hare. The hares were hiding. Didn't see our first bunny until July, we've seen five since. 

~ We heard of a coyote out back this spring. Supposedly it went after a neighbor, but he (the neighbor, not the coyote) still has all of his body parts (the ones we can see), so he's superman, or that story may be exaggerated. 

 

~ I can see you making the correlation, enter the coyote, exit the rabbits, making a Sherlock Holmes style deduction, that the coyote ate all the rabbits. But every single one? Skipping the squirrels (and the spiders, but they're probably not quite as filling).

~ So where did all the rabbits go? The giant bees, too. And while I'm asking questions, anyone know how to talk a coyote into eating spiders (without getting close to him . . . just in case I happen to look like a roadrunner). Meep meep.

Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:

On the Border 

Messymimi’s Meanderings 

Blackberry Lemonade Fizz  

                                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients (makes about 3):

12 blackberries

1 bottle (12 oz) hard lemonade

4 oz vodka

8 oz blackberry lemonade sparkling water 

 

1 cup ice

OPT: blackberries and/or sliced lemon to garnish

Directions:

*In a pitcher, mix together the lemonade and vodka. Add the blackberries and refrigerate for 4 hours.

*Divide the ice into 3 (10 - 12 oz) cocktail glasses. Remove the pitcher from the refrigerator, scoop out the blackberries and add 4 to each glass. 

*Divide the hard lemonade mixture evenly into the 3 glasses. Fill the glasses the rest of the way with the sparkling water. 

*Garnish with blackberries and/or sliced lemon, if desired.

The Zoo Chew: Animals Poetry

 

 

Last Friday of the month is for

Monthly Poetry Group to rhyme.

Diane and I take turns to pick,

"Animals," the theme this time.

 

As usual, today I'll try,

a poem to write . . . or fudge.

Whether I'm successful or not,

you get to be the judge.  

The Zoo Chew

 

Our local zoo is well renowned,

known to be among the best.

Whenever we have visitors,

we'll always take our guest.

 

Aviary, lagoon island, desert dome,

a rain forest to walk through.

Orangutan forest, pachyderm hill,

an aquarium tunnel too.

Starting when they were babies,

many family days spent there.

The boys loved riding on the train,

it mattered not to where.

Of course, when they were babies,

I had to be prepared.

Diapers and folding plastic mat,

I could change them anywhere.

 

Until, of outdoor changes son,

let me know he was not fond.

I picked him up, he grabbed the mat,

threw it in the penguin pond.

But when the boys were bigger,

I could take them on my own.

We'd often meet our friends there too,

so we rarely were alone.

After one eventful day,

spent joyfully at the zoo,

At dinner, Hubs said to the boys,

"what was your favorite thing to do?"  

"This," I thought, "is why I go

spend a long exhausting day."

Which animals had most impressed?

Eager to hear what they would say. 

 

"Thirsty early on," they said,

"slushies fit the bill."

They'd sat in the shade to drink them,

until they'd had their fill.

 

They talked about the restaurant,

"lunch was burgers with french fries."

You eat high in the treetops there,

looking up at the big blue skies.

 

 Holiday Fruits and Nuts Cookies

 

"Cookies and popcorn later on,"

my boys related with glee,

"and did you know the ice cream hut,

is right by where you go to pee?"

I felt the need to clarify,

we'd done more than just chew.

"Oh," I said, "just so you know,

they had animals over there too!" 

Before you go, more Animals poetry:

stop by On the Border

and Messymimi's Meanderings

 

Holiday Fruits and Nut Cookies

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2/3 cup shelled nuts (pepitas, sunflower seeds, pistachios, almonds, pecans, and/or walnuts)

1/4 cup sweetened coconut flakes

1/2 stick butter, softened

1/2 stick margarine, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

2 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/3 cup chopped dried fruits (raisins, cranraisins, apricots, and/or cherries)

 

1/2 cup green or red candy melts

1 TBSP colored sugar

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the nuts onto a small baking sheet. Toast for 4 minutes, stir, add the coconut and toast for 2 minutes longer. Remove immediately from the baking sheet and allow to cool. Chop any larger nuts.

*Cream butter, margarine, and brown sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla.

*Mix in flour, salt, and baking soda, then the fruits and nuts. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least an hour. Can refrigerate overnight.

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper.

*Unwrap the dough and roll into 30 balls. Place on cookie sheet and flatten the dough balls with the heel of your hand.

*Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Allow to cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes before removing to cool completely.

*Melt the candy melts in the microwave until completely smooth when stirred. Drizzle over the cooled cookies, sprinkle with colored sugar, and allow to set before moving.

 

Man Down: Funny Friday

Today’s post is this month’s Funny Friday, a regular feature published on the last Friday of every month. Funny Friday is a collaborative project. Each month one of the participants submits a picture, then we all write 5 captions or thoughts inspired by that month’s picture. Links to the other bloggers’ posts are below, click on them and see what they’ve come up with. I hope we bring a smile to your face as you start your weekend.

Here's today's picture. It was submitted by Me!

1. Basketball hoop to self: I'm not getting any younger and those kids just wear me out. I'm just gonna lay down and take a quick rest.

2. Kid (walking into the house and calling out to his mom): OK, I went out to play and I beat that game, can I come back in now?

3. Therapist: So why are you here?
Basketball hoop: Well, I've been bullied my whole life . . . hit, grabbed and swung on, had things thrown at me . . . it's become like a game to them.

4. Kid: I like it, at least I'll finally be able to make a basket. 

5. Kid: Hey dad, man down!



 And now for something yummy: 

Raspberry Red Velvet Truffles

Click on the links below and let some other bloggers make you smile: 
Spatulas on Parade 
Southern Belle Charm 
Follow Me Home 
Medicated Musings 

Raspberry Red Velvet Truffles        

                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com


Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 package (12.2 oz) Red Velvet Oreos
4 oz cream cheese
1 TBSP Chambord (can substitute 1 tsp raspberry extract)
2 TBSP seedless raspberry jam
8 oz red candy melts
Directions:
*Crush the cookies in a food processor. Add the cream cheese, the liquor (or extract) and the jam. Pulse to incorporate. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
*Roll into approximately 25 3/4 inch balls. Place on a tray lined with parchment paper and stick a toothpick into each. Freeze for at least an hour.
*Melt the candy melts in the microwave until smooth when stirred. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip each truffle into the candy melt to coat. Let the excess run off, then stick the toothpick into styrofoam (you can place them onto parchment paper but the tops will be flat). 
*Once set, remove the toothpick. Store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature to serve.
*Store in refrigerator.

From the End to the Beginning: December Poetry

It's poetry time and as I hope you know by now, this is a monthly treat feature here on the blog. A few friends and I get together each month and choose a theme, then we all go off in our own corners and write.

There are some talented poets in this small group. I'm not one of them. I tend to write funny poems, and there's a method to my madness. I'm not one of those talented poets, yet I enjoy this challenge. What's a girl to do? Get you to laugh with me. Better than laughing at me. So I use humor and silly rhymes and hopefully I amuse. 

Here's today's offering. The theme is Endings.

From the End to the Beginning

One year closes out,
new one will begin,
survived the last one,
hope the next is a win.

Time to take stock,
look both back and ahead.
It's a time for reflection,
and hope, not dread.

What didn't kill me,
made me stronger, they say,
Please, I'm strong enough, 
no more tests, I pray.

Yet with each circumstance,
under our belt,
our love for family,
became more heartfelt.

Children no more,
dinner table, empty seat.
A meal as a family,
is now a rare treat.

Chili Beef Pot Pie

Yet I wouldn't change it,
this year just gone by.
I may miss the past,
But my pride hits the sky.

So . . . 

A new year's beginning,
close out the last one.
Here's my wish to you:
much love, health and fun.


Thanks for stopping by. See you again next month. And if you're a blogger and you want to join this challenge, leave me a comment here or hit me up on FB or twitter. I'll hook you up. 

Before you go, click on over to more Endings poetry: 

Dawn of Cognitive Script shares The Meaning of the End.

Jules of The Bergham Chronicles shares La Fin. 

Lydia of Cluttered Genius shares The End is Here. 

Jenn of Sparkly Poetic Weirdo shares Endings, the New Beginnings. 

Diane of On the Border shares An Ending?

Chili Beef Pot Pie

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients (makes about 3, depending on the size):
1 TBSP vegetable oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1# lean stew beef
1 TBSP plus 1 tsp chili powder
3/4 cup beef broth

3 TBSP tomato paste
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp chili flakes
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn niblets

2 large potatoes
2 TBSP butter
1 TBSP sour cream
1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar
salt and pepper to taste
paprika

Directions:
NOTE: You can make the beef the day ahead, refrigerate in the pot and heat the next day to make the pot pies.
*Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion, cook and stir until it softens. 
*Add the beef and sprinkle with 1 TBSP of the chili powder. Cook and stir until browned. Mix in the beef broth, tomato paste, remaining 1 tsp chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, 1/4 tsp salt and chili flakes. 
*Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring now and then. Add the black beans and corn and continue simmering for another 45 minutes.
*While the beef is cooking, mashed cooked potatoes (I cook the potatoes in the microwave for this recipe) with the butter, sour cream, cheddar, salt and pepper.
*Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
*Spoon the chili into oven proof bowls or ramekins. Top with the mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with paprika.
*Place a baking sheet into the oven and put the bowls or ramekins onto the baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the potatoes start to brown.

Use Your Words:The Husband Definition

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I’m using: husband ~ smelly shoes ~ broken toothpick ~ cat hair ~ coffee

They were submitted by: Spatulas on Parade.

 Dictionary of Life:
Husband (huzbend): noun
1. the spouse who breaks more things than he fixes.
2. the person in the house with smelly shoes, who drops broken toothpicks around the house like breadcrumbs, leaves whiskers the size of cat hair in his sink and does not come when called, but will be there in a second if he smells coffee.
3. the placer of wet towels upon upholstered furniture.
4. the one smart enough to use suntan lotion at the pool but burns to a crisp on the golf course.
5. the spouse who only calls after dinner is in the oven to say that they'll be late.

Peaches and Cream Monkey Bread

6. the spouse who always lets on that he's done something wrong by bringing home flowers.

7. the oblivious wearer of mismatched socks.

8. someone who cannot pay for his gas inside the store without buying something they don't need.

9. the deleter of all the computer files.

10. the person who forgets to put the trash out on trash pickup day. Every time. Even if you block their car door with the recycle bin they just step over it and go off to work.

Or is that just my house?

Links to the other Use Your Words posts:

Spatulas on Parade

The Momisodes
The Bergham's Life Chronicles

Southern Belle Charm
Dinosaur Superhero Mommy 
Confessions of a part-time working mom 
Someone Else's Genius 
Climaxed 
Never Ever Give Up Hope 
 Sparkly Poetic Weirdo
The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver  
The Angrivated Mom 

Peaches and Cream Monkey Bread

                                                                            ©www.BakingInATornado.com  


Printable Recipe
 

Ingredients:
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 ripe peach
3 TBSP sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 X 5 loaf pan.
*Melt the butter. Mix in the brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Set aside.
*Pit and skin the peach. Chop it finely.
*Mash the cream cheese and mix in the peach.
*Mix together the sugar and 3/4 tsp cinnamon on a plate.
*Open one can of rolls, using the perforation, divide into 8 rolls. Cut each roll in half.
*Place about 1/2 tsp peach mixture into the center of each roll piece. Fold sides in and stretch each roll until the peach mixture is completely encapsulated inside. Roll into a ball. Roll each ball in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and place in the prepared loaf pan.
*Drizzle about 1/2 of the melted butter mixture over the top, then repeat with the other package of rolls, topping with the rest of the butter mixture.
*Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
*Run a knife around the edges of the loaf pan and invert loaf onto a plate.