Friday, April 29, 2011

Broccoli Walnut Salad

I love broccoli walnut salad!  My whole family loves broccoli
walnut salad!  And the best part is....(drum roll)...it tastes better
when it is made 24 hours ahead.  What a time saver!
I love this recipe because it is so simple and good.

Broccoli Walnut Salad
Serves 2  (Just double the recipe for 4)

2 cups fresh broccoli, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons sugar
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In a small bowl, mix broccoli, walnuts, and raisins.
Combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, and sugar.  Mix
into salad.  Cover and refrigerate 1 hr. ( STOP!  Wait
until the next day!  It is too good then!)

Love,
Lottie

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Completed Covered Swing!

This is a story about my sweet Dear Husband.  Several years
ago, he started building a swing for us in the back yard.  He
built the frame so the chain would be long for a gentle swing. 

But life and other projects took priority so the swing stayed
unfinished awhile until DH could finish it just like he wanted.
Years ago he finished the roof.  He used cedar shingles that 
would weather just so!

And he gave the squirrels a place to sit, but alas, no swing...

We set a garden bench under the roof but it never looked
like it really belonged.  Here is my son walking away. 
No one ever sat on the bench.
Then Dear Husband found a craftsman who made beautiful
cedar swings.  Time to finish the covered swing!
Of course, Dear Husband had to make an extra trip to the
hardware store to get... extra hardware ...
Finally, it is finished and it is wonderful!  I know I will 
enjoy many an evening to come in my swing.  I thought 
about it,  and from start to finish took about nine years.
But so what!  It  was well worth the wait!

Thanks for listening to my story today!  Come swing awhile!
Love,
Lottie

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Spring Break Stay-cation

Last week was spring break and we were off from school.  We
normally travel and get out to visit relatives in distant states. This
year I wanted to stay at home with all my heart.  So we took a
staycation (I love that word).  To be honest, I just wanted to rest
and enjoy my azaleas!  Glad you could stop by.   Let's take a walk
around the front yard!



I feel like I went to a resort with all the
flowers blooming around me!  The best
part was I got to sleep in my own bed
and cook my own food.  We started our
garden, ate out a couple of nights at
local restaurants, walked every day,
took it slow and slept late.  Ah, what
a wonderful thing this stay-cation is!

Thank you for stopping by today! Hope
you have a great week ahead!

Love,
Lottie

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Spring + Old Houses = A Beautiful Walk

I was in Greenville, SC this morning and just happen to have my
camera along.  I needed to stop the car and walk a little bit.  Just
beautiful homes are in the Hampton-Pickney Historic District. 
The first home was our favorite because we were welcomed by
the owner.  What a beautiful day for a walk!



























These are beautiful homes, but Love The House You're In is 
good advice.  Now, I better go cut the grass in case someone
with a camera walks by my house.  Have a great week!
Love,
Lottie

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Love my Sansevieria (Snake Plant)

This is one of my favorite houseplants, mainly because it is
still alive after two years!  The Sansevieria is called the Snake
Plant because it has such beautiful stiff upright leaves.  Mine
are now 3 feet tall.  This plant is the Snake Plant, where the
Mother-in-Law's Tongue is very similar but with a yellow
border on the leaves.   According to About.com , these are
the toughest of all houseplants!  I believe it!  I read that these
plants were native to Africa and preferred no water for the three
winter months.  So I tried it.  I took this plant to work, set it in
a corner with only artificial light, and FORBID anyone at work
to water it!  It still looks great!  I brought it home to divide it
and start back watering once a month.

I've always thought the Snake Plant to be just
beautiful!  When I was a little girl,  I remember
the Snake Plants in our doctor's waiting room.  I
would wait in my  big chair with my legs swinging
while I studied all the tropical patterns on the
leaves.  Somehow, the plants were a comfort. 
It sounds funny, but our dentist had a Snake Plant
in his waiting room, too.

Then, when I was pregnant with my boys, my
obstetrician's waiting room had a large sunny
window with all kinds of tropical plants, 
including Snake Plants and Mother-in-Law's
Tongues.  I always enjoyed looking at the plants
and happily chatting with the other new mothers.
Maybe I make too much of houseplants, ...but maybe not.

"Plants have been shown to decrease infection rates in 
nursing homes and lower blood pressure..." (p. 87 YOU
Staying Young, Oz and Roizen)

Maybe my Snake Plant takes better care of me than I take of it.

For some great pictures of Snake Plants and Mother-in-Law's
Tongues, visit Pam at House of Hawthornes.  She has a 50 year
year old Snake Plant!

Love,
Lottie.