Making Bananas Last Longer

If you are like my family, you do not like very ripe bananas. Everyone in this house likes them a little green so I am always stuck with the leftovers to use in smoothies or to bake with.

Over the weekend I read this tip in an old Tightwad Gazette book. I decided to test it myself. Bought one bunch of bananas and separated them in two. One half sat on the counter as usual and the other half you seal up in a plastic bag tightly. I used a produce bag and twist tie.

After several days you can see the difference. The bananas that sat out are quite ripe but the ones I sealed in the bag are still partially green. Wow how did I not know this before. Now we can have eatable bananas all week until next shopping day.

If you do end up with over ripe bananas you can read what I do to use them later here. And here are a couple of recipes to use up those bananas.

Monkey Bars

The recipe is here.

And for Banana Chip Muffins.

Linking to:
A Bowl Full of Lemons
Wow Us Wed.
Raising Homemakers
Organize and Decorate Everything
Women Living Well
Humbled Homemaker
Southern Hospitality

St. Patty's In the Kitchen

I like to celebrate our teeny tiny bit of Irish blood every March.

I love the wood sign I found on Etsy last year.

Green gingham and some green touches are all I added.

Now for the corned beef and cabbage. I am going to try an Irish soda bread recipe a reader sent to me.

Linking to:

A Stroll Thru Life

Coastal Charm

Cozy Home Scenes

A Bowl Full of Lemons

Wow Us Wed.

Thrifty Decorating

Home Sweet Home

Common Ground

Fridays Unfolded

Cuisine Kathleen

Warmth

It is raining today. That and a whole day at home. I am beside myself with joy. What shall I do?

Chores of course. They never end but that is okay. To be able to have time to actually start a load of laundry and see it through to folding is a rare treat. Usually I've been out running someone somewhere in between washer and dryer.

I must say "wait" and "just a minute" quite often to my youngest as I am always trying to finish something up because yesterday when she wanted to head out and swing, she asked if I was done with my chores. I try not to forget that this time when all they want and care about is good old mom is short. I am constantly reminded of this as when my older girls come in, I often have to go to them to say hi. We remind them to say hello when they get home, we want to know how they are.

Yesterday my babe saw a picture of my mom and I. My mom passed away before she was born. She asked who that was and I said my mom and her grandma and she asked was she nice and I nearly lost it. Yes, she was nice. She asked would she have liked her and oh someone put a knife in my heart, YES baby girl she would have loved you beyond measure like she loved your older sisters. My birthday is next week and for some reason that is the one day I miss my mom the most. I guess there is some kind of bond between a mother and child and your birthday was the beginning of your life and she gave that to you. Sigh, I miss her.

Linking to:
BNOTP

Sunday

Here is where I am at today. A trip to the nursery and lots of dirt on my jeans.

We headed to the nursery to visit Mrs. Duck.

And the fish.

I was up early and scrubbed my kitchen down to the floor. Boy do kitchens get dirty. Tonight is roast turkey breast with mashed potatoes and gravy, my daughter's request. Once the weather warms up here, we won't use the oven for dinners like these so we have to enjoy them while we can.

Linking to:
Show Off Your Cottage Monday

The Computery

I want to give a big shout out the Susie at the Computery. She left a comment on my Regaining Control of My Blog post. What ensued was a back and forth and some valuable help from her so that I could figure out how to change my headers in my html. She was so full of information. I can't say enough of how she explained things to  me so clearly that I finally understood concepts I had not been able to tackle in two years of blogging.

Her blog is a wealth of info and I think she offers custom services as well. If you go to her posts she shows you exactly what to click in Blogger for all manner of editing you may want to do for your blog.

Her tutorials cover everything from headers, to widgets to favicons. I will be spending a great deal of time on her blog educating myself. I just wanted to thank her so much for the time and help she gave me and to share with the rest of you this wonderful resource. Remember to keep control of your blog even if you have others design for you. Make sure your headers and extras are in your photo accounts and you know what to do with them.

February in a SoCal Garden

It has been warm here even for Southern California. My nasturtiums and geraniums are bursting out.

The lavender are in full bloom already.

A row of freshly planted pansies keep the color going where the roses have been pruned.

I still need to get planters cleaned up. This one needs some maintenance and more poor disabled fountain needs a new pump. Q has made it a rock sculpture.

I cannot remember the name of these. They seem similar to gazania but are not the same plant. They bloom only in winter.

Pansies from last fall are still giving a show.

Orange blossoms and my jasmine all blooming right now. When you open the windows it is intoxicating.

My trees are flowering now too.

I hope you have enjoyed a sunny day in my garden. Come by for a glass of tea on the patio. I am totally serious. I love a reason to sit outside and Q can swing while we chat.

Linking to:
Pink Saturday
Sat. Night Special
Sunday Blog Love
Seasonal Sundays
BNOTP

Loving My Little Shelf

I am having the best time changing up my little shelf re-do in the kitchen. For St. Patty's and later Easter, I am bringing in some vintage greens.

The little basket and dotty bowl are from Target dollar section this week.

The little vintage cookbooks were grandmas.

Vintage reds and greens are my favorite combo.

Linking to:

Finding Joy

Show and Tell Friday

Ladybird Lane

Seasonal Sundays

Petite Hermine

Think Pink

Sister Sunday

Sundae Scoop

BNOTP

A Bowl Full of Lemons

Thrifty Living Series - Staycations

I think this weeks topic is perfect timing given the rapid rise in gas prices in the last month. I know it affects us. We are planning a vacation this summer that is 12 hours away and with the price of gas rising so I high, hubby and I have a point at which we may not make the trip. I will be so sad and the kids even more disappointed but this is the reality many of us face.

If you have to stay home for vacation you want to make it fun. I could just hang out at the nursery and in the garden and throw in a BBQ and I would be set but the kids would be a bit bored. Here are some of the things we have done when staying home for a family vacation:

1. Hit the beach. If you live near one like we do then a day at the water is a very economical way to spend an entire day. Of course you will be bringing a picnic and that will save money for food. 

2. See an early movie. Our local theater has discounted movies before noon. We take a few snacks in my purse to avoid the high prices inside the theater.

3. Check for free days at local museums and gardens. Once a month many of our local museums and gardens have a free day. If it coincides with your stay cation then this would be perfect.

4. Take a hike. We live just minutes from lots of local trails in our foothills. A picnic lunch afterward would complete the trip.

Now if you really want to just stay home here are some fun things we do that would make for some good times.

1. Have a BBQ. Every Memorial Day just hubby, kids and I have our annual "Ribs Fest." We start the day with filling up loads of water balloons and the kiddie pool. We put on our suits and get some sun and have a massive water balloon fight. I am sure our neighbors think we are crazy. We are. We then relax and BBQ ribs for dinner. We eat on the patio which I decorate and then at night we have a bonfire in our pit and make smores. The kids love this, even the big ones, and I make a poster a few days ahead to announce it. They talk about it all year so it must be a good time for them.

2. Camp in your yard. Throw up a tent or in our case we hang out in our trailer in the driveway. The kids have sleepovers out there and I stock the fridge. They watch movies and have a blast right in the old
driveway.

3. Have a pizza night. We make loads of dough and invite friends. I supply the sauce and cheese and everyone brings favorite toppings. The fun is in the making for sure. Here is my recipe for pizza dough.

4. Plan a movie night. Instead of dinner at the table which I am stickler for, you pick some movies and have dinner in front of the T.V. Nachos, pizza, dips and snacks for dinner are a big hit with the kids who enjoy a break from the broccoli.


5. In our house, video games are popular. We have hosted tournaments with home made trophies before. You can do it with the new dance video games. Fun for everyone not just kids and you get some exercise.

6. Just get outside and play. Ride bikes, fly a kite, play croquet, frisbee, take walks. Shake it up. Don't just sit on the couch as that is not memorable.

I guess really just time together. As a couple, a family or single, maybe see some friends or family and do what you love and enjoy. That is what vacations are for.

Please visit Brenda at Cozy Little House, Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage, Jen at Muddy Boot Dreams  and Diane of Lavender Dreams and see what the other bloggers in this series are up to.


Linking to:
The Charm of Home
Bowl Full of Lemons
Common Ground
Somewhat Simple
HOH
Potpourri Friday
Toys in the Dryer
Mommy Only Has Two Hands

Wearing the Green

Valentine's is over and the hearts are packed away. Time to get the green out.

My daughter's friend laughed and said we were the only people she knew that walk in the door from being out of town and start decorating for the next holiday.

Not quite done. Will share in a bit. Somehow event though we had a mild winter, I am ready for spring touches in the house and the garden.

Linking to:
Thriftn on a Thurs.
Open House Party

Scenic California Coast and the Cutest Darn Mardi Gras Cupcakes

These are just some shots from the car driving up the coast  on a foggy morning to see the sea lions. 

On one side you have rolling hills and barns 

and on the other side of the highway you have the Pacific. Truly the most beautiful place in the world to me. My inlaws are getting up in years and may sell Elle Cottage someday and we will miss coming here so often. We will come but we will be renting houses like we used to do many years ago.

We love to visit the sea lions as this is their haul out area and the males, cows an pups are all scattered in the hundreds along the beach. Mating season brings the big boys out and they fight for territory on the beach. Fascinating to see.

They stretch all down the beach. Q says it stinks there. It does a little but it is so worth the sight.

Oh, and I had to share these. A Spoonful Of had these on her blog and I just thought they were perfect for Mardi Gras. She makes some great baked goods. Go over and check these out.

Easy Dinner Rolls

Back in my January no spend month I really pushed myself to eat out of the pantry as much as possible. Often my kiddos will invite friends and I scramble to stretch the meal. I found this easy dinner roll recipe that you bake up in a muffin tin.

Aren't they cute all rolled up in my muffin tin?

These would be perfect with the Mexican Meatball Soup I posted about a couple of days ago. This is from cooks.com and you can find the recipe here.

Linking to:
Success U
Organize and Decorate Everything
Wow Us Wed.
Raising Homemakers
Crystal & Co.