Random Thoughts

There have been so many things running through my head lately. But not enough to make any into a single post.

**I am thinking about quitting the gym.  With the way gas prices are going I could use that money back in my budget and I have plenty of tapes and my Wii to use.

**One of my goals for this year is to replace one appliance in my kitchen.

**I decided to re-read the Harry Potter books and watch the movie after finishing each one. 

**I really wish the cleaning fairy would appear when I am at work.  

**The side planks in the monthly ab challenge are killing me.  But I swear that I am noticing changes in my ab but then again that could be wishful thinking.

**I finished catching up on the Bones series and got my first DVD for True Blood from Netflix.

**I hate Daylight Savings Time.  It is not losing the hour it is getting up with when it is still so dark outside.  The snooze button is winning the battle this week.


**I am loving the warmer weather but having 80° days so early in March has me worried about how hot it will be this summer.

Delta Magazine

One of my indulgences is subscriptions to magazines.  I ran across one about a year and half ago I fell in love with.

Source: deltamagazine.com via Ruth on Pinterest

It highlights places and people in the Mississippi River Delta from Memphis down to New Orleans.   The magazine is published in Cleveland, MS so of course the biggest focus is on the Mississippi Delta.  I have enjoyed learning more about my adopted state of Mississippi.  Not to mention new things about Memphis, places in Arkansas and New Orleans.  It has me wanting to spend some time exploring the Delta.
In the last issue one of the articles was on the 15 greatest fried chicken places from Memphis to New Orleans.  One of the locations, Uncle Lou's, was also featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network, which will have my father wanting to try it even more on their next visit.
Last year the magazine put out a cookbook, which is on my wish list.  I have tried the Pimento Cheese Soup that was in an issue in the fall and it turned out wonderful.
They sell some Tervis tumblers that are Delta and Mississippi themed.  This one is on my wish list and I wish the website would be completed (they are working on updating it) because I never get a chance to call and order them during the workday.

Source: miniatlanta.com via Ruth on Pinterest

Pick Me Up

We survived Monday!!!!

Source: Uploaded by user via Ruth on Pinterest

Now let's hope the rest of the week flies by.

100 and Going Strong

Happy 100th Anniversary!!! To the Girl Scouts of America!

Source: google.com via Ruth on Pinterest

On March 12, 1912 Juliette Gordon Lowe gathered a group of 18 girls at her house in Savannah, GA for the first Girl Scouts meeting.  

Source: current.com via Ruth on Pinterest

The first Girl Scout cookies were sold in 1917 as a way of raising money for troop activities.  It wasn't until 1936 that they were made commercially.  I believe now they have the same name across the US but at one time each area had different names for all but the thin mints.  That was weird to get used to when moving around as an Air Force brat.  The first year I sold them in Virginia I called half of them by the name I learned in North Dakota.  

Source: google.com via Ruth on Pinterest

I remember going to the big celebration for the 75th Anniversary on the Mall in Washington D.C.  I wish I could find the pictures from then but I can't find a lot of pictures from those days for some reason.  I hope they are in the attic at my parents because I can't find them in my closet.  

I enjoyed my years in the Girl Scouts.  I spent 6 years in and learned a lot.  But when we  moved back to Podunk the troop didn't do anything but one over night camping trip in a cabin a year.  And after coming from a very active Junior troop that seemed so boring.  And of the few pictures I have here at my house I now know the troop name of my last one in Virginia.  Troop 512.

This is after our last camping trip of the year.  Not sure if this is one where we went to Hershey Park.

And by the way the sashes are so much better than the vests they  have now.  I scored some loot thanks to the cookie sales.  

We were earning some kind of fashion badge and were supposed to be going with the 1950s theme.  The funniest one was the ones for the 2000s and they went with a look from the Jestson's but I don't have a picture of that.

I also went to Girl Scout camp for 2 weeks the summer after 3rd grade and had a blast.  I was the youngest in my group.  The camp was on the Potomac River in Virginia, Camp Potomac Woods.  And staying there for the 2 weeks was so much fun and made it more fun to go back with my troop when we went each year.  I pulled up the link to the camp and it doesn't look like much has changed.

Thanks Juliette for starting such a wonderful organization.

  

Blackberry Chip Ice Cream

I was watching The Pioneer Woman a couple weeks ago and she was making ice cream.  It looked so yummy I had to put it on my list to make.   But I should have started making it before my afternoon nap because it is not ready to eat yet.

Blackberry Chip Ice Cream

1 pints fresh blackberries

1 1/4 c. sugar

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 1/2 cups half and half

5 egg yolks 

1 1/2 c. heavy cream

4 oz. semisweet chocolate

 Combine blackberries, 1/4 c. of the sugar and the lemon juice in a saucepan.  

Cook over low heat until the blackberries are broken down and syrupy about 20 minutes.

Pour the mixture into a bowl through a fine mesh strainer.  Using a whisk or spoon, force out as much of the deep purple liquid as you can, and then set it aside to cool.  Discard the blackberry pulp and seeds.

Heat the half and half and remaining 1 c. sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.

Using a whisk, beat the egg yolks until pale and thick.  Temper the eggs by splashing a small amount of the warm cream into the yolks,  whisking constantly.  

Pour the tempered yolks into the saucepan,  stirring gently.  

Cook over medium-low heat until thick, stirring constantly about 5 minutes.

Pour the heavy cream into the bowl with the berries,

and then pour the custard and stir to combine.  

If you have time, refrigerate this mixture until cool.

Freeze the mixture according to your ice cream maker's instructions.

When it is frozen, chop the chocolate into chunks and stir into the ice cream.

Transfer the ice cream to a freezer safe container and allow it to harden for several hours or overnight.

So I realized that I forgot the half and half while I was cooking.  So I just used the heavy cream with the sugar and egg mixture and the last half cup with the blackberry syrup.  And tasting it while putting it into the freezer container it tasted yummy.  I also went ahead and added the chocolate chunks in the last 5 minutes it was in the ice cream maker.  

I can't wait to try this tomorrow night.  

Cleaning Tips

I have found that Pinterest isn't only to find beautiful outfits and items for the home but also a couple cleaning tips.  I tried on Friday night.  I like cleaning the dishwasher at least once a quarter but lets face it the stuff you buy in the stores can get expensive.  I was happy to give this tip a try and even more happy to find out it works just as well as the store bought items.

Source:

Place a dishwasher-safe cup filled with plain white vinegar on the top rack of the dishwasher. Using the hottest water available, run the dishwasher through a cycle. The vinegar will help to wash away the loose, greasy grime, sanitizes, and helps remove the musty odor. Next, sprinkle a cupful of baking soda around the bottom of the tub and run it through a short cycle. The baking soda will help freshen and removing stains.


Whoever figured this out is a genius. And I am so thankful to whoever shared it.

Oh Pinteresting! Spring

As I mentioned yesterday I have a bad case of spring fever so I am pulling items from my nature boards.

Source: nanaimo.ca via Ruth on Pinterest

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