Roasted Chicken on Sunday

Yesterday I decided to roast a chicken and it turned out really yummy!  I used olive oil and Nantucket Rosemary Herb Rub from Savory Spices.  Savory Spices is right here in Charlotte.  They have so many lovely spices there. 

Here are some photos of the yummy chicken:

What a perfect dinner with mashed potatoes and green beans!!

Spring Home and Garden Show was wonderful!!

John and I went to the Spring Home and Garden Show here in Charlotte this morning.  We walked all through the exhibits and really enjoyed seeing all these beautiful flowers, tree, patio, pergolas, etc., etc.  Here are some photos that I took of our walk through the Show:

Azalea Standard

                                                           Azalea Blossom Upclose

                                                       Upcycled Bicycle with red tulips

          This was a dining room table with a little fairy house and babbling brook.  Really pretty!

                                                                  Fairy Zen Garden

                                                                    Flower Fountain

                                                                 Hens in the House!

                                                      Herbs growing on the pallet wall.

                                                    Massive Stone and Timber Fireplace

                                                               Collection of Orchids

                                                         Beautiful Red Orchid

                      Old Tractor amongst star magonlia trees and yellow and white tulips

                                                  Veggies Growing on the pallet wall

                                                   Yellow Parrot Tulips-just gorgeous!!

                                                      Yellow/White Tulips

We had such a great day!!   Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!

Spring & Garden Show

Tomorrow, (Saturday) John and I are going to the Spring Home & Garden Show.  I cannot wait!  We have gone in the past but missed last years show.  I definitely want to look at the patios and backyard designs.  They always have a theme area but I don't know what the theme is this year.  The last year I went it was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  They actually had a chocolate stream running through the area and bubbles that smelled like chocolate!  They also have a great area that you can buy plants, products, etc.  Should be a good time!

Hope everyone has great plans for the weekend!

I Booked a Week on Tybee Island in June!!!

I found a really cute cottage on Tybee Island to rent in June.  This is the cottage:

Photo via Tybee Vacation Rentals

This is a big year for our family.  June is John's 60th birthday, July is my 55th birthday and August will be our 35th wedding anniversary!  The whole family is going on this trip.  We will have so much fun!

We will be also visiting Savannah too!  We can't check in until 4:00 on the Saturday we are going there, so we will probably stop in Savannah for lunch and a quick look around.  One of the days we are on the island we will probably go back into Savannah again.  We have been to Savannah before, but it is always a great city to visit!!

I am looking forward to playing with the grandboys on the beach, reading lots of books, knitting, resting, playing board games and just plain enjoying the family!!  We will go out one night to celebrate John's birthday.  Most of the other nights we will be grilling or cooking at the Cottage. 

We haven't been away in such a long time and this is a perfect way to vakay!!!

Pork Roast with Apples and Onions

Yesterday I decided to cook a pork roast.  Now I usually make this roast in the oven with apples and onions, but I decided this time to roast it on the stove in my Paula Deen Cast Iron Pot.  It turned out awesome!!  The house smelled so wonderful.  The apples, onions and the pork are such wonderful aromas!! 

My sister, Sandy bought me the Paula Deen cast iron pot with lid when she was visiting me 2 years ago.  I don't use it too often, but I am planning on using it more now that I know the roasts turn out so wonderful when using it!  I bet cornbread would be good in it too! 

I also made mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls.  What a perfect meal for a wintery day!

The Mega Snowstorm is finally gone!!!

 Teddy in the snow 2/12/14

The snowstorm moved out finally late Thursday night. I didn't go into work on Friday due to slushy icing.  The main roads were clear pretty much but the secondary roads were icy and slushy.  The sun came out and started the melting process.  Thank goodness!!  We ended up having 8.5" of snow and  about 1/2 " of ice.  This storm was the worst we had since we moved here in 2004! 

John and I had a very nice Valentine's Day!  I made grilled steak, mashed  potatoes, green beans and rolls.  Then we decided to go to the movies.  We saw Lone Survivor.  Not a romantic movie, but it was very good.  Some scenes were hard to watch but they had to portray it the way it happened.

Today we had a really nice breakfast at Briggs in the Ballantyne section of Charlotte.  It was so good!  Tonight we are going to Jenny and Kevin's for dinner.  Can't wait to see those little grandboys!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

It is snowing in the South!!

This is the view outside my office window.  The snow actually looks so pretty!  It is a very sticky snow so every tree branch is covered.  Very beautiful!

We are however, having snow today, tomorrow and then on Thursday ice!  I don't mind the snow, I just don't do ice.  So I will not be driving into work those days. 

My youngest sister, Sandy sent this photo yesterday:

This is the view from her front door!  She lives in NW NJ where I grew up.  Glad I'm not there.  She also informed me when she and her hubby went to the ski area to go snowboard in Vernon, NJ (this is about 20 mins. from her house) it was -7!  YIKES!!

Everyone who is getting snow or ice take it easy on the roads if you are heading out or heading home from work.  Stay warm and safe!!

Fresh Ameraucana Chicken and Rhode Island Red Eggs!

 One of my co-workers has chickens.  He brought me 2 eggs in the other day for my Saturday a.m. breakfast.  This morning I made them and they tasted so good.  The one egg was a greenish-grayish color and the other was a beautiful brown egg.  I know it sounds weird but I have always loved photos of eggs.  I don't know if it is the shape or color, but I just love them!  Here are a few photos I took of the 2 eggs I received.

Friday is Here!!!

Finally Friday is here!  This week has seemed so long for me.  Alot going on.  I really don't have any plans other than making sure John and I fill out our taxes and get that behind us.  I always like when that is done!  I will probably read my book, do some knitting, do a little cleaning but other than that John and I are free to do whatever we want!

Tonight after work I have to go to our new bank and sign up for my account.  Then we are going to Brixx Pizza for dinner.  That will be fun! 

Last night I had knitting group and I had a lovely visit with Debbie, the Shop Owner.  She is so helpful and I really enjoy talking with her about a multitude of things!

Everyone have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!!

On the Mend

I am finally on the mend!  Last Wed. afternoon I started to feel feverish and my face hurt.  Thursday I woke up and felt absolutely terrible.  I stayed home from work.  Friday morning I couldn't stand it anymore, so I called the Dr. and went in.  I had a horrendous sinus infection and my left ear was badly infected.  Good thing I went in!  I got some really good meds and was told to go back on my 2 allergy meds.  I've had 2 sinus infection since Thanksgiving.  I had given up taking my prescribed allergy meds and had tried acupuncture and some Chinese herbs the acupuncturist suggested.  While they worked for a few months, for some reason they are not working now.  I am back on the prescribed allergy meds and I feel so much better!

I have also decided to stop using Sweet 'n Low.  I am using raw sugar now instead.  I have read way too many articles about how bad those artificial sweetners are for you.  I had made a promise to myself that I would try to make 2014 a healthy year and this is a start!

Hope everyone is doing well!  Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids!!