Sunflowers Make Me Smile

I really like sunflowers. I have grown all of these and get great satisfaction from watching them. I hope that you enjoy these various photos of my friends!

Beware the Eye Glasses!

My birthday was fun, May 24th. It happened to be on a Saturday and so I went with hubby to GNC for vitamins -  then we went to lunch at Nori Nori in Atlanta  - interesting concept of sushi and really good Asian dishes buffet style. Food was good. I enjoyed the large fish tank at the entrance, And we moved on to shop - which brings me to to the point of this post.

We went to Lenox Square. Hubby went one way - to the Apple Store - I went another. I was wandering around in Macy's kind of in a daze. I was trying to find a casual dress or two. It is not easy at my age. I'm not trying to look younger than I am by allowing more skin to show than prudent, nor have I completely given up, but back to the wandering. I turned to go another direction and there, standing in front of me was a tall, elegant African American woman, dressed in a black pants suit, closely cropped hair, with the most enormous pair of thickly framed eyeglasses I have ever seen in my life. Towering over me, I was prey. I was also mesmerized by the glasses. Perhaps it was a tactic. She held a can of Dior face makeup in her hand and asked me something about make up. I can't remember what exactly she said, the spell of the glasses held me and somehow I found myself following her through the store to what I now know was her cave, disguised like a chair. I sat, foggy headed and dazed by eye wear. I think the initial question she asked me in the store aisle had to do with the product in her hand, but somehow as I sat there I agreed to a full facial. I still don't know why I was so weak.

It began. My face was cleansed, then layer on layer of Dior product was applied. Cleanser, anti-everything cream  - (at my age I guess I shouldn't be surprised) - then eyebrow pencil, eyeliner, layers of eye everything, four kinds of stuff for lips - all the while other Dior employees drifting by to gaze upon my lovely face to declare an awesome transformation. My captor told me I could not look until she was completely done. She "never let's her clients look at her artistry until complete".

Finally done. She leads me to a full length mirror near her station and I finally get to see...a clown! Simply MB was staring at a clown. Where did those eyebrows come from!? Behind me stood the tall, elegant enormous eye glassed proponent of Dior products large and small and I just stood there and...lied. "Oh how lovely"! Not.

Back to the chair. A sinking feeling as product after product is presented to me being pulled from a hidden location near the cave chair. I ask how much. I feel trapped. I feel obligated. I feel miserable.
After discovering that she is trying to sell me over $1,000.00 worth of product - which surprises me because I wasn't dressed like that would be an easy purchase - but then again maybe something about me singled me out - like the wounded animal in the herd - I try to get out of there as quickly and as inexpensively as I can without looking like I am without the means to buy anything. Maintain my dignity in it all, you know. I purchase a few basic skin care items and leave. And as I walked away rubbing my eyebrows with saliva wet fingers to remove the pencil applied to my poor pitiful eyebrows, I looked back and I know I saw her yawn with sleepiness. Like after a big meal.

Just in case you want to buy Dior click here!

Early June Garden

Just some garden shots. I really do enjoy watching the plants grow and change.  

Chives

Egglant

Mint

Purple Basil

Thai Basil

Zucchini flower closed

Rainy Saturday Garden

My little courtyard. I'm trying to create a container garden with a mix of vegetable, flowering and herb plants. I'm just getting started, adding a few things each weekend. May be a jungle in a few months! I really enjoy watching the plants grow.

Chives

Eggplant infant

Lavender

Mother Earth in Asheville

Photos from my recent trip to Asheville, NC to see the Mother Earth News Fair, April 12-13, 2014. I really enjoy the articles in their magazine so I was glad to see that one of the fairs would be close to Atlanta. It was a beautiful drive up and back through the southern foothills and lower Smokey Mountains - lots of farmland also with beautiful flowering trees of spring.

Livestock

John C Campbell Folk School exhibit

People of the festival

Exibits

Bought a broom and walking stick from these lovely folks,
their business card is below,

Really liked this exhibit and the very nice man who explained chicken raising to me

These people were great to talk to also

Bought this cookbook and really like it!

Link to MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Link to JOHN C CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL

Spring!

Recipes for Erin

PALEO-CORRECT MEAT LOAF

2 lb extra-lean ground beef
2 red onions, finely chopped
4 garlic gloves
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/2 c fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 c fresh parsley,chopped
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp pepper
3 omega 3 enriched eggs, beaten
2 T olive oil

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Spread mixture evenly in an 81/ x 11 inch baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees  for 45 minutes or until well cooked. Serves 8.

ALMOND CHICKEN SALAD

1 cup cooked, diced chicken breast meat
1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup shredded butter leaf lettuce
1/2 cup chopped red cabbage
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup chopped Medjool dates
1-2 Tablespoons flaxseed oil
1-2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Combine all ingredients except liquids in a large service bowl. Toss with flaxseed oil and orange juice. Serves 2.