Ring Bling ~ One Writer's Muse

Who knew that a gift from my mother would also be my inspiration to write?  For years, "ring bling" has been my writing muse, along with a secluded place.

On the left is my grandmother's ring, in the center my mother's ring, and on the right, another vintage spoon ring (also my mother's).  


I love these unique rings.  They not only have family ties, but are so fun to wear. 

On the far left is my fun, department store bling.  My 10 year-old also uses ring bling for her writing inspiration.  These rings are on one of my mother's vintage hankies.

I think I'll spend time writing today....

Yesterday I made a trip to the grocery store.  I came home and filled small lunch size containers with fresh pineapple, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.

I also filled bags with pistachio nuts, almonds, and bought organic raisins.

Now I can finally break the kids of grabbing store bought granola bars for breakfast.  I stopped buying them, but cannot make them myself every day, so I stocked  up on fruit.  Now the kids, hubby and myself, can grab a healthy snack "to go."

Although I am not keen on buying plastic lunch bags, it will have to work for now.  I need to invest in more reusable containers.


This morning, I heard one daughter screaming in delight.  She was thrilled to have healthy food already packaged up for a trip to school.


Yesterday, my daughter and son, placed cement blocks out for the billy goat to stand on.  He was so tickled to get them, that my daughter had to have my son hold him off, so she could place the blocks together.  When I heard that Orion (billy goat) was thrilled, I went out with my camera to snap some photos.  


However, he was already tucked away in his shed and was not about to come back out for me.  On my walk back up to the house . . .

....I snapped these photos.  Each one in another direction.  It was light out, so the back ground on the moon is interesting.  The jet was pretty neat to see too.  Next time, I plan to take a tripod out and get better photos.


A year of quotes:
"A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking."  ~ Earl Wilson

Breakfast Freezer Cooking

Yesterday was a good day for drying clothes outside.  The wind was perfect and the sun came out later.  I was able to dry bedding and put another load of pants on the line.  I love the smell of laundry that's been drying on the clothesline.

I pulled another container of frozen pumpkin from the freezer.  This time it was for breakfast.  The woman that works at the gym, shared this recipe with us, and even brought some in for us to try.  Here is the recipe:

Pumpkin Oatmeal

1 cup old fashioned oats

2/3 cup water

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup pumpkin, canned

Note:  If you use home grown and pureed pumpkin you will need to add pumpkin pie spice or similar to flavor this.

2 T. Maple syrup

1/8 - 1/4 cup pecans, chopped

Follow directions on your oatmeal package to prepare oats, and add additional ingredients.

Top with whipped cream.  

I used our home grown pumpkin, and added spices to flavor it.  I did not have pumpkin pie spice, but used ground cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon to flavor ours.  It's delicious and healthy.  You could add a bit of ginger as well.


A year of quotes:

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." ~ Will Rogers