Counting Your Blessings...

Let's all remember to count our blessings, as there are many. Sometimes when things look bleak, there's a blessing to be found.

My cat, Oliver (age 8), has so many UTI infections, that he is afraid of the litter box. He has been using our formal living carpet as his box...ugh. A friend sent me some information on a new study and I took it to my vet. We decided to try the therapy suggested.

I've also prayed about this. He's my LOVE, the cat who most enjoys snuggling, who loves me unconditionally, who is always by my side. I want us to be together in a normal and sanitary environment, lol!!!

For the past two days, he's been using the litter box!!!!! My prayers have been answered! Once again, I've been blessed.

My Little Volkswagen Beetle's *eyes* are sick!!!

LOL. it's my bugs headlights. This car is two years and two months old.....today I am having the THIRD HEADLIGHT replaced on the right side. The headlight on the drivers side is also beginning to fade...so that will need to be replaced soon as well, headlight #3 coming up!!!!!!!!

REALLY VW????? I think there is an issue here!!!!!!!! I love my little gecko green beetle, I wanted a beetle since I was a little girl. Six of us went on a road trip (yep in a beetle), before seatbelts were mandatory, of course. What fun that was!!!!

If I could get the eye issue worked out for my little guy, I'd be soooo happy!

Adoption Stories....a Beginning

I LOVE Adoption Stories, it's such a warm show...I end up feeling to warm and fuzzy! This mornings episode was about a Gay Man and his Partner.......adopting a little boy. I'm so happy that this little boy has a loving family AND happy that Gay Partnership has been recognized as a FAMILY UNIT. Every child deserves the love and support of a family, that doesn't necessarily mean Traditional.....as long as the child is loved and cared for....it's a Good Thing!

It's a beautiful day....

In the Neighborhood! Yes it's true......we have SUNSHINE!! Someone should bottle this stuff as a happy drug.....wait they do., it's called Zoloft, lol!

When you live in Cleveland, you learn to *Suck it Up*....I'm through Sucking It Up! I WANT Spring!!!!! Maybe if I scream loud enough....someone will hear me??????

~~~~On a happy/sad note~~~~~If anyone has been following the trial of our local doctor, YAZEED ESSA, he has been accused to poisoning his beautiful wife, Rosie, with cyanide. He skipped to Cyprus, and was extradited back to the US. He has been found GUILTY by a Jury of his Peers. Sadly, this will not bring Rosie back, nor will it give his two beautiful children a set of parents. Court TV has been filming the trial, so stay tuned. ~~~~

Sigh....My Dad is Ill...

Dear Old Dad has bladder cancer....the news didn't take me totally by surprise...I knew he had an issue, but I was hoping it was an infection...it was...sort of...is cancer sort of an infection? All I know is that the word CANCER is scary. It's an ugly word and an uglier disease. He's shook up, of course. I have confidence that he will be fine. There will be a bit of a fight though and I hope he can hang tough. He's a bit of a *baby*, not tough like my Mom. By *baby* I mean, he absolutely cannot handle pain or distress. Mom, however, wears her pain like a suit of armor. Is this a man thing, lol??? Dad will be 75, he's been in fairly good health, double by-pass many years ago and other issues that come with being almost 75.

Sigh....I will know more on March 16th...wish him luck!!!

It's Official

only 20.5 days until St. Patrick's Day!

To honor one our our favorite *holiday's, visit my blog throughout the 17th of March to view how we celebrate our *big day*. Since Brad's Grandparents came from Ireland, he's a true Leprechaun...and that he is!

We visited Ireland a few years ago and are planning to return in the late Spring of 2011! We left Ireland with a true love of this beautiful Emerald Isle. The people are warm, friendly and enjoy a good *craic*....as do we.....so stay tuned.

It's been a weekkkkkkk.....

I've been sick for 10 days...and I'm never sick. Coughing like crazy, taking cough syrup with codeine...that sure knocked me out! I am feeling a bit better today....so Dan, email me @ RachelRotech@yahoo.com with your address. I am going to make a few apples this weekend.

We Have a WINNER!!!!!!

And the winner of the apple is..........DAN! ~~ Give me a couple of days Dan, I'm very *under the weather* at the moment. We're going to work on the apples over the weekend. I'll get your address and get it to you!

Pre-Valentine's Day Celebration!

I awoke in the middle of the night to find that I've been graced with a headcold......oh lovely!

I watched tv, slept in....then Brad and I got up to *hit the road*....we stopped for lunch at a lovely little diner called the Hungry Bear...the people are so friendly! I had a juicy burger and began to feel a bit better.

We went to the little historic town of Wooster....there is a shop there called the CALLA LILY, a wonderful shop chocked full of yarn, patterns and goodies! There is a sock going around the USA...a HUGE sock...being knit by whoever happens to pick up knitting needles. It's going to be in the Guinness Book of World Records when it's finished.

Because I felt so yukky.....I didn't add to it today, but I will return to put my *stamp* on the sock. It also comes with a sign-in book. Stay tuned for a photo of this beautiful and huge sock!

If you're a knitter, check your local shop....it may end up there! I stopped at a little antique shop and purchased two pieces of gorgeous vintage wool for my rugs! I love those wonderful little bargains...and I always wonder where that wool was....after the sheep, of course!

Brad and I celebrated Valentine's Day in a wonderful way.....we had a snack at a Hungarian Bakery that makes the most wonderful open sandwiches of hungarian salami, cheese, red peppers and egg....yumm....I topped it off with a piece of their homemade torte. Then onto the bread bistro for a glass of wine and some wonderful conversation with the locals at the bar.

I finally realized that I should head home and rest...exhausted, but full and happy to have spent the full day with the one I love.

My Give-A-Way is Around the Corner!

Here's the surprise, a HUGE apple that I will make and ship to you! My apple will be big enough for four people to each have a wonderful hunk....it's tasty and delicious!!!!

Dance Like There's No Tomorrow.

So, the family (Brad's side) got together at a pub in the old *hood*, just a small family place which serves amazing pizza from next door. It also sports a vintage shuffle board machine, so fun! My brother-in-law has had a 2nd chance at life, and he's blowing it. He's back to his old alcoholic habits and he's not looking good at all. He wanted to dance, so we danced. He's not a great dancer, but he does love to *fake it*. We danced for a few hours actually....why not. That may have been my last chance to dance with him. It was wonderful actually. Then he told me he loved me. Like I didn't know? I did know, now he knows. Maybe next month if he's feeling ok, we'll go out again...and dance like there's no tomorrow.

It's The MONTH OF LOVE!!!

It's funny how February is known as *The Month of Love*...don't we love our friends and family EVERY day of the year?  Maybe February should be known as *The Month of Extra LOVE*...don't forget to tell each and every one of your loved ones (and friends) that they are loved and cherished at every opportunity.  This can be as simple as a card, a phone call or a cupcake!! 

This monday marks the 2nd anniversary of the death of my sister-in-law...I'm sure glad I told her I loved her before she passed away, she told me that she loved me too...now I have those memories and those words in my heart forever.

To celebrate our Love for our family and friends, I've gone out and about...taking photographs of hearts....they will change, so keep checking back.  I am going to do a LOVE Give-a-Way, drawing on February 14th...so stay tuned!!

America...More Than Home of the Brave

Haiti has been hit and hit hard.  After watching endless hours of people suffering, let me say that I have never been more PROUD to be an AMERICAN.  The United States of America is FULL of loving, caring and giving people.  I have had the pleasure of assisting a group of women supply little hospital gowns, diapers and shoes to the children of Haiti.  Two totes go over per year.  My boss' wife alone sewed 125 dresses and countless diapers for the wee ones.

The children of Haiti suffer GREATLY in one of the poorest countries in the world.  Let's continue to pray for their survival. 

Happy January & New Projects...

Perusing the wares of my favorite cross-stitch shop.....I was drawn to Kate & Lizzie's BOO CLUB. It's not a difficult project, just longggggggg.

This project consists of six leaflets called *Flip It's*...two patterns in each leaflet. It can be stitched as singles or put together. I chose to stitch all 12 as 1 project.

I didn't go with the suggested fabric...I chose to work on hand-dyed cashel, 28ct, antique almond.

Pollo Cacciatore al Forno or Baked Chicken Cacciatore

Bet you didn't know I know Italian. Ok, I"m faking it.

Let's Read the Recipe

3# chicken, cut up. You can use any type of chicken you like.
I like legs or boneless breast...so does Brad, truth be told.
Salt & freshly ground pepper
3T oliver oil
2 gn peppers, seeded, cut into narrow strips
1 lg onion, thinly sliced
8 oz mushrooms, trimmed and quartered
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 cups canned italian peeled tomatoes, drained & chopped
1t dried oregano

Preheat oven to 450. Arrange the chicken in the pan & sprinkle with salt & pepper.
Bake for about 30 minutes.
Turn the chicken & sprinkle again with salt & pepper. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Heat in med. skillet, the oil. Add peppers, onions & mushrooms. Cook stirring frequently until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned...about 15 minutes
WARNING: VEGETABLES WILL NOT BROWN UNLESS THEY'RE GIVEN ROOM, SO DON'T CROWD TOO MUCH.
Stir in the garlic & cook for about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, oregano, salt & pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer & cook until sauce is thick...about 30 minutes.
Pour the sauce and vegetables over the chicken & bake until chicken is nice and tender, about 15-20 minutes longer.

Let's Make SALSA

Ok ladies, we've all tasted the salsa in a jar....ugh. I made this recipe for Brad and it's been a hit. No more jar salsa, we're better than that...right? I've taken a few photographs to guide you.

Let's Begin by looking at the recipe:

2.5# Roma Tomatoes, Firm but Ripe
Cut the end off. Chop the tomato into nice sized pieces. Each tomato can be cut into approximately 27 pieces
1/2 green bell pepper, diced medium
1 small yellow onion, diced medium
2 green onions, trimmed and sliced, using both green and white part.
3 lg cloves of fresh garlic (not bottled, it's horrible), minced FINE. Why fine? A finer garlic will distribute more garlic flavor throughout the tomatoes. Makes sense, right?
1 jalapeno for a bit of heat. MINCE FINE.
Important: Jalapeno heat will intensify throughout the curing process. Adding too much right away can be a nightmare. Use one and when you taste your concoction, you can add more if you prefer it HOT. It's really difficult picking those little pieces of jalapeno out of your tomatoes. Wash your hands immediately after handling jalapeno or you could be sorry.
3/4 bunch of fresh cilantro, rough chopped
A Funny: Cilantro closely resembles parsley. Don't fall for the parsley's tricks. Absolutely get the cilantro and make sure it's cilantro.
salt & pepper

Put those delicious chopped romas into a large bowl. Sprinkle about 1T of salt all over the tomatoes, this will help the tomatoes flavor. Mix them well.

Add about 1/2T of black pepper as well and mix again.
Add the remainding ingredients.

Using a small plate, put it on top of your salsa and press down. This will help the tomatoes to *juice* up a bit.

Seal the bowl well, and put into fridge. In about two hours you can mix again. Taste it. If you prefer it hotter, add another jalapeno...it's going to be hot though. It's up to you, just no whining if it's too hot.

After 24 hours, your salsa is ready. It's tasty AND delicous.

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A soggy day

Hello, another rainy day, just finished. The birds certainly love the cool fresh water to bathe in. The butterflies are fluttering about. Is the yard too soggy to work in today? I think not, no absolutely not. I'm going to leave this house soon and prepare for battle. =^..^=

Happy Wednesday, O Happy Day! The rain has come and gone. Tomorrow will be a day to work in the gardens as those little weeds will pop right out.

I have so much to think about, I'm constantly writing myself *notes* and clipping photos of groupings that I like or colors that work well together.

Stay tuned for more photos of the Carey Cottage Garden

The Carey Cottage

Hello Everyone and WELCOME to Carey Cottage. I'm Rachel from OH. I've always loved cottages. When we moved into our new home, we had to add *character*, it's a work in progress as I'm always updating when I get new ideas.

I like to incorporate old with new or with new that looks old. I hope I've achieved that.

I particularly enjoy cottage gardens. This is year four for our gardens. I hope you enjoy looking at the photos. It's been a labor of love and God willing, we'll never be finished.