Friday, November 17, 2017

The Library

Ever since I was a child, I have loved going to the library. The library was a place to go in times of unemployment. Or it was a refuge from a noisy world. Or it was a place to study in peace and quiet. Of course, the best reason is you can borrow books, DVDs, and audio books for free and all you need is a library card. Many libraries are now offering free classes, such as cooking, technology, and crafting. My local library offers free wifi and computer access.

I personally go to the library to get away from it all. I get a coffee and find a cozy chair and read whatever current book I'm reading. Sometimes I bring my adult coloring book and color away while I'm listening to music on my earphones.

I have fond memories of my first library as a child. It was called the Edgerton Library, and it was located inside a wing of a very old building. The library was small and quaint. The building which housed the library was, at one time, a girl's dormitory for juvenile delinquents. The library was in walking distance from my school, so my classmates and I would walk to the library after school.

I recently found some old photos of the Edgerton Library and I thought they were really cool. Unfortunately, the building which housed the library was knocked down, probably sometime in the 1980's. Enjoy the photos.

The library is located up those stairs. The stone pillar is still there. This space where the building was is now a children's park.

Librarians in 1968.
I remember the pillars, the front desk and the wooden bench to the right.
The room with the fireplace is the children's section.

The library file cabinet (Dewey decimal system card holder).

This is back of the library looking out toward the front.
I remember the library had a lot of windows.
I remember sitting at that corner table.
The main desk area and checkout area.


The room with the desk is the children's section.
The entrance into the library.

Children's section.

Main desk area. The door way in the back is the room where they held children's story time.
This is the back of the library. Front desk is up ahead.




Sunday, October 15, 2017

I got duped by Mary Kay Cosmetics

I entered a random drawing at the mall advertising a free facial and makeover. You had to guess how many items were in a glass container. So, I said sure, why not. So, I get a call from a woman informing me that I had won. She took my name and address and mailed me a postcard that said I had won a free pampering session that included a hand treatment, a facial, and a $20 gift card.

The day of my "pampering" session had arrived. So I walk into a room where tables and chairs are set up with makeup trays placed on the tables and about 10-15 women in the room. I was greeted then by the woman who sent me the postcard. I asked the woman if the other women in the room had also won the contest and she said, "no, not all of them." I'm already starting to get suspicious. She then brought me coffee and a muffin. OK, thanks.

The woman then led me to a sink where she squirted something that felt like Vaseline Jelly on my hands and she told me to rub my hands together. At that point, it was clear, this was not what I thought it would be. A pampering spa session is when other people do it for you, not when you have to do it yourself.

For the next couple of hours, we were given a history of Mary Kay cosmetics, how successful these women were selling Mary Kay cosmetics (new cars, vacations) and a walk through of the products that were placed onto our makeup trays, which we had to apply ourselves. The funniest moment came when we were told to check our phones and write down as many female names and phone numbers for a pampering session. For each name and phone number that was given, you would be entered in a raffle to win a free prize. I immediately refused to do this. The woman who sent me the postcard shot me a dirty look and said, "you don't know any women who would like this?" I said I didn't comfortable doing that. LOL, she was mad that I didn't write any names down. I don't give a shit. That's a good way to make my friends/acquaintances get mad at me. It's bad enough I fell for this scam.

So after this 2 hour sales pitch, I was led into another room for another sales pitch to buy cosmetics and/or to become a Mary Kay representative. I told the women I may be interested if I can only sell on-line and I wasn't interested in doing parties, in other words, scamming people into thinking they would be getting a facial that they would be doing themselves. The woman shot this down and went into a spiel how Mary Kay reps work as a team. What?? OK, fine. Now comes the time to sell me products. But wait, I still have my $20 gift card, which I used, but I still ended up buying two products and spent $27 on crap that I don't need. There is a silver lining. I'm going to sell those two products on eBay and get my money back.

You have been warned. This "pampering session" is nothing more than a recruiting session. If someone from Mary Kay calls you and tells you that you won a free facial and pampering session, RUN. I will never purchase any products from Mary Kay. Deception is not a good sales pitch.


Friday, October 13, 2017

Cooking



"Personally, I feel a sense of abundance when I prepare a home cooked meal. I love the feeling that I've placed everything we need on the table. It's different from a restaurant enterprise--that's an act of commerce, a transaction. At home, no one worries about what to order from the menu or what the tab's going to be, what wine to pair with the food.

And I love to see the way people taste and enjoy what I've prepared. It's a way of showing my care and regard for someone. When I create something delicious in my kitchen, it sends a clear message.

When we sit down together for a meal, we slow down, relax and talk with each other. It's always nice to be quiet while we eat and just enjoy the comfort and companionship of a shared meal."

By Susan Wiggs, The Beekeeper's Ball


Sunday, April 9, 2017

My Poetry

Mystery Man

Mystery man at the library
I see how your eyes smiled at me
Wondering what your story might be and
How did you end up working in a library?
My nose in a book as you pass by me
You arise my curiosity
That awakens my sensuosity



Train Whistle

Train whistle late at night
Fills me with a melancholy fright
Living in a world that is not right
In the moonlight, past midnight
A late-night blight until the next daylight



Urban Blight

I see children play in urban decay
Boarded up homes with dirt and grime
Certainly not pleasing to the eye
Gray urban sprawl glares at me
Even the trees depress me
A closed door to a once-upon-a-time
That faded away into grime
Afternoon turns into evening
The foreboding wind whistles through
Forcing the trees to blow askew
On a past we once knew



Friday, April 7, 2017

Easy Ravioli Lasagna

I made this and it's delicious and easy!! This recipe is a keeper.
EASY RAVIOLI LASAGNA
6-8

10 MINUTES

1 HOUR, 15 MINUTES

1 HOUR, 25 MINUTES
1 package (25 to 27 1/2 ounces) frozen beef-filled ravioli
24-ounce jar tomato pasta sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Preheat your oven to 400˚ Fahrenheit. Pour a cup of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a lightly greased 8x8 casserole pan.
Create an even layer with frozen ravioli and top with more sauce and some mozzarella cheese. Repeat until you're out of ravioli.
Top with mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese and cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Pro tip: Customize your lasagna! There are so many different types of ravioli out there, experiment and find your favorite! 

Finished dish is a huge hit!!

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Easy No Bake Strawberry Marshmallow Pie

I'm always looking for easy recipes and this one is a keeper!

What you need:
- 12 oz. cream cheese
- 7 oz. marshmallow cream
- 8 oz. Cool Whip
- 1 can strawberry pie filling
- 1 graham cracker pie crust

Beat cream cheese, add marshmallow cream, beat until smooth. Add Cool Whip, mix until incorporated. Pour into pie crust, refrigerate pie for 2-3 hours until firm. Top pie with strawberry pie filling. Garnish with whipped cream.

Done!

Enjoy!


Sunday, February 19, 2017

Sweater Girl

I love sweater weather and my closet is filled with sweaters. 


I try to wear all my sweaters at least once during the fall/winter season. I have all types of sweaters in my closet: pullovers, cardigans, turtlenecks, cowl necks, tunics, hoodies, and ponchos. I've never counted them, but I probably have between 50-60 sweaters, maybe more. I think it may be time to get rid of a few of them. Yeah, riiiiiight.
I am never satisfied with finding the perfect sweater.
My perfect sweater can take me to work, as well as going to the movies with friends or running errands. My perfect sweater is comfortable, stylish, can't be itchy, too bulky, or too tight or too loose, and most importantly, it must be bought on sale.

One of my latest additions is a Liz Claiborne sweater found on the bargain rack at JCPenney. Original price was $40, bought it for $10. I love the animal print and the 3/4 sleeve, perfect for wearing a bracelet.




Bought this sweater yesterday at Plato's Closet. Original price was $14, bought it for $1. Yes, you read that right, I paid $1 for this sweater. That may be my perfect sweater.


Wednesday, February 1, 2017

My easy, healthy, one-pan chicken dinner

Nothing makes a cold winter night more bearable than a hot and hearty meal. This chicken dinner is my favorite winter comfort food.

It's also easy, healthy, affordable and delicious!

What you need:
- Large Baking Dish
- Olive Oil
- Salt-free Seasoning
- Potatoes (I use 3 large potatoes)
- Chicken Breast (I use 2)
- Vegetable (I use frozen broccoli, but you can use any vegetable you like, fresh, frozen or canned.)

Peel and chop up potatoes. Place chopped potatoes in a baking dish and pour a generous amount of olive oil, stir potatoes so potatoes are well coated with oil, sprinkle salt-free seasoning on potatoes. Cover with foil. Place potatoes in the oven, at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes. While potatoes are baking, cut up chicken, (and vegetable, if using fresh produce) in bite-size portions. After 10-15 minutes, remove pan from the oven and add chicken and vegetable to the pan, add more salt-free seasoning to chicken to taste. Cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour or until chicken and potatoes are cooked.

Take out of the oven and serve with a crisp salad. Enjoy!


Finished dish is always a HUGE hit!