Springtime Changes

 I've never gotten the hang of doing selfies, but this is best try so far.  My new shorter ...by alot hair and maybe you can see it's streaked........theory is that will make the gray show up less?

I've never had anything but corals and reds/burgundy's on my nails.  AND I only get nails done is spring and summer, part way into fall...sometimes; this is to show not only is it FINALLY Spring, but I'm stepping out of my box.  Found the darker purple first, but then when they asked me to pick the gel color I spotted the lighter one and decided...what the heck.......also something I've never done.  I always match.  You might think I'm going through a midlife crisis, but I'm well beyond midlife, lol.

**Question?  I went to a different shop, when they removed the gel polish from my nails (which I got recently out of town), they did not soak cotton with acetate apply to my nails and cover with foil...the had me soak my fingers in a bowl of acetate.  It didn't seem as effective, smelled alot more, and after awhile my fingers were burning a bit, so I removed them while waiting on someone to come finish the job.  Have you ever had it done that way?  I thought acetate was hard on your skin?  Which is why I thought they did the foil and cotton.........or is it just more effective the other way, covered and all?

This represents part of the reason I've not been here much lately.
A=Afghans, Family Heirlooms
B= Bridge and Beyond, Behind the Scenes
C=What is Crochet
D=Donations
E=Exposure Kills Homeless Vet
F= Crying and Homeless and Freezing Temperature
G= Gubbio, A Homeless Project, St. Boniface Church
H=Hobo and Homelessness
I= Inspiration
J= What is Joy
K=Knitting
L=Knitting Looms
M=Mittens, Knitted, Crocheted or Loomed
N=Caring for the Needy
O=Jack Otis, Classmate, Homeless
P=Policing the Homeless
Q=Quilting Can Warm Those in Need
R=Helping Homeless with Rain Poncho's and Recycling
S=Shelter Living and the Homeless
T=Tent Cities for Homeless
U=Living Under the Underpasses
V=Homeless Veterans, Rest in Peace
W=Water in Doorways, Sprays Homeless
X=Xenophobia
Y=Yarn Helps Homeless
Z=Find Zen

These are the A-Z challenge (always held in April) posts I wrote for Bridge and Beyond.  Love to have you check them out.  I learned more myself about homelessness, and I thought I knew more then the average bear.

Hope to catch up with you all, see what you've been doing.  I have continued to knit, crochet and walk...updates on that next post.

Bangers and Mash

Sorry for the strange angle here in this picture, was in a hurry to eat!  Actually this is hubby's picture, as I don't drink beer anymore...allergic to it I guess.  It makes me sneeze.  My plate had a glass of wine beside it.  Apple sauce, fresh green beans, and bangers and mash.  I didn't really know what Bangers and Mash were, or how to fix them.  He purchased the Bangers at Cosco.  I asked a few Irish and English friends on facebook how to cook them, and did some google searches before finding the recipe on their website.  I didn't use their recipe, but will probably try it next time with the current jelly...sounds good.

The recipe I used:
Browned the Bangers in a skillet in olive oil somewhere around 5 minutes a side (hard to get all sides brown, mostly it's just 2 sides because the curl of a sausage).  Placed them in the oven on warm.
Made Mash Potatoes (something I NEVER make) it said to add dry mustard which I didn't have so added some ground ginger instead for a little kick.  I'm not one to measure when cooking, just added what seemed right in terms of milk, and butter.  The recipe said 1/4 cup of butter and milk and 2 TBLS of the mustard, 1 tsp of salt and pepper.
Brown 2 large red onions in 1 TBLS butter, I used 1 huge red onion, and sprinkled in olive oil instead of butter.  Says to cook them about 8 minutes...I didn't time them, just cooked them until they looked right to me then added a can of beef broth (recipe called for 6 cups, I didn't have that much...but I was also cooking for 2 instead of 4 so it was fine.  2 cups of red wine.......I added more to offset the shortage of beef broth a bit, and I tossed in a little chicken stock I had in the fridge (maybe 1/4 cup).  Let it cook to half the volume it said.  I cooked it down a bit more, as I wanted it a little thicker.

When my potatoes where done, I added them to the oven as well, though that's not what the recipe said to do.  They assume you fix the potatoes and sit down to eat.  I had everthing at ready, had turned off the onion gravy and then when hubby came home, turned the gravy back on very low while we had cocktails.........then served it.

It was hit.  The sausage..Bangers is a much lighter texture then say Polish Sausage or Bratwurst.  When he brought the Bangers home, I thought they were an Irish meal, but turns out it's more of an English meal.

Thanks Kim, Heather, and Christine for the imput.  

Hummingbird Stain Glass

 Sharing a reminder of Spring, even as the snow is flying outside my window.  Took this picture the other day, when there was some light outside, though when and if we get a sunny day this cute little hummingbird's colors will be even prettier.

Hung it backwards in the first picture then realized it was the wrong side...dah!  This was gifted to me by a fellow Find A Grave Friend, Brian.  He does truly beautiful work.  Many thanks Brian, it brightens the gloom that is the normal winter day here in central Ohio.

Have continued to work on the ghans in the previous post (just scroll back for the pictures), and am itching to start a new project....some yarn is calling my name

Hope you're all safe and warm indoors, as the last several days have been brutally cold.  I think about those living out in the elements without a roof over their heads and hope they somehow are protected from the elements.  Am so grateful for all those who've sent donations in lately for Bridge and Beyond  and am working at catching up on writing and scheduling the blog posts.