URGENT: Please Help Save Special Needs Sadie – Time Critical – Greenville, SC

via BriansHomeBlog.com

This is a picture of Sadie the cat who is in dire need of your help. If she doesn’t get the help she needs she will most likely die. The picture credit is from BriansHomeBlog.com and that’s who gets credit for this picture.

Please share and reblog this article so Sadie the cat gets the help she needs. If you use all your sharing resources she may be saved.  PLEASE SAVE SADIE. Thank you In Advance For Your Help.

Guest Post: Cooking and Baking – A little bit of everything

Hello everyone, I would like to welcome Esmé from The Recipe Hunter.  She will be doing a guest post for us today and her subject is cooking. She will be sharing with us today some of her favorite recipes that she has tried and tested in her own kitchen.

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Crystal for the wonderful invite and opportunity to be a Guest on her awesome blog.  This is a huge honor and I hope you will enjoy the variety of dishes I am about to share with you.

Oh, maybe I should introduce myself.  My name is Esmé and my blog is a compilation of home-made tried and tested recipes from around the Globe and you can visit and follow my Blog @ The Recipe Hunter! as well as join, follow and share your very own home-made tried and tested recipes with the Group on Facebook @ The Recipe Hunter (Cook & Enjoy).  You will also find more social links you can check out at the end of this post.  Thanks in advance ♥

I reside in Vancouver, British Columbia for the past 20+ year, although originally from Cape Town, South Africa.

Now, enough about myself, so let’s get Cooking!!

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Breakfast: Cauli-Toast

Ingredients:
1 medium head cauliflower
1 large egg
½ cup shredded Cheddar
1 t garlic powder
Pinch of salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Method:
Preheat oven to 425ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Finely grate cauliflower in a large bowl and microwave on high, 8 minutes.
Let it cool slightly in order to work it.
Place 1/3 at a time in a clean cheesecloth, and squeeze until mixture is dry. Continue till all done.
Fluff the mixture into crumbs and add egg, cheddar cheese, and garlic powder to the dried out cauliflower and season with salt and pepper.
Mix until combined.
Form cauliflower mix into 6 toast shapes on prepared baking sheet and bake until golden, ±15-20 minutes.
Transfer to a plate and top with desired toppings.

Toppings:
A slice of cold cut
A slice of cheese
Baked egg
Or anything you prefer

Recipe Credit: Delish

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Vegan Lunch: Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients:
3 potatoes
2 carrots
3 celery stalks
1/2 onion
450g mushrooms
1+ Tbsp. flour
1 tsp fresh thyme
1 tsp fresh sage
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
2 ½ cups veggie broth
1/4 cup red wine
2 x 312g vegan ground round ‘beef’
Salt
Pepper
Soy milk (or rice milk)
Vegan butter
Dried parsley

Method:
Peel, chop, and boil the potatoes until soft.
Meanwhile, chop the carrots, celery, and onion, sauté in vegan butter or oil for a few minutes. Add the mushrooms, garlic, and season with salt and pepper, and sauté.
Add wine, flour, thyme, and sage.
Slowly add the veggie broth stirring continuously. Let simmer/cook till thickened to your liking.
Mash the potatoes and add the soy milk and vegan butter, till smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Place the veggie/’meat’ filling into a baking dish, then spread the mashed potatoes over top. Make a rough scraped designs for the top. The rougher the surface, the crisper it will turn out.
Spray the surface with cooking oil. Sprinkle with dried parsley.
Broil for 10-15 minutes, or until the top is crispy.

Recipe Credit: Own creation

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Regular Dinner: Family Famous Chicken Pie

Ingredients:
2 whole chickens – cut up into smaller pieces
1 onion – chopped
VOO – Virgin olive oil
2 heaped dessert spoons full crushed garlic
Salt – to taste
Chicken spice – to taste
Rosemary – to taste
Basil – to taste
10 cloves
2 cups of boiling water

Box puff pastry / or filo pastry
1 egg
Milk

Method:
Fry onions in VOO till golden and translucent, add garlic and fry another minute or two.
Spoon mixture out on a plate and set aside
Add extra VOO in a large pot, add chicken, stir and fry till you have all the pieces a golden color.
Add all spices, to taste and also the cloves.
Add water, and bring to a rolling boil and then cook for ±1 hour till meat soft and tender and falling off the bone. Be careful, do not overcook it.
Now we usually let this just sit overnight, in the pot as it will still have enough heat and cook a bit more.
The next morning, heat it just enough in order for you to not burn your fingers, and it’s easy to handle and debone thoroughly.
Shred the meat and leave it in the juice.

Prepare your baking dish. Spray or butter the bottom. I use filo pastry, much easier than rolling out the puff pastry.
Place one sheet on the countertop, paint it with the egg wash along the edges and a few spots in the middle, and then add another sheet on top.
Continue till you have at least 5 or 6 sheets stacked on top of one another. Take this stack and place it in your dish.
Make sure you have the edges also covered with the pastry.
Now spoon the chicken out onto the pastry. I usually use a slotted spoon to ensure that I do not have a lot of juice, leave it till the end, then you will be able to see if you need to add a tad more, depending on how juicy you like it and it is.
Remember when it’s cold, you will not see as much juice, but when baking and heated you will notice the juice.
Egg wash the pastry sheets at the edges, as you will now add the top layer of filo sheets and they need to stick together.
Now start the process over again with the filo pastry sheets, another 5 or 6 sheets, and lay that over the top of the meat.
Egg wash the edges of the top sheets, and bind them to the bottom edges. I usually fold them to ensure that I lock down the meat and juice inside.
Egg wash the entire top.
Bake in the oven at 375F for ± 40-45 minutes, and you have a good golden color and the pie nice and warm.

Recipe Credit: Own creation

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Family favorite: Cape Seed Bread

Ingredients
500g whole wheat bread flour
85g sunflower seeds
50g pumpkin seeds
25g poppy seeds
5ml salt
1 x 8g packet quick-rise instant yeast
15ml sugar

30ml sunflower oil
350ml lukewarm water (be careful, it should not be hot, as it will burn the yeast)

1 beaten egg to brush over the dough. You can mix a drop or two milk with it, but not necessary.
Decorate in lines, with sesame, poppy and sunflower seeds.

Method:
Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Pour the water and oil onto the dry ingredients and knead for about a minute. It’s a bit sticky, but not to worry.
Place the dough in an oiled loaf pan/or use a spray to coat your pan liberally (9” x 5”).
Brush with the whisked egg and decorate with alternate lines of sesame and poppy seeds. As I did not have poppy seeds, I used sesame, extra sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Use a teaspoon, to lightly press the seeds into the dough, to ensure that it will stick properly.
Cover the dough with a tea towel and let it rise for about 45 minutes – till it nicely fills out the pan to the top edge.
Pre heat the oven to 180C / 350F and bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
Cool on rack.

Recipe Credit: I used and combined a number of recipes and then came up with this version

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Treat: Gluten Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:
½ cup confectioners/icing sugar
1 2/3 cups Gluten Free Flour (I used Robin Hood All Purpose GF Flour)
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Dutch processed)
1¾ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 stick room temperature unsalted butter
1¼ cups sugar (I used berry sugar, as I prefer a finer sugar)
2 large eggs
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
Preheat oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt with a wooden spoon and set aside.
Using an electric hand mixer, and in a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, ±2-3 minutes.
Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Add 1 egg and beat on medium speed till blended.
Add the 2nd egg and vanilla and beat again until well blended.
Now combine the butter and flour mixtures and beat on low-speed just until blended, and no dry spots visible.
Use a 12.5 ml measuring spoon, scoop up a rounded spoonful of dough, and roll a ball in the palm of your hand.
In a separate bowl, sift the confectioners/icing sugar and then dip/roll the ball until well covered.

Place the balls on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
Bake until they are cracked and puffed, ±-12-14 minutes.
Remove from the oven and when slightly cooled, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe credit: marlameridith

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Once again, I wish to thank my host Crystal for this wonderful opportunity to share some of my own home-made tried and tested recipes with you all.

I have prepared, tried and tested all the above recipes in my own kitchen: Esme Slabs from The Recipe Hunter (Cook and Enjoy) 

Please check out, join, comment, participate and follow
The Recipe Hunter (Cook & Enjoy) on
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Flipboard:  TRH_Cook
Blog: The Recipe Hunter

 

 

Remembering Tigger

 Hi everyone, let me introduce myself my name is Daisy Mae and this is a picture of me. The reason why I’m here is because today is a rough day for Mom since it’s been 2 years since my sister, Tigger passed away.

Mom wanted to remember Tigger and this is what she wanted to say: Tigger, you were taken from us 2 years ago today and we miss you everyday. It was a bittersweet day. Bitter because you passed away and sweet because you didn’t have to suffer anymore.

Before you passed away, you were agile so you played, jumped up on things, layed on our laps and was always under our feet. You were such a loving kitty cat despite your kittyhood. We got you as an adult and I’m glad we did. we rescued you out of a bad situation and we loved you very much. I’m so glad you finally came to make nice with Dad.

Below is a picture of my sister, Tigger.

 

TIGGER ON TOP OF THE CURIO CABINET.

Tigger, like Mom we miss you a lot and had fun playing with you. You have left paw prints on our hearts.

 

Thanks Tigger for being such a sweet kitty cat.

*Tigger’s Picture Is in The Featured Image and Daisy Mae’s Picture Is The Insert On The Left*.

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New Milestone Reached: 101 Follows

Hello everyone, I’m excited and happy to report I have reached 101 Follows on WELCOME TO CRYSTAL’S SITE(ORIGINALLY COUNTRY LIVING).🙂🙂

I want to thank everyone who followed me and thank those in advance who will be following me in the future.🙂🙂

This is an exciting accomplishment for me. I’ve worked hard to reach this goal.🙂🙂

My next goals are to reach 150 Follows on WELCOME TO CRYSTAL’S SITE(ORIGINALLY COUNTRY LIVING and 50 Follows on CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE . I hope I reach it then I can go for 100 Follows.

Thanks Again Everyone.

WHAT A PRETTY PICTURE IN THE FALL.

FRIENDSHIP

EASTER 2017 WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE DOG.

Finding a friend in life

Is a joyous occasion.

It is a joyous occasion because

We have not just made a

Friend but that means

Someone else found a friend

And that will mean that two less

People will be lonely in life.

Having a friend and having an

Animal is always good because

You can always get your friend’s advice

And with an animal you can relieve stress.

A friend can always lead you out of the

Darkness and into the light.

So let’s not be sad and have no friends but

Be happy and surround ourselves with friends and animals.

Friend, don’t torture yourself because

You don’t have many friends or animals because the

Fear that you may have now will soon die and

You will be so much happier because you have found a

Friend and found a pet that will relieve some stress

That you may be feeling. Don’t worry because

Everyone has a little rain that falls sometime

In their lives.

Poem By: Crystal Stewart(2017)

WHAT MEETING MAYA ANGELOU DID FOR ME

A POEM CALLED “You are the apple of God’s eye” WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY PARENTS. THIS POEM IS BY A UNKNOWN AUTHOR.

When I went to Clarion University Of Pennsylvania  almost 24 years ago, something really big and incredible  happened other than graduation. It was a highlight in my college life and lifetime I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Maybe because it was encouraging to meet someone famous that was not only minority but she was black and really had to work at what she got. I was encouraged by this and it made me want to pursue my dreams and not be a quitter. The woman’s name was none other than Maya Angelou.

Meeting Maya Angelou was not only inspiring but exciting too. Before meeting Maya Angelou, I was determined to reach my goals but after meeting Maya Angelou and hearing her story, I was even more determined. Also, it was nice to hear that you weren’t alone and that other people had either the same concerns or similar concerns.

After meeting Maya Angelou, I went through a phase of writing poems. I even had some of them published in a book with other people’s poems from the college.

I would like to tell you a little bit about Maya Angelou and if you read below, you will see a brief synopsis of who Maya Angelou is and what she has done.

Maya Angelou was an “American Poet, memoirist and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.”

Maya Angelou had several poems and quotes. I’ve read some of the quotes and they’re quite good. Some of her quotes are quite encouraging.

In my opinion, when you smile you encourage someone and that will not only help them but also help you. A smile goes a long way in encouraging someone and lifting someone’s spirits. Not to mention, a smile is contagious so it will help you and help the people who are around you. So Smile.

There are many links you can go to on Maya Angelou and I am only going to list a few and they are: Maya Angelou(Wikipedia), Maya Angelou(Official Site), Maya Angelou(Biography) and Maya Angelou(Bing Search). Also, some links for Maya Angelou’s poetry are: Maya Angelou Poetry Links and Maya Angelou Poetry Links-Wikipedia. I think you will find these links interesting and informative.

Meeting Maya Angelou encouraged me to continue to be determined, ambitious, not be a quitter and to pursue my dreams when people tell me I can’t do something.

I encourage everyone to continue to be determined, to be ambitious, not to be a quitter and to pursue your dreams and not quit when things get rough. Remember, it’s just a stepping stone and teaching tool when things get rough and there will be times it will get rough.

When things get rough and you need a friend to talk to, try talking to your cat and if you don’t have a cat talk to your pet. It might sound crazy but it helps and they don’t talk back. Also, if you don’t have a pet to talk to, talking to a stuffed animal helps too. So pick yourself up and continue doing what you’re doing. You’ll eventually finish what  you started. I know I did and I eventually reached some of my goals.

I could say meeting Maya Angelou was a dream come true but the truth is, my only dreams and goals at the time was graduating from college. Meeting Maya Angelou was just a way to make me more determined to reach my goals what ever they may be.

I  think a good way to end this post  is with some Maya Angelou quotes. Below are some quotes by Maya Angelou and they are:

1. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
2. “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
3. “If you have only one smile today in you, give it to the people you love. Don’t be grumpy at home, then go out in the street and start “Good Morning” at total strangers.”
4. “A SMILE IS THE PRETTIEST THING YOU CAN WEAR”

If you think about the above quotes, they all ring true one way or another. Also if you think you’re having a bad day, there is probably someone out there who is having a worse day than you. So stop having pity parties for yourself and stop moping around because there will always be someone having a worse day than you.

I’m not saying you can’t have a good cry when something doesn’t turn out the way you had planned,  a good rant when you get angry and even vent when you have things bottled up inside you. Actually, sometimes it ‘s good to talk or vent because once you do, you will feel so much better.

I have previously  put some links in this post that you can go to read about Maya Angelou and below are two more Maya Angelou links.  Here are the other two links for Maya Angelou quotes and they are: Maya Angelou Quotes and Maya Angelou Encouraging Quotes.

If you have a similar story please let me know by using the contact form below.

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS: NOTIFICATIONS

Hello Everyone, I thought I would write and let you know if I don’t get right back to you after a comment, don’t worry I’m not blowing off your comment or ignoring your comment either it’s because I have been having some technical problems with my notifications. You see, I can see my notifications but I can’t reply, like, follow and etc… Thank goodness for e-mail notifications. I might be able to reply that way. Wish me luck. I’m really sorry about this but that’s computer’s for you.

Thanks In Advance For Your Understanding,

🙂🙂daisymae2017(Crystal)🙂🙂

 

LADY ANTEBELLUM IN CONCERT.

WHAT A PRETTY PICTURE IN THE FALL (2017).

HELLO THERE! I’M OUT OF FOOD AND WANT MORE FOOD.

UPDATE: NEW POST PUBLISHED ON CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE

Hello Everyone, I am very happy to say I just published a new post on CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE. The post is called IMPORTANT DAYS IN OUR LIVES: A COLLAGE. I had fun putting the collage together for you and hope you go visit the site and look at the collage.

Below is only a sample of what you will see on CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE. I have more pictures in the collage I just posted and in my Pages I have made up  A SAMPLE OF CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING.

I do hope you go visit my Pages and look at look at this sample of my photo-blogging.

 

LADY ANTEBELLUM IN CONCERT.

My Niece, Kaitlin Got To Try This Ring On When He Saw She Was A Steeler Fan And She Was At The Game With 2 Philadelphia Eagles Fans, Her Dad And Older Sister.

SIDE VIEW OF THE STEELER CHAMPIONSHIP RING.

CAN WE SAY WOW!

A STEELER FAN IN BETWEEN TWO EAGLE FANS.

 

UPDATE: POST PUBLISHED ON CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE CALLED SUNRISES AND SUNSETS: IN PHOTOS PLUS SOME OTHER POSTS THAT WERE REBLOGGED

UPDATE:

I did some blogging and reblogging on my new site, CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE. I also just published another picture blog called SUNRISES AND SUNSETS: IN PHOTOS. I think in my opinion these blogs are pretty good.

On your dashboard under Links then hitting All Links, you’ll find both of my sites and their Links. If you don’t want to bother with that, here is the link for CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE.

Thanks to Everyone who has visited the site. I hope you follow it too.

 

ABOUT PAGE PUBLISHED FOR CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE

Hi everyone, I just published my About Page for CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE. I will soon publish more pictures on my other site, CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE.

I just wanted to tell you all about the update. Thanks.

PLEASE FOLLOW MY OTHER SITE

RACCOON COMING FOR SA BED TIME SNACK.

A RACCOON EATING.

TWO RACCOONS EXPLORING.

MOULTRIE DIGITAL GAME CAMERA

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HER? DON’T YOU KNOW THIS IS MY FOOD?

HELLO THERE! I’M OUT OF FOOD AND I WANT MORE TO EAT.

WHO’S BOTHERING ME WHEN I AM ASLEEP IN MY SUNPUDDLES?

Welcome to CRYSTAL’S SITE(ORIGINALLY COUNTRY LIVING), I hope you go to my other site CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE and hope you follow me there too. I have no followers yet and hope to get some. Please follow me at my other site too.

I sure would appreciate it. THANKS IN ADVANCE EVERYONE.

P.S. All you have to do is switch sites and hit the follow button. I hope you follow me. THANKS AGAIN.

UPDATE:1ST PHOTO BLOG PUBLISHED

I just wanted to let you know that I just published my 1st photo blog. I hope you go to my site, CRYSTAL’S PHOTO-BLOGGING SITE. I hope you follow my other site too. Please take a look and enjoy the pictures and their captions. Below is a picture of what you might see on my new site. Thanks in advance.

TWO WISE OLD OWLS.

THE EASTER BUNNY VS. THE REAL REASON WE SHOULD CELEBRATE EASTER

EASTER FLOWERS

In my opinion, when we celebrate Easter we normally celebrate by talking about the Easter Bunny a lot more than the real reason why we should celebrate Easter. What is the real reason we celebrate Easter? The answer to that question is the Resurrection of Christ.

However, if you wish to celebrate by talking about the Easter Bunny that’s ok just don’t overdo it.

One year on Easter Sunday, I went with my Mom and Dad up to my sister’s church and the children’s sermon proved to be interesting. Let Me try to explain. The pastor explained to the young children that when we celebrate Easter, we can celebrate both the Easter Bunny and the Resurrection of Christ when we celebrate Easter. He did it in two parts, the first part was about the Easter Bunny and the second part was on the Resurrection of Christ.

The pastor explained to the kids that they could celebrate and have fun finding their Easter baskets the Easter Bunny left them but be sure to remember the real reason we’re celebrating and that is the Resurrection of Christ. He also reminded the children when they talked about the Easter Bunny to overdo it. What a children’s sermon.

If you have kids of your own, always remember there is nothing wrong with letting them hear a little bit about the Easter Bunny or letting them find baskets that the Easter Bunny brought them. Just find some way to incorporate the story and meaning of the Resurrection of Christ.

There are several links and images about the Resurrection of Christ  for you to look at and there are several links and images for the history and story of the  Easter Bunny.  I do hope you look at some links from both categories.

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL AND I HOPE YOU HAVE FUN CELEBRATING IT WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

CHANGES IN MY BLOG TITLE

High Everyone, I made a change in the name of my blog.  It’s now called WELCOME TO CRYSTAL’S SITE(ORIGINALLY COUNTRY LIVING) and the site name is the same. I appreciate it when anyone comes to my site.

Thank You and hope you still come to my site that’s now called WELCOME TO CRYSTAL’S SITE(ORIGINALLY COUNTRY LIVING).

Thanks Again For Your Support.