Vegetable Centerpiece

Here's a little something I whipped up for a family holiday dinner. It's so easy, anyone can do it. All it takes is a trip to the grocery store.

2 Medium size artichokes
Handful green beans, enough to go around the candle of your choice
1 bundle of asparagus
4 candles, different heights and sizes
Ribbon to go around beans and asparagus
Any fresh flowers in season. Use fall colours for Thanksgiving or spring flowers for Easter!

Hollow out enough of the artichoke to fit the candle of your choice. Put it all together on a fancy plate, or even better, use a flat pedestal dish.

The only tip I can give you is use an elastic while putting beans and asparagus around candle. Place the veggies under the elastic to keep it all together. Put ribbon around the elastic to cover it or remove elastic after tying with ribbon.

Trash to Treasure

As much as I find humour in most day to day things, and find much to write about, I think what I know most about is creativity.

From an early age, thanks to inheriting the artistic gene from my father, I showed an interest in all things creative.

My father was truly an inspired man. He was gifted, innovative and inventive. His artistic capabilities were magnificent.

While he effortlessly put thoughts and images on canvas and paper, I am more accomplished at working with my hands.

I have, in the course of my lifetime, accomplished and/or attempted many things. From roof shingling, to tiling, to grouting, to stripping (floors, that is) to refinishing, cutting, pasting, sawing, nailing, wood carving, jewelry making and flower arranging, to name a few.

During the next few weeks I will be renovating a bathroom and hopefully soon after that a kitchen.

I plan to document my progress here.

Check back to marvel in my accomplishments and revel in my blunders.

(Don't worry I'll have pictures of both.)

Along the way we'll make some interesting household items from ordinary flea market finds or junk in the garage.

Clickers

Since my divorce I have come to realize a few things.

I am not a long-termer. I am picky, anal retentive and definitely need my down time.

I'm big on down time.

So far, since my divorce I dated extensively for roughly 3 years. At the tail end of my serial dating came the man that since stayed with me.

For all intents and purposes, we'll just call him The Clicker.

The Clicker and I have had a wonderful relationship. We've been together almost 6 years now. Six years for Anal Retentive is a long time.

Let's veer off the path a bit and examine the "Anal Retentive" personality, shall we?

Some of the Anal Retentive habits I have are as follows:

-If I see something that strikes me as in the wrong position I have to move it, even if it's on a store shelf.

-I have to sleep with my sheet neatly folded over the blanket and comforter in a straight line.

-I cringe when someone says "Setember" or "Febuary" or "Valentime's Day". Say Liberry instead of Library and I stop breathing for 8 seconds.

-Gobs of toothpaste in the sink irritate me.

-People who brush their teeth and spit on the faucet... perhaps brushing their teeth in the bathtub is the answer if the sink isn't big enough.

-Pictures hung on the wall should be straight and not meant to be viewed only by those 8 ft tall and over.

-The seemingly countless number of remotes I have must be placed in an orderly fashion on the coffee table when the TV is turned off for the night.

-I flush any public toilet with my foot.

-I hate it when people put their napkins on their plate when they finish a meal.

-Further to that, when dining at a restaurant I wont let them take my napkin until I am ready to leave.

-Clutter. Clutter agitates me.

and the list goes on, but I'll end this with ...Clickers.

Who are clickers? People with severe fidget-itis.

Pen clickers. Bottle fidgeting, finger tapping, toe tapping, TV remote fidgeters, ring spinners, hair twirlers, CLICKERS.

The Clicker, (and I love him dearly) is an acute Clicker.

He loves crosswords and sudoku puzzles. He grabs any stray newspaper he can get his hands on and frantically searches for the puzzle page. This, of course, means he has a pen in his hand at any given moment.

HIM:

With pen in hand.....

**click on** **click off** **click on** thinking of answer **click off** **click on** jotting down answer **click off**

ME:

Grinding my teeth.

HIM:

**click on** ** click off**

ME:

Grinding my teeth and rolling my eyes.

HIM:

**click on** .....

ME:

Grabbing the pen, flinging it across the room.

Am I perfect ? Hardly! I have so many faults and flaws my imperfections drives the perfectionist in me insane.

I suppose it's because of all my own shortcomings that I have no room for anyone elses.

As for My Clicker, he's wonderful in every other way.

Fur Face, aka Coco

Some time long ago when my children were young they summoned for a pet, (as most children do).

I accepted the challenge but on a 'let's start small' kinda deal.

We started with gold fish. Isn't that where everyone starts? I must say, our first couple lasted a few months, the second round didn't fare as well, perhaps 3 days, max. The kids loved them.

Next on the list was something a tad larger, maybe with fur this time. Gerbils. Little creatures they could play with, and pet and feed and ... smell.

That went well for a while until the little buggers found a way unbeknownst to me, to open the latch on the cage. Hours and sometimes days were spent trying locate two rodents the size of a large walnut in a 2800 sq. ft. house. No one would dare vacuum until our mission was accomplished.

Sometimes we'd find them in the closet eating away blankets, clothes or paper. Other times it was as easy as watching the comforter move on its own. Little furry lumps under the covers that left us little brown gifts. Eeewwww.

After the rodents died, we graduated to a dog. Brandy was a beautiful Golden Retriever pup. We had Brandy a while, long enough for me to learn that you DON'T buy a dog for your kids, you buy a dog for yourself. Kids are full of promises that are quickly forgotten. A friend of mine took Brandy up north where he lived on a large property with lots of running room for her and stream in the back yard. She was never happier.

Now for Fur Face.

After rants and promises of my own, a few "when pigs fly" and a couple "God should strike me dead's" I threatened the kids within an inch of their lives never to bring another living creature into the house.

**years pass**

Daughter #1 - 20 yrs old decides to bring home a kitten. Enter Fur Face .. aka Coco.

Shes a beaut.. but every ounce of her is trouble. It's funny really, how much personality a cat can have. Shes stubborn and spiteful. Imagine that ? You can't help but love her, but she rules the roost and she knows it.

I figured by writing about it, I might decide to find it all charming.

Whew! I feel better already.