Spring Break--Two of Them!

Last week was Spring Break for one of the universities I teach for. This week is another. What have I been doing? Grading the back-log of papers and preparing lessons for the last 8 weeks of school. 
  

Just some of the types of papers I've been grading

One short lesson on how to do some stats in Excel

And I have taken a look at the spring flowers that are blooming...in between wind and dust storms that suddenly seem prevalent in our neck of the woods this year. 

I LOVE miniature irises! Next fall, I'll plant more!

I was so happy to see these blooming--‘Tete a Tete’ daffodils--another spring bulb favorite!

I miss ya'all!
Cathryn 

New & Improved? No Thanks!

I inherited my gramma's paper-thin Irish and very sensitive skin. I went from being an oily-skinned adolescent into dry and flakey woman at the age of 21 years. And I discovered that most of the commerically prepared lotions, perfumes, soaps, other toiletries, and cosmetics would irritate my skin. I've spent a lot of money, trying one brand or type after another. 

About 4--maybe 5 years ago, a couple of friends implored me to try Burt's Bees for a couple of years but I was--to say the least--skeptical.  They begged me to try it--mainly because they were tired of hearing me complain about another product irritating my skin. They told me to look at the ingredients and see the short list--which is always a good sign. It means that the product hasn't been so adulterated that it's no longer "natural." My husband picked up a trial sample kit for me to check out. His thinking was that if it didn't work, we would not be out a lot of money. That's logical, no?

I fell in love with Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion! It was the first lotion that didn't make my skin red, itch, or dry it out faster than I could put it on, or make my skin burn. I was hooked. I used it for my facial lotion, my body lotion, after sunburn care, and after gardening care. I used it religiously. I LOVED it. I started using other Burt's Bees products solely based on that lotion. I told everyone about it and even bought it as gifts. 

Last fall, I ran out and went to purchase a fresh bottle at my favorite local store. They didn't have any on the shelf, but cheerfully ordered it for me. When the new tube came in, it didn't look like my regular lotion.  When I questioned the store clerks, they said that Burt's Bees was just changing their packaging. Assured I took it home and set it in the bathroom to use at the next morning. 

Well, it did not smell like my beloved lotion. It kind of reminded my son's gym clothes..after they've been sitting in the locker for a month. And I discovered shortly after putting it on, I was red again and ITCHING! The itching drove me nuts! Looking at the ingredients list, I realized this was NOT my old lotion in a new package--it was a completely different product. This made me a bit angry because the company name--Burt's Bees--was synonymous with TRUST. I trust their products, I trust their name. 

I did what most of us do...I went to the company website and wrote a review.  And yes, it was a negative review for this so-called new and improved product.

Let me ask you something...Do corporations really think that the American people are that stupid to fall for something that is "New! and IMPROVED!" ??? How can a product be both new AND improved?  Is this a sign of our failing education system? Or should we the people put Bill Engvall's signs on Corporate America?  This is one of those topics my high school speech and debate team would have tore to shreds. With ease. 

So moving right along, I did find my beloved lotion elsewhere but realized it was getting harder and harder to find it. This week I received a package, containing three tubes of the "New and Improved" lotions. Delivered to my door by FedEx. At first, I thought my husband had ordered them for me and I tried to get them exchanged.  When I finally was able to get ahold of my husband, he confirmed that he didn't order them for me because I can't use that new lotion. He did not order them for me.

Finally, I read the insert and realized because I had complained, the company sent me the tubes. Yeah--that's what I said...In their corporate expertise and wisdom, they sent me the very lotion I had complained about on their review. It's the same formula/ingredients of the lotion that turned me red and made my skin itch like crazy for hours, but gee...let's have her try a different scent. That will convince her!

I called the company. Oh yes I did. How could I resist a challenge after they threw the gauntlet (in the form of three free tubes of the stuff I couldn't use in the first place!) down in front of me??? You may be a stronger person than I, but I truly could not resist this!

After a lengthy explanation with the company rep, here's the shortened version of it. 

ME: When I wrote that review--I said I couldn't use the "new and improved" product--that it made my skin itch badly and turned it red. So why would you send me the very product I can't use???
COMPANY REP: We wanted to give you a second chance and try our other formulas to see if any of them work for you.
ME: They all have the same ingredients as the one I can't use. This makes no sense to me...
COMPANY REP: But they have different scents. 
ME:  But contain the ingredients that still make me itch and turn red. Are you listening to me? I want the old formula. It's available on your website--why can't I find it in the stores?
COMPANY REP: We are discontinuing the old formula and completely switching over to the new ones. Once the old formula is gone, it's gone. There will not be any more. You'll have to deal with it.
ME: (Snarkily) Ok...fine. I get it. You have a proven formula and judging by your customer reviews on your own website--most people want. But no--you're going to get rid of what works and make this so called "new and improved" which I find to be completely oxymoronic--your line. The one that most people can't use or hate. 
COMPANY REP:  Cathryn--this is a lesson for you. We cannot get too attached to the products we like. 
ME: *Blinking at that* We can't? Hmmmmmmmmm...OK, while I ponder on that last statement of yours...I don't want your complimentary gift. I want to send it back.
COMPANY REP: Oh we don't want it back! Throw it away if you want, but WE DON'T WANT IT BACK.
ME: Wow...even you all know how bad this product is.


So now I'm facing the realization that Burt's Bees is no longer to be a company I can trust. They no longer care about their customers. If you visit their website, you will see that 95% (based on their numbers) of their customer LOVE the old formula, while only 23% like their new formula. But the company CEOs aren't listening to their customers because they know what's best or they don't care.  

I'm already scouting other possible replacements on Etsy and other handcrafted sites.

I'm mourning the loss of an excellent company and the loss of an excellent product.  I'm grieving over the issue that this company seems past caring about the very customers who made it what it is. And I'm angry that another corporation has swallowed the WalMart line of profits first and profits only.  

And like other devoted and loyal Burt's Bees customers, I'll buy up what I can of the old lotion. Because, like the company representitive told me, once it's gone, it's gone.  And like she told me...we can't get too attached to products that work. Someone will taketh it away...






 

Another Caturday

Topaz loves her pink afghan, rug, and acrylic fleece that line her basket. Believe me--it's HER basket. She gets all bent out of shape if another cat dares to occupy it in her absence. 

I can roll and roll and roll...

'Nuff said.

Oops! Missed a spot from my last bath...10 minutes ago.

I am flexible! Not bad for a kitty of six years. 

Mom caught me in a private moment again!

The Best Pancakes....EVER!

Have you seen the movie "The Bucket List" starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson? That movie made me laugh and cry all the way through. After I saw that movie about writing one's personal "bucket list" before one passes from this life, I realized I had one concerning food. Yes, I am that weird. 

You see it all goes back to my early cooking days...back when I was like 9 or 10 years old. Yes I did start cooking that early. My mother had me frying chicken and mashing 'taters and preparing a salad for dinner at the age of 9 years. Anyway--I discovered there are certain meals and dishes, that for some reason,  elude my abilities. I would try and try to make something from scratch and it would fail each and every time. I also discovered that using box mixes didn't fare any better and definitely not any tastier. Things like flakey pie crusts or... 
buttermilk biscuits...
beans and rice or 
lemon meringue pie...

Or....

Pancakes.  

My mother made everything from that famous mix that convinced housewives nation wide that  life wasn't meant to spent in front of a hot oven/stove to cook for your family. That was back when television advertising were convincing housewives across America that cooking for your family was a dreaded chore, instead of something to enjoy. It was in the days when Hamburger Help-You-NOT came out along with other "convenient foods." *Takes a deep breath* But that was also before we learned of the dangers of food preservatives, additives, extra salt, and empty calories.

Nontheless, even with using that famous mix, my pancakes either tasted like thin, rubbery disks or fat rubbery pucks. Either way, my pancakes made everyone run and hide because they were simply awful. I mean AWWWWWWWWW ful. So I tried other brands of mixes without any luck. Same results. It didn't matter if they were thick or thin, they were rubbery. And AWWWWWWWWWWWful. And rubbery. I kid you not when I tell you that they would bounce when accidently (or purposely) dropped on the floor.

Anyway, I gave up cooking pancakes, deciding that a good recipe simply didn't exist. Then I ran across this recipe from Martha Stewart. And I gave it a go...and suddenly (and over breakfast), I could actually make pancakes from scratch that didn't turn out rubbery. Or bounce when they hit the floor by accident. Or on purpose. I had to modify this recipe for my basic kidney needs, but it's very, very good. My husband is no longer afraid when I announce we are having pancakes for breakfast! 

Here the steps to making the perfect pancakes...complete with pictures. 

Ingredient List: 

1 1/4 cups unbleached, unenriched flour + 3/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

2 tablespoons sugar, organic or raw

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

5 TBSP of apple cider vinegar

2 1/2 cups of whole milk 

1 stick butter, melted
2-3 cups freshly washed blueberries
* Optional: 1 tsp vanilla 
Preheat an electric griddle to 375°F, or place a griddle pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Place the apple cider vinegar in a small bowl and add milk. Stir gently. Set aside. Melt the butter--so it's still creamy. 

I use my large 2 cup Pyrex mixing glass...It's a perfect fit. That brown you see is the apple cider vinegar. 

 In a separate bowl, add flours, sugar, and baking soda. Whisk. 

That brown you see is the organic sugar. It's got a strong flavor. But it means you can use less!

Add eggs,  milk mixture, and vanilla. Whisk gently, so that it's all mixed. 

Don't forget your buttermilk! 

DO NOT OVER MIX. Batter should be lumpy. 

It should look similar to this--if you beat it until it's smooth, it will turn out to be rubbery.

A close up of the batter...You should see air bubbles popping!

Test the griddle by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If the water bounces and spatters, the griddle is hot enough. I love this tip because I always seem to rush this part. This reminds me to slow down a mite.

Using a pastry brush, brush melted butter onto the griddle. If it foams, you know your griddle is hot enough for batter. Another neat trick I learned.

Melted butter will get foamy if your griddle is hot enough.

 Using a ladle or a quarter cup measuring cup, pour batter onto the griddle. At this point, you can add blueberries or cinnamon. Drop the blueberries gently onto the pancake. Or sprinkle some cinnamon on the top. 

Drop blueberries on the topside or sprinkle cinnamon for an added bonus.

 When the pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around the edges, about 2 1/2 minutes, flip over. If any batter oozes or blueberries roll out, push them back under with your spatula. Cook until golden on bottom, about 1 minute.

Bubbly and slightly dry on the edges...this lets you know it's about ready to flip over!

I flipped these about 30 seconds to early...

 Repeat, starting at the step of brushing the griddle with melted butter and then ladling the batter. A word of caution--I live at 6500 feet above sea level. I'm not sure how this will work at lower elevations. 
Top with melted butter if you need and pure maple syrup or dust with powdered sugar. Eat and enjoy!

Blueberry pancakes on the left, cinnamon on the right. 

  

Caturday--Things We Keep On Hand

Working with ferals over the years have taught us to keep a few things on hand at all times. 

Nutri-Cal is a must for cats who are malnurished or weak. It helps them to start eating again. It's also good as a hair-ball remedy.

If your tube of Nutri-Cal ends up going through the washing machine as mine did last week, light corn syrup can work in a pinch for cats who are weak and need a quick boost.

Apple cider vinegar is good for giving cats a quick bath, especially for those who have ring worm. Use a 1 TBSP to 2 Cups of warm water and dab on affected areas. This works as good as the bleach solution, without the side effects of bleach.

Olive oil is also a necessity. It's perfect for treating earmites, soothing areas affected by ring worm, and for a quick hair ball remedy to get the gut moving.

Baby food chicken or turkey are excellent nutrition starters and are handy to have if you have a sick cat. The baby food can be diluted down with Pedialyte or KMR to provide a nutritious slurry.

 

A great milk replacer for unwweaned kittens, pregnant and nursing mothers. It helps them by giving them added nuttrition. We have occasionally used it to help nurse sickly cats back into health. It's not meant to give to cats as part of their regular diet when they get older. It also goes bad quickly after opening. We try to keep one can on hand in case of emergencies.  

 

Unflavored Pedialyte is excellent for combatting dehydration if the cat can drink on it's own. We mix it with baby food chicken or KMR. If the cat can't drink or eat on it's own, please see your veterinarian.

 

Cotton cosmetic pads and QTips work well for dabbing on apple cider vinegar mixture or adding olive oil to the ears. They come in handy for so many uses, like cleaning, adding topical ointments, or giving kittens something to play with.

Flannel nursing blankets and fluffy towels are necessities for wrapping cats up after bathing, keeping them warm, or for "burrito" purposes. Please do not use that heirloom baby blanket--tending to sick cats means getting messy stains. Don't use your good, expensive towels either. We find our supplies at the thrift stores or yard sales. 

 

We've tried to use blow-dryers for drying, but we found a space heater in the bathroom works very well at keeping the room warm enough for kitties that are ill, wounded, or recovering from surgery. Small space heaters also will help dry a bathed kitty, along with fluffy towels. 

 

And finally, some excellent books that offers information, knowledge, and ideas in dealing with ferals. The books do not replace your veterinarian's expertise and knowledge but they can help you save some time and money. They are  reference books.

 

Ingredients for Soup

Yesterday, I received the ingredients for the Lori Anderson Bead Soup Blog Hop Party!  
Agnes Shapiro, my Bead Soup partner, sent me an eclectic mix of beads that did not gently nudge me out of my comfort zone. Not at all. Not even nudge me. Instead, Agnes did a really good thing and SHOVED me out of my comfort zone! 

Yes, she did shove me. And yes, that is a good thing! Seriously! I was getting rather complacent and some may even call me jade or cynical--well may be not cynical but definitely jaded--in my beading. In fact, I was starting to feel downright bead-cocky. You know what I mean. When the Bead Addict starts thinking "There's nothing I can't work with because I'm *pauses to breathe on curled fingers before polishing them on the lapel* THAT good!" I needed someone to knock back down to reality. Because in reality, I may be THAT good, but that's only because I'm THAT comfortable with my materials. And it's possible that I'm THAT comfortable because I'm in a zone, a groove, a habit, a...A Rut!  
Yep! That's what it's all about--being stuck in a rut!

 Hello. My name is Cathryn and I'm a stuck-in-a-humdrum-rut bead addict. 

The group says, "Hello Cathryn. Welcome to Beaders Ruts Anonymous." 

Because there's no cure for bead addiction...I know because I've been researching for one on the Internet. And I'm digressing and it's only Tuesday. Digression is reserved for Thursdays. 

Thank you Agnes!  Thank you for sending me materials that have KICKED my out of my self-imposed rut! 
  
So you wanna see what she sent me? I'm warning you now I'm not sure my photography skills are up to the task of capturing the colors, the textures, the vividness of these lovely beads....

Told you, didn't I??? Can you see them well? 

May be this will help you out a bit...

Third time's a charm!  

Can you see all those lovely colors ranging from peachy gold to slatey blues and flecks of sage?

I'm not sure what those stones are...I'm thinking feldspar but I'm not exactly sure. However, they rich in color--Taupe is the background but there's streaks, striations, tiny blotches of colors interspersed! This IS exciting! I recognize the shell and the mosaic turquoise and the porcelain beads...But those stones...they are alive and vibrant in a subtle way. If that makes any sense.

So now that I have the bead soup--I need to get back into the kitchen and begin making my soup. Thank you again Agnes for kicking me right out of my comfort zone and giving me a unique beading challenge!  

As for the soup tasting, stop by starting on February 26th for the biggest Bead Soup Party! 
  

  

 

It Ain't Spring...YET!

I'm still in spring cleaning mode. Still. That's because of the weather, I'm sure. It's winter and we are having 50-60 degree weather here. What's wrong with this picture? Last year we had a lot of snow...Remember this?

February 2010

 

Well, we're dry. And warm. And dry. 

Yesterday, I saw my daffodils peeking up in the soil--it's way too soon for that. And I'm worried about our water supply for spring and summer since I'm planning for my garden. In this town, our drinking water comes from the main river--which is the size of a creek or "crick" if you're from my mother's neck of the woods. I don't know where that neck of the woods are specifically but all my life, she's referred to creeks as "cricks." I used to get in trouble in school for spelling wash as "warsh" because that's how my mother pronounced it. Same with "squarsh."  And "warshing" the clothes, car, dishes, or floor. 

Anyways, I digress. It's Thursday. I'm allowed to digress a bit on Thursdays. It's in the rules. Or should be. 

ANY-hoo...
In this northern New Mexican town, we get our drinking water from our crick creek-sized  river and two reservoirs where the location will remain under double secret security, thanks to Homeland Security and TSA. We don't have an aquifer here. So we really depend on snowfall in the winter and rainfall in the spring and early summer until the monsoons come to help us with our water supply. It looks like I need to start conserving warmup water already. 

But because the weather is warm, I'm in spring-cleaning mode. I've managed to fill up several bags of garbage because I'm tossing out stuff and junk and what I consider to be garbage. I've got seven boxes full of stuff and junk and clothes to take to our favorite charity thrift store. That's this current load. And I'm not done.  I'm working on convincing my husband to part with some of his toys and some of the clothes he's never worn and the 15 backpacks, 7 rifle scopes (he only has one--maybe two rifles!) and 6 bows he picked up in a bargain or two or three. That's going to take some doing but as I pointed out--he can only carry one or two backpacks, rifles, or bow at time. The others are taking up space and driving me up the wall. 

Yes, I have cabin fever and we're not even snowed in. Strange how that works.  

Now back east, people are complaining about another snow storm. I wish those storms would not pass us by but there you have it. What was I going to do about the no-snow-no-show? Then it hit me!

I bought a beautifully made pendant from Ivy Koehn (pronounced cane). Ivy works in polymer clay. I discovered I'm easily addicted to artisan beads like hers. So last year, she created a lot of them to entice me. Because she knows there are bead addicts in this world like myself. And I was easily enticed and smitten. And bought quite a few of them. More than I probably should have but oh my...they're so pretty! And I'm a confessed bead addict! What is so fabulous is that she also has a store on Etsy as well as one on eBay! 

Just some of Ivy's beads I just had to have...

One particular pendant I had purchased from Ivy was a claysicle. Oh my....It was breathtaking. And wintery themed complete with snowflakes. *fans the air around her to help her breathe* Yeah I know...silly to get all lightheaded and flushed over a bead but just wait until you see it! I put it together with some other beads and it's my Snow Charm. I'm wearing it daily in hopes it will bring snow to our part of the country.  

This is my Snow Charm...in hopes it entices the weather faeries in making snow! 

A close up of this fabulous pendant by Ivy Koehn...Just simply gorgeous!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 But that also brings me to another necklace I made. One I'm having a hard time parting with...meaning putting it in my store. The beads were made by Mary Ellen of BeeTreebyME and I fell hard for them. Two sets.And I've been holding onto them for the past couple of years. A few weeks back, I decided it was high time I did something with them before someone accused me of hoarding beads. Seriously. This is probably the only place where I could be accused of hoarding tendencies. I work hard not to go there but I also know there's a fine line between having beads and hoarding...a very fine line. Microscopic thin and fine. 

Anyway...This is my Winter Blooms piece. The one I'm having trouble putting into the store. 

Winter Blooms by ME from BeeTreebyME...complete with snow quartz. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And that brings me to another piece I'm having trouble letting go of and placing it in my store. Because I like it a bit too much, perhaps. Because it speaks to me. The pendant was made by Terri Stone of TLS Clay Design. I confess that I became hooked on artisan beads because of Terri's fabulous designs. But don't blame Terri--she creates and the Bead Addict must have! So easy to blame the Bead Addict for my bead purchases. This necklace was simple but vibrant. Every time I put it in the store box, it comes back out. 

Ocean's Vortex Necklace

A close up of the fabulous pendent from TLSClayDesign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring cleaning means I should put these pieces into the store and sell them. Right? And if you hear a loud, screetching "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" that's the Bead Addict. Not me. 

So what do you have trouble letting go of?