Skipped fitness this am...REALLY cold out there...
BUT...
Besides that...
I wanted to make beef stew today...
In my slow cooker...
So....
45 minutes later...[who said slow cooking was easy]
The meat , is floured,salted and peppered... and browned...
Onions and mushrooms are browned and in the crockpot as we speak...
My boyfriends says.."Gee...that is a lot of work,eh?"
Well....YEAH....DUH...[gee....I love that guy...so innocent....hahaha...]
Now that all of that is browned.... and into the crock pot...
Time to chop the veggies...carrots, celery,green beans...
Potatoes are out....but not chopped yet...
Will so that later...
Guess it would have been easier to go to Fitness??? hahaha...
They start out so demure and shy...
One day they aren't there...
And the next they are...
Then....
What seems like overnight...
They open up and show us their splendor...
As I have said before...
The gentle African Violet is my very favoritest houseplant...
Right now...
I have a lovely mauvey-blue one in bloom on my kitchen table...
It sits in the sun all day...
Taking in all the warmth...
It has many buds yet to open...
So I am sure it will be blooming for at least 2 months...
The other is a pretty sparkly pink one...
It was up here with me..
Beside me,at the computer...
But I have moved it to the family room...
So that everyone can enjoy her beauty...
Including you.....my peeps :o)
Not just me....
I tried a different setting on my camera [below]...2 pics...
It makes the colors more vibrant....
Not sure about this...
I think I like the natural color better....What do you think???
I also want to include this fabulous one that I had blooming last winter...It was one of the most beautiful ones I have ever had...
Oh....what the heck...
I am turning this into a VIOLET LOVE post....:o)
I can do that, you know...'cause...this is my blog!! hahaha...tee hee hee...
A few of my favorites from previous posts....
Enjoy....
This is guaranteed to brighten your day....
And...
Hopefully...
Warm you up!!!!
Ahhhhhhhhh...that was lovely...:o)
Hope you are having a great day so far...
So...you know the menu for tonight already...
On this very cold January day....
Cheers! :o)
linda
Your flowers are beautiful! Never had any luck growing violets..
ReplyDeleteStay warm...another cold day!
I have no problems...I think over-watering is the biggest mistake with Violets...and they like to be watered from underneath...BRRRR..here too!!!
DeleteLovely little violets Linda, the variety is astonishing. I prefer the frilly petaled ones. I also prefer the natural colours of the flowers as opposed to vibrant setting, but that's me.
ReplyDeleteThey last forever even when neglected!
I like the natural color as well, Lisa...just trying new options on the camera...they will last forever...but may not flower...I also fertilize often...
DeleteI love violets too!!! Although I can rarely get mine to bloom indoors!
ReplyDeleteI am also glad to hear that you browned your meat before putting it into the crocker! I am firm believer in browning meat first!!!!!
: ) Kris
I always brown the meat first....give it a nice sear...Smells divine...eating soon!!! Will add nice crusty bread...love bread!!!
DeleteHow welcoming those African violet photos were today. It is so-o-o-o cold. We went out grocery shopping and didn't linger at all, came home to hot mugs of tea and coffee.
ReplyDeleteI made beef stew last weekend in the crock pot (always brown meat too). Such delicious smells while it is cooking. I always save mine for the next day (or 2 if I make enough). Stews always taste better the day after. This weekend I did a small chicken in the crockpot, enough for 2 meals. I use my crock pot as much as when I went to work, thought I wouldn't, but can't resist those wonderful smells during the cooking process.
I gave my daughter a casserole full...to take home...smells delicious!!
DeleteYou have a lot of beautiful African violets Linda. They are so pretty. I love their dainty blossoms and sweetly coloured petals. I never had a lot of success with violets over the years so don't have any. Pam
ReplyDeleteNot sure I understand why,Pam...You are a gardener...they like lots of sun..frequent watering..and I also fertilize...Perhaps you should pick one up, and give it another try!!!
DeleteFitness? Nah...you got a work-out chopping all of those veggies! :)
ReplyDeletelove the violet...I need to get a new one!
Perhaps one will jump into your cart this week!!!!
DeleteLet me get this right....you stayed home from fitness to put a meal into the crockpot???? Whaaaattttt??? I put the crockpot on AND go AND teach fitness!!! No excuse!!
ReplyDeleteViolets look lovely, by the way!
And...when I saw you today...you have a horrible cough...and hardly any voice...perhaps you should have stayed home as well!! just sayin'..haha..
DeleteExcept that I was able to STILL teach the class cause if I had stayed home you would have come to fitness and there would have been NO class!! Just sayin'
DeleteCan I bring you some chicken soup...and a lovely little violet???
DeleteAhhhh, that would be lovely :)
Deletelol. gotta love devon.
ReplyDeletethe pictures are stunning. i like the natural color best too.
my aunt mabel in new york had a sunroom. it had a floor of large black and white tile . . . aged white wicker (probably started my love of white wicker) furniture with faded chintz cushions . . . and the showpiece of the room . . .
a huge curved wrought iron planter ~ i think it was french ~ very beautiful ~ but on it were dozens of little pots of her favorite flower ~ the african violet. all colors. as a child i thought it the most beautiful room i'd ever seen. and it was! so this brought back fine memories for me. thank you!
oops. sorry for the comment that turned into war and peace. LOLOL!
xo
tam
Glad that my violets brought back a sweet memory for you, Tammy...
DeleteIt certainly sounds like a fantasy room!!!