Good Monday morning to you all, although I have just looked at the clock and realised that it is in fact already afternoon.
Funny that, as I feel a post brewing inside me about the pros and cons of all things ‘social media’, one of the cons being that it takes up too much time and I have certainly spent far too much time on it this morning.
I have read some really interesting forums all about the subject of social media, specifically when it comes to getting your writing ‘out there’, to self-publish or not, how much or how little is good or bad or….well, this post is not about that and will be for anther time, and look, I’ve wasted yet more valuable time just writing this..
Maisy in a Pot
(c) copyright Sherri Matthews 2013
I know this photo has absolutely nothing to do with this post and I am cheating throughout but I just thought you might like to see my sweet tabby Maisy resting in a plant pot. Better than a photo of a slug, right? (see below for meaning)
This post, then, is short and sweet, as they will be all this week (was that a resounding ‘thank the Lord for that!’ I just heard from the ranks?) as, to be brutally frank, I just can’t get my head around a ‘proper’ post today.
For one thing, I have a couple more ‘award’ posts to complete (lovely kind people!) and my daughter is celebrating her 21st birthday on Friday. With my family due to visit and being very behind with so many things, I have decided instead that this might be a perfect time to share some of my ‘tried and true’ handy-dandy home and garden tips I’ve picked up over the years, which I hope you will find most helpful.
Here goes:
- A great way to make really creamy scrambled eggs is not to use any milk (just some melted butter and chives if you like them) when cooking them, and just as they barely start to ‘scramble’ add a dollop of crème fraîche. Yummy and it really works!
- If you want to attract slugs (in an effort to draw them out and dispose of them, not for the pleasure of it) then leave a bowl of cat food (meat) outside. Guaranteed they will come, they love it!
- Grow lavender near your roses, they help keep aphids away. I will squeeze in another tip with this one…don’t buy tubes of ladybirds, they are a waste of money (not that I’m bitter or anything).
- Don’t yell at the constantly barking dog next door. It isn’t the poor dog’s fault if it’s left alone all day long and it will just make the dog bark even more. Trust me, I’ve tried it. Wonder if my neighbours read my blog?
- When you change your cat’s litter box, always wait nearby with your handy-dandy pooper scooper in hand, as your cat will immediately walk over to the lovely fresh litter and crap in it.
Ok, so the first three tips are genuine and really work, so I’ve discovered. As for the other two, well, they will give you an idea of the kind of morning I’m having so far.
Monday, Monday – Song by the Mamas & The Papas 1966
A View From My Summerhouse 
Even though the picture is unrelated, I really like it! Your cat looks really cute.
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Thank you Insung, glad you the pic…she stayed there for hours 🙂
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I had a B&W cat who used to do the same in empty flower pots – so cute! And I know what you mean about the barking dog, every time my neighbour goes out and leaves the dog it starts. I have told him, but all he says is ‘he’s old’ ~~~~ then take him with you!!!!!
Jude xx (on holiday at the moment so any form of social media is a bit hit and miss) 🙂
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I totally agree! Our neighbours work all day and leave their 2 dogs out in the back garden and they get really bored and bark at anything. Every time I step outside, which is all the time at the moment, it starts…aaaarrrrghhhh!!!
Hope you are enjoying your hols wherever you are 🙂 xx
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Thanks Sherri. Only in Norfolk, but it’s a part of the country we haven’t spent much time in and the weather has been fine – so far 🙂
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How lovely, we spent some time on the Norfolk Broads in June, the first time in 15 years! We used to take our holidays on the Broads every year when I was young so a real family tradition for us! The weather does seem to be drier and better there, at least certainly better than the wet and windy West Country! Have a super time and ‘see’ you when you get back 🙂 xx
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Which part of the West Country are you located? We are thinking seriously of moving down there, but I’m a bit concerned about the ‘wet and windy’ and crowds in the summer.
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Somerset. There are many places in the West Country where you can avoid crowds, away from the touristy sections. As for the weather, well, it does seem to be very ‘wet and windy’ here. Always seems to be the South West that gets the battering! Can’t help you with that but if you want any more info, do email me xx
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Wish your daughter a happy 21st birthday for me. On my recent post, I was celebrating my 21st on one of the days noted, Aug 14, 1967. AND Monday Monday was oft heard on the AM radio during that cross country trip. Oh, and when first reading your 5 tips, I thought you were going to suggest using the slugs in the eggs! To me, THAT would have really implied a bad day! M
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Thanks so much M, this really made me smile, and I certainly will do!
Wow, that’s quite a coincidence! I am so enjoying reading all about your road trip, anyone reading this, go to mvshulze’s site and read it, it’s a real 60s adventure!
Funnily enough I was in California on my 21st. Some friends took me to an English style restaurant in Glendale. It had a red telephone box outside!
So far as the slugs in the eggs, well, I honestly didn’t think of that but the way things went yesterday, it could have been a distinct possibliity 🙂
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:-)-:)
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Gave me a great laugh or two upon my arrival home tonight. Keep the posts coming they make my day (night!)
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Hello dear friend, so glad to hear and I will do my best! Just part of life’s rich pattern, gotta keep smiling, and laughing 🙂 xxx
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You and me both, Sherri. My Monday was supposed to be productive on the writing front but I had one of those days where I wandered around the house, picking things up, putting them down … in other words, procrastinating. A deadline is what I need – I’m so ill disciplined.
I like the idea of crème fraiche in scrambled eggs though. Yum!
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I was wondering how you are getting on! It is so darn hard to be disciplined when writing from home. I go on a writer’s forum on LinkedIn and there was a discussion thread about this very subject. specifically how easy it is to spend so much time on social media. One writer said that we should set a timer, spend an hour sharing, communicating, commenting etc. and then stop and get back to writing! But he didn’t say anything about how long we should spend on other things like…well, stuff that needs doing around the house!
Yes, try the creme fraiche Jenny, it is really nice and if you are like me and like your scrambled eggs creamy and not rubbery this is a great tip 🙂
Hope today is more productive for you…now if only that bloody dog would stop barking…
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Sherri, You, my friend are so funny, you may have missed your calling; comedienne!
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Well, thanks Kay for the compliment but I never really did see myself as a comedienne, however, I’m really glad that this post made you laugh! Laughter really is the best medicine, and I know you are a great believer in that! Nice to see your blog coming along with some posts, hopefully that means you are feeling better now? Have a great day 🙂
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