Why hubby buys reading glasses by the case...

He does buy them by the case, from this lady at the fleamarket. He's bought so many pairs, she wholesales them to him. And why do we need so many pairs?

Well.... take today for example. I went to the library, was carrying in a boatload of books in one hand, and my trash sack from takeeoutee lunch and my reading glasses in my other hand, and some guy was holding the door open for me to go in the library, so I quick dump the trash, and you guessed it, I also dumped the glasses. Jeez Louise, and this man is standing there watching me. I'm trying to unobtrusively put my hand down in the trash container, which has one of those lid thingies on it so you can't really see in it, I'm groping around, and put my hand on something really wet. Screw this, I just yanked my hand out, thanked the guy for holding the door and left the damned glasses in the trash. So then I'm in the library, can't read a thing because I have no glasses, but Miss Ingenuity here just goes to the large print selection of books and grabs a few...

I didn't even glance at that stupid trash container on the way out, didn't need to, I probably have oh, thirty-six or thirty-seven pairs at home anyway. For real I do...

We've got a lot of gardening done...

Poor LC, he tore out all the perennials, planted all the boxwood, power washed the patio, filled all my pots, and we still have to paint the Adirondack chairs, and I'm the one that likes to garden, not him... It's looking pretty spiffy though, now we water, fertilize and watch it grow...

There are two sets of pictures, they both enlarge, just give them a click...

Oprah and the SATC Cast

The Boogie Woogie Done Right....

Barb sent me this clip this morning, it will definitely get you moving... Awesome couple...

Did you enjoy this clip? You can read lots more about my crazy middle-aged antics in Heavensville. Just go to my latest entries by clicking HERE...

I've gotten thousands of hits for Boogie Woogie Done Right, and would love to know how all of you found me. If you would take a minute and comment on what sent you to my site, or just email me HERE, I would appreciate it. It's always fun knowing how people locate you.

Glad you could stop by. ~ jan

SATC, THE OFFICIAL TRAILER

Hi ladies, you must realize by now that I have an ongoing obsession with Sex and the City. I even created a little poll for you in the left sidebar, anonymous, of course.

I'll be passing on lots of SATC info this month, so sit back, put your feet up, have a Cosmo and enjoy the festivities. I know I'm going to...

~ jan

From today's Page Six....

Leave it to Martha to make money off of the boomers. Finally, somebody is recognizing that there is a whole generation of women out here who are being ignored. Now if somebody would just do something about designing great casual clothes for older women...

HarperCollins head honcho Jane Friedman and the ubiquitous Martha Stewart. I am told Martha's next venture will be a magazine for women over 50, the largest demographic coming to Madison Avenue, where for years they have slavishly paid attention only to the young.

Sex and the City, the fashion behind the movie...

Okay ladies, this will definitely get you in the mood to see this movie. . I'll be there opening day with my gummy bears and popcorn, front row, center..... Can't wait!

Holy Schmoly....

If you're a garage sale junkie, you would love to be in Malibu Saturday. Scroll down and check out the photos of Pamela Anderson's Garage Sale. Interesting stuff.

Click HERE.

Here I go again....

Trouble just seems to follow me wherever I go. This morning, I was sitting on the side of the tub, getting ready for my morning shower, and I took off my tennis shoe, it somehow flew thru the air and landed right in the toilet bowl. Arughhhh, V and I were just talking about this yesterday, how LC has a cow if the lid is up, but it was my bathroom, and the seat wasn't up, just the lid. How that darned shoe flew right into that little hole is beyond me.

So I'm sitting on the side of the tub in disbelief, watching it float in the water, and I'm thinking, "what the hell, they needed to be put thru the washer anyways." Miz Scarlett here, making lemonade.

A heads up this morning...

The Sex and the City girls will be on Oprah today - whohoo, can't wait for that....

If I only had a brain, what would I do, what would I do???

Flash back to Christmas eve morning, everything is a whirlwind and the phone in this picture, my LG enV, dies. Totally panicked, of course, at the thought of no phone over the holidays, heaven forbid I might miss a call, I have Ryan and Lindsay take me to the Verizon store at the mall, the mall, on Christmas Eve, shows you how desperate I was. Anyhoo, it was under warranty, so they just replaced it, no problem.

Everything was fine, new phone was up and running and I was busy with the holidays, but sometime in January when things settled down I started noticing that when I flipped it open the inside screen was dull and cloudy and it had scratches on the it. It finally dawned on me that they had given me a refurbished phone and it was a dud. It just bugged the heck out of me, but did I call Verizon and complain??? No, of course not, I just procrastinated about it and fumed silently.

I was showing it to Hooterville this week and bitching about it and she told me no way would she accept that, I should call em' up. So it was a bright sunny day on Sunday, I was sitting in the car while she was off taking bird pictures and I thought, this is really wrong, I shouldn't have to deal with this inferior phone even if it is now late April and I've had it since December, I'm going to call them.

I flipped up the phone to look at it so I could tell them exactly what was wrong, I then rubbed my finger over it to make sure I couldn't erase the scratches, and holy moly, it started to bubble up.

I hadn't removed the protective covering... I HADN'T REMOVED THE PROTECTIVE COVERING. O-M-G, if I only had a brain... Of course, when I told Hoot about it, she just howled with laughter, me, not so much... that phone had bugged me for months. Lesson learned, don't procrastinate, Jan, get to the bottom of a problem immediately instead of being Scarlett and dealing with it tomorrow. Arughhhhhhhhhhh...

I loved Designing Women...

Bernice was always such a hoot on this show. This episode will take a while to watch, but it's so funny... Alice Ghostley was such a treasure...

It doesn't get better than this....

Maggie in my arms, Dilly on the cellphone - ahhhhh, life is good...

And now, a shameless plug for Mag's new vet.

If any of you live in Heavensville and aren't too happy with your current vet, do I have a good one for you. Dr. Wagner, from McCutchanville Animal Hospital. And yep, she's a W-O-M-A-N!!! She's smart, she's nuturing, she has a great sense of humor; Maggie and I were both really pleased with her, and you know how picky I am with the Mooster. Oh did I mention that she had great silver rings on her fingers? Just had to mention that.

I didn't like Mag's previous vet, I just didn't have chemistry with him. He was old and tired, and wasn't all that interested in my little fur child, so I asked the people at Give a Dog a Bone (natural pet food store) who they would recommend. They told me this lady was really good, and they were right.

Maggie keeps having these recurring UTI's, but hopefully, by following Dr. Wagner's advice, we are going to nip them in the bud...

Hooterville is home now, got some amazing pictures, which she has promised to put in Picasa Web Albums so all of you can see them. I'm cold, I'm pooped, I'm outta here. Bathtime and bed with a good book... Works for me!!!

A few shots...

These birdhouses were Mothers. LC brought them home and hung them in the tree's behind our patio and a little wren is building in one of them. It always makes me smile to look up on the hill and see them, good memories.

The creeping flocks are in bloom. I tucked them into the rocks three springs ago, and they have spread now and are just a riot of color.

And the redbird has a worm in his mouth, there must be babies to feed.

And that's my day.... More pix to come...

Photos courtesy of Hooterville's finest only photographer...

Early morning bird watcher....

Yep, it's my buddy, Hoot, here for a visit. Check out the duds, and the house shoes, and the "hat." Woman is as bat shit crazy as me..... If you look at this up close, don't look at the patio yet, it still looks pretty shabby...

It's going to be a sunny day in Heavensville, we'll be out there taking a hoard of photos. Update later....

Don't worry, I'm not getting political....

Well, maybe just a smidge of politics tonight, but don't worry It won't be ongoing, I have friends whose opinions I respect, and I don't want to turn them off reading my blog because of my views.

Okay, let's talk about this... Deep breath, Jan...

First of all, I support Hillary Clinton, and out of every single friend that I have, with the exception of Angi, I'm the only one that does. It's true, I like her because she is married to Bill Clinton, and I thought that despite his weak moral character, he was a good president. I'm also sure that the fact that I'm fifty-eight years old, and as far back as grade school I can remember my teachers talking about the possibility of there being a woman president in my lifetime factors in also. The thought of living long enough to see a woman in office is very exciting to me. Maybe I do support her for the wrong reasons, but I also happen to like the woman and believe she will work diligently to make a better life for women and children in this country. Okay, I said it and the sky didn't fall in...

So, when I read today online that Maya Angelou supports Hillary Clinton, I was just flabbergasted. Everytime you turn on the television, black people are singing the praises of Obama. I'm going to post what Ms. Angelou said because I think it is interesting, for us as women, to read what an educated black woman has to say. She has a voice, and I admire her for saying what she thinks, instead of backing a candidate because of color. Oprah, you could learn a lot from this woman!

And if the democratic party decides that Obama is their man, and it certainly appears that this will happen, I will support McCain in the fall. And that's all I'm going to say about this political brohau, the likes of which we've never seen in our lifetime. And now on to what Maya Angelou had to say...

"Dear Friend:

I am writing to tell you about my friend, Hillary Clinton, and why I am standing with her in her campaign for the presidency. I know the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be because I know the person she is.

I am inspired by her courage and her honesty. She is a reliable and trustworthy person. She is someone I not only admire but one for whom I have profound affection.

Hillary does not waver in standing up for those who need a champion. She has always been a passionate protector of families. As a child, she was taught that all God’s children are equal, and as a mother, she understood that her child wasn’t safe unless all children were safe. As I wrote about Hillary recently in a praise song: “She is the prayer of every woman, and every man who longs for fair play, healthy families, good schools and a balanced economy.”

It may be easy to view Hillary Clinton through the narrow lens of those who would write her off or grind her down. Hillary sees us as we are, black and brown and white and yellow and pink and relishes our differences knowing that fundamentally we are all more alike than we are unalike. She is able to look through complexion and see community.

She has endured great scrutiny, and still she dares greatly. Hillary Clinton will not give up on you, and all she asks is that you do not give up on her. She is a long-distance runner. I am honored to say I am with her for the long run.

I am supporting Hillary Clinton because I know that she will make the most positive difference in people’s lives and she will help our country become what it can be. Whether you are her supporter, leaning towards her, undecided, or supporting someone else, I believe Hillary Clinton will represent you – she will be a president for all Americans. It is no small thing that along the way we will make history together.

I just spend part of the afternoon reading Trisha Yearwood's new Cookbook, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen. Cousin Phyllis if you're reading this, buy this book, you will love it.

It's basic food, well done, well written, great photos. It's a goodie, ladies.

I posted her barbecued ribs recipe a few days ago, after I found it online, Ryan made them when we were in Lexington. They were really, really good. Not your typical ribs, but so easy and such a good flavor. He was really hesitant because you marinated them in 2 cups of soy sauce, and they smelled pretty vile, but once they baked, they were delicious. I think the marinade had to be that strong to give them such a good flavor.

Anyhoo, if you have any interest in this book, you can buy it on Amazon HERE...

Oh my. GOODNESS!!!

I'm a huge fan of Maxine, if you are a regular reader of this site, you know that, and I joke about actually turning into her in my own age.

Well, I was wrong, I'm not Maxine, but guess who is???? What in heaven's name is Elizabeth Taylor doing in a get-up like this??? You have to admit she has a kind of bizarre look about her that is similar to our favorite geratric cartoon.

It makes me want to rethink turning into Maxine. Well, I do have Mags for my lap, and it's quite possible that I will end up in a wheelchair, but somehow I don't see myself with red collagen infused lips, or that stupid hat. But if my hair keeps thinning at the rate it is now, I will be in some kind of hat.... who knows, maybe by the time I'm La Liz's age, I will be even crazier than I am now, and wear a getup like this one. I always did like a touch of animal prints... Heaven forbid...

I'm all about eggs this spring....

I don't get it, I was never much of an egg fan, but ever since I got on my poached egg kick, I'm eating them daily. Lindsay made Eggs Benedict this morning, they were soooooo good....

And then when I opened my weekly Splendid Table Newsletter, the following recipe just fascinated me. I should put this on Jan Can Cook, I'm lazy - posting it here - check this out, do you think it looks as good as I do?

~ jan

"Boring" will never again be paired with hard cooked eggs once you try this recipe. It's the best thing to happen to the deviled egg since the picnic. Talk about an ideal spring supper, this is it; and if you are feeling like a fancy dinner menu, serve this as a first course.

For even more tips and ideas, head to splendidtable.org and check out our brand new How to Eat Supper podcast, available for a limited time. You'll find much more practical hands-on advice to streamline your kitchen life, including basics like the easiest and foolproof way to boil an egg, the clues to look for when selecting salad greens and how to buy a pot, so don't miss out. Best of all it's free!

We're also excited about our new book, The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper: Recipes, Stories, and Opinions from Public Radio's Award-Winning Food Show, a book Publisher's Weekly says "... should grace the shelves of even the most infrequent of cooks." You can buy a copy of your very own at splendidtable.org. Your purchase goes to support public radio.

Pan-Crisped Deviled Eggs on French Lettuces
Excerpted from The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper: Recipes, Stories, and Opinions from Public Radio's Award-Winning Food Show by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift (Clarkson Potter, April 8, 2008). Copyright 2008 by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift

Serves 4 as a main dish; 6 as a first course

15 minutes prep time; 5 minutes stove time
The eggs could be stuffed a day ahead and refrigerated until you are ready to saute them.

Who would imagine browning deviled eggs to caramelize their edges and crisp their fillings: What a sensual turn with a hard-cooked egg.

We owe the idea to Jacques Pépin and his memoir, The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen (Houghton Mifflin, 2003). The inspiration comes from war-torn France and a recipe born of scarcity that Jacques' mother created during World War II, though you'd never know it when you pick up your fork.

This is the kind of double-edged story that we love to find in the things we eat.

Eggs:

• 8 large eggs, hard-cooked and peeled
• 1 scant teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 2-1/2 teaspoons minced onion
• 2-1/2 tight-packed tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, coarse chopped
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
• 2-1/2 teaspoons mayonnaise
• 1-1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• Salt and fresh-ground black pepper
• 2 to 3 tablespoons good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil

Dressing:

• The leftover egg stuffing
• 3 tablespoons good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 generous teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2-1/2 tablespoons milk
• 2-1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• Salt and fresh-ground black pepper

Salad:

4 generous handfuls mixed greens, such as Bibb lettuce, mache, and dandelion greens or frisee, washed and dried

1. Cut the hard-cooked eggs in half lengthwise. Gently remove the yolks (fingers work best), and place them in a medium bowl. Reserve the whites.

2. Add the mustard, garlic, onion, parsley, milk, mayonnaise, and vinegar to the yolks. With a fork, crush everything together into a thick paste. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Pack the mixture back into the hollows of the egg whites, so the filling is even with the surface of the egg, not mounded. You will have leftover stuffing (this becomes the salad dressing).

4. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Gently place the eggs in the pan, stuffed side down. Cook until the eggs are beautifully browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper as they cook.

5. As the eggs saute, combine in a large bowl the leftover egg stuffing with all the dressing ingredients. Add the salad greens to the bowl, and toss. Heap them on a serving platter.

6. Gently lift the eggs from the pan, turn them filling side up, set them on the greens, and serve.

Yikes!!!!!!

We're in Lexington for a few days, visiting Lindsay and Ryan, and Hooterville emailed me to say that we had yet another earthquake in Heavensville last night. That's a total now of 19 this week. Most of them were in the 2.5 range, after the initial ones of 5.4 and 4.5, but last night it was another strong one, 4.5 again. The experts are saying this is unusual, that usually they don't gain strength again.

So, needless to say, it is a scary situation. I talked to Jean and V this morning, they are booth spooked. We''ll be here til' Wednesday, I hope it all settles down before we go home.

Keep our little corner of the world in your thoughts. Mother Nature is a force we can't control...