~Chicken Soup for Maisy's Soul~

As we march into spring, at least I think we are...please don't quote me on that...it makes me think about all the things I love about winter.
Wait just one second...did I just say that...love about winter..huh????...I think I did.

I would have to say the first and foremost thing I love the best about winter is making my mom's homemade chicken noodle soup(listen, we just won't even put Christmas in this category..ok.)

Let's just spend a few moments in Maisy's kitchen~


I use bone in and skin on chicken breasts.
I cover with water and boil until the chicken is cooked.

Just boil it and boil it.
We all know about uncooked chicken....YUCK!!!!

I was very lucky this time.
I just happened to have all the veggies I needed.
I NEVER have celery on hand.
Do you??

I just get choppin'.
The onions are really the pits.
A woman has to do what a woman has to do in order to fill her belly with some good winter grub!

Once the chicken is cooked...remove the meat from the bones.
If this grosses you out I'm really sorry.
No way around this.

Put the chicken back in the water... .of course without the bones. That seriously would just be gross. Add all the veggies and season to taste..ya know people...salt & pepper.
I have to confess I'm a cheater, I also throw some Herbox in there for more chicken flavor!

I cook up some egg noodles and keep them on the side.
If you have left overs the noodles don't store very well .

If I'm feeling really cooky & crazy I make Bisquick dumplings.
Now that is a double YUMMY!!!

Can ya smell it.
I think all the angels in the heavens can smell it.
Wait I hear them, they are singing and rejoicing.
Can ya hear them, can ya hear them??

It is soooo good.

I tip my bowl to you Winter.
I sure hope you are gone soon!

~Happy Wednesday~

I DID IT.....I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at my side bar.

I opened ONE of my Etsy stores, Maisy's Market.
It has really cool stuff.

(don't tell Bill buuuuut...if something doesn't sell I'm just going to keep it..hehe)


Stop over there and let me know what you think.

What do you think of the name???

Cute right???? That could be one of my favorite things about the new store..the name.
I'm so lucky that some of my loved ones call me "Maisy". If it wasn't for them I would just be plain ol' Amy.
I mean it's cute and all but seriously..."Maisy"...off the charts cute.

Can't wait to read what you all have to say....
the suspense is just killing me...
I think I need to organize the pantry or something ...
this is just a nail biter...
oh goodness...
who should I call??
Ok, I guess I will just read a magazine..
That won't cut it, I will have to do laundry. BORING!!
Oh no, maybe I should just go take a bath.
Never mind. I will just do my favorite thing....read all your blogs!

Happy Tuesday!!!!

**don't worry, the candy store will be opening soon....I promise**

~He's Done It Again~

I know a lot of you probably don't like surprise.

Well, let me let you in on a little secret about me...
I'M NOT THAT GIRL!!!
I just love surprises....big surprises, little surprises, fat surprises, skinny surprises, tall surprises, short surprises.
Really, I'm not picky.
I have always loved them.
I didn't get too many as a little girl but Bill seems to be making up for lost time.

Bill loves to give surprises as much as love receiving them.
YEAH FOR BILL!

This is the little surprise he come home with the other day....

It an attachment for my bike.

It also comes with the detachable market tote!

Just look at that bow. DARLING!!!


You see fellow bloggers....Bradley is going to all day camp this summer.
I am committing to ride my bike more.
I have a farmers market every Wednesday about a a mile from my house.
I can already smell all that fresh produce!
On Saturday's there is a French Market about 3 miles from my house.
Target is about 1 -2 miles from my house.

This will also help me spend less money!
I don't have the back of my car to pile stuff in.
Whatever fits in my tote goes home with me.
(I feel confident that I will maximize it's capacity)

I heart my new bike "basket."

Now, if this rain would just stop maybe I could try it out....
Oh wait...I can't....Bill brought my bike in for my annual tune up.
I guess I will just have to wait....
Also, as I type this new post it is raining reallllllly hard.
I will just have to imagine.....

~Happy New Beginning to Another New Week~

~Photo Friday...Part II~

~Let's see....what's happenin' outside Maisy's window.....~




The above picture is of my pond's waterfall from this morning.

I dragged myself out of bed for this one people.
This icky, dreary picture.
I will post pics of this when it is summer and it looks beautiful.
She is a sad, sad pond these days.
You see....it was extrememly cold for a very long period of time and I lost all my koi fish.
I have had some of these fish for 8 years. They weren't little. They were BIG.
It was so awful getting them out once all the ice melted.
However, I have one little girl left.
Now I don't know if it's a girl or a boy....i'm not really good at telling the difference.
Let's just refer to it as a her...I think I will name her Daisy.
I don't know why I will name her Daisy...really it just popped into my head.
See how quick I am on my feet....kinda hard not to notice.
And I'm back from I'm not sure where..................
I went out there the other day and found more frogs..
Let me just say they were not living anymore.
I joke around about this but it really is sad for me.

This pic I just had to take.
This is spring.
I know, I know some of you already have tulips coming up.
This is all I got.
It may be small but I think it is just perfect.
This is what gets me through the rest of this winter.
This bunny planter and these little plants make Maisy so happy.

I guess there is a trip to the park in order today!!!
Yeah for a high of 58 degrees.

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

***PS I think I have it figured out now...so keep sending those pics of what is happening out your window.***

~Maisy's Market~

I'm not sure if you know this but......
I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume most of you don't.


Growing up I was a candy store kid.
I'm mean literally.
My mom and dad owned and old fashioned candy store.
It's original store was in Oak Park, Illinois.
The name of it was Katie's Country Store.
(just to answer the question before it is asked....Katie is not a family name...although, now we have a Katie)

I have so many wonderful memories of that store.
Please, don't let me lead you in some fastasy world...it wasn't always the greatest being the owners daughter.

For one, I can't tell you how many times I ate toooooo much candy and was warned "Maisy, you are gonna throw up....you better slow down...."
I was as good as listener then as I am now.

PHEW...glad I got that guilty thought off my chest.

Now onto the good stuff.
We sold:
Candy..and lots of it :)
Popcorn
Fruit Drinks
Nuts
Homemade Fudge
Soft Serve Frozen Custard...only in the summer(can't tell ya how much fun it was to clean out that machine ALL the time)
Stuffed Animals
Gifware
and of course Holiday Candy.

ohhh....and the smell....it was sooooo good.
Sometimes I will catch that smell and I can actually feel my heart warm up and a smile appears on my face.
Just thinking about it makes me feel so good!

My mom was amazing at displaying all of it.
(my mom passed away 12 years ago...I know she's looking down on this post smiling...who am I kidding...she wondering' what the heck is a blog)

That leads me to the reason for this post (OK...OK...it takes me awhile these days...geez)

Get ready...I have ALWAYS wanted to own a candy store.
Since it's not possible to own a store front right now I will be bringing it to Etsy.
Keep an eye out....it will be up, running and live within the next month.
I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!
I always knew when I was growing up I wanted to be the "Candy Lady."
I'm actually a bit giddy!

I don't seem to just stick my little itty bitty toes in...NO the whole body dives in. So wish me luck!!

~Happy Wednesday~

~It Has My Wheels Turning~

picture coutesy of marly & lockyr





I have been seein' these really cute pillows all over Etsy.
I have a really hard time paying $20-$40 dollars for them.
Come on ladies...I have a dog, a cat and we just happen to be a very clumsy family.
These things wont last very long.
It just kills me to spend money like that and then to watch chocolate ice-cream hands use it is a napkin.
I can already hear the conversation...

Bradley: Mom, can I have some ice cream?
Mom(that's me in case you didn't know): only if you eat it in the kitchen!
Bradley: OK. Gee Mom you have to be the best mom ever. I just love you so much. I'm the luckiest boy in the entire world to have a mom as special as you (ok...he doesn't say that..however this is MY conversation in my head)

*Mom serves ice-cream. She walks away to do laundry(heck she could be doing anything really.)
*Mom comes back to find Bradley no longer in the kitchen but sitting on the couch with the ice-cream gone...chocolatey face and goopy hands.
*Bradley is now tired of being sticky and thinks since the pillow may look like a napkin he uses it as a napkin.
*Mom NOT happy!!!

Mom: BRADLEY...........

Any-Hoo...this got me thinking.......(ouch I think that kinda hurt)...
Then I did my Monday morning Target run.
This is what I saw...

Can ya see it....can ya see it???

That's right....Organic Flour Towels.
Four towels for $1.74....can we all say CLEARANCE!!!!!
That means if Maisy get's busy I can have 2 pillows for less than the shipping if I ordered the other ones.
YEAH!!

Now I do have to say, I'm sure mine won't turn out nearly as nice as the other ones.
But all's I have to say to that is WHO CARES. If they look cute until my pillow ADD changes it's mind, I'm in a win win situation.

YEAH FOR PILLOWS!!

**I will post pics when they are done. Now I have to go get matching thread. One step at a time**

~My Hubby Turned to Me and Said "WHAT?"~

Soooo....I was on another blog that was talking about Angel Food Ministries.
It is a ministry that provides food to families.
It basically provides dinner for a family of four for $30 a week.
There are add on packages available.

Anyone can purchase from them.
There is an order deadline and a pick up time.

Simple...to the point....

I talked to a couple girlfriends and they decided that I was going to try it and let them know what I think.
I really thought I was doing them a favor for telling them.
Apparently my friendship doesn't stop there.

Any-hoo.....
I went on to tell Bill about this.
He was not game.
(that is putting it nicely)
He felt like I was taking advantage of a program that is designated for people who have hardship.
I agreed but said I wanted to try it out anyway.
I said...I am only going to buy one weeks worth of food.

Friday was the day before pickup.
I asked him if he would please ride shot gun with me to pick up the food.
He agreed. (see, as time goes on you will learn why I love this man)
(ok..ok...if you must know....I rode shot gun. He was driving.)
He really felt uncomfortable about this.
I genuinely understood. I kinda did too.

When we arrived I jumped out and went in.
There was an hour wait until the food was going to arrive.
Keep in mind that the time to pick up the food was 8:30 -9:30 am.
That meant the food didn't arrive until they were suppose to be closing up shop.
Hard to get upset when I only paid $63 for my family to eat for a week.

While Bill waited for me and Bradley to come out with the food he took care of a few things:
1) put gas in my car
2) got an oil change
3) got my car washed
4) went and picked up paint chips(he's having his office painted)
(don't tell anyone but if Bill has a list of things to do he makes it HAPPEN)

Another surprise was there were people there from our neighborhood.
Everyone kept saying the same thing....
"I just heard about this and thought I would give it a try."

So....following are some pics of the food I bought.
I purchased three different packages:
1) the main package (feeds family of 4 for a week)
2) side item package(side items for dinner)
3) produce box(I was very happy with this)
TOTAL: $63.00

In the end it was not an uncomfortable experience at all.
Met some really nice people.
Spent some quality time watching Bradley play with a remote control car that climbs the walls. Other people really liked it too.
(got that the day before at Goodwill for $2.99...he LOVES IT...it is pretty cool)
I also had a new experience.

To be honest, I'm not sure I would do it again.

I feel so blessed that I don't have to rely on a program like this.
However, it's nice to know that once again there are wonderful, nice and selfless people in this world.
People NEVER cease to amaze me.

Well...sorry about the reallly long post.

HAPPY NEW WEEK!

ps I would have liked the web page but it's down right now .