Potato Salad

Growing up in my household potatoes were a main staple in most of our meals. It was a cheap vegetable that is easy to grow. One way we ate potatoes would be to mash them up, add a little salt, butter, and decorate with chives. Chives were only used when company came over. To make them look more fancy. Presentation was always a must in my home growing up no matter what was served.

Potatoes can be served in a variety of ways. The vegetable goes with any meal. One of the ways it was often served in my home is a salad.  My grandmother made her own potato salad, my mother made her own version of potato salad, and I to make my own version of potato salad.

Potato Salad Recipe you need basic ingredients. Potatoes, mayo, salt, pepper, onion, celery, mustard, and whatever else you would like to add to the mix. Sometimes I like to add in chicken or turkey cubes.

Dagdas harp

Photo from Pixabay

Dagda's harp is another Irish myth. A harp was own by a high priest named Dagda. her harp was stolen during a  war with a rival tribe. The harp was placed in an abandoned castle.

Dagda found the harp by calling to it, as he followed the tribe. Dagda struck the chords of the harp as it came to him. It proceeded to let out tears of music. Which made everyone in the castle cry.

The next chord Dagda struck caused all the warriors to laugh. It was the Music of Mirth.

The final stroke of the chords by Dagda causing everyone to fall asleep but him. Music of sleep was played by the harp. When everyone fell asleep, it allowed Dagda to escape unharmed with the harp.

Bad Dog or Bored?

Many times I look at one of my dogs (I have three). I wonder if he is a bad dog or a bored dog, when I come upon him chewing something up he is not suppose to. Recently he had chewed up a pillow that has sat on the couch for months he has never touched. Or so I thought.

Come to find out the kids were teasing him with it. So, when we weren't around and he got bored. The doge tore it up. He wasn't being bad, he was bored. I try and keep plenty of bones and toys around for my dog to keep him from getting bored. I feel toys and bones are necessary and not a luxury. As they keep my dog content and out of trouble. He knows bones and toys are his to play with. He will leave other things alone.

Somethings I have done when choosing a toy :

1. First thing I do is dog proof my home. I remove anything I think he might think is a toy and would chew up.

2. All doors to bedrooms and bathroom stay closed. Unless they have a gate preventing entry from the dog. This ensures the kids toys not being mistaken for his toy. Or my favorite slippers getting chewed up again.

3. When choosing toys, I make sure they are the proper size. I have a toy breed, small breed and a extra large breed. When I buy toys made for toy and small breed I make the item is right for their size. Nothing small enough to place in his mouth and swallow.

4. I carefully watch my dog playing with anything with squeakers. As he will tear the toy up to get to it. As soon as the toy gets ripped open. The toy gets removed from reach. As squeakers can be a choking hazard.

5. I avoid any filling that isn't fluffy. Like beads in beanie babies that can harm my dog if ingested.

6. I provide an assortment of toys. He has stuffed toys, tug ropes, balls, toys with areas to hide treats where the dog has to search for the treat to get it etc. This is to help prevent boredom having different things to play with.

7. I especially look for toys I can play with my dog. I believe interaction helps with bonding and socialization. Doing these things has helped my bored dog from becoming a bad dog. Instead, he has plenty of things to keep his attention from doing things that he shouldn't be. Doing these things he can have the run of the house. I don't feel a need to crate him when I am gone.

What do you do to keep your dog from being bored? Is your dog a bored dog or a bad dog?

Challenge - Write about a bad dog. Write about a bored dog. Write something you do to help your dog from being bored or bad.

Photo Credits : (1) has all three dogs : Buster - the English Mastiff, Moose - the Chug, and rascal - Chihuahua mix. ©rusty2rusty (2) Moose, the Chug ©rusty2rusty (3) Dog toys - from a free use website.

This post is part of the PAWSit Hop Saturday. You can read more about it and join below.

An InLinkz Link-up

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Blessed

Today, I was woke a phone call that upset me. Instead of dwelling on the negatives in my life today. I feel like thinking about the things I am blessed with. It is my way of turning a negative into a positive. The more positive I think, the better my mood will be, the more I will noticed how blessed I  am.

I noticed if I dwell on the negatives in my life. I start to slip down a slippery slope in my head. It is nobody's fault by my own. As I know I am in control of my own thoughts. Some days I find it easy to rant and push the blame on others. From personal experience I am a better person if I dwell on all things and people I am blessed with in my life. I am bestowed in life many blessing.

I have prayed for the Lord to give on me a best friend, someone I can talk to, be with, and do things with. He granted my prayer by sending me my boyfriend of three years. He doesn't like to see me upset. As it upsets him, when I am upset. I am blessed.

I prayed for a healthy daughter after I gave birth to two boys. I gave birth to a daughter who suffers from ADHD and ODD. Sometimes her world disrupts the whole household in ways that baffles me. My request was granted. I am  blessed with a healthy daughter.

One thing I have learned no matter what I pray or ask for. When I am ready, I will receive.  Not  when I want it.When it happens, I know I am blessed.

I am working on having more patience. As with more patience, it has opened my eyes to see the blessing are in front of me.

Yes, I am disabled and cannot hold down a real job. Yes, I am living in a rental. Yes, I am homebound much of the time. As I have no vehicle when my boyfriend is gone on business. As he needs it to do what needs for our future. Yes, I might have to wait three or four days to catch a ride to where I need to go. Yes, I hurt when my boyfriend is away from me for so long.

All these things make me stronger. As I can see I am blessed. I have a boyfriend and family who loves me. I have a roof over my head. My family is not starving. I am learning patience is a virtue. Throwing fits doesn't get me anywhere but in life.

Next step is working to get over my pride, bow down and ask when I can not do things for myself on my own.

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Every Friday, I will be doing the next letter in the alphabet based on a emotion. To learn more about this challenge. Please click the photo below.

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Here is a list of my other writings in this series :

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Abandoned

Is It Good Luck Or Bad Luck?

With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, I have been hearing all kinds of superstitions about what brings you good luck or bad luck. Some sound believable. While others simple sound like someone was bored and made it up.

You will receive good luck if :

1. You have a rabbit's foot.
2. You find a 4 leaf clover by accident.
3. You find a horseshoe.
4. You wear clothes inside out. (which seems to be a popular trend among young adults nowadays).
5. You blow all your candles out on your birthday cake. Your wish will come true.
6. You keep a lock of a babys first hair cut.
7. You have goldfish in a pond.
8. You find a penny face up.
9. You wear new clothes on Easter.
10. A cricket is in your house.

You will receive bad luck if :

1 . A black cat crosses your path. My grandmother always believed she received good luck when a black cat crossed her path. As she always came in to money some how.
2. You walk under a ladder.
3. You break a mirror. Brings you seven years of bad luck.
4. You open an umbrella in the house.
5. you step on a crack, you break your mothers back. (I use to play this as a child to try and avoid cracks on the sidewalk)
6. You sing at the table.
7. You chase someone with a broom.
8. You find a penny face down.
9. You drop a dishcloth.
10. You rock an empty rocking chair.

Challenge : Write about good luck, bad luck, or both.

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All Photos found through a search of free reuse photos on Google.

A - Z : Giant Japanese Salamanders

Ah, another A - Z challenge. A couple of years ago my family went to the Toledo. Ohio. As I love looking at animals and Wildlife. I seen an exhibit for the Giant Japanese Salamanders.

It was kinda funny because I walked up to the tank the creature was in. The whole time a lady was staring into the tank not saying a word. At first all I seen was large rocks. When I noticed where it was after moving around a bit. I called my boyfriend and kids over to look at it.

These things can grow to five feet long and weigh over 55 lbs. So, you can imagine my surprise when I noticed the rock wiggle. The lady asked me where it was at. I pointed the Japanese Giant salamander out to her. She started laughing and telling me she had been staring for almost an hour trying to figure out where the creature was at. It had been in front of her the whole time. She just never noticed it.

I can remember catching salamanders as a child in a nearby creek. So to be able to see these creatures in a giant size was new to me. I have been in awe of these creatures since I first heard of them. I actually heard of them on a cable tv show called "River Monsters". It is where the host of show goes around the world trying to catch animals in the rivers and streams that scare, threaten or harm people. Usually there is some kind of old myth the host is trying to prove or disapprove. One segment happen to turn up Japanese Giant Salamanders. What beautiful creatures.

Japanese Giant Salamanders can live up to eighty years. But the number varies depending on if it was in captivity or not. The Japanese Giant Salamander is a threatened creature. Even though females lay up to 500 eggs at a time. They do not have any none predators except humans who have hunted them for food. Hunting has stopped because of protection acts.

Challenge : Write about Salamanders. Or something that starts with a "G".

Japanese_Giant_Salamander, Animal, Toledo_Zoo, Zoo, AtoZ_Challenge, Letters, A2ZChallenge, Challenge_A-Z

Photo found through a search of free re-use photos on Google.

You Can Get Paid More Than 10 Cents A Survey At PaidViewpoint

On an earlier post I mention a survey website where I earn  passive income. Called PaidViewpoint. You read more about it by clicking the word HERE.

I mentioned that sometimes you can be paid more than 10 cents a survey. Some people were skeptical. They wanted proof. As you can tell in the above photo. In the latest survey I took. I was paid well over 10 cents. Not bad for a few minutes of my time. I really don't know what else it will take to make people believers.

Once again, I will proudly share my referral link, if you wish to join under me. Yes, I do earn something from it. Only if you are active and participate. Otherwise joining does nothing for me. If you don't want to join under me. You are more than welcome to go directly to the site and sign up yourself. You can join under me by clicking the word HERE.

To those who join, thank you. It is very appreciated.

Christmas Scents

Some of the things I enjoy about the Christmas holiday is the smells and scents that I associate with it.

Scents and smells I like are :

Pumpkin - I love the smell of anything pumpkin. Pumpkin is one of my favourite scents. Between the smell of Pumpkin spice coffee to pumpkin pies baking in the oven.

Candy canes - My sibling and I didn't get peppermint candy canes as children. As my dad is allergic to mint. Even now I buy the other flavors of candy canes.

Chocolate : The scent of chocolate has always reminded me of Christmas.

Cinnamon - A spice that is used as an ingredient in many Christmas recipes. Ranging from food to potpourri.

Oranges - I have always associate the smell of oranges with Christmas. As my siblings and I always received an orange in our stocking. Oranges were also sold by the crate full around Christmas time in my area through the FFA.

Challenge : What scents do you associate with the holidays?

Photos found through a search on Pixabay unless otherwise stated.

Personal, Favorite-scents, Holiday-scents, Smells, Scents, Christmas, Holiday, Challenge

Cheesy Pizza Tortelloni Served with Veggies

Tonight's dinner is pleasant on the eye. It is real simple to make. You can either buy ingredients and mix it all together. Or DIY by making everything homemade. I choose the quick and easy route tonight.

Cheesy Pizza Tortelloni  

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1 bag of frozen Tortelloni filled with cheese

1 jar of pizza sauce

Prepare tortelloni per directions on bag. Drain. Mix in pizza sauce. Options : You can add pepperoni, sausage or whatever you like topped on your pizza. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Veggies

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Yellow carrots -sliced

Broccoli - chunked

Red bell peppers - diced

Green beans

Lemon juice

Garlic

Saute in frying pan all veggies with garlic and lemon juice. To you get the desired textured of your veggies. This works best with fresh veggies. Frozen with work but lacks some flavor.

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Photo Eassy

Wordless Wednesday is when you post without using any words to describe your photos. I choose a Halloween theme.

All photo found through Google for free re-use.