How Did A Chicken Get In My Backyard?

Yesterday morning wasn’t good at all. My (special needs) daughter had one of her episodes. For some reason she took it upon herself to wake everyone in the household up. Stand in the hallway and scream at the top of her lungs. (She has an uncontrollable anger issue we are working on.) After she was on her Ipad instead of getting ready for school or taking her daily medications. I am sure she woke the neighbors.

After the kids left for school, I started playing a Facebook game Royal Story in order too de-stress. As my whole body was aching, worse than normal. I needed to take a nap. Something I don’t do.

I don’t want this article to be all negative, pity party or self-help kind of thing. So, I am going to tell you of a moment in time when I have seen and notice my daughter happy and smiling. None of it will include chores. Lol.

The black spot is the chicken.

After the teens came home from school, we noticed a small chicken out in our fenced in backyard. We knew it was the neighbors. I called the dogs in the house. So, my daughter and I could catch and return it to the neighbors.

I instructed my daughter what to do in catching the chicken. As it was looking for a way out of the fenced in backyard. She would get close. Scream. Back away. Muttering,”I’m scared it is going to hurt.”

I told her that it would hurt getting pecked, but not as bad as she thinks. As my siblings and I use to chase chickens when we were little. As we wanted to hold their babies. Several of the hens would peck our knees to make us put their babies down. I reminded my daughter we were around three, five, and six years old at the time. If we could pick up chickens at those ages. She can do it at her age now.

The story must have helped. She screamed for twenty minutes. Before she was close enough to the chicken. She caught it. Her teen brother helped her take it back to the neighbors. As she held the chicken, he knocked on the door.

When the teens came back, my daughter informed me the chicken was old and blind. It had been missing for a while from their yard.

We all started laughing. As we realize that chicken had been living under our shed unnoticed. Hiding from the dogs. We assumed it was a neighborhood cat or groundhog annoying the dogs. As we knew something was there. We weren't able to catch a glimpse. Until my daughter caught the chicken in the backyard.

I didn’t tell my daughter, yet later the neighbor  killed the chicken. As he stated it was old and blind. It was a good for nothing chicken.

When my daughter has her bad days (or mornings). I try to remain positive by picturing her chasing that chicken around the yard. She was smiling. She was happy.

Challenge : Write about something bad turned positive.

Photos taken by and © belong to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

Have You Tried Co-Promote To Boost Your Engagement?

Running a blog I am always on the lookout for other websites that can help me enhance or promote my blogs. One website I have found has helped me grow my Twitter followers. Recently the website has expanded to allow more social media.

What is the website? It is called Co-Promote.

With Co-Promote, you can use the free version. Or use the paid version. There are several plans to choose from to fit your budget.

Several things you can do on Co-promote

1. Reach new people - Co-promote matches your post with like minded people who are likely to engage.
2. Engage - When you share other people's post, yours will get shared to.
3. 100% trust - The post on the website are real.

4. Analyze your shares - Get detailed results on who boosts your posts and how their audience reacts

5. Target your audience - You get to choose which type of posts your wish to see, engage and boost. Choose who to follow in your favorite niches.
6. Follow new people in the same niche as you.

By boosting your best and most engaging posts, you draw in more traffic to your blogs.

You are welcome to share in the following categories  

1. Art, photography, and design

2. Entertainment and media

3. Fashion and beauty
4. Food and drinks

5. Gaming
6. Lifestyle, home and travel

7. Music and much more

Find your niche and engage with others within your niche. Or branch out and find more to engage in.

Places you can promote and engage through Co-promote to combine your social reach 

1. Twitter

2. Instagram
3. YouTube
4. Tumblr
5. Vine
6. Facebook Page (must verify)

How to contact Co-promote

Co-promote has their address, phone number and  email address on their website. They are based out of New York in the USA.

What you need to do after creating an account

1. Pick a  post to promote on one of the social networks.

2. Get matched with the right people who will most likely engage.

3. Reach new customers
4. Build your network by sharing other members content and boosting your own.

5. Get shares and retweets by real people

You can sign in by using your Twitter, Tumblr or Youtube account.

The niches I choose to engage in on Co-promote

1. All food & drinks

2. Home & Garden
3. Pets
4. Dogs

Have you tried Co-promote yet?

https://goo.gl/dvgHxG

Edit: This website has been having technical errors and is now down. It has been for several months. I am not sure I fit is coming back. If you find a similar site like co-promote. Please let me or send me an invite to psptubesandmore@gmail.com

10 Ways To Use Lavender Essential Oil

©Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty

One thing I enjoy using throughout my home is essential oils. I am thankful for the ones I am able to buy. As I can't afford to buy a full set at one time. I like to use them in making DIY hygiene supplies such as bath soaps, laundry soap and other recipes i find on Pinterest.

One scent I use the most is lavender. I wrote a review recently on Amazon.com about lavender essential oil I purchased. 

Here are 10 ways to use lavender essential oil 

1. Place a few drops on pillow cases to help aid in sleep.

2. Place a few drops in my daughter's mister to help calm her to fall to sleep.

3. Add a drop to a wasp sting to take the itching away.

4. To moisten dry or chap skin

5. Add scent when making my own laundry soap

6. Add scent when making my own fabric softener
7. Added scent when making my own bath salts.

8. Natural way to kill scabies and relives scabies itching.

9. It can be used as a deodorant or used in making your own deodorant

10. Helps with concentration

Do you use essential oils in your home? If so, how do you use them?

Chipotle Butternut Squash Ravioli With Mushroom Salisbury Steak

Today’s dinner was something I came up while looking in the cupboards and freezer. As my boyfriend woke up from his nap around 2:00 pm wanting to know what was there to eat.

Cooking with a budget is something my family does a lot. Today’s meal was no different. I got out 6 frozen hamburger patties that we picked up from the local food bank.. placed them in a glass pan. Added some water. Placed in the oven. 4 of the patties were frozen together. I was allowing them to thaw. So, I could separate them. While doing that. I made a mushroom beef gravy to go over top. I sauteed mushrooms from Aldi’s in butter. Added flour to make a rue. Added 2 cups of milk. Blended together. Added 1 tsp of sea salt, and pepper. Added 1 can of Campbell’s French Onion soup from the food bank. Mixed into a gravy. Drained the hamburger patties. Added the mushroom gravy over top. Placed back in oven at 425 degrees for a half hour.

Next I grabbed a bag of pre-made Chipotle Butternut Squash Ravioli I picked up from Aldi’s last week for $1.99. Placed them in boiling water. Waiting for them to get done. I started making a Creamy Oregano Butter Sauce to go over top of the ravioli. I melted butter in a sauce pan. Added flour. To make a rue. Added three cups of milk. Added 1 tsp. of sea salt, pepper, oregano, ginger and nutmeg. mixed all together into a creamy white sauce.

From there I opened up two cans of peas I picked up at a local food bank to heat in the microwave. While waiting for all that to get done. I cut up 5 or 6 large apples. As I plan to turn one into an apple crisp pie. As I also picked up 2 pre-made pie crusts from the local food bank.

I tell you what, dinner was very scrumptious. It looked good, it tasted good, and it filled you up. I could not eat everything on my plate. This is a meal I will make again. It was definitely a hearty Sunday meal fit to warm anyone’s stomachs from the cold.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photo take by and copyright by me, Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

Hands Free Dog Leash By the Purr-fect Paw

Having dogs I am always looking for something that can help make my life easier. I already have different leases that I can walk my dogs with. I have some I can buckle my dogs in a car to go for a ride. What I needed was something hands free that I could walk my dogs with. I did some research when I came across an ordered the hands free leash by Purr-fect paws.

I ordered this leash for one reason, but helps in two different ways. 

1. I wanted a leash that was hands free for when I walked one of my dogs. I could now concentrate using my cane while being hands free of a leash. As my dog walked along my side.

2. For my son to be able to run with one of the dogs being hands free.

The leash is made of a shock absorbing material. Like a bungee. It comes with dual handles if you wish to use your hands. One handle is by the hip to guide the dog your way. The other is for the collar handle to have more precise control. The leash is made of a reflective stitching that makes you visible during evening or late night walks. Plus, the company is willing to give a free replacement if the leash rips or breaks away.

The leash is made of soft material that can fit around the waist. The clip is easy to use to hook it in place. Plus, hook the dog to the leash at the same time.

This hand's free leash allows me to have control of my dog on walks again. This is important to me as I am disabled. As it gives me a little bit of freedom back to something I enjoy, such as walking my dogs. 

I took a short video displaying my teen son practicing walking with my dog getting ready to take on a run. As we do re-enforced training each time before a walk. It lets my dog know what he needs to do. Plus, gives us the chance to correct any issues my dog may have with walking.

Do you use a product that helps assistant you in something as simple as walking?

I received this product for free or a deep discount. In exchange for a honest and unbiased review. To learn more about receiving products for free or a deep discount click the word HERE.

Why I Don't Write Every Day

I am a writer. I do not write every day. I am not suffering from writer's block. I have plenty of ideas written down to write new articles. I write when the time allows me to do so. There are many reasons why I may not write an article each day.

Reasons for not writing an article

1. Emotions

I will not write an article when I am stressed out or angry. As I tend to get snappy and judgmental in my articles. If someone disagrees it feels like an attack. It is best for me to get my emotions under control before posting or commenting.

2. Noise

There is too much noise going on around me. Either from a distracting TV show or movie. To my teenagers arguing or my daughter having a meltdown. I can't think to write under those circumstances.

3. Knowledge

I don't have knowledge to complete an article. It takes time to look up facts to enhance my articles based on what I am writing about.

4. People

I have people coming and going from my home. It could be friends or relatives dropping by. I don't like to write when people can peer over my shoulder. My computer is in the living room. I like to write an article before anyone reads it. Not during.

5. Time

Some days I do not have enough time in the day to write. As family obligations and doctors appointments come first. If the appointments are mid morning, it cuts my time to write during the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photo from Pixabay, a free use photo website.

Made In The USA By Thompson Glass Products

I am pleased with the elegant pair of wine glass made by Thompson Glass Products. I love how the glasses can fit into a hand. My boyfriend hands are two times larger than mine. Neither one of us has an issues holding, grasping or picking up the glasses.

Another thing I like about these glasses, the glasses are made in the USA. I get excited when I come across products made in my country. As many of our businesses have moved over seas. If you want to support an American business and buy beautiful wine glasses. You should check out this company and see what else they produce.

The glasses can hold up to 15 ounces of wine, liquor or other beverage of your choice.

One of the glasses has the words hers, the other one says his but still hers. This is a running joke between my boyfriend and me. Of course I had to order a pair. As they make a beautiful addition to my cupboard.

I like how the glasses curve in near the top. This helps prevent spillage if a glass gets bumped. I like to store mine in the freezer door to chill before pouring in a beverage.

I recived this product for free or a deep discount. In exchange for a honest and unbiased review.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photos taken by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

Fried Cheesy Spinach Flatbread

When I am by myself, I like to make a quick bite to it. Since, my family doesn't love spinach as much as I do. I tend to make sandwiches loaded with spinach when I am alone for lunch.

Sometimes I like to eat a quick hot meal. Frying the meal up helps with that. I didn't want to take the time to make it with eggs. I grabbed the flatbread to give it a whirl.

  

Fried Cheesy Spinach Flatbread
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 piece of flatbread - Cut in half

Butter
Spinach
1 slice of cheddar cheese

Spread flatbread with butter on side. Place butter side down in frying pan. Add slice of cheese. Top with as much spinach as you want. Add other half of flatbread with butter side up. Turn over when flatbread turns brown. Remove when both sides turn a golden brown. Cut in to slices and serve.

In the past I have added mushrooms, tomatoes and sliced red onions. On occasion I will add shredded carrots or sweet potatoes.

What is something you like made with spinach?

Photos taken by and © belong to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

Which Sneakers Should He Pick? WW

My teen son looking at all the choices in sneakers

You can tell he is thinking deeply on which ones he will pick.

He decided to pick a pair of black Nike's with gray trim.

Today was the first day of school for my teenagers. My daughter already has her sneakers, boots and booties. My son finally decided to go shopping for a pair of sneakers yesterday. He is hard on sneakers. Not any brand will last. If we shop at Walmart, those brands last a mere six months before the sides are blown out. Finding a decent pair of sneakers that will last all year is a must. As my teenage son is active in after school activities.

Photos taken by and © belong to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

Find more nike items for sale

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This blog joins in the "Wordless Wednesday" Challenge. 

Raspberry Trifle Recipe

Over the weekend my family was able to host a backyard BBQ for some friends and family. I enjoy hosting BBQ's or get together with family and friends. It is nice when everyone can get together in one place.

I wasn't able to get pictures of anything. Except the burgers and dessert. Which was the Raspberry Trifle.

Food At The BBQ

Hamburgers with turkey bacon

Veal steaks

 Chicken

Hot dogs

A variety of chips

Macaroni salad

Poppy seed salad

Watermelon

Raspberry Trifle

I decided to make a Raspberry Trifle, as it contains three ingredients. That are quick and easy to prepare.

Trifles are an English cuisine. Trifles have been around the 16th century. There are many varieties of how a Trifle is made. As the recipe has changed over the years. One can make it will alcohol or leave it out. I left it out. I do not add alcohol to my desserts. 

I made a and easy layered Raspberry Trifle. It went over well with all of my guests. As I used no sugar in my ingredients. Which made it good for all my guests. As a few has type 2 diabetis. 

Raspberry Trifle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 containers of Raspberries
4 small boxes of sugar free vanilla pudding
1 sugar free angel food cake

I took the angel food cake and tore it up in small pieces as I placed them in the bottom of the glass casserole dish. I prepared the no sugar vanilla boxes. I placed a layer over the broken up angel food cake. I topped with raspberries. Repeat till your casserole dish is full. Place in refrigerator til ready to serve to guests. 

I did not top with whip cream. As my boyfriend is allergic to an ingredient it is made with. Whip cream would make a great topping.

**Note : You can make a smaller amount of this. I made enough to fill my casserole dish which would feed at least twenty people. You can place this recipe in individual glass dishes for more eye appeal. I did not have that many glass dishes. I opted to place everything in a deep casserole dish.

**Tip : You can make this same dish in a variety of ways.

Such as angel food cake, chocolate pudding topped with cherry pie filling. The possibilities are endless.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Photos taken by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.