Recipe: Manhattan Fish Chowder

Our local grocery store has this great bag of seafood mix that they sell in the freezer isle. The page includes squid, shrimp, muscles and clams included. I've made it into a fish stew and a stir fry with vegetables in the past, so when I thought of making a Manhattan Clam Chowder, I decided to try to use the seafood mix instead of clams.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely diced onion
1 cup finely diced cored fennel bulb
2 tablespoons chopped fronds
4 minced garlic cloves
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
½ teaspoon Mrs. Dash
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
Dash of Cayenne pepper liquid sauce to taste
2 cups precooked diced potatoes
2 14-ounce cans of crushed tomatoes
1 pound frozen seafood mix

Directions:
In a medium frying pan heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, fennel bulb, garlic, Italian seasoning, Mrs. Dash and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are just starting to brown.

Add broth and potatoes; bring to a boil. Stir in tomatoes, Cayenne pepper sauce, seafood and fennel fronds. Return to a boil. Seafood will cook up quickly. When seafood is cooked remove from heat and serve.

Serve with French bread or crackers.

Don't need to be an artist to add a little fun to your walls

I like arts and crafts, but I am far from an expert when it comes to them. There is a lot of trial and error in all my projects. This last week I finally got a chance to paint one of my bathroom's walls. This bathroom has no windows, so of course the first thing I thought was it needed light paint. It is the bathroom my son uses so light paint always gets dirty fast. That left me wondering what to do.

A few years ago I did faux painting in the living room. I got all the expensive faux paint products and went to town. I liked the way it came out, so I thought that was the answer in my bathroom. The only problem was that the room is so small I didn't think I would even uses a quart much less the gallon you need to buy the faux paint in at the hardware store.

After speaking with the sales clerk I found that you don't need to use the special faux paint to give you the faux paint look. The steps are simple and everyone can do it, even the kids, and have fun with it.

For this project you need:
Two complimentary shades of paint.
This can be very easy as the hardware store has paint sample cards in complimentary colors. Pick one color dark and another two shades lighter. I used a gloss paint for the bathroom. Semi-gloss paint or gloss is apparently the best for this project.
Paint roller and brushes
One natural sea sponge—These can be found in the hardware paint department
One brown grocery paper bag
One plastic grocery bag

Step 1:
All the normal rules of painting a wall apply. Make sure the wall is clean of grease and dirt, etc. Then plaster any holes as desired. Wait for the plaster to dry. Apply the base or darker coat of paint to the wall first. Allow the base coat to completely dry. Depending on the the weather this can take up to 24 hours.

Step 2:
Completely wet the sea sponge with water. Ring out the excess water. Using the lighter color of paint, dip the sponge into the light colored paint. Pat the excess paint on the paper bag then lightly sponge onto the wall in a 2 feet by 2 feet area, rotating the directions of the sponge to create a random effect. Scrunch up the plastic bag in your hand and go over the sponge painted area lightly to press in the paint. Reload the sponge until the walls are completely sponged, again using the paper bag and the plastic bag as described.

Step 3: 
Let the wall dry at least 24 hours before putting anything on the walls.

That is all there is too it. There really isn't any artist talent needed and it will spruce up your plain walls.

Rainbow Bridge Poem

 Princess Ariel

April 1992 - April 1, 2010

RIP Sweet Girl

There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth. It is called Rainbow Bridge because of its many colours.

Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills, valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies , the pet goes to this special place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather.

The old and frail are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again.

They play all day with each other. There is only one thing missing.

They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth.

So each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up!

The nose twitches!

The ears are up!

The eyes are staring!

And this one suddenly runs from the group!

You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her into your arms and embrace.

Your face is kissed again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

~Author Unknown