Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Cluster Flies and Martha Stewart........

Its that time of the year it seems as the Cluster Flies and Asian Lady Beetles are coming out of dormancy.  So a couple of times a day I go around the upstairs catching and killing flies and ladybugs.  We could get the house sprayed, but I don't think that's a good idea all that chemical, so over the past couple of days we have had a couple of companies around giving us quotes on tuck pointing the outside of the house.  Some of the original pointing has holes in it, and that is one way the insects get into the house.

So if we can afford to get this job done, we may prevent more of those insects getting into the house.  Have a feeling we won't be seeing much change out of $2,500 for this job.  Then we MUST get the garage roof re-shingled as every time it's windy more shingles come off.  We think that will cost around $1,000 {{SIGH}}  Then while the guys were here looking at the pointing, they discovered we need a new chimney, as the water has penetrated ours and its dropping to bits; the good news we can leave it another year, the bad news at least $1,600 to rebuild it {{{SIGH}}}

For dd birthday I bought her a subscription to the Martha Stewart Living magazine and a subscription to Everday Food from the Kitchen's of Martha Stewart Living.  Dd was kind to give me her copies of her magazines and I have been enjoying reading them.

I have always been in awe of her organizational skills, mind you it does help when you have numerous staff doing things for you.  One thing in her magazine is a calendar of what she has to do that day.  For example today she is going to "deep clean rugs and vacuum heavy curtains." Tomorrow she is going to "clean, sharpen and oil gardening tools."   I wonder if Martha will actually do those jobs herself, or will she get someone else to do that?  At least I don't have to do one of those jobs, "vacuum heavy curtains," as we don't have curtains in this house.  Although I could do with vacuuming the blinds in the family room.......I think that's a job I could do with my hand in cast, just using my right hand.........  Have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the March magazine.

From the Everyday Food March magazine there was a neat recipe from the United States Department of Agriculture for "Microwave Coffee Cup Scramble."

What you need:
2 eggs
2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp shredded/grated cheddar cheese

1. Coat a 12 oz microwave safe coffee mug with cooking spray.  Add eggs and milk and beat until blended.
2. Microwave on HIGH 45 seconds; stir.  Microwave until eggs are almost set, 30 to 45 seconds longer.
3. Top with cheese; season with salt and pepper.

****I mixed the salt and pepper in with the eggs and milk at the beginning.****

This is now my most favourite way to make scrambled eggs.

14 comments:

JohnD said...

U.S. Forest Service Bug Spray Recipe

1 cup water
1 cup Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil
2 cups vinegar
1 tbs. Eucalyptus oil (found in health food stores)

Optional: few tablespoons of pure citronella oil (Not lamp oil with citronella base).

Cindy@NorthofWiarton said...

Like that "bug" spray John D set out there. We need to replace our house chimney as well, so my DH informed me last night when we had the whole house filled with smoke "gag, cough, cough". Eggs are nice & quick scrambled in the mircowave, aren't they !

Canadian Saver said...

Thank you for the scrambled eggs recipe! I will try this on the weekend :-)

Jane and Chris said...

The cost of country living never flipping ends!!
Jane x

JohnD said...

We call eggs done that way "Nuked Eggs"!

Try this: Put a skillet on the stove top, add a tiny dash of sesame oil and a good splash of olive oil and warm on a medium heat until you sense it 'cooking'. Crack in an egg and wait until the white just starts to 'thicken' and swirl it rapidly with a wooden spatula or plastic cooking spoon. Up the temp to a medium-high heat. Leave it to cook without disturbance for 30 seconds and you'll have the lightest, fluffiest omelette you've ever eaten.

Andi's English Attic said...

We have clusters of ladybirds around our windows at the front of the house in spring/summer. I try and harvest them and put them on the roses to eat the greenfly! A form of recycling? xx

Evelyn said...

I always laugh at Martha Stewart and her lists, I mean how does she do all that and still work? We will soon start to see flies and ladybugs when it warms up later in the month. Ladybugs are suppsoed to be good luck aren't they?

Debby said...

That Martha she is quite the worker. HA I could use a staff around my place as well but I don't think they would work for tomatoes and zucchini!! We get our lady bugs in the spring and fall, the celings get covered in them, lots of vacuuming goes on once they meet their maker!! I have heard they are good for the garden so we welcome them on in.

Anonymous said...

hello

sounds like you have an insect evasion! we are troubled with ants at the moment so DH is ready with the ant powder.

Your farmhouse is beautiful!

It seems that if you have a house the repair bills are neverending.

Thank you for the recipe!

Anonymous said...

Always things to repair around a home...but so many at once is rough!

The Witch said...

Gill,
I hate those dam cluster flies.
John D seems to have a great recipe which I'm going to try but I'm not so sure as how to apply it.
I guess I should spray it.
Oh you have to love Martha Stewart!
I have always dreamed of being on her show and have posted many post's relating to this. Haven't heard my phone ringing yet.I like the Everyday Day Food Mag. and she usually has great two for one subscriptions before Christmas time. Glad you are doing ok with your hand operation. Like I mentioned for Hubby the 2nd operation seemed to be worst than the first.
Hope yo have a great weekend.

Jane said...

Ooooh I'm going to have to try that recipe...for the flies! I eat my eggs like that every morning though I use 1 egg plus some Simply Egg Whites and I add my cheese in before I put it in the microwave. I use Laughing Cow cheese, the light version. It really is true that protein keeps you filled up longer!

Thud said...

Repointing is quite easy to achieve at a decent standard and quite theraputic...have a go.

ChrisJ said...

Another blessing of living in Southern California is the lack of bugs compared to many states. I don't know what cluster flies are and we have far fewer mosquitoes than the northern states. But we do have our rattle snakes, termites and black widow spiders! We also have a lot of ants!

{{{SIGH}}}

Tuesday was a mixed bag type of day. Had the appliance repair guy come again to install another circuit board in the fridge.  When hubby got...