All-Natural Egg Coloring

Guest Blogger: Jan

Color your Easter eggs with nature's own colors!

Place one layer of eggs in a large pan with water fully covering the eggs. Add one teaspoon of vinegar. Add the natural dye. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Temporarily remove the eggs from the liquid. Strain the dye through a coffee filter. Cover the eggs with the filtered dye and let them remain in the refrigerator overnight.

LAVENDER - Purple Grape Juice
BLUE - Caned Blueberries
GREEN - Spinach Leaves (boiled)
YELLOW - Ground Cumin (boiled)
BROWN - Strong Coffee
ORANGE - Yellow Onion Skins (boiled)
PINK - Beets or Cranberry Juice
RED - Lots of Red Onion Skins (boiled)

Personally, I prefer PAAS!

Thanks, Jan, for sharing this idea. It might appeal to the vegans in my family.

Santa Jan

Santa Jan stopped by my office today and she was all decked out in Christmas cheer. She breezed through the door with her Christmas shirt, earrings, Santa hat, and a bell around her neck. In her sack she had - of course- Peanut M&Ms, and a needlepoint coaster she'd made for me with my initial on it. What a sweet, thoughtful friend!

She'd just returned from her old job where she presented her handmade coasters to many co-workers. Since Thanksgiving she has made well over 30 of them. Busy Santa! I don't think she had elves to help her. Everyone at her old job just can't stand that Jan is retired, happy and stress-free. I envy her for that, too!

Thank you, Jan, for the special treats and especially for your friendship. You are always a joy. And happy birthday tomorrow to your granddaughter, Maisye. Wow, 11 years old and a little doll. Love you, friend.

Happy Birthday, Jan!

Jan, another dear friend from my high school days, has finally caught up with me in age. She is celebrating her birthday today and deserves a wonderful one. She's a very outgoing and friendly lady and loved by all.

Jan surprised me and stopped by the office yesterday. She brought peanut M&Ms for her addict friend and shared brownies she'd made for a party she'd attended earlier in the day. Our visits are always interesting and fun as Jan is full of life and laughter.

Jan plans to spend part of her birthday with family at Lone Star Park. Her treasured granddaughter Maisye loves horses and they will watch the races together. I'm sure a delicious meal will be thrown in there too.

Happy birthday, Jan, and thank you for sharing your special brand of sunshine with all those around you! You are precious!

Class Of '68 And '69

Jan, one of my friends from high school, came to work and had lunch with me today. She always manages to bring in a package of M&Ms. Today she brought the dark chocolate kind, full of anti-oxidants (and sugar, I know).

We visited over enchiladas and caught up on each other. She just returned from an annual family reunion in East Texas, the first one since her Mother passed away in March. I know it was different for her, but I'm glad she went and got to be a part of it all. I know I've said this many times, but it never ceases to amaze me how happy, positive, and fun Jan is on a daily basis. She finds the beauty in everything. She even pulls laughter from her zoned-out friend.

At the end of our lunch, Jan showed me how to make my own dessert. She took a flour tortilla, buttered it, and opened a packet of sugar and sprinkled it over the butter. Then, roll and enjoy. Free dessert! Once we got back to the office, we munched on the M&Ms. Gotta have that chocolate.

Besides being my friend for many years, Jan is also a cheap agent. She tells everyone about my books - via e-mails, neighbors visiting over the fence, and word of mouth. She hasn't asked for a commission. I like cheap.

Thank you, Jan, for another pleasant lunch with your sunny personality!

More Old Friends

It was wonderful to get a call from Jan today. She and I became friends in high school, so we go way back. She called to invite me to lunch, then treated me to baked lasagna at Angelo's. She even stopped and picked up a bag of peanut M&Ms for me. That token of kindness endears her to me even more.

There was so much construction going on that we were taking detours left and right to the restaurant. That gave us the opportunity to relive some of our childhood as we passed by places from our youth and the home Jan's grandmother used to live in. We discussed books, family, and old times. It was such a fun time and a needed diversion for me.

Jan is such an "UP" person that one can't stay down very long in her presence. She always has a smile on her face and a kind word on her lips. She never meets a stranger and loves everyone she meets. And she laughs a lot. Laughter is so good for the soul.

Jan is also a great promoter for Simon Says, Books One and Two. She's told all her friends and family about them - and that includes a lot of people. I've tried to hire her as an agent, but she just retired and assuming another position isn't too appealing, and I don't blame her. Instead, she is dedicated to spreading the word and hoping I will get rich because of it. As you've read before, Jan once typed one of my stories for me in high school. This was before I got my hunt and peck down pat.

She's a wonderful blessing in my life and I love seeing her walk into my office at work. Looking up at her wide smile is always refreshing. Thank you, Jan. You're such a dear friend.

Hints From Jan

Jan: When I read Hints from Heloise this morning, I thought of you. Here it is:

Heloise Column: "When we became empty-nesters, I found that I was using the same two dinner plates, and they were showing wear. Likewise, linens, towels, sheets, etc., so I started removing from the top and putting away on the bottom. It has saved things from being used so often. Sharon, via e-mail "

Jan: Well, DUH.........I've done that forever, just following instructions from my Mother and Gama.

Jan: Another thing I do......when I get the last of something out of the cabinet or pantry (toothpaste, deodorant, coffee, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.) I write it on my list for my next trip to the grocery store. Then you never run out. Maybe I should re-phrase that "I" never run out. You would think after being married 36 years, I would have Ronnie trained right, but some how he sometimes still runs out of his after shave, electric shave or shop towels!!! Oh well, what is a Honey-Do list for anyway! Ha Ha

Thanks, Jan. I keep a grocery list, too. But I've been known to take the list with me and still forget one of the items on it. Maybe it's an age thing. Or maybe it's because I don't want to dig my reading glasses from the bottom of my purse, and the squinting at the list doesn't always work.

Also, I seldom have to rotate dishes and linens. With just the two of us, the stack of plates dwindles by the time the dishwasher is full. And I wash towels once a week so that stack has dwindled too. I'm always ready for a change in pattern when I put clean sheets on the bed, so those get rotated as well. What I'm actually saying is, I don't make a conscious effort to be Suzie Homemaker. I just follow my own routine.

Fortunately, Robin is a believer in lists. Unfortunately, he tells me to put something on the list. I have to remind him that the list is on the refrigerator and he can add to it as easily as I can. Of course when he does write something, I have to decipher it. Cat food is written as cat "phude" and often there is a suggestive remark on it that I discover on the aisles of the grocery store. I just continue shopping and pretend I never saw it.

A Surprise Visit

As if being at work and knowing it's Friday isn't good enough, add a surprise visit from an old school chum. I was working at my desk when the door opened and there was Jan Tucker with two Sonic Butterfinger Blasts. I immediately grabbed both her and my ice cream! It was a slow day for me at work (I was actually working on the newsletter) so we had a wonderful visit for over two hours.

Jan lost her mother this month and we talked about her and all the things associated with going through her belongings. In her funny Jan style, Jan related comical stories about her mother. I've saved an e-mail from her mother where she told me she had finished both my books and hoped I had the others finished before she died. She'd been in and out of the hospital the past few months, but still her death was unexpected. I remember her from the teen years when I'd spend the night at Jan's house. I attended her funeral and it was a beautiful celebration of her life.

Jan retired from her job where she handled insurance claims the day before she came to see me. She shared several folders her co-workers and boss had assembled of their fun times with her and their pictures so she'd never forget them. It was clear that Jan's warm smile and sunny personality had won them all over, not to mention how efficient she was on the job. I know she will be greatly missed. But as I told her, I hope their loss is my gain as she will be free to drop in on me from time to time.

I thoroughly enjoyed her visit (and the Butterfinger Blast) and it was a wonderful way to end the day and begin the weekend. Jan is such an "up" person that one can't stay down very long in her presence. She has a heart of gold, she remembers every occasion, and she gives herself as a friend for life. I feel very fortunate to be in that privileged group of friends.

The following day she left a phone message about a book club that would be willing to have me come to their meeting and speak on Simon Says, Books One and Two. Once I get back with her on that, I will share the good news. She's always pushing my books and has been a wonderful support during this time. I appreciate her and the woman she is very much. Believe me, I'm not alone. Anyone who knows her feels the same way. What a gal!

Class of '68 and '69

Robin and I had a wonderful visit with Ronnie and Jan Tucker today. Jan and I were classmates and friends at MacArthur High School in Irving. Jan made sandwiches for all of us and we got to meet her handsome son, Brian, and her beautiful granddaughter, Maisye. A big highlight for Robin was getting to see the Cobra car that Ronnie had assembled from a kit. Quite a kit! And, we saw his orange 1970 Cuda that he bought when it was new, way back when! We toured their beautiful motor home and even sat in there for awhile and talked in the nice A/C. That's the kind of camping I could do. No roughing it in that thing!

Jan and Ronnie live in Oak Leaf in the De Soto/Ovilla/Red Oak area with country surroundings. They are a lovely couple and we really enjoyed our visit. There's never a dull moment with Jan around. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious and I suspect she never meets a stranger. How great to be on such a natural high! We look forward to more fun times with this delightful pair.

Thank you, Jan!!!

My high school friend, Jan, left a review on my blog! She finished reading my book and had wonderful things to say. I'm sure that since we've been friends for years and she typed one of my stories for me in high school has NOTHING to do with her generous praise. It's my first book "review" outside of family and I will always cherish it. Jan, you're an absolute sweetheart! I'll have a picture of her holding the book posted here very soon! Thanks, Jan!!!