Monday, April 28, 2008

An extended hiatus

Grrrrrls is officially on an extended vacation.
I've started a business and my time for blogging grrrrrls is nil.
I'm happy to say business is off to a good start.

Summer is almost upon us and the Mink Island Blog will become more active. I'll be posting to my new business blog Smart Move Design Blog
and to my Photo Blog whenever I can.

Please stop by to any of the blogs above and say hello.
I will also try to visit my blogging pals more frequently, I miss you all!

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Oil Gone



Many dishwashing detergents contain petroleum products, an unnecessary use of oil. A vegetable-based dish soap is a greener alternative widely available in natural food stores and even many supermarkets.

do your part: If every American household replaced just one 28-ounce bottle of petroleum-based dishwashing liquid with a vegetable-based product, the savings would amount to 82,000 barrels of oil.
Seventh Generation Products has one, learn more about it here

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Friday, March 14, 2008

5 fun (Irish) facts for Friday



Here are a few trivia facts related to the Irish. Make your best guess then scroll down to the bottom of the page and see how you did.

1. What is the major difference between Irish Whiskey and Scotch Whiskey?

2. What state has a higher proportion of residents of Irish descent than any other state?

3. How many cities/towns are named Shamrock in the US?

4.In what year did Irish Government allow it's first-ever divorce?

5. What is the claim to fame of Montgomery Street in Dublin?

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Whiskey and Bread Pudding


I went to an Irish whiskey and bread pudding tasting recently.
Five of us grrrrrls went and only one of us was a whiskey lover.
I personally just don't like it unless it is mixed with something.
BUT, we all did our little tasting quite nicely.
It consisted of Jamesons, Tullemore Dew, and Michael Collins.
Each of them served straight up and then again in mixed drinks.

Here is a little of what I learned about Irish Whiskey:

Whiskey is the anglicization of the ancient Gaelic term "visce beatha" translated as "water of life". Irish whiskey is believed to be one of the earliest distilled beverages in Europe, starting around the 12th century. The old Bushmills distillery is the oldest licensed distillery. It was licensed by James I in 1608.

There is a new Irish Whiskey out! I want to try it just so I can ask for it. Feckin Irish Whiskey -as the ad says -a whiskey for the rogue in all of us

Bread pudding recipe coming later this week. Mmm mmm good.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Keepin it Green Thursday

This St. Patrick's day, resist the impulse to open the oven door and sneak a look—and then another—at how your corned beef and cabbage is doing. Every peek causes a 25- to 50-degree drop in temperature, which wastes energy as the oven struggles to regain its setting.





Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, "Pour me a stiff one - just had another fight with the little woman."
"Oh yeah?" said Charlie, "And how did this one end?"
"When it was over," Mike replied, "She came to me on her hands and knees.
"Really," said Charles, "Now that's a switch! What did she say?"
She said, "Come out from under the bed, you little chicken."

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,May God hold you in the palm of His hand.


Monday, March 03, 2008

Cead Mile Failte!


This month is always a favorite in our family. Lots of wearing of the green, eating of the corned beef and celebrating the Irish traditions with family and friends. And the fact that spring arrives this month only makes it that much better. So in honor of our favorite month I'll be posting Irish jokes and tidbits until St. Patrick's Day.

Enjoy....

Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, "Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!"
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
Paddy looked up again and said, "Never mind, I found one."

Friday, February 29, 2008

5 fun facts for friday



How well do you know your alcohol trivia? Give it your best shot then scroll down to the bottom of the page to see how you scored.

1. Adding a miniature onion to a martini turns it into what?

2. What is the official spirit of the united states, by act of congress?

3. What non-alcoholic beverage can give a person a .02 BAC on a breathalyzer test?

4.What do Sandra Bullock, Tom Arnold, Chevy Chase, Bill Cosby, Kris Kristofferesen and Bruc Willis all have in common?

5. What does it mean if a young Tiriki man offers beer to a woman and she spits some of it into his mouth?

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Uncorked!



Yemm & Hart, a company that finds innovative uses for recycled products, is soliciting wine bottle corks for a unique initiative. When the company has amassed six tons, they’ll begin converting the corks into coasters, clipboards, and flooring. Contributors will be eligible for discounts on the finished products.

you can do your part: Mail wine and champagne corks to Wine Cork Recycling, Yemm & Hart Ltd., 610 S. Chamber Drive, Fredericktown, MO 63645

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Blogging Break



It's time for a blogging break.


I will still visit all my blogging buddies but am taking a hiatus from posting for an unknown length of time.
Happy blogging and see you soon!

"Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can,- there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did"

Friday, January 25, 2008

Five fun facts for Friday



Test your knowledge of the color blue

Give it your best shot then scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answers.

1. In Australia someone with this color hair is often called blue. What color hair is it?

2. What does blue funk mean?

3. What country do Blue Mountain coffee beans come from?

4. Who composed the classical piece Blue Danube?

5. What makes blue cheese blue?

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Did you know?


Coffee was once grown mostly in shaded areas; today many growers are producing higher-yielding “sun coffee.” This practice requires extra pesticides and herbicides, can promote soil erosion, and reduces the habitat available to migratory songbirds including wood thrushes, tanagers, flycatchers, and Honduras orioles.

do your part: To support growers who use sound farming and harvesting practices, look for the USDA Organic and Bird Friendly symbols on the coffee package, or for a clear statement that the coffee is shade-grown.

Interested in more info? click here

P.S. Coffee is the second largest U.S. import after oil. Coffee drinkers have the potential to make a huge impact on the environment and economies of coffee growing nations.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

An accident waiting to happen....



are what these signs are!
what we have here is the stop sign symbol placed on a white flag.
then these flags are placed every 20 feet or so in a local strip mall parking lot.
I counted 4 in front of one store.
These flags are a good foot taller than the standard stop sign.
do you know how many cars I observed slamming on their brakes as they realized too late what they were? or those who didn't notice them at all?
somebody's going to get hurt.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Blue Monday


Today is the most depressing day of the year.

That is according to Dr Cliff Arnall who was a researcher at the University of Cardiff. He determined this date using many factors, including: weather conditions, debt level (the difference between debt accumulated and our ability to pay), time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling of a need to take action. This date typically falls on the Monday of the last full week of January. This would make today, January 21, the Blue Monday of 2008.

Dr Arnall has also calculated the happiest day of the year. This year it will be June 21, 2008. For this he used a formula which uses factors including: the outdoors, nature, social interaction, childhood summers and positive memories, temperature and holidays.


No blues for me though. The sun is shining here and only 59 days remain 'til spring.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Five Fun Facts for Friday



all about the color yellow
give it your best shot then scroll down to the bottom of the page and see the answers.

1.What college has sports teams nicknamed "The Yellow Jackets"?

2. According to the 1967 Beatles hit, "Yellow Submarine", what was the color of the sea that it sailed into?

3. In what country would you find the Yellow River?

4. In the Navy and as a part of International maritime law, colored flags are used to send messages to and from the ships. Each flag represents a letter of the alphabet as well as a specific message. What message is represented by a yellow flag?

5. What does the color yellow mean in Egypt?

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Tap those savings


There’s no benefit in letting the water run while you shave, brush your teeth, or wash your hands. Turn off the tap when you don’t need the water and save ten gallons or more each morning.

Leaking faucets as small as 1/16 inch can drip away one hundred gallons very quickly. Replace worn washers and valve seals.

AND, if you keep your shower under five minutes you can save up to one thousand gallons a month. (Hey if you keep it under 5 mins and shower with a friend you've just doubled your savings and your fun.)

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

No Evil Spirits here!



This is a favorite gift from the Christmas season and hangs in a window at home. Called a Witch Ball, it is Kitras handblown art glass from Canada.

Witch's Balls were very popular in 18th century England, but their actual origin is thought to be much older. The witch's ball is hung in windows to ward off witch's spells, evil spirits and ill fortune.

Hanging these decorative balls in the window is thought to tantalize evil spirits which may be threatening a home's tranquility. The evil spirit is mesmerized by the ball's reflective beauty. When the spirit touches the sphere it is pulled through the hole on the side of the glass and trapped inside the ball.

Monday, January 14, 2008

I now pronounce you.....

brother and sister!



Twins who were separated at birth got married without realizing they were brother and sister, a lawmaker said, urging more information be provided on birth certificates for adopted children.

A court annulled the British couple's union after they discovered their true relationship, Lord David Alton said.

"They were never told that they were twins. They met later in life and felt an inevitable attraction, and the judge had to deal with the consequences of the marriage that they entered into and all the issues of their separation."

"Everyone has a right to knowledge about their lineage, genealogy and identity. And if they don't, then it will lead to cases of incest," Alton told The Associated Press during a telephone interview today.

From the Houston Chronicle, Jan. 12

and what about sperm donor babies? seems like there would be potential for similar stories down the road...

Friday, January 11, 2008

5 fun facts for Friday



all about the color Red

give it your best shot then scroll down to the bottom of the page and see the answers.

1. Where would you find The Great Red Spot?

2. What is a Red Admiral?

3. What was Little Red Riding Hood carrying in her basket to give to her Grandmother?

4. What is a Redshank?

5. Who was voice of Clifford in the animated series "Clifford the Big Red Dog"?

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Plastic or Paper?



bag that question
Duck the decision altogether by bringing your own reusable basket or mesh bags to the supermarket. If you go grocery shopping once a week, in five years you’ll have kept anywhere from 250 to 1,000 grocery bags out of our landfills.
check out these bags from envirosax

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Finish Every Day


Read this and liked it.

Finish Every Day
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities
no doubt have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely
and with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with
your old nonsense.

This day is all that is
good and fair.
It is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on yesterdays.