Wednesday, June 11, 2025
1. June 10th is National Herbs and Spices Day. Besides salt and pepper what herb or spice container do you reach for most often? Is there a spice you truly dislike? What’s a recent dish you made that called for more than salt and pepper?
I feel pretty strongly about spices! I even did a post!
I really like Trader Joe’s spices and spice blends. I have been using paprika more on potatoes like they do in England – according to my son. I use garlic powder, salt, pepper on basically everything. I love Tony’s Cachere’s cajun and Cavender’s Greek seasoning. Tom doesn’t drink but loves the bourbon smoked pepper made here in Louisville. I love everything but the bagel seasoning on lots of things, too – avocado toast, hard boiled eggs, celery with laughing cow – yum!
2. It’s been said ‘variety is the spice of life’…in what way is this true for you? Elaborate.
I guess it depends on what you are talking about. I thrive on routines but I like to go to new places and try new things sometimes, too.
3. What’s something in your life that adds ‘spice’ (excitement, intensity) even if also comes with challenge or unpredictability?
Eddie Otis!
Don’t let this calm demeanor fool you!
4. If you could instantly master one skill or hobby, what would it be and why?
Maybe I have resigned myself to the fact that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? I really can’t think of one. Maybe to be better at decorating? Able to envision and hang pictures on the wall? Home improvement stuff?
5. We’re halfway through the year…what’s one book, movie, or activity you’ve loved this year that you’d recommend to others?
I am just happy that I was able to read from January until the weather got decent! I am a fair weather reader – preferring to read outside. Is that weird? Anyway, I think this was my favorite book of recent times.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I am having a hard time going back outside after dinner to enjoy the evenings! I hate mosquitoes and I also hate bug spray and need to shower it off before bed. Any tips? The mosquitoes love me and I usually spray my bug spray on around 5:00 as I am usually reading outside before dinner. Maybe I should try long linen pants and long sleeve shirt and see if that helps to keep them away from my skin.
Goal – try this!
What would you say about one of the hodgepodge questions?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I hope long sleeves and pants help; I’m the same way with mosquitoes. I get eaten alive so easily.. and yet I hate having to spray bug spray on my skin because I do feel like I need to shower it off as soon as I can. Plus it honestly hardly ever works anyway but I like to think I got less bites than if I didn’t use anything.
We use paprika more ever since Alec learned it’s a spice that goes with/on just about everything. We tend to reach for garlic a lot too. But I don’t like cilantro (I know it’s really an herb but I consider herbs and spices the same) or cumin.
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Me too! My friend swears by a lemongrass lotion but it didn’t work for me. Avon’s Skin So Soft has been recommended by some in the past but I am not sure if that still exists.
Yes! I need to get some good Hungarian paprika. I do like cilantro but rarely buy it.
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I also use Cavender’s Greek seasoning! I would add Jane’s Crazy Mixed Up Salt, especially on homemade potato wedges. I also love the Rancher Steak Rub from Wildtree.
You can also try placing citronella candles near where you are sitting outside, or those Tiki torches. I have seen the smaller Tiki torches made for table tops.
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Yes! I will have to look into Jane’s! I want to learn to make steak at home.
That is a good idea. I do have one big citronella candle.
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I like what you are going to try to keep the bugs away. I’m not a huge spice girl but do love a mixture of Italian spices on my chicken . My kitties bring spice to my life!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
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Thank you! That sounds good! Yes, what would we do without our animals. Mine makes me laugh everyday.
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I’ve not noticed a mosquito problem this year yet. I have my “spot” inside the house where I read. I’ve read on our patio before but I am partial to my spot. I like spices a lot too. After reading several HP posts, I think I should have answered that question differently. Ah well, it’s not that big of a deal! (Or should I say that big of a dill?!). Have a great day!
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Mosquitoes are a pain! I hope the linen works. Do you have any plants that keep them away and citronella candles? I don’t know if either work but maybe?
xo,
Kellyann
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Big fans of the TJ’s Everything But The Bagel seasoning- I find it makes all kinds of dishes taste better!
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I love paprika on potato things like wedges and chips, we have a thing called chip spice which is a mix of paprika, tomato powder and garlic powder which my girls go crazy for.
That did make me chuckle that Eddie Otis adds spice to your life, he does look so calm and innocent. hehehe
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I finished a book this week! I refuse to give up trying to keep reading, since I’m stubborn like that. I may have to try this one you shared about; guess who bought herself the newest/latest version of the Kindle and with a pretty new cover?? It’ll be here today! I laughed over your family’s assessment of the spices you use. I’m a creature of habit and love all the ones you mentioned, and have them all. I’m a huge fan of Cavender’s in general! Happy Wednesday; I hope the long pants/sleeves helps! I’d take a fan out to keep them from being able to land on you, if you can stand the breeze.
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I wonder if being a mosquito attractor is hereditary, because I have the same issue. Rodney and I will be sitting outside and he won’t even see a mosquito, while I have bites all over. We have a thermacell and two table top torches burning bug-repelling oil, and they help. Though I’ll still need bug spray for my legs.
Morton Nature’s Seasons has become popular in our house, particularly for veggies.
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EO does always look chill in photos. Haha
Homer is soooo chill now. Unless it’s the first time you’ve visited and he has to show off by running around the house and jumping on the couch. Haha
I love sitting on the front porch after dinner and just last night a mosquito bit me after a few minutes…totally ruined the moment haha
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EO is my daily enjoyment! Our neighbors have a chocolate lab and he’s besties with our dogs. Dogs just make everything better.
For mosquitoes- get one of these! I am skeeter bait and they prefer me to everyone around me. This is amazing! We use them at the cabin, and now I use one on my porch. I even keep it near me when I’m watering at night! https://a.co/d/0985XMa
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Ordering it now! Thank you!
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Good morning!
What a handsome fur baby you have! He’s only quiet at the moment because he’s planning his next round of mischief!
I have found that I can only sit outside early Spring and early Fall. Rib HR now, the flies are so bad that I’ve had to stay inside after work. I love watching the sun set, so this is frustrating!
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That’s exactly right!
I know – the downfalls of this season for sure!
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Speaking of spices, supposedly you can do a spray with cinnamon and the bugs don’t like it and is supposed to keep them away. I haven’t tried it. I was also going to recommend Skin So Soft which I just saw someone promoting on TikTok as a spray rather than a lotion. A long time ago I saw a rec for Johnson & Johnson baby lotion in a green tube. Maybe one of these will work!
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So we get a lot of mosquitoes here in north Florida and the one big fix I can recommend is to buy a DynaTrap or two. They do work! If you had 100 mosquitoes, it’ll kill 98 of them. Additionally, if I am going to be outside a lot, I will spray the yard with some kind of fogger.
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I agree on the mosquitos. I can handle the heat, but again, I hate the bugs! Hope you enjoy your day!
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Have you tried a standing fan outside? If the air is moving, the mosquitoes have a hard time landing. Or, how does Tom feel about building you a screened-in porch (LOL). I’m in Florida, and we have a screened-in back patio (over the pool) so mosquitoes rarely get inside the screens.
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have you tried any of the mosquito repellent candles or tiki torches or even a bug zapper?
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I think covering up helps. I’ll sometimes put on tennis shoes because mosquitos love my feet. We have our yard treated for mosquitos by our pest control company and it helps a lot. Do you burn citronella? I’ve heard planting lemon grass around where you sit is also a deterrent. We have some citronella sticks that go in the ground around the patio and they help. They don’t have flames, it’s almost more like an incense type of delivery. Have a great day!
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Have you tried one of the things that you can light up to keep them away – I tried teh coffee one & it didnt work so well – but maybe a candle?
Or get one of those bug zappers – though the sound & smell sometimes freaks me out
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I don’t have a tip for the mosquito problem. Ours are pretty bad right now. I like reading outside from October through May. Now I have entered the “air conditioned” part of the year so will enjoy in my favorite chair. 🙂
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I agree with http://allstarme.wordpress.com/. I have a Dynatrap in my backyard. It works. It’s not a zapper.
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Enjoyed your answers. The bourbon spiced pepper sounds good.
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I am not big on spices, but I love Penzey’s spices. They are so packed with flavor but expensive…which I suppose good spices are. Have you ever tried Avon’s Skin So Soft. I used to use it on my kids at nighttime swim meets. I don’t think you’d have to shower it off either as it’s a body moisturizer. I don’t know…is Avon even around anymore?
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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