After yesterdays nice day, I'm ready to do something today, too, but what to do is the question. It's cool and breezy and not nearly as nice as yesterday. We could go shopping and not get anything because we are broke and use up $4.40 a gallon diesel in the process. We could just go for a drive, but there is that expensive diesel thing again.
There is always stay home and do exciting things like wash clothes, clean and cook, but who wants to do that?
There is so much to do and see up here and we can't even make up our minds what to do. By the time we do decide, it will be too late because they roll up the sidewalks early up here. We really aren't the stay out late type of people in our old age anyway. We used to be, but now, we are old boring people.
What's a body to do when they only get out on the weekends but can't think of anything to do?
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
We Had A Sunny Day Today
Finally, at long last, we had a sunny day. It was so nice, Tim and I went target shooting. I am so out of practice, I couldn't hit the side of a barn, not that I was aiming for a barn. I did manage to hit the target a few times. Towards the end, the shell casings from my little Beretta .22 were flying back and hitting me. A couple of them even went down the neck of my hooded sweatshirt. We'll just have to go practice more.
After that, we took my mother-in-law and niece, Vicky for a short hike to the Bowl and Pitcher. The Spokane river is really full this year. They were impressed. We thought they would be, since we were when we went.
Next, it was out to dinner, which was also nice.
Last weekend, I ordered 41 years of Mother Earth on DVD along with 5 or 6 books and they came today. UPS even made it up our driveway.
It was a good thing we had an enjoyable day today, because we aren't done with snow and rain yet.
After that, we took my mother-in-law and niece, Vicky for a short hike to the Bowl and Pitcher. The Spokane river is really full this year. They were impressed. We thought they would be, since we were when we went.
Next, it was out to dinner, which was also nice.
Last weekend, I ordered 41 years of Mother Earth on DVD along with 5 or 6 books and they came today. UPS even made it up our driveway.
It was a good thing we had an enjoyable day today, because we aren't done with snow and rain yet.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Potato Bud Cookies
Today, I thought I'd give you another cookie recipe that I make fairly often. I thought it was an unusual recipe, but it's good. The cookies are made with potato buds. The cookies taste like macaroons. The cookies are kind of greasy, but not overly. There will be a butter spot on a napkin if you set the cookie on one.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tired Of The Same Old Cookies
I make cookies every week. I have been making cookies weekly for years. I did take 4 years off from making cookies when we were living in our travel trailer after Tim and I ran away from home. I can honestly say that I am tired of the same old cookies.
Yesterday, as I was looking through my numerous cookie cookbooks I came across one that had "try" written next to it. It sounded good, so I did. They are called Mint Frosted Chocolate Drop Cookies. They are pretty good, so I'm going to share the recipe with you on my recipe page. As usual, scroll down 'til you get to it. I'm pretty sure I will be making these again.
Yesterday, as I was looking through my numerous cookie cookbooks I came across one that had "try" written next to it. It sounded good, so I did. They are called Mint Frosted Chocolate Drop Cookies. They are pretty good, so I'm going to share the recipe with you on my recipe page. As usual, scroll down 'til you get to it. I'm pretty sure I will be making these again.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Kids! You Gotta Love 'em
Well, here it is, day 4 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge, and I actually had an idea about what to write about today. Kids. This thinking, which can be hazardous to my health and the health of others, started when our daughter, Alyssa, said that Micheal used crayon and drew out a hopscotch in the grout of their tiled floor. Micheal is 5, and it probably made perfect sense to him, because he could probably see a hopscotch with the tiles and grout. Needless to say, Alyssa was not happy.
Anyway, we have 3 kids. Amy is 29, Daniel is 27, and Alyssa is 24. We also have 5 grandkids, with another possible 3 in the near future, through adoption and marriage.
When Alyssa was about 3 and Daniel was about 5, and Amy was about 7, I let them go out and paint water color pictures on paper, on the front porch. I was sitting on the bench reading. Next thing I see is Alyssa painting tiny ants as they walked by. Even after squirting the concrete porch off right away, the paint stayed. We had nice colorful splotches for decorations.
Another time, I walk into the kitchen and see Alyssa on her hands and knees, spitting great gobs of spit on the floor. The ants had moved in doors to the kitchen and Alyssa said Daniel told her if she spit on them, it would kill the ants, so that's what she was doing.
When Daniel was about 5 or 6 years old, he was playing with a friend that lived across the street. Next thing I know, Daniel is home, crying, saying the mother sent him home and about that time I get a phone call from the mother saying Daniel had written the f word in the dust of her car. She hadn't gone out to see it yet, but that's what her son had told her. I was shocked. I didn't know Daniel knew that word, much less how to spell it. I got another phone call about 2 minutes later from the mother, laughing and apologizing and saying Daniel could go back over and play. On the side of her Blazer, written in big letters was the letter F and the word, word. I'm also surprised he could spell word. He wrote the F word alright. He and his friend did a fine job washing the Blazer as high as they could reach.
When Daniel was about that same age, I'm walking down the hall, past his room and I hear "oh s**t". He'd picked up all this nice language at school and he'd been saying it a lot, so I told him to get in the bathroom. His dad had said if we caught him , he'd have to lick the bar of soap.
I'm holding the bar of soap in my right hand and tell Daniel to lick it. (It was a dry bar of soap and it just had to be a quick swipe of the tongue.) Daniel looks up and me and says " I don't wanna lick the d***n bar of soap." I sung my left arm, ready to back hand him on his rear and I missed and hit the door frame. I broke my little finger, and as I'm holding it in my right hand I'm telling Daniel to "get out, get out now". He ran to his room. I never went to the Dr. for the broken little finger because I thought they'd get me for hitting my kid, even though I had missed him. Besides that, I'd go there and say what, "You see, Doc, it's like this. I was gonna hit my kid and I missed and hit the door frame instead?" So now my left little finger is a little crookeder than the right little finger. To this day, Daniel doesn't cuss in front of me. Of course, he lives in California and we live in Washington.
I used to babysit the little girl next door. She was at our house so much, I called her my part time child. One day, I packed her and our kids up and went to the grocery store. When we were in the produce department, a woman drops a head of lettuce, and this little girl, who was 3 years old at the time, says clearly and loudly, "s**t happens". The woman looked shocked and I told her the little girl wasn't mine, I just babysat her. Right after this, the little girl points and says,"look, Mommy", to me. The woman glared at me and hurried away. The little girl thought Mommy was my name, because our kids called me that.
Art Linkletter was right when he said kids say the darnedest things.
Anyway, we have 3 kids. Amy is 29, Daniel is 27, and Alyssa is 24. We also have 5 grandkids, with another possible 3 in the near future, through adoption and marriage.
When Alyssa was about 3 and Daniel was about 5, and Amy was about 7, I let them go out and paint water color pictures on paper, on the front porch. I was sitting on the bench reading. Next thing I see is Alyssa painting tiny ants as they walked by. Even after squirting the concrete porch off right away, the paint stayed. We had nice colorful splotches for decorations.
Another time, I walk into the kitchen and see Alyssa on her hands and knees, spitting great gobs of spit on the floor. The ants had moved in doors to the kitchen and Alyssa said Daniel told her if she spit on them, it would kill the ants, so that's what she was doing.
When Daniel was about 5 or 6 years old, he was playing with a friend that lived across the street. Next thing I know, Daniel is home, crying, saying the mother sent him home and about that time I get a phone call from the mother saying Daniel had written the f word in the dust of her car. She hadn't gone out to see it yet, but that's what her son had told her. I was shocked. I didn't know Daniel knew that word, much less how to spell it. I got another phone call about 2 minutes later from the mother, laughing and apologizing and saying Daniel could go back over and play. On the side of her Blazer, written in big letters was the letter F and the word, word. I'm also surprised he could spell word. He wrote the F word alright. He and his friend did a fine job washing the Blazer as high as they could reach.
When Daniel was about that same age, I'm walking down the hall, past his room and I hear "oh s**t". He'd picked up all this nice language at school and he'd been saying it a lot, so I told him to get in the bathroom. His dad had said if we caught him , he'd have to lick the bar of soap.
I'm holding the bar of soap in my right hand and tell Daniel to lick it. (It was a dry bar of soap and it just had to be a quick swipe of the tongue.) Daniel looks up and me and says " I don't wanna lick the d***n bar of soap." I sung my left arm, ready to back hand him on his rear and I missed and hit the door frame. I broke my little finger, and as I'm holding it in my right hand I'm telling Daniel to "get out, get out now". He ran to his room. I never went to the Dr. for the broken little finger because I thought they'd get me for hitting my kid, even though I had missed him. Besides that, I'd go there and say what, "You see, Doc, it's like this. I was gonna hit my kid and I missed and hit the door frame instead?" So now my left little finger is a little crookeder than the right little finger. To this day, Daniel doesn't cuss in front of me. Of course, he lives in California and we live in Washington.
I used to babysit the little girl next door. She was at our house so much, I called her my part time child. One day, I packed her and our kids up and went to the grocery store. When we were in the produce department, a woman drops a head of lettuce, and this little girl, who was 3 years old at the time, says clearly and loudly, "s**t happens". The woman looked shocked and I told her the little girl wasn't mine, I just babysat her. Right after this, the little girl points and says,"look, Mommy", to me. The woman glared at me and hurried away. The little girl thought Mommy was my name, because our kids called me that.
Art Linkletter was right when he said kids say the darnedest things.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Another Bright Sunny Day. Not!
Well, here it is, another bright sunny day, with a breeze. Note the sarcasm. It's been so long since it's been a bright sunny day. Even when we've had sun, it hasn't been without clouds and for a whole day. We even have snow in the forecast. Some spring, so far.
I have notices wildflowers starting to pop out of the ground and then trees are starting to bud out. It figures, because we are suppose to be below freezing for a couple of nights this week.
I do like watching the sheep behind us. Two brown sheep are pretty entertaining. For some reason, they jump straight into the air, like they have been goosed, and then they continue as if nothing happened. So far, there is still only one little lamb, and they have all stayed out of our yard. Chip isn't used to them so close, so it's his duty to bark at them all day when he sees movement.
I used to raise angora goats, and I miss having goats around. I do admit, my poor old body isn't in any shape to care for them anymore, so I'll just enjoy the sheep behind us.
The kids behind us have lost their play area since it's been taken over by farm animals. They are really interested in the stick house the kids made. I hope no animals fall in, since the kids dug a really deep hole under the stick house.
I think after this last freeze, it will be time to put out the hummingbird feeders. We found a good spot for the bluebird house and Tim says he'll build me more. We've scoped out where we are going to enlarge the garden to.
The pear and apple tree aren't doing very well. We are thinking the guy at the nursery told us wrong when he said they were the variety that didn't need other trees to cross pollinate with. We'll be getting more apple and pear trees. Tim also wants a couple apricots and plum trees. I think part of our tree's problem is the moles. Maybe, since the trees haven't done much, we will have to move our orchard. That is the royal "we". Someone needs to supervise, so it might as well be me.
I have notices wildflowers starting to pop out of the ground and then trees are starting to bud out. It figures, because we are suppose to be below freezing for a couple of nights this week.
I do like watching the sheep behind us. Two brown sheep are pretty entertaining. For some reason, they jump straight into the air, like they have been goosed, and then they continue as if nothing happened. So far, there is still only one little lamb, and they have all stayed out of our yard. Chip isn't used to them so close, so it's his duty to bark at them all day when he sees movement.
I used to raise angora goats, and I miss having goats around. I do admit, my poor old body isn't in any shape to care for them anymore, so I'll just enjoy the sheep behind us.
The kids behind us have lost their play area since it's been taken over by farm animals. They are really interested in the stick house the kids made. I hope no animals fall in, since the kids dug a really deep hole under the stick house.
I think after this last freeze, it will be time to put out the hummingbird feeders. We found a good spot for the bluebird house and Tim says he'll build me more. We've scoped out where we are going to enlarge the garden to.
The pear and apple tree aren't doing very well. We are thinking the guy at the nursery told us wrong when he said they were the variety that didn't need other trees to cross pollinate with. We'll be getting more apple and pear trees. Tim also wants a couple apricots and plum trees. I think part of our tree's problem is the moles. Maybe, since the trees haven't done much, we will have to move our orchard. That is the royal "we". Someone needs to supervise, so it might as well be me.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
We're Ready For The Garden, But The Weather Isn't
Friday, Tim and I bought a peach tree and 3 cherry trees and great gobs of seeds. We probably have way too many pea and green bean seeds, but since the deer really liked peas and green beans last year, we figured we should buy more than we need. Besides, I can always can and freeze them, if we get any to harvest.
Yesterday, Mother Nature let us know that it wasn't time to plant yet. We knew this already, since Mother's Day or after is when we usually have the last frost. Yesterday, we had rain, snow and pea size gropel. I'm sure I've probably spelled gropel wrong, but I couldn't find any place that listed it as a word, but I also must admit, I didn't look too hard. Gropel is soft hail. We learned this from the weather forecaster on the local news.
Tim was out working in the yard when this storm rolled in. It may have been soft hail, but he said it still hurt as it pelted down on his head.
Now of yesterday's several storms lasted long and it cleared up briefly before the next phase rolled in.
I like watching the storms come rolling in over the hill we can see out the back/side windows, and I'm getting to be a pretty good judge as to when they will hit us.
Behind us, the sheep are lambing. There is a really cute black sheep that could come and live over here. The guard llamas are trying to convince the horses next door to come to the fence and be friends.
I have finally been able to go outside again, and because I can go outside again, Chip can go for walks again. He gets so excited about seeing me gather up the trash to take out because he knows he gets to go to. Unfortunately, the 2 dogs across the street still look like they'll come flying over the fence to attack us as we get closer to the street. They do have electric horse ribbon across the top of the fence, so maybe they are smart enough to not try.
I have finished the booties for the christening set, but I still can't find a bonnet pattern I like. Crocheting isn't as much fun if I'm getting paid to do it, but it's extra money.
Yesterday, Mother Nature let us know that it wasn't time to plant yet. We knew this already, since Mother's Day or after is when we usually have the last frost. Yesterday, we had rain, snow and pea size gropel. I'm sure I've probably spelled gropel wrong, but I couldn't find any place that listed it as a word, but I also must admit, I didn't look too hard. Gropel is soft hail. We learned this from the weather forecaster on the local news.
Now of yesterday's several storms lasted long and it cleared up briefly before the next phase rolled in.
I like watching the storms come rolling in over the hill we can see out the back/side windows, and I'm getting to be a pretty good judge as to when they will hit us.
Behind us, the sheep are lambing. There is a really cute black sheep that could come and live over here. The guard llamas are trying to convince the horses next door to come to the fence and be friends.
I have finished the booties for the christening set, but I still can't find a bonnet pattern I like. Crocheting isn't as much fun if I'm getting paid to do it, but it's extra money.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Carrot-Walnut Bread
Many, many years ago, I cut a recipe for Carrot-Walnut Bread out of some newspaper. I have no idea when, but I think it was from The Enterprise when we lived in Simi Valley, CA. We moved from there in 1987, and I know I've been making this bread longer than that.
The recipes calls for cooking this bread in the microwave, which is nice. The recipe is old enough to have microwaves without turn tables in them, because you have to rotate the bread.
The bread oozed over the tops of my glass bread pans and made a nice mess in the microwave. I've since cooked it in the oven. One day, I think I'm going to add pineapple to the recipe and have sort of carrot cake bread.
This is about the only way I could get the kids to eat carrots. As usual, I put more in than the recipe calls for. You can find the recipe on my recipe page. I hope you enjoy it.
The recipes calls for cooking this bread in the microwave, which is nice. The recipe is old enough to have microwaves without turn tables in them, because you have to rotate the bread.
The bread oozed over the tops of my glass bread pans and made a nice mess in the microwave. I've since cooked it in the oven. One day, I think I'm going to add pineapple to the recipe and have sort of carrot cake bread.
This is about the only way I could get the kids to eat carrots. As usual, I put more in than the recipe calls for. You can find the recipe on my recipe page. I hope you enjoy it.
Friday, April 1, 2011
April Fools Day
Here it is April Fools Day. As kids, we thought it was really funny to switch the lids on the salt and pepper shakers. It would have been good if the bottoms of the shakers weren't clear. I don't remember doing too much else. We were an unimaginative bunch, but we also knew the pranks wouldn't really go over well.
Our kids tried the switching of the salt and pepper shaker lids, but we always had clear shakers. I don't remember them doing much, either.
Mother Nature is still fooling us with the promise of warmer, dryer weather, but soon changes her mind. It's been so long since I've seen any real sunshine, I'm not sure what it looks like any more. March was the 3rd rainiest March since the early 1900's. I like rain, but it's getting old. I'd like to go outside and not slip, slide and sink in mud. Green is finally popping through the ground. Yesterday, I saw a few buttercups popping up. There is hope.
I think for fun and excitement this weekend, we will go and buy seeds for this years vegetable garden. The seeds are 50% off at one store and the seeds we got there last year grew well.
I am finally finished with the new Christening afghan and 1 bootie. The other bootie will go quick. Now, if I could only find a bonnet pattern I like.
I talked myself out of buying summer clothes. I have material and patterns already, I should just make them. What's a few more projects?
I haven't but any recipes up here for a while, so I guess I'll do that, too. I think I will put a recipe for Carrot bread up. That's a project for tomorrow.
I have been reading a lot lately. I really like my Nook Color, but it would be nice if it wasn't quite as heavy as it is. Sometime this month, an app will be out to turn it into a tablet type thing like the iPad, only much cheaper. I'm assuming the app is free, but if it isn't, I'll get it anyway. Just what I need, more ways to waste time.
Our kids tried the switching of the salt and pepper shaker lids, but we always had clear shakers. I don't remember them doing much, either.
Mother Nature is still fooling us with the promise of warmer, dryer weather, but soon changes her mind. It's been so long since I've seen any real sunshine, I'm not sure what it looks like any more. March was the 3rd rainiest March since the early 1900's. I like rain, but it's getting old. I'd like to go outside and not slip, slide and sink in mud. Green is finally popping through the ground. Yesterday, I saw a few buttercups popping up. There is hope.
I think for fun and excitement this weekend, we will go and buy seeds for this years vegetable garden. The seeds are 50% off at one store and the seeds we got there last year grew well.
I am finally finished with the new Christening afghan and 1 bootie. The other bootie will go quick. Now, if I could only find a bonnet pattern I like.
I talked myself out of buying summer clothes. I have material and patterns already, I should just make them. What's a few more projects?
I haven't but any recipes up here for a while, so I guess I'll do that, too. I think I will put a recipe for Carrot bread up. That's a project for tomorrow.
I have been reading a lot lately. I really like my Nook Color, but it would be nice if it wasn't quite as heavy as it is. Sometime this month, an app will be out to turn it into a tablet type thing like the iPad, only much cheaper. I'm assuming the app is free, but if it isn't, I'll get it anyway. Just what I need, more ways to waste time.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
I've Been Falling Down On The Job
Yup, I've been falling down on the job of posting things on here. The only excuse I have is I've been sick. I'm really tired of it, too. It's been 2 weeks now. I went to the Dr. last Friday and she said it was just a virus and if it continued into this week, go back and get some antibiotics. Well, I'm still sick, but I'm not going back to get antibiotics. I'm one of those weird people who are allergic to many, many antibiotics, so me on them is a last resort. Besides that, who wants to go to the Dr. when they don't feel good? I am feeling better anyway. Unfortunately, I shared with Tim and he isn't feeling better. Ah, the joys of married life.
So, since I've been lazier than usual, I've had plenty of time for the endless crocheting and staring out the window. The other day, Rufus, a dog who lives behind us, came through the yard carrying a back deer leg. I hope it wasn't from one of our 3 usual visiting deer. Rufus was so happy with his leg.
The robins are out and about finding worms. Our metal pecker is back and pecking at the vents on the roof. Today, I've noticed the bluebirds are coming back. Tim made me a bluebird house, but it's not outside yet.
Today, I have to start playing catch up and do what I haven't done because I was sick. Just what I wanted to do. I'm sure this weekend, I'll be back to baking and life will be pretty much back to normal. Normal is so boring here, but I suppose boring is good.
So, since I've been lazier than usual, I've had plenty of time for the endless crocheting and staring out the window. The other day, Rufus, a dog who lives behind us, came through the yard carrying a back deer leg. I hope it wasn't from one of our 3 usual visiting deer. Rufus was so happy with his leg.
The robins are out and about finding worms. Our metal pecker is back and pecking at the vents on the roof. Today, I've noticed the bluebirds are coming back. Tim made me a bluebird house, but it's not outside yet.
Today, I have to start playing catch up and do what I haven't done because I was sick. Just what I wanted to do. I'm sure this weekend, I'll be back to baking and life will be pretty much back to normal. Normal is so boring here, but I suppose boring is good.
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