Wendelyn's World

Mini Brie

2012-02-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

I am the only one in our house that likes Brie, so when I have a craving for some Brie with some berry jam wrapped in a flaky crust I hate to make a large one and have it go to waste! It doesn't exactly reheat well. So I came with this adaptation to the original recipe.

Orange marmalade, Brie & Cresent Rounds

Raspberry Jam, Brie & Cresent Rounds I like this Brie, easier
slicing and less waste.

slicing the brie

slice of brie in center of dough

a small spoonful of marmalade

a small spoonfull of raspberry

flatten out other half of dough for top

put top on and pinch edges together.

Bake @ 375 degrees for 11 to 13 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-02-08T10:44:00.001-05:00

A Super Bowl snack.......more to come including recipe.

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Common products, great results!

2012-02-02T09:35:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying if you have a dog(s) whether inside most of the time or outside, fenced yard or not - keep a bottle of peroxide and a box of baking soda back for emergencies.........like an unexpected visitor in the yard!
Yesterday morning started out like any other morning, got up, headed downstairs to let the dog out in the yard to do her business. Our yard if fenced & we have two pretty bright lights that shine on most of the yard. I don't normally go all the way out with her, afterall the yard is fenced and she does like some privacy. She got to the top of the ramp and took of running, which isn't all that unusual, probably chasing a stray cat that was either in the yard out outside the fence. Well then I heard her or her and something else hitting the chainlink fence so I headed up the ramp and actually heard the spray and smelled it seconds later!!! Uhoh! I called her immediately to come here. She was sneezing and shaking her head, the closer she got the more I smelled it and knew she had been directly sprayed by a skunk!!Well even though she smelled really bad I couldn't just leave her out in the yard.......so we went inside, up the stairs and straight to the bathrooom. She must have been right on the skunk when it sprayed because it was only on the left side of her face, neck & chest - I would like to mention she had a white neck & chest. I shut her in the bathroom while my husband complained about the smell and told me to get tomato juice. Well I had vegetable juice in the fridge that would have to be close enough. But at first I just used a wet wash cloth to try to clean up her face which was probably not a good idea as the water spreads the oils. The smell up close was so strong.......it actually made me sick three times!
Next came the tomato juice which did seem to make a small dent in the smell although it turned her nice white coat orange...... with the situation somewhat contained I went to the computer to search the internet. The first page that came up said "Tomato juice doesn't work". Great I thought! Now what?!
Reading further they said peroxide, baking soda & a small amount of dish soap mixed together would eliminate the smell, well I had all of the above so I wanted to give it a try.
I mixed up the solution and started putting it on with a rag & blotting with paper towels after about 5 minutes. It seemed to be helping!
Next came gathering up all of the towels and anything that came in contact with her and putting it all in a trash bag. Advice online said do not even try to wash the smell out so I was more than happy to just throw the few things out!
Luckily it was going to be very unseasonable warm, so screens were brought up out of the basement and put in & windows opened, ceiling fans on & the cats were ecstatic! By the way they didn't seem to mind the smell and did not avoid the dog at all!!
We did one more application of a new batch of solution in the tub this time and it improved things immensly! It even helped take out some of the orange from her white coat. I could actually put my face in the hair on her chest with no smell what so ever!!
As of this morning there is still a slight smell in the house and on the dog, but I think one more application of solution in one small spot and she will be good as new! It is suppose to be another unseasonably warm again so the windows might get opened for a bit again.
I have also set 3 pie plates of coffee beans around the house to see if that will absorb some of the odor.
I do have to mention the garage smelled horrible this morning.........even though I put everything I threw away including her collar, in two garbage bags, then in the trash can which we moved outside last night, it still came through! The trashman is not going to like emptying our cans this morning!!
Sorry!!!
By the way it is 1 quart peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and a couple teaspoons of soap - dishwashing soap is fine. Mix together and use immediately as it can not be stored because it foams when mixed together and would explode if placed in a closed container. Apply the solution to the effected area and leave on for 5 to 10 minutes then rinse with water.

Time to get back at it!

2012-01-30T13:40:00.000-05:00

Life has gotten in the way the past couple of weeks, so I haven't posted anything. But things have settled down so it is time to get back into the habit of posting at least once a week!
Here is a picture of our newest animal addition - Lily aka miss ornery! : ) She is 8 months old, so she is still in the kitten stage.

I am not playing in the puzzle pieces..........

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T08:36:00.000-05:00

Busted!
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2011-12-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

Source: marthastewart.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T08:49:00.000-05:00

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T10:41:00.000-05:00

one last bloom

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-09T08:21:00.000-05:00

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What a way to start a morning! Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T12:09:00.000-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-14T09:53:00.003-04:00

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Check out my other blog - Playingwithglass

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2011-09-07T06:30:00.002-04:00

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Back to normal?

2011-09-02T08:51:00.000-04:00

Ok, I admit, I have been a little lax about updating this and my other page the last couple of weeks. But there has been alot going on! I am now a Grandma! Our first grandson was born August 16th. So we have been back and forth to see him and his parents. And to help get them settled in.
For some silly reason I volunteered to make a baby quilt for one of the guys that works for my husband, & his wife! They are expecting a baby girl any day now. And of course I had to do a quilt for Zachary! So now both of them are finished and I can get back into my "normal" routine. Whatever normal is! LOL
Oh, I almost forgot, we also have a new addition at our house. A little yellow kitten showed up on the patio last week..........so now we are back to having 3 cats in the house. I can kind of ignore adult cats when they show up, our neighbor has quite a few barn cats so they are probably his just passing through. But when it is a little kitten.......so our daughter adopted the kitten. Her name is Tiger Lily, Lily for short. She is a bundle of energy! So far the other two cats are tolerating her, no fights, growling or hissing, well maybe a little hissing from Annie, but at least it isn't the really nasty sounding hissing!
Here are a few pics:

a triangle of cats!

I am just a bundle of energy!

Zachary's quilt

Baby quilt for Dan & Debbie

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-09T21:39:00.000-04:00

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2011-08-03T09:44:00.000-04:00

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2011-07-26T09:46:00.000-04:00

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2011-07-13T08:34:00.000-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-25T09:21:00.000-04:00

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2011-05-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-04T07:11:00.000-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

Mr. Sampson - the furniture inspector

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Wordless Wednesdays

2011-04-20T09:31:00.000-04:00

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2011-04-06T07:17:00.000-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday - 30 seconds of my morning

2011-03-23T11:36:00.000-04:00

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2011-03-09T08:49:00.000-05:00

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Time to get houses ready!

2011-03-08T09:02:00.000-05:00

I was reading an article on bluebirds the other day and it said they can start looking for a place to nest as early as March. Uhoh, it is March and we saw a pair of bluebirds in the yard the other day! There are two houses that are still up, but I took two down to repair over the winter and another one was knocked down when they were hauling the pine trees through the gate last fall....so I better get busy!! Now I am at the point I get to every spring......buy wood and make the houses myself.......or just buy them already made. I really don't know that making them myself is any cheaper.....it certainly is not quicker. Maybe I will split the difference and purchase two and make two......
I will post pics later today.

Spring

2011-02-19T14:56:00.000-05:00

Wow, the weather was so nice here yesterday! I don't know for sure what the high was, but we had windows and doors open to the breeze! It was great to air out the house after winter, even though being February I know it isn't over. It is amazing how great sunshine and a semi-warm breeze can make you feel! Plus I fired some glass in the kiln without having to mess with the pellet stove! The animals liked it too - the cats were going from window to window enjoying the breeze! Although the dog wasn't too sure about the mud in the yard, she still wanted to play ball all afternoon! She doesn't mind sliding in the snow and slush, but doesn't like the mud or the cleaning that comes after. Neither do I!
We have received numerous seed catalogs in the mail the last few weeks. I love looking through them and planning what to plant when the time finally gets here! Of course I always want to plant alot more than I will, if common sense prevails, if not, well then I am gonna have one heck of a garden to take care of!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T07:23:00.001-05:00

Snow Layers - there is a layer of ice in the middle.

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-02T13:15:00.000-05:00

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-26T10:49:00.000-05:00

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2011-01-19T07:40:00.000-05:00

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2011-01-12T10:36:00.000-05:00

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2011-01-05T11:03:00.000-05:00

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Holidays

2011-01-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

Whew, I am actually kind of glad the holidays are over! I even got all of the decorations put away! Christmas was great! I got all of the truck parts that were on Doug's list - you know how hard it is to wrap a bumper?! I gave up trying to wrap it so he wouldn't know what it was! I got a new kindle - really cool! Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

And a certificate for a Hot Air Balloon ride!!! Woo Hoo! It is from Fly Ohio Ballooning http://flyohioballooning.com/ I think I am going to wait for warm weather though! I am sure I will have LOTS of pictures when I go!
We are all going to try to eat better & excercise more this year.........Doug was on the treadmill yesterday, I was on this morning, but Bekah has yet to get on....lol We will see how long we last this year!
Here is a video clip of Lexi "protecting" us from the many cardboard boxes on Christmas -

She has always had a thing for boxes!
Now that all of the holiday baking and gift making are done hopefully I can concentrate on my glass/bottle art & my online store! Spring will be here before we know it, so I gotta get busy making more hanging candle holders!

Favorite Peanut Brittle Recipe

2010-12-14T08:59:00.001-05:00

Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle

A little work, but creates a thick, golden, opaque brittle. Baking Soda makes small bubbles while it sets giving it an open texture.

2 cups Salted Peanuts 1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 cup Butter 2 Tbls. baking soda

2 cups Sugar 1/4 cup water

1 Tbls. vanilla

You need a candy thermometer for this recipe

Spread the peanuts in a singel layer in a 9 x 13 pan or cookie sheet.

Coat a wooded spoon and the inside of a medium sazed saucepan with vegetable spray.

Add the sugar, corn syrup, vanilla and water into the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir onle enough to dissolve the sugar.

Cover and let boil another 3 minutes. Remove the cover and use a pastry brush dipped in cool water to "wash down" the sides of the saucepan.

Combine to boil stirring only enough to keep the mixture from scorching until the boiling point reaches 280 degrees (soft-crack stage) Remove from the hear, add the butter, stirring until melted, then return to the stove top. The syrup may become a golden color.

Continue to boil stirring only enough to keep the mixture from scholring until the boiling point reaches 293 -295 degrees (hard-crack stage)

Remove from the heat, stir in the baking soda (the mixture will begin to foam.) Immediately pour over the peanuts and let cool.

When cool enough to handle, left the brittle and begin pulling on it trying to make it as thin as possible. Return to sheet and let cool to room temperature. Fragment into pieces.

Caramel Corn!

2010-12-13T10:59:00.000-05:00

Here is my favorite Caramel Corn recipe - it is really easy

Baked Caramel Corn

6 qts popped corn 1 tsp. salt

1 cup butter 1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 cups brown sugar - packed firmly 1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup light or dark corn syrup (I use dark)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees ( I use a roaster because I usually make a double batch & it just works better for me, but I am sure the oven will work fine.) Coat bottom and sides of large roasting pan with vegetable coating spray.

Place popped corn in pan.

In a heavy saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil stirring constantly.

Boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.

Gradually pour over popped corn and mix well. Bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes - I set a timer just so I don't foget because it will only take a few extra minutes for it to burn! Remove from oven or roaster and cool completely. Break apart and store in a tightly covered container.

This recipe appeared in the magazine Our Ohio and was submitted by Mrs. Richard Shaferly from Alvada

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-10T09:39:00.000-05:00

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2010-11-03T09:24:00.000-04:00

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Fall Favorites!

2010-10-31T20:28:00.001-04:00

http://www.allrecipes/I am making Vegetable Soup & homemade bread for supper tonight with Apple Dumplings for dessert!
Here is my favorite apple dumpling recipe from All Recipes

Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings By: MICKI WOOD

"These are the ones my grandmother used to make: warm, flaky, apple-y sweet and drizzled with a sauce that bakes right with them. These are not difficult to make, just a little time-consuming. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream."

Original Recipe Yield 6 servings

Ingredients

1 recipe pastry for double-crust pie

6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 cups water

2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch pan.

2.On a lightly floured surface, roll pastry into a large rectangle, about 24 by 16 inches. Cut into 6 square pieces. Place an apple on each pastry square with the cored opening facing upward. Cut butter into 8 pieces. Place 1 piece of butter in the opening of each apple; reserve remaining butter for sauce. Divide brown sugar between apples, poking some inside each cored opening and the rest around the base of each apple. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the apples.

3.With slightly wet fingertips, bring one corner of pastry square up to the top of the apple, then bring the opposite corner to the top and press together. Bring up the two remaining corners, and seal. Slightly pinch the dough at the sides to completely seal in the apple. Repeat with the remaining apples. Place in prepared baking dish.

4.In a saucepan, combine water, white sugar, vanilla extract and reserved butter. Place over medium heat, and bring to a boil in a large saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved. Carefully pour over dumplings.

5.Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. Place each apple dumpling in a dessert bowl, and spoon some sauce over the top.

Here is the pie crust recipe I use:
Also from All Recipes

Grandma's Secret Pie Crust By: Felicia Bass

Original Recipe Yield 2 crusts

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups shortening

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

4 tablespoons water

Directions

1.In large bowl mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening with two butter knifes.

2.In separate bowl, mix together egg, vinegar, and water. Drizzle wet mixture into dry mixture, cutting it in.

3.Roll out dough, and fit into two 9 inch pie pans.

4.Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 12 minutes.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-27T14:04:00.000-04:00

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Past Halloweens

2010-10-24T19:53:00.001-04:00

We have always loved halloween! We started going to the halloween campout at the local state park sometime in the 90's. The second year we went, we started building decorations. It started with the pillars, cemetery sign and "Barry" in his coffin. We either built from scratch or bought it and modified it to suit what we wanted. We won every catagory at least once in the 6 years we went, except "overall".

Second year at Halloween Campout

Added a flying ghost this year - on right side

the "come here" guy on pillar, spider in background. this was the last year we did the halloweeen campout - 04

Cemetery fence set up

Barry - one of the first decorations we built (1999)

"Sit-up guy" he was powered by air, he would sit up and talk when we hit the switch

The spider - his eyes lit up, he raised up and he spit!

Our witches, they stirred the pot and talked. Fog machine hooked up to the cauldron for fog

We bought the masks & hats, but made everything else. Foam wig heads were the foundations for their heads. I will put up more pics as I find them.

Happy Halloween!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-20T10:59:00.000-04:00

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World's Best

2010-10-14T08:55:00.001-04:00

This is, in my humble opinion, The World's Best Lobster Bisque! From The Upper Deck on Put-in-Bay!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-13T08:55:00.000-04:00

growing out of a rock!

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Scenic Rock Ledge Inn & Cottages (Tuesday Tourist)

2010-10-12T11:39:00.003-04:00

Tuesday Tourist

We went to Lake Erie for a few days recently for a mini-vacation. We stayed at Scenic Rock Ledge Inn Cottages It is a great place to stay, we highly recommend it! They have 5 cottages to rent. The Inn is now a private residence. We have stayed in hotels in the area in the past and this was much better! There is a small kitchen with the necessities should you choose to cook - which we didn't ; )
Here are a few pictures taken during our stay:

View from deck

View from cottage porch

Sunset from porch

Rock Ledge Inn (now a private residence)

Cottage #5

Here are a few other places we visited:

The beach at Crane Creek State Park

This use to be the picnic area

Driftwood on the pet/wildlife beach

Looking the other direction on same beach

Marblehead Lighthouse

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-06T08:02:00.001-04:00

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Waters of the World

2010-09-24T11:09:00.001-04:00

On the many shores

Our Pond

From standing on the shore of our small pond, to the many other shores on which I have stood, there is just something about standing at the edge of the water in the wind. Be it a small fluttery breeze to a full whipping, almost knock you down wind. I have stood on the edge of water in 4 states and 6 countries. From small ponds & creeks, to lakes, channels, rivers, canals, seas & oceans, the feeling is still the same. Sandy beaches to rocky shores. What is the facination with wind & water?

A lake in Crans-Montana, Switzerland

On the shore of Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Catawba Island State Park, Lake Erie, Ohio

On the shore of the Thames River London, England

Aegean Sea, Greece

Laurel Falls Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

A canal in Venice, Italy

River Seine, Paris, France

Laguna Veneta, Venice, Italy

She comes by it naturally, this is my favorite spot when we are on a boat. That day though, it was over 100 degrees outside, so I was inside in the air conditioning! I did start outside on the top deck for a few hours though. This was late in the day on our way back to Athens, so we had been out in the sun & heat most of the day.
On the Jet Express to Put-In-Bay you will find me on the very top, front & center for the entire ride over & back if I can manage it!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-22T09:41:00.000-04:00

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Sunrise over our pond

2010-09-15T08:03:00.002-04:00

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Tuesday Tourist

2010-09-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

Sunset from Catawba Island State Park Beach Lake Erie (Port Clinton Area)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-08T08:13:00.000-04:00

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Best just got Better!

2010-09-03T08:18:00.000-04:00

The Best Litter Box just got even better - with the addition of this replacement rake! It is teflon coated so "stuff" doesn't stick and cleaning is a breeze! It even comes with a screw driver - WOW they thought of everything!

Another Hobby!

2010-09-02T19:58:00.000-04:00

My new glass kiln! A Studio Pro 14 by Evenheat

Inside

Two ways to load, from the top or from the front.

This is my first kiln - Hot Box by Evenheat It is great for small stuff, but I really needed a bigger one for bottles & such. Glass is so much fun to work with!! The possibilities are endless!!
Hopefully I will be posting lots of pictures & maybe even a tutorial or two! : )

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-01T07:54:00.000-04:00

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Tuesday Tourist

2010-08-31T09:39:00.000-04:00

Windsor Castle

Gardens

Garden pool & fountain

Campfires

2010-08-30T11:17:00.000-04:00

It is almost Fall - which means more campfires!

Here is a way to add a little more interest to your campfires - add a Hippie Pipe! It makes lots of greens, blues & purples come out in the flames. Just make sure you don't roast marshmellows, hotdogs or any other food over the flames as long as the hippie pipe is in the fire! I also would not advise to not breathe in alot of the smoke/fumes.

Hippie Pipe - it is basically just a piece of copper pipe about 10 to 12 inches in length* and 1/2 to 3/4 inches in diameter. Drill 5 or six holes in the pipe so it looks like a flute. Add a piece of old garden hose just a little smaller than the pipe. Older hoses work better than newer plastic ones. (* - it can actually be any length you want, that is just the size we use.) Put the pipe into the fire - carefully! It works best near the bottom in the middle. Enjoy the colors! The next day after the ashes are cooled, pick out the pipe, clean out and save for the next use. Just put in a new piece of hose next time you want to use it.

Here is a video, but the colors don't show up as well. Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-25T08:27:00.002-04:00

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Tuesday Tourist

2010-08-24T11:27:00.000-04:00

Eiffel Tower Paris, France

Close up of detail

Looking up from underneath

PEACHES!

2010-08-23T08:25:00.001-04:00

Lake Erie Red Haven Peaches from Bergman's Orchards to be exact! The BEST peaches in the world - in my humble opinion! Plus I love their signature "Take a Peach to the Beach" signs, t-shirts & tote bags. When you eat one of their peaches you better make sure you have at least three napkins! One to put on the front like a bib, another ready to wipe your chin & a third just to be safe! I have made one batch of freezer jam so far. Thinking about a peach pie, and maybe "Georgia Peach Bread" or possibly a Paula Deen recipe Peach Tea Cupcakes! Dang, we should have bought more peaches! I also wanted to try dehydrating some.

Different Perspective

2010-08-22T16:24:00.001-04:00

Marblehead Lighthouse

I have taken photos of this lighthouse for over 15 years, so I have at least one from pretty much every angle including inside and from the top. Even a few taken from out on the ice in the winter. But I don't think I have ever went to the base and looked straight up, so I shot this while we were there this past weekend. Of course I had to wait until people quit looking over the rail at me! : )

Worldess Wednesday

2010-08-18T07:57:00.001-04:00

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Tuesday Tourist

2010-08-17T09:56:00.000-04:00

Drum Point Lighthouse Solomons Island Maryland

For More Information on Solomons Island

Eat, Pray, Love

2010-08-16T10:22:00.000-04:00

Went to see this movie last evening. I highly recommend it!! But you better have kleenex, there were numerous times would have liked to have some. Both sad and happy tears. I even talked my husband into seeing it - although he never did say if he liked it or not......just commented on the scenery - which was great by the way! I had this strange craving for Italian food afterwards though.....lol We have actually been to Italy, but it was a hurried day trip to Venice from Austria as we were with a tour. We would love to go back some day.
While there were probably more women in the theater, there were quite a few men - all with women of course, didn't see any alone. I was going to read the book before I saw the movie, but didn't get the chance. So my next online stop is - where else - Amazon! : ) Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia to order the book!

Glass/Bottle cutting revisited

2010-08-14T08:36:00.001-04:00

I found the following on Amazon & they work ALOT better than the manual glass/bottle cutter I was using (even after I modified it).

Just watch for overheating, I keep a small container of water close by to sprinkle on the glass.

Fish.....Who knew?!

2010-08-13T09:55:00.000-04:00

Who knew having fish in our pond would be so entertaining! I have never been all that interested in fish. But since we put in a pond and my husband started stocking it, I have decided they can actually be fun! In the beginning, before the pond was stocked, we would see herons stalking the banks looking for anything to eat. I have always like watching and photographing herons. But when they started coming around the pond, he wanted to chase them off. I disagreed, but figured he would do what he wanted anyway, I just wouldn't chase them off when I saw them. Then came the fish! First we stocked white amurs or grass carp, then later came the minnows and hybrid blue gill. They were cool to watch, but didn't really see them much after we released them. Then we started feeding them! I swear fish have personalities, too!
So now when we see a heron land we all take off to chase them away! Bekah especially, but stay out of her way if she is in the Gator or Hang on if you are with her! Let them go eat from someone else's pond! Those fish are fun and entertaining, but they are also expensive! So now we kind of like them, they are almost like pets. Everyone wants to go feed the fish when it is time - even the dog likes to watch them! (from a distance though!) I have another video, but apparently it is too long for blogger, so I will see about editing it and posting it later.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

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Tuesday Tourist

2010-08-10T07:56:00.001-04:00

Rothenburg, Germany

Outside the wall of Rothenburg, Germany

The Night Watchman of Rothenburg

Click Here for His website

Peaches!

2010-08-07T21:19:00.002-04:00

I thought I would try the "World's Greatest Crumble" recipe using peaches.....
I made this using Raspberries back in June when we had the 16 pounds of raspberries - it was Amazing!. Thank you to Susie for sharing the recipe!
I thought I posted it before but when I checked I did not find it. So anyway here it is using peaches.

Here’s the recipe for the World’s Greatest Crumble:

• 1 3/4 cup of flour

• 1 1/2 cups of sugar

• 1 teaspoon sea salts

• 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes.

• 1 cup rolled oats

1. Preheat at 375 degrees F.

2. Mix flour, sugar and slat with a fork.

3. Using a fork, or pastry cutter, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse bread crumbs.

4. Add oats, stirring them into the mixture.

Filling
• 4 pints of ~~berries~~ peaches

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1/4 cup of flour

• In separate bowl, combine fruit sugar and flour.

• Spread filling into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

• Sprinkle flour/butter/oat mixture over fruit.

• Bake until fruit is bubbly and topping is golden brown — about one hour.

Zucchini, Zucchini & More Zucchini!

2010-07-29T08:02:00.001-04:00

These three were just the beginning! So for any one else with lots of zucchini on their hands - here is my favorite zucchini recipe:

Zucchini Pineapple Bread

Ingredients

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

2 cups grated zucchini

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Directions

1.Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

2.In a large bowl, mix oil, eggs, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Blend in pineapple and zucchini. Stir flour mixture into zucchini mixture. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.

3.Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Cool on wire racks.

This was the second batch of the day, so I made three small loaves and 24 mini muffins.

One of the first two loaves out of the oven. Glad I had some throw away pans left from christmas baking! : )

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-28T08:02:00.000-04:00

More Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tourist

2010-07-27T08:45:00.000-04:00

Little Sable Point Lighthouse near Silver Lake State Park

On the shores of Lake Michigan between Ludington & Muskegon

For more info click here

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

More Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tourist

2010-07-20T08:44:00.001-04:00

Does anyone remember "Wide World of Sports" from the 70's? Remember "The agony of defeat" - when the skier has a really bad wipe out coming down the ramp? Well here is the ramp near Innsbrook, Austria.

A closer view from near the bottom where they land.

This is the view on the walk up to the ramp. They said the last thing the ski jumpers see before they leave the ramp is...........an old cemetery at the bottom of the hill in town. It was a really neat cemetery, alot of wrought iron, fancy grave markers, but I wouldn't think it would be neat as the last thing you see before you go off of the jump!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-14T08:24:00.005-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tourist

2010-07-13T08:23:00.000-04:00

Gondola's on a canal in Venice, Italy

A canal in Venice, Italy

Bottle tutorial

2010-07-11T16:47:00.001-04:00

I love bottles, so I have quite a few - just can't seem to throw them out! The unique ones are used for decor. Alot of them were sitting on my workbench in the garage. Then I came up with this idea, well it was not an original idea, but I did improve on it! : ) I don't remember where I purchased the original bottle (pink), but there is a good possibility it was at JoAnn Fabrics. Sooo if you have some bottles sitting around and want to do something with them besides throwing them in the trash or recycle bin, give this a try.

Tools needed:
Glass/Bottle cutter ( I use EphremÆs Bottle Cutter Kit - Stained Glass Supplies )
Small candle (if not using the above kit)
Ice
Wine bottle
Chain (about 6 inches)
Wire - I used 10 gauge aluminum wire. (I get all of my wire at http://www.whimsie.com/)
Fine sandpaper or Glass Grinder ( I recommend Wizling Stained Glass Grinder)
Candle (for inside bottle. Votive size works well for regular size wine bottle)
Something to hold the candle - I used a canning jar lid and ring glued together with small holes drilled for water drainage in case it was left outside in the rain. On the smaller bottles I have used palette cups I found on ebay.

I modified the bottle cutter and mounted it on some boards. It is basically set up to cut the tops off of the bottles, but I wanted to cut off the bottoms, so.....I changed it! I can still move it around to accomadate different size bottles and to cut off either the top or bottom.

This way there is a piece on the left to keep the bottle in place while I turn it to score the glass. I usually go over it at least twice so the score is fairly deep.

Then remove the bottle, hold over a flame from the small candle, turning it so the flame goes along the score line.

After you have been all the way around, remove from flame (blow out to avoid accidents) then immediately put an ice cube on the score line and slowly move it all away around the bottle.

You will probably hear cracking while doing the ice cube, sometime you also hear it during the flame. After you have been around with the ice at least twice, wipe off with a towel. You may have to repeat the last two steps a couple times.

You can see it is cracking along the score mark. If it cracks on either side of the score, you will have to decide if it can be saved by sanding or you could make a "decorative scalloped" edge.

After the bottom has separated, sand the edge of the bottle smooth. You can use sandpaper. I happen to have a glass grinder, so I used that. It also helped make that "decorative scalloped edge" I mentioned earlier. So far that has only happened on 1 bottle.
Then drill some small holes in the lid for water drainage. If your candle holder will not be left outside you can omit this step. I hot glued the lid to the ring - since I used canning jar lids & rings. You can use any jar lid that will fit into the bottom of the bottle.

Then it is time to start bending wire! The 10 gauge wire bends fairly easily and will hold its shape. I just start bending a little at a time and looking at the bottle. Usually two or three times around and then start making the straight part to go up the neck. Make sure though that the last bend is large enough so it does not go up into the neck.

Then test fit the wire into the bottle. The top of the wire does not need to go through the top of the bottle - it is better if it doesn't since there will be a piece of chain attached to the top. Next make the loop at the top for the chain. Add the chain, then put inside the bottle. Pull the chain through the top and attach a hook - either a purchased one or one made from the same wire.

I just looked at the one on the original bottle and bent the wire to look similar and then hardened it by using a hammer and hammering it on the concrete six or seven times. Attach the hook to the chain, lift the bottle up to add the candle and you are done!

A Recycle Craft

2010-07-08T10:58:00.000-04:00

Wine Bottle Candle Holders

This one was purchased - the one that started it all!

This is the first one I made.

Followed by:

So then there were three...

I have no idea how many I have made - at least 10! It is addictive especially if you are like me and love bottles & candles!

Here are a couple shots at night

I will post a tutorial in the next couple of days if anyone is interested.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-07T07:57:00.001-04:00

Worldess Wednesday

Tuesdays Tourist

2010-06-29T09:00:00.001-04:00

Great Smoky Mountains - looking down into Gatlinburg

Another view looking down on Gatlinburg

Laurel Falls Great Smoky Mountains.

Raspberries, Raspberries, Raspberries!

2010-06-25T11:54:00.000-04:00

We picked 16 pounds of raspberries this week. Yes I said pounds not pints! I should have taken pictures, but I didn't. We had two very large "flats" of berries! We go to a local farm that we can pick our own for $3.25 a pound. So we have been busy making freezer jam and various other berry infused things. I tried 3 different recipes for freezer jam, one of which is on the berry farm's website. Champaign Berry Farm - champaignberryfarm.com
Recipe #1 from the Sure-Jel box A little too sweet for me
Recipe #2 from Ball Instant Fruit Pectin - no cooking pectin with water, which saves some time.
Recipe #3 from champaignberryfarm.com - freezer raspberry sauce
We froze a gallon bag and a quart bag of whole berries for use later. Since there is still quite a few in the fridge I think that means there will be at least 1 cobbler or pie and maybe some homemade ice cream in the near future!

Plant Photos

2010-06-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

Purple Coneflowers

White Coneflowers

Lavender

Cigar Plant & Nastursiums

Flowerbed at the barn

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-23T09:00:00.001-04:00

Tuesday Tourist

2010-06-22T09:36:00.000-04:00

Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Tuesday Tourist

2010-06-15T09:03:00.000-04:00

Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on Montmarte Paris

The "String Men"

Breakfast with the birds

2010-06-04T08:09:00.000-04:00

Breakfast

with the Hummingbirds:

There is always one sitting on this metal branch on the trellis in the morning.

They are coming to the closest feeder now also.

On the patio the hummingbird feeders are on the right on the trellis. The seed & suet feeders are on the left side of the patio, so we are basically surrounded! At the other bird feeders there were a few doves & a White-Breasted Nuthatch but I didn't get any picture of them.

Tuesday Tourists

2010-06-01T09:12:00.000-04:00

Greece

Who Doesn't Love Bread?!

2010-05-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Ahh, the smell of freshly baked bread! It transforms a kitchen! Now it is much easier and less time consuming with these two great books! I highly recommend them both!
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day: 100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients

Now if only someone else would get up and put the bread in the oven & start the coffee......I could wake up to both aromas! Only in a dream I guess.

FLYING LITTLE JEWELS!

2010-05-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is the first year we put feeders out at the farm. We had quite a few hummingbirds at our old house. I hung two feeders on our trellis. They were up about a week before we saw the first hummer.

We spotted this little guy on one of the feeder hooks outside the window.

Female at one of the two feeders

They really like to perch on the chain link fence. We have seen them sit there for almost 15 minutes at a time!

This time she let me get fairly close to the feeder!

Yesterday morning I was standing in the trellis with my cup of coffee and heard the familar buzz.....the male was at the feeder about 10 inches away from my head! Of course I did not have my camera!

They are so fun to watch! So far we have seen at least two different males and two different females.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

Tuesday Tourists

2010-05-25T10:59:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Tuesday's Tourist! Every Tuesday I will post at least one "typical tourist" picture from places I have been over the last 20 years or so. If you have a neat "tourist" photo you would like posted, email me.
So sit back and become a "Tuesday Tourist" withouth every leaving your chair!

Millenium Bridge in London

Looking across Millenium Bridge towards St. Paul's Cathedral

Breakfast Smoothie/Shake

2010-05-20T08:03:00.001-04:00

Here is a recipe for a smoothie/shake that was posted by a friend of mine. At first I was a little skeptical, but tried it anyway & it is really good and a great way to get lots of fruits & veggies!
It starts with Kale - which is loaded with vitamins especially raw! It is a powerful antioxidant, very high in beta carotene, vitamins k & c, lutein, zeaxanthin & fairly rich in calcium. And it is usually very affordable!
When I first read the recipe - which doesn't really have actual measurements, I was a little afraid to try it. I like clear measurement - 1 cup this, 1/2 cup that, etc. But I figured what the heck, I can do a handful of this instead. So I basically filled the container full of kale (after rinsing good), then added whatever fruit I could find -

a banana
two handfuls of blueberries
a peeled orange or 1 cup of orange juice,
a large spoonful of almond butter or other nuts or nut butter (for protein)
2 tbls. ground flax seed (only thing I actually measure)
frozen mango pieces
a kiwi

Basically just put in whatever fruit you have on hand. I also added in baby carrots for another vegetable - as long as they are little they get chopped up nicely. I just shove it all down in the container and put in my immersion blender and let it go to work! After a few minutes it is all nice and liquidfied! Trust me it tastes alot better than it looks and you do not taste the kale - I promise!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-19T11:54:00.001-04:00

Château de Chillon and Lake Geneva, Switzerland
For more Wordless Wednesdays go to: http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/2010/05/19/may-19-3/

Fuzzy Babies

2010-05-17T09:53:00.000-04:00

When we arrived home yesterday afternoon we were greeted by 2 Canda Geese and their 5 babies! They are adorable & pretty good sized. They must have kept them hidden for a while. These two suprised me this morning when I walked out on the patio. It didn't take long for their parents to get them into the water and on the other side of the pond once they knew I was outside!

A little while later I went out into the garage and they were back on this side of the pond. The little ones were taking a nap while the adults took turns keeping watch.

Making their second lap around the pond and investigation the gate into the pasture.

Update on wildlife

2010-05-14T09:18:00.002-04:00

We are still seeing or hearing the pair of Mallards. I accidently scared them this morning with the trash cans. They were on the side of the pond closest to the garage and I didn't seee them until I pulled the cans into the driveway and made alot of noise.
We had a pair of Canada Geese for a few days but then they decided to move on.
We do have at least 4 pairs of nesting Tree Swallows. We have 7 houses up, but I know at least one is occupied by Sparrows and one other is occupied by Blue Birds! The one the Blue Birds choose is not technically a "Blue Bird" house, but they seem to like it! The tree swallows are amazing to watch, skimming over the pond catching insects or getting a drink. They are too fast to get a photo, but I am going to try to get some video of them in the next few days - provided I can find the charging cord for the video camera!

Hummingbirds!! We have hummingbirds! We always had them at the old house, but had never seen them out here at the farm. I didn't get a chance to put up feeders last year, but I put two up this year. They were only up a little over a week before I heard that familar buzzing/humming sound!

Plus we have pheasants! I hear them every morning, just heard one as a matter of fact since I am sitting on the patio as I write this. I think they like having both pastures to themselves! We no longer rent the barn & pastures, although I am sure he still wants to mow both pastures down for hay & Doug will probably let him. I do miss watching the calves running around, but don't miss the mess & traffic!

2010-05-13T09:04:00.001-04:00

This is a great book! A must read for anyone that has ever been owned by a dog!

2010-05-12T09:04:00.001-04:00

Two great products for cat owners! I have had the Scoop Free Litter Box for over a year and a half now and really love it! Especially since I found the plastic replacement tray Forever Litter Tray and Just the Crystals! The crystal litter is great, it asborbs all of the smell! Unless they see the cats, visitors never know we have them.
Although I do have to actually clean the tray instead of throwing it away, it means less trash and it is really easy to clean! I highly recommend them both! Plus since I am a member of Amazon Prime I receive them in two days with NO shipping costs!

Rain drops

2010-05-04T08:40:00.000-04:00

You would never know the force with which these innocent looking rain drops fell. The morning after severe thunderstorms moved through our area. I like thunderstorms, especially in the Spring. They seem......well, cleansing & necessary. I enjoy standing outside and watching the storms move in - well until it starts to pour & lightening, then I prefer watching indoors. I have tried numerous times to photograph lightening. A few shots decent shots have resulted, but those were with 35mm. Digital is another story.

Another Spring Favorite

2010-04-28T08:36:00.000-04:00

Asparagus!
Unlike the rhubarb, we have managed to keep two patches of asparagus going that my in-laws started years ago. So long as the neighbor stays out of it, we usually have a decent amount each week. So I started looking for a different way to fix it besides steaming. I found this recipe for an Asparagus Soup in my weekly newsletter I receive from South Beach Diet.com. I don't exactly follow their diet, just like some of their recipes. : )

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 1/2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 1 1/2" lengths
4 cups lower-sodium chicken broth
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
4 teaspoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
Heat oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Add onion, garlic, and asparagus and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not brown.

Add broth, bring to a simmer, and cook until asparagus is just tender, about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and carefully puree with a blender or hand blender. Return to the pan, gently reheat, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle each serving with some freshly grated Parmesan.

I adjusted the recipe a little because I only had 2 pounds of asparagus, so I only added 3 cups of broth and the consistency was just right.

DUCK UPDATE: As expected, the Blue-winged Teals have moved on, but the pair of Mallards have stayed around. The female has been investigating the edge of the hay field next to the pond.....maybe looking for a nest site? We can hope!

We have Ducks!

2010-04-27T09:09:00.002-04:00

We have been a stopping/resting point for quite a few Canada Geese for the last few months, but yesterday I noticed something smaller on the pond, so out came the binoculars! It was a pair of Blue-winged Teals! They stayed around all day even when a killdeer seemed to be trying to chase them off by diving at the male. The later in the afternoon I also noticed a pair of Mallards swimming also. Both pairs were still on the pond when we checked as the sun was setting, so hopefully they have decided to stay. I have been trying to get pictures, but they don't seem to want to cooperate, so here is a picture of a Blue-winged Teal from Ducks Unlimited's website.

Female & Male
They are probably just stopping on their way through, but we can hope!