Thursday, February 28, 2008

A good Day

 

 

 

 

 

A nice sunny day without the snow they predicted.  Had appointments at dentist and eye doctor that went well.  Stopped at the boutique and got three nice summer shorts outfits and a pretty Easter decoration.  Also got a box of action figures for Owen...he said 'Grandma, just what I always wanted', he's so funny.  Now waiting for the dryer to get done with the last load.  Looking forward to the weekend.  No sign yet that the ginger Owen and I planted is growing but it hasn't been very long yet. 

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

What are your garden plans for Spring?

With Spring almost here (don't I wish) I'm wondering what you all are planning for your yard or garden this year?  What type of garden do you have...large, field, container gardening, balcony gardening, indoor gardening...whatever.  Do you plant annuals, perennials or what?  Do you like to plant by color...just would like to hear about what everyone's plans are.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Fun in the winter sun

I'm having so much trouble updating and adding pictures that I think I will get a different space.  I don't know what happened.  Everything was going along fine when all of the sudden I can't add pictures like I used to and I have to repeatedly sign in.  It just takes too long.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Was going to upload some pictures of snowstorm Isabella but for some reason I am unable to do that.  I wonder if the procedure has changed or what is happening.  Still, when I sign on to the internet through aol I sign in but have to sign in again and that doesn't always work.  I suppose I should take some time and dump aol and find a new isp.  I have RR with bring along aol but apparantely aol isn't brung.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Theme pictures...this week is tenderness

A favorite picture with my grandchild

http://journals.aol.com/monicasmemoirs/midnight-conversations/entries/2008/02/03/sunday-song-photo-shoot-now-bi-weekly/1445

This is the journal where the photo shoot started (I think) and below is the information

 

The next Sunday Song (photo) Shoot will be due on February 17th.  We are going bi-weekly from here on out.  There are so many photo challenges around, everyone should have a chance to play and have fun without feeling pressure to get all these deadlines!

The songs selected have the common theme of tenderness.
 
Time, Love and Tenderness - Michael Bolton
Try a Little Tenderness - Michael Buble

I figured we could all use a little tenderness in our lives, not just on Valentines Day!  I hope you will play along and show us your tender photo.  If you join us, please leave your link below so we can mention your journal!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Weekend project with kids...and a sweet snack

This project for starting a ginger plant from a root purchased at the local market is a fun way to engage a child's curiosity about their environment.

Common ginger, Zingiber officinale, is a wonderful plant for children to grow because it has so many uses - a flavorful spice, a remedy for the common cold and a cure for an upset stomach. Children can learn that there are benefits of growing plants beyond the beautiful blooms and foliage.

And because ginger's root or rhizome is so odd looking, it is easy to catch the attention of a child for this activity. In fact, the root is often referred to as a "hand" and the sections are called "fingers."

The best time to start a ginger plant from the root is in the spring. When you select roots for growing, choose those that are fresh with 1 to 2 inch long sections and plenty of nodes.

Materials:
fresh gingerroot
1 six inch terra cotta container with drainage holes
sterile potting soil
water

Directions:

Begin by cutting the root into a few pieces, making sure that each piece has a few nodes or buds from which to sprout.

Fill your container 2/3 of the way full with potting soil.

Place the gingerroot pieces flat on top of the soil and cover with about 2 inches more of potting soil.

Water well and place it in a warm windowsill with bright but indirect light. In just a few weeks a stalk will emerge at each one of the nodes. You can expect your plant to grow about 4 feet tall.

If you live in a mild part of the country you can plant this directly outside.  Ginger prefers to grow in areas with partial shade and consistently moist, rich soil. In climates that have cold winters, treat it as a tender houseplant and bring it indoors when temperatures drop below 40 degrees F.

While your ginger plant may occasionally produce flowers, it is not a common occurrence. But when you consider what the roots have to offer, you'll hardly miss the blooms. Wait about 4 to 7 months to harvest new roots. Simply cut the leaf stalks close to the top of the root and lift it out of the soil.

What an amazing gift from nature - a fresh supply of flavorful and healthy ginger root and a fun way to introduce your children to the benefits of gardening.

Will post pictures if I take some.

Buttermilk Pie

Using a store bought piecrust you can mix up this dessert in a quick 20 minutes and let it bake for an hour. About the time you're finished with dinner, it will be ready to enjoy.
 
Number of servings: 6
 
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 stick butter, melted
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
9 inch pie crust
 
Instructions:
This pie couldn't be simpler to make. First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Next mix all the dry ingredients.

Whisk in the eggs, one at a time.

Add the melted butter and buttermilk.

Stir in the vanilla

Pour this into a 9 inch pie pan lined with an unbaked crust.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 325 degrees F and bake for another 45 minutes. The filling will still be somewhat custard like when you remove the pie from the oven, but it will firm up as it cools.

Notes: Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest when you mix the dry ingredients for extra flavor.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

This and that

Had some complications so my tooth pulling episode is changed to Monday afternoon.  We're getting lots of snow but even so the buds are coming on the Magnolia trees right on schedule and the evergreens including the latest ones are still very green.  I also enjoy the red bark dogwood, it adds much color to the backyard.  Grandkids aren't sick anymore and I'm just hanging on to a cough.  I take a spoon of honey when I go to bed and it sooths my throat so I don't cough long enough to get to sleep for a while.  I've been doing a lot of spinning wool and a lot of reading.  I was disappointed to find out I didn't like the thick book that I got at the library.  We had a pleasant valentine's day and now looking forward to what comes next.  I guess that's St. Patrick's day...with a little cherry pie delight for President's day in between.   I am having a hard time getting through winter as it seems it will never end.  I am always so cold except when I'm shoveling the snow which seems like most of the time as we have gotten so much of it this year.  Lots of Chickadee's in the yard today along with the Mourning Doves.  Filling the feeders and water bath at least once a day.  Hali is sleeping and Owen is almost asleep on the davenport.  He won't go upstairs until I do so I guess it's off to bed.  Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Signing In

I don't know why, but when I try to add an entry I have to sign in to aol again, so I go to add entry and then I can sign in and then I can add entry.  I don't know what has changed but it seems when I sign in to aol now, I'm not really signed in.  I have Roadrunner but I don't know what my user name or password is on that.  I suppose I can find the papers for it and look that up.  Owen is feeling better so he went to Mom's house this afternoon and he's going to be going 'down south' with Mom, grandma Sue, and Hali.  Of course I think down south is Milwaukee.  He has a great grandpa there that he calls grandpa Joe and he really loves him a lot and is anxious to see him.  Owen is obscessed with Fat Tuesday, it makes him laugh and laugh to say it.  We got a Care Bear movie yesterday to watch.   It turns out Owen just had a nasty virus but everynight he would spike a temp to 103 or above so it was a little scary.  Hali and Owen won't be back until Monday.  On Wednesday I'm having four teeth pulled because they broke off with the bridge  that came loose.  It's a whole big deal about a temp. partial that has to come out when I eat...it sucks to get old.  First there was the age spot on my hand...then along came the floaters in my eye that looked like a basketball and hoop, then came the break down of skin, then came ...well you get the picture.  Aging is about falling into rack and ruin I guess.  I'm looking forward to doing something fun tomorrow and as long as I don't smile no one will know about the tooth thing.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

A tasty treat

 

 

 

Makes 40

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 40 chocolate kiss candies

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in medium bowl.

3. Cream melted butter and sugars together in large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla and peanut butter and beat until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Leave bowl in refrigerator for 10 minutes (or up to 6 hours) to firm dough.

4. Scoop a heaping tablespoonful of dough and roll it between your palms to form a ball. Place the balls on the baking sheets about 3 inches apart. Bake
about 6 to 8 minutes. 5 Remove cookies from oven, and gently press a chocolate kiss candy into the center of each. Return to oven for 4 to 6 minutes, or until cookies are lightly colored. Let stand on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully slide the entire parchment sheet with the cookies from the pan to a wire rack and let them cool completely. Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday...

Have something really great to eat...

come back and let me know what it was and where you went...

It's also Super Tuesday...the top three choices are McCain, Clinton, and Obama

honest, Clinton is in the middle but her letters are white