A Fond Memory..........

It's funny how when you least expect it, you run across a fond memory. I stayed with my Grandparents a lot and my Gram always made homemade pancake syrup. We never had the Log Cabin or Aunt Jemima brands, which were popular back then. Here is the recipe in her own handwriting. Considering my Gram was born in 1877, this is a very old recipe. Over the years, I have "tweeked it" to my own taste by adding 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla. It just sort of rounds out the flavor a bit more. But today, taking just a moment to think of my Gram was a very pleasant moment.
Till next time.........

A Sweater for Someone Special.......

A little 5 lb female Yorkie, foster dog has come into our lives. She is only a year old, has already had a litter of puppies and was thrown into a creek to drown. She has totally stolen our hearts with a story like that. Thank goodness someone rescued her. So I decided she needed a sweater for the cold winters here. When I started it, I wasn't positive she would stay with us, but now it looks like maybe she will. It is a crocheted sweater with a hand quilted lining. The granny squares add another layer so it will keep her very warm when the cold weather descends upon us this winter.

Till next time..........

Miletta Vista - Solace

Miletta Vista is a Nebraska winery. While vacationing in Nebraska, I had the opportunity to do a wine tasting of six Nebraska Wines. I tasted a dry white wine, three semi-dry wines, a sweet wine and a dessert wine. Needless to say, the dessert wine and the sweet wine were not "my cup of tea" or maybe I should say, "my glass of wine." They were very fruity and very sweet. My favorite, to my surprise, was the Solace dry wine from Miletta Vista. It was dry but very smooth and not bitter at all.
My humble opinion is that a lot of the dry wines I have tasted over the years basically taste more like vinegar than wine.
The nice part of this wine tasting, is that I got to taste wine from six different wineries at one place. I ended up buying two bottles of it to bring home.
It was a great experience and I will do it again I am sure; when I am in the area. This time I will know for sure what wines not to choose.
Till next time, Salutare!........

Popcorn & Bird Seeds!

I went to run errands the other day and I stopped by the nursery to pick up some suet and seeds for my "bird friends" and they had an old time popcorn maker there with fresh popcorn. Well, I am trying to get in better shape, but I couldn't pass up fresh popcorn. I haven't had any popcorn for several months for a number of reasons. So this was a real treat for me.

I picked up a suet square for my wire holder for the birds and they are really eating it up fast. I will need to go get another one in a day or two. I really enjoy their songs so much. I have quite a variety of song birds that come to my feeder. The cardinals and finch are my favorite. I also like the mourning doves.

Till next time.......

New Sprouts!

A sure sign of spring are the new sprouts in the garden. I planted 3 garlic buds in my planter box, hoping they would grow. Since you are supposed to plant them in the fall; I was keeping my fingers crossed they would grow. Well, they did. The tall green sprout is one of them. There is another just barely through the ground in the middle and another one on the far left of the photo.
Till next time........

More Photography Fun..............

I was playing again and ended up with "A Ghost " in a graveyard. You just never know what will appear when you start manipulating the colors. It's a far cry from the original photo of a rock and a bird house. Not only do I get the fun of photography now I can make new pictures from them. Having a Blast!

Till next time.........

Photography Fun!

I have been playing around with my photographs and I am having the best time. By manipulating the colors, I am able to make some abstract photos from them. The first one as you can see, was done from a rusty kettle in someone's yard. I call the new piece "Earthquake". It seems to me as if the earth is cracking open. You can totally eliminate a color if you decide it doesn't look good there.
I am having so much fun with this. It does take a while as it isn't something that just happens. It takes a bit of manipulating the colors to get them to look just right.
Till next time.........

Mother's Day Special - Strawberry Blossoms

Sometimes, dessert calls for something more than just a plain strawberry. It is times like that; that you want to make some Strawberry Blossoms.Three is considered perfect for a dessert. Since I posted this I have been asked for the recipe, so here it is and hope you enjoy it.

Strawberry Blossoms
8-12 large strawberries
3 oz pkg of cream cheese
2 Tbsp powdered sugar
1 Tbsp sour cream
Remove the stems from berries, forming a flat base. Place berries pointed end up. With a sharp knife, carefully slice berry in half vertically through center to with 1/4 inch of the base. Cut each half into 3 wedges, forming 6 petals. (Do not slice through the base.) Pull petals apart slightly.
In small bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and sour cream until light and fluffy. With pastry bag and star tip or small spoon, fill berries with cream cheese mixture. Use as garnish on cake or serve as a mini dessert. 8-12 Blossoms. You can top them with chopped pecans, if you wish. But that will raise the caloric count and really isn't necessary.
110 calories per 3 strawberry blossoms.
Till next time.......

Yellow Finches

I bought a new rainbow finch feeder yesterday and filled it full of thistle seeds. Within the hour I had two little finch visitors. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any since. But I am sure it will take a few days before they realize I am feeding them again. I love to hear them singing and their color is so cheerful. We also have red finches here but my favorite is the yellow finch. Hoping to see the feeder full of yellow finches soon. The finches scare easily, so this photo was taken through the glass doors and the screen door. But at least you can see two birds.
Till next time.

Little Surprises

In life it is the little surprises that sometimes, "make your day". The second night I was at the Bed and Breakfast I was surprised by a lovely rose bud on my fruit tray for the next morning. It was unexpected and such a sweet and thoughtful gesture. I had been touring and walking my legs off in the Haymarket District of Lincoln, Nebraska. So to come back to my suite and have such a surprise was so nice.
If you have a chance, surprise someone with something special. It just might make their day.
Till next time.......