tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295705582024-03-13T12:34:08.475-07:00A little nuts!!It's all about finding my creative soul...a work in progress.Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-22457411742072287132014-07-13T17:39:00.000-07:002014-07-13T17:39:38.543-07:00A Gander around the Garden<br />
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Yesterday morning I got up and found that my DH had been up very early and been very busy
in the garden. The heat here is heading towards scorching....39 - 40 deg. C.
.....so the only time to get in the garden and do some work and watering is
early morning or late night. I, on the other hand, stayed in bed until after 8
and then headed out and decided to take some pictures and get some inspiration
for a backyard blog topic. </div>
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I
came up with a few pics that show the best of our back yard garden. I tend to
focus on the back yard, as the front yard is a disaster except for three
planters which are looking pretty good. </div>
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The
rest of the yard is ....well...not good....however....we will be getting it
Xeriscaped in September. Unfortunately it is sloped and has no top soil of any
quality and is full of rocks...small ones. So...water rolls off, nothing
grows...and it looks like this!</div>
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In
any case....back to the rear end of the property.....our sanctuary during the
summer. </div>
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I
have previously posted about this....but it's always fun to revisit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Because
it is flat, it has a nice patch of green lawn, not too big and bordered by two
terraces, the lower one with a large cedar tree and 2 large fir trees and
crammed up against one fir tree is a rather spindly looking pine tree. On the
upper terrace is a peach tree and a transplanted apple tree. Each terrace has
it's own snowdrift spirea, a beautiful sight in the spring/early summer. When
we bought the house almost 10 years ago, there was a lot to be done in the back
yard. The previous owners had not done a lot and had done too much. In
otherwards we had to thin trees and bushes out, sift out many rocks and gravel,
and add compost, topsoil,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>plants and a
vegetable and herb garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
stories came from the neighbours, it seems that when the excavation was done
for the house, basically all the soil was put in back and front with no regard
for making it usable. So...it's been a laborious task, but in my husband's
case, almost a labour of love. There are still things to be done and redone and
it will be an ongoing project. One thing that is a blessing is that the previous owner built the terraces stacking stones for the retaining wall....it's held up pretty well. The fence side of the garden is also made with a stacked stone retaining wall. A portion of it came loose this last winter, but DH managed to get it back to some semblance of order and it has stayed put. On the terraces, the rocks have provided a great area for creeping plants and herbs....they also have provided homes for field mice and my imaginative mind has thought of stories that could be told about the little mice that poke their heads out when we're not looking. </div>
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What pleases me is that friends and family
love to relax on our deck and enjoy the peace and tranquility (unless of course the neighbours next door are having a pool party, which thankfully isn't frequent!!) and in the evening our night
scented stocks perfume the air sweetly. It's a place I love to sit and read in
the glow of the porch light on a sleepless night in the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those that visit and cook, enjoy the fact that
they can partake of our garden herbs and produce during the summer months.
Myself, having had a herb farm in my previous life, have found pleasure again
in growing my most beloved of the herbs from scratch and also trying to keep
alive those that are perennials. DH's passion is tomatoes.....he was never able
to grow them on the coast. In fact it takes a wizard (or a good greenhouse) to
grow tomatoes on the coast due to the blight. Here in Kamloops, it's a cinch!!
They are so prolific that we are able to make and can our own tomato sauce and
freeze many tomatoes and also have lots for salads during the summer months. We
are lucky to have family here in Kamloops who also have a large garden and
fruit trees so trading is frequent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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This is the view of our garden from the deck.<br />
Those are wine grapes in the front....DH has actually made some wine, which is presently bottled and stored to age at this point. We are growing Cab Sauv and Marechel Foch presently....we have had some that have not wintered over very well....this is our second batch. <br />
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Looking over top of the grapes we have many tomatoes, rhubarb on the right, squash on the left and some corn stuck in the middle and raspberries at the end. Tucked in between everything at the end are peas and beans and a couple more squash plants...or are they pumpkin???<br />
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This is a view of our raised beds (and the sprinkler) which contain mostly greens...i.e. arugala, kale, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, mesclun and there are also some carrots and beets coming up....and some peppers. The rock pathway you see, is actually the rocks that were removed from the garden to make the garden.....there are still more. <br />
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...and here are the raspberries....they are soooo prolific. DH is out there every second morning picking at least two large containers full....and then he freezes them on a cookie sheet and then into bags for the freezer. We have had enough to make our annual batch of raspberry lavender vinegar and probably enough for raspberry lavender jam. We did have a lot of strawberries the last few years, but this year for some reason, the transplants mostly all died. We've had just a few for breakfast and that's all. <br />
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My zucchini plant where I've harvest one large one already and there are many more, as is usual with zucchini!<br />
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This is one of the many volunteer sunflowers that come up in our garden and in this case, my basil bed. They come, we think, from the bird seed that is dropped from the feeders and from previous sunflowers.....such a nice bright addition to the garden...and eventual feed for the birds!<br />
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Here is the above plant and one beside that has not bloomed yet. <br />
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My basil bed, covered with wire to deter the feline pest....in otherwards, Chloe. She has tried her best to navigate through the wire but without success. I have basil which I have grown from seed which I got from Richters Seeds in Ontario. The green basil is Stella, the red basil is Rosie and on the far right I have lemon and lime basil and some Thai basil tucked in the corners. I have some Sweet Salad Basil in pots at the end of the bed which aren't seen. So far, it's doing well, loving the heat so fingers are crossed!! <br />
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My DH's pot of various heirloom tomato plants and some grape tomatoes. I have some basil tucked in there too<br />
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Summer Savory on the left and Lemon Verbena on the right. I really didn't think my Lemon Verbena would make through the winter but it did....in the garage with very little water. It surprised me last year too....it's hard to believe that this plant actually grows to almost tree size in California....at least that's what I've been told. <br />
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Now....a little quiz....this is a picture of a multitude of leaves but there are three plants....grapes, lemon catnip and tomato. Where is the lemon catnip??<br />
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This is Chauncey's outside water bowl and yes there is water in it. It has a centre piece with holes in it that I have taken out and I will replace in the winter for flowers or whatever. In the meantime, Chauncey and Chloe have a pretty bowl to call their own!<br />
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This is the bottom tier of the our two tier border....as you can see the rocks have been stacked to create the retaining wall...remarkably they have proved very resilient! You can see a planter there beside the peony and it's sitting on a stump that used to be a Manitoba Maple Tree which we had removed along with another one on the top tier. <br />
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As you can see there are quite a few shady spots on the terraces due to the trees, so I have a planter of fuschias which seems to be doing fairly well. There's also one of two peonies....a plant which I like initially with the blossoms, but then they look so mucky when they die off. Quick removal with the clippers is almost mandatory. <br />
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This is a view of the terrace above the garden.<br />
Left to right...another peony, winter savory, Basil mint, French Tarragon (which surprisingly enough winters over in our climate) and another planter with Rosemary in it....under the wood is the other grape vine...and you can just see a few leaves of our apple tree. <br />
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This is a view of one side of our patio with a clothesline running through it!! Those are hops climbing up and over the roof of the patio. We cut them back every year to the ground and they start sprouting in early spring and grow so fast that we are constantly trimming them back....but....they are such good shade plants and privacy barrier. I have been meaning to pick the flowers to dry for a sleep pillow....I've picked, dried, but have yet to make a sleep pillow....maybe this year. <br />
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These are our beautifully perfumed Night Scented Stocks. So perfect to have beside the patio....and the scent is only at night when the air cools down. Lovely!<br />
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This is the inside of our hops and the planters located underneath them. They are shade loving plants for the most part. The first time I<br />
put these planters here, I filled them with geraniums and then wondered why they never bloomed....well...I quickly realized the problem and have since never varied from shade loving plants and they work beautifully.<br />
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Yet another view of the above....</div>
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.....and here ends my gander around the garden....a lot of pictures, a few words and it shows a place of peace for us....morning, noon, night and sometimes even very late evening.<br />
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Slainte!!<br />
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Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-68472985912735447742014-07-09T14:50:00.001-07:002014-07-09T14:50:12.294-07:00Getting back into it...with joy
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's
been a long time hasn't it?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But
I feel that it's time I got back to the blogging habit....at least for this
blog. I have another blog, more health oriented (my health!) but I feel that I
need to get back to the photographs and observations of this blog. I was
rereading portions of it recently and realized that it was something I had
enjoyed doing very much. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
sort of blame Facebook for my lack of participation in the blogsphere. It's so
easy to have quick thoughts and jot them down, take a picture, create a story
and post it quickly to Facebook and wait with trepidation to see what reaction
will come from all of my 49 friends ;-). It's too easy, one really doesn't have
to think much...although I did sometimes....because what you think and what you
write don't always come out same way on Facebook. They do have an editing
feature on the posts, but anyone can see what you edited out so that's pretty
much useless. If it was a lengthy post, I usually wrote it in One Note first to
edit and then copy and pasted into FB as a "Note".<span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But
therein lies the problem....I like to think about what I write...take my time
and edit. I think the word I would use is *compose*. A lovely word that says it
all. It appeals to the musician in me.<span> </span>A
composition of written word...isn't that what a writer does? I have long
harboured the opinion that I have a writer hiding deep inside me wanting to get
out....so I think that going back to blogging is the answer for now with the
occasional foray into Facebook Note. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
think a quick update is in order on what I've been up to in my life.....if
you're interested in any lifestyle and health issues that I've had, go<a href="http://nutfolkery.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> here</a>
otherwise, I'll try to keep this blog more on a 'what's happening and what I
think about it' type blog with some pictures, humour, pathos and observations.
How does that sound??</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So...briefly...an
update.....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
left you in 2012 and since then we have been blessed with two new grandsons,
one with our daughter T and her hubby D in May 2013<span> </span>and another son for J & his wife C in
December 2013. Both are lovely, funny and wonderful additions to our family
along with the two other grandsons.....yes, all boys!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
have retired from the Kamloops Symphony, but am still very much involved with
them as a volunteer and audience member....a role with I really enjoy. Many
people have asked me if I miss playing at all, and I have to say
truthfully...no. It's such a blast being on the other side of the stage looking
and listening from the audience point of view. So it was a good decision. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Life
in Kamloops is pretty much the same as when I left, except I'm absolutely
positive that the summers are hotter and the winters maybe not as cold. Climate
change??? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our
garden is still doing very well and my husband has become a master at growing
tomatoes and making his "world famous" tomato sauce...<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151029837601226.411108.637331225&type=1&l=219fedb11a" target="_blank">here's</a> a link
to a photo essay I did on FB about his tomato sauce making process.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuLnedGCp5g/U72sW_vTO8I/AAAAAAAAAnA/dBKeGeA-hqw/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuLnedGCp5g/U72sW_vTO8I/AAAAAAAAAnA/dBKeGeA-hqw/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We
have lost one of our beautiful felines.....Putz...our mommy cat.<span> </span><span>
</span>She had been in failing health for some time and suffered a blood clot
which was very painful for her and not something that could be guaranteed to be
fixed. As she was about 18 years old, we decided to let her go and be without
pain. It was a difficult decision, and her daughter Chloe<span> </span>(a year younger) missed her a lot, as they
had been together since Chloe's birth.<span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eq7m7k5Or1g/U72swwtmzvI/AAAAAAAAAnI/gWauoGe4Vck/s1600/IMG_3175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eq7m7k5Or1g/U72swwtmzvI/AAAAAAAAAnI/gWauoGe4Vck/s1600/IMG_3175.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> We had her cremated and buried her ashes
in the catnip patch with a memorial rock in the shade for Chloe to lie near in
the heat of the summer days.<span> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZH0bXvs7vs/U72tBtto6UI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/pcK_RThWDk8/s1600/IMG_4478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZH0bXvs7vs/U72tBtto6UI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/pcK_RThWDk8/s1600/IMG_4478.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> We still have Chauncey our busy little Bichon.<span></span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5ZEZZrCmis/U72xvpEkt7I/AAAAAAAAAno/2H-Vne7gVoU/s1600/pets+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5ZEZZrCmis/U72xvpEkt7I/AAAAAAAAAno/2H-Vne7gVoU/s1600/pets+009.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
However, he's getting a little less busy these days as he gets older. He was 13
years old this year. He still goes for walks with DH and sometimes the
distances are lengthy but he manages quite well. Walks are shorter and early in
the heat of the summer. He still goes to his favourite kennel when we arrive on
the coast to visit the kids....he's been going there for 11 years....they love
him to bits and he has now graduated to the "seniors" section. A
lovely little room for he and another senior small dog where they can retreat
when the activity in the kennel gets too raucous....lol. Although, I do notice that his barks are in a
lower register when he comes home after an extended stay in the kennel, due, no
doubt to joining in with a lot of barking, greeting and saying goodbye to other
residents during his stay. It usually takes a few days of quiet time with us at
home to get things back to normal. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
have been pretty busy with sewing projects as well....enjoying making some very
creative crazy quilts for the two newest grandchildren. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VdpNR__bh-Y/U72vKz1wTXI/AAAAAAAAAnc/UMxR0LKb9sU/s1600/IMG_4465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VdpNR__bh-Y/U72vKz1wTXI/AAAAAAAAAnc/UMxR0LKb9sU/s1600/IMG_4465.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TxJEsfAYHjQ/U722eUzZ6SI/AAAAAAAAAn4/drJ08jxtXPI/s1600/20140222_095831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TxJEsfAYHjQ/U722eUzZ6SI/AAAAAAAAAn4/drJ08jxtXPI/s1600/20140222_095831.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I have
redesigned my workroom, having moved it up from downstairs, thereby purging a
lot of craft ideas that I have not tackled in a while. I have turned my
downstairs room back into a bedroom and turned the upstairs bedroom, which is
somewhat smaller, into my computer/workroom. I'm finding solace and peace in
sewing and anything connected to textiles....at least until my back gives out,
which is when I take a break. I even became a little obsessed with buttons,
cleaning, polishing and creating "buttons with attitude" with the
most unusual striking buttons, which I then posted on FaceBook. The benefit of
having my computer in the same room is that I can go to the BBC3 radio website
and listen to endless hours of classical music .....a perfect partner to my
creative urges. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
won't dwell on any health issues here as I do have another blog for
that....however, suffice to say, I have finally come to my senses and am
looking after myself, trying to enjoy my senior years with dignity, comfort and
good health. Here's to enjoying the aging process!!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
think that's it for now. I have a few ideas percolating around in this noggin
of mine to talk about here and I'm also open to ideas as my days unfold. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Slainte!!<span> </span></span></span></div>
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Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-1976066668831742822012-07-29T10:07:00.000-07:002012-07-29T10:56:43.596-07:00Ribs!!So DH and I decided to do something a little different for a meal yesterday.<br />
Normally we are fairly conservative...well, DH is conservative, I tend to be a little more adventuresome at times.<br />
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Anyway....our local supermarket had a special on pork back ribs and as I had seen a few rib recipes and DH had sampled some ribs recently, we decided that we would bite the bullet and try BBQ'ing our own. <br />
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We were initially surprised at how long it takes to cook them on the grill, however, we set up our times, and in the end, it was still a late dinner but that wasn't a problem, because we had a late lunch! <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xu5-An1m3zw/UBVkIflUtVI/AAAAAAAAAVY/GILeJAY3Oho/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
The recipe we chose (recipe meaning basically the rub) was entitled Memphis-Style Ribs which is available on the <b><a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/memphis-style_pork_ribs/" target="_blank">Simply Recipes</a> </b>blog . It was suggested (after applying the rub) to "marinate" several hours or overnight ( we chose about 6 hours) then to cook 4-8 hours at 220 deg. (we ended up 3 1/2 - 4 hours at 275 deg).<br />
A few pictures.....<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xu5-An1m3zw/UBVkIflUtVI/AAAAAAAAAVY/GILeJAY3Oho/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xu5-An1m3zw/UBVkIflUtVI/AAAAAAAAAVY/GILeJAY3Oho/s320/IMG_4231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This was right after we applied the rub....note the dryness.....<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6KWuXSozF5E/UBVkRy9mVBI/AAAAAAAAAVk/4SdnlBTdeHA/s1600/IMG_4232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6KWuXSozF5E/UBVkRy9mVBI/AAAAAAAAAVk/4SdnlBTdeHA/s320/IMG_4232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AkBR-z0bn28/UBVkWTdL2TI/AAAAAAAAAVs/E27b_HsDuMs/s1600/IMG_4233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AkBR-z0bn28/UBVkWTdL2TI/AAAAAAAAAVs/E27b_HsDuMs/s320/IMG_4233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
These are within minutes of applying the rub...note the subtle changes in texture....the moisture is starting to appear.....<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vAp_6-e4D6o/UBVka-kXefI/AAAAAAAAAV0/tAf-8PWuaTU/s1600/IMG_4234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vAp_6-e4D6o/UBVka-kXefI/AAAAAAAAAV0/tAf-8PWuaTU/s320/IMG_4234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is after the 6 hour "marinating" time...note that the dryness has pretty much disappeared and there is a definitely moisturized coating....almost a glaze with spices.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xd0iwBdUKFI/UBVkfMHgO4I/AAAAAAAAAV8/LWToDiJAIUo/s1600/IMG_4235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xd0iwBdUKFI/UBVkfMHgO4I/AAAAAAAAAV8/LWToDiJAIUo/s320/IMG_4235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The final product after nearly four hours of grilling off the flame at about 275 - 300 deg. F. <br />
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They were quite delicious and very tender, nearly falling off the bone, which makes eating it sooo much easier. We served it up with steamed baby potatoes and coleslaw (from a homegrown cabbage!!)<br />
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So now we have done this, we are in a position to change up the rub...to add our own take on spiciness so to speak. There are pros and cons to removing the inner membrane, we left it on with no ill effects. It's not a difficult dinner to make, just time consuming...although once you put on the rub and let sit in the fridge, you're free to do whatever, and then grilling it is basically a "check back once every hour" thing to flip the ribs. No basting required (with this recipe anyways) as the the fat bastes itself....at least that's what the recipe says....and it seemed to work. <br />
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So....I would consider this cooking experiment a success.....and there is some left over for tonight!!<br />
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Slainte!! <br />
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<br />Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-68475119116329027612012-07-17T23:28:00.000-07:002012-07-17T23:29:30.456-07:00I am still around!!Yes....I am still here, albeit somewhat battered and bruised and hot and tired....but here nevertheless.<br />
We are going through a rather hot period in the summer (isn't everyone??) which is peppered with thunderstorms and lightning and unending heat. I say unending, although, looking at the weather forecast, there may be a drop in temperature by about 3 degrees over the next little while....woohoo! I shouldn't grumble though, because a few degrees is better than no change. We were away when the heat attack struck and when we arrived home it was 39 deg. Celsius....which is nothing if you live in Arizona, or Texas, or even some parts of eastern Canada....but for us....it was close to a knockout punch!! We now luckily have a portable air conditioner, as we are not blessed with central air.....so, as a friend said, the bedroom is now feeling somewhat like a meat locker!!! Cool!!!! (literally)<br />
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It's been a busy early part of the summer with trips to Portland, Alberta, White Rock and Langley and a visit from our family, but from here on in, we're pretty much around home, tending to the garden and catching up on reading and other things.<br />
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Lots to talk about in the days to come, so I'll close this for now and head to bed to curl up with a book. Chaunce is shaking his head and stretching...."Time for bed Mom, get a move on!!"<br />
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Talk soon<br />
Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-79742876087156928532011-10-12T17:03:00.000-07:002011-10-12T17:03:26.956-07:00Basil Time!!! Can you smell it??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So the weather has been relatively normal....and my basil survived until now...and probably later if I had let it. The thing is...our climate is so dry up here that tender plants like basil seem to last a bit longer than in a wetter climate (like the coast). However, there were signs that the night time coolness was taking it's toll....brown spots on the leaves etc....so, I thought that yesterday I would pick it all and then sort it today.
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And I have done that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9aUmX14raTs/TpYjr5D-A2I/AAAAAAAAAUg/kIJKXlkhudI/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9aUmX14raTs/TpYjr5D-A2I/AAAAAAAAAUg/kIJKXlkhudI/s320/IMG_4174.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Picked Basil - unsorted....this is about 1/3 done.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJRTq2hpgr8/TpYjx3ORtKI/AAAAAAAAAUo/ahgxEPBicOg/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>I usually pick pretty much everything and then go through it all piece by piece and separate the good stuff from stems and the tatty stuff which I set aside for basil broth. What is basil broth you ask?? Well...it's the broth that I get when I boil the stems and tatty leaves of the basil plants in water ( I guess one could call it an infusion) and then strain it (thoroughly) and freeze it. It's a wonderful way to season soups and sauces. The good basil leaves I usually grind up in the food processor and add olive oil, pack it into smallish containers, top with plastic wrap and the lid of the container and freeze it for winter pesto. Please note that I rinse everything thoroughly to get garden dirt and dust off before making the broth or the ground basil.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJRTq2hpgr8/TpYjx3ORtKI/AAAAAAAAAUo/ahgxEPBicOg/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJRTq2hpgr8/TpYjx3ORtKI/AAAAAAAAAUo/ahgxEPBicOg/s320/IMG_4175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Here is the sorted basil (about 1/3 done)</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i5UJPP6LH5M/TpYj26s8eXI/AAAAAAAAAUw/xApHycpuaKI/s1600/IMG_4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i5UJPP6LH5M/TpYj26s8eXI/AAAAAAAAAUw/xApHycpuaKI/s320/IMG_4176.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">..and here are 1/3 of the basil stems and tatty leaves. </b></span></td></tr>
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The whole process is somewhat soothing....the scent of the basil on my fingers, the sounds of the birds etc in the yard as I do it on the back deck for the most part, it's quite a calming experience. All in all a job well done and will prove to be fruitful in the winter...and tasty too!<br />
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Slainte!!<br />Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-60732950553321448742011-09-26T12:43:00.000-07:002011-09-26T12:43:53.104-07:00Update after the summer.....I know, I know....it's been a while....<br />
Life is busy, and my mind is at times (more often than not) squirrelly.....<br />
<u><b>Quick update</b></u>:<br />
<ul>
<li>We are new grandparents...again, a beautiful baby boy weighing in at 9lb14 oz on August 14. Mother and son are now doing well and we will see them up here on Canadian Thanksgiving.</li>
<li> Had a wonderful time in Osoyoos, BC, visiting wineries, having
moonlight swims in the lake and thoroughly enjoying our yearly
reconnect with friends who holiday at the same time every year.It was incredibly hot for September ....in the high 30's Celsius so I spent a lot of time in the air conditioned room catching up on my reading and snoozing....I don't do high temps very well!! We had our daughter and son in law staying as well for a few days,to get some well-deserved rest and relaxation!We came home with a fair bit of excellent wine from some new (to us) wineries, some new estate wineries and of course our favourite <a href="http://www.deserthills.ca/">Desert Hills</a>. We also made our yearly stop at <a href="http://www.tickleberrys.com/">Tickleberry's </a>for the best ice cream ever!....and ......the ladies went for a <a href="http://www.athinasdesertdayspa.com/">Spa Day</a> followed by lunch...I had a pedi and my tootsies are quite colourful. The pedicure included a foot massage....and really!!....I had no idea that a foot massage could feel soooo good!! Bliss!!</li>
<li>On our way home from Osoyoos, we picked up some tomatoes and apples and thus when we arrived home (after unpacking etc...) DH made 2 large batches of his "world famous" tomato sauce, and we made 3 large apple pies. Also, I managed to pick up the ingredients for my mothers recipe of Cucumber Relish and so we made about 18 pints of that....and in amongst all the chaos of preserving we had to clean up the garden, harvest tomatoes (still more to do) pick basil (still more to do) and in general try to make order out of the well watered (by helpful brothers) garden that had become quite overgrown in our absence of only a week!! Of course, after a mighty windstorm last night, further cleanup and repairs are necessary.....sigh!! </li>
<li>It is also the official start of the symphony season this coming weekend...and yes, I am still playing in the <a href="http://kamloopssymphony.com/default.htm">orchestra</a>. (Note: on the Home Page of the orchestra...there is a slideshow of pics on the right....the one with the timpani player and the hornplayer behind him?....the hornplayer is me!) It's a great concert .....<a href="http://kamloopssymphony.com/classic/default.htm#nordic">Nordic Sojourn</a> with challenging music and a wonderful soloist. I have had my head down (no...not sleeping!!) listening to much of the music to get it into my head and know my part. Our rehearsals start on Thursday night, with two more on Friday, one on Saturday and the concert Saturday night. </li>
<li>As for health issues....nothing new there...just the usual, arthritis, back, fibromyalgia.....etc..etc...and I am working on acceptance of me as I am, not as people want me to be. It's complicated and not something I really want to go into here....suffice to say, I don't want weight to be the focus in my life any more....I do want healthy living and happiness to be the focus. I may talk more about this at some point....just not now. </li>
<li>Our dear little pooch, Chauncey the Bichon, is suffering from knee problems and back pain. He will at some point have to have surgery to correct the knee problems and we are dealing with the back pain with an doggie anti-imflammatory. So.....he gets more lifting rather than jumping, but he still loves his walks with DH and he quite enjoyed Osoyoos, after all he got to walk at least 4 times a day!! </li>
</ul>
I do believe that's all for now....I know I continually promise to keep this updated and I will try.....but then...I had a good nights sleep...I'll promise anything after a good night's sleep!!<br />
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Seriously though.....I will try to do better!!<br />
<br />
Slainte!<br />
Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-41086025645673506722011-06-13T12:32:00.000-07:002011-06-13T12:32:30.823-07:00Monday morning.....I have written about Mondays on my <a href="http://towardsthesixties.blogspot.com/2011/02/mondays.html">other blog</a> but this is about a summer Monday morning....or at least an early summer Monday morning.<br />
<br />
I could not get myself out of bed before 9 this morning........<br />
However, once done, and after DH headed out to his workout.....I grabbed a large coffee and the paper and sat out on the deck/patio for a while, read and absorbed the ambiance of a young garden, a robin picking at the strawberries and the cackle of the magpies. It was lovely, not too chilly or breezy....just perfect.<br />
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I then headed in to make up my breakfast bowl of strawberries from the garden (picked by DH before the robin has his share), French Vanilla thick yogurt, chia seeds, a dusting of Kashi Go Lean and topped with a small spoonful or two of cashew butter. It was delish....and I read my book of the moment whilst eating.....<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Strangeness-Beauty-Lydia-Yuri-Minatoya/dp/0393321401">The Strangeness of Beauty by Lydia Minatoya</a>.... Reading while eating is supposedly a no-no, but it works for me!!<br />
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I then grabbed my second cup of coffee and headed down to sit at the computer for a while.<br />
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All in all....a good start to the week.....:-)<br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-59755571556853840762011-06-12T12:54:00.000-07:002011-06-12T12:56:05.478-07:00Anniversary day....<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;">It was our anniversary yesterday. We did our usual Saturday morning thing….well not really usual…we didn't go to the market, however, Chauncey got his walk. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;">We had decided that a road trip was in order, so we headed out to visit a new winery in the area…<a href="http://www.celistawine.com/index.html">.Celista Estate Winery </a>on the north side of Shuswap Lake in the North Okanagan, just over an hour east of Kamloops. It was quite lovely as were the owners of the winery, Margaret and Jake Ootes. The wine was excellent, we did some tasting and bought a few bottles and then Margaret gave us a complimentary bottle of white wine (Cuvee) for our anniversary....... totally unexpected and a delightful surprise!<br />
Some pictures of our excursion.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OS36ycUcjcU/TfT_VtMUXwI/AAAAAAAAATs/d5IYsay7zWk/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is their living quarters (I think!) with the Tasting Room on the ground floor......with picnic and patio tables dotted around ......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...one of the many gorgeous views....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iukP_9scIrU/TfUADSynoHI/AAAAAAAAATw/V-rrTmw7yd4/s320/IMG_0104.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More view....</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zRIgNwFfaM/TfUAowfwU1I/AAAAAAAAAT0/I859gh0yRzM/s320/IMG_0108.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...the vineyard ....still early in the season.... with beautiful Shuswap Lake in the distance. </div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the many beautiful plants around </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eVpVxgBFu8U/TfUBnRY9EvI/AAAAAAAAAT8/43l3F2xsy3w/s320/IMG_0110.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...closeup .....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4kOiLaS5Y4/TfT9pDH1ZdI/AAAAAAAAATk/DC_xOQVTCEs/s320/IMG_3994.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.....their wine....delicious!!</td></tr>
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The drive there and back was interesting…so many changes in the area since we were last there. We then stopped to admire the loaded apricot and peach trees at my brother's home after which, happily for Chauncey, we headed home for a rest before going out to dinner. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;">In the evening we headed out to<a href="http://www.stormsrestaurant.ca/about.php"> Storms</a> restaurant in Kamloops for our anniversary dinner…..it's on the river and we had asked for a window table, although if we go later on in the summer I believe I would like to have a table on the patio overlooking the river. Tonight it was just a tad too breezy for me. Some picture memories of the occasion.....sorry I have no pictures of actual food....it would have taken away from the ambience to be clicking over our plates.....so the pics are after the fact .....:-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DH</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Together...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lovely waitress Haley....and the menus (she was so patient with us!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our appetizer....one shared...sooooo good!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdgndry-hoE/TfUUk2FlpYI/AAAAAAAAAUc/jFULyqNTZbI/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="56" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdgndry-hoE/TfUUk2FlpYI/AAAAAAAAAUc/jFULyqNTZbI/s400/IMG_3992.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DH's 9 oz and tasty...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My entree....excellent!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We did have dessert....a Banofee Pie (Banana Toffee) for me and a Truffle Mousse Cake filled with chocolate for DH!! They were exquisite!! Unfortunately the picture of the dessert menu was terribly blurred ....so you only have our word for it!! :-) <br />
....and as for our wine..... Rigamarole from the Okanagan Valley's Artisan Wine Company....perfect compliment to the food!!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;">Dear DH and I have been together for 36 years and married for 34….and I wouldn't have it any other way. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;">To the love of my life….Happy Anniversary !!!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;">Slainte!! </div>Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-2559615005167978532011-05-07T13:30:00.000-07:002011-05-07T13:31:25.548-07:00Nut Butters, Breakfast cakes and mangos......So I have just a few interesting little food items that I have tried and quite enjoyed and so....as such...I .am sharing them with you.<br />
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First of all, I have become a devotee of nut butters other than peanut butter. That would be almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter etc...etc...etc.. Imagine my delight when I realized that I could actually make these myself and add some extra flavours to boot.<br />
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This information I got from<a href="http://www.katheats.com/the-eighth-dwarf-drippy"> Kath Eats</a> and another one from (if I remember rightly) one of her followers in<a href="http://www.katheats.com/grandmotherly-linens"> this </a>post of Kath's (don't forget to scroll down for the recipe.) My first attempt at almond butter was ok....but I found it to be frustrating because of the size of my food processor.....too little food, too big a processor....and also I found it too easy to burn the almonds when roasting them. My solution... buy already roasted almonds and add the molasses and maple syrup into the mix. So the next time I did the Almond Butter, I doubled the recipe and it made a large 1 litre canning jar....which lasted for quite a while. As for the pumpkin seed butter, I ran into the same problem so I also doubled the recipe and bought already roasted sunflower seeds. I have no pics of the almond butter, but I have some of the sunflower seed butter.....finished product only I'm afraid and please excuse the bits of butter on the counter....I was in a hurry to get the photo done :-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyWfHDM1bFo/TcWiV7dNLnI/AAAAAAAAATY/V0oHN3ZVqMU/s1600/IMG_3910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyWfHDM1bFo/TcWiV7dNLnI/AAAAAAAAATY/V0oHN3ZVqMU/s320/IMG_3910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The other food item I have tried out....this morning actually...was a Breakfast Cake, which originated from <a href="http://www.katheats.com/who-needs-alfalfa">Kath Eats</a> but was changed slightly and posted by Marissa on her blog<a href="http://www.loserforlife.com/2011/05/a-hearty-start/"> Loser for Life</a>. I changed it yet again by substituting applesauce for banana and kamut flour for oat bran.....the changes made because of grocery shortcomings....in otherwards I didn't have any bananas (an unusual occurence) and I didn't have any oatbran.<br />
So....here is the finished product....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XZ7AAwf8AKc/TcWi1zzGmeI/AAAAAAAAATc/smZb_PprVHo/s320/IMG_3953.JPG" width="320" /></div>and then toppd with Maranatha Almond Butter .....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8PwmBTHIGQ/TcWi7aOnMnI/AAAAAAAAATg/Zj1p6KVKpFk/s320/IMG_3955.JPG" width="320" /></div>It was quite filling and pretty tasty, but I did have to cook it for about 3 minutes in the microwave and it is very moist. I'll try it with the bananas and oat bran at some future time and see how it works......The good thing about this "cake" is that it is very quick to put together and cook in the microwave.<br />
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It never fails to amaze me how many different ways there are of preparing food.....a few years ago nut butters were not even on my radar. I thank my lucky stars that I have a daughter who is a total foodie and loves to try new things. She has opened my eyes to the myriad of options out there. For example... I happened to pick up some Ataulfo mangos (they were on sale)and was raving about the good buy to her and she said...".oh yes they are the best....they are the only kind of mangos I get".....and they<b> are </b>the best....so sweet that I now just peel them, cube them, sprinkle a little 5 spice powder on them and have them as a side to my lunch time sandwich. The produce manager in our market calls them the cadillac of mangos. I guess it's the season for them now because they are always on sale and nice and ripe too.<br />
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I could go on and on about the new methods and ingredients and recipes I am trying, but suffice to say....I'm having a blast!! My interest in cooking as been renewed !! <br />
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There will be definitely more posts on this topic.....but that's all for this one.<br />
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Have a great day!!<br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-28827619857861842042011-05-06T10:54:00.000-07:002011-05-06T10:57:39.378-07:00Aftermath....After I published the last post I thought I would feel better....and I did...for a while. However, as grief does, it attacks you in other ways...especially in your weakest areas. In my case I ended up in a lot of physical pain,compounded by the emotional pain of loss. It was a situation I was totally unprepared for. <br />
However, I am now on the mend... <br />
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It's been a deep dark hole I've been in... filled with pain and anguish....which I'm sure sounds very dramatic but it's the only way I can describe how life has been for me recently. The grief threw me into a fibromyalgia "flare" which caused depression, insomnia and much physical pain. Sorting it all out without counseling has been a challenge. I have my "cave" to retreat to where my emotions can be taken out, sorted and examined without involving anyone else.....just me. Now I'm having much more positive experiences than negative and the longer days with more daylight have added to the positive side of things. I've also started jotting down the more negative thoughts to expunge them from my mind so they don't contaminate the good stuff. I don't seem to have the ability to separate positive and negative within my head, so I have to get it out on paper where it makes sense and then I can dump it into the emotional trash bin. I have also allowed myself to remember and shed a few tears and finally things get put into perspective ...<br />
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Although I have lost a dear friend, I still have much to be thankful for.....a loving husband, great kids and the anticipated arrival of a new grandchild in August, the love of other family and friends and the chance to do whatever I please whenever I please....the benefit of old age and retirement. <br />
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Sure...there will be other times when the darkness will creep in....but having got through this and other past experiences, I get stronger each time.....<br />
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Slainte!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-55578732756350013082011-04-02T15:17:00.000-07:002011-04-02T15:32:47.084-07:00A friend lost....It's amazing sometimes how, when you lose someone, random memories come flooding back.<br />
I lost a dear friend last week....an almost 40 year friendship..... and since then I've been flooded with memories of our times together...and I don't think there is one memory that I would want to erase. I think it's a coping mechanism.....I still grieve...but the grief is peppered with smiles as I remember good times.<br />
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I met Jackie in 1973 as I was heading home from England after finishing a three year stint at the Royal College of Music. We were delayed for 13 hours in Gatwick Airport and so got to know each other quite well. She lived in Portland at the time and was flying home via Vancouver on a charter after a holiday in her home country of England. We went our separate ways but kept in touch by letter and phone and visits. She gave her approval of my choice of husband and proceeded to call him her boyfriend. She predicted I was pregnant with my firstborn.....and she was right. I believe she also predicted my second child as well. She felt that those predictions gave her the position of honourary aunt which we had no problem bestowing upon her. She introduced us to her friends, bringing them up for visits to our home....and we returned the visits...kids and all. At least one of those friends is still a close friend of ours.<br />
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After several years in Portland, at the age of 56, she moved back to England to marry her soul mate Jack.<br />
Jack was a lovely man, Lancashire born and bred, and he adored his Jackie. They were two peas in a pod. She still made regular visits to Oregon and BC introducing Jack to the countryside and her friends.<br />
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We went over to the UK in 2003 and spent nearly two weeks with them, thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Day trips with them to Morecambe, Blackpool and York, and then spending some time exploring on our own in Manchester and Lancaster Castle. We did hope to get back over there, but time and finances never did seem to allow us to do so....and now I expect we will go at some point, but there will definitely be a feeling of someone missing.<br />
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Over the years, Jackie amassed a collection of toy penguins...mostly plush, but some ornamental. She had names for most of her "boys" as she called them and we used to make up stories...in emails, on the phone and in letters, about their exploits. She had a sense of whimsy and her ability to give them characters was wonderful. It was a place I loved to go with her....we seemed to be of like mind. She received a few parcels from us with "pens" as we called them stowed inside....and the scenario we used was that we were the layover before the pens finished their trip to "old folk in England" I had a few sources near where I live that I frequented to see if there were any new penguin visitors in stock. We even managed to get two quite large pens wearing toques that we bought during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. She had good times making up a story line for those two new acquisitions!!<br />
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Jack died in 2008 and then Jackie's brother Graham passed away almost exactly 2 years later. After Jack's death, Jackie's health deteriorated and in the end, she was really just tired and wanted to join Jack....which she did on March 22, 2011. <br />
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As I always want to find an upside to any sad situation, the upside here is that they are together again.....and that's as it should be.<br />
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<i>Love and hugs to you both double J's and I have two baby pens here who will take up vigil next to your picture in my studio. I see you smiling my dears.....it's all good. </i><br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-72864939557824932922011-03-15T22:35:00.000-07:002011-03-15T22:35:23.383-07:00Such a nice day.....Today was a nice day.....<br />
Warm enough to have the window open and the sun pouring in while I puttered ...folding sheets, updating my laptop, sorting through books.....<br />
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It must be a sign of spring...DH was pruning the trees, the cats were prowling and every so often the flicker would pierce the air with it's call to a mate.<br />
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...and DH saw a robin on his walk....<br />
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A nice day to be sure.<br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-75642774718554060922011-02-26T16:42:00.000-08:002011-02-26T16:42:48.493-08:00Recipes from the past....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jLztJJtOL10/TWmYL6hYs_I/AAAAAAAAATA/y3BLpWnlk0I/s1600/IMG_3897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>For a while now I have been wanting to make Oatmeal cookies. DH has had a craving for them and all the ones at stores and bakeries seem to always be Oatmeal and?? ...in otherwards with raisins, choco.chips, nuts etc....<br />
I don't bake as much as I used to ....more a cooking person, but I went on a search for the elusive Oatmeal Cookie, trying to avoid using the internet. Instead I started sorting through my large collection of recipes in books and papers etc...etc.... I came up with a few recipes, but they just didn't seem to fit the bill.....one had 1 cup of oil, another was a version of Dad's cookies with coconut etc...etc.. So finally I thought.....hmmmm.....I have my mom's recipe box here...I wonder if she had a recipe in there, after all she made a lot of oatmeal cookies in her day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M6seRGNX8bY/TWmYGih3fSI/AAAAAAAAAS8/Bxct5OyRG2Q/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M6seRGNX8bY/TWmYGih3fSI/AAAAAAAAAS8/Bxct5OyRG2Q/s320/IMG_3894.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Well...I lucked out. A neatly typed recipe for Oatmeal Cookies using milk and no eggs was well worn and stained, thereby proving it to be one of her regulars for the cookie jar!! <br />
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I followed the recipe to the letter only adding a teaspoon of vanilla and they turned out great!!<br />
Here's the first batch in (with my new silicon baking mats)....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yzz6cyy1JWs/TWmX2WlAhwI/AAAAAAAAASw/Xp-_kz0u8aI/s1600/IMG_3890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yzz6cyy1JWs/TWmX2WlAhwI/AAAAAAAAASw/Xp-_kz0u8aI/s320/IMG_3890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>...and the last batch out.....<br />
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My mom was strictly a recipe person when it came to her baking and cooking....but some of her recipes were memorable. I count myself lucky to be in possession of a goodly portion of her cookbooks and recipe cards....so many memories of family dinners, the ever filled cookie jar whenever we (and our children) arrived for a visit....recipes she liked and borrowed from aunts and cousins and friends. The freezer was a boon to her....she ended up getting a second freezer just to put baked goods in....and she was doing that well into her eighties. <br />
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The other night I pulled out some of the cookbooks that she had used over the years and thumbed through them stopping at the well worn pages that were stained and there was always a recipe for something I remember from my childhood. I hope to do more baking of these recipes over the next little while and I'll post when I do.<br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-88109240497049304022011-02-25T16:57:00.000-08:002011-02-25T16:57:34.797-08:00Lunch time!!I love having lunch at home....<br />
That's not to say I don't like eating out...I do, but lunch at home is made and designed by me and for the most part has the same or similar ingredients every time, and every time I always feel like more!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVlWaH4_MCg/TWhFPUEWO3I/AAAAAAAAASg/SkzPbQv5SSU/s1600/IMG_3883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVlWaH4_MCg/TWhFPUEWO3I/AAAAAAAAASg/SkzPbQv5SSU/s320/IMG_3883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b>What I Eat</b>.... a sandwich, carrot sticks with a spoonful of hummus and a piece of fruit.<br />
Now this all sounds pretty plain...but it's the making of the sammie that makes the difference!!<br />
I usually use whole grain artisan bread which is not too too big, dijon mustard, olive oil mayo, my mother's recipe relish, and thin sliced cold cuts of either turkey or chicken. Sometimes I add sliced cucumber or tomato as well and then I pile on the greens....usually organic herb greens and this particular time I also added chopped cilantro...(I love cilantro!) The challenge then is to actually put the lid on the sammie....I have been known to keep it together with a toothpick a la restaurant style. We recently started adding carrot sticks (not sure why) and so one large carrot does both DH and I and I chop it in four large pieces and then make many thin carrots sticks evenly divided between the two of us. Today I had a slightly over ripe pear which was tasty. Usually I have a pear a little on the crisp side or an apple. If we don't have carrots we have pickles...me dill...DH sweet. This is usually accompanied by a cup of coffee or tea or in my case a glass of Perrier. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k8S2G4sIBEg/TWhFaQSa3CI/AAAAAAAAASk/NZCVXYsugLk/s1600/IMG_3885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k8S2G4sIBEg/TWhFaQSa3CI/AAAAAAAAASk/NZCVXYsugLk/s320/IMG_3885.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b>How I eat it</b>.... We sit at the dining room table, he with his book and I with mine (usually propped up on something, in this case a recipe binder) using a place mat. I'm sure there are people who would say that sitting at the table eating together is a time for chatting etc....and we do...sometimes...but quite frankly we are both more comfortable reading and enjoying our food. Yes...we do taste our food despite getting engrossed in a book....because the food is THAT good!! I don't eat fast... I stop reading, look out the window at the gorgeous view, give the dog a tidbit of bread or carrot....so all in all it's a very pleasant experience.<br />
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...and that's my lunch time!!<br />
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There are two more pics I wanted to share, of kitchen things I got for Christmas....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-59obAxo4Beg/TWhFgDLj2oI/AAAAAAAAASo/NYMIt7eeO4I/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-59obAxo4Beg/TWhFgDLj2oI/AAAAAAAAASo/NYMIt7eeO4I/s320/IMG_3887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Two bamboo cutting boards from our son and daughter in law and a new coffee mug from our daughter and son in law. I've needed new cutting boards for years and so put them on my Christmas list. One is for bread and one is for veggies....I have a separate acrylic one that I use for meat. I notice in the picture there are what look like white spots on the boards....they are just dry spots as the boards had been washed and were still drying out when I took the pictures.<br />
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The mug is huge and lovely and soooo me!! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WAb7cpf42qo/TWhFonWnPjI/AAAAAAAAASs/qMcUXuUXWlI/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WAb7cpf42qo/TWhFonWnPjI/AAAAAAAAASs/qMcUXuUXWlI/s320/IMG_3888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It's made so one can wrap their hand around the mug and get the warmth.....just looove it!! Apparently the artist makes them for left handed people as well. How cool is that!!! <br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-1116259100543190482011-02-15T17:38:00.000-08:002011-02-16T10:26:40.970-08:00A walk on the dike......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-50hQpf6JH_o/TVsdfnP9OiI/AAAAAAAAAQk/JSZlZEwXnsA/s1600/IMG_3836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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Today was a glorious sunny and brisk day.....perfect for walking!<br />
We have a path along the dike beside the Thompson River next to the airport. It's flat, in relatively good shape, and a favourite for those of us with dogs.....as long as you follow the rules....leashed and clean up. The leashed part of it is a new rule and for the most part is rarely followed. We leash our pooch when other dogs or people are around....if there's no one we let him loose to wander as long as he stays close....which he does. We clean up always but that's not always the case with other pet owners and that's frustrating....however, I digress....<br />
I took a few photos, one when we started out and then the rest when I did my rest on the bench and DH and Chauncey wandered off.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-50hQpf6JH_o/TVsdfnP9OiI/AAAAAAAAAQk/JSZlZEwXnsA/s1600/IMG_3836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-50hQpf6JH_o/TVsdfnP9OiI/AAAAAAAAAQk/JSZlZEwXnsA/s320/IMG_3836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>When we arrived, the regular parking lot was flooded, so we parked onto one side and took a smaller and somewhat muddier path to the dike. That isn't our dog by the way....someone arrived as I was taking the pic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlJIRejlfDs/TVsdtqxx4DI/AAAAAAAAAQo/-axmH9yz5gk/s1600/IMG_3837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlJIRejlfDs/TVsdtqxx4DI/AAAAAAAAAQo/-axmH9yz5gk/s640/IMG_3837.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>After we walked to the bench....DH explored the rocks on the dike as he noticed others were on the sandbar with their dogs.....as you can see...he ....and Chauncey made the trek down. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMESwDoH0FQ/TVsd2SHXCkI/AAAAAAAAAQs/pilXt6TMcPY/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMESwDoH0FQ/TVsd2SHXCkI/AAAAAAAAAQs/pilXt6TMcPY/s640/IMG_3838.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Now they're strolling across the sandbar....which, I might add, occurs when the river level goes down in the winter ...and also during the dry spells in the summer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dmxS-_6gpY/TVsd9cw8g3I/AAAAAAAAAQw/2aGZ571PpPY/s400/IMG_3839.JPG" width="400" /></div> Meanwhile I took some pictures of the airport.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DhKELVUk6U/TVseEPvoxGI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/JS3HVJ0N2UU/s1600/IMG_3840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DhKELVUk6U/TVseEPvoxGI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/JS3HVJ0N2UU/s400/IMG_3840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>...looking back the way we came and the control tower in the distance..... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWNaG3jr5Lc/TVseT8IoOBI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/oP2BxSs_pko/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWNaG3jr5Lc/TVseT8IoOBI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/oP2BxSs_pko/s400/IMG_3841.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>..and then back towards Kamloops...up river. I was going to take some more pictures of the path going west but my attention was distracted by my two men (human and canine) walking on the sand!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XX8S5eMrrSA/TVseaGg5oSI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/IynZhrI4IW0/s400/IMG_3842.JPG" width="400" /></div> Heading toward the river...with Chauncey being diverted by..something....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K4zCbel7r7A/TVsegQvlcXI/AAAAAAAAARA/pOBnv5t91IE/s1600/IMG_3843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K4zCbel7r7A/TVsegQvlcXI/AAAAAAAAARA/pOBnv5t91IE/s640/IMG_3843.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>In the distance....if you scrunch up your eyes.....you can see them....and I gather Chauncey stopped soon after this and refused to budge...at which point they headed back.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qPijTokP_s/TVsemSa0rgI/AAAAAAAAARE/9EavkKneOLk/s1600/IMG_3844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qPijTokP_s/TVsemSa0rgI/AAAAAAAAARE/9EavkKneOLk/s640/IMG_3844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The background here is railway along the rivers edge and above is the transfer station for Kamloops' refuse (polite word for garbage) I have to give them credit though...it's not too bad looking....neatly terraced. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bmgSoL2OrvM/TVsesLwz9OI/AAAAAAAAARI/Eep1KH8B9rA/s400/IMG_3845.JPG" width="400" /> </div>This is where I called Chauncey and he came running ....until he saw the rocks and then he waited for "daddy" to show him what to do......<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7P-P80eA9o/TVsfAO8F0VI/AAAAAAAAARQ/0ZihIPmCRZQ/s1600/IMG_3847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7P-P80eA9o/TVsfAO8F0VI/AAAAAAAAARQ/0ZihIPmCRZQ/s400/IMG_3847.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> An interesting smell kept him occupied until DH showed up.....see his pompom tail???<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6RL3BNC3y0/TVsfJ5tqZ_I/AAAAAAAAARU/QWcpsS7bV3o/s1600/IMG_3848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6RL3BNC3y0/TVsfJ5tqZ_I/AAAAAAAAARU/QWcpsS7bV3o/s400/IMG_3848.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Ah...finally..." OK Dad....tell me what to do now....where do I go???" <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6m8Bo4XTmLs/TVsfTN4Ay-I/AAAAAAAAARY/QgPx9Kcg3ZU/s1600/IMG_3849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6m8Bo4XTmLs/TVsfTN4Ay-I/AAAAAAAAARY/QgPx9Kcg3ZU/s400/IMG_3849.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>DH is coaxing him and he was through it in no time. Whatta pooch!!!<br />
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So after we finished our walk.....we went into Kamloops to do a few errands and I took these pictures to amuse myself whilst DH was in buying dog food!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hyWvsygjRQU/TVsfYvl9GJI/AAAAAAAAARg/1UthV1ZY8oc/s1600/IMG_3851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hyWvsygjRQU/TVsfYvl9GJI/AAAAAAAAARg/1UthV1ZY8oc/s320/IMG_3851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>These two pictures show the trains that run right up behind the vet's where we get our dog food. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_viR86B1AAY/TVsffEBSv7I/AAAAAAAAARk/s0gFfLSvUUk/s1600/IMG_3852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_viR86B1AAY/TVsffEBSv7I/AAAAAAAAARk/s0gFfLSvUUk/s400/IMG_3852.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> ...and this is just an interesting tree I wanted to take a picture of across the road from the vet's office.<br />
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Getting back to the trains....while we were walking on the dike, one long train went by on the other side of the airport and two went by across the river and sand bar from where we were walking. We hear them at night rumbling along on the tracks below our street...and in a way...I find it somewhat comforting. No matter what .....the railways always seem to keep going.<br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-27037170240216476572011-02-14T17:27:00.000-08:002011-02-14T17:27:35.818-08:00New acquisitions for the foodie in me and something else.........Well...hi there!! Long time no see.<br />
<br />
My life in the food and cooking lane has been eventful and over the next little while I'll post pics etc....<br />
<br />
But for now....I just want to show pics of the three new things in my kitchen that I loooove....and one new thing in my workshop. <br />
My children and husband were generous to me this Christmas ....wish lists do have their uses...:-)<br />
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First of all....my 14 cup GE Food Processer. This came about because I discovered the benefits of doing pastry in the food processor....quick and easy and very flaky. However, my old Braun Food Processor could only do a recipe for 1 double crust pie...and my favourite recipe makes enough pastry for 2 double crust and a single crust pie.....the old standby Never Fail Pastry. My daughter has a 14 cup food processor and from the moment I saw it I coveted it mightily. The hints began early and websites were perused...and between them, daughter and hubby came up with this GE surprise at Christmas.....<br />
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</a></div>I have not yet used it for pastry, but I have made almond butter and sunflower seed butter in it and have plans for much more good stuff!! We still have a stock of pies in the freezer (stock meaning 2 or 3 which is more than enough for us for the winter) so I'm thinking that the pastry may have to wait until the spring. As it happens my 20 year old Braun kicked the bucket just before Christmas (through no fault of mine I assure you!) so timing was perfect. <br />
<br />
The other kitchen delight I received for Christmas was new dinnerware. Our old dinnerware was bits and pieces from the years when the kids were in school.....so it definitely was time!! This came from our daughter and her hubby....I had a specific style in mind and they caught it perfectly.<br />
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</a></div>There is something about the white porcelain square plates that sets off a colourful food presentation beautifully. We even feel rather special enjoying our lunch time sandwiches and carrot sticks (with a spoonful of hummus on the side). It's all so...well....just right!! Then there's the yogurt breakfast bowl with fruit and granola...sigh.....words fail me!! So appealing to the senses!!<br />
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The last kitchen "acquisition" is something I bought for myself. I've been wanting a proper Dutch Oven for ages.....preferably enamel coated cast iron...a la "Le Creuset".....something I can start on the stove and finish in the oven. Pricewise they are pretty much out of my reach......however......<br />
The other brand I love is Kitchen Aid and they also have the above mentioned Dutch Ovens....also quite expensive. ...but......Canadian Tire (bless their little pea pickin' hearts) had an oval one... regular price $99.00 on sale for $29.95. I really couldn't pass it by.....so I didn't .<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcBtlRpL7Dw/TVnKsiQ9OGI/AAAAAAAAAQA/y3bHXQKlcaA/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcBtlRpL7Dw/TVnKsiQ9OGI/AAAAAAAAAQA/y3bHXQKlcaA/s320/IMG_3821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HcTKoirDwYs/TVnKyN6JSvI/AAAAAAAAAQE/9tcpeTiaWvs/s320/IMG_3823.JPG" width="320" /></div>To say I am over the moon would be putting things mildly. I can't wait to try it out. I so love the colour too. It's a perfect size for us, not too big...3.5 qts.....but big enough if we have company. My mind is whirling around with possibilities!!!<br />
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The last Christmas biggie that I got from my son and daughter in law and grandson was also from my wishlist....a small boombox that provided speakers for my IPod so I can listen to podcasts while I'm pedalling away on my recumbent bike. It's beautiful and works a treat....and is also an FM radio. <br />
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Listening to my IPod while at the gym using ear buds was ok, but I just couldn't get used to using the ear buds at home....I much prefer the "all round" sound of speakers....<br />
<br />
So there you have it....<br />
I have lots of ideas for further topics.....just have to get the mind up and running again after a long hiatus....<br />
<br />
Slainte!!<br />
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</a></div>Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-59479548911653759362010-11-17T23:54:00.000-08:002010-11-17T23:56:04.544-08:00A touchy subject....Part IISo...in May I wrote a post<a href="http://nuttypeeps.blogspot.com/2010/05/touchy-subject.html"> "A Touchy Subject"</a> about my weight loss journey and how it was going at the time. <br />
Well....here's an update....<br />
It's not.....I have again backed away from the whole losing weight thing.<br />
<br />
However, there is a method in my madness....so to speak. I am still exercising, although I've dropped the gym membership and bought myself a recumbent bike and a few other exercise accessories. It will work out cheaper in the long run.....at least that's what I'm telling myself. It all remains to be seen. I have been listening to podcasts of <a href="http://www.twofitchicks.org/">Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone</a> whilst I "work out" and also reading blogs and books....and I have frequently come across the phrases Intuitive Eating and Mindful Eating.<br />
<br />
I won't go into the ifs, ands or buts of the subject...just google the phrases....but the concept, while not new, is a good one. However, it is also hard to master....very hard as I'm finding out. There are a lot of behaviours that I'm trying to change and I'm spending a lot more time on me and how I operate....inside and out. I feel a little self-involved....something I don't think I usually am....although maybe some people would beg to differ.<br />
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I'm hoping the end result of all this navel gazing and "listening to my body" will be stabilization of my eating habits and a general overall lessening of unnecessary food intake.....in otherwards...hopefully I'll eventually eat three squares and few snacks and exercise on a regular basis. <br />
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I'm afraid, though, that I'm still bothered by the old bugbear "what people think"....<br />
I like to believe that I could give a flying toss about what people think of me and how I look or act....but my mother (God rest her soul) trained me well and it's a behaviour that causes me a whole lot of grief. It's getting better, but there are still people in my life (thankfully only a few) who believe they know me well enough to be able to make comments that hurt and they really believe they are helping me. It's been a problem all my life and I think that I'm finally getting better at deflecting the hurt and firmly believing that I am the one and only person who really knows best about me, myself, and I. <br />
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Slainte!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-39233676887059055112010-09-01T17:17:00.000-07:002010-09-01T22:57:43.988-07:00Rhubarb!!Recently, I had to clear some rhubarb from my garden as it was overshadowing my basil and well....we know how important my basil is to me!! I grew up thinking (in the garden section of my mind) that one shouldn't harvest rhubarb after July 1st because it needed to take some of the goodness back into the plant as it died....or something like that. I believe it was something that my mom told me.....and probably one of those sayings that should go under the heading of "Old Wives Tales". My rhubarb has been VERY prolific this year....I have gotten at least three very large-scale cuttings from this plant and even now it is still growing. However, I digress....this post is about what I DID with the rhubarb that I recently cut.<br />
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Well....stored the stalks in the fridge wrapped in a damp tea towel until I solved the problem of what to do with them . I went online and typed in Rhubarb recipes and came up with a website called <a href="http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/recipes">The Rhubarb Compendium </a>.....it is a veritable encyclopedia of rhubarb recipes. I was mostly interested in a type of rhubarb cake and I have tried out two recipes that I gleaned from this website.<br />
The first one is called Ravishing Rhubarb Cake and is a simple carrot cake type of texture....made in a 9x13 pan.<br />
I didn't ice it at all, but I'm sure one could with cream cheese icing or powdered sugar as the recipe suggests.....anyways...here it is...sorry no pics on this one.....<br />
Oh...and I also used the last piece of this (or at least part of it) broken up on top of my blueberry, yogurt (yes..Krema French Vanilla Greek Style!) and granola brekkers and it was an amazing addition to the mix. Yum!! <br />
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<i><b>RAVISHING RHUBARB CAKE </b></i><br />
<h4><i>Ingredients:</i></h4><pre><i>3 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
11/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup applesauce or plain nonfat yogurt
3 cups uncooked rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar</i></pre><h4><i>Procedure:</i></h4><i>Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Beat eggs, salt, sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, soda and cinnamon. Add applesauce, rhubarb and nuts; stir until well blended.</i><br />
<i>Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour. Cool; dust with powdered sugar. Yields 20 servings.</i><br />
<i>Per serving: 130 calories; 2.8 g fat (0.3 g saturated fat, 19 percent calories from fat); 32 mg cholesterol; 78 mg sodium.</i><br />
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The next recipe is a gem.....totally. Quick, easy and totally deeelish!!<br />
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<br />
<i><b>RHUBARB CUSTARD CAKE</b></i><br />
<h4><i>Ingredients:</i></h4><pre><i>Two-layer yellow cake mix
4 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup granulated sugar
1 pint whipping cream (2 cups)</i></pre><h4><i>Procedure:</i></h4><i>Prepare batter for cake mix according to package directions; turn into greased and floured 9x13" pan. Dump the chopped rhubarb on top of the cake batter. Sprinkle the sugar on top of the rhubarb. Pour the whipping cream (unwhipped) over the sugar. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, until cake springs back when lightly touched.</i><br />
<i>Cream, sugar, and rhubarb sink to bottom, forming a custard layer. Makes 1-18 (depending on how you cut it!!) dee-vine servings.</i><br />
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Now I am not one to use cake mixes a lot....or whipping cream for that matter....but this just appealed to free spirit in me....the one that says "Oh go ahead....you know you want it!!" A couple of things though.....first of all...don't use one of those "Moist Deluxe" cake mixes....just a plain jane white or yellow cake mix.....and I made this twice in the last week or so and the second time I only had 1 cup of whipping cream and so I added a cup of sweetened condensed milk to it and cut the sugar to 1/2 cup. It was just as good or even a tad better. Now I have pictures of this....but it's been mostly devoured from the pan ...and believe me, my piece was half of that which is shown on the plate.....really....yes it was....at least the first piece!!<br />
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The only thing I can say after this is.....Enjoy!!<br />
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Slainte!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-46782466624435884002010-07-26T17:55:00.000-07:002010-07-26T17:55:31.235-07:00Lavender....There are two herbs which are my all time favourites....basil and lavender. Today's post is about lavender.<br />
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To me lavender evokes visions of an English country cottage where the door opens and a white haired elderly lady emerges with a crocheted shawl around her shoulders and walks down the path towards me with her hand outstretched to greet the visitor. Upon entering the house, scents of wood polish hinting strongly of lavender assail my nostrils. Whether the lavender is on the lady or in the cushions dotted around the sitting room, I'm not sure, but it's very comforting and the urge is strong to kick off my shoes and curl up on a flower patterned sofa and breathe. Call me a Romantic, but there is nothing that puts me in a more relaxed and nostalgic frame of mind than the scent of lavender.<br />
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Strangely enough, lavender perfume tends to make people think of England, but there are also many lavender farms in France and of course North America.....along with a myriad of varieties of lavender. <br />
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I have about 3 large bushes of lavender in my garden, which is small compared to what I had in Langley. However, it's more than enough for my needs. I always keep dried lavender around in the winter to use for baking, teas or just to smell..:-). In the summer the two major projects for me with lavender are<br />
<a href="http://www.recipelink.com/mf/20/4311">Strawberry Lavender Jam</a> and Raspberry Lavender Vinegar (of which I have no link because it's something I do out of my head......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4hAhNPewI/AAAAAAAAAOY/Myqth-XEUFA/s1600/IMG_3390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4hAhNPewI/AAAAAAAAAOY/Myqth-XEUFA/s320/IMG_3390.JPG" /></a></div>Here is the lavender......and the lavender and strawberries and sugar in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap.....you see you have to leave it overnight to marinate and well.....there are these fruit flies......and I forgot to take a picture before I covered it......and I reeeeally didn't want to take the cover off and redo it....so ......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4hJHfYhaI/AAAAAAAAAOg/MLpTkC4Qpic/s1600/IMG_3393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4hJHfYhaI/AAAAAAAAAOg/MLpTkC4Qpic/s320/IMG_3393.JPG" /></a></div><br />
...but you get the gist of it.....and then there's the finished product......voila!!!<br />
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The Raspberry Lavender vinegar is really quite simple....get a gallon jar or two half gallons and a lot of white wine vinegar and raspberries and lavender.....<br />
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You then combine them all together, giving the raspberries a little squish to release the juices, break the stems of the lavender a little....putting them in the jar and filling it up with white wine vinegar. Put some plastic wrap over the top if you're using metal lids, or if you do what I did and use the canning lids, just put the lids on and screw them up tight. They should look something like this....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4kw7-5NXI/AAAAAAAAAO4/dA_xLk8z_p0/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4kw7-5NXI/AAAAAAAAAO4/dA_xLk8z_p0/s320/IMG_3469.JPG" /></a></div>or to get a clearer view (with the flash) ...this<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4k4S8SHtI/AAAAAAAAAPA/CIxZIZgdBbQ/s1600/IMG_3470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4k4S8SHtI/AAAAAAAAAPA/CIxZIZgdBbQ/s320/IMG_3470.JPG" /></a></div>You then store them in a cool dark place (in our case the downstairs pantry) for at least 2-3 months, and then bottle them in smaller bottles with plastic screw tops similar to this.......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4q10n2rUI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/YFfiHQr_zBI/s1600/IMG_3477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TE4q10n2rUI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/YFfiHQr_zBI/s320/IMG_3477.JPG" /></a></div>...which is officially called "a 10 oz Woozy" bottle from Richard's Packaging....however, any similar type of bottle will be suitable....just make sure you use a plastic cap to avoid corrosion. <br />
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We usually filter the vinegar anywhere up to 5 times, using coffee filters and then it makes a beautiful clear ruby colour in the bottle. One hint: Do NOT put fresh herbs in the bottled vinegar as it will go moldy as you use the vinegar and the herbs are no longer covered. The idea is nice and pretty, but not very practical. <br />
So there you have it.....<br />
<br />
I am presently contemplating the idea of infusing a large bottle of cleaning vinegar with lavender....I had a chance to try someone's home made lavender cleaning vinegar and it was lovely....to wash windows, counters etc....just left an overall comfortable and welcoming lavender scent in the house. I did notice that one of the large supermarkets had a vinegar labeled for cleaning as it was a stronger strength.....what a super idea!!!<br />
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I haven't made any lavender cosmetics recently, although I have made a lavender lip balm and it was heavenly and worked a treat!! Speaking of treats, I do allow myself to buy commercial lavender preparations for bath and hand soap and bar soap and shower gel and shampoo...and ....and....<br />
At some point I would like to make some of those things myself......I may or I may not, but in the meantime I try to buy organic products and ones that have a very traditional lavender scent.....so many now are very synthetic and only a fraction of the loveliness that is natural lavender scent!! <br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-80976537760000712262010-07-24T12:46:00.000-07:002010-07-25T00:09:11.464-07:00The desk!!!The last couple of days on Facebook, I have been posting about the sorting and tidying of my studio so I can add the new computer desk I bought.<br />
<br />
I needed a new desk because the little one I was using worked well for a laptop but when I got the new desktop computer I started getting major muscle cramps in my shoulder because of the two levels....keyboard on lower level and mouse on upper level. I decided that I needed a slide-out shelf with room for both a keyboard and a mouse. We searched high and low in all price and quality ranges and finally came up with a rather good one with a glass top from Liquidation World. It seemed sturdy and I loved the whole concept of the glass top. It was larger than we had visualized, but I was confident it would work. <br />
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As is normal with me, once I buy something, I want it set up RIGHT AWAY!!....drives DH crazy. However, his calmness prevailed and despite the nagging feelings of frustration, I bit the bullet and tidied up, chucked garbage, cleaned up random piles of paper into recycling and anything that I couldn't figure out what to do with, I threw on my large work/drafting table to be dealt with later......like maybe a winter project???<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9eYHGycI/AAAAAAAAANg/dfG0EthQ9OY/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9eYHGycI/AAAAAAAAANg/dfG0EthQ9OY/s320/IMG_3460.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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I moved my stereo into my workshop and figured out how to configure THAT idea....using my old computer table.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9ksylqsI/AAAAAAAAANo/bv7-8-50c1Y/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9ksylqsI/AAAAAAAAANo/bv7-8-50c1Y/s320/IMG_3462.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9rRedQ3I/AAAAAAAAANw/6VsHIsm8FL0/s1600/IMG_3463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9rRedQ3I/AAAAAAAAANw/6VsHIsm8FL0/s320/IMG_3463.JPG" /></a></div><br />
This is my relaxation/comfort/meditating area of my work shop.....as you can see, there is a nice comfy couch to "meditate" on.....zzzzzzzz.<br />
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<br />
...and then I moved the book case over next to the piano keyboard behind the door, and I think eventually I will probably use it for music instead of books, moving the books over to where the music is now.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs989rxdPI/AAAAAAAAAOA/wwQ_pQaoz2w/s1600/IMG_3465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs989rxdPI/AAAAAAAAAOA/wwQ_pQaoz2w/s320/IMG_3465.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I also have a little alcove to store two of the important things in my creative life.... my treasured horn and music stand.<br />
<br />
So all in all it seems to have worked well....and provided me with a myriad of little clean up organizational projects to do during the rest of the summer when it's too hot to be upstairs. Things like the pile of stuff in front of the cupboard<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs-KOX6eJI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/RswRsX7j7bk/s1600/IMG_3468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs-KOX6eJI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/RswRsX7j7bk/s320/IMG_3468.JPG" /></a></div><br />
and then whatever is behind the dreaded cupboard door<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs-EJkjgEI/AAAAAAAAAOI/RcvBQ2xkGV4/s1600/IMG_3467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs-EJkjgEI/AAAAAAAAAOI/RcvBQ2xkGV4/s320/IMG_3467.JPG" /></a></div><br />
.....it's actually pictures.....hundreds of pictures that have to be to gone through and decisions made as to where they must end up. They are accumulated from the family home about 6 years ago...which only gives you an indication of my powers of procrastination!!!<br />
But I digress.....<br />
The final outcome of "The Desk" saga is this.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9PDNuYVI/AAAAAAAAANQ/qg0a6qMsHaE/s1600/IMG_3456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9PDNuYVI/AAAAAAAAANQ/qg0a6qMsHaE/s320/IMG_3456.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9XYPJVlI/AAAAAAAAANY/DgtqkVT4-SA/s1600/IMG_3459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TEs9XYPJVlI/AAAAAAAAANY/DgtqkVT4-SA/s320/IMG_3459.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Pretty cool isn't it??<br />
I love it!! ....oh and by the way...the bowl and cup on the table.......that's my delicious breakfast of apricots, blueberries, Greek Yogurt, Kashi Honey Almond Flax Cereal and Blueberry Syrup.....and coffee.....but that's another story!!! <br />
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</a></div>Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-58662316584824778562010-06-24T15:47:00.000-07:002010-06-24T15:47:02.261-07:00Leftovers ...act IISo...today I had another experience with leftovers....well...one leftover - Yukon Gold potatoes from dinner last night. This morning DH slyly said...."Hmmmmm.....fried potatoes and eggs would make a good breakfast.....wouldn't they??" Needless to say that got my brain into cooking mode!!<br />
I rummaged around in the fridge and came up with ....the said potatoes, some fresh spinach from the garden, a bit of red pepper, 2 green onions and some sliced mushrooms. I then dashed out to the garden and clipped some tarragon and dillweed. I also took three eggs from the fridge. All was assembled (more or less) so on I go...<br />
First of all I chopped all the veggies and herbs (excepting the potatoes) and it looked like this....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPYEgW3M_I/AAAAAAAAANI/Yp_R74czPJE/s1600/IMG_3364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPWRvZFJxI/AAAAAAAAAMY/lQC1K1eM0mY/s1600/IMG_3352.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPWRvZFJxI/AAAAAAAAAMY/lQC1K1eM0mY/s320/IMG_3352.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and this......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPWwEKWYzI/AAAAAAAAAMg/74ugM5rrYpc/s1600/IMG_3358.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPWwEKWYzI/AAAAAAAAAMg/74ugM5rrYpc/s320/IMG_3358.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPXSBShB_I/AAAAAAAAAMo/ouveyTJwJW0/s1600/IMG_3359.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPXSBShB_I/AAAAAAAAAMo/ouveyTJwJW0/s320/IMG_3359.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I then whisked the three eggs briefly and added some kosher salt and a few twists of pepper and it was ready...</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then it was time to put it all together.....</div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br />
Heat up the pan with a few glugs of EVOO (which, ironically, was not enough as you will see!) add the chopped veggies and stir for a bit 'til slightly softened. Then add the chopped herbs and slice the potatoes in as well. Keep stirring until it all looks warm and tasty....sort of like this......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPXfdrp0uI/AAAAAAAAAMw/cTn2tkBtATM/s1600/IMG_3360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPXfdrp0uI/AAAAAAAAAMw/cTn2tkBtATM/s320/IMG_3360.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPXs-GwFMI/AAAAAAAAAM4/bEPGzO_9Xrs/s1600/IMG_3361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then pour in the eggs, swirling it all around letting the egg mixture run into the little pockets between the veggies and also lift up the edges a wee bit to let the egg flow underneath. It should look something like this.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPXs-GwFMI/AAAAAAAAAM4/bEPGzO_9Xrs/s1600/IMG_3361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPXs-GwFMI/AAAAAAAAAM4/bEPGzO_9Xrs/s320/IMG_3361.JPG" /></a></div><a href="javascript:void(0)"><br />
</a><br />
Now here's where the "glugs" of EVOO may not have been quite enough. I didn't use my ovensafe skillet and in retrospect, that was probably a mistake. In any case my usual procedure is to get a slightly larger skillet, heat it up and then flip the smaller skillet (and eggs etc..) into the already hot pan, thereby cooking the top of the frittata in short order. HAH!!! The best laid plans etc...etc...etc....<br />
I heated the pan, tried to do the flip, but the smaller pan wasn't having any of it....it stuck and then dripped pieces of cooked egg mixture onto the larger pan. OK...I can fix this.....I put the smaller pan upright, got the flipper and scraped the bottom and then dumped the rest of the mixture into the larger pan and kind of pressed it into some sort of circular scramble that resembled ....well, I don't know what it resembled....but it definitely WASN'T frittata!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPX6XBPVfI/AAAAAAAAANA/MGPnwW1j_Js/s320/IMG_3363.JPG" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I sucked it up and grated some aged white cheddar on the top of it....cut it in half and served it up....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCPYEgW3M_I/AAAAAAAAANI/Yp_R74czPJE/s320/IMG_3364.JPG" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">It looks a bit of a mess....but believe me....it tasted amazing!!!! </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I definitely had to grit my teeth though, when DH put a rather substantial ribbon of catsup over his.....accckk!! He did concede though, that the non-catsup portion was ...well....ok....and I know that when he says that he's actually quite taken with the finished product!! As for me, I was happy to have used up something else out of my fridge and also pleased that I don't have to think about making a lunch!!! I think I'll just have a pear, thanks very much! :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Slainte!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-82188401596586382582010-06-22T15:24:00.000-07:002010-06-22T15:24:28.554-07:00Leftovers....I am quite proud of myself. DH thought I was quite weird, but last night before I drifted off to sleep, I figured out my brekkers and lunch.....lunch being the more work to prepare.<br />
Breakfast was Multigrain Cheerios, with strawberries from the garden topped with Krema Greek yogurt and leftover rosemary, rhubarb, strawberry sauce which was used the night before with a scrumptious <a href="http://cookincanuck.blogspot.com/2010/04/cornmeal-rosemary-lemon-cake-with.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FhIdj+%28Cookin%27+Canuck%29">Cornmeal, Rosemary & Lemon Cake with Rhubarb and Strawberry Sauce</a>. It was a most delicious breakfast and a perfect way to start the day.<br />
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However, the emphasis in this post is on the lunch. I knew that I had some egg whites left in the fridge from the afore-mentioned cake and I also had some leftover<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/pico_de_gallo_a/"> Pico de Gallo</a> from Sunday and an avocado, some green onions, mushrooms, and celery a load of tarragon outside in the garden. So....I chopped the green onions, celery and mushrooms and chopped tarragon and sauted them in a glug (a la Jamie Oliver) of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (hereafter known as EVOO), adding a couple of twists of fresh ground pepper and a sprinkle of kosher salt. I then gently whisked the egg whites and added them to the veggies scraping the bottom to make scrambled egg whites. In the meantime, I seeded and scraped out and mushed the avocado with a fork and added the remainder of the Pico de Gallo to it. I also had a tortilla warming in the large skillet. To assemble....I took the tortilla and pushed it into a pretty blue bowl , scooped in the egg mixture, added some fresh picked salad herbal greens chopped and then topped with some avocado mixture (hereafter known as guacamole Pioneer Woman style...GPWS). I finished it off with a dollop of natural flavour Krema Greek yogurt (I die for that stuff...it's amazing!!)...and voila!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TCE2Ou9KcBI/AAAAAAAAALQ/13yO-v9N2Ew/s200/IMG_3351.JPG" width="191" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there is yet another thing to cogitate on whilst sleep alludes me......who knew!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Slainte!!</div>Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-7279363731671793602010-06-15T21:24:00.000-07:002010-06-15T21:24:37.880-07:00A dinner to simmer...Today I thought I would put together dinner early in the day....a hearty soup sitting on the back of the stove, simmering away until dinner time. I started it around one'ish...after lunch.<br />
First I went out to the garden just as it was beginning to rain to see what I could find herb-wise. I came back in with some sage, thyme, Italian parsley, margarita mint, oregano, and rosemary......and after washing and trimming they looked like this<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBhMLIIbU3I/AAAAAAAAAKY/n9IzLzZ5-c4/s320/IMG_3304.JPG" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then after chopping .....they looked like this....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBhMUGWJd9I/AAAAAAAAAKg/HAFDnTRaemM/s320/IMG_3308.JPG" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While I was outside...I also picked some spinach and chard... and Russian Kale (which I have never tried before ), washed and chopped them up<br />
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBhMd5ySujI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Ln2dTtZrGXs/s320/IMG_3303.JPG" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Add to that, carrots, panacetta, garlic, leeks, celery, red pepper, some poblano pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, a large can of tomatoes (that I smushed with my fingers a la Jamie Oliver), a can of mixed beans and some low sodium chicken broth....and at the end I added some cooked chicken thighs that we had in the freezer (chopped up) and the finished result (after much simmering....looked like this <br />
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBhMm0kyMAI/AAAAAAAAAKw/1NU3oegL6gc/s320/IMG_3309.JPG" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and this<br />
<img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBhMuMHElKI/AAAAAAAAAK4/9VZcCcWaDGQ/s320/IMG_3310.JPG" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and served up with some Olive Ciabatta Bread.......it was quite a tasty treat!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I actually managed to get something done downstairs whilst it was simmering away...and...there is enough left for dinner tomorrow night and to put in the freezer for a quick lunch some day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today was a good day....rainy though ...and although I never thought I would say this.....I WANT SOME SUN!....if only for my poor basil. On the upside though...our rocky, root infested front lawn has never looked greener!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Slainte!!</div>Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-85821355614295223452010-06-10T11:22:00.000-07:002010-06-14T23:54:02.101-07:00Garden time!!!<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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On Tuesday I did manage to pot up some basil for Ty and we have left it on the patio close to the house to see if it will survive....and the good news is that IT DID!! Well...at least so far, but the night time temps for the next few days are supposed to be in the 'teens so I'm hopeful that they will thrive. Those night time temps also mean that I may be able to plant basil in the garden as well.....keeping fingers crossed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEfFhBGy-I/AAAAAAAAAIo/0NGE822TEmY/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEfFhBGy-I/AAAAAAAAAIo/0NGE822TEmY/s400/IMG_3289.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is what the basil looked like before I potted it up.....in small containers sitting on a card table inside our patio doors..and below is what it looks like after I potted it up. <b><i> (Excuse me...can I scream now....the Blogger picture upload stuff is driving crazy!!!! It should be so much simpler than it is....nothing ever comes out the way you want it....ARRRRRGH!!!!)</i></b> Ok, now I have that out of my system......on to some more pictures...I hope. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEfWNcMn6I/AAAAAAAAAIw/Q3izI-W12c8/s400/IMG_3291.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and below is a picture of the remainder of the basil to be planted as it sits on my patio in the sun....sun??? sun???did I say sun??? Oh well, at least the rain will keep it watered!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEfgxXHM6I/AAAAAAAAAI4/uW8qF0R2FCc/s400/IMG_3292.JPG" width="400" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and to finish things off ...a few more pictures from our garden....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my hops ...which is definitely up and running </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEktigm6FI/AAAAAAAAAJA/AsDyexZZpO0/s400/IMG_3293.JPG" width="400" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEugYVGlSI/AAAAAAAAAKA/332oh1BiJkU/s400/IMG_3294.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.....and then there is the dill among the grape leaves....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEvGINbC5I/AAAAAAAAAKI/cmf88kmAVAM/s1600/IMG_3295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEvGINbC5I/AAAAAAAAAKI/cmf88kmAVAM/s400/IMG_3295.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and it is so prevalent in our garden it has almost become a weed as shown by this picture...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEmxe7om8I/AAAAAAAAAJY/wlJix3KEE34/s400/IMG_3296.JPG" width="400" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't think I will run short of it this summer!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then there is the strawberries....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> here.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEnNIJMzWI/AAAAAAAAAJo/g8b4vPgpWvQ/s320/IMG_3300.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and here </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEm9dmiswI/AAAAAAAAAJg/j17nZxCrcTM/s1600/IMG_3299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEm9dmiswI/AAAAAAAAAJg/j17nZxCrcTM/s320/IMG_3299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mesclun and chard.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEneDnLrKI/AAAAAAAAAJw/LMpEukZ0dcA/s400/IMG_3297.JPG" width="400" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> .....and finally </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Rhubarb</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEv3hurwvI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/Fg_DM11S-u8/s1600/IMG_3301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TBEv3hurwvI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/Fg_DM11S-u8/s400/IMG_3301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...which we've already had one cutting from. ....oh and that plastic bag...it's a potato experiment!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there you have it...our garden....well..not all of our garden....I mean, there is the carrots, radishes, beans, peas, onions, garlic, lettuce, beets......oh and then there's the fruit trees....but that's another story....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time to head off before I scream at Blogger....either I'm not doing things right or it's just too confusing.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One final ARRRRRGH!!! and then I'm outta here.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Slainte!!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29570558.post-77202316697279603202010-06-08T10:43:00.000-07:002010-06-08T10:43:49.479-07:00Me again!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TA5-CPMsWkI/AAAAAAAAAIg/SnwWQXlDDtA/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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Well.....here I am again....<br />
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I thought last night that I should really blog much more than I do....and make an effort to make things interesting....well ....at least not endless streams of text.<br />
So...here goes.......<br />
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I have a few things to do today....one particularly is to pot up basil plants for daughter Ty, now a date for the visit has been finalized. I have pots, I have soil....I will pot!!<br />
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I also have decided to try to think of blog topics and that's not as difficult as it sounds. I always can think of blog topics...when I'm lying in bed unable to sleep, when I'm sewing, when I'm listening to music, when I'm working on the computer....but I never remember them when the time comes to post....so THAT'S why I never post. I have decided to keep a notebook handy to jot down things that occur to me that may or may not make it to the blog. I'm also going to take a few more pics and regularly upload them into the 'puter so I can post them if and when I want to. I'm so lazy about uploading pics....wait a minute....I'm so lazy period!!<br />
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Having said all this, the trick is to actually follow through on it. I think that setting a specific blog time...to read and post..is a good thing. I know that if I don't watch it, I will be on here all day!!<br />
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Now for a picture....this morning, I actually made my brekkers grabbed my coffee and headed downstairs (followed by Chauncey) so I took a couple pics of my brekkers and workstation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TA596B4QDuI/AAAAAAAAAIY/EPrsiu2lelg/s1600/IMG_3285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TA596B4QDuI/AAAAAAAAAIY/EPrsiu2lelg/s400/IMG_3285.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This was my brekkers....Multigrain Cheerios, banana and thick creamy Greek style yogurt topped with a splash of Summerland Sweets Peach Brandy syrup.....creamy and crunch all at the same time with a few little round Cheerios for the pooch to nibble on.....<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TA5-CPMsWkI/AAAAAAAAAIg/SnwWQXlDDtA/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBxRWocmXlo/TA5-CPMsWkI/AAAAAAAAAIg/SnwWQXlDDtA/s400/IMG_3286.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
...and here's where I sit....with my Hawthorne Vineyards coffee cup. I'm so good, I actually had my second cup black this morning. I usually start my morning with coffee with milk and 2 sugar and then the rest of the coffee during the day is just milk or black. I so need that boost of sugar in my first cup though. <br />
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I have a few other projects to work on, sewing and organizing, but those will be previewed on another day. I also have a load of food pics that I took with the intention of posting on the blog.....the results of my attempts with new recipes...and most are not too bad. Those also are for another day.<br />
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Today, however, is to start now....almost 11 am....wow, I'm doing good !! (Note the tongue firmly planted in the cheek here!!)<br />
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Slainte!!Coramiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010295116578528701noreply@blogger.com1