Try it - You'll Like it...

Here in PA it is the time for wine!

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Still Used Appliance

My 1976 vintage sealer (Model SAM1) seals food wonderfully in the 2 mil thick pouches. I have several stored in the freezer in the carport with all kinds of contents ready to thaw and consume. (No, it doesn't suck the air out of the bag like the new ones do.)

Two years ago I was able to order 3 boxes of 50 8”x6” pouches, microwave safe, freezer safe, boilable. These are used with all brands of sealing appliances including Dazey or Rival Micro-Seal/Seal-a-Meal bag sealers.

The meatloaf slices were successfully sealed and frozen today after we had a couple of meatloaf sandwiches for lunch.

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I used a recipe I found on the box of Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken and have been saving it for quite a long time. My old recipe that I have used for years and years  is different and I never measured anything.  Now to this new one; I must say that it was delicious but crumbly. My old one’s slices held together much better. 

Here is the recipe I used this time:

2 lb. lean ground beef

1 pkg. (6 oz.) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken

1 cup water

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup of Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce, divided.

Heat oven to 375°° F.

1. Place meat, stuffing mix, water, eggs and 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in bowl.

2. Mix just until blended

3. Shape into a loaf in 13 x 9-inch baking dish

4. Top with remaining barbecue sauce.

Bake 1 hour or until done (160°°°° F.) 

Now I must tell you that I used a loaf pan and baked it 1 1/2 hours. The meat thermometer read exactly 160°°° and I knew it was fully baked. 

It is Definitely Spring!

The land is covered with flowers that make my heart sing. I love even the flowers of all weeds. It's Mother Nature at her best.

Bluets

Vinca/Periwinkle

Dandelions -Where is PAUL? He was going to make wine!

Forsythia

Stream behind dam

Our handyman has a full day's work here. Our list is LONG! The work is hard. 

He has a list of stuff to do - It will take him all day. We pay in cash and it will cost about $100. I notice that he is spraying himself all over as the bugs are out and thick. His sweat attracts them and also, he has had Lime disease once before and we sure hope he never has it again. 

1. Hang boring bee traps on peaks of roof

2. Take Tranquillity sign down so we can sand and stain it.

3. Take the bird house down that is up in the rock garden on a long pipe and clean it out and put it back up.

4. Stir up the carport gravel because it is full of road salt and stuff that drips off of car.

5. Blow out all house gutters and fasten loose ones.

6. Rake all lawns front and both sides and wheelbarrow it up back of the rock garden and dump there.

7. Rake gravel into road from plow mess on road fronts both sides of road.

8. Pick up all sticks down by trees at beachfront, break up and bring to back of rock garden.

The mowers and weed whacker fellows will be next in line to work here. The Mister simply cannot do it anymore and can relax. He has paid his "dues."

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Dull Days

Things have been very un-exciting these past few days. The internet and land line phone have be out of service and the TV's were functioning erratically. Today everything is back in good shape. It all is because Spectrum has taken over Time Warner and changes are being made.  So...what did I do? Well I baked a cake this morning and it was tasty treat after lunch. Lemon pudding cake and lemon icing.

Then I figured how to get on Instagram. It is basically for the people who use smart phones and pads, BUT I figured out how to send my pictures there with only my computer. (I don't have a smart phone nor a pad.) I also learned that only images that are square in shape will be shown fully. If there is one not square, the bottom or side is cut off. Here is one I just created and downloaded to the site. Brianna is one of my Great Granddaughters. 

I then photo manipulated a picture of a friend who fell off a 10 foot porch deck when the railing broke last year and she was very badly injured. Her recuperation has been amazing to say the least and she has worked extremely hard to become as whole again as is possible. 

The other thing I got involved with was the fun Bitmojis. Onward and keeping busy.

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The Visit

A nice visit happened today. Our son, his girlfriend and his daughter came for the day. After a simple lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches, homemade pickled beets and homemade applesauce and cookies, they rested. Who knew it would be such a nice visit, sharing photos and stories. After lunch, the girls took a walk and they tell me there are many little fishes near the edge of the dam.

Meanwhile, back in the cabin the zzzz's were prevalent.

Then more visiting and our son and his girlfriend took a walk and our granddaughter took her nap.

It's because the cabin brings comfort and love to all who visit. 

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It's Here!

Spring! The daffodils are in full bloom. The air is warm and I feel happy. The little one in this picture is my Great Great Grandson, Leo. He will be two in June. I love it that he lives in the country with pigs, beef cattle and chickens in his young life. He has loving family and is experiencing the freedom to go his way - learning by doing. They live about 300 miles from me and I hope they will be able to visit this summer. 

We saw what we believe to be a pair of pine martens scramble up the dam grass and run over the road into the valley below yesterday as we were driving to cross the bridge. It is a great place to live if you want to be close to nature and her critters. Sorry no on-the-spot photos! This will give you an idea of what they look like.

Easter evening there was a huge rainbow at sundown and it remained in the sky for almost 20 minutes! (The panorama doesn't do it justice.)

So....feeling up to par, with the pneumonia, bronchitis and leg injury behind me, I'm back in business. I baked a huge batch of oatmeal cookies this morning. I added leftover chopped walnuts, coconut flakes, and golden raisins this time and ARE THEY EVER GOOD!! Gave some to the trash collector and the mail carrier;  saved some for my brother and we are into them big time. There are a few left.

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Spring Notes Today

The daffodils are NOT out yet! I cut off three buds and brought them indoors. They opened this morning.

The daffodil beds in the front of the cabin are a sorry sight. After poking up from the soil and then being frozen three times, one time under deep snow, it's no wonder they even survived. It does look like the sedum will be ok.

I took a look at the old rock garden and, because the daffodils were somewhat protected by leaf coverage, they may be blooming well - pretty soon, though are a bit late. 

I did notice that the dead tree which lost a large limb last summer is leaning against the old Norway Spruce. Hopefully, the spruce will prevent it from landing on the cabin roof, should it fall!

Hey! the produce farm has corn up! There is something in that field that mysteriously appeared!

And back on the porch, Henry is happy today because the sun is shining brightly. 

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