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Monday, July 31, 2017

Louisiana Bar-B-Que Sauce

It has been 18 months since I have made this. Usually I make it at least one time a year so I'm not too far behind. I REALLY suggest that you try it. REALLY! 
The recipe came to me in 1960.
The story that goes with it is on the link below.

The old link January 2016 is here below. Just click on it. The recipe is there too. 

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Sunday Golf Car Ride

Sometimes I just take pictures and sometimes I bring something home on my ride around the lake.

Today I cut off a huge head of dill seeds that have turned from green to brown just before they would naturally fall from the plant. I put the head in a small brown bag to dry further and then I shall shake the bag and reap the seeds. There are many dill seed recipes you can find on the internet.

Dill seed information: (copy and paste link below to read more)
https://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-dill-seeds-377i






"Dill seed is good sprinkled over casseroles before baking and used in salad dressings. Dill seed is spice-like; the seeds have a stronger flavor than the weed. They can be used in breads, stews, rices, root vegetable dishes and most notable, the making of pickles."

I spotted a field full of teasel that I had missed on previous rides. They are so pretty in color and shape - especially the shape in Autumn. The dried heads make wonderful craft critters and the entire head and stem are nice to use in arrangements either natural or sprayed. Wear gloves when you cut them down, though, and be sure to rub off the picky stems as well. The pictures below show them just starting to bloom.
The Goldenrod are opening now as you can see it in with the teasel.
Deep in the woods I spotted a Rose of Sharon bush. Bees sure like them too! I wonder how it grew in that particular spot; no home in sight.
Wild Phlox are just starting to open. I saw hundreds of them just ready to bloom and found these in a sunny area. Phlox have five petals. Some folk call these Sweet William and many are cultivated.
I stopped and studied the old tree. There was a little bird hopping in and out of the holes but he turned his back on me when I tried to catch his image. I like the leaf shadows on the limb. I love old trees and how they shelter so many animals and birds through the years.
please click on image to view larger

Teasel Information Link
Teasel Craft Link

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Zucchini Supreme

Sometimes I see posts from people that just like the pretty pictures of the foods, but they never actually make the items shown.  Well I only show what I really make or bake. Today I got out the old old Bluffton cabbage slicer and sliced up the beautiful young zucchini that my neighbor brought to me. The recipe is simple but as I age, it seemed to take a while to put together.  The old slicer is a great helper for me but I sure do have to watch my fingers. Sliced a piece of my thumb once a long time ago and learned the lesson.

I took a few pictures as I made this and then we had a taste! REALLY GOOD!


please click on image to view larger
~Recipe~


4 C Water
6 C Sliced zucchini
1 C Shredded carrot
1/4 C Chopped onion
1 tsp. Salt
1 can (103/4 oz.) Cream of mushroom soup
1 C Sour cream
1/2 tsp. Garlic powder
1/2 tsp. Pepper
4 C Seasoned stuffing croutons
1/2 C Butter, melted

Bring water to boil. Add zucchini, carrots, onion and salt. Cook 5 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender - then drain. *

Combine croutons and butter.

Place HALF of the crouton mixture in a 13 x 9 x 2 baking dish.

In a large bowl, combine the soup, sour cream, garlic powder
and pepper.  Fold in the vegetable mix.

Put this mixture in the baking dish.
Top it with the remaining crouton mixture.

Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Uncover and bake 10 minutes longer or until golden brown.

* Note - sauteed sausage may be added to this. YUM!

To see more about this kitchen tool, the slicer, please click on link of my older post.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Two Wild Weeds

One is Wild Dill Weed
Two is Wild Chicory Weed

These grow all over, in and around on banks as traveled on the golf car today looking for something - anything of interest to me. I didn't go too far this time. Everything there is, I've seen before. I was hoping for a special encounter or something to see that I might have missed. Nope! Just more and more of the same things. BUT.....

I did nip off a couple of these to create my little porch bouquet today.  Whenever I see the wild chicory, I just have to sing the song. Perhaps you know it as well. Perhaps not. It was popular in 1945!  Sammy Kaye sang it. There is much more and it is not about my kind of chicory but about a chicken! Oh well...Looney me!

"Chickery chick, cha-la-cha-la
Check-a-la-romey in a bananika
Bollika, Wollika, can't you see Chickery chick is me?"

and it goes on with more verses...............
Written by Sylvia Dee/Sidney Lippman
I cut a tiny bit of each for my porch bouquet. Most of the dill weed plants - and there are many, grow at the road's edge across the lake where we used to live. I had a garden full of dill for making my pickles. I wonder if the seed spread? That was over twenty years ago but I remember well its aroma. These have already gone to seed but brought back garden memories. Perhaps I shall save some seeds.
(this is a photo from the internet showing the seeds)

Please click on image to view larger


Tuesday, July 25, 2017

My Butterfly

During the quiet peace on the dirt road, I spent time with this lovely butterfly. Here are just a few of the shots I took as it flew and landed numerous times - all within my view.  A link to more information is posted below in case you would like to learn more. 
please click on image to view details
Below is the link to learn all about the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly. I was very amazed to find so much about this and also happy that we have Joe Pye Weed and Milk Thistle all around here that feeds this beautiful insect.

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-glaucus

Monday, July 24, 2017

Nature after Rainstorms

There is horrendous damage here is the NE tier of Pennsylvania due to heavy rainstorms. Our daughter had her flowerbed mulch and plants wash down to her front door. Her husband had mud and debris flow into his garage where he does mechanical repairs. Their cellar was flooded with the mud and water. The koi fish pond overflowed. The roadway above their home discharged right onto their property as the water ran downhill.  I just read about many others in our area and it is awful for everyone who has damage.

Meanwhile, back here at the lake, the grass is green and the drains and catchbasins near our place are running well. The water behind the cabin in the ditch was almost touching the bottom log, but we were lucky this time. Up the road from us there was an area of flooding from the hillside and across the lakefronts into the lake, but it wasn't really too severe compared to other places in our area. We have had heavy and lasting downpours three days in a row.

I wandered out and took some pictures Monday morning. The Joe Pye Weed is doing very well at the beach edge. My Fuschia plant is happy that it isn't too hot. The Seedum promises to grow higher, heavier and topple over again as usual in the fall, and the little rose plant enjoys the daily bath it seems and even holds water in its petals. The humming birds are very busy and territorial now as they vie for the prime seat at the feeder for a sweet drink.
Please click on image to view larger
I will show you my friendly Tiger Swallowtail drinking at the Milk Thistle another day. I took many pictures of it as I took a drive in the golf car. That is a great way for me to get around now.

Family Visit

Our two granddaughters came for a visit from NY Saturday. What a thrill it was to see them in person!  Their mother lived with us in 1976-77 and our first granddaughter was born at our local hospital. I was the birthing coach when our son was in the Navy at the time and his pregnant wife came to live with us for a while. The mother and child stayed for a few months and then our son moved his family South. They returned a year later for a short visit along with with a second baby daughter.

After 40 years we were pleased to share stories and photos and just enjoyed being together. Our daughter, their Aunt who lives nearby came and visited when they were here, and took them to see their Great Uncle who lives close. He remembers their father, who died after a car accident in 1994 at the age of 37. Our firstborn granddaughter has 4 children, ages 23, 22, 19, and 14. She is already a grandmother. The other has two daughters, ages 23 and 19.

They love it here at the lake and one of them is even considering the purchase of a home in the area.

Of course photos were taken. The first two are mine.
These are their cell phone images.


I didn't remember that the sun shining in the windows would not be a good thing for automatic eye on the phones.
We hope to have another visit soon!