Looking Out -

one of 4 bedroom windows

bathroom window

Two of five living room windows

At age 85 the Mister is a BEAR!

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Winter's Gift

This is the first real snow event we have had this year. It measured 6 1/2 inches. The plow always comes through blocking the entrance to our short driveway and it is necessary for safety reasons, to keep it open. The stand-by generator needs to be snow free and the paths to the storage shed and to the propane gas tank on the other side of the cabin and up the hillside kept open for deliveries. We understand that there will come a time when the mister will no longer be able to do this, but for the present he is more than willing. He is now wearing a back brace and not doing any shoveling. The hand-held blower assists some of the chore as well. 

Yesterday my brother delivered another beautiful dozen eggs. He is proud of his chickens which lay about 11-13 a DAY! Now to bake a reward for the snow-blow man; something with bran sounds about right.

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They Go Together

Work hard and be rewarded. Well, would you believe he is "out there" blowing the snow again! 

So...a warm and sweet treat will be awaiting the Mister.

This is the recipe I used, incorporating our own homemade applesauce.  WOW! soooooooo good!

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Amish Applesauce Cake

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups applesauce (homemade is best!)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, or raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350º. Coat a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. (I lined glass pan with Release foil.)

In a large bowl, cream sugar and shortening with an electric beater on low speed. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add flour, cinnamon,
baking soda, and salt; beat until well mixed. Add applesauce and vanilla; mix well then stir in the walnuts and pour batter into prepared baking dish.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool.

(I dust slices with powdered sugar instead of icing or glazing.) 

March 2

The Mister is out there AGAIN! Not fun.

Winter Woes

No applesauce making today and no laundry or grocery shopping either. I boiled some eggs for lunch sandwiches, sorted the laundry into baskets, and helped get the snowblower started. Well, I suggested an idea and it was accepted and it worked!

The snowblower wouldn't start. Did I already say that?  Something had frozen and it was soon determined that a safety switch was the culprit. Thank goodness the operator is an excellent mechanic. This is the type of blower that is plugged in to start electrically. He tried it many times but it was stubborn this morning and all it would do was grind away. If he had had to pull a rope like he did for so many years, he would have fainted for sure with the effort to get it going! Several years ago he determined that rope pulling for the elderly would be a challenge and traded the old model for this one. Good thinking! 

What do you do for a frozen switch? Well I have an ancient hair drier that I used as a tool to defrost the freezer in the old refrigerator. I had often been tempted to toss it, but didn't. A few minutes of blowing heat aimed at the switch did the trick. The snow isn't very deep but it still needs to be blown away - or shoveled - heaven forbid, for the dog's path to the wooded area, a path to the trash burning spot across the lot, and one from the road to the propane tank up back to ensure a happy delivery man. He is now in the lounge chair fast asleep.  Mission accomplished though costly as far as physical and mental strain are concerned. 

We can get out of the lake roads but one project a day is enough. Tomorrow...

Later he will have to thaw out the truck tailgate. Antifreeze dabbed on the rubber gasket usually prevents this gate from freezing shut - IF one remembers to do it. Where is the hair dryer? Where is the extension cord?  THEN a trip to the laundromat and grocery store will be planned.  Deep breath.

The wind is blowing and very gusty and the sun is shining.           

      It's nature and natural. 

It was cold in January 2009 as well!

And The Stockings Were Hung…..

……by the chimney with care - to dry out!

Click on link below to see my day:

A Snow Video