Friday, February 25, 2011

Yippee! Spring Macros: Daffa-down-dillies!


Remember last week I posted my last winter 2011 macros and said: No more winter!   This week my earliest daffodils began blooming so I have cheery spring macros to share!

On Wednesday...

 These have pale cream petals and bright yellow trumpets

 The trumpets are short but very frilly-- I love frilly!


On Thursday...

Hanging low after a rain shower...

Today, temps are back in the 40s, guess winter didn't get my memo.



              
Please visit Macro Monday to see more of the world close-up!
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Thursday, February 17, 2011

My Final Favorite Winter Macros of 2011

Yes, I have decided that winter is over!  After Mother Nature crammed a whole winter into the previous two weeks, I have put my foot down! No more winter!!  So here are my final favorite macros of winter 2011...








To see my other winter 2011  macros click here.

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Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day, Gram!


Talon's Valentines!   

A mini cake from Apple Hollow-- it is a tradition!

Kindergarten craft gift for dad-- there are Hersey Kisses inside. My gift is a bag of bath salts.

Instead of a party, Talon's class hiked 8 blocks to the Burger Barn for icecream

Talon is the caboose-- a lagging way behind caboose. He said: Oh, my aching feet!

Talon wasn't the only one complaining.

Fortunately, a bus driver spotted the kids trudging into Burger Barn. She took pity and gave the class a ride back to school.

Yum!
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Will The Real Spongebob Please Stand up?

Can there ever be too much Spongebob? Ha! Don't answer that!! 
This is one of Talon's newest floor puzzles-- He likes it!!



MellowYellowMondayBadgePlease visit Mellow Yellow Monday to see more cheery yellows! Pin It

Sunday, February 13, 2011

How to Make New Orlean's Style Pralines


The pralines at the New Orleans School of Cooking are the best! Paper thin and crisp-- they melt in your mouth. The butter, brown sugar and pecan goodness is divine! Crazy making! Addictive!Swoon worthy! !

We don't get to New Orleans very often so I started making their recipe years ago and it has never failed.   Very easy to prepare so make some for your sweetheart for a Valentine's treat-- you will get lots of hugs and kisses, I promise!

what it looks like at the beginning


1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 stick butter
1 1/2 cup pecans

Combine all ingredients in a pot and cook on medium heat-- doesn't need constant stirring but keep an eye on it.  




 Bring to 238-240 degrees- soft ball stage. Use a candy thermometer.

 When it starts to look a bit foamy and more opaque it is time to start checking the temperature-- it will still take a few more minutes to get it to 238-240. 

Remove from heat give it about 10 quick stirs for cooling/thickening purposes-- then spoon out onto buttered wax paper, foil or baking mat.

It will still appear too thin but that is perfect-- spoon out quickly because as it thickens it gets harder to spoon out and  the pralines won't look as pretty.

Tip: a thick bottomed pot or pressure cooker pot is great for candy making.
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Hat Crazy with Mr. Yukkinmuffin!

Today, we visited a fabulous antique store in Checotah. So many treasures to tempt: books, gadgets, jewelry, tooled leather bags, fishing lures, tools, furniture, china, embroidered tea towels, toys and oddities galore!


Talon rummaged through a basket full of retro cookie cutters and found a mystery one.  I thought it was a rooster and he thought it was a man and dog--- so we asked Jim.  Guess what it was? A witch riding a broom! Obvious when turned the right way! 


Talon and I almost didn't resurface after landing in the vintage clothing nook! So many funny old fashions-- Too bad I couldn't play dress up!

Talon is hat crazy like his dad so couldn't resist trying them all on. He cracked me up with his antics. Gram, you are going to love this!!







Talon thought the gold on this on meant it was a hiphop hat! It is really a turban!!




and last but not least, Mr. Yukkinmuffin, the star of the hat show!! 

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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Mountains of Dirty Snow


There are mountains of dirty snow piled everywhere in town. Wonder how long it will take to melt?
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Friday, February 11, 2011

Street Style: Hit or Miss?


What a cute outfit! A definite street style hit in Las Vegas!

I'm not a zebra expert like Wanda but I bet she'd say this outfit is zebra-tacular!



Aren't the tourists boring compared to the coupon girl? 

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More Big Ice and Snow 2011

After the second winter storm last week

a bit of whimsy from Mother Nature

cold birdies

weird designs in the creek-- one frozen and one not

Remember the big  beaver dam-- can't see it or the water now!




Finally a sunny day!

Just Talon's size!  We started the bottom ball near the woods and planned to roll it all the way to the house but only made it about 50 feet-- snow is heavy!


Our hands!
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Rustic Italian Soup

Rustic Italian Soup is quick and easy to prepare and so delicious. This one helped ward off the cold of the blizzard last week.

Here is what you need:

 Brown and crumble Italian sausauge in a skillet; drain.

Prep:  chop onion and carrots, mince 1-2 cloves of garlic, quarter zucchini and slice

In a soup pot, combine 28oz can of diced tomatoes,  sausauge, 1/2 to 1 cup of wine, onions, garlic, carrots, two cans of cannellini beans drained, 1 to 2 teaspoons of basil, salt and pepper to taste, and enough water for soup.

Bring to boil then lower heat and simmer for 25 minutes; add zucchini and simmer 10 minutes or until tender.

If desired: add a bit of prepared rotini pasta to your bowl before topping with hot steamy soup.  Fresh spinach leaves are another tasty addition to add to individual bowls or to the whole pot.


Top with parmesan cheese.  Delicious alone or serve with toasty slices of Italian bread.

Yum! That's plumb larapin!

 The water froze last week and we had no running water for three days-- hence the styrofoam bowl! Nothing like camping out in your own house!
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Friday, February 4, 2011

Big Ice and Snow 2011

Odd that this bit of the creek wasn't frozen-- it was 11 degrees outside!

Along the road


in a knee high drift..

Our snow angels are looking better

This snow is so fine and dry that it will not pack into snowballs.  When tossed, the snow separates into individual flakes and sparkles like fairy dust in the sun.

It feels really weird and dry but super cold in your mouth.  My first bite nearly choked me to death-- I must've inhaled a bit because it hit the back of my throat like a mouthful of pepper powder-- which sounds strange but it was so cold it burned!

this drift is over my boot top

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