In the kitchen

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This morning it was 57 degrees and sunny though the sun didn't come over the mountain until a little after 7:00.  Not much of a breeze but the weather was pleasant and it was nice walking weather.

Walked straight through town and around the two cemeteries.

Then walked up Barn Sale a ways, back to the main road and

down toward Happy Trails.  

Turned around and walked back to town.

 This is the road I walk down after walking around the cemetery that is up the hill.

I've just come out of the cemetery here.

The Drane house is down there on the left in the trees and the pond where the horses

are, is on the other side of the house.

If you enlarge the picture you can also see the school off in the distance.

When I walk the Farm Loop, I walk up past the school.

 The barn that you see down there on the right in the above picture

is what this picture is of.

Walked around the ball park loop too and then headed back home.

Surprised not to see any rabbits!!

Saw Kathy out walking and Lee on his bike.

I walked 6.1 miles.

Sunrise 6:45

Sunset 7:49

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I spent the whole morning in the kitchen.

First made blueberry pancakes for breakfast.

Had to use some milk up before the expiration date so whipped up some

chocolate pudding. (from a mix)

I also had some rhubarb left from my garden and wanted to use that up

before it went bad.  

I didn't quite have enough to make a rhubarb cobbler but I did buy some

strawberries yesterday so I made up the difference with those.

 I made a Rhubarb Strawberry Cobbler and used a different recipe this time.

I am so glad that I didn't have enough rhubarb because I have discovered

I love the added flavor of the strawberries.
I did have to try a little corner of it to see how I liked it.

Here's the recipe

Prepare Filling and keep hot

Mix 3 cups sliced rhubarb and 3 cups sliced strawberries

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup water and

4 teaspoons cornstarch

Let stand for 10 minutes

 Cook and stir till thickened and bubbly

Topping

Mix 1 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Cut in 3 Tablespoons butter or margarine 

till mixture resembles coarse crumbs

Combine 1 beaten egg  and

3 Tablespoons milk

Add to the flour mixture,

stirring just to moisten

Transfer filling to an 8 x 8 x 2 inch baking dish

Drop topping into 6 mounds atop hot filling

Bake in a 400 degree oven

20 - 25 minutes

or till a toothpick inserted into topping comes out clean

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Next I made Welsh Cookies.

You can see what they look like and how I make them

HERE

on a post from a few years ago.

But I noticed the link on that page which used to go the recipe

no longer works.

If any one is interested I'll post the recipe.

I made this batch for my friend Debbie who asked for the recipe.

Tonight I'm going to give here the recipe along with the cookies.

When I got done with the baking you should have seen my kitchen!!!

I am a very messy baker.

So I had to spend some time washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen and getting things back to order.

I got a load of laundry hung up out on the line.
And did a little weeding out front.

Ken has been busy up at HT today working on the wall in the entryway
of the cabin.  I'll have to get up there and take some pictures
so I can show you.

Spent too much time in the kitchen to want to cook supper
so we are going to pick up something quick on the way to church.

And that's been my day so far.
⛪

A happy day to you.

happyone : )

Someone remembers,

someone cares;

Your name is whispered in someones prayers.

~ Unknown

Comment replies:

Henny - Yes, I got tired of eating that favor after a while too or any other new flavor.  Then I go back to my favorite of either chippedy chocolaty or chocolate chip mint.  Haven't tried the butter almond yet.  I go more for the chocolate stuff.  That flavor sounds like one Ken would like.

The old barn

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55 degrees this morning and like yesterday there was some low clouds hanging around.

A bit of a breeze around too and it soon blew away the clouds.

I walked the Farm Loop.

Didn't see the goats today.  Can't help what wonder what they are getting up too.

The chickens were around

and Eva the cow was in the front pasture.

Tried get a picture of her but she just wouldn't look up.

I told her she missed her chance today to be on my blog.

The sunshine on these black-eyed Susan's caught my eye.

 Once back to town I walked around there and made one loop

around one of the cemeteries and then home.

The daisies at the end of my driveway are blooming no more

except for this last flower. : )

Walked 6.3 miles.

Sunrise 6:44

Sunset 7:51

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After breakfast I walked over the Sherry's,
returned her book and made an appointment to get my hair cut. 
I showed her the picture and she thought it was a good cut for me.

The big day is next Thursday, Sept 8th.

Tuesday is bowling day.

We left a little earlier than usual to do a few errands before bowling.

There were nine of us bowling today.

After bowling we did our food shopping at good ole Walmart.

We have passed by an old barn a good many times
and I always say someday I'm going to stop and take a picture of it.
Today we were driving and a light came on telling us that the back hatch was open.
We were right by the barn. : )
Ken got out to close the hatch and I took a couple of pictures.

Then zoomed in to get a closer look.
The colors got a bit washed out.

BLT's for supper tonight
and now time for a little relaxation.
Which includes some ice cream.   
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A happy day to you.

happyone  : )

"The mediocre teacher tells.

The good teacher explains.

The superior teacher demonstrates.

The great teacher inspires."

~ William Arthur Ward

Comment Replies:

BPW -  The blanket I'm making is neither knitting or crocheting - its weaving on a small 4 inch loom. 

Vee - We don't really get that high humidity up here but it has been a bit higher here this year.  Still not hot enough for us to use AC.

RK - Don't know now many off hand but it is a good many.  I'll have to ask and let you know.

Monday

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60 degrees with some low hanging clouds this morning but it wasn't long before the clouds moved along and left a sunny day.

First day back to school for the kids so saw lots of kids and school buses around town.

Most of the same bus drivers but also saw some new ones.

I'm sure the new ones will be waving to me before long too. 

Stayed in town this morning and walked up and town all the streets and also walked the cemeteries and the ball park loop.

In this picture I'm standing in one cemetery looking up towards the other one.

Kathy was out walking as well as Mike and a man that was walking a dog. 

George was in town too.

Lots of activity around town this morning.

Walked 6 miles.

Sunrise 6:43

Sunset 7:25

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Today the Super Seniors group from church met at Perkins in McHenry for lunch.
A nice bunch of people and always enjoy our outings.
I had French toast.

When we got back home, Ken went up to Happy Trails again
and I stayed home.

I worked on the latest baby weave-it blanket.
I have three of the strips sewn together.
Strips four and five are completed and just have to be sewn on
and have started row six.
There are ten rows to the whole blanket.
No problem getting this one done before the Baby Blankets group meets again.

And that's been my day.
Another good one.
: )

A happy day to you.

happyone : )

As long as there are tests,

there will be prayer in schools.

~ Unknown

What is it we're looking for

What Is It We're Looking For

So often we try to fill the void
With what the world provides,
In hope that we will find contentment
For our dreary, empty lives
But listen my friend it's only temporary
And is like chasing the wind,
The things of the world simply won't fulfil
The unhappiness we have within

We mustn't look for our fulfilment
In pleasures that won't satisfy,
For we can never fulfil what's lacking
Unless Christ comes inside
For God has created us to need Him
And fills us with His love,
So we won't need more worldly things,
Nor crave for ungodly stuff

We need to stop and ask ourselves,
What is it we're looking for?
And can we truly be fulfilled
If we don't allow the Lord
To come inside and bring the change
That's needed in our lives?
So we will find that true happiness
Is only found in Christ.

© By M.S.Lowndes

I Timothy 6:6-8

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

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Sunday's I still go for my morning walk but don't usually go the full 6 miles

because of lack of time.

Today I had time to walk 4.5 miles.

Just wanted to share a couple of pictures I took on my walk this morning.

This deer snorted at me before she took off back in the trees.

This picture of the rolled hay looked to me like

a giant white caterpillar coming across the field.

A blessed Sunday to you all.

Jesus loves you.

happyone : )

A cute little shed

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I left right at 6:30, my usual time and it was 60 degrees.

I was easily seen wearing my very bright orange shirt.

Walked the Farm Loop.

There were some low hanging clouds around but the sun was out too.

I'm about a mile from home here when I took this picture and will

be turning right a little ways up the road.

 Today the goats were by the front of the barn and there was

a cow out there with them.

The chickens were all running about there too.

Once back to town I made a loop around town and one of the cemeteries.

No people about today.

Walked 6.3 miles.

Sunrise 6:41

Sunset 7:55

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Made pancakes for breakfast even though I had them for supper yesterday at

iHop.  Four came with the order but I could only eat one of them.  Very filling.  Don't see how anyone could eat all four of them!! The best part was the raspberries, sauce and white chocolate sauce on it.

The pancake itself was just okay and I like Bisquick ones at home better.

After breakfast Ken headed up to Happy Trails.

I had to stay home and bake chocolate chip cookies.

It is my turn to bake the cookies for the kids at Sunday school tomorrow.

I baked 120 of them.

Ken came home for lunch and after lunch I went up to HT too.

I didn't do very much.
Added a little dead fall to the fence
and then I just sat in a chair in the shade and enjoyed the outdoors.

When we came home we grilled hamburgers outside for supper
and ate some more cucumber salad.

A happy day to you.

happyone : )

 A bend in the road is not the end of the road.....

unless you fail to make the turn.

~ Unknown

Comment replies:

Jann - Chris is my step-brother not my son.  

My son is David and nothing is wrong with his back. : )  In fact he can walk circles around me!!!

Debbie - I've seen these types of fences before.  It is just a good way to get rid of the dead fall.

RC - No, I didn't know that about ihop.  Thanks.

About my hair - Thanks for your input.  I've pretty much decided to go ahead and get it cut. I still want to talk to Sherry about it though.  She knows what I will like more than I do!  : )

A Pumpkin

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70 degrees this morning with the sun filtering down through a layer of thin clouds.  I walked around the farm loop.

The goats were out by the dairy farm and this time they were standing perfectly still.  : )  That's a change.

Saw geese flying above me a number of times.  So low that I could hear their wings flapping.

A doe and her two fawns were running in the soy bean field.

They continued into the corn field and disappeared.

I've seen black pansies in the store but don't think I've ever seen any planted in a yard until today.  I prefer the other colors.

Once back to town, I walked a loop around town and then headed home.

Saw Lee on his riding his bike but just waved because he was too far away so I didn't get any mints today.

 On older man was taking stroll around town.

John who used to wave and give me toot when he drove the mail truck through town doesn't drive the truck anymore.  There's a new man driving it now.

Wonder what happened to John.  Will have to ask next time I go to the post office.

When I got back to the house I picked a bunch more cucumbers out of the garden and then walked over to Connie's house who lives catty-corner to us and set them on her table on the deck.

Also put more seed out in the feeders for the birds out back.

By the time I got inside the house I had 

walked 6.6 miles.

Sunrise 6:40

Sunset 7:57

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Ken's off with his friend Edd today and I'm home hanging around the house.

It has been a warm sunny day.

I've done some laundry,

called my brother Chris,

read,

and just puttering around doing this and that.

Chris is still in a lot of pain at times after his back surgery and needs

to have a couple more surgeries.

He is in good spirits though and tries to be positive.

 This picture is me and Chris just about 22 years ago.
It was taken at his wedding.
It is the only picture I could find of him.

I'm toying with the idea of getting my hair cut short 

like in the picture again.

My hair is now completely gray.

Couldn't figure out what to cook for supper
and didn't feel like cooking anyway,
so we've decided to eat at the new iHop
that just opened not too long ago in Grantsville.

May your day be a happy one.

happyone : )

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry,

show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile."

~ Unknown

Comment replies:

Connie - No, I don't have a post about the natural fence I'm making but here is another picture from last year. There's not much to it.  I just collect the dead fall that falls and pile it up.  It helps to have a couple of trees to put it between as you can see in the picture.  You can pile it up as high as you want and as wide as you want.  It is a good place to put the dead fall instead of burning it and makes a nice home for animals.

A rainy walk and fingerprints

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Back up in the 60's this morning for walking, 65 and cloudy when I started out.  First  went to the post office and dropped some mail down the slot.

The post office is about a quarter mile from home.

Leaving the post office I looked up at the sky and thought

oh oh, I think it's going to rain.

And with that I felt the first few drops.

 I didn't mind though because it felt nice and cool.

By the time I got to the road leading to one of the cemeteries

it had started raining.

The rain stopped after a while and I started to dry off and then it started again.

I didn't see anyone else out.

Guess the rain keeps most people inside.

Walked 5.6 miles.

Sunrise 6:39

Sunset 7:58

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Walked was just a little shy of 6 miles because I had to be home by 8:00.

Right after breakfast we had to leave to get to church by 9:30

because it was Fingerprint Ministry day.

A lot of people showed up.  

 Someone counted 36 people that came to help throughout the day.

All six staple machines worked non stop.

As usual I worked one of them.

We worked from 9:30 to 3:00 with a break at 12:00 for lunch

and got over 6500 of the book of Romans put together.

Still doing the ones in Spanish.

Time to go and make supper.

Salads with left over chicken from the other day.

Hope your day was a happy one.

happyone : )

"Weave in faith and God will find the thread."

~ Unknown

Comment replies:

Kim - The dead fall I referred to yesterday are dead branches that fall from the trees.  I stack them up and make a natural fence with them.  This is a picture from last Oct.

A bird bath

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57 degrees this morning, no breeze and sunny.

Stayed around town today and did all my walk up and down

all the streets in no particular order.

Made the usual loops around both cemeteries

and the ball park loop too.

The lighting caught my eye on the trees and the grass so took a picture.

Saw a few rabbits hopping around by one of the cemeteries.
Only person I saw was Kathy.
A quiet morning around town.

Walked 6 miles
Sunrise 6:38
Sunset 8:00
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Stayed home in the morning doing a few things around done around the house.
My usual routine.
Then did some laundry, a little housework,
and then wrote out a few cards for the prison ministry.

Ken was up at Happy Trails and after lunch I joined him up there.

Ken is taking some pallets apart here and the wood will be used inside the cabin.
Once we use the boards I'll post a picture of how we used them.

I picked up deadfall and put it on the natural fence I started last year.
Walking around I spotted this colorful fungus.

Look at this neat big rock we found and
thought what a great bird bath it would make. 
When we add to the water feature back at the house we are going
to incorporate this in it some how.

The weather was delightful today.
Sunny with a breeze and in the 70's.
How blessed we are to have Happy Trails.
: )

Hope your day was a happy one.

happyone : )

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My constitution questions don't seem to be very popular. : )

But here is the answer to yesterdays question.

The 6 founding fathers of the constitution were.

George Washington

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Franklin

James Madison

Alexander Hamilton

Tuesday

The other side of the barn in yesterday's picture.

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A nice cool 54 degrees this morning.  

The sun isn't up yet when I leave now but once it was up it stayed out so I had a nice sunny walk.

Walked the Farm Loop.

Not much happening at the dairy farm.

The few cows in the front pasture barley raised their heads from eating to look at me.

Looking up was an interesting looking sky.

 And I've noticed the geese are once again flying around.

Looks like they are flying to the moon.  : )

Once back to town, I walked straight on through and a little ways up Barn Sale before turning around and heading back home.

Didn't see Kathy walking but I did see her car parked so she was around walking somewhere.

Walking past the car dealer I saw a woman and her daughter walking around looking at cars.  The daughter stopped to look at a purple Challenger.
With a little laugh her mother said,
"You have to wake up and stop dreaming."

I wonder what kind of car she ended up with.

Walked 6.2 miles

Sunrise 6:37

Sunset 8:01

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It's Tuesday - bowling day.

We drove to bowling in the truck and towed the trailer with the tractor in it so

 we could stop at the church to pick up the left over mulch that wasn't needed.  

Tractor makes putting the mulch in the truck an easy task. : )

There were 7 of us bowling today.
No record breaking scores this week for Ken or me, but it was for Rebecca.
It was the first time she broke 100 with 105.
: )

We still have some of the zucchini chocolate cake left and I think I'll have a piece of that for my snack.  I'm not going to have ice cream with it this time. 

Hope your day was happy one.

happyone : )

Comment replies:

Bethany - You got it exactly right and yes it was a trick question.  I guess no one else had to answer after reading your comment. : )  Well done!!

Jedidja - No, haven't see the hawk again.

Henny Penny - Oh my aren't you nice !! : )  Thank you.

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I have another constitution question for you.

Can you name the 6 founding fathers?

Will name them tomorrow.

Bethany answered yesterday's question spot on.  

The answer was 0 and she gives a detailed answer.

Moving the raised beds

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It was a cloudy morning with no breeze and the temperature was a cool 58 degrees.  Lovely walking weather.  I wore a long sleeve shirt which I haven't needed for quite a while.

Started my walking going over to the laundromat and putting up a flyer for a church activity on the bulletin board there.

Then on to the post office to put one up there also.

Walked around town.  Up and down all the streets and the two cemeteries and the ball park loop.  Walked a little way down the main road towards HT, turned around and walked back home.

The man walking his two barking dogs was out and also saw Kathy.

Walked 6.2 miles.

Nearing home I was thinking how blessed I am that at 65 years old I can still walk 6 miles every morning like it was nothing.  I am so thankful. : )

Sunrise 6:37

Sunset 8:03

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Yesterday we had a new visitor at the bird feeders. I'm pretty sure it is a red tailed hawk.  Sorry for the poor picture but it was taken from inside the house through a screen and zoomed in. 

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Still have zucchini we are trying to use up.  Yesterday we had some for dinner.  I roasted up some potatoes with the zucchini and had chicken along with it.  I thought it made for nice picture.

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This morning Ken worked on the lawn mower that I broke on Saturday.
I helped some and we got the bent hook straightened and the deck back on
but then it wouldn't start.
Ken is very good at fixing things but this just had him stumped.
So we had to bring it down the road to the hardware store and have it looked at.
Hope it can be fixed for a reasonable price.

Since the tractor was here at the house Ken moved the two high raised gardens.
No harm was done to the tomatoes during the making of this picture. : )

 When they were done being moved this is where they ended up.
Where you see dirt to the right for now we are going to fill
in with more crushed rock.
But eventually we will extend the water feature to there.
Not this year though.
Sometime in the future.

The weather was delightful today.
The clouds gave way to sunshine
and it was in the low 70's.

After supper I went out front and weeded for an hour in the daisy garden.
Still a few daisies blooming but not many.
Always a bit sad when they end.
But next year they will be back and there will be more of them.
: )

Hope your day was a happy one.
happyone : )

A trivia question for you about the constitution.

How many times is the word democracy used?

Answer tomorrow.

Read the Bible through

Read The Bible Through

When life is filled with heartaches,

And you know not what to do;

Dark days will look brighter,

When you READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH.

When burdens crush like heavy weights,

And you know not what to do;

Burdens seem to grow much lighter,

When you READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH.

When a fierce wind your life shakes,

And you know not what to do,

Days seem much more peaceful,

When you READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH.

So do not trust your feelings,

And friends may fail you too,

But Christ will seem much nearer,

When you READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH.

 II Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not be be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

A blessed Sunday to you.

Jesus loves you.

happyone : )

"When we put our cares in His hands,

He puts His peace in our hearts."

~ Unknown

The lawn mower, open window and ?

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This morning it was 62 degrees, cloudy and very still.

I walked the Farm Loop.

Passing by the dairy farm a few of the chickens were wandering around and the two goats were there too and they stopped running around to look at me when I passed by.  The two of them are always together.  I'm sure they get into all kinds of mischief. : )

Instead of walking the rest of my walk around town, I went around the industrial park.

Since it is Saturday it was quiet there and I didn't see anyone.

It is nice that I have a few options of where to walk.  I like that I can just walk out the door and go walking.  

Walked 6 miles.
Sunrise 6:35
Sunset 8:06

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Ken went up to Happy Trails again while I stayed at home.

Walked over to the library to pick up the next book to read for the book club.

Had to mow the lawn and wanted to get that done in the morning.

I got the back yard and one side yard done without a problem. 
Then I accidentally ran into the a board which edges the mulch and then

  the mower wasn't cutting right and the grass started bunching up.
After a while I noticed the deck with the blades was very low to the ground.
I got the mower back up to the shed and by then the deck was on the ground.

Tried mowing the rest of the lawn with the push mower but that didn't seem to be cutting the grass very good either.  Blades must be dull.  Besides the self propelled part is broken and it was hard pushing it around.

So I called Ken and he came home lunch time.

He tried to get the deck back on the mower but it was heavy and he couldn't see good so he went back up to HT and brought the tractor home.
Even with the tractors help we couldn't get it back on.  

One of the brackets was bent which holds it on.

So that was the end of the mowing for the day.

That will teach me to slow down a bit!!

 We had a fast and heavy rain shower and I had forgotten to close the window in the dining room.  Table, chair and rug in got soaking wet.

Funny thing the sun was shining too.

I was too busy out the back door taking a picture of the rain. : )

They say things happen in threes.

Wonder what else I'll do today. : )

Hope your day was a happy one.

happyone : )

"Keep your face to the sunshine 

and you cannot see the shadow.

It's what sunflowers do."

~ Helen Keller

This is the tallest of my sunflowers.  Must be at least 9 feet tall.