Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside. Elizabeth von Arnim

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Saturday, January 02, 2016

Blue Sky Today

Started walking at 7:30 this morning because once again I got up late.  It was 28 degrees with a cold wind blowing under cloudy skies.  I put on an extra layer and stayed warm.  It must take me 10 minutes to get all my layers on. : )

I walked the town route and during the last mile I looked up at the sky and look what I saw.  Some blue sky.  It's been a while so I took a picture!!  We ended up having a sunny day. 
I didn't see anyone walking but I did see quite a few cars and trucks driving through town.  I know a lot of the vehicles but not all the people in them but they see me most days and wave or toot at me.  : )  They probably call me the walking lady!!

Walked 5.7 miles.
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A couple of the young kids from church have expressed an interest in coming to see Ken's train layout again so he invited them and a couple others with their parents to come over tomorrow after church.  One of the young boys Evan, is especially interested and wants to build a small layout of his own. 

Every time people come to see the trains I always have some Chocolate Chip Cookies to give them so today I baked another batch.  We'll also have a light lunch of sandwiches.

I've been home today doing a bit of this and that done around the house and now it's almost time for supper.  Just hot dogs and macaroni salad tonight.

Still have more knitting to do on the scarf and would like to get some reading done too.

Hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )

Understanding a person does not mean condoning;
it only means that one does not accuse him 
as if one were God or a judge placed above him.
~ Erich Fromm

Friday, January 01, 2016

Bagels

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Had a fun time last night playing Mexican Train as the year 2016 rolled in.  There were quite a few people playing different games but most people left early. There were two  Mexican Train games going though and we all stayed past midnight.  We stopped at midnight and Pastor said a prayer and then we continued playing.  Didn't get to bed till 2:00.  I don't remember the last time we stayed out on New Year's Eve but I do know that it was one of the best times we've had on New Year's Eve. : )  
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Since we went to bed late my day started later than usual this morning.  I woke up at 8:00 and was out the door by 8:15. I still seemed early though because it was so cloudy.  It was 28 degrees but the wind made it seem colder.  There were a few snow flurries flying around but that was all.   It was just a bit colder up on the mountain top because the fog froze on the tree tops.
I walked around town and even though it was later in the day there were still no people around.

It was a good coin day to start the new year off. 
Found 62 cents - 2 quarters, a dime and two pennies.
I walked 5.7 miles.
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All the Christmas decorations came down today and the house is now back to normal.  : )

Ken likes bagels and I've been meaning to try to make them for quite a while now and today I gave it a try.

The little recipe booklet that came with the bread machine has a bagel dough recipe but not how to make the bagels so I made the dough and then looked on line for a recipe. 

Bagels
Bagel dough ingredients:
1 and 3/4 cups water
1 and 1/2 teaspoons honey
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons bread yeast
  • When the dough comes out of the bread machine punch down and divide dough into 12 balls.
  • Allow to rest for 4 minutes.
  • Bring 2 quarts of water to boil.
  • With your thumb, make a hole in each ball of dough and pull open about 2 inches, making a bagel shape.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place the shaped dough onto a cookie sheet and cover for 10  minutes.
  • Lower heat under water for it to be simmering.
  • Drop 2 or 3 bagels at a time into the water for a bout 45 seconds, turning each once.
  • Drain and place on greased baking sheets.
  • Brush tops with beaten egg white.
  • Bake for 35 minutes turning once for evening browning.
  • Bagels are done when they are golden brown.
They turned out great.  Nice and crispy on the outside and soft inside.  Ken says they don't compare to the store bought kind.  

I'll be knitting on the scarf later and when I get finished with this one I think it will be quite a while before I make another.  After 15 of them I need a break.

That's it for this first day of the new year.
Hope you had a happy day.
happyone : )
There is a great man who makes every man feel small.
But the real great man is the man 
who makes every man feel great.
~ G K Chesterton