Taking It Easy

The layout is Rich and I in front of Bridal Veil Falls in California. This was a scrapping challenge on Scrap101. The challenge was to take a black and white photo and alter it and make a layout. I decided to print the photo in black and white and then in color. I cut out Rich and I from the colored photo and pop-dotted it onto the black and white photo.

After spending yesterday baking I'm taking it easy today..........Rich's orders. I was able to put a few goodies in the freezer after my baking session. I made 2 loaves banana bread.........1 for us and 1 for Dad and Mae, Five-Star Brownies...........Rick took these to work for everyone's break this morning, 3 dozen Poppy Seed Muffins, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. Rich had buttered Banana Bread this morning for breakfast and 2 more slices in his lunch.

I did end up with Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars in the freezer. Oh well!!!! Maybe next time I will get more in the freezer.

A few days ago I mentioned I would post a recipe for Corn Cob Jelly. Here it is:

CORN COB JELLY

12 corn cobs.......saved from cutting corn off cob
1 package pectin
4 cups sugar
Several drops of yellow food coloring

Combine cobs with 4 cups water in pan. Boil for 10 minutes. Strain liquid; measure 3 cups. Cool. Combine 3 cups liquid and pectin in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add sugar. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Skim off foam. Stir in coloring. Pour into jars; seal. Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Makes 2 - 3 pints. This jelly tastes like honey!

Here's my Five-Star Brownies recipe:

FIVE-STAR BROWNIES

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup shortening, melted
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup chopped nuts, optional

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until well mixed. Add margarine and shortening. Combine flour, cocoa and salt; stir into egg mixture and mix well. Add nuts if desired. Line a 13x9x2" baking pan with foil and grease the foil; pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until brownies test done with a wooden pick. Cool in pan. Turn brownies out of pan onto a cookie sheet; remove foil. Place a wire rack over brownies; turn over and remove cookie sheet. Cut with a star cutter or into bars. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Well, I'm off to rest and finish some Artist Trading Cards. Don't laugh..........I've got my feet up on a shelf on the computer desk. I know...........my idea of resting and Rich's are different.

Autumn

It's so hard to believe that tomorrow is the first day of Autumn. Where did the summer go?????????

The little scarecrow is a paper piecing I did for a swap a couple of years ago. I thought maybe some of my scrapping friends might like to make one to use on Autumn layouts.

I've continued being busy with food preserving. I'm trying to make sauerkraut this year. So far it's looking good. Rich loved sauerkraut while stationed in Germany. He doesn't like the sauerkraut in cans or plastic bags from the store. He says they are too salty. So I found a German recipe for making sauerkraut. The difference is that the German recipe calls for sugar to be added with the salt and water. All the other recipes just call for salt and water. We'll know in a few weeks if it turns out or not.

Off to make out my menu for the next couple weeks and then grocery list for shopping tomorrow. Rich and I like to get early on the Saturdays we grocery shop.............we're talking being at the grocery store by 6am. It is so nice and quiet at that time of the morning. You don't have the people that think going to the grocery store means blocking the whole isle while they tell everyone about their aches and pains. Believe me I've ran into this more than once.........and it really annoys me.

Farewell to the Crocodile Hunter

Bindi's heart-wrenching address.

The emotional climax at the Steve Irwin memorial service was, for most, eight-year-old Bindi Irwin's speech about her father.

Without a tremour in her voice and even managing a smile, the Crocodile Hunter's daughter read from a sheet of paper, tracing the words with a finger.

Bindi - who shared a special bond with the Crocodile Hunter and was increasingly involved in his work - was greeted with a standing ovation as she walked to the podium from where she had sat with mum Terri and little brother Bob.

This is her speech in full:

"My Daddy was my hero - he was always there for me when I needed him.

He listened to me and taught me so many things but most of all he was fun.

I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did.

He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.

He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.

I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.

I have the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day.

When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals.

Daddy made this place his whole life and now it's our turn to help Daddy."

This article came from the Daily Telegraph - September 20, 2006

What an honor it must be to Steve watching down over his family to hear such a beautiful eulogy from his daughter. A eulogy that came straight from her heart.

Farewell Crocodile Hunter!

Tagged at Tanya's blog

I WANT: to live long enough to sit on the front porch with Rich and remember the olden days.
I HAVE: a husband who loves me unconditionally.
I WISH: that there was world wide peace and we wouldn't have to be afraid of terrorists.
I HATE: being ripped off at the gas stations.
I MISS: my best friend Danny, who died from complications of ALS.
I HEAR: nothing. It's quiet in the house.
I WONDER: who is going to read this and be tagged.
I REGRET: a few things in my life. But I know I can't go back and change anything.
I AM NOT: a smoker and I don't drive fast anymore.
I DANCE: like nobody else in this world.
I SING: while listening to the radio or CD player when scrapping.
I CRY: too much.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: in the mood to be sociable.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: all kinds of crafts, home cooked meals and scrapbook layouts.
I WRITE: with a medium point pen.
I CONFUSE: myself.
I NEED: to hurry up and finish this as it's bedtime.
I SHOULD: exercise more.
I START: crafting and don’t want to stop. LOL
I FINISH: ed with this right now.

Consider yourself tagged!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Canning, Freezing and Drying Fruits and Veggies

I've been busy canning, freezing and drying fruits and veggies since I last posted.

Bobbie brought me tomatoes when she visited. I dried 4 trays of tomato slices, and made 6 - 1 1/2-pints of Zesty Tomatoes to put in the freezer. These are like Ro-tel or diced tomatoes with green chilies.

I bought a dozen ears of sweet corn and cut it off the cob for packages in freezer. I saved the corn cobs to make into Corncob Jelly. I will post the recipe later.

I have a batch of Crisp Sweet Pickles that will be canned tomorrow.

Dad and Mae have continued to keep me supplied in Blackberries. I've put several 1 cup packages of whole berries in the freezer. I have juiced some of the berries and put that in pint containers to make jelly as we need it. I had blackberry juice left from last year and I made 5 pints of Blackberry Jelly yesterday.

I had Concord Grape juice left from last year and I made 5 pints of Concord Grape Jelly this morning. Soon it will be time to pick Concord Grapes at Bobbie's. Of course, we have to share with Lucy. I never in my life seen a dog that will pick grapes from the vine and eat them.

I dried 4 trays of zucchini slices. I love to use them as chips and dip in Ranch Dressing. I grated some of the zucchini for the freezer in 1 cup packages. I will use these for breads, muffins, and soups.

I do hope this weekend to get some Bartlett pears to can and dry. I'll also check the farmer's market for bargains on fruits and veggies. Last time I was at the farmer's market I found a huge bag of green peppers for $2..............they are now all dried and waiting to be added to my recipes.

That's all for today.

Crocodile Hunter - Steve Irwin.........1962 - 2006

It has been sad around our home since hearing about the death of Crocodile Hunter - Steve Irwin. We didn't know him personally, other than watching him on TV. It still feels like we lost a member of our family. Rich and I both love all the creatures that God put on this earth..........well maybe not spiders for me. Steve was like that...........from the biggest animal to the tiniest of animals he loved them all. The world lost a great conservationist the day that Steve died. Our prayers go out to Teri, Bindie and baby Bob and all the staff at Australian Zoo.