In a mad moment on a sleepless night (at around 3.00 a.m.), I ordered these.
The lady who makes them had a going-out-of-business sale, and they arrived in the mail a few days ago.
They were for pierced ears (my ears aren't), but I remembered I had converters in a box somewhere, along with a pair of small needle-nosed pliers. I found them and got to work, getting rid of the wires and attaching the converters. They are prettier than the photo shows, but it will give you an idea and this old girl still loves her dangly earrings, says I smiling.
We didn't get as much snow as we were expecting, but hubs found it impossible to clear what we did have off the driveway. There is a thick sheet of ice on top. No melting as it's going to remain bitter for several days, and supposedly more snow next Saturday. We have a steep driveway that can be treacherous -we have a history. Fortunately, we stocked up beforehand.
The sun is shining outside at least, and Sophie Squirrel is doing okay, though she's a wee bit cold!
The Kissing Bunnies, as you well know, have their love to keep them warm.
I couldn't help but put in a word of the day in the photo above. Son and daughter-in-law sent these.
My grateful thanks to the person who plowed our road early this morning, and for that matter to all who go out in this weather to take care of us and keep us safe. Bless your hearts, you deserve our never-ending gratitude. When we eventually can dig our way down to the road, we'll be ready to get out of here.
What did we do on our snow-bound day? We read, I put this post together and we made our dinner, Creamy Beef with Butterfly Pasta. It was very good and we added a veggie salad on the side. I will share it next Monday.
Take good care of yourselves out there and I hope all is well where you are. Stay safe and warm.
For our international friends, to translate the words on the 5th photo down.
Chionophile.
A person who loves, enjoys or thrives in the snow and cold weather is called a chionophile. From Greek, this term refers to someone who finds joy and peace during winter, particularly when the landscape is covered in snow.
I hope everyone has gotten through the snow and ice storms without anything untoward happening. I am writing this on Sunday (the 25th) and as I type, sleety snow is falling and has been falling since last night. We have had about eight inches so far, but snow will fall for the rest of the day, so it remains to be seen what we will end up with. I won't be going anywhere for a while, not even for a walk in the snow as I know there will be a layer of ice to contend with. I have learned from experience, that we do not mix and I don't want any more falls or sprained ankles or knees as in years' past. So, safety first and please take good care of yourselves and stay safe out there if you have to be somewhere.
Now for this week's recipe. We still have some time to go before Saint Patrick's Day, but as I didn't make anything new this week, I decided to get this out early. You can find the original recipe here. Lynne is the host of Cook and Be Merry. Unfortunately, her blog has been closed since August 11th, 2016, but her recipes can still be viewed. Thank you Lynne for leaving us your delicious recipes to browse through.
Corned Beef and Cabbage - serves 4 1 3 pound corned-beef brisket, in plastic pouch with brine and spices 1 onion 3 whole cloves 2 Turkish bay leaves 1 chili de arbol 4 carrots 5 small rutabagas 1 large russet potato 1 medium green cabbage. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place corned beef, brine and spices in a large Dutch oven or deep pot and put enough water in the pot so that 4 inches of water is over the top of the meat. Bring to a boil, skimming the surface to get rid of any froth. Cut an onion in half lengthwise, peel and stick cloves into each half. When the water comes to a boil, continue skimming to remove as much debris as possible. Add the onion, bay leaves and chile de arbol to the pot. Cover pot tightly with aluminum foil and tight fitting lid. Place covered pot in oven and braise for about 3 hours, or until a fork easily pierces the meat. Carefully remove the foil taking care not to bend over the pot as steam will escape in a rush and you don't want to burn your face. A half hour before the meat is done, peel the carrots and cut in half lengthwise. Peel the rutabagas and potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Remove the tough outer leaves of cabbage and cut head in half, top to bottom, through the core. Cut each half into 3 wedges, through the core. With large tongs, remove brisket to a platter, covered with foil to keep warm. Bring the broth to a boil and then place cabbage, carrots, rutabaga and potatoes in pot. Add enough water to cover above the vegetables by an inch. Place cover on pot and leave about a 1/2 inch opening for steam to escape. (Again, please remember not to bend over pot when you remove the cover later.) Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Cook vegetables for about 15 minutes or until very tender. Test and remove to platter if one is done before the others. Remove vegetables to a warmed platter. Place brisket back in the broth to reheat, then remove to a cutting board to slice into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick slices. Place slices on a platter with the vegetables for serving. Pour broth through your finest sieve into saucepan to remove all particles. Pour enough broth over beef and vegetables to suit your taste. Serve in flat soup bowls, passing extra broth at the table.
Irish Soda Bread - makes 1 loaf
This recipe also comes from Lynne's blog and you can see it here. I actual have it on my blog already as I made it again back in 2022. 4 cups all purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon Kosher salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 4 tablespoons cold salted butter, in thin slices 1 cup raisins 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 cups buttermilk Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly coat with cooking spray. In large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles course meal. Stir in raisins. Make a well in flour mixture and pour in beaten egg and buttermilk. Mix with a wooden spoon until all flour is incorporated into the buttermilk. Liberally dust work surface with flour. Transfer dough to surface and sprinkle with flour. With flour dusted hands, form the dough into into a ball that is relatively smooth. Place baking sheet next to the dough work surface and place dough ball on sheet. Dough is very soft so use hands to scoop up and surround ball to transfer to the sheet. Using a serrated knife, score top of dough with an x-shape, half an inch deep. Bake about 40 minutes or until bread is golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped with a knife. Transfer bread to rack to let cool briefly. Serve bread warm or at room temperature, with lots of lovely butter. To stay in with the Irish theme I use Kerrigold (an Irish butter) because I grew up on it and love its taste, but obviously any butter of choice would do. There will be left-overs and I am thinking it would a) make great toast or b) great French toast.
What did we think of these recipes? First I'll talk about the Corned Beef and Cabbage. Gregg gave this dish a 10 out of 10, so thank you Lynne.
I couldn't find the chili de arbol. I saw the jalapenos in the store and that's what I used. I deseeded it because I wasn't sure how hot it would actually be and I aired on the side of caution. As it turned out it wasn't that hot, and next time I will probably try leaving half the seeds in, or maybe a quarter, or maybe an eighth. I think you get the picture. I also did not know where to find Turkish Bay leaves and used the. regular Italian. Irish Soda Bread, a great accompaniment to the above. I had never made this before either, and was surprised at how soft the dough was. You really do need to flour your hands really well, and also have that board next to the prepared pan to transfer it, as Lynne mentioned in her recipe. I had to finagle the dough mixture a bit as mine turned out real sticky. I think it was because when I cut in the butter, I couldn't get it to look like coarse meal, so I added three extra tablespoons of butter. I don't think I needed that at all. However, after adding a little more flour it was fine, and I was delighted when it turned out looking just like it should. We have leftovers, which is always a plus.
I have left the addresses for both recipes in full below, for you to copy and paste in case you prefer not using the links above.
I found him on Dartmoor in Devonshire many years ago. He was a friendly enough fellow but I didn't get too close because they roam free on the moors and are semiferal (my camera had a zoom lens). You can read more about them at this link. Horses/ponies and their ilk are beautiful animals! I don't get a chance to be around them that often, so these memories that I have of my short time with them, are treasured memories.
Blogger has been having a problem with the 'reply' button, and I haven't been able to respond to any of your comments on my own blog as the dialog box won't open. Hopefully, this will clear up soon as I am told this has been happening intermittently since last year. This is the first time I have had it myself. Hopefully it will get back to normal within a day or two. I will still be visiting your blogs as soon as I can. Has anyone else had this problem?
Today (1-24-26) we are expecting 10 inches of snow followed by ice. It was 21 inches and hopefully it will be even less. It is not supposed to start until approximately 11.00 p.m. These photos for today were taken a few years' ago after another snowstorm. Our feathered friend arrived after I had filled the feeders and the water bowl. He stayed around long enough for me to take these photos.
Timothy the Tufted Titmouse is thinking about that one....
and finally came to this non-conclusion.
Here's a bit of information I found online: "Birds will eat snow if water is not readily available but providing fresh, liquid water to birds in freezing temperatures is essential for their hydration and feather maintenance. You should not give them hot water. Use a heated birdbath to keep water just above freezing (36 to 40 degrees F.), as too-hot water can freeze on feathers and cause severe issues. Unfrozen water helps them maintain feathers for insulation."
He sighed and went back to important matters.
That's how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all are safe and warm this weekend.
For our International friends to translation widget on the side bar.
Photo 1:
"Hello, I am a Tufted Titmouse. I will be out in a minute. I am sprucing up my tuft."
Photo 2:
"Here I am, it's not perfect but the lady with the black box says I am always beautiful."
This delightful equine is threatening to turn up for my next birthday.
2.
Now, see here, don’t take this personally horsey but keep that foot firmly on the ground, and then you can, “Hi-Yo Silver away!” Move those feet in the direction of ‘tham thar hills and ride off into the sunset’.
Maybe some of you are too young to remember Silver. My dear other half and I used to watch his rider’s show on opposite sides of the Atlantic when we were kids, me with my dad and he with his brother, 3,000 miles apart. Little did we know!
You can see what I mean below but if the video doesn’t open up, which it just might not do as it has with others if you view in a couple of years or so, you can copy and paste
https://youtu.be/hxIuIxqo2So?si=4Sh4wEjHc63gn7-q
They don’t make them like that anymore, do they?
How I used to love watching our brave hero and his equally brave companion. “Who was that masked man?” I don’t know but he saved the day many, many times. He was one of the good guys!
3.
4.
My coffee shop chain took the brownies off their menu a few months ago. They brought them back later. I don’t really know the true story, but I am assuming sales took a nose-dive and many miffed people like me wrote a lot of letters to corporate headquarters. No, I didn’t really write any letters, telepathically maybe, and talked to the baristas and asked, “What the blue blazes did they do that for?" No, I didn't say that either, they have no control and don't need any more of the grumpies directed their way. Not long afterward, maybe a month(?), the brownie was back. I write my own scenarios. “Don’t get between me and my brownies”, they were told. I think I heard that somewhere.
…so it’s brownies and then it’s laughter.
“Knock, knock!”
“Who’s there?”
“Bake!”
“Bake who?”
“Bake no mistake, those brownies are mine.”
Groan if you must - eye rolling allowed too.
Be “Twix” you and me, I could do with some chocolate right now, but how about a recipe instead?
And as far as their claim is below, you will have to be the judge and let me know please.
5.
Okay, so when you sit down with your coffee - and your brownie - you should also remember…
6.
And
7.
Me? Did I say we had cake?
8.
But that’s okay, it’s going to be a wonderful ride.
9.
Here are a couple of cake recipes. I have never made any of the odds and bods recipes, so you will have to let me know what you think please, if you decide to make them.
10.
How about a new word?
11.
Or two.
12.
Or three.
13.
Is this another way of saying ‘If life gives you lemons, make lemonade?’
All that being said, a word to the wise and…
14.
I have first-hand experience on this. An old photo somewhere, of me having cut my own bangs. I must have been very moody that day, but I usually had my dog Skipper to tell all my woes to. I was about 6 or 7 and still remember the look of shock from my mother - and no doubt - my dog - after the deed was done and hair was found all over the floor, still with scissors in hand. It didn’t help that I was getting my school photo taken the next day - a true story.
15.
I found the mini advertisement recently. It shows a mini which was the make of the first car I owned. I have mentioned this before somewhere on this blog. I saved up a few years for my old car, paid about £300 for it, and then not in full. It took me two years to pay the rest. It wasn’t as smart looking as the one in the old advertisement, a dull battleship grey, second hand, with a dash of rust sprinkled here and there. I didn’t care, it got me from A to B and that’s all that interested me. It carried me many miles until I sold it to my good friend Jane. From what I heard, it carried her many miles too. In 1970, this new mini shown in the picture cost £641 (British Pounds) and was roughly $1,600 to $1,700 USD. This takes me back. I lived in a very small country village, and tootled around those lanes just like the one below.
Another memory is of my dear mother who never learned to drive. At times I took her shopping, or I shopped for her on my way back from work. She was very proud of me for learning how to drive but she was always a nervous passenger. Her white knuckles as she gripped what she could on the passenger door attested to the fact. I didn’t take it personally as she was the same way with dad.
Dad tried to teach her how to drive but after she wouldn’t let go of the starter on the dashboard, several times, and kept flooding the engine, dad got a bit cross and she refused to get behind the wheel after that.
He tried to teach me too, but it became evident that I would be better off with professional driving lessons, he said, which he paid for. I think he had had enough trying to teach mum and...
the writing was on the wall when he told me to turn right from the main road (what we knew as the ring-road) into one of those country lanes, and I didn't break until I was right on top of the lane. We skidded around on two wheels, almost side-ways as I channeled Jackie Stewart racing in the Indianapolis 500.
To give dad credit, after asking me to stop in the farmer's gate so that we could both calm ourselves, he gave me an explanation about slowing down well in advance of any right or left-hand turns, which he had probably already told me about during three weeks of practicing on an empty parking lot. He never lost his cool, even though his face had drained of color and his knuckles were the same shade as my mother’s.
My sister bought herself a Lambretta, and “No way I am going to get on the back of that thing”, Mum's words, and "I think you can go get training lessons from a professional on the parking lot first." Dad's words.
16.
Talking about which, it’s time for me to go to the store.
17.
I am home now,
changed into my comfies and made myself a cup of tea. My aching joints were in need of oiling. At this stage of my life I tell myself…
18.
Or a healthy, human equivalent. I prefer taking cod liver oil capsules. WD-40 is a product that among many uses like taking annoying, sticky labels off items such as cups and saucers after purchase, also protects against rust and corrosion."
No photo today but (Thursday, January 8th, 2025) as my dear other half was taking the trash bins down to the curb, a fox ran out between our houses, crossed the road and disappeared between other neighbors houses only feet away from him. It was so light on its feet, he didn’t hear a sound. A week later we saw two running across the front of a house, disappearing into the wooded area at the back. We have several in our area.
19.
I guess that is more than enough for today,
and I hope you have a great one.
Thanks for popping in.
For our international friends who use my translation widget on the sidebar, I have numbered all the images. Hopefully I have everything lined up properly.
Image 1:
“Good morning, wishing you a day full of whimsy and joy.”
Image 2:
“For your birthday Silver the horse will count out your age by pawing the ground.”
Image 3:
Short video of The Lone Ranger.
Image 4:
“They say laughter is the best medicine…They lie, it’s brownies.”
Image 5:
The Best Brownies in the World
Ingredients:
1 cup melted butter - 1 cup sugar - 1/2 cup brown sugar - 2 eggs - 1 teaspoon vanilla - 3/4 cup of cocoa powder - 1/2 cup flour
Mix butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in cocoa and flour. Pour into a pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Centigrade) for 25 minutes.
Image 6:
“What’s the best part of aging? Realizing that pajamas are perfectly acceptable at 4.00 p.m."
Image 7:
"We heard there was cake!"
Image 8:
"I have reached the age when my train of thought often leaves the station without me."
Image 9 and 10:
1950's Americana Vintage Vanilla Cake and Tea Cake. If anyone is interested, leave a comment and an email, and I will send it to you as it is written on the recipe cards.
Image 11:
"Forwallowed - overwhelmed, exhausted or worn out, often due to excessive effort or difficulty."
Image 12:
"Seatherny - the serenity one feels when listening to the chirping of birds."
Image 13:
"Lemonading - a way of approaching problems or challenges in life that involves remaining positive and optimistic and seeing them as opportunities for growth or improvement."
Image 14:
"I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you are going through a bad time, don't cut your bangs."
Image 15:
"Skipper after I shared all my problems."
Image 16:
It is a bit tiny and even I had trouble reading the writing so I haven't given any more information.
Image 17:
"Welcome to your senior years, where you get mad when they rearrange the grocery store."
Image 18:
"I'm not old, I'm vintage...and apparently I need WD-40."
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