SCENIC SUNDAY

Rural New Jersey

 

 

100 year old farmstead

 

Recipe-Zucchini

Zucchini Bake

1 large zucchini

salt and pepper

2 medium tomatoes

Parmesan cheese

 

Slice the zucchini into 1/2- to 1- inch thick slices.

Place in a shallow round glass baking dish; salt and pepper to taste.

Cover with waxed paper.  MIcrowave on high 5 minutes, until zucchini is partially cooked.

Top with tomato slices, sprinkle with cheese.

Cover; microwave 1 1/2 minutes or until the tomato is heated. 

Cook all fresh vegetables on high t0 capture ultimate goodness, nutrition and tenderness.

 

Serves 4 to 6.

Recipe from:

Bed and Breakfast at Menton  Inn, Alabama.

Ruby Tuesday- 4th of July Celebration

Patriotic little girl smiles!

Boom, Boom

4th of July Song: Our Country by John Mellencamp

WISHING  A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY  TO ALL.   HAVE A GREAT GRILLING WEEKEND!

   FOR MOUTH-WATERING GRILLING RECIPES, SEE BELOW.

 LYRICS :

               “    OUR    COUNTRY    ”           

                                                                              By JOHN MELLENCAMP

Well I can stand beside
Ideals I think are right
And I can stand beside
The idea to stand and fight
I do believe
There’s a dream for everyone
This is our country

There’s room enough here
For science to live
And there’s room enough here
For religion to forgive
And try to understand
All the people of this land
This is our country

From the east coast
To the west coast
Down the Dixie Highway
Back home
This is our country

That poverty could be
Just another ugly thing
And bigotry would be
Seen only as obscene
And the ones that run this land
Help the poor and common man
This is our country

From the east coast
To the west coast
Down the Dixie Highway
Back home
This is our country

The dream is still alive
Some day it will come true
And this country it belongs
To folks like me and you
So let the voice of freedom
Sing out through this land
This is our country

From the east coast
To the west coast
Down the Dixie Highway
Back home
This is our country

From the east coast
To the west coast
Down the Dixie Highway
Back home
This is our country

RECIPE :

COLA BARBECUE SAUCE

1 tABLESPOON EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

1/2 TEASPOON GRANULATED GARLIC

1/2 TEASPOON PURE CHILE POWDER

1/2 TEASPOON GROUND CUMIN

2/3 CUPS KETCHUP

1/3 CUP COLA

2 TABLESPOONS SOY SAUCE

2 TABLESPOONS CIDER VINEGAR

1/4 TEASPOON FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

1/8 TEASPOON MESQUITE LIQUID SMOKE

DIRECTIONS:

IN A MEDIUM SAUCEPAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT , WARM THE OIL. 

aDD THE GARLIC ,CHILE POWDER, AND CUMIN.  cOOK FOR 30 SECONDS ,STIRING OCCASIONALLY.

ADD THE REMAINING INGREDIENTS, WHISK THEM, AND ALLOW THE SAUCE TO SIMMER FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES.

MAKES ABOUT I CUP :

RECIPE :

TARRAGON-CITRUS MARINADE

1/4 CUP EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

1/4 CUP ROUGHLY CHOPPED FRESH TARRAGON

         ZEST AND JUICE OF 1 ORANGE

          ZEST AND JUICE OF 1 LEMON

2 TABLESPOONS SHERRY VINEGAR

2 TEASPOONS KOSHER SALT

1 TEASPOON MINCED GARLIC

1 TEASPOON GRATED GINGER

1/2 TEASPOON PREPARED CHILE POWDER

1/2 TEASPOON FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

IN A MEDIUM BOWL, WHISK THE INGREDIENTS.

MAKES ABOUT 1 CUP.

SPANISH CHICKEN BREASTS  :

MARINATED IN  CITRUS AND TARRAGON

1.  MAKE THE MARINADE ABOVE. ( CITRUS TARRAGON MARINADE)

2. PLACE THE CHICKEN IN A LARGE, RESEALABLE PLASTIC BAG, AND POUR IN THE MARINADE.    PRESS THE AIR OUT OF THE BAG AND SEAL TIGHTLY.  TURN THE BAG SEVERAL TIMES TO DISTRIBUTE THE MARINADE, PLACE THE BAG IN A BPWL, AND REFRIGERATE FOR 3 TO 4 HOURS.

3.  REMOVE THE CHICKEN FROM THE BAG AND RESERVE THE MARINADE.  POR THE MARINADE INTO A SMALL SAUCE-PAN, BRING TO A BOIL, AND BOIL FOR 1 MINUTE.

4.  GRILL THE CHICKEN, SKIN SIDE DOWN FIRST, OVER DIRECT MEDIUM HEAT UNTIL THE MEAT IS FIRM TO THE TOUCH AND NO LONGER PINK IN THE CENTER,  8 TO 12 MINUTES, TURNING AND BASTING WITH THE BOILED MARINADE ONCE.    SERVE WARM.

MAKES  4 SERVINGS

COOKBOOK:

WEBER’S REAL GRILLING   BY JAMIE PURVIANCE

RECIPES:

LAST  MINUTE  RIB-EYE STEAKS  :

PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES

GRILLING TIME: 6 TO 8 MINUTES

RUB:

1 TEASPOON GRANULATED GARLIC

1 TEASPOON KOSHER SALT

1/2 TEASPOON GROUND CUMIN

1/2 TEASPOON PURE CHILE POWDER

1/4 TEASPOON FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

 

4 RIB-EYE STEAKS, ABOUT 12 OUNCES EACH

         AND 1 INCH THICK

        EXTRA VIRGON OLIVE OIL

1.  TO MAKE THE RUB: IN A SMALL BOWL, MIX THE RUB INGREDIENTS.

2.  ALLOW THE STEAKS TO STAND AT ROOM TEMPERATURE FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES BEFORE GRILLING.  LIGHTLY BRUSH OR SPRAY THE STEAKS WITH THE OIL.  SEASON THE STEAKS WITH THE RUB, PRESSING THE SPICES INTO THE MEAT.

GRILL OVER  DIRECT HIGH HEAT UNTIL COOKED TO DESIRES DONENESS, 6 TO 8 MINUTES FOR MEDIUM-RARE, TURNING ONCE   [ IF FLARE-UPS OCCUR, MOVE THE STEAKS TEMPORARILY OVER INDIRECT HIGH HEAT ].   LET REST FOR 3 TO 5 MINUTES.  SERVE WARM.

MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS.

4th of July Giveaway by The Painted Quilt

Kaaren of the blog “The Painted Quilt” is hosting a 4th of July Giveaway.

The deadline to enter is today, July 3rd. I’m not sure what time zone.
She is a design artist and since retiring, her hobby is quilting.

When you comment on her blog, please tell her which of the four choices that you want to be entered in.

1. Americana Themed  ”8 x 4 ” papier mache box, with the top as a pincushion.

2. Ameicana themed needlecase 4 x 6 inches with detachable pin cushion

3.  A pillow that is 12 “x 12 “with applique elements to cotton background

4. A painted wooden reproduction antique untensil box.  It is painted with an original design.

While typing up this post, I must say that Kaaren of the Painted Quilt blog has beautiful and relaxing songs on her playlist.  Stop by her blog and have a listen. 

  I wish I could put a music playlist here on my blog, it doesn’t take the music playlist.com.

 Here’s her address:

http://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com/

 

 Her instructions:
1.  Leave a comment on her post.
2. Post the giveaway button on your blog and a link back to Kaaran’s blog and you get five additional entries for the same item you choose.

Ruby Tuesday- Italian Festa, Raritan, New Jersey

Pizelle with red sauce

 

PIZELLE  HISTORY

 

Pizelles were originated in the middle region of Italy to mark an annual celebration.

 

At St. Ann’s church in Raritan, pizelles were one of the Italian foods at the annual Italian festa during the second week of June  with a choice of powdered sugar on top or tomato sauce.   I choose this tasty tomato sauce for mine.

 

In ancient times in Italy, they were baked over an open fire and the family crest or a hint of the village of origin was embossed with irons making a type of waffle cookie.

 

Pizelle were originally made in the Abruzzo section south central Italy.   The name comes from the Italian word for “round ” and flat” (pizze).   Pizelle is pronounced with a ts sound like pizza.

 

 

Preparing the dough for each pizelle

 One of the many tents at St. Ann’s church of the annual Italian Festa to honor the San Rocco .

Taste of Italy

Eggplant sandwich,  Italian sausage sandwich, meatball sandwich or Pasta Fagiole  was on the menu at the “A little Bit of Italy ” tent.   The meatball sandwich tasted wonderful  ,  there’s something about tomato sauce that my nose can smell across the room perhaps it is the oregano and basil.

 

 

Patron Saint statue that was in the procession for the feast of San Rocco

  These are my red photos for the meme Ruby Tuesday hosted by www.theworkofthepoet.blogspot.com

 For more red theme photos, please go to the above web address.

Michael Jackson-Man In The Mirror

Michael Jackson   ” Man in The Mirror”……

“If  You Want To Make the World a Better Place

Take a look at yourself and make that Change”

Watery Wednesday

I'm on Sanibel Island in Florida shell-seeking.

This is my entry for Watery Wednesday; On Sanibel Island in Florida on October 16, 2005 , it was  Race for the Cure day back home in New Jersey.  In this photo, I’m doing my Race for the Cure walk along the shore and shell-seeking.  Can you see the plastic bag filling up with shells in my hand?  I was delighted, the beach was filled with many shells where there is usually sand that you simply must have some kind of footwear on your feet to walk on the beach before you get to the water part.   We got married on the beach the next evening on October 17, 2005.

For more Watery Wednesday photos , please go to :

 

http://watery wednesday.blogspot.com

Father’s Day

Dad looks at birthday balloons

"Happy Father's Day Dad"

“Father’s Day 061101

Baseball- America’s pastime….”Popcorn, peanuts, candy apples”…

With the upcoming home game of the Somerset Patriots vs the Southern  Maryland Blue Crabs that we are attending ,  I am showing photos with a baseball theme, including Mickey Mantle’s restaurant.

Quote:

“Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball, the rules and realities of the game.”

Quote by: Jacques Barzyn, French-born American author.

 

Rule 5.01  :

The plate umpire shall call “Play ” as soon as the pitcher takes his place on his plate  with the ball in his possession.

On June 12,  1939:

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was dedicated in Cooperstown, N.Y.

 

At the Somerset Patriots:   Affordable Family Fun

At the beginning, there is a try-out for the kids, who gets to sing the Star Spangled Banner with the microphone.

Before the game starts baseballs are thrown out to the different sections of the audience , and if there is a baseball  from the players coming in the direction of the stands, the kids in the audience have their baseball mitts on ready to catch.

Sparky the mascot:

Sparky is named for the  field manger, Sparky Lyle.

Walks around through the stands before the game and shakes hands with the kids.

Before the game, Sparky runs the bases by himself.

During intermission, children who are celebrating their birthday that day can come onto the ballfield for gifts.    

 

Somerset Patriots mascot

 

 

To the left of the food court, there were games for the kids.  An  example is a free spin the wheel (like a carnival), for the prize according to the word or number the pointer lands on when it stops.  I recall it could be a hat, a whistle, a keychain, a ball.

Baseball History:

Baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, N.Y. in 1839 and erceted in that town is the Hall of Fame and National Museum of Baseball.

 

The first team baseball as know today was played at the Elysian Fields , Hoboken, New Jersey, on June 19, 1846 between the Knickerbockers and the New York Nine.

Over the next fifty years, there was a gradual growth of baseball and an improvement of playing equipment and playing skill.

 

The standard ball of the same size and weight , still the rule was adoped in 1872.  The first catcher’s mask was worn in 1875.

The three strike rule was put on the books in 1887, and the four ball ticket to first base was instituted in 1889.  The pitching distance was lenghtened to 60 feet 6 inches in 1893 , and the rules have been modified only slightly since that time.

The National League was organized in 1876.

The first World Series was played in 1903.

 Boston and Pittsburgh, the top American and National League teams found themselves competing against one another in the First official World Series.

 

Restaurant with a Baseball Theme:

Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant and Sports Bar

It opened in 1988, and established itself as a New York institution in popularity.

Events hosted there have been birthday parties, autograph shows, charity auctions, weddings, press conferences and dinner parties.

Mickey Mantles’ is the site of several live  sports radio programs broadcasted weekly. 

You can purchase the sports memorabilia that you see around you in the Gotta Have It!  store within the restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch at Mickey Mantles' in NYC

 

 

 

 

 

 

While dining one can enjoy the  views of historic Central Park  and horse-drawn

carriages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NUMBER 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LITHUANIAN Recipe, Kapusta

This soup recipe comes from maternal grandmother, Anna and her mother Margaret Puscavage of Pennsylvania. My mother recorded this recipe for her friends at work( International Recipes-1993). My mother was raised during The Great Depression in the 1930’s in rural coal mining towns. They baked breads from scratch as well as soups.
Good recipe to keep in mind for the soon to be approaching fall weather.
A part of my heritage is Lithuanian.

Kapoosta
Pork and Cabbage Soup

2 lbs of spare ribs cut in several pieces
1 1/2 quarts of water
salt & pepper to taste
1 large onion chopped
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 1/2 cups shredded cabbage
1/4 cup wine vinegar
1 28 ounce can tomatoes
1 medium onion minced

Directions:
Put the spare ribs in a large soup pot and cover the spareribs with water.
Add to the pot the salt, pepper, chopped onion and bay leaf.
Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let simmer for 1 and 1/2 hours until the meat is tender and falling off the bones.
Remove the meat from the bones, chop it, and set aside.
Add the shredded cabbage to the broth and boil 5 minutes. Add the vinegar, tomatoes, and minced onion and Simmer for 20 minutes or until cabbage is tender.
Then add the chopped pork back to the pot. Season to taste and let the pork heat through.

 

Addendum:    May 18,2009

Hello visitors  from  around the world.  Welcome.  Your comments are appreciated.   Perhaps you have a recipe similar to mine.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting. 

Please sign my guest book and post a photo if you like.

www.pencilsandbooks.wordpress.com

My maternal great grandmother and grandmother

For all those “I Love Lucy” fans, especially my sister on September 16

Today is a day that I’d like to post a video, an “I Love Lucy ” video entitled “Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.”
You know the episode where both Lucy and Ethel start work at a chocolate candy packaging assembly line. The candy supervisor starts the conveyor slowly and they do pretty good wrapping each candy as it comes by. The conveyor speeds up, and Lucy and Ethel try to keep up. They both start to eat some of the candy and just stuff it in their mouths. They hear the supervisor coming and they grab up the unwrapped candies and pile them into their big round caps that was part of their uniform.
It is both my sister and I all-time favorite TV show clip. It’s right up there with making of the “Vita Veta Vegemin Commercial. “It tastes real good, too.” and Lucy takes another spoonful.
LOL.
Tune into TVland channel on Cable tv most days of the week.

Southern Vermont-Hill Farm Inn

“Green acres is the place to be”

Blue Skies on the farm

Give me a kiss (or at least some muffins)

Baa, Baaa

Stop and sit a spell

The Last Tomatoes of the Season

Baa, Baaa

NEW ENGLAND TRAVEL

One place that is sure to renew your soul and give you a sense of tranquility is Southern Vermont. From the first glimpse of the Green Mountains, the red covered bridges on the quiet back roads, the cows in the pasture along the side of the road, the silos in the distance, you know that you have arrived at a special place. If peace and quiet is what you’re looking for, then this is the place to get away from the hustle and bustle of busy three and four lane highways back home. You won’t find them here. As a matter of fact, with two laned roads, there’s less street lights. At night, when no other car is on the road,except for your cars headlights, it is pitch black in either direction. My cousins who moved to Vermont several years ago, live on a road like that in East Dorset.
During our travel from Manchester to Weston along the roads, I wondered if we’d see a moose. We didn’t, however my cousins reported that one of their daughters has seen a moose along the road at the edge of The Green Mountains.

VERMONT CHEESE SHOP

Be sure to stop in the Vermont cheese shop. There’s quite a selection of goodies to choose from, Vermont cheeses,different grades of maple syrup, and a variety of Vermont themed gifts, in earrrings and nic nacs.that include spoon rests, shot glasses, and ceramics. Vermont bottled soda is delicious. It’s all natural ,and made with cane sugar with country pictures on each bottle in flavors of Maple soda, Vermont Root Beer, strawberry rhubarb and orange tangerine. An item that I was elated to find was the Old_fashioned Calendar towel. I was so excited, that I called a friend at home to inquire which on she wanted. There was a variety of calendar towels to choose from, a blue and white tea service with a quote, to cats and lemons. Guess what I came home with. Three, yes three of the same design RED COVERED BRIDGES.

This place is huge!

VERMONT COUNTRY STORE- Weston ,Vermont
www.vermontcountrystore.com
You’ll find many items that were availabe to people many years ago. Vermont-made suspenders, cotton floral embroidered hankies, granny flannel nightgown, tortoise hair combs, Cola syrup(soothes your stomach), Tabu, the original smear-proof lipstick, and old-fashioned cream rouge,
Sold here and in the catolog is Old-time resin-free cotton sheets (wrinkle-free), goose-down pillows, and Chenille bedspreads; my mother, to my surprise donated all of her old chenille bedspreads and they are back in style for some. Mountain Weave table linens woven in Pennsylvania and cut into tablecloth, napkins and placemats by people in neighboring Dorset, Vermont, in primary or pastel colors. 100% cotton floursack towels, absorbent and economical used by frugal Vermonters. Chair pads and wedge pillows can be found here in cotton, duck and curduroy fabrics. There are candy treats, chocolates and jelly. Vermont cheddar cheese and Vermont maple syrup and jars of maple butter are at the top of most visitors lists.
Classic toys such as the sock monkeys (1939), wooden calliope,Tiddledy Winks, tin kaleidoscope, potholder metal loom, and Paint-by number set of a red covered bridge can also be found here.

Wednesday, October 1,2008

HAPPY FIRST DAY of OCTOBER

October is the month for many special things.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

A time to wear little pink ribbons, that symbol of and for all women.

Remember to schedule your Mammogram.

You can particpate in a walk or fun run; Race for the Cure, in your area.

 Susan G. Komen’s race takes place on Sunday October 5,2008 in Jackson, N.J. in  the parking lot of Great Adventure.  Sign-up can be done on ahead or there on day of walk/race.

It’s also a time for Leaf Peeping.  We got a glimpse of fall’s changing leaves  while in Vermont  10 days ago.

A Sunset on the horizon

Beauty

Race For The Cure – Jackson, NJ 10/5/08

THINK PINK !

The race begins

Time at 1 mile mark

In among the walkers

Time at 2 mile mark

Breast cancer info

Made it to the end

Races for the kids

It was a beautiful day for a walk. There’s a picture of me in front of the ladies in pink caps who are breast cancer survivors.

For the rest  of October, there are numerous ways to join in the cure for breast cancer.  The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is just one of them.

Right now, for sale , you will find electric mixers in pink, spatulas, pink bracelets, cloth shopping bags with pink ribbon design at your local grocery store, and many food boxed items with the pink ribbon logo on them (means with your purchase $s go to research).

For those who enjoy reading my post, please post a comment, even if in another language. Thank you, I’d love to know who you are and/or where you’re from.

Fright Fest at Great Adventure

Spin the wheel, eat the nightcrawlers, win a prize

Here they come, ghouls

Keep your eyes on the lady in the black skirt.

November 3 2008

Forecast: 59 degress, mostly cloudy

Marvoulous Monday:

It’s back to work after a  prescribed rest to stay off of my feet for three days.    Alas, but what choice did I have.  To properly allow the contusion to heal,  I  had to periodicly put ice on my foot and keep the injured foot  elevated  all day.  So, I elevated both feet while reclining on the couch upstairs. I decided that once I made it up  the stairs by sliding up on my  hind end, stair by stair,  I was staying there until the foot had a chance to heal.  My wonderful husband  brought all meals upstairs and we ate together, quite cozy.

My cousin  sent me some songs from his  collection  and  I  had a good time listening to those via the computer last evening.

How My Halloween went

November 1,2008

I’m home this weekend and staying upstairs to rest my left foot and compress with Ace bandage and apply ice for a contusion I recieved yesterday at work.  Sorry no photos.  I commented to a co-worker, while in the ER that the bruise looked like a paisley design.  I recieved the contusion when a folding table fell full force on my foot.  The pain was immense.  I didn’t want to scream as loud as the pain felt.

You may have seen a comedy scene in a movie where the actor screams so loud it’s heard all over the land.  That’s what I mean.  I held it in and said to my two staff that were there so far, please get me a chair to sit down .  A second chair to elevate my foot and check my foot, it was bruised, they applied cold packs and I called my supervisor for replacement RN to come to High School Blood Drive.   A little later, I went out “in style” by ambulance to a local hospital to get evaluated and x-rayed.I called my husband at work.   He had just arrived there.  He was 1 1/2 hr away from where I was but he left work and eventually arrived at the ER when it was almost time for me to be discharged.

The fact is, I rarely get a full week-end off except for vacation time.  The good thing is that hubby has my company all day, all weekend.. He’s out now, getting some food at delicious Pa. Dutch Market and my favorite muffins, Morning Glory muffins; I hope there’s some left it’s mid afternoon.

I spent yesterday afternoon on Halloween, watching the cable channel’s American Movie Classics.  It was Baris Karloff’s spooky themed movies in black and white form the 1930’s-40’s. And  Bela Lugosi’s “White Zombie” movie of 1932. 

It is so cool to watch the elaboarate settings they created in those times, the high ceilinged rooms, fine furniture and fancy chandeliers in the old castle.  In the lower part of the castle, there were steep cement stairs without railings.  Picture this image.  The young new bride turned zombie walks down the staircase  with her long flowing white dress and billowy robes brushing against the staircase wall as she descends.  That was how Halloween was for me.

November 4, 2008

                                  Today       Is          ELECTION DAY

 

                                                REMEMBER …….
                                                        
                                                            TO

                                                         VOTE!

cows of PA

Got Milk

Preserve the farms.

“Hey, are you taking a picture?”

I wonder who loves cows enough  to photograph them?   Like  Me!

Mi domandochi ama le mucche abbastanza a photograh lor come faccio.  (in Italian)

On a recent trip to Hershey, PA , we passed pastures with Holstein cows a few miles away.  I said to my husband,” look there’s the cows”, “oh , please stop at the next farm, I want to take a picture of the cows” almost pouting.  Once stopped, I could have gotten closer, but it  was me standing there and a seemingly thin wire fence.  How fast do they “moove” anyway.? LOL.

I was happy as could be, now that I had my cows on film.   

 There also was a herd of brown cows, beef cattle along the edge of the road behind a fence.  I wondered what kept them from crossing the fence onto the road.

Many years ago,  we went on rides in the country with my grandparents.  If the cows were sitting, my grandmother P. would say that it was going to rain; an old wives tale perhaps.   While riding in the car, my mother would say, “look out the window at the cows.”  We would stop our conversation or games and turn our heads to look.

Now, I love to  look at the cows. Relaxing , maybe seeing them standing quietly evokes  a slower pace.   Whenever I come to the place where I know there is a dairy farm a few miles from my house, I cast a glance in the direction of the dairy farm’s grounds.   Are they close to the road?  Are they far in the distance,  near their barn and large-size funny imitation cow for decoration.  Today, as I drove on South Middlebush Road, the cows were in a pasture to the  left side of the road.  Most of them were close to the fence and they were sitting down.  As I got closer to my destination, you guessed it, it was raining (drizzling). Just like my grandmother P. used to say.

In Italian:

Su un viaggio recente a Hershey, Pa, abbiamo passato i pascoli con le mucche dell’ Holstein.

“IL colorato beige della mucca, seite che esaminate il me.”

November 7, 2008

I’ve added one more photo.  This is of a farm in New Jersey.  It’s along Rt. 518.  I don’t know the name of the farm.  One day last fall, the cows were fairly close to the road and I had my camera with me.  Yahoo.  I parked the car and walked a little closer.  This beige cow photographed seemed to look up from the grass he/she was munching and say, ” this is the first time somebody stopped to take our picture” or ” are you looking at me”  A photogenic cow.  The others are contentedly grazing.   There are more photos; perhaps my friend will create  a painting for me.

 Any comments out there. Where are you from?

Scrivere,  Dove vive?

The MUMMERS New Years Day Parade and Show-Ponderings on Philadelphia

The Power and Glory of Rome

[caption id="attachment_485" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Rome Wasn\'t built in a day!"][/caption]

Colorful Confetti!

[caption id="attachment_483" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="look at the ferris wheel, it moves!"][/caption]

Creepy Carnival

[caption id="attachment_481" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The red ants emerge from the ant hill"][/caption]

Ant hill opens

[caption id="attachment_479" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Buggie Wonderland"][/caption]

Valley of the T-Rex-lost world

[caption id="attachment_477" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Valley of the T-Rex-Primal Power"][/caption]

High energy dancing

[caption id="attachment_475" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="\"Look into the Crystal ball for your future\""][/caption][caption id="attachment_473" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Posing with one of the club captains"][/caption]The Philadelphia Mummers New Years Celebration begins in the end of December with the Mummers Fest, from December 27 to 31,2008.

The annual Mummers parade is on January 1st each year.
The Mummers Fest takes place each year at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. There is a “Behind the Scenes” tour called Backstage Pass. For fifty minutes you get a behind the scenes private tour with a Brigade Captain of one of the dozens of clubs. During the tour,the Captain shares stories of parading and performing.
The NEW YEARS DAY PARADE:
The first official Mummers parade was in 1901 on January 1st.
The parade starts in the Am with the Comics, the Philly version of clowns in colorful outfits, dancing to the recording of “Golden Slippers “.Some names of Comic clubs include the Goodtimers, the Happy Tappers, Southside Shooters NYA, and Liberty.
The STRING BANDS:
Next come the String Bands with names such as South Philadelphia, Over Brook, Irish American String band, and Fralinger each club creating a new theme each year and wearing elaborate feathered costumes costing tens of thousands of dollars to make and weighing well over 100 pounds. Each club chooses songs, and props to go with their theme.
FANCY COSTUME DIVISION:
Following next is the Fancy Costume Division with club names of Adelphia, Golden Sunrise, Hog Island and Oregon. They strut in elaborate costumes to the sound of music provided by their live band.
THE FANCY BRIGADES:
My favorite part, the Fancy Brigades, a larger presentation within the Fancies. The Brigades were moved indoors in the 1990’s as a ticketed 5:oo pm show due to larger props that were vulnerable to the winter wind ,rain and snow. In 2001, a 1200 noon show was added. For the noon show, be sure to arrive early, at 11:30 am for your chance to take photos with performers on the show floor before the Fancy Brigade show. Get in step with the Giant Mummers Strut, join the fun, Don’t be bashful.
My photos are from January 1, 2008, performance of the Fancy Brigades in the Philadelphia Convention Center in Pennsylvania.

Rainbow, The Italian Festival Arcobaleno, il festival italiano

What a beautiful sight!

Have you ever caught a rainbow?  A wondrous sight.   A rainbow appeared   at The Italian Festival in the fall of 2006.   I was thrilled and wanted to be in the photo, too.

Avete interferito mai un arcobaleno? Una vista meravigliosa. Un arcobaleno è comparso al festival italiano nell’autunno di 2006. Sono stato eccitato e voluto essere nella foto, anche.

The annual Italian festival is held the third weekend in September in Mercer County park.  Several years ago, my friends and I used to go to the Chambersburg section of Trenton for the Italian festival.  The streets would be festooned with strings of colorful lights much like the feast of San Gennaro in N.Y.C.’s Little Italy.  Many of my favorite Italian eateries would have a menu  on display of the tradional Italian foods.  My friends and I would get an Italian sausage sandwich or Penne with vodka sauce, and a bag of 6 zeppoles with the sweet powdered sugar to share.    We would visit the St. Joaquim church and say a prayer; this church  held the annual procession of the Blessed mother statue down the main street on Feast day.

Il festival italiano annuale è tenuto il terzo fine settimana in settembre nel parco della contea di Mercer. Parecchi anni fa, i miei amici ed io abbiamo usato per andare alla sezione di Chambersburg di Trenton per il festival italiano. Le vie festooned con le serie di luci variopinte tanto come la festività di San Gennaro in N.Y.C.’ s la poca Italia. Molti dei miei ristoranti italiani favoriti avrebbero un menu su esposizione degli alimenti dell’italiano di tradional. I miei amici ed io convinceremmo un panino della salsiccia o un Penne italiano con la salsa della vodka e un sacchetto di 6 zeppoles con lo zucchero in polvere dolce per ripartirsi. Visiteremmo la chiesa della st Joaquim e diremmo una preghiera; questa chiesa ha tenuto la processione annuale della statua benedetta della madre giù la via principale il giorno di festività.

In Mercer County park, we still enjoy walking around the grounds to the various tents while listening to the Italian music playing at two of the stages set up for entertainment.  Last year, I brought my cousin along.  She had always gone to the NYC one having grown up there as a child.

Nel parco della contea di Mercer, ancora godiamo di di camminare intorno ai motivi alle varie tende mentre ascoltano la musica italiana che gioca a due delle fasi installi per intrattenimento. L’anno scorso, ho portato il mio cugino avanti. Era andato sempre al NYC uno che cresce in su là come bambino.

  During the festa , there also is a building where Italian clubs set up displays of Italian culture and and photos of various Italian artists and composers.  There are several talks held throughout the day for example on Italian wine-making.

 

In italiano

Durante il festa, c’inoltre è una costruzione in cui esposizioni di messa a punto dei randelli dell’italiano di coltura italiana ed e foto di vari artisti e compositori italiani. Ci sono parecchie discussioni tenute durante il giorno per esempio sulla vinificazione italiana.

Photos of the Italian Festa:

Where’s that pot of gold?

What a beautiful sight!

That’s Italian! Ciao!

Bella

after enjoying Penne w/voda sauce

We enjoyed the Italian fest

In the garden

Morning glory climbs

BASIL AND GREEN PEPPER

Green tomato protected

Grow my sweet plants, grow!

Let’s see these grow at my house.

Morning glory climbs

NOVEMBER 20, 2008:

Think back to the warm days of summer, the lush green plants, patiently awaiting  the taste of fresh vegetables, on chilly days as these, when the temperature hovers at 29-30 degrees.

In Italian:

Pensi di nuovo ai giorni caldi d ell ‘ estate, le piante verdi fertili, in attesa pazientemente il gusto della verdura fresca, i giorni freddi come questi, quando la temperatura se libra i 29-30 gradi.

Bennington, Vermont and J.Seward Johnson

caption=”Oh spaghetti”][/caption]

Pretending, how much

[caption id="attachment_271" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="He pauses"][/caption]

Fall

[caption id="attachment_269" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Lady waits too"][/caption]

Waiting to Cross

[caption id="attachment_267" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Please clean my glasses,he said"][/caption]

Nice To See You

[caption id="attachment_265" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="I will read along "][/caption]

Between Classes

“Celebrating the Familiar ” in sculpture.
J. Seward Johnson’s sculptures along Bennington’s Main Streets’
sidewalks were on display for a limited time during the summer and fall 2008. We spent an afternoon there during a vacation trip in September.
They are life-size cast bronze sculptures. What great fun it was to strike a pose for the camera. It was not to be missed on our way out of Southern Vermont.

The place where I first saw one of J.Seward Johnson’s sculptures was at a park in outskirts of Washington, D.C. The sculpture is called “The Awakening”. It is of a gigantic golden hand and person seemingly coming out of the ground. The photo was taken some eight years ago before the use of digital cameras. (the photo will be posted at a later date.)
After that time, I learned of a place called Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, N.J. where a ever-growing group of artists have their sculptures on display along with J.Seward’s version of Renoir’s “Luncheon of the Boating Party” with himself and a friend cleverly added amongst the party. The park is open every day of the week with special programs,and a museum of changing exhibits. While in N.J., come visit this place.

GIVE ME FIVE MONDAY

The “Give Me Five Monday Meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list.
You can add photos, links or stories, or a simple short list that relate to the topic and you and your life experiences.

GIVE ME FIVE ITEMS YOU PURCHASED ON BLACK FRIDAY OR..
OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON

Monday December 1, 2008

Being that I had to work on Friday afternoon to evening , I allowed myself one hour door to door to do a little shopping. It was my hubby’s first time shopping on a “Black Friday”. He ran into a former High School friend while in a store that he hadn’t seen in a while.
We shopped in Best Buy looking for something for the computer but it was sold out.

The following is my list:

1. DVD’s- Shrek 2 and Night at the Museum
2. Wii games
3. a red zip sweater and matching red mock turtleneck top (on Saturday)
4. Dove milk chocolates, caramel flavor ( I like this ice cream that a Pa. Dutch
store sells with vanilla ice cream with small round chocolates that taste similar.
5. Saved the best for last: Betty Crocker Christmas Cookie Booklet 120 + recipes
In the mood for baking, anyone?

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Holiday Show and Share

All the sliver tinsel and garlands

 

An Old-Fashioned Christmas Tree

What a delight to see all that shiny, silver tinsel and garlands adorn the annual tree for my mother and her sisters and brothers, some then young adults.  See  all of the presents are wrapped and ready under the tree.  Can almost see the train set and miniature houses. My grandmother loved the ice skating figures made of metal.   Several years later, with a different smaller tree, we would play with the ice skating people that were placed on a  mirror to resemble ice.  Just love that floral wallpaper and sheer white curtained window.

Wishing you Happy Christmas Memories.

Austin Heroine Quiz

On the post, Emma’s Adaptations, take the quiz, no peeking at the bottom, to find out which Austin Heroine are you.

I answered the questions and this is the image I got.

Take the Quiz here!

Scenic Sunday

On the island of Maui

Aloha

Hawaiin Flowers on

sugar cane growing on Maui

"Surf's up!"

Iao Needle

Surfers

Maui beach

Scenes for Scenic Sunday
Maui Hawaii

August 6,2008

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com

Smiles Across Miles Cards giveaway

In the blog Mudpies and Maryjanes.blogspot.com, until december 9,2008, you can enter to win 60 free 4×6 photo greeting cards. It is called Smiles Across Miles Giveway and you can read about the contest rules on Mudpies and maryjanes blogspot.com
Celebrate lifes special moments with photo cards styles from holidays, birthdays,invitations, moving announcements, , thank-you cards , birth announcements, weddings, or your own personalized photo collage.

Princeton, New Jersey -Holiday Decorations

Baby, it's cold outside

[caption id="attachment_344" align="alignnone" width="500" caption=" beautiful lights all aglow"][/caption]

See how it glows

[caption id="attachment_342" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Delicious ice cream"][/caption]

What chocolate treats inside

On Palmer Square in Princeton, N.J., this one of my favorite shoppes to buy a treat. All Chocolate, of course. On the other side of town, is their Ice cream shoppe on Nassau Street.
The Bent Spoon is another shop that is fairly new in past few years. Their ice cream is made fresh with all natural ingredients and local ingredients. My favorite flavor is hazelnut.

What Tarot Card are you

I took this test to find out what Tarot card I am. There are 4 styles of picture cards to choose from. I choose cat style.

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you’re a dreamer, but you’re not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

<img src=”http://www.flarn.com/~warlock/tarot/catpeople/17.jpg”

Polenta Fest at Dorothea’s House, Princeton,N.J.

Yum Polenta and Lasagna

Polenta's ingredients in Italian-spicy sausage, mushrooms,toamtoes,...

This is delicious

Polenta and vino, what more could one ask for?

On New Years, Lentils and Polenta bring good fortune

Not much left

Polenta goer claps to the music

Listen to the sweet sounds of the music

The Polenta buffet

Polenta dishes

After polenta tasting comes dessert or before....

Yum dessert

Polenta, a classic Italian dish made with boiled cornmeal was the highlight of this gathering last weekend. Among the foodstuffs added were spicy sausage, cheeses,mushrooms, tomato sauce, chopped cooked broccoli, and one daring cook placed cooked liver atop her polenta.

 

                              POLENTA WITH SAUSAGE  (Polenta con Salsiccia)

1 pound Italian sausage

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

2 1/2 cups canned tomatoes

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 cups water

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1 up cold water

Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Directions:

1.  Cut sausage casing, remove sausage, and crumble into small pieces with a fork.

2.  Heat olive oil in a large skillet.  Add sausage and mushrooms to skillet.  Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms and sausage are lightly browned.

3.. Slowly stir in the tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper,  Simmer 20-30 minutes.

4.  While the tomato  and sausage mixture is simmering, bring 3 cups of water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to boiling.  Gradually stir in the cornmeal and 1 cup cold water.  Continue boiling, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened.

5.  Cover,  lower heat,  and cook slowly 10 minutes or longer,  if necessary.   Transfer the cooked cornmeal to warm platter, and top with the tomato mixture.

6.  Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.                    6 to 8 servings

 

This recipe for the region of Italy: Friuli-Venezia Guilia

Ffruili in the name of this region recalls the Roman Forum., and the Guilia, the emperor  Julius.  After WW II, Italy lost a portion of this region, but picked up Trieste from Yugoslavia.   Trieste is famous for it’s soup.  A hearty chowder concocted of beans, potatoes, and sauerkraut, boiled with pork and laced with garlic, is called Iola Triesstina.

From Italian Cookbook Culinary Arts Institute  Copyright 1977

Watery Wednesday

Welcome to this week’s Watery Wednesday!

Dorset, Vermont        

Dorset Marble Quarry is the oldest Marble Quarry in the United States of America.

This is  my first photo for Watery Wednesday.

Marble Quarry, Dorset Vermont

Talerine Beef Casserole

Talerine Beef Casserole Talerine is Italian word for Tagliarini-
ribbon-like pasta noodle

The spices and tomatoes

This is for dinner!

Ingredients:
12 ounce bag egg noodles
1 medium white onion, peeled and chopped
1 bell pepper, seded, ribs removed, chopped fine
3 minced clove of garlic
Olive oil for sauteing ( olive oil has a high burning point-so watch it)
1 1/2 poinds ground round beef ( I substitue ground turkey, it’s leaner, hence healthier)
pinch salt
4 ounces mushrooms, slice
1 28 ounce can tomatoes
1 1/2 cups frozen corn (can use canned corn or creamed corn)
1 15 oz can of pitted black olives, strained and chopped
1 pound cheddar cheese, grated
Method:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the egg noodles.
2. Heat the 2 Tbsp of oil on medium high heat in a large, heavy bottomed pot. Add the onions and green bell pepper and saute until softeened. Add the garlic and cook for a minute more. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with your fingers or a knife, if you are using whole canned tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and llet cook for 10 minutes. Lowethe heat to warm.
3. In a sperarate skileet, heat to medium-high. Add a couple of tablespoons of oile to the pan and brown the meat, working in batches. Break up about half of the ground beef into the pan. Do not stir, but let it cook for a minute, or two until brown. Sprinkle a little salt over the meat while cooking. Once brown on one side, stir the meat a little to get the sides browned. Once the meat is thoroughly browned, use a slotted spoon to remove the meat from the pan and pit it in with the tomatoes, onions, and gren bell peppers. Brown the second batch of ground beef the same way.
4. Using the same pan that you had used for browning the beef, saute the mushrooms in the rremaining oil and beef drippings. Once browned, add the mushrooms to the beef and tomato mixture.
5. While the mushrooms are cooking, add the egg noodle pasta to the boiling water. Cook as directed., about 4-5 min. Strain when cooked, but still a little firm (al dente).
6. Add egg noodles, corn, chopped olives, and about 2/3 of the cheese to the large pot of beef and tomato mixture. Gently mix in.
7. Transfer mixture to a large casserole dish, or to two casserole dishes if you don’t have one that is large enough. Sprinkle remaining cheeese on top of casserole(s). Place in the oven for 30 minutes (can go as long as an hour.
Serves 8
Delicious. Egg nodles cook up faster than regular pasta., and fortifed.
I have for couple days. Sometimes, I omit the green peppers, and onions
Can be made without the green peppers and onions.
When using ground turkey, I add Italian Seasoning, basil, oregano or a mixture of these to add more flavor. Ground turkey need a boost for flavor, but is healthier for you.
From Simplyrecipes.com

Friday Fill-ins

Fill in the lyrics with the correct ones…. or ones of your own.

Have fun with it.  Don’t worry if you don’t know them, you can do one silly and one serious.

As featured in fridayfillins.blogspot.com

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, _____.
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, _____.
3. _____, Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, _____.
5. _____, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing _____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

Christmas Light Displays

This one is a Christmas Light display set to the music of Amazing Grace.

Please turn on the volume for your computer to hear it.

Here’s another cool light display.

A Christmas Decorating Experience

Lights,camera, action

See the figures in the left corner

At my parents house, there are boxes and boxes of ornaments, little used now that a full-size tree is no longer put up. Down in the basement, there are Christmas houses, a large plastic Santa face, sporting a Merry Christmas greeting that we used to put on the front door window, a collection of long-legged elves that my mother hung along her three small windows in her front door’s interior one year using those little silver ornament hangers hooked to the wooden edge, Santa and Mrs. Claus ceramic taper candle holder’s , old-fashioned ornamnents…. the santa face, icicles of shiny blue and sliver, many blue themed, a variety of tree toppers, angels, silver stars. We still have some handmade ornaments with sequins and beads that my sister and I made together with my mother when we were in our teens. (Featured in my blog under Holiday Home and Share) These were from a kit sold at a now closed home supply store, Rickles.

the pink of perfection

"Pretty in pink"

Antique santa puppet

I thought I’d share this day along with photos with you out there in blogland.

Earlier this week, I spent time at my Mom’s house putting up a Christmas tree. She wasn’t home when I got there. That involved going to the basement and figuring out which one she used last year. I brought up a small one and wrapped the lights on and when she got home from senior lunch, she said there was a slightly bigger one that holds more ornaments; these are tabletop size. Until this year she did the decorating herself and would tell me to put my tree up yet; but that’s not happening this year. I put the lights on and a variety of ornaments; there are many more in boxes, that used to go on the big tree.
I love the christmas houses and churches , from when I was a kid, the kind you put a string of bulb lights, one bulb for the back of each house makes it look like lights are on in the houses through the color cellophane little windows in the front. There’s are white steepled church, too. All of these used to be placed under the “big” tree as a village of sorts; over the years we added a just the right size shiny sliver tree or two, Still have the original white under the tree skirt embedded with seemingly glistening sparkles. Do they sell these anywhere these days? In later years, my dad bought a plastic train set and we added that too, to the perimeter of the village.
Instead, I brought up three painted wooden snowmen and set them in a little “snowman theme ” basket and next to our “kiddy” christmas cups, one santa and one rudolf(pictured). The manger that was used since I was a kid is sitting on a popcorn can last time I was there. I found a few extra manger “characters”, two camels, two wiseman, one jesus, no mary to go with, and when I went back down I found a donkey and added him to the scene. Didn’t find the sheep.
For my house, I brought home one of the little tabletop trees and put it on the stairs landing. I decorated it with small flat wooden ornaments that my sister and I had sort of decoupaged way back when. These came with preprinted images for front and back of each wooden ornament; a group of Victorian carolers,two Victorian men playing instruments, a snowman, a jack-in-the box, a wreath, an old-fashioned santa claus with children, a candy cane are what I found. Some are stuck together, put those aside. There are many more in other boxes in the basement. A sring of lights, too and a few other small ornaments. Perhaps, we’ll put up my Victorian tree. It’s all in the attic. I put two large green and white striped candy canes by our sidewalk close to the door. A large very long crocheted stocking green and red and white is hanging on the front door, found in the basement with the other decorations.

Ta -daahh.....

Blue-light special

Dominick The Donkey

In the spirit of my Italian-themed title blog, I’ve brought to you an Italian Christmas song. Light-hearted and fun with a happy sounding music.I wish everyone a Blessed Christmas.

Happy New Year 2009

Happy New Year 2009!

[caption id="attachment_503" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The Buffet "][/caption]

Happy New Year everyone!

[caption id="attachment_501" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Let\'s dance"][/caption]

Young boy balances the hat on balloon

[caption id="attachment_499" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Children watching the performance"][/caption]

Dance of the Belly dancer

Happy New Year! Welcome 2009

We celebrated at the Ganges restaurant in Princeton, N.J.
It was the first New Years eve that was family-oriented and the children were adorable.
As my husband and I enjoy all types of cuisine, this was a delicious Indian buffet, Tandori chicken, Biryani rice pilaf, Dal-lentils, , and desserts. There was D.J. , live music and toward the last hour of 2008 , a guest belly dancer performance. There was a two year old that was memsmorized by the beautiful lady and she walked out onto the dance floor to gaze while the performance going on.

Baking Cookies

Everybody loves home-baked cookies. I brought some of these to work on the dayshift on Christmas Eve. ” Ohh, a x-mas present shaped cookie”, ” a santa face”. “Share a cookie with me.”

Cookie cuters and x-mas cookies

[caption id="attachment_507" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Self-Portrait, cookies in background"][/caption]
I love to wear that light blue apron when I bake. Can you find aprons such as these where you live? This one I bought a long time ago. I have a collection of aprons; one is gingham pink and white checks with the “x” cross stitches, I learned that when I was in 4-H sewing club as a child. That grey grid small basket in the pic is filled with many cookie cutter shapes such as a house, umbrella, cow, unicorn, maple leaf, music note. Some of these are on top of my kitchen cabinets in a collection of round tins. There is a blue round tin labeled just for gingerbread cutters.

PINK SATURDAY

 

Pink Saturday 

Pink stained glass angel

Pink Saturday is so titled for breast cancer awareness as noted on another blogger’s post.
This is a collection of little angels that sits on a shelf in the living room.
For a list of other bloggers participating in Pink Saturday go to
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Laughter and life

Laughter…..

Each and every day I bring laughter to my workplace…it was noted at a recent meeting at work, that everyone should look at  Moi-or mwaa (this writer) and smile more; ” she even laughs at herself.”

“You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself”

Quote by: Ethel Barrymore   (1879-1959) Academy Award Winning Actress.

I must add another quote from someone I saw as a youngster on stage, rather the T.V. performing on his Variety show on Saturday evenings.    I couldn’t wait for his comedic sketches….both of my parents enjoyed him as well….Red Skelton.

His Quote:

“I live by this credo:  Have a little laugh at life and look around for happiness instead of sadness.  Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations.  Even in your darkest moment, you can usually  find something to laugh about if you try hard enough. “  –Red Skelton (1913-1997) American comedian and top radio and television star.

Red Skelton would close his TV show with this:
“If someday you’re not feeling well, and you should
remember some silly little thing I’ve said or done,
and if it brings a smile to your face or a chuckle
to your heart, then my purpose has been fulfilled.”

The time has come to say goodnight,
My how time does fly.
We’ve had a laugh, perhaps a tear,
And now we hear good-bye.
I really hate to say goodnight,
For times like these are few.
I wish you love and happiness,
In everything you do.
The time has come to say goodnight,
I hope I’ve made a friend…
And so we’ll say, “May God bless you,
Until we meet again.”

On Laughter……

for me I grew up with laughter. We watched many a rerun of “I Love Lucy” t.v. shows, the Red Skelton show, the Carol Burnett show with Harvey Corman, Love American Style, was so funny. It was a part of my experience growing up.

So this happened, rather, is what was said during an outing in Philadelphia last week ….
For the life of me, I still can’t figure out why my husband’s niece said ” no laughing allowed at the restaurant ” , written on the list pictured  is – “don’t laugh in public” recently on New Year’s day.  She even wrote it on a paper napkin.  Perhaps my outlook on the world is different. If I’m not smiling that means I’m not feeling well.
Comments appreciated.

As for me,  I look for the humor.
And another thing I said that was funny to me:
After finishing rolling some curlers in my hair, I said There, I’m all set”. I meant ready to go to sleep, but then I laughed at the double meaning. “All Set”.

Say cheese! (New Year's day)

The list...things to do with a mummer's beaded necklace

It takes 5 minutes to make a beaded necklace into a coaster!

Happy winter

 

 

Here’s another snow-themed comic.

She wore hats

Easter 1997 with Sami

My in-laws with Sami-the tinman

Where’s Marion’s hat?

Winter Snow- Why Don’t Neighbors help?

neighbors sidewalks are cleared, my mother's driveway is not.

Snow and ice covered

Why don’t the neighbors help the oldest one on the block during snow and freezing rain  weather?  Yesterday, she could not go to church, nor Saturday evening.  She tried, but saw all that ice and snow on her car, decided she couldn’t do it  and went back inside.    I ask myself this question, why don’t the neighbors help?    Although snow shovels and even a snowblower is in the cabana,  at my mothers age she’s done her share of snow removal.  For some reason, twice this season, she would not call up for the snow removal/lawn caretaker guy. ” He doesn’t come until the next day, last year when I called him” she says.  She waits for it to melt, hoping that the temperature will raise, but since the house faces north and always in the shade, it doesn’t melt.  Thank God, that it rained heavily on Christmas eve, because she didn’t want me to visit on Christmas week and the days before because she had fallen on the sheet of ice her driveway and steps had become.

There are somewhat family members that have snow removal vehicles, but they don’t think of her.  Is is really that far? 6-7 or so miles, maybe 10.

 Though I grew up here, in this neighborhood,  dare I say 40 years ago,  I don’t know any of the names in the homes where all of my playmates used to live.   During winter, hence snow, she is snowbound.

On Food Candy

What is Food Candy?

Foodcandy is a website where  foodies meet.

Maggie on Food Candy is celebrating her first Blogiversary with a giveaway of   chocolates-vegan from Grocer’s Daughter Chocolates in Empire Michigan,  and either an apron or a tote with the Dog Hill Kitchen logo.

All you have to do is: 

1.   write a comment on Maggie’s post before midnight on January 16, 2009 ( she lives in Michigan, check the time zone) ,

2. write a post on your blog

3. or send her an e-mail if you don’t have a blog.

Maggie of Dog Hill Kitchen on the website www.Foodcandy.com

is having her First Blogiversary with a Giveaway

Chilly Day Soup

Chilly Day Soup                                               Makes 6-8 servings

1 large carrot

2 cups water

2 large onions

1 quart diced potatoes

2TBSP rice

1/3 cup macaroni

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cups milk

2 TBSP butter

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Chop carrotand cook in 2 cups water.

While cooking,chop onions

2.  When carrot is partially cooked, add onions, potatoes, rice, macaroni,salt, and pepper.  Add enough water to cover and cook until tender.

3.  Add milk and butter and heat thoroughly.

Variations:

1.  Add two cups chicken brothin place of milk and butter.

2.  Add 1 cup cooked meat to soup when milk is added.

Recipe from cook book: From Amish and Mennnite Kitchens 

by Phyllis Pellman Good  and Rachael Thomas Pellman  c. 1984.

P.S.  I made a notation in the book that I read this recipe on 072208 on day 7 of a summer heat wave.  Guess I was dreaming of colder days.

Casserole-Mother’s Tomato Rice Meat Pie

Mother’s Tomato Rice Meat Pie

1 lb. groud beef ( I use gr. turkey for leaner version)

1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups tomato sauce

1 1/3 cups minute rice

1 cup water

1 cup cheddar cheese grated

1.  Combine beef, pepper, onion, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup tomato sauce. 

Mix well.  Pat into bottom and sides of a greased 9 inch square pan.

2.  Combine remaining tomato sauce, rice, water, and 1/2 cup cheese.  Spoon mixture into meat shell.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees. for 25  minutes. Top with remaining cheese. 

Bake ,uncovered 10-15 minutes longer.

P.S.  I used an 8 x 8 glass square dish and I lined it with foil.

Makes 4-6 large servings, not 12.

I served it with fresh spinach that was sauteed on an iron pan with olive oil and garlic.  Added fresh squeezed limon juice to serve.

The Great Depression-Tales of Wildcat, PA

The sisters

My mother Jeannette in yard of home in Weston Place, PA.

My, my grandfather looks handsome in his suit with his brother -in -law

During today’s celebration of my mother’s birthday, she talked about growing up during the Great Depression of the late 1920’s and 1930’s.   Wildcat  was the name of a village in Girardsville, Pa.  They lived in coal-mining towns.  The first place they lived was Lost Creek # 2, a coal mining village.  That makes me a coal-miners granddaughter. You may recall the  movie with Sissy Spacek ,  Coal Miners  Daughter.

 

Wildcat,Girardsville, Weston Place and Lost Creek #2

 

  They walked to school  It was far! She said,  they walked across a field and up a hill, possibly two miles or more.   No such thing as buses.   It snowed a lot.  The front door was level with the ground.  Once when my maternal grandfather opened the door,  he saw that the snow that had fallen overnight was  so high, that it was over my mother’s head, a child of 7 yrs old or so.  

 Growing up in the Great Depression, they didn’t have much.  They didn’t have boots to walk in the snow to school.  She said , they used tin cans.   The tin cans used for boots were the size to fit their feet;  they would stomp on th mash down to fit the foot shape.  I cannot imagine this.  Sounds like a snowshow of sorts. And by the way, sounds like school was not canceled for snow.

So by now, my dear readers , you must realize how much easier that we have it today.  If you need boots, you have an multitude of places in which to shop for boots.  My mother was not concerned with style such as the now Australian boots Uggs that many young women parade in during the winter months.

Her parents picked wild mushrooms in the forest and strung them on a string and  hung straight across in the kitchen to dry.  They also picked Huckleberries , blueberries and canned them.

When her parents were first married and she being the oldest recalls some of these details of the house.  In Lost Creek # 2, they lived in a “double” house with her maternal grandmother and grandfather from Lithuania.   My mom said that her grandmother  worked hard all of the time at home.   She made sauerkraut in large wooden barrel, it was kept in the basement.  My mouth waters for a taste of that sauerkraut.  She  baked bread, in the coal stove as well as” Coshi”, A potato mixture that was baked in a large oblong pan.  She remembers the nice crust on top of the “Coshi” (pronounce- co-she-). A dish called Kapoosta was cooked, made of pork and cabbage. ( recipe is in my blog ).  My mother’s father, my grandfather emigrated from Italy as a child of six years old by ship with his mother  to Ellis Island in New York.   Being that he had a taste for Italian foods, “an Italian stomach”, my grandmother learned to cook that traditional Italian dish of Polenta.  It was served with tomato sauce.      She also cooked pasta for lunch on Sundays.  Once living in Weston Place in their own house, they would visit the gradmother each  Sunday  and have pasta again for supper.  Her Uncle Tommy also lived in the house before he was married.  His preference for the pasta was fresh made, so when  she recalls looking out the window and upon seeing his car, the pasta was put on to boil. 

My great grandmother, called grammy also raised chickens, and 1 rooster.   Mom  can remember hearing the rooster make his call “cock -a-doodle-do” in the early morning hours.  Great grammy  had a back yard shed where her she   made her own whiskey.  She remembers  peeking in there and her grandmother saying to her to shoo away from there.   She served it to people.  This may have been during Prohibition or just lack of shops to buy liquor. 

 There were no grocery stores.  There was a train tracks that ran in the front of the house;  they would hop on ( it moved slow, she recalls ) and head to the town of Shenandoah.  There was limited groceries there.

At the  front of the house , her grandmother planted flowers. Her mother in later years did not like the hobby of planting  flowers.  But my mother did carry on that knack for growing plants.  My grandfather loved the year she planted zinnia flowers outside our back door, the multi-colored hues of lavender, pink and yellow.  I degress.

In the back yard was her vegetable garden and the chicken coop, rooster, shed for  whiskey making, and a coal hole.   There was a hole to dig for coal right in the backyard.  She remember watching a man from Philadelphia come with a truck to buy the coal.. The kids would sit and watch.      Since there was no indoor plumbing at this house,  they went outside to the  out house, one for kids and one for adults.  There was also a  ”Bathhouse”  for the adults.  The kids had their baths in the kitchen in a wooden tub.

My mother has an old kerosene lamp…. I asked her what it was used for.  She said it was to light the way in the coal mines.  My great grandfather and grandfather both mined the coal and also wore miner’s caps with a light on.

Comments

If there is anyone reading this that lives in Pennsylvania in these towns, I’d appreciate a comment.   I’d like to know if the coal mines are still operable.   When I did a map search of the streets,  I can  see the vast area occupied by the mines..  My mother recalls a kind of dust in the air living near the coal mines.

Again,  Comments are welcomed.   Many people stop by from other countries and if you’d like to share your story or your great grandparents story of those years,please  drop me a line under comments.

 

Addendum:  May 18,2009

 This writer sees that many come to this blog with an  interest in the photo of 1920’s suit, 1930’s suit,  grandfather suit.         Your  Comments are welcomed.

Please sign my guestbook  at my other new blog .

www.pencilsandbooks.wordpress.com

My parents wedding

Look at the coal transport system overhead!

My mom's school photo, age 6

My mothere's brother , Undo, (Anthony)

Cranberry-Banana Bread with Orange Butter

Delicious fruited bread to eat on a Saturday morning or to serve for a brunch or afternoon tea.

Bake the night before plan to serve it.

Cranberries were probably first known as crane berries because cranes living near cranberry bogs fed on the fruit. Later they were dubbed “bounce berries” because by the way ripe berries jump if dropped (bruised ones stay put).

The marshy waters of Cape Cod are a prime source of this native wetland berry and they are also in southern New Jersey.

Directions:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 beaten eggs

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup coarsely chopped cranberries

3/4 cup mashed ripe bana

1/4 cup cooking oil

1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel

Orange Butter

In a mixing bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.

In another bowl stir together eggs, sugar cranberries, banana, oil, and orange peel. Ad to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.

Pour batter into grease 9×5x3 inch loaf pan.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50 to60 minutes or till a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes.

Remove from pan;cool on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight. Serve with Orange Butter.

Makes 1 loaf(18 servings).

Orange Butter:

In a small mixing bowl beat 1/2 cup margarine or buter with an electric mixer til softened. Add 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel, 1 tablespoon orange juice, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla.

Beat until smooth.

Nutrition information:

173 calories, 2 gram protein, 22 gram carbohydrate,9 gram total faat,(1 g saturated), 24 mg cholesterol, 103 mg sodium, 53 mg potassium

Source:

Heritage of America cookbook, copyright 1993.

Better Home and Gardens.</strong

Sundays and Brunch and Blueberry Pancakes

Brunch in Long Branch, New Jersey
McCloone’s

strawberries, pineapple and marshmallow

Sometimes on a Sunday, we take a drive for brunch. McCloone’s is situated right along the ocean, the boardwalk of Long Branch, N.J.

Sunday brunch at McCloon's

What really inspired us to make the drive here was the chocolate fondue fountain (pictured). If you love chocolate, then you are cerainly in heaven here. There was a huge selection of brunch items, both breakfast and lunch type selections,carving stations for beef and roast turkey, several salads, muffins and croissants, but all during the meal, I knew I had to reserve room for the chocolate fondue.

Salt Creek Grille

Besides the array of food, what I enjoy about this restaurant is the Sunday jazz music. It is in the lounge area where the brunch is set up. The musician is playing a piano amidst small informal seating areas with comfy chairs and low cocktail tables.
Both times that we have come, we have had a table along the window in the main dining area. The decor is contemporary. Thre is a huge, it appears floor to ceiling display of wine bottles in a wall divider. As you walk in there is a fireplace to your right. It looks like during the summer, that there is a patio to dine outdoors.

Brunch at Salt Creek Grille

The chandelier

Raspberry cheesecake dessert

Today, let’s have one of my favorite flavor of pancake, Blueberry pancakes. Don’t you agree, that with each bite of pancake, you can taste, the plump juiciness of a blueberry.
There are many Sundays, that I work and therefore I do not have the luxury of going out for Sunday Brunch. Today, I will take care to enjoy every bit of my Sunday at home. Bleberry pancakes, Sunday mass, cook some delicious winter soup and for the afternoon, we will go to Dorothea’s House (featured under Polenta Fest title), for an Italian movie. Italian movies are shown once a month in Princeton in Dorothea’s House, a place that was donated for the preservance of Italian culture and language by a lady named Dorothea several decades ago. ( see web site on Dorothea’s House).
Today will probably be the last Sunday that I will have off until a scheduled vacation week. I’m hoping it occurs sooner than that.

Waffles and Blueberry Syrup

NASA Space Shuttle Challenger,where were you in 1986

January 28, 2009
Where were you on this day in 1986?
On this day, in 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after lift-off in 73 seconds. I remember it clearly.
Where were you on that day?
I was a fairly new graduate Registered Nurse. Working the day shift. It was the lunch hour for the patients and my team was making the rounds after the lunch trays had been brought to each of the patients rooms and checking that each of the patients were comfortable to reach their meal.
It was while we were in the back section of the hallway of SE 4 that a lady who had had her surgery was watching the Shuttle lift-off from her room’s t.v.
Another nurse and I paused and stood in the entrance to her room to watch the television along with her.
I remember her saying something just happened, an exploison. They replayed the scene.
We were amazed , I moved closer to the t.v. to get a better view of the spot in the sky where it looked like a cloud of smoke. We just couldn’t believe it. What had happened?, we asked ourselves over and over again.
In those times, the Medical- Surical floors kept the patients that had Gall Bladder and hernia surgeries for three or four days each receiving pain medications dispensed per Dr.s orders, and monitoring of the Jackson-Pratt drains.
Another remembrance:
My husband was working at Bell Labs, in between college
and was shopping in K-Mart in West Long Branch; it was announced on the piped-in radio. Saw it on T.V. at work in Bell Lab in the cafeteria and then later at home. I did not meet my husband until more than ten years later, so I asked his recollection of the event this morning while I was writing this. He was ready to leave for work.

January 30, 2009

On this day,forty years ago, January 30, 1969, the Beatles, gave a surprise performance on the roof of Apple Records’ London recording studio -their last public concert together.
The Beatles played five songs during their rooftop performance:
“Get Back “(three times),”Don’t Let Me Down” (twice), “I’ve Got a Feeling “(twice), “One After 909″, and “Dig a Pony”. They also played a brief version of the British National Anthem, “God Save the Queen”.
Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr
There was also some filming of the movie, “Let it Be” and the album, “Let It Be” was rehearsed and recorded in January 1969, although it’s release date was May 20, 1970.

1994 Concert with scenes and clips from other previous concerts.

My Symphony of Life

My Symphony of Life

To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury, and

refinement rather than fashion.

To be worthy, not respectable, and

wealthy, not rich; to study hard,

think quietly, talk gently, act frankly;

to listen to stars and birds,

to babes and sages, with open heart;

to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,

await occasions, hurry never.

In a word, to let the spiritual,

unbidden and unconscious, grow up

through the common.

                  This will be my Symphony.

                         -WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING

Princeton University in the snow

"looking through the Princeton U. gate

“Lady in Red”

Ruby Tuesday #1:

 

 

 

National Go Red Day on February 6, 2009

National Go Red Day

 

Please join women across the country on National Wear Red day on February 6,2009, by wearing red on this day- a scarf, a tie, a jacket or a dress.  I’ll be wearing the little red dress pin, too.

The American Heart Association says that the number one killer of  women is due to cardiovascular disease.

There are steps you can take and in time  become a part of your daily life by learning Heart Healthy Habits.

Exercise for 30 minutes a day or on most days.

Eat healthy whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables, legumes and fish

If you smoke, quit now!

Lose excess weight.

Know your family history of cardiovascular disease.

 

If you drink alcoholic beverages, drink in moderation.

Limit foods high in saturated fats and dietary cholesterol.

 

You can learn more about the national cause to increase awareness and help women reduce their risk of heart disease.

Http://www.goredforwomen.org

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

World Thinking Day- a Recipe

Many Girl Scouts and Girl Guides throughout the world will be celebrating World Thinking Day on February 22, 2009.   I grew up participating in the Girl Scouts, first as a Brownie and then  as a Junior.    Therefore I am happy  to write of  this celebration on my blog.

How will you be celebrating?  

 Some of the troops are having a travel around the world event with some games and entertainment from representatives from other countries, Celtic, African Drum Circle, and other s for Mexico, China, Phillipines, and Egypt.  They round it out with an ethnic Buffet.

 

Here, in the next day or so, I will post  recipes from a few countries.

 This is what my niece is doing for World Thinking Day.

Her troop participates in a council program for World Thinking Day.  This year, they had to research a country (it alternates between states and countries).  They chose Brazil.  They had to come up with facts about the country to present to the other troops.  They gave out little Brazilian candies, and the swap was little paper Carnavales masks they made and decorated with feathers and sequins.

Recipes:

Austria

Viennese    Chicken 

                                                                      4  servings

2 Tablespoons butter

1  onion finely chopped

1    chicken  (2 to 3 pounds), cut into serving pieces

1 green pepper, chopped

2 carrots,peeled and  chopped

6 mushrooms, sliced

1  tomato, skinned and diced

1  cup chicken stock

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sour cream

2.  Add  the green pepper, carrots, mushrooms, tomato, stock, paprika, salt, and pepper .    Bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer 25 to  35 minutes, until the chicken is tender.

3.  Blend the flour with the cream  and stir into the skillet.  Reheat while stirring , but do not allow to boil.

The  New  York  Times International  Cookbook

 

National Pancake Day

National Pancake Day   February 24, 2009

Mary’s German Pancake:

3 eggs

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Pinch salt

*         *         *          *             *

2 Tablespoons’s butter, melted

Lemon juice (real o reconstituted)

Filling (applesauce or any fresh berries, mashed)

Cinnamon sugar

Directions:

Place approximately 8 inch of oil (enough to just cover the bottom of pan ) in an 8 inch cast-iron  frying pan.  Place the pan in anoven to get hot.

In a blender combine the eggs and milk: mix.  Add the flour and salt; mix.

Remove the pan from the oven and gently pour the mixture into the hot pan.

Bake for about 20 minutes, until the pancake rises and browns.

When the pancake is done, remove from the pan and place on a plate.   Allow the pancake to fall.   Pour a small amount of lemon juice over  the top.

Cover with filling.  rinkle with cinnamon sugar.   Roll  the pancake up.   Butter the top and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.   Slice into pieces.

Note:  The pancke rises best if the milk and eggs are at room temperature.

Serves: 2 to 4 people.

This  recipe is from :

The Old Miner’s Lodge -615 Woodside Avenue  Park City Utah.

The Old Miner’s Lodge is a restored 1893 building in the National Historic District of the colorful resort town of Park city.

I checked on-line and learned that the owners  of the above Lodge retired  in 2004.

Reprinted from :  The American Country Inn and Bed and Breakfast Cookbook, by  Kitty and Lucian  Maynard   1987

Italian comedian – Toto-Antonio De Curtis

This past Sunday, we were fortunate to view “Toto “,  the Italian comedian in the showing of  an Italian movie called,   ”The Emperor.”   I found him to be very entertaining.  His facial expressions had me in stitches. 

 When I got home,  I started  my search for a video to share from you-tube with my readers.    

Antonio De Curtis began his career in Vaudeville using the name Toto.

Toto was such a consummate actor that he was able to get laughs as himself with his own personality even when ostensibly in character.

Here is a you tube video at the Trevi Fountain in Rome where he pretends own the Trevi Fountain:

Antonio De Curtis born in Naples, Italy.  Toto started his career in Naples, in small theaters in which he learned the art of the ” guitti”,  Neopolitan scriptless comedians, heirs to  the tradition of the Comedia Dell Arte.

In 1922, he moved to Rome,  performing in the genre of avanspettala,  a  ballet and comedy, Vaudevillian, before the main act of the night.  In the 1930’s ,  he traveled across Italy with his own  company.

In 1937,  he appeared in his first movie, Fermo  Con Le Manni, and then starred in over 100 films.

Toto was famous in Italy and many of his movies included his name in the title.

The movie that recieved most acclaim outside of Italy was ” The Hawks and the Sparrows” (1966).

Some of his famous movies are: 

 Fifa e Arena, Toto Le Moco,  Toto al Giro d ‘ Italia, Toto e le Donne, Toto Tarzan,Toto a colori,  the first Italian color movie in 1952, Ferraniacolor,  Poverty and Nobility,  Siamo Uomini o  Caporoli ?, I soliti Ignati ,  the episode of” Che cosa sono le nuvole” , from Capriccio All’Italiana,  released after his death in 1968.

I would love to see  some of these movies.  The movies were all made in Italy.  The  DVD movies in Italy are  made in a different zone, then the USA.   To watch, must use a separate  DVD player soley for Italian movies,  and change the code on the remote the zone for Italy.

Lithuanian Recipe, Koshie

5 lbs. Potatoes

1 Medium Onion

2  Eggs

 Parsley Flakes

 Salt and Pepper

 1 Cup Vegetable Oil

  

Peel potatoes and onion.  Rinse and soak in water.  Grate by hand using coarse grater into a pottery bowl.  After grating, remove excess water which accumulates to maintain a smooth batter.  Stir in beaten eggs, parsley flakes, salt and pepper.  Lastly, stir in vegetable oil mixing uniformly.  Pour into large baking pan.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about two hours until crispy on top and sides.  Cool for a few minutes before serving.  Spatula out in squares. 

 

To make a smaller amount, cut recipe in half and use a smaller pan.  Cooking time could also be reduced.  You will know when it is done by the brown crust.

 

Also for making potato pancakes you may use the same recipe but you must add about 1/4 cup of flour to the batter.  Reduce the 1/4 cup when reducing the recipe.  (You may have to adjust the flour if the batter in making potato pancakes if the batter is too loose.)

 

My aunt says to “Let me know when you are cooking and I will come for dinner.  These are my two favorite foods.”

03 03 09 is SQUARE ROOT DAY

                           SQUARE                    ROOT             DAY

                   03       03    09

The Math Buffs’ Holiday  which only occurs nine times each century is today-3/3/09,  for the mathematically challenged , three is the square root of nine.

        Poem        

 ” The Square Root of Three”

 I’m sure that I  will always be     

 A lonely  number like root of three

The  three is all that’s good and right,

Why must my three keep out of  sight  

Beneath the vicious  square root signs

I wish instead I were a nine

For nine could thwart this evil trick,

with just some quick arithmetic

I know I’ll never see the sun, as 1.7321

Such is my reality, a sad irrationality.

 When Hark!  What is this I see,

Another sequence root of three

As quietly co-waltzing by,

Together now we multiply

To form a number we prefer,

Rejoicing as an integer

We break free from our mortal bonds

With the wave of magic wands

Our square root signs become unwed

Your love for me has been renewed.

 

 

This poem  was written by David Feinberg

The poem was featured in the movie ” Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.”

As featured in the Oakland Tribune in California, a teacher by the name of Ron Gorton has been celebrating each occurrence of square root day since 1981.

He wants people to celebrate by getting things squared away,  eating root veggies, potatoes and carrots cut into squares, going square dancing.

How about researching your genealogy, know your roots.

Play four square.

Listen to the song by Huey Lewis  and the News, “Hip to be Square”.

 Comments appreciated.

I am interested to find out what the many visitors to my blog have to say.

Drop me a line in the comments after one of my posts please and  say hello.  I’d like to know how you found me.  What were you searching for ?Any photos posted on my blog require my permission to be reused.   Looking to forward to hearing from my fellow readers.

 Thanks for stopping by.

Back in Time, to Charter Day in Morrisville, PA

entrance to Pennsbury Manor House

Yesterday, Charter Day was celebrated at Pennsbury Manor along the Delaware River, created by William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

For me,  I found it to be a beautiful day to see all of the volunteers dressed in period costume and performing the trades that were needed to operate this settlement on its own.

There was a woodworker, a small building for smoking meats,  two separate buildings immediately next to Pennsbury Manor for cooking and baking all of the food on a fireplace hearth.  This was demonstrated by two women yesterday.  A chicken was roasted, small cookies on a small iron skillet on a separate area with hot coals put underneath on the hearth.  The two women in period dress  were standing at a table displaying the food they had cooked and every few minutes turned around to stoke the fire and turn the food that they were cooking from recipes from that time period.

There was a kitchen garden, with raised beds, and brick walkways.  There was a round brick cistern, that held 500 gallons of water and a 2 gallon pale inside.  The people of this time made many trips fetching water from the river to fill it.  This water was not relied upon the drink, and that children and men drank wine, beer or ale.

There were several barns and the animals that I saw were two black oxen, a horse, and a blue peacock; there were other animals in the barn, but I did not go inside.

I will post photos on another date.

The date that King Charles  of England signed the original charter was March 4, 1681.  William Penn drafted a charter of liberties for the settlement; free and fair trial by jury, freedom of religion, freedom from unjust imprisonment and free elections.

Penn first called the area “New Wales” and then “Sylvania” ,(Latin for forest or woods). which Charles changed to” Pennsylvania”, in honor of the elder Penn.

The Founding of Pennsylvania:

There had been a mass emigration of English Quakers to North America.

In 1677, a group of prominent Quakers that included Penn purchased the colonial province of West New Jersey (half the curent state of New Jersey). George Fox, the founder of the Quakers made a journey to North America to verify the potential of expansion of early Quaker settlements.  In 1682,  East New Jersey was also purchased by the Quakers.  With New Jersey strongly in place, Penn pressed his case to extend the Quaker settlement.  The King granted an extraordinary charter which made Penn the world’s largest private landowner, 45,000 square miles ( 120,000 km2).  Penn became proprietor of a huge tract of land south of New Jersey and New York, and north of Maryland (which belonged to Lord Baltimore) and gained sovereign rule of the territory with all rights and privileges( except the right to declare war).

The land of Pennsylvania had belonged to the Duke of York, who acquiesced, but he retained New York and the area around New Castle and the eastern portion of the Delaware peninsula.  In exchange, one fithe of all the gold and silver mined (there was none) was to be returned to the King and the Crown was freed of a debt to the Admiral of   16,000.

Below are some photos of the volunteers at Pennsbury Manor demonstrating the skills and way of life during that time period .  Pennsbury Manor is located in picturesque Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Address:

400 Pennsbury Memorial Road

Morrissville, Pa 10967

www.pennsburymanor.org

volunteer demonstrates woodworking

reconstructed 1680's buildings.

Soap Making demonstration

Penn's cooks prepared food in the fireplace

cookies "baked" on separate iron griddle.

Volunteer shows one of the bedrooms

Two women leaving Pennsbury Manor

curtains around the bed keep out drafts

Pennsbury Manor, view from the Delaware river

Scenic Sunday

Beyond the Gate

 

This photo is a view of the Delaware River in Pennsylvania at Pennsbury Manor.  Very Serene!  

  We visited the site of  William Penn’s historic estate last week.  See post entitled “Back in Time, Morrisville, PA.”

Happy St.Patrick’s Day!

 Happy St. Patrick’s Day to my husband and everyone!

Irish Saying
Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter.
Lullabies, dreams and love ever after.
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes…
That’s the Irish for You!

Irish Blessing
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.

 

RECIPE:

 

Irish Soda Loaf

From Food & Wine

Servings: Makes one 9 inch Loaf   

Do you have an alternate version of this recipe?

Ingredients

U.S.

Metric

Conversion chart

• 3 3/4 cup(s) flour
• 1/2 cup(s) sugar
• 4  teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/4 pound(s) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 2/3 cup(s) raisins
• 2  teaspoon(s) caraway seeds
• 3  large eggs, at room temperature
• 1  cup(s) buttermilk

---

Directions

• 1. Heat the oven to 400°F. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut or rub in the butter until the mixture is the texture of fine meal. Stir in the raisins and caraway seeds.
• 2. In a medium bowl, whisk two of the eggs to combine. Whisk in the buttermilk. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Put the dough on a floured work surface, pat into a loaf, and put into the prepared pan. Beat the final egg to mix and brush the top of the loaf with it. Using a sharp knife, cut a 1/4-inch-deep lengthwise slash down the middle of the loaf leaving a 1-inch margin at either end.
• 3. Bake the soda bread in the middle of the oven until well browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Turn the loaf out onto a rack and let cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Watery Wednesday

Maine Lighthouse

We visited Maine in the summer of 2007 and drove to this point to see this lighthouse. It can be reached by boat.

Ai Miei amici Italiani:
Abbiamo visitato Maine en Estate 2006. Il faro puo essere raggiunto en barca.

Is it First Day Of Spring

First Day Of Spring?

March 20, 2009,0730 a.m.

World Water Day is March 22,2009

World Water Day is March 22, 2009

The United Nations calculate that some 21,000 children will die through lack of water or famine due to lack of rain.

We celebrate water in our lives today.

Today, my husband ventured out for a walk at Carnegie Lake in Princeton, New Jersey. There were three fishermen quietly engaing in their sport and two geese walking about along with me enjoying the sounds of nature and capturing some on film and video.

Photos and video will be posted later.

The Delaware River and Pennsbury Manor

A beatiful old tree along the Delaware River

The View of the Delaware from Hannah Penn's sitting room

Close-up of the tree along the Delaware River

This photo of the view of the Delaware river from the upstairs sitting room is from the same location as my photo in a previous post. The previous post is located in “Back in Time, Pennsbury Manor in Morrisville, Pa.” In the photo, I am standing beside two rows of trees behing the Manor.

Beyond Pennsbury Manor- The farm animals

What do you have for me?

Farm animal friends;the horse and the peacock

Big brown eyes looking out!

Come along now, Bessie and Brownie

And good day to you, too!

Comments, Please

Hello world,

It’s Friday and a beautiful spring day is beginning.

A word on comments. I welcome your comments. To those who have commented, “I thank you, as my maternal grandmother would have said.
I’d love to meet you, where you’re from. Perhaps tell me what you’re looking for. I have many more photos on each subject that I have posted. If there’s a subject you like, perhaps I’ll upload some more photos.

I see that among some of the most often clicks to my site are the Stone Quarry in Vermont, Antonio de Curtis, “Toto”- the famous comedian in Italy, a 1920’s period men’s suit,” under the post “Tales of Wildcat”, and Pennylvania’s Chocolate World in Hershey, tour guide inside trolley, Hershey’s trolley at Hershey, Pa. Confetti parade ( I think the photo was of the Philly Mummer’s that you happened upon). Talerine beef recipe and Lithuainian dessert recipe. A few times someone has done a search on ant hill How-to’s refers to a photo that I took at the Philly Mummers in year 2008.

Buttercup-The Foundations song, In Princeton

We were out taking a walk in Princeton and heard some twenty-something girls belting out the lyrics to “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations. I’m happy to hear that generations later the music lives on in the hearts of many.

Build Me Up Buttercup Lyrics

Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart
“I’ll be over at ten”, you told me time and again
But you’re late, I wait around and then
I went to the door, I can’t take any more
It’s not you, you let me down again
(Hey, hey, hey!) Baby, baby, try to find
(Hey, hey, hey!) A little time and I’ll make you mine
(Hey, hey, hey!) I’ll be home
I’ll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo
Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart
You were my toy but I could be the boy you adore
If you’d just let me know
Although you’re untrue, I’m attracted to you all the more
Why do I need you so
(Hey, hey, hey!) Baby, baby, try to find
(Hey, hey, hey!) A little time and I’ll make you mine
(Hey, hey, hey!) I’ll be home
I’ll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo
Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart
I need you, more than anyone, baby
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart

Tuna Pasta Salad

A Recipe for those Christians who practise Fish on Friday for Lent. Also for anytime supper or lunch.

Tuna Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
2 eggs, hard-cooked and sliced
1 cup steamed broccoli florets
1 tomato, chopped
2 cups cooked fusilli pasta ( or rotelle tri-collored pasta, my favorite for pasta salad)
1 cup tuna packed in water, drained
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup steamed chopped green beans
1/2 cup kidney beans (optional-but nutritious, I’d substitute white cannelloni beans )
1/2 cup jicama (optional)
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1/4 cup vinaigrette dressing

Directions:
In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients and toss to coat with the vinaigrette ( a ranch dressing is also good on this ).
Cover and refrigerate.
When ready to to pack a lunch, place a portion in a container and cover.

Vinaigrette Dressing:
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper
In a small bowl, whisk the oil into the vineagar. Add black pepper to taste. Whisk again briefly before adding to salad.
Yield: About 1/3 cup

Lemon Vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup light vegetable oil ( I use Canola Oil- lower in cholesterol)
Freshly ground black pepper
In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice with the mustard. Add the suagar and mix well. Add the vegetable oil or Canola oil gradually while continuing to whisk. Add black pepper to taste. Whisk again briefly before adding to a salad.
From: Pasta Salads cookbook by Susan Janine Meyer (1986).

Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe from:
The Penny Whistle LUNCH BOX BOOK
by Meredith Brokaw & Annie Gilbar (1989)

Kentucky Derby Pie

Yes, I may be miles from Kentucky, yet a Derby Pie can be savored here at home on Derbie day.
Derby fever kicks in around the first of April and continues through race day in May.

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Chocolate-Walnut Pie

Makes 8 servings
Prep: 10 minutes., Bake: 30 minutes

Use a standard 1 1/2 inch deep 9-inch pie plate

1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup margarine, melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

Directions:

Fit piecrust into 9-inch pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under and crimp.

Stir together sugar and next 4 ingredients ( flour, margarine,egss,vanilla) until well blended; stir in walnuts and chocolate. Pour filling into piecrust.

Bake at 350 degree F. on lowest oven rack for 30 minutes or until pie is set; cool on wire rack.

Recipe From: My Old Kentucky Homes Cookbook asmcontributed to Best of The Best from Kentucky Cookbook ( Quail Ridge Press)

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Mint Julep

On eighteenth-century plantations, juleps were sipped in the morning before breakfast. They were thought to have medicinal properties. According to Kentucky tradition, a proper julep can be mixed only in a silver goblet.

1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh mint sprigs
9 ounces bourbon whiskey or rum
6 cups crushed ice
Fresh mint (optional)

Directions:

In a small saucepan combine wateer and sugar; bring to boiling.
Add the 1 cup mint. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat; cool.
Cover and chill mint mixture several hours or overnight. Strain syrup; discard mint leaves.

For each drink, place about 1 cup crushed ice in a mug. Pour 1 1/2 ounces bourbon or rum and 3 Tablespoons mint syrup over ice. If desired, garnish with fresh mint. Serves 6.

Nutrition information per serving: ( Mint Julep)
174 calories, 0 g protein, 17 g carbohydrate, o g total fat, o mg chol, 6 mg sodium, 56 mg potassium

From: Heritage of America Cookbook (1993)
Better Homes and Gardens Books

note:
Your comments are always welcomed. Please tell me if you have a tried the recipes or have similar tastes. Thank-you. Happy blog reading to you.
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Happy Trails to You, Until We Meet Again

View of LaSal Mountains, Utah

I found this great blog about Utah trails. I thought I’d share the wonderful imagery.

http://uthappytrails.blogspot.com

Colbie Caillat lyrics, Just Take Your Time Wherever you Go…

Lyrics:
Will you count me in?

V1: I’ve been awake for a while now
you’ve got me feelin like a child now
cause every time I see your bubbly face
I get the tinglies in a silly place

C: It starts in my toes
and I crinkle my nose
wherever it goes I always know
that you make me smile
please stay for a while now
just take your time
wherever you go

V2: The rain is fallin on my window pane
but we are hiding in a safer place
under covers stayin dry and warm
you give me feelins that I adore

C: It starts in my toes
make me crinkle my nose
where ever it goes
I always know
that you make me smile
please stay for a while now
just take your time
wherever you go

B: What am I gonna say
when you make me feel this way
I just……..mmmmmm

C: It starts in my toes
make me crinkle my nose
wherever it goes
I always know
that you make me smile
please stay for a while now
just take your time
wherever you go

V3: I’ve been asleep for a while now
You tucked me in just like a child now
Cause every time you hold me in your arms
I’m comfortable enough to feel your warmth

C: It starts in my soul
And I lose all control
When you kiss my nose
The feelin shows
Cause you make me smile
Baby just take your time now
Holdin me tight

Wherever, wherever, wherever you go
Wherever, wherever, wherever you go
Wherever you go, I’ll always know
Cause you make me smile here, just for a while

Asbury Park Easter Parade and Easter Parade Lyrics

She's ready for the Easter Parade at Asbury Park, N.J.

This bonnet looks like a winner!

Great Danes can enter, too-Pose with me?

Easter Parade Lyrics

 

 

Music: Irving Berlin
Lyrics: Irving Berlin
Book: Moss Hart
Premiere: Saturday, September 30, 1933

Never saw you look quite so pretty before
Never saw you dressed quite so lovely what’s more
I could hardly wait to keep our date this lovely Easter morning
And my heart beat fast as I came through the door
For

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it
You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade

I’ll be all in clover and when they look you over
I’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter parade

On the Avenue
Fifth Avenue
The photographers will snap us
And you’ll find that you’re
In the rotogravure

Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet
And of the girl I’m taking to the Easter parade

[alternate bridge for Great Britain:]
To the Park we’ll go
Round Rotten Row
The photographers will snap us
And then you’ll be seen
In the smart magazine

Hildene – The Lincoln Family Home

Very beautiful flowers

 

Garden flowers in Manchester, Vermont

 

Our visit to The Lincoln Family Home called Hildene located in Manchester Vermont was both quite regal  and educational.

This was the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln,  son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, who lived here between 1905 and 1926.  

 

He got his idea for the design of the  formal gardens from a patterns in a stained glass window.  There are outstanding views of the flanking mountains,  as in my photo pictured.

The home is a stately, 24-room Georgian Revial  mansion.  Its features include a sweeping staircase and a 1908 Aeolian organ with 1,000 pipes (we heard it playing during the tour).

Staircase at Hildene

 

View from top of Hildene staircase of illustrated children's book covers

 

A close-up of the staircase reveals white painted carved spindles of three alternating designs; the banisters and handrails wood is dark stained wood, maple.

There is a beautiful chandelier suspended from the ceiling  and adorning this sweeping  staircase.

 

Hildene’s Rooms:

Some of the 24 rooms  pictured have beautiful wallpaper and paintings.

 

Dinner will be served!

 

 

Unique horn-shaped vases

 

Horn Shaped Vases.

Trees wallpaper at Hildene

 

The Organ and the Music.   Pictured on the shelf are long boxes conatining one song each.

What song is playing?

Gene Kelly,”I got Rhythm”

I Got Rhythm,

Who Could  Ask for Anything More…..

 

Dreams of summer sun and the beach

a beach escape.

Amid pink plastic flamingos.

Dreaming of hot summer days sitting under a brightly colored umbrella with my toes in the sand whilst listening to  the sounds of the waves crashing and inhaling the  salty air.   One can pretend as if they are in   Florida.  Imagine.

Nurses’ Week

Starting May 6th, Nurses’ week is celebrated.

Happy Nurses’ week to all you hardworking nurses, myself included.

Nurses Week is May 6th to May 12th. Celebrate!

My husband surprised me with a bouquet of white flowers including roses. Photo to follow.

Scenic Sunday

Wild Stallion

 

For more entries in scenic sunday, please visit http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com

Recipe-Meatballs and Peppers

Recipe     Meatballs and peppers       A low soduim recipe

 

1 pound lean ground beef

1/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

1 egg

1 onion grated

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1 can ( 8 ounce) salt-free tomato sauce

4 green peppers, seeded and cut in chunks

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg,onion and parsley.  If mixture seems to be too firm, add several tablespoons cold water and mix well .

Form into 1-inch balls.  Place in large skillet.  Add tomato sauce, green peppers, oregano, basil, and pepper.  Cover and simmer over low heat for 35 minutes. 

Makes 4 servings.

A Note to Smile about:

You may be surprised to find out that I have a pink loose-leaf recipe Notebook that I ordered from Woman’s day magazine during the late 1980’s.  It came with pink tabbed divider sections that I could write my own recipe categories.   I wrote these on the page dividers.

Appetizers, microwave, soups,breakfast,  beverages, salads, vegetables, main courses, and desserts.

There is a recipe for microwave chocolate chip squares, microwave lemon spice tea, hot chocolate rum.

Under salads is Confetti vegetables, rice primavera,  Spinach salad and dressing, and paradise rice salad.

For main courses, are recipes for Robin Leaches Chicken casserole using a whole chicken,  all-purpose herb shake ( to put on meats and chicken for flavoring),  non-fries skillet dinner,

for desserts- Recipes from cool whip paper lid -Mississippi Mud pie, Frosty lemon dessert squares, Patriotic Parfait to name a few as well as Jell-o recipes.

Dessert recipes for Blueberry cheesecake, Cherry crunch pie, raibow cake,  and a cookie recipe on a recipe card  for  Drop butter wafers.

The recipe for Meatballs and Peppers was in the back of this pink recipe notebook and it is an artcle that I clipped out of the Star Ledger section Accent: Food March 31, 1985.

Two more Low sodium recipes are Broiled Salmon and Spicy Shish Kebab.

A word on Comments:

I love visitors and your comments are always welcome.  You can click on the word recipe in the tag box on the right to see other recipes that  I have shared.

A Blog on Books

There is another blog that I have started.   Please stop by and sign my guest book.

 

http://pencilsandbooks.wordpress.com

Check out my Guestbook!

Sound of Music – Central Station Antwerp

Zoo- in Bridgeton, New Jersey

Lounging Lemur

Singing Dog

White Peacock,"won't you display your feathers?"

White Bengal Tiger

Llamas

Fennec Fox Description

Turtles out on a limb

Peacock's Plummage

clowning around ,"look through the tree stump"!

Zoo Entrance-Welcome!

Cohanzick  Zoo

Bridgeton is New Jersey’s largest historic district and has the only municipal zoo in the state.

 

The zoo has old-fashioned heavy iron cages.   There is an assortment of animals.

I’m including photos and video of some of them.

Scenic Sunday-Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

a white egret

A.C. skyline and nest on pole platform

Will I see a turtle?

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Bring your Binoculars!  Will I see turtles crossing the road?  I hope. I hope.  We took the 8 mile auto tour and stopped to climb the observation tower to view the magnificent  wildlife from one side and Atlantic City’s skyline from the other.  The self-guiding tour can be taken by auto, on foot or a combination of the two. This Atlantic County refuge is also  known as Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge.For this weeks vacation, we decided to say local, that is travel within the state of New Jersey, but to places that neither of us had been before.Between April 20 and May 30  Will Seeshorebirds and wading birds-glossy ibis peak about April 28, Canada geese hatching , usually feeding on dikes by May 20th; May and June, horseshoe crabs spawning. 

 

Memorial Day-Tour of Somerville

The 66th Annual Tour of Somerville Cycling Series

One of the races line up.

The first in line are past winners

“Go, Laura,Go”

 

The Tour of Somerville was started in 1940 by a local bike owner and racer named  Fred “Pop” Kugler. 

It is the oldest bicyle race in the United States and is considered “the Kentucky Derby of Cycling.”

This year I was privileged to have the day off from work and decided to enjoy the day in Somerville.  It’s been many years since I’ve been here for the race.

The following photos are a collage of memories.

After the race

 

The events tents

Kids enjoy the petting zoo "kid" goat.

Spin Art creations

A sister and brother show me their Spin Art creations.

Pause at the Moonwalk

The Wee Hours, Bird Songs and Blogs to Read

When You Wake Up In the Middle of the Night:

What Do you do? Have you ever been awake to hear the precise moment that the birds start to sing?; this morning it was at 4:20 a.m. and I decided to write about it.  The sounds of the birds are pretty, but if I want to sleep soundly, I place cotton in my ears; it’s just enough.
One day last year, my husband and I decided to try to find out the name of a certain bird that sings a song that either wakes me up or that I listen to after the alarm has rung and I have a few precious moments under the covers before I have to start the day.
There is a web site for names of birds and their songs, quite a long list. Both of us sat there listening to song after song but were unsuccessful. I’d like to have an image and name for the bird whose sound that I hear. It is melodic in a singsong way and seems to be calling, perhaps calling me out of bed.
The house is quiet. The only sound is the slow tapping sound of my fingers on the keys and the space bar, and the shift key.

One suggestion is to scroll down on your favorite lists for blogs. How many have you saved to favorites?
What are your favorite blogs?
Some of my categories are by countries:
Australia, Malasia- Kuching Daily Photo by Awang,
Spain-Madrid,Indonesia,
France-Nice daily photo,
Japan-called Hyotenka,
France-called Kate Hill a French Kitchen Adventure,
Malaysia-mysarawaks travelogue,
Buckingham England-BuckinghamDaily Photo. ,
Ireland-This Irish Photo, Itallian-Called Lucillian Delights,
Malaysia- Day to day Miracles and My lil Princess Diary (of a five year old).,
Vienna- Vienna Daily,
www.americanhungarianfederation.org

Blogs on Food:

Once Upon a Feast-Every Kitchen Tells It’s Stories,
The Pioneeer Woman Cooks
snickerdoodles.typepad.com

Parts of the USA:

Midwest, NYC , Florida-Palm Caoast-Sugar Queen’s Dream, Savannah Georgia called Buttercream and Roses, Florida called Lime in the Coconut, Birmingham Alabama-Alabama Daily Photo, Colorado called Colorado Lady, Montana-called Bluff Area Daily,

The Grape Escape by Muse Swings,
Iowa the Lost Continent, Iowa-Midlife by Farmlight, Boston-The Boston Bibliophile,

Blogs with a Christmas Theme:

You Would Even Say It Glows, Southern Christmas Nights, A quilter’s Christmas
There’s a Christmas blog where the person writes on the 25th of each month on Christmas entitled Rudolph Day, to keep Christmas close all year.
Blog on Alaska, Fastawake on Earth.
Wash Day Wanderings,

Blogs on Chocolate- Confessions of a chocoholic

Apotofteaandabiscuit.blogspot.com
How to add a blog List tutorial by A Southern Daydreamer
Horse Blog-called All Horse Stuff

Days of the Week Blogs:

Monday-Blue Monday Letter Game by Smiling Salley
Tuesday-My World Tuesday -by A Colorful World
Tuesday-Ruby Tuesday
Tuesday-Show Your World Tuesday by Thats my world
Wednesday- Outdoor Wednesday
Wednesday- Watery Wednesday
Friday- Skywatch Friday ( every week thee are aprox 300 participants)

Friday-Faire Tale Friday by Wistria and Roses
Saturday- Pink Saturday – Sweet Southern Journey
Sunday- Sunday Poetry Prompts meme-Can Do during the week and post later
Sunday- Scenic Sunday

Bruce Springsteen, a note

Bruce Springsteen, How can we get tickets? Hoping to celebrate my birthday for an even year. Ticketmaster is not working for me.

Have to leave the house now. I do not have one of those I -phones or Blackberries, so do not have internet access when out and about and not allowed net access while at work, I’m a nurse.

My husband grew up in Rumson, but I am more of a fan, experienced your music firsthand as a teen in the 70’s.
You may find it interesting to hear that the first words my husband said to me when I met him in Hawaii was…..”Hello, I’m from Rumson…where Bruce Springsteen lives”….Me “Oh really…Bruce Springsteen….I listen to his music..Born in the USA… I’m from New Jersey, too”. He also told me that you cannot see his house from the road, it sits back further on the property, so no need to drive there, it is private.

Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday in Princeton, New Jersey

 

After spending the afternoon  admiring the art in the Princeton University Art gallery and the Princeton Art’s Council, we  came here for ice cream treats!

Sunset Memories-Skywatch Friday

Mount Equinox sunset

Driving up the winding roads of the  5.2 mile Skyline Drive is not for the faint-hearted but is worth the trip to the summit.   It begins  at the tollhouse on Historic Route 7 A at an elevation of 600 feet and with a vertical grain of 3,248 ft to the summit, Mount Equinox is 3,848 feet above sea level.    There are trails to hike of various levels along with spectacular views but be prepared for the almost ten degree drop in temperature, bring a jacket and gloves.   

To the East you can see the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Green Mountains, and the valley of Vermont.  To the west, are the view of the Adirondack mountains of New York.   To the south, a view of the Taconic and Berkshire mountains.  

The mountain is owned by the Catharsian monks who live  on  a private monastery on the mountain their entire lives.

 

Welcome to my blog  and thanks for stopping by.   Your comments are always welcome.

My Guestbook:

I have a guestbook.  I am excited to see  many visitors come to my blog from all parts of the world and the U.S.A.   Please sign the guestbook  if you like.   You can add a picture and a quote or greeting.

Please type in the word”guest”  in the search box on the top right of this screen to get to My Guestbook.

To view other participants in Skywatch Friday, please clik on the following  :

http://skyley.blogspot.com

Watery Wednesday

Branerd Lake

Skywatch Friday-

Beautiful sunset on Captiva Island

 

Welcome to Skywatch Friday.   This is my second week to participate.

We traveled to Sunny,warm Florida in October 2005 and were married on the beach of Sanibel Island on October 17, 2005 during the sunset, the anniversary of our first date.

For more Skywatch photos:

http://skyley.blogspot.com

Thank you for visiting my blog.  You are welcome to sign my guestbook by uploading a photo of yours or a scenery photo and saying hello.

To find guestbook, click here.

Colbie Caillat – Realize

 

 

I first heard her music playing on the radio during my travels for work, although she first became popular with her music on myspace.com in 2006.

The song “Realize” is about a friend that was secretly in love with Caillat.

 

Colbie has a double platinum album called “Coco” and the CoCo Deluxe edition  released on October 21st.

Colbie’s “Bubbly” song  which is certifed platinum   is also posted on my blog.

 To play the song here,  Please type “Colbie” in the top right search section.