Coffee and...Part 35...! :-D

Hap, understand the kids thing. The only way we see dd, who lives in St. Thomas VI and married not wanting her mom there!!, is to fly her home. Well, me thinks now that she is married she can fly herself here. Broke my heart when she left in 99 so bad that I thought I would die. Then the wedding thing!!!!!!!! Just gotta keep lovin them, and hope some day they regret their actions.

On to a better subject. Next time you are up here and it is market season plan a Saturday and come for a visit. Lots of Mennonite greenhouse/nursery businesses in the area. One thing you can count on with them is if one makes a success of a business 3 more will start up that year and 6 or more the following year. I don't mind at all each nursery grows some different things and the families are so pleasant!

Just had our supper and yum yum it was good and no son to share with I actually got my fill! Hard to do with an almost 19 year old around.

DaisyR, apple cake sounds wonderful are you up to sharing your grandma's recipe?

Managed to drag my weary bod outa bed when DGD leaned over me with "hi Grandma, u have to get up and come skating with us" so after much groaning and moaning, that's what I did. Went ice skating from 2 to 3:30. Think I'll be able to move tomorrow? I sincerly have my doubts. Hope the 'line' is short tmr and we can skip breaks, then I only have to go downstairs once for lunch break. Not allowed to work thru it. ha ha. (By the way, it's only called iceskating this side of the border, on the 'other' side, it's skating, no adjective needed...is there anything other? lol)

Mounds of laundry to do...sigh... later all...

P.S. love the miniatures!

I'm like Carol (DR)... been busy in the kitchen. I blanched and froze about 10 pounds of a skinny bean kinda like the french beans I love, and also cooked and canned a mess of half-runner beans. Still have to contend with the lamb for stew and the spaghetti sauce but they can stay another day in the fridge.

Grated 10 cups of zucchini to freeze in 2 cup batches for later zucchini bread and the durn stuff has eaten all the skin off my right hand, mostly 2 fingers and a tiny part of the palm. Never had that happen before... wonder what's with that?

Odd, but I remember getting that with doing a lot of bread and butter pickles, from the cucs. Wonder what causes it?

Don't know, but the skin is very tight and now peeling 2 hours later.

Sure Joyous,
Will dig it out again. Here it is. Grandma was born in 1892 so I don't know when this recipe was from. Actually, I looked at the name of the cake and it is from a govenor we had years ago here in Oregon.


Mrs. Mark A. Hatfields Saturday Night Apple Cake

3 T. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla (she used rum flavoring too)
3 c. diced apples
1 c. flour
1 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 c. walnuts.

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and flavoring. Mix in apples. Sift together flour, soda, salt, and spices. Blend into the apple batter. Stir in nuts. Turn into 8" or 9" square pan and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 mins. or until knive comes clean.

This recipe takes great warm or cold for leftovers.

Carol (DR)

Yup, that's what I get from cucs. Hmm, time to google. :)

Ok, come and get it! It is hot and tasty!!!
I almost forgot to take a picture before I cut a piece for me and my son, LOL!

WOW..that does look good....Cani have a piece?

Yummy, hot with vanilla ice cream!!!!!!!!

Yum!!

Yeh, yeh,,,,,pant, pant,,,,drooooooooooool.

Oh, you guys are so silly, but yes, have a piece. I just had 2. Naughty me, but it is very good on this cold dreary day.

Well I am home from the Ky RU. Haven't read any of your posts, so don't know what's been going on. Had a good time, met some nice folks, ate tons of food, and am tired and worn out. So will read for awhile and go to bed. I will catch up on your goingson tomorrow, then fill in more details about the RU.

Hey, Joyous, how are the miniatures selling in your neck of the woods? They are kind of a side-line for me in my store. (Mostly I sell stuff that the men want ---- like nitro radio control trucks ---- since it's a hobby shop.) All of the dollhouse shops around me have gone out of business, so I'm starting to pick up a little on this stuff. As far as I'm concerned, it sure beats mucking around with somebody's crashed R/C vehicle and trying to get the *&%$# engines started!

Hmmm, dr, that cake looks and sounds really good. I had an apple cake recipe that I really liked and managed to lose it. Mine was kind of an average yellow cake batter. You put half in the pan, then spread thinly sliced apple over it, sprinkled with a little sugar and cinnamon, then repeated the layers. It didn't have any nuts in it, but yours is the first recipe I've seen that sounded anything like it. If anyone has a recipe that sounds like mine, I'd REALLY appreciate your posting it. If not, this looks like a pretty good replacement!

darius and kooger, that sounds really weird! All I can think of is some kind of allergic reaction to too much of something in those veggies. It hasn't happened to me yet, thank heavens. It probably hasn't happened because about the time I'm thinking "I've really GOT to do something about all the ( insert veggie name) in the garden", we get a killing frost and it's too late.

Had a pretty decent craft fair last Saturday. It was at a little church a couple of towns away. Since the space didn't cost much, it works out fairly well. It's the only outdoor fair I've ever done where people will actually walk around with umbrellas and shop! We seem to have broken with tradition though (when Chaffin Congregational runs a craft fair, it RAINS!) and it was a very nice day, just a little chilly in the morning. Good thing, as this is generally a very slow season for my store and my husband is currently unemployed.

I know that somewhere up in this thread there was a section about "what's for dinner". I've just finished cooking and am about to go serve myself. We're having chicken and dumplings (must confess, I took a shortcut and used Bisquick) and green beans from the garden. There's lemon meringue pie on the counter. Please help yourselves! I was on "automatic pilot" the last time I made a pie and made enough pastry for a two-crust pie even though I only needed one crust. I didn't want to waste the pastry so I just had to buy some lemon pudding mix (my favorite), right?: Good rationalization, anyway.

using Bisquick is a 'shortcut'? no kiddin'? - tis how I get biscuits [or dumplins] LOL

Telling on myself, not a real cook. Just basic-cooked my way thru raising 3 kids and 17 yrs of marriage. Never had no complaints on my basic meat, taters, veggie and biscuits. Only meal I ever shined at was Thanksgiving dinner. Can fix that for from 5 to 40 folks. and for that I make the biscuits from scratch. /;-)~

Time for me to brag here!

Made a big pot of chicken and dumplings, MIL wanted to know how I got them so light and fluffy. yup, Bisquick! Right off the side of the box. She had to make up a batch of her own from scratch. Raw hockeypucks. Vile looking little things.

Score one for the useless DIL.

mg

yay, mg, bisquik rules.

Good evening everyone. Lots of goodies on the table. I brought a rhubarb cobbler and vanilla ice cream. That empty space in the corner was quality control, after all, I had to know didn't I? I pronounce it safe for the rest of you. Thanks for sharing the apple cake recipe, dr, I have some apples ripening on the tree by the corner of the garden so I may be making that myself soon. Meanwhile I have to see how it would turn out. More quality control.....

The tomato plants got cut down and the tomatoes (6 large buckets of them averaging about baseball size) are on my basement table. Usually more of them ripen on the vines, I don't know what happened this year but everyone in our area had the same results. If half of them ripen I will be busy canning what we can't eat and the rest will end up on the compost pile. Tonight it isn't supposed to freeze so I left the squash out and will bring them in tomorrow. We had a cool damp spring and then suddenly it was blazing hot so my guess is that they were set back a couple of times. Last night's light frost didn't seem to do any additional damage to anything. I also picked all the bell peppers, probably will give some of them to a neighbor who loves them baked with a stuffing of rice, onions and meat.

I was planning to leave tomorrow and go to a 5 day endurance event in Idaho, but my interstate travel permits for all of the horses have expired and so I will be staying home. I didn't realize that in time to do anything about it. There has been an outbreak of Visicular Stomatitis in nearby states, something that causes blisters in the mouth and is very contageous and so the authorities will be checking papers at the borders and I could have major problems and a hefty fine trying to get back home. So far it isn't in Oregon and they want to keep it out. There wasn't time to get more papers before it would have been time to go because it takes a week to get the Coggins test (for another contageous disease) and the travel permit can't be issued until the results of that are back. Darn!!! I've been working toward this event all year and it probably means I won't win the regional mileage championship. I only have a slim lead at the moment. Next year I won't let those permits lapse, a lesson learned the hard way...... It's definitely disappointing but there is plenty to do at home so I will make some progress in garden and flower beds in the time I didn't expect to be home.

Dinner tonight was potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage (all homegrown) cooked with a Polish sausage. Easy to do, easy clean up, and we love it. There is some left for tomorrow.

Goodnight all.

Awww Mary, that is terrible. I'm so sorry. You must be very disappointed, and I would be too. You have worked very hard this season, and the regional championship would have given you some recognition. I know some people will say there is always next year (dh is a Cubs fan, lol), but an "Atta Girl" is real nice sometimes.

So hey! You are leading the pack right now! ATTA GIRL!!!!

mg

Jeez, Mary, that's a bummer, big time. Still, wouldn't want to chance border problems. After reading all ur trips this summer had just figured you had a lock on the mileage thing.

Happy Birthday Dear Aria!
Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

mg

Happy, Happy Birthday, Maria.
May it be a good day for you. ~Blooms

Good Morning- another birthday for one of the gang!! Happy Birthday Aria - may you have many more!! What wild and wonderful plans do you have for today???

Oh yum, apple cake. I'll be sure and copy down that receipe!! I have an apple bread receipe that is outta this world too - just made some last week. The only bad thing is that I cannot leave it alone and eat it until I am sick of it!! With just two of us here, we have to stuff ourselves to get rid of extras. I don't like to put bake goods in the freezer- they never taste right to me afterwards.

Drat Mary, aren't you mad at yourself!! So sorry it had to happen - especially after all your hard work. You are a winner in my book already. I envy you with all your stamina.

Speaking of bisquick - I serve the 'cheeseburger pie' often - it is one of our favorites. Also made some biscuits, added cheese and garlic powder and they were outstanding too. I'm not a dumpling person, but may just have to give them a try. I do love potatoes -that's the problem.

Went to DGS birthday party last night. It was fun. The weather was a bit threatening, but it didn't rain - just hot and humid. Started at 6:30pm and was dark by 7:30pm. I forget how the sun goes down so early, plus the weather is ususally not so warm that we are outside! In fact the year that he was born, we went down to the hospital in winter coats!!. This sure has been a crazy year weather wise.

Would you believe I still haven't done up those grapes. Will SOMEONE give me a kick in the pants!!

kooger- brave woman going ice skating. I am too afraid of falling and breaking my wrists- I would have a load falling and something surely would give!! In one of my former lives, I am sure I was an ice skater!! I just love to watch it and was fairly good in my younger days..

Oh man, family problems again....My brother married gal that has 2 girls. The older one has been nothing but trouble and I feel so sorry for everyone involved. She barely made it thru high school - has absolutely no work ethic (has lost several jobs for not showing up etc) and now she is in jail. It seemed she got her second DUI, didn't complete the 20 hrs of community service - so they thru her in the clinker for 20 days. She just can't seem to get her head on straight. They have kicked her out of the house several times, but when she cleans up, they give her another chance. I tell ya, it makes my kids look like saints!! If ya have an extra minute, include Jamie in your prayers. She's one of the kids that I house/Kid sit for and I've really grown to like her. (but not enough to have move here LOL)

Hopefully I will have some ambition and get some stuff done today - I got up at 5am and am raring to go. Gonna have a bite to eat, read a couple of chapters until the sun comes up- then I am MOVING!!! hopefully...

Thank you, MG and the cake, it is just beautiful and thank you Blooms for your good wishes and Sarv what would I not give for having some wild plans for today!!
One of those big waves hit me again, it does every so often, it knocks me into a black hole now I am trying to crawl out of it .
Maria

Aria Happy Birthday..........((((((Aria)))))) Look up and see the light and grab hold. We are all behind you till you can step out on your own again.

McCool, It is hard to explain the mini industry here. I am only open 1 day a week and could never survive on what I make that one day. Most shops here have closed. There is one nearby and we try to work together on things. She carries more upscale things, is open during the week and has a workroom right there for her customers. Our business started a a DH project that I kinda inherited after he got tired of it. I found that with the large crowds we get there were always a few who were miniaturists. I have built up a small following and am thankful for them. I deal in a lot of the small stuff to either put in a shadow box or accessories for the houses. Not that I don't carry houses and furniture, I just enjoy the little stuff. Can't imagine setting up outside. It is a good idea to have 2 callings in your shop. Hopefully when one is down the other is up!

Sarve.......GRAPES!

Mary, best take care of your babies and not risk this nasty disease.

DR, forgot to thank you for the recipe....too busy wiping the drool off the keyboard. Will be making it this afternoon.

DH just bought me the new Bisquick II cookbook......lots of yummy looking recipies!

Off to Super Wally shortly haven't been in a couple weeks. Must first check in on my 80 year old dad. Have a glorious day gals!

Maria, I know about that black hole. On those days I was always glad for some one thing that 'had' to be done, anything to keep me moving. Almost guarranteed to find one of those in your path on any 'special' day, holiday, wknd. By now you know you will find yourself out of it. But knowing doesn't make it so.

If your body will co-operate maybe there's something left to whack at out in the garden... by way of cleaning up of course, altho a little indescriminate whacking is allowed. LOL Are your leaves starting to turn? My Sister over in Schaghticoke says hers are still green and it's still being way warm.

There's a cold front crossing up near SLC and it has brought us some wowser winds all night long. Has had me up off and on all night long as it tosses things about in my yard. Nothing big, I heard the dogs water bowl go whanging across the cellar door. So far no branch of any account, but winds like this make me glad I had the tree guys come and remove all the big branches off my cottonwoods.... well the ones that hung over the house.

Gonna toddle back to bed, perchance to nap until daylight. its only 5:40 here, I can get in a few winks. ~Blooms edit to spell my sister's town right. R'OFL

This message was edited Oct 3, 2005 5:44 AM

Yes Bisquik!!! I haven't made a homemade biscuit in years! They are always just right, light and fluffy unlike mine which are sometimes not. Why tempt fate, go with a winner.

Speaking of, Mary, you are already a winner in our eyes. Doesn't that just get your cork when you forget something like that? Which reminds me, I have a check to the DMV sitting here that I need to mail. We're paying $70 annually to renew our plates &
registration in WI, I don't know what it is elsewhere but that seems a lot to me. Tell me you pay more and then I'll feel much better. LOL

Whoooo! It's supposed to get up to 84* today. Last time it was this hot in September was 1953, the year I left the Northwoods and came to Milwaukee to work at a psychiatric hospital. (And you thought I was born this way...) We wore nylon uniforms, with a full slip underneath, plus a girdle and stockings, and no central air in the facility. Whew. I look at hospital staff now with those comfy scrubs and think they don't know how lucky they are!

Sarv, it ain't the potato that's a problem, it's all the good stuff we add to them! I'm a big potato fan too, I like them any way you can cook them, big wedges baked with parmesan cheese, mashed, fried, scalloped, etc. Little red ones, big Idahos, pretty Yukon Golds, pass me the dish, I've got my fork ready.

And look what's on the counter! All kinds of goodies today. I'll have just a nibble of each.... uhhhh.. why is my nose growing longer?

While we were out digging yesterday and moving daisies (no choice, they had to be taken out of the septic access area) I looked at the long bed on the north side of the house. It's loaded with hosta and other big leafy perennials, and finally gets sunshine now that the earth has rotated into fall........and there, still growing, is a tomato plant I forgot I put in , and it's got about twenty good size green tomatos on it! What a surprise! I wonder if they will ripen. Even with today's high temps, by the end of the week it is supposed to drop into the fifties.

DGS borrowed the big truck Saturday and brought me a bag of plum tomatos when he came back. I'm going to roast them with garlic and olive oil and hope for better luck than the ones I did last. Those were so juicy that by the time they were done I ended up with only about a cup and a half of tomatos....! The flavor should be intense!

Oh Maria, I am so sorry you are having a dark spell....I'm sure it's because you are missing your Richard, holidays and birthdays are difficult when your favorite person isn't there to share it. Give yourself a lift, pick some flowers and take them to a nursing home and count your blessings..you'll feel better. And, here's a little bouquet just for you, with my hopes that your day will brighten....

I know I haven't mentioned all my friends here, so if your name didn't appear, you haven't been forgotten, have a good day, don't eat all the treats before I get back!

Edited for sloppy speeling and punkshiashun.

This message was edited Oct 3, 2005 7:00 AM

Blooms, Schaghticoke!!! We spent from Sept. 2003-August 2004 traveling from home thru Schaghticoke on our way to Hoosick Falls. DH dad died and we made twice monthly 5 hour trips to work on the house to get it ready for sale. Loved the trip except the one thru the lake effect snow storm and of course me driving. Ended up stopping at the big casino exit for the night but didn't do the casino. lol. Hate the thruway but if you are the passenger there is so much gawking you can do and I did. Saw bald eagles along the Mohawk and just lots of fun things. Learned the words to waaaay too many country songs and boy do they stick in your head.

Would love to meet you if you are ever back this way.

Sarv~~consider yourself kicked.

Now return the favor?

mg

mg- "SMACK" (side the head) now you get your butt in gear too. I'm off to the exercise place, THEN I'm gonna do the grapes. Gonna check back here later to see if you got to work too..

Happy Birthday Maria..........................YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!


Well, I have read all your newsy post and all the things that you girls are going to do today and I'm bushed....time for a rest.....lol

Just to let you know, I'm THINKING hard of what to do today....does that count?????

See ya later.....

THINK.....THINK....THINKKKKKKKKK
Hap

Wow! I went away for part of a weekend and spent the rest of it in rehearsals. I'll never get caught up.

Happy Birthday, Maria. I'll think of you when we play the beautiful Blumina movement this evening and dedicate it to your birthday in my mind. (You share a birthday with my sister who is celebrating the big 60 today).

Hap, I grew up in Fairport, just east of Rochester.

Ottawa Symphony concert tonight - the Mahler first Symphony and Songs of a Wayfarer. Wonderful, tuneful music. We got let out of our second rehearsal 30 minutes early last night. but that doesn't mean I don't need to look at a few spots before this evening. lol

Hope you all had a good weekend. I ate too much at the reunion we attended at Chateau Montebello about an hour from Ottawa.

Ann

M5, thank you for that lovely bouquet especially that rose brings so many memories.

And Happy, thank you and your email it was wonderful!

Ann, you made my tears run afresh!! Thank you that you will be thinking of me while playing in the Symphony, what a lovely gift! Please forward a happy birthday to your sister from a fellow cyber friend..

Happy ya margin wrecker you!

LOL

mg

Just want to list my accompolishments for today!!

work out for an hour
bank for monthly deposits
canned 14 qts of grape juice - HOORAY - THEY ARE DONE!!
then the little things like making beds, general pick up, dishes 3x
two more cups of cuttings of coleus

Still would like to do cuttings of 3 more plants - maybe tomorrow...
whew - I'm tired...

It is SO hot here that I am going to turn the fan on myself for awhile....

How gew do dat?, Sarv......all today....?? That's a weeks work for me...

Well, I have read, read, read, read, and read some more. Didn't know this group talked so much.

I went to the ky. RU this weekend, left on Friday morning, and came home yesterday afternoon about 5:00. Read some last night, then again today, so I am caught up with the thread. I am not going to respond to each of you except to say, those with aches and pains, SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT, those that have accomplished much the past few days, HIP HIP HOORAY!! To those with computer problems, AW S__T!! To those who have done nothing, HOW DID YOU DO IT? To those who have done baking and offered samples, I AM TOO FULL TO HAVE ANY, BUT THANKS ANYWAY

The round up was fun, I met many new people, traded plants, had some interesting craft demonstrations, and ATE till I couldn't hold anymore. It was so nice to put names and faces together, I would like to meet every one of you in person.

So now that I have accomplished catching up in cyber space, need to catch up with chores that need to be done.

I'll check in later.

Red letter day!!! got an email that my application for Hearing Dog training has been received (after a months wait) and is under review.THEN heard from the breeder and Imari, the beautiful little blue merle Sheltie is ours. All I need to do now is figure out how to get from here to Boise to pick her up. Too far to go on an empty stomach, don't go on aeroplanes anymore, haven't driven more than 1 1/2 hours at a time in 20 years, and busses are out of the question. Gggm is buried in Boise and some of the family ties I couldn't find on ancestry.com might show up if I look there in person. Only other event was going to the new Tribal Outlet Mall this morning. Couldn't find a pair of sweat pants with a back pocket in the fleecy fabric anywhere. Have a pair of Taylor & Henry I love to the point of disintegration. Nobody even heard of them. Knee pain is tolerable, but suspect it may be a torn or damaged meniscus, ergo,surgery. Now is the time to heat up some of DW's delicious veggie soup with chicken pieces, bruschetta, olive tapenade, and the last of the goat cheese. Maybe even a glass of wine. (it's good for the soul you know). Wishing you all sunny days and happy hours.

That's really some news.....great to hear you will have a new baby.

Now about the Hearing Dog Training.. How long will it take you to learn how to do that?