2's day

The two things for today are
#1 The smell of coffee when you open the container.
#2 Peanutbutter mixed with a little honey for a sweet treat.

2's day

#1 Old pictures, family photos, vacation pictures, my own, other peoples, most all old photos.

#2 Trying to picture how a place looked years ago. Like "what the Denver area looked like before there was a city".

Must dig up some motivation

I am doing a craft show tomorrow. The boxes need to get packed and everything ready to go. I would like to have everything packed into the car today and just get myself ready and out the door in the morning.
Here I sit thinking about what needs to be done but not doing it. This is not the picture of today that I had in mind.
Get up from this chair, get busy, I know I must!

Thursday's Photo

I'm so fond of holidays, I have the usual Christmas village that I set up every December, things for New Years Day, Valentines, St. Pat's Day, Independence Day and Halloween. And I add things for holidays every chance I get. Above is a portion of my Halloween village. Enjoy.

Thursday Photo

Some of the fellows that are hanging out

on my deck.

2's day

The "2 things" for today are about friendship.
#1. A spoken word that shows up unbidden, at just the right time.
#2. Feeling the closeness of a person even when they are absent.

2's-days

Two things that I enjoy.

#1. The way people are so quiet on a cloudy morning.

#2. Small dogs in sweaters. How cute is that?

Thursday's photo

A goodby to Summer '09

2's- days

Todays 2 things I enjoy:

# 1
Aspen leaves

#2
People that wear winter coats and shorts

Growing up!

Two years ago

One year ago

This year!

My great grand daughter turned 2 years old recently. The time has just flown by.

Thursday's Photo

2's - day

1. Forever friends. You know the ones, the ones that stick with you even when you are being a really stupid person. They don't join in with your stupidity but they are still your friend. I've had some dumb days in my life time and the people that have stuck with me are very special.
2. Breakfast, the best foods any time of the day.

2's-day

#1. Dusty dirt roads that wind through mountain canyons. Especially the ones that have an intresting history.
#2. Quiet little places to hide away from the world.

Doctors don't always know.

A friend of mine just went through a medical procedure. She hoped that this would solve some problems she had been having. She had been undergoing a long lists of tests over the last few months and they pointed to a certain problem. That led to the past Friday's trip to the hospital.
At the end of a very long day, checking in, waiting, being prepped, waiting, being operated on, waiting, conferring with the Doctor, she was told that what was done went well but, it wasn't a solution to the problem.
Now there will be more tests in her future. And more hoping for an answer. And more expense. And, well you get the picture.
Maybe when the doctors have a hard time figuring out what our problem is its because we don't have the right words to explain what we are feeling, or that what we are feeling can be attributed to many things and the elimination processes can take a long time.
But what I think is that sometimes the doctors just don't know.

2's-day

It's 2's-day and time for 2 things that I enjoy.

#1. Cloudy days, anyone that knows me understands that one, I wilt in the sun.

#2. Birthday's. For quite a few years now I have spent some time on the anniversary of my birth looking back at the new things I've learned and the new experiences I had. It makes me happy.

2's-day

I'm stealing that from someone else.
I think I'd like to use it as a prod to make me remember some small things that give me pleasure.
Today as my first 2's, I would like to say "I love that there are FREE classes". The computer classes I've been taking are a good example. I know there are other things that I can learn that either don't cost or are very low cost and when the computer classes end, I intend to find something else.
Number 2 for this 2's-day is "duct tape". If it can't be fixed with duct tape there is a good possibility that it will help temporarily. It can give you time to come up with a real fix.

Instead of a photo

United Way Day of Caring
Today I went with my daughter to take part in a clean up, fix up, day at an old Grange Hall. That their are some of the old halls still around amazed me, but then I don't live in a farm area.
They told us today that the grange was started after the Civil War as a way for the farmers to be heard by their representatives in the government. Like a lobbiest of sorts. Then they became a place for the farmers to get together to socialize. Dances, Graduations, Weddings, and what ever, happened at the many Grange Halls across the country.
I grew up in a small town in Colorado and all those things happened at the school house when I was little. It was a time when getting together with your neighbors was what you did for entertainment. Now families seem to spend time going out or sitting in front of the television. Look how far we've come. Is it good or bad?

Thursdays Photo

Some time with family.

Thursday's Photo

A very dark cloud on this side of the mountain and the
sun has just gone down behind Longs Peak.

Thursdays Photo

A sailboat coming into Duluth on Lake Superior

Road Trip

Excited, you bet!
I leave Monday morning on a 2100 mile trip. Road Trips, I love them, I love the country side as it moves by the window like a constantly changing photo in a frame. I love the deserts, the mountains and streams, the farm land, the wide rivers, lakes, oceans, the small towns and the cities. I love the stops in strange towns for gas and the hunt for a place to get a bite to eat.
I have never been a "are we there yet?" kind of traveler. No matter how exciting the destination may be, getting there should be fun too. Even the weather can make a trip interesting. A thunder storm can be a beautiful light show. An unexpected snow storm could be a chance to spend an extra night in a lovely mountain town.
And then there is road work and detours, they are a perfect reason to go exploring. A chance to see something you hadn't thought of before, like a buffalo reserve in Nebraska or a quiet little town in upper New York. You know the one that your route would have missed if not for the detour sign, and where that sweet little cafe was that served the most amazing fruit pies. Or the place where the road side stand had the best local crafts you found on the whole trip.
But this time I also get to spend a few days with my baby sister at the far end of that 2100 mile loop. She moved so far away from our beautiful mountain home and I am very excited to see her!

Thursdays Photo

A cloud hanging across the highway from me on Berthoud Pass.

Thursdays Photo

Colorado Wild Flowers. This state is so beautiful I have a
problem believing anyone wants to be anywhere else.
But I'm glad that others feel otherwise.

To be a Mom

more soon!

There is no words to express the pride I felt yesterday. Although, I admit, I was mighty proud of Dave when he finally made it to graduation. But to see my girls up there in front of that huge crowd accepting their diploma, WOW! My eyes got watery, and I had to blink them to see. They called "Laura Lee Taylor" and almost immediately after that they called "Donna Diane Carter", I'm glad that they were right together. There were others after that but I didn't hear any of what was said from that point on. I was setting there wishing it was over and I couldn't wait to get out of there and hug my girls.

Thursdays Photo

I haven't been keeping up with things very well, putting things off, falling behind. My focus is slightly askew. I need to escape to a quiet place.

Down the hill and into the forest. Now this is just what I needed. This time its a memory walk. But soon, yes, soon...

Thursdays Photo

A tiny wildflower and a

tiny butterfly. Now that

is Summer!

Randomness

My thoughts are coming in short, random, spurts today.

I'd like to go to Minnasota some time this summer.

The weather here is suppose to be very warm for the next few days so I'll probably hide in the house. Can't afford to run away to somewhere cooler right now.

Went up on Flagstaff mtn. today. That was nice.

The baby birds outside the window are driving my cats crazy.

Auto's are a big pain in the neck.

You can do everything your suppose to do to maintain them and there still may be a time when they will leave you stranded.

Thursdays Photo

okay, I'm not sure why this is one of my favorites, but it is.

Thursdays Photo

Grand County, Colorado

Tuesday --- Memories

I remember the first time we tried to plant a garden after we moved to the mountains. About the last week of May Mom dug up a spot in the back yard and we put in radishes carrots lettuce, potatoes and tomatoes. Oh, and green onions. That spring had been pretty mild and the snow had melted early except in the very shady areas. The digging was hard because the ground was still a little hard from being frozen.
Mom thought she was choosing the kinds of hardy plants that would be okay with the short growing season that we would have. She covered the beds with something at night (I can’t remember what, but maybe it was burlap) and uncovered them during the day.
I was pretty young, about 6 or 7, and was not much help but I loved the watering and digging in the dirt. Then I would look at my hands and see how dirty I had gotten and run into the house to get cleaned up. I still can’t stand for my hands to be dirty for long. I love the feel and smell of the soil but not for long. I wasted so much time running back and forth that I never got much done. Mom probably thought I was a hindrance more than a helper but she let me help anyway.
When the little plants started to pop up out of the ground I was so proud it was like I had caused it all by myself. The late frost had killed some of the seeds but some of them made it and hung in there to become plants. We got plants from all of the eyes of potatoes that we had planted and the radishes and carrots were doing good The onions and lettuce were slower and the tomatoes did not do much at all.
In July we had radishes and green onions from the garden. The carrots did not develop into carrots really but the tops grew and were pretty. By the end of August it snowed and we dug up the potatoes. They were about the size of a ping pong ball and we did not get a lot of them.
Mom learned a great deal that summer about high altitude planting. It was a bunch of work for very little harvest but what we got was very tasty.

Thursdays Photo

Mondays food

I got this one from Gin.

THE 5 MINUTE CHOCLATE CAKE FOR ONE

4 Tablespoons flour
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons oil
3 Tablespoons chocolate chips (Optional)
A small splash of Vanilla extract
1 Large coffee mug (Microwave safe)

Combine dry ingredients and mix well.

Add egg and mix thoroughly.

Add milk and oil, mix well.

Add vanilla and chocolate chips and mix.

(They say you can do this right in the mug but I found when I did that it stuck, so next time I will mix it then pour it in the mug).

Cook in microwave for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.

The cake will rise over the top of the mug but do not be alarmed!

Allow to cool then tip out onto a plate.

EAT and ENJOY! (This can serve 2 if you really feel like sharing!

Why is “this” the most dangerous recipe in the world?

Because now we are only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night!

Thursdays Photo

Its cloudy and windy outside today. So here is some Colorado Beauty to brighten things up.

Tuesdays.........memories

Greald Emery Fisher

1973......................................... 1999

1960 or about that

1949 ...........................1950? .......................1956?

Mondays Food Day

I didn't really have an idea for a food topic, but a little while ago I put apple slices in the microwave oven with a little bit of cinnamon and brown sugar. In two minutes I had a very tasty and juicy treat.

Thursdays photos

Light House at Mackinaw City, Michigan

Monday's Food Day

How about a (not so ordinary) Veggie dish today.
I'm going to call this: Spiced Fennel
2 stalks of fennel, cleaned trimmed and cut into slices
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1 T. olive oil
1 T. butter
1 tomato, chopped
1 C. mushrooms, chopped
1 t. pepper blend
1/2 C. unsalted beef broth

In a pan, put olive oil, butter, mushrooms and fennel. cover and cook for about 5 min. Add everything else and continue cooking for 15 to 20 min. Stir once in a while.
Serve as a side with dinner or with a piece of fruit or a sandwich for lunch.

who is rockin' my boat?

This has been quite a week. I was doing some research on my family tree earlier this week and while looking in the SS death index for a grandfathers information I ran across my brother's name. It said he died in 2005.
Wow! that really threw me. I had not talked to Gerry since early in 2003. He called me about Judy and we talked for a while about him moving to Texas and what was going on in both our lives. At that time he gave me an email address so that we could keep in touch. I invited him to visit my Family site on the web.
The last time he logged into the site was July 6th of 2005 and the record from SS says he died on Sept. 1st of that same year.
None of the family heard anything about it at the time. If I hadn't come across that record on the SS site we still wouldn't know.
What makes me mad is that I hadn't noticed that he hadn't been on the site in so long. And if I had noticed what would I have done? He didn't give me a phone number or address when we talked. Just the email, but I should have tried to keep in touch better. I should have taken the responsibility of staying in contact.

Thursdays Photo

An old school in Minnesota.

Gin will recognize this one, I believe Ray said he attended school there at one time.

Monday's Food Day

Food, I love food. I love the endless variety of edibles that are available to us. We can shop the farmers markets, the big chain stores, the produce stands, the small corner stores, the ethnic food stores and we can grow our own. We can't possibly run out of new ideas or get bored with food.
Over the years I have ran into a few things that I don't care for and a few things that I wouldn't even try. But, if you subtract those things from the lists, there are still many things to try. There are also many combinations that can make a new treat from an old stand by.
Today I'm sharing a spice blend that I use often. It works with meats (great for grilling), casseroles, stews and soups.

Nada's Pepper Blend
1/2 c. Course Black Pepper
2 tablespoons Lemon Pepper
1 tablespoon Dry Chili Pepper
1 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon Dry Sweet Red Pepper
1 teaspoon Dry Sweet Green Pepper
1 teaspoon Dry Garlic
1 teaspoon Dry onion
1 teaspoon Dry Parsley
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Lemon Zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch of sugar

mix well and store in a closed container near where you cook. I keep some in a shaker next to the stove. If you really love one ingredient, add a little extra of it. If there is something you can't have or don't like, omit it.

Thursdays Photo

One taken today and the other less then a week ago.

Monday's Food Day

I'm cravin' sweets today! So instead of eating them I decided to blog about them, maybe I'll get over the craving by the time I'm done and can avoid the extra pounds.

Apple Crisp

4 c. sliced apples
1 t. cinnamon
1 c. crushed cereal
1/2 c. Brown sugar
1/3 c. butter

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Put apples in an ungreased 8X8 inch pan.
In a small bowl mix flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in the cereal. Sprinkle evenly over the apples.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

This is so easy and quick to put together. You can also change the apples to another fruit or berry, just use what you have on hand.

Okay, so that didn't help, maybe I'll just have to make something and hope I can resist eating the whole thing.

Thursdays Photo

I'm dreaming of a white spring! It's so dry and one good storm could make a really big differance.

Tuesdat --- Memories

I have been sitting here thinking about growing up in the fifties and how much has changed in my lifetime so far.

My older sister and I did many things together. She, being 1 1/2 years older, didn't like that as much as I did. But in a small town your circle of friends covers a span of years. One time when the snow was really bad we walked down to the store to meet the school bus and long after it should have been there we and some friends of ours got a ride with someone we knew in the back of a pickup. After riding 11 miles to the school we decided we didn't want to walk in late so we decided to ditch. We hitched a ride with someone else and went, not home but, to Winter Park Ski area and watch some competition that was going on. That involved retracing the 11 miles we had just traveled plus another 8 miles up to the ski area. Our ride took us as far as Hideaway Park and there we decided to walk the last 2 miles.
We had just started out when I saw a couple of snow plows in front of a cafe and figured if the plows were there Dad and maybe the father of two of the other girls were inside having coffee. Judy decided that if we were to keep from being caught ditching school we should go around the other side of the building. That was no easy task because the snow didn't get plowed down there.
After getting very cold and wet we finally made it to Winter Park about noon and we ran into some kids we knew from school. And that's when we found out that for all of us that rode the school bus... There was no school that day because the bus had gotten stuck. We hadn't officially ditched after all.

Thursdays Photo

A clear day on the west side of the devide looking east.