Making Gravy

Not sure why but I’ve struggled at mastering the art of making gravy.  Seems as though it would be one of the easiest things to cook but every time I attempted it either came out lumpy, runny, or nearly in a solid state.  Fear no more….I did it!  With my last 2 quarts of chicken broth.  (I doubled the recipe).  I finally was successful thanks to this recipe on Live Strong.com.  Rather then just bookmarking this site I figured I’d share with anyone else challenged with making gravy.  My whole family enjoyed, that right there gives it at least 4 stars!

Words to Live By….

(All the pictures in this post where taken by my dad up country in his front yard)

“Learn to like what doesn’t cost much.
Learn to like reading, conversation, music.
Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.
Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.
Learn to like people even though some of them may be different… Different from you.
Learn to like to work and the satisfaction doing your job as well as it can be done.
Learn to like the song of birds, the companionship of dogs.
Learn to like gardening, puttering around the house, and fixing things.
Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of rain on the roof and windows, and the gentle fall of snow on a winter day.
Learn to keep your wants simple and refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.”

-Lowell C. Bennion

Winter Kids

IMPRESSIVE ….this big, bad, fort was in my front yard a good part of last winter. They have yet to build a fort this winter but our days have been filled with plenty of outdoor activities including skating, sledding, cross country skiing, and tubing.  Maine Man and the kids have yet to make it out ice fishing but I have no doubt they will be out on the lakes before long.  The weather has been crazy here in Maine so far this winter, making for scary ice conditions in some areas.  A few weeks ago it was 12 below, last week it was in the 50′s and this morning it was 5 below.

I must say I am thankful to have kids that embrace the outdoors in all kinds of weather.  I recently heard of a program for Maine children called Winter Kids.  It is for kids in grades 5,6, and 7.  It offers free and discounted deals on various outdoor winter activities.  The cost is $25 for a passport.  I have yet to sign the kids up but I am considering.  Anyone out there that has used this program I’d love to hear from you.

Discovery

Every January I go through all my pictures from the previous year and download them on to a JPEG drive.  Nearly 6,000 pics in 2012….  Last night as I prepared to start this endeavor I scrolled through my pictures and noticed several pictures I had yet to share.  With that said you know what the theme of the next few posts will be…

This old truck was discovered out back by Country Boy and his Dad last winter.  CB was anxious to show my friends and I his new-found treasure a few days later when we were out back on a trek.  It was fun to check it all out and imagine what life was like back then when this baby was up and running.

I will savor the days that I can still get away with posting a few pictures of CB.  As he heads into his teen years he is less agreeable to pose for pictures and often says “you better not post that of your blog.”  LOL….God help me!

“How to take care of my bunnies”

After a long, crazy day at work I arrived home to this typed note attached to the entry door.

Verbatim……..

1. On the floor you will see three water bottles please bring them out and put them in the water bottle holders.

2. Then after you have done step 1 please bring the bowls in the cages into the house and set them down where the water bottles were.

3. Please take the time to give the bunnies some greens such as broccoli and type of leave, cauliflower, and anything you can find.

4. Please don’t feed string beans, peas, and iceberg lettuce.

5. If they are low on hay throw some in.

6. If I am still not there in the morning please repeat this cycle but with the bows you put inside fill them with water and bring them out and take the water bottle in to unthaw

7. And if I am not there night once again the whole cycle starts over and please repeat it!

8. Thanks for reading my instructions please follow them as written thank you!

From Flower Girl the bunnies owner.

Handwritten below the typed note she wrote: “Love ya so much Mom & Dad See you later! P.S If you go to the store get $15 I Tunes!”

Crazy Girl……LOVE it! MM laughed and said “she is so your child.” LOL

P.S This isn’t my first time feeding bunnies FG!!

A Christmas Surprise

After brunch Christmas day the kids, my niece, and I headed up country to surprise my Dad.  We rented a cabin just a few miles away from his house. The picture above was our front yard.

We stayed at Beaver Cove Camps.  The log cabin we stayed in was built in the early 1900′s, it was rustic, clean, and comfy.  It was PERFECT!  A place we will definitely return to.  The owners also accommodated us despite my last minute call for reservations.  That I am VERY thankful for!

The kids with their sweet cousin M.  We had a blast reminiscing and we laughed until tears. A trip we will forever remember!

After we unpacked our goods we headed towards my Dad’s house.  We parked on the camp road so they did not see or hear us coming.

We all snuck around the house……

…..and the kids peeped into their front window.  SURPRISE!!!  Our plan worked out perfectly as my dad and step-mom were sitting not far from the window.  We hung out for a few then we headed back to our cabin to eat dinner.

I cooked up a lobster feast, meanwhile my dad kicked butt at cards.  First he won candy from the kids and the next morning he won all our dollar bills.  He always creams us at cards yet we always return for more.

It was so much fun to surprise my parents with a visit.

It made for a very special Christmas for ALL!

Food for Thought…

Last night as I laid in bed I browsed through a copy of Organic Gardening & Farming magazine from back in February 1973. (60 cents a copy)   I have enjoyed reading it and below is a tid bit I’d like to share….

“The genuine horticulturist is not merely an organic gardener or farmer, he lives whole life in the organic manner.  The organic principles must be felt deep in one’s heart, and in everything he does.  It is not organic to grow a carrot organically, and to always eat it in the cooked form, or cooked with the addition of white sugar…..What would it be if a man eats dinner grown completely by organic method, and then he arises from the table to do an unkindness to a neighbor?”

“The organic way is the golden rule way.  It means that we must be kind to the soil, to ourselves and to our fellowman.  Organic means goodness.  A heart that is full of benevolence will create in the body a spirit of physical and mental well-being that will enable it to better absorb all the nutritional elements from organically-grown food.”

~J.L. Rodale