March 21, 2007
How cold is it?
Come on - SPRING!
It's supposed to get warm this weekend.
I'm planning on it!
That little pansy was buried under about 5 inches of ice for several days.
March 20, 2007
fox
We have a lot of animals on our campus at work, but it is a rare day that I get to see a fox.
Yesterday afternoon, as I was leaving work, I drove up to a red fox sitting on the side of the road. He looked at me, and backed away from the road just a bit.
I'm not sure he was even afraid of me in my big silver car.
March 18, 2007
We took desert
We went to a dinner on Saturday night for an Irish celebration, and I took desert. It was absolutely delicious! The whole dinner was excellent. And the company was even better.
Bread Pudding with sauce
1/4 cup melted butter
1 (10-ounce) French baguette, cut into one inch slices
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup Irish whiskey (or apple juice)
1 3/4 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 can evaporated milk (I didn't use this, I used regular milk instead)
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
---------------------------------------
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350. Brush butter on one side of the bread slices, and place bread, buttered sides up, on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes til lightly toasted. Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside.
Combine raisins and whiskey or apple juice, cover and let stand about 10 minutes (don't drain).
Combine milk and next 4 ingredients; stir with a whisk. Add bread and raisins, let stand 15 minutes. Spoon into a 9x13" buttered pan.
Mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes until set.
Sauce
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter
2 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup Irish whiskey
1/4 cup milk
Combine sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan (I used a medium sized cast iron skillet) over medium-high; cook until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Cook an additional 15 minutes or until golden (do not stir). Remove from heat. Add butter and cream cheese, stirring constantly with a whisk (mixture will be hot and bubble vigorously). Cool slightly, and stir in whiskey and milk.
I'll be sure to make it again.
March 16, 2007
Have a great weekend!
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
Have a great weekend!
March 14, 2007
Free is nice
I love a "bumper-to-bumper" warranty on a car.
We just drove to the car dealership where we bought our car, and they replaced our windshield wipers in about 10 minutes while we waited. And they gave us a nice cup of coffee as well. And - they offered to wash the car while we were there.
The cost? nothing. Now I know it isn't an expensive repair, but nothing is so much better than any cost.
Did you know that a woman invented the windshield wiper in 1905?
March 12, 2007
Is it Spring Yet?
I'm hoping that the nice weather we've had for the past 3 days means that Spring has sprung.
Yesterday I planted pansies, and some spring bulbs.
I'm really ready for nice weather and lots of flowers. 
March 07, 2007
Snow
It's snowing and it's beautiful.
And it will be even more beautiful when Don is safely at home.
6:00 UPDATE- He's home safe and sound. Now the snow is really beautiful.
March 06, 2007
Comfort food
Don and a friend went skiing yesterday, and when he called me this morning, he said that the temperature where he is was 10 degrees below zero and it's very windy today.
They'll be home this afternoon, and I'm going to make a big pot of Chili Soup to help warm them up.
Chili Soup
1 large can kidney beans, drained
1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 large can (28 oz) tomatoes
3 tablespoon chili powder (more or less to taste)
1 can (4 oz) chopped chile peppers, mild or hot
1 teaspoon pepper - salt to taste
Put all ingredients in a crock pot in order listed. Stir once. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. Or simmer slowly on the stove for several hours.
Leftovers freeze well.
They had 4 inches of snow on the mountain yesterday, and lots of sunshine as well. It doesn't get much better than that.
March 04, 2007
MISTER
Last Friday, Don buried Mister, a stray cat who has lived in our yard for the past 10 years. We provided her with a "dog" house on our deck, all the food she could eat - and lots of attention.
She was such a sweetie, and I have no idea how old she was.
For an outdoor cat, she had a good and long life.
We'll miss her.
It's sad when you lose a pet.
March 02, 2007
March 01, 2007
March Holidays
I'm especially looking forward to March 26.
I wonder if any of these holidays looks especially interesting to you.