One of Dorothy's subjects this year is Greek Mythology. Her latest stories have been about Persephone and Hades, explaining the seasons of the year. (If Persephone is above ground it is spring/summer. If she is below ground it is fall/winter.) Dorothy has determined that it is almost time for Persephone to go back to Hades.
We are getting a bit cooler now, which is very nice. The highs are getting to be high 70's/low 80's now. The trees are starting to lose a few leaves, but the flowers are still blooming. This is the time for the crysanthemums to steal the show, and the poppies are starting to bloom, too.
Soon it will be time to clean up the garden. After all, it has been taken over by the neighbor's morning glory vines anyway. I also need to move some perennials in the flower garden, and plant some bulbs for next spring. If I find a good hauling company I will take out the overgrown bushes and the dead tree. It would be nice to get that done!
Note for next year - cosmos are very tall in the flower garden - one plant has blooms over my head! Perhaps I will skip those next spring. I will plant more poppies, asters and coleous, as they did very well in the garden this year. If possible, I will also move the vegetable garden - I am tired of the morning glories taking over every year!
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Thursday, September 22, 2005
camping
This past weekend we went on a short camping trip, away from the city noise and hustle and bustle. We rented a one room cabin at a KOA campground in Fredericksburg, VA for two nights. This cabin had no bathroom (communal campground ones down the road) and no kitchen (picnic table and metal fire ring on the ground out front), just a double bed, a twin bunk bed, and a small table by the door. With all our clothes, equipment, and cooler inside there wasn't much room to move around. The kids were thrilled, though, and they were climbing the bunk bed and jumping on the double bed while we unpacked. The cabin also had one more amenity - a window air conditioner! It did help to have that, though, as the temperatures were in the high 80's and low 90's that weekend.
Why Fredericksburg? We didn't visit any battlefields, and we didn't do much sightseeing. We did enjoy a short visit with our Navy friends who live nearby (wish it could have been longer, we had a great time with them!). However, it could have been any campground - we just wanted a low key, quiet weekend. We got what we wanted, and Jim didn't have to sleep in a tent for it!
Memories are made from trips like this. We simply spent time together as a family - swimming, playing on the playground or in the gameroom (foosball anyone?), making s'mores at the campfire, telling stories of other camping trips.
Why Fredericksburg? We didn't visit any battlefields, and we didn't do much sightseeing. We did enjoy a short visit with our Navy friends who live nearby (wish it could have been longer, we had a great time with them!). However, it could have been any campground - we just wanted a low key, quiet weekend. We got what we wanted, and Jim didn't have to sleep in a tent for it!
Memories are made from trips like this. We simply spent time together as a family - swimming, playing on the playground or in the gameroom (foosball anyone?), making s'mores at the campfire, telling stories of other camping trips.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
fair wages
Dot made money this year at the fair, and didn't have to work hard at all.
We picked up her entries this morning and found that, aside from many "participation" ribbons, she had won third place for her quilt, third place for her beaded jewelry , and an honorable mention for her apron. All were entered in categories for children up to 11 years old. She now has $11 of prize money to put in her bank account!
We picked up her entries this morning and found that, aside from many "participation" ribbons, she had won third place for her quilt, third place for her beaded jewelry , and an honorable mention for her apron. All were entered in categories for children up to 11 years old. She now has $11 of prize money to put in her bank account!
Nashville fried biscuits
With Jim home for labor day I was able to try a few new recipes without "help" from the kids. Yesterday for dinner I made two grilled chickens (I will always let poultry soak in a saline bath before I cook it - always!), green beans with bacon and onions, broccoli salad (just enough for me, since no one else really enjoys it) and Nashvile Fried Biscuits. I had found this recipe in a cookbook awhile back, and it sat in my folder of "recipes to try" for a really long time. I thought it might be time to try it.
The basic recipe is for a biscuit made with yeast - usually these are found in the south, named "angel biscuits." The beauty of this type of recipe is that you can prepare a large batch and then freeze it for later use. Pull out a few biscuits, let them thaw and rise, then bake. No mess, no fuss.
While angle biscuits are baked, these, obvious from the title, are fried. They are somewhat like a donut, just not so sweet. (Although, if you put a glaze on them, they might come close to a krispy kreme.) It turns out lovely, light and fluffy, with a crisp golden exterior. The inside is not as flakey as a biscuit, but when you eat one you won't care. They are delicious! Perhaps not worth the work all the time, definately not worth the health risk all the time, but nice to try every now and again.
Fried Biscuits
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp yeast
1/4 c. warm water
2 c. milk
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
5 c. flour
1/4 c shortening
fat or oil for frying
Stir yeast into warm water; set aside to proof. Mix together the sugar, salt and 3 1/2 cups flour. Cut in the shortening. Combine milk with yeast mixture, add to flour mixture. Add flour as needed to make a soft, smooth dough. Cover and let rise one hour, or until doubled. Roll out 1/2 inch think, cut into rounds. At this point the biscuits can be frozen to use at a later date. As the biscuits rise, heat your oil to 350 degrees F. Fry biscuits until golden brown, drain on paper towel and serve warm. Yields about 5-6 dozen 2-1/2 inch biscuits.
The basic recipe is for a biscuit made with yeast - usually these are found in the south, named "angel biscuits." The beauty of this type of recipe is that you can prepare a large batch and then freeze it for later use. Pull out a few biscuits, let them thaw and rise, then bake. No mess, no fuss.
While angle biscuits are baked, these, obvious from the title, are fried. They are somewhat like a donut, just not so sweet. (Although, if you put a glaze on them, they might come close to a krispy kreme.) It turns out lovely, light and fluffy, with a crisp golden exterior. The inside is not as flakey as a biscuit, but when you eat one you won't care. They are delicious! Perhaps not worth the work all the time, definately not worth the health risk all the time, but nice to try every now and again.
Fried Biscuits
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp yeast
1/4 c. warm water
2 c. milk
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
5 c. flour
1/4 c shortening
fat or oil for frying
Stir yeast into warm water; set aside to proof. Mix together the sugar, salt and 3 1/2 cups flour. Cut in the shortening. Combine milk with yeast mixture, add to flour mixture. Add flour as needed to make a soft, smooth dough. Cover and let rise one hour, or until doubled. Roll out 1/2 inch think, cut into rounds. At this point the biscuits can be frozen to use at a later date. As the biscuits rise, heat your oil to 350 degrees F. Fry biscuits until golden brown, drain on paper towel and serve warm. Yields about 5-6 dozen 2-1/2 inch biscuits.
Back to school
Aaah, summer is over... at least the school system seems to think so. Poor children, having to give up their summertime play. No more sandbox, no more pool, no more free time in front of the tv or computer...
At our house we have begun to homeschool. We may have an interesting year, one where we accelerate certain subjects. In spelling today, lesson one had Dot spelling words such as: I, for, of, the, etc. I am tempted to skip through to at least lesson 20! Jim thinks her math will be somewhat simple as well. She will need to go through this book, though, to learn multiplication and division, area and a few other math basics. Dot's handwriting will need lots of practice... That is one area in which she is not advanced!
This morning when I began working with Dot we sat at the dining room table listening to cars go by and children arriving at the school next door. The tv was on, but no one was watching it; Jamie was sitting quietly at the table as well, coloring in a few new coloring books. Perhaps he feels left out... I think he may be ready for school soon, if he would just learn to speak... :-)
We are taking a break now, or rather, a field trip. This morning we will pick up Dot's entries from the fair. I am sure we will blog later about what ribbons she won...
At our house we have begun to homeschool. We may have an interesting year, one where we accelerate certain subjects. In spelling today, lesson one had Dot spelling words such as: I, for, of, the, etc. I am tempted to skip through to at least lesson 20! Jim thinks her math will be somewhat simple as well. She will need to go through this book, though, to learn multiplication and division, area and a few other math basics. Dot's handwriting will need lots of practice... That is one area in which she is not advanced!
This morning when I began working with Dot we sat at the dining room table listening to cars go by and children arriving at the school next door. The tv was on, but no one was watching it; Jamie was sitting quietly at the table as well, coloring in a few new coloring books. Perhaps he feels left out... I think he may be ready for school soon, if he would just learn to speak... :-)
We are taking a break now, or rather, a field trip. This morning we will pick up Dot's entries from the fair. I am sure we will blog later about what ribbons she won...
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