Grilled Pizza

We love pizza and it's kind of a Sunday evening thing during the winter.  Fixed on the grill it's even better!  It has a totally different flavor that is wonderful.  I use the pizza dough recipe from my bread machine cookbook and you want to have all your toppings ready to go.  The actual cooking time on the grill goes very fast.

We used the directions from here.  It's a great post with helpful pictures and directions.

Memorial Day at our "pool"

In the '80s and windy, so we hung around the "pool"--and yes, we all had our toes in it by the end . . .

Into retirement

It is Day 4 of retirement.  My classroom is empty, I have turned in my keys, and my name is no longer on the door.  And I'm good.  It definitely feels different than the normal end-of-a-school-year-beginning-of-summer feeling, but I think I'm going to adjust (smile, wink).  I've done my usual weekend activities--cleaning, laundry, trip to the store--but am seeing that I don't have to cram all the chores into Saturday and Sunday anymore.  I'm also realizing that instead of crashing on the couch and falling asleep by 9:00 after a day of work that I now have energy to do what I want to do.  So I have jumped right into a big clean out, a painting project, bike rides, time in the garden, a garage sale or two, and a baseball game.  And, of course, this all mean more time with my family.  Life is good.

Salt Dogs vs. Wichita Wingnuts

Happy May Day!

After a cool start,  it turned into a beautiful first day of May here.  We're starting to see lots of green--both gardens  and trees--and the plants in our container garden are getting bigger by the day.  We should have freshly picked salads soon.

lettuce

 cress

mustard

Roasting Marshmallows

Warmer temperatures this past week meant meat was cooking on the grill--and a few marshmallows for dessert.  Doesn't this one look yummy . . .

A walk in the woods

Just back from a walk with Pip.  The air is cool, but there were definite signs of spring . . . little green bits poking up (if you looked very closely) and so many geese flying over head that we could hear them the whole time we were out!  And we saw four deer leaping through the woods--not necessarily a sign of spring, but always a thrill to see.  As an added bonus, these walks really wear out our lively little dog!

Slow but steady

Back in October, I did a post after cutting out seven hundred and some red pieces of fabric for a quilt.  These pieces were for the sashings of a New York Beauty quilt I had started.  I had hoped to finish that part of the quilt by the end of the winter.  It was definitely work that couldn't be rushed, but by getting just a little done as I could get to it, I am excited to say I finished them tonight!  Total number of pieces in the red and white sashings:  1,608

Now for the round "stars" (you can see three that are partially done) that will be pieced, appliqued to brown squares, and then sewn between the sashings.

Signs of Spring

It's too early for spring to really be here, but we are enjoying a little warm up and seeing a few wonderful signs of spring . . .

The first robin--

The sedum coming up--

First bike repair job since last fall--

Yard clean up--

I think I'll just move
this stick . . .

First ride

The weather was nice enough today for Pip to try out the fancy dog basket that J & J gave Ben for Christmas!  Doesn't it look like fun?!  This was just a trial run in the backyard to get her used to it--now we can't wait for a ride on the trail!

64 degrees

Beautiful weather here this weekend!

Yes, Pip, the sun is shining and that's grass peeking through the snow!

 And, yes, that's our supper outside on the grill!

When you need pie and need it now

I like to make pies (like to eat them even more), though I am still not satisfied with my crusts.  Enter this pie!  It's from The Sweet Potato Queens' Big-Ass Cookbook (and Financial Planner) (p. 113)  by Jill Conner Browne.  You most likely have the ingredients on hand and it makes its own crust (hence the name "It's a Miracle! Pie")!  We made one last night after supper (yes, our second one this week) and added chocolate chips this time with great results.  We feel it's our duty to try all the pie options.

Here's her recipe:
"Get your blender out and dump in 1 cup sugar, 4 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup flour, 1 running-over teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup flaked coconut, and a dash salt.  (If your blender is in immediate danger of overflowing, don't panic--just put as much milk in as you can, blend it all, and then add the remaining milk afterward.)  Pour all that into a 10-inch pie pan and bake it at 300 until it sets--about an hour."

Sorry--I didn't have time to take a picture--the pie was calling to me . . .

Chicken Posole

Here's the soup I made (following the great recipe organizational event).  We thought it was quite good and it reheated nicely for lunch today.  The recipe is from Real Simple and it's quick and simple to put together.  We added cilantro and Doritos, and next time, I'm going to add a second can of hominy (cause we're fans).

Getting organized

For years now I've kept my recipes in a notebook and file folder--no order, just a completely disorganized and random mess!  Whenever I wanted a recipe that I knew was in there (or thought had to be in there), I had to go through every scrap of paper one by one.  Not a very good system.  But no more!  I finally went through them all yesterday--threw away quite a few that I'd been saving and never tried--and got the "good ones" in plastic sleeves and grouped appropriately!  Now to get a bigger notebook and make some tabs!

I can't remember what recipe I started out looking for when the urge-to-organize hit, but I did end up making some pretty good soup and a pie before the day was over.  Recipes to follow . . .

Snow Days

I've been home from school for the past two days because of the weather . . . we have to make it up in the spring, but it was a really nice break right now.  I've had time to read ( Sarah's Key -- definitely recommend!) and sew on my quilt.  Add a cup of tea and the company of our sweet little dog--and it's been good.

Cabin Fever

I think that one should truly savor each season as it comes.  Lately, however, I find myself just yearning for spring.  Today at Walmart I walked up and down the aisle that featured 75% off Christmas decorations on one side and new flowerpots, garden gloves, and potting soil on the other.  I really wanted to rip open a bag of potting soil and just smell it.  I controlled myself, but did bring a bag home.  I picked out one of my favorite little clay pots from the potting shed, found some seeds in the junk drawer, and I sowed!  Very satisfying.

The seeds are "Cress" from a package that I bought in a hardware store in England for 89 pence a few years ago.  Mr. Fothergill's is the brand and the package says "quick and easy to grow as an attractive garnish and tasty addition to salads and sandwiches".  It also says to sow by August 1999.  Oops.  I guess these are a little old, but I'm willing to see what happens.  And the soil smelled great, by the way.

Special Day

Big snow here (no school!), so I'm looking forward to some extra time with my daughter on her birthday!  She's not a little girl anymore, but still looks at life with joy and wonder--and has filled my life with the same.  Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

My Blackberry Is Not Working!

Actual Historical Photo

Distinguished adventurer Rear Admiral Byrd sets out on a morning exploration of the Antarctic Plateau with the assistance of faithful canine companion (a lively maltese/Yorkshire terrier mix).

Do you
see the ship
anywhere,
Pip?

More tracks

Cleaning out some school things a few weeks ago, I found this poem.  Nice.


Prints Charming

Birds
     like feathered tailors
          walk
     around
           on pointed
                 toe
           putting
     fancy stitches
           in
     the clean white sheet
        of
            snow.

                ---Martin Buxbaum

Tracks

Evidence of how the old year ended and new year began at our house . . .

                    Happy New Year!