tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76583358489981560092024-03-13T16:21:43.341-07:00The Musings of Mrs EvansMrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-14195511957275551242012-12-04T08:26:00.001-08:002012-12-04T08:27:31.509-08:00After Parade Hot Chocolate and Cookie Buffet! In my little hometown, where we just moved back to this past August, they hold an annual Christmas parade on the 1st Saturday of December. There are craft fairs, and carolers, and often raffles. It is a fun day, so I wanted to share it with family and friends! I spent most of last week baking and decorating, all the while watching the 6 month old Nugget! I was tired by the end of the week, but everything was ready!<br />
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I rearranged our sitting room to accommodate as many people as possible! I decorated our artificial tree, as it was a little too early to get a real one, then set up the hot chocolate buffet!<br />
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I made hot chocolate from scratch using chocolate chips, cream, milk and sweetened condensed milk. (sooooooooo indulgent!) I set out little dishes with cocoa powder, crushed candy cane and cinnamon. There were also marshmallows that I'd dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with candy cane, mini marshmallows, chocolate chops, candy canes and whipped cream! <br />
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The cookie table was groaning under all the goodies! I made gingerbread men and sugar cookies, our guests contributed red velvet white chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies, butterscotch gingerbread, double butter cookies and Oreo truffles!<br />
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Then we all donned our most festive gear and walked down to see the parade. (our apartment is right on main street!</div>
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It was a lovely parade, and it was snowing! You can't get better than that for the start of the holiday season! I met a few family members at the parade and invited them up to join us, everyone needed to warm up, it was VERY cold out!<br />
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We compared ugly Christmas sweaters!</div>
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The Nug got to try his first candy cane! I think he liked it,,,, hehehe! </div>
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It was a fun day, and I hope to do it again next year! Have your Christmas festivities started up yet? I hope you are enjoying the start of the season too!</div>
Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-8391724996399657382012-11-17T10:44:00.001-08:002012-11-17T12:21:45.397-08:00Granny Squares<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello! I hope you are enjoying your Saturday! It is sunny and mild here in Maine today, and Mr Evans and I are enjoying a day of relaxation. I am working on piecing the afghan squares that I have been making all year. I am hoping to give the blanket as a gift this Christmas.<br />
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I have been bundling the squares together in groups of 20 as I have made them, aiming at getting 20 bundles, I have 13 so far, but decided to start putting them together, to see how big it is so far.<br />
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I started by sewing each bundle of squares into a strip,<br />
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Then I sew the strips together. It is looking nice and colorful so far. It's my first traditional granny square blanket, I am copying the one that my husbands great grandmother made, as seen here,<br />
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I quite like this project, it has been a stash buster, using up all sorts of odds and ends yarn. Even the colors I do not really like are going to add to the bright and cheerful blanket. This is another project that is extra thrifty, as I am using a lot of yarn that was given to me, and end pieces from other projects, making it virtually free!<br />
Also, in other news, Mr Evans started his new job this week! WOOOHOOO! We are quite happy with it, as it comes with a raise, something we haven't had in years. Don't get me wrong, we have been VERY grateful that he has had a job through this awful recession, we are just happy to have been blessed with a new job that will make it less of a struggle to buy the necessities. He will be working at a small company that makes dough for pizzas, partly as a dough maker and partly as a delivery man. Coming home after his first day he brought in no less than a dozen dough balls of assorted flavors! I see a lot of pizza in our future! Oh gosh, this is going to murder my diet! But hey, we are still in a position where free food is good food, so I have been using up some of the dough in creative ways. Today, its a batch of cinnamon buns, YUM!<br />
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Well, better head into the kitchen to make a pot of tea to have with the buns, I hope you enjoy your weekend! God Bless!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-28303665988918548682012-11-10T14:58:00.000-08:002012-11-10T15:00:52.641-08:00Pillow Puff Quilt I have been trying to slip in some quilting on the days I am not watching The Nugget, who by the way has learned to sit up on his own! Albeit only for a few seconds:)<br />
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This picture is blurry as he was swaying around a bit, but he is pretty excited about the accomplishment!<br />
I am working on a quilt I started a while back, before the move. It is made by cutting 4 and 1/2 inch by 8 and 1/2 inch rectangles of cloth. Fold the pieces in half so that good sides are facing in and sew up two and a half sides, leaving an opening. Turn right side out, lightly stuff with fiber fill and sew closed the opening. You end up with a little pillow!<br />
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I am making as many as I can in red white and blue themed fabric from my stash and am using stuffing from my stash as well, all of which were given to me by various friends and family, so its a free project! To make the quilt you just sew the little pillows into strips,<br />
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then sew the strips together, and the finished product will be a warm comforter type quilt that doesn't need to be backed or edged! Easy right?<br />
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Here is what I have done so far. It is going to be a nice warm quilt, perfect for cold winter nights! I don't know if I will keep it or give it as a Christmas gift yet, I need to stop getting emotionally attached to my creations! I hope you Christmas crafters are getting stuck into your work load, time is ticking my friends!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-68770435001496870582012-11-09T13:16:00.001-08:002012-11-09T13:17:26.782-08:00Creamed Orange Veggie Soup made with Homemade Chicken Stock! We have been incorporating more REAL food into our diet this past year, and we are healthier and thinner because of it! If you would like to learn more about real food, I suggest getting the cookbook <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Traditions-Challenges-Politically-Dictocrats/dp/0967089735">Nourishing Traditions,</a> it is more than just a cookbook, it has loads of information on nutrition. One of the most informative chapters of the book is the one on bone broths. Broth is a wonderfully healing food, good for aiding in the absorption of minerals and protein, as well as helping to heal your insides and protect against bad "bugs" and colds. Its also a thrifty food, as its made for virtually free, since its made with things usually thrown out, so its a win win!<br />
To make my bone broth I save the all the bones and carcasses from when I roast chicken and chicken pieces and freeze them. When I am ready to make the stock I toss them in my crock pot and cover with lots of water. If I can find them, I add chicken feet. Now, I know, chicken feet are not something a squeamish cook can handle easily, but I promise you, they make an ordinary stock <strong><em>extraordinary</em></strong>! They boost the gelatin content too, and gelatin, my friends, is why broth is so good for you! If you like, you can add an onion, a couple carrots, a bay leaf or two, some celery leaves and a few peppercorns, these add more flavor to the broth and bring it up to the same level as soup, but they aren't necessary, as plain broth is still very good and great for using in recipes for soups, stews and gravy! I never add salt to my stock, I salt it as I make the recipe, that way I don't need to worry about the evaporation creating an over salted end product.<br />
So, once everything is in the crock pot, turn it on high until it comes to a simmer then switch to low and cook at least 12 hours, I let mine go for 24, to leach every last drop of goodness from the bones! When done, turn off and let cool a little, then strain through a cloth.<br />
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After you have strained it, you should have a nice rich broth, if its not clear like store bought, don't worry, I find that the flavor of an opaque broth is much deeper and richer!<br />
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I usually get almost a gallon of stock from one chicken carcass and a pound or so of the feet. If you don't want to use the feet, save your bones and use two carcasses instead. Oh, and I have one of the big crock pots, I think its an 8 to 10 quart one, so I can make a good sized batch at one time! If yours is smaller, no problem, just use one carcass and your broth will be more concentrated, you can use it as is, or add water to it. Broth is not a fussy food, so try not and over think it!<br />
I try and make a batch every week or two, and use it up by making soups, stews, gravy, and chili. I seriously believe in the power of good homemade stock to boost the immune system, as we are rarely sick! I invented a new soup the other night, and it came out SO good I just had to share it with you!<br />
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I took a buttercup squash, two large carrots, a sweet potato (not shown) and two cloves of garlic and tossed them in a large soup pot.<br />
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I then added enough stock to cover them and then a little extra. I simmered until the veg were all super soft, then let cool a bit. Since I don't have an immersion blender I put the whole lot through my beloved ninja blender, and ended up with a rich, smooth, creamy soup. I put it back in the pot, and seasoned with sea salt, turmeric (a VERY potent healing spice, google it and find out it's numerous benefits, and anti-cancer properties!) cumin (another healing spice) and curry powder to taste. In the end, the results were <em>bloomin'</em> fantastic!<br />
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The husband agreed! Upon tasting, he told me I had better write this invention down!<br />
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This batch made about 10 mug sized servings, perfect combined with some hearty sandwiches! (we shared the sandwiches, I didn't eat them ALL by myself!) I stuck half the batch in the freezer, ready to reheat for an easy weeknight dinner. Very good, and VERY good for you, you can't ask for more than that! Enjoy:)Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-65339032394591397822012-11-01T06:44:00.001-07:002012-11-01T06:44:20.045-07:00Christmas Crafting! Even though I have been very busy taking care of the little Nug, I have still been trying to slip some Christmas crafting in. I get Wednesdays off, so I spent yesterday afternoon getting stuck in to some sewing!<br />
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I have been making some rice "socks", as they are lovely to take to bed during the cold Maine winters, not to mention they are a natural way to soothe aches and pains! I almost never go to bed without one, which I put down by my feet:)<br />
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I am also sewing up some fabric ornaments, things I have had in my stash for a few years and have always forgotten. While I was in my stash I dug out some other, coordinating fabric, so if I have time I can try and use them up too!<br />
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The fabric with ornament prints are from 78'! Not sure if I am going to use them on a vintage themed tree or if I will make them into a wreath, we will see, I think I am going to have a candy cane themes Christmas this year:)<br />
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I have managed to knit up 3 pairs of slippers so far, with the 4th almost ready to come of the needles. I am going to try and make as many pairs as I can, and they make a good all 'round gift.<br />
Pinterest has given me SO many ideas of things to do and make, but I am pretty sure there isn't enough time in the<em> year</em> let alone day, to do as much as I would like! I am excited that Thanksgiving is a little early this year, because that means I can start celebrating Christmas that much sooner! Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Christmas!!!! Are you making any gifts this year? Let me know, I am always looking for new ideas!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-81132450048370360352012-10-25T05:09:00.002-07:002012-10-25T05:10:02.203-07:00The Hunt for Weeping Angels II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My friend Jen and I (the Nug's mother!) went on another angel search. Jen knew of a place that she thought might have a few, and oh boy was she right! I almost lept ouof the car when I saw the 1st one! Who would have thought it would be so exciting, like a treasure hunt!</div>
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Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-10358114497022483922012-10-24T17:02:00.000-07:002012-10-24T17:02:58.518-07:00Chicken Pot Pie with All Butter Crust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In a pie plate place cold, leftover chicken, add a cup or so of gravy, or make some up quickly with butter, flour and milk. Add your choice of cooked veggies. Leftover veg work great if you have them, I used an "Italian" frozen mix with Lima, broccoli, zucchini and carrots. Stir, season, cover with crust,<br />
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This is for a top crust only, double if you want a two crust pie!<br />
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In your food processor add 1/2 cup cold lightly salted butter,<br />
add a cup and a couple extra tablespoons worth of plain flour,<br />
also a pinch of salt and one sugar. (to aid browning)<br />
Blitz a few times until its crumbly,<br />
add ice cold water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts pulling together,<br />
it should be "clumpy" but not soggy, about 3-4 Tablespoons worth.<br />
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Scrape out the dough and squish together, roll out on a generously floured surface. Cover pie, tuck in, crimp edges, cut vents, bake at 400' for about 30-4o min if veg are not frozen, more if they are. When the gravy bubbles out of the vents, it is done! <br />
YUM! The crust is a buttery, savory, crispy treat. Just like shortbread, just not sweet! Enjoy!<br />
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Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-86990286133334972422012-10-23T11:36:00.001-07:002012-10-23T18:10:23.609-07:00A walk at The Point I am <strong><em>SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO</em></strong> HAPPY to be back in my old hometown, a lovely quintessential New England haven. Too far inland to be touristy, no ski slope on the doorstep, and no large city nearby. Its Town and Country! And the best part? Its <em>walkable! </em>For someone who doesn't drive, this is the <strong>best</strong> quality, because it gives me independence and freedom during the week to <strong>get out</strong> of the house and stretch my legs! Now that I am watching a 5 month old baby for 30-40 hours a week, I fully understand the term "stretch the legs! Come for today's walk with us!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gazebo! </td></tr>
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A nice place to sit and read when it rains!<br />
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The little Nugget LOVES his walks! I like them too, not only for the fresh air, but f he is having one of his "crabbiness" days it gives me a break from his complaining!<br />
Hope you are enjoying the weather, wherever you are!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-53532852435827368862012-10-23T08:51:00.000-07:002012-10-25T05:10:15.241-07:00The hunt for Weeping Angels! It was a <em>beautiful </em>October day yesterday, and I was wondering how to spend it, since I was not busy watching the baby boy I take care of during the week. My good friend Katy came up with a <em>GREAT </em>idea! Lets go Weeping Angel Hunting! We are both <strong>HUGE </strong>Dr Who fans, though Katy takes it to a whole new level! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett, the State House</td></tr>
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We went to four different Graveyards in four different towns. Here in Maine we have some of the oldest graveyards in the country, most of the graves were over 100 years old! In the 1st Graveyard we didn't find any angels, but we found a Pensive Lady!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett</td></tr>
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She was quite impressive. It i surprising how hard it is to fine sculptures of anything other than urns, so we were happy to see her! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett</td></tr>
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DONT BLINK!!!<br />
But, sadly, no wings! So we had to keep looking. We went to another, smaller graveyard, no angels, so we picked up Katy's son from Preschool and took him along to another one. He had a LOT of fun, it was like going to a large park with a bunch of stones:)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett</td></tr>
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And its fun to kick leaves,,,,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett</td></tr>
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Still no angels!!! We did find a creepy cool huge fountain covered in,,, Goats??? Weird!!<br />
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So, we headed to the last, biggest and COOLEST graveyard, it was built on a hill in the Capitol. Once you got to the top, you could see for <strong>miles! </strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett</td></tr>
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Getting to the top of the <strike>hill</strike> <em><strong>mountain</strong></em> was <em>no small feat</em>! Above is a lovely photo of me panting like a great big panty thing! <br />
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Katy and Darien made it to the top first, but then, they are more in shape,,,,, and being four helps, why walk when you can run, right!?!?!<br />
Finally, after a whole afternoon of searching,,, we found one!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett</td></tr>
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She was a beauty! Not exactly "weeping" but at least she had wings! (well, one wing, her other wing was broken, poor thing! )<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett</td></tr>
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She was small, but she was lovely!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxjPW1SRxOlXR7I08oiQrAIOUAIrQFs2Truzd-qWQlzIhzDVDC3vBTbGPybgQbCmpr7qRwhTO3bFnWRjdIjyaQgRyQCgU7o9uA_ckIU69NeOxLS7wICaxPxXLj2b_2_ZLa-XdNit9Uy_6/s1600/58795_4413759556323_1479724742_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxjPW1SRxOlXR7I08oiQrAIOUAIrQFs2Truzd-qWQlzIhzDVDC3vBTbGPybgQbCmpr7qRwhTO3bFnWRjdIjyaQgRyQCgU7o9uA_ckIU69NeOxLS7wICaxPxXLj2b_2_ZLa-XdNit9Uy_6/s320/58795_4413759556323_1479724742_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Katy Corbett</td></tr>
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Goodbye sweet little angel, we were SOOOO glad to have found you! What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! We are probably going to go hunting again some time, as this was so much fun!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-20273275799341887362012-10-22T07:06:00.000-07:002012-10-22T07:06:41.270-07:00Home improvement in the new apartment. As I may have said in last post, we moved into a new apartment in mid August. It is closer to my husbands work and shaves about 20 minuets off of his daily commute, and with gas prices the way they are, that is a big savings! We kind of rush moved into this place, as it was exactly the location we were wanting. It is right smack dab in the middle of the tiny downtown. A "townhouse" if such a grand word can be applied to an apartment in such a small Maine town! The building itself is over 100 years old, and it has a good old fashioned character to it, like lovely 9' ceilings in every room except the living room, and beautiful moldings around every door. The kitchen also has charming cabinets that do ALL the way up to the ceiling! <br />
But, as with a lot of old places, it has a few cons. Like the circa' 1975 baby poop "gold" range and fridge. I love vintage, but I am not that much of a fan of just plain old! It also came with painted plywood flooring in the large L shaped hall and the smaller bedroom that was IMPOSSIBLE to sweep cat hair and dust off of. Not to mention the whole place is painted in shades of white and baby powder blue, not my two favorite paint colors!<br />
So, we decided to try our hands at DIY for the first time! We got some peal and stick linoleum tiles from Lowe's and put them down in the large pantry/closet and the hallway.<br />
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Here s the new floor all done, not perfect, but it looks MILES better, and it is removable! Painting the hallway is next on the agenda.<br />
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Here is the smaller bedroom "before". It looks very cold, and the floor literally was like Velcro for cat hair, it could NOT be swept, my husband ended up using half a roll of tape to get it de-fuzzed after one of our cats spent the better part of a month in here after the move! The walls also had only one coat of paint, so it looked a bit "patchy".<br />
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Here it is freshly painted and the new floor almost done! So much brighter and warmer, not to mention we really, really, REALLY love how the floor came out! We are wishing we had used it in the hallway now!<br />
We are very much enjoying the whole process, there is so much satisfaction at the end of a project! We still have a lot we want to do with the place, and I will keep you posted as we get each project done. Coming soon, "after" pictures for the hall!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-76914675630707781502012-10-15T18:22:00.000-07:002012-10-15T18:22:11.012-07:00We have moved!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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by <a href="http://www.panoramio.com/user/119664?with_photo_id=2235323" rel="author">Kimberly Komers</a></div>
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We have moved back to my home town in Winthrop Maine! I have missed this town! It is a <em>walkable </em>comunity, which is a <strong>wonderful </strong>thing for me, because I do not drive. I can now get out every day, and stretch my legs, and walk to my favorite place, "the point" (shown above) a little park by the lake. I go almost every day! I can go to the library, which means almost<em> any </em>book I want to read is right at my fingertips, for <strong>free! </strong>And I can skip across the street to the best little cafe', called The Flaky Tart, and have my favorite, a hot cup of spiced chai! <br /> It has been a hectic move, and the apartment we are now in was not in as good shape as the one we left, so we have been working on fixing it up and making it our own, which has involved putting down new flooring and painting walls, two things we have never done before, but have found enjoyable! NO MORE WHITE WALLS!!! I will post pictures soon, and hope to get back to some somewhat regular blogging, once I start crafting again. I also would like to get a new camera, as I never did replace the one I lost last year, and blogging is <em>so </em>much more fun when I can show you what I am up to!<br />
I hope you had had a lovely summer, and I am so excited its fall again! Time to start crafting and planning for Christmas, and time to cuddle up in the evenings by our fire with tea and homemade blankets! Talk to you again soon!<br />
Mrs EvansMrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-39309064741576997562012-06-22T12:55:00.000-07:002012-06-22T12:55:03.050-07:00This and That Well, hello! I have been absent for quite a while, I know. Life has been busy, and my laptop has been and still is sick:( I am hoping to get it back all repaired in a week or so. Right now I am using the laptop my kind neighbor has lent me, as he has two. I am very greatful, the internet is my window to the world durring the week, when I don't get out much!<br />
This year has been filled with improvements to our health and lifestyle. I have been dieting, on and off, but really we are just trying to get into a more natural way of eating. Farm stand season is upon us again though, and that makes it all the easier! We are doing our best to go grain free. After a LOT of research, it seems to be the way forward. I have about a hundred extra pounds on my frame that really need shedding, and conventional "low fat - low cal" diets do no good, as starving doesn't suit me:) At the moment though, I am losing weight, and it is coming off without too much effort on my part. I am also determined to eliminate sugar, corn syrup, "vegetable" oils, aspartame, soy, and all things processed. It is going to take a while, because you just have NO idea how much of the food in an average grocery store contains one or ALL of those things! We are also trying to up our intake of grass fed meats and wild caught seafood. We are lucky there, we have a farm down the road that sells their own beef, and we live in Maine, so seafood is easy to find!<br />
We are pretty excited that camping season is here again, and can't wait to break out the tents asap. We have also dusted off the bikes and pumped up the tires, ready for a weekend bike ride! All in all it looks like its going to be a fit and fun summer! I will be back again soon, once I get my own computer back, and post some pictures of what has been happening, until then, I hope you are enjoying your summer too!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-27121400413415145472011-12-31T06:37:00.000-08:002011-12-31T06:37:27.034-08:00Ahhhh, I love the weekends! Its been yet another long week, nothing huge happened, just life. But life CAN get exhausting, especially towards Friday! I have started one of my New Years resolutions early this year, and that is to get up every weekday morning and make tea and breakfast for my husband before he heads off to another day of work. He had made some hints, after a rare morning where I did get up and fix him breakfast, about how much easier the day was, and how much more cheerful it had made him. So I <strike>reluctantly</strike> eagerly agreed to get up <strong>every</strong> morning, from now on,,,, if it makes his day <strong>that </strong>much better! Though I did stipulate that he needed to remain <em>cheerful</em>, so that I would know that getting up while its still dark and cold and making him a hot meal with my eyes half closed is still making a difference, otherwise I might be tempted to just stay in the nice warm bed! (Have I mentioned I tend to be a wee bit selfish and lazy,,,,,, I <em>try</em> to overcome those personality traits, but lets face it, selfishness is nearly incurable!)<br />
So, its Saturday, YAY! And, the hubs has Monday of, YAY AGAIN! It is cold, and dreary, and doing that rainy/icy/slushy/snowy thing outside that is particularly dangerous to drive in, so we are going to just stay home today, in front of the fire, with a few candles lit and the kettle on,,,, ahhhhh!<br />
I will be working on these,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQiNLMY0YXo/Tv8b8lA0W8I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/pd_2HLvRvLA/s1600/GEDC0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQiNLMY0YXo/Tv8b8lA0W8I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/pd_2HLvRvLA/s320/GEDC0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> I am making about a zillion of them, to be made into afghans and given as gifts this Christmas (yes, Christmas 2012, crafters need to start VERY early, and I slacked this last year, because once again I waited until November to start working on gifts, and so ran out out time, again,,,,) I have had a particular request by my niece, so I thought I better get cracking ASAP. Also, it will greatly reduce the two totes of all the odds and ends of yarn that I have, and if I ever want to convince the hubs to buy me more, I need to get RID of some of it! So, I just was handed a fresh cu of tea by my love, so I am going to sip it, and maybe watch some classic Dr Who's while granny squaring the day away, you have a wonderful weekend!<br />
~God Bless!~Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-36429527713388625512011-12-20T09:23:00.000-08:002011-12-20T09:23:53.632-08:00Christmas Preperations Hello my friends, I know, I know, I am a terrible blogger! I have been absent so much these last few months, but I HAVE been reading your blogs:) We are busy here, just like everyone else at this time of year. Today I have a couple of little Christmas pudding that I made in teacups, steaming away in my crock pot. I am working on a couple of gifts, knitting a pair of slippers for my younger sister, and a couple of rice "socks" for my father who has a lot of aches and pains that need soothing. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvSReV5hjmKbT2MYlkNBfNnl2FSfQK77F7ndXw3zC8eKuD426TVAAEKmmSngIeRTJYSkCAFBc3rKK-LrPb8ZzRJGYFOXqwVAF_0uE2XdjBWadUGVP5gVRw1zKpMJxalUZD7H-KpurAkGm/s1600/100_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvSReV5hjmKbT2MYlkNBfNnl2FSfQK77F7ndXw3zC8eKuD426TVAAEKmmSngIeRTJYSkCAFBc3rKK-LrPb8ZzRJGYFOXqwVAF_0uE2XdjBWadUGVP5gVRw1zKpMJxalUZD7H-KpurAkGm/s320/100_0550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Our kitties enjoyed helping us decorate our tree, as usual :) They are good girls as far as kitties go though, they have never broken an ornament, or tried climbing the tree. They do, however, have a taste for the tree "tea" that can be found in the tree stand, hehehe. <br />
This Christmas I have decided to make a gingerbread castle,,,, I have only ever made a gingerbread house once before, and it is a LOT of work, but oh so much fun. I was a little over ambitious though, and made the four sides a little large, and have nothing suitable for a base! Lucky my Poot is coming to the rescue, and bringing home some cardboard from work tonight. Hopefully construction will officially begin tomorrow! I'll try and post pictures when it is done, we plan on eating it Christmas day.<br />
We have managed to budget a little spending money for gifts this year, and both have gotten the other our main "want" plus a few little extra gifts. We actually ended up with a little extra money, and instead of getting more extra gifts we decided to get something we have wanted for over a year,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenrN3p8eRbRhfbjuGWuKsTxULQr_uwEmwpk8XIU7S_8pvJioJ7xA2FNAJQImkgBD2xf3IoquK2TKkTFKDxLeFxkFWEc1OslHasVJYErIRLPVNsaR58BmfjWre9N670rWAjKWCv7jZcVj1/s1600/100_0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenrN3p8eRbRhfbjuGWuKsTxULQr_uwEmwpk8XIU7S_8pvJioJ7xA2FNAJQImkgBD2xf3IoquK2TKkTFKDxLeFxkFWEc1OslHasVJYErIRLPVNsaR58BmfjWre9N670rWAjKWCv7jZcVj1/s320/100_0553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> a little electric woodstove. Now our fireplace is actually a fireplace, and it makes the living room so much more cozy. I absolutely LOVE it! We also got a lovely soft set of flannel sheets, which will be used for the first time on Christmas Eve,,,, ahhh, talk about pampered! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEV_6d8KALSlC6gw8yFyxedVSubo5bgTfBhlkrMCEjxamDPvu0k8zCO2IyEULvN6Vqz4L-mUAymVKFDtNlEDsiIG5AjTbMkynECM84aybep92I1UrIYNLtWPZ1NlQgdrCp6jNVvvnfP3F/s1600/386715_2737711652173_1538833995_3870497_207507773_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEV_6d8KALSlC6gw8yFyxedVSubo5bgTfBhlkrMCEjxamDPvu0k8zCO2IyEULvN6Vqz4L-mUAymVKFDtNlEDsiIG5AjTbMkynECM84aybep92I1UrIYNLtWPZ1NlQgdrCp6jNVvvnfP3F/s320/386715_2737711652173_1538833995_3870497_207507773_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> Well, I had better get back to work, I hope you have a lovely, relaxing Christmas!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-90520276514007911212011-11-29T10:42:00.000-08:002011-11-29T10:42:02.941-08:00Changes on the Horizon Well, a lot of things have been happening lately, and I have just not had the motivation of energy to blog about them. The bread business, while still small, has been enough to keep me busy two or three weeks. The holidays season is upon us, and with it the "famine" season of our finances. We are used to less money in the winter months though, so this isn't so bad. It doesn't help that virtually EVERYTHING from toilet paper to eggs is more expensive than last year, but hey, we are all getting used to that too, aren't we?<br />
A big change that may ore may not be around the corner in the coming months is a move,,,, cross country,,,, to a FREE home. There are a few catches. One of which is I don't want to move cross country!!! *insert whining and foot stamping here!* That's a con, a PRO is,,, did I mention the house is FREE? It was my husbands grandmothers house (or big mommas house, if you come from down there) and is in a tiny town in the big state of Texas. A con is, it is just about 2,000 miles from everyone and everything I know. *sniffle* A pro is, in that home we can FINALLY start our dream of self sufficiency. A con is,,,,, I am a pine tree,,,, we northerners don't so so well in 100+ heat, even with air conditioning! A pro would be that My husband would get to live very close to his father, and see him anytime he wants. A con would be,,,, MY WHOLE family would be 2,000 miles away!!!<br />
So, as you can see, up to my usual standard, I am having a hard time making up my mind! I am trying to leave the decision to my husband, but I'm not doing so well with that. I just don't know. Its just so intimidating! In the next few months we will be seriously talking this thing trough, beating it down with a stick until we make a final decision. If the move does happen, I will be blogging a WHOLE lot more, as it will be a way for me to share my day to day life with my family, and also to make more *virtual* friends, something I will need while trying to make real life friends in a new home. We'll see what happens,,,Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-48397446107035880962011-10-19T12:23:00.000-07:002011-10-19T12:23:45.816-07:00Wednesday,,,,, Well, its a dull grey day today, isn't it? Brrrrr, with the temps outside barely reaching into the 50's, and a slow drippy rain falling, its the kind of day made for curling up on the sofa with mug after mug of tea and a warm homemade blanket. If only! There's a sink of dirty dishes that's giving me dirty looks from the kitchen, and a fuzzy carpet with little black fur balls all over it, thanks to my littlest kitty. So, chores to be done before quality time with the old couch!<br />
It is my favorite time of year really, I prefer a chill in the air to sweat dripping in my eyes. I am glad the year is turning, and I am really looking forward to thanksgiving and Christmas that are rolling our way. I really hope to finish the afghan four our bed soon, so I can start on a few Christmas gifts,,, though I really have no idea what I'll be making this year. <br />
So, I guess I should get started on the dishes, and think about what to make for dinner, stay warm!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-71180136631549602872011-10-13T13:11:00.000-07:002011-10-13T13:11:39.067-07:00So sorry I've been neglecting my blog! I hope you have been well, and enjoying this lovely fall weather! Its been busy here, in the Evans castle, with the start of my new bread baking business. It's taking off, and more orders and customers are coming in every week, I am quite surprised! My wonderful friends and family have been sharing with thier friends and family, so the word is spreading. Its all super exciting, I have never been an ambitious person, but now I am finding myself scheming and dreaming of someday having my own bake shop, and my husband being able to quit his job, so that we can work together,,,,, ahhhh, someday!<br />
Also, I have been quite busy lately, I seem to have caught a bug,,,,, the <strong>baby</strong> bug! I have been pursuing adoption websites, and have fallen in love with <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/">Reece's Rainbow</a>, and all of the beautiful little ones that can be seen there,,, we dream of someday adopting an orphan (or two) from eastern Europe, children with Downs syndrome who would otherwise be at a risk of ending up spending thier lives in a crib, with little attention and perhaps no love,,,,, it breaks my heart, no baby should have that fate! This plan is in limbo though, until God provides a path, right now there are a few mountains in the way. Luckily, our God is bigger than any mountain:)<br />
Also, after a two or three year break, Mr Evans and I have decided to start "trying" again. This time we are armed with a fertility monitor (very neat!) and a thermometer, both of which I got to borrow off of my best(est) friend, as she is now expecting her 1st baby! So, be saying prayers for us, we would LOVE more than <strong>anything,</strong> to become parents. We tried quite hard a few years ago, then gave up, but now, with fresh info on nutrition and God's help, we hope that we will soon have some good news to spread.<br />
Now I had better be off, time to clean the kitchen up, ready for tomorrows 3am baking! Goodnight!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-90296462382456417052011-09-23T11:59:00.000-07:002011-09-23T11:59:35.446-07:00Going into Business! Here's what I got up at four am to do this morning,,,<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> When I was watching the Goober, I kinda got used to having a little of my own money. Well, she is now in daycare, and I have been missing the "dough" (pun intended:) My neighbor asked me to make him some bread, and my husband said,,,, yet again,,,,,, "why don't you go into business and sell your bread?" And instead of once again brushing the idea off, I thought,,,, hmmmm,,,, why don't I? I mean, I have been baking most of our bread for years, and I have gotten really quite good at it. And, we can't be the only people who are dissatisfied with the "bread" they pawn off in supermarkets, I mean that stuff is hardly even food! So on a whim, I made a face book group and added some of my relatives and closest friends who I thought would be interested in homemade bread. The group descriptions says,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><strong>" I have a feeling, in these times of "reconnecting" with our food, that more people wish they had the time to make something as simple as bread. After all, that fluffy, chemically laden stuff on the supermarket shelves is hardly even food. Even the whole grain kinds have ingredients your grandma and great grandma would never have even heard of, let alone put in thier bread! I have been making all of our bread for years now, and (not to toot my own horn) have gotten pretty good at it! I can make a delicious loaf of bread, just like grandma's, from only 5 ingredients! Nothing fancy, just real, honest, and simple bread. The kind you would make for your family if you had time! So why not let me do it for you! 1st loaf is free, and after that $2.50 a loaf and free weekly delivery! This is less than you would pay for a CHEEP loaf of bread from the store! Give it a try, you wont be sorry!"</strong></div><br />
<br />
Within the first 24 hours <strong>TEN </strong>loaves had been ordered by five of the ten people in the group! I am actually really excited! I hope I can get orders for about 50 loaves a week, that will be a doable number, and give the some $ for Christmas! <br />
So, since I have been up since before sunrise filling the first two orders, I think I am going to go take a nap! Pleasant weekend everyone!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com3United States maine37.09024 -95.71289100000001310.70899 -156.97233250000002 63.47149 -34.453449500000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-63702765064683584352011-09-19T15:07:00.000-07:002011-09-19T15:07:42.296-07:00Another busy monday My feet are a little achy, but I got so much don't today! I cleaned up the bedroom, washed and put away two loads of laundry, swapped the summer clothes for the fall/winter clothes, changed the sheets and made the bed, vacuumed the bedroom and living room carpets, cleaned the bathroom, did dishes, and now I am relaxing while the four loaves of whole wheat bread are baking in the oven! Tomorrow, all I have to do is sweep the kitchen floor and mop, then I will have the rest of the day to do as I please. I have a few crafty projects that need working on, and its so much nicer to work on them in a clean home!<br />
My hubby will be late getting back tonight. He is taking a hunters safety course at a local school so that this year he can get his license and bring home the venison! I'm really glad he is getting into this, I was raised in a hunting family, and though I don't hunt myself I LOVE wild game of all sorts. We hunt for food, not trophy's, so if your only experience of hunting is something you might have seen on TV, then you are probably misinformed as to the REAL reason a lot of people partake of this traditional sport. There is nothing in the world that can bring you quite as close to you food as providing it yourself!<br />
Anyway, I am sitting down now, crocheting granny squares and watching some Midsomer Murders:) I love me my british mysteries!!! I hope you all are enjoying this beautiful start to our week!<br />
~God BlessMrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-75826042144885187212011-09-15T13:56:00.000-07:002011-09-15T13:57:07.355-07:00Free Food I love the blessing of free food! We are very fortunate, in that barely a month goes by without some free food coming our way in one form or another. Now we are not in anyway in <em>need. </em>We have all the food we want, and are very blessed in that way. I just appreciate a gift when I get it!<br />
Today's free offering came in the form of potatoes. My hubby works for a food wholesale company, and delivers all manner of foods to businesses and restaurants in the state. Often, though, as is the case in our society, less than <strong>perfect</strong> food is tossed out. After all, what customer would buy a bruised apple, a loose banana, or a dinged potato? But, as that wise old saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure, and being the daughter of a "Trash" man, I know this for a fact! <br />
Twice hubby has brought home boxes of bananas, that I promptly turned into brad and muffins and froze, to be eaten at our leisure, for quick breakfasts and snacks. Just the other day he brought home 5lbs of pickled polish sausages. Now, I hear you saying, what on earth are they going to do with FIVE pounds of pickled sausages???? Well, I don't know,,,,, but even if we only eat a few and toss the rest, hey, those few snacks were free! We also get a lot of venison from family, especially around this time of year, when they try and use up whats left in the deep freeze to make room "hopefully" for the fresh shot game of the season. Its all good, we will take whats offered and be glad:)<br />
So, about 3lbs of potatoes, each with a gash that was easily cut off, are in a pot, ready to be boiled and mashed to go along with the roast chicken that's in the oven. (The smell of which has had me almost drooling on my shirt for the past hour and a half!) I am getting <strong>pretty</strong> hungry now, and I had better go and check the chicken. Do you get (or go look for) "free" food? How are your feelings on visual imperfections of food? I love to know what you think!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-16263980658872418152011-09-15T08:14:00.000-07:002011-09-15T08:14:50.720-07:00Grilled Summer Squash Salad We are nearing the end of a rather wonderful summer here in the northeast of the United States. My husband and I have enjoyed our new eating habits, and I especially am enjoying dropping TWO skirt sizes as many months! Unfortunately, the wonderful fresh summer veg wont be available for much longer, so we are making good use of it while we can. This week we picked up a beautiful assortment of winter squashes, two of which I have never tried before. I made a delightful (and <em>delicious!)</em> Roasted veg and kale soup, I will be making it again and will post about it when I do! Today's recipe though, is a good way to enjoy the last of the summer squash,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEmci3sWC5ZtGwR8CJGPPeKfZv8wl-vxaMr8dICrKzeB1pygyRGGKDG9Chhv79pQeejIJh55OooMr7_kJh8bQ_JsIjd64KN0mes5SGmZw5VWxwlhSgjG5_B_o39fQWQp5JsIKKUXUhgmV/s1600/DSC00385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEmci3sWC5ZtGwR8CJGPPeKfZv8wl-vxaMr8dICrKzeB1pygyRGGKDG9Chhv79pQeejIJh55OooMr7_kJh8bQ_JsIjd64KN0mes5SGmZw5VWxwlhSgjG5_B_o39fQWQp5JsIKKUXUhgmV/s320/DSC00385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Grilled summer squash salad, YUM! I had a couple of squashes that needed using up, and I was bored with the usual sauteing of them. So I had Hubby get the Foreman grill out (one of his most favorite Christmas gifts of all time!) and heat it up. I Brushed slices of squash and green pepper with a little EVOO, then sprinkled with garlic powder and s&p. Grilled until seared and served up on a bed of fresh greens and cherry tomatoes, healthy eating can be soooo good! Today is a very "fall" day though,,, cloudy, cool, with a thunderstorm moving in. I think I will take a nice hot bath then roast a chicken for dinner, and work on some granny squares,,,, I am almost done enough granny squares for the bedspread I am making of Irish roses, I can't wait to see how it turns out and show you! Have a good night, and God bless~Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-54341504824640625392011-09-05T16:48:00.000-07:002011-09-05T16:48:07.599-07:00If I have a black eye,,,,, ,,,its due to being so mad at myself that I slapped me silly! I LOST CAMERA!!!! My hubby was a lovely hubby, and took me to the Windsor fair for a treat. We had a wonderful time, gorging on deliciously fried junk food and fresh squeezed lemon aid, petting and cooing over the wonderful farm animals, and of course spending FAR to much money on a darts game so my hubby could win me a black stuffed Dotson. It was all peachy until we had left the fair grounds and were getting in the car and I did the usual pocket pat down to remove my phone,,,,,,,and there was NO CAMERA! We hurried back in to the grounds and had a look where we were sitting, no luck. I left my number with a nice elderly fair "police" officer, but no one has called. <br />
So, I am sad. We have to get a "new" car first, then I will be able to get another camera. I may not be able to blog too much until then, as I don't want to be boring trying to describe what I am doing without showing you. We'll see. Maybe I will actually just start "musing", as that doesn't involve any illustrations:)<br />
So, no you know,,,, if I don't post to much for the next few weeks. God bless!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-37136788638004623962011-08-24T14:24:00.000-07:002011-08-24T14:31:12.357-07:00Leftovers: Bean "Burgers" On Monday, I decided that to go with our salad (we have been having large salads on Sundays or Mondays, as we only shop at farm stands once a week, and the greens are best within the first 48hrs) I would use the leftover refried beans to make bean "burger". They came out WONDERFUL! Veggie burgers are a favorite around here, but I do not buy them pre made, we avoid soy as much as possible and its hard to find that type of "meat substitute" without it. Try making your own sometime, there are plenty of great recipies to be found online! Or be like me and just experiment:)<br />
Here's what I did: I Peeled three small carrots and tossed them into my food processor, added 1/4 of an onion and 1/2 of a green pepper and zipped them through until they were minced pretty fine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlGg34qrc-chhQPuGcVvzxluJ3JjJAjkc3Q9SVz0D1lsj55uDvUCJux81vKEj6ShPhrDgG-WlwT0TrhfIjYyCyZsPrU_k48CK6VPAGqkWUt194SkqmoaIwG-V8lR6Lia8DP-aFbBCoDg7/s1600/DSC00456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlGg34qrc-chhQPuGcVvzxluJ3JjJAjkc3Q9SVz0D1lsj55uDvUCJux81vKEj6ShPhrDgG-WlwT0TrhfIjYyCyZsPrU_k48CK6VPAGqkWUt194SkqmoaIwG-V8lR6Lia8DP-aFbBCoDg7/s320/DSC00456.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>To them I added an egg, a few handfuls of rolled oats and what was left of the refried beans, and some salt, then zipped again. It was a little wet, so I added a little more oats and a homemade bread roll, that made the mixture less of a batter and more of a "dough", which is what I wanted.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SjIcmSzuzBHG5B7FhQFVHwmR_F7I_sycxmHOB2OY_eomfMEwBL5Qrh8SaOaf1sm5sFr6K0ZZzYQimnPKlx3Ib4aEbJUDm4-i8EymE0x_9H4A6cuaxHc7whx8cgcX1v312sTRoMosXBKp/s1600/DSC00457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SjIcmSzuzBHG5B7FhQFVHwmR_F7I_sycxmHOB2OY_eomfMEwBL5Qrh8SaOaf1sm5sFr6K0ZZzYQimnPKlx3Ib4aEbJUDm4-i8EymE0x_9H4A6cuaxHc7whx8cgcX1v312sTRoMosXBKp/s320/DSC00457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I then let the mixture sit for a few minutes while I washed the greens, to give the oats a time to absorb any excess moisture from the veg. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd2QN8txG-K0s-gd0SVmOo5WKZRhXx2Lx3oovdqbrsalSIvWVSIYFSPvz0yUKthXI5sZJXhUw7p_RS9nQMsW3hJPXBcgZmiKZDdAhBS50HOdtu7FB5WPot3uUEoGZNRXwUAtKtY1bRKDe/s1600/DSC00458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd2QN8txG-K0s-gd0SVmOo5WKZRhXx2Lx3oovdqbrsalSIvWVSIYFSPvz0yUKthXI5sZJXhUw7p_RS9nQMsW3hJPXBcgZmiKZDdAhBS50HOdtu7FB5WPot3uUEoGZNRXwUAtKtY1bRKDe/s320/DSC00458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I divided the mixture into four patties on a foil lined baking sheet that was generously oiled with EVOO. I then gently basted the top with some more oil, to encourage browning. I popped them in the oven at 375' for about 20 min, until they had firmed up, I flipped them over and baked for about 10 min more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxI-NCvOOPGZXjh2YRYG_nV6aFI9lqtbKi5r9O91E3K65QXrLEdb4ZIV8PbVv8fRbOXZraux9SK-NXXZbbkcav-UggO4291l60p-cpKncAF4Togj_v3aRO1_pjVcaIFe4XbS0Dp2l9vais/s1600/DSC00459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxI-NCvOOPGZXjh2YRYG_nV6aFI9lqtbKi5r9O91E3K65QXrLEdb4ZIV8PbVv8fRbOXZraux9SK-NXXZbbkcav-UggO4291l60p-cpKncAF4Togj_v3aRO1_pjVcaIFe4XbS0Dp2l9vais/s320/DSC00459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> You can serve these on a bun with the sauce of your choice and some nice sharp cheddar, or, "meatloaf" style like I did. My Husband loved these, and made me promise to make them again! The oats gave them a nice texture while the green pepper added a nice aromatice flavor. <br />
Sorry I didn't give exact amounts, but this is how I cook most of the time, I just make things up as I go along. I have come up with some of our best meals that way! So don't be afraid to put your own spin on things and be creative! Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-81674589609994595882011-08-22T12:56:00.000-07:002011-08-22T12:56:35.077-07:00I love living near the Ocean!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzh92TD2gpjzPnqzLb1A2yfVqjixyCvdW8JtPFTikUSbqqC9S6AK7sewCXlu188xwY2rHZ1a8TSzdVKPrml0NjSgV3FtWK2Ua0kfNJV4sN-xzwX2j5RtL5hdtSnby9ihTVF4v4QJspSUn/s1600/DSC00418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzh92TD2gpjzPnqzLb1A2yfVqjixyCvdW8JtPFTikUSbqqC9S6AK7sewCXlu188xwY2rHZ1a8TSzdVKPrml0NjSgV3FtWK2Ua0kfNJV4sN-xzwX2j5RtL5hdtSnby9ihTVF4v4QJspSUn/s320/DSC00418.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MYzB7G5g7_riOrkmVrtwkwKTYb0rIE7J1Y3Kwy1XhaGEf2JUoXX7llA3P9F7rLG7D7-LGSaxgv67Goh4Of2oE2yUjNXATR3De_ahEMrDea55tBr5cYGjWnZJ2e_f7db6Qr4P-ITdg8Io/s1600/DSC00423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MYzB7G5g7_riOrkmVrtwkwKTYb0rIE7J1Y3Kwy1XhaGEf2JUoXX7llA3P9F7rLG7D7-LGSaxgv67Goh4Of2oE2yUjNXATR3De_ahEMrDea55tBr5cYGjWnZJ2e_f7db6Qr4P-ITdg8Io/s320/DSC00423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VzLRoWZXogNP2VzzT58i5QntoHjkkej1Jk8z-r9oFjb9Fd6A3ISVCu5haA3hGaAFdh8Uvh4fM_fR6MSm7IGvefEWQ5LTglUPGg8FqmuiTFVD3CFhiYZLka-Wsaj9yakXTD7wjhqBva1k/s1600/DSC00428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VzLRoWZXogNP2VzzT58i5QntoHjkkej1Jk8z-r9oFjb9Fd6A3ISVCu5haA3hGaAFdh8Uvh4fM_fR6MSm7IGvefEWQ5LTglUPGg8FqmuiTFVD3CFhiYZLka-Wsaj9yakXTD7wjhqBva1k/s320/DSC00428.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQGs53PNa7ncZfup4hlO3z9UduCRkeH-BJUjz0WVHApeuG36AXjmjNh7QMPL2ccwcz3R2ObFujjR1rw3Y4TV9Lvs1Kc26nm8vcbDw-ew_HdiZ4kAzSGgmF1lQ0trtcAA6sYPTZON7ENbH/s1600/DSC00429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQGs53PNa7ncZfup4hlO3z9UduCRkeH-BJUjz0WVHApeuG36AXjmjNh7QMPL2ccwcz3R2ObFujjR1rw3Y4TV9Lvs1Kc26nm8vcbDw-ew_HdiZ4kAzSGgmF1lQ0trtcAA6sYPTZON7ENbH/s320/DSC00429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUFv86J-zofXcIwMwtikRbHr7VN-TF4DGJI49DHsDLYaeWlyJDjef1OHj5FA0lbDErYl7X7D9APz26IJB6BH6Qr19nMxZ783lX14eFIBjScC6Vur2gesJVU87BH26ruBNiKuu12Fx9fPy/s1600/DSC00426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUFv86J-zofXcIwMwtikRbHr7VN-TF4DGJI49DHsDLYaeWlyJDjef1OHj5FA0lbDErYl7X7D9APz26IJB6BH6Qr19nMxZ783lX14eFIBjScC6Vur2gesJVU87BH26ruBNiKuu12Fx9fPy/s320/DSC00426.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpO7Rt1iuMu1xpL1jK-zVHFL7MMCLTpq7OtXQ5kzSjUz96-d_KsW4yFHkxBk3C9YoYGNXptLKgSmkrR9X9TfI84QcU3mdVczCD4tVGJk_qNbYNCYMWnsHPFNuwaqgkiu1YTJFFE6CTNQH/s1600/DSC00411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpO7Rt1iuMu1xpL1jK-zVHFL7MMCLTpq7OtXQ5kzSjUz96-d_KsW4yFHkxBk3C9YoYGNXptLKgSmkrR9X9TfI84QcU3mdVczCD4tVGJk_qNbYNCYMWnsHPFNuwaqgkiu1YTJFFE6CTNQH/s320/DSC00411.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
We had a terrific day Saturday! We went to the coast with some of our friends, and spent the day swimming in the not <em>very</em> cold water, playing keep the beach ball up, passing a football, and teaching a three year old that getting "dirty" in the wet sand is fun! I am now nursing a pretty bad sunburn, but it was worth it! Summers are pretty short here in the Northeast, so we are enjoying the last of the heat while we can. I am a autumn lover though, so the crisp nights are getting me excited for apple picking and corn mazes! <br />
Well, I guess I had better go and finish getting this place cleaned up before my Poot gets home, I hope you have had a great weekend too!Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658335848998156009.post-20385293624464431712011-08-17T18:09:00.000-07:002011-08-17T18:09:15.638-07:00Frijoles Refritos,,,, yum yum!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlznbotRZp-HMjmM4w4HUxjZ17JTDyAoHjWVe8Qlv58987se23D7mAGjil8ILqQ6zL8T3gAYBX6WM9OLFnVsF9m83Z4Xz5N3KdgPLqDJSPqV8YjKOI32xOxMyiJdKY0QxTNpwvh1_3Xv1/s1600/DSC00397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlznbotRZp-HMjmM4w4HUxjZ17JTDyAoHjWVe8Qlv58987se23D7mAGjil8ILqQ6zL8T3gAYBX6WM9OLFnVsF9m83Z4Xz5N3KdgPLqDJSPqV8YjKOI32xOxMyiJdKY0QxTNpwvh1_3Xv1/s320/DSC00397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <strong>Refried Beans! </strong>A yummy and nutritious food. It can be expensive to buy them ready made though, with the ever increasing rise in food prices, especially canned food. Around these parts a can of refried beans can cost up to $2!!! I think that's a bit outrageous, considering how inexpensive the ingredients are. I tried over and over to make them at home, and they never tasted quite right,,,, until I looked in one of my vintage 70's cookbooks and found the simplest, and most delicious refried bean recipe yet! After all, this shouldn't be complicated, that's one of the things I love most about Mexican food, its fresh and flavorful simplicity!<br />
So, if you want something that "hits the spot", then try making some Frijoles Refritos, you (and your family) wont be sorry!<br />
<br />
Now hows this for easy, you don't even have to soak the beans!<br />
<br />
1lb bag of pintos, picked over and rinsed<br />
6c water<br />
Put the beans and the water in a medium to large sauce pan and bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2 +1/2 to 3 hours, until the beans are very tender. (to test, cool a bean then place on your tongue, if you can "mash" it against the roof of your mouth they are ready) During the cooking time, if the beans start to dry out add just a tad bit of water, but not to much, I don't like to drain them after cooking, no sense losing any minerals!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48mVJcVC2SMtZyj0wbxqUAJ8I-rGg_N86e52cLSqZIdA6jL7L_MIoIzsNjAvyc8AuvyFeCytCZsuf6YzDut0sh9vZdp_CAifBxS6xi0TsmgvNmOGM5UAjMP6dNl_hauUO4Dyx4kefkxq1/s1600/DSC00396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48mVJcVC2SMtZyj0wbxqUAJ8I-rGg_N86e52cLSqZIdA6jL7L_MIoIzsNjAvyc8AuvyFeCytCZsuf6YzDut0sh9vZdp_CAifBxS6xi0TsmgvNmOGM5UAjMP6dNl_hauUO4Dyx4kefkxq1/s320/DSC00396.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
Now let them cool for a while, just set them on the back of the stove and get on with your other chores or cooking, maybe even try your hand at making your own flout tortilla's!<br />
After they have cooled, if you like extra creamy beans like I do, place the beans and their liquid in a food processor, and season to your taste. Purist's can put in only a teaspoon or two of minced garlic and a couple of teaspoons of salt. I like to add a tablespoon or so of chili powder, a liberal sprinkling of garlic powder and salt. Its totally up to you and your taste buds! Now after they have gone for a nice long wizz through the processor with the spices, you can either "re-fry" them immediately, or put them in a covered dish and store in the fridge for quick lunches and snacks. I havent tried freezing them, but I'm sure they would freeze well in a covered plastic container. We use them up within a few days, we are both bean lovers!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhDdUMNyXTE5Y7R8mTB1eCsjt1FOC7HQ06IX4NxJLh3kADPOxtZqwDkgLT6eaXls3_QHv5l4Yhj8ARDDFUwIzEkgSSmV8Liy5NnmIXKzbKqtvyuAk6TymuWSG0E_btVtRJ8Ehcwzpgc1q/s1600/DSC00398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhDdUMNyXTE5Y7R8mTB1eCsjt1FOC7HQ06IX4NxJLh3kADPOxtZqwDkgLT6eaXls3_QHv5l4Yhj8ARDDFUwIzEkgSSmV8Liy5NnmIXKzbKqtvyuAk6TymuWSG0E_btVtRJ8Ehcwzpgc1q/s320/DSC00398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> I know, I know, not the most appetizing looking of foods, but my oh my! they are so goooood! Not to mention, they are great way to slip meatless meals into your week. Beans are a good source of fat free protein, and also have a ton of fiber and some minerals to boot. I do not add fat to my beans, as I can't tell the difference in flavor, so I save my "fat" calories for something else. These are rich and creamy without any added fat anyway, so be sure to try them before adding the tradition 1/4 cup of lard or butter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBnxrJokR5nLOJbRZkKg9_EsYmTQ6_LqKQWwmHcqVilHpMip-G5iOZvl_DevaYWf2fHsvh8I4JDn3q8qshgw5QhAk9k9FYvzuDlnIqesgkO7B1q94Zj-eVbpWl6YXSsQndAUIW67WofKN/s1600/DSC00403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBnxrJokR5nLOJbRZkKg9_EsYmTQ6_LqKQWwmHcqVilHpMip-G5iOZvl_DevaYWf2fHsvh8I4JDn3q8qshgw5QhAk9k9FYvzuDlnIqesgkO7B1q94Zj-eVbpWl6YXSsQndAUIW67WofKN/s320/DSC00403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Bean and cheese burritos make a great late-night dinner or snack for hungry Hubby, and they are very quick and easy to make. Just slap a couple big spoons of beans onto the center of a tortilla, top with cheese and bake at 350' for 10 min, flip and bake 5 more min, serve as is or with sour cream and salsa, YUM! <br />
Enjoy! <br />
Mrs Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14839387608884299509noreply@blogger.com5