I have been tardy.

I know I have been away for a long time, I quit blogging as FB was more convenient, also at the time blogger did not post to FB and I think it does now. This short post is really to see if indeed I can post directly to FB.  If it does not work then I suppose blogging will fall by the wayside again.
So.... here goes.

Update.   Can't figure it out right now. Don't have the time or patience to mess around with it.

Happy Mother's Day

Gladys (Glady) C Kelly
JULY 7 1922 - SEPTEMBER 1 2006

Mum, thank you for all you taught me. Thank you for letting me play in the garden with you, for I now have a love of gardening as you and your mother before you did. Thank you for my two wonderful brothers.
We miss you.

Sunday photo

Meerkerk Gardens Whidbey Island

Wonderful Whidbey

Whidbey Island is a very special place to live. There are many photo opportunities, so I usually take my camera along wherever I am going. I find old buildings to be rather interesting, always wondering what they were used for. If I find an old rundown house, I wonder, who lived in it, did they raise a family there etc.

Dutch Oven Crusty Bread

I have been playing around with the " Dutch oven crusty" bread recipe to see what other combinations work well.

Original recipe:
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1tsp yeast
1tsp salt
1-1/2 cups warm water

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast. Add water and stir until a shaggy mixture forms.
(mixture will be loose and sticky: this is what you want) Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 12-18 hours (up to 24) overnight works well.
2. Preheat oven to 450 Place a cast iron Dutch oven with a lid in oven and heat for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, pour the risen dough onto a heavily floured surface (dough will be sticky) and lightly shape into a round loaf.
3. Remove hot Dutch oven, from oven and carefully place dough inside. Cover and return to oven for 30 minutes. Then remove lid and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
Carefully remove bread from oven, and from Dutch oven and place on a cooling rack.

My adapted recipe:
1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
3 tsp yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 warm water, plus a little more to make the dough more 'sticky' Careful not to add too much water.
Bake as above.
I used more yeast as I thought the original bread recipe baked up a little on the heavy side

Happy New Year Prize

I was very happy to win this party plate in a draw at our local Comunity Goose Grocery store. The plate has a very good selection of cheeses, and fruits.
I bought a variety of crackers and cocktail breads to go along with the fruits and cheeses. Add some wine and we have a party.
Happy New Year everyone.

 

Happy New Year

The morning after I hope you are not feeling as bad as he looks.

So, go celebrate, be careful, have a designated driver, or take a taxi.

Thank you to all my readers, family, friends, blogger friends, and all you folk who just stop by to take a look. You are all appreciated.

I wish for you all, an outstanding New Year

Merry Christmas

WITH A KIWI FLAVOR

Tune

Sung to the usual tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
Remember to slow down the line " Five - big - fat - pigs ! "

On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A pukeko in a ponga tree

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
two kumera
And a pukeko in a ponga tree

On the third day of Christmas
....
and so on, until...

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve piupiu swinging
Eleven haka lessons
Ten juicy fish heads
Nine sacks of pipi
Eight plants of puha
Seven eels a swimming
Six pois a twirling
Five - big - fat - pigs !
Four huhu grubs
Three flax kits
Two kumera
And a pukeko in a ponga tree!

Pukeko = type of bird found in NZ
Ponga Tree = a fern tree that grows in NZ
Kumera = a sweet potato
Piupiu = a skirt made from strips of flax.
Haka = war chant/dance
Pipi = small shellfish
Puha = a type of sow thistle that is eaten as a vegetable in NZ
Poi = Maori word for ball
Huhu = a small edible grub
Flax kits = small woven bags

Ngā mihi o te wā me te Tau Hou 
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Picture of the day

 

 

photo of the day

 

Reno balloon races 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am honored to receive this award.

 

Good luck wishes work

I went to compete in The Washing State Steel challenge, without any prior practice, and still managed to bring home First place in women's.
It was a very hot day, and I struggled to get through the match, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear my name called as first place winner.
So thanks to all my friends who sent 'good luck wishes' my way. They worked. WhooHoo!

 

Most rewarding weekend

Mid Thursday afternoon, as soon as we had the RV loaded, we set off for Smeltersville Idaho, to compete in a Steel Challenge match. The drive from Whidbey Island was without mishap, which is the way we like it, as we drove to a nice rest stop around Couer d' Alene where we spent the night.

Next morning we continued our journey towards Smelterville, and decided to spend Friday night in a pullout beside the river a short drive from the range. Except for some freeway noise, it is a nice place to spend some time. It was very warm so we set up our chairs beneath some trees and watched as fish rose to the surface of the water to feed, and rafters floated by. As time passed, the day grew way too hot for us folk from the PNW, (we sure are not used to that kind of heat) so we decided to ask our friend Larry, who was driving from Yakima WA and meeting us at the pullout, about the Inn he had booked a room at. It turned out that they did have a room for us, so we all drove to a nice little country restaurant, for a delicious B-B-Q rib dinner, before driving to the Inn. I was never so happy to take a shower, then collapse on the bed to enjoy the air conditioned room, and a good night's sleep.

Saturday morning we were in the Inn's restaurant at 6:30 am for breakfast before our big day. Little did I know how big it was going to be. As Usual we had a fun squad and all had a good time shooting the match.
The day was very hot, but we made sure we stayed well hydrated, and kept to the shade of the popup shelters provided for our comfort, as we waited for our turn to shoot. I thought I had done OK and as I was for the most part, writing down the times for the shooters, I noticed Mike and Larry were like a couple of race horses "neck and neck, stride for stride"I knew their times were very close indeed.
Time for the awards came around, and I was tickled to receive three medals for my effort as did Mike and Larry. What a big whoo-hoo! day for all of us.

Train museum at Filllmore CA

A couple of weeks ago we were in California, and on the Monday before we returned home, we went for a sightseeing drive. On our drive we discovered Fillmore and an interesting train museum, where we wandered around looking at the old trains and carriages.

July 4th from our deck

 

Happy 4th July

As you go about celebrating this 4th of July don't lose sight of why, we are celebrating.
It is not just about barbecues, and fireworks.
Have a safe, happy 4th.

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream.

The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings.


“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”


Happy Birthday, America!

Deer Oh! dear

They can be so cute, but oh! so destructive in the garden. These photos were taken at a friend's house, who throws out bird seed for the birds and the deer. The fawns are so cute, and were very nervous so I had to take photos through the window so the quality is not so good.

We had a wonderful camping/fishing weekend

This past weekend, some of the members of our Fishin'Club, made the annual trek to Banks Lake, eastern Washington, for our camping/fishing weekend. The weather was nice and warm, the fishing was the best and all had a good time.

Our group camp spot from along the shore

 photo taken as we were leaving to go fishing.

Let's see how big this one is?

Two happy fishermen

This one has to be at least 20 inches long

One big wiggle and this one would have escaped the hook

Fabulous catch.
These three were cooked and eaten at our Saturday afternoon potluck

Time to sit around after a long day

Good company and toasted marshmallows is hard to beat

A nice crunchy golden brown  please