September Surprises!

A quick walk around our yard!

A beautiful September day!  Sometimes cloudy and at other times sunny.  Now, the decorative grasses have fronds that move gracefully in the breeze.  The Phlox are beginning to blossom, too.  Earlier this year the deer also enjoyed our garden and they had too many of the Phlox buds for snacks in the wee hours of the mornings.  What a great surprise to see a few of these bright lavender flowers!

Our lavender Rhododendrum has flowers, too!  This very interesting shrub always has a mind of its own.  Some of the buds blossom in the Spring and others blossom in autumn.  It has buds that are getting ready either for spring or for autumn!

A quick walk around our yard always has new surprises!

Enjoy!   

September Colors

Took a quick walk in our neighborhood this afternoon.  What a great surprise to see so many different colors just down the street! The reds, the oranges and the yellows mingled in with the greens all look beautiful.  Autumn is definitely here!

 Enjoy!

 

Bright Colors!

It's a beautiful September evening!  Walking up our driveway a group of many brightly colored Zinnias greet us on the right hand side.  The reds, the yellows, the pinks and the oranges are just beautiful!

This is also a reminder to me to save the seeds from this year's crop.  These Zinnias were grown from saved seeds harvested from last year.

Soon, it will be time.  For now, we are enjoying the bright colored flowers!!

Enjoy!

    

Perennials!

The pinks, the whites, the lavenders along with the greens are popping up in our back perennial garden!  What a welcome sight!  Enjoying the beautiful colors of Spring is always a treat after the snow disappears.  Our weather is a bit warmer now, so the blossoms are here.  It's so very cool that so many shades of color are now found in our yard.

We are enjoying!!

 

March 2!

March 2 is the day

we remember to say

Happy Birthday 

to you

Dr. Seuss!!!

Visiting the The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and then the sculptures at the Springfield Museums in Springfield, MA is always FuN!

"The creator of these childhood favorites, Theodor Seuss Geisel, was born in Springfield, MA on March 2, 1904.  Seuss was his mother's maiden name.  This author wrote so many wonderful stories for children (of all ages) using the name Dr. Seuss!"

Thank you, Theodor Seuss Geisel for writing all of those wonderful stories!!!

We Enjoy Them!

A Typical Winter Day...

Just enjoying the scenery!

Well, not really!!  Sometimes we hear the owls at night, but we have never seen one.  That was until today!  Very early this morning I glanced out our kitchen window and saw a baby owl on our deck.  Now that was really cool!  And very exciting!!  When I carefully returned to the window with the camera, the owl was gone.

This afternoon it's been snowing.  I was watching the snowflakes float down.  While looking at the trees, suddenly an owl came into view!  This owl was larger and perched on a branch.  Every so often it would shake the snow off his head.

Look carefully...

It enjoyed its perch for quite a while.  Suddenly, it was gone and then returned again to the same spot.   

What a very cool day I will not forget!!
  
Enjoying Nature!

~Early Spring~

The snow that fell 2 weeks ago has melted.  The rain has now stopped.  Today the sun is shining, so it was time to check out the perennial gardens. 

AmaZing surprises!!!

In our front yard the lavender Crocuses in our lawn are enjoying the sunshine!

A Ritual of Spring!

A walk to our backyard brought more smiles!  The sole Daffodil in our back perennial garden already had a bud before the snowfall.  Yes, it's growing!

The sole Daffodil!

 Even the Hyacinths continue upward!

Flower buds growing larger!

The recent snowfall did not stop determined Spring!  Woohoo!

It's anticipated & totally Enjoyed!

Officially Spring!

Woah!  No foolin', the Crocuses popped up with many more to come!

In the backyard garden Hyacinths are sprouting!

Now, It's officially Spring!
Woohoo!

Wild Turkeys

Wild Turkeys passing through!

This was a surprise!  As I was placing the ingredients in my Slow Cooker this afternoon, a family of wild Turkeys passed through our backyard - Mom, Dad & the 4 kids.  The first time we've seen them strolling on by.   

So cool!
Enjoy!

 

Happy New Year!

Section of multicolored map (23' x 30') at Stanley Park
made of New York Slate

It was so pleasant this Christmas with the lack of white powder on our lawns! We had way too much snow in October!  At this time last year we in the northeast were digging our way out of the Nor'easter that arrived the day after Christmas.  It fell with a frenzy causing trying travel plans for many.  The MetroNorth schedule to NYC changed drastically during that period.  Months later a tornado, a microburst, an earthquake, a hurricane and then the infamous Halloween Nor'easter all made their appearances during the year - some in small and others in very large ways - some at and some very close to home.

Fortunately in the 'Meadow, the tree debris from our Halloween surprise has been collected, chipped and removed!  Other towns and cities are still recovering from the June 1 tornado.

During the winter months I always anticipate visiting the beautiful gardens at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA.  Stanley Park is about 35 minutes from my home.  This gem in Western MA is open from May to November and is a gorgeous area to visit and to collect gardening ideas and tips for the home landscaper.  The slate map above is located in front of the Carillon Tower.  The Covered Bridge and the Rose Garden are also always fave spots to visit.  

Taking a peek at the Rose Garden

The colors and the varieties of annuals blend together!   

With less trees in our backyard there will be more sun this coming year.  Perhaps an Herb Garden will have a spot!  It's time to start planning!

Happy New Year!!!

Raisin Craisin Apple Crisp!!!

What a great sunny Columbus Day Weekend it was!  The chilly mornings and the orange pumpkins went hand in hand along with the yearly ride to Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow to purchase the "bushel of Butternut Squash"!  What a wonderful time of year in Western MA!  

For me it also marks baking the first Apple Crisp of the season with the local crisp Cortland apples.  A slice of homemade Apple Pie always tastes great, but if there is no time to roll out the pie crust, Apple Crisp it is!!!  Raisins & Craisins (dried cranberries) mixed in with the apple slices before the baking dish is placed into the oven.  :)  The aromas of Cinnamon & Nutmeg coming from my oven always linger on... The rose colored Pyrex baking dish is used so often filled with seasonal goodies.  Yummy!

The servings of Apple Crisp above only need the large scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Mmmm! 

 Apple Crisp  

Oven Temperature:  375°
Time:  About 45 Minutes

Ingredients:
6-7 peeled sliced Apples (I use Cortland or Empire & sometimes 8 Apples.)

Topping:
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar (I use a little less.)
1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
3/4 tsp. Cinnamon
3/4 tsp. Nutmeg
1/3 Cup + 1 TBS. softened Butter or Margarine
*  *  *
1/4 Cup Raisins + Craisins (total amount)

Method:

1. Preheat oven.
2. Spray 8"x8" glass pan with PAM.
3. Combine dry Topping Ingredients in small bowl.  
4. Measure Butter/Margarine and place on top of dry ingredients to soften.
5. Peel + slice Apples.  Place in glass pan.
6. Add Raisins & Craisins.  Mix with Apple slices.
7. Mix softened Butter/Margarine with dry ingredients.
8. Sprinkle mixture over Apple slices.  
9. Bake in preheated oven for 45 Minutes or until apples are tender.  
10. After baking, pierce center with a fork to test for "doneness".  Bake additional 5 minutes, if needed, test again.
11. Serve warm or chilled with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream. 
12. Cover & refrigerate any leftovers.

Do you bake desserts containing Apples?  With Oats?   

We did enjoy it!
Yummy!

Ten Large Peppers

After these 10 large green peppers were placed on my countertop the song/book  "Five Little Pumpkins" quickly came to mind.  It's the song that young children learn during the month of October.  For younger tots there is even a board book or two containing the cute verse and illustrations with bright colors depicting the adventure of the bright orange pumpkins.

However, the bright green peppers on my counter would take the journey into my freezer.  During the month of August the local roadside stands sell and home gardeners grow nutritious, delicious green peppers.  It is at this time period each summer I purchase, prepare and then freeze these veggies after they have been cut into strips.  Later in the year and into 2011 whenever I want to add green peppers while preparing a main dish, I'll reach into my freezer and voila, they will be ready to use.  Sweet!  

The process I follow is easy.  The peppers are washed in cold water and dried.  Then, each pepper is cut into strips.  I place a handful of the cut strips into sandwich bags (that fold).  Then, each sandwich bag is closed, rolled and placed into a gallon sized Ziploc Freezer Bag.  For me, about 7-8 sandwich bags of pepper strips fit in one Ziploc Bag.  After labeling & dating the Ziploc Bags, they are stored in my freezer. 

These veggies are now ready to be added to my slow cooker or into any main dish that I will be preparing when the local fresh green peppers are not in season any longer.  In the winter there is no walking past imported green peppers in my grocery store - wishing for our local summer crop.  They are waiting in my freezer!

Do you freeze pepper strips when the green peppers are in season?  Do you like to stash veggies away for the colder months?  

We enjoy them!
Yummy!

   

      

Such Tasty Pancakes!

At this time of year in Western MA yard work is a must! In many families either Saturday or Sunday brings out the raking/blowing leaves detail. We had been enjoying the long lasting colorful beautiful leaves on all of our trees this fall. But, at some point we knew that an abundance of leaves would flutter downward forming a carpet on our lawns. Most leaves are brown. Others are red or a golden color. There are town residents who hire local landscape services to remove the leaves. Other families take on the yearly challenge themselves. My hubby takes on this challenge for us.

Now, if you are planning on spending time outside taking care of the leaves detail on the weekend, a hearty breakfast is a must. Pancakes are an all time breakfast favorite in my household. Sitting down for breakfast and enjoying Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes is the best! After eating one bite you might ask - Is Oatmeal really an ingredient in these pancakes? They are very light!

These tasty pancakes are prepared in two steps. Step 1 - The evening before the pancakes will be made on the griddle, old-fashioned oats and buttermilk are mixed together in a large bowl and refrigerated.

Now, I have learned that doing this step about 16 hours before Step 2 results in lighter Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes. (Click for recipe).

Oh yes, they do freeze well, also. After breakfast, cool any extra pancakes. Each one can be placed in a separate sandwich bag and then stored in a labeled/dated Ziploc Freezer Bag. It makes for a great breakfast on another busy morning with the aid of a microwave!

Do you prepare pancakes? What kind do you make? Are there any extra pancakes after breakfast that you could place in your freezer?

Enjoy!

Yummy!