Saturday, October 19, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Spreading Some Love
Strawberry Rhubarb Fruit Spread
3 cups strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
2-4 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds
I put it all in my blender....then in the refrigerator until the next day.
Delicious....and healthy!
I will freeze some next time....
this batch didn't last long enough to make it to the freezer.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Tourists
Cousins...
off on their biggest adventure yet!!!
- Day 1: Fly overnight to Germany
- Day 2: Frankfurt • Heidelberg
- Meet your Tour Director at the airport
- Travel to Heidelberg
- Take a tour of Heidelberg
- Visit the Heidelberg Castle wine barrel
- Day 3: Munich
- Travel to Munich
- Take a walking tour of Munich
With your tour director you will see:- Frauenkirche
- Neues Rathaus
- Hofbräuhaus
- Day 4: Munich
- Take a guided tour of Munich
With your expert local guide you will see:- Olympic Stadium
- Residenz
- Marienplatz
- Visit Dachau
- Take a guided tour of Munich
- Day 5: Venice
- Enjoy free time in Innsbruck
- Travel via Innsbruck to Venice
- Day 6: Venice
- Take a guided tour of Venice
- St. Mark’s Square
- Grand Canal
- Visit the Doge's Palace
- See a glass-blowing demonstration
- Take a guided tour of Venice
- Day 7: Rome
- Travel to Rome
- Day 8: Rome
- Take a guided tour of Vatican City
- Visit the Sistine Chapel
- Visit St. Peter’s Basilica
- Take a guided tour of Rome
- Visit the Colosseum
- Visit the Roman Forum
- Take a self-guided walking tour of Rome:
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Spanish Steps
- Day 9: Florence
- Travel to Florence
- Take a guided tour of Florence
With your expert local guide you will see:- Piazza della Signoria
- Ponte Vecchio
- Chiesa di Santa Croce
- Gates of Paradise
- Visit the Duomo
- See a leather-making demonstration
- Day 10: Lucerne region
- Travel to the Lucerne region
- Day 11: Lucerne region
- Take a tour of Lucerne
With your tour director you will see:- Lion Monument
- Chapel Bridge
- Optional: Mount Pilatus
Venture to the top of Mount Pilatus, the majestic 6,387-foot peak that towers over Lucerne. In the summer, take a boat across Lake Lucerne and then ride the Pilatus cog railway—the steepest in the world—to the top. During other seasons, take a motorcoach to the base and a 45-minute cable car ride to the top, where you’ll enjoy splendid views. (Note: Warm clothes and appropriate shoes recommended.)
- Take a tour of Lucerne
- Day 12: Colmar • Alsace
- Travel to the Alsace Region
- Take a tour of Colmar
- Day 13: Paris
- Travel to Paris
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Take a walking tour of Paris
With your tour director you will see:- Île de la Cité
- Conciergerie
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Day 14: Paris
- Take a guided tour of Paris
With your expert local guide you will see:- Place de la Concorde
- Champs-Élysées
- Arc de Triomphe
- Les Invalides
- Eiffel Tower
- Optional: Versailles
Join an optional excursion to the grand palace of Versailles, where Louis XIV held court in the most lavish style imaginable. On a tour, stroll through the elegantly landscaped gardens, the historic Hall of Mirrors and the ornately decorated State Apartments. Note: Versailles is closed on Mondays.
- Take a guided tour of Paris
- Day 15: London
- Travel by Eurostar train to London
- Take a guided tour of London
With your expert local guide you will see:- Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
- Piccadilly Circus
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Westminster Abbey
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)
- Day 16: London
- Take a walking tour of London
With your tour director you will see:- The Strand
- Trafalgar Square
- Leicester Square
- Covent Garden
- Enjoy a fish and chips dinner
- Take a walking tour of London
- Day 17: Depart for home
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Birthdays In Heaven
I don't know if birthdays are celebrated in heaven, but Happy 10th Birthday Hannah!!! Grammie loves you and misses you so much!!!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Peace In The Seasons
Winter is real here in Minnesota!
Although I could show you pictures of many feet of snow.... and piles as high as I am....and the tracks I left when I had to rescue Friendie during his snowshoe expedition in our back yard....I choose to show you a peaceful version of our winter....the sun shining through the hoarfrost.
Although I could tell you about the frigid temperatures.....my plants freezing inside my window....and our astronomical heating bill...I choose to tell you I have been buying a lot of tulips.....and looking ahead to Spring.
Although I wanted my family to really love this recipe....I seem to be the only one....but I plan on making it a lot this Summer anyway!
Although I could tell you I have been much too busy and much too tired to update my blog....
I choose to show you the sweetest reasons why.
Oh...and this Fall we will be residing at a new address...right now I don't know what I choose to tell you about my sanity during the planning stage.
Time moves on....I hope to get better at documenting it.
Mister B is 4 months old already!!!
"Peace"!!!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
2013 Presidential Inaugural Parade
Emily is pretty excited to be marching in the Inaugural Parade on Monday!
The band sent an audition tape and were selected for the second Inauguration in a row!
If you are watching the parade, look for the only band from Minnesota to be given this honor....
they will be performing Yankee Doodle Dandy!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Minnesota Wild Rice Soup
Wild rice is not rice.
It is actually a long-grain marsh grass native to the Great Lakes region of the United States.
Many local Native Americans earn their living harvesting wild rice.
Sometimes it is known as Indian rice.
Yesterday I tried a new wild rice soup recipe.
It was much easier than my previous recipe because you do not have to precook the wild rice ahead of time.
Some days I am all about saving time....
shoot...
I am all about it every day!!
Clean wild rice before cooking by placing it in a bowl with plenty of cold water.
Give the rice a stir, then set the bowl aside for a few minutes to let any debris float to the surface.
Pour off the water and proceed with the recipe.
Minnesota Wild Rice Soup
2 Tablespoons butter
3 carrots, finely diced
2 leeks, white and light green parts, finely diced
(I used onions)
2 celery stalks, diced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 quarts chicken broth
3/4 cup wild rice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup heavy cream, hot
(I used 1 cup....might use more next time)
3 Tablespoons dry sherry
(I omitted, because I didn't have any)
1/4 cup minced chives
3 Tablespoons chopped parsley
Heat the butter in a soup pot over medium heat.
Add the veggies and cook until softened....about 5 minutes.
Reduce heat to low and add the flour....stir well.
Cook gently for about 3 minutes stirring constantly.
Add the broth slowing...whisking well to eliminate flour lumps.
Bring to a simmer.
Add the wild rice and salt.
Simmer until the rice is tender, but still a little chewy....about 45 minutes.
Stir in the heated cream and sherry. Season with salt. Garnish with chives and parsley.
Next time I plan on adding mushrooms....possibly some slivered almonds..and chicken, ham or bacon if we are eating meat that day. :)
This was especially tasty served with fresh Dill Bread.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Slacker
If you are waiting for my photos from Christmas....
I am sorry.
I don't have any.
I have been a total slacker in that department.
This is all I found on my camera card:
I bought these old snowshoes off of a local buying/selling/swap site.
I think I will leave them up on the fireplace mantel a while longer....
but the fresh pine garland needs to go soon.
I had planned on doing a Christmas baking post,
But all I baked were Spritz cookies!
Because of a dental issue with one of our guests,
I ended up making Tapioca instead of the planned cranberry cake.
The Tapioca was probably more popular than the cake!
After a very full week, I am slowly getting back into my normal routine....
which won't be normal for long!
My new normal is just around the corner....
I will save that for another post. :)
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