I am a bird watcher....usually from my porch or deck, sometimes while walking in the woods. I enjoy watching them change colors in the spring, and the migrating transients that pass by, raise clutches of babies in bird houses and bushes all summer, and then somehow survive the cold and snow of a northern winter. … Continue reading How to Make Perfect Homemade Bird Suet Cakes
On special occasions I splurge for a prime rib roast. Christmas dinner for many years consists of a Spiced Up Prime Rib and all the "fixin's". To start - if my prime rib has been frozen, I defrost it a couple days ahead. Once it has thawed, or if I have bought a fresh cut … Continue reading How to Make a Perfect & Flavorful Prime Rib
I love baking bread. It's one of those things that just makes a house smell wonderful. I try all kinds and grains, and actually have a lot of different flours to use. This recipe turned out to be one of the best. Not too long ago I went shopping with a friend and we stopped … Continue reading How to make Maple Syrup Wheat Bread
I started to write an article for a magazine about farm dogs, and it turned into an expose of remembrance about my first dog. My article took on a life of it's own, much too long for the publication, and I had to submit a much abbreviated version. My first dog was a true friend … Continue reading Why a Dog Can Be So Important
What is a well-stocked pantry? And how should it be maintained? Over the last year many of us have reduced the number of trips to stores in person, or we have started ordering more things for delivery. In short, you need a pantry that filled with the necessities, and often used items for your household. … Continue reading How to Keep a Well-Stocked & Organized Pantry
Chicken stock is one of those staple items I always have in my pantry. And though I buy some store bought cartons of stock to keep on hand, I most often just make my own and either can or freeze it in pints and quarts. Every time I make chicken I save parts - necks, … Continue reading Learn to make Flavorful Easy Chicken Stock
We love pound cake. Plain pound cake is fine, but add blueberries, lemon and ricotta and this pound cake, well, takes the cake (as the saying goes!). I had a half container of ricotta left in the fridge, and when I remembered I had this cake recipe I just had to make it again. Since … Continue reading Make the Ultimate Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake
This week I want to play a little game with you all - and hear what your 5 favorite sounds are, and why. We take much for granted in our daily, busy lives. I find it helps to ground myself and soothe my soul if I take a few minutes to appreciate the things in … Continue reading List of Your Favorite Sounds
Lately my morning coffee has been spent with our red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus for those of you who want to know the genus species name). Well, me with the coffee and watching the red squirrels run around and eat the sunflower seeds and nuts I put out. I love watching their antics. My "regular" job, … Continue reading How to Lower Stress With Red Squirrels
How to behave outdoors – sounds silly doesn’t it? And yet I see signs of misbehavior no matter where I go. It ranges from something as simple as littering to disturbing wildlife and destroying habitat. Let’s look at animals, since that’s my first love in life. Many people believe that if a baby fawn is … Continue reading How to Behave Outdoors