What the?????????????????

Help!

Call the authorities!

Up the terror alert.....

What, what, WHAT is this white stuff on my rhododenrons this morning??????

Say it ain't so............

Delicious Chocolate Chip Pumpkin cookies....

I'd  like to share this healthy, yummy recipe. Pumpkin is a fruit or a vegetable or something isn't it? And they're lower fat than the original recipe! (see note in recipe...)

Recipe:

4 Cups All-Purpose Flour....you can make part of it whole wheat flour.

2 Cups quick or old fashioned Oatmeal

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 Cups butter or margarine, softened....I use  3/4 Cup butter

and 3/4 Cup applesauce....... cutting the FAT !!   Click on it, I dare ya.

2 Cups brown sugar

1 Cup granulated sugar

1 16 oz. canned pumpkin

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

  

3/4 C chopped walnuts, more or less, whatever you want.....I don’t chop them. I like them chunky.

1 1/2 Cups chocolate chips

Preheat 350 degrees. (how the HECK do you do the ‘degree’ symbol on a computer!!??)

Combine flour, oats, soda, cinnamon and salt.

Cream butter.

 

Gradually add sugars, beating butter and sugars til light and fluffy.

Add egg and vanilla.

Add applesauce IF using to replace part of butter.

Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin, mixing well after each

addition. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

.....If you need to make the dough thicker, add more flour to compensate for the liquidy applesauce, if you used it. It's a pretty sturdy dough.

For each cookie, drop 1/4 C of dough onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Makes about a million cookies.

(I make mine much smaller....using 1/4 C of dough makes a pretty big cookie. I like mine smaller. Eating 5 or 6 smaller ones instead of 2 large ones must...I say, MUST...save calories.)

Enjoy!

BOO!! Another project....

Are you scared? You should be. It's another project you can make 5 minutes before Halloween.

Your very own ghost. 

I told my kids at school that it's a real ghost. I'm sure there are a few that will go home and tell their parents that I have a real ghost in my room. My classroom can be spooky at times, that's for sure.

This real ghost is about 12" tall. Not really big enough to cause any mental or psychological problems if you see it.

Want to know how to make it? Then keep on reading. If you don't want to know, go to www.hulu.com and watch any episode of any tv show you want to see. That's how I got caught up on Glee, Modern Family and Community. I have tried watching the Office multiple times and just don't get it.

Nevertheless....
Get any bottle or something like a bottle. This will determine how tall your apparition will be. Add something round to the top for the head shape. Twist a wire around the neck of the bottle and bend it into whatever position you want the arms to be. I then bent the wire around at the ends to make 'hands' and padded the 'hands' with some scrunched up masking tape.

I took a piece of plastic wrap and draped it over the armature.

I taped the plastic wrap to position it around the armature better. I bought some liquid starch and some 100 percent cotton cheesecloth at the grocery store. (Before I got to this point.)

I draped the cheesecloth over the armature from back to front to see how much cheesecloth I would need. Leave a little extra so you can bunch it up at the base. Cut.

Unfold the cheesecloth because it's all folded up when you get it. And then double it before you use it. Pour some starch into a bowl.

Dunk the cheesecloth into the starch to soak it.

Carefully remove the cheesecloth from the starch. Don't wring it. Drape it over the armature and arrange the folds into however you want them to be. I did mine on a paper plate. I bunched up the cheesecloth at the bottom to give it good support and arranged it into the shape of the paper plate. (Actually it was a styrofoam plate but don't tell the environmentally concerned teachers I work with. They would have a coronary.)

Ready to dry. It takes a long time. Don't attempt to remove it if it's at all wet.

When it's all dry, carefully pull it off the armature. Cut out some black felt into eyeballs and a mouth of your choice. Tell everyone it's real.

That's it!

P.S. Did you know that you could actually make CHEESE with cheesecloth? 

Pumpkins Rock!

Here's a little project, using small, smooth rocks to make small, smooth pumpkins.

They can be used as a paper weight or......

I don't know what else they can be used for.

But I thought they were kinda cute!

Two finished rock pumpkins.

HOW TO DO THIS:

First I went to the beach and found some nice, smooth, small rocks. If you don't have a beach nearby, I don't know what you do.

Then I primed them with some Gesso. (I suppose any primer will do.)

I used Acrylic paints: an Orange, a yellow-orange, and black.

I painted them regular orange first. Then I did the streaks using orange and black mixed together to make a dark orange/brownish color.

Then I used the yellow-orange to brush in some highlights here and there.

Close up.

Then using a fine tip sharpy, I carefully drew on jack o'lantern faces in black.

I brushed on a shiny finish. I used gloss acrylic medium. I suppose any type of glossy, clear finish will do, like Shellac, Polyurethane, etc. Then I hot glue gunned a stick to the top for the stalk. I also cut a small oval of orange felt and glued it to the bottom so that it doesn't scratch anything.

That's it!

It's Fall in Maine...

Nature's paint box is now opened...

The view out my front door.

Chilly air is a good reason for lighting the fireplace.

The cat is now in ultra slow motion mode.

A little cuddling is always good. Especially fur against fur. What could be nicer?

Time for home-made rolls and Golden Autumn Chowder. (See January 12, 2009 post...)

Autumn is fleeting. Come a windy, rainy day and all the leaves will be gone.

A brief touch of beauty.

The Fun Theory....

I saw this on someone's blog and then found it on You Tube. Volkwagen started this initiative and I think it's very cool. I love stuff like this.



Upon further grueling research, I found two more....


And this....


As a teacher, I KNOW that making things fun is so much more productive.
Even for me!
That's one reason I love my Mr.Downeastdoingstuff....he's FUN !

It's my Birthday!!

This picture just about says it all....(sigh)

Who'da thunk it?

"Cheese is nutritious food made mostly from the milk of cows but also other mammals, including sheep, goats, buffalo, reindeer, camels and yaks. Around 4000 years ago people started to breed animals and process their milk. That's when the cheese was born." (excerpt from cheese.com)

Yes, I did !

I needed some Farmer Cheese for a recipe I had, and I used to be able to find it once in a while in the supermarket. Lately, though, Farmer's Cheese must be out of fashion. So I had to take matters into my own hands. Again.

With my bff, the internet, I found many recipes to make my own Farmer Cheese.

Who knew? Who knew you could make cheese? Not me.

The above photo shows what it looks like when it's finished. Pretty cool.

Here's the recipe. (from www.eHow.com)

Farmer's cheese is made from basic kitchen ingredients. It is common on dairies, yet it is sometimes considered a gourmet cheese. If made from goat's milk, it is known as chevre. The French call it fromage blanc or white cheese. This cheese can be used as you would use cream cheese or cottage cheese.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 quarts Whole Milk
• 2 cups Buttermilk
• 1 tbsp. White Vinegar
• Salt
• Colander or Strainer
• Clean Cheesecloth
• Heavy Pot
• Large Pot or Bowl
• Storage Container with Lid

1. Step1

   Put 2 quarts of milk in a large pot and bring it to 180 degrees over low heat, stirring frequently.

2. Step2

   Add 2 cups of buttermilk and stir, then add the vinegar and stir. Turn off the heat and stir slowly until the mixture starts to separate. (This is what's called the curds and the whey. The whey is the watery stuff.)

3. Step3

   Let it sit for 10 minutes. Do not disturb the mixture during this time. While waiting, line a colander with at least two layers of cheesecloth. (Who knew that cheesecloth was used for making cheese!)

4. Step4

   Using a large spoon or ladle, put the curds (the solids) into the cheesecloth-lined colander.

5. Step5

   Let the curds drain for at least an hour. Occasionally gather up the cheesecloth around the cheese to apply some pressure to the cheese to help it drain. You can also tie the cheese up in the cheesecloth to keep pressure on it.

6. Step6

   Transfer the cheese to a storage container, add salt to taste, and store covered in the refrigerator for up to five days.(actually will last a little longer...But it's usually gobbled up by then.)

7. It was soooo easy !! Try it!
   

Tips

• Sweeten with sugar or flavor with fresh herbs. Use as a sweet breakfast alternative to yogurt or spread on bread or toast. Add berries for a tasty dessert. (spreads better when it's warm.)

I wanted to make a nice spread for snacking.

(Snack*ing: verb. 1.) An essential activity, scheduled every couple of hours, involving placing delicious food inside your oral cavity.

2.) A ritual to avoid death and/or boredom, whichever comes first.

So I used this recipe to achieve the above picture.

Farmer's Cheese with Honey, Raisins, Cinnamon and Toasted Walnuts

Recipe courtesy Dave Lieberman

Warm cheese is a comfort food if ever there was one. If it hadn't occurred to you, just think of Mac and Cheese and you should be on the same page with me.

Prep Time:

5 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

18 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup toasted walnuts
• 1 pound farmer's cheese
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 cup raisins
• A couple dashes cinnamon
• A couple pinches salt
• Crackers or bread, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven 400 degrees F.

Lay walnuts on baking sheet. Roast and shake once or twice to insure even toasting. Roast until a shade darker and aromatic, about 15 minutes.

Remove walnuts and set aside to cool.

Turn the oven to broil.

Place farmer's cheese in large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and the toasted walnuts. Mix thoroughly. Transfer mixture to a small baking dish (aluminum disposable is fine).

Place under broiler until brown and bubbly on top, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Serve hot or at room temperature with crackers of any kind or slices of crusty bread.

Apparently, using something called Rennet, you can actually make your own mozzarella cheese!

Cottage Cheese and Ricotta are similar to farmers cheese. Cottage Cheese isn't drained as much.

AND THEN.....

You end up with a ton of what's called WHEY left over. You can drink it or use it in recipes.

I found a recipe for bread using Whey. Any recipe where you use milk, you can use up the Whey.

I made 3 loaves of bread this weekend using 4 C of the whey.

It's really quite amazing what a person can do. Even me.

And a-whey we go......

Screen cleaner...

Y'all have probably seen this before. Someone just sent this to me and although I have seen this before, it still cracks me up.  Click here.

Moose, Meeses and Mooses......

Last weekend we went on a one day roadtrip up to Greenville, Maine. Once know as T9R10NWP (NOT kidding...), Greenville is on the southern tip of Moosehead Lake. Called Moosehead Lake because it supposedly looks like, you guessed it, a Moose's head. It sorta does and it is home to many, many, many Moose, and Mooses and probably some Meese, too.

Moose are big. Moose can be trouble for your car and for you, too. 

(Actual moose crash cars pictured below.) 

Your car is trouble for them.


Moose average 6 to 7 feet high at their shoulders and the males can weigh 380 to 720 pounds or more.

They can do a job on your car if you should make contact with one.

Traveling up the Maine Turnpike, we got off on Route 201 toward Skowhegan (I love that name).

This is the sign that greeted us to Greenville. Note the moose....

Cresting a hill, Moosehead Lake suddenly came into view. Nice. (See how it looks like a Moose Head?*&^%$#@)

In Greenville, you will find many, many, many, many, many things named after the Moose.

We stopped and got Mr. Downeastdoingstuff some take-out grub at the above place.

Then we found a nice picnic table on the shores of the lake to have our lunch. My pathetic coffee yogurt is in that red bag. The mister is eating a club wrap with, get ready, CHIPS ! (Not in my diet, I'd like to say.) (As long as I don't place said chip into my mouth.)

A girl on a moose...

A fabric store named after the moose.

I have no idea what this moosin' around store sells....

Roadkill, I guess. But it's for sale!!

If you can figure out the rules, you can go on a Moose Watch! 

Main Street in Greenville. 

We roamed the street and visited shops up and down Main Street. We almost stopped for icecream, but I was too full from having my coffee yogurt for lunch. (yeah, right.)

And on we went to our next adventure in my next post............

By the way, we did not see one real moose. Probably for the best.

Lost in Space....

Upon driving home from parts unknown, my son calls me up at 12:30 AM sounding like he just had the bejesus scared out of him. He was smart enough to inform me within the first 2 sentences that whatever he was going to say, however bizarro, everything at the moment was OK. (At this point 4,000 scenerios were flashing through my mind at lightning speed, none of them good.)

It seems that some foreign object fell out of the night sky right in front of his car, illuminating the entire Eastern Seaboard and going 347,000 miles an hour, careening out of control and into a field on his port side. It did not crash in a spectacle of sparks, but extinguished itself moments before hitting the ground. No other cars around....no surveillance videos......just him. 

He described it as  a large, brilliant white fireball that glowed green in the center, had a long white tail blazing behind it and was undoubtedly  launching itself from the far reaches of outer space. He said it came in at about a 40 degree angle. Incredulously, he knew that he was looking at an actual meteor...out of the sky....right in front of his own eyeballs.

So here I was, bleary eyed, up on one arm, having been suddenly woken up from a hot Johnny Depp dream I’m sure I was having, heart beating out of control (Johhny Depp) listening to this Twilight Zone story. He was already within 2-3 miles from home and I'm sure speeding onward at breakneck speed to escape the alien creatures that may have disembarked from their UFO and were now on his tail. (That’s MY version of the story in my warped, tired mind.)

I, for some unknown reason, told him on the phone that I would meet him at the door to let him in. (He DOES have a key and there really were no aliens chasing him.) But, being a Mom, there I was....at the door.

His car pulls up to the far side of the driveway where he normally parks and I truly expected him to race out of the car, breathless and into my safe arms.

But no.

Car lights go off. No one gets out.

I wait.

Nothing.

Wait some more.

Nothing.

By now I’m positive that the aliens have already examined and re-programmed his human body inside and out,  and that he is currently sitting there in an embodiment of Jabba the Hut or  Elvis Presley, with little or no recollection of the incident. Just waiting for the likes of me to come out there and ask whaz up? 

What do you think he was doing? Huh? KNOWING, I say KNOWING  I told him that I, his real birth mother,  would be up waiting for him? He was talking on his iphone  telling someone the entire story again in  Cinemagic 3-D detail. 

Just when I got the nerve to actually go out and nab my now brainwashed eyewitness alien child, he nonchalantly strolls in looking none the worse for wear.

(Cue in: Breathe a sigh of relief.)

The story actually doesn’t end there. After we chatted for a while I went to bed, convinced that my son was his normal self. Well, as normal as he is.

Long story, short.....he called the local police department the next day and the person there quickly told him that there had been a launch of an experimental Nasa rocket in Virginia that evening and that people had reported seeing lights in the sky in the northeast.

Relieved to hear that it was not an invasion, he still wondered about it. That was not a good enough explanation for him.

So, do you know what he did?

He called NASA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I didn’t know you could CALL NASA!!   Just like that?? So what is it? 1-800-NASA ???

They took a message and then yesterday someone ACTUALLY CALLED HIM BACK and talked to him about space stuff and phenomena for 10 minutes! They came to the conclusion that from his description, it actually was a meteor and not a hunk of spacecraft from the launch because the rocket did NOT fall apart as he was led to believe. The whole experiment was over the ocean hours earlier, he was told & that there were some conflicting stories in the press. _(ya think ?)

That’s my boy!

Do chores? Nah            

Write thank you notes? Nope, well not for a few months.

Clean your room or car?  No way Jose.

Call NASA ?    “I’m right on it, Mom!”

Sometimes I wish “I” had little or no recollection of incidents.

A hairy first day of school....

I started school when I was four years old. I am now....well....much, much older.

I have never had a September where I didn't go to school since then.
(That's actually a lie....I took a year off maternity leave 23 years ago.)

Apparently, I like school.

So the first full day of school, the first class, I, the teacher, had a lot to say.

In fact, I talked most of the period.......with.....a......'hair'.....on my tongue.

(or something.....maybe it was cat fur....)

It creeps me out just thinking about it.

20+ darlings looking at me trying to keep my composure.

The hair kept moving around.

I kept talking.

I wanted to puke.

We all were indoctrinated on swine flu prevention already, doing the 'dracula' sneeze/cough, (in elbow....think about it) and were told to never, I say NEVER put your fingers into your mouth!

So there I was. Hair on tongue. No drink in sight and no way of plucking out the offending object without possibly infecting myself with a deadly virus.

Nearly killed me.

See....that's probably the explanation for this photograph, doncha think?

OK, I've been disgusted enough.....

When it gets to the point that even I can't stand looking at my own blog entry....something's gotta give. (See previous post.....if you dare.)

So, let's see. What could I show you?

Well, I did make some napkins. My school is big on recycling and it's ilk, so in a fit of being a responsible citizen, I decided it was a big waste using paper napkins. At least that day I thought it was.

So I took some remnants of fabric, hemmed them (by hand) and voila! Napkins. Some might argue that they have to be laundered, thus using water and soap, but you know...they are so light and practically take up no space in this universe, it doesn't matter. Throw them into the washer with other stuff.

Then, for special occasions, I made 8 napkins that are lined. You can see the pins holding the lining in place below...

Here they are, all sewn together...

There now, isn't that better than looking at a cat's butt, even if it wasn't a cat's butt?

No comment necessary....

Gives belly button lint a whole new meaning.

(Ugh, this is grossing even me out...)

I've been painting and painting and painting...

and painting.....for 1  1/2 weeks. 

This is a large mural (55" x 91") I will put up in school outside of my classroom to welcome the kids back to (gulp) school.

 

Every year I pick a movie that is popular in the summer, and make a poster using it's theme, and then change it up. I've been doing this for more years than I care to think about! (Home Alone was my first one....)

This one's based on the kids movie "G-Force". Apparently it's about some Gerbils that are planning to save the world or something. 

Don't know. Didn't see it.

I just hope it's not R rated by some sadistic, wicked twist of fate. I probably should check that.

But it's back to the drawing board tomorrow......sob.....

Hey, teachers like summer vacation, too! ... and it's all over after today. sob. sob. sob.

It's noon and I'm still in my P.J.s watching Paula Deen add a stick of butter to something.

Wish me luck!!

Sob.

End of summer day trip...

Can one be a tourist if they are not 'from away'? According to the dictionary....

(1 : one that makes a tour for pleasure or culture)......YES YOU CAN!   So we did.....

Living in Maine is picturesque no matter what you do. But there are some places that are so beautiful, I almost feel like I see it for the first time, even after the jakillionith time.

The other gorgeous day we took a day trip to Ogunquit, Maine. Drive up or down route one, turn toward the ocean in the center of Ogunquit and head to Perkins Cove.

Parking is limited IN Perkins Cove, although you can try. It's $3 an hour there. Or you can do what we did and park in a gravel parking lot just before the entrance to Perkins Cove. It cost $8 for as long as you want. You can walk anywhere from there, to the Cove or back onto the main street.

Here is my personal travelogue.....I hope you enjoy it. Come to Maine!!

Welcoming sign to Perkins Cove.

The first restaurant you see entering the Cove itself is Barnacle Billys. Great seafood. They do have valet parking. I do believe that is the actual valet hunk standing there under the 'brella.

This is the second Barnacle Billys food place. Tables for their ice cream service. Both restaurants are right on the Kennebunk River. This river is heading into the ocean, which is right there. The river part of the Cove is what creates the harbor.

Some of the boats in the river. NOTE THE LITTLE BRIDGE IN THE BACK. (click on photo to englarge.)

This is the view from up on that little foot bridge. But, what to do when this sailboat wants to go under it?? The bridge is NOT taller than that mast. Problem.

Well, not really a problem if someone notices you. You see, it's a do it yourself draw bridge. Except you can't do it yourself  if you are actually on the sailboat. You have to count on the good graces of someone standing on or near to bridge to go up there and push a button!!!!

This guy was the self appointed button pusher designee. He was so excited to do it he was talking about quitting his day job! The sailboat cruised through unscathed.

I guess if you're a practical joker, you could possibly walk away at this point, separating families from each other forever that have become stuck on either side of the bridge.

But, having a heart, this bridge operator pushed the button again and let the bridge down.

One way folks get around from all the hotels and resorts is by trolley for $1.50. You can go up and down the main street, to the Cove or to the large sandy beach on the other side of an inlet.

This is a view of a street in the Cove area.
There are lots of food establishments. We chose this one situated right on the water. It was called Jackie's Too.

All the tables right on the water's edge were full, so we were one row in. After we sat down for 5 minutes, a table right next to us became vacant. But it was OK, we were close enough.

I splurged on a Lobster Roll. ($14.95)

After lunch we decided to stroll down Marginal Way, an absolutely gorgeous walkway along the ocean's edge between Perkins Cove and downtown Ogunquit.

It's a well maintained path meandering along the Atlantic.

The waves have calmed considerably from 2 days before, when Hurricane Bill rolled through.

There are many benches along the way to rest and contemplate.

Check out the little rock sculptures would be artists create along the way. (Click on pic to enlarge...)
The Patriot's Day Storm in April, 2007, did a lot of destruction in Maine. (Ask ME, lost everything in the cellar and insurance wouldn't cover the supposed 'flood'....but that's another story.) (We are NOT in a flood zone and on a hill. It still was deemed a flood...) (Not that I'm still pissed about it or anything.....grrrrrr....)  (Know your insurance policy!) Anywho.....

Enlarge this photo....people sunning themselves on the nice, soft rocks.

A lot of improvements were made after the 2007 storm, such as these stairs to the water and nice, level areas made for all the benches, etc. 

Marginal way comes out behind several resorts, and onto the main drag. A quick walk up to route one presents you with lots of shops and restaurants.

We strolled into this place....

And got this.

This is 3 Muskateers icecream. Seems like coffee icecream with big chunks of chocolate and some syrup that looks like motor oil mixed in.

Delish.

A wonderful, wonderful day.

Sneak preview.....

THIS is what I've been busy working one. It's only half finished, but the eyes are 95 percent complete.....(I see some minor adjustments I need to make....)

So, that's what I've been up to recently.....I will post the rest when it's done.

Have a great weekend everyone.  Off to see the Moody Blues in concert tonight!!!!

UPDATE: It's 12:56AM.  Got home from the concert about 15 minutes ago. It was absolutely wonderful. I ADORE the Moody Blues. And the venue: Meadowbrook Pavilion in New Hampshire is first rate. A great night.

Finding stuff on the beach.....

When I lived in New Jersey, we used to go 'down the shore'.

In Maine, you go to the 'beach'.

In New Jersey, we used to actually go INTO the water. And like it.

In Maine, I myself, barely put my piggies in.

The water is colder than a witches you know what, even in July and August. 

But it's still very nice. No boardwalks or shops or 50 million people trying to find their little piece of real estate for their blanket. And Birdman (Mr. Downeastdoingstuff) reminded me that these beaches are FREE. He was shocked when we would go down the shore in New Jersey, have to pay AND wear a badge all day! Downright shocked.

Check it out.

You look to the left....
....and you see Spring Point Lighthouse......

Look to the right........
....and you see Portland Headlight.

But, I myself, don't go into the water. Well, maybe up to my ankles, for 30 seconds. If it's especially hot out.

I don't need a lifeguard.

So in Maine, when you go to the beach, you:

1. Look around at the absolutely beautiful scenery.

2. Read.

3. Nap.

4. Eat munchies.

5. Take a walk.

When I take a walk, or I see folks taking a walk, I know that one of the main jobs of walkers is to pick stuff up off of the sand. Unless you are moving at a high rate of speed, ie. joggers, or have your arms glued around a significant other, ie. new love, your job is to pick stuff up, scrutinize it and then put it into your pocket, if you have one, or into a bag.

I carry a Hannaford  bag.

Putting stuff in my pockets make me look fat, so I carry a bag.

So these bags make it home and into the garage. I have bags of shells, rocks and driftwood.

Sometimes I even make stuff out of the stuff.  Sometimes the stuff just stays in the garage for years.

Here are some fish I made of driftwood....yeah......for no reason at all that I can think of.

At one time I collected rocks that had 'lines' in them. I put them into a basket. For no reason.

I think I've picked up all the rocks in the world that have lines on them because I haven't found any more in a couple of years.
Then, for no apparent reason, I wrapped rope or string around rocks that have lines in them to accentuate the lines.

Jute was used here.

This one I should be committed for. I used THREAD! No easy task, using a toothpick and Elmers glue to place the threads. I was taken by the rose and mossy colors in the natural rock and I had to enhance those colors with thread. I had to.

I just felt it was my job to do this.

Who else would have done this?

So I did.

I waste a lot of time.

Oh, yeah. That photo of the plane at the beginning of this post... it's real. See for yourself.

(Maho Bay Beach, St. Maarten)

On the road again....

I have just finished another pastel in my road series. Here is the finished version. Below that, you can see the progression. I think it's pretty much self-explanatory. If not, you may comment any questions below. Thanks for looking!

And, Voila!
See previous Road Pix here.

Pesto....a little healthified...

FINALLY I have something from my garden!!! With 4,000 days of rain, it did a job on everything growing around here. You would think rain would be good....but not gallons at a time. 

Anyway, I went up to prune my basil back today and took the clippings and made pesto. I love pesto. But I have to de-salt things, so I did the best I could.

Here's the basil, washed and in the food processor. Recipe calls for 3 handfuls. (very precise)

I had 4 1/2 handfuls, so I used it all.

Then add 3 tsps. minced garlic.

Turn on the 30 year old processor and pulverize the contents.

Then add 2 handfuls of walnuts.

The recipe then calls for 1/2 to 3/4 C Parmesan Cheese. Here is where the salt is, so I only put in 1/4 C AND I used low-fat Parmesan Cheese.
Pulverize again.
Now drizzle 1/4 C of extra virgin olive oil SLOWLY into the bowl while processing.
Voila! Pesto.
This is how much it made. 

BTW, I am not happy with the Dannon yogurt company. I eat a coffee yogurt for lunch EVERYDAY, and I do mean, every day, (ask Birdman) and I have for over 25 years. For some reason they decided not to put the plastic covers onto the yogurts anymore. They just use a heavy duty foil instead. BUT now I have no covers to use to cover stuff like this. 

I don't know what they were thinking.

PESTO,  with healthier version notes.

-Fill processor with 3 good handfuls of basil.

-Add 3 tsp. minced garlic. Process.

-Add 2 handfuls of walnuts. (or Pine Nuts)

-Salt and Pepper to taste. (I only put pepper in)

-1/2 to 3/4 C grated Parmesan Cheese. (I used low-fat and I only used 1/4C)

Process.

-1/4 C plus 1/8 C oil ( I used 1/4 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

Slowly pour the oil into the processor while it's processing.

Toss with any cooked pasta. I like it on bow-tie pasta, or thin spaghetti.

Or use on a pizza instead of pizza sauce.

I hope you enjoy it.

Last week......

Last Thursday.... lovely day at the beach with Mr. Downeastdoingstuff, aka Birdman.

Next day, rain.....again.......

Went to the Una Bar to try and keep dry.....(song, 'How dry I am', inspired by such an event.)

Had to order up a couple of cosmopolitan's and some crabcakes. Then another cosmo.....

Then off to the Portland Museum of Art. VERY cosmopolitan. And free on Fridays.

Free view from one of the round windows toward the Eastland Hotel

There was art work inside.

When we left, the rain had stopped and the sky became a piece of art.

Then to Jan Mee's for Chinese food. 
That's it. Nice time.

Beep Beep...the dreaded 'EO-F2' display....

My stove beeps now and then for no apparent reason. It used to do it a lot more. It seems to be settling down now a bit. 

Just like my 12 year olds at school. If they discover a squeaky chair, or squeaky sneakers, or the fact that if you bang a pencil on the table it actually makes a noise, they do it over and over again for about, oh, the entire period.

Or at least they attempt to. You see, if you ignore it, the thrill is gone. If they find out that what they are doing doesn't irritate the teacher, what's the point of doing it?

So I ignore these infrequent irritants, much to their dismay, and they stop it.

So the thrill is gone on my stove, too. The beeping is stopping, at least the 'for no apparent reason' beeping, BUT there is another issue that is probably more irritating......like.....the oven keeps shutting itself off AND as it does this, IT BEEPS!

This is a problem sometimes. For example, when you are actually baking something. When you bake a pizza, for instance, the pizza likes to have it HOT in the oven. Really HOT ....for more than 1 minute at a time. 

But NOOOOOOOO.....

The oven blinks 'EO-F2' on it's display after about a minute or two goes by. I think it stands for 'Elenka's Oven-Failed, 2 bad'.  And it promptly shuts itself off. 

So what I have to do everytime it shuts off and I am baking gourmet stuff, is:

1. Press the OFF button. (even tho it's off already.)

2. Press the BAKE button.

3. UP the temperature to 400 degrees if I'm making a pizza.

4. Press START

5. Grin and pray for 2 seconds.

6. Stand there waiting for a miracle....

7. Hear the BEEP.  Sigh...Curse....

8. Go back to step #1.

This is not a good way to become a Barefoot Contessa!

I looked all this up online....apparently it's the touch pad that's on the fritz.

And it'll cost approximately half  the cost of a new range to fix it.

Back to step #1. 

Note: My wannabe comedian son, when asked, 'what time is it?'

now says.....

'EO-F2'

This is the same kid that wants to name his firstborn child                      R-7-'bluesquare'-D. (Sorry, I don't know how to actually make a 'bluesquare' with my computer.) 

Anyway, back to the stove.....It just beeped......

Crap, now I think I'm in real trouble.

craigslist find.....

This is a copy of an ad on Craigslist in Maine. Ayuh.

reclining chair - $20 (augusta)

---

Date: 2009-07-27, 10:48PM EDT
Reply to: sale-hkvuk-1292603040@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

---

older reclining chair, looks like but is not leather, come and get it! 

email or call *** **** 

• Location: augusta
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

**********************************************

I - KID - YOU- NOT. !!!!!!

This purchase has strings attached......be careful.

In case there are any other Maine Craigslisters reading this, this might be useful so you don't get screwed:

re⋅clin⋅er

  [ri-klahy-ner] 

–noun

1.	A reclining chair. an easy chair with a back and footrest adjustable up or down to the comfort of the user.

WHEN YA GOTTA GO.....

Upon entering the women's rest room in a Massachusetts rest area, I was presented with this enormous poster.

It was a diagram of the impending toilet I was going to use. No other Water Closet I have ever entered provided me with this type of intricate demonstration of the device I was going to use.

They called it the GREEN TOILET.

I do not possess a photographic memory, so the only thing I remembered about the informational poster were the words Green Toilet. This was what I was sorta expecting.

This was the second informational poster that was provided INSIDE the stall. I felt like I should have brought a notebook to take notes...this was way too much information. So what precisely did this 'green' toilet look like????

THIS is what it looked like.

The blackest black hole I've ever seen. This is not a trick of the camera. There was no bottom, there were no sides to be seen. Just total, unending blackness, unlike anything I've ever seen.

I imagine this is what a black hole in outer space must be like.

Speaking of bottoms, whenever I use a public facility, there is nothing that I touch that isn't separated from my skin by several, thick layers of tissue paper. So careful am I about this, that technically I don't even need to wash my hands as my hands never actually touch anything.

(Don't worry, birdman, I do wash my hands anyway....)

So one of my chores to get the job done was to put layers of toilet paper onto the seat itself before use. Well, I soon discovered that there was a 'breeze' coming up from the black hole!

None of the tissue paper would stay on the seat, it would be blown off the second I let go of it!!

After several failed attempts, I knew I had to do the dreaded hover technique. Fortunately my job to do wasn't complicated, if you get my drift.

Even with the 'breeze', amazingly there was NO smell of any kind, good or bad.

Not knowing what to expect when expecting a 'green' toilet, at least it wasn't this.....

Which it could have been!!

Speaking of doing the job, imagine how this Guiness Book World Records holder would take care of business??
ANY business...

Come to find out she hadn't cut her nails since 1979. 

Here is a quote from her when asked about the topic of this post:

"........she was asked the inevitable question about how she goes uses the bathroom, she replied: 'Very carefully'.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW!!!!!!!!!

Sad update: (get a tissue, toilet or otherwise...) She was recently in a car accident and was thrown from the SUV and lost all her nails. She was devastated. 

Some things I noticed today.....other than it's raining.

Current observation......WHEW!!!!!....Horseradish sauce clears your sinuses in a split second! 

I wanted something with a little punch added to my plain chicken tonight. Pulled this out of the fridge. Yowza!!!!

I was watching Oprah earlier. She had on a Doctor (not Phil) that discussed various physical issues that folks in the audience had. When asked about toenail fungus, he said the only thing that works is an oral pill.

BUT a side effect could be liver failure! 

LIVER FAILURE !!!!!!!

Who, may I ask, would risk that for toe nail fungus??

My personal solution for those patients: colored nail polish. 

(WARNING: Could cause wallet failure if you have someone else do it, tho.)

Talking about fungus, how come some words are only used in certain phrases?

For example:

“He was brandishing a gun.” Brandishing? I’ve never heard that word used in any other way....

or

“We will garnish your wages.” I don’t think it means sticking a piece of parsley in your wallet.

or

How about, “it was a miscarriage of justice....” I guess that could be pretty yucky.

Speaking of wages, I live in a house that is almost 200 years old, so many things are crooked, I've observed. That is due to many things,  ie. gravity, wood rot, earthquakes, slamming of doors when I’m pissed off, etc., etc. 

I DON’T think it was built this way, even if the original owner had had his wages garnished.....

But I noticed in my self-imposed, manditory 24/7 internet research, that certain architects design things in rather unsquare ways.....on purpose....even without anyone brandishing a gun at them.

See for yourself....

Lest you think these images are some photoshop creations, they are not. 

These domiciles are on the level.

WHAT THE HECK ??????????

I was checking my e-mails this morning and I got one from Walmart. I'm apparently on their mailing list. I opened it up and saw this:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I mean, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

As most of you know, I am a teacher. So is Mr. Downeastdoingstuff. 

In this non-existant summer of rain and cold, my summer has barely begun. So seeing this made things even more desperate than they currently are! Where the frig is the summer???

Thinking about (gulp) s-c-h-o-o-l, I remembered this little diddy that was posted on the fridge in the teacher's room a while back. This was how it was when I first started teaching. (Or so it seems)

“To Teachers”    1870

 

1870:“Each day teachers will fill lamps, clean chimneys and trim wicks.”

2009: I turn on the light switch, sometimes. There are 2 of them, so it’s double the work.

1870:“Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day session.”

2009: I have 2 sinks. I check if the hot water is turned on, which it isn’t until the boilers are turned on. I don't like that.

AND If the room is too cold, which it usually is for MY taste, I get out my paperclip which I have fashioned into a NASA type of tool, and go and adjust the locked thermostat. I just have to remember to adjust it back down before I leave so I don't get busted.

1870:“Make pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupil.”

2009: I curse the custodian when she forgets to empty the refuse tray in my electric pencil sharpener. SOMETIMES a pencil nib get stuck in the sharpener, rendering it useless. It ruins my day.

 

1870:“Men teachers may take one night each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.”

2009:  WHAT? WHAT? “Men teachers!!” WHO do they court? Wouldn’t the women teachers need one night a week to BE courted?? I'm glad I'm married!!

 

1870:“After school the teacher must spend the time until supper reading the Bible and other good books.”

2009: And WHO is making the ‘supper’????

Does the Dr. Phil Show count as a good book?

 

1870:Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be discharged.

2009: Uh Oh. Hmmmm. No comment.

 

1870: Every teacher should lay aside from each month’s pay a goodly sum for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.

2009: Every teacher will put their money into a retirement account and then watch the money disappear in this economy. Every teacher will continue to put money into this bogus account, even though most of it continues to evaporate.

 

1870: Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor  in any form, frequents pool halls or public hall, or gets shaved in a barber shop, shall give good reason to suspect his worth, integrity and honesty.

2009: I’ve got to stop getting shaved in a barber shop! I don’t smoke, but I have been known to use liquor, ahem, now and then. (Like, EVERYDAY !!) (I see my job is in big trouble.)

 

1870: The teacher who performs his duties regularly and faithfully and without fault for five years, wil be given an increase of 25 cents a week in his pay, providing the Board of education approves.

2009: This is still TRUE.

OH PLEASE, why are we talking about THIS in July !!!!????????&^&^%%$$###@@)(*&

WALMART, CUT THE CRAP !!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life....

Today is Mr. Downeastdoingstuff's birthday. I dedicate this post to him.

He is my BFF (sorry, Donna). My Best Friend Forever and Ever, so I guess he's my BFFAE.

I'm so glad this day exists, because if he wasn't born on this day, I wouldn't have my BFFAE, and that would be very sad.

He is also the best looking guy in the world, as you can see below....

Oops, sorry, that's Johnny Depp. He's also good looking, but not as good as Mr. Downeastdoingstuff.

OK, OK, here is a picture of him.....
Oh, this is embarrassing....that's Tom Selleck (I just realized, if you're not old enough, you might not know who he is....) (Not that I'M that old, I just heard about him somewhere, I think, and thought he was sweet.)

Alright, this is Mr. Downeastdoingstuff.
OMG. I don't know what's happening? This isn't him either! It's Gerard Butler as the Phantom of the Opera, I think. I don't know how he got into this blog post. He is darn cute, though, now that I look at him...And as the Phantom, be still my heart. I would've picked the Phantom over that Raoul guy any day, oh yes and what a bod! And those eyes........

Ahem. cough. cough.

Ok, Ok, OK....THIS IS HIM !!!  A couple of years younger and reading a book already. He's so smart.

(YES, It really is him...) 

Happy Birthday to the best husband in the world! I love you Birdman.

I don't like to iron, do you?

My mother used to iron everything. Hankercheifs (precursors to kleenex), sheets and who knows what else? I have never seen an iron in my father's hands.

So when I got married, it took me about 15 minutes to realize that I ain't gonna be ironing anything like her.

It took me 15 minutes of ironing both of our clothes in the tiny space in our apartment between the dining 'area' and the living room, while my newly-wed  had his feet up watching a football game on the T.V., to realize that this is not the way it was going to be.

That was it.

Eversince then, for the past 34 years, it's been every man for himself. I iron my own stuff, and he irons his.

Period.

Here is a picture of me ironing in those good old days......

Now, speaking of ironing, someone I know thought it would be a good idea, one day, to iron a shirt while it was ON his body. This person is normally an intelligent human being, but on this particular day, there must have been a mental lapse of some sort. An episode. He now possesses a permanent reminder, a branding, of exactly what the shape of the tip of that iron was. Look for yourself....

A forensic department, if this was a crime scene, would be able to say instantly and unequivocally, 'Case Closed'.

I agree.

Now, upon further investigation, apparently not everyone irons like my mother did, or even like I did back in those days.

For example...

I remember my mother used to spritz her clothes with water, roll them up, put them in plastic bags and put the clothes in the Frigidaire,  for a while. (DON'T ask me why....)

Now, this guy just goes to the arctic to iron, thus not needing a fridge. I guess I never thought about who ironed the penguins suits !!

This guy must be high!

No need to spritz the clothes where this guy irons. ( I don't know, but if there's a tag on every hairdryer that tells you not to use it in the tub, wouldn't there be one of those tags on an iron, too?) I'm just saying....

This guy needs to invest in some wrinkle-free clothing.

See, everyone spritzes their clothes before ironing!


Just make sure you check that tow rope while you are ironing! Nice and taut. 

Back of a Taxi......

Anyway, anybody notice, that all of these people ironing (except for me at the beginning) are MEN?

Again, case closed.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy !

23 years ago today, this sweet angel came into the world.

It's hard to believe it's been that long. It's been a wonderful 23 years.
I love you, I love you, I love you. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Oh yeah, P.S., THE SUN IS OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm finally gardening ! (IN THE RAIN !!!!!)

OK, OK. enough is enough. I HAVE to garden. I can't wait around for a month in June and July NOT to garden !!

Oh, yeah, It's raining. Rained all day yesterday, too. The only 2 days it didn't rain, at least not all day, we weren't here! (not that I'm complaining about THAT !)

So here I am, gardening, in the rain, come heck or high water.

(Witness Protection Program blurry face...)

AND I am wearing a FLEECE top under that raincoat !

Supposed to be nice tomorrow ! (I'll believe it when I see it.)