Fun, But Not Scrapping Related

I've been wanting to share this with you for a while now but I keep forgetting. I hope you enjoy it!

You may or may not realize this, but my extended family has owned a greenhouse for quite some time. It was around when I was born (53 yrs. ago) and was started by my great-grandfather. You can read about it here if you are so inclined -- be sure to read the history page. Anyway, my aunt loves gardening and started a children's garden at Pinebrook Bible Conference in memory of her sister who was killed in a car accident 7 yrs. ago. You can check out the children's garden here -- you will be glad that you visited this site. The pics are gorgeous!!

One of the plants that she put in the children's garden is called Evening Primrose or Night Blooming Primrose. Most people think of it as a weed, but it is the most interesting plant that I have ever seen. Why? I'm glad that you asked. It's interesting because you can actually stand and watch the flowers bloom each night. If you blink, you can actually miss them opening. They usually bloom at twilight.

My aunt gave us a small plant last year and my son, the gardener, planted it for us. It has bloomed almost every night since late in June. I decided that I wanted to film one for you and that's what you will find below. Remember, I did not speed up this video -- this is actually in real time as you will be able to tell by my lame comments! Watch carefully because they will be open before you even realize it! I apologize for the watermark in the center of the video. I used a free program to edit the original since it was too large to upload. Even with the watermark there, you can watch the flowers open. All of the flowers that you see on the plant, were ones that I was able to watch. Fun!

I may be biased, but I think that the plants that we get from the family greenhouse are the best that you will find anywhere. All of the layouts that I have done of our backyard gardens have had plants from the greenhouse. If you are ever in the Hatfield, PA area, be sure to look them up and tell them that I said you should stop by! I'm sure that they would be more than happy to take you on a tour! If you ask for Nell Ruch (rhymes with book) and she's around, she would love to take you on that tour. Christmas is always a fun time to visit with all the poinsettias that they have but then so is fall with the chrysanthemums and other fall plants.

Blessings,

My July 4

For the last several years I have wanted to spend July 4 in Michigan.  Two years ago was the first time I was able to be there over the holiday and I had a blast!  My sil spends the day with her daughter-in-law’s family at their cottage on a small lake.  The most fun part of the day, besides being with great people, is the fireworks displays around the lake.  Yes, I said displays and meant that.  Many of the people that own cottages on the lake have their own fireworks displays -- some of the fireworks are legal and some aren’t!  But it sure is fun!

I haven’t been able to get real good pics of the fireworks, but I will show you some of the other things going on.  Each year they have a boat parade around the lake.  This year, “our” boat even had a mini band that included a guitar, trumpet, clarinet and kazoos.  I was one of the kazoo players!

Here’s proof of our “band” and some other fun pics.  I’ll even throw in a few fireworks pics for good measure!

part of our “band”

more of our “band”

   the captain of our boat

    the cottage where all the fun takes place

    some of the fireworks before -- believe me this is only a drop in the bucket!!

I was able to get some movies of the fireworks with my camera.  That was the only way to get some good pics.  I’ll try to get one or two posted tomorrow.

Blessings,

A Gift, But Not a Freebie

Did that catch your attention?  I do have a gift for you today, but it’s not a freebie in the form that you were expecting.  Once again today things have gotten the best of me and I haven’t gotten your overlays ready for you.  I’ve been preparing for my son’s annual semester dinner with his college friends.  The guys come tomorrow for a barbecue.  Only it’s supposed to be cold and rainy so we’ll have to be inside.  I’m still planning on grilling, though.

So instead of your overlays, I thought that I would pass on a recipe of something that has become a family favorite and one that they guys last year really enjoyed.  I call them Kay’s Spicy Crackers.  Here’s a pic with the recipe below:

You will need the following:

1-1/2 cups oil

1 package powdered ranch dressing (I use Hidden Valley Ranch)

2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes

1 box of saltine crackers

a bowl with a good fitting lid so that it is airtight

Empty all four sleeves of crackers into bowl.  Mix together oil, powdered ranch dressing and red pepper.  Pour over crackers.  Cover and shake gently to coat the crackers.  Let sit for 15 minutes.  Shake gently and flip bowl upside down; let sit for 15 minutes.  Repeat two more times, each time flipping bowl over.  I always end up with the bowl upside down (that way I know that I’ve done the gentle shaking and flipping 4 times).  Eat and enjoy!

These are spicy but very addictive and delicious. 

Ok, so that wasn’t scrapping related.  I’ll work on that and hopefully will have something for you in a little bit.

Blessings,