Random 5 Friday - 07/12/2013

1.  Only one of my gladioluses (gladioli?) bloomed this year. It may have been because we dug them up and transplanted them too late. This one was missed when we were digging the others up.

2.  We have finally started getting some of our summer monsoon rains and it has sure helped with the record-breaking heat.

3.  All the rain has brought humidity though. I just don't know how ya'll back east deal with it! I'll take our typical Arizona 'dry heat' any time!

4.  We lost Barn Kitty this past week. We found him half under the rosemary bushes that run along the front porch. We suspect he ate a Sonoran Desert toad as there weren't any obvious signs of trauma. The toads are out in force with the rain and we hear their songs all night long. Barn Kitty was such a feral cat that we didn't realize just how big he was until we pulled him out of there.

5.  I have been really, really busy with my baking for the Farmer's Market these past few weeks and haven't had much time for blogging. I sure appreciate the emails and comments checking in on me, thanks! :)
I need to make more of an effort to keep up with my blogging as it is my only social outlet Monday through Friday and I have missed you all!

Linking up with Nancy for Random 5 Friday.

InSPIREd Sunday - 06/16/2013

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Benson, AZ.
The church building itself is kind of...eh...but the meditation garden with it's fountain is beautiful! :)

Sharing with Sally and Beth for InSPIREd Sunday.

Random 5 Friday - 06/14/2013

1.  This sweet little cottontail was hanging out in the back yard this morning when I went out to milk the goat. He stayed put, munching on the grass, while I went back in for the camera.

2.  It is HOT here. It has been over 100 degrees every day for the past week and they are predicting over 100 for the next five to seven days too. Blech.

3.  When it is hot like this, I don't feel like cooking or eating very much. There have been lots of sandwich nights recently and we will be having a big salad for supper tonight.

4.  I finally joined Sam's Club last month to save money on my baking supplies for the Farmer's Market. I can't believe what a difference it has made! Now I feel silly that I waited so long! LOL!!

5.  Smirnoff has a new (to me anyway) Blueberry & Lemonade malt beverage out that has become my new favorite summer 'beer!' :)

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch/Tuesday Muse - 06/11/2013

Taking a quick break from my baking to join Nancy for Tuesday Muse and Patrice for Chats on the Farmhouse Porch, which is under the big crabapple tree this week. :)

1.  How many times a week do you have a green or veggie salad?

Two to three times a week. I would like to have them more often but it isn't Jerry's favorite thing. ;)

2.  Do you pray? (You may skip this if you do not wish to answer.)

Hmmm...not in the traditional sense...

3.  What season is your birthday? You do not need to give us the date.

Mid-Winter.

4.  Do you have dinner guests often, every now and then or not at all? Wendell says he can be there for dinner as quick as a wink!

We very, very rarely have dinner guests, like once or twice a year. We do go out to dinner with friends about once a month though.
Wendell, I'm not so sure I could afford to have you stop by for dinner; I have heard you eat like a HORSE!!

5.  Could you describe yourself as a DIY- Do It Yourselfer?

Yes! I absolutely hate to pay someone to do something that I figure I can do myself. Most of the time it works! LOL!!

Random 5 Friday - 06/07/2013

1.  I love my purple irises and have been wanting some yellow ones for awhile. My "neighbor" at the Farmer's Market had some lovely, fragrant yellow iris plants for Mother's Day so I bought myself some.

2.  We are off to The City today for a major, scheduled car maintenance. We have to be there at 8 AM so I had Bob cat get me up at 4:15.

3.  Actually, Bob cat gets us up around 4:15 EVERY morning. (sigh)

4.   It's been over a week since I have had time to do a blog post and I'm behind in my blog reading too. I hope to get caught up with everyone in the next few days.

5.  Oh yeah, we became grandparents last week!! Jerry's son and his girlfriend had a lovely little girl, JayCee Bella, on May 29th. Jerry made a quick trip up to Flagstaff to meet her and we will both be going in a couple of weeks. The only pictures I have so far are blurry cell phone shots but will be taking lots and lots when we go up. You have been warned!! :)

Joining Nancy for Random 5 Friday.

Individual No-Bake Cheesecakes

We love cheesecake around here but I very rarely make it because we just don't need to eat the WHOLE thing! The April/May issue of MaryJanesFarm magazine had some recipes for mini cheesecakes made in 4-ounce canning jars. Well, that was too little so I used 8-ounce wide-mouth canning jars and it was just right! ;)

You could try different crusts and toppings to suit your tastes and what you have on hand. The thing that really impressed me was making a no-bake cheesecake without a tub of non-dairy whipped topping and I gotta tell you, this tastes sooo much better than the ones I remember from my youth that used the non-dairy whipped topping! It comes out light and fluffy and not too sweet.

 Crust                    **Click here to print this recipe**

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon sugar

In a small bowl combine all ingredients. Divide evenly between four 8-ounce wide-mouth canning jars. Press lightly into bottom of jars.

Filling

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup heavy cream

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla; mix well. In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff; gently fold into the cream cheese mixture. Divide evenly between the jars.

Topping

2 cups fresh (or frozen and thawed) berries, I used fresh blackberries
1/4 cup sugar, or to taste
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium saucepan, combine berries, sugar, cornstarch and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let cool completely before spooning over cheesecake filling in jars.

Top each jar with a lid and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.

Joining the Country Homemaker Hop, Rurality Blog Hop, Pie*ography, Farmgirl Friday and What I Am Eating.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch - 05/28/2013

 

1.  When you were a child, what age did you think was "OLD?"

Well, of course anyone over 30 was ANCIENT!! Isn't it funny how the older we get, the older "old" becomes? LOL!!

2.  How often do you have dessert?

 

We rarely have a "formal" dessert but there are nearly always cookies on the Goody Plate. ;) 

 

3.  What's your favorite kind of exercise?

 

Walking. I love to get outdoors and walk, it puts me in touch with nature.

 

4.  Do you watch movies on TV, movies from a rental or the library, or movies online?

 

We watch old movies on the TV and rent newer releases from the Redbox.

 

5.  Tell me something you remember about your grandmother's/grandfather's house? I'm thinking of something you saw all of the time, like a picture, clock, statue, teapot, or something that was always there.

 

I remember my grandmother's African Violets. She had a table covered with all different kinds in the corner of the living room.

 

 

Joining Patrice (and Wendell!) for Chats on the Farmhouse Porch.