Fousty, Foggy Friday

Oh Boy---I hate to be one of those people always complaining about the weather, but it's hard not to.  It's wouldn't be too bad to be getting all this rain and drizzle, but it's only 4* outside---it freezes at 0*!!  I'm afraid  things are going to start going fousty--ha ha. 

Here's the Newfoundland dictionary definition of fousty:






fousty a also fausty [phonetics unavailable]. EDD fusty; fousty Gl Ha W So D. Mouldy; musty; gone sour; having a bad smell. Cp SMATCHY.
   1925 Dial Notes v, 330 Fausty—musty or mouldy; of tea or bread. 1937 DEVINE 22 ~ Sour, decaying. P 148-61 Look at the fousty clothes on him. T 141/66-65² [This old cape ann] was fousty. He was one of them old timers, red flannel linin's in un, see. A kind of greenish colour, they was. T 222-66 [The other kind of jam] often has [foust] on it after a few months ... in other words it's fousty. C 69-31 My mother called a dress she found in an old trunk fousty—having a stale, bad odour. C 24-71 [The soup is] rather smatchy and I was going to give it to the cow, but you can have it if you want it. (Smatchy means sour or fousty). 


Okay---enough of that...let's think positive.  Look at all the things I've gotten done inside since I finished work for the summer!  All my closets are tidied, lots of furniture rearrangement, we had the house painted inside, top to bottom, and my pantry is organized better than ever before!!  (the rain still pisses me off though--te he)

Well, why don't I put up a few pictures and try to cheer us all up.  Yesterday, I made stir-fry and apple baked pork chops for supper.

Each time I make stir-fry, I use different ingredients, whatever is on hand works.

Bake pork chops, then for the last 20 minutes, add a slice of apple

Delicious...and easy

 

 

 

Here's a snap of some fresh flowers I bought at the local supermarket yesterday--I couldn't resist. Usually by now, I have vases filled with lilacs and other fresh beauties from my garden, but nothing is in full bloom yet......come on Mr. Sunshine!!

These flowers could make anyone smile...;o)

Happy Friday and have a great weekend everyone.

 

Summer "Bucket List" & Cranberry-White Chocolate Scones

Well--I've finally gone and done it......I created a Summer "Bucket List"!!

Every spring, I have a list of things, in my mind, that we must do or I want to do that summer....and it usually turns out that I don't get anything on the list accomplished, or very little.

Well, this summer is going to be different, thanks to a fabulous blog that I've been following.  Check it out at http://baygirl32.blogspot.ca/.  She has come up with the fabulous idea of actually posting her "Bucket List" on her blog.   Now, that's commitment.  Once you post it, you're in for the long haul!!

I thought long and hard, drafted my "list", slept on it.....and here it is:
 

My Summer 2012 “Bucket List”

·         Play Scrabble(several times-ha ha)

·         Sleep in a tent

·         Sit down with mom and get the last bits of information I need to finish her memoirs, that I’ve started

·         Do the Tely 10 (a 10-mile road race in St. John’s -- I’ve already registered!!)

·         Have fires in our backyard and make “spider wieners” & S’mores

·         Watch the sun rise & set

·         Lie on the ground and watch the clouds

·         Take an early morning (and a late evening) walk on Signal Hill

·         Paint Mom’s toenails, roller-set her hair, then sit out in her lawn chairs with her and drink her homemade slush

·         Go on a date (with my husband of almost 30 years)

·         Spend at least one full day at the beach, complete with red wine, French bread, grapes and a variety of cheese

·         Play Frisbee

·         Eat ice cream at Moo Moos, in St. John’s

·         Make a cake mix, cut it into squares; roll the squares in (almost set) Jell-O, then roll the jelly soaked squares in coconut (just like Mom used to do for us when we were kids—yummy!!)

·         Walk the old rail bed (from the trestle in Gambo to the Middle Brook Park)

·         Pick blueberries, partridge berries & bake-apples (Yes…me, pick berries!!)

·         Eat fries in downtown St. John’s (tried it last summer, but before I ate one golden brown, crispy fry from my vinegar soaked brown paper bag, I came upon a homeless guy sitting in a doorway, gave him my fries and 5 bucks and ran to catch up with my sister, nieces, daughter and mom.  I've been craving some of those fries ever since

·         Take a nap in my new gazebo

·         Go on random midnight walk-with Lovey, of course!

·         Visit some place new

·         Spend an entire Saturday morning at the St. John’s  Farmer’s Market

·         Do the “lighthouse picnic” at Ferryland

·         Go “zip-lining” on the west coast of NL

·         Go for a walk.....and a bike ride, in the summer rain

·         Make a cream soda float

·         Donate blood

·         Wear a dress

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

Well, there you have it.  

A copy of this, in a VERY large font, will spend the 

summer on my fridge.  I'll mention, and hopefully have pics to show for, 

everything that I cross off my list!!!!

Now, on a more relaxed note, I made a batch of Cranberry-White Chocolate Scones this morning.  This recipe is from my great friend at work, Moe.  Moe is an awesome baker.  She puts the finishing touch on this recipe by drizzling the cooled scones with melted white chocolate.

Did I mention that the weather is still absolutely terrible?????  It is.  I am running out of indoor things to do, hope the sun comes out soon.  I'd be happy if it would just stop raining!!

Here's Moe's recipe for the scones:

Cranberry-White Chocolate Scones

1/2 cup butter (cubed)

2 1/2 cups flour

2 Tbsp sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 egg

 1 cup buttermilk

1 cup chopped dried cranberries

1 cup white chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients until coarse and crumbly.

Stir in cranberries and chocolate.

In a small bowl, combine egg and buttermilk.  Add to dry mixture and stir to combine.

With floured hands, form into a ball and turn out onto a floured surface.

Knead about ten times, then pat or roll out to shape a rectangle about a 1/2 inch thick.

Divide into two long sections and cut into squares approximately 4" square.

Cut each square on the diagonal to form triangles.

Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes at 350*

Here's how mine looked:

The finished product!!!!

 I took a batch to Roger's office for the gang to try on coffee break.  I also dropped a sample off at the post office for the staff there.

I love to bake, but I like to get rid of it quickly so I'm not too tempted to eat it all up!!! ha ha

Cheers

;o)

Republic of Newfoundland and Inukshuks

This morning I had a dentist appointment in Gander.  My mom tagged along and we met sister Brenda for lunch.  It was nice....we made the best of a crappy weather day.

Oh the rain --- it is driving me nuts.  Not much other than that to complain about....it seems to be the main topic of conversation everywhere!!

So, to try and brighten things up a little, I'll show you a photo of some new glass painting designs I've done over the past few rainy days.

I painted my interpretation of the Republic of Newfoundland flag on four wine glasses. I also tried my hand at painting an Inukshuk on some beer mugs.   I have always been intrigued by the Inukshuk.  Here are some images that I found on the web, and used to paint my interpretation on the glasses..........

And...here are my finished products.

(Left to right)  Republic flags, Little Black Dress, Mommy's Sippy Cup, and the Inukshuk

I did a couple "Little Black dress" glasses too.  I can't seem to keep those around at all.  This weekend I gave one to my sister's good friend for her 50th birthday.  I also painted two "Mommy's Sippy Cup" glasses.  One of those is for a friend who just a had a baby and also happens to love red wine.  It'll probably be quite awhile before she drinks any wine, as she is breast-feeding, but I think she'll get a good kick out of it.  I'm sure it won't take me long to find someone to give the second one to!!

"Men are like wine - some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age."

--- Pope John XXII

Cheers!

Creamy Chicken Lasagna & Gazebos

Well-the weather is starting to get me down.

It has actually been raining, drizzling or fogging (not sure if these are even words) for the past six days!!!  No kidding...our lawn needs to be mowed in the worse kind of way and it doesn't dry up long enough to even do that.  Oh well...thank goodness I love to do inside things too.

The gazebo progress is very minimal....this RDF (rain, drizzle and fog) is not conducive to outdoor construction projects.  But there is a promise of a little sunshine and the temperature actually creeping back up to the low double digits, so there is hope.  Here are a couple of pictures of the latest little development on the gazebo....

Today I was wondering what to make with some chicken and I remembered a recipe from my good friend, Kathy, at work.  It's for Creamy Chicken Lasagna.  There is a bit of extra work compared to regular lasagna, but it is really worth it. 

Here's the recipe.....I advise you to try it...it is fabulous.

Creamy Chicken Lasagna

3   skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 cup(each)   chopped mushrooms, red & green pepper, and onion

lasagna noodles

1/2 cup   chicken broth

1 (8 oz) pk   cream cheese

3 cups   shredded mozzarella

1 cup   cottage cheese

3 cups   fresh spinach

1 (630 ml) jar   spaghetti sauce

Cook noodles, drain and set aside.

Steam spinach for 2 minutes and drain well.

Dice chicken in bite-size pieces, brown lightly in a non-stick pan

 with a little oil, then add broth and cook for 8 minutes.

Add cream cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella to chicken and broth, stir until well blended.

In another pan, saute onions, peppers and mushroom until tender and add spaghetti sauce.

Spread 1/3 of spaghetti sauce mixture in large lasagna dish, then alternate layers

of creamy chicken, noodles, and spaghetti sauce.  

Repeat this, saving cottage cheese and cooked spinach for last layer before 

final layer of noodles.  

Top with remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350* for 30 minutes.

Here's how mine looked......

 

 I doubled my recipe today.  One of the guys who works with Roger and his partner just had a baby boy.  They have had some serious issues with baby, as he came 5 weeks early.  However, mom and baby are fine now, and they just came home a couple of days ago.  I thought they'd appreciate a nice homemade Creamy Chicken Lasagna for their supper tomorrow night.

That's it for today folks....I'll try to be more faithful with my posting in the future.

Gazebo construction has started!!!

Well, I've been talking about this for awhile...but it has finally started!  As with any construction job...there are always delays.  This project was delayed for a week because of a forest fire in the area that Roger was involved with. 

On Tuesday evening, one of the big trees in the back yard had to come down.  Our neighbor Dave, and Roger set to work and got the ladder up to remove as many limbs as possible before they cut the tree.  This was to prevent any limbs from hooking into the eave of the garage when it fell.

After the lower limbs were removed with a small electric saw, one end of a heavy cable was attached  to the tree and the other end was attached to Roger's truck.

 As Dave cut the tree with a chainsaw, Roger slowly drove off, pulling the tree onto the driveway.....

I had lots to clean-up from the tree removal.  On Wednesday evening, Roger completed the foundation work.  He had most of the preliminary work done.  We are now ready to put on the floor.  Roger is using all pressure treated lumber.

Here is a picture of the gazebo we are building....

Our gazebo will be totally screened in, with a screen door.  Roger is also making panels of glass to put in place during the cooler season so we can use it right into fall and again in early spring.  The dimensions are 12' x 16' .  I'll post progress pictures every coupe of days.  I can't wait to pick some new garden furniture to go in it!!!!

Do you have any new garden projects under way???