Well, a year has come and gone!

I was running through my explorer favorites and came across my blog. I can't believe that it has already been a year. I guess I have been too busy, NOT! But, I have been busy with a lot since the last time I wrote. Let's see were to begin. Last winter's weather was the warmest of memory, after the terrible year before, when it snowed about 4 feet in one day, and then continued to be about a total of 6 feet the rest of the year. The roofs around town couldn't support the weight of the snow and they kept falling in, well, this last winter it would just snow about an inch, and then melt, so we had nothing called snow fall, and we all were all concerned about what will happen to our water, (since we depend on the snow pack), but it rained enough the rest of the year to make up for it, (I thought I was living in Seattle again, yuk) from my previous blog, you know, I had my other knee replaced and it was better, (here is a little more detail), except I had to stay in the hospital a little longer, it seems that I lost a lot of blood and they had to pump me back up again. I felt like that guy in my wife's favorite movies, you know the guy with the fangs, and he has a girlfriend and another guy that turns into a wolf every once in awhile. I don't understand where this generation of people is going with that as their favorite movies. Oh well, just another phase for the world to enjoy, and then abandon, do I sound like a cynic? It seems like things just come and go and then they do it again, but in different formats. I am sure you know what I mean. What will it be next? This year I did do some things to the yard, I replace my maple tree in the front yard with "the twig", (as I so affectionately call it). Don't laugh, it is true. I got a new tree from work, (this is something they do every year, it is like the old fashion "Arbor day"), and I took out the Maple, which just sat there and didn't grow, with this really nice "ornamental" tree called a Joshua tree, it is beautiful, but it grows about a inch a year. So I have this really feathery tree start with three branches that around a foot tall. I am including a picture. 

What a hoot. I know the neighbors are laughing. It seems I have had about 4 trees in that same spot over the five years. I don't know why I don't have luck with that spot, it seems that there is a high water table under my house, and the ground sort of rots and it really smells when I dig up the trees. I don't know what to do, but I did talk to an arborist, (is that correct), and she suggested that I should make the tree high, sort of on top of the ground and see if that works, so I guess I'll try that next time if "the twig" won't do its thing either. I shouldn't say that too loud..ha ha ha

My carnations didn't make it, and I know that they are a very hardy plant, oh well I planted something else around them, and it took off, but I don't remember what it was and it didn't flower, so I guess we will have to wait until next year, but I have heard that it will be another rough year. I hope t doesn't kill them. I took my lavender out of a pot and planted them in the front yard. They really has taken off, also I had a blue spruce in a pot and I took it out as well, and it is really doing well. I love gardening and or the semblance of it. My son, bless him, will still come over and mow the lawn, I still can't stand up too long because my back is sort of screwed up, (getting old is for the birds, as I usually say), and it hurts to stand too long. It would help if I lost those 60 pounds. My wife lost a lot of weight and looks great and I found the weight and I look, well, not so great. Another thing happened to me. When I was young, I remember seeing this man walking toward me and my mom, he said hello to us, and he seemed like a nice old man. He walked/shuffled a little slow and stooped over and he would stare up as he walked. I asked why that man walked so slow and all stooped over and my Mom said he is just old, he is a neighbor of our and he just had his 65^th birthday. I thought 65 years, HE IS ANCIENT! Guess what happened to me. I just turned 65 years old this year!!! I thought of that old man, and looked in the mirror and I thought I can't believe how similar we are and yet I don't feel I look that old, but alas, I am and I do. Well, that was depressing, but, on to more fun and exciting topic… I am now signed up for Medicare and Social Security (he he he). What a hoot is that. Getting old is fun, because you can say whatever you want and people just look at you and say "he's just old" and laugh. But inside I am laughing at them. I am the oldest employee where I work, and I get away with a whole bunch of thing. I kid around about my age and whenever an "old" joke pops up, I say "hey!" and laugh along. I know down deep that they are all joking and they know I will laugh along with them. So it isn't too bad and people really take care of me, they will get out of my way and open doors for me, and make sure I have everything I need, (NOT), but some of the time they do. It is a glorious time, and we need to enjoy every day, and believe me we do. What is really funny, you can say anything and all of the young people believe me. I have come up with some real whoppers and they look at you with these wide eyes and say "you did"? And you were there than, and so forth, and they laugh and say you didn't and they laugh, but inside, they don't know that I did and I was. I hate to talk about the past, but most of the young people want to hear about it. Sometimes, I feel like a walking encyclopedia. I have been through so much of this world and seen a lot. I experienced the 40's on up. What a full and wild time I've been through. I am proud and excited about my era, it was the most progressive time for America in all aspects, the arts, science, medical advancements, technical and travel, I remembered my Dad talking me about the future and what it holds and you know something, he hit almost everything on the head. He was a great visionary. Oh, I almost mentioned politics, but I won't go there, if you know what I mean. Well let's see I think it is now time for the Fall recipes. I have a lot of good one here. So, get ready. 

Autumn Applesauce

This smells so good when it's cooking! The combination of apples, plums, and cinnamon is pretty darn tasty too. Use whatever apples you have on hand; I like a mix of Macintosh and Granny Smith myself. I serve this as a side with roast chicken or pork, or as dessert with a little heavy cream poured over the top. It's not bad for a snack or breakfast either.


INGREDIENTS:

3 pounds apples, cored and sliced
1 pound Italian plums, pitted and sliced
¼ cup light brown sugar, plus additional to taste
2 cinnamon sticks
A pinch of salt
¼ water (or cider, apple juice or orange juice)
1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
Put the apples, plums, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, salt, and water in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples and plums are soft and falling apart, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from the heat, add the vanilla, and taste. If it's not sweet enough for your liking, add brown sugar a tablespoon at time until it tastes right to you. Cool, and put the applesauce through a food mill. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Makes about 8 cups.
This one sounded so good, I had to attach it to blog. I am going to try it later this month.

Potato

and Cheddar Cheese Soup

Active Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 
30 Minutes
Serves 4

A few simple ingredients make a sumptuous soup. Be sure to use a high-quality cheddar; it's crucial to the dish's flavor. Choose a yellow cheese for the richest color. For a chunkier soup, skip the pureeing and just break up some of the potato with a spoon.

INGREDIENTS
1/4 pound sliced bacon, cut crosswise into thin strips
1 large onion, chopped
3 pounds baking potatoes (about 6), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes4-
1/2 cups water1 teaspoon salt
6 ounces cheddar, grated (about 1-1/2 cups)
1/4 cup chopped chives or scallion tops

DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat or, if you don't have 2 tablespoons, add enough cooking oil to make up the amount. Reduce the heat to moderately low. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, water, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove half the soup from the pan and puree in a food processor. Alternatively, mash some of the potatoes with a potato masher. Return the puree to the pan. Over low heat, add the cheese and stir until melted. Remove the pan from the heat. Taste the soup and add more salt if needed. Serve the soup topped with the bacon and chives.

Hearty Baked Beans

18 Servings
Prep: 15 min.
Bake: 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
2 large onions, chopped
3/4 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 cans (15 ounces each) pork and beans
1 bottle (18 ounces) honey barbecue sauce
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15-1/4 ounces) lima beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Liquid Smoke, optional
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

In a large skillet, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. Dutch oven. Stir in the remaining ingredients. · Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until heated through. Yield: 18 servings.I'll add more later, I have to run, I forgot I hadn't eaten dinner yet...(and no smart old jokes)!!!