A Gloomy Sunday

It's been a busy week! Just doing little things around the house. I've been setting up a filing system in my office consolidating the files from both houses. While I do this I'm scanning files and uploading them to Evernote - a wonderful program I'm using to access things using computers or iPhone or iPad. I started using Evernote because I found that the file I wanted was always in the house I was NOT in! At first the major things was recipes. Something I use even though it's a recipe I've often made. I have both a recipe box and a rather full 3 ring notebook for all the recipes I've used and liked. Then there are the cook books I have (and I have a lot of cookbooks) where I mark the page up with notes. And naturally, some or all of what I wanted was not where I was! And then there are the zillion of pictures that I have and have been scanning and saving on the computer's hard drive. And, what if the computer dies....or a fire occurs.....or more likely, the computer is in one house and I'm at the other. So I searched for a filing system that would allow me to store files in the Cloud and access them on both PC and Mac computers as well as my iPhone and iPad. And Evernote fit the need. At first I used the "free" version to see if I liked it - yes I did! So I'm now paying for the middle level of membership which gives me more uploads a month. The fee structure just changed and the free version limits you to two devises and I have four. Need a recipe? no problem... Need to know the insurance policy number? no problem..... need to check to see when Honey's last vet visit was done? no problem. I just scan invoices and pages from books and magazines or clip pages from the web and save them to a folder and also provide key words. I find this most helpful to keep the recipes I run across and want to try... clipped from the web or emails from great blogs I follow, I save them in a file called "clipped and copied recipes" and then key word them for salad, beef, bread....and so forth. So I can search for grilling beef recipes while I'm watching TV and working on my iPad. 

And what did I do this week?

• Laundry - well that is a never ending task with several loads spread over the week
• General cleaning around the house we all do like vacuuming, bathrooms, dusting.......
• Working in what we refer to as the Oil Room which is a really nice large space in the lower level where we put in lots of plastic shelving and I store things. It's a pantry area, place for all the stuff we have accumulated over the years (in boxes or totes that are labeled), craft things, wreaths for the front door (it's amazing how much space they take) canning jars, Christmas stuff (lots of that with several trees and such)   Well, you get the idea. The area does look much better.
• I made a blueberry pie using Jersey blueberries I got from Shop Rite.
• Driving to go shopping or visiting family
• Binged on Netflix.... the past week it was the HBO series (3 seasons) The Newsroom a really, really good program that had a lot to say. If you have Netflix do check this out. I also am finishing up this past season of Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck. (it has been renewed for next season) I also watch Amazon Prime as we subscribe to Prime and have for over 5 years. 

And below, last Sunday's dinner - chicken on a beer can!

And a view of our back yard from the deck. 

We are using the deck a lot and really enjoy our view!

I'm Back!

Hi there! Back on line - let's just say June was a strange month.

One really nice thing about June is was we celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary! Yea, us!!!!  Below is a picture of me enjoying the fruit from a lovely bouquet of fruit - really yummy!

June also brings strawberries to NE PA and we were gifted with a nice large container of beautiful strawberries. Oh, what to make. Well, since I had gotten an ice cream maker for our anniversary I decided to use that... Here is what I did.

 First a bit of research. Sorbet is basically fruit and simple syrup. So first I made the simple syrup - equal amounts of sugar and water brought to a boil on the stove while diligently stirring. While that cooled, I started on the strawberries - first rinsing them and then stemming and cutting either in half or in quarters.

I then pureed them - 3 plus a bit made 3 cups of puree

After measuring out the 3 cups, I added to the puree 3 Tablespoons or 1 ½ oz squeezed lemon juice and 1 cup of the simple syrup that had cooled down while I was doing the berries. I then poured the mixture into the container.

Which was then "dropped" into the machine, covered and turned on.

This was really cool! The machine cooled the mixture and then it froze. The entire thing took about 50 minutes. The next day (I refrigerated the remaining berries on a large tray that I covered) I made a second batch that only took about 30 minutes - the berries and simple syrup were cold. 

The resulting sorbet was excellent!!!!  B and I really enjoyed it. Miss Honey was rather envious watching. 

Sorry, Honey, sorbet is for people! 

Rhododendron in Bloom

What a beautiful day today! The sun is out, the air is cool and crisp, many flowers are blooming and the grass was cut Thursday. We had rain over the weekend with heavy rain yesterday. This morning it was in the low 50s and is now in the low 70s. A strong breeze is ruffling the bushes and trees which are now green. Summer has arrived at the Park house and we are enjoying the day. I spent some time this morning weeding the flower bed by the driveway. All the rain has not only helped the plants but given the weeds a head start. I enjoy working in the garden and filled a bin with weed and clippings from the shrubs I cut back. Still a lot to do across the front of the house. 

When we bought the house two summers ago the front gardens needed some tender care but showed real potential. On one side of the house there are a number of rhododendron bushes that are now in full bloom. So lovely!

And in the back of the house, the shade of the trees provides a cool retreat. 

Binging on Netflix

Last week, after days of cool gloomy weather, Summer arrived bringing hot muggy days and hot muggy nights! A cold front came through yesterday and after some thunder storms really cooled things off. Today is bright and clear with temperatures in the low 70s around 10 AM. 

I have a confession to make - I binge on old TV programs and movies on Netflix. And because of the cool gloomy weather and lack of appealing programs on TV, over the past week or so I finished looking at all the episodes of Crossing Jordan, a show that was on TV for six seasons. I just love Netflix. I also looked at all the episodes of Boston Legal and Downton Abbey. To stream Netflix its only about $8, a bargain. I also have Prime on Amazon and get some programs included in the membership. I enjoy revisiting some programs but more often “find” and look at programs new to me. This past winter I watched season one of Madam Secretary and then enjoyed season two in “real time”. I prefer Netflix as I can look at the program when I want and don’t have to look at all the commercials.  Any suggestions on what I should watch next?

Car Problems??

Late last week we got in B's Lexus to go to the store and the car acted "funny". The engine sounded strange and the car moved rather jerky. An icon appeared on the dashboard. He pulled over immediately and we got out the huge booklet that tells you everything you ever wanted to know (and then come) about the car. The icon indicated trouble with the engine. He turned the car off, then on, and it appeared to be OK. We turned around and returned home rather than take any chances.  

This morning he called the dealer who said the car was under warranty and to call an 800 number for assistance. He did and within an hour, a flatbed truck came to the house, loaded up the car and took it to the dealer. Now that was service! The pictures tell the story

 Within 90 minutes a local company arrived with a flatbed truck

The garage guy drove the car onto the flatbed


The bed was then raised


And the car "tied" down several ways


As it pulled out of the driveway you can see it "tied" down using the wheels. 



Based on a phone call we got from the dealer shortly after the car arrived, nothing major was found. They will service the car as it's due for a normal maintenance and get back to us probably late this afternoon. We are thinking positive!