Wildlife

Don't try and play the childhood game 'freeze' with a squirrel, because the squirrel would win! This squirrel froze in place as I approached it - like it thought I wouldn't notice it - that makes me laugh =) I stood still for less than a minute and she continued on - she came over to our hose and took a nice long drink where it was dripping - smart animal . . . unless it's responsible for the drip in the first place ;) Doesn't that look like a nipple - I think she's a mama. If I knew where the nest was, I would capture (okay, kidnap) the baby for Jonathan - that would make him happy to have a squirrel as a pet - LoL
Awhile back, I was shooing away birds that I thought were pigeons from my bird feeders. About the 3rd time I saw them, I saw them fly into some trees. They always seemed to stay together in a pair - but then I heard them cooing. It dawned on me they were Doves, besides, why would pigeons be so far from the water? hehe I found that Dove's are easily startled, but I got a photo of one today.

Our state bird is the golden finch and we have lots visiting throughout the day, some are golden and some are bright yellow - once there was like 10 or more right on the feeder and it was cool - except they all flew away when I tried to get their photo ;)

I enjoy blue jays - although they are easily startled as well, they keep the crows away - gotta love that! I don't find them pesky at all. I feed them our old peanuts - they do eat from our bird feeders & take baths in our bird bath too. But this one scared all the finches away, guess it wanted some food too:

This woodpecker was a little skittish too, amazingly detailed:

I saved my favorite picture for last - we still have hummingbirds (I guess they start migrating around August 20th) and they love the flowers in our yard. It's super cute to watch them fluttering from each variety of flower. They get in our honeysuckle and it looks like the plant itself is moving.

Well, that was my day in a nutshell - between dishes and laundry, I just took a few photos. I suppose that's what mother's do, they constantly work and stop to reflect on those precious moments to enjoy the sweetness of their children's amazement . . . between the refereeing and exhausting moments - ha! Well, my kids weren't here today, so I found happiness in the wildlife in my own backyard =)

P.S. still jealous of the people who have hummingbirds land on their fingers! One day I'll find the time to learn that trick . . .

Chicken Tomato Soup

Saute together for 5 minutes or so

4 Tbsp butter

1 onion, diced

2 Tbsp fresh garlic

Add in

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

4 tsp lemon juice

Stir together, then add

1 can diced green chilies

6 oz. cream cheese

1 1/2 cups fat-free half & half

2-14 oz cans petite diced tomatoes (don't drain)

14 oz chicken broth

6-8 oz pepper jack cheese

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2-3 cooked, cubed chicken breasts

Serve in bowls, add tiny bit raw cilantro and serve with chips.

Caring for our Physical Bodies YW lesson

YW lesson, Caring for our Physical Bodies, Manual 1, lesson #37

Found a free site online that had paper doll templates:

As we talked about each subject, the girls added a piece to the paper doll on the opposite side and then they drew faces on their dolls. I only had 5 items to add to the doll to tie into the lesson exactly.

We made & ate yummy sandwiches at the end of class!

Blackberry Crisp

This recipe came from my sister Sarah - Jonathan said it was yummy! I don't enjoy cooked, warm fruit ;) And I assumed Jonathan would bring this into work to share - nope, nope, nope. He kept it in the fridge and dished out a serving a night - must be really good if he wanted it all to himself!

8 cups blackberries

Zest of 1 lemon

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 + 3 tbsp flour

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 cup oats

1 cup butter

Combine blackberries, lemon zest, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 3 tbsp flour. Pour into deep baking dish (9x13 too small). Mix topping into a bowl: remaining sugars, flour, salt and oats and sprinkle evenly over berry mixture. Drizzle melted butter and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

White Bread Recipe

This recipe makes 4 loaves or a lot of mini loaves and some bigger ones too ;)

Dissolve and let stand 5-10 minutes:

-3 cups warm water

-3 Tbsp dry yeast

-2 tsp sugar

In a separate bowl mix:

-2 Tbsp kosher salt

-2 cups cold milk

-3/4 cup oil

-1 cup honey

-2 cups hot water

Add dissolved yeast mixture and stir well. Add 2 cups at at time:

-14-16 cups all purpose flour (or mix in 8 cups all purpose and remaining cups from wheat, white rice, oat flour, etc.)

Knead 10-15 minutes and let rise 1 hour or so.

Knead again 2-3 minutes more.

Divide dough into half and then half again so you have 4 equal sections.

Grease pans and let rise in warm place for 20-30 minutes

Bake 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

YUMMY!!