July | 2012 | A Daisy Garden

Archive for July, 2012

Sunday

Posted in Photography, Sunday, tagged photography on July 29, 2012| 6 Comments »

Blue Ridge Mountains, NC

“…Let not your heart be troubled…”

John 14:1

Have a blessed week!
Daisy

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Banana Bread

Posted in Baking, tagged Baking on July 27, 2012| 6 Comments »

This is my favorite Banana Bread recipe…

This recipe is easy but delicious! My favorite part is the top crust.
Instead of a loaf pan, I use a baking pan…that way there’s more of that nice crust to enjoy. It looks more like a cake but tastes like banana bread.

Banana Bread Recipe:
1 1/2 cup of mashed bananas
3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (I use only a pinch)
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325. Grease pan. Mix bananas, sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl with wooden spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into pan.
Secret to top crust: Sprinkle top with sugar. The more you sprinkle, the crispier and thicker it will be. (Just don’t overdo it) 🙂
Bake until wooden pick inserted in center of bread comes out clean…
If baking in a cake pan: 45-50 min.
If baking in loaf pan: 50-60 min.
Let cool 5-10 min.
Enjoy! Feel free to serve with whip cream.

Happy Baking,
Daisy

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Birthday!

Posted in Photography, tagged Family, photography on July 24, 2012| 5 Comments »

Today is my husband’s birthday.
This is one of only two photos we have of his early childhood.

Even then, he didn’t like having his picture taken.

Here he is with his family. He is the younger brother.
What a cutie!

It’s fun to look at old photos.

I am so thankful for my husband.
He is my best friend and a wonderful husband and father.
Happy Birthday, Honey!
I love you!!
Daisy

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Belated Sunday

Posted in Photography, Sunday, tagged photography on July 23, 2012| 2 Comments »

North Georgia

“Oh, satisfy us in the morning with your lovingkindness,

That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. ”

Psalm 90:14

Have a blessed week!
Daisy

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The view from above…

Posted in Photography, Travel, tagged flying, photography, Travel on July 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I really enjoy taking photos on a flight. Depending on what part of the world you’re flying over, the scenery can be pretty spectacular.

I think I see the house we stayed at…

The colors!…

As we get farther away from the coast and climb higher, I’m disappointed…

These vistas are usually seen only at the beginning and ending of a flight, when the “cruising” altitude has not been reached. Wouldn’t it be great if we could fly at this altitude the entire time so we could see this beauty all flight long?!

I think I’ll buy my own little plane…

Happy flying,
Daisy

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Gooey Cinnamon Rolls

Posted in Baking, Cooking, Photography, tagged Baking, Cooking, photography on July 17, 2012| 8 Comments »

Today, I made cinnamon rolls…

The whole house smelled so good! There’s nothing like the smell of bread or rolls baking.

Are you hungry yet??

I made enough to share with my neighbors across the street.
They were very appreciative. 🙂

I topped them off with cream cheese frosting. It’s so much better than the
plain sugar icing. These rolls go really good with coffee. 🙂

Go ahead and have one. You can start your diet tomorrow.
Like I am.

Happy eating,
Daisy

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Farmers Market

Posted in Cooking, Photography, tagged Cooking, Farmers Market, photography, Summer on July 16, 2012| 19 Comments »

One thing I like about Mondays is that I get to go to the Farmers Market!

This Farmers Market is huge! There are hundreds of vendors and also a very large Flea Market section in the back. You can find anything here from socks to tomatoes. It’s like a gigantic outdoor department store! And so much fun!! I think my favorite section is the antiques area where you can find lots of interesting items. However, today I didn’t have time to go back there so I just went straight to the veggies and fruit which was what I came for.

Everything is so fresh. Lemonade anyone?

The peaches are so sweet and juicy! I’m thinking..peach cobbler… oh yeah, I’m supposed to be on a diet.
The cherries are one of my favorites so we bought 2 lbs for $2!

There were lots of cherries. We walk up and down the aisles looking for the best prices and produce.

I couldn’t believe all those radishes for $1!!

If you’ve never had a Florida avocado, I suggest you do. They are delicious!
And those hot peppers? I like to put them in a bottle with garlic, vinegar, and olive oil. You can use the oil for dressings and the peppers in anything from scrambled eggs to chili.

Watermelon and summer. Can’t wait to make frozen watermelon treats! My favorite!
Just blend watermelon, sugar, ice, and a little water. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze for a couple of hours. Place 4-5 in a glass and serve with a fork. Use the fork to break up the cubes.
My Dad made these for me when I was a little girl. I can’t make them as good as he did but close enough. They are so good when it’s hot outside! Very refreshing! 🙂

Beefsteak tomatoes! All I can say is, “Wow!”

My husband likes asparagus so we got 2 bunches for $3.

On the way out, I snapped this photo. The peaches were calling me.

Dinner tonight was delicious… nothing like fresh veggies.

Happy marketing, 🙂
Daisy

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28th Anniversary!

Posted in Baking, Photography, tagged Baking, Cooking, Food, photography on July 9, 2012| 5 Comments »

Last week, for our anniversary, my husband took me to Cheesecake Factory. If you have never been to this restaurant, you should definitely make plans to go. They have great food, but of course their specialty is cheesecake. They offer more than 30 flavors of cheesecake. Yes, 30!

eeny meeny miny moe

As you walk into this beautiful place… right there on display, are just some of their fabulous cheesecakes. As you wait for your table you can see and decide which one you will have for dessert. (Notice I didn’t say “if” you have one, but which one you will have)

Oh my.

Decisions, decisions…

Gasp!

I don’t know if I can do this… choose just one??

This is torture.

Triple Cho-co-late? Uh, oh.

My husband, who’s better at making decisions than I am, chose the “white chocolate caramel macadamia nut cheesecake.” The menu describes it like this: White Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake Swirled with Macadamia Nuts and Caramel on a Blond Brownie Crust. ” Because we had a full meal (which was also delicious!) we thought it best to share one slice of cheesecake. We knew it would be substantial. And it was.

All I can say is… Mmmmmmmm.

Oh and yes, my husband also got me flowers. Beautiful.
What a special day! Roses, cheesecake, and a handsome date… Wow!

On the serious side…
I am so blessed to have married my best friend. I thank the Lord for him everyday!

Happily married, 🙂
Daisy

P.S. If you have a recipe for any of these cheesecakes, please let me know! 🙂

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Direction

Posted in Photography, Sunday, tagged Direction, photography, Psalms, Sunday on July 8, 2012| 2 Comments »

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105

Have a blessed week!
Daisy

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Venice Beach, FL

Posted in Photography, tagged Beach, Family, Ocean, Summer on July 5, 2012| 6 Comments »

In Florida, “summer” is so hot, that we prefer going to the beach when the heat is not quite so intense… usually before June and after August. (At least I do; maybe I should just speak for myself!).

Earlier this year in April, while it was still nice outdoors, we went on a day trip to Venice Beach.

Somehow, the ocean has a therapeutic effect on me. (God’s creation always does!)
I can sit there for hours, just staring at it. I guess you could say (like John Denver’s song) it “fills up my senses.”

The sound of the waves seems to relieve any stress I feel. The wind, the sand, the salty smell, and one of my favorites…the sand pipers chasing the waves only to turn around and run before they get their feet wet. Sigh.

My daughter and I sat in the shade, talking, laughing, just enjoying one another’s company. How good it felt to be together and just relax. We swam for a bit, walked for a while, then came and enjoyed the shade again.