Posted in Photography, Travel, tagged pets, photography, Travel, Walks on December 14, 2012| 4 Comments »
Not long ago, as I was taking a walk on a wooded trail, I came across this “structure”…
It got my attention and I wondered…
Was this some sort of shed to store equipment (the trail was in a very large private park)… or was it a cabin where someone actually lived long ago.
I always wonder about the history of places (and people).
Funny, though, the dwelling wasn’t totally empty…
It seems these two had taken residence!
I had to smile.
Have a terrific weekend!
Daisy
Posted in Photography, Travel, tagged Mountains, photography, Travel on December 13, 2012| 4 Comments »
Posted in Photography, Quilting, tagged photography, Quilting on December 12, 2012| 24 Comments »
For my birthday this year, my daughter gave me a set of fat quarter fabrics…
(that’s kind of a funny name, right?)
Fat quarter is just a name for a piece of fabric cut into 18″ x 21″.
I think…
These are the different fabrics. They look great together, don’t they?!
She bought this set at Walmart… they have some really nice fabrics lately.
(I don’t work for Walmart, this isn’t an ad!! I’m just a happy recipient) 🙂
I cut each piece into jelly roll strips (2 1/2 in. by the width of the fabric)…
and sewed them in two’s.
Aren’t they pretty colors? I probably would’ve never chosen this grouping but the more I worked with them, the more I liked them!
Then I cut those long strips into 2 1/2 inch strips
and separated them into little stacks
so that I could put them together “randomly” on purpose 🙂
Here’s what it looked like when I sewed two of those together…
I got a square of four different but coordinating fabrics.
I kept thinking, “Cute!”
I had some pretty white fabric that had a very light printing on it…
you’d have to click on the picture in order to see it.
I didn’t want just a solid plain white. This one worked perfectly!
I “practiced” how I wanted to sew these squares together…
I liked the way they looked “on point”, so…
I sewed the white squares and the four-squares into long strips, labeling them by numbers so I could later put the strips in order,
and hung them on a hanger to keep them “organized”.
This is how it looked when it was all sewn, close up.
I still have to decide how I want to finish it…
What kind of border?
Backing?
Quilting?
But it was so much fun to put together!
Thanks to my daughter for such a thoughtful gift 🙂
If you have any suggestions, I’d be thrilled to hear them!
Happy Quilting,
Daisy
Posted in Cooking, Photography, tagged Cooking, photography on December 11, 2012| 4 Comments »
Most people love a good cappuccino.
It’s not as hard as you may think, and it’s wonderful on a cold day.
Some people call it a cappuccino, others know it as “Cafe con Leche“,
but it’s basically the same thing.
The only ingredients you need are:
Espresso coffee, Milk, sugar, and water.
That’s it!
First thing you do is fill the lower part of your espresso maker with water… just below the “valve” thing-y. (You can tell I really know the technical names for all the espresso machine parts!)
Place the “basket” in and fill with espresso coffee. Some people like to really fill it as much as possible (for stronger coffee), but I just lightly fill almost to the top of basket.
Close the top tightly over the bottom, careful not to spill the coffee.
Place on burner with heat just high enough to cover bottom.
Open lid so you can see the very first trickle of coffee when it comes out — this is an important step! This is not the time to move away from the stove.
Meanwhile, in a glass or heavy cup, pour about 1/3 cup of sugar in.
In a nice big mug, heat up to “scalding”, about 3/4 cup of milk.
I like to use whole milk for this, but it’s perfectly fine to use skim or low-fat.
Make sure you stand there and watch when the first trickle begins…
Pour about 1 Tablespoon of that first trickle into the sugar.
Now you will use a lot of “elbow grease” to stir this sugar with a spoon as quick as you can, until it starts to resemble a paste… (if you need to add another tablespoon of coffee, go ahead, but BE CAREFUL not to add too much! If it gets too thin, you won’t have that thick foam on top later)
As you turn your hand quickly, the sugar and coffee will be incorporated and you will get a nice, light-colored pasty concoction…
It will take about 2-3 minutes.
Pour the coffee into the sugar mixture, and stir very slowly.
You will have a beautiful frothy mixture of coffee and sugar.
This is actually Espresso… you can pour this into one of those tiny coffee cups that look like a doll tea set, and drink it.
WARNING: It’s very strong and if you’re not used to it may keep you awake for three days!
Now pour the coffee & sugar into the scalded milk… stirring very slowly…
You’re making a masterpiece here, so take your time.
The top of your creation will look so good, it will look like a Barista make it!
And now there’s only one thing left to do…
Enjoy!!! 🙂
During the Christmas season, I like to have mine with Panettone.
It’s a perfect match.
Happy brewing,
Daisy
Posted in Photography, Travel, tagged Country LIfe, pets, photography, Travel on December 7, 2012| 5 Comments »
Earlier this week we came upon an area I would name, Slow Lane. The animals were just enjoying a bit of rest & relaxation and there wasn’t much else going on…
I wanted to get out of the car and sit a spell with them 🙂
(Maybe not with this guy right up by the fence…the horns?)
I had a hard time trying to get the camera to zoom from the barbed wire to the animals…
They didn’t seem too bothered with me.
The horses were beautiful (of course)…
This horse was all alone… but looked very happy & content.
This looks like a nice place to live… or visit. 🙂
Have a terrific weekend!
Daisy
Posted in Photography, Travel, tagged Country LIfe, pets, photography on December 5, 2012| 14 Comments »
As we were driving back from the Farmers Market this week, we saw this beautiful horse…
We stopped just for a minute so I could change the lens on my camera and get a closer look…
What a beauty!
It made my day 🙂
As a child, I had posters up all over my walls of horses…I read books about horses….I studied them… all while I lived in the city (never had been to the country!).
I still don’t live in the country, but at least I get to drive through the country. 🙂
…and it’s nice.
May your day be a great one!
Daisy
Posted in Photography, Sunday, tagged inspirational, photography, Scripture, Sunday on December 2, 2012| 11 Comments »
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Isaiah 40:28, 29
Have a blessed week!
Daisy
Posted in Photography, Travel, tagged photography, Travel, Walks on December 1, 2012| 17 Comments »
I love taking walks in the woods…
This was a well-marked trail with swamps, woods, lakes, and small wildlife.
The woods were beautiful, but when I came upon the opening to this lake, I just wanted to sit here for a while. It was so peaceful and quiet.
The weather’s been so wonderful lately.
If you enjoy the outdoors where you’re at, get outside and have some fun.
Pretty soon it’ll be too cold to stay out too long.
Have a terrific weekend!
Daisy
Posted in Photography, tagged pets, photography on November 28, 2012| 10 Comments »
I posted about my daughter’s love birds not too long ago. Although they can get pretty loud with their chirping, (they do not like to be ignored!).. they are cute and each has a personality of its own! They are very entertaining… it’s fun to watch their “family life” unfold during feeding time, bathing, sleeping, cuddling…
Recently, they had another batch of “babies”… (their 3rd!)
Here are the pretty little love birds. My daughter tries to handle them often so they get used to being held and learn to fly to them when they need to go back into their cage.
They are so very soft and warm! Very fun to hold.
They kind of freak out when you first take them out of the nesting box, but soon are at home in your warm hands.
Here is the biggest one (it hatched a few days before the other two) with its Daddy.
It’s amazing to see the parents actually push him out so he will learn to fly. I could hardly believe my eyes. When I say push, I mean PUSH. The poor bird flapped and nearly had a heart attack before it recovered enough to get itself upright again. Poor baby. It’s tough growing up, isn’t it?
These babies have grown very quickly and just in the past 2 weeks have learned how to fly, feed themselves, and are now ready for new homes. Thankfully, my daughter was able to find someone who will give them a good home. 🙂
Here are the parents. They certainly are love birds… there are already 3 new eggs in the nest!
I know.
Soon there will be three new babies.
And so on, and so on.
Enjoy your pets (if you have any).
If not… enjoy the quiet 🙂
Daisy
Posted in Cooking, Photography, tagged Cooking, photography on November 27, 2012| 4 Comments »
I’ve often been asked how I make Black Beans. So…
I thought I’d share the recipe since I made some today.
It’s easy & quick and Very Delicious!!
(Just had to add the caps there 🙂
BLACK BEANS
In a heavy saucepan, on medium heat setting, heat 2-3 Tablespoons of olive oil.
Add 6 Tablespoons of Sofrito and cook, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup of tomato sauce,
one large bay leaf, and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Add a tiny pinch of sugar and
1 Tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar (or whatever vinegar you have on hand).
Add 2 cans (15 oz each) of plain (unseasoned) Black Beans undrained.
Stir.
Bring to a boil. Cover. Turn heat to low/med.
Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring once or twice.
(Don’t walk away… you don’t want them getting too hot and sticking to the pan.)
Serve over white rice or as a side dish. Serves 3-4.
If you’d like to prepare enough for 6-8 servings, use the large cans and increase the sofrito to 2/3 cup, tomato sauce to 1 small can, and balsamic vinegar to 2 Tablespoons. Enjoy!
If you have more time, you could cook the dry beans for 2 hours instead of using canned beans (or cook in your Crock Pot on high for 6 hrs or until softened).
I used to cook it in a pressure cooker for 25 min. This is only for dry beans, not canned beans! We don’t want you to end up with Black Bean paste!
Happy Cooking!
Daisy
A Daisy Garden 