a tisket, a tasket, a taller basket

Thanks for your suggestions 

on filling my cute little bags. 

I changed their shape a bit and 

now know what to put in them!

little rock city

If you have never been to Little Rock City 

in Little Valley, NY then you should go. 

After a fun hike stop by the Ellicottville 

Brewing Company for a Blueberry Wheat Ale.

the shell seekers

One of my favorite books is

The Shell Seekers

{published 1987}

Back then I was the age of the adult children

Now I am older than the heroine 

A different perspective as I read it again.

I still LOVE this book . . . 

soup sundays

All summer we have been having Salad Sundays on our deck.
Well, this week the temperature was in the 60's so
it was time to switch - now we'll have Soup Sundays
First up . . .

Parmesan, Sausage and Spinach Soup

cook time: 6 hours in slow cooker

yield: 8 servings

{photo credit 365daysofcrockpot.com} 

Ingredients
1 lb ground Italian sausage (I used mild)
1 small onion, diced
32 oz chicken broth
1 cup water
3 celery ribs, sliced
1 carrot, finely diced
1 yellow potato finely diced
1 clove garlic diced
1/8 tsp ground thyme
1 Tbsp dried parsley flakes

6 Tbls butter
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 oz spinach torn into small pieces stems removed
      (original recipe calls for kale)

Instructions
In a pan, brown the sausage for 3-4 minutes.  Add in the onion and continue cooking until
sausage is completely cooked through.  Drain off excess grease. Put sausage and onion in the slow cooker.

 Add broth, water, celery, carrot, potatoes, garlic powder, thyme and parsley to the slow cooker.
 Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, or until potatoes are tender.

In a small bowl combine salt, pepper, and flour. In saucepan melt butter over medium low heat. Stir in flour mixture to form a roux. Whisk in milk, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth.

 Stir cream mixture into slow cooker and then let cook on high without the lid for 15 more minutes.
 Just prior to serving add Parmesan cheese and spinach.

{adapted from a recipe found on www.365daysofcrockpot.com}

hometown

Glassy smooth along the Erie Canal 

to begin the day in Brockport, NY. 

{1867 Custom House Building}

photo by John Kucko

jazzercise september

Every month at jazzercise one song
always "catches my ear".
September: Ed Sheeran - "Perfect"

Perfect Symphony Video

opal

Some views are worth the hike . . .

 {Raven Ridge Natural Area - Vermont}

jazzercise august

Every month at jazzercise one song 

always "catches my ear". 

in August it was : "Me"

But one of these things is not like the others
Like a rainbow with all of the colors
Baby doll, when it comes to a lover
I promise that you'll never find another like

Me Video

a tisket, a tasket

I made these baskets today and they are so cute but . . . 

I can’t think of what anyone would use them for. 

Before I make more I need some ideas.
What would you put in yours?

{each 6" high}

grandchildren update

 ragamuffins at the end of a 4 day safari 

exploring the okavango delta

the beach is always more fun

with little ones along

riding along in my automobile
my baby beside me at the wheel
{with no particular place to go}