Dewart Lake Orange Lily

Dewart Lake, Syracuse, IN

Dewart Lake Syracuse Indiana is where we have our summer cottage. It is a nice place to go and relax no matter what the weather is like. In the fall the island looks so pretty as the leaves change colors, but there are animals to watch no matter what the season.

Hemerocallis fulva or Ditch Lily

This orange lily is different from the tiger lily I have at the farm. It has double the petals and I am not sure of the variety. Does anyone know what kind it is?

Thanks Cheryl

Noisy chipmunk

When I was here July 4^th weekend I saw and heard the chipmunks climbing up the neighbors tree. They can be quite loud. Then I saw a beautiful blue bird that came to visit and then the swans. If I would carry my camera around there would be so many pictures I could take.

Blue Birds

Swans on the lake

I love to visit the cottage at Dewart Lake.

I love watching hummingbirds

Make Salsa From Fresh Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes from the garden!

Salsa made from vine ripe tomatoes from you organic garden is the only way to go. Tomatoes taste great just slicing and eating them fresh but nacho chips and salsa is especially good with tomatoes fresh from our garden.
To read more:Buskisa
This post linked to Foodie Friday
and girlichef

Create a Beautiful Bowl from Ice and Flowers

 Creating a Beautiful Bowl from Ice is not hard and can be used for any occasion, such as a wedding, bridal shower, baby shower or even Christmas dinner. It does take a few steps but it is oh so pretty when done. I live in the country and God blesses me every year with beautiful wild flowers that I used for mine. I hope you try making a beautiful bowl from ice and flowers.


Matthew 6:30 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!


To read more: Seekyt

The Willow Tree Adventure

Grandson #2 very happy

The weeping willow tree at our farm, remember we have 1.6 acres however it is a way for the kids to distinguish homes, was nicknamed the fort by grandson #1. Now grandson #2 wants to climb the willow tree, and it is a nice game for us to enjoy.

Grandson #3 acting like a Monkey

Boys having fun

Hot day & bad pic of me!

The boys didn’t really climb the tree; I boosted them up and had them grab the lowest limb. 

After the boys were in the tree I showed them grandma ain’t too old to climb too. They were quite surprised and happy. I however found out I am not as limber as I once was!

Dad was there just in case:0)

Grandpa watched from below

Grandpa , boys and giant sunflower

After we climbed back down we continued our walk around the property. We stopped to look at the giant sunflower.

Ezekiel 17:4-5 He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants. He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

Rose of Sharon

Buds of Rose of Sharon

The Rose of Sharon has beautiful flowers. I enjoy the  scent and beauty God gave us through them. The Arbor Day Foundation describes them this way, "The Rose of Sharon is a deciduous, upright, occasionally spreading shrub or small tree with multiple trunks. The branches grow upright and will not droop except when in flower. The dark green leaves emerge late in the spring. The trumpet shaped flowers are 2-4" across in colors of white, pink, red, violet or purple. The Rose of Sharon requires ample moisture and some protection from midday to afternoon sun to flower at its best. Plant about 2'-3' apart for a single row hedge."

The bible even speaks of the rose of Sharon;

Playing with camera settings

 Song Of Solomon 2:1 "I am a rose of Sharon,

a lily of the valleys."

Close up on beautiful flower

Rose of Sharon in back yard

Rose of Sharon 

Rose of Sharon in front yard






This post linked to: Macro Flower Saturday

Zucchini Blueberry Bread Recipe

Delicious Zucchini Blueberry Bread

Zucchini plants growing in the garden produce many fruit, which are wonderful to use in breads, grill, use in soups or stews. With the health benefits of zucchini as well as blueberries, doesn’t it simply make sense to use them together for a super healthy loaf of bread?

According to the World’s Healthiest Foods, “No category of health benefits from summer squash is better researched than the category of antioxidant benefits. As an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C, a very good source of beta-carotene, and a good source of zinc, summer squash provides us with a great combination of conventional antioxidant nutrients. But it also contains an unusual amount of other antioxidant nutrients, including the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants are especially helpful in antioxidant protection of the eye, including protection against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. While we often think first about carrots as providing us with antioxidant-related eye health benefits, we also need to start including summer squash in our list of antioxidant-rich foods that can provide us with health benefits in this area.”

According to US Highbush Blueberry Council, “With just 80 calories per cup and virtually no fat, blueberries offer many noteworthy nutritional benefits. Here’s the skinny on blueberry nutrition: Blueberries are packed with vitamin C. In just one serving, you can get 14 mg of Vitamin C – almost 25 percent of your daily requirement. Vitamin C aids the formation of collagen and helps maintain healthy gums and capillaries. It also promotes iron absorption and a healthy immune system.” They go on to say that, blueberries are full of dietary fiber, manganese and antioxidant activity. “Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals — unstable molecules linked to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Substances in blueberries called polyphenols, specifically the anthocyanins that give the fruit its blue hue, are the major contributors to antioxidant antioxidant activity.” 

Things Needed to make Zucchini Blueberry Bread

• Mixing bowl

• 3 eggs

• 1 ½ -2 cups sugar

• 1 cup coconut or olive oil

• 3 tsp vanilla

• Mixer

• 2 tsp cloves

• 2 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp salt

• ¼ tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp baking powder

• 2 cups shredded zucchini, fresh not frozen

• 3 cups flour

• Rubber spatula

• 2 cups blueberries, fresh not frozen

• 2 loaf pans

 Instructions to make Zucchini Blueberry Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. If your oven doesn’t come with a built in timer for this 30 minutes will be sufficient. Grease two loaf pans.
2. Shred the zucchini and set aside until needed.
3. Taking your mixing bowl beat the eggs until light and fluffy. Add to the eggs, the sugar, oil, vanilla.
4. Mix in the cloves, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder and the shredded zucchini.
5. Beat in the flour, a little at a time, until combined.
6.  Using a rubber spatula, stir in the blueberries. Avoid over stirring the berries.
7. Bake 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Now after reading all the health benefits of zucchini and blueberries what are you waiting for, try making Zucchini Blueberry Bread for your family.

Family Camp 2011

Zeely wanted to eat lunch on grandma's van

Family camping can be fun but a challenge. First, you have to get your family to agree on a time and a place. We went to Eby Pines in Bristol Indiana the last 2 years. I don’t know where we will go next year. 

The boys launching water balloons

Zeely wanted to play football with the boys

There was a lot of swimming as the weather was so hot. The boys liked to play touch football and launching water balloons at the girls. The little ones enjoyed simply playing with each other and running around in the stream of bubbles.

Even dogs come to family camp.

Cornhole game

Cornhole game

For the adults, it was good conversion, swimming, cornhole competition and cooking great meals over hot coals.

Setting in the shade for conversion

Oh and who can forget we made and enjoyed smores.

Read more on Seekyt 

How to Make Cupcakes Using Waffle Cones

My grandson waited very patiently for his cupcake.

Making cupcakes is an easy recipe; however, using waffle cones are even better.
When our grandchildren come to visit, I want to make something extra special that they will really enjoy.  Cupcakes with a lot of chocolate frosting would always do that, but I surprised them even more by baking them in waffle cones. The sweet taste of the edible waffle cone as a cupcake holder made the cupcakes special.
Let me show you a few tips on How to make cupcakes using waffle cones. 

 

Ingredients to make cupcakes using waffle cones:

• Waffle cones
• Cake mix or cake recipe from scratch
• Bundt/angel food cake pan
• Heavy Aluminum foil
• Frosting

Instructions to make cupcakes using waffle cones:

1. Preheat the oven set at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. You will mix the cake according to the directions on the back of the box, the one I purchased called simply for water, eggs and oil. If you prefer to make a homemade cake from scratch to make it even more special that is quite OK.
3. A Bundt cake pan is the best kind of pan for the job. I tried to use a spring form pan however; it was not deep enough to allow the waffle cones to stand up.
4. Take heavy foil maybe even two layers and cover the cake pan. Stick cones in the foil.
5. You want to fill the cones just as you would any cupcake. Make them about 3/4 full.
6. Bake the cupcakes in the waffle cones in an oven set at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for approx 20-30 minutes. You will have to test them just like any other cake. When you smell them and know when they are getting close to done, insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, it is done.

Summer Vacation at Grandma’s House Part 2

Uncle Ian and Zeely

Fishin Time at the cottage

Well it was great and only had a couple of times I had to pull rank as Grandma. She nearly broke my heart when we were leaving the Senff Family Reunion to take her home. She looked at me and said, "But I will miss you." As I was trying to explain to her we were meeting mommy and daddy at McDonald's to get some french fries she repeatedly said, "I want to go to the farm." Remember it's not really a farm but that's her way of distinguishing her home, our home and the cottage. 

Park at the Zoo

She loved petting and brushing the goats

Cousins Ryder and Zian, Uncle Ian and Zeely

Splashing feet is fun!

Z wanted googles like the boys!

We did have many laughs in our 4 days. We swam, went to the zoo, hung out with grandpa and the dogs, she saw her Uncle Ian and cousins, went to the cottage, the park, a bike ride and so much more. Man I'm wore out just thinking about it. But it was worth every minute of Zeely's summer vacation at grandma's house.

Lily Flowers

 

Playing with the setting on my camera

Purple Lily's

Lily's are so pretty in any color.

I love this color, no clue what variety.

Tiger Lily?

Even the Finches like Lily's

Beautiful Yellow Lily 

This post linked to Macro Flower Saturday

How to Bake a Moist Chicken

Avon Terra Cotta Baking Dish

If you want to bake a moist chicken you need to bake it in a terra cotta baking dish. Years ago mom used to sell Avon and bought their terra cotta baking dish. She gave each one of us kids one. I love and still have mine. It makes the best-baked chicken. The chicken turns out really moist.
If you do not like eating at restaurants all the time and you want to bake a meal at home, make a moist chicken by following my recipe.

Read more: on Notebook

This post linked to Foodie Friday
Girlichef

Summer Vacation at Grandma’s House

Zeely has been aware she was spending vacation time at Grandma’s farmhouse and cottage. Wednesday July 6, 2011 we met ½-way to make the exchange and have a great Tex-Mex meal at Hacienda Restaurant. Now for a 2 ½ year old an hour and half drive to meet ½-way can be an extra long drive. She was excited and ate a bit but then was ready to head to Grandma’s farm. It’s not really a farm we only have 1.6 acres but we are surrounded by farmland that belongs to our neighbor. Now what she didn’t realize was that long ride she took earlier was only ½-way but she traveled the distance very well, she nodded off for about ½ hour of it. However, now the vacation begins. Day 1 started with swimming. It was 90 degrees so the pool felt good.

Good Pic of Z but not of me

Neighbors Silo came down today with this

I'm not afrraid

The other machine used

Zeely, Grandpa and Mac Mac

Life is Good!