Sunday, February 20, 2011

Ode to a Squirrel

 

"A squirrel leaping from bough to bough, and making the wood but one wide tree for his pleasure, fills the eye not less than a lion, is beautiful, self-sufficing, and stands then and there for nature." - RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Outside my window, in the early light of the morning, I spot this squirrel.  He is a busy, happy little fellow, hopping from the tree to the roof of the trailer beside of us, gathering his nuts, his tail swishing joyfully.  He takes his treasure back to his tree to enjoy in peace.

Watching him in the mornings gives me such a feeling of peace and happiness.

Last Sunday, Phil and I went to the Pittsburgh International Auto Show.

 

Pittsburgh car show

 

Pittsburgh car show2

The best thing about the car show?  I did not see one new car that I’d trade my convertible in for.

I made Lefse this week.  I first had this when we were in North Dakota last year, when Sherry brought it to me.  I had forgotten about it until I came across a recipe the other day and decided to try it.

 

Lefse

Lefse is like a tortilla but it is made with potatoes and flour.  I topped mine with cinnamon sugar.

Ingredients:

10 pounds potatoes, peeled

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon white sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

1.
Cover potatoes with water and cook until tender.  Run hot potatoes through a potato ricer.  Place into a large bowl.  Beat butter, cream, salt, and sugar into the hot riced potatoes.  Let cool to room temperature.

2.
Stir flour into the potato mixture.  Pull off pieces of the dough and form into walnut size balls.  Lightly flour a pastry cloth and roll out lefse balls to 1/8 inch thickness.

3.
Cook on a hot (400 degree F/200 C) griddle until bubbles form and each side has browned.  Place on a damp towel to cool slightly and then cover with damp towel until ready to serve.

I won four things this week

$50 Gift Certificate via e-mail to Sterling Silver Jewelry Gallery that I used to get this ring.

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Doggy Dangle

The Doggy Dangle is great for dogs OR cats.  It clips right onto your pet’s collar, offering a burst of color!

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Objects in the Mirror earrings

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Journey Gem

What's a Journey Gem?  A unique and beautiful gift for the person who has everything or just for you!  A gorgeous stone "donut" tops a spray of shells, stone, glass and crystals.  Add serenity to your drive by attaching this journey gem to your rearview mirror.  Or hang it from a mirror in your home, a lamp, a doorknob, or on the wall.  Wearable?  Why not?

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I just finished Margaret Coel’s novels about a Jesuit priest on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.  Great series!

Now I’m reading Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

Supernatural fantasy has a new antihero.

Life sucks, and then you die.  Or, if you're James Stark, you spend eleven years in Hell as a hitman before finally escaping, only to land back in the hell-on-earth that is Los Angeles.

Now Stark's back, and ready for revenge.  And absolution, and maybe even love.  But Stark discovers that the road to absolution and revenge is much longer than you'd expect, and both Heaven and Hell have their own ideas for his future.  Resurrection sucks.  Saving the world is worse.

Darkly twisted, irreverent, and completely hilarious, Sandman Slim is the breakthrough novel by an acclaimed author.

16 comments:

  1. I am absolutely INSANE about squirrels! Thanks for posting!

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  2. Following you from the Good Friends Follow. :)

    http://raisingmy5sons.com

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  3. What a cute little blog you have! I like how your posts vary!
    I am now following you from the hop and would love a follow back at http://mizzreviewlady-mommyreviews.blogspot.com/
    I have about 11 giveaways going on right now! COme check out my blog!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for joining Good Friends Just Click! I'm GFC following. Hope you join us again next week!

    www.mamalovesherbargains.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks so much for stopping in...returning the follow for the Tuesday Hop ☺ Then I'm off to peek around through your blog.

    http://socratesisdownstairs.blogspot.com/

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  6. Love those squirrels, too cute! Following back from Mommy's Peanut Gallery :)

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  7. Following you from the Good Friends Follow. :)

    Thanks for you comment, great site =]

    www.texasbargainmom.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. ~ HI, thanks for stopping by Living at the Whitehead's Zoo. Glad to have you following me and just gave you a follow back.

    Amber

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for the follow.
    Following you back
    Misavings mama.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Kathy, following you back!

    I love the pics of the squirrel...he would bring me a feeling of peace too.

    Anna

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  11. Hi, I'm a new follower from the hop today. Thank you for stopping by my blog earlier today. A few years ago, my husband and I went to Norway and I LOVED lefse. My favorite kind could be found at the local gas stations! LOL!

    Nicole
    http://momalwaysfindsout.com

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  12. I love your blog's header. Makes me homesick to see all those palms!

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  13. Love your blog! Thanks for stopping by mine! I'm your newest follower :o)

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  14. Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm following back.

    Donna

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  15. Wow, you are one lucky gal to win all that. I enter and have won some great things. Mostly over Christmas when I had to win to give gifts (no kidding)
    It's WW and I'm hopping and following. Need blog support. One vote please to get a $10,000 bathroom makeover. For us, it would MAKE THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. The emails to validate the vote may be going to spam and I don't think people are looking there. I don't like having to ask but I don't know any other way to get votes. Thanks in advance. If you need something ...ask me, I will help anyway I can in return. http://bit.ly/gZ676u

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  16. Would love to try the Lefse, are they like potato pancakes? They look good.

    Congratulations on your wins!

    Mary/SweepingMe

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