Lemon Waffle Cake

Okay, I just had to try this one. The recipe called for one box of Betty Crocker SuperMoist cake mix ~ chocolate. All I had on hand was a box of lemon cake mix.

Mix together 3 eggs, 1 and 1/3 cups water, 1/3 cup oil and the cake mix (2 minutes) Bake in heated waffle iron until done (3 - 5 minutes). I filled the iron 4 times.

I served the cake warm, with ice cream, and bananas dribbled with rum. 

It was a super quick dessert to put together and would be very unique and fun to serve guests.The rum-flavored bananas weren't bad either!

Please see my very latest updates here: My Kids Said I'd Never Do This... Thank you!

Today's Project

Branch Out Burlington, a non-profit promoting tree planting in our area, had a tree sale. I picked up two of them ~ a flowering white Hawthorne and a pink Adam ~ to replace two that we lost this past year. Getting the trees loaded into the Forester was the easy part. Digging into the still mucky clay in the yard was the challenge.

Without Addie's help, I couldn't do it by myself. The trees do not look like much now, but I have high hopes that they will grow well.

Here are a few photos of some flowers in bloom right now. I love the color of this parrot tulip.

These white tulips start out white, then gradually turn purple. AND they are called "Shirley Tulips."

The flowers on this tree seemed to have opened overnight. They are attracting bees and butterflies.

Someday I hope to see our two new trees flowering just like this!

Lesson 10, Digital Photography 101

I've made it through 10 of 13 online digital photography classes from universalclass.com. The recent assignment was an easy one: focal point. Choose a subject and take three photos, each with a different focal point. The challenge would be to use three different types of lens: standard, telephoto, and wide angle. I simply used the zoom feature on my Panasonic Lumix. Here are my photos:

These were taken indoors with no artificial light on an overcast day. ISO was 1600.

The third photo looked just a little washed out. Picasa to the rescue! I brightened the white, added a little shadowing, highlight and fill light. I liked the result.

Now it's on to the final lessons on Black and White, Portraits, and Creative Tips.

 Heads up, Lucy ~ I do think you are due for a canine photo portrait.

They're Still Loving It

We enjoy seeing the different kinds of birds attracted to the feeders. But new feeders can be so pricey. This is one made out of a recycled plastic bottle and a perch from a local pet store. I posted a photo of this feeder a while back when snow was still covering the yard. Now it's Spring, and here's a new photo. I wonder if it's the same bird???

On the Bikepath

 Another incredibly gorgeous day in Vermont. Geo talked me into taking a walk on the bikepath.
 He took Lucy and I took my camera. Here are a few photos I snapped along the way.

                                 Heading home, over the bridge. Here's a photo of Allen Brook.

Lake Champlain Today

It's an amazing 79 degrees today, March 20th, and an ideal day for a picnic here in Vermont. Geo and I stopped for Subway sandwiches to-go and headed for the lake.

Lake Champlain was as calm and smooth as could be. So glad to have my Lumix with me. I snapped a few photos using different camera settings. This is the one I like best.

The Challenge

At Mass this morning, Father Jon challenged us to reflect on our basic purpose in life ~ " Why are we here?" A sound philosophy of life, knowing our purpose, guides us in making both major and minor decisions.


He asked us to reflect on ways we may be trapped by certain cultural views that keep us from accomplishing our purpose. These are the ones he named:


       ~ Individualism: "What's in it for me?"
       ~ Hedonism: "If it feels good, do it!"
       ~ Minimalism: "What's the least I can get by with?"


A good Lenten reflection...Which areas of my life are controlled by those viewpoints? What is my true purpose in life?

The Old Mill Park

Today is a beautiful "early May day" in Vermont. Today, however, is March 17. Vermonters are out in shorts and neighbors are raking their yards. Too good to be true. No doubt Mother Nature still has a snowstorm or two up her sleeve before May really arrives.





This is also a perfect day for a hike at the Old Mill Park in Jericho. So we packed Lucy in the car with  a few extra treats and we drove to Jericho via Skunk Hollow Road.






The Old Mill Park is one of my favorite places.
                                                                             

 

A great way to spend St. Patrick's Day!

I Finally Found One

I finally found a cookie recipe I like: Cashew Cookies.


My kids would tell you that baking is not my forte. Putting together a Thanksgiving dinner, no problem. Baking a batch of cookies ~ aaghh!


So when the inspiration descended upon me this morning to do some baking, I dashed into the kitchen to pull out the ingredients before that inspiration would disappear.


I found this recipe from ~ of all places ~ the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library website (via twitter). There was an intriguing post about cooking with George Washington Carver. There I found a peanut cookie recipe that looked simple enough and tasty. 


I needed to make a few adjustments. No peanuts on hand, so I used cashews that I bought yesterday. George Washington Carver said to use well greased pans, but I rely on parchment paper. One small detail ~ there was no oven temp given. I tried 375 degrees for nine minutes and that was amazingly perfect.


Here's the recipe, with my modifications:


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream 1/2 cup butter with 1 cup sugar. Add 2 well beaten eggs and 1 tsp vanilla. Gradually add 1 cup milk, 1 tsp baking powder and 3 cups flour. Last of all, mix in 1 and 1/2 cups ground cashews (I smashed them in a "baggy" leaving some fine bits). Drop batter by spoon onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 9 minutes.


My yield was 52 cookies. 


Next I'd like to change the recipe using walnuts and orange zest, or use almond flavoring instead of vanilla. I might even try peanuts!

The New Feeder

Here's a recycled plastic soda bottle. I found an inexpensive perch at our local pet supply store. After punching a hole at the bottom of the bottle, I knotted a thin cord and threaded it into the bottle. The new feeder was then ready to fill with seed.


The birds are loving it.

Dinner and an Opera

Geo and I were invited to a home in Stowe for a potluck dinner and a Met Opera live-stream 2008 production of Thais. I've seen opera live-stream productions before, but in a theater, never in a private home.

There were twelve of us. The hosts organized the dinner and provided wine and cheese. We enjoyed our meal, then viewed the opera. Our hosts have a subscription for Met operas and pick them up on their computer that they connect to their large screen TV. In their TV room, it felt like a private screening of this spectacular presentaion.

Live-streaming is a great way to enjoy opera. The camera not only brings the drama up close, but also goes backstage to see scenery changes and even into the orchestra pit to see the musicians. There is some commentary and, of course, translation of the lyrics at the bottom of the screen.

Thais is powerful, a drama of conversion, redemption and loss. Even though I had not been familiar with this opera, I immediately recognized the musical theme. The "Meditation" is so very poignant. Geo and I especially like Yo Yo Ma's rendition.. (It is easily found under "Thais" on youtube.)

A huge thank you to our hosts who made this experience possible. A delightful evening to long remember.

Back to Class

Meeting with friends for dinner last week, I learned about a service offered through the public library ~ online on-going education. As a "lifelong learner," I knew this was something I'd have to investigate. Online at my convenience! And all that's needed is a current library card.

So I went to my local library website, found "Universal Class," typed in the barcode number from my library card, and ~ voila~ there are approximately 500 classes from which to choose.

For my first class, I decided to take something very useful ~ Digital Camera 101 ~ a great class for us point-and-shooters who neglect to open the camera's owner's manual.

I discovered there are 13 lessons with narrative and video and weblinks for further study. My instructor Eric is available by email for questions. There's opportunity to connect with others taking the same class. There are exams and assignments.

So I've completed 2 lessons including the exams. I submitted 4 photos for evaluation that illustrate my new skills. I do think I now have working knowledge of  "iso" and  "white balance." My anxiety about changing default settings is gradually disappearing.

Eleven more lessons and I'll be ready to tackle another online class. Am thinking Brush Strokes 101 (for oil painting).

Two thumbs up for Universal Class, and thanks to my friend Janet for recommending this.