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Category: Around the House

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup

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Winter weather is just around the corner. I hear whispers of, “Broccoli Cheese Soup” in my brain and belly. Here’s a recipe I found online the other day. I think I’ll try it. Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup Servings: 8Ingredients Original recipe yields 8 servings 1 tablespoon butter ½ onion, chopped ¼ cup melted butter ¼ cup all-purpose flour 2 cups milk 2 cups chicken stock 1 ½ cups coarsely chopped broccoli florets 1 cup matchstick-cut carrots 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced 2 ½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese salt and ground black pepper to taste Directions Gather all…

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Squirrels and Pumpkin Pie

Squirrels and Pumpkin Pie

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Every fall I decorate with a pumpkin on my porch. This year the squirrels got to it before I did. As you can see they ate a hole in the side and even ate the seeds inside. Guess I’ll have to dig deep in the freezer for pumpkin pulp made from last year for Thanksgiving pies. Have you ever made a pie from a pumpkin? The instructions are below. Pumpkin Pie from Scratch We grow our own pumpkins so I…

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Leaf Life

Leaf Life

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Leaf Life In the beginning, a tiny budonly a bump on a branch,my friends and I. Soon became full-blown leavesproviding shading shadowson hot days to a nearby home. In fall, our foliage morfedto brilliant reds and yellows—my friends floated to the earth. I clung to the branchuntil, I too, joined the others,no longer able to clap praise to our Creator. We lay listless until strong windsscattered us in scurrying swirls.Then we were raked into orderly piles,sucked into a dark tube,mangled…

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Resurrection

Resurrection

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With all the rain this summer, the mint around the patio took over everything. In order to rescue the strawberry plants, I bought this fancy pot and transplanted some for safekeeping. After about six weeks, they have taken hold and are doing well. They are everbearing. I wonder if I might get some fall strawberries. Do any of you have a pot like this? Do you take it in in winter?

Beet That Can’t Be Beat

Beet That Can’t Be Beat

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For the longest time this year I didn’t think I’d harvest any beets. They finally came up. This is the biggest one. Over a  pound! Very delicious. I planted a second crop for fall, but that’s when the rain stopped. None of that planting came up. Well, there’s always next year!

YUM!

YUM!

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Colorado peaches arrived last week. They ripened quickly and since I bought about 65 of them, I had to do something–quick! I made 33 half pint jars of peach jam after I made five pies. Now the pies are in the freezer and the jam is in jars. This will be soooo yummy on those cold, winter days. Then in my insanity, I bought another box! They should be ready to turn into something by next week.   My books…

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The Joys of Autumn

The Joys of Autumn

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I planted a flower garden to help my bees have more flowers to work on. Nothing came up but weeds. I’d love to spray them, but that would kill the bees so I’m reduced to pulling them one by one. When I finished, my clothes were covered in stick-tights. It took more than a half hour to pick them off. Drat!   My books are available on Amazon.com here.

Goodbye, Old Friend!

Goodbye, Old Friend!

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Fifty-five years ago, my back door neighbor and his dad planted a tiny pine tree. Recently, several branches attacked the house it had shaded these many years. The fallen branches didn’t puncture the roof, but it did crack the supports. Upon further inspection, it was apparent this senior tree had suffered a lightning strike. The diagnosis: For everyone’s safety, they tree had to come down. So, one day this past week, fifty-five years of growth disappeared in a matter of…

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Funeral Plants

Funeral Plants

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Ever wonder what happens to those plants you send to a family for a funeral? They grow–and grow–and grow! These were about eighteen inches tall twenty-one years ago. After about ten years they were too tall for our house so I donated them to church for the fellowship hall. They have continued their reach for the sky. I water them every Sunday. When I croak, I wonder who or if anyone will continue their watering.   My books are available…

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Sure Indication is Here

Sure Indication is Here

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One sure way to know summer is here is to hear the chorus of cicadas ringing in our ears.  I sat outside the other night and watched a cicada emerge from that ugly brown shell. It took quite a while. I didn’t know they came out green at first. Then miraculously, his big wings popped out from somewhere. He sat there slightly quivering for quite a while in order for his wings to dry out enough to fly away and…

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