Scenic Winter Fun and a Great Dessert

These 2 things really do go together..

This is the beautiful dessert and treat bowl that I got as a Valentine's Day gift from Sweet Peggy. I was inspired to create a delicious dessert to inaugurate it. I baked an almond pound cake, sliced and layered it in the bowl with almond custard, strawberries, pineapple and toasted almond slices... a "Taste of the Tropics Triffle".

So delicious, it smooshed together as it sat and was actually better the next day and day after that!

Feeling just a tad guilty from such indulgences, we figured it was time to try out our new snow shoes. We first drove east to a new trail system through the woods, but it is SO new, that the small area for parking was not plowed out.... not discouraged, we turned around and went near the airport to an area called French Rapids.... it was perfect.

The Sun was shining, it about 18 degrees was just right for our activity, not crispy cold or warm enough to be sweatin'

The frozen Mississippi behind Peggy, forms pond areas and back-waters. We stayed near the shore and walked the curvy shoreline. Woodpeckers were high overhead tapping and chirping for us in the tall birches and pines.






As we climbed up off the frozen ponds, we found an old fencepost that was perfect for setting our camera and grabbing a cozy photo shot.











This picture does not truly illustrate the length or steepness of this hill.. There was just a little breeze, the views were gorgeous and we liked the traction of the metal cleats under our feet.










I am near the top of the hill, with the ponds of the Mississippi behind me... clear air and just beautiful... the Sun felt warming and I think we got a little burn on our faces... felt good!

Heading away from the river for about 1/4 mile before hooking back up to the trail, we followed 3 big deer, keeping just ahead of us, spinning around to see where we were and then disappearing, as we got to an old back woods road. Their footprints just vanished, that is one of the things we love about the deer.. almost magical behavior.

Getting home and warming up with a cup of coffee, we were amazed by the continuing big blossoms on this plant we keep in the kitchen window.

We've had it a long time, and it has decided, perhaps because of the fertilizer in the water we've given it, and the Sunny window, that it is time to show-off. Peggy carried into our "Sun room" for this. Our other house plants are doing okay, but this one is thriving.

We are almost finished packing, Scooter and Charlie will check into their "Hotel" this evening, and we are about off to Sunny Florida.

Fun in the Sun, no matter where we go, really living and enjoying the Blessings in our life!

Peace!

More than Valentine's Day, it was Valentine's Season!

Another perfect cure for the Winter doldrums.

Our Chapel hosted a wonderful, romantic Valentine's dinner. I was asked to be the Chef for this affair. It was held in a beautiful, elegant social hall in Baxter.

After a couple meetings with the "crew" to decide on menu, grocery getting and plans, we were set to dazzle our guests.

With thick ice on the roads here, temperatures below freezing, and just basic Winter boredom setting in, this was a really fun activity.

After my epidural injection, I've been going to physical therapy a couple times a week to loosen up some muscle groups affected by the pain, stuck in a kind of defensive reflex. This Valentine's dinner activity made moving around more fun... oh yeah! Gettin' loose!



Here I am putting the finishing touches on the Cornish Game Hens... one of the 2 main choices.




The other menu choice, shown here is a Beef Wellington in puff pastry.

Served with garnishes and a creamy cheesy vegetable medley, this looked good enough to eat!









We served my now famous Waldorf Salad with toasted walnuts, and I made some heart shaped croutons for the top... very romantic (for a salad).












The Seafood Bisque was divine! Rich, creamy, velvety and topped with a grilled shrimp and garlic bread stick, this was a soup for the books!

It was truly a "roll your eyes back and Mmmm" flavor...
I had many requests for the recipe.






Peggy came to visit in the kitchen as we were serving the meal... She can stand the heat in the kitchen just fine!









Our Valentine's Day was the best one ever!

Fun and romantic gifts, lots of time together and relaxation made it all extra special.

I grilled us big rib-eyes for our romantic dinner, and it was a perfect couple day affair.

Cute and wonderful gifts, I got a "triffle bowl" to make and serve wonderful desserts, Peggy got some creamy chocolates from our hometown candy shop, and lots of other fun dittys were exchanged.


My big surprise was this beautiful frame job on an old print I was keeping. I love the whimsical picture of bears raiding some fisherman's picnic basket, but it was pretty rickity. Peggy had it backed and framed.. now it is my masterpiece.. perfect for our northern Minnesota home.






We are excited to be soon leaving for Florida, full of ideas for hikes and exploring in the Sun. We'll be visiting my sister, Paula and "just hanging out" for a few days.... oh yeah!

Life and Love continue to be Blessed as we get through the rest of the Winter here, the melting snow this week making us feel ready for riding the Kingpin too!

Peace!

A break in the Winter with the boys

What could be a better way to break out of the Winter doldrums than an auditorium full of motorcycles and good people?

6 a.m. Saturday morning, 10 of us left Brainerd in the Chapel Bus and headed south to downtown Minneapolis. Destination? The Progressive International Motorcycle Show.

We stopped in Saint Cloud for coffee and a snack then back on the foggy road south...

We parked the bus and entered the arena.. we beat the crowd and I got to take a little trip down the road on a customized Harley with Flo the Progressive Insurance gal. No bugs on this run, the weather was perfect and we rode a few miles through the woods... oh yeah!



After a couple hours of wandering, slack-jawed at all the beautiful machines, the Convention Center really started to fill up. Our group, with different favorites and interests split up with a spot to meet 4 hours later, it was fun to bump into each other through the day and see what was going on with them.







This beast is the definition of "OVER KILL". A Boss Hoss, customized with a 502 ci engine and nitrous injection boosters giving it up to 700+ horsepower! I'm not certain how one would control all that power and the machine weighs 1100 lbs or more.. at $50,000+ I didn't even check my account balance before deciding this one wasn't for me. Yup, over kill.







Now THIS ONE however, hmmmmm.

This is the new Victory Cross Roads in red. It has a newly designed aluminum frame incorporating the engine air intake... it is a bit lower than our Kingpin, and has a lower center of gravity... very comfortable, and with the Freedom 106 engine would be awesome to ride. Great back rests available for Peggy too!

It was fun to meet up with the dealers that we bought our Kingpin from in Brainerd at the booth, easily the best display booth of any make at the show.


If I rode alone, or money was absolutely no object, this would be the Victory for me. The HammerS. I love the mat-finish retro-red and black paint scheme. With the Stage One performance kit on it (the one we also have now on our Kingpin) would roar down the road with authority... this is what I think a motorcycle should look like!

We all loaded up with "freebies" and entered lots of contests. The bus ride back was great as we compared information and what was in our "goodie bags".

Peggy and I have been working on our Wedding Pictures, still arranging and getting our album "just right" and having fun looking at them all. We also got a great DVD of our wedding last week, after it had been "tweaked" and had titles put on. Wow, was that an experience to watch, the music was fabulous and the experience was very romantic.

I'm getting primed to be Chef again. Our Chapel, as a romantic fundraiser, is hosting a big Valentines Dinner for couples. We've got the menu planned and the crew will meet later this week to buy the groceries and then prep on Saturday for the Sunday evening affair! Oh Yeah!

Life is overflowing with Love and Blessings as we get through this Winter, looking forward to Spring and another season of fun adventures!

Peace!

The ol Suzy is getting "factory fresh"

I got a few emails this last weekend from the fellow I sold my '79 Suzuki to. I'm glad he is staying in touch and showing me some of his restoring work on this classic.

Looks like he has a great shop to do his work.








Up on the elevated table for the frame-stripping.


The bike has never been in any crash, so was a perfect candidate for restoring.

Years back, never thinking I'd ever sell it, had it painted British Racing Green to match our 2003 MiniCooperS.. they went together well!





Like the colors of new! I will be happy to see the completed and reassembled bike.. it was the cover bike and motorcycle of the year in 2 publications in 1979.. These are the original factory racing colors that were on this limited production bike.

Unable to get certain original parts, this restoration will be completed with "time appropriate" improvement accessories like header exhaust and oil cooler... awesome!







Of the 200 made and imported to the USA, I am proud to have bought one new, rode it off and on for 31 years and sold it to this guy! I wonder how many are left, on the road, in museums or what.... This will certainly be a classic collector bike.

I'm laying low, taking it easy for a few days, letting a lumbar epidural of cortizone settle in. Guided by "real time" x-ray imaging, the needle placement and injections were precision...

The relief will be most welcome!

Peace!

Van-Go

Truly the "End of an Era"... bought brand new in 1993 by Mom and Dad, the ol' Astro is sold and will be "parted out".

As a Minnesota Winter vehicle, it would be hard to beat this one... all wheel drive and anti-lock disc brakes. With decent tires, this van would "tank" through any slush or snow with ease!

With only about 120,000 miles, it was past it's prime and has been having some system failures for the last year.... one thing or another. It was time to let go...

Worth more used as parts than it would be repaired and sold, the recyclers came and lifted it away and paid us well for it. Awesome service!

We've had more snow, fluffy flakes, fierce cold, powdery snow, bright Sun, and more snow than any Winter I've been in Brainerd. oh yeah, lots of snow!

The roads, intersections and side streets are in terrible driving condition... hard-pack slush and glare ice coated. No excuses necessary to stay in and hibernate, the less driving around possible, the better.

Peggy and I have watched a few movies, enjoyed good soups and food and kind of kicked back and relaxed the last couple weeks.. we watched "Dinner for Schmucks" last night and it is hilarious! It reminded me of the madcap comedies of the sixties and early seventies like Peter Sellers and others, a real hoot!

We've not yet tried our new snow shoes, with long hours at work and treacherous roads, we've been content knowing that we'll "get to it" when the time is right. Right now it is a game to just keep the driveway clear and the street end clear after plows come by.

Hooked on "Crunchy Jumbles" cookies, I'll be baking another batch soon. Chili is on the agenda now, we finished up the yellow pea and ham chowder, and the spicy chicken barley stew with vegies... good food to keep the glow going with this awesome Winter we're having.

I've had blood-work done and a new MRI this week, an appointment with an Orthopedic Specialist will see how to "tune-up" my lower back coming soon..... geesh!

We are enjoying Life and Love this Winter as the snow continues to fall, content to hibernate and "just be" for a while.

Peace!

Icy rain then lotsa snow for New Year's Eve

Nice hobby, keeping ahead of the snow and icy stuff on the driveway and walks. I like to keep it all cleared and "good to go" for Peggy, she's got to be able to get to and from work.

Lots of good fresh air, crisp cold and a little sunshine makes the work fun, and it does look good when it is all tidy.

We bought a pint of big fresh oysters and I made a pot of stew to celebrate last night. Scallion greens and a bit of finely chopped sweet onion, cream and a pinch of cayenne, then thickened with some Yukon Gold Potato.... oh yeah!


The grove behind our back yard really got frosted with the heavy rain.. slushy, then snow sticking to that, then a big drop in temperature is making the branches heavy and saggy.

The entire town is like a holiday postcard for views... and Christmas lights really shine at night with the frosting!




A big rabbit was under the bird feeder this morning looking for dropped treats and a bold squirrel was on the deck pulling down sunflower seeds from a hanger.

The chickadees are not afraid of the dogs and come right up and use the feeders... nice to have them so close to the house now.







Scooter and Charlie enjoy the backyard paths I blow off for them. It got very cold last night and Charlie got scared after a few minutes outside and ran, 3 legged back to the deck, poor fellow.

I'm waiting for delivery of my snow shoes, Peggy's came already... With our trekking poles, we should really have fun on the snow trails now!
That's my new experience/adventure plan for the new year.

Nothing major for 2011, more of the same will be fine with me... Living, Loving, Learning, Exploring and Sharing Life!

Peace!

Spreading Christmas Cheer

All the "Christmas Cheer" is spreading to my waist! Cookie baking and tasting, extra goodies, fun meals and food... whew!

Peggy and I recently got Trekking Poles, kind of like a cross between a walking staff and cross-country ski poles, for hiking. Nice grips, collapsible, they even have spring shock-absorbers in a section. We went to our Arboretum yesterday to do some hiking and try them out. Perfect conditions for it, about 2 inches of packed snow on the bike trail and fluff on top of that.... a perfect test for the added stabilization they are to provide, along with
upper-body and core strength benefits. As I was getting dressed in my "longies" and insulated hiking pants, I realized that my waist has grown a couple inches in the last week or so.... oops! So I had a snug-bottomed hike... good thing we enjoy doing stuff like this so much.. I'll wear off the cookies and treats in no time. We ordered 2 pair of "Powder-ridge Crest" snow shoes. 25 inchers, one pair with a "women specific" design" This will be a great year to try out that activity.. we've really got the snow for it and we can use our trekking poles doing it.

Peggy (Mrs. Claus), was granted a wish. She
could request any meal she desired for Christmas Eve. She had to work extra long holiday hours and deserved extra benefits from me (Mr. Claus).

Of all the foods, all the wonderful Chef inspired delights I am certified and qualified to prepare, she chose..... TAH DAH!... a Muffaletta!

I had made one for her a long time ago and she remembered well how succulent it is.

Pastrami, Salami, Spiced Dried Sausage, Provolone, Swiss, Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions, Black Olives, Garlic all compressed, layered and
arranged in a hollowed out loaf of crusty bread, before wrapping in foil and roasting into a gooey, juicy, crisp outside, steamy, delicious sammich!

It was AWESOME, and we put away almost the whole thing listening to Carols and feeling very cozy and grateful on Christmas Eve.

We traveled West to visit family, early enough for a Holiday Breakfast with ham... lots of good reminiscing with everyone. And of course, more cookies and treats!

We will be continuing our "Holiday Tour" this
week, heading both North and South for more family visits... (weather permitting). I will have to keep busy and moving around, doing lots of that "putzing" I'm famous for, to burn off all the celebration treats.


Peggy and I hope that the Love and Light of Christmas continues for everyone now and through the coming New Year!

Peace!

Deer in the driveway and Sleeping Woodpecker

We've got to keep our cameras more handy... As we "deck our halls" and "make merry", animals in our neighborhood seem to be getting in the spirit also.

As I blew the snow off the driveway and did some shoveling, I wondered what made deep narrow holes near the shrub-trees along our driveway. I was surprised to find deer tracks right up to our back steps under the new fallen fluffy snow... they led to the holes. The deer must have stood up to their chests in the snow with their front legs, to stick their faces in the shrubs. It did not appear that they chewed, it looks like they just nuzzled faces into the bush.... maybe the fragrance attracted them or maybe they did nibble some small shoots from inside?

Then this morning as I was heading to the garage, I saw a downy woodpecker on the suet block hanging on our back deck. I went back to the house and told Peggy that our new feeders had been discovered. I went back out and the bird had not moved... I approached it and it didn't move, so I tapped on the kitchen window to get Peggy's attention. She watched as I walked up to the feeder... I thought perhaps the bird was scared and had caught it's foot in the wire feeder cage. I softly whistled and said "hi there", thinking I would gently free it. It turned it's head to me, chirped a loud scold and flew away. I had caught it napping... must be great suet!

We did some shopping, running around, got hairs cut and other fun stuff today. I am baking another batch of one of my favorite all-time cookies, the original 1956 Betty Crocker recipe, Molasses Crinkles. The whole house smells wonderful with cinnamon, cloves and ginger as they bake.

Making our lists and checking them twice, feeling very blessed this Christmas Season....

Peace!

Oh Fudge!.... it's Cookie Time Again!

There's nothing like the aroma throughout the house of baking cookies to bring on the "holiday spirit".

Our wonderful Chapel had a group come up with the idea for a "cookie exchange". Each participant would bake 13 bakers dozen cookies or treats to bring. One bakers doz. would go to the Boy Scouts, the rest were distributed among the 12 others. We even brought groceries for the "food shelf".

A couple of good silly games passed time while things got in order...

I had baked some Swedish Butter Cookies with almond or maple flavors, madeleines, and Peggy baked some of those famous "peanut blossoms" (peanut butter drop cookies with a big Hershey's Kiss pressed into the middle).


We have a folding camp table set up in the kitchen for additional counter top space for all this Christmas baking... hmmm, I could get used to an island in the kitchen.


At least Peggy and I are drinking more milk lately as we sample the crispy and chewy delights.






The snow completely missed Brainerd, all falling well south of us... but we did have cold temperatures and stiff breezes. Scooter and Charlie wanted their hoodies on.

The great smells and all the activity in the kitchen gets them excited. Once in a while, they do luck out and find a crumb on the floor.... what a prize!

Charlie seems to be smiling about it all.





Not always good at "taking turns", there are a few little arguments over who gets to go into the kitchen next... Scooter may have budged in line here.

We've addressed and mailed some cards, decorated the house real nice and cozy, play Christmas carols, and now are pretty caught up in the spirit of things.

I went out this morning and found one of the presents I had in mind for grand daughter Lydia!
(makes good noises too!)

May the Holiday Blessings we enjoy in life be shared and felt by all!

A friend sent me a great saying this morning "Live your life in such a way, that each morning when your feet hit the floor, Satan shudders and says "oh no! they're awake!"

Peace!

A Night of Christmas Delight

It's now a tradition for us. The Arboretum Winter Wonderland. Sponsored light displays of Christmas scenes are set up on the trails and in the woods. Opening Thanksgiving weekend, this is a drive-thru exhibit except for 1 or 2 nights. On those nights, for a small fee, the entire trail is open for foot-traffic only. How cool!

We met some of our kayaking friends inside the main lodge and then buttoned up for the hike.

Awesome new displays this year along with the familiar ones.



One of our favorite paths leads to the chapel in the woods... so realistic, it seems we would be able to walk right inside.


We had fueled up real good with ciambatta rolls filled with spicy chicken and cheese, baked beans and hot coffee with cocoa mix in it... oh yeah!

The air seemed to get more brisk every couple minutes... very energizing!



The aroma of bonfires, the woods and the crisp snowy air made the hike even more wonderful.
Peggy liked the beaver gnawing through this tree, which topples to the ground every 10 seconds or so. We were imagining how huge and great this all would look to little kids snuggled in the back seats of their parents cars, slowly driving through this.





I can relate to these elves on ladders fixing something on the house in the Winter.. hee hee.

Not a large crowd on the trails but it was romantic and made us get "into the spirit".









A new display this year was Bethlehem. The largest scene of the trail, about 50 feet long and 20 feet tall.. the Angels and Star are nicely detailed. We were humming carols and having a real good time!

Back to reality Monday morning, I've got bread baking, steaks ready for supper and a small list of things to keep me busy. Feathery snow came down this early morning, so some sweeping outside was due, and the plows came by, filling in the end of the driveway for a bit of exercise too.

We're getting a bit more used to the early darkness of this season... feels like bedtime around 6, but with decorations to get up, cookies to bake, cards to address and other fun things, we are having a ball.

This is a great time of year to feel like a big kid, remembering the "reason for the season", and all our blessings!

Peace!

Christmas Decorations on the way up!

It has been such a nice week. It looks like Winter is here to stay in Brainerd, so time to "batten down the hatches", so to speak, and get in the mood for the Holidays!

We went to St. Cloud yesterday. Great day for a little road trip... we don't need much of an excuse to explore.

We drove back on a different road, on the east side of the Mississippi this time. Up north through Sartell. Nice to have different views, enjoy some new scenery, such as it was, and just go with it.

Getting home, we unloaded the stuff we bought at Sam's Club. That in itself is a hoot... "let's see, where do we put 6 cases of olives and 400 rolls of toilet paper?" Actually, not that bad, but it is fun to joke about some of the quantity buys we find.

Peggy got some good Christmas music going as I putzed in the kitchen, soon the decorations were coming up out of the basement and we had the Magic come over us... lights went up, tinsel was hung, all sorts of good Christmas memories and delights in our home now!

Jezzie thought the tinsel was inviting and rolled around in it before napping.

The dogs love watching us do these things, staying just out of the way.

I cooked up some basamati rice, made a cream custard with vanilla, added tart dried cherries and steamed it in our Wasserbadform for an hour. It is incredibly delicious! Sweet and with the fruity tartness of the cherries, a great Holiday Pudding. Yup, gonna be fun using this gizmo all season long.

Brainerd is in another "winter weather advisory", up to 5 more inches of snow perhaps, beginning late this afternoon. Awesome... I do miss taking the Kingpin for rides, but there's no chance now as Winter weather has come to stay. We are going to have a great weekend, Christmas cards, decorating, baking and other fun Holiday Stuff to keep us busy and feeling So Blessed, as our Lives and Love grow together.

Peace!

No longer looking like Autumn here!

It's hard to believe that there is almost a month left in Autumn here in Brainerd. Last night, in a Winter Advisory, we got up to 6 inches of snow, some places got half a foot, and nearby reports of .167 yards of heavy, powdery snow fell.

After having some good hearty toast and peanut butter, it was time to fire up the sno-blower for the first time of the season. I'm glad I brought it into Friendly Ace for a complete "going over" and tune-up. It runs like new!

The air smelled fresh and felt crisp. Underlayers and coveralls kept the drafts out while I blew off
the walks, driveway and backyard "potty paths" for Scooter and Charlie.

The dogs seem excited by the changing seasons, watching out the windows and extra alert.

As strong and frisky as they are, they are not equipped for real cold weather and deep snow.

They enjoy watching the chickadees and nuthatches come and eat at our feeders.






I like making the back yard paths. It gives Peggy and me a way to walk around and enjoy the scenery out back too.











This colorful fat squirrel is a regular in our back yard. Looks like some kind of "hybrid", blackish tail, gray back, white tummy, brown ears and white eye rings, I believe squirrels are cross breeding... this one hangs by his hind toes and eats seed.... drives the dogs nuts!









Quite a difference outside today, this was only 10 days ago. It is 20 degrees out, the winds may pick up through the evening... who knows?

I'll probably be starting up the snowmobile one of these days if this snow stays. It seems like it will.

December soon, Peggy and I will be decorating our home for Christmas in the next week or so.

I made a big pot of chili last night and a steamed chocolate fudge pudding in my Wasserbadform.
I am going to look at more recipes for this unique piece of equipment and will make a Christmas Pudding. Great time of year for hearty soups, great baking smells and fun in the kitchen for sure.

Married life continues to Bless, Strengthen and Encourage, (good things for good girls and boys)

Peace!