Love To Bake

 

I love to bake and always have.  In past years I have not really done much baking.  There is a couple of reasons for this….I don’t have a proper oven and I don’t want to weigh 500 pounds.  So having a kitchen to play in for a week ended up being a baking frenzy.

I already shared the lemon pudding cake with mixed berry topping, now I have pictures of pumpkin cheesecake with a crushed ginger snap crust.  It was really, really, yummy, of course a cheesecake with 2 pounds of cream cheese in it should be.

 

In the water bath ready for the oven.

The finished product….yum, yum, yum.

And what is a baking frenzy without several batches of cookies? 

 

 

So what did I do with all of these wonderful baked goods?  The cookies I took to work and shared with my co-workers,  the cheesecake?  Rex and I ate the whole damn thing!!

We both started our diets Monday….

Happy Birthday!!

Happy 7th Birthday Alan!!

I try to make sure that all of our children, their spouses, and grandchildren get a birhday card on their special day.  Sometimes it taxes my memory to make sure it happens, so I try to have hints to help me remember the date of everyones birthday.   

We used to have a "carny" game in the casino called 3-5-7.  I know--so what the hell does this have to do with birthdays?  Never fear, it will soon become clear.

The Saucer boys were born in 2003, 2005, and 2007...see 3-5-7.  Because of that game it is easy for me to remember the year of their births and ages.  Since they have all had their birthdays this year, they are now 3, 5, and 7--another 3-5-7!  Thanks Amy and Daniel for making this easier for me to remember!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Daniel!!!

YES WE HAVE NO BANANAS

ARIZONA GROUND SQUIRRELS

IT’S BEEN NICE AND QUITE HERE IN THE SILVER CREEK VALLEY JUST OUTSIDE OF OATMAN, AZ, JUST THE WAY WE LIKE IT.

BUT SUDDENLY WE ARE AGAIN UNDER ATTACK! ARIZONA GROUND SQUIRRELS, VERY NASTY AND DESTRUCTIVE CREATURES.  IN JUNE AND JULY WE SAW THEM OFF IN THE DESERT BUT  THEY STAYED AWAY FROM THE CAMPER AND THE HOUSE.  WE DECIDED THE LAND OWNERS DOG DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF RUNNING THEM OFF AND KEEPING THEM OFF.

YOU MAY REMEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN WE FEED THEM POUNDS OF WRIGLEY’S JUICY FRUIT CHEWING GUM?  THE DAMAGE THEY DID TO HOSES AND PLANTS MADE US CRAZY.

LAST WEEK THEY CAME BACK, AND SNEEKED INTO THE GARAGE TO EAT THE HOME OWNERS HOUSE PLANTS THAT MARY IS IN CHARGE OF OVER THE SUMMER.

THE “HAPPY CAMPER” MARY, TURNED INTO ONE “PISSED-OFF CAMPER” !!  SHE WAS BACK ON THE SUBJECT OF A SHOT GUN ………

I DON’T WANT TO GET SIDE TRACKED ON A GUN CONTROL ISSUE. I OWN TWO GUNS. MY DAD’S SQUIRREL GUN, A 22 RIFLE WHICH I STORE AT UNCLE HANS’ HOUSE IN SPOONER, AND MY MOTHER’S SHOT GUN WHICH I STORE IN MY SON-IN-LAWS GUN SAFE IN NEW MEXICO.

INSTEAD I PICKED UP A BIGGER AND BETTER MOUSE TRAP TO USE ON THE ARIZONA GROUND SQUIRRELS.

THE ACTION ON THIS TRAP MIGHT BE UNDER A GOVERNMENT PATENT BY NASA.  IT’S QUICK AND HARSH.

BACK TO THE WAR.  THE NEW WEAPON IS WORKING OUT JUST FINE ……

 

BTW HEATHER, I’M USING YOUR PEANUT BUTTER SUGGESTION AS BAIT IN THIS BATTLE.  THANKS !!!

Warning !!!

Subject: FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HOSPITAL .....VERY SERIOUS WARNING!!!


I do this all the time! I guess I won't be doing it ANY more !

A few days ago, a person was recharging his mobile phone at home.
Just at that time a call came in and he answered it with the charging Instrument still connected to the outlet.

After a few seconds electricity flowed into the cell phone unrestrained and the young man was thrown to the floor with a heavy thud. As you can see,
the phone actually exploded.

His parents rushed to the room only to find him unconscious, with a weak heartbeat and burnt fingers.

He was rushed to the nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Cell phones are a very useful modern invention.
However, we must be aware that it can also be an instrument of death.

Never use the cell phone while it is hooked to the electrical outlet! If you are charging the cell phone and a call comes in, unplug it from the charger and outlet.



 Surgical Services

Miami, FL 33136

EDITOR'S NOTE:  THANKS FOR THE SUBMISSION UNCLE HANS.  MARY AND I HAVE QUIT ANSWERING THE CELL PHONE WHILE IT'S PLUGGED INTO THE CHARGER.

PRICKLY PEARS

THIS IS THE FRUIT OF THE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS THAT THE JELLY IS MADE FROM.

ALL DONE

WE WRAPPED UP OUR HOUSE SITTING CHORES FOR 2010.  LIVING IN A HOUSE WITH A POOL DURING THE HOT SUMMER IS A REAL TREAT.

 

BOTH PLACES HAVE DOGS TO CARE FOR SO WE’RE BOTH ALL DONE WITH OUR DOG FIXES FOR THE YEAR AS WELL.

I THINK MARY STILL HAS SOME COOKING PICTURES ON HER CAMERA SO THERE SHOULD BE A COUPLE MORE DELICIOUS BLOGS COMING.

WE RETURN TO OUR SECULED 40 ACRE SUMMER CAMP,  NO STREET LIGHTS, NO NEIGHBORS, NO KIDS, NO BARKING DOGS, NO 6AM GARBAGE TRUCKS, NO FLASHING NEON SIGNS, JUST THE PEACE AND QUITE.

LIFE IS GOOD !!!

Happy Birthday Paul!!

Happy Birthday Paulie!!!!

A REAL KITCHEN!!

I am a lucky lady.....I have access to a real, full sized, full service kitchen for a week!!!  Cannot tell you how excited I am!!

Have cookbook...will travel!

Doesn't that look like an interesting combination?  Let's see we have dijon mustard, soy sauce, maple syrup, salt, and pepper.....

Sounds like a  sauce to put over the brussel sprouts, red peppers and onions.    AND I forgot to get a finished picture.....HOW short sighted (or do I mean "memory challenged") is that?  It was pretty tasty but I wouldn't make it again anytime soon.

Let's move on to dessert, at least I have a finished picture of that.

I watch a lot of Food Network shows, and one day I saw Tyler Florence making this dessert.

Quite frankly, this doesn't look that appetizing..but it is a batter in one cup ramekins.  They are sitting in a water bath, ready to be placed in the oven.

After  being baked, the cakes are inverted on a plate AND

dusted with powdered sugar.  It was very lemoney and a little on the tart side.  The berries were a good mix although a person could have just gone with one kind.    This dessert is called "lemon pudding cake with fresh berries" and it truly had the consistence of pudding or custard.

Will definately make this one again.  Gotta love a real kitchen!

HOUSE SITTING

WE’RE HOUSE SITTING THIS WEEK.  IT’S KINDA LIKE GOING “CAMPING”.  FUN FOR US TO LEAVE THE CAMPER AND LIVE INSIDE A HOUSE FOR A WEEK, ESPECIALLY NICE IS THE BACKYARD SWIMMING POOL.

ALTHOUGH MARY ENJOYS AN AFTERNOON SWIM, IT’S THE FULL SIZE KITCHEN THAT SHE ENJOYS PLAYING IN.

SO WE ARE BUSY FEEDING DOGS, WATERING PLANTS, PICKING UP DOG SHIT, AND CLEANING OUT THE POOL FILTERS.

THE BEERS ARE COLD, AND IT’S “SUNNY & 110”, PERFECT POOL WEATHER.

FRIENDS SURPRISE US

WE WERE SURPRISED WHEN TODD AND DI FROM PRAIRE DU CHEIN, WI CALLED AND SAID THEY WOULD BE OUT TO LAUGHLIN NEXT WEEK!

THEY GOT A FREE FLIGHT AND ROOM FROM THE RIVERSIDE RESORT AND CASINO, DUBUQUE TO LAUGHLIN.

WHEN TODD STEPPED OFF THE PLANE HE THOUGHT HE WAS STANDING IN THE EXHAUST OF ONE OF THOSE BIG JET ENGINES, BUT NO, IT WAS JUST OUR WEATHER ON THE LOWER DESERT.  HE SPOTTED A BANK THERMOMETER THAT SAID IT WAS 122 DEGREES.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT JUST A HALF AN HOUR BEFORE WE WERE GETTING OFF TO GO MEET TODD AND DI AT THE RIVERSIDE, COLE AND DAWN WALKED UP TO THE CRAPS TABLE.  SURPRISE !!!

WE HAVE NEVER SEEN DAWN AND COLE IN THE SUMMER BEFORE.  THEY ARE A COUPLE FROM BLACKSTONE RV PARK THAT WE WATCH PACKER FOOTBALL WITH WHENEVER WE CAN.

WE TOLD THEM TO MEET US AT THE RIVERSIDE IN AN HOUR AND THE SIX OF US HAD A GOOD OLE WISCONSIN VISIT.

DI, THANKS FOR THE WISCONSIN SWISS CHEESE, AND WE WILL SEE YOU GUYS ON YOUR NEXT VISIT TO LAUGHLIN.

COLE AND DAWN, WE’RE HOUSE SITTING THIS WEEK COME ON OVER FOR A POOL PARTY.

Motorcycle Opener

We recently had our annual motorcycle family opener, an overnight gathering of Rechsteiners and others for biking and fun. This was the group. Neil, Jake and Laurel, Hans and Renee, and Neil's friends, Don and CArol, in the Saab turbo convertible chase car.....

....we ran into this adorable old couple who's hobby it was to drive this Model T Ford from coast to coast each summer..........

....this was last year's trip..........

....for those who might not remember, this is the starter on the Model T.........

......Renee gave it a try, but could not make it pop...........

.....this delighted the little old lady, who giggled as she started it with ease..........

....it was hot, so we take off the helmets. It makes for some interesting "doos"....

....towards the end of the day we get a little blurry. So we start ordering our beer in smaller glasses.

At this point in the fun, we start planning the family snowmobile outing...........

By Uncle Hans

Another Three Year Old

Boy 2007 was a busy year….Rex’s grandson Joey turns 3 today.

Happy Birthday, Joey!!

Century Plant

Recently we had the opportunity to see a century plant.    A century plant is a member of the agave family.  It blooms once in 25 years…so no one seems to know where it got the name “century” plant.  I am also sure that I read somewhere it is also related to the amaryllis and  I can believe it because of the speed the flower stalk grows. 


 

Look at that …..it’s like a plant the size of a large table shooting a spike 25 feet into the air.  And it only  takes 6 to 8 weeks.  It is amazing and to tell the truth, even though we drive past this place everyday that spike was just about this tall when we finally noticed it…hard to believe!  Here’s another shot of it.





Here is a shot of the top of it….





It had a somewhat “Bonsai” look.  Really kind of cool.  In the first picture you can get a good idea of the plant.  Within two days of taking these pictures, they cut down the spike and removed the plant.  The energy it take the plant to create this spike, kills it.  And it looked old and dried up when we took these pictures.


We sure were lucky to be on the scene when this once every 25 years event took place!!  Oatman can be a really amazing place to be……even if it does have a lot of burro shit to watch out for!!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday, Heather!!