Passionate Amateur

October Woods

2011-11-09T11:14:00.003-05:00

Creepy Tree

2011-10-17T14:04:00.002-04:00

Encourage each other,

Misty Lake

2011-10-10T08:37:00.003-04:00

Encourage One another,

Horse

2011-10-07T08:00:00.003-04:00

Encourage one another,

My Fountain

2011-10-05T09:46:00.007-04:00

Encourage one another,

Wool

2011-06-23T08:43:00.000-04:00

I love fabric!

From the Garden, Queen Ann's Lace

2011-06-21T05:47:00.007-04:00

I Love Spring Time!

2011-04-27T12:31:00.003-04:00

Encourage one another,
Lena

Shuckstack Fire Tower

2011-04-11T06:26:00.024-04:00

We hiked from Fontana Dam in North Carolina to Shuckstack Fire Tower a couple of weeks ago. It was very cool!

At about 2 1/2 miles in to our hike you could see where we were going, look closely between the trees, at the top of the mountain peak, Can you see it? Shuckstack Fire Tower in the clouds.

See It? It this point I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. But I could see it was going to level out for awhile, my legs were very happy about that.

We made it!
The fire tower was build in 1934 and is 60 foot high. It sits on top of Twentymile Ridge.

The view was breath taking!

I didn't go all the way to the top of the tower. It felt a little shaky, and it is in need of some repair. But, the views were amazing from where I was anyway.

We climbed a little more than 2100 feet. Total hike about 8 miles. And was sore for about three day. But loved every minute of it.

Sunrise trough the trees

2011-04-08T07:12:00.002-04:00

Chickens

2011-04-04T13:23:00.003-04:00

I'm have changing my mind about what these little guys are. Just a few short weeks ago they looked like this, and I thought they were Buff Orpingtons.

But now they look like this. At 8 weeks old.

I think they are Rhode Island Reds. I didn't order them, but I was happy to see the surprise in the box when I received them.... Rhode Island Reds are good birds, and good egg layers. But NOT these!
Because, I think they are all boys!

I'll catch you up on my chicken count. Started with 22.
Two days after receiving them I lost one to Pasty Butt. ..... Yes, that is a real chicken medical term, haha.
Every one was doing great until, at 8 weeks, we let them out of the coop. And the dog got 3 of them. One black Australorp and two Rhode Island Reds. I love my Lab but, I wanted to beat her!!!
So, Now we have 18 and out of those 18, 10 are boys! Can you imagine the noise thats going to come from my coop when they start crowing!

Is any one out there interested in a Rooster? I have 9 to many.

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

2011-03-29T06:40:00.000-04:00

I've been looking for a recipe of biscuits that can freeze for later use.
One day, I spent a couple hours making several batches to go in the freezer, of a different recipe. They turned out a little hard. My husband would ask, if we were going to have rock biscuits with dinner again. haha I was a little glad to see them gone.

This recipe is much better, but I'm always looking for new ones. If you have any to share. Please send them to me.

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the board
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold
3/4 cup buttermilk (approx)

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 450°F.
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Cut the butter into chunks and cut into the flour until it resembles course meal.
Add the buttermilk and mix JUST until combined.
If it appears on the dry side, add a bit more buttermilk.
Turn the dough out onto a floured board.
Gently, PAT (do NOT roll with a rolling pin) the dough out until it's about 1/2" thick.
Use a round cutter to cut into rounds.
You can gently knead the scraps together and make a few more.
Handle the dough at little as possible.
Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet- if you like soft sides, put them touching each other.
If you like"crusty" sides, put them about 1 inch apart- these will not rise as high as the biscuits put close together.
Bake for about 10-12 minutes- the biscuits will be a beautiful light golden brown on top and bottom.
Do not over bake.

*Note: The key to real biscuits is not in the ingredients, but in the handling of the dough.
*The dough must be handled as little as possible or you will have tough biscuits.
*I have found that a kitchen aid or food processor make a better biscuits, because the ingredients stay colder and there's less chance of over mixing.

*Note: You can make these biscuits, cut them, put them on cookie sheets and freeze them for up to a month.
Simply place them frozen on the cookie sheet and bake at 450°F for about 20 minutes.

After frozen place in a freezer safe bag for later use.

I found this recipe on food.com

Blessings,

Church Steeple

2011-02-28T06:25:00.001-05:00

Blessings,

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T05:30:00.005-05:00

Blessings,

Baby Chicken

2011-02-11T05:30:00.004-05:00

Baby chicks do not have the ability to maintain there own body temperature without an external source of heat. A brooder box helps provide the warmth that the baby chick will need. A brooder box can be any thing from a plastic box, a wooden box, a child's swimming pool, a card board box, or even a pet carrier. They will also need a brooder lamp (heat lamp) to keep them warm. There first week of life they need it to be 95 in there brooder box. They like it hot! Just like me. You can lower the temp in the brooder box each week by 5 degrees.
Here is our brooder box we built to keep them in until they are old enough to go outside.

It is 3x4 and 2 foot tall.

We had it built before the chicks arrived. We were planning on 14 birds. Not sure how crowded it will be with 21 babies. But, No worries, the ground hog said spring was coming early. :-)

They are so funny to watch, just as busy as little bees in there new home.

Blessings,

I heart my cast iron skillet!

2011-02-10T05:30:00.000-05:00

I have had this skillet for 29 years now, its just a baby in cast iron skillet years, and will last me lot longer. They just get better with age, if you take care of them.
When I was visiting my sisters, I was looking at her cast iron skillet. Its looked so smooth and shiny.
Made me realize it was time to once again season my skillet. Seasoning a cast iron skillet is a natural way of creating a non-stick surface.
Here's how I season my skillet.

Heat oven to 250 degrees. Using two racks in the oven. Place one in the middle of your oven. Another on the bottom with a foil lined cookie sheet, to catch any drippings from your cast iron skillet.

There may be some smoke, so you may need to open a window or use your oven fan. I've never really had any problem with smoke.

Rub a thin layer of shortening, like Crisco, lard, or bacon grease, all over the inside, bottom, and sides. I have used liquid vegetable oil, but I wasn't happy with the turn out, it left a sticky surface on my skillet and didn't season properly. The stickiness did go away after a time or two using it.

Place the skillet upside down on the top rack over the foil lined cookie sheet.

Bake cast iron skillet for 1 to 2 hour. Allow skillet to cool. It will be very hot! If your pan is new you will need to repeat this process 3 to 4 times to get a good seasoning bond. When it comes out of the oven wipe off any excess oil.

When the pan is perfectly seasoned, it will be smooth and shiny and very black in color.

I re-season my skillet when food begins to stick to the surface or rust spots show up.
Happy skillet seasoning,

Blessings,

Early Morning Sunrise

2011-02-09T05:30:00.004-05:00

I took this from the back deck. Can you see the moon and one star just past the tree?

Blessings,

My baby chickens have arrived!

2011-02-08T05:30:00.018-05:00

I have wanted to have chickens for a long time, and now I have them! 21 of them!
Don't think I'm crazy, I didn't order that many, I ordered 12 pullets, and 2 males, for those of you wanting to learn, A pullet is a young, female hen somewhere between 4 weeks old to under one year. I was thinking some might not make it, And would end up with 10-12 chickens.
But that's not what I received. They sent me 22 baby chickens.

They are so tiny! and cute!

This is a Black Australorp. Which is what I ordered. They are suppose to be quiet, docile, cold hardy, good egg layers, and good for a beginner back yard chicken owner. That's me!
I received 14 of these. Hopeful 12 girls and 2 boys, but we will see about that.

This, I think is a Buff Orpington, I didn't order these little guys, but they are very cute. I won't know for sure what they are until they get bigger. I received 8 of these babies.

I lost one of the black australorp's. :-( All the others are growing and looking good.

Blessings,

My kitchen window winter view

2011-02-07T05:30:00.004-05:00

The ground hog said spring is coming soon! I hope he's right!

Ice Covered Trees

2011-02-04T05:30:00.007-05:00

Blessings,

Cow

2011-02-03T05:30:00.004-05:00

I love her little curious head tilt.

Blessings

Christmas Candle

2010-12-10T07:01:00.004-05:00

Until next time,

Sunflower

2010-12-02T16:42:00.003-05:00

Blessings,

Barn

2010-11-03T07:53:00.004-04:00

Until next time my friends,

Barn

2010-11-02T06:30:00.003-04:00

Until next time,

Barn

2010-11-01T06:30:00.004-04:00

Blessings,

Snippets from the Beach

2010-10-05T07:43:00.005-04:00

Blessings,

Snippets from the Beach

2010-10-04T07:25:00.007-04:00

Our first day at the beach, has been cloudy and cool, :-(, but, still very happy to be here!

We walked down to the pier today, it is about 4 miles away from the condo. To far! That little 8 mile walk about did me in.

Blessings,

Mountains

2010-09-28T12:36:00.005-04:00

Always remember you are loved,
Until tomorrow,

Beaver Chewed Tree

2010-09-22T06:30:00.002-04:00

I wonder how long the little beaver has been working on this tree?

Never give up on your dreams,

Rock Towers

2010-09-20T19:32:00.012-04:00

We can across these little rock towers one day, as we were on our way back from a hike. We were driving alone, when I yelled STOP! I was so glad no one was behind us, cause my hubby stopped right in the middle of the road ... Scary!
Someone spent some time setting them up. There's was a bunch of them, to many to get in the picture.

How many do you see in that second picture?
nine, ten, eleven or is it twelve?

Let me say "Thank You" to who ever took the time to set them up, we really enjoyed see your work.

I hope this week God brings each of you very special blessings my friends,

Daddy

2010-09-19T08:23:00.006-04:00

Miss you so much!

Thistle Bud

2010-09-15T16:24:00.006-04:00

This seems to be the only flower around. That's sad.

I've not had the internet for a while and I almost hate to say how much I've missed it.
Until Next Time,

Fern

2010-08-26T21:41:00.003-04:00

f/4.5, ISO 400

Until next time,

Twins

2010-08-25T22:02:00.009-04:00

Camera info, I was using my Nikon 18-135mm lens, f/4.8, ISO 400.

Until next time,

Thistle Bud and Flower

2010-08-24T19:53:00.018-04:00

60mm micro lens, F 4, ISO 200, shutter speed 1/125.

60mm micro lens, F 4.5, ISO 400, shutter speed 1/250.

Until tomorrow my blogging friends,

Butterfly

2010-08-23T23:16:00.009-04:00

Until next time,

Green Leaf in the Woods

2010-08-08T22:39:00.013-04:00

Blessings to all,

Lamb's ear

2010-07-31T20:36:00.007-04:00

Hydrangea's

2010-07-29T19:14:00.010-04:00

Blue is Beautiful!

Blessings,

Tall Trees

2010-06-27T22:32:00.009-04:00

beautiful, breathtaking, magical, peaceful, inspiring. So many wonderful words to describe the feelings I feel when I get to spend time outside.

But, It all comes down to this.

I am in awe at what our Creator has made.

Unicorn Beetle

2010-06-17T23:35:00.016-04:00

I found this Beetle at work the other day, I had to catch him and bring him home so I could take his picture, "of course". I research on him, because I had never seen one before.

He's a Unicorn Beetle or Hercules Beetle. He can exceed 2 1/2 inches in length. The male has a horn that is about 2 inches long, mine must have been a female because the horn was only about 1/2 inch long. Also the Unicorn beetles are relatively rare.

Which is the strangest part, since I found him in the bank parking lot and boy was I glad that he didn't die while I was keeping him in the tub in my office all day.

After taking his picture I set he free at the back of my property. He should he happy back their.

Ya'll have a great weekend,

Pedals

2010-06-13T22:45:00.007-04:00

Bridges

2010-06-10T23:08:00.004-04:00

Mushrooms

2010-06-06T20:56:00.006-04:00

Barn Door

2010-05-26T22:05:00.004-04:00

Ya'll, Have a great one!

Gerber Daisy

2010-05-24T19:34:00.005-04:00

Chives

2010-05-23T22:07:00.007-04:00

Your Blog Friend,

Cumberland Falls

2010-05-19T21:36:00.012-04:00

I took this shot when we where on a hiking trip several weeks back.

Here's some facts about Cumberland Falls State Park in Kentucky:

It's sometimes called the "Niagara of the South" . It's 125 feet wide and drops 68 feet into the Cumberland River. At night durning a full moon you can see the only "moonbow" in the Western Hemisphere.

It is a hikers paradise, with 20 miles of hiking trails. If your not a hiker there's White Water Rafting and Horse Back riding, as well.

Ya'll come by and visit,

Blessings,

Big Building

2010-05-18T22:22:00.005-04:00

Ya'll have a great day!

Window

2010-05-12T22:21:00.009-04:00

Until tomorrow ... or the next day .... or the next ...

Gerber Daisy

2010-05-11T22:08:00.005-04:00

May your troubles be less,
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.

Until...

Iris Pedals

2010-05-10T19:03:00.006-04:00

Until.....

Lilac's

2010-05-06T22:12:00.012-04:00

Sorry, I haven't been around a lot lately, I've been very busy. I'll get back on track soon. Hope everyone is good.

Ya'll have a great day!

Leaves

2010-04-29T22:47:00.009-04:00

Blue and green, my favorites!

Ya'll have a great weekend!

I Love Spring

2010-04-22T21:46:00.011-04:00

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

Blessing,

Butterflies

2010-04-21T22:13:00.005-04:00

Ya'll have a great day,

Playing in the Sprinkler

2010-04-13T22:10:00.011-04:00

Some people have little children playing under the sprinkler, in their back yards.

Welcome to my world!

Ya'll have a great day!

Grape Hyacinth

2010-04-11T22:51:00.005-04:00

Until tomorrow,

Iron Rooster

2010-04-08T21:56:00.010-04:00

“Rooster today, feather duster tomorrow”

Ya'll have a great weekend!

Plum Tree Flowers

2010-04-07T23:09:00.005-04:00

Ya'll have a Great Day!

Plum Tree Flowers

2010-03-31T22:12:00.010-04:00

Have A Great Day!

Horseshoes

2010-03-30T05:00:00.003-04:00

Good Luck!

Have a Great Day!

Gerber Daisy

2010-03-29T05:00:00.005-04:00

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Ya'll have a great day!

Daffodils

2010-03-26T05:00:00.002-04:00

I Love these sweet faces!

Ya'll have a great day!

Spring is here!

2010-03-23T05:00:00.002-04:00

Blessing,

Grass

2010-03-18T22:27:00.008-04:00

Impatiently waiting for summer

2010-03-16T05:00:00.002-04:00

Have a great day!

Flower on a dish

2010-03-15T08:12:00.004-04:00

Green Leaf

2010-03-12T05:00:00.002-05:00

Ya'll have a great day!

Lola

2010-03-09T07:23:00.008-05:00

Blessings,

Lola

2010-03-05T06:54:00.006-05:00

Ya'll have a great weekend!

Grass Spikes and Blue Skies

2010-03-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

I am looking forward to seeing you again!

Ya'll have a Great Day

Talk About Split Ends

2010-03-02T05:00:00.005-05:00

My Neighbor's Fence

2010-03-01T08:29:00.007-05:00

Ya'll have a great day!

Seed Pod

2010-02-25T08:00:00.010-05:00

Ya'll have a great day,

2010-02-24T05:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Daddy, I miss you!

Ya'll have a good day!

Sunlight

2010-02-23T05:00:00.004-05:00

Ya'll have a great day,

Wilber's Nose

2010-02-18T05:00:00.004-05:00

This is one big nose!

Don't you think.

Talk about BIG wet nose kisses.

Have a Blessed Day,

# 132

2010-02-17T05:00:00.007-05:00

I love his little tuft of hair and big ears.

#132, you are so cute.

Blessings to you, my friends,

2010-02-16T05:00:00.002-05:00

Love

bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

LOVE NEVER ENDS.

1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Mosaic Monday

2010-02-15T05:00:00.003-05:00

Mosaic Monday hosted by Mary at Little Red House

I miss Purple.

Bubbles

2010-02-12T05:00:00.007-05:00

Bubbles suspended in my hand sanitizer

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them. ~John Shirley

Hi Colleen, I see you! Thanks for following me! See you Sunday!

Have a Blessed weekend!

Candle Sticks

2010-02-11T05:00:00.002-05:00

Orange daylily

2010-02-09T05:00:00.002-05:00

Blessings to all,

Weekend visitors

2010-02-08T05:00:00.004-05:00

My son came to visit this weekend and brought his puppy with him.

Meet my Grandpuppy, Yoda

He's so cute.

Blessings to all,

The End

2010-02-05T05:00:00.002-05:00

This is my pot belly pig, Wilber.

The back side at least.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Dried Hydrangea

2010-02-03T05:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Dory!

2010-02-02T05:00:00.002-05:00

I'm so blessed you're my sister

And also my best friend
If I ever want to borrow
You always gladly lend
When I need a laugh or two
I just give you a ring
You have this special knack
To say the right thing
You are so very special
Always there for me
If I didn't have you sis
How different life would be
Laughter and tears we've shared
Throughout the many years
And so many times
You have banished my fears
I love you so very much
This I just want to say
You brighten up my life
In so many different ways.

I'm not sure if you know just how much you mean to me. I couldn't imagine life without you. I am truly blessed to have you as my sister.

Happy Birthday!

Please go by and wish Dory Happy Birthday with me.

I Love You Sis,

Mosaic Monday

2010-01-31T22:56:00.009-05:00

Mosaic Monday hosted by Mary at Little Red House,

Fire in the sky

2010-01-29T05:00:00.003-05:00

I know this is not that greatest of shots, but, I LOVE the color of the sky.

This was taken January 13th. Early morning.

It looks like the sky was on fire behind my neighbor's houses.

Don't worry, it wasn't.

Have a great weekend!

Through old glass

2010-01-28T05:00:00.003-05:00

I think this picture looks like my camera was vibrating, but, it was on a tripod.

I took it from the back bedroom looking outside. This is one of my older

windows I was telling you about, that I haven't replaced yet. It still has the old wavy,

bubbly glass in it.

Looks kinda COOL, don't you think.

God's Word

2010-01-27T05:00:00.002-05:00

This makes me want to cry

2010-01-26T05:00:00.002-05:00

I went to the local fitness center in town to workout last night. I spent one hour on the elliptical machine, went 5.4 miles, had 9554 strides, lost 548 calories.

I was very happy about this, until ..... I realized this equals the calories I lost.

PS. I ate 4 .... I should have just stayed home and eaten one and I'd be at the same place, and I wouldn't have sore legs!

Blessings,

Mosaic Monday

2010-01-24T22:41:00.008-05:00

This is my Mosaic Monday.

First let me say,

Thank You, to Mary at Little Red House for hosting for us.

Please go over and visit her and check out all the other mosaic's.

I've been taking pictures of my birds in my back yard this week, And I've not been very happy with my pictures, and here's why. I love my house but, its old and has older windows. I have been replacing the windows a few at a time. I've replaced 23, and have 12 more to go.

Anyway, the window looking out to the back yard is one of the old ones and it has waves and bubbles in it. Which makes it hard to get any good pictures. I bet I've deleted over 150 bird pictures.

Actually, Looking at these, none of them were taken from inside the house. I must not have gotten any good ones.

Blessings,

Lola

2010-01-22T08:29:00.008-05:00

Have a great weekend!

Algae on a Lady Bug House

2010-01-21T07:55:00.009-05:00

Blessings to you,

Painted Wall Mural

2010-01-20T05:00:00.002-05:00

I love this.

This is painted on a building in my sister's town.

I love the look's on the ladies faces.

The one on the left looks pretty happy showing off that big rock on her hand.

And, it looks like the one in the middle is saying to herself, Oh My!

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. ~William Shakespeare

Blessing to you,

Summer Wild Flowers

2010-01-19T17:13:00.005-05:00

Today is my 100th post!

Can you believe that. How time flies when your having fun!

Thanks for coming by,

Green Grass

2010-01-18T07:53:00.009-05:00

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Ps. 90:14

Blessing to you,