Wildlife Wednesday – Resident Bunnies

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IMG_3461Just hopping by this Wildlife Wednesday to say howdy and to post a photo of our resident garden bunnies. So far, spinach is the only thing they’ve eaten in the garden.

IMG_3538I read that rabbits like to eat chard, but for some reason they haven’t eaten any of our chard.
I suppose since these rabbits are wild, they didn’t get the memo on their preferred foods,  or it just occurred to me, that they’re saving the chard for their babies. I can see where that they’ve been pulling their fur & that means there’s a nest somewhere snugly & warm built for a litter of kits.

I think these rather well defined bunny tracks between a couple of my squash plants are a bit odd. I can’t figure out what was going on here for them to be in such an odd configuration. 😀IMG_3473

bunnydance
Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
ecbunny
spgrnbgln

Taking a Break

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IMG_3263Everything is fine and we’re all healthy, but I need to take a break for a few days. I’ll be back blogging when I can.

Meanwhile, you can enjoy the beauty of my 1st squash harvest of 2014.
For my newer blogging buddies & readers, the round squash are my favorite variety to grow.
These pretty ones are called ‘1 ball’ squash. In my opinion they have the best flavor of the round squash variety.
Along with their mighty good taste, I enjoy that they’re quite cheerful looking growing in the garden or picked and setting on a table.

Okay folks, I need to go for now.
Ya’ll take care and have a wonderful week.
See ya soon!
🙂
spgrnbgln

Happy Father’s Day Weekend!

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adadTo all the Dad’s & Caregivers of our children
Happy Father’s Day!graphics-fathers-day-016564
Here’s wishing everyone a lovely weekend.graphics-fathers-day-878738
🙂

As a small gift from me to you to celebrate this special
weekend, here’s one of my coloring pictures.
I hope you’ll print it off for a child or children to color.

Before you print this picture off:
Click on the image to open it in it’s own window.
At the top of your browser on the far left hand side choose ‘File’, then choose ‘Print Preview’
At the top of the print preview page is an option for ‘portrait’ or ‘landscape’
Try both and choose the one that fits the picture to the page best.
Then print the picture off.
🙂

toolsfd
spgrnbgln

Using a Mason Jar with a blender For a Single Smoothie

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My sister has one of those handy dandy single smoothie blender thingies. Like a good little sister still following in her big sister’s footsteps, I wanted one too. I use my blender for smoothies. It’s a bit off-putting to have to wash the many parts for one little old smoothie. So, as I said, I wanted a single smoothie maker.

I went shopping around the internet and was quite dismayed by the prices of the better rated single smoothie makers. I was sad and thought that I’d just stick with my blender… ~sigh of dismay~ and then my little old gears began to turn in my mind and brought forth a memory…

Back in 2001, after a stroke, my Mom couldn’t eat solid foods anymore. My Brother was her primary caretaker and he figured out a way to puree several different foods and keep them on hand without having to clean a complete blender every time: he used mason jars instead of the blender’s pitcher container.
It’s such a clever idea, I asked him how he thought of it.
He told me that back in his younger days, he and his friends made daiquiris in mason jars.
I think it was wonderful he remembered it. I believe that God teaches us things to use later on in life, even when we’re not aware of it. I think the lesson of the mason jar and blender was meant to help during the time of his caring for our Mother.
Mom was certainly grateful for his knowledge and tender care in helping her to try and get better. I wish Mom was still with us. I think she would enjoy the smoothie craze. She loved making milkshakes for us young’uns and our Dad. Mom loved making new recipes, especially dessert type foods.

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After remembering about the mason jar and blender idea, I got a pint mason jar,  put some ingredients in it and happily made a single smoothie.
Goodness it was tasty and clean up was so much easier.

Unfortunately, not all blenders are mason jar friendly. However, if your blender is one that can be used with a mason jar and if you decide to use this idea, some of my following suggestion might be helpful:
-follow blender manufacturers recommendation about ice or frozen ingredients.
-fill the jar only about 3/4 or less of-the-way full,
-make sure the blender collar fits the neck of the jar securely
-use quick ‘pulses’ until you’ve chopped up the crushed ice or/and frozen fruit and/or large chunks of foods. After it’s fairly well chopped up, blend it normally.
-now and then you may need to take the jar off the blender base, leave the blender collar/blades on the jar, shake the food down and then put the jar back on the base to blend some more.
-you can pour your smoothie in a glass or do like I do and drink it from the jar.

I’m glad I remembered the mason jar/blender idea. I use it for more than smoothies. It’s easy to chop nuts, bread crumbs, crackers or other things, put a ring/lid on the jar and save them for later.

Do you have a favorite blender recipe or helpful hint?
Wishing you a smooth rest of the week.

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