the awkward stage

I often see Canadian Geese, adults, and babies, but it was a delight to see some adolescents. Teens that liked hanging out with mom even!

And just like many mothers of human teens, it appears that mother has a headache and would like to escape for a while.

But the teenagers just keep following her, when she tries to scold them, they bury their heads in the water rather than talk back.  I think mom's getting a few gray hairs now, don't you?

This looks like SO much fun!

Have a seat

Maybe my sense of humor is whacked, but shortly before discovering the turtle (yesterday's post), I came upon this bench.  I found it rather humorous that the path I was walking was mowed, yet the bench was waist high in weeds.

Macro Monday - the Turtle

It's amazing, to me, that turtles move slow enough to grow moss on their backs.

This is a different turtle from Saturday's post.  They seem to be everywhere!

Hello, Bright Eyes!

Macro Monday is easy to play, snap a macro (or any close-up) photo, post it on your blog and come back here and sign MckLinky. Don't forget to visit each other. :)

I think he wants to go home with me.

Coltin turns 1 year old

Our grandson, Coltin, lives in Missouri with his parents and we don't see him near enough but we did go down for his first birthday. Hard to believe he's one year old now!

He's toddling around very well, but still likes to hold legs. He did surprisingly well with us considering we hadn't seen him since he was 3 months old!

He loved swinging. . .

. . .and riding on his daddy's shoulders. . .

. . .and tasting rocks.

My step-daughter, Marissa with Cole and daddy, Justin.

This is his bestest friend, Deacon, also one year old.

Deacon with his mama, Dallas.

They grow too fast!

Snapping distance

My husband, by now, is used to me yelling 'Stop! i gotta grab my camera, there's a _____, pull over.' Poor guy doesn't even flinch anymore.

He quickly slowed down (does that make sense?lol), did a u-turn and pulled off for me. This guy was huge!

He seemed friendly enough though.

I laid in the road, to get on his level, but I stayed out of snapping distance, his snapping distance anyway.

What kind of soup?!

Forget the $1.25 burger, give me som' uh that HO-MADE soup please, but only if'n I can meet the ho tha' made it. I forget if this is technically in Monitowoc or Three Lakes, but it's somewhere between the two, and every time I see the sign I laugh and think I should get a photo. This time I had the point and shoot ready as Dennis sped past. I think I embarrass him sometimes, but he's learning to live with it.

Did you notice the seagull?  Maybe he's tomorrow's soup?

Cashew Chicken Recipe

Fun Cooking Monday
originally posted Monday, 24 September 2007

Lisa at the Food Snob is hosting this week's Fun Monday; don’t forget to visit her site to see a list of participants. She got us back in the kitchen and I know you will be as shocked as I was at her request ;)

I want to see your favorite recipe, be it either because your grandmother wrote it, it's the easiest thing you can slap together that everyone likes, it makes you feel healthy, it's cheap, etc. You don't have to make it (although you could if you want) but let us see the index card, cookbook, printed paper from the web, and why it's a favorite in your house. If you have a lot, just pick one, I know I'll have to.

I hate to cook. There, it’s out there, I do not like to be in the kitchen anymore than I have to. My husband actually does most of our cooking and he’s fantastic at it! He loves experimenting with foods and he wishes I was more flexible in my food choices (nice way of saying, he hates how picky I am). Unfortunately, he cooks like my mom, they neither one use recipes and just go by taste. Fortunately, I do have a recipe for those of you who like it.

Since moving away from Missouri I have been unable to find one of my favorite foods. In fact, the only Chinese dish I eat, Cashew Chicken. The type of Cashew Chicken I am talking about originated in Springfield, Missouri, so the one you see on the menus elsewhere are most likely not the same.

Cashew Chicken

* 5 whole chicken breasts
* 1 t sugar
* 4 T soy sauce
* ½ c cashews (unsalted)
* ½ c green onion tops
* 4 eggs beaten slightly w/ milk
* Cornstarch
* Oil
* Salt
* 1 t monosodium glutamate

Cut chicken into cubes. Let cubes marinate in soy sauce for at least 30 minutes. Dip cubes in egg batter and then in a mixture of cornstarch, salt and monosodium glutamate.

Brown chicken in oil, remove, and add ½ cup cashews. Simmer w/ chicken for 10 minutes. Add a few teaspoons of water for chicken to steam. Place over cooked rice and garnish with more nuts and green onions. Pour oyster sauce over dish.

Oyster Sauce:

* 4 chicken bouillon cubes
* 1 c water
* ~bring to a boil then add
* 2 T cornstarch mixed to a thin paste with ¼ c of water
* ~stir constantly, then add
* 1 t sugar
* 1 t salt
* 1 T oyster flavor sauce

I have only made it that way one time. The way we (we being my husband) typically make it is:

Short-cut Cashew Chicken

* Cook some frozen popcorn chicken.
* Make some white rice.
* Heat in a pan, a can of Chicken Stock and thicken with some cornstarch.

Throw rice on a plate, place chicken on top, add your cashews and onions then add sauce. Enjoy. While it’s not exactly the same as my dearly missed Missouri dish it is a decent substitute.

Walking a path

I get delighted to have an opportunity to walk a path, any path. It can be one I've never walked or one I've walked many times. There's always something new to see. A bee on a flower.

A huge dandelion.

Is it still called a dandelion when it's the size of a softball?

Spiderwort is a favorite of mine.

I love the chaotic way it grows! No surprise there!

{These were all taken with the point and shoot - some days I just don't feel like carrying the big gun for several miles.}

Swinging in the Wind

Oogly Scavenger

While Dennis waited in the car I walked closer to the Turkey Vulture and clicked away. The bad thing is, I had to get within 10' of his dinner (a raccoon) to snap him.

I was holding my breath for these photos, lol.

Then, I scared him away. Hey, he looks like I did when I went down the zipline!

I'm sailing. . .

He didn't go far though, I bet he was afraid I was going to eat his stinky dinner.

Natural Macro Monday

Now why, would this pretty butterfly be sitting on the gravel when there's such a pretty flower nearby?

I'm not a fan of Irises, but I love the tiny Water Irises.

Silly butterflies!

They were even on poop - why not on the flowers?!

I feel very fortunate to have found these tiny wild orchids! I think they're Calopogon tuberosus, but don't hold me to that.

Macro Monday is easy to play, snap a macro (or any close-up) photo, post it on your blog and come back here and sign MckLinky. Don't forget to visit each other. :)