felt ruffled look wreath

I love this craft! The way it looks - is beautiful. Not sure if I have the patience but I think I want to try! Now I have to pick a color; I love it in white but I'm thinking shades of green for spring...................then I can add some birds or flowers or shells to keep up with the season?
www.domestistuff.com

LifeSeasoning: the American Robin - Turdis migratorius

LifeSeasoning: the American Robin - Turdis migratorius
www.allaboutbirds.org
www.cornellornithologylab.org

LifeSeasoning: the American Robin - Turdis migratorius

LifeSeasoning: the American Robin - Turdis migratorius
www.allaboutbirds.org
www.cornellornithologylab.org

the American Robin - Turdis migratorius

Male American Robin, spring.

     While reading the local paper this morning, I learned something that I did not know about the Robin. It is actually a relative of the thrush family and not the European Robin at all. the juvenile birds, if you' ve noticed, look more like the thrush with a speckled/striped chest and their song is similar as well. the article I read is by Lauretta Jones as posted in the Mahopac News.

check out         http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/462/articles/introduction   for more info on birds of North America

I post a lot about birds................I love to watch them and I have loved bird watching since I can remember. A very old friend, who was more like a grandmother to me, loved birds and gardening and she is most likely responsible for awakening my love for birds. Thank you, Helen W. Mealing for all your inspiration.

Cindy's mac n cheese

this version is adapted from the Joy of cooking Baked Macaroni recipe
I use:

16 oz package of medium shell pasta
2 cups (at least) variety of cheese - mozzarella, cheddar, jack, colby, provolone, american
2 0r 3 eggs
1 to 1 1/2 cups of milk
salt, pepper, paprika, garlic, chives, onion to taste
bread crumbs and butter

cook pasta, cover bottom of greased baking dish with pasta, layer cheese on top; repeat layers

mix eggs, milk, seasoning and pour over top

top with crumbs and dot with butter, bake at 350 for about 30-40 min

Who doesn't love mac n cheese?

Mac n cheese is a regular in my house. Although we love the homemade versions, we do sometimes go for the box or frozen. I am not a fan of Kraft in the box, but I do love Stouffer's frozen. When making my own, I use the basic recipe from The Joy of Cooking and then I add my own extras including lots of cheese variety. I am now comparing an old Fanny Farmer recipe to Joy, let's see how it goes. 

Joy  uses 4 oz macaroni and one cup of cheese, layers it and pours a milk egg mix over top, then bread crumbs and butter.

Fanny uses 9 oz of mac and one cup or more (I like how she adds and more) in layers and pours a cream sauce over top and bread crumbs as well.  Let's see the creamy cheese sauce.  The sauce is basic, milk, butter, flour, salt and pepper, then she adds 1/4 to 3/4 cup of cheese..............sounds yummy! That I will have to try now! Any other mac n cheese lovers out there? What's your favorite? 

See Recipes for my version and Fanny's

So it's a dreary day here today and my allergies are making me feel groggy. The sun has peaked out a few times to give me hope of a sunny afternoon. My question is, how do the birds keep singing on days like this? All I need to do is fill the feeders and they are happy and singing and busy flying about all day being productive; there is a lesson to be learned here. Make hay while the sun shines? No, that's not it, no sunshine today. Save a penny for a rainy day? Maybe. What's that quote from the bible about the birds and not to worry about how you will eat or what to wear? I don't know, I will head out to the rabbits and see if they can offer any inspiration.....................