Happy Halloween!

Nothing I tried in the way of a costume worked out this year. Sigh, oh well. So instead, I focused on food. I made mulled cider and Spooky Witch Finger cookies. Nothing too fancy, I took a basic butter cookie recipe, formed them into "fingers" and used blanched whole almonds as fingernails. I had to make two batches and in the second batch I used green food coloring. Fun to make!

Summer Digs

In Ohio, a month and a half ago. My brother picked me up from the airport. On the drive home, we stopped down the street at the summer barn my parents rent from a neighbor for the horses. It's a pretty little hollow with a pond.

The two horse sized building is well ventilated.

Bradley and Nimue were the lucky ones currently on turn out.

They are wearing grazing muzzles, which are taken off when they come in for the night. A horse can drink and breath perfectly well with these on, and they allow the horses to be out on pasture for long periods of time without being able to gobble too much green grass.

There are windows on 3 sides, letting in plenty of fresh air.

These two have been inseparable barn-mates for years.

I smooched Bradley's nose a lot. Nimue doesn't have the patience to let me give her smooches, she prefers having her neck scratched. Look at that smoochable schnoz. In a couple of months, his moustache will have grown in.

Bradley wants to sniff the camera and check it out.

General Bradley, retired Paso Fino show horse and elderly gentleman. He had the fastest largo of any horse in the show ring.

We take off their muzzles and let them graze for a few minutes before we bring them in for their dinner.

They are such sweet, gentle souls. You can see Nimue's dappled coat and leg stripes pretty well in this pic.

2 Things Challenge: Sky/Plus

SKY: Colorado morning sky. The moon is getting ready for bed.

The Rocky Mountains, on a fall afternoon.

Northeast Ohio sunset, in late September.

PLUS: We went to hear Ziggy Marley earlier this month!

2 Things Challenge: Value/Abstract

Value:

Abstract:

Crossed Over

Sadie "Dee Dee" Bunny, 1999/2000-September 23, 2011. I miss you very much, little friend.

"They taste like little cakes made of heaven..."

Our first wedding present arrived about a month and a half ago. AN ELECTRIC WAFFLE IRON! Yaaaaaaay!

This recipe makes a lot, but they freeze great so the extra effort is worth it. I didn't alter this at all for high altitude, but they turned out great. I'm looking forward to trying chocolate brownie waffles next time! *drool*

BASIC WAFFLE BATTER (yields about 16 waffles)

6 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup, plus two tablespoons granulated sugar

1/4 cup baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1-2 teaspoons pumpkin pie or apple pie spice optional

3 1/2 cups milk

1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

Put the dry ingredients in a bowl and stir them together; then add the milk, oil, and eggs and whisk it all together until there are no big lumps. Let it stand for about 5 minutes to activate the baking powder before adding to your iron. Each waffle for my iron was about a half a cup of batter.

My mom has an awesome old fashioned cast iron waffle grill that you can use in the campfire or the stovetop. This one isn't cast iron, but much easier to use with 5 heat settings and an indicator light/sound for when it's ready for the batter and also when it's finished cooking. I made a big batch and took the leftovers in to work the next day. Made the Monday morning more cheerful than usual at the office.

Ta da!

With real maple syrup and cinnamon butter apples. Deelish and FILLING!