Chicks!

No, not "hot women" (like my wife!), but little chickens! Good friends of ours raise them as pets and invited us over shortly after receiving a "shipment." That's right they really get shipped overnight in a special carrier with special handling via UPS and the USPS. 

I still chuckle at this idea. Would I go to the post office and ship a package asking for "chicken handling" and at the "chicken rate"? Is this how KFC gets their chicken? It might taste like it. Sorry, if you frequent this blog you likely guess I'm a foodie snob.

Seriously, they have to be shipped immediately after hatching because the yolk provides all their nourishment for the first 48 hours or so. Crudely, the chicken grows from the white of the egg and then around the yolk. 

If you saw our recent post on the egg toss I guess this post might then be . . . odd. After an egg toss, is the next activity a . . . chicken toss? Tee-hee. 

Regardless, they are very cute. 
Andy

Cat Nap Wednesday

Doing a little a box exploring.

Now getting a little tired.

Now asleep.

Macro Monday

Any idea what this is?

Surely, this next shot helps?

One HUGE strawberry!

Strawberries are in season in our area and ARE wonderful!

Andy

Car Show

Another post on the car show in Northport. This was from the post on Memorial Day. Very fun!
Andy

Cat Nap Wednesday (On Thursday!)

 Settling in for the afternoon.

 Pretty comfortable!

 Yes, I do push two chairs together for Katie ... and, yes, it is all about her!

~Michele

Macro Monday

Can you guess the subject of the above pic?

Will the next pic-hint below help?

How about this one?

If you are still struggling it has to do with yesterday's post...

It's an egg carton!

Andy

Egg Toss!

MC Mark doing his stuff.

Mark and Annette held their 28th Annual International Egg Toss World Cup this weekend. Despite some rainy weather the event was a success and fun was had by all. 

Hopefully these pix will do it justice. The pix were a challenge to get because of the dark overcast evening light, the action of the subjects and, of course, lots of rain! I had to keep ducking my camera under my raincoat in between shots. 

I think in this case, jumping helped avoid being "egg-ed."

It's all about technique.

The winners of the "junior" division.

The winners of the "senior" division.

Congratz to the winners! And, a special kudos to Annette and Mark. They have done tons for the schools, families and community over the years. We've heard about it and witnessed it ourselves firsthand and . . . we don't even have kids! A huge thanks to them for the time, support and fun they have provided!
Andy

Pound Cake

Of course, if you frequent this blog you know we'd try this with caramel!

Easy Buttermilk Pound Cake

• 3 C flour
• 1 t baking powder
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 2/3 C sugar
• 1 C butter
• 1 T vanilla
• 4 eggs (From our friends at Isadore Farm.)
• 1 C buttermilk (Shelter's, of course!)

In a large mixing bowl beat butter, sugar, and vanilla till light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.


Combine the flour, baking powder and salt and gradually beat in to the butter mixture, alternately with the buttermilk, until well blended.


Pour into a greased and floured 10 inch bundt pan and bake at 325 for about one hour. I have found even though the cake looks done and a toothpick comes out clean, it still needs to bake until top is quite brown. Otherwise the center is not cooked properly. Cool for about 15 minutes before removing cake from pan. Completely cool and serve as desired.

Notes: Sometimes we add mini chocolate chips. Another nice change is a teaspoon of almond extract and a splash of vanilla. This is a pretty good size recipe so I use it often, at Christmas, for gifts. I get 4 - 5 small loaf cakes. (At Christmas I sometimes, although not earth friendly, buy foil loaf pans to save time with clean up.) I have used this recipe for mini muffins too. Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon and sugar and bake 15 -18 minutes.

It's also great with local fresh strawberries--which just came in!

Cat Nap Wednesday

Yes, please note our cat, Katie, is sleeping, crammed in a "box of chocolate." No, not the kind of chocolate box you give to people for Valentine's, but the kind we get--in bulk! I guess Katie is not the only one with a weight problem in our house. 

Do you see how she is twisting her head so that you see her chin?!

Her tail is held between her paws?!

From our fat cat to yours*, happy Wednesday.
Andy


*Not that your cat is fat...

Macro Monday

Here is a quick reminder behind "Macro Monday" posts. "Macro" in photography refers to pictures of subjects that are tiny. You bring the very small up to the "macro" level. (When possible, I'll also try to make a puzzle out of it.) 


So, having explained that, can you guess the subject of the pic above? 


The next pic gives you another chance.

It is a large specimen of the violet variety of quartz known as amethyst! 

Andy

Chocolate Mudslide Cookies

Chocolate Mudslide Cookies

• 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 16 ounces bittersweet chocolate
• 6 T butter
• 2 1/4 C sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1/2 C plus 3 T flour
• 1 T baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 t vanilla
• 16 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 1/4 C dried cherries (optional)

In the microwave or a double boiler melt the unsweetened chocolate and bittersweet chocolate together and set aside. (If using the microwave stir chocolate often to make sure it does not burn.)

Mix butter and sugar in a bowl till light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add flour, baking soda and salt and mix gently, just until combined. Fold in melted chocolate. Stir in chopped chocolate and dried cherries.

Use a large cookie scoop (a heaping tablespoon) to drop cookies onto a greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 7 -8 minutes. Yield: about 40 small cookies

Notes: This dough becomes hard and crumbly very quickly, so you need to work fast. Next time I think I would line several cookie sheets, scoop all the cookies first and then start the baking. These are very rich and best if not over baked, so they remain moist and chewy.

Adapted from: Jacques' Chocolate Mudslide Cookies