Costa Rica #2

Costa Rica abounds in beautiful birds and butterflies. Some of the nature centers and wildlife refuges have birdfeeders so you can get a closer look at the colorful display. At Monteverde, there is a hummingbird garden with many feeders and the hummingbirds are flitting all around – including sitting on your fingers. Enjoy some of…

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Costa Rica #1

Last February, we made our first trip to Costa Rica.  We spent most of the time in the interior area on a hacienda bordering Lake Arenal. But we also had some time to explore the Pacific beaches and several wildlife reserves. The above photo was made at Coco Beach or Playas del Coco. It is the…

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Winter Visitors

While not a fan of cold winters, the bright spot during the long, chilly days are the birds that stop by for a drink at the heated bird bath or to take advantage of our feeders. Some of our recent sightings.

Sunrise

Have been away from blog for a long time but want to start sharing again. View of a recent sunrise from our front yard.

Matanuska River Valley – Alaska

Here are some photos from our trip this summer through Alaska in a RV. Travel north of Anchorage and head east on the Glenn Highway and you will travel through the Matanuska River Valley. It is a beautiful area with a broad river valley and mountains on both sides. The Glenn Highway connects Palmer near…

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Quick Apple Galette

If you are someone who loves the smell of apples baking and the taste of homemade apple pie, here is a very easy recipe for a rustic apple galette. 

New Hampshire in the Fall

One of my favorite areas is the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We spent several days in the Lincoln area at the end of September. It is near the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park. There are lots of hiking trails, waterfalls and other beautiful scenery. Looking forward to returning again next…

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Alaska – Denali Highway

Denali Highway goes east-west connecting Richardson Highway with the Parks Highway in Alaska. It can only be called a “highway” in the very loose sense of the term. It is 135 miles of washboard gravel but goes through a vast wilderness area. There are a couple of lodges along the road but otherwise you are…

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Changing Seasons

We had a beautiful fall here but with a week of wind, all of the leaves are down now. Saw the juncos (small gray birds) two weeks ago and that is another sure sign that winter is on the way. Here are some scenes from late October. Hope you are enjoying the changing seasons where…

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Alaska

I have been absent from the blog for awhile – too busy with work, family and chores at home. This summer my husband and I spent almost three weeks traveling around Alaska in a RV. We had visited 25 years ago when we did a stop-over on our way to South Korea. It was as…

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Blueberry Breakfast Cake

The blueberries are abundant this time of the year and picking is plentiful at the local orchard. Here is a simple blueberry cake that is good for breakfast or as a snack. Blueberry Breakfast Cake 2 cups fresh blueberries 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup unsalted butter, room…

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Summer Scene

I am enjoying our summer flowers and birds today. I love the summer plumage of the goldfinch and the scene as he stops by to eat some seeds from the cone flowers. (The silver/gray in the back of the photo is Dichondra (silver falls) from a hanging basket in a tree — Dichondra makes a…

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Whole Wheat Flax Seed No-Knead Bread

Another variation of the wonderful no-knead bread. This version uses ground flax seeds and whole wheat flour to create a denser bread with a chewy crust. This recipe also uses the “quicker” version of making no-knead bread which uses warm water and more yeast to create the sponge. Whole Wheat Flax Seed No-Knead Bread 1…

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Quick Apple Molasses No-Knead Bread

Here is another variation on the no-knead method of bread baking. This uses the “quicker” method when you do not have 12-18 hours for the sponge to sit. The apples and molasses make a dark bread which is good for a breakfast bread or to use as a snack. Quick Apple Molasses No-Knead Bread 1…

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Message of Hope

Do you get depressed by the current news from the Middle East? Take a moment of list to these words of hope and song from a 10 year old Iraqi girl living in a refugee camp. Her maturity and love is amazing. Make sure you also listen to her wonderful song.

10 Grain Honey Wheat Bread

I love the smell of break baking and it is a great activity for a cold, snowy day. This recipe is unusual in that after the bread rises, you knead in honey. I changed to original to cook the bread in a hot cast-iron pot rather than regular bread pan and it worked great. Give…

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Watching Eagles

Have you seen the bald eagle camera at Codorus State Park in Pennsylvania? It is fun to watch the eagles whether you are an adult or to share with children. Right now the nest is covered with snow and it is well  below freezing but the eagles are still on the eggs. You can see…

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