Another Step toward getting the yard in Shape

Good morning!  Yesterday was a very good day for me.  I was worried those days might be gone....

I mowed around the house proper.  and then used the new trimmer for  about an hour.  I got that front part of the yard mostly trimmed (still need to do the corner of the drive).  The blasted cheat grass had already laid over and was mostly dead...the dust from that really bothered me but I persisted.

Trimming makes all the difference  in the finished product!  I  created a little extra work for myself while trimming under the  birch tree.  I hit a buried plastic bag that I couldn't see in the grass and blew tiny bits all across the front yard!  I will have to find my homemade handle with a nail in it.  I would pass out  from all the bending to get the bits  up.

Lunch was a quick one.  I did a stir-fry of peppers, onions and that new sausage that has no preservatives in it.  This time I used the beef one.  I added cooked macaroni and a small can of tomato sauce, tossed in some spices I like and lunch was reading in about 30 minutes.  We had reheated cornbread and a glass of milk with it.  Dessert was a new recipe of oatmeal cookies.  I like  it.  It is from Ina Garten on Food network.  I believe she also has a gluten free version.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups pecans
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
1 cup granulated sugar
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
1 1/2 cups raisins
Add Checked Items To Grocery ListDirections
Watch how to make this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the pecans on a sheet pan and bake for 5 minutes, until crisp. Set aside to cool. Chop very coarsely.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla.

Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together into a medium bowl. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Add the oats, raisins, and pecans and mix just until combined.

Using a small ice-cream scoop or a tablespoon, drop 2-inch mounds of dough onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Flatten slightly with a damp hand. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Transfer the cookies to a baking rack and cool completely.

2008, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics, All Rights Reserved

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/raisin-pecan-oatmeal-cookies-recipe.html?oc=linkback

I just baked about half the recipe and made out the rest even down to flattening them.  Flash froze on parchment paper and then bagged. I bake at normal temperature without thawing just adjusting the time until they are as brown as you like.

I like cookies from the frozen dough better than frozen baked cookies.  They seem fresher to me.



Today will be hamburgers (our new beef), home-made 40 minute buns (made Friday when our son came down) and home fries.  May have a cookie left but I doubt it.

I plan to do Mama Pea's tomato soup tomorrow if I have all the ingredients on hand.

Random Pictures

This is an heirloom rose (the name escapes me once again).  It looked very bad at the beginning of the season so I don't know if it is the rain or a insect that caused the buds to not open properly on lots of blooms.  It is very fragrant.  I have fed and used a systemic granule hoping to get it to bounce back.



This is what heavy rain does to double flowered peonies.  Bless them.  I think I got two days enjoyment before it rained this year.



It did bloom at the same time as the flag iris.



I sent Max out with his camera and he took  a few shots for me....not exactly what I was after.  I think he took it again this morning.  I enjoy them since these are scenes I rarely see these days.



We have two ponds one on either side of a fence we call the twin ponds.  The one is in the above photo with the cow and calf.

The one in the background has an overflow pipe and drains into what is normally a dry creek bed.  Bet there is water in it today.  Maybe I will get to see it.......

This is one of the hay fields after the rains....it will come back upright  once we get more sunshine and, hopefully, some
warmer weather.



FYI:  I don't do much Facebook  but my Sis talked (browbeat) me into joining a 7-day nature picture  thing.  I am just doing a photo, not nominating a person each day to join.  I do enjoy sharing the photos.