Odds and Ends

I have a bunch of odds and ends to talk about today. So far, August has been perfect. The mornings are cool and it really does smell like fall. Yesterday when I went out to fool around in the garden I decided it was time to pull all of the beets. I cut all of the tops and cooked them and canned them. I thought I had so many more but I only got five pint jars.

I need about 10 times as many beets as I get I think. I know they aren't everyone's favorite. The boys around here think they are so disgusting. The girls on the other hand want to sit down with a jar and a fork and eat the whole jar.

Because I had all of the windows opened and it was cooler it made me want to bake. So I made an apple pie. I do love making pies.

I thought I would share the recipe for what I think is my favorite Cream Cheese pie. It is super easy. I always make sure I keep cream cheese in my fridge so I can throw this one together, like if someone is coming over or dinner seems a bit skimpy.

This was all that was left of this one so I am glad I got this picture. There is never any left for me to take a picture of when I make it.

Impossible Cheesecake

1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Bisquick
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese cut into cubes and softened.
Cheesecake topping
fresh raspberries, if desired
Kiwifruit slices, if desired or any fruit you have on hand or just plain is good too.

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease pie plate.

2. Beat milk, vanilla, eggs, sugar and baking mix in blender. ( I just use my mixer.) Add cream cheese and beat on high speed 2 minutes. Pour into pie plate.

3. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, cool.
Spread Cheesecake Topping carefully over top. Refrigerate until ready to serve. top with raspberries and kiwifruit. Cover and refrigerate any remaining cheese cake. Serves 6 to 8

Cheese Cake Topping

1 cup sour cream
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
Mix all ingredients

 It makes its own crust so I don't ever miss the graham cracker crust as in a real cream cheese pie. Last night it was a bit warm after dinner and the boys said it was just as good warm as it was cold. It is a hit around here.
I don't do recipes very much because there are lots of better food photographers and cooks than me. I enjoy cooking but I just can't take very good photos of food. So when I do share my recipes it is because they are easy, and quick and a time saver. Not to mention people think you slaved and it was so easy you can just smile secretly.  Not to mention I love food that has impossible in the title. I love to cook things with surprises.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.
~Kim~

Computer Problems

Do you ever experience computer problems and find yourself asking, " do I really need this thing in my life?"
That was this morning, I came in turned on my computer and my little icon that tells me if my computer is protected was red. When I went to bed last night right before I turned my computer off it was green. I tried to get my virus scan to start. I tried every kind of computer voodoo I knew. But it wouldn't turn on. Which means that a virus has got in and changed the settings. I always panic. Like sick to my stomach panic.

 

I even went to the help screen, which might have been in Arabic as much sense as it made to me. I finally had to tell Ron that something was wrong. I hate doing that. Especially when he is getting ready for work. Does he yell or anything like I would do? Nope, He calmly comes in sits down clicks a few buttons. Gets in the secret parts of a screen I have never seen checks to see if anything has been added or removed.Then he says, very calmly, " Did you already restart your computer?" As I am sweating and wringing my hands and jumping up and down because I can't sit still." I say, " Yes, I did all of that and it didn't fix it."
He says " Okay lets shut it down and unplug it." I looked at him like he was so bonkers but I have already went down that path in my mind that there is some virus in there stealing my identity and copying my passwords and all the things that have happened to me before.

He stands up unplugs the computer from the power source and plugs it back in and goes to finish getting ready for work. I am so scared that I went in and started sorting laundry like a woman possessed.  Got the washing machine started and walked in and my light for my security is green again. I clicked on it and did a scan and it ran like it was supposed too. I went in and asked him why and he said it is just simple troubleshooting steps. Unplug it from the wall. Did you know that? I didn't. He told me that even if your computer is shut down, it really is never off. Sometimes in memory you get for lack of a better word build up of old programs in there and the only way to clean it out is to unplug it.

I still feel a bit shaky. I am a bit OCD when it comes to security on my computer. If you have ever got those phone calls from the bank that say, " Did you buy 10 computers at 2:00 A.M. and have them sent to Kuwait." You know what I am talking about.

I am so very thankful that I am married to a computer expert who doesn't panic. I hope your week is a lovely week.

~Kim~

Just Hangin' Out

In August, I have this strong desire to rip out all of my garden. Just to get rid of the weeds and the bugs and get ready for winter. I always think that I will plant a winter garden this time of year. I never do though. In the past I was putting on my teacher hat and my attention was on the coming school year.

But not this year. This year will have to be different. I had told my grand sons we would have a sleep over before school started. They reminded me the other day that their school was getting ready to start. So last night was a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We did lots of things. They talked to their cousins on Skype. Then they ate hamburgers and had Popsicles for dessert. Then they played in the pasture and ran fast around the trees. We went swimming as the sun was setting and then came in and watched a Spiderman cartoon because they told me they always watch Spiderman. I told them this morning, I thought I would talk to Mom about it.

Then we set up the tent in the livingroom.

They brought their sleeping bags and pillows and got to camp out in the living room. Ever faithful Sasha wanted to sleep out here with them.
I don't know how well they slept, but I bet they take good naps today.

They had waffles for breakfast and at 7:00 A.M. they wanted popcorn. I gave them dried cranberries.
We will be going for a walk soon, as soon as Chip and Dale is over. We need to feed the chickens and look at the garden.
Life is good, but I bet I take a good nap too.

~Happy Sunday~
~Kim~

Welcome August

Today as I turned the calendar, I looked at Ron and said, " Yay for August!!! We are one month closer to Fall!!" Do you ever feel sorry for August? I do, I am always in such a race for lovely, September and the best month of all October that I am afraid I snub poor August. I decided today, I would enjoy each day of August just because. When I looked at the calendar, I saw there are five Fridays in August which means an extra paycheck. That is a good thing don't you think?

I didn't say anything to anyone but the other morning when I went to walk around and look at things, I caught the smell of school starting. I saw crows beginning to fly in flocks back to where ever it is they have been for the summer. I even have a flock of blackbirds when normally it is later for them to coming hopping back into my life. Then in the afternoon, the boys came in and announced, " It smells like school is going to start." So I know that it wasn't just my imagination.

 

The leaves are beginning to drift down from the front tree and start to remind us of the passage of time. I was standing watching as the leaves were filling up the yard, when Peter came to stand beside me and as we watched together, he said, " It makes me sad you know, now I am grown and still I see young Peter playing around the tree. " I looked away, but didn't mention, that often I see young Kim sitting at the roots singing and dreaming of days gone by. I will never mention the laughter that I hear there when I am alone of children sailing in rough seas or of pirate ships that threaten to make them all walk the plank.

 

August I think gets so over looked just because the trees are tired and dusty and weary. At least it is that way here. Not enough rain and too much heat. I noticed that the beautiful red cherry trees are now a tired shade of orange red. I don't think I have noticed that before. I see leaves on the cottonwoods turning yellow on the inside branches.  The bunny is loosing his summer coat.

 

So welcome August. I will keep my eyes open to see you and try not to loose my attention and dream of September. I will try to enjoy you and not say bad things about heat, humidity and the other things I accuse you of. So I will welcome you since today you are coming with cooler weather than did your friends June and July or even April and May. They were both pretty fickle this year. I will keep my fingers crossed and just maybe we could be friends.

Happy August,
~Kim~