Look Who I Found In The Weeds

The weeds and overgrowth at Lake of the Lilies is getting really thick.

Where the Killdeer and Plover use to run is now covered in weeds.

Scanning the area closest to the lake I was so excited to see a Hybrid Duck with just one baby.

Mom was not at all concerned with my presence, she seemed happy with my interest,

and wanted to show off her baby.

Here is mom, she did not have a mate and there was only one duckling.

After spending 10 or so minutes with me, they swam off.

I love nature and the miracle of life.

I hope you have a chance to get outside today.

It is a beautiful day here...the sun is out, the skies are blue, the humidity has lifted and 

it is the perfect summer day.

Recipe Keepers

 Do you have recipes that are all time keepers... 

dishes you and your family love, ones you prepare over and over again.

The meals I prepare and cook are not gourmet, it's just homemade food with a from scratch twist.

These are often meals that do not require a recipe, or meals in which I have the recipe memorized.

French Bread Breakfast

I hollowed out the bread and added eggs, spinach, bacon and chives...

this is delicious and so easy to make, you can personalize this with anything you like.

Bacon and Eggs on homemade Biscuits

I think we all have a great recipe for Biscuits and we all think ours are the best.

You can find my biscuit recipe on Pinterest here.

Warm Skillet Bread with Artichoke Spinach Dip

This is a great appetizer and it is delicious.

 I did not make the bread dough from scratch, I purchased prepared bread dough at the supermarket

and that worked great and made the process a lot easier.

No one needs a recipe for an awesome 

BLT

If you make one, just make it right which means really ripe tomatoes and mayo on both slices of the bread.

I recently found a video on making the best BLT.

It suggests toasting the bread in the pan you cooked the bacon in using the bacon fat.

Toast just one side, place the toasted side of the bread inward, 

therefore the toast does not cut the roof of your mouth.

I'm going to try this.

Cream of Potato Soup

I make this all the time in winter, it is so easy and satisfying.  

- the ingredients and recipe -

Chicken Pot Pie

I don't have a recipe for this, I put the ingredients together in the traditional way,

I used leftover rotisserie chicken, shredded, I did not add peas, I don't like them.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Made in my crock pot, I use this recipe which is saved on my Pinterest, the ingredients are pictured below.

This is the copycat recipe for 

Zuppa Toscana

In Olive Garden they use kale, this recipe uses baby spinach and I like that better.

Spaghetti & Meatballs

I do not have a recipe but the best meatballs I ever made were with the ingredients pictured below.

I used olive oil and they really came out good.

I have heard adding ricotta cheese is really good, I am going to try that next time.

Short Ribs

This recipe is saved on my Pinterest, I make a thick brown gravy with the juices.

This is my favorite way to make Pot Roast...

McCormick sells this Bag'N Season and I love it, below is how it looks when it goes in the oven.

I make Meat Loaf all the time and this is the recipe I use...sorry, I have never taken a picture.

The handwritten note is the mix for the glaze I put on top.

Paula Deens Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

This Cappuccino Mousse Trifle is easy to make and so delicious.

- ingredients -

These Upsidedown Apple Pastries are delicious and so easy to make with apples and puff pastry. 

And a big drumroll for my favorite recipe of all time...

Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta

I always start with a sweet onion, which is not in the recipe.

You can use any short pasta, I always use bowtie.

- ingredients -

This is an amazing meal, one pot, and it goes together rather quickly.

I hope you enjoyed this post, it took forever to put together.

I ended up sharing a lot more recipes than I thought I would.

Now...go feed yourself!

Hummingbird Garden In Allaire State Park

This beautiful little garden is located just opposite the entrance to 

Allaire State Park

I don't know who planted it or who maintains it, but it always looks so well kept and pretty.

I believe it is a group of volunteers keeping the plants watered and the garden tidy.

I wish they would post a sign, or have a donation box so the people who enjoy it so much could contribute.

Anyway, it is a wonderful little garden that I enjoy very much.

The plants have really grown since the last time I was here.

This big guy took his owners for a walk and they stopped to say hi while we were viewing the garden.

They were such nice people, they told us the birds name but I don't remember...

that's the story of my life!

The bird will live 60 years, and speaks in full sentences...it did not talk to us.

As you know, we rode the train afterward and it was a fun afternoon!

Pine Creek Railroad

 Sunday we decided to visit the garden I love at Allaire State Park.

We were just going to stay a few minutes, take a few pictures and see if I could spot any hummingbirds.

I saw only one male and it was as quick as a jetski and never really landed.

I have 6 very blurry pictures.

We heard the whistle blow from The Pine Creek Railroad and decided it would be fun to take a ride,

we have not been on the train here in several years.

We sat in the green, open air railcar, the whistle is so loud and authentic when you are that close to it.

These are pictures of the railcar graveyard.

This one was used in a movie, but I can't remember which one.

It was a beautiful day but at one point the sky got dark blue like this.

Here we are, this was a really fun ride!

Founded in 1952, 

The Pine Creek Railway is one of the oldest tourist attractions, 

and operating narrow gauge railways in the country.