Saturday Critters #610

 Friday we took a ride to Georgian Court University.

Only a 15 minute drive from home, I have heard and read that the university has gorgeous gardens, 

breathtaking architecture, luxurious grounds and statues. 

Camera in hand for a fun adventure, the campus is really exceptionally beautiful!

They have Deer too, a lot of Deer...I saw several Bucks, Doe and 4 Fawns.

I will share the pictures of the campus on Monday.

Sharing today's images with Eileen at 

Viewing Nature With Eileen 

for Saturdays Critters

Erin...Stirs Things Up

 It was all anyone could talk about... 

Hurricane Erin

Local weather reports said the storm would not impact our weather, no direct hit to land was predicted.

It was widely reported that the storm would impact the coastal areas along its path. 

Erin delivered tropical storm conditions to our oceans, heavy surf, rip currents and flooding 

up and down the Jersey Shore. 

It never rained on Thursday, the sky was consumed with clouds. 

After dinner we took a drive to look at our local beaches and to see how they were holding up.

- the ocean is angry -

- 14 foot waves -

- and high wind -

The Red Flags are flying at all the beaches.

No swimming, no surfing, all entrances to the beaches were gated and locked.

It was so windy and cold but we enjoyed watching the waves and talking with the locals.

This was the view as we drove home...

Erin has moved on and the sun is shining today.

Making Chicken Stock...

 I have never made Homemade Chicken Stock.

I hang my head in shame at the grocery store, when checking out I wonder if the cashier makes her own... 

I don't even buy the low sodium brand.

I think I will at least "look" better if I buy the low sodium brand.

What I should do is buy low sodium and just add a good amount of salt, it will taste so much better.

Everyone says "make your own, it's so easy, you control the ingredients, and it is so much healthier"! 

Am I lazy?

I bought a chicken at Costco, don't even get me started on what people say about that.

"You're going to buy that, aren't you aware of what they inject into those?"

- i am rambling -

I had the carcass with a little meat, not enough meat to do anything with, so I decided to take the plunge, and make homemade stock.

I texted the usual suspects, my friends who cook and Liz suggested...

- barefoot contessa homemade chicken stock -

ooooooh that will work I thought.

I used this recipe as a guide because I was only using one chicken carcass.

I used 1 chicken carcass, 1 onion, 3 carrot pieces, celery and 1/2 a box of stock that I had open.

It did not seem like there was much chicken on the bones, but there was.

I added these spices...

and enough water to cover.

I could not believe how much chicken came off those bones.

My initial intention was to make stock only...but there was so much chicken on the bones.

I picked the bones out but how can I be sure I got them all?

I would like to make a big pot of Chicken Noodle Soup, 

Using the stock I made and the chicken that came off the bones...but would that be safe, I don't know.

Putting the ingredients together was easy and took no time at all.

It simmered for 5 hours.

Separating the meat from the bones, removing the vegetables and straining the stock was time consuming and I needed help from the hubs to finish up.

I am going to make Chicken Noodle Soup today with all the ingredients.

Stay tuned for those pictures!

Lake Of The Lilies

 The lake has been fairly quiet this summer...no new or unusual wildlife have been hanging around.

Each time I visit, I see the usual suspects, swans, mallards and one egret.

During winter and early spring, the swans had migrated and there was not one to be seen.

Now the lake is full of swans but I do believe they will soon be disappearing.

I had a lot of fun photographing this swan...

A Lazy, Quiet Weekend

 The weekend was quiet for me...

The hubs had a lot of errands and "mom care" to tend to, I stayed home.

It was very hot and humid, all weekend, I prefered to stay indoors and "make things".

I watched some pre-season football, KC lost but Patrick Mahomes did not play, no fun there.

I spent time knitting, all of which needs to be ripped out, nothing to show for there.

I started and almost finished a new project I will probably share tomorrow, and

I did some watercolor painting...I have moved on from flowers to the birds.

I keep everything in the basket I made in the class that Liz taught.

All of my supplies fit very nicely in this basket and I like that all of the things I need are in one place.

- it's not that messy -

- bluebird -

- cardinal -

- hummingbird -

- goldfinch -

- bluejay -

I accomplished a lot of little things around the house.

Insignificant to others, but for me it felt great!!

We had a really nice rainstorm last night, thunder, lighting and a lot of rain.

It really cooled things off!

Have a great week!

Wise Words On Sunday

 

Saturday Critters #609

 Mallard Cuddle Time...

not much more can be said about these images except the boys are missing in action.

These are all girls, I suppose they told the boys to take a hike and "cuddle mates" they became.

- they all look so happy -

Sharing today's images with Eileen at 

Viewing Nature With Eileen 

for Saturdays Critters

Shore Fresh

Every seashore town has at least one, a seafood restaurant that looks like a shack...

it looks a little scary but the parking lot is full.

 The tables outside are all taken as it is filled with "the locals".

Shore Fresh is our place.

You have to go early and during the summer, you have to go on a weekday.

The food is served on paper plates, the fish is so fresh, 

it was probably swimming in the ocean earlier in the day.

They have the best seafood at the shore and it is located within walking distance to the inlet.

We went one day last week at 4pm, 

it was a cool afternoon, it wasn't crowded and we were able to eat outside under the awning.

You can purchase this "Lobster Bake" to go in a cooler and have a fun lobster bake at home.

They are famous for their lobster rolls but on this afternoon...

we both had fried shrimp.

I swear they catch them and serve them on the same day.

Last time we went I had a stuffed Lobster Tail, with extra drawn butter, it was outstanding.

The inside is small, has the ocean/seaside theme and some really cute decor.

Inside was empty, it was too nice outside in eat indoors.

Surfboard.

Afterward...we sat at the inlet and watched the fishing boats head out!