Birds (not Angry Birds)

January 23, 2012 nk3303 Comments

One of the first things we bought for the house after we moved in was a bird feeder. We were really hoping that we would start to see some interesting birds before winter. It took awhile for the birds to “find” the feeder (I think they were just being cautious), but now they are there ALL the time. Andrew constantly has to refill the feeders, because the birds here are piggies. We mostly get small birds (the first one I recognized from a picture online is called a coal tit), but we also get pigeons and magpies and we’ve had a great spotted woodpecker too. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get any good pictures of these birds.

What I have gotten pictures of are our larger birds. I shouldn’t have been surprised when I saw a pheasant under the bird feeder for the first time. After all, we see them in fields while driving all the time. I was still pretty excited when I first saw one in our backyard though!

But then one day I got a big surprise:

I was so glad I got pictures of the peacock, because I was sure Andrew wouldn’t believe me if I told him! I had seen the peacock once before, but he had disappeared by the time I got my camera. Well, then he flew down beneath the bird feeder to find a snack with a pheasant!

For awhile, the peacock didn’t visit us, but I think that’s because we were being lazy about re-filling the feeders. And having a pheasant in the backyard has become so normal, that when Andrew says, “Pheasant!” I don’t even blink. But I still get really excited when the peacock decides to come by and have a snack in our backyard!

Stocking-less

January 22, 2012January 23, 2012 nk330Leave a comment

I don’t remember when it was that I realized that we had not packed any of our Christmas things when we moved over here. We had a few things that I had used when I lived in my various apartments, but our “family” ornaments and our stockings were packed in boxes in my parents’ old basement. I was more than a little sad about this.

old stocking — The Christmas stocking I've had as long as I can remember!

If you know me well, you know that I am a “fixer.” Yes, I do still like to complain about my situations, but when someone comes up with a solution for me, I usually am saying, “Oh, I already have a plan.” And I did. I figured I had plenty of time to crochet stockings for Andrew and I. They turned out GREAT! I’m so happy with them!

red stocking — Andrew wanted the red one

I also found stocking hangers at a decent price at TKMaxx — woohoo! And I already had a framed picture of my nephew in a Santa suit from last Christmas. We just added some candles, branches, and pinecones, and the mantle was complete!

Recipes

Bow Tie Ham Bake

January 20, 2012 nk330Leave a comment

This recipe is so quick and easy it’s ridiculous. Sometimes I come across recipes that are so easy, I barely feel like I did anything! How do you get that sense of pride and accomplishment then?! Anyway, this is another “double” recipe, so I have put the halved amounts in italics. I’d also like to note that I used Alfredo sauce from a jar, because I couldn’t find cartons of the refrigerated stuff the recipe calls for. So if you get the jarred stuff, yes, you’ll just have to measure it out in a liquid measuring cup. You can do it.

Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake: 25 minutes
Makes: 2 casseroles (6 servings each)

4 cups (2 cups) uncooked bow tie pasta
6 cups (3 cups) frozen broccoli florets
4 cups (2 cups) cubed fully cooked ham
2 cartons (1 carton) (10 oz ea) refrigerated Alfredo sauce
2 cups (8 oz) (1 cup – 4 oz) shredded Swiss cheese
1 can (8 oz) (4 oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding the broccoli during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the ham, Alfredo sauce, cheese and mushrooms. Drain pasta mixture; add to ham mixture and toss to coat. Transfer to two (one) greased 11″x7″x2″ baking dish(es). Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake remaining casserole at 375F/190C for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.

*To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before heating. Cover and bake casserole at 375F/190C for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.