Squirrel Time

The squirrels like to eat the food in the bird feeder.  The birds are usually gone when they visit the feeder, but I figure It's time they had their own feeders.  Especially now there is snow on the ground.  The birds have already been by the feeder to see if there are any treats, so I put out some sunflower seeds for them to nibble.  Now I need to set up something for the squirrels.  

I searched the web for a few ideas for feeders, some were really cute, most made from wood, some use a glass jar and have it go into a wood house, but I am going for something I can make with what I have around the house.  I am going to recycle a 2 liter bottle and attach it to a thin board and screw it to a post we happen to have in the yard already.  

Food options are plenty.  Bags of dried corn are sold fairly cheap; $7-9 per 100 pound bag in some areas, may differ in other areas.  Corn is still a popular treat for squirrels; want to add some variety, well use nuts.  One person puts out something different every couple days using nuts in the shell, like peanuts, or walnuts, as well as seeds and fruit.    

I look forward to watching the squirrels enjoy their own food stash this winter.  Plus I get to work a project with my children.  Its a win win situation!

Holiday Stress or Holiday Fun?

Do you get holiday stress?  Do you find it to be fun?  I find it stressful!
It wouldn't matter how organized or festive I made the house,
if I don't know what the family members want, I am going to worry.
I know that is a minor factor, and that there are more pressing
worries; such as finances.  We have had times when money has
been tight.  There are things we can do in advance
to help reduce the stress.

I have a family member who starts shopping and making gifts
in July.  Well turns out this is something a lot of people
do to spread out the cost.  They aren't savers, so they buy
things a bit early and stash it away.

Banks offer a Christmas account and you schedule a set amount
each payday to move over; take $20.00 a month for 11 months
is $220.00.  More if you want.  These are pretty common plans.
I am sure a few people skip the holiday all together.

Here is my idea, I haven't done it yet, but one never knows
when they will get up the courage;
I would like to just go away for Christmas.
A vacation, to somewhere quiet.  One day soon.

Alright, how do you have holiday fun?
Set up the holiday in a way your are comfortable
with, or either to your liking or within a budget.
Keep it simple.  Give yourself time to relax.

I wish you all a holiday time fit for you.

Butterscotch Scones

Butterscotch Pecan Scones

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
76 tablespoons cold butter, salted and diced
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup milk or for a better texture, heavy cream
2/3 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup lightly toasted pecans (optional)

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and both sugars, mix lightly, add butter, and mix until mixture is a course meal.  Combine vanilla and cream in a measuring cup, add to mixture slowly.  Keep one tablespoon of cream set aside.

Empty dough onto lightly floured surface, and gently knead dough with butterscotch chips.  Then add pecans if desired.   Push dough out gently into a 8 inch circle.  Cut int six or eight slices.

Arrange on a baking sheet about an inch apart.  Bake for 13 - 15 minutes or until edges are nicely browned.

Ganache!

Ganache!  Oh my!  I am wanting to make Ganache and spread it over brownies, Ganache sounds rich and mysterious, well its much easier than I expected.  I am posting the recipe today.

Ganache
Ingredients:
1  cup heavy cream
16 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 teaspoons granulated instant coffee

Instructions:
Put ingredients in a glass bowl and set over a pan filled with boiling water, and stir melting ingredients together gently until its a smooth melted mixture.  Serve warm.  Takes 8-10 minutes.

If you don't prefer coffee flavor, I have seen a recipe using ground pecans.

Focus on What, How do I do Something!

Focus!

I will admit to you as I do to them it is possible for any of us to lose focus, even Mom.  The big question from them is what do we focus on or the bigger question, WHY?  Good questions, the first or second time ask, right?  No, we should remind ourselves or those we are responsible for many times ; how long you wonder, well as long as it takes until the person can encourage or remind themselves to do the job, project, paper or event!  Share the knowledge.  Train them on how to do as much as possible.

Many young people don't know where to start.  This is frustrating, but the conveniences of today are making us reliant on things or technology, instead of ourselves.  Most people do an internet search to find an answer.  Yahoo has 19,200,000 searches for Survival Guides, Barnes and Noble"s website has over 9,000 items for Survival guides.  Its a growing market for surviving anything; school, wilderness, pregnancy, nursing, hiking, zombies; I think you get the idea.  What are we as parents, grandparents, or guardians passing down to our children. 

If we have skills let's share and teach the children these skills to help them be confidant in the right areas, sports are great for learning skills, but if they aren't in the top 10 percent or they get injured, what else do they have; they will need knowledge in something.  Teach them to cook, teach them to repair cars, or how about sewing, carpentry, even ten basics skills in carpentry or home repair can make a difference in their lives.  

Don't have a trade or skill to teach, then sign up for a class, there a one day classes, to a whole semester.  Many Mom's are in a group, trade skills; you teach her children to bake, and she could teach sewing.  Same with Dads, share the knowledge.  Find a way to teach ourselves and our children skills to survive in this world.  We need to survive, not just against zombies and the wilderness, but with communicating with people, getting a job, taking good care of ourselves.  

Focus!  Focus on what we need to do today the best way possible.  Set them up for success, if they get a new task, train them on it, and give them other resources to use if possible.  Focus on the overall picture, surviving life together with the greatest success possible.  Focus on right now.