Tuesday is for the Eagles

I love it when I happen upon the eagles.  I ended up at my own little eagle watch even before I ran my errands this morning.

I counted at least a dozen flying around.  They were out for the fresh meat of dead chickens.

They flew.  They swooped.  They glided.  They passed one another in flight.

They sat and watched.

They flew some more.  


What beautiful creatures! Strong ones! Predatory ones! Graceful. Soundless. Sweeping. Beautiful.


That's how part of my day was first thing this morning. I hope your Tuesday has joy in it and a few smiles along your way.

Fill'er Up Friday

It's another glorious day in my neighbourhood. It was wonderful to get out after being housebound for the week.  Having a sick child is no picnic for anyone.


We took a small jaunt around our Valley to take in the sites and the fresh air.  The sick child was almost asleep when we got home.


Husband stopped for me to fiddle with my camera to take pictures of these beauties. They sat there overlooking the Gaspereau Valley.  Majestic!!!

The valley floor is gorgeous.  It was sunny with no clouds in sight along with a beautiful blue everywhere. We were enveloped in it.  It was beautiful.

Camera shy??? I think not!!! Just having some fun on the way.

Our weekend is shaping up with more of the same.  Inside. and all scheduled events cancelled for the next two days to allow the yellow pudding trick to kick in to help the child get better sooner.  It's most interesting what we parents have to do to get the medicine into our little sick loved ones.

I hear there's another storm abrewin' for Saturday and Sunday.  That means we'll be in regardless of plans if it's a dousey.

What's on your plate for the weekend?

Comfort Food for Wintry Days

Well, I realize it's been a while since I've written anything.  I guess living an ordinary life and with certain routines in place, doesn't make it so write-able.

But I have been cooking and baking lately on these cold, grey days of winter.

Today is no exception.  Tonight for supper we are having Mulligan Stew followed by Classic Apple Crisp.

The Mulligan Stew is really easy to make.  It consists of coating the stew meat with a mixture of flour, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper in a brown paper bag. Let it braise in some oil in a skillet on the stove. Don't let it burn. Then I added three small onions and 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.

The fun part begins when I added the three cups of water and the bottle of beer.  Just your regular lager of LaBatt's Wildcat that my other half keeps stashed. Let it all simmer on low for at least two hours. You can use whatever beer you have in your house.

Then having peeled and cut up over 2 1/2 lb of potatoes and about 8-9 carrots,and thawed out 10 oz or frozen peas, I added it to the brew. I'm not sure how thawed they were.  I just took them out and let them sit until I needed them. I also added the amount of potatoes and carrots that I wanted in the stew.

I must say that I like the smell of the beer simmering with the meat ingredients.

Once the vegetables are added, I bring it to a boil again and then turn down the heat so it can cook until done.  

It takes about three hours.

Grandma's Mulligan Stew is a recipe I cut out of Woman's World magazine on 17 March 1998.  I make it almost once a year.  It's a wonderful comfort food as we live through these dreary wintry days. I just might make it again for St. Patrick's in March.

Now, the Classic Apple Crumble comes from the book, "Two Cooks in the Kitchen" (1990) by Janet Bell and Janet Lee.  It's on page 84.

It's easy to make and bakes in 30 minutes.

And, sometime this afternoon, after I get all the baking dishes washed, I plan to make tea biscuits for tonight's supper.  They are my Aunt Betty's recipe.  I will share it with you when I get them made.

To top off any day and to begin any day, I always have my cuppa Just Us close at hand.  It's delicious and inviting and smells oh so good.

This is how I have spent my day this day.

Yesterday I made four dozen apple cookies and The Best Dad's cookies.  Delicious! Delicious! Delicious!

I've found the baking and cooking very therapeutic as I stay house bound with a sick six year old. 

How's your week going so far?