The Needle in a Haystack

A Day @ Duke University..... Book across the States N.H.

Yesterday and today have been simply beautiful here in the Carolinas. We left early yesterday to run errands and take care of some business calls in Durham and decided  a walk around Duke University campus and lunch at the Bryan Center was in order. I love the feel of sitting on the steps of an the old buildings and doing a bit of people watching. Unfortunately ( or fortunately) there was a funeral for the oldest surviving member of the Duke family so only foot traffic was allowed. We were able to eat lunch on campus but this is as close as we could get to the Chapel which was our destination.

We decided to walk a few trails  and just enjoy the sunshine ( and work of the milkshakes :) )

One thing I was curious about was this sculpture

The Scientist and Nature  You can read about it, the commision and meaning  ,here

 I finished the day with my sewing group. These ladies are the sweetest there is! I am 75% finished with my first project and 50% fiished with another. Too fun!

  We had breakfast and a business call in South Boston, Va this morning... then Chris had a service call and I had a busniess appointment  in the afternoon.

  I got home at 5:30 qith NOTHING planned for dinner. With chciken strops, arugala, tortillas, shredded cheese and ranch dressing  we whipped up snack wraps ... just like MC"d's... for have the price ..they were very yummy!

I finished my New Hampshire read .. a Gather of Days..interesting...a young adult reader... but with great content on early settlements in NH and the under ground rail road, I giv eit three thumbs up

 

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

– 2 Samuel 22:17-18 (NIV)

 

Good stuff huh?   Be safe...and have a fine day.......all day long!

 

Natural Bridge VA

The hotel @ Natural Bridge Va was offering a wonderful fall pkg deal.  89.00 for a night at the hotel ( and lovely it was), breakfast, passes to the sights... it was just what is needed as a little get away... We went with my inlaws and they are fabulous travel partners.   Here are just a few pictures taken on our hike this morning...

I think the full impact for all of us was walking under the bridge and looking up... amazing!

 Chris did most of the picture taking and I think the above picture is beautiful!

We spent quite awhile watching this graceful blue heron

These falls were at the end of the trail.

 

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."  Revelation 4:11

...and have a fine day.all day long!

Cape Henry Lighthouse(s)

The last couple days we were able to combine work and play so we spent a couple days at VA Beach.  The weather was beautiful floating in the 80s.  we were able to visit the cape Henry Lights which shares the spot where the Jamestown colony first came ashore before heading up the banks to Jamestown.  It is also a Revolutionary war site. Thought I would share a few pictures...

 

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

 

Have a fine day...............all day long!

To Remember D-Day... Bedford ,VA

 It seemed only natural as we were doing a job in Bedford Va this week to visit the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va... Humbling.... very humbling......

   Bedford was chosen because of the number of those lost in one day per capita was greater then anywhere else in the country.  Out of the 3200 residents in  the town, 19 lost their life that day.  despite the 98 degree temps we braved the heat to walk the trail.... and we were brought to tears as we witnessed a woman who had brought her father, a survivor of Normandy to pay his respects... as he took out his hankerchief we cried with him... not even pretending it was sweat.... its Ok to look and some what understand what those young men were going through... the heat, the high cliffs, the bullets splashing the water as they tried to storm the shore.... a buddy down...the will to survive.... the heart to do what was right.....

  The beaches at Normandy were not beaches as we know them her on teh East Coast... but cliffs that were crumbling and jagged

 This statue was a gift from the French, the bottom half of the face was blown off by a shell.... a grim reminder....

  If you are anywhere near Bedford Va ( beautiful countryside by the way), we highly suggest you visit the memorial.  You can read more about it HERE AT THE D_DAY MEMORIAL website.

Deuteronomy 20:8 (KJV):
8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

Thank you...........

53 Revolutions Around the Sun

Yes, birthday week here at End of the Road... I love birthday weeks... lots of folks you love and goodness..

Monday , my actual birthday I was treated to lunch by Jeremy.  I think I have my new summer pizza pegged... spinach and feta... Oh Goodness!  I want to marry it!  I couldn't get the taste off my mind so much that when my MIL  took me out to lunch yesterday I HAD to have the same thing.. The last of the spinach is coming in the garden which means I can put it on the menu and eat it everyday...

I thought I would share my pizza crust recipe..

Pizza Crust

2 cups warm water

1T yeast

2T brown sugar

allow yeast to proof about 15 minutes

ADD

3T olive oil ( makes for a more sicilian crust... drop it down to 1T if you don't like it that way)

salt to taste

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 1/2 cups white flour

mix well and allow to double..punch down and divide ( makes two crusts)

spread on a baking sheet or stone  and top with your favorite ingredients bake at 450 for 10 minutes.

The key to a great pizza crust is the high heat..you might even get away with 500 for 8 minutes... Alicia sort of had  a pizza craving too .

Anyhow, we ended up in Durham again on Tuesday.  I have such a love hate relationship with that place... so we are driving and we see this thing that looks like a bottle brush..

so look beyond the actual cell tower.. see that thingy sticking up?  Looks like a bottle brush I think..

Well, its a cell tower made , in a poor attempt I think, to look like a tree.... we had to take a picture... and it still makes me laugh... No, we did not stop at the Mexican Market, although I do love to go into these remote markets and see all the unique things... its like traveling to a different country.

  The colors for the Special Olympic Scarf Project are out. I ordered up yarn for 5 of them in honor of my cousins daughter Elizabeth.  A great project to support if you are a knitter or crocheter. The projects travel well for the busy summer ahead.

  Jamie and Em are back from Paris and I am looking forward to seeing all the pictures. That will happen  on Sat. when we all meet at MIL's for the birthday/ mothers day cook out.  My BIL and I share birthday week and Ihave always enjoyed that bond between us.

Clothes to be hung on this fine day....Oh! and my Grams is going home today from the hospital!

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12

..and have a fine day...all day long!

 

Middle Eastern Dinner

Chris and I love cooking cultural meals.  In our small town we don't have a variety of resturants to offer us a culinary trip around the world , we have to do that for ourselves

 So tonight we decided to take a trip to Lebanon. Some of the ingredients we had to travel to Durham  for , but if you live in a rural area some of these things can be ordered if necessary.  we understand this isnot exactly being a true locavore... but for us experiencing a countries culture through food is entertainment for us... the preparing and the eating...

Our Appetizer was Hummus and sliced pita bread

Hummus

• 1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
• 1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
• 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Place in serving bowl . There are recipes for homemade pita bread but we bought ours this go round.

Main course: Shish Taouk

• 2 lbs cubed chicken breast
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne

Preparation:

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Allow chicken to marinate for 2-24 hours, covered in the refrigerator.

Place chicken on the skewers (about 5 pieces on each). Grill for 15 minutes or until done. Remember to turn skewers during cooking.

 

Lebanese Rice

• 1 1/2 cups rice
• 1/2 cup vermicelli, broken to small pieces
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 1/4 cups water

Preparation:

Brown vermicelli in butter in large pan. Add rice and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 20 minutes, or until water is absorbed and rice is tender.

..I also served with a green salad

Dessert: Ghoraibi cookies

MELT IN YOUR MOUTH

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups blanched almond halves
• 1 teaspoon clear almond extract

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Beat butter in mixing bowl for 5 minutes, or until fluffy. Cream in sugars. Add almond extract. Slowly add in flour. If you do not have a heavy duty stand mixer, you may want to mix in half of the flour with the mixer, then the remaining with a spoon. You don't want to burn out the motor on a hand mixer.

Chill in the refrigerator for up to one hour.

Roll out chilled cookie dough on a floured surface. Roll into a rope that is 1 1/2 - 2 inches thick.

Cut diagonally into diamond shapes.

Place on ungreased cookie sheets.

Place one almond in the center of each cookie.

Bake for 12 minutes. Remove and cool on cooling rack.

Psalms 104:16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Have a fine day.................all day long!

Cruising the Backroads of VA

I will admit I am a total mountain girl.  Even though I lived more away from the mountains every so often I need to head to the hills.

  That is exactly what we did on Thursday. I packed a cooler with turkey, bacon , lettuce and tomato sandwiches and  we headed to VA. for the day.  Middle Va is full of small towns with quaint little shops and studios.

 Our favorite town is FLoyd, POP 432 with a general store  that folks come to for miles around to participate in the Fri. Night Jamboree. Quilt shops, antiques,and farm goods.

 We followed the Crooked Road Music Trail  I can vouch for the crooked road part....

AND... you never know who you might run into along the way....

..he currently resides in Christianburg, VA

It ended up being cold and rainy so I was glad I had packed a thermos of Russian Tea to warm us up.

Russian Tea

1 cup instant tea
2 cups Tang
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 pkg. Wylers lemonade mix
1 1/2 cups sugar (or less)

Directions

Mix all together and keep in tightly covered jar. Use approximately two heaping teaspoons for one cup of tea.

For, lo, he formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of host, is his name.  Amos 4:13

..Have a fine day..all day long!

A Great Day In Durham....

 It was such a great day today that we packed a lunch and headed out to see the crochet garffiti bull in Durham when I read about it on Leslie's blog

The exhibit was to run through March 30th... but I am guessing because of the rain I missed it..

..I did find evidence that there HAD been crochet there..

  Even with out the crochet.. we had a great time....

  I am not sure I have laughed that hard in awhile.....

So, after the bull we headed up the street to the Scrap Exchange  This place is an artist dream come true.. tons of just stuff.. waiting to be turned into more stuff..

A few of my favorites from the "Green" room

 a lamp from scrap wood and blue prints..

 and this one from cd cases and old cds

spool chair

 recycled plastic mat....

.. A quick trip to Whole Foods for some tahini and our favorite sesame snacks and we headed north again to have dinner with dear friends....

   Just a wonderful day....

" In the begining God created".. Genesis 1:1..

Have a fine day....all day long!

Late on my promise....

I fully intended to post yesterday but at the last minute we found out we needed to take a business trip to NJ.. close to NYC... but not quite.... We really are not enamoured with the area so after picking up our order we headed south again and landed outside Harrisburg Pa. 

  By booking our motel late and in the off season we were able to get a room with a fireplace, king size bed and jacuzzi... It feels good to realx after a hard day of travel.

  To make travel easier I packed our breakfast and lunch

Breakfast was fruit and granola bars. This batch I added a T of flax seed .. great way to get it! a couple of thermoses of hot tea and coffee and we were well on our way as the sun came up.

For lunch we had ham and pepper jack  sandwiches on these rolls.. I know they are dinner rolls but for travel sandwiches they are the perfect size.  Crystal has so many great recipes on her website. I have tried several and have never been disappointed. So while you're over there look around for a bit .. Homemaking on the Homestead is a great read.

  since I can't do a post with out a picture let me leave you with a picture of my rolls... makes your mouth what eh?

Did you see the Super Moon the other night.... I am so thankful we live in a spot where city lights didn't dim it.

“They shall fear thee as long as the sun and the moon endure, throughout all generations.” Psalm 72:5

 

..continue to pray for Japan....and have a fine day...all day long!

 

 

New Years Eve at the Mt Olive Pickle Drop

Running into an old friend I haven't seen in 30 years...priceless..

Free pickles...equally as priceless

Watching a giant pickle drop into a vat at 7:00 ( midnight GMT)....

Home in jammies by 9:30..... beyond priceless..

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope Jeremiah 29:11

From the Eaton Family we pray blessings and mercies from our Lord in 2011...and have a fine year...all year long!