New on the Grocery List #5 - Oatmeal Bites

This is a Weight Watchers recipe - I tried several

new things..... Whole Wheat Flour, Splenda Brown

Sugar and Splenda granulated sugar and 

they really turned out pretty darn good.  And

better yet they are 2 points in weight watchers

language.... 

They are somewhat different from regular cookies

in the way that they bake - 

but taste great!

The recipe makes a very small portion - the 

first ones I followed the recipe and added

the raisins - hubby likes them the best!

The second go round I made 4x the recipe

and added in mini chocolate chips... may 

increase the points but it was well worth it!

"Oatmeal Raisin Bites"

1 1/2 c. rolled oats

3/4 c. whole grain wheat flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. table salt

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 c. butter - softened (I used margarine)

1/2 c. packed brown sugar (I used Splenda)

1/4 c. sugar (I used Splenda)

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. raisins, chopped

Oven 350

Medium bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, salt and 

cinnamon; set aside.  Using an electric mixer, cream butter

and both sugars until creamy.  Add egg and vanilla, mix

thoroughly.  

Add oat mixture and mix until just combine; fold in raisins

or mini chocolate chips.

Drop rounded teaspoons of batter on ungreased cookie

sheets; about 1-inch apart.  Bake for 9 to 10 minutes for

chewy cookies and 10 to 11 minutes for crispy cookies.

Remove from oven and let cookies rest on cookie

sheet for about 2 minutes then remove to cooling

rack.

Garden Time - In March?

Yes in March - Grandpa's garden has been tilled... this was

good practice for Lineman Son since he took the tractor 

home with him to make himself a garden...  where Lineman

Son lives just a few hours away they have long green

grass already - he will be mowing his yard before

too long.

The rhubarb is up... I need to get out and check my

flower gardens but I am afraid of removing the straw

from their beds quite yet... we could still have some

cold temps... I would rather be safe than sorry...

It didn't take Lineman Son long to get started on

his job - look  how big that garden could be.... 

or maybe he will plant some grass too..

With the mild winter he has been able to work on his

yard all through the winter months - this area was

covered with tall weeds, grass, brush, garbage

(you name it). 

It looks so nice.

It will be interesting to see what he gets 

to grow...


have you started your garden?

One Day to The Next -

It is truly hard to know what to expect

in the Minnesota weather this year --- one day

it is summer and we are sleeping with the window

open enjoying the frogs and the next day the temperature

drops 20 degrees in a very short time and we return to

a warm and cozy home because the heat was

needed and came on.


This morning it is only in the mid-20's.... but the sun
is shining - won't take long to warm up!

And The Rain Came

I made a trip to town last night and as I came out

of the grocery store and headed to my next

stop - it was just pouring...  I got drenched!

As the rain slowed down this appeared.....

I was thankful as I headed home that it appeared

we had gotten some rain out in the country too....

it has been very dry here - and we were already

looking at fire / burning bans... so we are very

thankful for this shot of moisture.

As I drove by the lake I had to stop - what is left

of the ice along with the fog created some
interesting pictures.

And the beach sure had some colors going.... I thought
it was neat how the lake bottom is showing

Sunday there were still people out icefishing - I would

think this rain will put an end to that.... will we see

some boats on the lake this weekend?  that would

certainly be a first for March.

What a Weekend!

What a weekend - we are being treated with some

wonderful weather - 60's 70's a little sunshine -

some humidity - can it really be March?

This weather brings on some spring fever - cleaning

out the freezer - cleaning through clothes - and I

continue going through unwanted scrapbook stuff....

Hubby did some yardwork and work on the driveway - man

if we get some rain it will be looking pretty darn good

around here!

The animals lazed around soaking up the warmth there

wasn't much sun but it was warm and humid - kinda odd

for the month of March.

Now that Monday arrived again - now heading towards

the end of the month....  it is time to get a little nap and

rest up for next weekend.   We have some busy 

weekends coming up so hopefully we won't be

dealing with any snowstorms.... that is still a BIG

possibility here in the north country.   In fact,

we can't wash up and put away the snowmobile

jackets etc yet - we may get that weekend

snowstorm....  :)

Sorry I haven't been leaving messages - I have been

visiting when time allows - still adjusting to the

time change and trying to fit everything in

to my day.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Weather Has Made Me Gone Cleaning!

Another week - it is Friday again - not sure about you

 but this month of March is going by fast for me!

Our beautiful weather - warm enough for a t-shirt on the

walk to the mailbox - caused me to go a little

CRAZY ---- not stir crazy --- but CLEANING

CRAZY!

I have gone through my closet - last night finished up - and

I have a load to go to the second hand store... I am all

for cleaning, sorting..... 1) pile to garbage  2) pile to the

second hand-thrift store and 3) the pile I don't really

want to get rid of but haven't worn in the last year - that pile

goes to the consignment store.. hopefully put a little 
ching-ching in my pocket for something new!


I have also been finishing up so long overdue
scrapbooking projects (yes still) I found some
years that were not done for the Lineman Son - man
when that gets done I think I will just put pictures in
a nicely sorted photo box and call it quits.  


How nice now that my photos are on discs - so I won't
have tons of pictures waiting to be done - they can
just patiently wait on the thin little disc.


I have found some interesting things:   comments by
a 10 year old boy - my children will never have to take the

garbage out and when I am an adult I will always always let

my children eat in the livingroom....    Don't ya love it!

I also have a grouping to deliver to town - little sales
of scrapbooking and stuff that will now go to
someone who needs them... 


Have a great weekend!

More of March Photo Challenge

Another addition of the March Photo Challenge that I

am doing - 

Clock - it was difficult coming up with something

other than the clock on your wall.

Favorite Accessory -  my favorite accessory could be my

"princess glasses" that I received from my niece for

Christmas....

Something That Sparkles - this sparkly ring was part of

the table decor at a recent wedding shower I went to.

Store - this was an archived picture not taken by myself.

Vaegemast Cleaners was owned by my grandfather 

and his brother.

Something in Your Front Yard - the hose hooked up to the

water spout is always a great sign of spring!

Music - this is also an archived picture from last June - the

coyotes quite often provide us with some evening music.

Dream - this was the challenge on a day that it

actually was snowing so I was dreaming of a summer

day.

It Is Spring!

Spring arrived on Saturday - sun shiny and just

warm.... warmth from the sun - there was no

need for a jacket.


Saturday and Sunday the snow melted... Monday it
rained for a short time.

And today it is just another  nice day - 

Starting to see what needs to be done when spring
really arrives... like putting all this black dirt back
into the metal tubs...  I wanted to blame the cats
but I think it was the dogs - specially that lil' Lenny!

This is about all of the snow that is left
in the yard - not much.   We had a driveway full
of ice and since Sunday evening that has really
melted too.


I hope you are enjoying a beautiful day!

Hither and Thither!

Welcome Friday again.... this week went by fast

for the most part - it is the slow time of the year

for work and then sometimes technology

can cause problems too.  I take the quiet days

in stride because that is usually the

calm before the storm!

We are having typically strange Minnesota weather -

one day this week it was in the mid-40's and

we found out that we need all new gutters on

the house - we had water running everywhere.

Yesterday we had a mini blizzard for about 2 hours - then

it cleared off and the sun came out.   Since we had

the mini-blizzard we now have lots of new fluffy

snow in the yard and piled up on the sidewalk - all

blew in from the prairie.

Had my wedding ring repaired - replaced the setting -

first time in over 25 years (I can actually see the prongs

on it now) - when I left the store the gal told me "you need

to get that checked every 6 years".   So just a reminder

don't procrastinate  - get your rings checked and repaired.

It sure is a good feeling to be complete with another thing

on my list - the dental list - I finished up with the last

item on my "dental plan" - it has taken a few years and
I wouldn't want to add up what it has cost.  Now if I can just
maintain for a long time  and not have any 
new work come up  ;)


My KitchenAid Blender crapped out yesterday - the rubber
part that runs the blade - the little nobbins all but one were
shaved right off....  It is old but seldom used - it is about
25 years old but the last few months I have used it
every morning...   Thank goodness for hubby and
Ebay - I have a new part coming in the mail and
it was under $10.00... 


We are in transition from snowmobiling to spring.... yes
it is coming... this weekend we are defying winter
and starting to pack things up....  


Have a wonderful weekend!

This was our Kodi Bear last year right after we got her - oh
how she has grown into a beautiful young lady...
Kodi update coming soon!

...New on the Grocery List... #4

This week I am featuring an old favorite and something

new - ICE CREAM!

The old favorite is Weight Watchers ice cream bars - this box
was English Toffee Crunch - gives you some crunch and
definitely some chocolate.  Each ice cream bar is 3 pointsplus
(the WW points) and is 100 calories per bar.


The new one that hit my cart this week was the Skinny
Cow Mint ice cream sandwiches - these are wonderful
and big!  They have noted the pointsplus as 4 points
and each sandwich is 140 calories.


So for that sweet tooth don't be afraid to pick these
up - good for you and very delicious!


Note:  I have no connection to the Nestle Company
or  Weight Watchers (other than I have paid
membership fees over the years)  :)

Photo Challenge - March

I've been taking part in a daily photo challenge

for the Month of March - thought I would share

the photos I have used so far...

Something that makes you "SMILE" - my little

niece always makes me smile - 

"TREES - my little place in the country is

surrounded by trees.

"WATER" - the big dogs water bucket.

"BLACK & WHITE" - one of our local lakes.

"CHORES" - some feel that my most important

chore of the day is feeding them and their 3 friends.

And today the subject is "BERRIES" - 

Spring....

We are now getting some heat from the sun... the last

few days there has been melting each day.... the

animals are enjoying the added daylight hours

and the warmth.

Spring is always right around the corner when the

horses start coming over to our side of the pasture - Ace

has started to visit each afternoon.

Saturday afternoon I caught the four-legged critters

all taking naps in the good ol' sun!

Zoey preferred the car top - up high so the dogs

wouldn't interrupt.

Moe (our old dog) enjoyed the sun in the comfort

of the kitchen.  He now has a bed in the

laundry room (heat in the floor and a fluffy

comforter) - life is good for an old dog.

I caught Moe (maybe keeping an eye on Tigger) or

maybe not... Tigger was soaking up the heat

next to the patio door.

Lenny was out under a pine tree bough and Kodi

was relaxing on the sidewalk...

We did get some snowmobiling in both days this

weekend - it may be the last...  Spring is 

in the air!  I bought my first packet of

seeds on Saturday!

Hoodwinked!

"to deceive by false appearance"

"to deceive or cheat"

We've been hoodwinked... we had weather

warnings through Wednesday that was

suppose to bring us 12-22" of snow - we

were smack in the middle of that band! 

Thursday morning school was 2 hours late - and

we had a skiff to maybe an inch of snow....

We were hoodwinked by mother nature - or

maybe  the meteorologists who now have

too many scientific details that don't consider

that Mother Nature does whatever she 

darn well pleases.

Either way here in Minnesota we just received our

first significant snowfall last weekend and would

have enjoyed another dumping - which would

give us another day or two of snow playtime.

I know spring is right around the corner and we

are looking forward to it but a mere 130 miles of

snowmobile trail for one riding season is pathetic.


So I am on to looking for sunflower seeds - spring
is a coming....

...New on the Grocery List... #3

These two snacks passed the test for me - I know

because they didn't last long and were constantly

calling me from the cupboard!

The Newton Fruit Thins reminded me of the
chocolate Teddy Grahams I bought when 
the kids were little.  These cookies hit
the chocolate sweet spot - featuring whole
grain and real fruit.

Have you tried the Wheatable NutCrisps - these were
also pretty tasty and a serving is 16 crackers.  
They would be very good with Laughing Cow 
cheese on them!
They satisfied my craving of salt that I get
occasionally.


Note:  I have no connection to either of
these companies.