My Cone Flowers and Black Eye Susan’s.

My Cone Flowers and Black Eye Susan’s are blooming now. Buy far my favorite flowers are my cone flowers. The Black eye susan's are nice to. The white flower is a cone flower not a dazie, I did have some Dazies, but I did not like them. I'm already looking at what my new areas are going to be for new flower next year. I think I'm going to try to do roses again next year.

Eggplant Parmigiana

This past week end I had some friends over for dinner. When I asked them what would you like for dinner? It was clearly stated that my famous Eggplant Parmigiana was a must. I love this so much I felt I needed to share it with every one.

Red Sauce (Prep time 2 hours)

3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 large green pepper, finely chopped
1 pack sun dried tomatoes
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 tsp. oregano
2 (28 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1-2 large tomatoes finely chopped
2 (12oz.) cans of tomato paste
2 tsp. basil
2 bay leafs
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
½ cup red wine or sherry or red wine vinegar

When I make this I make sure I have lots of time to spare. Sauté the onions, green pepper, and garlic in olive oil and butter. Add sun dried tomatoes after pepper and oions and garlic have cooked a little, they can burn if not carful.

Add oregano, tomato sauce, tomato paste and chopped tomatoes. then mix in basil, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and wine (alcohol cooks out and brings more favor). Simmer for 2 hours.

Preparing the eggplant:

1 large eggplant
3-4 eggs beaten
1-2 cups wheat flour or bread crumbs
4 Tbsp oil
Grated Parmesan cheese
My Red Sauce
2 pcks sliced mozzarella cheese
Salt

Wash and peel eggplant; cut into ½ inch-thick slices. Lightly sprinkle salt on egg plant and put in bowl and cover.

The salt will pull out moisture from eggplant, so that it will be firmer. Let sit for 15-20 minutes. Pat dry eggplant with a dry clean towel, this should remove salt from it. Dip into egg, then into flour and cracker mix, coating both sides. In a large skillet cook eggplant in hot oil for 4-6 minutes or until golden brown. Place eggplant slices in a single layer in a baking dish (9x90. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, top with pasta sauce, then mozzarella. Then add final layer of eggplant over top and repeat Parmesan, sauce, and mozzarella. Bake at 400 in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

At Amy's Parents

This past week end we went to Amy's parents. We mostly went there so Amy could have a girls night out with her mother, aunt, and sister. But I'll save that storie for her. We also Got to see Amy's Grandpa Reed, the boys grate grandpa.

Even More Images of My Garden

Do you thing I like my Garden?

56 more days

56 more days and they go back to school. 56 more days... 56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...56 more days...

Much fun for all at Greenfield Village

Today we went to Greenfield Village with my parents, my younger bother’s wife Amy (we both married an Amy) and my older bother Tom and his kids Charlie and Zoe. We saw the Wright House and bike shop, rode the carousel, and then we walked on stilts in a near by field. I really wonted to take the boys to see the Edison at Work area, witch had his original factory and work shop, but by then they had enough and so had we. So we rapped the day up with the round house and trains and came home. It was a nice day and I really enjoyed being with my whole family.

Soaked!

For our vacation we went camping by ceder point with another family who have an eight-year-old daughter. The little girl also brought her friend along. We arrived at the campground Sunday afternoon while it was pouring rain. Fortunetely, Ken is such a fanatical outdoors lover that not wind, not rain, nor hail will deter him from whistleing merrily as he sets up camp. The rain eventually subsided and the boys rode the bikes that we had brought along, gleefully driving through puddles in the attempt to be as dirty as possible. The campground also had a play structure and pool, and later the other mother and I walked all four kids over to play and swim.

The second day we left for soak city, which is connected to ceder point, in the late morning. It turns out that Rodney was 48 inches, making him just tall enough to ride the big kid rides. Davy was still at 46 inches, which gave us a cheaper ticket, at least. There were still lots of things he could do. Some activities and water slides he was still allowed on, provided that he wear a life jacket. Both boys loved the wave pool, and a play structure full of water slides, water hoses and squirt guns. Rodney went on some pretty wild rides with his dad and loved it. Ken used to be a lifeguard/swimmer and has taught the boys to be excellent swimmers. They have no fear of the water at all.

At soak city Ken and I took turns taking the boys individually and going on whatever rides/activites that they wanted. I really treasured having that one-on-one time with each of them. I love my little guys so much, and they are growing up to be such fasinating people, that I feel privelaged and lucky to be their mom.

Later that night, we were awoken at about 2 a.m. due to an extreme lightning and thunder storm. I was panicking that my babies would be struck by lightening or carried away in a tornado (think Dorothys house swirling in the air, only in this instance a tent instead) I used our wet tents as an excuse for all of us to pack up and come home a day early. Ken chalks all these things up as "part of the experience of camping, but at that point I was ready for the "experience" of watching him load the car! I was also very sore and had 2 blisters on my feet from walking all over soak city. I was never so happy to see my beige little house! A 3 bedroom/2 bath modular may not seem like much but it was paradise to me. I came home fully intending to stay indoors for a week, but we ended up going to the fireworks that night and are going to greenfield village tomorrow. As long as it stays DRY I am willing to go with the flow.

4th of July

For the 4th of July we all went to Kensington Metro Park for there fireworks display. Both boys were able to stay awake for the hole time.

The Little Tent That Could

For the past couple of days we went camping with another family, just out side of Sandusky Ohio, at Cristal Rock campground. We got there Sunday at noon and it was raining. We quickly set up the cabanas so we could unload the cars and the set up the tents. The rain did stop enough for us to set up our tents, this was the first time we used our new tent and It was very easy to set up. I made curtain that it was staked down well and the rain tarp was tighten down. Wile we set up camp the kids road their bikes and went to the pool. The first night was clear and clam, but Amy and I did not get much sleep, as our air mattress had a slow leak and the boys were up and down all night.

The Next day we went to Soak City to get even more wet that the day before. I will save that story for later, but we had fun. That night after getting the kids into bed with no problems and we fell a sleep around 11pm, with our new air mattress. However we got a thunder store at about 2am. There were gust of wind and LOTS of lighting and the rain was coming down very hard. Our tent held fast. Amy and I where up for the whole time of the storm, witch was about 2 hours long. I got up to make sure every one was ok and to assess the damage. Every one was ok and we lost one of the cabanas. With all of this happing the boys slept through it. The next morning we decided to go home, because every thing we owned and our selves was soaked. We had planed on staying another night but we were done. I see this as all part of the camping experience, but Amy may never go again… this year any way.

We are so done with being soaked