Wildlife Reserve or Petting Zoo?

We love most animals that we see outside our home. And sometimes we even sight some uncommon ones. 

Here are the latest wildlife sightings in our front yard: 

Wild turkeys munching in the dirt and grass heap that my hub plans to move in the future.

They looked more like peacocks than turkeys.

Actually, I am prouder of our little live oak (planted from a "found" seedling in 2008). Love the shape!

And there were really three turkeys out there near the culvert.

Pretty good sized birds. But we don't like turkey meat, remember.

Nice visit.

And then on down into the pond:

Yay, the otter is still there. See his head?

Oops! Think he saw the photographer! Camera shy?

Naw! He is strutting his stuff!

Visitors are welcome at our wildlife reserve ;)

New Bird Watcher in the Neighborhood

Our son had a visitor last Friday.

This little guy (or gal) was persistent.

It did not give up trying to get inside.

Flying against the windowpane did not help. Maybe it was following its own reflection?

This is the kind of bird it was--a yellow rumped warbler.

And this is the result. Now there is a "bird restaurant" in our son's backyard. 

Love that guy ;))))

I am partying at http://domesblissity.blogspot.com/2014/01/thriving-on-thursday-linky-party-100.html.

Another party at http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/2014/01/time-travel-thursday-181-talented-time.html.

My Homemade Kings' Cake

As yesterday was the 12th Day of Christmas (Epiphany), I celebrated by baking our neighbors my version of a Kings Cake.

The golden plastic baby got shoved into the baked cinnamon roll after it was baked and before I smeared on the cream cheese icing. I warned our neighbor to look out for the hidden baby and to enjoy the roll while it was still warm.  My experience with homemade cinnamon rolls made with water instead of milk is that they get rather chewy the longer they sit. ( Bread dough recipe in my January 4, 2014 blogpost. And check out this site: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/09/30-minute-dinner-rolls-recipe.html#8ZG4xGRxT4C7zTo0.99)

This may not be the Gift of the Magi, but it was a gift to neighbors who keep an eye out on us and on our home when we are not here.

We think they are mighty special neighbors!

I am partying with http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com.

Mixer Garage

Our son gave me this beautiful mixer when he first started earning his own salary back in 2006.

We had just moved to the US, and he was newly employed in a very good job. He always apologized that his beginning yearly salary was more than I was making in Louisiana after a teaching career of over 30 years. (In 1970 my first Louisiana teaching year's salary did not even approach $5,000!)

But back to the red mixer. He bought it to match my red enamelware collection, and it does. But since we have been in this house, the mixer has not had a chance to "match" anything. I have tucked it away inside a kitchen cabinet. Now that I am having more and more problems lifting heavy items, I decided to find a handy place for my mixer. No more straining and spraining to get out this beauty.

And here is the perfect parking spot. Around the corner from the fridge and right next to the ovens. The toaster oven that was occupying this space is now inside the cupboard. I rarely use it, and if I do need it, it isn't so heavy. My hub has even found a parking spot for the toaster where my red enamel breadbox resides. Not sure it is going there yet.

Fits in nicely while idle. And slides out to work. Just need to put a driveway (Ikea cutting mat) under it.

Compliments Will Get You Anywhere

I know it is supposed to be "flattery" instead of compliments, but I feel that compliments are more meaningful than flattery.

Tonight I got one of the best compliments I can remember. My hub said my "made from scratch" 30 Minute Yeast Rolls were better than Sister Schubert's AND Double D Restaurant's yeast rolls. 

In fact, he said they were the best he has had in a long time. And I made them all by myself from scratch.

Only a 10 minute rise.

Leftovers for later. They were delicious eaten warm with our homemade vegetable beef soup.

Here is the recipe:

30 Minute Rolls Recipe:

Ingredients: 
1 c. plus 2 Tbl. warm water
1/3 c. vegetable oil
2 Tbl. active dry yeast (yes, you read that right! 2 tablespoons!)
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm water, oil, yeast and sugar; let rest for 5-10 minutes or until frothy and bubbly. With a dough hook, mix in salt, egg and 2 cups of flour until combined. Add remaining 1/2 cup flour at a time (dough will be sticky). Spray your hands with cooking spray and shape the dough into 12 balls. After shaped, place on lightly greased cookie sheet and let rest for 10 minutes. Bake for about 10 minutes or until tops are lightly golden. Yield: 12 good-sized rolls. You can also use this same dough for cinnamon rolls!

Read more at http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/09/30-minute-dinner-rolls-recipe.html#8ZG4xGRxT4C7zTo0.99

No Vintage News From Me

This Blogger's Opinion:

I like vintage things.

Vintage people.

Vintage places.

Vintage things.

But I dislike vintage news.

In the last weeks too many people in the world have been obsessed with the year that has passed.

You won't see a reflection of 2013 on my blog.

Only "new" news on Wetcreek!

Not Your Oma's Oliebollen

Happy New Year!