Maryland

Chesapeake Bay Bridge  1.7 mi


Shenandoah River

Harpers Ferry


Joyce and the cannon.


Old bridges and dams


Countryside by Frederick


Apartments along the main streets of Frederick.

Joyce’s little park/pond across the way.

Jon and me.

I was in Maryland for a week with my sister Joyce who now lives in Frederick.  Her son, Jon, is posted there.  I had a nice time with lots of sight seeing, meeting Joyce’s friends, spending time with my great nephew and nieces, my nephew and Minerva. 
Just for a little ‘aside’, this is my nephew Tony and me.  Tony and Mercatie, his lovely new wife, stopped in today for a visit on their way home to the Carolinas. 


And I made this Golden Retriever cross stitch to hold them over until they can get a real Golden!!  
 
My garden is in since Memorial Day weekend and growing by leaps and bounds. 
Also, I have a new dog.  Ellie is a Jack Russell Terrier and 6 years old.  I got her from one of my petsitting clients who will be moving to Pennsylvania in another month or so.  Her and Kisa are doing great.  Tag still wants to pounce and chase her. 

Til next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stoughton CF Walk

 

Anndddd, we’re off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Gracie Belle and I had our own CF Walk, and Jill, one of her owners, is taking her walk in the Cheyenne Mountains in Colorado on Saturday, May 19th.

I donated my dog walking wages to CF, as Jill and Peg have a nephew with CF.  His name is Chase.  I was honored to get an email from one of the board members out in Colorado thanking me for my donation.  Every little bit helps. 

Here are some pictures of Jill and Peg’s garden.  It is so beautiful with all of the flowers blooming!! 

And here is Gracie Belle after our CF walk.  We were both pooped!  We rested out by the waterfall and enjoyed the view.  It was a beautiful day for a walk. 

More news:  my sister, Joyce, and her daughter, Jody, are here overnight with Jacque and I.  Tomorrow we will have a nice breakfast and then off to Maryland for a few days.  We will be going to Annapolis, Washington DC---from afar, and just chillin’.  Love going different places and seeing the sights. 

Then back home to plant the garden!! 

Gracie Belle—again!!

 

Yup.  Another walk with Gracie Belle this week.  She is just full of energy and makes me laugh.

Running!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eating fresh, white snow!!!!!!!!!

Running!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Running???  

Resting or waiting to ambush me??

So, we had fun and it was snowing a bit and I am now pooped.  Til next week Gracie Belle!!

Gracie Belle

 

This is Gracie Belle.  She is a Golden that I take for walks by her house in the woods.  We have lots of fun and she gives me that ‘Golden FIX’ every Friday. 

I look forward to Fridays with Gracie, who happens to email me by Thursday cuz she is also anxiously awaiting for the Friday walk!!  Her owners Jill and Peg have coffee for me when I am done and Gracie gets her treat(s)!! 

Til next Friday Gracie Belle!!!!!!!!!!!  

He is just CUTE!! And a recipe

 

Isn’t this Golden Retriever puppy CUTE?  I have to matt it and put it IN the frame.  Hopefully I can get it done this weekend with some guidance from my older sister.  And then on to my next project!! 

Kaylynn will be here this weekend, Jacque’s granddaughter.  I think they will be baking cookies. 

Life in Stoughton has been slow.  My business (PetCare by Julie) is slow going.  I have an every Friday pet job starting Feb. 3 til April 15 and a couple of horse jobs in February. 

So, I have been reading and cooking and reading and stitching and reading…………………………I want to start putting some of my recipes in my blog but only if I get some feedback!!  ok???

So, here goes:

BEEF TINGA  from Rachael Ray:

2# Beef Chuck, large cubes, 1# Mexican Chorizo, 4 cloves garlic, small sweet onion, 1/2 TB Cumin, 1/2 TB Oregano, 1/2 TB Coriander, 1 small can Beef Broth or Beef Consume’,  1 14oz can Diced Tomatoes, 1 TB Honey and 1-2 TB pureed Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce. 

Brown Beef Chuck in olive oil and set aside.  Brown Chorizo in remaining juices and add grated garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, coriander.  Let simmer for a few minutes and then add remaining ingredients. Add Beef Broth or Consume’ until thick. (You may not use whole can) Let the flavors blend and then add the beef chuck.  Bake in oven covered on 325 degrees for 30 minutes or so, until the beef easily pulls apart. 

Serve with tortillas or bread.     You can also garnish with cheese. 

Have fun and let me know how it turns out!  It is spicy so adjust chorizo and chipotle as desired.  Also, puree whole can of Chipotle Peppers and put remaining in ziploc bag and freeze.  Don’t forget to label it!!    I used the Johnsonville Chorizo but if you can find a really good Mexican Chorizo please use that!!  I know of a place in Farmington, NM that has WONDERFUL chorizo.  Thanks to my friend Catherine for introducing it to me. 

OK  so let me know how you like it!  

SOON----A NEW YEAR!!

Lots of changes happened in 2011.  Some good, some not so good.  But, life goes on and I’m still alive!  Celebrate Life!!! 

 

 

Here’s a little project that I was working on this last week, after getting Christmas and Birthday presents done. 

 

This sunflower is a 5X5 pillow that I made for my godmother Sally.  Don’t tell her!!!  The next are the dragonfly for Joyce and then the hummingbird for Jill.  All hand-stitched by me!

 

I got some very nice Christmas presents from my sisters and a few cards from friends in the mail. Jacque and I just opened up some presents and quietly celebrated the day with music and movies. I went up to Claire’s, the landlady, for Christmas supper and it was all delicious!  Ham, lasagna, beans, jello salad, veggies, pie and brownies and of course the cookies!!  Saw a few people I hadn’t seen for a couple of years and had a very nice time visiting with them.  

My business is slow-going but have gotten a couple of dogs to groom, and horses to feed. 

Don’t forget to make some resolutions for the new year, and then keep them!!   

Update done people!  LOL