Our Big Year Seeing A Snowy Owl

As some of you know my husband and I have had a really good week.  Mid January in Wisconsin can be pretty quiet and low key.  It is a time to stay inside to keep warm and snack too much.  I always gain weight in the winter.  It is easy to hibernate, but it isn't the best thing to do.  That is why we like to take drives around the country side in search of winter scenes and wildlife.  The eagles and winter birds are active this time of year.  They are easy to see because the leaves are off the trees, and the birds are more visible because they have to work a little harder to get food.  We heard eagles were hanging out at a nearby lake that hadn't frozen yet.  On one of our drives, we discovered where some eagles were spending time.  Two separate days we saw this fellow watching patiently for food.  As Spring approaches we see more eagles on our property but there haven't been many so far.

We also saw a couple young eagles waiting in the trees looking for their next meal.  The young eagles don't have the white head or tail feathers yet.  That happens when the eagle is about three years old.

Then the icing on the cake happened.  We saw a bird that we never thought we would see.  I told my daughter and she said "this is the big year".  I said "yes, I guess so".  She told me she was referring to a movie she watched with Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson.  It was about a year long competition to see who can spot the most birds.  The movie was called The Big Year.  That is what she was referring to.  I hadn't seen it or even heard of it, so I looked on the library website.  The movie was available for check out and so we did.

It is a cute little story.  I am a terrible movie viewer.  I can't concentrate enough to keep track of complicated story lines and a lot of characters.  This movie is simple with a good message about what is important in life.  The elusive bird in the story is the Snowy Owl.  They saw hundreds of different birds but the most sought after bird was the owl.  This week my husband and I saw two.  I thought it was the same owl on two separate days, but it turns out there are two separate owls in the area.  I was told I was very fortunate to see two separate owls in a lifetime.  I told my husband that even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then.  It wasn't anything we did, we were just at the right place at the right time.

The first sighting of the snowy owl was off in a tree.  I got this picture.

As we approached, he flew off across the field.  You can see through the trees how large he is.

If you look carefully you can see him sitting at the very top of the tree in the middle of the picture.

Another local person was luckier and captured this awesome shot.*

* I have asked permission to use this photo.  I have not heard so I am thinking it is ok with her.  If I need to delete it, I will.  Hopefully before winter is over, I will be able to get a similar picture myself.

The next day we were out shopping and decided to swing by the area on the way home.  I just wanted to get another glimpse of this amazing owl.  If I had my choice, I would go everyday.  We managed to see the owl again.  I thought he looked darker but then thought the other one we saw was probably hunkered down so we couldn't see the markings.  I posted the picture on a local birding site and learned that we had seen two separate birds.

We saw this heavily barred snowy owl near dusk.  Apparently this owl had not been spotted in this area.

I feel very fortunate to live where we do.  We may not have a lot of shopping opportunities or fancy restaurants, but we can see nature at its finest.  With the lakes not freezing as quickly this year, many varieties of ducks, geese and even swans can be seen at any time.  We have indeed had The Big Year within a few miles of our home.

My Family Escaped The "Escape Room"

 
Imagine living in a small town of 1,192 people in South Central Wisconsin in the winter.  The temperature this morning was minus 8.  It was the coldest day we have had so far this winter.

 
It is a Sunday, and there is not much to do.  I don't look at living in Wisconsin's cold clmate as much different from living in the Southern climates in the summer.  In both places it is difficult to do any outside activities.  It is dangerous to be outside in extreme heat, just as it is dangerous to be outside in minus zero temperatures.  In both situations a person needs to do something fun and safe.  Today we did just that.  A while ago my daughter participated in an activity for her job.  It was called the Escape Room of Wisconsin.  It was meant to build trust and team building among co-workers.  She loved it so much, she signed up for six people to do a family oriented escape room on January 17, 2016.  Little did we know today would be so cold and that it would be a perfect day for such an activity.  The six who participated were my husband, my daughters and three of our oldest grandchildren.  I came along for the ride.  The thought of being locked in a room caused me a little panic so I stayed out in the waiting room.  I was able to watch the whole process on a TV screen and hear how they were solving the puzzles.  I couldn't understand why they found a flashlight and needed to use it because it looked so bright on the TV screen. Afterward they told me it wasn't bright in the room and was very dark and hard to see.

What I viewed on the TV screen.  They weren't aware I was watching.

The general idea of the Escape room is that you choose a room you would like to escape from.  The room my family picked was called Escape Snape.  It was geared for families and based on the Harry Potter character.  It was kind of ironic because the actor Alan Rickman, who played Snape, died this past week.  I'm not sure if you need to know about the Harry Potter stories to escape this room, but I think it helped. 

Next you are put into the room and the door is locked.  You have to search for clues by solving puzzles and using logic to find the final way out of the room.  You have 45 minutes to complete and escape.  The better you work together and communicate, the faster you can escape.  The owner sits and watches on the TV monitor to make sure you are on the right track, and to make sure everyone is safe.

Some groups make it out, others get out with help and some need to be let out at the end of the 45 minutes.  It is fun no matter the outcome.  There are other rooms which are a little harder and require even more logic and puzzle solving skills. 

or

 
New rooms are added regularly so you can come back at another time.  When you are finally out of the room, they take fun photos to post on Facebook.  It was a great day for everyone, including me.

The Calendar Fiasco

 
I am in a winter rut.  It seems that everything I touch lately has turned to mush.  Nothing makes much sense, but for some reason I'm not depressed or even in a bad mood.  I just can't figure out why the stars are not aligning or the sun of life is clouded over a bit.  I know it happens to everyone every now and then.  Just read some Facebook posts for one day.  Facebook is the new National Inquirer.  There is a lot of information, but not a lot of accuracy.  You can't believe a large percentage of things posted.  This is why I'm not surprised over my latest fiasco. I'm annoyed, but not surprised.  It started early in December.  Many of my friends have suggested that I make a calendar.  I take a lot of pictures and many of them are of our local wildlife and scenery.  It occurred to me that instead of sending Christmas cards, I would make a calendar to send.  I got together a dozen photos from different times of the year.  I assigned the photos to a month and decided on a format.  Then I started searching for the best deal.  I searched and searched but most of the calendars would cost in excess of $20 per calendar.  I found some for around $7.50, but I wanted to order several which added up to too much money for the quality of the calendar.  After all, a calendar is only good for one year and gets thrown away.  Then one day I saw a Groupon.  Groupon is an internet company that connects consumers and businesses.  It is a way for local companies to find buyers.  I had success with ordering Groupons and thought they checked out the companies they make available.  The company I used to print the calendars was not a local company, but I was lured in by the product.  It allowed me to create affordable wall calendars with my own pictures.  I started with ordering ten (10) calendars.  It cost $50 with the shipping.  Five dollars each wasn't too bad.  I ordered on the 7th of December.  When I placed the order, it was slightly confusing but the code I had from Groupon was for ten calendars, so I wasn't too worried.  I even emailed the company to make sure the order was correct.  I got an automated response that they had received the email.  I even tried to call the company but got a message that they were having technical issues with the phone.  Oops, RED FLAG.  I decided to trust that everything would be fine.  I waited and in about 10 days got an email that my order had been shipped.  I was anxious to get the calendars and even bought big envelopes to mail some out as soon as the order came.  I waited and waited again, and finally on Christmas eve I received my order.  The trouble is it came in a tiny little package.  No wonder the package was small.   I received one (1) calendar that was creased and on very very bad quality paper.  For my $50, I received one ugly calendar.

I was pretty upset.  I have ordered hundreds of items over the years from many different companies and have never had this type of problem.  When there is a problem, businesses are usually very cooperative to make the situation acceptable.  Over a period of time, starting on December 24th, I have called and emailed the company at least six separate times in addition to the initial phone calls and emails.  I have never gotten through on the phone and have gotten the same automated response to my emails.  I decided to quit dealing (or not being able to deal) with the company and contact Groupon directly.  That was not easy either.  To actually find a phone number and email address requires being a pretty good detective.  I got the number and called.  I did talk to a person but had to be transferred to another department.  Then I waited on hold listening to the loud music and messages.  The message stated that an email address should be used unless the phone call was an emergency.  It wasn't an emergency at that time, so I hung up and emailed Groupon.  They were very nice, but required many emails asking questions and me giving them details.  They said they would contact the business and the business would be in contact with me.  I didn't hear a word and nothing happened.  As of today Groupon has given me credit for the price I paid, less the shipping.  The problem with that is it's a credit, and I have to order something from them to use the money.  I imagine I will order something at some point, but I didn't get the cash back and I have not heard a word from Printerpix.  Never order from this company unless you are ready for a fight.  I had read some reviews, and they weren't terrible.  Now looking into this company in depth, I have found I am not the only person having issues.  It remains to be seen if I will ever hear from Printerpix.  Hopefully I will, and if I do I will come back to this blog and update everyone.  I don't expect to hear, and I will never order from them again.  It is no way to run a business.

In the past I have gotten some beautiful calendars from Walgreens and Shutterfly, but they were expensive.  Next year I will research better and hopefully end up with a quality product in a timely manner for a good price.  Now I just have to be sure I don't fall on the ice or burn our dinner and things will be fine.

 *UPDATE*  Two months after my order was submitted, I received nine more calendars.  They blamed me for not putting the right amount in the item box, but in reality it was a glitch in their system.  Several emails and a lot of hassle was not worth it, but it is behind me and I did receive the calendars. 

Make Your Own Cough Syrup

In following with my last blog about making raw lemonade, I saw another recipe using a fresh lemon.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2016/01/raw-lemonade.html

 I didn't create this recipe, I found it on this link.
 http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/natural-cough-syrup.html 

If you don't want to read the whole link, I will paraphrase it.  It says if you get winter colds and don't like the Big Pharma cures, a good holistic medicine is pineapple.  You can use it for a cough syrup or a tablespoon a day for a healthy boost.  It says that pineapple has a special enzyme that controls mucus and inflammation in your throat and sinuses.  The enzyme is bromelain and has anti-inflammatory properties.  You must use fresh pineapple including the core to get the most bromelain.  Canned pineapple or pineapple juice don't contain the beneficial bromelain.

Other ingredients in the recipe are ginger which is also an anti-inflammatory, lemon which is filled with vitamin C and raw organic honey.  An optional ingredient is a little cayenne pepper for its pain relieving properties.  I left the pepper out mostly because I didn't have any.   More details on each ingredient are included in the original article. 
 
A batch of this syrup keeps in the refrigerator for a week to 10 days. You can take it as often as needed – even if you haven’t felt a cough coming, you can use the combination of pineapple, lemon, ginger, cayenne and honey to help prevent bacterial and viral attacks on your immune system.

This recipe yields about 1 cup.

Cut two thick slices of fresh pineapple.  Remove the peel from the outside of the pineapple but leave the core intact.
1 Tbsp raw honey
½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
A thumb sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced or rough chopped
1 lemon – juiced  I used the whole lemon with the peel taken off.

Rough chop the pineapple, including the core which is especially healthy.
Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
The mixture is now ready to use, but if you want a smoother syrup, push through a mesh strainer.

Keep in the refrigerator and take as needed.

We are testing this on my husband who has had a cough for two weeks.   Hopefully this will be a good alternative to other syrups which have side effects.  Even if it isn't that effective for the cough, it can't hurt unless you are allergic to one or more of the ingredients.  Snopes.com says that they couldn't find proof that pineapple juice is more effective than cough syrup, but they haven't tested this special concoction with all the other super foods added. 
 

Raw lemonade

Recently I read a recipe for a drink that was supposed to be healthy, boost your immune system and fight infection.  It said that lemons are rich in nutrients that can accomplish this plus they support digestion and cleanse the liver.  I thought it sounded easy and promising.  It is also a great substitute for drinking sugary high calorie soda pop.

The simple ingredients are two lemons, raw local honey, water and lemon essential oil.  The recipe says to peel two lemons.  I didn't want to waste the flavorful peel so I zested the lemons and cut off some of the white pith instead of peeling.

Raw lemonade

2 lemons peeled (I zest and cut the bitter white pith off)
2 cups of filtered water
2 Tablespoons unfiltered honey*
10 drops of lemon essential oil

Slice the prepared lemons and put all the ingredients in a high speed blender.  Add a few ice cubes and blend until smooth.  I used a Vitamix on high speed.  

It tastes delicious, and if it is half as good for us as it is supposed to be, that would be fantastic.  I imagine you can heat this lemonade if you stir in the honey later.  Heating honey too warm destroys some of its antibacterial properties.  It is very refreshing served on ice.  Adding a little booze wouldn't hurt either if you like an alcoholic drink once in a while.

*A word of warning with using raw unfiltered honey.  Some people can't use it.  My sister has a severe allergic reaction from it.  We think it is because all the pollen remains in the honey when it isn't filtered.  I felt terrible the first time I recommended this honey to her and she reacted. 

Use raw honey with caution.

Silicone Lids

I don't know how many of you are getting away from storing leftovers in plastic containers.  It never occurred to us that using empty plastic containers to store leftovers was a bad idea.  That is what we always did.  In fact, you still see cartoons showing people searching in the refrigerator for the butter, but all the containers look the same so they have to look in each one. Only one has the butter and the rest have other things.   I didn't think anything of using an empty lunch meat container or a cottage cheese container.  Now the trend is to use glass or at least a BPA free plastic.  Apparently bad cancer causing chemicals can eventually leach or migrate out into the food.  Heating food in plastic seems to increase the amount that's transferred to food.  Migration also increases when plastic touches fatty, salty, or acidic foods.  I have glass storage containers, but they seem to disappear or I don't have the proper size.  That is why I was so happy to get the gift I received from my sister this Christmas.  They were Silicone lids.

They work great.  How many times do you have a serving or so of something you don't want to throw away?  Now I can put it in a cereal bowl or any bowl or glass and put on a silicone lid.  The suction formed by pressing down, forms a seal.  It can be reheated with the lid on.  It's much easier than covering with foil or saran wrap, and they are reusable.  The best part is that you don't have to search for a lid or cover that fits.  As we know, all containers have a different size lid even if they look similar.

They seal so well I picked it up even though the instructions say not to do that.

This size seals a cereal bowl perfectly.

I have a lot of silicone items.  I have spatulas, cake and muffin pans and now these lids.  Hopefully they will continue to be deemed safe for future use.  I have eliminated my old plastic food containers which also eliminated some clutter.  These lids snap together for storage and take up very little room when not in use.  So far, I really like these silicone lids.  Anytime we can eliminate even a minuscule amount of bad chemicals from reaching our bloodstream, I'm all for it.  There are so many things we have no control over.  Even the food we eat is tainted more than the food we had fifty years ago.  It's too bad everyone can't grow their own food, but that isn't possible plus the seeds are probably treated anyway.  We only can help where we can and hope it's enough.  I think adding too many extra vitamins and supplements or worrying about everything only messes with the body's ability to regulate itself.  Enjoy life or it will be over before you're ready no matter what you eat or drink (within reason).  Someone once told me that moderation is the key to life.

My New Year's Resolution

When I first started writing this blog, I posted some trail camera pictures of me wearing my pajamas and wearing my husbands boots.  It was fun and some people started calling me Big Boot instead of Big Foot.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2014/11/fox-on-trail-camera.html  and http://www.thecabincountess.com/2013/01/critters-of-night.html  We joked about how I looked in some of the photos.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2014/03/this-weeks-action-on-trail-camera.html Today I caught another picture of myself and posted it on facebook.

I posted this picture in a feeble attempt at humor and to bring back Facebook to what I thought it was when I joined.  It used to be posts about our friends and personal experiences.  It used be filled with family pictures and interactions.  Now there is a very small percentage of that.  I don’t want to see all the tragedy in the world, disfigured individuals, people struggling with all kinds of diseases and people bashing.  Have you checked the facts or truly believe what is being posted?  I have learned I can’t eat anything or drink anything except lemon juice, turmeric or vinegar.  Everything else will make you sick or kill you before your time.  I don’t care who you want for President or if you want to carry a firearm.  You aren’t going to change my mind and I’m not going to change yours.  It will just make me feel angry and my ideas will do the same for you. We all know that we won’t win fame and fortune for liking a post.  All it does is put you on a list to see more stuff on your newsfeed that you may not care about. People can’t possibly like everything they say they like. Facebook has become a platform for people who like everything and are happy all the time or sympathy seeking individuals who need reassurance and attention.  Is this their true self or just an image they want to portray?  So, my New Year Resolution is to only post things I value.  I will truly be sympathetic of a family tragedy or illness, but I don’t care if your second cousin twice removed stubbed their toe.  I love seeing your children, grandchildren and family weddings but not some photoshopped unbelievable photo.  I don’t mind some of the cartoons or jokes.  There are some words of wisdom, but it takes hours to sort through.  Emails have become the same thing.  Everyday I go through and delete without reading hundreds of emails.  I’m sure I delete some important or interesting things, but I don’t have time or the attention span to read every one.  I save the emails from people I know unless your name is Macy or Kohl’s.  I will read your private message and I will reply in a reasonable period of time.  Some will think I’m being negative, but I’m just being is realistic.  With so much junk being posted I often miss things I really am interested in.  It would be nice if Facebook would have a personal page and a separate sharing page.  Until then let’s take our Facebook back to sharing our personal lives.

Happy New Year to all my friends and family and to any of you who read my blog, but I haven't met.  Please continue to post your family stuff.

Our December 28, 2015 Snowstorm

We had our first measurable snow of the season yesterday.  As hard as it is for some to believe, we actually like it.  As the winter drags on, it can get old, but for a lot of us Wisconsinites there is nothing better than the first snowfall of the season.

Snow totals varied depending on where you live.  There were areas north of us that received a foot or more of snow.  Some areas got sleet before the snow so their totals were less.  The wind was very strong so the drifts were deep in the open areas.  I think we had about eight inches which is an estimate because of the drifting .  Other areas of the country could be crippled by that much snow, but we are prepared and can clean up that much without skipping a beat.  Our snowblowers didn't start so my husband just packed down the snow in the driveway by driving back and forth with the truck.  It isn't the best solution, but it worked for this amount of snow.  He is not happy because the snow pack will turn to ice and cause problems later.

Packing down the driveway snow with the truck.

During the storm, the birds hunkered down to keep warm.

This is a Male House Finch

Female House Finch

Junco

A male Cardinal and a Bluejay hanging out together.

The day after the snowstorm is cloudy and gloomy but warm enough to have open water.

My grandchildren loved playing in the snow today.  They made forts and tunnels, and had a wonderful time.  They should sleep good tonight.

Our 5 year old grandson has been waiting for this first snowfall.

 

A fun way to spend Christmas vacation.

My daughter  got in on the fun.

Even the dog loved the day.

I have to say that this was my impression of this storm.  I realize that many people struggled with getting stuck or having to drive on treacherous roads.  My husband says I live in a lollipop world as far as seeing the beauty of the storm.  I wasn't the one who had to deal with digging out the mailbox or the frustration of not having the snowblower start.  I admit my cup is half full, but that's how I like it.

Soup is the Perfect Comfort Food On A Snowy Night

It's December 28th, 2015.  I believe winter has finally arrived to our part of Wisconsin.  We are having a snowstorm.  It is the first snow we have had in our area this season.  It is blowing in every direction and starting to accumulate.  We won't know the total accumulation until it ends tomorrow, but I think it will be substantial.  It is the perfect night to snuggle in with the warm fires burning.  We are so lucky to be able to be warm and safe.  So many people in the country are having a very bad time, and my heart goes out to them.

In my last blog I mentioned overeating during the holidays.  I said I was getting rid of everything and could not imagine ever feeling hungry again.  Well, that only lasted a couple hours.  I did get rid of most of the sweets, but fortunately I kept the soups I made.  I made the Pot Roast soup I posted quite a while ago.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2014/01/slow-cooker-pot-roast-soup.html

I love this Pot Roast soup but I have a lot leftover.  The broccoli slaw I bought had long pieces, and I should have chopped it up a little before putting it in the soup pot.  I also forgot the peas, but overall it was very good.  I may have that tonight.

My husband's favorite was a soup I hadn't made before.  When we were Christmas shopping a couple weeks ago, we stopped at the Olive Garden for lunch.  We had the unlimited soup and salad.  The soup we chose was called Chicken Gnocchi soup.  It was very good.   I wanted to duplicate this soup for Christmas so I searched the internet.  I came up with a Copy Kat recipe which was delicious.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

1/2 stick butter
1 T. olive oil
1 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup finely diced celery
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup flour
1 quart half and half
1 quart box of chicken broth (32 oz)
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. dried thyme
1/2 t.dried parsley flakes
1 cup finely shredded carrots
1 cup chopped fresh spinach leaves
1 cup diced cooked chicken breast
1 16 oz. package of ready to use gnocchi

Melt the butter into the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onion, celery and garlic and cook, stirring until the onion becomes translucent.  Whisk in the flour and cook for about a minute.  Whisk in the half and half.  Simmer until thickened. Add the chicken broth and stir until it thickens again.  Stir in the salt, thyme, parsley, carrots, spinach, chicken and the gnocchi.  Simmer until the soup is heated through.

When the soup sits in the refrigerator it gets quite thick.  If you like a chowder like consistency it is perfect.  If you like it a little thinner, just add a little milk when you reheat it.

Both soups are the perfect comfort food on this blustery winter night.  I put a few home made croutons on top.  In case you missed that blog, here is the link for them along with a recipe for stuffed pepper soup.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2013/02/stuffed-pepper-soup-and-croutons.html

My Krumkake Will Not Go To Waste

Christmas 2015 is in the books.  All that is left is a disorganized mess.  I have receipts and boxes saved in case anything has to be returned, I have new things to put away and way too many sweets left over.  I don't know why I feel the need to make so much.  We are all so stuffed, it doesn't even look good at this point.  I called one of my daughters and asked if she wanted all the gluten free goodies I made for her.  She said to throw them away.  My other daughter left behind a lot of cookies because she didn't want to be tempted.  Then there is my husband who usually eats all the excess.  He is sick in bed with a cold and cough, so he isn't interested in eating much.  That leaves me, the person who has gained 10 pounds in the last few months.  The last thing I need is thousands of extra calories sitting around.  That is what got me in trouble in the first place.  I know there are starving people in the world, but I don't know what else to do.  It looks like the raccoon, possum, fox, feral cats and crows will be having a smorgasbord.  No matter how you look at it, the food will be going to waist or waste. 

I am keeping a few things and putting them into the freezer.  Who knows when we may need a sweet treat, even though it doesn't appeal to us right now.  One of those things I will try to freeze is the Krumkake I made.  They are just too pretty to give to the wild animals.  I am including the recipe so I will know where to find it next year when I make too many goodies again. I lost my last recipe and my friend Mary Jo was kind enough to share her family recipe with me.

Last year I wrote about finding an electric Krumkake iron.  It worked beautifully.    http://www.thecabincountess.com/2014/10/my-latest-thrift-store-find-electric.html

Krumkake

4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp vanilla or cardamon seed (I put both in) ...

Beat eggs lightly, then add sugar (it says do not over beat)  Add cooled melted butter and flavoring... Sift flour and add to egg mixture. Dough will be sticky enough to drop by spoon.

Drop only 1 tablespoon of dough on griddle.

Bake in griddle for 90 seconds.

Remove and roll immediately.

Eat plain or fill with whipped cream.

Yum!