Another Little Bliss List

My Little Bliss List (Remembering the things that made me happy this week, because it's so easy to forget them.)

It's been a very blissful week.

1 - It was my Mom's birthday this week and we had a lovely visit on the phone.  The next best thing to being there.

2 - I discovered this wonderful site, Tagxedo  which will take the words used on your blog or website and turn them into a word cloud.  You have your choice of fonts and shapes and colors.  I simply loved this teapot, made with words from this blog and had to share.  I had so much fun making it.

Tagxedo Teapot  - Click to see it larger

3 - Our chicks arrived at our post office, from My Pet Chicken on Tuesday morning.  All were healthy and happy after their journey through the postal system, which brought immediate joy and relief.

How fast they're growing!  I can't believe how much they change from day to day.  They have brought endless smiles and chuckles with their antics this week.

I really adore the "chipmunk' markings of the two Speckled Sussex girls, Henny Penny and Bonnie.

Chipmunk Markings, Photo by Tori Beveridge

The chicks are definitely not shy anymore and will jump up on our hands and arms.  The black and white girl is Pearl, a Barred Plymouth Rock and the red girl is Lady, one of our two Rhode Island Reds.

Pearl and Lady, Photo by Tori Beveridge

We think the chick below is our rooster.  The markings are different than on the other two Barred Plymouth Rocks.  He, I'm already calling him he, loves to be up high and was the first to be able to hop up onto the little roost we made.  We've named him Ringo because of the white ring around his head.. sure hope he's the rooster.  If any of you chicken experts have any thoughts on whether he may or may not be a rooster, I'd love to hear them.

Ringo, Photo by Tori Beveridge

Mr. B.'s favorites are the two Rhode Island Reds, followed by Ringo.  His very favorite chick is this one, Lady.

Lady, Photo by Tori Beveridge

4 - The weather has continued to be hot and dry here.  We had a power outage this week, (common here in the summer heat) which gave me the opportunity to sit and read for a couple of hours before the power came back on.

Ohh.. must give credit to the "hand model", Mr. B. himself.

What made you happy this week?  Share your bliss.

I'm linking up with Liv Lane's Little Bliss List 

Baby Chicks & July Notecard Party

Two occasions coinciding.. A Haven for Vee's July Note Card Party and the arrival of our chicks!  One of the photos of the chicks should work for a note card.  The others have appeared on my blog previously.


Yes, the chicks arrived yesterday.  They weathered the long, stressful ride through the postal system without any adverse effects and are settled into their brooder.  Mr B. made the brooder from a Rubbermaid storage container and it's perfect for them.

Mr B. making the brooder

There's eight of them total:  two Rhode Island Reds, two Speckled Sussex, two Barred Plymouth Rocks, one Silver Laced Wyandotte, and one Plymouth Rock Rooster.  The Plymouth Rocks are by far the leaders of the flock, all of the others follows their lead.

Having a look around.

Mr. B. making friends.

I think the picture below will make a nice notecard.

Not shy once they realized he had ground up oats in his hand.

Now for the rest of my note cards.   I decide to go with an animal theme this month.

Otis' "you talkin' to me" face, Photo by Tori Beveridge

Good Morning photo by Tori Beveridge

What!?  You've never seen a cat in a frying pan before?  Photo by Tori Beveridge

Visit A Haven For Vee's Note Card Party to see all the lovely photographs chosen by others to be Note Cards, and maybe join in the fun yourself!

Tasty Tuesday - Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast

From the moment I first saw and pinned this recipe, I knew it would be one of the first I of the recipes on my Pinterest Delicious Board that I tried.

The Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast recipe is originally from Artsy Fartsy Mama.  She includes step by step instructions and photos.  It's really easy to put together and looks like you really fussed over it.  Your friends and family will be impressed.

Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast

I made it following her instructions, with the following exceptions:   I used garlic powder instead of salt and four slices of steak seasoned, thick sliced bacon instead of six slices of bacon and omitted the seasoning salt.

It was delicious!  The combination of the cream cheese and the bacon was just a little too rich for Mr B's and my tastes though.  Next time we're going to leave out the cream cheese and instead add a little barbecue sauce to the grated cheddar cheese, along with some finely chopped onion, then wrap in the bacon.. yum!  

Tasty Tuesday - Saltine Toffee

We were in the mood for something sweet today.  Mr B. likes chocolate.  I like toffee.  Solution?  This delicious and easy candy, made using ordinary saltine (soda) crackers.

Saltine Toffee

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Line a cookie sheet with tin foil, shiny side up.  Fill the sheet with a single layer of saltine crackers.  About 40 should do it.

In a saucepan melt 1 cup of butter.

Add I cup of brown sugar.

Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes.

Pour over your crackers and spread to completely cover them.

Pop in the oven and bake for 6 minutes.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 2 cups of semi sweet chocolate chips.  Wait for about two minutes until they begin to melt and then spread the melted chocolate over the top with a spatula.  You'll probably want to rush the waiting for them to melt part, you can't.. just wait..they'll melt.

Sprinkle with finely chopped pecans.

Let cool completely then break into pieces.  

Enjoy!

My Bliss List

My Little Bliss List (Remembering the things that made me happy this week, because it's so easy to forget them.)

This past week was Canada Day and 4th of July.  I hope everyone had a fantastic and safe holiday and enjoyed their day of patriotic celebrating.  I know we did.  It was very hot here, much to hot to barbecue.  I couldn't bear the thought of standing over a grill in 107 degree heat!  Instead, we had a spread of delicious cold food and relaxed indoors, out of the sun and heat.

I occasionally drive the dogs into the nearest town to walk, for a change of scenery.  We found this patriotic converted barn while walking the other day.  It was too cute not to photograph.

Patriotic Barn Side, Phto by Tori Beveridge

It's official and there's no turning back now.  We ordered our chickens!  Happy, happy, happy!

Here's what we're getting:

The Girls:
2 Rhode Island Reds
2 Barred Plymouth Rocks
2 Speckled Sussex
1 Silver Laced Wyandotte

We're also getting a Barred Plymouth Rock Rooster.  We read that the Plymouth Rocks tend to be kinder, friendlier roosters, yet are still brave.  Here's hoping.

They will arrive the week of July 16th as little, days old, balls of fluff in a box at the Post Office.  I can't wait.

They'll be in the garage in a special little home we're making for them out of a storage container.  You'll get to see it when they arrive, as I'll be taking lots of pictures.

For those of you who have chickens and blog about them, I'll be reading your blogs and maybe even asking your advice.  I know I'm frequently over at Fresh Eggs Daily reading and taking notes, doing my research.

On my art blog, I've been taking part in Twinkle Twinkle's Summer of Color 2, Ice Cream Inspirations and been having a blast.  I'm enjoying creating art inspired by the ice cream flavor of the week.  It has me setting aside time for art, which I haven't always done lately, which makes me very happy.

What made you happy this week?  Share your bliss.

I'm linking up with Liv Lane's Little Bliss List

Tasty Tuesday - 10 Tasty Tidbits To Eat When It's Too Hot To Cook

It's too hot to cook!  

I truly wanted to bake something beautiful to take pictures of, but it's just too hot.

Living the middle of nowhere we don't have pizza or chinese food delivery.

Which is why I'm sharing 10 tasty tidbits, that I like to munch on when it's too hot to cook.

10 Tasty Tidbits To Eat When It's Too Hot To Cook

1 - Celery and peanut butter

2 - Celery and cream cheese with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on it

3 - Frozen grapes

4 - Popcorn made in the microwave with no oil or butter

This is the exact popcorn maker that I use.  You can find it here

5 - Cheese and crackers

6 - Raw veggies or crudites or whatever you'd like to call them.  Ranch dip is always good with them if I'm in the mood.

7 - Cole Slaw

8 - Ham or prosciutto wrapped around a slice of cantaloupe or cheese

9 - Sliced apples served with this Caramel Dip = Instant Caramel Apples  

Caramel Dip

Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar and  1 tsp of vanilla to a small block (4 oz) of cream cheese softened. Add more brown sugar if desired.  Mix well and serve with sliced apples

10 - Chocolate Sundaes using this chocolate syrup which my Mom remembers being in the fridge when she was growing up.  It's a good thing to keep on hand. Why buy it when you can make it?

Chocolate Syrup ( makes 3 cups or 24 oz)

1 cup cocoa

2 cups sugar

1/8 tsp salt

2 cups boiling water

1 tsp vanilla

Combine the cocoa, sugar, salt and water in a pot and mix.  Stirring constantly, bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute.  Cool slightly and add the vanilla and stir well.  Store in a tightly covered jar in the fridge.

Use 2 tsp of syrup to an 8 oz glass of milk or 2 tbspns over ice cream.  Yumm.

What do you like to eat when it's too hot to cook?