It prompted me to grab the camera. We don't see many Praying Mantis' around here, but I know they are around.
I think that this is what attracted him because he flew by our morning glorey encrusted sunflower.
The chickens came around the front porch too. One of our Barred Rock Roos and a couple of Rhode Island Red hens and a Grey Leghorn hen.
And Mr. Americanna too.
Gracie was taking a nap under a Hollyhock.
And Mr. Americanna too.
Gracie was taking a nap under a Hollyhock.
And Abbey was napping on the porch.
Harley and Bear were sleeping inside, while Smeagol the Beagle was off for her morning walk.
Ethel our male cockatiel (we named him too young and we were told it was a female by the store owner) was bouncing around (or maybe it was me).
Yesterday we made a large roaster full of stuffed cabbage. Yum Yum!
Earlier for lunch, I made an old family favorite, Yellow Wax Bean Soup.
I don't know if it is a true Hungarian recipe because I am sure the recipe has been modernized somewhat, but my mother's family made it for generations. A little bit of Heaven in a bowl.
YELLOW WAX BEAN SOUP
2 lbs of fresh yellow wax beans, cut up
4 stalks of fresh dill, (or more to taste)
1 can evaporated milk
1 stick of margerine
2 tablespoons flour
Put the beans and dill in a large pot with enough water to cover. Boil until tender crisp. remove from heat and allow to cool a bit.
4 stalks of fresh dill, (or more to taste)
1 can evaporated milk
1 stick of margerine
2 tablespoons flour
Put the beans and dill in a large pot with enough water to cover. Boil until tender crisp. remove from heat and allow to cool a bit.
Add the evaporated milk. Stir well, and bring soup back to a boil.
In a saucepan, melt the margerine and stir in the flour, cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened. then add to beans.
Add more water if too thick.
In a saucepan, melt the margerine and stir in the flour, cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened. then add to beans.
Add more water if too thick.
Serve and season to taste with salt and pepper, and if you are really traditional a little vinegar.
I usually omit all seasonings and enjoy just the light flavors of the beans and dill. To those who usually heavely season foods, this will be a very bland dish.
9 comments:
Great pics dad! Thanks for sharing the recipe dad. I love and miss that soup. I've been craving it this year too! Aden cannot wait to see the bunnies. :)
Smeagol the Beagle? Ok who named him? hehe
I want to see a pic of Smeagol, too.
All your photos were great, and that praying mantis looked huge (shudder)!
But the best of all was the photos of food...aahhhh! I live for the food pictures...except thne I ge hungry.
But a nice fella like you includes a recipe. Awww, thanks!
And now how about that stuffed cabbage recipe, eh??
:)
~Lisa
Stuffed cabbage....one of my gma's best dishes. That looks pretty tasty!
Thanks Ang, still got yellow beans for ya.
Twinville; I named her, read my June 1 post "Down on the Farm".
As for the stuffed cabbage recipe, well its a family secret that died with my Mom. So it is a work in progress for my wife and I. My mother used a mixture of bulk sausage and hamburg with regular rice. As for additionalingredients and seasonings?
We still haven't got it right, but we keep working at it. But if we ever do, I will post it.
Frugalmom: do you have your Grandma's recipe? Looks can be decieving, it still wasn't quite right.
I so wish I did have that recipe. Sadly, she passed away last year. I will do some looking....maybe Ill get lucky and my Ma will have it. I know when I try to make it..its just not quite right. Just not gma's.
That top picture is amazing...it's been years now, but we used to (try to) keep those guys as pets...such cool creatures!
I loved seeing all your animals - Gracie and Abbey look like sweetie pies and the dogs...well, I've got a tremendous softspot for dogs.
:-)
Frugalmom: I know what you mean and how you feel, also sorry for the loss of your Grandma.
farmgirl_dk: I have always loved to play with Praying Mantis's and as a child I used to keep them as pets for a day or three and feed them other bugs. Now I just let them be and hope they stick around and breed more. I am always on the lookout for egg cases and try to put them in a well protected spot away from predators for the winter.
We got Grace as a used pet over 13 years ago and they said she was about 5 years old then. She likes to sleep either by me or my wife and snuggles in close, under the covers sometimes, with her head on my shoulder. Abbey was a drop off that we fed outside for 2 years before she would come in on the back porch during bad weather, another 2 years before we could coax her inside and then about 3 more months before she would allow us to actually touch her. Then we couldn't get her to go outside! Now she is the Queen of the house and lets poor old Gracie know it too, all except for the bedroom and that is where Grace draws the line. We have had a few catfights on the bed at night and thats a bad way to be awaken...LOL Thank God 160 lb Harley and 106 lb Bear don't try to sleep on the bed too!!!
Frugalmom: I know what you mean and how you feel, also sorry for the loss of your Grandma.
farmgirl_dk: I have always loved to play with Praying Mantis's and as a child I used to keep them as pets for a day or three and feed them other bugs. Now I just let them be and hope they stick around and breed more. I am always on the lookout for egg cases and try to put them in a well protected spot away from predators for the winter.
We got Grace as a used pet over 13 years ago and they said she was about 5 years old then. She likes to sleep either by me or my wife and snuggles in close, under the covers sometimes, with her head on my shoulder. Abbey was a drop off that we fed outside for 2 years before she would come in on the back porch during bad weather, another 2 years before we could coax her inside and then about 3 more months before she would allow us to actually touch her. Then we couldn't get her to go outside! Now she is the Queen of the house and lets poor old Gracie know it too, all except for the bedroom and that is where Grace draws the line. We have had a few catfights on the bed at night and thats a bad way to be awaken...LOL Thank God 160 lb Harley and 106 lb Bear don't try to sleep on the bed too!!!
Thanks SO much for encouraging me to read your June 1st post. I figured you named Smeagol from Lord of the Rings. I enjoyed seeing a picture of her, too. But does she still like her chickens 'raw and wiggling'?
hehe
~Lisa
Laughing Orca Ranch
New Mexico
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