The Big Dig Out.....Blizzard of February 10th, 2010

My aching....aching back!!!  I could have dug to china by now..... :-)  I dug dog trenches 7 times, the pathways to my front door, 7 times....the driveway.....once.  Oh my.

I lost 5 large trees, my fence is broken.....and I fear more damage will occur before it all melts....from the weight of the snow.  I could hear the limbs cracking all night long from the weight of the snow.  It was sooooo very beautiful.....but, damaging!  Tomorrow, we will deal with the trees.....thank God, I have a friend here helping me.....or I would not be dug out today.

A train of 3 snow plows attached to big heavy trucks, went back and forth 14 times, before the street was passable for vehicles.  Someone said, we got plowed out first because, of the number of physicians that live on my street.

Just the amount of snow on my SUV, was a massive shovel.....I have not seen snow like this, since surviving the Blizzard of 1978 in Boston, Massachusetts.....  It was much worse, no driving for a week or so and the National Guard was there. 

We got about 18 additional inches on top of the snow from last weekend.  There are walls of snow piles, everywhere you look.  My dogs run through their trenches and are crazed because, they can not see above them. 

It is 4:30 pm, and I have been digging out since 7:30 am this morning!  Nap time :-)

Wishing you a safe, warm winter evening........

Smiles to YOU,
DC

Photos of February 10th, 2010 blizzard - Bucks County, PA

It has been snowing since last nite.......we are having a whiteout at this moment, the snow is very heavy and wet. The roads and my driveway were completely shoveled at 11 am....this morning....when we had about two hours with no snow.........and then it started again, stronger and faster.

Here are some photos of my back yard, front yard and driveway area, the side of my home.....










Snow day.........many businesses have closed, roadways are closed down due to low visibility. The branches of the trees are sagging from the weight of the heavy snow..........

It is beautiful...and I am very grateful for a warm house.





I am working on my freeform jacket. I attended a class with Prudence Mapstone of Australia at Nancy Nagle's art gallery/yarn shop called Nangellini. It was great meeting Prudence. she is very inspirational and her garments are more special close up and in person than her photos even show. I highly recommend taking a class from her, whether you are a knitter or crocheter....you will enjoy it.




Wishing you a wonderful snow day!!!! Hope you get some time to sit down and play with your fibers today!!!

Smiles to you,
DC

It's my BIRTHDAY today...........

and I feel I should post something about that auspicious event....other than the fact I started this post at 10 am........and never got further than the first part of this sentence @ 4:45pm. So much for having a relaxing day.......

what did I do?

1)watched my stock charts, but did not make any changes to the portfolio.
2)attempted to sew up a crocheted bra I made, but never got past lining up the three squares.
3) investigated new smart phones in anticipation of my july 2010 new phone day!!!
4) made food for the pups.
5) contemplated making a sourcream pound cake until I realized I was almost out of butter.
6) watched the pre-launch chat on the new shoe money, how to make money on the internet.
7) took off my nail polish and re-painted my nails.
8) spoke to old friends and others bringing birthday wishes.
9) cleaned out my pocket book, which was BIGGGGGGGG!
10) spoke to Skacel about their art felt paper. Which I am very excited about...more to come about this in the future.


AND......about to get dressed to meet UFO boyfriend for B-day dinner....did I actually type that?
YUPPP!!!

Was it a good day?

Yes, so far at 5:11pm.....but, did not have dinner with UFO boyfriend yet???? I definitely, got a lot accomplished, that I had wanted to do for a long time. It is Thursday here at the dogbearplanet and that is learning day....Learn something new. And even though it was my birthday....I learned something new...and that IS MY GOAL this year....every Thursday. I
will write more about that in the future as well.

So I must bid you adieu, as I am late for my shower and a birthday date!!! :-)

Wishing you all a grand evening.......Solar Eclipse tonite.....which, would seem to sort of defeat the purpose......but it is a special transit........affecting love and money partnerships....
Smiles to you,
DC

35thAHSReunion

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My holiday gift to you........Mushroom Beef Barley Soup

I know I am the dead beat blogger of this year......sorry, have been absolutely overwhelmed with managing my aunt's estate.....and getting her house ready for sale. I have had little time for much of anything else, including knitting, which rarely happens.

I am snowed in today, we have had about 14" of snow....and have been shoveling pathways for my dogs to walk.......which just makes you want to have a bowl of really good wholesome soup.

So decided to make my favorite Mushroom Beef Barley Soup and post my recipe here on my blog, for you to join me, if you so desire:

You will need a very large stock pot, I use my cuisinart stock pot that came with the set.

2 lbs of beef cut up into bite size pieces, best to do while partially frozen.
( chuck, round steak, sirloin steak )

1 1/2 lbs of mushrooms, cut up.

1 large onion cut up

1 large rib of celery diced

2 carrots diced.

tablespoon of thyme

2 tablespoons of parsley, fresh is best.

1 tablespoon of beef bouillion optional

Large can of tomatoes

4 marrow bones ( 1" high)

butter

16 cups of water

1 lb of medium barley ( quaker makes a good one )


step one, lightly brown meat with half onion, put aside.

step two, saute til translucent remainder of onion, celery and carrots
with half of parsley, salt and pepper right in same stock pot.

step three, add water, and chopped tomatoes with juices, bouillion, salt
pepper, beef marrow bones......bring to boil and immediately lower to simmer,
partially cover with lid. simmer for an hour and a half. ( note if your tomatoes
are very acidic, which sometimes happens add a tablespoon of sugar to broth.)

after the broth is to your liking, taste it.

step four add the rinsed barley and simmer for another 45 mins. You may need
to add more water, if the barley soaks up too much of broth.

step five, while the barley is cooking, chop the mushrooms and saute with salt
and pepper to taste with the butter, for about 15 mins till most of juices are
gone, set aside.

step six. when barley is cooked......add the thyme, mushrooms and beef and simmer
another 15 mins, add additional salt and pepper if desired.

step seven.....EAT THIS SOUP IT IS GOOD!! It is wonderful with a nice glass of red wine
and fresh crusty baked bread on a cold winter's night. Put some of it away in your freezer,
in small container's to microwave for later, because it is way better than canned soup.

You can vary this soup by adding other veggies, like zucchini, corn, peppers or beans. I like it the way it is....You may want to add an extra lb. of beef if you like your soup really, really chunky.

I wish everyone happy holidays and a very, very happy properous NEW YEAR 2010!!!
Smiles to YOU,
DC