Purple Martan

 

 

The Purple Martan bird is one that many of us await to see each spring. My mother has always loved the bird and she is not alone. There are many like her who wait to see the Purple Martan arive and welcomes them with open arms. They are perhaps the only bird that has been awarded the credit of ridding the area of some other pesky pest the mosquito.

Purple Martans migrate to the northern territory in the spring while the weather is nice and in the cooler weather travel back to the warmer territory of the south. While in the northern areas they are greeted with accomidations created just for them.

One special town here in Illinois that welcomes the purple martan each  year is the little town of Griggsville Illinois.
“Griggsville is located between the Mississippi River and the Illinois River and the hot muggy summers are the perfect habitat for mosquitoes. Amid growing concern over the use of pesticides to control mosquitoes, the town came up with an alternate abatement method. J.L. Wade, a Griggsville resident and owner of a local antenna manufacturing factory realized that Griggsville was right in the migration path of the Purple Martin, the largest bird in the swallow family, supposedly able to eat 2,000 mosquitoes in a single day.[3] J.L. Wade quickly realized that to get the purple martins to stay, he simply needed to give them a reason to stay, so he converted his antenna factory into a bird house building factory. The mosquito population dwindled, which lead the town to adopt the nickname “The Purple Martin Capital of the Nation”, as well as labeling the Purple Martin “America’s Most Wanted Bird.” Additionally, Wade’s Purple Martin business, formerly Trio Manufacturing, published a newsletter called The Nature Society News. The purple martin factory has been recently been sold to a Chicago businessman. Griggsville has installed over 5,000 birdhouses along the city streets, including a 562-apartment high rise, reaching a height of 70 ft.” – Wikipedia

So while we enjoy the work of this bird I must say that he gives us as much as we get.

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wild bird wednesday
Freedom Friday
Talkin About Thursday

Carrot Cake With A Twist

check out this tasty treat of carrot cake with the icing that all love on the inside sorrounded by delicious carrot cake. Find the Inside Out Carrot Cake Recipe

Onion Crunch

If you are anything like me then you love the taste of fried onions. I am so happy to introduce to you a new to me product that goes by the name of Onion Crunch. As the name suggests they are just that onions with a great crunch. Perfect in my opinion to eat as a simple snack right out of the bottle or enjoy them on other foods such as burgers, hotdogs, pizza and the list goes on and on.

Onion Crunch are made from sweet onions that are peeled, washed, and battered. They are prepared to create a crispy onion topping. Onions are lightly fried in high quality vegetable oil and then seasoned as to achieve just the perfect taste. Onion Crisp are perfect to bring crispiness and roasted onio flavor to accompany poultry, fish, salads, sandwiches, dips, soups, spreads, scrambled eggs, baked potatoes, pizza, burgers and hotdogs. Perfect to use in the coating to be applied to crispy chicken, battered fish or on top of veggie casseroles.

There are so many awesome ways to use onion crunch that I am sure that they will be gone way before their shelf life of one year is up. One great way I will be using Onion Crunch soon is for our Easter dinner in the green bean casserole.


Green Bean Casserole

30 ounces green beans, canned*, drained
10 3/4 ounces Cream of Mushroom Soup
3/4 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Onion Crunch^®

Combine green beans, soup, milk, pepper and 1/2 cup of Onion Crunch^®. Gently stir together. Spread mixture in a 1 1/2 to 2 quart ovenproof casserole dish. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Top with a layer of Onion Crunch^®. Bake 5 minutes more. This easy to make green bean casserole serves six. *May substitute 18 ounces frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained.

ways to connect with onion crunch
website http://www.onioncrunch.com
facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/OnionCrunch
twitter https://twitter.com/onioncrunch
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/OnionCrunch/

He is Great ...

This weeks prompt at Monday Listicles is 10 ways my husband is awesome

1. My hubby has been my best friend since we first met, always able to share with him like my bff
2. My hubby has taken up the role of a leader in not only the family that we created together but both our extended families as well being dependable and able to be turned to
3. My hubby takes care of me when I am sick or simply sad always there to support me
4. going along with #3 my hubby has been a major supporter of mine. I was 16 when I met him and he has alway been in my corner when ever I decide that a change in my life is needed he remains the only true solid point other than my parents
5. he is a great father taking time to be with them as much as possible
6. he allows me time to myself to do what I like
7. no matter how bad I feel he always says I look beautiful
8. he is there to talk about the past, present and future of our life together
9. always there to help me whenever needed
10. he is the one that for the past 27 years has had my heart

Frogmore Stew

6 quartswater

3/4 cupOld Bay Seasoning TM

2 poundsnew red potatoes

2 poundshot smoked sausage links, cut into 2 inch pieces

12 earscorn - husked, cleaned and quartered

4 poundslarge fresh shrimp, unpeeled

Bring water and Old Bay Seasoning to boil in a large stockpot. Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes. Add sausage and cook for 5 minutes more. Add corn and cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the shrimp and cook until shrimp are pink, about 5 minutes. Drain immediately and serve.

shared at
Inspire Me Monday
Home and Garden Thursday

Tell The Story Through Eggs

I love these cute little eggs not only because they are colorful but because they are special eggs. These egg are resurrection eggs. They are filled with items that will help tell the story to children of all ages. What story you may ask. The true story of Easter the story of where we were loved so much that our savior gave his own life to die for us. But that was not the end you see because three days later he rose again. Praise the Lord!!!! Amen!!!! Share these easy to make eggs with your family and share the real meaning of Easter.


shared at Weekend Retreat and Made You Look and

Five Question Friday

1. What is one thing you wish you did not have to teach your children?


well one thing that is on my mind is how to say good bye and live a upstanding independent life on their own While this is very proud moment also very sad


2. What are you going to use since Google Reader is going away?

have no idea going to be interested to see how all answer this


3. British comedy; Hilarious or strange?

oh my a bit of both makes me laugh but makes me wonder as well


4. Do you prefer card games or board games?


like both but card games are what we play most


5. Will winter ever end?

I sure do hope so

Easter Birds Nest Cookies

Bird's Nest CookiesMakes 2 1/2 dozen cookies
Allergy note: contains dairy and wheat ingredients

12 oz. package chow mein noodles
12 oz. package butterscotch morsels
90 egg-shaped candies

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Pour the butterscotch morsels in a microwave-safe bowl and place them in the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds then remove to stir. Return to the microwave and heat again for 30 seconds. Stir until melted. Add in the chow mein noodles and mix till combined. Use a 1/4 measuring cup to portion out the cookies onto the baking sheet. If the mixture starts to solidify in the mixing bowl, you can reheat for 15 to 30 seconds to melt. Place three egg-shaped candies in the center of each cookie. Allow to set for at least 5 minutes before serving or transferring.

UPDATE (3/30/10): I just made another batch of these bird's nest cookies using a different brand of butterscotch morsels and they seem to be a bit drier. If you experience this same issue, you can add a little bit more melted butterscotch morsels. I've also noticed that the Cadbury mini eggs aren't attaching as well as the jelly bean eggs, so to fix that problem, I dipped the bottom of the eggs with melted butterscotch morsels before placing them on top.

recipe source here

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friendship friday

Giveaway : $25 Disney GIft Card

Do you love Disney? Well I do and I know several little ones that do as well. The mouse seems to be everyones favorite but he has many other characters that are in close running. You need to check out this giveaway for $25 gift card to disney

Giveaway: $25 Disney gift card
Blog Hosting giveaway: Everything Mouse
Link to enter giveaway : http://www.everythingmouse.com/enter-to-win-a-25-disney-gift-card/comment-page-1#comment-6909

Thats Right We're State Champs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Lime Coconut Parfaits

that magical day of St. Patricks day is March 17, you can make it a magical night if you serve your family up a treat like this as well.

 

Key Lime Coconut Parfaits (recipe source here )

 

 

 

2 cups of water

1 cup sugar

½ cup cornstarch

5 egg yolks

¾ cup key lime juice

1 Tbsp coconut extract

5 or so drops of green food coloring

1½ cups whipping cream

3 heaping Tbsp powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 sleeve graham crackers, coarsely crushed (that is 9 full graham cracker) sheets

Place water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. While the water sits, place the egg yolks in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside. Place the sugar and cornstarch in a bowl and whisk together. Add the sugar/cornstarch mixture to the water. Whisk until well blended. Pace over medium heat and whisk constantly until thick like pudding. Remove from the heat and add a couple spoonfuls of the mixture to the egg yolks that are set aside and whisk together. Add a couple more spoonfuls to the eggs and whisk again. This will temper the eggs so you don’t end up with scrambled eggs. Add the egg mixture to the remaining pudding mixture and whisk together. Then whisk in the lime juice, coconut extract, and food coloring. Add enough for coloring to get a nice shade of green. Set aside. Whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla to the whipping cream and mix until well blended. Give the lime pudding a whisk again before layering in the dishes. In 5 mini trifle dishes or other similar dishes, layer graham crackers, cream, and lime pudding. Repeat layers leaving some whipping cream to top the parfaits and a little graham cracker to sprinkle on top also. Pipe or spoon whipping cream on top and sprinkle with a little graham cracker. Refrigerate for 2 hours and serve.

 

 

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Babies Base

I have a great new to me resource to share with you. The name of it is babies base and it offers great tips and information for mom before pregnancy, pregnancy and birth and for the mom as she raises her children through infancy, toddler and childhood stages. Another great aspect of babies base is the forum where moms can get together to discuss what is on their mind. You never know when the experience you had may help another that may be facing the same sort of situation out.

Whether you are looking for a resource that can help moms then be sure to check out babies base.

New Way To Cook

Using a coleman cooler to cook corn on the cob is an idea that is very new to me. A clean coleman cooler I found out may be the perfect place to cook shucked ears of corn. Simply use two kettles-full of boiling water are poured over the corn and close the top. Thirty minutes later when the cooler is opened the corn should be perfectly cooked. Please do not ask me the science behind this as I really do not know that answer. But try it and share with your friends they may all be as surprised as I was.

shared at
Faith Filled Friday

 

Copy Cat Shamrock Shake

March is the month for shamrock luck and for the tasty little treats of shamrock shakes at our local golden arch restraunt. I recently found this copy cat recipe so that we will be able to enjoy these tasty treats even after St. Patricks Day.

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe (makes 1 giant shake, or 2 generously sized shakes)
3 cups good quality vanilla ice cream
1 3/4 cups 1% milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Green food coloring, if desired

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until completely thick and smooth. Pour into glasses and serve!

shared at

craft o maniac monday
weekend retreat
getting to know you blog hop

Sunday Stealing

101. What does happiness/joy feel like physically?

like butterflys dancing in my belly swelling up into a feeling with a smile tied in a bow


102. List five things you love starting with the one you love the absolute most.

A my family

B my friends

C antiques

D time outside enjoying myself

E time alone


103. How many movies have you gone to see this year?

none we normally wait for them to come out on pay per view or dvd

104. If you could have 3 wishes...but none of them could be for yourself, what would you wish for?

wish for my grandkids to have all they wanted in life, wish for my kids to be healthy and wealthy and wish for my town that it would be great as we continue to overcome

105. In what ways do you relax and de-stress when you are really tense?

I need time alone to blog or simply take a nap

106. How much money would it take to get you to sell your blog address?

wow my blog is my home and I would have to have a million or more to sell my address and my thoughts

107. Have you ever been hunting

no
108. Have you attempted this 5000 question meme in the past?
no

109. What do you think of cloning?

wish I could would have a few of me made for sure

110. Do you read or watch TV more often?

TV watcher for sure

111. With all this talk of terrorism going around are you willing to sacrifice rights and freedoms for increased safety?

In what manner are we speaking? I am willing to protect my family but not willing to give up my way of life

112. What is the punishment you would come up with for Osama Bin Laden if you caught him alive?

will let the big guys figure this one out

113. Have you ever named an individual part of your body?

well know people that have and find it very silly

114. Have you ever been on the radio or on TV?

yes a few moments of time in my life

115. Have you ever won a lottery, or sweepstakes?

nope but sure wish I would

116. Have you ever won a contest or competition?

yes a few in my life time

117. Have you ever watched The Joy of Painting show with Bob Ross (check out this link if you don't know who he is.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ross_(painter)?
my husbands granmother and mother loved Bob Ross and yes have watched the show several times

118. Do you know what your grandparents and your great grand parents did for a living?

farmers all of them


119. Is there anything really interesting in your family history?

well one mystery of how my grandfather and brother arrived in a town in central illinois without any other known relatives

120. Is there anyone you trust completely?

yep that would be my hubby of 27 years