Delaware Views Hues of Red

I find this hysterical.  Trenton will be putting on a Pork Roll Festival in May and I think I just might have to go.

 

Turns out with the upcoming event an old controversy has sparked a new flame.  I am hoping I might be able to end it right here, right now. There are two brands of PORK ROLL, Cases and Taylor and although people may refer to it as TAYLOR HAM...it is still pork roll and so it says on the RED package when you buy it.

Sunday Funday

This winter definitely had a negative effect on my psyche

and the Honeysuckle.

Now Spring is here with rain, rain, rain. 

The weather report indicates mid week will be pleasant.

I CANT WAIT!

 This particular variety of Honeysuckle is native to PA.

I sure hope it recovers from it's winter damage and blooms prolifically so I get a few more chances

at FUNDAYS shooting the Hummers.

 

 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the Washington Crossing Inn

Soon we will be able to sit at the outside bar at the Washington Crossing Inn.  Until then we will continue to enjoy the inside.  I went there with my dinner order already on my mind.  The Washington Crossing Salad with Scallops.  Happy hour prices are half off the tavern menu.  For some reason I think they might have placed one less scallop on the plate too.  I might have to run a personal experiment and order this salad off the happy hour menu to find out. 

 

Meanwhile...I maintained common cents and stuck to my one water per cocktail strategy.

 

Delaware Reviews

No major news so how about a REVIEW. 

The County Theater

in Doylestown is a membership owned movie theater. 

 

 

 

You don't have to be a member to go. So we went to see the GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.

Great entertainment for a ridiculously cold spring day.  The acting was very good and there were many familiar star faces in short and surprising roles.  The filming was unusual in that the backgrounds appeared created and intentionally silly.  In fact it was a silly movie so good to giggle.  Yet there was some poignancy to it as well.  Go if you enjoy old fashion slapstick comedy.

We followed up with a late lunch at the Chambers 19.  Maybe a review of that restaurant is in the future...but not this Friday.

 

Delaware Views Anew

This is how I feel about Spring...

WHERE IS IT?

 

 

Delaware Issues Common Cents

Did you ever wonder about all the dilapidated barns and homes and how they got that way? 

Last year this green house still was erect and had most of it's glass.  It is on a property that is being restored.  But it was just too late for this.  It had been left neglected for way too many years.

I installed brand new washer and dryer over 20 years ago when I moved into my home.  I clean the vent, and wipe down the enamel and if I notice the inside needs a wipe down I do that too.  It looks pretty good for being over 20 years old, but not as good as the dilapidated greenhouse as far as photos go.  The point is...man made things can last a long time with proper maintenance and in the long run save you the money it would cost to remove or replace.

Delaware Views Hues of Red

I can hardly wait until I can sit in a chair like this, direct my face to the sun, close my eyes, and wait for the sun to kiss me.

 

Sunday Funday: Cards Against Humanity

It has been a very long time since I played cards and now I am reminded of how much fun hanging out with a bunch of folks eating and playing cards is.  I laughed and laughed and laughed.  What? Did you think I was talking about winning lots of money in a game of POKER?  Not at all. The game is called Cards Against Humanity and it is touted as a Party Game For Horrible People.  I played last night with some of the finest people I know and although there were moments where some very loud groans could be heard, there were also many hearty laughs and good guffaws.  I have not laughed so hard in quite a while and it sure felt good...yup I'm even smiling now.  Thank you Heather for inviting me.

Delaware Chews at Home French Toastananny

As much as I try to get the food photo before I start eating, sometimes I just can't wait.

French Toast in the morning is one of those times.

There are many ways to flavor up French Toast but what is most necessary is starting with the right bread and the right batter.  The right bread is your choice, I like a thick fresh potato style bread but wouldn't hesitate to use Rye if the French Toastananny mood strikes and that is what I have on hand.

I have also had it out at a restaurant with CHALLAH and it was YUMMY, but I can only think of one time a year when I MIGHT have challah in the house and the rest of the recipe would seem to be in conflict.

For the dipping batter I simply crack an egg into a bowl and add just enough milk to creep up the edges of the yolk. Scramble this up and give a few shakes of cinnamon.  Add a splash of vanilla and mix it in. All of the sudden I wonder what a splash of Cointreau might be like...will have to try this soon. This should be enough for two or three pieces of bread.  Warm and butter your pan in preparation.  DO NOT SOAK the bread...you do NOT want it to be soggy. 

When the butter has melted in your frying pan.  Press your first piece of bread into the batter and then turn so both side are covered.  Place in fry pan and repeat.  Fry to a golden  brown.

 

 

 

My mom used to fry one side each of two pieces, flip  and spread with a little cream cheese and jelly, then press the other piece cooked side on top of filling and continue to grill both sides.

I never really liked that all that much, but I do like a little ham and brie cheese grilled among two pieces making the most delicious 

 French Toastananny.

 The only way to finish this off is with REAL MAPLE SYRUP. 

Have a go at it...imagine up your own favorite ingredients to grill inside.

Double the batter and treat a loved one to this sensational weekend breakfast.

 

Delaware Issues Common Cents or Lack Of It.

Before the New Year I got on the scale and saw how close I was getting to a number that scared me.  So before I reached it,  I downloaded "Loose It" a weight management app on my Iphone for FREE.  I really liked using it and today I can tell you I weighed in at 136.6.  The app allowed me to record nutrition facts and calories by food item. It even let me make recipes with a calorie count.  I also liked that I could put in my exercise for the day and get a calorie reduction.  All for FREE!!!

 

I guess I felt I was due for a reward.  Well, isn't it common sense to reward yourself.

 

Delaware Views Anew

Spring Spring Spring bring on your blooms, blossoms and bounty. I need to see and smell SPRING.

This was fun to make.  I adjusted the colors with curves, used a windy filter and the extrude filter and then went back and saturated the colors. 

 

 

 

Delaware Issues Common Cents

Everyone knows it is a good idea when going to market to use coupons or look for the sales.  Seems like food is getting more and more expensive every week.  A while back I purchased a food vacuum packer and have to say this has probably saved me a ton of money and lots of food.  I no longer have to toss frozen food that has acquired freezer burn.  Now I feel confident that I can purchase family packs at reduced prices and portion it up immediately upon arriving home.  I always date the packages and try not to go longer than 6 months before cooking.  These sausage links might become part of a breakfast sandwich,  meat sauce for lasagna or over pasta, or my favorite just fried up and topped with fried onions and peppers on a hard roll.

Delaware Views Hues of Red

Soon the Strawberries will be growing here in PA/NJ and they will be delicious, sweet and juicy.  For now they are just RED and a symbol of what is to come.  There are two red things that come from the east in the summer that I have never tasted anywhere else that are quite as good.  The Strawberry and the Tomato.  COME ON SPRING.  What are you waiting for?  Winter, what are you thinking bringing us more snow today? 

 

Sunday Funday

It was GREAT to see some of the FF girls from Slackwood.  We went BOWLING at Curtis Lanes in Ewing.   I have not done that in sooooooooo long and it was tons of fun.  I was surprised at all the technology in use and wondered if any young people would  know how to keep score if they had to use paper and pencil.  I guess that might be like trying to dial a phone.  Oh the times they are a changing.

Foodie Friday at Havana

It's great living so close to New Hope and Lambertville and all the unique shops, galleries and restaurants in the two riverside towns.  It gives me the advantage of being able to visit during the week and not having to fight the crowds on the weekends.  Although the temps slipped back to the low 20s with a wind chill causing it to feel like single digits, this past Tuesday the temps had soared into the 60s.  It was a perfect day to enjoy some outside dining.  Nikolas at the Login Inn, in New Hope  offered good food, good service and a great view of the main street. People watching is always fun.  My companion for lunch ordered a Malbec  Margarita which she seemed to enjoy and I ordered a Cosmo..  Lunch came from the Appetizer section of the Menu.  My companion ordered the Smoked Fish Platter and I enjoyed the Brie Wrapped in Pastry with Raspberry Sauce and Fresh Fruit.  Not cheap by any means.  The bill came to $70. with tip, but well worth it for eating and cocktails outdoors on the first warm day after this snowy, cold and seemingly unending Winter.

Delaware News

I don't know why I am such a procrastinator with the need for pressure to perform.  Whatever the reason, the pressure is now on if I want to be ready to hang my work at the Full Moon Café in April and the Pennington Athletic Club in June.  I'm going ahead with River Views (go figure) in Sepia.  I already had an offer on this one.  But, you know, an offer aint nothing til the money is in your hand.

Shad Fishing

 

Delaware Views Anew

I really like the artistic filters in CS3.  Dry brush, paint daubs and Palette knife are my favorites.  They tend to be a little harsh when enlarged so I sometimes will use a blur tool to smooth it out.

I don't think I will be waiting until bathing suit weather to see the ocean...next nice day I'm going.

Delaware Issues Common Cents with OIL and VINEGAR

 

Sometimes I am simply amazed at the selection of things at the local grocery store.  Almost a complete inner aisle devoted to salad dressing.  SALAD DRESSING!  A multitude of varieties, and prices, in plastic containers and glass containers.   I would venture to guess that most people have everything they need for Russian, Italian, and French dressing, already in their cabinets. A little ketchup, mayo and relish and you have Russian, a little oil and vinegar and its Italian.  Add some ketchup and Worcester and you have French.  Ok  I admit to liking Good Seasons Italian dry mix because I can use it for much more than dressing...its a great seasoning mixed with parm cheese for baking fish, and chicken.  When I am using it for salad dressing I have a  glass cruet. For the other dressings I make I recycle the honey bears.  It just seems like common sense to me to reduce the amount of plastic and glass I put in my shopping bags and keeping bottled salad dressing off my grocery shopping list is one easy way. 

 

Delaware Views Hues of RED

 

Early morning on the Delaware River from Lambertville to New Hope reveals the historic Bucks County Playhouse reflected in white and red.  I took this shot with my 35-70 at its widest and then  cropped it for the panorama view.  It is now my Facebook cover photo.

 

 

Sunday Funday

Sunday Funday?  Hardly.  It was a beautiful day and the meltdown was on.  The yard was full of mud and puddles and debris from falling limbs and twigs and wood dust from sawing the limbs down to size.  Not to mention the spiny balls from the Sweet Gum tree in my neighbors yard.


MUD

PUDDLES

 

SWEET GUM fills the garbage pail topped with SILVER MAPLE branches

 

 

Last of the remaining ice blocks pushed onto the bank and cement stairs.

 

 

 

Delaware Chew at Tony's Place Bar and Grille

 

It was great seeing my nephew in his new digs in Warminster, Pa.  Hungry and willing to explore the area we went off to Tony's Place  for lunch.  The three of us started by sharing the scallop appetizer and it was small but yummy.  Aaron had a filet dinner, which he managed to devour.  Furm had a cheesesteak sandwich and I went for the filet sliders.  I ordered my meat medium rare and it was served to me tender and cooked just right.  I don't know how the boys had room for more but they did and out came caramel apple pie for Aaron and a chocolate brownie topped with chocolate ice cream for Furm.  OK!  I did make a little room for a Kahlua and coffee and a few spoonfulls of the chocolaty goo. Noticing the outdoor bar currently closed for winter we think this is a place to return to when the weather finally warms.

 

Delaware Reviews

I was looking for an image to make up for my lack of news when during my review I found this.

It surprised me because I forgot about it.  I like it quite a lot and vaguely remember how I made it from a bloom of summer hydrangea.

Delaware Views Anew

There is so much to learn regarding post processing.  Sometimes it is a simple conversion from color to black and white.  Other times the purpose of post processing is to enhance the original image by adjusting the light, adding some contrast, maybe even sharpen up an image.

For the very basic adjustments I work in Windows Live, a free download, apparently closed down last year (discovered that when I went to look for the link for you) but still working fine for me.

If I want more than enhancement I go to Photoshop CS3

 

Shooting around the house on a cold winter day.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Delaware Issues Common Cents about Water and Alcohol

Truth is I hardly ever drink beer when I'm out and I did not drink this one.  It just looked so good with George Washington's face on the bottle at the Washington Crossing Inn and reminded me of warmer days at the outside bar.  But this is about WATER and Common Cents.

 

 

Have you ever wondered why you are served pretzels and peanuts at the bar.  SALT!

Salt makes you thirsty.  When you are thirsty you drink more...when you drink more the bar makes more money...RIGHT?  Well not always.  You can keep more money in your pocket if you drink water.  My preference for libations is vodka, usually in the form of a Cosmo or a glass of wine.  Since I usually cannot resist the free salty snacks, I afford myself a full glass of water while snacking and drinking matching one water for every other drink.  Not only am I indulging in the free salty snacks, I am also drinking more water, less alcohol, and I am staying well hydrated.   You probably know this already after all it is just common sense.  Now you just have to do it.  You will feel better in the morning too. 

Delaware Views Hues of Red

Almost impossible to walk around Lambertville, NJ without seeing Red.

On this occasion I did not have to go far from our Sunday morning destination for breakfast at the Full Moon Café.  We got there early, before it even opened.  I took a short walk to the canal and caught this view with the hue of red in the not so far distance.

 

Sunday Funday

It must be apparent that my daily posts indicating a day, as in Sunday Funday, don't always take place on that day. How could it?  No way could I have this much fun on Sunday and post by 8am.

This Sunday Funday took place on Saturday.  Does that make sense?

Who cares....

Yesterday was a great day.  The sun was shining and it warmed up enough by mid afternoon to not need my ear muffs or gloves.  Furm and I went to see Aaron in his new place. It was good to see him there, happy and relaxed.

 

From his place it was just a short distance to Tony's, where we had a fine lunch.

I'll tell you more about Tony's on Foodie Friday.