My Four Hens is hosting a weekly photo challenge and in an effort to stretch my photography ability I joined. This is week 16 and the theme is "glisten, sparkle and shine". I picked up this lovely cut glass prism in Camden Maine a few years ago. Capturing light is what photograpgy is all about
April 18, 2013
March 8, 2013
Spring Struggles In?
Typical New England, freezing one day then warm and sunny the next. The variety is interesting albeit inconvenient at times. Today, Friday I need to get to work and finish payroll among other things but Mother Nature had another idea and the snow plow has yet to visit my roads as usual !
Two days have produced about 6" after we finally melted the 34" we got from blizzard Nemo. Rude - enough already but wait a minute tomorrow is supposed to get up near 50 degrees with sun ( good I have a birthday party to attend for fabulous 7 yo twins I can to claim as mine). I have to admit the wet sticky snow creates a glorious clean canvas! Surreal
So today will be a struggle in a few ways but I can enjoy the wonderland created and dream of the sun's warmth heading our way and the flowers that will follow eventually, I hope (fingers crosses)
Good words always. Happy Friday everyone.
Posted with BlogsyFebruary 22, 2013
Color!!
Late February gets 'old' drab, flat, boring (as well as cold and wet and dank) I am ready for spring. Any one with me?
This gorgeous palette gives me hope!! I have to start painting again!
February 14, 2013
What a Difference a Day Makes
FREE of blizzard Nemo we made our way out to St Thomas albeit 2 days late for our planned vacation with friends.
Amazing how quickly we acclimate to 80 degree sun and breeze, palm trees and rum :-). All that snow is far far away - for a few days anyway.
February 10, 2013
Nemo - day 3
Third day and still no snow plows near us. Neighbors getting restless. We have finally cleared our drive way and our neighbors. Food is getting sparse (we had planed to be in the Caribbean by now so frig cleaned out). So what's a person to do?
Form a chain gang of sorts. 7 neighbors banned together with snow blowers to get it done. It took all afternoon and a lot of determination and gas but we won !!!
Yeahhhhh we're Free!!
February 9, 2013
Surviving NEMO
It's been a long 36 hours since the first flakes started with the blizzard of 2913 named NEMO .
The predictions were dire but we've heard it before. Still the gas tanks were filled the errands done and groceries purchased.
By 6 pm there was 5 or 6 inches of snow on the ground but only a light snowfall. Nothing threatening .
Morning started just before 4 am as power failed. The blizzard had materialized and dropped its thick white blanket on us, lovely, serene and Cold!
This is the view out the back door along our 6 foot fence around the pool. No chance opening this door .
The snow had frozen rain mixed in making for a very heavy, sticky base- notice the snow stuck to my beloved whirligig
Let the fun begin!! Heavy wet snow higher than our good sized snowblower is not fun. Actually need chains for the machine to get traction, it took all day for hubby to get the rover cleaned up and the driveway clear enough to actually get out - IF a plow ever hits our street that is.
We are in that orange swath on the coastline. Officially we got 33". Wow epic for sure.
And Beautiful.
January 30, 2013
Pizza Pizza!!
Another adventure in gluten free baking. This time I tried pizza ala King Arthur pizza mix.
I added eggs, oil and water to the mix of flours and yeast. Beat it as directed, spread it on parchment , let it rise 30 minutes then par baked for 12 minutes (400 degrees).
Then I added sauce, pepperoni (for DH) bk olives (for me) and fresh mozzarella. Back into the oven for another 9 minutes (400 degrees)
Viola'
Not bad but I think I can do better from one of my recipe books. I'll keep you posted.
January 22, 2013
30 Minute Yeast Rolls
In January the vultures come. Why I do not know unless some one is feeding them? They are no bother but somehow eerie.
They have a favorite tree just up the hill.
Often a few spread their wings to dry in the morning and create quite a spectacle. Ominous as I pass underneath !
Turkey vultures are almost as large an eagles I believe.
Why this leads me to yeast rolls I have no idea- except that in January I want to Bake! Cookies, pies , cakes and especially Breads!
Recently, Pinterest (a new addiction) pictured 30 minute yeasted dinner rolls. Intrigued I had to give them a go ... And...Success.
They lack the full flavor of slow rise but very satisfying for a quick side.
1C plus 2T warm water
1/3 cup canola oil
1/4 C sugar or honey
2T yeast (yes 2 Tablespoons)
Mix together let sit 10 minutes
Add in
1 tsp salt
1 beaten egg
Blend well then add flour gradually and mix in stand mixer 5 min or by hand 10-12 minutes
Shape into 12 rolls and place side by side in pan - ok I got carried away and made 15 rolls. Math was never my strong suite.
They get poofy quickly with all that wonderful yeast!
Bake 10-12 minutes till golden brown, remove from oven and brush with butter. Viola -hot fragrant rolls just begging for butter or jam and my house is nice and warm too :-)
Happy baking!
January 17, 2013
Be Careful What You Ask For
January should be Cold And Snowy! I find drab gray rainy January days the worst so I ask for Snow. (Pray,beg,dance)
Wednesday I had to leave the house very early (pre-dawn) and drive thru unplowed roads. I got my wish :) It was magically beautiful although a bit slippery out alone on the white trails.
I got my wish !
(random person in airport this an ominous tat)
Wednesday I had to leave the house very early (pre-dawn) and drive thru unplowed roads. I got my wish :) It was magically beautiful although a bit slippery out alone on the white trails.
Wednesday was a long torturous day on a personal level but by day's end another huge wish was answered.
I got my wish !(random person in airport this an ominous tat)
January 14, 2013
Rainy Days and Mondays
Rainy days and Mondays in January!! Certainly gets me down! It's way too warm and gray now as the snow has melted away. I need a pick me up.
So I turn to my sorely neglected blog. I will attempt to breathe new life and resuscitate My Fiddlestix with what else but the tid bits of my life. Some words some photographs some recipes and perhaps an occasional sketch too and anything else interesting to me.
I hope this will be fun, inspirational, spiritual, thoughtful, fun or maybe yummy? Plus I'm learning photography, traveling, baking/eating gluten free, working on redecorating our home as well as recovering from a horrid 2012. AND hope fully learning blogger tricks from my iPad :)
Stick with me- chat with me and have alittle fun.
January 24, 2012
Resolution
RESOLUTION
My first submission to the MCP Project 12 photography site
http://mcpactions.com/blog/2012/01/01mcp-project-12
The January subject is resolution and I struggled, first with the concept and second with my new camera. The town dock in January proved inspiring, the docks had been pulled for the icy winter and the barnacles caught my eye, they are certainly determined to hang on - resolute!
January 23, 2012
Binkie Thingies
Just a random page, as the urge strikes me. I simply can't get motivated or inspired. A long dry spell and the funny thing is I miss drawing and painting. And I miss you all!
January 13, 2012
January Blahs Already
Finally a sketch page submitted, I have been out of sorts, insanely busy and under the weather - and this page is as blah as I feel presently. Lots of worry in the house, and lots of illness, and rain - Yuck - I need a fresh blanket of snow to feel renewed. And it is only January 13th! I do hope to keep more regular sketch work coming.
If anyone is interested in following my 366 instagram challenge it is posted on my facebook page, it will not post automatically here. I have kept up to date so far :-)
FB sandra sellers rice
or my instagram name sandyleeisme
January 6, 2012
Vodka Works!
#6/366 Yep it Works!! Look at these sturdy straight paperwhites. In past years my blooms have grown tall and fallen completely over - very unsightly. This year I tried the trick of adding hard liquor to their water - and yep, they grew straight and tall and proud - no falling down drunks here ;-) and the scent, beautiful !!
January 5, 2012
Really?? 5/366
My banana revealed a surprising sticker, not the usual Chiquita - Alvin, complete with a special scan box - Really?? Day 5 of 366 instagrams
January 4, 2012
Potato Candy
Day 4/366 Needhams, home made by my MIL in Maine. Only Maine could devise a candy made from potatoes - so delicious and sooo fattening (or wait, is it a vegetable??)
C-O-L-D
Instagram #3 /366 First COLD day of the winter, 0 or below with wind - Quite rude after all those 40+ days we have been enjoying. So the first fire of the season too, sure wish some snow would fall.
Gus, day 2 of 366
Gus (Angus) is getting big, still in the digging, chewing stage (notice very dirty nose) but he is trying to be a good boy - along with his twin brother Otis. He is happy to represent day 2 in my instagram challenge.
December 31, 2011
Hello 2012
For the new year I am started an instagram challenge, 366 daily posts for the year (365+1 for this leap year) My goal is for each instagram to represent a snippet of my day - good, bad, ugly. A picture is worth a thousand words - so this is my autobiography for 2012.
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