She's a Grand Ol' Flag!

I'm excited about the Fourth of July and having a long weekend to celebrate it!  I've already put our flags out :)

Happy July 4th.  I hope you've got your grill ready and the watermelon chilled!  Take time to thank God for all of the blessings we enjoy in this great nation...and go see some fireworks!

                              ~Marcia

My summer project

The birds and other critters haven't eaten my tomato plants...yet!   That's amazing!

Awww...just look at "Ernie" and "Bert"!  I think they need staked already!

And here's our robins' nest in the holly tree earlier this spring.

Come, sit down and enjoy the shade on my back porch!  Would  you like an iced tea?

I've been enjoying the summer weather and thought I would share some photos of my outside  hobby!  I'm a trial-and-error kinda gardener, but I really enjoy flowers on my porch and in our yard.  Luckily, I have my vintage gardening reference books to help me out.  Believe me, I need them...often!

  Our baby robins from the backyard have now  flown the nest, but I have butterflies and a very plump hummingbird that likes to linger around these bright pink flowers.  The hummingbird is camera shy (nah!  He's just too fast for me!)

Hope you, too, are getting  outside and enjoying the, "sunshine on your shoulders"! (John Denver)

Have a sunny, peaceful summer!

Make Your Own Freezer Biscuits

I've been wanting to try my hand

at making my own biscuits for the freezer.  I found this old recipe, some time ago, among my Aunt Sis' things and thought,"why not?!"  I buy bags of frozen biscuits at the grocery store on a regular basis.  Pillsbury's are good and also the Mary B brand.  They are quick to use and convenient, but this version is homemade and less expensive.  It made soooo much dough that I made a third of it into cinnamon biscuits for the freezer, too :)

Make Ahead Biscuits

Instant non-fat dry milk

2 C shortening

2 C sugar

6 Pkg. Yeast

Flour

2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

4 TBSP baking powder

Prepare 2 qts. Of milk according to directions.  In saucepan, heat until scalded.  Add shortening and sugar;  stir until dissolved;  cool mixture until luke warm.  Add yeast and stir until dissolved.  Combine enough flour with milk mixture until it's the consistency of pancake batter.  Let rise for 2 hours.  Stir in salt, soda, baking powder and enough flour to make a soft (not sticky!) dough.

Roll out on floured surface to 1/2" thickness.  Cut biscuits with a round 3" cutter.  Place on greased cookie sheets and freeze immediately!  Transfer to plastic freezer bags and seal.  

When ready to use, place desired number of biscuits on greased baking sheet.  Bake in preheated 450 degree oven.  May bake right from the freezer or let stand 10-15 minutes before baking.  Will keep in the freezer for 6-8 weeks!