A Photo Tag

Our Beautiful Pear Tree Lane, Sue, from Where Memories are Made had been tagged. I have picked up the tag. I am to open the sixth folder of my photos and choose the sixth photo, post it on my blog and tell something about it.

This is our Bichon Frise, Caesar. We take a lot of pictures of him, so the odds were pretty great it would be either a photo for my blog or one of Caesar.

This picture was taken at the St. Patrick's Day Parade this year in Harrisburg, PA. We don't usually dress him up, however, he has a Halloween Peter Pan costume that I thought would pass for a leprechaun outfit. You can't see it in the picture, but there is even a little green hat with a red feather.

He was way overdue for a haircut. People still thought he looked cute. There was a lady who had someone take a picture of her holding him.

I couldn't believe how many people said, "Oh, look at the dog in the Peter Pan costume." How did they even know it was a Peter Pan costume?

This isn't part of the rule, but since the picture is one of my dog, I am selecting 6 other bloggers who have featured pictures of their dog. Those folks are:

1. Deserae at Peeking Thru the Sunflowers


2. Kathy at My New Beginnings


3. Barb at Bella Vista


4. Manuela at The Pleasures of Homemaking


5. Natalie at Dogs on Thursday


6. Monica at The White Bench

Foodie Friday - Chipped Chopped Ham BBQ

Designs by Gollum is hosting Foodie Friday. Check out her site for other yummy recipes.

This is a continuation of my series of regional foods. Chipped Chopped Ham Barbecue originated in Pittsburgh, PA. No, it's not barbecue, so I don't know why it's called that. The authentic version uses local ingredients such as Heinz chili sauce and Isaly's chipped chopped ham. It surprised me that this was regional fare, when I asked for chipped chopped ham at the deli counter and the girl did not know what I was talking about. Chipped chopped ham is a pressed ham loaf that is shaved very thin. If you can't get chipped chopped ham, the best alternative is to have the butcher slice ham very thin, almost like shaving it. These sandwiches are yummy alternative to sloppy joes. This spicy sweet treat is a Pittsburgh favorite.

Ingredients:
1 lb chipped ham
1/2 cup onion diced
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon mustard
1 tablespoon sweet relish
1 (12 ounce) jar Heinz chili sauce
1/2 cup water
hamburger buns

Directions:

Run the ham under hot water in a colander for about 30 seconds to get some of the salt out of the ham. Coarsely chop the chipped ham and place in a saucepan, mix all ingredients, making sure the ham is well coated. Cook for about 20 minutes.
Serve on hamburger buns that have been buttered and toasted. Bring out plenty of napkins, roll up your sleeves and dig in.

I will often double this recipe and make it in the crock pot and serve it to a crowd at a covered dish or a Super Bowl party.

If anyone asks you "Jeet yet?", grab a sandwich and red up when you're done.

Lampapalooza

Nester is having a Lampapalooza Party. Click the link to visit the Nesting Place and view other lamps.


Yipes, I almost missed this. I have posted these lamps before, so I was able to post my hurricane lamps.

I first saw this lamp at Hallmark in 1979. It was the most beautiful lamp I had ever seen. The glass is a pink translucent frosted glass with beige hand-painted flowers. It matched my pink and beige bedroom perfectly, ... but it was over $100. I wouldn't pay that much for a lamp now, let along in 1979. Every time I went to the mall, I would go in to Hallmark to see if it it was still there and if it went on sale. Hurray! It was reduced, but still way more what I could afford to pay. Finally, it was reduced again to around $65-75. The saleslady said it wouldn't be reduced any further. I finally, broke down and purchased it. I never regretted the splurge.

Over the years, whenever I moved, I wrapped her in bubble wrap, placed her in her own sturdy box surrounded in foam peanuts. I then carried her in my arms like a baby. I wouldn't trust my lamp to any movers.

I'm also sharing my blue hurricane lamp. It was my daughter's lamp. She got it used, but when she moved she didn't want to take it with her. I found it left behind at the old house, ready to go out in the trash. So I gladly took it. Isn't it pretty? It has hand painted flowers on the top and bottom. The top holds a regular light bulb and the bottom holds a night light. It's 21" tall. I think it may be Quoizel, but I'm not sure. Does anyone know how to tell?

Foodie Friday - Baked Oatmeal

Designs by Gollum is hosting Foodie Friday. Check out her site for other yummy recipes.

This is part of my series of regional foods. I would like to share Baked Oatmeal. I don't know if this is actually Amish, as the Amish don't blog, but I do know it is popular with local Bed and Breakfast Inns. That being said, I also had it at a B&B in Vermont.

I like to make this when I have a house full of company and everyone is getting up at a different time. This way, they can all have a substantial breakfast and I'm not standing in front of the stove all morning. I like to scoop it into a bowl, add milk or yogurt. It's nice to top it with more raisins, maple syrup, or brown sugar.

It's even good cold eaten like a cookie, although a bit crumbly. I have it shown cut into squares, but this particular recipe is a bit too moist to be considered a finger food.

This recipe is courtesy of Elaine Heckman, Taste of Home.

Baked Oatmeal

INGREDIENTS
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar (I used Splenda Blend. Adjust accordingly.)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup raisins (I used dried cranberries.)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine in a bowl. Pour into greased 8" baking dish. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

I doubled this recipe for the photo.

Tablescape Thursday - May 21

I want to thank Susan from Between Naps on the porch for hosting Tablescape Thursday. My inlaws came to visit last weekend. I was so happy that my MIL was here for our mother-daughter banquet at church. Check out her site to see other tablescapes.

My in laws came to visit last weekend. My mother-in-law has only been to this house once before, before we had the kitchen remodeled. My sister-in-law and her daughter have never been here, so I wanted everything to be nice. They arrived Friday and I served lasagna, a salad and garlic bread. This is pretty much our every day table, only with the water goblets added. The plates are my every day Correlle. I found more of the same pattern at a thrift shop and got them. Now I can serve 11 people.

The tablecloth and the centerpiece vase were found at the thrift shop. I purchased the silk flowers at Michael's and did the arrangement that morning.

Bloggers Outing at Longwood Gardens

Susan at A Southern Daydreamer hosts Outdoor Wednesday every week. I always save my outdoor pictures to share on this meme. Click the link to view more outdoor photos.

Becky from Hospitality Lane invited all bloggers to attend a day with her at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia, last Saturday.

I got to meet Becky, her friends and family, and Jill from Ribbon Challenged. Jill makes those beautiful homemade cards. Above is a photo of the girls. Mrs. Rabe, Beck's daughter, Becky, Jill and myself.

We met at the gate at 10:00. The day started out rainy, so we started our tour in the conservatory.

The Conservatory:

Purple Lacecap hydrangeas and white astillbe will definitely be an addition to my shady back yard.

By the time we completed our tour of the conservatory, the rain was stopping. We had lunch at the restaurant on site. We discovered that Becky and I had met once before at a wedding we both attended. What a small world.

Here is Becky and Jill.

I want my wisteria in my yard to be like this one, when it grows up. That's Jill checking out all the great plants.

I know that in garden design, it looks better when planted in mass. I will just have to keep looking at these photos to remind myself.

Longwood Gardens is famous for all it's fountains.

The tree house is every kid's dream:

I posted about Longwood Gardens before. If you want more click here for my previous post.

SS John W. Brown, The Project Liberty Ship

Smiling Sally is hosting Blue Monday. Today I'm taking you on a cruise of the beautiful blue Chesapeake Bay aboard the SS John W. Brown. Click on the link to check out other blogs who are sharing their blue.

The SS John W. Brown, a Project Liberty Ship, is a restored WWII Merchant Marine ship, which cruises the Chesapeake Bay leaving the port of Baltimore, MD. The whole cruise is tribute and an honor to all veterans.

The ship is a living museum. Once aboard, you are stepping back to 1944.

My step father is very proud that he is a veteran of WWII, and never misses an opportunity to tell everyone he meets. I highly recommend it to any veteran, especially the WWII vets.

As we sailed past Fort McHenry, we Pledged Allegiance to the American Flag and sang the Star Spangled Banner. Once we were out in the bay, we had a memorial ceremony to all who gave their lives in service to our country.

We were able to tour the ship. My husband, who did weather observations in the Navy, really enjoyed the opportunity to check out the ship. Artifacts, posters, and photos of the era are displayed.

The Museum Room:

The Bridge:

Topside:

Navigation Room:
General McArthur:

We saw President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who read the historic “Declaration of War”, General McArthur, Abbott & Costello, an Andrews’ sisters type trio. The band played songs from the era.

The highlight of the cruise was when the Japanese Zero planes “attacked” us. Gunners manned the gun turrets and returned fire.

Then an American War Hawk plane came and “shot down” the enemy planes. They left the area leaving a trail of smoke. I don’t know what the sail boats and other pleasure boats on the Chesapeake though about the mock battle.

Brownie, the ship's pin-up girl:

We were served lunch:

If you have a veteran in your family, I highly recommend this outing. Cruises for the 2009 season are scheduled for May 23, June 13 and September 12.

I Took Your Place

Charlotte and Ginger are hosting Spiritual Sundays. Click on the link to view other spiritual posts. Thanks ladies.

One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him. The driver got out and said, "I always park here! You took my place!"

The visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this statement, but still he said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hand and on his sandled feet. Someone from the congregaton noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"

A crown of thorns appeared, and a tear fell from his eye. The visitor replied, "I took your place."