Calm, quiet and HOT

We have to be in the motorhome if we want cool. The AC in the house is not working. We have a guy coming next week to fix it for us we hope. You will get the full story when we know the full story. It isn't unbearable in the house but it sure makes a difference when you can get the humidity out of the air.
We are in the phase where I set a chair somewhere, leave it there for a bit and see if it works for me. The one room I have never had clear in my mind planning is the living room so lots of experimenting is taking place.
Colleen gave me the perfect recliner yesterday.  It is perfectly per-portioned and has a small footprint. She also gave me a couple of  area rugs. Things are coming together nicely. We are still checking out auction dates and content but our needs are diminishing rapidly. Pictures will be coming soon.

RVing Tip of the Day

Use bicycle water bottle racks for rattle-free holders
by Greg Illes

I've been using bike bottle racks for a variety of purposes for several years now. They're cheap, solid, rattle-free, easy to install, and they fit a surprising number of different objects that you typically find in and around an RV. Also, once installed, they look tidy and neat whether empty or full.

Currently, I have a wasp spray can, a fire extinguisher, some bear spray, and yes, even a few water bottles, happily parked in these handy little racks.

For stuff that's taller than a standard water bottle, like the big wasp spray products and the small-size fire extinguishers, you'll need to cut off the top strut of the bottle rack. Since this projection is just to keep the bottle from bouncing out while riding the bike, it can usually be dispensed with.

Find a handy place to mount the rack, make sure you have room to insert and extract its contents, and then just use two short screws to fasten it to the wall or cabinet. (If you change your mind later on, those two small screw holes are easy to fill and make disappear.)

Once you start using this trick, you'll probably think of a surprising number of ideas. Why have a nighttime glass of water to knock over in the dark when you can have a secure bedside water bottle instead? Run out of cup holders up front? A couple of bottle racks will extend your ability to "stock" a variety of drinks while underway. Do you like to use solvent in your windshield washer, but hate carrying a giant bottle of the stuff? Put a bottle of concentrate in a behind-the-hood bottle rack, and it will always be there when you top off your reservoir.

Barb says: I do not have a usable cup holder on my side of the car or the Motorhome. I think I have found a solution. Now to get Butch to go along with the idea. Always the toughest part.

More Elise and Leo

Their Mama writes: Leo was fussing so Elise got a book and decided to read to him since I was cooking. He hushed down right away and started listening to her. I love the love between them, hope it will last!!

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Brownies with Walnuts

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Brownies with Walnuts (Grandma Willey's Brownie Recipe)

(Makes 12 large brownies; recipe adapted from Dot's Brownies, the favorite brownie recipe of Grandma Willey.)

Ingredients:
1 cup melted margarine (or use half margarine and half coconut oil; do not use margarine that has water as the first ingredient)
7 T cocoa powder
4 eggs, well beaten
2 cups of sugar, Splenda, or Stevia in the Raw (use Splenda or Stevia for South Beach Diet)
1/2 cup brown sugar (optional, but recommended if you're using Splenda or Stevia, or use another 1/2 cup sweetener)
1 1/3 cups white whole wheat flour
pinch of salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup walnuts (hand broken)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Use a microwave to melt the margarine or margarine/coconut oil combination in a large bowl (big enough to hold all the ingredients.) Stir the cocoa powder into the melted margarine.

In a separate small bowl, beat the eggs well, then stir in 2 cups sugar, Splenda or Stevia in the Raw. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar (if using) and stir again.

Stir the egg mixture into the cocoa mixture. Then add the flour, salt, and vanilla and stir to combine. Use your fingers to break enough walnuts to make 1 cup, and then gently stir them into the batter.

Spray a glass baking dish with nonstick spray and then add the batter, pressing down so it's evenly flat. (I used a dish that was about 8" x 11".) Bake 30 minutes, then let the brownies cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before cutting.


www.KalynsKitchen.com.

These are on my want list.

Like Running a Race

This house and it's construction has been like running a race...always one more task or obstacle. But now as we near the end there is a winding down both physically and mentally. I am hoping for renewed vigor. Maybe today.
I have been fairly faithful about my morning walks with Colleen. We have had a few misses due to weather and we thought the mosquitoes might drive us off but we spray ourselves down with anti bug spray and so far it is working. There is lots of standing water for mosquito breeding grounds. So far it has not been the best weather for outdoor activities of any kind. All you can do is say "Maybe next Spring will be better." Summer is soon to start and it sure would be nice to see a change in this wet weather pattern.
Till next time ...and a more cheerful mood...

Snipped Elise and Leo

I just had to snip these pics of Elise and her baby brother Leo from Facebook. I love these pics! Elise is 3 and Leo a bit over 2 months old.

Taking it easy...

Taking it easy this weekend. My stiff neck is better. The answer was to keep it warm. I have had a problem for quite some time of being unable to have a cool breeze blowing directly on me and I think that was a large part of the problem. Probably an old lady thing. Getting more of those little irritations all the time.

We sure had a wonderful summer of weather last year but we are paying for it this year. Cool and wet with lots of bugs and mosquitoes. Of course many didn't like the drought last year. It's always something as Rosanne Roseannadanna used to say and if you know who that is you are showing your age.

Butch is in the motorhome watching the US Open golf tournament and as many movies as he can handle switching back and forth. Now you know why I am in the house fussing around on the computer.

Our next project is the garage. It caught all the stuff we did not know what to do with so it is now time to sort and create order from the chaos. But today is not the day. That is a chore you have to work up your nerve to tear into. Maybe tomorrow...