The Life of Mrs. Miles

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I hope you can find use for this line drawing - I've created it on a transparent background, and saved it in PNG format, so you can 'fill' the fruit and veg with whatever you wish. I would love to see what you make - just send me a small photo to lalaime(at)hotmail(dot)com I'm starting to get the hankering for canning meself, and Mr. Miles loves canned peaches with fresh ginger strips in the syrup.

(click to see a bit larger)
SUMMER FUN - layout by meself
credits:
Rainy Daze Kit by Beth Long
Sand Alpha by Mrs Miles (ya, me)

Don't you just LOVE this kit? It's Beth Long's new RAINY DAZE KIT which you can find by visiting her blog and there are links galore to the shop etc! I KNOW, I Know, its a RAINY daze kit, but I saw the SUN in there, and figured by turning her raindrops upside down I could draw attention to the BIG SPLASH our brother made in the lake! Your kit is WONDERFUL Beth, and there's so much more in there I'm longing to use in the future!!!

Our brother Dave and Sister in Law Neti just stopped in for a quick surprise visit this week, so we took a day out to enjoy their company. They arrived on their motorcycle, all hot and sticky from the combination of the hot weather and wearing proper motorcycle gear, including entire black from head to toe - pants, jackets and helmets. (I think the black helmets look like beetle heads) It was sure good to spend some time together.

Dave to the Rescue!

Though they were only here for a day, we decided to take them up to the top of a local mountain which affords a great view. We set off early in the morning with the whole day laying ahead of us. The peak of the mountain is 20 km up a gravel road - we made it to 17 km. Thats when I (of all things) SMELLED something - like oil, or hot engine, and I mentioned it to the guys in the front. Dave poked his head out his window, looked back and informed us we had a FLAT! Back Right. Same tire I'd mentioned looked a bit low the previous week. Same tire I kept mentioning sounded like it had a small rock lodged in it each time we went to town, and kept reminding myself to take a look at when we arrived home (but forgot) Besides, the tires are only 2 months old!

Sigh.

Flatter'n'apancake.

So Dave offers to change it out - Miles has had a sore back lately, don't want to fool with that! THANKS DAVE!

And guess what - we have no air pump. And the spare is flat too. The spare is the newest of our 'old' tires - which the guy at the garage musta forgot to check it out too closely, as it was his suggestion to use that one. Double sigh.

Small blessing - the cell phone actually was in range and we were able to call down to our friend Rogers and he came to our rescue too. And he roars up on a white steed - well, a white truck, driving like a real rally driver, could see him coming for MILES off in the distance, setting up a a rooster tail of dust for several km behind him. He comes bearing a compressor and all sorts of goodies. But to no avail. The tires are just BAD, so he and Miles head to town where (to the tune of over $100) a new tire is purchased.

Dave and Neti were very gracious and patient about the wait, even took a nap under some trees for a while and I took advantage of the spare block of time and completely turned out the van and cleaned it from head to toe. It's needed it for a very long time!

We never did go to the top - will save that for another visit.

And thanks Roger - you are ALWAYS there for us, and we REALLY appreciate all you and Marie do for us.

Simple Summer Supper

I served my own little recipe for supper. I've been experimenting with dishes I can cook OUTSIDE using our little toaster oven. This way I don't have to heat up the house. The toaster oven just fits these four foil packet portions I made up. This recipe is super simple - and almost any type of ground meat could be used instead of the sausage, if you would like.

Barb's Simple Summer Foil Packs

4 hot italian sausages
1 small onion, 1/2 inch thick rings
sliced red, yellow and green peppers
butter

Cut 4 pieces of tin foil. Lightly butter the center - about 6 inches long, 3 inches wide. Layer some onion slices on butter. Layer a few slices of each red, yellow and green peppers. Using a sharp (filet is ideal) knife, slice the casing of an italian sausage and remove the meat. Flatten the meat into a patty which covers the onion and peppers (aprox 6 inches long x 3 inches wide. Cover the veg. Repeat with the remaining three sausages. Place on the cook tray for the toaster oven. Bake at 400 degrees for 1/2 hour. To serve, lift each foil pack out of the tray, hold over something to catch the juice, and poke a hole underneath the foil pack, allowing the liquid to drain. Next, simply slide the veg and meat onto a plate! Voila, all you need is your side-dishes, and its DELISH!

Chill!

Rest

Take some time away from the world...

and pray



Ere thou sleepest, gentle lay
Every troubled thought away;
Put off worry and distress
As thou puttest off thy dress.
Drop thy burden and thy care
In the quiet arms of prayer...

-by Henry Van Dyke