by Susan | Nov 22, 2012 | In the Kitchen
My mind didn’t fully focus on Thanksgiving this year until the last minute. This last week, full of meetings and a trip to Portland left me a bit discombobulated. Almost two months ago, Mom (aka Granny Gadget) sent us a CharBroil Big Easy Smoker. It sat in the...
by Susan | Nov 13, 2012 | On My Mind
We purchased our first generator eight-and-a-half years ago when building our home. It provided necessary power to begin our building project until Bangor Hydro connected us to the grid. I wrote about the demise of the generator in The Seven Year Slump back in...
by Susan | Nov 12, 2012 | On My Mind
My love affair with owls started when I was a little girl. My grandmother, Ruth Bender Nerviani – affectionately known to me as Mother, had a few owls in her home – some have since made their way to me. As a child, I wondered why she had so many owls...
by Susan | Aug 24, 2012 | Hannah's Cutting Board, In the Kitchen
I made tacos for dinner tonight. Hannah opted out and did her own thing for dinner. I’m thinking Paul and I got the short end of the stick. Check out what Chef Roo (age 13) made for her dinner. I think tomorrow I’ll ask Hannah what’s for dinner....
by Susan | Aug 15, 2012 | Granny Gadget
This isn’t a fashion blog, but I couldn’t let this pass. A package arrived from Mom today (aka Granny Gadget). Now and again Mom will surprise me with little goodies – a pretty scarf, a blingy purse, fun earrings, etc. She knows that I don’t...
by Susan | Aug 12, 2012 | In the Kitchen
Granny Gadget (AKA Mom) sent Hannah a cheese making kit for her birthday last week. We made a batch of beautiful homemade mozzarella from whole milk the very next day. The kit has the ingredients to make mozzarella or ricotta – citric acid, rennet tablets,...
by Susan | Aug 7, 2012 | Granny Gadget, In the Kitchen
Saturday night is Pizza Night at Downeast Thunder Farm. I get in big trouble when I mix things up and don’t serve Pizza on Saturday – Paul and Hannah have come to count on Saturday homemade pizza. A key ingredient to pizza is the herb mix that goes in the...
by Susan | Feb 11, 2012 | In the Kitchen, Recipes
This recipe has been on my mind for a while now since I’ve been looking for recipes that use eggs. A snowy Saturday seemed like a good time to finally make Challah, or braided egg bread. I studied a number of different recipes and worked up this version that...
by Susan | Dec 7, 2011 | Granny Gadget
I spent the week after Thanksgiving with my folks in Pennsylvania. As I was packing up the night before returning to Maine, Mom presented me with the 60 Second Pomegranate De-Seeder and said, “You can’t leave without something from Granny Gadget.” I do love...
by Susan | Apr 22, 2011 | Hannah's Cutting Board
Granny Gadget of the Ebelskiver fame struck again. She sent Hannah the cookbook “Crazy About Cupcakes” and a truckload of candy. Hannah made cupcakes for our Easter dessert and used the book as her inspiration for decorating. Nice job, Roo!
by Susan | Mar 5, 2011 | Hannah's Cutting Board
Granny Gadget struck again not long ago. The UPS man must think that I am a QVC-aholic as often as he delivers to us. Little does he know that it’s Granny Gadget in Pennsylvania (A.K.A. Mom) who is the QVC fan. Our latest gadget from QVC is an Ebelskiver cooker....
by Susan | Jan 5, 2011 | Home Improvements
When we were designing our house I planned in this great laundry room. It has a washer, dryer, double utility sink, cabinets. clothes drying racks, shelving etc. The problem is that it never worked the way that I thought it would. It became the dumping ground for...