The Balloon Man

We went to dinner at the club the other night and the entertainment was a balloon man. He made the most intricate balloon designs I've seen.  Gma really enjoyed it and got a vase with a flower and a teddy bear.  It still looks good after 4 days.  Maybe we'll go again next Tues. and get another one!

Arnie's Adult Teeter Totter

Arn got a late Christmas present.............he has been wanting a Teeter Hang Up to see if it will help his back.  We borrowed one from a friend for a week and he thought it helped.  So we now have one of our own........

The Sunscreen Song -- Advice for Life « Bits Of Wisdom

Clementine Preserves

 

 

 We had a bowl of left over clementines after Christmas and the fruit wasn't very good.  I have problems throwing fruit out. I always throw bananas in the freezer for bread and I usually cut up old apples for the birds.  I decided to try clementine preserves and they are delicious!  It took a couple of days and I left it chunky but the orange taste is so good!  I got about 6 small jars and most of my jars sealed.  It is even better than orange marmalade.  I used around 20 clementines, 2 oranges that had been laying around for a while, 2 lemons, and used the peel of a couple of clementines.   So good!

 

 

 

 

Clementine Preserves

Makes 5-6 half pint jars

INGREDIENTS

• 20 clementines
• 2 lemons
• 5 cups water
• 3 cups Imperial Sugar Extra Fine Granulated Sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash and peel clementines, reserving peel from three clementines. Set aside  reserved peel and cut all clementines, first in half and then quarter halves. Put clementine pieces in a large non-aluminum pot. Do not use an aluminum pan as it can react with citrus.  A cast iron dutch oven is ideal.
2. Peel both lemons reserving seeds. Cut lemon same as clementines and add diced lemon flesh to pot with clementines. Dice reserved clementine peel into small (1/4-inch) pieces and add to the pot. Add sugar and water and and turn stove on to medium-high.
3. While the fruit and water are heating up, add reserved lemon seeds to a cheesecloth bag with a tie or place seeds in a piece of cheesecloth that you can tie with kitchen twine. Drop it into the pot. Bring the fruit to a boil, turn heat back to simmer and cook for 60-75 minutes, stirring occasionally until water evaporates and preserves start to thicken. Remove cheesecloth with lemon seeds from pot. If you'd like a smoother consistency preserve, use an immersion blender to pulse the preserves and rind until desired consistency is achieved.
   
4. Preserves will gel more as they cool. It's crucial not to overcook preserves and keep a close eye on it during the last 10-20 minutes as they can burn easily.
   
5. Transfer preserves to clean, sterile jars and store in the fridge up to 3 months.

Ecco Info

Ecco Santa brought everyone a lightbulb this year.  He usually does bring a recycled item or something found at a thrift store but this year he invested in LED lightbulbs.  They were a little expensive (12.00) but after Christmas he found that you can get a 50 %  rebate from the electric company.   I'm not sure if it comes in the form of a check or as a credit on the utility bill but he thought it was worth checking out. It sure does make the cost of the bulbs a little less scary.  The rebate form can be found on your local electric company web site.  The form and the receipt are needed and the bulb has to be over 300 lumens. We made the switch to LED Christmas tree lights and have enjoyed the idea of spending less money on energy.

Happy New Year 2014

Fireworks thru the Siamese twins in Garden of the Gods

Gma and her glow attire.

New Year's Eve was quiet this year.  I guess we're getting older.  We went out for Mexican food for dinner, looked at Christmas lights, and watched a movie.  I told Mom if she was still awake close to midnight I'd take her to see the fireworks that are shot off of Pikes Peak.   It's a tradition since the 1920's.  I doubted whether I'd be awake.  I had a couple cups of coffee and we took off in our pj's to see the display.  Gma really enjoyed it even though it's a short display.  It's just neat to think about the Adaman Club hiking up to the peak and shooting them off.  They take 2 days to do the hike (stay halfway at Barr Camp) and then camp on the peak on NYE and hike down the next day.  Happy New Year!