Peanut Butter Swirl Bars

  An old post revamped--making these to take my brothers for Christmas--a family favorite!  Chocolate & Peanut Butter--what could be better! This is one of my go-to recipes when I need something to take to a picnic or party. _ I can't remember a time growing up when we didn't make these--my Mom still makes them when she knows we'll be visiting! ( originally posted in 2009--my Mom passed away in 2011)

Peanut Butter swirl bars

1/2 c. chunky peanut butter

1/3 c. margarine, softened

3/4 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt.

2 c. semi-sweet morsels

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine peanut butter, butter, brown sugar and sugar, beat until creamy. Gradually beat in eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour, baking powder and salt. Spread in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle the chocolate over the top. Place in the oven for 3 minutes. Remove from the oven, run a knife through the batter to marbelize. Return to the oven, bake 30 minutes. Cool & cut into squares.

Wildlife Wednesday--more turkeys!

A few weeks ago there was a discussion about flying turkeys & ones in trees so I thought I'd share a few photos I've taken of them in our pine trees!  This one was taken up by the house.

The rest of these were taken along the driveway--both sides are lined with very tall pine trees.

Can't believe I got 4 in one photo!

Wildlife Wednesday

Taken at Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy in Litchfield, CT.  One of those places you keep  saying you're going to go to--I finally made it a few years ago & plan to go back in the spring!  Click on the link to read about this fabulous place!

Wildlife Wednesday

A male Highland cattle at the neighbors

Technically I know these aren't wildlife but thought I would post anyway.  Besides raising bison, our neighbors also have 3 head of Highland cattle.  Two females, one male--both females are pregnant so more to come!

They are kept in a separate pen from the bison--yesterday they were up by the road so I stopped to take a few photos

A closeup of one.

Another view--they seem to be very docile creatures

The male and one of the females.

Friday Isla Fix

I love the hibiscus on Isla Mujeres!  I used to go into the garden at Maria Del Mar Hotel & see the varied colors  of flowers, but it seems to be only open to hotel guests now.  There are still many to see around the island!

Friday Isla Fix!

Decided to start posting photos of Isla Mujeres on Fridays ( where we go in the winter).  Thought this would be the perfect title for the posts.  Starting today--it's 3 months til we go--can't wait to see the sunrise!

Last Bloom of this Rose

I love to photograph flowers after the rain & capture the raindrops. 

These were taken 10/11/14 and will be the last flower on this rose bush I'm sure!

Enjoy!

Wildlife Wednesday--Whose Ready for Thanksgiving?

 Well. I decided to start posting some of my wildlife photos on Wednesdays & I remembered these turkey photos I took earlier this year!  I walked up the hill to see if the bison were around & encountered this solitary turkey in their field!

 I watched him for quite awhile--this is a small portion of the photos I took!  He didn't seem too concerned to be in the field ( I went back up after a few hours & he had flown out of the field!

Going to Try to get back into Blogging!

 Last week I happened to look out the window & saw a flock of turkeys close to the house.  So close I could only take photos through a window--if I had opened a door they would have run away!

 So the cat was in the room with me & really wanted to go out, but I don't think he would have known what to do when confronted with them--they could have pecked him to death!

 The turkeys live in our tall pine trees--it doesn't happen often but it is cool to get to watch them fly!

Strange Encounter--and a happy ending!

Yesterday late afternoon I happened to look out the back door onto the patio & saw this bird curled up near the stairs.  I called to Alan & went out, knowing that our cat was out there--not knowing if he had done something to this bird ( a woodpecker as you will   see ).  He ( the cat) was a big hunter in his prime, but way past that now!

The woodpecker seemed a little stunned --we think it flew into the patio door ( large glass door) and was getting it's feet back under it.

After a few minutes , we were happy to see  it stand up & fly away!

Macro Monday

Little by little my flowers are starting to bloom!

Monochrome Monday

The sun was out & it was fairly warm ( low 50s ) and the cat wanted to be outside!  He loves to lay down on the warm slate tiles & soak up the sun!

This is our 24 yr. old, Tuck.

Macro Monday

Will we ever see croci & other spring flowers?  More snow on the ground today!

Monochrome Monday- Sweeping the Street

Most mornings I would see this gentleman out sweeping the street at the end of Carlos Lazo.

New Bakery on the Block--Rooster On the Go

Last year these buildings were just being built so it was a surprise to see them all finished when we arrived in January.--and all occupied!

The bakery is part of Roosters on Hidalgo, there is also a nail salon, Frida and a couple of other places.  All of this is across from Hortencia's, near Poc-Na.

I went in right after Barlito's had closed for a month--these cinnamon rolls were good, but not as good as Barlito's.  The cookies were amazing!

Usually they had chocolate chip & oatmeal raisin & they were huge!

Different kinds of muffins --one time I bought blueberry muffins & they had peanut butter in the middle!

Banana Bread...

Piroshkis--they are a stuffed bread--we tried one stuffed with hamburg & cheese--delicious & one was enough for us to split.

It's nice to have something like this over in the area where we stay --I tried a variety of their offerings and liked all that I had!  Yummy smoothies too!