Good 54º scattered clouds morning.
Yesterday was a bunch of minor stuff.... watering, filling the water tubs for the animals (deer and turkeys drain the tubs in hot weather!), cleaning the filters in my ac/heat units. These Mitsubishi ac/heat units, I have three of them (one in living room, dining room, and at the top of the stairs). They were expensive to install 14-15 years ago but I can run the ac or the heat 24/7 and my electric bill is never over $100 in a month. Paid for itself after a couple of years!
The sky stayed pretty clear, with a breeze. By noon we were at 80º.
We topped at 96º!
Picture of the Day ... shared by Brooklyn Vivia...
Interesting about "rainbow mountains"...........
Vinicunca Mountain, commonly known as the Rainbow Mountain, is a multicolored peak set among equally colorful hillsides and bordered by steep snow-capped peaks hidden deep in the Andes in Peru. Its name is taken from Quechua and means ‘seven color mountain.’ You will find it on your way to Ausangate, in the region of Cusco. There are 5 passes ranging between 15,000 and 17,000 feet before you can get to this mountain. There are thousands of roaming alpaca and llama in the beautifully diverse landscape that changes daily from snow-capped peaks, to neon red desert mountains, to marshy pampas. The average elevation in the Andes is about 13,000 feet. The Andes are dotted with a number of depressions that separate the length of the range into several segments. The vivid mountains are the result of mineral deposits and red sandstone from over millions of years ago. Layers formed on top of one another, creating the colorful patterns of rock strata.
The Rainbow Range, formerly known as the Rainbow Mountains, is a mountain range in British Columbia, Canada, located 25 miles northwest of Anahim Lake. Located on the western edge of the Chilcotin Plateau, the range adjoins the Coast Mountains Pacific Ranges to the south, and the Kitimat Ranges to the north. In some classification systems it is considered part of the Coast Mountains. It lies north of the Bella Coola and Atnarko Rivers and south and west of the Dean River, which curves around its north flank, and is relatively drier in climate and easier of terrain than more mountainous areas immediately west.
Once called Tsitsutl, meaning "rainbow mountains" in the Ulkatcho dialect of the Carrier language, that name is now the name of the range's highest peak.
The Zhangye National Geopark pinyin: Zhāngyè Guójiā Dìzhìgōngyuán) is located in Sunan and Linze counties within the prefecture-level city of Zhangye, in Gansu, China. It covers an area of 124 sq miles. The site became a quasi-national geopark on April 23, 2012. It was formally designated as "Zhangye National Geopark" by the Ministry of Land and Resources on June 16, 2016 after it has passed the on-site acceptance test. Known for its colorful rock formations, it has been voted by Chinese media outlets as one of the most beautiful land forms in China.
Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup half-and-half cream
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 pound uncooked shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped
- 3/4 cup chopped fresh spinach
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the egg, cream and butter; set aside. Drain macaroni; transfer to another bowl. Add the Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, garlic, salt, pepper and reserved egg mixture to the macaroni; toss to coat. Stir in shrimp and spinach.
- Transfer to a 1-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and cheese is melted.
**If shrimp isn't your thing, then add cooked cut up bacon, or shredded fake crab, or mini meatballs,
or shredded cooked chicken, or instead of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese... use sharp cheddar. Also, add in some broccoli. When cooking the macaroni add the broccoli florets the last couple of minutes. Add halved cherry or grape tomatoes, add in some favorite vegetable (shredded carrots, zucchini, cabbage, celery, green beans, peas,
Today was my sister Marion's birthday. She was born in 1934 and passed away in 2004. She is so very missed! Love you Mana!!!
Today is the birthday of a special friend, Del Albright. Del and Jerry were in the California National Guard together. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEL!!
Historically this date..........
1881 – Billy the Kid is shot and killed by Pat Garrett outside Fort Sumner.
1969 – The United States $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 bills are officially withdrawn from circulation.
2000 – A powerful solar flare, later named the Bastille Day event, causes a geomagnetic storm on Earth.
2002 – French President Jacques Chirac escapes an assassination attempt unscathed during Bastille Day celebrations.
2003 – In an effort to discredit U.S. Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, who had written an article critical of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Washington Post columnist Robert Novak reveals that Wilson's wife Valerie Plame is a CIA "operative".
And births this date include....
1910 – William Hanna, American animator (d. 2001)
All I know. Nuff said. Happy Sunday. Ciao.
xo Sue Mom Bobo
One of the classic comfort foods earns a place of honor on July 14th. It is National Mac and Cheese Day!
Made with macaroni noodles, cream or milk, and the golden goodness of cheese, mac and cheese shines as a side dish while also standing on its own as a main dish. This meal reminds many of us of home while also teaching us the basics of the kitchen. What other recipe allowed us to create so flamboyantly and often with so little knowledge about cooking?
From the classic mac and cheese with cheddar or American cheeses to the spicy cowboy mac with bacon and jalapenos, there’s a combination for everyone. Mix up the cheeses or load up on seasonings. It’s easy to get a toasty crust by setting the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end of the cooking time.
Mac and cheese offers a multitude of ways to enjoy it. As a soup, it warms us up after a long day. Stuff it inside a meatloaf or a burger for a meal made for a hungry, busy family. Roll up bite-sized bits in bread crumbs and deep fry for mouthwatering appetizers. Put your favorite mac and cheese between two slices of crusty bread. Then put into a panini press for some grilled yumminess. Whether we like it mild or spicy, mac and cheese has us covered.
Besides being simple to make, mac and cheese enables us to experiment with other flavors we enjoy. We break into our kitchen skills with mac and cheese, and it makes us look good. Sometimes the can opener doesn’t do that. On July 14th, celebrate mac and cheese not only because we love to eat it, but because it taught us we can cook, too.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MAC AND CHEESE DAY
Enjoy some mac and cheese! Experiment with different cheeses or try it with toppings. Don’t hesitate to break out of your normal routine. This is no time to be ho-hum. It’s a celebration of a food that makes us that’s not only convenient but is versatile and delicious, too.
