Show and Tell ~ Reichswehr Flask Bottle

No dainty roses or sentimental keepsakes this time for Show & Tell Friday.

Instead I have an interesting bottle/flask that was given to us by a cousin of John's.

We first met him at our Family Reunion almost three years ago.

The flask was among some wonderful items in the basement of his parents home.

Little is know about it but it is indeed interesting. 

A view of the front.

Obviously German, this glass bottle is a beautiful dark amber color with

very clear words and design.

A view of the back.

Joining Cindy @ My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday!

Happy Birthday, Duke!

3 years old and what a cutie!

Happy Birthday, little guy!

To see more adorable photos visit Duke's mom's blog!

You're gonna like it there!

Greek Panzanella ~ Barefoot Bloggers

Barefoot Blogger

Tara

of

Smells Like Home

has chosen Ina Garten's recipe for
Greek Panzanella

While John was thoroughly enjoying this salad he asked, "Is there anything you have made from an Ina recipe that we didn't like?"

I don't think so! 

Greek Panzanella

2009, Ina Garten, Show: Barefoot Contessa Episode: What are Friends For

Ingredients

nocoupons

• Good olive oil
• 1 small French bread or boule, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
• Kosher salt
• 1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 1 red bell pepper, large diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, large diced
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 red onion, sliced in half rounds
• 1/2 pound feta cheese, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup calamata olives, pitted

For the vinaigrette:

nocoupons

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup good red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup good olive oil

Directions

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread cubes and sprinkle with salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 5 to 10 minutes, until nicely browned. Add more olive oil as needed.

Place the cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.

For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper in a small bowl. While still whisking, add the olive oil and make an emulsion. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables. Add the feta, olives and bread cubes and mix together lightly. Set aside for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature.

 

Barefoot bloggers

 

Linking to Foodie Friday!

Outdoor Wednesday ~ Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

John was given three tickets to see the Philadelphia Phillies play the Colorado Rockies on Friday evening along with tickets to the High and Inside Pub where we got a bite to eat.

It was one of Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer with temps in the high 90's,  The heat index in the stadium didn't drop below 94 all evening.

But that didn't stop us from having a great time!

Me and My Guy!

♪♪♪ Nothing you can say, Can take me away, From my guy.
Nothing you could do, 'cause I'm stuck like glue, To my guy.
I'm sticking to my guy, Like a stamp to a letter,
Like birds of a feather, We, stick together,
I can tell you from the start, I can't be torn apart from my guy.

Nothing you could do, Could make me be untrue, To my guy. My Guy
Nothing you could buy, Could make me tell a lie, To my guy. My Guy
I gave my guy, My word of honour, To be faithful, And I'm gonna,
You'd better be believing, I won't be deceiving, My guy. 
♪♪♪ As a matter of opinion, I think he's tops, My opinion is, He's the cream of the crop,
As a matter of taste, To be exact, He's my ideal, As a matter of fact.

No muscle bound man, Could take my hand, From my guy. My guy

No handsome face, Could ever take the place, Of my guy, My guy

He may not be a movie star, But when it comes to being happy, We are,
There's not a man today, Who can take me away, From my guy.
(what'cha say?)
There's not a man today, Who could take me away, From my guy.
(Tell me more!)

There's not a man today, Who could take me away, From my guy.
["My Guy" is a 1964 number-one hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles]

♪♪♪

oh, sorry, he just makes my heart sing.

Back to the ballgame...

Abbey and John waiting for the stands to fill.

Abbey and I.

Abbey isn't really snarling in this photo.  She is sketching this...

from our seats directly behind home plate...

 

...almost to nose-bleed alley.

My favorite shot of the evening.

A looks that says, 'Mom, I'm gonna break your camera.'

But I still love her!  And, I know she's going to get nice to me in a few more years.

:)

A beautiful summer view of the city skyline. 

Lots of cheering fans.

Pitcher Roy Halladay

and, of course, The Phillie Phanatic!

Phillies won 6-0
Roy Halladay cruised through eight innings, Raul Ibanez drove in three runs with three hits and Philadelphia beat the Colorado Rockies 6-0 for its second consecutive shutout.

:)

Joining Susan @A Southern Daydreamer for her fun Outdoor Wednesday!

Chewy Chunky Blondies ~ TWD Recipe

Chewy and richly butterscotch flavored with chocolate, nuts and coconut added is how Dorie describes these delicious Blondies.They were a hit at our house even by those chocolate Brownie lovers.

Nicole of Cookies on Friday picked this recipe for yummy

Chewy, Chunky Blondies.

It's from Dorie Greenspan's cookbook

Baking From My Home to Yours

Chewy, Chunky Blondies

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (packed) light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips, or 1 cup store-bought chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips or Heath Toffee Bits
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Getting Ready: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9×13-inch baking pan and put it on a baking sheet.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add both sugars and beat for another 3 minutes, or until well incorporated. Add the eggs one by one, beating for 1 minute after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients, mixing just until they disappear into the batter. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the chips, nuts and coconut. Scrape the batter into the buttered pan and use the spatula to even the top as best you can.

Bake for about 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the blondies comes out clean. The blondies should pull away from the sides of the pan a little and the top should be a nice honey brown. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for about 15 minutes before turning the blondies out onto another rack. Invert onto a rack and cool the blondies to room temperature right side up.

Cut into 32 bars, each roughly 2-1/4 x 1-1/2 inches.

 

Tuesdays with Dorie

Mosaic Monday ~ Fiery Daylilies

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it

~Russel Baker

After years sitting neglected and needing to be moved to an area with more light, this vibrant Day Lily decided to bloom profusely this year.

Perhaps this means I will not have to relocate it after all.

It's bright colors seem to reflect the intense heat we have been experiencing and emits no cooling effect to one passing by.

~H~O~T~

day after day

Joining Mary @Little Red House for Mosaic Monday!

Thanks you, Sweet Mary, for hosting this fun meme!