VARIOUS "VANNIE" PROJECTS

A week of "Vannie" projects...She really LOVES a good project.
 To hike to the top of the sky lift in Red River, was a project that she has been talking about since they arrived in New Mexico.  Now, this is quite a feat.  They have to be acclimated to the altitude.  They have to get in "hiking" shape.  They have to pick just the right day...no rain, hopefully.
Last Tuesday seemed to be just the right time.
V and D said, "Bye, Bye, Gypsy, we are heading out to walk to the top of the mountain.  Wish us luck."  I actually think they needed more than just a pocket full of luck...lots of courage, stamina, bravery, and GUTS were on the agenda.



Would you look at Dave up there...Gosh, darn...that hike is steep...real steep!!!

 

Beautiful...that's little bitty Red River in the valley.

Snow makers all in a row...When Red River doesn't have enough snow at the beginning of ski season, they plug up these machines, and the snow begins.  Fake snow is better than no snow at all.

Tiptoe through the Tulips (aka daisies)

Almost to the top

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS????   "A fly photo bomb"

Looks like something out of a old horror movie..."The Fly".  Vannie said she watched that movie for the first time at the Royal Theater in Bernice, LA many many years ago.

So...Dave said this picture was taken in the restaurant at the top of the lift. As Vannie was taking a picture of the beautiful mountains and sky, this audacious fly flew right into the scene.  I bet it had seen humans do this time and again, so this was it's chance...good job, Mr. Fly. 

You get the photo bomb award of the year.

 

Starting down...a quick rest in an old chair lift

 

Oops...Did Vannie say, "no rain"??

Well...somebody didn't get the message.  Dave said that right before they got down the mountain, the skies opened up.  They were pretty soaked by the time they got back to me...but happy to have accomplished this project.

Apples were on the agenda for the next project.  These were sweet juicy ones that Vannie picked off of the apple tree right outside my door.  No pesticides, no insecticides, no algaecide...just had to coincide with a recipe that she had decided to use. 

Apple Braid

This recipe was one Vannie got off of Facebook.

I'm impressed!

I put the recipe at the end...You have to try this one.

 

Vannie had no idea it was "Sharknado Week" when she completed her next project...this shark pencil holder for her grandson, Cooper.  Now, this is a hoot!  Cooper loves boxes or pouches that hold stuff.  This should be a hit.

Last but not least...painting projects

Vannie's displayed these little art projects all around in the living room, bedroom, bathroom (that's about all the rooms in me).  She puts them on the cabinets...the refrigerator...the blinds...wherever.  I'm starting to feel like an art gallery.

Her new friend, Jean, loves to paint, so they get together to do art projects.  These are all done with watercolor pencils. 

The church in Rancho de Taos

A New Mexico Poppy

 

The infamous recipe...APPLE BRAID

Apple Filling

3 medium Granny Smith apples

3 T sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp lemon juice

(Vannie said that the next time she made it she was going to add a little more sugar, some raisins, and a few nuts.)

 

Bread

2 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 T instant yeast

1 cup warm water

2 1/4 tsp. oil

 

Glaze

1/3 cup powdered sugar

5 tsp. milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

 

350 degree oven

 

Make the Filling:  Chop the apples..toss with sugar cinnamon, lemon juice.  Cook in microwave until soft...Set aside...

Make the Bread:  Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl.  Add water, oil and mix for 6 minutes with electric mixer.  Spray 12x16 pan with Pam and turn dough out onto it.  Knead briefly.  Spray rolling pin with Pam and roll dough out into a large rectangle to fit pan.  Using a sharp knife, cut each side into strips about 1 inch wide down each side, leaving center third uncut.  Spread filling down the middle.  Fold strips of dough into the center, crisscrossing.  Bake for about 25 minutes.

Make the Glaze:  Mix together the glaze ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.  Brush on bread while cooling.  Transfer the bread to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

 

Enjoy with a nice cup of hot coffee...!!!