Brownies?

 I was reading Steph Blackwell's Comfort Chronicles (It's on Substack) where she is offering anew brownie recipe, which reminded me of the time my younger brother was doing some sort of cooking thing for scouts.  

This was back in the dark ages of childhood so my memory may be a bit faulty, but he decided on brownies as the dessert he would make.  My mother had an incredible brownie recipe so she oversaw the project.  Brownies went in the oven, mother had to go do errands but told him the amount of time they needed to bake plus or minus a few minutes until 'firm' on top. I guess my brother and mother had different definitions of 'firm' as he baked them for almost an hour until I happening into the kitchen told him I was pretty sure he should take them out.  They were not burnt but cooled to a rock-like consistency.  Needless to say none of us were interested in eating them.  But my father who believed that any cookie was improved for the better by being dunked in his coffee, dunked the brownie rocks until they softened a bit and declared the combo of coffee and brownie a hit.  I think my mother made some sort of sauce for them.  Not being coffee drinker I did not eat them, but others seemed to like them.

I always love it when others' stories remind me of amusing, happy times.  My brother did not live down his baking abilities for many years.

As always, thanks for stopping by...........*s*

Speaking of Catnip

  

I was getting ready to harvest this crop when the hummingbirds arrived.  Evidently they enjoy catnip flowers.....who knew?

Meanwhile they are enjoying the petunias and other flowers.   No I don't do feeders as I have never found a way to get past the ant problem.  We'll see. grasshopper.............we'll see..........

As always, thanks for stopping by.............*s*

Catnip

 

Catnip grows and grows and................

I have a field of it growing under the deck.  This is from a small plant I stuck in this planter a few years ago, because it's in my DNA to never discard a potentially viable plant.  It has come back for at least three years, maybe more.  When I had seven cats some with digestive problems I used to sprinkle finely ground catnip on their food and even in their kibble.  Not sure why but it stopped all the vomit-comet problems.

Now that I am down to two kittehs I just harvest what is in the planter and leave the rest.  If I ever get the energy to do a large garden again I will do some sort of border with it.  Rabbits, chipmonks  and all avoid it like crazy.

Interesting thing about the planter.  Catnip is the only thing that has ever survived in it.  A planter that kills plants...........NICE!

More warm days ahead.  The humidity has dropped a bit so very nice for sitting outside. 

As always, thanks for stopping by..........*s*

JULY!

 HARES & RABITS!

Still wondering where June went.

Here in southern Rhode Island we are having heat wave.   Don't tell anyone but I love summer weather.  Yes, it's a time to be careful.......drink plenty of liquids, stay out of the direct sun (Mad Dogs and Englishmen!) and all that jazz.

The pool has some major problems but is still a nice place to sit under an umbrella  and  enjoy Mother Nature.

As always, thanks for stopping by.........*s*