Week 25 – Bears and More

These photos are a screen shot from a video that my neighbor took of Mama bear and her twins crossing the road in front of her car across from our house. In the first one you can see both cubs in the second the other cub is in the tall grass to the right. The babies have grown quite a bit and now look like gangly teenagers, all legs. They are still very cute and Mama seems to be in good shape caring for them. They crossed into the woods and then behind our garage and with very little hesitation they all climbed the big tree in our back yard. Nothing startled them so I have to think they just thought it would be fun to go up the tree. My dogs were even very quiet and gentle about it so maybe they are just getting used to having three bears in our yard these days. We discovered that she travels quite far with them as we had lunch with someone who lives a couple of miles from us and they see the family in their woods too. This would explain why we can go a week or more without seeing them. There is a young juvenile, we assume a male, who is also wandering around. Never a dull moment on Jenny Lane.

Big Week for Jenny Lane

More painting was done on the outside of the house. All of the trim has now been done with at least one coat and one coat on the exterior green except in the back where there are now two coats. The house looks great and I smile every time I come around the corner and see it. It should be finished by the end of next week so I am told. Please make a note of the bench in front of the window. It matches the front door and was one of my projects this week.

This may not look like much but what was accomplished was huge. Our favorite electrician, Uncle Bill and his nephew Steven, hooked up the electricity in the bathroom, hall and laundry. We now have beautiful recessed ceiling lights with light switches, we have a heated towel rack, and the thermostat on the wall is for the heated floor which is absolutely wonderful but you can’t see it. Hopefully we will get some trim on the window this coming week and maybe, if we are really lucky, the tile will be put in for the shower. John managed to get all the handles on all the drawers and cupboards which was quite a feat itself. The transformation of this part of the house has been a long time coming and really is one of the most dramatic changes.

The laundry room got some serious attention too. All the cabinets were installed and the counter over the washer and dryer. The trim was put around the window too. John did the handles on the cupboard doors. We are waiting for the counter for the sink. The cabinet over the coffee maker and fridge is installed but we are waiting for the counter for there too. It’s been so long since we ordered all of the cabinets that I had forgotten what we ordered. The cabinet with the side shelves was a total surprise to me. I have now unloaded all the pink storage bins and put the towels and sheets away as well as the cleaning supplies that were in a green bin. And I haven’t filled up all the space. Things are really looking up.

Walking This Week

I had a couple of really good walks this week but most of the time I have been working on things at the house and taking the dogs to play with my neighbor’s dog. They seem quite happy with the arrangement and it helped me quite a bit. We took a quick trip to Canada last Sunday and Monday and I got a walk in there too. We went up to finalize the purchase of a boat. Sometimes the stars align and in this case they really did. A friend needed to sell his boat and we wanted to upgrade our boat from a 20 year old boat to a 9 year old boat. Everything worked out for all concerned and our old boat even found a new home which makes us all happy.

Father’s Day Fun

Our daughters spoiled their father today. At their suggestion we drove over to the seashore to The Cape Neddick Lobster Pound and John got to eat his favorite meal. Clams and then a lobster. It wasn’t a very nice day weather wise but it was fine for a drive as well as eating a meal inside where it was a bit warmer than outside. We have had a foretaste of fall for a couple of days. I am not ready for that yet. It was a great day, Katie did most of the driving so John and I could have a nap on the way home. Doesn’t he look happy?

A Recipe to Share

Katie is home from Spain and anxious to get in the kitchen again. She decided to make us a dinner Friday night that was so good I have to share the recipe. I hope you try it and enjoy it too. Once again from Half Baked Harvest but from the blog this time.

Pesto Chicken Saltimbocca with Burst Tomatoes and Burrata
photo credit Half Baked Harvest

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken cutlets
  • 1/3 cup basil pesto
  • 8 thin slices of prosciutto
  • 1 1/2 cups Panko bread crumbs
  • 2/3 cup grated parmesan
  • 2 balls (8 ounces) burrata cheese, torn into pieces
  • basil, for serving

Tomatoes

  • 3 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for cooking
  • 2 shallots, thinly sliced
  • 6 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • chili flakes
  • kosher salt and black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons honey

Instructions

1. In a bowl, toss together the chicken and pesto, coating the chicken fully in pesto. Combine the Panko and parmesan in a separate shallow bowl.
2. Working with 1 cutlet at a time, press 2 basil leaves on top of each cutlet. Wrap 2 pieces of prosciutto around each cutlet to secure the basil. The oils from the pesto should moisten the prosciutto, if not drizzle lightly with olive oil. Dredge through the Panko, pressing to adhere. Place the chicken on a plate.
3. To make the tomatoes. In a large skillet, over high heat, combine the olive oil, 2 cups tomatoes, shallots, garlic, thyme, lemon zest, and a pinch each of chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook until the tomatoes burst about, 10 minutes. Turn the heat off. Halve the remaining tomatoes and stir them in with the vinegar and honey.
4. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken and cook until golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Cook until golden brown, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and season with salt.
5. Serve the chicken warm topped with torn burrata, tomatoes, and fresh basil.

We are headed back to Canada for the next couple of weeks. Lots going on up there with Libby heading off to camp and family coming from North Carolina and a memorial service for my cousin who died last fall.