It’s cold outside and if you live in a cold, windy place (like Wyoming or other cold places around the world) a warm scarf is essential!
Listed below are some of the scarves I have for sale on my eBay , each is $19.99, can ship for free to any USA address or worldwide for a small shipping/mailing fee. Each sale helps me to fund my travel in February, where I will be going to Ireland!
Each scarf listed is handmade-hand knitted by your truly here in Wyoming–Stay warm and happy this winter season.
Thank you for your purchase! Here’s the link to the scarves, happy shopping! apotthoff on eBay
Anna.
Fruity Loopy Scarf, $19.99, just one of many scarves available!
The weather is changing, the chilly crisp autumn air has arrived, and the season of being busy busy busy while watching our budgets extra carefully (and checking it twice) is upon us!
This recipe is easily double or triple and can easily be simmer on the back of the stove but I like the crock pot as as I dump everything in, turn it on low overnight and have it easily ready for lunch or start it before work and come home to a delightful homemade meal.
Chili (Serves 4 with ample portions)
1 cup each of dried pintos, kidney beans and black beans (or whatever combo of dried beans you like)
3 tablespoons of Chili powder
1 tsp of minced garlic (jar stuff is great)
1 tsp of salt, 1 beef boulion cube
1 regular sized can of diced tomatoes (fire roasted, plain, whatever you got in the cupboard)
1 small can of tomato paste and/or a hand full of halved cherry tomatoes
Dump everythign into the crock pot and stir. Put in enough water to fill the crocked pot and all ingredients are covered. Option, a couple of squirts of Tabasco or other “spicy sauce” if you like a little kick. Plug in and put on low overnight or all day.
The cornbread can be either made in an 8×8″ backing dish or makes 12 regular sized corn muffins, same recipe. Either way, grease the pan before adding the cornbread mix to bake;
Cornbread:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup Cornmeal
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 salt
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup canola or corn oil
Mix everything well in a bowl and dump into greased pan, bake at 350 degrees Farenheit for about 25-30 minutes (toothpick comes out clean if inserted)
Serve Cornbread and chili together, all things comebined, costs less than $7 to feed 4-6 people a hearty, hot meal.
Happy Autumn!
Cheap Crockpot chili for chilly days Super easy that anyone can make these
The weather is superb, Wyoming is peaking and while celebrating my birthday with my parents, we joined forces for a regional adventure today in Laramie, Wyoming.
While adventures are more grande when enjoyed with others, I experienced a joyous time celebrating today with my parents (whom have politely declined to be visually featured in the public forum or in any social media!)
We met up in Laramie at the Buffalo Indian (Buffalo Indian) restaurant, which served ample portions. We started off with Momo (vegetable) for appetizers and iced tea, followed by Shrimp Biryani, Mango Shrimp and Shrimp Dhaniya–all served with rice and absolutely delicous. We also enjoyed onion naan with tamarind sauce–scrumptious. Their service was spectaculuar and the food was spicy but not overwhelming hot–greatly blending spices and with heat and flavor.
Buffalo Indian Cusine in Laramie, Wyoming
After thoroughly enjoying our hefty meal, we drove just outside of town limites, but still within Laramie realms, to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial on Lincoln Highway (which stretches from Times Square to the Golden Gate Bridge).
My parents and I read all the information posted on plaquards and signs, gleaning all the history and fun Wyoming tid bits it provided, including the local landscaping beneath the sculpture itself. Wyoming weather didn’t disappoint today, with warm skies, a light breeze to keep it cool and a free venue for us to enjoy!
Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Laramie Wyoming. A free adventure that is well worth visiting with a great visitors center. Abraham Lincolm plaquard. Lincoln Highway connects Time Square to San FransiscoAbraham Lincoln Memorial in Laramie, Wyoming
Overlooking the North Platte River here in Guernsey, Wyoming, all month long has been quite an outstanding experience. The beauty of Wyoming never ceases to amaze me.
Located just off of Hwy 26, entering Guernsey, the sunsets over the river and buttes are always a blessed sight and a true amazment of God’s wonderful bounty.
The Local deer population also enjoy munching and grazing the grass and fauna along the riverbanks and foliage there about! It’s all worth visiting!
Okay, living in a remote area or small town limits the options and variety of cuisine available. However, there are 2 grocery stores that offer a variety of ingredients. With a little creativity, one can enjoy some interesting and flavorful food. It’s on the inexpensive side, too, especially when one shops the manager specials, deals, and uses coupons/club cards.
I crave spices, savory, and variety. It’s a palate adventure. Traveling to other towns is costly, especially to just dine out. Cheyenne is over an hour away, and I don’t want to spend a fortune in gas. So, I get creative and make my own rendition at home!
1 bag of frozen fajita mix vegetables (store brand is just fine!)
6 tortillas (warmed in the oven)
Fajita seasoning mix (the shaker kind)
Splash of lemon or lime juice
Sour Cream (optional)
Fully cook the chicken in the oil in a skillet, lightly salt and pepper. Cook fully and shred chicken, returning to skillet on low/med heat.
Add the bag of frozen fajita veggies and shake over the spices as little or liberally as desire with the lemon/lime juice. Simmer until veggies are hot but not mushy or overly cooked.
Dole out mix evenly onto the 6 warm tortillas, dollop with sour cream if desired or top with hot sauce/salsa. Serve’s 3-4 people.
Cook and shred ChickenAdd frozen fajita style veggiesShake on seasoning liberally Serve up with sour cream or hot sauce and Enjoy!
There isn’t a rhyme or reason! Here are some of my favorite songs that I thoroughly enjoy! Who knows, you “discover” a band/group here that is new to you and you just fall in love with it as well
Wyoming is filled with many “hidden” treasures. Little gems of history and fortitude are everywhere. Fort Laramie doesn’t disappoint. It’s thrilling in its quiet beauty and historical realms.
Fort Laramie is still a small town, population roughly 1,000. Located along the Laramie River in Southeast Wyoming, it’s well worth visiting and spending a full day exploring the fort and the Iron Bridge (located very close together, less than 2 miles apart.)
The Visitors center of Fort Laramie historical site is located inside the old supplies facility. It has been nicely converted into a little museum. The museum is abundant in the historical telling of the fort itself. It also offers wonderful selections of goodies. The visitor center also has a vast variety of postcards and an ample range of postmarking stamps! There is a derelict post office on site. It was once part of the fort’s functional aspects more than a century ago. Yet, the active post office is located in the town. This allows one to write to a loved one about their awesome adventures. They can mail it off from the town itself!
Fort Laramie offers a walk through map of all the grounds, which is outstanding. The fort itself has many buildings that can also be toured. These include barracks, commissaries, Surgeons residents, and the Bedlam. The Bedlam has a fascinating back story of its name and history. There are ruins where edifices didn’t survive the time and plaques of information to enlighten.
The Laramie river runs along side the fort, providing much needed water then and now to the area, trees grow abundantly and the pastures around still don a herd of horses and a small amount of cattle (I am not sure if they are associated with the fort or not but it’s nice to imagine that the Calvary stationed there would still be in need of the horses and cattle if it were still an active fort!)
Fort Laramie was also a major trading post and rest stop for those traveling or living in the region–as well as a huge component in the Pony Express–while it lasted for the 18 months it ran. The Pony express had 120 young riders that delivered and most went through Fort Laramie!
The staff at Fort Laramie are well informed. They are super helpful in the knowledge and guidance of the fort. So please stop by and check it out! The entrance and parking are both free and are open year around, except on major holidays!
Hungry? Try out “The Fort” Bar and Grill in the town of Fort Laramie, 5 minutes from the Fort, great food and easy to find–wonderful selection
“The Fort” bar and grill located in the town of Fort Laramie is about 5 minutes from the historical site, very yummy cuisine and very afforable. Great service too! Check it out!
We all have the infamous to-do list. It includes packing for a holiday trip. There’s also cleaning before guests come over. And let’s not forget washing the dishes after Thanksgiving meals (and leftovers).
We all want to read more or learn something but chores inevitably come first, right? No longer!
We are prepping for the holiday cheer. We definitely don’t have the wish to spend extra on entertainment if we don’t need to, right? Here are a few short, sweet stories. They are (audio-stories) that are super nice to listen to while busting your hump to get things done. This way, you can enjoy a good story. Be entertained while tackling that inevitable mound of laundry or other tasks!
These stories can also be downloaded and enjoyed while on the plane, train, or automobile while traveling–Merry Christmas!
The ghostly monk attending to an abandoned monastery, church in Scotland Inspired by local legends of the ruins, nearby, Inverness Scotland, and the cairns. This monk still maintains his garden, even after death, and he hunts the abandoned monastery church that he wants to have added centuries ago
Item is framed, ready to hang. Original Size is 16 in by 20 in but is a bit larger due to the frame. Ready to hang on the way. Varnished with a UV glaze for protection and long lasting. Original oil on cotton canvas. Solid brush strokes and hand painted, one of a kind original. Stories of folklore legends and ghosts. #ruins #monks #ghosts #spiritis #hauntings #paintme #parati #painting #haunted #hauntingseason
