Monkey Wrench In the Works

No smooth progress today. Still plagued by a riding lawn mower that won't start. First we had tried to get it going with the original battery---time wasted here! Finally we got a new battery. How nice to start up the rider on the first turn of the key!!!

Then the lights were left on and the battery ran down...way down. The charger would not charge it -- time wasted here!

Took it to the dealer and he charged it, but at the end of the day said it still need to be charged as it had not gotten up to the "line." So I put it on the charger over night and then put it in the rider. Today I intended to hit that field of grass, oats and weeds at full throttle - but the battery is so dead it won't even turn over!!! --time wasted here!

Tomorrow we are getting another new battery...no more messing around!!!

Spent most of the day in town...hoping to get my tasks done so I could go home and get out in this beautiful summer weather and mow. When I came home, I had my tea and some of Christopher's cookies....changed to work clothes and walked outside. The wind was blowing, but it was blowing hot air! It felt so nice!!!

God is good! What a beautiful world and each day an adventure!!

Time flies

Today, while at the store, I remembered the cornmeal and picked up the same carton that I had before. Except for brand names...it is the same--yellow corn meal. The rest of the month is going to be busy, so, later I will check into why my scones have changed so much.

Time is now flying by....the kids will be here soon and there is much to do. Chris' VBS is wrapping up and then he is back with his Mom and Dad. Hot days are coming and it is now time for the watering system to be in place; time to get the tall grass cut before the fires start up; and time to finish all the outside projects, which have been started, before Victoria and Nick get here. Kat is anxious to show off their home; and, her and Andy are getting everything ready for a massive wrap up of projects on their next days off. (Hopefully!)

Life is good and when a family works together it is a blessing!!

Not All Cornmeal the Same

Today's scones were the second batch of scones I made with the last bag of cornmeal that I bought. The last batch was awful. I forgot the cornmeal altogether and added it after everything else. The scones burned quickly and tasted like cornbread.

Finally, I dumped the batch and made another today. As I pulled the tray out of the oven, disappointment welled up in me. The scones had the dark brown burnt coloring. I tried less time and then a lower temperature. Finally, it dawned on me. The only difference from the first scones I made was the corn meal. The last bag bought was "Yellow Cornmeal" and it did look different that the previous one that I had gotten in a smaller cardboard container. Now, I realize that it was not "yellow", but must have been white that I needed. At the store I had noticed there was cornmeal and cornbread, but it did not dawn on me to check the color of the corn meal. :(

The next batch will have to be far less cornmeal and a little more flour!!! Or, maybe I can dump the bag and get the cornmeal I had before. I did a search and found out that Texas A & M did a study and found that cornmeal is a powerful fungicide!--- I could spread it on the garden soil. There really hasn't been any fungus around that I know of.... so, I suppose I ought to just use the cornmeal sparingly and not waste it!

And, if I am not glum enough about that. While getting the cranberries at 2-J's, I just happened to notice the label. It read SWEETENED dried cranberries. This probably offsets the cutting back on sugar!!

On the bright side, Christopher's butterscotch-chocolate chip cookies turned out excellent.