Grandma Greene's Birthday

Grandma Greene, Aunt Frances, and cousin Steve. (Still from home movie.)

My Grandmother Greene was born on January 5, 1871.  This photo must have been made at a birthday party for her or maybe for Aunt Frances who was born on Grandma's birthday. Frances was the youngest of Grandma's eight children.

Four octogenarians. (Still from home movie.)

This was made at a Hawkins reunion at Double Springs Church in Cleveland County, NC probably in the middle to late 1950s.  Grandma and her siblings were all in their eighties when this photo was taken.  Grandma is on the far right.

The Sidewalk "People" in Cameron Village

Cameron Village Sidewalk "People"

At the corner of Oberlin Road and Clark Avenue, where the old Ballentine Cafeteria Building has been razed, there is a lot of construction activity going on.  There's about a block where demolition occurred and where there are signs of grading, digging and construction.  The whole area has been fenced to hide the unsightly scar in the earth and the activity going on within.

The fencing is quite attractive with silhouettes of  people in various poses.  Interestingly they have provided flaps in the fencing to allow folks walking by to peep into the construction site. 

I think these sidewalk "people" are an improvement over a plain unadorned chain link fence.

Zucchini Boat Meatloaf

Zucchini boat meatloaf.  Photo by CookinBug

Each day I receive an online recipe from  Allrecipes.com.  This is one that I received recently.  We like zucchini and we like meatloaf, so I tried this.  I thought I would share the recipe with you.  Zucchini Boat Meatloaf

If you like to cook you might want to check out this website.

Ingredients

• 1 large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef sirloin
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/4 cup grated carrot
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 (26.5 ounce) can spaghetti sauce, divided
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Scoop out and discard zucchini seeds, leaving the hollowed-out shells. Sprinkle the garlic salt into the hollowed-out zucchini, and set aside. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
3. In a mixing bowl, mix the ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, basil, carrot, and Parmesan cheese together with the onion mixture. Stuff the zucchini halves with the meat mixture, and place them into a baking dish. Spoon about half the spaghetti sauce over the zucchini, covering all the meat and allowing sauce to drip down the sides of the zucchini boats.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the meat is no longer pink in the center and the zucchini are tender, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the zucchini, and return to oven until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes. Heat the remaining spaghetti sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat while the zucchini boats are cooking. Serve the zucchini boats with the additional sauce on the side.

These and a hot crusty loaf of French bread will make a quick and tasty supper on one of these evenings. Perhaps you are tired of holiday foods and would like a little something different. 

Umstead Park on New Year's Day

Dan and Maggie on Loblolly Trail, Umstead Park.

I love the woods in the winter.  It reminds me of the Winter Botany class that I once taught and that I so enjoyed teaching.  New Year's Day was perfect for a walk along the Loblolly Trail in Umstead Park.  This trail is fairly level with not many ups and downs.  Maggie especially enjoyed the hike.  There's actually a lot to observe in a winter's woods.

The pretty leaves of the loblolly pine.

The remains of an old dead oak.

Lichens and moss on tree trunk.

The pretty brown leaves of the beech that hang on through the winter.

The quiet solitude of the forest.

The solitude interrupted as Maggie greets a little beagle with her owner.

Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year to all.  My New Year's Resolution is to not make a New Year's Resolution.  And that's one I can keep.  : )