Pizza time!

July 27, 2020foodsusanmanzke

I found out that I can buy little frozen pizzas that I like.

But I don’t want to turn on my oven. Instead I use my summer kitchen. That’s a countertop oven or an air fryer–I have both.

The countertop oven is perfect for pizza and having it on the back porch means the heat stays out there and not in the kitchen. (I know other people use their outside grills for pizzas too, but that’s too bother and charcoal for just one person.)

Enough for a couple meals for me.

I think I’ll try a soft taco shell pizza made with my own ingredients next. I just have to be careful that the soft crust doesn’t slip off the peel.

I use the air fryer a lot, too. I’ve even made bacon in it. The heat and the smell both stay in the ‘summer kitchen’.

I recommend cooking out of the kitchen on hot HOT days.

Heat and humidity

July 26, 2020Odds and endssusanmanzke

This is not my favorite weather. I do not like extremes, neither hot or cold. But we have to live with what we get.

A lot of plants like hot and humid weather. This is especially true of corn. If you sit in the middle of a cornfield you can hear the corn grow. I’ve tried to listen to this but I’m never patient enough. Others have told me that they did hear the corn stretching toward the sun on a hot summer day.

Grass, also in the corn family, is growing like crazy. A person can’t just cut once a week. The time between cutting here has to be less than seven days or I’m left with a hayfield and not a lawn.

Today is just too hot for me to do outside work. I even left the chickens out of their coop early so they can get fresh air. Usually, they are not set free until after lunch. Keeping them locked up assures me that the eggs they lay will end up in a nest and not hidden somewhere in the yard.

So I’m back inside the house where I have a window AC unite. As I write, I’m also watching Car-E play.

I’m glad he’s attracted to his hanging toy. A few minutes ago he was by me, walking across the computer, typing all sort of cat gibberish. ;ajgd;lhpq Oh oh, Car-E is bbbbback.

Hnjhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuj

Guess I’m done with this blog for today. Car-E wants my attention NOW!

Another Manzke Day Camp

July 25, 2020Familysusanmanzke

Part of my family came yesterday for the day. Today, Saturday, another part arrived for a day camp–missing our regular 4-day Manzke Camp.

Harrison had time to play with bubbles, but no cousins with which to romp around the yard.

All camps have nature classes. Our day camp did too. Both days we observed the exoskeleton of a cicada. Some thought it was creepy. Others thought it was neat.

Hopefully, in 2021, the whole Manzke clan will be able to have a long weekend camping experience on the farm.

I look forward to such a time when things become more normal.

Day camp

July 25, 2020Familysusanmanzke

This weekend would have been Camp Manzke but because of the virus we chose not to gather together.

On Friday, 4 grandchildren visited. Rachel brought Aryanna, Eli, and Wyatt. Rebecca brought Serenity.

It would have been great having all four families here for four camping days, but now the visits are spread out.

More visits for me! I’ll take any family visits that I can, even if everyone distances from me.

Though I do miss the hugs…….

Kitten vs. old cat

July 24, 2020Car-E, cats, petssusanmanzke

Car-E the kitten wants to play all the time.

Othello 16 yr old cat wants a treat. For the old cat, the kitten is a pain in the butt.

Here’s one encounter between the kitten and the old cat.

No one was hurt. Car-E gave up quickly, but….

Car-E soon forgets and goes after Othello again.

It takes a lot to get Car-E to give up playtime.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person

Pizza time!

Heat and humidity

Another Manzke Day Camp

Day camp

Kitten vs. old cat