Spring in the Valley

I love spring in the Annapolis Valley, with everything turning green and all of the spring flowers.  It signals new life and new beginnings.

We are becoming famous for our growing number of Vineyards.

Even weeds are pretty in the spring.

My tulips are doing great this year.

Gotta like that.

I was just at the right place at the right time for this one.

Spring and Summer give the best sunset shots.  So here I go again.

He can hear you walking in the house and runs!

From our beautiful orchards.

The apple blossoms are just in time this year for our famous Apple Blossom Festival.

This is someones yard.  I couldn't resist.

From my moms garden.  She takes great pride in all of their work.

And of course forget-me-nots, which remind me of my father.

And of course yard sales!  Which are one of my favorite things.

My Second Born



A very proud moment.



They became friends.

Her sister Jen.

Her love Ryan.

Her dad, me and brother Tyler.

Tomorrow May 10th is my second childs birthday.  And I have already done my first borns birth story and now it is Kims turn, haha.  She will be 24 tomorrow.

My daughter is a taurus, meaning the bull.  And that has served her very well over the years.  She was born 5 days over her due date.  Born May 10, 1987.  I went into labour with her at the same hour Jen was born, but it was am not pm.  My labour was fast and furious,  we had a camero at the time and my husband had to get me to Kentville.The police tried to stop us but her wasn't stopping until we got there.  The doctors weren't taking any chances this time.  I went into labour at 3:06 and she was born at 5:28 am.  Also she was born on Mothers Day!  Jen now had a little sister.  She was 8 lbs, 11 ozs.  Hair looked red when she was born, but turned blonde.  She was a good baby, but had her share of trouble.  When she was about 7 months old she developed a tumor on her eye lid.  It was called a hemangeoma.  We spent the first 5 years of her life driving back and forth to Halifax IWK for treatment and checkups.  I always support the IWK today for all of their great help.  She was put to sleep for the first time before a year old and had a steriod injection, and it stopped the growth and even shrunk it.  And thank the lord it has stayed small.  She never wanted to do the girl guide thing like Jen, or swimming (taught herself), hense the bull I mentioned earlier.  But she did go to Sunday School.  She was into sports and played soccer all through school, and played on some good winning teams.  She was also in band.  She graduated in 2006 and as a favor to her aunt Brenda she entered for Princess Wolfville in our big Apple Blossom Festival.  She was a little apprehensive about it, but I think she liked it once she did it.  They even told us afterwards that our daughter was the one they noticed the most change in.  And that reminds me she was always so accident prone!  Cutting her knee in school, requiring hospital trip and stitches, and as Princess Wolfville she falls off of the bus and injures her arm.  When they called us in the night they probably thought my response was a little weird but i said "I knew it was going to happen, just didn't know when, haha."  She decided after that to apply for University at St. Marys in Halifax.  Moved there for the first two years, but I think she was home every weekend and on the phone a lot.  She is a home girl, so after that she decided to move in with her boyfriend and drive back and forth to school.  With determination, hard work, ups and downs she can finally see an end in site.  With only some summer courses she will graduate in October of this year!!  Thanks to the bull will power in her.  She will have her Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in  Psychology.  She is an example that if you have a dream follow it no matter what and make it happen one way or another.  I am looking forward to seeing what is in store for her next.  I am sure it will be exciting.  Now can't wait until July to tell my sons birth story, haha.  Until later.

Philly Cheese Steak

                                     
Well we got another supper made for us.  It was so good.  I love it when I don't have to bake.  Thought I would share.

• 4 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided
• 1 1/2 pounds flank steak
• 3 tablespoons steak seasoning
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 2 large red bell peppers, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 1/2 cups beef stock
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 12 slices provolone cheese
• 1 large round loaf of crusty bread

Preparation

Preheat indoor or out door grill to high and oven to 375°F.

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add onions and season with some salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 7-8 minutes. Add the peppers, garlic, mustard, Worcestershire and hot sauce. Continue to cook until peppers are soft and onions are caramel in color, about 5 minutes.
Add the flour and cook for 1 minute, then add the beef stock and simmer until nice and thick.

Season the steak with some EVOO and steak seasoning. Transfer the steak to the grill and cook about 5-6 minutes on each side for medium rare. Remove and allow to rest 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the loaf of bread in half lengthwise. Scoop out some of the bread on the inside and toast in the oven or toaster oven.
Thinly slice the rested flank steak against the grain and add it to the onion and peppers.
Mix to combine. Open the toasted bread loaf and layer the provolone on both sides. Top the provolone with the steak mixture and close the sandwich.
Transfer the cheesesteak to the oven for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese. Remove from the oven, cut into wedges and serve.