Rose Cottage Ltd

I have to admit I would love one of these for the lake. It isn’t in this year’s budget, but I have the item bookmarked for future reference! This one has a surprisingly high weight capacity of 425 pounds.

This Transparent Canoe Kayak hybrid has a transparent polymer hull that offers paddlers an underwater vista of aquatic wildlife and waterscapes unavailable in conventional boats. Seating two people, the sturdy canoe hull is made of the same durable material found in the cockpit canopies of supersonic fighter jets.

Easy to maneuver, the wide canoe displaces a greater amount of water for more surface stability, and the paddlers sit lower to the deck, resulting in better balance. Adjustable seats allow paddlers of different heights to personalize their leg room.

Look for more unique items and great discounts from Hammacher Schlemmer!

Parents, please, do yourself and your kids a huge favor and don’t buy them a cute little live bunny for Easter.

Rabbits are certainly cute and cuddly, and kids (and adults) love them, but they are more work than it may appear. Each Easter too many people buy rabbits for their children with little success, and the poor animal suffers.

Rabbits need a cage, and a protected location. They eat more than you might imagine and therefore will need a cleanup crew and process – frequently not discussed when the animal is purchased. This does not bode well for a good experience for you, your kids, or the rabbit.

There is a chance to teach a very good, or very bad lesson about animals and responsibility this Easter. Buy a stuffed animal as a gift (I’m not talking taxidermy here), or head over to Lowe’s or your local garden center and select and plant a “Easter” tree, bulb, etc., with your child. Planting a tree you can both watch grow can be a very rewarding thing to do. When your 5 year old hits 15 and that tree is 20 feet tall – you will both remember the Easter you planted it. And by the time your kid hits 15, you’ll be glad for any acceptable point of discussion!

Tomorrow is Earth Day 2011. Think before you buy, and Happy Easter!

Whether you’re roughing it in the wilderness or perched poolside at your child’s swim meet, you can protect yourself from potentially dangerous insects that can cause West Nile virus, Lyme disease and malaria just by relaxing in this Insect Shield® TravelChair with Insect Shield Repellent Technology.

The chair fabric is infused with a human-made version of the natural, odorless insect repellent permethrin, derived from chrysanthemums. It repels mosquitoes, ticks, flies and fleas and lasts through six months of constant exposure to sun and rain. Safe for infants, children and pregnant or nursing women.

I took the first photo of this fern a week ago.

The weather is not helping but I did manage to get an “update” on the fairly fast growth.

Some well-timed specials from Kansas City Steaks. Several of these expire April 30th, 2011 so don’t delay.

Easter is coming. Plan a special holiday meal this year – maybe outside on the grill?

~ 8 (4oz) Classic Steakburgers Free with $100 order. Use code ABRG84

~ 4 (7oz) chicken breast w/ $150 purchase. Use code AFCHK3.

~ Free Shipping on USDA Prime Steaks

~ Order Ribeye Steaks Online.

~ Order Hickory Smoked Baby-Back-Ribs

Need a new grill?

I’m not much of a recipe person. I don’t have boxes of cards, or bookshelves full of recipe books, nor do I often make a habit of sharing recipes. These days, people seem to eat meals out of the home so much, I normally wouldn’t bother recommending anything – but here is one exception.

I stumbled upon a recipe called Parmesan Chicken somewhere online. Can’t remember where and since I am notorious for adding “a shake of this and a little of that,” I’m not surprised I didn’t print it out or take much notice of it at the time. But it has become a “keeper.”

In the most simple description:

Get yourself some boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Grab a bottle of Gulden’s (or your favorite spicy mustard), some olive oil, and some Thyme. You’ll also need some grated Parmesan cheese.

Make a mixture of the mustard, oil and (a little shake or three of Thyme), enough to coat all pieces of the chicken. Forget using utensils for this – it’s easier to just slather the mixture on the chicken with your fingers. Just use common sense here – too much oil and the mixture won’t stick.

Prepare a baking pan – just large enough to fit your chicken pieces. I layer the bottom with one piece of foil and then crinkle another piece of foil to give the chicken breasts a little lift from the fluids that will come out as they cook.

Plop the chicken breasts, now coated with your mustard mixture, in the pan and sprinkle on some grated Parmesan cheese. Stick the pan in the oven on around 400 degrees and wait.

30 to 40 minutes seems to be about right – but it depends on the size of the chicken breasts you selected.

I make a small salad (arugula, baby spinach and a couple cherry tomatoes work well), and when the chicken is done, cut it into strips and lay it on the salad. Some homemade bread or hot rolls go well with this dish, and maybe a nice glass of wine.

This is one of the easiest and flavorful meals in my kitchen repertoire. Great for all seasons, and provides a nice break from my more standard fare. This is also great for single and/or working people. Get a pack of 3 chicken breasts, prepare this recipe Sunday or Monday evening, and you’re good to go for lunch or dinner for a day or two. If part of a “couple” – you’ll need to fight for that one leftover piece of chicken – but it’s worth it!

The original recipe is no doubt still online but you don’t really need it. Make this once and then customize to suit your tastes. Catch the boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale and this is a healthy and economical meal.

And fortunately one is available!

After a nasty little incident here at the lake yesterday, I know I am in the market for something to divert wasps away from at least one human!

The Waspinator works very much like a scarecrow by frightening wasps away from the protected area. Yellow Jackets and wasps are visual insects and depend on a keen sense of sight to catch moving prey. Wasps and Yellow Jackets are also very territorial and will never enter into an area where another colony’s hive or nest is located.

The Waspinator creates the appearance of a foreign nest and if a yellow jacket or wasp enters the area in search of food, as soon as they spot the foreign nest, they immediately leave the area for fear that the wasps from the artificial nest (Waspinator) will attack them.

Since they apparently are NOT living in fear of me, I believe this little $10 item will greatly enhance my ability to work outside without fear of additional stings. One per season is all I am willing to allow….

This will be the next issue to confront since the roses are beginning their march towards blooming…

Japanese Beetle Control

I saw the first Hummingbird (Piedmont North Carolina), Wednesday this past week. I put out one of the feeders I had from last season but it might be time to add a couple new feeders. These are relatively inexpensive ways to support the birds that visit your area. Hummingbirds have traveled a long, long trip to return to the US for their “summer vacation.” Make sure you have something ready for them to drink so they will stay with you all summer.

It is important to keep the “juice” fresh and the feeder clean. Sticky, syrupy liquid that is the Hummingbird’s favorite drink can go rancid fairly quick in hot summer months. I put out several feeders and then fill and clean on a rotating basis so the little “Hummers” can be assured of having something cool, and safe to drink.

Here are several stylish options from The Bird Shed. They have hundreds of products for backyard birding from feeders to houses to food.

Or two, or three…

It will be interesting to take another picture of this in about a week….TGIF!