Troubleshooting Help, Anyone?

One of the couples staying with us this evening ordered a Romance Package. This is one of the beautiful Vendela roses in the arrangement of flowers that I put in their room. The flowers were so beautiful that I just had to take some pictures. I have another photo of some of the flowers on my new blog, which I would love for you to go see; but I am having a technical problem with it which I am about to describe and ask for help with. Those of you who aren’t interested in such questions might want to stop reading here. I won’t be offended.

VendelaRose

(Since the trouble has been fixed, I deleted this section. Thank you for your help to those who offered suggestions.)

A Beautiful Morning

When I went outside this morning to set the porch up for breakfast, this is what I saw …

Image

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day! I hope that you have a chance to kick back and relax. I’ll be working today, but that’s o-kay. We have some lovely guests staying with us and when the day is over, I plan to have a nice cold Root Beer Float!Image

Weekly Photo Challenge: Sea

This is a photo that I took in Vero Beach, Florida. Whenever I see ocean waves, they remind me of one of my grandmothers who used to love to paint seascapes.

Image

For more on this week’s photo challenge

 

Chocolate Rum Raisin Cookies

Have a lovely holiday weekend, everyone!Image

Chocolate Rum Raisin Cookies

Soft chocolate cookies flavored with rum.

 Makes about 26 cookies

3/4 c. raisins

1/3 c. golden or dark rum

2 T.  water

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. Dutch process cocoa

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

3/4 c. + 2 T. granulated white sugar

1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened

1 lg. egg

2 t. rum extract

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips or  2 1/2 oz. chopped semi-sweet chocolate

  1. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, bring raisins, rum and water to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for about 12 minutes or until the raisins are well-plumped and the liquid has mostly evaporated. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  4. In large bowl, beat together sugar and butter until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and rum extract. On lowest mixer speed, beat in dry ingredients until well combined. Fold in raisins and chocolate.
  5. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 9 to 11 minutes or until just set and lightly browned on the bottom. Place baking sheets on wire rack and allow cookies to cool.

Serving Suggestion: Drizzle with Sweet Chocolate Glaze and then with White Cookie Icing. (Recipes below.)

Sweet Chocolate Glaze

1 1/2 c. confectioner’s sugar

1 1/2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted (still warm)

4 to 5 T. half-and-half or heavy cream, divided

1 – 2 t. dark or light rum, optional

  1. Place confectioner’s sugar in a small bowl. Set aside
  2. Heat half-and-half or cream until just at a simmer. Stir 3 T. of it into sugar until perfectly smooth.Then stir chocolate into sugar mixture. If needed, slowly stir in just enough more warm half-and-half or cream to make a perfectly smooth glaze. Stir in optional rum, if desired.
  3. Drizzle over baked goods right away.

Pure White Cookie Icing

1 c. confectioner’s sugar

1 T. milk

2 t. light corn syrup

  1. Place confectioner’s sugar in a small bowl. Stir in milk and light corn syrup until perfectly smooth. The mixture will be a little on the thick side, but should pour from a spoon in a slow, smooth stream.
  2. Drizzle or pipe onto cooled baked goods right away. (This is thick enough to pipe thin lines but not thick enough to pipe firm shapes.)

Crape Myrtle Tonto

The Tonto Crape Myrtle growing in front of the Bed & Breakfast is my favorite of our shrubs. It has been blooming with wonderfully vibrant flowers for about 7-8 weeks so far and is still looking great even this late in the summer.

Image

Image

Image

Daily Prompt: Close-up/Superstar

The Daily Prompt has invited photographers to post a Superstar-style close-up today. How could I not post another picture of one of our dogs? Today’s model … our beautiful Abbey.

Image