Solar Water Fountain

 

The sound of bubbling water and watching birds enjoy  it is relaxing. I'd seen   solar fountains on  YouTube and was surprised that they actually run by solar energy.  There are two types; the disk (as shown in the photo) and a solar panel type with a cord that can be adjusted so that it can get the most sun. The prices of both styles can range from inexpensive to pricy.

I chose a frugally priced (cheap) disk model from Amazon.   Before it arrived I began constructing in my head how I wanted to display it.

This  black plastic  planter tray from Lowe's will be painted a bronze color and sealed. 

 It would match the bronze pitcher I already had from a previous yard decoration.

The colors weren't perfectly matched but close enough for me.
 

The following items were inside the box when it arrived.

Taking it for a test drive

Now, to set everything up where I want it and the final  results. ⬇

It works perfectly. 😎 The clear glass gems  I added didn't display the way I thought they would but, I left them inside the saucer.  A couple of rocks inside the saucer will serve  as a bird perch.

That's it 🐦🐦🐦

Scandalous Sewing

It started with me wanting to know the age of my sewing machine. My aunt E. , who was a Home Economics teacher gave it to me more than 40 years ago. I’d taken sewing in high school back in the 1960’s. At one time I made most of my clothes.  In later years I do mostly crafts, alterations and repairs.

  This is my Morse sewing machine.  All metal parts, no modern bells and whistles, a little beat up from traveling with me through life but, it's perfect for what I want.

This is the accompanying array of feet and tools that came with the machine and kept in the pink and ivory plastic box. The feet you buy now have to be purchased individually. 

The Scandal

Philip Morse and his wife began their company in 1948.  At one time many sewing machines were made in Japan. Japanese companies  shipped their products through Morse’s shipping company, Mercury. Once in the U.S. the machines were distributed to various sellers who would brand the machines with their badge. Among them, Janome, White and Kenmore. Staying true, if a machine had “JA” inscribed it meant the machine was Made in Japan.

Morse began selling sewing machines also. BUT, he didn’t mark his machines JA though they  were Made in Japan.

Morse and his company Mercury would remove any information linking the machines to their Japanese origins. Instead,  he’d advertise and label his sewing machines as being  “Made in America with American parts.”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) learned of his fraudulent claims and ruled against Morse in 1955 stating that he misrepresented country of origin and manufacturer. Obviously, this omittance was done to bolster sales.

If you'd like to know more about the Morse story go to Silver Bobbin .

 I decided to give my Morse sewing machine a facelift.  Before I could paint it I attempted to repair some of the rough spots.

I attempted to paint the inside but, the fumes of the spray paint were too strong even wearing two cloth masks.

                                          

I plan for us to be together for as long as possible.💓💓

That's it***

 

Dump Cake DUMPED

Dump cakes and cobblers are easy and versatile. I've done a dump pear cobbler, apple cobbler and even one using green grapes. 

After seeing the video at Snappy Gourmet I was  ready to feed my chocolate craving. I had all of the ingredients and more.

Ingredients

 

·         1/2 cup unsalted butter

·         15.25 ounces chocolate cake mix (1 box) (do NOT make according to package directions)

·         3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix (1 box) (do NOT make according to package directions)

·         1 1/2 cups milk

·         12 ounces chocolate chips

·         Toppings (optional): ice cream, sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping, chocolate chips

Instructions

1.            Place butter in a 13x9 inch baking dish (glass or nonstick is probably best). Place baking dish in oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Check on the butter every now and then and once melted, remove pan from oven. Give the butter a quick stir so that it's well mixed and cover the bottom of the pan.

2.            Sprinkle the DRY cake mix on top of melted butter in a flat even layer. Use a fork or the back of a spoon to spread the cake mix evenly over the butter.

3.            Sprinkle the DRY pudding mix on top of the cake mix in a flat even layer. Use a fork or the back of a spoon to spread the pudding mix evenly over the cake mix.

4.            Drizzle the milk on top of the pudding mix. Carefully tilt and swirl pan to cover as much of the pudding as possible with the milk. Using a spoon or back of a fork, gently press down on the milk so that it starts to absorb some of the cake and pudding mix and to cover any dry spots as much as possible. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top.

5.            Bake the cake at 350 degrees F for about 35-40 minutes or until top looks "set" (still soft and jiggly, but not runny and not hard), being careful to not overbake. Serve with your favorite toppings.

              HOT MESS!!!😠🔥🔥

 THIS IS WHERE I WENT WRONG

Drizzle the milk on top of the pudding mix. Carefully tilt and swirl pan to cover as much of the pudding as possible with the milk. Using a spoon or back of a fork, gently press down on the milk so that it starts to absorb some of the cake and pudding mix and to cover any dry spots as much as possible. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top.

It wasn't clear to me that I was supposed to "tilt back and forth" until all of the dry batter was wet. I was unsure as to whether I should mix it since the pudding was supposed to make a gooey fudge on top. 

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE RECIPE ↓

That's it ***