Squint Shot 113009

This final pictures ends a short series of squint shots of the work done around the windows of various brick and stone buildings in the village. Having a close-up look at this window, notice how the bricks have been turned at 45 degree angles above the arch for a unique look.

In One Ear

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The wedding chapel has some very interested brickwork around its windows and doors. It is fun to point my camera close up and personal at some of these windows to see the end result of artistry and hardwork.

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Just in case you're tired of pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, here's a flourless chocolate cake:

For the cake:
5 ounces of bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 stick butter, softened
5 large eggs, room temp, separated
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze:
3 ounces semisweet chocolate
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon of brandy or bourbon

Preheat oven to 350°.
Line a 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper.

For the cake: melt the chocolates and butter together over a low heat, stirring. Set aside to cool. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick and lemony-looking - about 5 minutes. Add vanilla. Whisk the egg whites with the salt until stiff - set aside. Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the yolks, then fold in about a third of the egg whites. Fold in the rest of the egg whites, blending carefully there are no more white streaks. Pour the batter into the springform pan and bake in the center of the oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until it passes the toothpick test. The cake rises a great deal in the oven. Let it cool for about 10 minutes and then remove the side of the springform pan. By this time the cake has collapsed and you will look down on it sadly. When it is cool remove the parchment paper.

Glaze: melt the chocolate and butter, stirring until smooth. Add the brandy. Pour the glaze over the cake. Raspberries are nice on the side.

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As with yesterday's squint shot, here is the same window treatment, only painted red instead of green and white.

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Today's squint shot shows artistry above a window on the northeast quadrant. Tomorrow's will show another one right by it, only having been refurbished with red paint.

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Over the next couple of days, I pointed my camera at various window treatments on the older buildings at the main four corners. These two squares with circles were painted a few years back, helping to give additional depth to the carving in the stone. Tomorrow's squint shot will have another bit of artistry from long ago.

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In the bottom right hand corner of the pad of bricks in front of the Rotary rock, you will see . . .

Carl & Carol Kuch & Sons and Families, and

Karen Ryan Enterprises LLC.

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In this second to the last squint shot of bricks at the Rotary rock, you will see . . .
The Bruce BeVier Family,

In Memory of Avadell - Dave Skip Rife, and

In Memory of Ray Eisele Class of 41.

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One brick was filled to the utmost with . . .
The Mayhews Family Daniel & Lesley Corey & Charles Linda & Codie James & Shane.

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Three more bricks . . .Fowlerville Hardware Doug Burnie Mary Burnie,

In Memory of Cory Wayne Killen, and

Fowlerville Rotary.

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This recipe and picture is from Jean Sanders, an artist living in Florida that posts something yummy every Friday. I look forward to what it might be. Recently . . .

Oatmeal Cookies à la Tall Boy

2 sticks butter - softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips (the healthy-minded might opt for the traditional raisins, but not in our house)

Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and the sugars together until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt, and mix gradually into the butter and sugar combo. Stir in the oats (this takes forever) and the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes. Let them cool for a minute before sliding them onto a wire rack to cool entirely.

Now tell me . . . is your mouth watering just thinking about having an oatmeal cookie?

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The bottom portion of the bricks set down in front of the Rotary rock in Centennial Park starts with . . . . In Memory of Duane Mosher,

In Memory of Alex Hyden,

Frank's IGA 1921 to 2000, and

Let Go and Let God.

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At the end of this particular row of bricks, you will see:

Romain Huck -Bill- Public Works 1974-1986, and

Carbone's Toad Hill Farm.

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Some of the bricks at the Rotary rock in Centennial Park are a curiosity -- such as:

Friendly Neighbors Kings Daughters and Sons Founded 1946,

And then advertising -- such as:

-

WHMI Livingston County's FM 93.5.

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Beginning at the left side of the square pad of bricks, about half way down, more memories.
Jason Peden, FHS, Class of '98, and

In Loving Memory of Lanny and Beverly Wallace.

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More bricks . . .
Thomas Matthew Hibbard 1995 ElPaso, and

Kim, Scott & Marjie Niblack.

2009 Christmas in the Ville

Christmas in the Ville . . . . an annual event with a 5k walk/run, a parade, visits with Santa, and shopping to your heart's delight is coming very quickly. And so that means preparations are in the works. After all, this big event is right after Thanksgiving . . . Saturday, December 5. So, get your "Santa" ho-ho-ho ready and join the fun.
This last Friday, village workers were hard at work decorating the lamp posts with wreaths at the main four corners. If you missed it, here is just a sampling of pictures.

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As we continue working our way through the bricks at the Rotary rock in Centennial Park, you will see . . . .
Gormley Family John & Jackie and Boys, and

In Loving Memory of Ray & Martha Slanker, Darrel & Dee.

Panda Bale

Hay bales are a common sight around this area but how often do you see a few that have been turned into a panda bear?

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Two more bricks by the Rotary rock in Centennial Park . . .
In Memory of Luke A. Lako 9/28/73 - 8/31/99, and

D&S Roberts & Son Plumbing.

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Just in time for the holidays --

Spiced Nuts

1 large egg white
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 3/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 1/2 cups mixed nuts, such as cashews, peanuts, pecans or almonds

Preheat oven to 300º.

Beat egg white until soft and foamy. Combine all remaining ingredients; whisk into the egg white. Stir until well coated. Spread mixture in single layer onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake nuts for 15 minutes, remove from oven. Using a metal spatula, toss, stir, and separate nuts. If you have pecans – take them out of the mixture now. Reduce oven to 250º and return nuts to bake until medium brown, about 10 minutes.

Remove from oven; toss, and stir again. Place cookie sheet on wire rack to cool (they will crisp as they cool). Break up any lumps that stick together; store in an airtight container, at room temperature, up to 2 weeks.

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The remaining of the top row of new bricks includes . . .
Doug and Marion Cornett, m.c. designs,

The Muses Tom Wendy Holly & Cody,

Accu-Temp Heating and Air, Bob and Michelle Hutchinson, and

Mike, Carol, Anna and Mac Elliott.

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The next set of bricks by the Rotary rock shows . . .
Frank and Ann Utter,

Mayhew's Tree Farm and Nursery, and

George and Melanie Moses.

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A couple months back, a series of squint shots showed the Centennial Park bricks that currently ring the ever-growing pine tree at the northwest corner of the park. It was also noted additional bricks had been placed by the Rotary rock but torn up a few years back by some misguided individuals. Well, happily, those bricks have now been remade and reinstalled in front of the Rotary rock. For the next week or so, squint shots will show a few of those bricks working from the top left corner eventually ending at the bottom right corner.Today's bricks show . . .

Ken and Pat Heath 1992,

Duane and Sue Herbert,

Conway Free Methodist Church, and

Sheriff Don Homan, Go Glads.

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Today is Veteran's Day. Take a minute to sit and ponder. Need a perfect place to do that (providing the weather cooperates)? That would be this lovely bench in Centennial Park, halfway between the VFW monument and the Rotary rock.

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There is a lovely gazebo in Centennial Park, used from everything such as picnics in the warmer weather to Santa's arrival and conversations with children during the Christmas in the Ville celebration. This is the peak. And, this is inside the gazebo, looking upward toward the peak.

Remembering Our Veterans

Tomorrow is November 11, the day set aside as Veterans Day.A day . . . "dedicated in lasting memory to the men and woman who have, will, and are serving in the United States Armed Services." As I read those words, I focused in on each of the emblems etched into the monument at Centennial Park. Following you will find a cropped photo showing the majority of the center of each emblem. Five have eagles, two do not. These seven represent the various branches of services.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day . . .

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If you stand in the center of the Centennial Park and turn 360 degrees, you just never know what you might spot. This unique windmill was pointed straight north the day I snapped this photograph. It is located just across North Grand from the park.

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Gnarled, old trees line the dirt road as it winds its way along the south side of the community park. How these trunks ever figured out how to create this lattice pattern is a mystery to me. It has been trimmed and cared for and hopefully there will be more intertwining of newer branches.

Too Much Fun

Woo-hoo . . . what a great party!

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In an unscientific poll taken recently, following are the top 25 American comfort foods:

• Apple Pie
• Baked Beans
• Banana Pudding
• Beef Stew
• Brisket Pot Roast
• Chicken & Dumplings
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Chicken Soup
• Chili
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Corn on the Cob
• Fried Chicken
• Gelatin
• Green Bean Casserole
• Hot Dogs
• Ice Cream
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Mashed Potatoes
• Meatloaf
• Potato Salad
• Pumpkin Pie
• Shepherd's Pie
• Spaghetti
• Tomato Soup
• Tuna Casserole

Do you agree, or would you like to add something to the list? I'd take off Shepherd's Pie because I've never had that, and I would add peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the list.

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Yesterday's squint shot had us at the top of the sledding hill at the community park. Looking to the north, this antiquated climbing toy still stands ready for children. Is this an original jungle gym from when the park was first put together? 1960s?

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Climb to the top of the sledding hill in the community park and look up. These lights were not needed on a sunny, warm day, but, oh come the dimmer days of winter and they will be brightly shining down on enthusiastic sledders. Remember the game "king of the mountain?" That is how it feels to stand at the top of the hill, turn in a circle, and look out over the kingdom known as the Fowlerville Community Park.

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When you walk the Rotary Mile at the community park, a little over halfway will find you at the far back corner of the park. At the very northwest tip. If you look to the west, this is what you will see. If you look to the south, here is the winding path.

Soon it will be snow covered, but on a late October sunny day, this was how it looked. And a very fine walk it was.

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Brought to you by Den 10, Pack 336. This bench and a few more are there for the use of ball players at the back of the community park by the 2 ball diamonds. Did they get lots of use this summer?

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Can anyone guess where these bluebird houses were spotted? Give up? At the back of the community park, about half way around the Rotary Mile, look over the fence, directly west toward the wastewater treatment lagoons. There you will see these bluebird houses lined up.

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In my travels, I came upon this house north of Fowlerville and became totally intrigued by the artistic carvings in the roof peaks of both the house and the front porch. There are even unique treatments above the window casings. And this porch decoration, although in need of a little scraping and painting, has an interesting look from possible fleur de lis to gingerbread.