Macintosh apples, now those are good baking apples!  I have heard many times that they are good for baking and not so much for eating.  So, when my sons and I went to the orchard last week we went directly for the Macintosh apples.  I like to go to Shaw Orchards which is only a few minutes from our house.  There is another orchard a bit closer, however, I am not nearly as fond of them with all their fruit flys flying around my face.

At the orchard my sons and I went ahead and bought the “seconds” apples.  I figured that would be okay considering we were cutting them up anyway and the price was good.  I had no problem with these apples and when I go again I will most likely buy seconds again for baking purposes.

Anyway, I thought I would share the recipe I used for the apple crisp.  I picked up this recipe at one of the orchards.  It is on a little pamphlet put out by the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Board.

Classic Apple Crisp

5 medium apples, peeled and sliced

2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

Vanilla ice cream, Optional

Toss apple slices with lemon juice.  Arrange in lightly greased 9-inch square baking pan or medium casserole dish.  In medium bowl use pastry blender or fork to combine brown sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt until crumbly.  Sprinkle over apples.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

This time the apples turned out just right.  They were soft and juicy to perfection!  The crisp topping was pretty good but my husband and I did find this recipe to be overpoweringly sweet.  I think I would cut the sugar in half (and I’m not usually one to skimp on sugar!!) and perhaps add some nuts and oatmeal to it.   We have more of those good Macintosh apples left so we will be giving it a try again and I’ll let you know how I modify the recipe and if it turns out well.

The youngest thinks that the living room, dining room, kitchen and my office are her domain. Books are spread everywhere from the floor to the kitchen table. She can’t tolerate sitting at a desk and doing school. It’s too confining for her. Instead she’s sitting on her head on the living room floor, sprawled out on the couch, under the kitchen table or wherever her little heart desires. She learns best when she can spread out and have freedom of movement. This can be annoying at times but I have learned that if that is what it takes for her to learn, then so be it.

I usually squirrel myself away in my office or bedroom. The kids know that I’m available to help them with any problems but their main school work is taught on DVD. Some days I wish I had CCTV with surveillance cameras in the living room and their room so that I could see what transpires with their school work when they’re not watching. I know they do it because I grade all their papers but I would love to see just how much attention they are paying to the DVD. I’ve seen these cameras available on The Home Automation web site. I also know that sometimes the oldest doesn’t watch a certain subject on the DVD because she already knows the lesson. She goes ahead and completes the work and turns it in.

Students have a variety of ways to learn and I think the traditional school setting of chair and desk inhibits and possibly hinders that learning process. I know for myself, if I was made to sit in a chair that doesn’t move and is attached to a desk, I’d go crazy. I need movement and my brain functions best when I can multitask. To sit and just listen to a lecture would be meaningless to me because I guarantee you that I will not hear a tenth of what was said. However, give me something else to do as well as listening and I will hear the entire lecture and be able to regurgitate the main points.

Parents, I encourage you to figure out how your child learns best. See if they need music playing while they study or do they need silence. Perhaps they need to stuff their mouths with food while learning or perhaps they just need to be wrapped up in a blanket. Whatever it is, figure it out and give your child the freedom he or she needs to learn well.

I have a little lamp with one of those little switches down on the cord (mines not an antique though).  My mom gave me the lamp when I started planning to get married.  It’s a real pretty, light pink rose with a night light bulb buried in the middle of it.  Very pretty!  The rose goes great with the roses in my bedroom.  The only problem with this lamp is that I can’t use it where I’d like to.  Why not?  That little switch.  It’s impossible to turn on that little switch when the cord has to go down behind my dresser.  So, what have I done with it?  Set it where I want it and not even bothered to plug it in.

With the help of X10 home automation it would not be hard for me to put this lamp into use.  From my understanding of the product, all I would need is a LM465 Lamp Module and a remote control or wall switch to control it.

The LM465 Lamp Module is simply a little box I would plug the lamp into and then plug the module into the normal wall electrical outlet.  There is no rewiring or special electrical work required, it all works with what I already have.  When I pull out the dresser to do this I’ll just turn on the lamp at the little switch and just leave it on because I’ll then be able to control it remotely.

Now, to control the lamp I have two different options.  I can choose to use an X10 remote control or an X10 Automated Switch to control my lamp. Just as with the Lamp Module, I can get these so they work remotely and require no rewiring.  (This is important to me, can you tell?)  With a remote control it will be just like using the TV remote, only I’m using it on my light.  A wall switch can be put where a current wall switch is or elsewhere.  In my case, I do not want to make any changes to my current light switch so I think I would choose the SS13A Slimline Switch which can be put anywhere in the room and adhered to any surface.  The nice thing with the switches and remotes is that they can often be used to control more than one item at a time like the lamp, the bathroom light and DVD player.

Planners, engineers and accountants all need to be involved in such monumental decisions. Questions such as will a sanctuary that seats a 1000 people be sufficient for the next 15 or 20 years when the current membership total stands at 300 and growing by one percent monthly? Then of course there are the questions of exactly what kind of facilities need to be built? Will just a sanctuary do or do we also need a kitchen? A gym? More classrooms? And so on it goes. Then there are the engineering designs that need to be considered. Can a flat roof work as well as a gabled roof and will shingles do instead of a metal roof? And of course, the major player in this game is the accountant. He or she will be the ultimate determinate as to exactly what can be afforded.

All these people can be instrumental in a building project. That is why the D. R. Hartman Construction company can be instrumental in working through these complex problems. They can work with the planner and the accountant to lay out a course of action and then make it happen. They can help you determine exactly what kind of structure would be suitable to your organizations needs along with the obtaining the correct permits to do so. They will finish the job right down to the last nail in the baseboard and make sure that their customers receive a courteous and friendly person to liaise with.

Should you determine that your organization cannot finance a major operation such as a new construction project, D.R. Hartman Construction company can work with you to complete a remodeling project within the facilities you now occupy to give your organization anything from a new face lift to maximizing your capacity to your advantage. DRHCI builds churches and remodels existing churches in the Bethesda, Gaithersburg & Washington, D.C. regions. Why not contact them today for a free remodeling quote and see what they can do for your organization?

An essential part of any security system is the lighting system and all that comes with it. The floodlights are one of the most useful items that act as a security device and the X10 Dual Floodlight Outdoor Motion Monitor (PR511) seems to a possible fit for almost all requirements

With the ability to turn on whenever it detects motion, this device is an ideal one to keep unwanted trespassers at bay. Once set, you don’t have to leave the lights on all night so prowlers can see everything around your business or home.  This weather resistant device is capable of withstanding a lot of stress and strain. The PR511 Dual Floodlight Outdoor Motion Monitor is completely weather-resistant, and whenever there is a guest in your home, intended or unintended, two powerful lights turn on immediately. During the night, the magic box is also capable of controlling four X10 lights that can be spread all around your property.

The product comes with a built-in photocell and is able to tell when it is dark or light. The lights automatically turn on when there is movement in the dark. You can also adjust the device to react whenever it senses any motion at any point intime. When it is day time, the incorporated photocell will shut down the device to prevent energy waste. The X10 Dual Floodlight Outdoor Motion Monitor happens to be the ultimate solution for safety, and it is easy to connect the system with any X10 products and you are able to enjoy both indoor and outdoor lighting.

The system is available at The Home Automation Store and is available at a nice discount. Its selling price is $39.99 in contrast with the retail price of $49.99. The long range and wide angle of 110 degrees makes it an ideal device to own.

You can use 150W halogen lamps with the weatherproof device. The motion-detecting floodlights are able to carry a load up to 500 watts, but make sure you get the necessary fixtures. The device is capable of sensing motions up to a range of 40 feet, and covers a wide area at 110 degree. The Home Automation Store will ship out your order within 24 hours and deliver the products by USPS.

In case you require a foolproof system to work for you, just go ahead and start picking the system of your choice here. The Home Automation Store is right there waiting for you to explore.

My husband, on the other hand, really likes the Stoltzfus Bakery.  They have really yummy pies, cookies, and just about anything else you can think of.  My husband (okay, me too – but don’t tell anyone!) really likes the Strawberry Cheesecake!  It’s nice because you can go there and buy a full, half or even a quarter cheesecake.  That makes it a little more reasonable on the diet you know!

Today when “the boys” went to the bakery the gentleman who owns it gave them some extra little goodies to bring home.  We thought at first that it was some slices of peach pie.  After trying it though, I’m thinking maybe it’s made with apricots.  I’ve never heard of apricot pie though.  The “peaches” were just too dark for peaches and the taste and texture just wasn’t right for peach.  The only thing I could come up with apricot.  Now don’t get me wrong, just because I don’t know what it was, that certainly doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy it.   It was very yummy!  Those people know how to make their pies!

Trying that pie makes me think about how often we make assumptions based on the first glance at something.  First glance said that pie was peach so that’s what my taste buds expected.  First glance at an article of clothing is often a deciding factor on whether we’re going to give it a chance for trying it on or just going to keep going.  Sometimes the first glance at a website is the determining factor for whether we’ll surf through the various pages the site has to offer.  We determine so much based on the first little glance we give it.

There is a website I know of that may not seem like much on the first glance but it has a lot of really neat stuff to check out.  It’s The Home Automation Store.  The site isn’t very fancy but the X10 products that they offer will make your home appear very fancy.  With their various gadgets like wireless remotes to control your homes lights and X10 Switches that allow you dim lights that don’t normally dim, these gadgets are great for moving your home decor up a notch! This site might not be real fancy, but the products it provides for your home make you look fancy!

I’m going to have to head to the market soon myself.  While I’m there, I’m going to try to find out what kind of pie that was.  It wasn’t what it seemed and now I need to find out what it was for real!  I guess it never hurts to delve into things just a little deeper and see what they’re really all about.

So what’s all the fuss? Why not just give someone 10,000 custom flash drives if they’re willing to fork out the dough? The answer according to CFgear spokesperson Timothy McGuinty is as no bull as the company’s nature that’s helping put them on the map. “CFgear has never been about the margins as much as we’ve always been about making sure the passion we devote towards engineering the most precise, sophisticated custom flash drive solutions is fully respected and put to use appropriately.”

Well, for those inclined to scoff at such a hoity toity approach to business, CFgear.com must be doing something right. Thousands of flash drives, across multiple continents, have been deployed in a fashion able to inspire some of the most glorious compliments an etailer can command in today’s finicky world of consumption.

What’s the secret sauce? From what can gather, it’s not just in the sauce. It’s an end to end devotion to quality and attention to detail. Classic laser etching, precise, eye-popping imprinting, and hot stamping are a few introductory capabilities that set the tone for what’s in reality worthy of all the big talk. Then if that weren’t enough, CFgear.com offers the planet’s most sophisticated preload interface solutions aimed at given the end user the most optimum experience with their custom flash drive.

But custom bulk flash drives are merely about bulk, right? As in cheap, lowest price? Watch it. Words like that are what will get you on the “never, not a chance” list at CFgear. And these guys actually have such a list. Of course, it’s all in good humor but with their humor comes a sense of commitment that sometimes inspires one of those nervous laughs. You know. Like the ones that squeak out after a genuinely refreshing one suddenly transforms into a not-so-sure-if-I-was-supposed-to-laugh-at-that-because-they-are-not-laughing-with me kind of realization. We’ve all had those moments and by golly CFgear.com has a way of making you feel both honored to be in there presence and scared at the real possibility that they just might decide they don’t like your presence. Guess the only thing to be said about such an approach to business is “if you can get away with it, more power to ya!” In a sense, it’s comforting to know some people are still passionate about what they do. So passionate that they won’t accept anything less than passion in return for what they do. In this case, If you’re not ready for a stunning custom bulk flash drive experience, perhaps the best idea would be to stick with feeling content about buying one or two usb flash drives at your local electronics store and hoping they magically multiply into a customized bulk load of drives.

AnySizeBasket.com is an e-commerce site that allows for any size order, as well as any size basket (from among their wide range of offerings, of course). They have no minimum quantity requirement, which makes it possible for anyone to order through them, either for personal use or for commercial use. They make all the baskets at their manufacturing facility in York, Pennsylvania, and they have lots of options, from shape to size to mesh to handle. If you’re not entirely sure what specifications are best suited to your application, check out their Frequently Asked Questions page–it gives clear explanations of a number of details regarding industrial-grade baskets, with answers to questions on everything from the materials they offer and the method of measuring mesh size to the process for placing an order and the shipping company that will deliver your basket (UPS, in case you’re interested).

This site is tied in with Three M Tool, and if you can’t find the exact basket you need on AnySizeBasket, you can use the Customer Service page to get in contact with someone to get help with a custom order. Before you do that, though, you should play with the form on the home page. It’s set up with a series of drop-down lists, so you can, one by one, work your way through the options available for these baskets. As you make selections, the picture at the top of the form changes, to match, so as you go, you’re getting a rough idea of the basket you’re creating. When you submit your specifications, with this form, you get a price list, variations in price depending on order quantity. At that point, you can place an order or go back and start all over again. Not a bad setup, at all!

So, if you’re in the market for a basket for the garage, rather than for the living room, check out AnySizeBasket.com.

My husband grew up in a typical suburban neighborhood, where his parents, now, reminisce (with almost all the neighbors) about the days when all their children would be out playing together in the evenings. Our little one is joining the ranks of the neighborhood grandchildren who are more likely to be seen outside playing.

My family, on the other hand, lived in nine places during the years between my birth and my marriage. The longest I have ever lived in one place was five years, out in Colorado, and all but four of those places were fixer-upper houses, some more than others. Even before I was born, Mom and Dad’s first post-college home was a fixer-upper rental (as “fixer-upper” as it gets!).

So, the “Needy-Home” Syndrome is in my blood…. What can I say? For my husband and me, having a fixer-upper is as much necessity as it is desire. To have the land we want, we can’t afford much more house. Works out, though, since we both would much rather have a house we can make our own, from the basement to the attic. For me, it’s merely a continuation of my heritage; for my husband, it’s a natural outgrowth of his strong artistic, creative gifts.

My childhood well prepared me for having a home in an almost constant state of repair and remodel. From painting, which was always a first step (even if it would be done again later) to moving walls, it seems there was always something else to do, whether critical or cosmetic. In those houses were it seemed we were in better shape, as soon as we thought we were done, something else would turn up, ready to be repaired, redone, or replaced. Life was always an adventure.

In one house, we spent years with missing ceiling tiles. It was a dropped ceiling below a bathroom, and the bathroom had issues. Even after the bathroom was redone, we still enjoyed the view of the underside of the tub for quite some time. Never was quite sure why, but I think it had something to do with waiting for the right replacement tiles.

Another house was most memorable for painting. We were discovering the world of faux finishes, and we tried all the most popular finishes–sponging in my bedroom, striping in the living room, and smooshing (not smooching) in the dining room. The clearest memory is of the smooshing. Because red is supposed to stimulate conversation–recommended for areas of the home designed for chatting–Mom decided to go with a red base in the dining room. Whatever picture she had seen just didn’t turn out to be the match for what we got. The goal was something in the marble family, but the result was closer to a butchery. Somehow, the white glaze mixture wasn’t enough of a calming agent for the bright cherry red. As much work as it took, none of us were ready to paint over it all, so we moved in multiple pieces of furniture and got a really big mirror for the wall. With a window on one wall, a double-wide doorway on another, and a single-wide doorway on a third, we ended up breaking the wall into multiple smaller doses of red. Not quite what we expected, but it sure did stimulate conversation!

Remodeling isn’t for everyone. If you are looking for a general contractor in Maryland, contact D.R. Hartman Construction, Inc. Whether you’re planning on adding a second floor in Bethesda, building a free-standing garage in Potomac, or any of a hundred other construction projects, they will help you work through the entire process, from the design stages to the finishing touches.

For example, if you don’t have a compound mitre saw, at least, life can be pretty rough as you’re starting to put in the trim. With the angles necessary for a smooth flow of baseboard, chair rail, or crown molding, 45-degree cuts are common, and some of the deeper, wider, bigger trim requires some fancy work, in order to have it fit well, once everything is up on the wall (or down on the wall, as the case may be).

Another tool that makes house-trimming life a whole lot more pleasant is a nail gun designed for the little nails that are just right for trim. Hammering in all the necessary trim nails, individually, manually, … makes installing trim rather tedious, to say the least. Especially if you’re doing more than just a little section, the nail gun may be something of a life saver, in the long run as well as in the short run. One comment about this tool is that it’s wise to get a quick release for the air hose, to be able to detach the nail gun quickly.

Depending on what kind of trim you’re hanging and where it is ultimately headed, a level may or may not be necessary, to be sure the trim really is installed both correctly and safely. The longer the run of trim, the more a longer level will come in handy, although a short level, used correctly, should work, if a longer level just is not an option. Sometimes, granted, the walls and/or floors are so extremely not level that to have the trim level would look bizarre. There are times when it’s better to install trim so it looks right, rather than installing it so it is right (i.e., “level”).

Not everybody has all these tools, and even some of those who do have them don’t really know how to use them. Just because someone doesn’t have all the specialty tools doesn’t mean he (or she) should give up in despair! After all, the tools don’t make or break the project (They don’t even really “make the man”!), but they sure can make it a whole lot easier, or, by their absence, make it a whole lot harder.

For people who don’t have the tools or the motivation to struggle through a project without them, there are companies like D.R. Hartman Construction, Inc. (DRHCI), a general contractor based in Bethesda, Maryland. If you’re working on renovating your home, and you need some help with part or all of it, consider contacting D.R. Hartman Construction, Inc. for a free, no-obligation quote.

D.R. Hartman Construction, Inc. focuses on customer service, both for new bathrooms in Potomac and for renovated kitchens in Rockville. If you have a project that is just a little more than you want to tackle, whether because of a lack of the right tools or a lack of confidence or even just a lack of time, check out this family company for a quote and some ideas on how to proceed or maybe just where to start.