the 5:30 Local.....

The 5:30am Local...every weekday morning since the 2nd
week of June, this early "freighter" makes his rounds thru
the streets of North Newton. Out for about a half hour, only lightning deters me from my appointed rounds.

Its nice and quiet, and the coolest part of the day...usually next to no one is out at that hour. Did it from mid-August till November of last year too...until the cold and my knees kept me from continuing(doc says as soon as i'm ready he will install new ones). So for now I keep pedaling to keep the flexibility up!

So for now I leave you with the immortal parting words..."who knows what evil lurks in men's hearts...the Shadow* knows".

*my moniker as I drive along in the dark every morning

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

These 2 recipes go so well together that I had to post them at the same time...kinda like peas & carrots!

HONEY-BAKED CHICKEN

3 lb chicken, cut up OR any combination of legs/thighs/breasts/wings totalling 3-4 lbs *** 2 TBSP butter melted *** 1/3 cup honey *** 2 TBSP prepared mustard *** 1 tsp salt *** 1/2 tsp curry powder

Place chicken skin side up in a 9 x 13 pan. Combine rest of ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake for 1-1/4 hours in 350 degree oven, basting every 15 minutes. Skin will get dark, but don't worry...it'll taste wonderful!

As soon as chicken is in oven, prepare...

RICE CASSEROLE

1/4 cup butter *** 1 cup chopped onion *** 1 clove garlic, minced *** 1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, quatered *** 1/8 tsp thyme *** 1 cup raw white or brown rice *** 1 cup peeled, thin sliced carrots *** 2 cups chicken broth *** 1 tsp salt *** 1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese *** 2 cups zucchini, coarsed chopped

Saute onions & garlic in butter till tender, then add mushrooms & thyme...cook 2 minutes. Add rice, carrots, broth, salt and bring to a boil, then pout into casserole dish & cover. Bake in same 350 oven as chick for 30 minutes, then remove & stir in cheese & zucchini. Cover and return to oven for another 30 minutes.

**I love to take some of the pan juices from the chicken and drizzle them on the rice...OUTSTANDING!!!

P.S. - i didn't have any pictures of the dishes, so i posted a pic of my scooter...NICE!!!

GOD'S GIFT TO US

We didn't plant it, we didn't allow for it, at first
we didn't know what it was....













...we didn't plan on it, we wondered how it got
there,



.












...but we watered it, and cared for it, didn't
mow over the ends of it, and waited...till last nite, when we picked it. God gave us a 25" round, 5-7 lb. cantelope that is gorgeous, sweet, & tasty.

p.s. - Thanks, God!