Around Crownsville

Compost Corral– Cheap and Convenient

Elaine — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 02:07:02 +0000

Build Yourself a Compost Corral

About fifteen years ago- geeze time flies—we bought two large heavy, black plastic rectangles perforated with one inch holes. When the ends were brought together to create a cylinder, they became compost containers. With two we could turn the compost from one to another.

They worked well, but time took its toll. They eventually collapsed. Needing to replace them, we used the opportunity to increase the size of our container.

Rather than buy a container, we went to our local big box home improvement store and picked up four sections of split rail fence including four corner posts, a roll of wire fencing, and three angle steel fence posts.

After clearing out the old plastic pieces and moving the remaining compost aside, we built a square enclosure with the split rail starting at one corner and building our way around until we met the original post. We did it this way instead of planting the corner posts first. Our method was more forgiving when working with the vagaries of the terrain.

Once the split rail was in place, we lined the interior with the wire fencing. We fastened the fencing to the split rail with nails that we pounded in part way and then bent over the wire of the fence. We took another piece of fencing and ran it down the center to create two compartments. We reinforced this center piece with the angle steel fence posts.

With the finished compost on one side ready to be used, we’ve started filling up the other side with “fresh” veggie and fruit leavings. The area is large enough to toss in mulched leaves. With plenty of worms in the finished pile, we’re confident that this new arrangement will have us in lots of compost soon.

Cold and Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Elaine — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:28:25 +0000

Cold and Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

The summer isn’t over yet, but the golden gourd-shaped butternut squash are coming in. The problem is, it’s just too hot for the traditional baking whether it’s sweet or savory.

It’s too hard to eat it raw so summer has to offer another solution. Ah-ha! Cold soup- cold and creamy butternut squash soup.

Peel, seed and cut-up one average butternut squash (Throw the seeds out for the birds and squirrels.) Put it in a large pot.
Add ½ a large white or yellow onion, coarsely chopped.
Add one large can of chicken broth (about 50 ounces) and 1 – 3 tsp of freshly grated ginger

Bring to a boil. Cook until the squash and onion are very tender.

Season with

1 tsp ground nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste

Cool almost room temperature. Puree in blender or food processor.

Add 1 cup heavy cream. Chill

Serve with a garnish of chopped chives.

Chocolate Pistachio Happy Hotcakes — Gluten Free!

Elaine — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:45:17 +0000

A Winning Trio Combo – whether you need gluten free or not

These pancakes don’t need butter or syrup although I do believe in gilding the lily. The use of rice flour makes them thinner and a little crispier around the edges than a traditional pancake, but the yum factor is definitely a ten.

1.5 cups rice flour
3 Tbsp sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1.5 cups milk
3 Tbsp melted butter –unsalted or lightly salted
2 large eggs
½ tsp vanilla
½ c. chopped pistachios
½ c. chocolate chips
1/3 c. flaked coconut

You can be a little generous with these last three ingredients!

Mix the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients and mix together until ingredients are combined adding the melted butter as you mix, Fold in the nuts, chips and coconuts.

Heat a griddle on the stove top at medium heat. Melt ½ Tbsp butter on the griddle and spread it around. Spoon about ½ cup of batter on the griddle at a time to make as many pancakes as you can easily maneuver on the griddle.

When the pancakes have bubbles all over the top—some popped, flip them over. When the underside is brown remove to a warm plate or to a plate in a warm oven. Repeat the process until you use all the batter. Add more butter to the griddle as needed.

Serve with good maple syrup and butter. You can roll them up and fill them with whipping cream, too, and garnish with a little more of the pistachios, chips, and coconut.

Composting — a peachy pastime!

Elaine — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:55:35 +0000

My compost piles are not well kept. I don’t turn them like I’m supposed to do. I don’t even use the compost as much as I should. Still the piles do pay their dividends. Last year I got pineapple plants. This spring I had an incredible crop of earthworms.

Other stuff grows around my compost piles — ferns, jewelweed, wineberries to name a few and assorted saplings. About ten feet behind and to the left of the pile is a large cherry tree. At one point I figured out what kind of cherry, but I’ve forgotten. I don’t get the cherries anyway. The squirrels do.

Because of the proximity of the cherry tree, I assumed that the sapling coming up right next to the pile was another cherry tree. It bloomed this spring at about the same time, but it didn’t bear cherries.

Today, as I went to dispose of some yard clippings, I looked at the sapling and was joyously surprised to see– of all things — peaches. The little tree has at least a dozen peaches. Had I actually planted and nurtured a peach tree, it would, undoubtedly, be dead by now. As a counted the young fruits, visions of peach cobbler immediately began to dance in my head, warm with ice cream.

As quickly as that vision appeared so did another. I saw fat, happy raccoons eating my peaches.

Now I have a new project: devising a raccoon-proof shield for my peaches. I suspect that if I am successful , I will have a marketable product. Success, however, is highly unlikely.

Still, you can bet I’ll be checking the crop each day. Maybe I can get at least one little treat from my lovely, new peach tree.

Time for Summer Fun- Lures Annual Deck Party

Elaine — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:24:49 +0000

Join the party!

What’s more summer than a deck party, and it’s summer at Lures. Join the gang on Saturday July 10 from 7:00 p.m. -11:00 p.m. for their annual Deck Party.

Enjoy the tastes of outdoor grilling and food specials. Have a crush or any of their great drafts for just $5. If beer by the bottle is your preference, enjoy each domestic bottle for $3. You can get ready for the party as early as 2:00 p.m. when the live music starts. It stops at 6:00 p.m. but it picks up again at 7:30 p.m. and goes until 11:30! Good foods, good friends, and a cool beverage—what more can you want from a summer’s day. 1397 Generals Highway in Crownsville. info@luresbarandgrille.com

Airplane Club Open House – June 19

Elaine — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:05:24 +0000

Experience the Fun of Radio-controlled Airplanes.

Located between Indian Creek School’s Evergreen Campus and Arden-on-the-Severn Section V, The Chesapeake Bay Radio Control Club wants to share their enthusiasm for flying with them at their annual open house on June 19 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

See what it’s all about and even experience the thrill of piloting the plane on a buddy box with an experienced pilot. They’ll have flight demos and amazing planes on display. They’re holding a raffle and will have refreshments available. For more information visit their site at www.crabrag.com or contact Susan at 410-533-4641.

The Electric Crab- Airplane Club’s First Electric Fly-in

Elaine — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:00:15 +0000

Sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Radio Club, the First Electric Fly-in promises to be tons of fun. The event is October 2 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. An AMA card is required to fly, but you don’t need one to just watch. The $5 landing fee includes a hot dog, soda, and chips.

The club has quite an air field. Located next to the Indian Creek School Evergreen Campus, it’s like being a giant watching offer a airport! It’s easy to find—

From Baltimore:Take I-97 south to Benfield Road exit. Turn left on to Veterans Highway. Left on to Generals Highway. Left on to Sunrise Beach Road and left on to Evergreen Road. The field is located just beyond Indian Creek School.

From the South: Take I-97 north to Benfield Road exit and follow the directions above.

For details contact Ron Bergsmith CD, rager24@verizon.net

Clean Out Your Garage or Closet– Help Yourself, Help Hope House

Elaine — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:29:22 +0000

You know that you have old sports equipment lying around. You know– the stuff you really are gonna use someday. WAKE UP and SMELL THE ROSES– not gonna happen. Why not get yourself some new space and a possible tax deduction.

Why Does Hope House Need Sports Equipment?

We know that exercise is good for anyone, regardless of whether or not they’re struggling to overcome an addiction. The patients at Hope House are battling a disease that takes a devastating physical and emotional toll. By offering regular opportunities for exercise, we are giving our patients activities that are beneficial to a healthy body, mind and spirit.

We would be grateful for donations from the community for assorted sports equipment, including basketballs, softballs and bats and gloves. Gift cards and cash donations can also be designated for the purchase of sports equipment.

Hope House Treatment Center is a non-profit substance abuse treatment center located in Crownsville, MD. Since 1983 we have assisted more than 10,000 men and women in their journey to a life of sobriety and recovery. When you support the work of Hope House, you partner with us in our mission to reach out to those in the community who so desperately need our services. We provide 24-hour nursing care, detoxification, short term inpatient, intensive outpatient, individual and group counseling, DWI/DUI Education classes and more. Please contact us if we can be of service in any way, 410-923-6700 or visit our website, www.hopehousemd.org.

News from the Friends of Community Services Center at Crownsville

Elaine — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:02:15 +0000

Friends and Members of Community Services Center at Crownsville (CSCC):

(Note- This is a group of concerned citizens who have been working on behalf of non-profits for the future of the Crownsville Hospital Campus)

Just a short note to report that yesterday’s live radio interview went well. I was able to cover most of the basic ideas and vision we have for the future of the hospital. I was interviewed by News Director Karl Magenhofer. He is very supportive of the plan and indicated that we needed more air time and another interview to complete the whole story. I promised him to keep him in the loop of information and whenever WNAV was ready, I would return with some more information and details. (I hope it’s not on a holiday afternoon at 2 P.M. again – I doubt if anyone listened).

The Capital Newspaper today has another editorial today about the hospital. Basically it is calling for the officials to take some action on their statements about the future of the campus. Included is a statement: “We have advocated making the property a central location for the offices of nonprofit organizations. Some of which are currently housed there. Leopold has also promoted the site as a ‘supercampus of nonprofits.’ So have many other organizations, including a consortium of nonprofits currently operating at the former hospital; the consortium made this suggestions long before any politician announced his candidacy.” For the whole editorial see: www.hometownannapolis.com. We should very pleased with the attention, momentum and progress the our proposal is making.

The next meeting of CSCC is Friday, June 18, 2010 at 11:00 at the Food Bank. We will be making plans for the future such as another Open House designed for churches and non profits. This is a critical time for us in our response to our exposure. What we do now will have great bearing on our success. Please make time to join the meeting and help with ideas and input.

Owen Taylor, Board Chairman

Next GHCCA Meeting – June 8 From President Richard Falk

Elaine — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:56:31 +0000

Generals Highway Council of Community Associations – PO Box 14 Crownsville, MD 21032

P.O. Box 14 Crownsville, MD 21032

A brief message…a power outage necessitated the cancellation of our May meeting, which was to have highlighted Sen. Ed Reilly. He refuses to blame his political opponents for the failure, and has agreed to address us at the August meeting.

Our next meeting is June 8, at which time Councilman Jamie Benoit and Brenda Reiber, of County Executive John Leopold’s office will update GHCCA on the latest goings on from the County’s legislative and executive fronts.

Our meeting place is the same — the School House behind Historic Baldwin Hall at the intersection of Millersville Road and Generals Highway.

I will not be at the June meeting, as my wife Carole and I, along with our Standard Poodle Daisy will be aboard “Gatsby” (yes, we do like Fitzgerald) en route to North Carolina. I look forward to seeing you all for the July meeting.