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1st Birthday! {Giveaway & Q/A}

July 27, 2013

This is our blog, White Gunpowder’s 1st birthday … Yay!
We filled this post with too many things but I hope it will be fun, insightful and encouraging. First, dive right in and enter the giveaway for your choice of
ONE, $100 gift card to one lucky winner.

Easy to enter, pick one or all the options in the entry below and that’s it. The more you enter the better your chances of winning will be. Come back everyday and enter in the giveaway until it ends at 12:00AM on August 2nd 2013.
Contact us if you have any questions.

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Bill and I also answered a few questions that we’ve been asked and thought others might want to know or are curious about too.

Little more about us, chickens, dog, blogging and White Gunpowder.

Q: How did you came up with the name “White Gunpowder”?

The name came together while on vacation in Wyoming (amazing view at 13,000 feet above sea level) and Montana last year. We wanted the website to be a reflection of the two of us, our personality and interests. I came up with the first word “White” and Bill likes the word “Gunpowder”. White in general for me describes clean, fresh, new and things like crisp white shirts, kitchen cabinets, plates, serving pieces, linens and towels. For Bill, Gunpowder represents the great outdoors, hunting, fishing and hiking.

Q: What breed of chickens do you have?

A: We started with 12 chickens and 11 different breeds. Last year we lost 4 due injuries and unknown sicknesses and gave one rooster away to a friend. Currently we have 7 breeds: Speckled Sussex, Americana, Delaware, Dominique, Barred Rock, Golden Sex Links, and Austra White chickens. They are very much a part of our family and we enjoy their fresh eggs everyday.

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Q: Why did you decide to put together the website and what will it be all about?

{reason one} For many years I’ve tried to compile my recipes into a cookbook-like manner to someday give my children but with very little success. They have said to me often “I want this recipe or that recipe or can you write this recipe down for me…” The website brought discipline and structure for me and it has been helpful so far to record {with pictures too} these recipes that have been stacking up on shelves, bookmarked, and filed in my notebooks.

{reason two} The curiosity of what is blogging and wanting to know more about it. This is a fairly new concept for me even though it has been around for awhile. Other than using it as an archive for my recipes Bill and I didn’t have any particular reasons or ideas of what will be the focus of the website. The answer to the question was often, “I’m not sure yet.” It’s been a year now and we should have a pretty good idea. Right? We might not have narrowed it down to a category but we know it will be what interests us and we hope you will enjoy it too.

Please meet these wonderful Bloggers that we have come to know and are sharing their interests and talents.
{click on the names/websites below to continue…}
A Bright and Beautiful Life ⎜
All This Crazy Grace ⎜Jayme Designs⎜
Jenny Ikari Design⎜Kains On The Creek⎜
My Sophia Ryan ⎜Pretty Wrapped⎜
Simply Domestic ⎜Wool and Flax

Q: Did you know how to put together a website when you decided to do this?

The Answer is a big NO!
We knew the basic computer stuff, but not the inner workings of the computer, software, or how to take something from point A to make it work at point B. We had doubts, but in the end our decision was to “Jump In” with a lot of help from Ryan and Emily at Jones Design Company. I have been following her blog and enjoyed reading it and be inspired by what she was posting. In June 2012, Emily featured on her blog “ your blog is waiting“, perfect timing. I knew she would give the step by step instructions without all the “Techi” confusing terminologies. In addition to the The Blog Class, Ryan and Emily also provided a support group for the Members where we can continue to help each other and to keep up with the news and updates. The step-by-step instructions and the support have been great!

We hope our little story inspired you to take a leap and try something new or start what you’ve been thinking about but were a little unsure. We can’t say that it will be a smooth ride, but if you are doing what you love the obstacles will become a little easier with each step you take. Through the many challenges of putting the website together, I{Kay} feel it was worth it. I’m still amazed at all the things I learned and ‘Can Do’ now. I’m enjoying it.

Would like to see more pictures of your dog, Glory.

⟵ Glory as a puppy at the beach.

Glory {French Brittany} turned 2 years old in May, she’s a happy dog, great with the family and always wants to please.
After two years she is NOT out of her “puppy chewing stage” yet!

⟵ Glory, naturally on a hunt for a bird and loves the water.

After researching and narrowing down the different breeds of bird hunting dogs our decision took us to Arizona to Sun Country Breton. Don and Linda Rice were great to work with and they kept us up to date about how the puppies were doing and had lots of photos to share. The next litter of puppies will be available early 2014.

Interested in a French Brittany
{Epagneul Breton}?
{continue to Sun Country Breton
for more info …}
or
{Sun Country Breton on Facebook …}

I think that’s it for us on this 1st Birthday of White Gunpowder!
It’s always wonderful to hear from friends and new friends, contact us or make a comment on one {or more} of our blog posts.

–Kay

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posted by: Bill & Kay

27 comments

4th of July, Happy Birthday America!

July 4, 2013

July 4th is the day to celebrate and reflect on the birth of our nation.

The founding Fathers wanted this nation to be independent and separate from Great Britain. The decision by 56 of the 58 members of the Second Continental Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence was not without struggles, challenges and risk of death. Some names are easier to recognize than others but all were needed to give relevance and significance to this document and show unity. Some signatures have been colored by me to identify individuals mentioned below.

The names and faces behind these signatures.

John Adams, 1735-1826

John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, the 2nd President of the United States, Judge and Diplomat. “It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.“

Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790

Benjamin Franklin, signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, diplomat, printer, scientist and Governor of Pennsylvania. A quote from Benjamin Franklin on Christianity, “Whosoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.“

John Hart, 1711-1779

John Hart, signer of the Declartion of Independence, Judge and Lesgislator. He was one of the men who became a target of the British and was forced to flee from home and family. His house, mill and crops destroyed. After the long hardship of being on the run for over a year his health deteriorated and he never fully recovered. { continue …}

Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826

Thomas Jefferson, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, 3rd President of the United States, Secretary of State, Diplomat and Governor of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson’s well know phrase, ‘Separation of Church and State‘ was taken from letters written to the Baptist Association of Danbury, Connecticut . It was not written in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution as many people have assumed.

Thomas McKean, 1734-1817

Thomas McKean, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, President of Congress Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Governor of Pennsylvania and Governor of Delaware. The following is an excerpt of a Proclamation for a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer issued by Thomas McKean, November 19, 1781:
“It is therefore recommended to the several states to set apart the THIRTEENTH day of DECEMBER next, to be religiously observed as a day of THANKSGIVING and PRAYER; that all the people may assemble on that day with grateful hearts to celebrate the praises of our glorious Benefactor, to confess our manifold sins, to offer up our most fervent supplications to the God of all grace that it may please Him to pardon our offense, and incline our hearts for the future, to keep all His laws, to comfort and relieve all our brethren who are in distress or captivity, to prosper our husbandmen, and give strength to all engaged in lawful commerce; to impart wisdom and integrity to our counselors, judgment and fortitude to our officers and soldiers; to protect and prosper our illustrious ally and favor our united exertions for the speedy establishment of a safe, honorable, and lasting peace, to bless our seminaries of learning, and cause the knowledge of God to cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.” {continue …}

Benjamin Rush, 1746-1813

Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution, Treasurer of the U.S Mint and the ‘Father’ of public schools and American medicine. Quotes from Benjamin Rush regarding the Constitution,
“I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as satisfied that it is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament.”
and the Bible,
“The Bible, when not read in schools, is seldom read in any subsequent period of life… [T]he Bible… should be read in our schools in preference to all other books because it contains the greatest portion of that kind of knowledge which is calculated to produce private and public happiness.“

Oliver Wolcott, Sr. 1726-1797

Oliver Wolcott, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, military General, and the Governor of Connecticut. In a letter Oliver Wolcott stated, “It is most evident that this land is under the protection of the Almighty, and that we shall be saved not by our wisdom nor by our might, but by the Lord of Host Who is wonderful in counsel and Almighty in all His operations.“

Summer History Movie for the Family

The HBO 2008 mini series, John Adams is one of our family favorite history series to watch. I can’t say that our kids were excited to sit and watch history, but by the time part 1 ended, their interests heighten and were eger to continue to part 2. There were a few small parts that we decided to skip for the kids, but overall they watched everything else. Bringing history of our nation to the next generation will help them to understand, appreciate and celebrate this day with pride and joy.

We hope you and your family have a wonderful 4th of July celebration!

Thank you God for this great nation.

images/sources: Declaration of Independence signatures ⎜ History.com ⎜ John Adams: Wikipedia, Wall Builders ⎜ Benjamin Franklin: Wikipedia, Wall Builders ⎜ John Hart: Wall Builders ⎜ Thomas Jefferson: Wall Builders, Wikipedia ⎜ Thomas McKean: Wikipedia, Wall Builders ⎜ Benjamin Rush: Wikipedia, Wall Builders ⎜ Oliver Wolcott: Find a Grave, Wall Builders, US history

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posted by: Bill & Kay

1 comments

Red, White & Blue Breakfast {Pancakes, Bacon & Berries}

June 29, 2013

Do you think there’s enough red, white and blue in this picture? If you have this breakfast, you’ll be ready for the busy 4th of July celebration; parade in the morning, picnic in the afternoon and fireworks in the evening.

The first step is to cook the bacon (Oscar Mayer Bacon). Preheat the over to 375° F, line the baking pan with parchment paper, place the bacon strips side by side on the pan and bake them for about 23-28 minutes until golden brown and crispy.

While the bacon is in the oven, get started on the Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake mix.

Basic Buttermilk Pancakes
{makes about 12 four-inch pancakes}

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 1 tablespoon for griddle/pan
fresh blueberries (optional)

1. In a medium bowl, melt 4 tablespoons butter, then add buttermilk and eggs. Mix the mixture lightly with a fork. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar and combine the dry ingredients with the liquid mixture. Mix them with the fork until the batter just combined and it should have small to medium lumps. Let the mixture rest for 5 to 10 minutes, it will bubble slightly.

2. Heat the pan/griddle on medium for a few minutes. Brush it with butter and pour about 1/4 – 1/2 cup of pancake batter. Scatter the top with blueberries and flip it over when the pancake bubbles and is golden brown on the bottom (about 2 minutes per side). Repeat with the remaining batter.

3. To keep the pancakes warm, place them on a heat-proof plate in the oven at 175° F, or before serving put the pancakes in the toaster to heat and crisp them up. Serve with maple syrup.

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Top the stack of pancakes with fresh blueberries and strawberries. The sweetness of fresh picked strawberries can’t be compared to store bought. It has been a treat for us, filling our little berry basket full of strawberries from our garden just about every other day. As I was putting these strawberries together for a quick photo op, our dog Glory couldn’t resist them and took a few for herself.

Have a wonderful 4th of July!

recipe source: adapted from Martha Stewart Magazine, January 2002

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posted by: Kay

3 comments

Medical Teams International {Field of Dreams} Dinner & Auction

June 22, 2013

What a wonderful setting for a gathering outdoors. The ‘Field of Dreams‘ is the name for this annual dinner and auction event at the Seattle Mariner’s baseball field, organized by Medical Teams International. Bill and I had the opportunity to attend it recently. We were looking down to the field below where all the tables were set for the dinner and a fun night of entertainment and live auction.

Bill on the baseball field and standing next to the pitcher’s mound.

Highlights from the live auction

Bill with two friends that have been a part of this special event for many years. Bob Carroll(L) was the last year’s holder of the winning ‘Golden Ticket’ for a trip to Hawaii. Joe Boldan(R) is part of the Steering Committee for Medical Teams International.

The night ended successfully and raised over $2 million dollars. Medical Teams International started here in the Pacific Northwest caring for people in the local neighborhoods by providing dental care and other assistance. Over the years they have partnered with companies and other organizations and now travel around the world and provide the aid to those in need. {learn more …}

{answer to the trivia is “C“, the cream pie that Jim Zorn was holding}

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posted by: Bill & Kay

0 comments

Margaret Thatcher

April 20, 2013

Margaret Hilda Thatcher was born on October 13, 1925 in Grantham, England. She died on April 8, 2013 at the age of 87. “It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning,” a statement from her spokesman, Lord Tim Bell, said.

Former Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher

Baroness Margaret Thatcher was the first and only woman to serve as the British Prime Minister. She held her office from 1979 to 1990, longer than anyone else in the 20th century. She led Britain to significant growth and back on the world stage at the time when the top tax rate on earned income was over 80% and inflation was over 20%. She was an inspiration for many women around the world and still is. She will be remembered as a woman with strong core values and was prepared to make bold decisions. In 1976, the nickname “The Iron Lady” was given to her by the Soviet army newspaper “Red Star”. To this day, the nick name is synonymous with Margret Thatcher.

She will be missed.

{Margaret Thatcher in 1950, at Buckingham Palace garden party as a Conservative candidate for Dartford}

“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” M.T.

{Britain’s first woman Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street with her husband Denis, 1979}

“I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society – from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.” M.T.

{Margaret Thatcher at Conservative party conference, 1982}

“I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.” M.T.

{Margaret Thatcher with President Ronald Reagan, 1988}

{Margaret Thatcher with President Ronald Reagan at the White House in Washington, DC, 1988}

“People think that at the top there isn’t much room. They tend to think of it as an Everest. My message is that there is tons of room at the top.” M.T

{MT in front of a bronze statue of herself, inside the Palance of Westminister, London in 2007}

{Margaret Thatcher in front of a bronze statue of herself, inside the Palance of Westminister, London in 2007}

“This lady is not for turning” M.T.

{Margaret Thatcher’s last House of Commons Speech on November 22, 1990} .

Margaret Thatcher’s legacy will live on. Soon to be released is her biography, titled “Margaret Thatcher: The Authorized Biography, Volume One: Not For Turning” written by Charles Moore and published by Allen Lane.

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