My Granola Recipe

       I found this awesome recipe for granola, but it was just too many calories!  So....I tweaked it...made it...tweaked it again...and now have this recipe that is to die for!  Give it a try...



HOMEMADE GRANOLA

5 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup coconut

1/4 cup canola oil

1 can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

Mix all ingredients together & spread on greased baking sheet.

Bake at 300* for 45-55 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Mixture will bake to a dark brown crisp.

Cool completely; store in airtight container

1/4 cup = 100 calories

If you double the recipe, you can use the large canister of oatmeal...it works!

Here's the ingredients.....I have left out the wheat germ in the revised recipe...above!

After baking to a crispy browned color...

I usually make a double batch at a time...my girls really like this stuff!

This one's in my cupboard right now...come quick!

It is the best for breakfast with almond milk....or as a late-night snack!



Prayers...and Linking Up...

      So....today I am linking up to the Krull Family blog.  She is linking to people's favorite summer spots...and I had to feature ours!  I found Kate's blog through my daughter a couple of years ago...she writes so well and shares her faith in God....even when her daughter is struck with cancer.  She takes you on their journey while she shares how God has been there for them every step of the way. 
      Now for our story for those of you visiting from 3 Kids, a Minivan and a Mortgage

      Yes, my job is at my vacation spot...well, it's a place where families come year after year to spend a week together, making memories to last a lifetime.  My husband tells me we're on vacation everyday!  I growl at that comment sometimes, but I also know that we have a really fun job!  We cater to kids and families all summer long, providing entertainment everyday to keep kids occupied...young and old kids!
      We are winding down the 2012 summer season and the resort will shut down in October...until next spring when families come back for a much-needed vacation.  We will make a list of "to-do's" for the cabins this fall and spend part of the winter completing projects.  We will relax and re-energize for the 2013 season....and the cycle continues. 
      This job is a gift and we don't take it for granted.  Yes, we work hard some days, but we get to play alot!  A big thanks to all of our guests and their families for keeping us busy and making our job such a fun one!

      And....if your family is looking for a memorable vacation, check us out!  Here's the link to our resort.  We are blessed with wonderful business, but we always have room for more families and more memories!

Celebrating 25 years this summer!

Happy Birthday, Wrigley!

      When you're a dog and your owners live at a resort...as a dog, you're probably as close to heaven on earth as you can get!  Wrigley, our resort dog, celebrates her 8th birthday this week.  She has seen lots of snow, new cabins, new grandbabies and new guests!  She's persevered lots of attention...and sought out her own friends each week at the resort.  Here's to you, Wrigley...

She willingly entertains the resort kids...

She entertains a visiting "friend"...

She quickly knows which cabin residents are dog-lovers and pleads with her eyes!

She does her "can you touch your nose with your tongue" trick for anyone who asks!

She follows her owner to the flagpole...in the winter...in dog-deep snow!

She perks up and listens when you tell her John is coming to visit!

And finally, she gets her yearly bowl of strawberry ice cream for her birthday!

(This post is for Wrigley's Aunt Nancy...they love each other!)

And now....where did July go?

      My last post was written 3 weeks ago...I couldn't believe it was July already...and now it's August!  Wow, owning a resort really makes the time go way too fast!  You work all spring to get things ready for the guests...and in a blink of an eye, summer is over.  I think that has something to do with my age!  Not that I'm old or anything....60 is the new 50, right? Hmmm....okay....
      We're more than halfway through our busy summer of 13 cabins filled with families vacationing...July is our busiest month for various reasons...we have the most kids here...our kids and grandkids all come to visit throughout the month....and we try to get our work done early in the morning and late at night so we have time to play all day!  Here's a photo journal of all that play!
   

We got to see these boys play baseball a time or 2 this summer...

Papa worked on this....a grandkids' request...

And it is a hit with all the kids!

All the kids and grandkids were here during the month of July...

Yes, we made John & Alicia pose for a photo with us!

Calvin got his wish to go fishing with Uncle John & Aunt Alicia...snacks included!

Sam & Roz, Ben, Lucien, Monica & Olivia with Papa & Nana...

Marc & Jen, Calvin, Nathan & Jill with the parents/grandparents!

And here's Sara, Max, Will, Greyson & Tate with us!

We are so blessed!  Our grandkids have so much fun here...

Tea Party poolside...

Baby Olivia had so many new tricks to show us!

Jilly & Monica at the beach...

The chipmunk trapping crew....

Frog-catching in a dress!

Formal attire for the sand pile!

Cousins posing on the critter bench...

Will with his catch off the dock!

Nathan swimming under water with his glasses on...and never losing them!

Even with grandkids here, the resort is also full of cousins, friends, guests...having fun...

Four generations...and William's first trip to CRLodge!

An afternoon of a "jelly roll race" with my cousin and her daughter...

and here's the finished quilt tops!  We had such fun making them!

A pile of sand provides great fun, taking turns burying each other...it was Eva's turn!

Here is our first pinterest project...well, Papa's first project...and it was well-received...

A car wash!  Well, it's a great "kid wash" too!  We found great directions HERE. 

Papa was such a good sport to spend his half day building it!  Thanks, Papa!

When Will, 9, arrived at the resort a week ago, he told me he was going to have his birthday at the resort...

then he forgot all about it(his birthday isn't until later in August)...so we all surprised him with a birthday

dinner the night before they left...and he was very excited...when you're going to be 10, multiple birthdays are the best!

Gee, what could possibly be more exciting in the month of August?? 

Stay tuned...