Gracious Hospitality

Transitions

2012-01-09T14:57:00.000-08:00

After a holiday season shared with family and dear friends, I'm finding it difficult to get back into blog posting. The warmth and vibrancy of the holidays has morphed into simplicity and chilly weather. A transition post seems to be the best answer. Christmas in review is shown in this collage. . .soon to be followed by future posts which exemplify January days. Happy New Year to you and yours!

Hootycreeks

2011-12-29T18:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of Hootycreeks? I hadn't until a White Elephant gift exchange this holiday season when Rylan received two pretty mixes for cookies in a jar. One was for a cookie called Cranberry Hootycreeks. What an unusual name! Does anyone have an idea where this creative cookie and unusual name came from? I looked it up online to see if I could find more information and found the recipe on the Christmas Organized website and at All Recipes. It appears that the name Hooty Creek comes from the business name chosen by the couple who developed this tasty cookie. They made "cookie in a jar" mixes that they sold at bazaars and craft fairs. The Hooty Creek mixes became popular and this recipe, which combines dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and nuts became an instant hit. They've been called Cranberry Hootycreeks ever since. And now we know. It's fun to learn something new every day, isn't it!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T23:09:00.000-08:00

The time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 6 - 20

My Most Cherished Christmas Gift

2011-12-22T23:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas stories are a tradition in our family. Stories of times past are especially enjoyed and appreciated. Recently I found this story, typed and photocopied, in my mother's files. It was the prefect story to share with you! I think I especially appreciate this story because it reminds me of my own childhood days. The author, Dorthy Ross, was a contemporary of my mother. Like Dorothy, my mother's sewing machine (a wedding gift from her father) was an important piece of furniture in our family and one that stitched the family garments and home decor routinely through all my years at home. Here it is, shared thoughtfully and expressed to help you realize that dreams really can come true.

It began with a small strip of cloth, approximately two by eight inches, on which someone had stitched lines of bright thread in hither and thither design. The stitches were all equal in size and tension --- the product of a well-operating sewing machine.

It was 1953, a time of magic, for love turns everything to magic and we were in love. It was also my first time to share Christmas with the family of the man who was to become my husband the following Valentine's Day.

When I opened the small box (I expected it to contain a bracelet or necklace), I stared at it in amazement and a bit of disappointment, wondering about that tiny bit of cloth.

"There's more!" he told me, the now-familiar gleam in his chocolate brown eyes. "In the basement!"

"The basement?" More amazement.

So we all trooped down to the old basement beneath the warm brick house and there, standing shiny bright on clean newspapers, was a sewing machine.

It was not a new sewing machine. New sewing machines were things dreams were made of, and much too expensive for new brides. It was a sewing machine, nevertheless, stripped of its old scratches and varnish and treadle. It gleamed in oaken splendor as a result of loving labor in sanding and polishing. The old machine was even revitalized with a new electric motor, straight from the pages of a mail order catalog.

We came from families where it was taken for granted that you canned and preserved most of the food which went on the family table, just as you cut and sewed almost every item of clothing which went on the family's individual backs. His gift to me was a way of sustaining a tradition, and our first piece of furniture.

With it I sewed the curtains and cushions which first graced our humble four rooms. I stitched away many a long night as he slept in the next room, exhausted from his long day in the fields. There were dresses for me to wear to the office and new sports shirts for him. And soon, I was planning tiny things, piecing them together on that sturdy old machine, adding teddy bears and flowers with hand embroidery. Twice the small gowns and sacques and blankets were tucked away in a bottom drawer with the pastel shades of pink and blue dampened by tears of broken dreams. All that changed one bright February morn, and the sun shone so brightly at our home we hardly needed to turn on the lights. Our daughter was born and two years later, a son helped brighten our home. To our surprise (somewhat), five years later another beautiful daughter was born.

The old sewing machine kept me busy. We spent many intimate hours together; stitching ruffled dresses in progressive sizes, struggling with the corded seams of pint-sized cowboy shirts, fitting pattern pieces very carefully onto remnants, and turning all the leftover scraps into minute doll dresses and shirts for teddy bears.

Later, there were Halloween costumes: a comic book hero, a witch, a leopard, a toreador, and even a perky black and white skunk with a (thanks to Daddy) wired tail which made it every bit as handsome as any of Disney's creations!

Like my mother before me, I became a 4-H leader, and little girls from fancier homes than ours learned to sew on that kindly old machine. It insisted on straight seams, though, and did cause a few tears. Later, those same little girls entrusted me with making their prom dresses and wedding gowns, knowing the seams would be as straight as only that old machine could do.

Paper patterns grew tattered and torn as we used them over and over with variations and adjustments. The spool box became cluttered with tangles of every conceivable color. Buttons found their separate ways into a tin fruitcake box which rattled delightfully when shaken. Its contents were used not only to march proudly down the front or back of a sewing project, but also as farm produce carried to market in small metal trucks and as delectable morsels served up on tin tea sets. Rows of buttons on the rug were carefully counted, one, two, three. . .and colors were learned, blue, yellow, green, red.

Pants knees were patched and patched again. Hems were let down and trim stitched over the white lines to cover the fade marks. Collars on work shirts were turned (oh, how we hated that chore). And pockets, which had been made untrustworthy by more important things than coins (such as nuts, bolts, and colored pebbles), were reinforced.

Yes, we spent many hours together, that sewing machine and I. As the needle plunged up and down, thread paying out from the wooden spool, I planned menus and surprises and wrote invisible poems in my mind. I worried over finances and stewed over the United Nations veto powers and my choices in the next election. Some hours were delightful and fun-filled, and some were just plain work.

But that old machine never let me down. All it asked was an occasional squirt of oil and once in a while, a new light bulb or belt. Seldom does a woman find as true a friend. That old machine was there when we became one. It helped turn a house into a home and it dressed our babes far beyond what our meager financial means would have permitted if we had purchased "ready-mades".

Years later, I received another sewing machine --- the very best, top of the line model. Its cabinet had never been kicked or scratched, and it purred every stitch in quiet splendor.

By now, however, we could afford to buy draperies and slipcovers, and teenagers don't always appreciate Mother's choice of pattern and fabric. The promised magic wasn't to be found in those fancy zigzag stitches; not for those who had known and lived by the purity of the straightforward. That beautiful, fancy new machine, though no longer new, still has very low mileage.

My old sewing machine wasn't fancy, but it was special. It wasn't just a Christmas gift of which dreams were made. It did much, much more. It made dreams come true!

Snowflakes

2011-12-19T22:00:00.000-08:00

Snowflakes

by L.A. Copp

Snowflakes spill from heaven's hand

Lovely and chaste like smooth white sand.

A veil of wonder laced in light

Falling Gently on a winters night.

Graceful beauty raining down

Giving magic to the lifeless ground.

Each snowflake like a falling star

Smiling beauty that's spun afar.

Till earth is dressed in a robe of white

Unspoken poem the hush of night.

The Quilt of Life

2011-11-20T16:33:00.000-08:00

When sorting through a box of my mother's quilt patterns, I found some newsletters from a quilting guild that she belonged to years ago. One had a story that should be shared. It is called "The Quilt of Life" by Doyle Loving. Parts are poignant and sad, but hope shines through on life's stage. It appears that he wrote this at a time when his wife was facing difficulty in life.

It's the oddest looking quilt you have ever seen, unfinished and worn, there are even some places where the blocks have been torn. The lack of design will make your eyebrows raise in surprise, and some of the colors used will assault your eyes. I will raise no excuse for the look of my quilt; much of it was constructed in pain and great guilt. I am the author of the blocks both the big and the small, and they reflect life lived both the short and the tall.

The block in the center is all yellow with age, and is where the quilt started, it's like the first page. The block seems so odd with the pink of new life, but quickly turns red with the skilled surgeons knife. It took me twelve years to finish this part; it's surrounded with the dark colors of a not so good start. The work of a child is the obvious conclusion, stitched together while shivering in fear and confusion.

The blocks surrounding the center are wild indeed, the color of anger and overwhelming need. There is the maroon block, for innocence lost, and the color of betrayal covers it all like a frost. The colors that are missing leap out from this section, where are the bright colors of education? The bright colors of childhood are yet to be seen, for the colors of work have a more ominous sheen.

I surveyed the quilt after sixteen years of labor, I wanted to stop quilting for life had no savor. It was there I met a companion that refused to depart, my nemesis depression moved into my heart. You see that black swatch that's biggest of all, it almost took over my quilt and predestined my fall.

In a flash of wonder the colors turn brighter! I met the light of my life and she made me a fighter. She told me although our quilts had no brightness so far, if we quilted together our quilt would be bright as the stars. So we both joined our quilts with a very strong thread, and vowed that our future would be filled with laughter in steed. Our quilt became one and it was almost all dark, most everyone though our future as quilters was stark. But the thread that joined our quilts was strong and bright and the most beautiful quilt was begun on that night.

Now our quilt has yellows and blues, look there are our children's blocks with their wonderful hues. The pinks are surrounded by bright colors all round, and dark colors on their blocks are not to be found.

We started to sash the quilt when we met, the bright red of commitment now looks like a net. There were many colors we didn't even know existed, we stitched those in and the dark we resisted. Oh there are a few spots on our quilt that are dark, but the colors around them make them look no so stark. And as for our kids, they have quilt of their own, and the center of their quilts have a much brighter tone. Our quilt has grown large, making the center look smaller, and quilting together makes our blocks a lot taller.

Each block tells its story of sunshine and rain, and somehow the laughter has taken over the pain. The quilt is so odd with its color and design, it is the quilt of our life and the story of our time. The quilt keeps us warm when the storms outside rage, and keep us reminded of the plays on life's stage. We wouldn't trade our quilt, though many others are so nice, our quilt has come to us at a very high price. It is dark in the middle and still unfinished, but our love for the quilters is still undiminished.

If your quilt has some dark, and I know all quilts do, then let me express this hope for you. May the bright colors of life overtake your quilt, and may not a block you sew be done with guilt. May it keep you warm when the rain should appear, and give you direction when toward the good times you steer. These quilts we all sew some with dark, some with bright, and they keep us warm when we just don't want to fight. So fight on, my dear wife, and remember this too: nobody can make a quilt like you!

~ If you were to write a story about the quilt of your life, what would it look like?

To Have a Friend

2011-11-18T18:22:00.001-08:00

A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend; one human soul whom we can trust utterly; who knows the best and the worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults; who will speak the honest truth to us, while the world flatters us to our face, and laughs at us behind our back.

Charles Kingsley

Crunchy Brown Rice and Garbanzo Salad

2011-11-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

Winter months call for hearty salads. I love rice salads that contain legumes, something crunchy like nuts and seeds, and fresh, flavorful herbs. Flavor, crunch, and color work together in this salad to make a delicious dish for the holiday season.

1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cups cooked brown rice
15 oz. can garbanzos, with broth
1/4 cup chopped parsley, fresh

1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1 1/2 tsp. all-purpose seasoning
1/4 tsp. sweet basil
1/4 tsp. oregano

Simmer celery and onion in garbanzo broth, until tender. Combine with remaining ingredients and mix together well. Press into prepared, two quart casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 - 45 minutes, uncovered.

Serves: 5

Crockpot Squash

2011-11-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Each season presents its own delicious foods. Autumn is no exception. I'm sure you've been enjoying squash, new potatoes, kale, and other delicious vegetables. I know I have! Today I tried a new method of cooking squash, and it was so easy and so delicious that I just have to share with you. This is the easiest way to prepare squash ever! I tried this with butternut squash, but it works just as well with acorn squash, spaghetti squash, and more.
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1. Wash the squash very well. Leave on the skin, but break off the stem if you need space in your crockpot.
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2. Place whole, cleaned squash in crockpot. Do not add water. Do not poke with fork or knife.
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3. Place lid on crockpot. If the lid does not fit, fashion one out of foil to use instead.
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4. Place temperature setting on "high".
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5. Go do something fun! Or laundry or housework, if you must.
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6. After 4 - 6 hours, check squash for doneness. Should be tender and easy to slip a knife into.
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7. Remove from crockpot and place on cutting board or platter. Slice in half lengthwise. Remove seeds. Spoon squash out of skin and place in bowl. Or cut into serving-size pieces.
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8. Serve and enjoy! SO delicious!
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If you have a squash with a very tough skin, you may want to add 1/4 cup water to the crockpot. For most squash, additional water is not necessary, as there is enough moisture in the squash.

Taking Two Cups of Tea

2011-11-15T22:00:00.000-08:00

"And quite a family it is to make tea for,
and wot a happiness to do it!
The privileges of the side-table included the small
prerogatives of siting next to the toast,
and taking two cups of tea
to other people's one."

Charles Dickens

Tea at Five O'Clock

2011-11-12T21:32:00.000-08:00

When the tea is brought at five o'clock and all the neat curtains are drawn with care, the little black cat with bright green eyes is suddenly purring there.

- - - -Harold Monro "Milk for the Cat"

Fizzy Fizzy Bath Balls

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

Fuzzy bath balls are so much fun! They can be purchased in large or small sizes in the toiletries section of your local drug store, but they are so simple to make. Imagine a fragrant fizz-fizz as you prepare a steaming hot bath. . .pure luxury! Great for YOU, but fun for kids and to be used as gifts as well.

Fizzy Fizzy Bath Balls

4 Tbsp. citric acid
4 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 tsp. essential oil (fragrance of choice)
6 - 12 drops of food color
6 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Stir the citric acid, cornstarch, and baking soda together in a mixing bowl. Set aside. In a small bowl or cup, mix together the vegetable oil, essential oils, and food coloring. Then, slowly add the oil mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing well. Place 1 - 2 Tbsp. of mixture into hand and form into a small ball. Continue, placing balls on a sheet of waxed paper. Allow to dry for 2 - 3 hours for semi-hard stage. They will need to dry for 2 - 4 days to be fully dry and suitable for storage in a clear glass canister or large Mason canning jar (seal to keep from moisture). To use, fill a bath tub with hot water and add 2 or 3 fizzy bath bombs right before getting into tub.

These make great gifts too! Package them in a pretty jar or place in individual candy cups and box (like chocolates!).

*Regular vegetable oils will work, but for more luxury, use coconut oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, or sweet almond oil.

** Instead of balls, children might enjoy forming into different shapes: hearts, animals, crescent moons, etc.

*** Be sure to use pure, essential oils (food grade). Fragrance oils available for home decor may not be pure and are harmful to skin.

****Choose from a wide variety of essential oils: lavender, jasmine, chamomile, geranium, rose, ylang-ylang, clary sage, rosemary, pine, eucalyptus, sandalwood, cedarwood, angelica, etc.

Posted at 11:11 AM on 11/11/11

Bath Salts

2011-11-11T03:26:00.000-08:00

Salts added to baths have therapeutic benefits. Salts help to mineralize the water and to add buoyancy. Recently Kelly Rippa shared her simple recipe for a therapeutic bath that she claims helps eliminate symptoms of a cold. She fills a tub with hot water and adds 2 cups of Epsom salts and 1 bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Although she didn't mention it, adding 8 - 10 drops of eucalyptus oil would make it even better! Having a cupboard filled with these raw ingredients makes taking a mineral salt bath simple, but sometimes it's nice to have a pre-measured container of salts in a pretty container nearby. Here's a simple recipe for homemade bath salts:

4 cups of sea salt
2 tsp. vegetable oil
10 - 14 drops of essential oil of your choice
food coloring (I prefer to use dry, powdered food coloring because it doesn't add moisture)

Place all the ingredients in a gallon zip-lock bag and shake well. Then pour into a pretty glass jar and lid. Add a scoop and enjoy in a hot bath!

A Free Pattern

2011-11-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

If you have a moment or two to spare, please stop by Fay's blog today. She's designed a beautiful autumn-themed pattern for embroidery or paint that she's giving away for free. All you have to do is download. And while you're there, leave her a comment and tell her I sent you.

Simply...made by Fay

Happy Thankfulness Month!

Selecting Herbs for Tea

2011-11-10T03:24:00.000-08:00

Herbs for bath TEA can be found in many places. Check your kitchen cupboard, your garden, or the shelf at your local health food store. Here are some examples of herbs that can be added to your bath TEA.

Basil, Chamomile, Lavender, Peppermint, Strawberry Leaves, Sage, Catnip, Comfrey, Spearmint, Chervil, Rose, Rosemary, Calendula, Savory, Horsetail, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Parsley, Marjoram, Jasmine, Orange Peel, Lemon Verbena, Eucalyptus, Violets, Bay Leaf, Hops, Valerian Root

If you don't have time to make an infusion or decoction, simple place your choice of herbs into a heat-sealable tea bag or a draw-string muslin bag and float in a tub of hot water.

Bath Tea

2011-11-09T03:23:00.000-08:00

With cooler temperatures, soaking in a hot bath can be warming and relaxing. Make it into a bath TEA and the essence of luxury is achieved! Not only are they therapeutic for the skin, but they are soothing for the soul. Add a pot filled with hot tea beside your favorite teacup at tubs edge, and you'll feel like you are living in the lap of luxury!

The first ingredient for a bath TEA is water. Just as water for tea (the beverage) is to be treated just so (pure and heated to exactly 212 degrees F), water for a bath TEA is just as particular. It should be at 97 - 98 degrees F., a temperature that closely matches that of the human body. This allows for a bath that promotes circulation and healthy detoxification.

Once the water has been drawn and is at the proper temperature, it is time to add the TEA herbs. There are two methods by which to do this. They are infusion and decoction.

To make an infusion bath TEA: boil a teakettle of water, then pour over selected herbs. Steep for 10 - 15 minutes, then strain through a cheesecloth. Gently pour the infused tea into hot bath water. Infusions work very well for herbal leaves, flowers, and buds.

To make a decoction bath TEA: fill a saucepan with water and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Add herbs and simmer for 30 minutes. Then, strain thorugh a cheesecloth. Gently pour the infused tea into hot bath water. Decoctions work especially well for roots and bark.

All parts of herbal plants can be used to create a bath TEA. Try making a decoction of roots and bark, then pour the decoction over a selection of fragrant leaves and flowers. Let this steep for 15 minutes and then pour into a hot bath.

Immerse yourself in luxury! Allow the herbal essences to ease away aches and pains, to moisturize your skin, aid your circulation, and renew your spirit.

Ginger Honey

2011-11-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Home baked bread tastes SO good with a sweet topping like jam or honey. Adding a warming spice to jam or honey is welcome during the cold winter months. While summer's speak to cooling minty flavors, warming spices like ginger and cinnamon warm you from the inside out during the winter months. Here's a recipe for a warming winter honey that you might enjoy with toast and tea.

Ginger Honey

2 cups local honey

1/4 cup candied ginger, chopped

Place the honey in a small saucepan and warm over medium heat, stirring constantly. When it has warmed through, stir in the ginger chunks. Then pour into a pint jar. Cover and let mixture cool to room temperature. Serve and enjoy!

*Candied ginger can also be added to a cup of hot tea to spice it up as well!

Spices and Herbs

2011-11-08T03:22:00.000-08:00

Spices and herbs add wonderful flavor to the food we eat. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two? How would you describe the difference between an herb and a spice? It's really quite simple once you figure it out. Herbs are the leaf of a plant that is used in cooking. Cooks refer to them as culinary herbs. Spice also comes from plants, but they come from other the other parts of the plant. A spice can come from the plant buds (cloves), bark (as in cinnamon), roots (like ginger), berries (as in peppercorns), aromatic seeds (cumin) or a flower stigma (saffron). Holiday cooking and baking nears with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up in the next few weeks. How many of these different plant parts will you use in your holiday meal preparation? A bit of trivia, perhaps, but interesting, don't you think?

Feasting on Focaccia

2011-11-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

Here's another easy recipe for holiday gatherings. Although simple and delicious, your guests will think you've been working for hours to prepare this tasty treat.

Olive Focaccia

1 package bread-stick dough
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, drained, and chopped
4 Tbsp. sliced calamata olives (or your favorite)
1 Tbsp. rosemary, fresh
1/2 tsp. salt
Olive oil
1/4 cup green onions, sliced

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Divide the bread-dough stick into 8 sections. Place each section, flattened, onto a baking stone. Brush each section with olive oil. Then sprinkle with sun-dried tomatoes and olive slices. Sprinkle with salt and rosemary. Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven, top with green onions, and serve.

*If packaged bread-stick dough is not available, use premade frozen bread loaf instead (or make your own).

Holiday Finger-Foods

2011-11-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

Have you checked your calendar recently? The holidays are near! They are a time when families or friends gather to celebrate and share quality time together. From family dinners to holiday events, food usually takes center stage. Although some enjoy spending time preparing complicated recipes, it's helpful to have a stash of quick and easy recipes at your fingertips for informal gatherings with loved ones. A finger-food feast can be just as rewarding as a full-course dinner. . .and a little less stressful on the host! Here are some ideas for such a feast.

Start with a supply of bruschetta toasts, pita bread, chips, crackers, tea sandwich breads, or fresh, raw veggies. These serve as a good base for the topping recipes that follow:

White Bean Spread

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pinch red peppers, crushed
1 - 15 oz. can white beans, drained (save liquid)
1/2 tsp. rosemary, fresh and chopped
2 Tbsp. parsley, fresh and chopped
Salt to taste

Place olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper in a medium skillet. Saute' for one minute. Then, stir in the white beans and 5 Tbsp. of the reserved liquid. While heating, mash beans with a wooden spoon against the sides of the pan until a chunky puree forms. Stir in the rosemary, parsley, and salt. If needed, add more bean liquid.

To serve, spread 1 tablespoon, heaping, onto toast, chips, or veggie bites. Makes 12.

Artichoke Topping

1 - 14 oz. can artichokes, water-packed
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. green-olive tapenade
1 tsp. light brown sugar
Salt to taste

Drain the artichokes and place them in a food processor. Add olive oil, lemon juice, tapenade, brown sugar, and salt. Blend until mixture is smooth.

To serve, spread 1 tablespoon, heaping, onto toast or veggie bites. Makes 12.

Red Pepper Topping

1 jar roasted red peppers, water-packed and drained
1 clove garlic, minced
4 Tbsp. bread crumbs, fresh
3 Tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes
Salt to taste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. If needed, add a small amount of the oil that the sun-dried tomatoes were packed in.

To serve, spread 1 tablespoon, heaping, onto toast, chips, or veggie bites. Makes 12.

Pinto Bean Hummus

1 - 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained
1/2 cup salsa
1 Tbsp. lime juice
2 tsp. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. cumin, ground
1/2 cup cilantro, fresh
Avocado slices (optional)

Place beans, salsa, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and cumin in food processor. Blend until smooth. Place mixture into a bowl and stir in cilantro. Use immediately or refrigerate and chill.

To serve, spread 1 tablespoon, heaping, onto toast, chips, or veggie bites. Makes 1 1/2 cups.

Verses for Autumn

2011-11-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

Go, sit upon the lofty hill,

And turn your eyes around,

Where waving woods and waters wild

Do hymn an autumn sound.

The summer sun is faint on them —

The summer flowers depart —

Sit still — as all transform’d to stone,

Except your musing heart.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.

Stanley Horowitz

It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.

P.D. James

A woodland in full color is awesome as a forest fire, in magnitude at least, but a single tree is like a dancing tongue of flame to warm the heart.

Hal Borland

There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Autumn's Joy

2011-11-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

I wish I were a poet, because verse and rhyme seems the most apt way to express pieces of autumn's beauty and the joy it brings. Since I am not, I will try to capture bits of autumn through the camera's eye.

Sunshine, clouds, and a balmy day in autumn worked together to create beauty in such simple ways. A large and mighty river winding through the shrub-steppe landscape seems even mightier from a bluff above it.

Beautiful sunflowers and bachelor buttons refuse to give up their bloom just because summer is past. Although the landscape around them is dry and beige, their vibrant faces smile upwards and speak to my heart.

Little bits of trivia add a dash of romance to the day. An island on the river contains a cabin and a boat landing. The only privately owned island on the river seems so appealing from afar.

Oak trees in all stages of colorful change dot the volcanic ridden soil, mixing black with copper for a pretty effect.

Autumn is passing quickly. Snow is predicted for this week-end. Winter approaches and autumn's colorful glory will be missed. I'm enjoying it while I can. I hope you are too!

Fabric of Friendship

2011-11-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

Constant use will not wear ragged the fabric of friendship.

Dorothy Parker

*If you like buttons, check out the book called "Button Ware" by Amy Barickman on Amazon. It is filled with great ideas for making things with buttons!

Golden Cashew Gravy

2011-10-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

Here's another autumnal recipe that I love! This gravy is easy to make and has such a rich depth of flavor. It is perfect to go with comfort foods of autumn. . .mashed potatoes, lentil patties, loaves, and toast. Enjoy!

Golden Cashew Gravy

1/4 c. cashews (well rinsed, raw cashews are dirty)
3 T. cornstarch
1 t. onion granules
1/4 t. garlic granules
1/2 t. salt
3 c. water
1 T. nutritional yeast, optional
1 or 2 T. chicken-style seasoning or to taste*

Whiz in blender. Start with all the ingredients except for part of the water so that the nuts can get creamy. Then add the rest of the water and continue to blend. Place in saucepan. Cook over low hit stirring constantly with a wire whisk until gravy thickens.

Use over patties, potatoes, anywhere that you like gravy!! Super delicious!

*I prefer Bill's Best Chicknish' as a chicken-style seasoning, but McKay's Chicken-style seasoning is delicious as well. Both are available at your local whole foods market or health food store.

Vineyard Treat

2011-10-31T04:30:00.000-07:00

The vineyard down the road has a fragrance that cannot be ignored. When walking past it on a "walk around the block" its sweet fragrance fills the air and a sweet grape or two just has to be sampled. Sweet grapes on vine and autumn go hand in hand. They are delicious out of hand or made into a recipe that you enjoy. Dried grapes last year around and go by the name "raisins". The sweetness lasts and lasts when grapes are preserved in this simple way. Have you ever had raisin pie? Here's a recipe that's full of wonderful nutrition and natural sweeteners. The essence of 'all things grape' shines through in this delicious dish! Enjoy!

Autumnal Raisin Pie

1 1/2 cups raisins
1 1/2 cups grape juice
sprinkle of salt

2/3 cup grape juice
2/3 cup raisins
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. cornstarch

In a saucepan, cook the raisins, grape juice and salt until the raisins are plump. In a blender, blend the additional raisins, grape and lemon juices. Add mixtures together, add cornstarch and continue stirring until thickened. Cool and add to cooled baked pie crusts. Keep in refrigerator until served.

Note: Instead of grape juice, you can use apple juice.

Pleasant an Effect

2011-10-30T04:41:00.000-07:00

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA

October Eves

2011-10-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

"Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings; now for October eves!"

Humbert Wolfe

Preserving Lavender

2011-10-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Although the first frost has arrived, there are still remnants of protected lavender blossoms in the garden. Although the shrubs are not as prolific as they are in the spring and summer, the second round of blossoms can be appealing and are as fragrant as the first. If you'd like a gentle reminder of this lovely flower during the winter months, you might wish to preserve some of the buds by crystalizing them. They are great to use for decorating a cake, as a swizzle for tea, or for garnish on a fruit salad. Here's how:

Mix equal parts of water and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly. After five minutes, remove the mixture from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

Hold a lavender stem securily in your hand and dip the bud into the syrupy mixture. Then place on parchament or wax paper to dry. Repeat process with additional lavender stems and bud.

Store in a cool, dry place. Be sure it is out of direct sonlight.

Then. . .enjoy!

T . E . A

2011-10-27T06:12:00.000-07:00

"If you are cold, tea will warm you;

If you are heated, it will cool you;

If you are depressed, it will cheer you;

If you are excited, it will calm you."

William Gladstone

British Prime Minister 1868 - 1894

Pumpkin Bouquets

2011-10-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again. Autumn! And time to make pumpkin bouquets. Do you remember how from last year's post on this subject? Here is a review:

Start by raiding your flower garden of any flowers you could find. It's getting late in the season, but you should be able to find asters, mums, baby roses, and lavender. You can also add amaranth seed stems and rose hips. You can use small sugar pumpkins or the tiny decorative pumpkins that are available in the supermarket this time of year. Gourds also work well if you don't mind the asymmetrical shape.

Clippers, a drill, and some florist picks are helpful tools for this project. Start by drilling small holes into the top of the pumpkin. Stems or floral picks with stems wired on go into the holes which provide the base for this arrangement. Drill as you go, as you'll find that design happens as your project progresses. A ribbon or raffia bow adds an accent when all the flowers are in place.

Another method of making a pumpkin bouquet is to cut off the top of the pumpkin and hollow out all the seeds. Then, place a small piece of Oasis (a floral foam that soaks up water) to fit inside the pumpkin. After it soaks awhile, start arranging. Stems from a boxwood shrub create a nice triangular-shaped framework for the arrangement. You can choose any shape you like best; circular, oval, rectangular, or square. Fill in with two or three main types of flowers (mums, roses, etc.) and then fill in with small flowers or accents like asters, rose hips, or sprigs of wheat.

Live in the Season

2011-10-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air; drink the drink; taste the fruit."

Henry David Thoreau

The Pumpkin

2011-10-24T05:54:00.000-07:00

"Through orange-leaves shining
the broad spheres of gold;
Yet with dearer delight from his
home in the North.
On the fields of his harvest the
Yankee looks forth,
Where crook-necks are coiling
and yellow fruit shines,
And the sun. . .melts
down on the vines."

John Greenleaf Whittier
"The Pumpkin"

Delicious Autumn

2011-10-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

George Eliot

The Leaves Fall

2011-10-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools."

Henry Beston

Breaking Bread

2011-10-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

"When we break bread together, we share good times, indulgence, friendship --- the important things in life."

Lucy Nicholson

Autumn's Face

2011-10-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace, as I have seen in one autumnal face."

John Donne

The Blue Firmament

2011-10-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

"To one who has been long in city pent,

'Tis very sweet to look into the fair

And open face of heaven - to breathe a prayer

Full in the smile of the blue firmament."

~ John Keats ~

*The view from Rocky Point*

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-10-18T09:55:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again! Pumpkins are ready for harvest and on such crisp autumn days, there is nothing like the fragrance and flavor of a delicious seasonal cookie!

It's recommended that we have a good source of Vitamin A every other day. It's best utilized by our bodies if the resource is cooked and served with some type of fat. Do you cook carrots or orange squash every other day? I don't, but resolve to do better. I'm quite sure my university sons aren't eating dark orange veggies every other day either. So, this evening I baked cookies to send to them. Vegan and filled with Vitamin A, I think they'll enjoy them. Here's the recipe if you'd like a sweet and tasty way to get your vitamins!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

A delicious, moist cookie that freezes very well.

2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can solid pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
12 ounces vegan semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream the sugar, shortening, pumpkin and vanilla together. Mix until well blended. In another bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Stir gently until combined. Add the chocolate chips and walnuts. Mix together. Drop by teaspoonsful onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 12 - 15 minutes.

These cookies are delicious; cake-like and the type that melt in your mouth. I think their flavor would be enhanced by a pinch of salt in the recipe. Although this is not a gluten-free recipe, I think it would be very easily converted by the use of a gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. The walnuts in this recipe add Omega-3's to the diet, and of course we all know that the chocolate is very good for us and high in anti-oxidants

Note: Carob chips work well in this recipe as a substitute for chocolate chips.

Turning Leaves

2011-10-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."

Elizabeth Lawrence

Nature's Gifts

2011-10-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

"If we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.

Jimmy Carter

Fay's Embroidery Pattern Give-Away

2011-10-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

My friend, Fay, from Sketched... Stitched... Painted... Hand-made... Lived... has designed a new series of embroidery designs for spring and is featuring a give-away on her blog. She's giving away a delightful spring pattern ~ that can be stitched during the long, cold winter evenings ahead. Here's what she says about her give-away:

Its time to give away one of my new Spring patterns.

Just leave a comment after this post. Include your email address,

which will not be posted. (all posts are moderated)

I'd love to know what you look forward

to most about Spring.

My personal favorite is seeing the Balsamroot

that cover the hillsides with gold.

Or maybe it is the return of the swallows....

The winner of this pattern will get

to dream of Spring as they stitch their way through winter!

This giveaway will end on

Sunday, October 9, 2011, at 5pm PST.

The winner will be announced the following Monday morning.

See you there!

To enter, please leave your comment here.

While you are there, take a look at Fay's other designs on the right side-bar. She has beautiful designs! I am currently stitching her "love is not rude" tea party design. And isn't that "Thrive" pillow divine?

LaTeaDah

Time to Relax

2011-10-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

The time to relax is when you don't have the time for it.

Home!

2011-09-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

"Home! That was
what they meant,
those caressing
appeals, those
soft touches
wafted through
the air, those
invisible little
hands pulling
and tugging,
all one way!"

Kenneth Grahame

Only This Moment

2011-09-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Begin doing what you want to do now.

We are not living in eternity; we have only this moment,

sparkling like a star in our hand --- and melting like a snowflake.

MB Ray

Painting with Puff

2011-09-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

When I was a child, my first grade reading book was Dick and Jane and they had a dog named Spot and a cat named Puff. I always thought Puff was a cute name for a cat! But this post isn’t about reading or about cats. It’s about a fun art project that uses ingredients mixed together that create a paint that puffs up when microwaved. How fun is that? Here’s the recipe. May it keep the kiddos in your life happily entertained for at least an hour or two!

In a small bowl, combine:

2 Tbsp. self-raising flour
6 drops of food coloring
2 Tbsp. salt

Add enough water to make into a creamy paste. Using a paint brush or sponge, create a design on tagboard or cardboard. Make another ‘batch’ of puffy paint in other colors if desired. Paint, paint, paint. When done, microwave the design on high for 15 – 30 seconds. The paint will puff and should dry completely.

*To make your own self-raising flour, blend 2 cups of all-purpose flour with 1 Tbsp. baking powder.

Encourage Another

2011-09-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

Give the young and struggling a word of encouragement when you can. You would not leave those plants in your window boxes without water, nor refuse to open the shutters that the sunlight might fall upon them; but you would leave some human flower to suffer from want of appreciation or the sunlight of encouragement. There are a few hardy souls that can struggle along on stony soil --- shrubs that can wait for the dews and sunbeams --- vines that climb without kindly training; but only a few. Utter the kind word when you can see that it is deserved. The thought that "no one cares and no one knows" blights many a bud of promise. Be it the young artist at his easel, the young preacher at his pulpit, the workman at his bench, the boy at his mathematical problems, or your little girl at the piano, give what praise you can.

Signs magazine
September 14, 1882

I really love old-fashioned wisdom. This advice is as good now as it was back in 1882.

Chilled Cucumber Soup

2011-09-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

My mother would sometimes serve a chilled cucumber soup on special occasions. She would add all the ingredients to a blender and puree them. Always refreshing, this was a summer soup recipe I always enjoyed. When I decided to make a chilled cucumber soup of my own, I was dismayed to find that most of the recipes I found contained canned soups, like chicken or potato. The delightful freshness of cucumbers would be lost in the sodium and preservatives of the canned product, so I kept searching and ended up adapting a recipe to create my own. This is my vegan version of a summer delight. It's a great way to use the cucumbers in your September garden!

2 cups soy milk
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. parsley, fresh and snipped
2 tsp. chicken-style seasoning*
1/2 tsp. dillweed, dried
1/2 cup English cucumber, seeded and shredded
2 Tbsp. onion, finely diced
salt to taste

Combine all ingredients in a quart jar. Lid and shake. Place in fridge to chill for several hours before serving. Serve cold with a sprig of mint and toast points.

Baked Pepper Cup Quiche

2011-09-09T19:49:00.001-07:00

Late summer is the perfect time of year to try these little quiches that are baked in bell peppers. They make such a tasty and beautiful presentation!

6 large bell peppers, green, yellow and red
1 lb. firm tofu
1/2 cup raw cashews
3/4 cup water
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. turmeric
2 garlic cloves
1/4 tsp. chili pepper
2 tsp. salt or to taste
1/2 cup black olives, sliced
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup Ortega chilies, sliced
1/4 cup scallion, chopped

Cleam and cut tops of peppers, set aside. Blend cashews with water until very smooth. Add tofu, cornstarch, garlic, and seasonings and continue blending until smooth. Fold in olives, sundried tomatoes, chilies, and scallions. Spoon mixture into prepared peppers. Place in baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

The Season's Change

2011-09-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

Are you enjoying the last weeks of summer? As autumn nears, I enjoy the last bits of the season. Flowers are blooming with renewed vigor and the lawn is a vibrant green. It's as though they are saying "hurry up and enjoy us, 'cause it won't be long and we'll be just a faded memory". In addition to the flowers, produce from the garden is the centerpiece of every meal. Tomatoes, new potatoes, corn on the cob, cucumbers, sweet onions, watermelon, and zucchini in abundance are tasty and useful for creating a plethora of dishes. They will be missed in the winter months when meals center more around legumes and whole grains. Children return to school (older children return to university and will be greatly missed at home). The flow of life changes. Seasons come and are enjoyed. And seasons go, missed, yet there is something wonderful about living in a climate that has seasons. Four times a year we start anew and four times a year we anticipate what comes ahead. Can you feel your season change?

Gathering the Pieces

2011-09-06T23:36:00.001-07:00

"Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." John 6:12

I'm reading a little book that was my mothers, especially enjoying the segments that she felt so meaningful she highlighted them. This morning's reading was about pieces; how life is like a quilt where new is created by rearranging the pieces of the old. It goes on to include this paragraph that says so much:

"It is quilting theology. God takes the pieces of our lives and stitches them back together, working His will for the good of those who love Him. With His handiwork, life isn't limited to one square. It is a pattern of squares where beauty depends on variety and no single square tells the whole story. They must be seen together --- like a quilt." [Quilted with Love by Goodwin]

[This is my 4,000 blog post on Gracious Hospitality]

Spicy Vegetable Curry

2011-09-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

2 c. potatoes, cubed
1 c. cauliflower florets
1 large onion, slivered
1 c. carrots, peeled and sliced
1 medium eggplant
4 Tbsp. oil
2 - 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
one 2-inch piece ginger, finely minced
2 Tbsp. green chilies
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
2-3 Tbsp. curry powder
1 1/2 c. vegetable stock
3 c. canned tomatoes, chopped
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
2/3 c. coconut milk
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
salt to taste

1. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion, potato and cauliflower and cook gently for 3 - 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, green chilies, ginger and spices. Cook and stir for 1 minute.

2. Add stock, tomatoes, and eggplant and season with salt. Cover and simmer gently for about 30 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.

3. Mix cornstarch and cold coconut milk together until smooth and stir into mixture. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve hot with Basmati or Saffron steamed rice.

Yield: 18 half-cup servings

The First Day of School

2011-09-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

It seems like summer arrived just a short time ago. It was so slow to get here this year, but already autumn is not too far away. The first of September always makes me think of beginning of a new school year. Yesterday the school bus arrived to pick up school children on our block. It arrives like clockwork, exactly at ten after seven every morning.

As children, sis and I always looked forward to the beginning of a new school year. Our mother would sew us some new dresses to wear to school and would always pack us a daily lunch in our red, plaid lunch boxes. Since our community was small, there was no bus service and we would walk the six or eight blocks to school each morning. Friends who lived along the way would join us and we would arrive at school together, chatting cheerfully as we looked forward to the day. It was always exciting to have new pencils, erasers, crayons, and notepaper that we organized carefully in our desks. Textbooks were distributed by our teacher and they were carefully arranged in our desk with our notebook and other supplies. Seating charts were the standard, even in first grade. If we got to chew gum, it was only for an hour after lunch because sometimes a teacher thought it would be good for our digestion if we chewed gum after meals. Otherwise, it was completely taboo! At recess we enjoyed dodge ball, jump rope, and dare base. It always seemed like there was someone stronger and faster who played the game, making it somewhat inhibiting for those of us without superior physical skills! Elementary school passed quickly and graduation from grade eight was a big deal! We were the class of a year that ended in zero and that was a very cool thing!

High school brought new learning adventures. The first day was exciting, as it meant not only acquaintances from our old elementary school, but students from another school in town as well. The melding kids from both schools made up the bulk of the student population with some new students from other places added in for spice! We went from class to class, and the campus was "open", meaning that we could leave for lunch! Every day started early with a short walk to school for band and choir practice. Playing flute and vying with Pam or Fred for first or second chair always kept me on my toes! From there on, the day sped by. English, algebra, biology, art, history, and applied arts filled each day. A required daily assembly with required seating was always grumbled about, but we had to admit that it always was fun to have the entire student body in one room at one time. After school events seem old-fashioned now, but the beginning of the year ASB Handshake, or the autumn hayride, moonlight hike, and barn party were events no one wanted to miss. Four years flew quickly by, adventures in study and friendship filling the days. Our class that year was the largest in school history and those 85 graduates still communicate to this day.

From the tight-knit days of high school, college days seemed large and overwhelming at first. There was so much to learn that first day of school. Academic standards were high and classes were large. The best of the best came from all over the country to attend a university that took pride in its high standards. More friendships, more books, cramming for tests, enjoying labs, and wishing for fewer required speeches in speech class or a bit more lenience in chemistry was the norm. Again new friendships were formed and relationships developed. A career path was chosen and the class of green and orange set out to make their mark on the world.

For some of us, this mark meant starting school again in the fall, but this time as teacher rather than student. Stomach butterflies and jumpy nerves started the first day of school. I think it was scarier for teacher's first day than it had ever been as a student. As middle school students entered the halls of a school that was five times larger than the high school I had attended, emotions were a mix of excitement and fear. But the 'can do' attitude prevailed and the daily flow of teaching eager students soon took the fear away. Those were happy days filled with the voices of eager 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who were happy to explore and learn new things. Each day held new adventures, both in the classroom and in the extracurricular of being drama coach, school dance chaperon, and advisor of student clubs. After six years of the intense pace of middle school, I followed an eighth grade class and a progressive principal to the high school down the road. It was again time for another 'first day' of school. Learning continued as curriculum and programs were developed. The after school responsibilities continued on a new level, both with student associations and as a team-member of curriculum committees and planning boards. They were years of intense growth and much joy.

Although the first day of school was experienced in many forms and at many levels over the years, the excitement of the first day never wanes. The smell of newly waxed floors and chalk on the board mixed with the colorful, new attire of everyone entering school doors on the first day changed little from the time a small girl entered the school door for the first time in first grade to the last time she passed through her own classroom door as a teacher at a busy public school. First days of school evoke pleasant memories and happy thoughts all the years through. Do you know a student who started their first day this week?

Celebrating Tasha Tudor

2011-08-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Tasha Tudor Day! Although I remembered it all day long, I didn't have time to post because we were helping our adult children move. Things are still very busy around here, but in honor of Tasha Tudor, I would like to repost something I wrote about Tasha Tudor several years ago. Here it is:

For Tasha Tudor day I wanted to do something that would celebrate something about Tasha's life. I thought of gardens and flowers; children's books; and art. I thought of tea and old-fashioned things. But I decided to focus upon some of Tasha's handiwork and celebrate her special day by concentrating on old quilts. Tasha was an artist not only with brush, pen, and pencil --- but with her needle as well. Stitchery of some sort was a common part of her daily life. So --- I set out to visit my friend, Paula, and to see the antique quilts she'd recently brought back to her shop after her trip to the 'longest yard sale' in Tennessee and Kentucky. We had a lovely time, setting up her antique quilts on an old trunk; over a railing on the back porch; and on the front porch bench --- and taking pictures of them. We examined patterns, fabrics, and simply appreciated them. Although they are very old and some are worn, each has an individual beauty that is expressed even more deeply by the wearing of the fibers. Each has a story and was part of a life of someone and their loved ones during a time in the past. Sixty or seventy years of experiences are worn into the very heart of each one. Each is a precious keepsake; a treasure to even those who know not the stories each quilt represents, but to those who choose to become the keeper of the memory's unknown.

The quilt Tasha Tudor was working on when this book about her handiwork and craft projects was published was called Yankee Pride. I wonder if she ever finished it. It sounds like it was an ongoing project. She stated that "before I leave earth, I intend to finish my quilt --- you can count on it." For more than a decade, it was an ongoing project. For some reason that brings me much comfort (I have a quilt that I'm hand-quilting and hope to complete by the time a decade is up myself. I was feeling quite slow. . .but maybe it's the way quilting should be. . .soothing, relaxing, and something to do peacefully over time.)

"cold enough at night to make forced bulbs content"

Of course Bucky Bo-Jangles didn't want to be left out of the quilt experience. He's the most curious little thing! While I was taking pictures of Tasha's quilt --- he was climbing the chair and working hard at not being left out of things. So, here you go, a picture of the little guy as he's up to much mischief! Needle sharp claws! Maybe I should have him finish my quilting project!

It's Been One Year!

2011-08-29T00:24:00.000-07:00

Happy first anniversary to Brandon and Sally!
May the honeymoon last forever!

Love, Mom and Dad

Click on the collage to enlarge.

Gentleness

2011-08-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

I read something today that reminded me of the value of gentleness. I think it will bless you too ~

Gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch. A gentle person speaks the truth in a way others can receive.

Let your gentleness be evident to all.

Philippeans 4:5

Parisian Sweets

2011-08-15T22:16:00.001-07:00

Parisian Sweets

1 cup raisins, seedless

1/2 cup figs

1 cup almonds

1/2 cup cherries, dried

1 cup dates, pitted

1 cup walnuts

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar*

Grind fruits and nuts together in food mill. Mound mixture and then roll out on a flat surface to about 1/2 inch thickness. Sprinkle with powdered sugar* (optional) and cut into squares.

Makes 4 dozen

This recipe can be varied by the types of fruits added or taken away from the recipe. Fruits that could be substituted are dried prunes, pears, peaches, citron, candied orange peel, etc. If desired, fruit squares could be dipped in chocolate or carob.

*If you don't have a food mill, a food processor with a good blade will work just as well.

African Violets

2011-08-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed the weary, nearly dead African violet plants that are sometimes in the discount basket at the supermarket? The market where I shop for groceries has a discount basket near the floral department. It often contains several sad looking African violets that are either ready for the trash bin or for someone to come and rescue them. It appears that I have made it my mission to save them from a sad ending. For 99 cents, a sorry looking little plant sometimes comes home with me and the work begins to restore it to good health. It doesn't take long to perk them up or even to get them to bloom, although they do need time to grow new leaves to look vibrant again.

The African violet, or saintpaulias, is a common houseplant that can provide beautiful blossoms in purple, lavender, white, and pink throughout the year. When conditions are right, continually blooming can result. The soil should be kept moist, but never soggy. Generally I allow the soil to dry completely before watering. To water, place the flower pot in a larger container, like a bowl or carton. Without allowing water to touch the leaves, drench the soil in water so that it drains into the container below. Allow it to sit in the water that pools for 10 minutes or so, then remove. The soil should be completely moist but the plant shouldn't be left sitting in water for a long period of time. If allowed to sit in water too long, the stems and leaves will get mushy and rot. I like to use fertilizer sticks that slow release into the soil so that blossoms result. A low level nitrogen fertilizer gives the best results. In the winter, sunlight from a nearby window seems to give me the best results when it comes to growth and foliage, but during the summer when it is hot, care should be taken to keep African violets out of too much direct sunlight. Too much light and heat can cause spotting of the foliage or wilting of the leaves. Books about caring for African violets all mention that they require a fairly high level of humidity to thrive. This is something I don't worry about too much, as my climate is fairly dry in both summer and winter. They seem to do alright without extra effort to humidify them as long as I keep them in the proper light and well watered and fed.

The process of restoring these little African violets plants has just begun. Before long I hope they will thrive, grow, and grace the room with abundant colorful blossoms! In the meantime, the journey of restoration is interesting and rewarding. African violets are not just your grandmother's living room plant!

Parmesan Sprinkles

2011-08-14T03:39:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a delicious, low-fat alternative to Parmesan? A friend made this recipe for me when I was a guest in her home. It was so good and she was happy to share the recipe. Nutrient dense, this recipe is high in calcium and vitamins B and C. With no free fats, it is cholesterol free. To serve, sprinkle on vegetables or pasta or pizza. You can also sprinkle on to your favorite crackers, toast, or sourdough.

1 cup toasted sesame seeds, unhulled and toasted (if preferred)
1 cup nutritional yeast flakes
1/4 cup Bakon Yeast (a very flavorful plant-based seasoning)
3 Tablespoons chicken-like seasoning (McKay's or Bill's Best Chicknish)
1 Tbsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder

1. Blend sesame seeds in blender for several minutes. Use spatula to help blend evenly.

2. Pour into bowl and add remaining ingredients. Mix well and add 1/4 cup lemon juice and knead in with hands or pastry blender until little chunks have a nice, even, small size.

3. Store in refrigerator. Freezes nicely.

A New Flower

2011-08-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

As summer progresses, so do the flowers on the mountain. The yellow and white blossoms were replaced with blues and purples. Then mid-summer brought out the pinks and reds. The Indian Paintbrush is blooming prolifically right now and since the plants grow in groupings, the red is multiplied and vibrant. By now the progression of blossoms is predictable to me, so I was surprised to find a new flower that I don't remember seeing before. It's blossoms look somewhat like a hollyhock, but the leaves are a much different shape. The flower stalk was nearly as tall as me! I need to find my wildflower book and identify it, but maybe YOU already know and can tune me in! Isn't it beautiful? I found two plants with tall flowered stalks right beside one another. I can see it nowhere else in the woods. A mystery.

The resolution: Globe Mallow (Iliamna rivularis, I. longisepala). Mallow family Malvaceae. Globe mallow is a close relative of hollyhock and hibiscus, a stout perennial of stiffly erect stems, several to a clump.

2011-08-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

People may not remember what you said or did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Author Unknown

Happy Birthday, Sally

2011-08-06T23:04:00.000-07:00

August is here, bringing late summer flowers and a birthday! We were happy to celebrate Sally's twenty-fifth birthday with her this week-end. A chocolate cake with chocolate frosting was in order!

Brown-eyed Susan's, cone flowers, pinks, roses, and lavender in simple vases brought life to the table as homespun centerpieces.

The mix of purple, pink, and yellow created an eclectic mix of cheer.

Local watermelons are ripe and so tasty. I enjoy local melons because the farmer's make sure they are well-ripened in the field before harvesting them. A friend shared her recipe for watermelon and sweet-onion salad with me and it was yummy! Orange segments, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro added much depth of flavor.

Recently I've been trying my hand at spring rolls as well. They are so simple and very tasty! The wraps are made from tapioca or rice starch. They look like hard, translucent crackers and can be found at the Asian market. There's no cooking of the wraps involved. Instead, soak the wrap in a bowl of warm water and then remove, drip dry a bit, and place on a plate. Then add a filling of choice. I used a filling of stir-fried vegetables with tofu, seasonings, and soy sauce for the one pictured above. For another option I made a fruit salad of mango, apricot, and cantaloupe that was served with a cherry fruit sauce.

Fortunately Sally stuck by while we sang Happy Birthday to her! We had a false start and were a bit off-key, I'm afraid! She blew out all the candles at once, so she's in for a great year!

Gift time included some beautiful prints, patterns, and notions. A tiered sun-dress in pink and orange is option one.

And a turquoise tunic is option two. I stopped a woman about Sally's age at the fabric store to ask her opinion on prints and colors. I figured she'd set me straight if I was way off fashion base! I made sure I asked someone who looked like she knew something about style or it could have been disastrous!

Of course Sally needed something to stitch the garments together with, so a new sewing machine was in order as well. Since Sally's career involves being a computer expert, we made sure her sewing machine was computerized as well. A girl can never have too many computers!

Happy Birthday to you, Sally!!!!

All the best for the year ahead!

Summertime Fare

2011-08-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

What's a picnic without a blog post? Summer produce is abundant and so available this time of year. The Lo Mien recipe called for half of the garden veggies that were put into it --- but they only enhanced the flavor rather than detouring it. Carrots, broccoli, sweet onions, string beans, and more were mixed with brown rice pasta, nutritional yeast, a sprinkle of stevia, and soy sauce. Yummy, yummy!

And a salad is always in order in the summer as well. Garden leaf lettuce, sweet onions, tomatoes, and avocado all blended with an organic garlic vinaigrette equaled lots of flavor!

Rylan baked the cake and it was excellent! Super dark and abundant chocolate layered with a frosting that he made from an old-fashioned recipe. There's no powdered sugar in it! I didn't know it was even possible to make frosting without powdered sugar, but he did and it was very good. Marcona almonds and cherries in syrup added garnish and flavor.

And last, but not least, wonderful slabs of local watermelon! So sweet and good. When the watermelon is ripe in the valley you know that summer is really here!

Respite

2011-08-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

It is sometimes possible to get "the man" to take a break from work on the mountain. Having guests for supper on a summer day provided time for catching up with friends. Even Lucy, the retriever, enjoyed the day. Butterflies were abundant and a joy to see! Birds sang from the tree-tops. Except for a few deer that we saw along our way up the mountain, wildlife was scarce. That's not unusual for the hot days of summer. They tend to hide away in shady spots when it is so warm outside. Coolness arrived as the evening shadows lengthened. Reluctantly we boarded things up after dark and headed homeward. It was a pleasant, relaxing day.

Click on photo to enlarge.

A Rose

2011-07-31T22:07:00.000-07:00

I am a rose. Usually simple, ordinary, and abundant.

Yet that is far from my total truth. I can also be complex, extremely rare or extraordinary, and my beauty is often described as perfection itself.

I've been romanticized, poeticized, and lyricized beyond any other flower. I am universally admired, sought after, loved, wept over, and cherished.

When I'm white, I represent purity, and often eternity or heaven. Read is favored by lovers, although pink, yellow, flame, and other shades are much valued as well. Among my kind I am the undisputed queen.

But there's a dark side to my life as well.

Close to the color, beauty, and fragrance --- buried in my lush foliage --- are sharp thorns. Those who pluck me must beware, or they will feel the barbs and find themselves wounded and bleeding. What cruel hoax is this? Would not much an experience effectively alienate even my most ardent admirers?

Pray, pause a moment more. There is a deeper message yet. Much of life is a paradox.

Can one properly appreciate bountiful health if one has never been ill? Is an overflowing measure of joy possible in one who has never known sorrow? Does the greatest love flourish where there have been no disappointment or pain?

Therein is my gift, my message to humanity. Beauty can exist even among harsh thorns. Perfection and fragrance can send forth their blessings even while hiding the ugly barbs. The depth of Christ's caring love for humanity shone brightest as He bled from His thorny crown.

Despite ugly scars, deep hurts, and many sorrows, so also can human lives give beauty, fragrance, and blessing to all who pass their way.

By Aileen Ludington, a physician from Paradise, California

Late Season Lavender

2011-07-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

Lavender season is nearing its end. Generally, lavender is harvested in the bud stage before flowering. But if you are like me, you leave some on the plant to enjoy as long as possible. The long stems of lavender create a beautiful showpiece for a flower garden. Even when the blooms are past their prime, they dry nicely on the stems and provide fragrant beauty throughout the summer. This time of year lavender is past bud stage and is now in full bloom or past.

But that doesn't matter when it comes to lavender wands and bottles. Both can be successfully made with lavender that is past its prime. The flowers are fragrant and encase nicely into the ball portion of a lavender wand.

Small bundles of lavender are tied at the top of the stems with a string or rubber band. The stems are folded over the flowers to create a 'cage' and then ribbon is woven in and out of the stems. A tutorial can be seen here (you will need to scroll down the page to view the tutorial). This creates a pretty lavender wand. A lavender bottle is similar, but instead of weaving ribbon in and out of the stems, they are left open and a simple ribbon is tied around at the base of the flowers after the stems have been folded back. Lavender wands are valued for their contribution to fragrance and decor. Lavender bottles are generally tucked into a dresser drawer as potpourri. Because the bud and flowers are not compactly contained by the woven ribbon, bits of flowers break off into the drawer, but that is generally considered a gracious thing and is nothing to worry about (although you might need to vacuum out your dresser drawers now and then.

Little bundles of ribbon tied lavender bouquets and lavender wands look pretty placed in a basket or vase, creating a pretty addition to any room!

Hot Lavender

2011-07-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed wi' th' sun,
And with him rises weeping; these are flow'rs
Of middle summer, and I think they are given
To men of middle age.

~ Shakespeare ~

Photo: end of season lavender in my garden

Honey Still for Tea?

2011-07-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Stands the church clock at ten to three?
Is there honey still for tea?

Rupert Brooke
The Old Vincarage, Grantchester

[to read the entire poem]

Photo: tea from a friend; tray painted by mom

The Victoria Rose Teacup

2011-07-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

I love this story! Although I don't remember where I found it, I think it was the verse on a greeting card I once bought. I hope you are blessed by the message in this sweet story, as I was.

Diary of Victoria Rose

Years ago I found a solitary tea cup at an antique shop with a gorgeous rose pattern. I fell in love with it on the spot. From then on, I searched high and low for the rest of the set in china shops, at auctions, flea markets, rummage sales. . . Alas, without success! Not even a saucer!!! Just as I was beginning to suspect that the cup wasn't part of a set at all, but a one-of-a-kind, never to be found again treasure, I was served tea on the very same china at the home of a friend! Well, I stared with wide eyes until my friend said, "Isn't it beautiful? I found it at an estate sale. Unfortunately, one of the cups is missing." With a twinkle in my eye, I knew that my precious cup would soon have a new home.

*The picture is of a candle topper that was given to me by a friend.

Enjoying the Family Farm Dinner

2011-07-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge photo

Family Farm Dinner

2011-07-23T23:30:00.000-07:00

The summer weather has been perfect! It's pleasant and warm, but not too hot to spend some time outside. With gardens producing wonderful things, it was the time for a garden supper. Earlier in the week, Serena from the Farm Chicks posted about a Farm Dinner that she went to last Sunday. It looked delightful! I decided it really would be fun to do at home, so invited the family for dinner. I shared the concept with Rylan and showed him Serena's blog post. He thought it looked like fun and was very surprised when he saw a picture of his art teacher from the university featured as one of the guests at the dinner Serena went to.

By the time it was all said and done, dinner became a family affair. Brandon and Rylan carried tables and chairs to a shady spot on the lawn. Sally helped me set the table. And Brent willingly carried food to the serving table. Everything came together all at once.

The table was covered with a white cotton sheet, then set with my mother's china. Goblets and glasses, teacups, silver, and Mason jars holding candles were all set in place. Pretty plaid napkins and rings from Paula's shop accented the blue in the china.

Our side table served as the buffet. Our menu included Herbed Rosemary Bread. . .Broccoli Quiche. . .Green Beans with Oregano and Dill. . .Roasted Potatoes (Yukon Gold and Kennebec) with Sweet Onions and Rosemary. . .Corn on the Cob. . .and a Garden Salad. It was a true picture of summer's bounty!

The fresh dill was fragrant! Not only did it add fragrance and flavor to the green beans. . .it made a pretty addition to the floral centerpiece as well!

It is summer at it's best when the corn is ready to eat!

A simple menu. . .and a pleasant setting. . .made our family time a special treat.

Ice water, sparkling cider, and Nilgiri white tea gave us a choice of beverages.

The shadows grew long as we ate and conversed. Coming together after some time apart and relaxing after a busy week was the best part. The family farm dinner was delicious, but secondary to all the rest!

Be Glad

2011-07-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a girl under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany her in her work all the days of the life God has given her under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:15
[Paraphrased by LaTeaDah]

Drinkin' From My Saucer

2011-07-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

I've never made a fortune
And it's prob'ly too late now;
But I don't worry 'bout that much,
I'm happy anyhow!

And as I go along life's way
Reapin' better than I sowed.
I'm drinkin' from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

Haven't got a lot of riches,
And sometimes the going's tough;
But I've got loving ones around me,
And that makes me rich enough!

I thank God for His blessings
And the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinkin' from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

I 'member times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin;
But all at once the dark clouds broke
And light peeped through again.

So, Lord, help me not to gripe
About tough rows I've hoed.
I'm drinkin' from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

If God gives me strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings;
I'm already blessed enough!

May I never be too busy
To help others bear their loads.
I'll keep drinkin' from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

by Jimmy Dean

Open Dresser Drawers

2011-07-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

Dresser drawers can be an interesting way to display pretty things. Who says they always have to be closed with everything hidden on the inside? I first noted that open drawers with things piling out on Becca's blog, Of Bluebirds and Roses. In fact, I see that the she recently posted a picture again of an open dresser drawer with cushions displayed in it. Meg of Crabapple Hill Studio also uses this technique in her showroom, placing embroidered and stuffed heart pillows inside a drawer and letting them spill out. The effect is quaint, quirky, and charming!

So, I decided to try it at home! At first it seemed messy to keep the dresser drawer partially opened, but after loading it with lace tablecloths, a cotton quilt, and an embroidered pansy wall-hanging, I felt more comfortable with its relaxed appearance. It was fun looking for things to fill the drawer with. In addition to cushions, quilts, and other fabric items, you could also fill a partially opened drawer with [insert your idea here --- leave a comment with your thoughts] and dried flowers, old sheet music, framed art and more. The possibilities are endless. What would you put in an open dresser drawer?

Creamy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pie

2011-07-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

There's nothing more relaxing than spending time puttering in the kitchen. Mixing, stirring, blending, and tasting equals a recipe for a fun afternoon. Do you have time to try out a new recipe today? I'll share one of my favorite pie recipes with you, and you can decide if you want to try it or not. It really is yummy and will remind you of a peanut butter cup!

Creamy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pie

1 pie crust, gluten free if necessary (or a graham cracker crust)
1 package Mori-Nu tofu, extra firm, pureed
8 ounces Tofuti soy cream cheese (or regular cream cheese, if you'd like)
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
1/4 cup chocolate syrup

Place the cream cheese, tofu, sugar, peanut butter, vanilla, and honey in a food processor. Puree to a creamy mixture. Pour into crust and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Allow to cool and then refrigerate for 5 hours to overnight before serving. When ready to serve, drizzle pie with chocolate syrup before cutting into slices and plating.

*If you like, carob syrup can be substituted for chocolate syrup.

On the Mountain

2011-07-19T15:16:00.000-07:00

A damp, poky spring has resulted in a pleasant summer. It's amazing that the mountain still has so much green, as usually hot weather in July creates dry grasses and the threat of forest fires. The delay is in heat gives us such pleasant days on the mountain. Such days are quiet --- nothing too exciting going on.

A little tree frog lives under the window shutter and in the garden bed. Here he is, sitting on the oak barrel and seeming curious as to what the camera's eye is all about.

Plants are growing, blooming, and lush! The wild roses are the most recent flowers to bloom. Gone are the Calypso Lady-slippers and the Shooting Stars.

The man of the mountain enjoys his days working on a never-ending list of [relaxing to him] projects. The trail to the spring needed cleared [with chain saws and pruners]. The next week the weed whacker was used to open up an easy pathway for humans [and bears, elk, deer].

A buried tank near the spring looks like it is smiling and showing a happy face. Just look at that grin! What a deep and cavernous mouth he has!

The spring is ICE cold! The ground gets quite mushy and wet the last 20 - 30 feet of the trail. It seems the spring doesn't contain itself and seeps out of the ground at every convenient spot. The man of the mountain makes sure to clear it of twigs and sticks so that it's deep enough to chill things like a watermelon or soda cans. It's a gamble, though, because bears have been known to raid the contents of the spring before the humans get back to claim their chilled fruit or drinks! [Imagine empty soda cans all marked with bear tooth puncture holes that are tossed for yards all around].

The mowing needs done. The cabin and the homestead cabin both go from meadow "weeds" to a more manicured "mowed" appearance. Paintbrush Lane, from gate to cabin, is also mowed and trimmed.

Scraggly trees are trimmed, just like they are at home, from the bottom branches up to as high as the man of the mountain can reach. It's starting to look quite civilized around here.

But once the mowing and trimming is done, it is on to other things. Like fencing! The cows are enjoying the open range at points lower on the mountain and will be up soon [when upper mountain grass looks greener than what's below]. There are places they need to be kept out of --- like the areas that supply water for humans down in the valley.

Brent revamps a gate near the homestead cabin, carefully using old timbers and ties so that the finished project looks like it has been that way for years and years. How authentic is that?

The project is done, the signs put back, and it's time to think of food. The mountain man becomes quite hungry after working so hard at his [self appointed] tasks.

Sunshine graces the cozy cabin, adding some needed warmth to its coolness. It is between weather; too warm for a fire in the stove, but a bit chilly without sunshine or a sweater.

What's for lunch? Corn on the cob, potato salad, brown rice with zucchini and sweet onions, salad greens, and cookies! Oh, and don't forget the Rainier cherries!

Dishes to wash. They can drip dry. Cheerful music playing on the radio. My mind whirling with thoughts and ideas as I tidy up the kitchen. Brent is back to his outdoor projects. I tease him about thinking he has to clean up the entire forest! I cannot complain, though. It's looking really good.

Quiet. Favorite magazines from Mary Jane's Farm give much food for thought. Sustainability. Practicality. Authenticity. Creativity. So much to think about!

The shadows lengthen and it's time to go back to the valley below. Good-bye little tree frog. See you next week [he will be there]. Sweep the floors. Board the windows and secure the doors. Bear-proof the iron chairs [bring them back from the ridge so they don't get pushed over the edge!]. Last minute tasks. It is all a part of the good-bye ritual.

Until next time, little green cabin. My imagination hears the croak of the frog and the sound of the birds. And to the little bear who ran away from our truck as fast as his legs could carry him, keep out of trouble, ya hear?

M a r i o n b e r r y

2011-07-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

Marionberries were developed by scientists at Oregon State University. They are a spectacular blackberry with a glossy, black appearance that turns to a deep, dark purple when frozen and thawed. The Marionberry is tart with elements of sweetness. It is larger, sweeter, and juicier than most other blackberries.

Using the same filling ingredients and proportions as shared in a post for Marionberry Crisp, I decided to make a Marionberry cobbler. It is interesting to taste the difference between the two desserts. Although they are both similar in ingredients, the flavor and presentation of each is unique. A cobbler is simply made by choosing your favorite baking powder biscuit recipe and adding sweetener and a dash or two of cinnamon.

For my cobbler, I chose a gluten-free biscuit mix that required the addition of oil and water. After adding stevia powder to make it sweeter, I added cinnamon and then worked the dough, forming it into a soft ball. Small biscuits, formed by hand, were placed on top of the Marionberry mixture until the top was covered. It was baked at 350 degrees F. for 30 - 25 minutes (until browned). When done, remove from oven and allow to cool. The dough mixture on the top will absorb the extra moisture in the berries, creating a delicious and tasty dessert!

Anne, Pouring Out the Tea

2011-07-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

"I can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table and pouring out the tea," said Anne, shutting her eyes ecstatically. "And asking Diana if she takes sugar! I know she doesn't but of course I'll ask her just as if I didn't know. And then pressing her to take another piece of fruit cake and another helping of preserves."

Anne of Green Gables
by Lucy Maud Montgomery
China Closet: Meg Hawkey, Crabapple Hill Studio

Recipes for a Beautiful, Natural Garden

2011-07-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

An advertisement for something to do with gardening arrived in my mailbox. The advertisement contains a distracting number of words, cartoon drawings, pictures, and boxed text. It's somewhat overwhelming, but the garden recipes it contained caught my eye. Since this is my web journal and a place where I post things that I may want for future reference, I'll post some of the recipes here for safe-keeping. Maybe you will appreciate them too!

Ant's Away!

5 Tbsp. cornmeal
3 Tbsp. bacon grease
3 Tbsp. baking powder
3 packets yeast

Stir the bacon grease and cornmeal together, creating a paste. Add the baking powder and yeast. Mix until well blended. Place a dab of this mixture in a shallow container and set in areas where ants are prolific. Ants will love this mixture! And so will you, because it will eliminate them!

Spicy Critter Tonic

4 tsp. dry mustard
3 Tbsp. cayenne
2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. cloves
1 Tbsp. hot sauce
2 quarts water, warm

Stir ingredients together in a garden bucket. Transfer a portion to a watering can and sprinkle in areas of garden where animals are venturing. [Alma uses a recipe similar to this for her garden and it works well to keep deer at bay!]

Miracle Boost for Container Plants

1/2 cup Epson salts
1/4 cup coffee grounds [Starbucks gives them away by the bag full!]
1 Tbsp. instant tea granules
4 eggshells, dried and crushed
2 gallons of potting soil

Combine the ingredients in a large garden bucket. Use in small planters for growing seeds, in pots for indoor plants, and more. Great for vegetables and other plants.

Rose Heaven Tonic

2 Tbsp. instant tea granules
1 Tbsp. dry red wine powder
1/2 Tbsp. fish emulsion
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. iron [available at garden centers]
1 gallon water

Mix ingredients together in a garden bucket. Pour 1 quart of this mixture on each rose bush every three weeks. The result will be a fabulous display of rose blossoms!

Aphid Buster

3 quarts of water
2 Tbsp. horseradish, bottled
2 cups cayenne peppers, chopped fine

Boil the water then remove from stovetop. Add peppers and horseradish. Stir and steep for one hour. Allow to cool and strain. Toss the solids and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Use to spray leaves of plants that are bothered by aphids. Also works on other small, leaf pests.

Leafy Greens Formula

1 can of beer
1/2 cup fish emulsion
1/2 cup ammonia
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
1/4 cup instant tea granules

Mix ingredients together in a bucket. Place in a 20 gallon hose-end sprayer and spray leaves until well coated. You will be rewarded with shiny, vibrant leaves.

Lawn Fertilizer

1 can beer
1 can cola [with sugar]
1 cup apple juice
1 cup ammonia
1 cup lemon-scented dishwashing liquid [not anti-bacterial]
1 cup all-purpose plant food [15-30-15]

Mix everything together in a garden bucket. Pour 1 quart of mixture into a 20 gallon hose-end sprayer. Apply it to lawn and repeat every three weeks.

Weed Killer!

1 quart water
5 Tbsp. white vinegar
2 Tbsp. salt

Bring the water to a boil. Stir in the vinegar and the salt. While the water is still very hot, pour mixture directly onto weeds. Good for tough, deeply-rooted weeds and thistles. [Plain boiling water also works on many weeds.]

Wasp Trap Formula

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup vinegar, apple cider
1/2 cup water
1 peel of banana, chopped

Dissolve the sugar and water in a small bucket. Add the vinegar and banana peel. Add more water to 1 gallon amount. Stir well. Hang from a tree branch. Wasps will be attracted and die.

Roasted Onion and Garlic Jelly

2011-07-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

The sweet onions are being harvested and are as yummy as ever! For the next two months, delicious, local sweet onions will be available at Farmer's Market and roadside stands. They are so good! We are enjoying them every possible way.

For the past several years I have enjoyed making Sweet Onion Jelly from a recipe my mother shared with me. It's delicious for tea or when entertaining guests. For a pretty presentation, place a block of cream cheese (soy if preferred) on a pretty plate and then pour a portion of the jar of jelly over the cream cheese. Garnish with some chive blossoms and place crackers in a basket nearby. Perfect for dipping, it's a delicious combination of savory and sweet jelly with salty, crispy crackers.

I found another recipe today for a similar jelly. It was published in the Syracuse Post Standard. This version has the addition of garlic for enhanced flavor.

The recipe:

2 large heads garlic
Olive oil
4 large onions (Walla Walla Sweet or Vidalia)
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons butter (may substitute olive oil)
1 cup white vinegar
4 cups water
6 cups sugar
1 package powdered pectin

Cut top off each garlic head and drizzle with olive oil. Roast at 275 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool completely.Caramelize onions: chop onions into small pieces (save half of 1 onion and cut into large slivers; set aside to be used later as a garnish). Place 2/3 cup sugar in a large skillet over medium heat and cook until melted; mix in butter until melted. Add onions and cook until coated by caramelizing mixture (onions should be soft and pierce easily with a fork). Caramelize large slivers and set aside.Add garlic cloves from one head and simmer 5 minutes. Add vinegar and mix while still over medium heat; mix in 4 cups water and simmer 5 more minutes. Sieve mixture through a jellybag or cheesecloth, allowing to drip until all liquid is through.Measure 5 cups of the garlic/onion liquid into a saucepan and add pectin. Bring to a full boil and add all the sugar at once. Cook at full rolling boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.Remove from heat and ladle mixture into hot, sterilized jars.
Garnish top of each jar with a large sliver of caramelized onion and a clove of roasted garlic.

Put lids on and process 10 minutes in boiling water bath. Store in a cool, dark place.

The Truly Important

2011-07-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

"When we take the time. . .we are creating room for the memories that cement lifetime friendships. But we have to make room for the memories, disciplining ourselves to put aside the urgent in favor of the truly important."

Emilie Barnes

A Tag Tree

2011-07-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

Meg has a beautiful "tag tree" in her studio at Crabapple Hill. Large, sweeping swags of twigs are secured in a container. Their branches sweep across a counter top, creating a focal point and arch. Her tag tree is not only beautiful, but provides a place for written notes and meaningful words to be attached. Manila tags are tied to the branches, each with stamped words, autographs, or notes from friends and clients. Mixed among the tags are samplers of her typeset ornaments. The effect is neutral and serene. The tree holds a plethora of meaningful memories for her. A delightful focal point.

Maybe it is time to create a tag tree at home. With twigs gently swagging across a piano, tags signed by guests who come to visit would create an object of interest. A tag tree at a bridal shower or wedding could be a place to exhibit congratulatory messages from family and friends. Blessings could be written on tags and hung on the swags for a baby shower. And a twig tree could be used in a children's church class as a place to display memory verses after learning. The ideas could keep going on and on. How would you use a tag tree if had one? Will you be making one soon?

Belly Broom Breakfast Cookies

2011-07-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

When I grew up, cookies were something you ate for dessert. Or maybe for a snack, but mother always said we shouldn't eat between meals. Then I met my husband. I was so surprised to discover that his family ate cookies for breakfast! Ever since, breakfast cookies have been a hit with me! While our children were growing up, I discovered it was a great way to fill them with lots of nutrition. All under the guise of "cookie".

My mother-in-law would fill her breakfast cookies with nuts, coconut, seeds, raisins, dates, and grains. She was a great baker, so her cookies were never dry or boring. They were moist, flavorful, and tasty. But, most of her cookie recipes were ones she baked "by feel" and she didn't write down the recipe.

Recently I felt the need to figure out how to make a breakfast [lunch, snack, dinner, midnight snack] cookies that were gluten-free, sugar-free, low in cholesterol, highly nutritious, AND tasty! Fortunately Brent is willing to try all my experiments in the kitchen.

Each batch has been a little different than the one before. Suggestions along the way were welcome. Little by little a recipe was developed that we liked.

They are not elegant, but breakfast cookies shouldn't be elegant! Breakfast cookies should be hardy, crammed with nutrition, and tasty! There's nothing delicate about a breakfast cookie!

They are delicious right out of the oven, but when stored in a covered container [like this one] they become even better! They become more flavorful and moist as time goes on. We've named these cookies "Belly Broom Cookies" --- a name our kids give to any yummy, fiber-filled breakfast cookies --- thus named because they keep the colon working efficiently! Here's the recipe --- which I hope you enjoy:

Belly Broom Breakfast Cookies

1 cup ground flax seeds
1 1/4 cup gluten free oats
1 cup gluten free flour blend (like Bob's Red Mill)
4 packets NuNaturals stevia (any brand, but that's my favorite)
1/2 teaspoon Real Salt
1 Tbsp. baking powder (generous)
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup almond milk (or your choice)
1/2 cup olive oil (or grapeseed oil)
1 Tbsp. vanilla
2 cups dates, divided in 1/2

1 cup water

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, optional
1/2 cup walnuts, optional
1/2 cup raisins, optional

Mix try ingredients together. Form a well in the center of the bowl and set aside.

In a saucepan, mix 1 cup pitted dates with 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer and cook until dates soften.

Mix cooked date mixture and liquid ingredients together. Then, pour all at once into well in dry ingredients. Stir until mixed.

Add additional dates (1 cup, chopped) and other ingredients of choice (raisins, coconut, walnuts, etc.).

Place on a baking sheet using cookie scoop. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees or until done.

These are dense but good. Store in a sealed container and they soften up to be even better the next day.

*The flour option you choose will very how the cookies turn out, but all are good. Choose from oat flour, quinoa flour, sweet rice flour, brown rice flour, all-purpose flour, whole wheat pastry flour, etc.

Pretty & Serene

2011-07-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's nice to take a break and look at something pretty. Pictures of pretty things help make the day serene when life's duties start to grate on the nerves. I love this idea for a bulletin board! A wire gate with pretty papers clipped on with clothespins and the word PINK on a yellow wall; wow! How about those fabric covered photo albums? They make a great place for pictures, recipes, or notes you want to keep.

Pincushion, anyone? The Knoty Girls Stitchery Club thinks this one is perfect! So do I!

Plain buttons and old dishes make a perfect combination, especially when paired with a vintage napkin.

An old sewing machine on a drop-leaf table, surrounded by beautiful lace curtains and a soft, embroidered quilt creates a scene that would make such a good story starter. A writing project, perhaps? Or should I say: A stitching project perhaps?

Exquisite quilts, all carefully hand-stitched in flosses and colors that create heirlooms for favored family and friends. In this case, it looks like life is a bucket of cherries, not a bowl!

Breath deeply. Relax. Content.

Pictures of Meg's studio at Crabapple Hill

The Washing of Dishes

2011-07-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

The washing of dishes does seem to me the most absurd and unsatisfactory business that I ever undertook. If, when once washed, they would remain clean forever and ever (which they ought in all reason to do, considering how much trouble it is), there would be less occasion to grumble; but no sooner it is done, than it requires to be done again. On the whole, I have come to the resolution not to use more than one dish at each meal.

Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1844
[written while Mrs. Hawthorne was away!]

A Medley of Solitude and Tea

2011-07-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

A Definition
Noun 1. afternoon tea - a light midafternoon meal of tea and sandwiches or cakes; "an Englishman would interrupt a war to have his afternoon tea".

There were no cakes or sandwiches. Date Nut Cookies and cherries equaled a delicious and acceptable substitute. Did you know that the name cookie is derived from the Dutch word koekje (or koekie) which means little cake? The word cookie arrived in the English language through the Dutch in North America.

A toast to the grace of the pot, ready at all times to give up its emptiness for the tea.
~ Attributed to the Minister of Leaves

The tea was a pot of Alishan High Mountain Oolong, a gift from friend Marilyn, who just returned from a trip to Taiwan. She enjoyed visiting tea plantations there, spent some time harvesting tea, and even stayed at a plantation for a spell. The tea was perfect in every way! Thank you, Marilyn!

Blueberries!

2011-07-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

It's blueberry season! The neighbor's field is filled with these beautiful purple orbs. They are abundant and ripe. Harvesting a bucket full is a simple task. . .and another. . .then another.

Not only are they easy to harvest, but to "put up" as well. Each container prepared and placed in the freezer promises a winter day of deliciousness!

They speak of smoothies, cobblers, pies, and sauces galore. How many blueberries does one household need? Three trips to the blueberry field has yielded more than enough. But the harvest is so addicting.

The freezer is full enough. I suppose the next blueberry picking excursions will result in handfuls of fresh berries sprinkled on oatmeal for breakfast, or smoothies of blueberries mixed with frozen bananas, or blueberries served over warm biscuit shortcake, and a cobbler or a pie or two. Today I am thankful for blueberries so abundant and close to home.

Care for Those Around You

2011-07-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

"Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children
of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others
lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past
your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices
no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever
you posses. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less
for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have
meaning and your heart will have peace."
~Kent Nerburn~

In Tea

2011-07-06T05:41:00.000-07:00

In Tea the host is simplicity and the guest elegance.
If all is done in sincerity it is better
than a thousand graces.

~ Matsudaria Naritada ~

*Click on photo to enlarge*

God Bless America

2011-07-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

‎"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

The 4th of July is a holiday that Americans celebrate with much vigor. There's nothing like love of country, hot weather, fireworks, picnics, and time with family and friends! Together they create celebration and patriotism! No matter how you spent your holiday week-end, I hope it was exactly as you wished it to be! Relaxed, happy, celebratory, and inspiring!

As you can see from the photo montage, our holiday week-end was quiet and relaxing. Except for our neighbors whose cabin is a mile down the road, the mountain was very quiet. It seems that most people preferred the gatherings in the city park or fireworks at the river instead of making a trek up the mountain. The forest exuded peacefulness and quiet. The summer nights were light with stars and moonbeams. Birds cheerfully sang from their perches on the tree-tops. A mother black bear and her tiny cinnamon cubs entertained us as they slowly ambled along the ridge next to ours. As we sipped our tea and ate our breakfast, we enjoyed watching their progress. Mother bear would stop to dig for ants or bugs and then appear to need a nap. As she rested and pretended to ignore the twins, they scampered around here, busy as can be! The man of the mountain, my husband, continued with his usual "to do" list. He mowed, trimmed, and cut up trees that had fallen in inopportune places. Grandpa came to visit and helped Brent clear the trail to the springs. Fresh bear paw prints were outlined at springs edge, and I wondered if maybe it was mother bear and twins who had been there. A careful watch was kept so that we would not interfere with that busy mother and her two!

We missed the fireworks in town, but the journey home was on country roads. We passed through small towns where neighbors were sharing fireworks with one another, and we saw four lovely displays as we passed from town to town. As we neared home, we could see the lights of the city and had a perfect view of the magnificent shows happening there.

This holiday can not pass by without reflecting upon thoughts of thankfulness for freedom and the many blessings that this great nation affords. God bless
America.

Recipe Gathering Evolution

2011-07-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

Since we are talking about recipes, I thought I would share with you my first "serious" attempt at gathering family recipes together and filing them in one spot. This is a recipe notebook that I made for a class called Food Science. I constructed it during my junior year in college as a class project. It seemed to be such a major project. PCs were not something we had heard of in those days (all of a sudden I am feeling so old!). A typewriter, card stock, notebook dividers, a three-ring binder, and Elmer's glue all combined as tools for this cookbook creation. It seems like I spent hours on our family's old, clunky typewriter to get this project done. I was just happy the the typewriter was electric, even though correction ribbon was yet unheard of. It was strike-over or white-out, baby! So, alas, the typos and strike-outs remain.

My Food Science teacher was a terrific woman. She had advanced degrees in nutrition. I still consider her one of the best teacher's I ever had. She was a wealth of knowledge and had the highest of standards for all her students. Like me, she was a vegetarian and taught her classes from that perspective. She must have been in her early 30's during those years, but to her students she stood on a very high pedestal and was ageless! We were all somewhat in awe of her. She not only taught the home economics and dietetics students, but all the pre-med and nursing majors as well. Today, because I was thinking of her, I searched for her name on the Internet and was fortunate to find a video clip in which she was being interviewed. I enjoyed ten minutes of hearing her speak again. I reminisced about old times as I listened to her talk. She lives in the midwest now where she is affiliated with a state university. I'm glad others are still learning under her tutelage.

I suppose one could say that it is not only recipes that bring back memories, but the pages and papers and ink that hold and present the words that make up those recipes. A few years back I thought that maybe I should revise my cookbook, giving it a new cover or even an entirely new notebook. It would have been easy to type up new tabs for section dividers and to re-glue magazine recipes that had been clipped and glued to a card stock page. But then the authenticity would be destroyed, and always one for keeping things real, I decided to leave it as it was created --- way back in 1976.

The Joy of Family Recipes

2011-06-29T15:55:00.000-07:00

Do you have a kitchen collection? There are so many things one could collect. Antique kitchen gadgets, silver spoons, tea strainers, crystal glassware, and more. Some things cost a pretty penny to collect! And other things are free. The free things are the best, because they usually harbor memories or bits of history. These things are priceless. Recipes that are passed down from mother to son, grandmother to granddaughter, or great-uncle to your favorite cousin are not only measurements, words, and instructions. They are also a very tangible piece of family history and lore. Additionally, taste buds can create very strong emotional responses when it comes to family recipes! Therefore, family recipes are really worth the effort it takes to gather and transcribe them.

Sometimes these recipes come with stories. In our family, some recipes immediately remind us of aunties or a grandmother who specialized in making a specific dish. And sometimes they come sprinkled with a but of humor. One of my dear aunts always baked the most delicious "crumb buns". They were a white and delicious yeast roll that was dipped in milk and then a crumb mixture of flour, vanilla, sugar, and milk before being set to rise and bake. Oh, they were so good! Dear aunt would always pack a lunch for us after a trip to visit her. She packed our lunch in colorfully painted tins, and one tin always contained a good supply of her "crumb buns". When I became a teen, I decided that I should learn to bake "crumb buns" myself. Mostly dear aunt cooked from memory, never really following a recipe in a book or card. But she was willing to assist in helping new cooks to learn, so she would carefully measure ingredients the next time she made a requested dish in order to know amounts she used. Upon my request, she mailed me a neatly typed card which contained the measurements, ingredients, and instructions for baking her famous rolls. I trusted dear aunt implicitly, not once questioning her choice of ingredients. But my "crumb buns" simply fell flat! Upon further analysis, I discovered that dear aunt and I had both left out the yeast! She on the written card, and me in the bowl! Oh dear! They were a total flop! Later, dear aunt and I would laugh over this adventure many times. She thought anyone would know to add yeast, even if she had left it out. And she was correct. I'd spent many Sunday afternoons since 4th or 5th grade, baking bread for the family's food needs for the upcoming week. I should have been experienced enough to know.

Recipes can go in notebooks, recipe boxes, computers, cookbooks, scrapbooks, and more. My recipe gathering habit has me take advantage of many methods of storage. No matter how organized and efficient one is, I suggest that at least one box be available on the kitchen counter where recipes can be "stuffed" as they are discovered or received. My box is a recipe storage container that is from the Martha Stewart line. It's a beautiful faded green and holds quite a bundle of recipe papers and cards. Someday the recipes here will go into a notebook in order to make room for the next batch of recipes collected. How do you store your recipes?

A Wildflower Day

2011-06-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Wild onions.

Lupine from the pea family.

Star flowers.

Wild ginger.

Calypso Lady-slipper Orchid.

Shooting Stars

Wishing you a wildflower day! That means a day filled with beauty, joy, and serenity. Can you find the wild ginger leaves? They are such sweethearts! And the orchid? The shooting stars? And the wild onion? One of these flowers is a member of the pea family. Can you identify which one?

Mountain flowers are so delicate and pretty. Finding them is always a fun-filled treasure hunt!

Enjoy your day!

The Homestead Cabin

2011-06-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

The hills are alive with wildflowers and lush, green growth. And recently they harbored. . .

. . .tasks that needed done and a man who was willing to do them! A few seasons ago, a very large tree fell on one of the mountain wood sheds, crushing it to smithereens. (The wood shed was behind this homestead cabin). Last summer Brent, Rylan, and Grandpa worked hard to disentangle the shed from the trunk and branches. They sawed up the tree, hauled it to a more remote place on the property (it was too dead to use for firewood), and hauled the wood shed, piece by piece, into a large pile in a space in front of the homestead cabin so it could dry out. The homestead cabin is very old and empty on a corner of the land, but it is a place I love. It's quaint craftsman style and faded red paint invite the heart. It could only benefit from the removal of debris.

So armed with tools, Brent set to work to burn the old shed. A season had given it time enough to dry out. It was ready to burn. Since I love old things, I had a hard time watching the old "barn wood" going into the burn pile, but it was too extensive a task to remove old nails, hinges, and fasteners and to take it apart piece by piece to haul back home for crafty projects. The wood was beautifully aged.

The pick-up tailgate provided a ring-side seat of all the action.

And the fire burned. . .

. . .to a pile of beautiful embers. All that were missing were the hot dogs for roasting!

Next, the man has plans to mow the meadow surrounding homestead cabin. It still remains, but without a wood shed behind it. It's time that it looked a bit more loved and cared for. Sometimes it is hard to know if it should be left looking as though abandoned, or if it should look much loved. Ruffian's tend to like to break into it, sometimes building a fire on the concrete floor or simply curious as to what is inside. After fixing and re-fixing the broken front door after break-ins, Brent has solved the problem by nailing the door shut and then covering a window (which someone broke out) with a hinged wooden covering. If anyone wants inside, all they have to do is open the shutter and look right in. The window is large enough, they can crawl in if they want to! This solution has seemed to solve the problem. It seems no one has entered since it has been made accessible to all.

A little red barn beside the cabin is quiet and quaint. Worn wooden stalls and a creaky ladder to the loft above reveal years of use. I'm sure interesting stories could be told from years gone by. It sits quiet now, although several summers past a twelve-year-old girl got lost in the mountains overnight and used it's shelter overnight for protection and security. We could see the outline of twigs and grasses that she used to create a nature-crafted bed on the dirt floor. When she was found, her mother left a note of thankfulness for the shelter (and drum of water we'd left nearby). I'm so happy it was there for her. I carefully saved the outline of her little fabricated bed as a reminder for the remainder of the summer.

A hard days work (and observation by me and my good book) warranted a seat on the observation log on the point where we enjoyed some good cups of tea. The man is making plans for his next trip to the mountain. Work, work, work is his motto. It brings him much joy.

Farmer's Market

2011-06-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

There are so many smiling faces and friendly people at Farmer's Market. Don't you just LOVE summertime?

l a v e n d e r

2011-06-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

With the arrival of summer, the hot weather is here. Our three week delay in blossoms is starting to catch up. I was happy to be able to pick my first bundle of lavender recently. Weeks behind in blooming, it is still more bud than bloom, but the fragrance is lovely! They hybrids are blooming well right now, and the rest aren't far behind. I'm especially enjoying the white and pink lavender blossoms. They are delicate and sweet, giving contrast to the dark blues and purples of the other plants. It's time to start harvesting lavender for projects. The ideal is to gather them to dry while they are just about ready to blossom. Petals are not considered desirable for lavender craft and food projects. But, they are so pretty in the garden that I have a hard time actually harvesting too many of them. Even when the blossoms are past their prime, they look beautiful in the garden as the lavender dries on the stalk, creating a contrasting backdrop for other flowers in bloom. There is such beauty in such a simple plant.

Dear Diary in England

2011-06-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

A note from Aunt Cella includes passages from her diary that are a simple delight to read! She and Uncle Mike routinely have "porch teas" on their sunny Arizona porch where they reread diaries of the past forty-plus years. I think you would enjoy reading some of her diary passages too. At the end of this one she shares a recipe for her favorite Buttermilk Pie. Grab yourself a cuppa tea and enjoy the read.

The Diary. It's August 4, l970 (Aunt Cella is 7 months pregnant) "Lovely rest all by ourselves in this big open lot under a shade tree near York. Beautiful sunny but cool day again. We both exercised on a tiny road, & then drove into York. Found it a delightful place, esp. the old narrow winding streets near the Cathedral. Walked up the famous Shambles Street, a quaint little touristy-charming walking lane with no cars & bosomy overhanging 2nd stories on the houses & shops, so crooked they nearly touched on the tops. Found a sweet little beamed & wall-papered Shambles Restaurant, & having just cottage cheese & peaches for breakfast (& no dinner the night before because I was both resting & punishing my stomach for eating a big breakfast & then apple pie with cream yesterday afternoon), I was hungry! We enjoyed a delightful but cheap lunch (85 cents each) including everything! Soup, rolls, full delicious entree plate (mine was chicken fricassee with Yorkshire pudding & Mike's was steak pie & both were delicious), coffee & dessert! Wow, never such a bargain again I'm afraid. (some lovely camp sites are 50 cents for the night with facilities.) Anyway, "Dessert was gooseberry & apple tart in custard sauce which needed sweetening--but 85 cents!!! After touring the famous cathedral, now being restored & nearly impassable in places, but a beautiful creation, we strolled back through a quaint area till I spotted a winsome old timbered 2 story restaurant, standing amid the stalls of the open market. This place, the Tudor Rose, was delightfully old & beamed & we enjoyed an orange squash on the 2nd floor. Anything to get into these places was our motto! How we sacrificed & suffered! Drove then right on towards the Lakes District & Beatrix Potter country, passing through a town where we stopped for.......let me guess, yes 3 (THREE!) soft ice creams each! And absolutely bereft of our long-used alibi that eating something was just an excuse to get into these places--shameless. We then crossed the Pennines, the rocky backbone of central England via small grey stoned farming towns. This Pennine area is much akin to Scotland, wild, brooding, craggy, green, & lovely. Found a campsite among the many available, high on a hill & commanding a wonderful view. Enjoyed the outlook immensely & also the price of 50 cents!"

* * *

Aunt Cella comments that "the diary goes on & on. I have notebooks full of those 30 years of traveling. I'm so glad I've got them".

She ends her note to me with this: "Now is there room for a recipe? Lemon-Buttermilk Pie 3 eggs, 1 & 3/4 c sugar, 4 big rounded tbsp. flour, 1 stick butter or margarine melted, l c buttermilk, juice & rind of 2 lemons or more ( I use about 4 because we both love strong & tart lemon taste, but then of course you should increase the flour amount). Pour into unbaked pie shell & bake for about 1 hour at 350. Take out even if a bit soupy in the middle. Will set. Yum, yum."

*The photo shows Aunt Cella preparing a "porch tea" in January. Only in Arizona!

Teakettle Sings from Happiness

2011-06-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

"A roof to keep out the rain. Four walls to keep out the wind. Floors to keep out the cold. Yes, but home is more than that. It is the laugh of a baby, the song of a mother, the strength of a father. Warmth of loving hearts, light from happy eyes, kindness, loyalty, comradeship. Home is first school...for the young ones where they learn what is right, what is good, and what is kind. Where they go for comfort when they are hurt or sick. Where joy is shared and sorrow eased. Where fathers and mothers are respected and loved. Where children are wanted. Where the simplest food is good enough for kings because it is earned. Where money is not so important as loving-kindness. Where even the teakettle sings from happiness. That is home."

Ernestine Schumann-Heink

Lovely Rose, Queen of Fragrance

2011-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Queen of fragrance, lovely rose,

The beauties of they leaves disclose!

The winter's past, the tempests fly,

Soft gales breathe gently through the sky;

The lark's sweet warbling on the wing

Salutes the gay return of spring:

The silver dews, the vernal showers,

Call forth a bloomy waste of flowers;

The joyous fields, the shady woods,

Are cloth'd with green, or swell with buds;

They hast thy beauties to disclose,

Queen of fragrance, lovely rose!

Poem by William Broome

Roses from my garden

Late Arrival!

2011-06-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Finally. . .we were able to pass through the snowbanks. . .and get to the cabin. It's been eight months since the snow arrived. It's mostly gone now except in shady spots in the woods, and one spot on the road up the mountain where it has stayed deep and mushy for weeks on end! Each time we have arrived at this spot, one or more 4x4 trucks have been stuck. Brent has pulled three of them out of the deep snow so far. On our last trip up the mountain we again towed someone out and they returned down the mountain and said they'd try again another day. But my optimistic husband thought that we could get through. I held me breath, and he slowly inched along through the deep, packed yet mushy snow. And we made it! Once we were through that part of the road it was clear driving all the way in. The wildflowers were blooming on the mountain top. Due to the difficulty we had getting there this year, we missed seeing the early spring flowers. But the violets, wild strawberries, and calypso lady-slippers are all blooming and looking cheerful and beautiful. We un-boarded the cabin and were happy to find everything exactly as we left it. No mice! No leaks! It was cozy, clean, and comfy, just as we left it. In the midst of winter, the snow levels reach the second floor, so both the lack of mice and leaks is a sure victory. We enjoyed a picnic lunch in the sunshine, a hike through the woods, and some quiet time with a good book. It was a happy relief to finally be able to spend some time on the mountain.

Click on photo for larger view.

Congratulations, Aaron

2011-06-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Aaron! All your hard work has paid off! With diploma in hand, you can now venture into the world of full-time work! Being an Industrial Designer sounds interesting and fulfilling! Best wishes in your new career! We are proud of you!

The "Class of 2011" Rocks!
Click on photo for larger view.