The Beautiful Sky

When on a recent afternoon drive I relished the beautiful sky. It was so clear and blue. White, puffy clouds floated overhead, creating interesting shapes. It was fun to watch them waft through the sky at a steady pace. Although the air seemed still, it as obvious that breezes were moving the clouds along quite swiftly. The simple sky can be expansive and broad, opening vistas known only in the imagination! Simple, yet complex in its majesty. Sky. Beautiful sky.

* * *

A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed... It feels an impulsion... this is the place to go now.  But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons.  
~ Richard Bach

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

~ Robert Frost ~

Tea & Chocolate

The traveling teapot visited my home this past summer. Earlier the teapot's March hostess, Teresa, shared a very educational and interesting post about pairing tea with chocolate. Did you read it? Do you remember it? 

It wasn't long afterwards that I received a package in the mail. It was from Teresa and it was sent with a lovely note from her in which she expressed thankfulness for being able to participate in the traveling teapot project. The package also contained all the same teas and chocolates that she had tasted during her tea pairing party. Everything was so nicely organized and thoughtfully put together. I decided to set it aside to enjoy when the little plum teapot caught up with the package and arrived at my house. It's now time to enjoy pairing tea and chocolate.

The tea selections are unique and varied; a real delight. Teresa has labeled each one after individually packaging them in tea sacs. The teas are Victorian Earl Grey, Strawberry Mint Lavender, Shu Puerh Vanilla Mint, Pai Mu Tan, Vanilla Black, Maple Delight, O'Connoer's Cream, Bossa Nova, Kaluna Lime, Red Robe Oolong, and Darjeeling.

The chocolates are Lavender Chocolate, Mint Tea Truffle, Birch Cream Caramel, Honey Cinnamon Truffle, and Key Lime White Chocolate. 

Pretty little menus which instruct of the pairings were included. So was a worksheet that charts the teas and chocolates and can be marked as tastings occur.

The teacup is ready. It's time to begin. A perfect way to start the day. Can it get any better than tea and chocolate?

The teapot and I feel most honored and thankful. Much appreciation goes to Teresa! The tea and chocolate tasting was wonderful! 

Flax Seed Crackers

I just made these and they are too good not to share! A tasty way to get your fiber. 

2 cups flax seeds, ground
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1/2 cup water (hot water makes rolling very easy)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix until well blended. Divide dough in half. Roll each half on a baking stone. Score into diamonds or squares. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 -18 minutes.

*I use a pizza cutter to score (cut) into crackers. No need to separate them on the baking stone.

*Alter flavorings as desired: 1 Tbsp. garlic powder; or stevia for sweetening; or 1 tsp. of your favorite dried herb.

*Golden flax seeds seems to tolerate longer baking times than regular brown ones. If you like crispy crackers, bake longer, but keep track of them as they bake.

A non-grain cracker that is a friendly gluten-free option to a traditional cracker.

Seasons & Bliss

Seasons come and go, passing casually by as though it's the most natural thing in the world. And it is! Although sometimes we as humans can tend to choose worry and care to get in the way of the enjoyable elements that the seasons bring. 

Late summer on the mountain brings a bit of coolness that is appreciated by all! The earth is dry and dusty. Plants that have flourished all summer are starting to die back and turn golden. The wild animals seem to be more active than they were just a few shorts weeks ago. What seem like huge cougar tracks in the dust outside the kitchen door give me cause to pause a moment each time I open the door to go outside.

There's just enough extra heat outside to make me appreciate the coolness within the cabin walls. Enjoyable times working on crochet projects or reading good books have kept me happy and content. I'll admit to a nap now and then as well. The bliss of summertime.

A late afternoon walk reveals beautiful light among the ridges and hollows of the mountain range in the distance. The meadow is dry and crunchy underfoot.

As the sun goes down our mountain ridge creates a shadow on the mountain ridge across the watershed valley. Light and shadow. A straight line delineating such contrast. We sit and observe the change until we decide it really is getting shadowy enough that we need to walk out to the gate and head on home.

Through the dark woods we walk, observing signs of bear and a multitude of elk along the way. Bear trees (that's what we call them) show where bear have been searching for ants and other bugs. And large areas of bedding places for a herds of elk reveal crushed leaves, trampled grass, and many hoof prints. Their fragrance has been left behind. A pair of white-tailed deer shyly look our way before they scamper off the other direction. 

Twilight. The time of day when eyes try to adjust and it is not all that easy to see. I keep alert for wild animals until the sun settles just low enough into the sky to shine on my path! Such beauty! Such joy. The end of a lovely day.

Puppy Love & Blogging

Greetings! Autumn nears and with that, anticipation of cooler weather grows! It's time to start blogging again!

This cute little puppy agrees! She came to visit me yesterday. Isn't she precious? So cute! She's six weeks old and a mix of chihuahua and shih tzu. 

Sweet puppy breath. Adoring eyes. Cuddles.

She needs a name. Any ideas? Can you hear a name or moniker calling to her? What would it be?

She belongs to my friend, Tari. Last night was her first night in her new home. I wonder how she did? I suspect she was cuddled all night long.

I hope you, dear reader, are doing well and that your summer was fun, blessed, and happy! I'm looking forward to the resumption of blogging. Here's hoping for creative, thoughtful days ahead! 

Bye for now...

{Tari decided to name her puppy SuzieQ}