Posts by Liz

not pretty, but beautiful!

Last evening (Wednesday) was not a pretty night…in front of a cold front, heavy overcast moved in. It was that eery stillness of ‘calm before the storm’. Everything was quiet…no breeze, no birds, no squirrels, no bugs. Not pretty, but beautiful in its own way and we enjoyed.

And even though the yard and woods are a bit dry and crunchy…

…they still inspire a good roll around!

Overnight, the wind blew and I woke to the sound of a good soaking rain.

I also woke with a strong craving for a cinnamon roll. I grabbed a peach sized bit of dough from my dough crock, rolled it into a thin rectangle, brushed it with melted butter, added some chopped apple, cinnamon and brown sugar. Rolled it up, folded it over, let it rise for half an hour and then into the oven. The finishing touch: a caramel glaze of brown sugar, butter and milk. Not pretty, but beautiful and seriously, YUM!!

Sunday evening on the loop

Early Sunday Evening on the last leg of the loop walk…mid 70’sF this afternoon after a cool 42F start. And blustery – it feels like Fall.

Although a lot of chores were done, a bit of relaxing was done: walks taken, stomachs rubbed and general lying around outside. A beautiful weekend.

A celebratory treat

Homemade peach yogurt (greek yogurt, buttermilk, peaches and vanilla extract), pecans and homemade vanilla bean caramel sauce (sugar, cream, vanilla bean, vanilla extract and sea salt) – to celebrate the last day of birthday month, the second full moon of birthday month, and the last weekend of the Summer … YEE HAW!!

***my first go at caramel sauce…too good!
****yes, the autumnal equinox does not occur until September 22 but September always seems like Fall just like June seems like Summer :)!

The second full moon of August

Slightly more than 1 hour before the moon reached its fullest, Bear and I went down the road home in the Jeep to watch that nearly full moon set over a just cut wheat field. It was 45F: cool, clear and beautiful.

I was almost 14 when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon and today his life is to be remembered. When the moon is full and large on the horizon, it seems further away and harder to get to than when small and high in the sky. It was an incredible time when man walked on the moon and what an adventure – even for me, watching safely from earth. To see not only the moon, but the photos of earth from the moon: a different perspective.

The last day of August 2012: the second full moon. Happy Friday!

A peaceable kingdom

First with Zack and Gus, then with Karl and Gus, Karl, Gus and Bob, Karl and Bob … for something in the neighborhood of 16 years I have started each morning with quiet reflection, some of Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest”, a cup of coffee and my dear boys.

This morning, for the first time…Bear and Bob – together – shared the time with me.

A peaceable kingdom.

Eating from the garden weeks 15 and 16

Yep, I missed a week. Things are hoppin’ around here what with the work and the weeds and getting ready to launch Wild Thing in two weeks. The entire crew: Captain Bear, First Officer Bob and me, the lowly pilot and supply officer are planning a September 13 departure for points south and a visit with the folks, Grandma Betty and the 4 legged “cousins”! Departing from my previous “blast south like the devil is on my tail” kind of trips, I intend to meander a bit and take it easy…as if I am actually on vacation :)!

Usually, the prep for such a trip is minimal and amounts to keeping an eye on the weather and work and then going. But Wild Thing is 9 years old and I’ve put a good many miles on her and some maintenance was in order. And the maintenance stuff has been like the proverbial can of worms. I believe we have found the last worm and all is ship-shape and ready to go pending receiving and installing (Billy Bob’s RV doing the installing) one last part.

Meanwhile, I’ve been sharing much of the garden produce and getting a few ready to take over the bounty after I leave.

BUT…the summer stuff is really starting to kick in. A few small cucumbers, some cherry tomatoes, BEAUTIFUL cabbages, green beans, broccoli, larger carrots, some small but tender and flavorful sweet corn and also some small summer squash…along with chard, kale and basil.

Off and on these last days of summer have been hot and smoky and refreshing cool food sounds good. I blitzed green cabbage, broccoli and carrots into a slaw dressed with a simple sweet vinaigrette (olive oil, sugar, apple cider vinegar).

A bit of bacon, with a side of fresh peaches and the slaw made a good lunch.

I cook burgers every 3rd or 4th day as I feed Bear burger/rice/yogurt twice a day. Oh…and hamburger with fries is one of my most favorite meals so I always have a fresh burger on cooking day. As good as my bread, bagels and muffins are, I’ve been using a leaf of chard for a bun to lighten things up and I’m finding I do NOT miss the “bread” at all. The chard from the garden is tender but firm and works very well as a holder for a burger!

Although small, the first of the corn is very good. I couldn’t resist eating one cob (with plenty of butter!) before scraping the rest off to use in a salad…

…or a scramble. Broccoli, corn and scrambled eggs with cherry tomatoes. Although the garden did produce a half pint of cherry tomatoes, these are from a local hydroponic garden, not my CSA.

This weeks slaw is made with red cabbage and the same vinaigrette, but I did experiement with the little cucumbers. Those I dressed in a creamy yogurt-buttermilk-tarragon dressing. Tarragon is a new herb for me and I like it! It did well in this with the cukes….with a bit of chives, cumin, salt and pepper.

I blanched and froze green beans, ate carrots dipped in homemade ranch and put fresh kale in my smoothies.

Some potatoes are still in the bin for a rough mash as it gets cooler and I have 2 little squash that I hope to make into fritters for a zucchini squash fritter benedict in the morning.

***EDIT

The zucchini fritter “benedict”…hardly a benedict, but zucchini cornmeal pancake, sausage, poached egg and a dollop of greek yogurt with a drizzle of chipotle tobasco…worked for me :)!