Category: Uncategorized

For the love of the Tree

 ** I am receiving your messages that you are not able to leave comments on this blog.. I don’t know why, but I’ve done a few things to hopefully make the issue go away.  If you’re one of those, please try again under this post and lets see if the situation is resolved.  Comments are now pop-up instead of embedded.

   My childhood home was a Staten Island 1800’s farmhouse that ended up smack in the middle of development.  I loved that little house, with it’s slanted  but beautiful wood floors, steps up and steps down in almost every room, even the creepy stone foundation basement that had a huge hole in the side wall I was sure was either Jimmy Hoffa’s final resting place or the Grinch’s hibernation headquarters.  Either way, nothing good was coming out of that hole in the wall.  But a lot of good came out of being raised in that house – including the huge old oaks that surrounded it, close up.  
   At night I’d gaze out my little bedroom window at the big old outstretched branches. With a summer breeze, their rustle would lull me to sleep.  I’d listen to the birds chirp and watch them flitter among the leaves in the early morning light.   Our yard had an abundance of trees and we collected “itchy balls”, helicopters, and even fluffy mimosa tree blooms until those trees were removed due to disease.   I imagined the big old oaks, in particular,  standing as sentinels, guarding our family and pets.  To this day it’s a sad thought that they were all removed when the house was eventually sold to developers –  and develop, they did. 
   Here on this 1800’s farm – there are also an abundance of trees which we cherish. On either side of the house are tree groves – one is a pine grove and the other is mostly cedar with some others mixed in.  We weren’t sure of the age of these groves until recently our 95 year old neighbor Margaret’s son told me he planted all those trees as seedlings about 45 years ago with the previous owner.  He was paid .10 cents a tree and he was ten years old at the time.  
   The pine grove is my favorite – always fragrant with the scent of pine, soft needles on the ground.  Pine roots grow shallow, and we have lost  at least 10 trees in storms as the torrential rains and wind take them down.  We’ve been planting new ones to replace what is lost. 
The picture below is the same pine grove from the field behind it. 
And the same grove in winter
On the other side of the house is the cedar grove with the horse barn and grazing fields behind it…
 And.. behind those grazing fields is a new Christmas Tree grove the men of this family planted last week.   We’ve toyed with the idea for years and my only issue is… once you’ve spent seven years growing those beautiful trees, I think it would be a little heartbreaking to chop them down. For that reason, I didn’t encourage it. 
 Nevertheless… the men persisted… and so, we now have a 125  saplings in the field behind the horses.  In seven years they will be ready to adorn family christmas tree traditions for local people.  They are douglas fir, and we have heard that’s a favorite of the deer around here.  SO, up went the cedar poles found lying dead in the back woods, and deer fence will be installed around the little tender trees. 
  If you squint real hard and lean in, you might see all the little babies….. and our house down by the road in the background. 
   Speaking of trees – Do you put up a tree?  A real one or fake?  and when?   Ours is done – and it’s fake.  Not because I don’t love a real tree, but because we poisoned one of our dogs once – he drank the tree water in the stand and almost died.  The $2000 bill to save him wasn’t fun either. SO… it’s a fake tree for us, and a warning for you –  most of those tree farms use pesticides and fertilizers to keep those trees looking christmas tree ready.  Be aware that that stuff runs down into the tree water in the stand and can poison your pets. 
 Because trees are my favorite decorative accent, I’ve got them all over the house…  Aunt Virginia’s ceramic tree, that just about everyone who has ever done ceramics, especially in the 70’s and 80’s has made or was given as a gift from a relative who made it, …. well that tree goes in the man cave where the guy and I spend cold winter evenings doing a fairly decent job of  ignoring each other’s politics.  
In the kitchen I have a collection of bottle brush trees on the window sill. 
Over the fireplace in the kitchen… with two wreaths my kids made many years ago with my mom, the retired teacher/crafter extraordinaire.  
Found this pillow at Homegoods for $25 and it’s a big pillow…. love it! Oh, those trees… 

And on my dining room table… these paper trees I found a lovely local shop, The Rustic Barn.

   Back to Margaret, my 95 year old neighbor… She loves Christmas trees too and her son still puts one up for her every year. It needs to be a real one, and it needs to be put up on Christmas Eve, not before.  That’s about the only thing Margaret and I don’t agree on – seems to me the season for THE TREE starts right after Thanksgiving and  is over shortly after Christmas.  By New Years I’m chomping at the bit to get that thing down and put away if I haven’t already. I do know my own grandmother followed the same tradition as Margaret .  My mother’s childhood tree went up Christmas Eve and was decorated while the children slept.  They woke up to a Christmas House on Christmas morning.  There is something lovely about that, too. 
     Margaret actually had her 95th birthday yesterday.  For years we haven’t lit up the tree out front because it got so big we couldn’t reach anywhere near the top with our tractor, the way we used to.  Then we hired a company and oh-boy-too-expensive. So it sat without lights for a few years.   This year the boyz discovered a  lift we could rent from the local hardware store and so we lit it up again, called Margaret and told her to look out her window, which is directly across the street. 
  
    So there it is,  for the love of the tree.  I hope this holiday season bring you joy and peace and shared good times with those you love. 
Till soon, friends –
   
   

Nature’s Beauty & that Thanksgiving Meal

    Two nights ago I was out feeding the horses their evening grain and hay when I noticed up over the hill the glow from the setting sun was intensifying dramatically.  I quickly finished up at the barn and grabbed my iphone to snap some pictures out in the field. 
     In these photos I’m standing in the same spot, just turning around for the views… 
It went from this… 
To this…with a 2 minute rain storm that soaked me pretty good. 
To this.
Nature is truly amazing and the most beautiful artist – 
     Are you serving Thanksgiving dinner this year?  Anything new on the menu?  We are hosting for a party of ten – not too big, just perfect because all can fit at the dining room table, tight but cozy.    I’m cooking most of the food with a little help from my mom and SIL- they’ll each bring a dish so that my two ovens can handle what I’m making here.   I’ll make the  pies the day before.. actually one pie and a custard cake – Pumpkin pie because YOU GOTTA! and… an apple custard cake recipe I found in Yankee magazine instead of the traditional apple pie, which I love and hesitate to leave out but my favorite son asked for the variation and I can’t say no and sooooooo….. the link to that recipe can be found below… 
      I’ll also have the traditional Turkey, stuffing, gravy,  a small spiral ham, mashed sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts gratin, twice baked potatoes, cranberry relish from Williams Sonoma,  green beans,  and a cheese/crackers tray and those cranberry brie bites for apps beforehand. 
About those brussel sprouts – I either love ’em or hate ’em, depending on how they’re prepared.  This seems like a good option and it’s something new, so I’m going for it.  Click on the titles for recipe links. 


       I’m not making the following cheesecake for this holiday – but BOY is it good. Not hard to make either…. try it if you’re looking for something a little different. 


 There will be wine!   The husband and I aren’t big drinkers, never have been.  If we have beer in the fridge it’s to offer visitors. More often we might have a glass of wine with Friday night dinner out, but we always have it on hand for company and holiday meals.    We are not well versed in the world of fine wines, but we do know what we like. 
  It’s usually in the reds family –  If we’re feeling extravagant, Caymus and Amarone are our picks. 

 If we’re feeling frugal,  14 hands Merlot or Rare Red are our go-to’s.  

 With all the cooking and baking and eating that comes with the holiday season,  I’ve ramped up my exercise routine.  I take long walks with the dogs on the farm and trails daily, no excuses including drizzle, and it feels good.   I’ve discovered losing weight after 50 is a JOKE!!!… you need to eat five crumbs, three grapes, seventeen glasses of water and maybe an egg for the entire day unless you do 450 minutes of cardio daily – ain’t happening.    Truly, it’s calorie intake and I know I still need to pare that down.  Work in progress, always. 
No point in dragging out the political dramas today – in simplest terms, all I got is.. 
What the everloving F*ck. 

About that Cat and one easy, delicious app

   An update on the Dad Chronicles –  To recap, my father has been living in a rehab/assisted living facility for about two years now.  Jeez, amazing how time flies. 
   Initially, he was very upset and a bit depressed that he ended up in such a place and he sulked in his room with the door closed, window blinds drawn for months on end.  Because he had had a second major heart attack after also having a stroke, he was there because of ill health to begin with, and it was hard to determine whether those were his actual limitations or if he was feeling sorry for himself and just not going to engage.  
   At some point he must have realized he was either going to lie there and whither away, or get up and out of his room and start socializing.  While our relationship was strained and is only cordial at this time because I decided it has to be for my own sake, I have to give him credit here.  He has managed to figure out how to make a pretty rewarding life for himself at the facility.  It’s a good facility – I made sure of that before we moved him there.  It’s clean, the staff is wonderful, the food is good, and there are plenty of activities to keep residents busy, if they so choose.   He finally chose… and nowadays he is given easy chores to do daily around the place – like watering the potted plants at the entrance ways and gardens in the courtyard.   
About a month ago I picked Dad up for our weekly grocery shopping excursion.  He talked on and on about a “cat” they had sitting at the nurses station.  He said “Karen.. you gotta see this thing.  It’s so lifelike!  It purrs when you pet it, it rolls on it’s belly to be scratched – it blinks it’s eyes and meows!”   Of course we visited with the “cat”  when we returned with the groceries.. and I swear, it was like Christmas morning when he walked up to that cat and it began to purr as he petted it’s head.  
Now, Dad has had a cat since he moved out of our family home many many years ago.  It always surprised me how much affection he had for his cats because he didn’t lavish that attention on his kin. He was a boat guy for most of his adult life, and the cat names were either nautical or started with an F – go figure.  (Sealegs, Fred and Felix)   
His birthday was around the corner – and I had an idea.   I found Hasbro’s Joy For All Companion Cat  ( the same brand of cat that lives at the nurses station)  on Amazon.   Hasbro developed these cats, and a puppy, with the elderly market in mind – those who loved having pets but can no longer care for them.   Now, some people think this idea is awful – it’s just a stuffed animal/robot – not a real pet, and to dote on a fake critter is just .. not right.   Well I’m here to tell you, my dad, who still has all his marbles… LOVES THAT DARNED CAT.   As do the residents who wander or wheel past the nurses station where it sits and interacts with them.  
I decided Dad should have a cat of his own again…and so… FISH now lives in his room, complete with name tag and owner ID.  I was going to have a shelf installed just for the cat to sit on, but Dad much prefers to have Fish sitting on his bed, right next to his recliner chair. Fish turns his head, wiggles his ears, opens and closes his eyes and purrs when petted, and occasionally rolls on his belly for a belly rub, then rights himself again for more purring.    He’s gone through several batteries in just a few weeks – Dad having discovered Fish is a great chick magnet too.   Some things never change, ya know. 
  
   
 And because the  Thanks and Gift giving season has menus and food on my mind – I’m sharing with you this app I found on FB.. .easy and looks delicious.  This is not my photo or recipe and it’s been shared all over the place so it must be good.   I’m adding it to our Thanksgiving menu – 


Cranberry Brie Bites

 Easy 4-ingredient appetizer
2 tubes refrigerated Pillsbury Crescents
Brie cheese wheel, rind removed
A Jar or can of whole berry or jelly cranberry sauce
pecan pieces/chopped pecans   ( I might leave this out) 
___________________________________________________
Unroll a tube of Pillsbury Crescents® into a rectangle, bringing most of the seaming together.  
Cut small squares with a pizza cutter. 
Place one square inside each cup of a mini muffin pan.  Don’t worry if seams come undone just a little, they’ll bake back together. 
 Remove any rind from the Brie cheese and cut square pieces. 
(** Did you know you don’t have to remove the rind on brie?  Some experts judge the condition of the rind before they decide whether they’ll remove it or not – if it’s older, tough and leathery, it goes.  If it’s soft and delicate, it can stay. Either way, it’s edible.. so it’s really a matter of preference.  I could eat an entire wheel of brie with crackers and grapes for lunch, I love it that much.  I do refrain, however.)
Place a piece of cheese in
the center of each crescent cup.  
Spoon a little cranberry sauce on top of the Brie, approx teaspoon.  Top the cranberry sauce with chopped pecan pieces if desired.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Serve immediately, use a spoon to remove the cups from the muffin tin. 
 Till soon, friends – 

Gladys Taber and Stillmeadow Farm

 
    I love a good book and have read many over the years.  During spring and summer months here on the farm when the days are longer, I’m outside more than I’m in.  By the time we get into bed I fall asleep before I’ve turned eight pages of whatever’s on my nightstand.   When fall arrives and the days are shorter I start the hunt for good reading material.   We are not night owls up in this house. We rise around 5 a.m. just because we always have, and of course there are the dogs and horses and chickens to tend to.    Come autumn and winter when  the light bleeds out of the sky by 5 -ish and the temps are chilly at best, we hibernate in the man cave by the fire with some sport or another on the flatscreen  for him and a book for me.  The dogs are happy with this arrangement for they nestle among us in front of the fire and one or two on the bed when we hit the hay.

     I’m so disgusted by  our current political atmosphere that I have been seeking respite from all that blustery ego and dagger waggering crap… and I have found it in the wonderful books of Stillmeadow by a renown (but unknown to me till now)  author… Gladys Taber.   I discovered Gladys through another favorite author of mine – also a respite read if you are looking for upbeat home and heart warming stories, art, recipes and musings on life.  You can find Susan Branch’s wonderful blog and post about Gladys HERE.   If you click on the link, scroll down her post a little to find info and a tour of  Stillmeadow.

    A little info about Gladys – Born in 1899, died at the age of 81 at her Cape Cod home, she was the author of 59 books including the Stillmeadow series currently on my nightstand.  She was a columnist for Ladies Home Journal and Family Circle, had a bachelors degree from Wellesly, an M.A. from Lawrence College and taught creative writing at Columbia for years.  Gladys married Frank Taber and had one daughter, Constance. The young family lived in a small, dark apartment in NYC, but she and her childhood friend and NYC neighbor, Eleanor (Jill in the books) yearned for a simpler, cleaner life in the country to raise their children and beloved dogs, away from the smog and noise of the big city.

     After two years of searching NJ and CT for an affordable farm, the two families purchased the vintage 1690 Southbury, CT farmhouse for $30K  and soon found there was much work to be done as the home was dilapidated beyond what they had assumed upon purchase.  The women initially commuted on weekends, but within two years they decided to move permanently to the farmhouse.  For many years after, Gladys wrote of life at Stillmeadow.  It’s unclear what the role of the husbands were at the farm, they are not mentioned frequently in the books.  What I found out by doing some research is that Gladys eventually divorced and Eleanor’s (Jill’s) husband died of cancer at some point.  Gladys and Eleanor delighted in gardening, cooking, tending the old farmhouse, raising their children in the country and their beloved dogs  as well.  With her talent for writing, Gladys brings her readers along with her on their journey, these homesteading stories and recipes now treasured for generations.
 
     Sadly, Jill passed on in her 60’s of cancer and Gladys found herself engulfed in grief.  In one of her later books she shares with her readers the grieving experience and what she found helpful to cope with such a terrible loss.  The title of that book is Another Path – I just purchased it on Amazon (all books are now out of print but if you’re lucky, you can find them online or in a bookstore that carries out of print books).   The following are photos I’ve found online – hopefully it’s OK to share them here with you.  Then I’ll show you a few of my own.

Gladys as a young woman with one of her favorite cockers – 
Gladys in her element at Stillmeadow…  

with daughter Connie and favorite cocker,  named Especially Me.
Notice there’s a dog in every picture – 
part of the reason I love her so. 

The next three pictures are of the interior…
Photo Credit to Susan Branch, who’s link I placed
above will take you to a lovely description of her tour 
of the homestead.  
For all the fabulous cooking Gladys put forth over the years,
 her kitchen was tiny! As Susan B. said on her blog…
it’s a one-butt kitchen! 

Books and more books in every room

The main hearth, which you can see  hasn’t changed much.
Gladys did some fine cooking on cold winter days over that fire… 

 Below Susan Branch in 2014 at the front of the house, which can’t be seen from the road.

Gladys had written that no one used the front door except the dogs and now that I’ve visited I understand why.  The front door is in the backyard.  The back of the house faces the road. 

Just a few of Gladys Taber’s many books… 

 Cookbook photos found on apronfreecooking.com
 I’ve had great success finding old books on Amazon –  Below is my current GT collection
And this is what I love about books, why I won’t buy a kindle – they are something you hold in your hands, share with others, they are an heirloom, a piece of history in and of themselves. They are concrete, not a file on a gadget.  I love the smell of books, the feel of books, the idea that they have been or will be enjoyed by many others before or after me.   Gladys’ “Another Path” ,  her very personal account of dealing with grief –  arrived in the mail the other day. I ordered it from a used book dealer on Amazon.  Inside was this note… 
  The book was published in 1963.  I googled Margaret Aylworth and only two things came up in the search that were relevant to that name.  

   This Margaret and her spouse lived in California.  The husband died in 1962.  His wife passed later in 1977.  Could this be the Margaret that bought the book I now have… as a birthday present to herself, possibly to help her grieve the loss of her husband?   
So… 

    Yesterday, the Mr. and I took a ride to Stillmeadow Farm. I was thrilled to learn it was just over an hour’s ride from This Old House.  While the home is not open to the public, it’s still owned by Gladys’ granddaughter.  Amazingly,  it’s reported she has kept it just as if Gladys had stepped out to run some errands. The Land Trust of Southbury has been working with the Taber family to help them keep the homestead.  The farm once consisted of over 40 acres, but the Southbury Land Trust has bought some of it to include in their parcel right across and surrounding Stillmeadow Farm.  One can’t help but think Gladys is smiling down on the arrangement.

  The old road Gladys lived on is still unpaved and surrounded by fields and forest, all part of Land Conservation trust now.  There are newer homes up the road that I’m guessing weren’t there years ago.    As we drove  down this little hill her beloved Stillmeadow came in to view.  It’s sits just off the road and honestly, it’s as if no time has passed since she last walked the grounds –  I half expected her Irish, Holly and cockers Tiki, Linda and Teddy to run out to the picket fenceline to make Gladys and “Jill”  aware of the strangers in the road.

   I remember a passage where she describes a conversation with her companion, Jill, talking of how it must have been before there was plumbing in this 1690 home as they stared at the ancient wellhouse… the occupants would pull their water up from this well, even in the chill of winter, and warm the buckets of water over the fire, one at a time..returning outdoors for each additional bucketful for bathing or cooking or cleaning chores.

   That well house needed paint and was on Jill’s “to-do” list still sitting on the kitchen table when she passed away suddenly after a brief illness.  Of the two, she was the fixer upper and had accomplished so much in her time at Stillmeadow.

There were lights on in the house and cars in the side yard…
While it’s not clear if her family lives there full time, 
I didn’t linger too long taking pictures
as it felt a bit stalker-ish with someone “home”. 
They’re probably used to the attention, as I’ve
read of many fan pilgrimages to the farm
but I’m sure it gets old.. folks staring in at the homestead,
camera pointed – 
There is a small pond fed by a lively brook to the left of the house..
and a  summerhouse  as well. 
Many a dog swim and children wading
and spring frogs were mentioned in the books. 

Directly across the way is an equally charming old homestead 
with a beautiful big barn…
Neighboring famer George Phillips was frequently
mentioned in the books.  
The Land Trust now owns the barn but I’m not sure
about the charming house right next to it. 
For many years it was empty while Gladys lived across the way,
due to some sort of legal issue. 
I don’t know it’s current arrangement, although it looks
lived in and cared for.  
                   Stillmeadow on the right in this picture…

While googling around for images, I found these  pictures of the two properties in the snow –
This is why I love New England – our four seasons are spectacular and so worth the occasional nuisance.

 Perhaps a Gladys Christmas Card? 
  So.. if you’re weary of the recent nightly assault of discouraging news and long for a simpler time, find yourself a  Gladys Taber book and get lost in a bygone era.  She was one remarkable woman, and lived through a difficult time – the World Wars in the mix, after all.  Her words of wisdom can still be applied today.   Both women knew struggles and loss, and found respite in the countryside where they entertained friends and family and shared their goodwill and good sense and homesteading talents with the world through Gladys’s writing. 
Till soon, friends – 

Breaking Bread

   Of all the baking I’ve done over the years, I haven’t tried a loaf of bread from scratch, like, ever.  I’m not talking about banana bread, pumpkin bread, applesauce bread – the mix and bake kind. Done plenty of that.    Something about the active yeast, kneading, rising, pounding, rolling, more rising… was intimidating.  But… is there anything that smells more wonderful or is more satisfying than a fresh warm loaf of home baked bread?  In my book not many things compare.  My Aunt Virginia, who was a prolific baker and maker of delicious italian foods and cookies… had a bread baking machine.  She raved – all you do is throw in the ingredients and it does all the work.   The bread was delicious… but something about that process seemed… fabricated.  
    Recently a blog friend, Diane over at Lavender Dreams , shared a favorite bread recipe on her blog and had been making it for years for her family.   Yesterday when I had finished the barn and coop chores in the chilly autumn morning air, I said… self? Wouldn’t this be an awesome time to get over your bread baking anxiety and just do it?   I needed two ingredients I don’t stock here – active yeast packets and whole wheat flour.  Found them at the grocery store and returned to start the process…

(yep I roll things out right on the counter – cleaned first, of course). 

    After the mixing and rising and kneading and separating into two dough balls and more rising and punching down and rolling and then rolling again, pinching and butter basting and FINALLY… baking…. ooooh, the result was delicious, amazing, hearth warming.  Can you believe I didn’t get a picture of the finished product?  You’ll just have to take my word for it.  And… if you haven’t gotten over your fear of from-scratch bread baking yet, get over it – the end result is so worth the effort.

Thank you, Diane – for unknowingly helping me get over my bread making anxiety.  It’s a beautiful thing.

 

28! Plus Outrageous Truffles and the best Cider ever

  My girlie turns 28 this weekend! It seems it was not so very long ago that she was about to have her fifth birthday party.  I remember oh so clearly how I said to myself as I fastened balloons to the dining room chairs.. well, my first (and at that time only) child is about to be five… If I haven’t screwed up the parenting too badly by now, we should be good to go.   HA!!!  …. Oh, the times to come after that first five years.  Clearly I didn’t hear that little voice exclaiming…. you ain’t seen nothing yet, honey.    
   And that’s not to imply that it wasn’t anything less than a privilege or that I did or didn’t make my fair share of mistakes along the way.  I have been truly blessed to have and to hold and to raise and to scold and especially… to love these two awesome kids of mine. Bear with me while I brag on them just a little.. they’re kind, they’re considerate, they’re hard working and responsible.  Of course they’re also a pain in the arse at times, but truthfully, not often and only in the littlest of unimportant ways.  Hopefully the same can be said for their mother.  
 So today as I set the plates and fasten the balloons in the dining room, I’m saying to myself… Well, if I haven’t screwed up the parenting too bad by now, …heck,  I already know.. we’re good.  We’re more than good.. we’re blessed. 

 Two things I’ll be serving up with dinner this weekend –  These delicious and easy to make Pumpkin Truffles…

These are SOOO GOOD!! and easy to make – 
Dixie Crystals Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles. I recommend doubling the recipe unless you make your truffles tiny. Great to bring to a fall gathering of any kind, to set beside the pies at Thanksgiving, to bring to work to cheer up coworkers – to keep in the fridge for just you to pick on!
Plan For
3 hours chill time
Yield :18 truffles
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
2/3 cup crushed graham crackers, plus extra for garnish
1 ounce cream cheese
1 tablespoon Confectioners Powdered Sugar
5 ounces dark chocolate
DIRECTIONS
Cover a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a microwave safe bowl, microwave white chocolate chips for 30 seconds and stir. If not completely melted, microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth.
Add melted white chocolate chips, pumpkin puree, crushed graham crackers, cream cheese and powdered sugar to food processor. Pulse until a dough forms. Chill dough for 3 hours, or until it is easy to roll into balls (dough will still be sticky).
Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place onto prepared cookie sheet. Chill balls in freezer for 15 minutes.
In a microwave safe bowl, microwave dark chocolate for 1 minute and stir. If not completely melted, microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth.
Dip balls into melted dark chocolate using toothpicks or a fork. Return to cookie sheet and sprinkle tops with crushed graham crackers for garnish if desired.
Let truffles harden on counter for 1 hour or in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

And… this cider recipe… served hot right out of the big pot on the stove.


Hot Buttered Cider with Rum

By 
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • Half-gallon (64 ounces) all natural apple cider
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • Rum (or apple brandy)
  • Cinnamon sticks (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring the apple cider to a simmer over medium heat in a large pot, then turn the heat down to low. Stir in the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Continue stirring until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved.
  2. Ladle the buttered cider into mugs. Top each drink off with a shot of rum and garnish with a cinnamon stick, if desired. Serve hot.

Small town living

  
** I’m aware that some folks are having a real hard time leaving comments here on the blog – I don’t know what the issue is, must be a blogger thing.  I don’t have blocks set up and nothing looks amiss.  I’m sorry for the inconvenience and I appreciate that you’ve attempted to reach me. 

   We live just a few miles from a busy shoreline, but our little town is still considered by many to be living “in the sticks”.  That may have been true years ago, but if you judge by the through traffic that flies up the road past our farm and the fact that I have a Dunkin Donuts, a subway, a bank, a True Value Hardware store and a four star gourmet italian restaurant about a mile from my front door,  I think those who truly live “in the sticks” would get a chuckle at the reference.  The one thing we don’t have is a grocery store, go figure. 
   Because we live in a small town, not much is missed by the masses.  There is a small political group lead by a newcomer to town who are hell bent on trashing the good will we have all granted each other over the years regardless of our differing political views. The following is a piece I posted on Fb that kinda sums up how I feel about the subject of small town life around here…  I bet those of you who live in a small town community can relate.  The photo accompanies the post. 
   This is what a healthy community looks like. So many things this one photo represents- the obvious- a town owned farm long dilapidated and then resurrected mainly by many volunteers and civic groups who often come together regardless of their political affiliations for common goals that benefit generations.
This photo also represents a wholesome family activity away from the iPhone and tv screen and ear buds.. – the tables of pumpkin carvers were filled with all age groups, the young and young at heart. If you didn’t attend, you can still enjoy the fruits of their labor with a simple drive-by at night- the glow of this community effort will warm your heart.
I’ve lived in ******** for over 32 years. So many good and generous and community oriented folks here. I think it’s why we all chose this little town to raise our children. We have been lucky until recently that regardless of our different and varied political views, opinions, beliefs in what was best for our town, we pursued those beliefs while still respecting that we are all neighbors, our children are watching our behavior, and thankfully, political opponents have been respectful of each other. Most of us still believe in this way of life.
The truth about the party system- there are several approaches to building a community, it’s a multifaceted task. All parties have valid concerns and ideas and we won’t always agree on the method . We are not each others enemy. If we treat each other with respect, we can work together and separately to keep our town on track to thrive. It takes a village- and in this little village there is no need or use or want for nasty political jabs. Want to make a difference? Speak with respect and doors open, people listen.
A big Thank you to all the people in our community who show up, reach out, volunteer, speak up, participate, iron out issues and work through problems, differences, needs, etc etc.. together.
    We’ve enjoyed a crazy beautiful summer-like fall so far, and we’re taking advantage of every minute of perfect weather we can.   Stella’s leaves are all raked, acorns picked up, the rest of the furniture put away, and I took another kayak around the cove. The water was crystal clear and chilly, felt so good and refreshing on my feet and hands.  There were indeed some swimmers on Saturday, and I was so tempted to join them. 

   Katherine Hepburn lived just up the coast a few miles back in the day, and she swam in the sound in front of her home daily all year. (that’s her below )  That just seems crazy to me, but there are others who do the same and like Kate, claim it has great health benefits and clears the mind.  ( among other things, i’m thinking!) 

 

     My best girl and I also rode the mini ponderosa here yesterday on our trusty ponies – a glorious day with few bugs on the trail and still – late October, t-shirt weather.  I think the yoga  I’ve been forcing myself to do… and walking/hiking with the dogs  is helping with the stiffness and pain of the   fibromyalgia, because I have not been tremendously sore after these activities… it’s encouraging.

   Here are a few more pictures taken around the farm with my phone – truly these iphones are amazing –  If you had told me 15 years ago we’d be walking around with a little square box that is a mini computer, a phone, a camera, a compass, and so much more, I wouldn’t have believed it. Do you think we’ll see hovering cars in our lifetime?

The light has been glorious, the temps comfortable, the colors not as vibrant as they could be, I’m guessing due to the lack of moisture and the warmer air.. but fall has indeed arrived along with pumpkin spice everything ( I’ve got the yogurt in my fridge to prove it) and I’m savoring every minute.

 Till soon, friends –

Winterized

  We’ve been making little trips down to Stella to batten down the hatches in preparation for the winter season, the Un-Season for summer cottages. Frasier needed some one on one time away from the puppy a/k/a the terr0rist so last week I brought him with me and we  took a walk around the island to bid farewell to the summer breezes, the queen anne’s lace in the little fields by the beach,  the towels hanging over deck rails to dry, the water warm enough to wade in, still.  
There are no more boats in the water, all tucked away till next “season”.  Most folks who live on island for the summer have gone home. Out of the 140 cottages, there are about six winterized homes that are lived in year round.  That must be just a little lonely come those cold winter months.  Or perhaps the solitude is heavenly. 
  While on our walk I discovered a kindness rock placed near the roadside…
   We could all use that reminder, eh? 
  I washed bed linens, folded and stored them and the  pillows in rubbermaid containers lest the meese try to take up residence again.   They shant, I tell you, for we have fortified these walls with mighty….. well I don’t know what we fortified these walls with, but the husband hates meese, so I know he fortified it somehow.  Steel wool also works great in any leftover little peep holes, like where the plumbing comes in.  

   I also emptied the fridge and food from cupboards and the garbage has been collected and the bin taken away – the water will be shut off next week and we’ll blow out the pipes so they don’t freeze and burst.   I’m not sure if I’ll cover the furniture with sheets.  Any of you have a summer place you’ve closed up for periods of time? Advice? 
   
  I plan to check on ole’ Stella often, as she’s just 20 minutes away – and the dogs and I will continue our walks around the island through the winter if snow isn’t too deep. We won’t be alone, as several others do the same.  It’s sad to close her up, though, even for just half a year. 
Till soon, Stella – 
 

We Rise By Lifting Others

   

 Lately I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this quote – one of my favorites.  It’s something that’s totally lost on our current President….the supposed leader of the free world.  Ironic, this.. I remember accusations that Ob*ma was dividing us… if you thought he caused division in our nation, well.. what are you telling yourself now?

  Never thought I’d say this.. but the Orange Scream did himself a disservice by sitting down for an interview with F*x’s S*an Hann*ty. However,  for once SH did us all a favor, shed some light.     Interesting take by Robert Reich…

Last night on his Fox News show, S*an Hannity asked Tr*mp about the success of the U.S. economy in the first 9 months of Tr*mp’s presidency. Tr*mp’s reply:
“The country, we took it over in 20 trillion you know the last eight years they borrowed more than it did in the whole history of our country. So they borrowed more than $10 trillion. Right? And yet we picked up $5.2 trillion just in the stock market. Possibly picked up the whole thing in terms of the first nine months. In terms of value. So you can say in one sense, we are really increasing values and may be in a sense, we are reducing debt. We are very honored by it and very, very happy by what’s happening in Wall Street.”

Tr*mp is arguing that the national debt is being reduced because of the stock market gains.


That’s bonkers. There’s absolutely no connection between the stock market and the national debt. The stock market measures how much wealth is created or lost by large corporations and investors. The national debt is the debt owed by the federal government, which can be reduced only by raising taxes or reducing government spending.


**Tr*mp ran as a businessman who understands the economy. He’s a showman and a conman who appears to understand very little. 


   For those of us who believed he was here for the little guy, going to lift the lower and middle class…  I wonder how that sits with you so far.  His new tax plan is a big bonus for the wealthiest among us.  As the GOP would have you believe, it will trickle down eventually to you and I.  Haven’t we been there before, done that already?  Isn’t that what  they were railing against when they chanted Drain the Swamp?   It’s  the teacher down the road and the baker on Main Street and the mechanic at the garage and the mom and pop gas station owner, the family of four trying to hang on to their house or send their kids to a decent school or the single mom or dad raising kids alone who need the tax breaks. They ain’t getting it. 

  How about the treatment of Puerto Rico – talk about kicking folks when they’re down.   Or the NFL – way to inflame even more!

 Here’s a thought – With a nuclear war a feather tickle away with N. K*rea thanks to the Orange Scream’s inflammatory rhetoric,  Puerto Rico in ruins and we’re calling them lazy and telling them we can’t be there forever!  Wildfires out of control in CA, our healthcare system a bigger mess than ever, another mass shooting – the biggest in our history!, Russian investigations going who-knows-where, 45’s  ridiculous tweets slamming any and all and full of lie upon lie upon fabrication ( he’s twitter-feeding you his own fake news, people! Please call a spade a spade! ) ….  tell me…. how could he possibly believe he’s investing his time wisely by butting in to things like an NFL peaceful protest situation for what is definitely a just cause.  His over-inflated ego won’t allow him to shut up, it’s that simple.  He doesn’t have the class to restrain himself when it isn’t appropriate.   How about sending Pence and family to do his little side show of leaving the game after the anthem because players took a knee – at our expense!…  He’s running this country like a reality TV show and he’s spending millions upon millions of our money on golf weekends. Every. Weekend.   That’s so not cool.     I’m no snowflake, either.

     To so many of us, it appears he’s come undone… the Emperor is wearing no clothes.   And to yet others, well.. bravo! And such beautiful robes!

Go figure.

   So if  you’re also disheartened, whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, a liberal, a snowflake, a right wing nut or a clown in the circus – This is what we all can do if we want to be a part of positive change

  …… We Rise By Lifting Others..……

     Besides taking the time to investigate and vote in responsible, rational candidates with integrity we can rely on in upcoming elections no matter what side of the isle you reside on …  We can continue to look around for ways to volunteer in our communities.  Reach out when we might be  of service to someone in need of a little help.  Hold a door open , mow the elderly neighbors lawn or pick up the wet paper and place it at their door.  Let’s make a pie for the veteran who keeps to himself in the lonely house down the road. Donate stuff you’re not using to Goodwill…. visit a nursing home and bring donuts to the residents. Bring food, old blankets, towels or toys to the local animal shelter. Donate what’s comfortable to you, even $5 makes a dent – to worthy causes, there are so many.  Thank the people who provide services to you – the trash service, the waitress, your mail delivery person, the person in the McD*nalds drive through window. 

   …. speaking of which….. You know what I did recently?  It’s no big deal, I know this.. but boy did it turn my day around and make me feel good.   I grabbed fries and a water at a local drive-thru.  At the window stood a girl who has been working there for years – always with a smile.  I thanked her for always having a cheerful greeting for her customers and handed her $20.   Her eyes lit up and the size of her smile warmed my weary heart.  Then at the grocery store I bought sunflowers and  chocolates and brought them to my dad’s assisted living home.   I plopped them on the nurses station and I said thank you so much for the care you give these residents.

    If you’re still with me here and you have racist or homophobic tendencies… I think if you’re prejudice you know it… well, next time you’re in the vicinity or sharing space with a person of a different ethnicity or lifestyle, black, white, green red or yellow, Don’t shut yourself off.   Be polite – be kind, be open to a conversation. Pay a compliment, hold a door, pay their toll  or coffee if they’re behind you in a line.  Be open to the idea that they are indeed as deserving as you to be in this world, with similar struggles, similar hopes and dreams and fears and loves.  We aren’t all so different.  See how it feels to let go of old habits that serve no one.  You’ll feel better about you, I promise you.

  So who the hell do I think I am?   No one special, but I am definitely someone who wants better for all of us. We are capable of so much more than what we’re seeing right now.   We can be a light in these dark times.  Every drop of water creates the eventual ocean.  We’ve all seen what ripples do… We can rise about all this… one way is to lift ourselves by lifting others. 

Till soon, friends –