Uncategorized – Page 63 – This Old House 2

Ruff start

Frasier was awesome yesterday at the cottage. He stayed right with me as I wandered around and was respectful of the neighbors dogs as well. I dragged my little red Kayak, Ruby, over to the edge of the lawn with the intention of taking Frasier for a ride at some point in the day. We went down to the dock to see what he thought of the water in the cove. At low tide there is actually some beach under the dock.. so he waded in confidently and loved the water. Awesome!

A little while later, we were again sitting on the dock soaking in the sun. Frasier lounged comfortably right along with us, even though the wind had picked up and we were rocking just a little.

He was so good I let him off leash.

He wandered over to the cement pad where we had stepped down onto the beach

early in the morning…

and decided to jump in head first.

That’s a face plant in the water right there.

I guess he thought he could still just walk around as he had

early in the day at low tide.

After I dragged his distressed little self by the collar out of the water,

trying not to drop the camera in the drink,

he was not amused and hightailed it to the top of the stairs.

After a good long while he ventured back down

to beg mom to please lets leave the dock now..

please.

Needless to say, we didn’t get in the boat yesterday.

Today’s not looking good either –

Ahhh……

For the next two weeks we have the use of a tiny cottage on Joshua Cove, not a long drive from here. Today I’m bringing Ruby and maybe Torch to the cove, and I think I’ll throw Frasier in the Jeep too. I want to see how he takes to the water. I’ve gotten permission from the owners, who are truly lovely people, to bring him to the cottage with me on occasion for this purpose. Ruby is not a big kayak and he is a bit of a wuss, not sure how this is gonna go. Years ago I took Bailey kayaking..that’s the white fluff ball on the left… she had a life jacket that had a “handle” along the back part of it. If it were sunny and hot out… I’d dunk her in the water and she’s tread for a minute and then I’d lift her back up. Fraiser is too heavy and too nervous to do that with, but I just gotta see if he’s a seafaring dog. Wish me luck! I might get tossed in the drink.

Last night we had a lovely grill dinner and wine as we watched a big family party of people next door rafting and boating and tubing and drinking and drinking :-).

It’s a new day, all –

Make it a good one!

Extreme

I’ve often talked here about my love for the water and wanting to someday own a little cottage at the shore. And I’ve also talked about how it’s probably going to be an unattainable dream because of the high cost of purchasing and maintaining said cottage. The cost has compounded in recent years due to the increase in hurricane activity on the East Coast and the horrific damage sustained. Not to mention the quadrupled taxes.

Every now and again, though, I get the urge to go check out the waterfront to see if by some chance, some cute little fixer upper comes for sale that might just be do-able anyway… somehow.

That very same scenery I have been driving by for many years is changing in light of the last two hurricanes (both within a year of each other). Heavy damage was sustained and some houses even lost. As these properties are resurrected, there is a new criteria. *sigh*…. they are being jacked up to allow for water to run through them should there be another damaging storm. I don’t know if the insurance companies are insisting or the homeowners are making that decision themselves, but it’s a whole knew look, and I really don’t like it. I would say half of the housing landscape along the shore now looks like THIS….

The trend is to jack the house up, then wrap it with lattice or whatever.

This particular house is just across the street from the water but not directly on it…

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to have to walk up that flight of stairs with groceries, with

beach toys, with the dog on a leash, with food on a tray, etc. etc…

every time I want to get back into the house.

Beach living should be easy, casual, …easy.

And if you own that house jacked up on those stilts,

you’re paying upwards of $11,000. a year in taxes alone.

if it’s a very small house!

So with these new “stilt” developments,

I’ve come to the conclusion, finally,

that the shore before me is not the shore it once was,

and it’s time to lay that dream down and let it go.

The Love Machine…. apparently

When we took Ruby and Torch for a paddle

on the pond a few days back, a woman was sitting in her car

in the parking lot and struck up a conversation with my husband

about the truck.

This truck always get attention when it’s out and about.

No matter where he takes it, someone’s gonna tell him how much they love the truck.

Particularly women.

So after I am standing in that parking lot for 15 minutes

patiently twiddling my thumbs while that lovely woman

went on and on..

The husband and I finally pull the boats down toward the water and he says…

“If I had that truck when I was single I’d be getting laid every day“.

I’m thinking that’s a little ambitious.

*sigh*

The garden that feeds

The garden is in full swing, and it’s a weird garden year,

let me tell ya.

Tomatoes are still mostly green,

just a few wimpy reds so far,

and my new italian ice cherries.

Cucumbers are ridiculously proliferous..

Green squash awesome, yellow squash iffy.

Plenty of beans, we’ve enjoyed those immensely.

yesterdays harvest

In an effort to eat healthier, the husband insisted I stop

displaying CRAP on the kitchen island. Usually there is a pastry stand

with oreos or donuts or cupcakes or whatever…and a nut dish full of pistachios

or sometimes *ahem* M&M’s or candy corn.. or something.

My island now looks like this…

(chai tea yogurt raisins in the jar)

Just so I’m keeping it real here… I haven’t totally given up my wild ways…

Blue frosted chocolate cupcakes reside beside the veggies as we speak.

It is what it is.

The flowers in the vase are picked out in my hay field..

can you identify the species? There are three…

This is what REAL tomatoes look like…

it’s worth the effort to grow them, and all you really need is a pot on a patio.

Last night’s dinner..

apple chicken sausage (YUM!)

yellow squash casserole (double yum!!)

and a slab of tomato doused in olive oil, red wine vinegar, S & P, oregano.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Two nights ago we had this zucchini recipe below.. it is awesomeness!

I used gluten free baking mix instead of the bisquick in the recipe.

Zucchini Pie Recipe

3 cups zucchini, diced
1 onion, chopped
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
½ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup Bisquick
3-4 tsp. chopped parsley
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 350° F. Oil the Small Covered Baker. Beat eggs in large bowl. Add all ingredients and mix well. Turn into prepared Baker. Bake (uncovered) 35-40 minutes until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Where do you find Peace of Mind?

On the pond yesterday

the quiet, the stillness….

no noise but the paddle threading the water.

Soaking in the blue blue sky,

clear autumn-like air

and green hues of the sun-filtered water plants..

… bliss.

You know how I love a good cupcake

Saw this on FB and had to share…

Lemon Pie Cream Cupcakes
Lemon Filling
Recipe from Martha Stewart
-1 1/2 cups sugar
-6 Tbsp cornstarch
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 cup cold water
-1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
-3 large egg yolks, well beaten
-2 Tbsp butter
-1 1/2 cups boiling water
-2 tsp grated lemon peel

In a medium saucepan* whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Slowly add 1/2 cup cold water and lemon juice. Place saucepan over medium-low heat, and whisk until smooth.

Add well-beaten egg yolks and 2 tablespoons butter, and combine well. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until thickened. Add 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Continue stirring until mixture reaches desired thickness, 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove mixture from heat, and stir in lemon peel. Move to a plastic container, cover, and refrigerate until chilled.
*Aluminum is best, but any metal pan will probably leave a bit of a metallic taste.
******

These cupcakes can also be made a day or so in advance, just be sure to cover them well so they don’t dry out.

For Cupcake Crusts:
-2 sleeves graham crackers (18 crackers)
-1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted
-2 Tbsp sugar

Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until you have fine crumbs. Pour into a bowl and mix with butter and sugar until well combined. Put a Tbsp of crust mixture into the bottom of each cupcake liner (already in cupcake tin) and press down well. I use the bottom of a squeeze bottle and it makes this SUPER quick.
Bake 3- 4 min. You will have extra.
*******

Lemon Cupcakes
-1 box Betty Crocker golden vanilla cake mix, and ingredients to make it
-1 tsp lemon extract
-zest of 2 lemons (make sure to grate off only the outer yellow skin, not the bitter white pith underneath!)

Mix together cake mix according to box directions (adding oil, water, and eggs). Stir in lemon extract and lemon zest and mix well. Pour batter into 24 cupcake papers, on top of crusts, and bake according the instructions on the back of the box.

Allow cupcakes to cool completely on cooling racks.
******
Whipped cream for frosting

******

To Assemble Cupcakes:
Cut a conical hole in the center of each cupcake and discard excess cupcake pieces. Fill holes with chilled lemon curd. Swirl tops of cupcakes with whipped cream frosting using a 1M tip.

Cowgirl Up!

We’re having a good time at the horse show this weekend..

Max and K have really gotten to know each other this year,

it’s been such a rewarding experience… in both western and english riding.

Pairing up the old timer with the new kid on the block (K)

was a good move.

He knows his job, but he doesn’t just hand it to her.

If she doesn’t ask the right way, he doesn’t give it.

Yesterday in her first class she got nervous, and so Max

felt the tension and thought there was something to be nervous about.

Needless to say they didn’t do well.

For the second class we explained the importance of

not focusing on the fact that you’re being judged by two people in the ring.

Just focus on relaxing and riding your horse to the best of your ability.

She chilled out.

Max gave her what she asked for.

They won the next class, which was a harder equitation pattern.

Any team is a work in progress, and the journey toward the goal

should be an enjoyable experience.

That’s a good lesson not everyone learns.

The journey is the reward.

Some well deserved grazing at the end of a long hot dusty day.

Of Ice and Men

I tried a new variety of tomato in the garden this year…

found in the Burpee catalog..

Italian Ice cherry tomatoes…

They’re not red.. they mature to a white/yellow

and oooh boy are they good. Sweet!

Where do the men come in?

My guys are making a little shed for my chicken coop supplies,

currently housed in a big rubbermaid tub, and that just ain’t cuttin it.

I love them dearly, I do.

I want to thank you for all the words of encouragement and support in

my foray into painting again… you guys are the best cheerleading section a gal

could ever have. Seriously.

Off to a four day horseshow with the girlchild and Max…

It’s the start of a new weekend, all –

make it a good one!

Giving it another go

Back in the day… I played musical instruments and I drew and painted stuff. I had the time to nurture creativity and I dreamed of doing that for a living. Then reality took over — grown-up life got hectic with a job, then marriage and a family to raise..and of course the farm life with the work that entails. I’m not complaining, it’s all good.

Now that the family is just about grown and I don’t have to punch a clock at an office somewhere… I want to encourage my creative side again. I’d love to pick up an instrument and play again, but my hearing impairment hampers that tremendously. I have no excuse not to pick up a pencil or paint brush though, and at the beginning of the summer I had a moment. I was kayaking down the Menunketesuck River with camera in tow… and witnessed this moment of morning summer light and reflection on water that I felt could be a painting. So I took the picture and studied it at home.

Then I went to the art supply store and held the photo up to the girl working behind the counter. I said…” I want to paint this. Help me. ” You see… when I was younger I painted and then quit, because my work was flat. There was something missing in the depth of it all. I asked her to set me up with the right equipment to paint this painting, and I’ll see if I can figure it out this time.

We walked around the store as she picked this and that out, just the basics to start me off. She only pulled about eight colors off the paint rack… (oils) … and didn’t grab black. I said… “Don’t I need black for this painting?”… and she replied… “Well, you can buy one if you want, but here is something I learned in my painting classes……. NEVER use straight black. MAKE it… using other colors. In nature, there is no black… there is light reflecting off objects, which creates the colors you see. Also….. the trouble with oils is most people don’t have the patience to let the layers dry. Work from back to front, background to foreground”.

It was an AHA! moment for sure.

So I brought my supplies home and set up the easel in my living room. I got to work and this time had the patience to let the layers dry as I went… setting the whole thing aside for days at a time (oils take days to fully dry). I created the areas of darkness (not black!) with Raw Umber, reds, greens and blues. Go figure.

And holy cow, just like that, my painting was no longer – flat –

Now, I’m no professional artist, but I’m happier with the results and it feels so good to nurture creativity in this way again… all these years later.

Original photo