Tag: Recipes

The One Without A Post Title…

 .. because sometimes it just doesn’t come to you. And this one’s a real rambler – Got coffee? 
    We had a wonderful Father’s Day down at the cottage.  My guy hardly ever takes a day off. His work ethic is why we have the nice things we have, but as I say often and more frequently lately…. what good is all that hard work/effort if you don’t get to enjoy it?    I’m happy to report the Mr. spent most of the day relaxing at the shore, a much needed reprieve and reward for the most dedicated and loving father I could have ever asked for for  my children. 
When we pull around that corner onto our cottage road, it’s like taking a deep cleansing breath.  
     Last week I painted the steps that go down into the water.  Throughout the summer they get coated with algae, etc. and become very slippery.  I scrubbed them with baking soda and that helped, but it had to be done regularly and it was just one more thing to do.  A neighbor a few cottages down used boat bottom paint with sand mixed in to paint his steps. The result is a sandpapery surface, non-slip.  So, I bought a gallon of the stuff – ($150!!??) and painted the steps – the blue is a bit outlandish – but there aren’t many choices in boat bottom paint colors.  It works like a charm. 
    Then.. on Sunday my son blew up the inflatable four person raft and I am proud to report I dropped my first anchor –  yes I did. I waded out there with anchor, chain, float thing and ropes, sunk it good in the muck… kicked another anchor in the process… ick…. (the cove is an anchor graveyard) … and we proceeded to pop the float as we pulled it over the cedar railing.  *sigh.  Stuck some tape on it…. and tested it out… 

    The tape held and I went back out there yesterday with a pool patch kit – hopefully that will be that. I’ll keep you posted. 
   As for my own father on Father’s Day – my sister came to visit and took him out to lunch, so I was relieved of duty and yes, that sounds as awful to me as it probably does to you.   I’ll stop by today with his gift, and bring him anything he needs.  It will always feel like a chore in some ways, and that’s not an easy truth for me to admit, but it is what it is.  He is not an evil person in any way – he’s just devoid of the type of normal emotions or actions or whatever it is I’m searching for  that one would want to have with a parent.  If you look up the term narcissist, that’ him in a nutshell.   Being a devoted daughter to a narcissist father is something I don’t describe well and it doesn’t come naturally,  in fact I’m still coming to terms with the feelings that accompany it but at least there is far less anger now.  That’s good for my own health, never mind his. 
   So, on Father’s Day I reveled in time spent with my guy and our children and my mom – whom has in some ways been both parents for my sister and I and grandparent to my children. 
 Let me just put some high praise here for her mean, clean, refreshing, rejuvenating summer elixir of a gin and tonic… 

     On the better health front… I continue the light weight training, walking, kayaking, and attempts at better food choices.  I say “attempts” because I still cheat with pizza or a cupcake but I’m getting better at it, dropping some weight and toning up.   Don’t ever give in just because you’re not perfect.  No one is perfect, no one gets it’s right 100 percent of the time.  FUCK PERFECT – am I clear?   I’m going to share with you a photo of my 61 year old friend, a personal trainer who is brutally honest in her own trials and tribulations and I think she gets it absolutely right on aging well and being kind to yourself – and NEVER GIVING UP. 
 Yep – this is  Joey at 61, pretty amazing – not claiming perfection, not a care free life – she’s had her share of  woes and  tended agining and ill parents , raised three kids and mended a sick  child and husband and worries about finances and health  and suffers injuries and and and… … 
  Her words on a recent FB post –    “Coming up on the end of my 61st year (for those not in the know, your birthday makes the end of a year not the beginning) meaning I’ll be 61 but in my 62nd year of life. I continue to persist in the fight against aging with the biggest tool in the box – strength training. Add a few short cardio bursts and a restorative class like stretch or yoga each week and you’ve done your best. Never give up!”  Another Joey gem –   “I think people get unhappy with progress and give up, but it’s a disservice to their future health and mobility, hence deterioration.  KEEP MOVING. 
     
  So yeah.. we can all find excuses.  And sometimes – especially with fibromyalgia pain! … it just doesn’t feel awesome to keep moving – but we must. Life and the effort we have to put into it is worth every extra step taken –  Just do it.  


      Have a good week, all – sharing a NOT GOOD FOR YOU pie recipe, because hey I already told you I ain’t shooting for perfection and what says Summer is Coming 💦🍈 better than a Lemonade Pie, I ask you…. 
*not my picture or recipe – recipe link below… 
         Lemonade Pie


Have a good week, all –  




Berries and Gardens

  I loved so many things about my Grandmother, Elsie.  She was one heck of a great cook and baker, our family was treated to many a three course meal at her elegant dining room table, good china used regularly! ..( I think my mom still has it).  Boy, could she make a mean pie – Apple, Chocolate Cream, Banana cream, Blueberry –  and speaking of blueberries – she knew how much I loved them. Often when I came to visit,  she would offer me one of my favorite snacks – a bowl of blueberries in heavy cream with just a little sugar sprinkled on top.  To this day it’s one of my favorites… 
   With global food transport nowadays, you can get just about anything at any time of year.  But, when berry season comes around, I buy local and oooh, that fresh local berry taste!  Of course, blueberries and strawberries, blackberries and raspberries warm from the sun, fresh off the vine and popped right in your mouth is the absolute best, and we tried to create that experience here on the farm – more than once.  The bird and insects and bunnies won out, however, and we gave up that ship eventually.  
 Along with my love of berries comes a love for warm berry cobbler, berry pies, scones, the list goes on. Below are a few recipes I’ve found over the years and prove to be a hit –  *these are not my recipe, nor are they my pictures.   Served warm with slightly melty vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream, delish! 




  Now, on to the gardens.  
   We had a glorious weather day yesterday, so I took advantage and stuff got done here at the farm in the gardens. 
   First, we got rid of all the knock.out roses we planted around the foundation of the house 9 years ago when restoration was complete, because despite their reputation for being a really easy rose,  they turned out to be a pain in the @$$.  They just were never truly happy – between the bugs and the rain rot and the mold and the grubs and the beetles and the worms –  we finally ripped them out and replaced them with some interesting shrubbery… 
Below is a shrub that’s new to me –  an orange Azalea that has a lovely scent – 
 In front of the back porch –  (this picture taken just minutes ago – yes, rain again. )   I planted two spirea yellow/green leaf)  and another in the center, who’s name I have forgotten.   There are day lilies  and Sweet William in front of them,  a hydrangea to the left, bee balm,  daisies and two large shrubs who’s name I have also forgotten on the right, that have tripled in size in one year. 
Three of the four shrub nest babies have hatched! They are Chipping Sparrows, 
thank you to Florida Farm Girl,  who correctly identified the parents! 
I cleaned up the bird bath garden –  and beyond it you see our vegetable garden. 
   
      The raised beds are now full with Tomatoes, yellow stringbeans, purple peppers, sweet basil, eggplant (the little ivory and purple striped variety)  artichoke – because my son wanted to try them, Spinach, dragon tongue beans (yellow purple stripe) and two rows of Zinnia (Thanks, H).  

 Over at the shed in the little Pig Garden … 

     It felt so good to get all that in the ground, I separated some perennials that could afford the thinning  ( well I could sure afford some thinning)  in the remaining shrub pots and brought them down to Stella by the Sea this morning and planted those too, before the raindrops began to fall.

Some gems hand painted in water color by Susan Branch…

 I’ll just never be a toenail painting chick, and I suppose this blog is as close to a diary as I’ll ever get,  but the rest of it sound perfectly wonderful to me.

Thanks for stopping by –

    

    

Seaside Gardening

  Last year was *renovation year *for Stella – we had a lot of work to do, the smaller details had to wait.  Because the entire 300 acre parcel of land that these cottages sit on used to be home to many cows,  still is on a portion inland, the soil is rich.  Many of the cottages on island have little gardens, right now the daffodils planted along the little roads and in cottage gardens are in full bloom, some tulips too.  
 Stella’s street side… 
    This year I want to concentrate a little more on the  garden spots around our cottage.  The past few days have been in the 80’s –  wow! .. and that allowed me to get some serious gardening done.   I went to a nearby garden center and picked  up a flat of hot pink geraniums for the pots around the place.

Those two chubby toads came with the place..
I didn’t have it in me to kick them out. 
       On the street side,  I planted a few varieties of Iris  and purple balloon flower to blend with the Astilbe, hosta, hydrangea and something with a name I can’t remember but given to me by our dear friend, BJ, just down the road.  I also bought a bird bath which Momma Robin up in the porch has been using frequently.    She’s not happy we’ve returned. 
  There’s a perfectly good and quite charming birdhouse installed just 15 feet away in the large oak tree.  For whatever the reason, the birds ignore it completely, go figure. 
  
     Below is Stella’s waterfront, as seen from our neighbor’s yard. 
We’ve got a grub situation, so the Type A husband who likes the perfect
lawn is a bit frustrated with the patchy look. 
I say life’s too short to care about perfect lawn. 
He’s having none of it and is down there
this morning tackling the grubs.
May the force be with him. 

 In the firepit garden I have planted some Speedwell and 
Red Jewel to blend with the daisies I took from This Old House
and  Alium and native cranberry bushes. 
 Within a few years this should all fill in nicely, with something 
always in bloom throughout the summer. 
Sage and Lavender grow in a little patch on the other side
of the patio. 
I  also spent the last few days washing down surfaces,  mopping floors, 
running throw rugs and towels etc. through the washer, 
making beds and dusting furniture. 

   We’re still waiting for the new couch and recliner to be delivered – 

     And the refrigerator is stocked with water, gatorade, coke, dove ice cream bars, hotdogs, hamburgers,  cheddar, condiments and beer,  just the bare necessities to get the season started.  We also have enough toilet paper and paper towels for the next generation of inhabitants.  Notice a globe missing from the  light in the ceiling.  Yep, sometimes, you think you’re doing a good thing, and then you drop the globe in the sink just to add some excitement.  Fingers crossed they still make replacement globes for what I call the spider light.

Sharing a few summer recipes I am going to serve 
on Stella’s deck this summer
 – found them on pinterest 
(not my photos or recipes!) 
 We’re all trying to make healthier food choices – 
these fit the bill and are refreshing on hot summer days. 
Summer Corn Avocado Black Bean Dip 
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Watermelon Spa Smoothie
Found on Pinterest


Ingredients

    • 1 cup chopped watermelon
    • ½ cup chopped peeled cucumber
    • 6 ice cubes
    • Squeeze of lime juice
    • 2 teaspoons agave nectar (optional)
    • 1 tablespoon mint leaves for garnish

Directions

  • 1Combine watermelon, cucumber, ice cubes, lime juice and agave (if using) in a blender. Puree until smooth. Garnish with mint, if desired.

Glorious Day!

    Glorious morning turned to a glorious day! – even the chickens were excited when I turned them out for a few hours while doing barn chores.  Bugs everywhere ! – a chickens dream come true. 
    It feels so darn good to  MOW THE LAWN again!  I wasn’t sure mother nature was ever gonna let that happen , like.. ever.. again!  I don’t mow the lawn here at the farm – it’s acres worth so I leave that up to the menfolk.  But Stella – well, her little postage stamp grass plot is totally doable – even with a manual push mower – you remember those, don’t ya?  I get a lot of satisfaction out of that little chore, believe it or not.  
    Once the water is turned on for the season (any day now) we’ll spend more time down there giving her a thorough Spring Cleaning and some repair work to the cement dock/launch pad. 
  I did this again too – 
I actually felt guilty sitting down at waters edge for no more than 15 minutes, knowing I had chores waiting for me here at home – how silly is that?  Truly – we all need to grant ourselves permission to stop and smell the roses – for more than 15 seconds. The recharge is necessary for our well being, our sanity.  Why all the effort if we can’t relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor?  Does it sound like I’m trying to convince myself here? Yep and yep again.  
I discovered there are now FOUR eggs in the porch nest at the cottage – and they are Robin eggs, not a catbird.  Momma Robin was there today very annoyed with the racket I was making. 
Meanwhile, back at the farm – this picture taken just minutes ago of the Purple Finch babies in the nest behind the lantern porch outside my office door.  Can you believe the difference in just a few days?  Birds are amazing for so many reasons. 
   Do you like to cook?  I  ordered this cookbook on Amazon, have already made three recipes out of it, and it is my favorite already.  This is gooood home cooking from scratch but not too complicated.. absolutely delicious, fresh food.  I am not paid to say anything on my blog, no ads here, just honest recommendation when I find something I love. 
  So far, the Parker House Rolls (so damned good they oughta be illegal – you know, that buttery, crusty, salty combination of a good roll that melts in your mouth – so good it’s bad! ) , Beef Chili and Chicken Cacciatore are divine! Delish!  Picky Husband approved!  And there is everything in this book, from apps to soups to salads, dinners, desserts and even drinks…

Some moon shots I took the other night – still learning some of the more technical settings that would require manual reading – bleh, not a strong suit of mine,  map reading, ditto – thank the lord for Nav in the car.  …. .
   Today – My husband just returning home from a long day of work, and this is what I saw  –   
   Apparently sometimes those last 30 steps to the house are just too much…. 

    So go… sit for a spell – somewhere that brings you peace of mind.  Someplace that lets you breathe deep and exhale slowly. Thank the powers that be and your own power – for all that is good. Don’t forget to record the moment and  take a selfie without worry of no-makeup and unbrushed hair and wrinkles and fat rolls  .. and.. and.  Because we’re just so damned lucky to be alive and relatively well.  That’s the cake –  The rest is icing. 
     

Till soon – 
  

What’s Soda got to do with it?

  A long time ago we were big soda drinkers.  A staple on my husband’s family’s dinner table when he was young –  a bottle of orange or coke or rootbeer soda.   We smartened up years ago, and only occasionally enjoy the original Coke or a good Root Beer.  But.. there are some fun recipes that are thoroughly enhanced by the addition of soda, like this cake below, using (my teeth ache just thinking about drinking this stuff)  Mountain Dew!   This is a nice light cake – not good for you at all in the healthful eating sense, but sometimes you just gotta give yourself a treat that has no other benefit than the YUM factor.  Because CAKE. 
Mountain Dew Bundt Cake


Ingredients 
1 box Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme cake mix 
1 (3.4 ounce) box Lemon Jell-O instant pudding mix 
4 large eggs 
1 (12 ounce) can Mountain Dew  (equal to 1 1/2 cups if you’re pouring from a bottle of pop)
** I used Sprite instead of Mountain Dew
1/2 cup oil 
Glaze
1/2 cup unsalted butter 
1 cup sugar
10. 1/2 cup Mountain Dew  
 Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  (yep, 325)  Grease and flour a 10-cup Bundt cake pan/tube pan
. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix with the pudding mix. Add the eggs and oil, then
slowly add the Mountain Dew. Mix at medium speed until blended.  Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in
the center comes out clean.  Let the cake cool in the pan for five minutes, then transfer cake to a wire rack. 
 Glaze directions:  While cake is still slightly warm, melt 1/2 cup unsalted butter in a saucepan over low heat.
Add 1 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup Mountain Dew to the melted butter. Turn up heat and bring to
a boil, stirring often. Boil for two minutes and remove from heat.
8. Poke holes in cake with a wooden skewer or the tines of a fork, then spoon hot glaze over
cake.  Cool completely before serving.  
    This photo, taken at Barbara Bush’s funeral services, makes me smile for several reasons.  And that’s all I’m going to say about that. 
*yesterday he was admitted to the ICU,  doesn’t surprise me that he
might go so shortly after her passing. They were a team in every sense 
of the word.   Life without her must be unimaginable for him. 
  I’ve been debating changing blog platforms to WordPress, simply because Blogger is free and powered by Google and therefore there are no guarantees it will be around forever – think of seven years of blogging all gone should they decide to fold.  Anyone out there have experience with WordPress?  Opinion?  It seems like it might be more technical than I’d like.  I am NOT tech savvy, and blogger has been relatively easy. 
   Another blogger with a much larger following posed the question – where are you from?  I enjoyed reading the answers and learning where her many readers hail from and live now. So, I’d like to do that here.  Years ago this blog had a lot more traffic as we documented the resurrection of The Old House.  Now, on average, approximately 150 readers stop by here  daily as you browse blogs and a handful of you leave comments on occasion, which I enjoy reading. If you’re so inclined, in the comments, leave your  city or state or town of origin, other areas you’ve lived and where you live now (just what you’re comfortable with).  I’d love to hear from you. 
  It’s a new day, all – let’s make it a good one.   PS – the sun is SHINING here again today – Amen!  

Little reprieves, a Seaside Stroll and a healthy recipe for Bikini Season (ha!)

  Still real chilly around here. 30 degrees on April 20th.  
   Ask me how much I love Friday mornings, when my daughter comes to the farm to do the barn chores and I get to lounge around a little before getting on with the day.  I’ve been taking care of horses for 34 years now.  For 34 years, no matter what the weather, twice daily, I have been up and out to the barn to feed and water and muck and rake and turn out …then to do it again in the evening.  That’s on top of raising a family, holding down whatever jobs I’ve had (worn several hats in that department) and hold down the family fort.

   There’s no doubting – animals (in particular, livestock)  are a huge commitment.  Eight years ago I added chickens to the mix and I absolutely love them.   I wouldn’t trade it, it’s a life I chose and worked for and defend now and then… but there are moments when I look forward to an easier life.  That won’t happen until my geriatric crew has all passed on, for I won’t give up on them up in their golden years . They’ve all been with me a long time, done their jobs, brought me much joy (ok maybe not on those really frigid mornings and evenings when my boots are soggy and fingers stinging cold before I’m halfway through. ) 

   Someday, we will move down to live at the summer cottage from June through September of our golden years, when we don’t have the herd up on the hill to tend to.  I might just bring a very small flock of chickens and of course, my dogs, with me. 
  For now, we’ll enjoy Stella as we currently do – with day trips and evening strolls and dinner on the deck and swimming and clamming and kayaking in the cove.   💗
   Despite the cold and snowy rainy weather, I’ve been taking the dogs for walks when it won’t soak me. Frasier and I went down to the cottage two days ago to explore a little beach we hadn’t known was open to all residents and get our exercise in.  Although it was yet another gray day, we saw signs that the Island is definitely beginning to wake up.  Our neighbor, just in from her own walk, had deposited mulch bags around her spring garden, and another was opening up windows, airing out her cottage. 

Garlic Mushroom Quinoa recipe HERE. 
Always looking for healthy meal choices,
this looks pretty good…  and bikini season
is just around the corner, don’t ya know.
Time to work off the donuts.. (ha!) 

  Till soon, friends –  

A Rambler

   I joined Weight Watchers yesterday after a good friend told me how much success she’s had with it so far.  Menopause hit me last year and the ensuing ten pounds plus the extra 15 I was already carrying  have been miserable to get off.  As in.. despite my regular exercise efforts and all the barn work I do,  it hasn’t budged.   Having been newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year too,  I think the extra weight isn’t doing me any favors in that department either.  
     
    Part of the problem is I’m definitely  a) a grazer and b) I LOVE FOOD.  I mean I LOOOOOVE food.  And I like making and baking it for others too.   I’m not much of a drinker, an occasional glass of wine or Gin andTonic at a social gathering is about all I might have, so that’s not a piece of the equation.  So far I’m finding WW is easy to follow, the phone app that helps you keep track of the points system is extremely useful.  I’ve already cut gluten out of my diet and now I’m cutting out as much sugar and salt as is humanely possible.  Yep, I meant humane…  because ME.   I’ll let you know how it goes – day 2, so far, so good.  My mission is to lose 25 lbs and no, I’m not going to share my starting weight because OMFG.     Pardon the profanity. It fits. 
*ahem. 
    Netflix is new to the husband and I this winter, and although we aren’t big TV watchers, it’s been so darn cold here in New England we’ve had plenty of time at night sitting by the fire to catch up on all those series others have recommended.  
     Grace & Frankie –  I absolutely love it.  I’ve seen all kinds of hate posts in reviews of the show about Jane Fonda, she’s anti American, blah blah blah… and although I was too young to fully have a grasp of  the Vietnam horrors until reading about them after the fact, I’ve read the stories of her  protests of the war and some behavior I’m sure she wishes now she never engaged in.  Actually she has said that very thing.   And the most basic truth here – can anyone blame her for being against that atrocity of a war?   Anyway, she and Lily Tomlin along with the rest of the cast are hilarious and the show does tackle real life issues and gives that podium to our older generation. 
     Homeland –  Well, what should I say  – there’s some tremendously good acting here – and you come to really care about some of the characters – but after a while, the constant high pitch intensity  and how many times can one person be kidnapped or blown up and survive and move on to the next crisis, like immediately…  is exhausting.  In the series, Claire Danes’ character, Carrie, suffers from bipolar disorder. I give the show and Claire credit for what I believe is handling the difficult road of managing that illness well.  I can’t help but feel the entire show is trying to handle it’s own version of a difficult illness, though,  because of the constant hyperactive loop it and she  runs through over and over.   The series is  so good in other ways I keep returning to watch the next episode. 
   Game of Thrones –  The first time I tuned in, years ago, I thought it looked like nonsense and I didn’t bother finishing the episode.  Well, hell.. I was wrong.  If you watch from the beginning, it is amazing to me how much of it can be applied to real life circumstances of today, real struggles in our societies, leadership, governing law.. and lawlessness, good versus evil, power, greed, corruption,  redemption and love.  There’s some  eye candy, of course, and dragons – always a good thing –  and the period dress and sets/scenery are beautiful.  My favorite character?  Surprised me!   – Tyrion Lannister played by the remarkable Peter Dinklage.  His character in my opinion is one of the most intelligent and intriguing of all.  Some of the lines in the show, and many by him… are priceless. 
     I ‘ve seen some pretty hateful posts on some of my friends  FB feeds lately and I’m trying to just leave it. That in itself is a miracle for me, I admit it .
     I said this on my own page, though, and I’ll say it here … it’s possible to express concerns and opinions without hateful comments, without sharing false information, without trying to shame people, without cruelty. The current President would cheer us on and uses that brand of behavior himself…  and that’s a damned shame… but we don’t have to feed off of it.
    We are better than this ugliness and I’m getting tired of seeing it in my own feed.  We don’t all agree on some big issues, but that’s life. Whether we agree with each other on any current issue or not, let’s debate it,or not, with the respect we would display if face to face. I wish folks would stop sharing fake news, seriously –  spend the moments it takes to verify.  Can’t we leave the hate out of  comments and stop share hateful material just because it lines up with one’s beliefs. 
      It’s possible to get the ear of someone who may think differently if we can all do it respectfully. That kind of communication builds roads instead of blowing them up. The only way to fix this clusterf*ck we have now is to come together instead of encouraging divide and hate. Pardon the profanity again – it still fits. 

   Are you still with me?   If you’ve trudged through all the above,  you deserve a great cake recipe I found on another blog.   I’m making this for my son’s birthday next week – will let you know how it turns out.  Looks delicious and a Spring kind of refreshing, doesn’ t it?   (Just Hush) 

Orange Cake 🍊
– recipe found HERE. 

The VIP Room

    
    We are lucky to live right up the road from a very good restaurant.   Our town used to be labeled as “out in the sticks”, but that’s not really true anymore.  We still don’t have a grocery store or an official post office, but we are fairly close to those things in the next town over and we do have local restaurants, a Dunkin, A Subway, a good bakery, a big hardware store, a few gas stations and packages stores (of course!)  and a bunch of other small businesses, with the bustling CT shoreline and outlet centers just three miles down the road. 
   Last night we gathered at that very good restaurant to celebrate a family member’s birthday, and because Wednesdays are a slow night and the owner appreciates our friendship and occasional business, we were given the VIP room, normally reserved for Very Important People.
   

   
      Being hearing impaired,  I tend to observe people more than participate in conversations in a situation like this.  What I saw last night where cousins and brothers and sisters and moms and dads an restaurant workers, patrons  and business owners relaxed and happy, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.  It didn’t matter what was being said… the mood was evident, refreshing, downright inspiring.  Remember that coke commercial back in the day?   “I’d like to teach the world to sing.. in perfect harmony”….   that.  
   I’m still riding that wave we all caught last night, and I plan to encourage it wherever I can. 
    We celebrate several birthdays at this time of year and I have cake in my thoughts and prayers, lol.  This one… oooh dear.  I think I’m gonna try it, gluten free if that’s possible.  Click link for recipe. 





   I’m in love with that jadite cake stand.

   Current situation at This Old House…  the storm two days ago brought about 10 more inches of snow, and there’s talk of another on the horizon next week.   Uncle. 
   
Till soon, friends – 

Love On the Rocks

    This weekend’s weather can be summed up in one word.  WET.   And ya know? That’s really just fine, because doing farm chores in the rain is easier than doing farm chores in snow and ice, truth.
     M and I took a ride down to the cottage yesterday longing for spring  to “check on things”  and I brought my big lens in case there were some good shots to be had.  Indeed there were… crumby weather can set a great mood in photographs.. as evidenced below.  People often think a good picture day is sunshiney and bright, but  sometimes you get an even better mood in your photos on a gloomy day. 

     Below are a few homes that sit on the rocks  that are the Thimble Islands,  more on those HERE.   There’s a fun boat tour you can take to explore the islands, too.  Link HERE.    I  love them all.   There are currently a few for sale… you, too, can own your own Treasure Island, all one would need is a big lottery win and a boat, for that’s the only way to get to these islands. Link HERE.  And another COLORFUL one HERE.  Check out that interior!   Our little Stella sits in a cove just around the bend.

   We had lunch at our favorite little spot in Stony Creek with the Thimbles out in the distance.  It’s a simple place with good, healthy food choices.  We covet the marble tables inside,  well worn ancient  treasures with a history nobody seems to know.  If you look real close you can see that old gas pump and a few of the islands out in the distance. 
    While there we browsed a health food booklet with a recipe for butternut pecan bread the husband wanted to try.    We picked up a butternut squash at the nearby market and I made the bread when we arrived home.  First, the squash had to be baked and mashed, then the rest of the recipe prepared. It is a delicious treat on a dreary winter day and I just had a piece for breakfast, too. 
  These  ceramic measuring cups are one of my favorite things in the kitchen… found them at a local shop but you can buy them at Wayfair too, link  HERE.   They are made by Creative Co-op.  They’re colorful, easy to use, and look pretty on the counter, which is where I keep them.

    I hope wherever you are, you’re having a good day. Till soon, friends –  

Grey and Red

      Our New England landscape can be summed up in one word – Grey.  We’ve got snow flurries and then rain on the horizon, so I fed and watered  the boyz up at the barn  and the girlz in the coop and cleaned out their living quarters, left top doors open for fresh air and they are snug and dry in the barn for the day. 
  The horse closest to you in this picture is  Max2 , now 31 years of age, that’s ancient in horse-life. He’s owned by a friend of ours.    Our Max – in the rear here, is Max1.   Opie, my redhead,  stands in the middle, the brat  boss of our little herd for sure. 
     Once I got all that accomplished and took a long hot shower to start the day, I drove to the nearest grocery store and picked up a few things to make a good, hearty soup for tonight’s supper.   Even the bleak grey days of winter can be beautiful…. 
  I got the idea for this throw together soup after reading Debbie’s post this morning on THIS blog.
   Basically, I sauteed some turkey kielbasa in my most favorite cooking tool in the house – my  big red Le Creuset pot.   Then I removed the sauteed sliced Kielbasa and added a little butter, chopped red pepper and sweet onion. When that was slightly tender and beginning to brown, I threw in some chopped garlic, shredded carrot, chopped celery, and let that saute a little more.  Then I added a can of crushed tomatoes, a can of cannellini beans, and chicken stock, enough to make it soupy.  Threw the Kielbasa back in and it’s all simmering low on the stove till this evening.  About 15 minutes before serving, I’ll throw in a bunch of baby spinach so the spinach is cooked but not drowned. The house already smells like  welcome home. 
   Speaking of which… This starting combination of  (red sweet) peppers, onions and garlic always reminds me of the very first time it occurred to me I was really going to enjoy cooking.  
    The Mr. and I were dating and I was cooking a meal for him for the first time.  At that time I had been living with my Aunt, finishing school, held two jobs and a barn full of horses to help take care of.  Busy girl, no time for cooking.   I had no idea what I was doing  and was on the phone with my Aunt several times during the course of the meal prep asking questions with the hope that I wouldn’t royally screw it up.  M was at work, thankfully, not aware of the mess I was making in his kitchen.   
     
     Well, that first meal consisted of a chicken dish that began with a pepper, onion, garlic sauteed in butter combination.  oh, that heavenly scent.. I was THRILLED that I had created that delicious aroma with just those ingredients sauteeing in a pan.  From that moment on I paid more attention to the art of cooking,  experimented some and followed recipes handed down in my family, most of which I still use today –  Mom makes a mean stew and I haven’t tweaked it in all these years. My grandmother and Aunt also legendary in our family for their good home cooking, I guess I got some of that from them.  They were all better about doing the dishes immediately after the sit-down,though.  On that I am the great procrastinator.  
      
 

   

        Till soon, friends…