Tackling the bookcase...

Lilacs from a friend.

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher have decided they don't have room for the large bookcase (which resides in his former bedroom) in their townhouse so I'm claiming it for my own.   I warned him it may not be available when they move into a house and he understands.  After all, it was originally in my bedroom.  :)

This means boxing up most of his books.  I'm going to keep his favorites and classics on bottom shelves since he does come home for those quite often.  I will also be sorting through all the college notebooks which now reside precariously on top of the bookcase.  I figure I'll put the papers into their own box for him to peruse someday.

This is my new rainy day project when I can't get outside to tackle the veggies, flora, and fauna.   We had a thunderstorm come through last night and sprinkles off and on this morning.  So much for planting veggie and herb seeds this morning but perhaps the soil will dry out enough by the afternoon.  I can't wait until everything is planted and growing.

I haven't budgeted any flowers, yet... but I'm thinking of staying with the yellow, red, and blue theme on the deck and perhaps just red geraniums by the porch.  My two very favorite garden looks are "a wild English garden" (which Hubby hates) or simply red geraniums in terra cotta planters (which he likes).

Speaking of Hubby... he's going to be working on a project this afternoon so I am going to take over use the computer to start Saturday's and perhaps Sunday's posts.  At least if I get a good start, it will be easy to fill in the remainder when I can hop on the computer (not literally mind you) from time to time.  One hopes...

Gardening and links...

My herb garden before cleaning and weeding a few days ago.  :)

I can't believe how it went from really cold to blazing hot here within 1 1/2 days!  I've only been able to work in the garden just a little at a time, having not become acclimated to the high temperatures.

However, hubby was able to dig up two wheelbarrow loads of compost from the compost pile we let sit (covered) through last year.  I put some of the compost in the bed where my tomatoes were planted this morning and the other half in the raised bed where my green beans will be planted tomorrow.

The entire second wheelbarrow of compost went into the "new" square raised bed we built two years ago.  It never had enough soil in it so this year it was given an extra special amount, all its' own.  I've planted herbs in it, wanting to extend my herb garden.

I'll have pictures soon.  If I remember to get AA batteries (yes, I used all my extras without purchasing a backup package).  I'll get voted out of the Pantry Union for something that simple.

Here are the links I really enjoyed this week.  Two are about gardening and the other is from my daughter's blog and how she has been "decorating by tweaking".  :)

Stephanie's living room looked pretty before but I love the changes she made... here.  They reflect so much of her personality and what she enjoys.

Manuela has long provided an inspiration for my garden and I've learned so much from her through the years.  Especially how to have a beautiful garden on a budget.  Which is what this post is all about... here.

I also read another wonderful garden post titled Grow the 7 most profitable vegetables in your garden.  Since we did not extend the garden this year, I had to give up the space I usually grow kale to add additional herbs but this post made me glad I did.  You can find that link... here.

Enjoy reading them!  Now I must check up on the onions I have caramelizing in the iron skillet.  Something I normally would not do while on the computer but I needed to accomplish both tasks at once.  I don't smell anything burning.  So far...

My World this Week

The dogwood in May

I am busy getting the garden ready to plant.  My dining room table is covered with veggie plants, herbs, and seed packets... near record low temperatures this past weekend prevented planting (the owner of the nursery was on the evening news warning people to wait if possible).

Now we are expecting near record high temperatures by tomorrow... sheesh.  No wonder the groundhog was confused this year.

Re-Reading

I've been re-reading this for further encouragement as I reorganize and declutter even more.

Tweaking the buffet for Spring

I decided to display a couple teacups which I haven't had out in ages.  They are both shades of yellow that makes me happy just looking at them.

Both of the flower bouquets are made of silk flowers.  They add so much color to the area and they don't need to be watered.  ;)

Tweaking the kitchen

I'm still tweaking the placement of the vintage-look canisters but everything else is the same.  Just imagine the antique Ball jar where the canister is and visa versa.

Very soon I'll write more about La Vita Vera.  :)

Beautiful gift

I'm showing this beautiful needlework gift from Deanna because many of you saw her post about it on her blog a few weeks ago.

I think it was suppose to be a surprise but I left a comment that I had planned to make this same needlework eventually!   It is originally from the Down to Earth blog... here.

I put it in this frame temporarily but I'm beginning to like it with that color of frame (which has been repainted so often, I don't remember the original color).  It is hung just below the bulletin board in My Room which has reminders of blog friends.

Sunday Afternoon Tea

I keep my iPod and Kindle chargers in an antique drawer but only to protect them from Victoria's teeth.

A recent last minute change in plans gave me the opportunity to sit in my favorite coffeehouse on campus (albeit sipping Fair Trade orange blossom green tea), seated at the bar which looks out the front window as all the cushy, leather chairs at tables were taken. 

I didn't mind, it gave me an opportunity to read amongst the students sitting at the bar with their laptops plugged in as well as earphones.  The noise level was at high decibel as students were celebrating the end of finals as well as graduation weekend.  Those still hard at work were undoubtedly graduate students who have no summer break.  :)

In between sips of tea and rereading Almost Amish (the nonfiction version) on my Kindle, a great deal of people watching was accomplished.  The streets of campus were filled with friends, families, and graduates in their caps and gowns. 

In a rather miraculous coincidence of timing... amongst thousands of people... I had also just bumped into one of Sheila's boys who was home from the nation's capitol to see his girlfriend graduate.   He had graduated last year and immediately joined Obama's reelection team in Ohio (we are friends, anyway).  It doesn't seem possible it has been a year already.

I have sat through four long graduation ceremonies at this University.  The first was my husband's Master's degree, then my daughter's Bachelor of Arts degree, then my son-in-law's PhD, and finally... just last December... my son's Bachelor of Science degree.

As I thought about the four graduations, I realized there was about thirty-five years from the first to the last.  It seemed impossible that time had flown by that quickly.   But the world was an entirely different place. 

At that first graduation, the U.S. was still entrenched deeply in a cold war with Russia.  By the time of my son-in-law's graduation, Christopher and I noticed a young man from Russia was receiving his PhD in Nuclear Engineering.  Times had certainly changed...  :)

When my husband received his undergrad degree, computers were only used by professionals and students turned in data to receive punched cardboard cards to have them run through computers in large, cold rooms.  Phones were attached to the wall via a cord and walking around was limited to the length of said cord.   Only Jane Jetson could see the person she was talking to on the other phone.

By the time Christopher graduated in December, he had been using the computer himself since about the age of eight or nine.  He specializes in designing something called an App for mini computers called iPhones, which one can carry in their pocket.  Something that was not around when his sister graduated from the University.

So I found it a true irony that as I was in the coffeehouse drinking tea, reading a book on a machine, sitting next to a long line of laptops and tablets... I was reading about the subject of limiting our use of technology.  The author was asking the question, "Is the amount of technology available to us today too much of a good thing?"

I was pondering that question when I saw my husband and waved for him to find me amongst the crowd.  It was a good thing he wasn't any later, I'd been saving the last of my orange blossom green tea (Fair Trade mind you) for him to taste but I was about to devour it for myself.  One only has so much willpower.  He agreed it was delicious so I was glad (kinda') that I'd saved the rest for him.  ;)

I closed the Kindle and picked up my cell phone... putting both in my purse as we left.  The point of sitting at the coffeehouse was waiting for him, anyway.   I was still pondering the question when we arrived home to a house with two TVs (one hooked up to a satellite dish and the other to an old fashioned antennae) and now with only one working computer in a home which once had five. 

No kidding, my Computer Science son had three... a laptop, a desktop computer, and the one he built... although the one he built only worked off and on.  He says he learned why computers are built in dust free factories so it truly was a learning experience.  Then I guess his smart phone could be considered a fourth computer.

I have less technology than many these days, especially since the last time my cell phone broke I chose to stay with a flip top style and refrain from going the way of the smart phone.  I'm back to working on a desktop, which now seems huge but it works just fine (even though technically it belongs to my husband).  I wash and dry dishes the old fashioned way and actually enjoy the process as I look out the window over the sink.

Usually I can wrap up a Sunday Afternoon Tea post with a definite answer to the life question I am pondering but this time... well, this time the jury is still out.  Technology enables me to text my daughter from the coffeehouse to plan having coffee together there when she visits.  It also allowed me to receive photos from my son who was at a playoff game. 

Technology has allowed me to make wonderful friends through the years, many of you are amongst them.  It makes it possible to hear beautiful music while I walk... from a device the size of a pink eraser.  It allows me to download a book in sixty seconds.  It can be amazing.

But I've also learned to turn off the itty bitty iPod when I come to the (literally) babbling brook and stop to listen to the water and the frogs and the birds and the sounds of various insects.  I love my Kindle but I love the feel and aroma of old books better, those which were previously owned and loved and earmarked at their favorite places.

I suspect the tension between my love of technology and my need for quiet and nature will never be fully reconciled.  But it is indeed a subject to ponder, if nothing else to realize there truly is a choice and sometimes it is to turn the technology... off.

Saturday Pantry Suggestions

As you can see, I finally figured out where the memory card can be inserted into the desk top.  It took getting on the floor and even then, cringing when I inserted the media card... hoping that was the right place.  But it was the only port that looked like it would work for this purpose.

Mr. "Keep every bit of paper he's ever owned" for some reason had misplaced the booklet that came with the desktop but it all worked out.  :)

The garage has been mostly reorganized and decluttered.  It took a long time even though we don't have a very deep pantry because we decided to go through every can and box of food and write the "use by" date on them.  Which in some cases meant calling the company (did you know most companies have a person whose job is to decipher those "use by" codes for you?).

Our favorite canned tomatoes are the Red Gold brand and they told us all of their products but one are good for 2 1/2 years (or more) past their "use by" dates.  That one product was a tomato juice drink we never purchase, anyway.  It is good for 1 1/2 years past the date.

We don't have many cans of tomatoes on the shelf right now but it is good to know they are still in the safe time range.

Hubby asked the employee at Kroger who was breaking down boxes if we could have some of their flats (shown above) that their canned goods come in.  He said we could have all we wanted and they were instrumental in getting items organized that we actually have stocked up on... like green beans.

The oldest cans are on the top flat and the newer dates in the bottom flat.  It is good when we get free stuff to use for organizing.  :)

We brainstormed ways to use those items way past their "use by" date but still within the time they are good.  Hubby came up with this idea that has worked wonderfully the past two weeks.

It is just a deep, flat box where he put all the items which need to be used first.  It has been very easy to look in that box first when I need an item from the pantry shelves for cooking.  Having them right in front of me encourages finding ways to use them, too.

No more items getting thrown away!

This shelf is the one where I keep miscellaneous items that don't have their own place as there aren't all that many of them.  I pretty much know what is on that shelf... so it's easy to keep track of them.

Soooo... what lesson did I learn from this whole reorganization and decluttering of my pantry shelves?  That you really need to be just as organized with a small pantry as you would be if you were stocking up even more.

I just have a set of shelves in the garage but even then canned goods got lost in the shuffle.  With the flats we got from Kroger, we now have the green beans, corn, and soups sorted and stacked on each other instead of jumbled together.

Now my garage is pretty much organized, I just have to convince the other person who lives here that we need to send some of those extra containers, boxes, and glass jars he put back "just in case" to recycling.   Sheesh...

But he did a great job reorganizing the pantry shelves.

Of cornfields, swamps, and such...

Well, writing has been more of a challenge than I first thought it would and I still haven't figured a way to upload pictures easily.  But I do have a few minutes of computer time to take advantage of at the moment.

I am SO loving how everything is blooming, even if it is causing loved ones some allergy problems.  The heavy rain held off long enough today for me to get a nice walk in on the walking trail, which has been more difficult this year.  What I notice most these days... the colors and the aromas of Spring.  Just lovely!  All the rain has made for almost instant... lushness.

I also noticed one of the cornfields I pass on the trail now has rather large CAT equipment instead of John Deere, it looks like the new research facility has broken ground.  While I know there are many people excited about it (I've completely forgotten what Christopher says will be researched there but it was important), as one who grew up in a small town not too far away, I am always sad to see more farm land disappearing. 

At least there is another cornfield on my walk but as it sits between the Research Park and a subdivision of houses, it will only be a matter of time before it disappears.  On the other hand, I'm fairly certain the wetland area I walk by will be protected.  I used to scoff at people who talked about the importance of swamps as I grew up with them all around the country and was always told to stay far away from them. 

Legends of tractors being sucked into quicksand abounded and I never quite knew if that did happen or not... but it scared me into not going near them.  Perhaps that was all the stories were intended for in the first place.

But now I understand about the importance of wetlands and I do enjoy passing this one on my walk.  During all the recent flooding, the walking trail by the area was flooded and even now the water comes up to the trail.  It seems odd having it so close.

Which is probably why on my walk today there was a crazy goose honking at me as I neared a small bend in the trail.  I know if one is near their nest they can get quite forceful so I was very relieved when it took off before I arrived in its' comfort zone (it was already in my own comfort zone).  It continued honking like mad from the other side of the bushes in the swampy area itself.... so I do think that is where it had some babies waiting to literally come out of their shell.

We have another cold front arriving today, the reason behind the storms and heavy rain.  The weatherman says we will experience a "Dogwood Winter" this weekend.  I don't think I'd ever heard of that before but it is the equivalent of autumn's "Indian Summer".  It is to be quite chilly again.

Speaking of dogwood trees, ours is in bloom and every year it takes my breath away.  I was awake just as the sun was coming up this morning and even with such a cloudy sky, the tree seemed to have a light shining from within its' leaves.  I was told it was planted by a couple who moved to this house when they retired from farming and brought the dogwood seedling with them from their farm. 

Speaking of planting, I must plant the garden soon as I'm certain we will go from "cool and wet spring" to "hot summer" within days.  The long term forecast seems to indicate such a meteorological event.  In the meantime, I made a batch of chili this afternoon for dinner and a pumpkin pie... both at Hubby's request.  We may as well take advantage of cool weather cooking (although I have promised him chili even in July and August).

I plan to be back on Saturday and Sunday... with or without pictures.  :)

Teaching our kids persistence in the storms of life

"I write a lot about building a heritage for our children with books, beauty, and creativity… all to provide wonderful memories of hearth & home.  Such a quest is all good and true but living in a world such as ours, life is not all picnics and tea time.  Rarely does a child become an adult without a family experiencing trials and tribulations… and some more than others."

The rest of this post can be found at Mom Heart Ministries blog... here.

Feel free to leave a comment there if you have advice for young moms teaching their children about persistence and "not giving up"... or if you like this for your comments keep me writing, really... honest.

NOTE:  So far I think I'll be able to work around my husband's schedule to use his computer.  Although right now he is looking over my shoulder telling me he NEEDS HIS COMPUTER.  ;)

Sunday Afternoon Tea Kinda'

I've been a little out of pocket lately, mostly due to outdoor chores, out-of-town family visiting, and a couple writing responsibilities that needed to be accomplished.  However, I am sad to say I'll be around a little less because...

My Computer Died!!!

As I told my husband, the life support plug had to be removed and I said my goodbyes.  It had been a good and faithful laptop, a gift which I will forever be grateful for.   I will be using his desktop computer as it is available.  There will also be less pictures for awhile.

Did you ever have one of those seasons you go through when it seems everything is breaking down?  We have before and I know it was a year or two ago when my daughter and son-in-law had one repair after another.

For us recently, the car spent a week in the shop for a major repair, our lawnmower finally died (it gave us trouble last fall), and the laptop decided it could no longer function.  All within a week and a half...

Although... we were given another lawnmower, when a family member found out ours had stopped working.  They had one they were not using.  It was one of those God Winks in which the subject was even brought up and the timing perfect!

Another blessing received recently, you may remember that my husband is doing some work for an elderly couple from church who have an organic farm (he's helping them and will get paid in produce when it is available).  They loaned him a great power hedge trimmer and he's already cut back one set of hedges, will finish the other soon.  The power trimmer is heavy enough he has to use it but it will save me about two weeks off and on of clipping them with the hand tool.

I'm hoping to get the soil in the raised beds ready and planting done soon.  The herb bed is just beginning to show a lot of growth, it has been so cool and damp.  The dogwood is starting to bloom and the crab apple tree has been blooming and giving us a sweet scent for about a week.

Spring truly is here.

My "new" cookbook collection...

A few years ago I got rid of at least half the cookbooks in my rather large collection.  Even then it left me with a full bookshelf of cookbooks but those left were my very favorites, as well as those which I may not use often but kept for nostalgic purposes.

Then I began adding to my collection again, many with Amazon credit but some from Goodwill, thrift stores, and book sales.  These new books reflect the change in the way I cook now as well as what I look for in cookbooks these days.

All but one of these cookbooks were added to my collection over the past three years.  These are all the American (non-metric) versions but I believe all the cookbooks originating from other countries are available in their metric version, too.

I've been able to purchase most of these books at greatly reduced prices and some were purchased used.  While they are not all my collection of cookbooks, they are the cream of the crop... especially as I've decided one of my "empty nest adventures" is to try new recipes.

I must admit, I have been known to curl up on a chilly evening with a stack of these books and to enjoy them just as much as any novel.  :)

Ireland

I've written before how I love this cookbook by Irish chef Clodagh McKenna.  I enjoyed her PBS series and her use of local and in-season food is exactly where my attention is these days.

I liked this one so much, I gave a copy to my eleven year old granddaughter as a gift for her birthday (she's already a great cook and baker!).

To see inside this book, go here.

France

I first watched Little Paris Kitchen on YouTube and then the Cooking Channel began showing it.  Absolutely wonderful to watch!

Rachel is actually an English woman who went to France to learn to cook and her recipes reflect both cultures.  One reason I love this cookbook, she makes French recipes easy to make.

To see inside this cookbook, go here.

Australia

This is a huge book as it contains recipes that are "The best of Donna Hay magazine".  They are broken down by the seasons with beautiful pictures of the food (I like that). 

Some of the ingredients are different than what I use as a cook in the Midwestern United States but there are a lot of great "from scratch" recipes which can translate to our local and seasonal meals.

More information is available... here.

England

Love, love, love this book!  I appreciate all the River Cottage cookbooks but I only had the Amazon credit to purchase one and I chose this title because it is written for the entire family to be able to use.

I decided if children can learn from it, so can I.  This is "farm to table" at its' best with not only recipes but lots of "how to" information as well as photos.

For more information, mosey on over... here.  I plan to add a couple more River Cottage cookbooks to my collection someday.

Tessa Kiros (Italy, Finland, Greece, South Africa)

Tessa Kiros deserves her own section of cookbooks.  They are unequaled for beauty and the recipes are excellent.

Recipes and Dreams from an Italian Life is her latest, which I had preordered to make certain I set aside the credit for it.  She married an Italian man and now lives in Italy and these recipes reflect all that is good (and there is much) in Italian cooking.

As with many of the more ethnic cookbooks, most of the recipes are "from scratch" and use local, seasonal food.

More information about it can be found... here.

My first book by Tessa was Apples For Jam.  It is divided into sections by the color of the food, which is rather interesting. 

She calls the recipes in this book "food for families".  You can see the inside of the book... here.

Her cookbook which I have waxed poetic about from time to time is Falling Cloudberries.  The recipes in this book are also for the most part "local and seasonal" but I think it is the most fascinating of her books only because of the cultures she brings together.

The first section of the book reflects recipes from her mother's heritage, she is from Finland.  The second section reflects her father's Greek heritage and the third has recipes from South Africa where she grew up (I actually find those the most useful).

You can find more information about this book... here.

Farm to Table

I've been concentrating on "farm to table" books these past few years and many of the earlier cookbooks mentioned could also fall under that category.

The Family Meals; Creating Traditions in the Kitchen is (as you can guess by its' title) a family centered book with lots of ideas and photos for eating fresh, local, seasonal food.  It's not a children's cookbook but could easily be used to teach "from scratch" cooking to new cooks.

More information about it is available... here.

The Romantic Prairie Cookbook was put together by Fifi O'Neill and if you've ever read her blog or the magazines she's associated with, you know to expect something beautiful.  The recipes in this book are all from families (many are farm families) who cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

It isn't a very big book but it's fun to read and has great "from scratch" recipes... here.

Comfort Food

These three books were all gifts and they have all been used a great deal.

I enjoy watching The Pioneer Woman and Trisha Yearwood's shows on The Food Network, as well as Ree's famous blog.  These two women know how to cook good, old fashioned, comfort food and they are wonderful cookbooks (albeit not diet food).  ;)

Every recipe I've tried has been fabulous and all of them are recipes both women cook for their families and friends.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks... info here.
Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood... info here.
Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen... here.

Oldie but Goodie

This is one of my all time favorite cookbooks that I had to include with the others even though my copy is so old it is falling apart.

This book is the first cookbook I peruse when I want to use a specific vegetable, especially if it is one I haven't tried to cook before.  It has been out of print for years but you may be able to find reasonable used copies of it... here.

I'm certain I will continue my collection, there are cookbooks remaining on my Wish List.  I think Mexico will be my next culinary adventure.  ;)

Legal Stuff:  All links are Amazon Associate links.

80 degree days...

I need Downstairs Staff...

It has been lovely here, I can almost see the buds on the trees unfolding.  Rain and chill are back in the forecast in just a couple days but I'm happy with today.

Our van is in the car hospital until at least Friday, it entered last Friday.  However, our friend, Sheila, loaned us her car to use for a couple of days so we could go to the grocery store (we were out of milk for our coffee!).  She bicycles everywhere when it gets this nice.

I've been doing the usual Spring chores, this year making a priority of washing the windows on the porch, scrubbing down the porch and the bench, and pruning the bushes that are taking over our yard.  Then I'll make my way to the backyard and garden.

This is the busiest time of year and... as I've already written... that period of time in which I remind myself that much is possible when done a little at a time.  I've found myself with the words of the Little Engine that Could running through my brain, "I think I can... I know I can".  ;)

Christopher surprised me by calling and asking if I want to go to lunch with him.  I said yes and that McDonald's was fine with me.  When one doesn't eat junk food often, even fast food is special.  Although I had one of their new sweet chili chicken wraps (which is healthier than a burger) and a senior coffee.   He's promised his dad a lunch out to a nicer place soon as a belated birthday gift.

His app for the "corn and soybean" people he's been working on (for what seems forever) goes on the market tomorrow for the iPad.  I saw the preliminary app and it was beautiful, if you like corn... and soybeans... and grew up in the Midwest where such crops are nostalgic to the soul.  I even thought the pictures of the insects on said crops were beautiful and normally I don't like bugs.  Although I'm sure the farmer wouldn't find them attractive to find on his crops.

Sooo... I'm hoping to put together a post about my quest for new and almost new cookbooks within the next couple of days.  It will be a nice respite from washing windows, pruning, raking wet leaves, pulling weeds, etc.

Did I mention I have a tube of Icy Hot out, ready to use?

NOTE:  Someone asked about where the Amazon widget went?  It's still there in the usual place, under the picture of my daughter and link to her blog.  I just changed the background color to make it lighter and blend in with the rest of the colors.  Perhaps that was not a good idea?  ;) 

Image from:  Allposters.com