...hard to believe it's almost July... but there it is.
Today's post is just some photos I've taken the past few days.
I hope you like them; and I'll see you back here tomorrow.
6-30-15
6-29-15
Well, after spying some incredible rhubarb this past Friday at the farm market... I decided to try to make one.
.... well, it actually took me 2 tries... and I will explain.
First, I was able to get 4 big bunches of rhubarb (*buy one, get one) at my local farmer's market... but for a pie-plate sized cobbler, you only really need about 5-6 stalks of rhubarb. After chopping, I added fresh strawberries (about half of one container) and about 1 cup of currents I had from last fall in my freezer. I put them all in the pie plate... to make sure I had enough "filling."
I then mixed in a generous tablespoon of coconut oil; which I had melted.
Why? Because my daughter prefers to have very little sweetening added to her foods... but I still wanted to be able to eat this without twisting up my face from potential sourness. I figured the coconut oil would add a little sweet... and a little fat (in lieu of butter) to the mix.
Feel free, however, to add sweetness/ sugar to taste.
I ground up (in my coffee grinder) some fresh/ dried mint from last year's garden and some cinnamon... and added that to the fruit.
Now... here's where it took 2 tries.
My cookbook said I could make the cobbler without cooking the rhubarb/ fruit mixture first.
And while that may work for some... I highly recommend cooking your fruit mixture in a pot on the stove-top for a few minutes first.
My first attempt was ok.... but not near as creamy as I had hoped... which is why I tried again and cooked the fruit mixture first.
Cook until the fruit mixture is a chunky applesauce consistency; then add to your pie plate.
Now for the biscuits. You can make the dough from scratch... but I used Bisquick.
Bisquick is surprisingly vegan! I added soy milk instead of regular cow milk (and no butter) to my Bisquick flour to make the biscuits, and; using an ice cream scoop.... scooped biscuits onto the top of my fruit mix.
I baked this all in the oven at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes (or until golden brown).
So... this is completely vegan.
(but this would be good with ice cream, if you are so inclined)
Cost: the rhubarb was $4 for 2 bunches, which means I actually only used a dollar's worth in here.
I added the strawberries for less than $2, and the currents were in my freezer. The spices, coconut oil, & the soy milk I already had as well.
The Bisquick was on sale for $4 a box, and I only used 2 cups of the flour from that box.
for the weekend
oy... and vey... (giggle)
The photo for today's post is from that vintage photo album I picked up a few weeks ago.
I've been working on restoring a couple of the photos (like this one I did previously), and it is tons of fun.
The look on these 2 little kids is priceless, and still in keeping with something you would see today.
Some things don't change.
And yes, it's the weekend... so I've gathered some (hopefully) interesting links for you all to look at:
*if only I had a diner, this is what I would do...
*also in my dream diner.... this.
*isn't vocabulary fun?
*a cool summer project
*a friend of a friend took the photos for this... and they are amazing
*isn't nature awesome
*I love this designer's clothing
*here is a great resource for creatives
*a neat video from the Harvard Museum of Natural History
*another cool DIY helpful post
*are you traveling this summer? Here are some stellar stops.
*the 100 mile yard sale... here in PA
*and some fabulous vintage photographs to round this all out.
--- I hope you all have a great weekend; and I will see you back here on Monday for a "foodie" post.
6-26-15
Sometimes we find ourselves in the situation of being spread too thin...
We over-promise.... we over-extend.... wanting to help... we take on too much... and so it begins.
We forget that it's ok to say no.
It's ok to allow others the opportunity to step up and take things on.
It's ok to not do.... even if that means failure in your own eyes.
... and that too will pass.
Today is a day of self care.
This whole week, has been a lesson in taking a back-seat... when your whole being is screaming that there is stuff to be done.
And guess what? It will be ok...
Here are some blogs from my reading list that I would consider more thoughtful
(and I'll see you all tomorrow for my weekend post):
*Hula Seventy
*Pixie Campbell
*Amy Palko
*Christine Mason Miller
*Elizabeth Bunsen
6-25-15
Since last week, I've been overwhelmed by allergies.... and yes, I am taking everything I can for it.
One of the hazards of having a suppressed & wonky immune system, is that it doesn't work when you need it to... and it goes into hyperdrive for no reason apparent sometimes.
Suffice it to say, that now I probably have both a sinus infection and bronchitis.... and even though it's summer outside; I am not.
It's been rough... but it's just one-of-those-things.
Moving on.
I mention this only in the context of self care.
Sometimes, stuff happens.... and we have to just stop and take care of ourselves.
Other stuff needs done... the dishes languish in the sink... the laundry builds up... things need dusted (sneeze)...it's ok.
Life is short... and sometimes you just have to grin at it all and keep moving.
Take the photo for today's post.
Super cute, super tiny baby grasshopper probably was astounded at this big, hulking, sniffling, sneezing,
mucous-y beast (me) looming over him... and yet... he sang. He sang sweetly.
He didn't waiver from his singing... and he didn't hop away in fear.
Some days... grasshopper.... you just need to sing and carry on.
--see you all tomorrow.
6-24-15
... an internet friend of mine passed away the other day.
We had met each other online several years ago by way of prose, poetry, books and coffee... and I discovered that she was fond of a lot of the same things I am. She admired my photos and my poetry... and I hers... and we would talk on occasion about life.... and books... families and such. It was a casual relationship... yet one built on mutual respect. And suddenly... she was gone.
Life is short.
Life is fragile.
And things pass in the flurry of day-to-day errands... bills to pay... work to be done... and we forget.
We forget to take our time.
Look at the stars.
Value our relationships.
Admire the peonies...
---see you all tomorrow.
6-23-15
So, on Friday... I went to my local farm market.... and was able to get a couple gorgeous baguettes, some salad greens, some Swiss chard, and a breakfast/ dessert type of bread with raisin and nuts in it.
(on an aside; Netra Baker of Card Creek makes the best bread... no exaggeration).
Sometimes it's just too hot and muggy; and you don't want to fuss with a big meal.
Bruschetta is a great option. Just pair it with your favorite beverage (I love this with a chilled Riesling wine) and perhaps a small salad or fruit... and you're good to go.
Bruschetta is a "starter dish" from Italy, that is essentially slices of toasted or grilled bread brushed with olive oil, garlic and salt.
It can then be topped with just about anything you can imagine or want.
What did I do? I used the scrumptious baguettes, thickly sliced on a diagonal. I brushed them with olive oil and added a little fresh chopped garlic... and because I don't have a toaster or a grill... I put them on a pie plate (or cookie sheet for a larger quantity) and put them in the broiler for a couple minutes to toast them. Once toasted, it was time for some fun.
On the plate, you will see:
-fresh salad greens and Swiss chard, topped with cherry tomatoes from my mom's patio, shredded mozzarella cheese and capers.
-leftover chicken; shredded and topped with cheese.
-fresh peppers! in red and yellow, topped again with the cheese and capers.
I popped them all back into the broiler just long enough to melt the cheese... and then I added coarse sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to the whole plate (along with some fresh strawberries) before serving.
Approx cost? Baguettes were about $3 each, and the salad greens and bags of chard were only $2.50 for generous sized bags. Shredded cheese is about $3.50 a bag, the strawberries were $1.67, peppers were $1.80, and a bottle of capers cost $2.99. Obviously, we didn't use up all of the peppers, cheese or capers... and they are ready for the next adventure in cooking.
The beauty of this, is that it is a great opportunity to use up small bits of produce, leftovers... things you may already have.
It is perfect for small gatherings... with folks being able to "make their own" in whatever combinations they choose. Personally, I think the capers are what makes them >>zing<< , but Jim doesn't like them, so his did not include them.
Kristin; being vegan... opted to not have cheese or meat on hers.
There are hundreds of recipes out there.... but it's really not rocket science. Just put on what you like.
See you all tomorrow ( and another "foodie" post on Mondays).
6-22-15
I love food (this should be no surprise)... and I am all for buying local and fresh whenever you can.
As a result, I am a HUGE fan of the local Potter County Farmer's Market... and all those who strive to produce farm-fresh veggies, fruits and more.
So let me first say, I am not a chef. I am not even a great cook... but I am ok... and I am enthusiastic... so perhaps that is good enough. Today (and on Mondays from now on... at least for now), I thought I would feature photos of fresh local produce and such that I have found, combined with other local store bought items as needed... to make a meal that I am hoping you will all enjoy.
This first photo (at the top of this post), shows my first trip to the farm market this season, and what I was able to get. From that trip... I was able to make a fabulous rhubarb sauce, and various other accents to meals. But... I will move on to last week... because I actually have more photo documentation.
Last week, I was able to get more potatoes, as well as some garlic scapes and fresh spinach from the Farm Market. At various local shops, I was able to find fresh brussel sprouts, canned organic beans, flour tortillas, and black poppy seeds.
To this, add slices of the potatoes and brussel sprouts. Cook for a few (10-15) minutes.
The potatoes I got are Papa Cacho Peruvian fingerlings from Wooleylot Farms, and I was told they benefit from a little preliminary cooking.
Then add the beans (rinsed well) to cook for a few minutes...
and at the last minute or so, add the spinach.... this way, it is just wilted and tender.
I also added some spices (salt, pepper, the black sesame seeds, a little cumin, and some fresh basil and chives from my herb pots.)
This meal cost about $10, and I didn't use all the potatoes, spinach, tortillas or garlic that I had bought. It fed 3 hungry adults with a bit left over. As my daughter pointed out, the black sesame seeds didn't make an appetizing looking photo... but they were delish.
This meal was entirely vegan.
Vegetarian Options: add shredded cheese! or a nice sunny side egg on top. YUM.
Meat Options: this would be tasty with some skinless roasted chicken, or even a pork chop.
*the only potential additives/ preservatives; were in the tortillas. If you are concerned, you can easily make your own tortillas with Quaker Harina Flour. I was just being lazy here, and bought some instead.
Prep Time was about 5 minutes (cleaning and cutting the veggies)
Cook time was about 30 minutes total.
--tomorrow I will be doing another "foodie" post... which will get us caught up with my weekly Farmer's Market visits for the season.
See you all tomorrow!
for the weekend
It's the weekend!
... and there is a lot going on in the area; such as the Relay for Life and Genesee Community Days.
The photo above, is a little bouquet gifted to me from my niece's daughter, and it is quite lovely.
It's been a strange day... and I feel like I am almost moving at a negative speed.... so I will leave you with happy thoughts
... and a bunch of links:
*easy to use roasted garlic
*white clover pudding? (I've never heard of it)
*a great site for "foodies"
*kintsugi (the art of mending broken pieces)
*places to visit in Oregon
*cuteness overload
*hikes in PA
*100 artists in their studios (photographs)
*so many great ideas here... and here ... and here (yayABQ!)
*modern day witches (photography)
*Lakota wisdom
*art!
and some links to blogs on my reading list:
-folk-art-life
-found, stitched and dyed
-Freckled
-Flora Bowley
-Five Years
**starting this coming Monday (and on Mondays thereafter) I will be featuring local organics found at stores, stands and farm markets... and a weekly recipe. I hope you will all join in with me...
Have a great weekend!... rest well, and I'll see you all back here on Monday.
6-19-15
Happy Friday!
I've so much to do today... running errands with my mother, doctor's appointments, etc.
Today I am trying to channel some of that inner peace I receive every time I take a walk in the woods. Cool breezes, the crunching of pine needles underfoot, blue skies overhead... birdsong and the calls of wild creatures just out of my range of sight.
So for today... I am wishing you all peace... calmness... lightness of heart... and love.
See you all tomorrow.
6-18-15
I was in a conversation today with my niece.
She was talking about an author, who had talked about her characters as "knowing the days"...
as in ... today was a day for writing.
It was spoken of, in the context of the character personifying things... such as days... as having feelings or attributes ...
and in that sense... having days feel like (for instance) ... days to write.
Days to wait. Days to ponder or explore.
I am not sure what today is.
I do know, that it will probably require a nap; as I was up far too early for having not had much sleep.
So.
Rest well, my lovelies.
Enjoy the day... and whatever that entails for you... and I'll see you all back here tomorrow.
6-17-15
It happens to us all.
We have the best of intentions to attack that "to do" list (or whatever)...
and the phone keeps ringing, people come to call, things get interrupted, other things take precedence... you know how it is.
Today has been all wonky.
And that's ok.... life goes on.
So... I will leave you with the notion that life is strange.
Stuff happens.
Do what you can... and let the rest go.
And here are some butterfly photos that I took yesterday...
when this gorgeous Swallowtail came to visit.
--See you all tomorrow.
*types of swallowtail butterflies
*the pale swallowtail (which is what I think he is?) or maybe a Tiger Swallowtail?
6-16-15
It's always amazing to me how a simple change of location can effect my photography.
It's like all the "creative juices" come pouring to the surface and scream to be heard.
...which is one of the reasons why I try to travel whenever I can.
The show down in Benezette, PA was awesome... and we are still trying to absorb things we saw, music we heard.... and all sorts of goodness we got to experience.
The top photo for today's post is mine... converted to black and white...
And the 2 photos below were taken by my daughter, Kristin... with some editing help from me.
I love working with her; and love her view of the world.
See you all tomorrow.
6-15-15
WOW!
So this weekend, I was at the PA Wilds ArtFest; down in Benezette PA...
at the Elk Country Visitor's Center..... which was awesome.
So many artisans, so many happy customers... so much fun.
Plus there was music (Dusty Trout, Megan McGarry, and some folks from the Berklee School of Music), great food, coffee and wine... plus there was THIS GUY who had the pastries!
You can see the list of vendors and artisans here.
Over the next day or so, I hope to edit photos of some of the artwork and such...
and put them into an album, so look on my Facebook page for that soon.
But for today... it's my hubby's birthday... so a little celebrating and eating of ice cream may just be in order... see you all tomorrow.
for the weekend
well... today the daughter and I will be at the PA Wilds ArtFest; which is at the Elk County Visitor's Center. It promises to be a packed event... with lots of handmade items... demonstrations... food and music. I have been sorta frantic all week... trying to get ready... and in the end.... didn't get anywhere near the amount of work done that I had hoped.... but such is life.
And heading out... we are.
It will be my first "big" show with the PA Wilds artisans... and my first time at the Elk County Visitor's Center... so I am nervous... but excited.
Kristin and I also hope to meet up with some of our fellow PA Wilds Artisan Trail Etsy Street Team members... so that will be fun.
And yesterday, I had a visit to the studio from a representative of the PA Route6 Artisan Trail... so in spite of feeling like I've been "down and out" for a couple months here; things are indeed... moving along.
And of course, it's also the weekend... so I have some links for you all:
*a true yet, reluctant heroine.
*historical photos, restored
*seasonal museums in PA to visit
*rails to trails here in PA
*some cool history
*more cool history
*music I had to share
*recipe for amazing dough
*Basquiat's notebooks
*this is just fun.
*super cool for foodies
*Australian fungi by photographer Steve Axford
*artist Ellen Jewett
I hope you all have an awesome weekend... and I'll see you all back here on Monday.
6-11-15
Happy Friday!
Did you know there are over 400 different species of buttercups?
Historically, buttercups have been thought to represent childhood (and also childishness; in the negative),
riches, innocence, cheerfulness, and humility.
Who knew?! I sure didn't. It's an amazing world out there.
Go have some fun!
... and I'll see you all back here tomorrow for my weekend post.
6-11-15
If I had a million dollars..... how many times have you seen that prompt?
And how many times has it been fun to take a few minutes and think about what you would really do if you had the money.
It's sort of like when I was a kid... we would get the annual Christmas Sears catalog and countless hours would be spent dreaming of what you would get if you were to have whatever you wanted.
Often times, we are tempted by the "if only" scenarios. And I think TV doesn't help that either.
We are often bombarded by reality TV shows and promos for Publisher's Clearing House on the idea of getting easy money.... life isn't (usually) like that... at least, for most of us.
And far to often, one is left with the feeling of perhaps, having less.... or worse... being less.
Perhaps what would be more beneficial then... is to make a list of what you do have.
What you LOVE that you already have... or are.... or are becoming.
Less on the things... more on the character you want to be remembered for.
The things you have done to help others... the things you have done that memories are made of....
So for today... I am thankful for:
ferns
wildflowers
birdsong
fresh coffee
and a visitor coming today to my studio...
See you all tomorrow!
6-10-15
Doesn't she look happy?
The other day I was at an antique shop; and found a small album of photographs.
I was reminded of how I started in photography... taking family photos, and copying old photos and restoring them
... and often, hand coloring them as well. And so I thought I would take a try with restoring and coloring digitally.
It's not perfect, but it's nice... and I think she is happy to have been shown off a bit.
Today I am running errands with my mom... and taking her to a doctor appointment.
Later on, I hope to work some more on things for the show coming up this Saturday;
but in the meantime.... have a great day!...And I'll see you all back here tomorrow.
(this is a print of the original photo, click it to see it bigger)
6-9-15
it's raining... and I am up early...
I love the rain.
Last night I was up late listening to the foxes call to each other...
and this am the house is almost vibrating with the songs of frogs in the little creek near our house.
It's amazing, really.
The photos for today's post are ones I took a couple days ago.
These Jack-in-the-pulpit plants were a gorgeous little surprise I came across while walking in the woods;
and so I wanted to share them with you. (read more on them HERE).
Hope you are having a great day, and I'll see you all tomorrow.
6-8-15
It's Monday! ...welcome to a new week.
This week is going to be busy; as I've lots to do to get ready for a show this coming weekend
down in Benezette with other members of the PA Wilds Artisan Trail.
And... I've gotten my new camera in the mail... EARLY!... which is a huge relief as my "old" camera was not working right at all.
The photos for today's post were taken with my new Sony a6000 camera (with a standard 16-50mm lens),
and although I haven't had much time to play with it yet... it is already quite fun.
I know... a HUGE departure from using Nikon... and yes, I surprised myself.
Over the years I've used several Kodaks. Polaroids, a Ricoh... and (mostly) for the last 25yrs... Nikon.
I've also had a few fun moments with some funky cameras... like a little Olympus camera, the Diana, a Holga, a Duaflex
... and now I am excited to see what I can do with the Sony.
Anyway. Lots to do!
Hope you enjoy your Monday... and I'll see you all back here tomorrow.