7-23-15

This past weekend I was able to take some photos of the oncoming storm... and it was awesome.
Right prior to taking these photos... the rain had started just coming down in sheets...
and then, just as suddenly, it all stopped and cleared up again.
It's all quite amazing, really...

So today, while working in the studio... I plan on opening all the doors that I can...
Perhaps a little cloud watching... is in order.
See you all tomorrow.

7-22-15

There are days when I am disgusted, saddened, dismayed and distraught over news, potential change, small town politics, national headlines, greed, lack of humanity, general as$holery, and more.
This is one of those days.
So rather than rant and rave... and feel horribly frustrated over things that I really can't do anything about...
I will leave you all with some (hopefully) happy and optimistic photos.
And encourage you all to voice your opinions.
Stand up for things you believe in.
Support the things you love.
Make someone a meal.
Play some good music.
Take a walk.
Snuggle your dog.

See you all tomorrow.

7-21-15

some days you just need to sit and watch the clouds... at least..... for a little while.

(I took all of these photos last night, right around sunset)

...see you all tomorrow.

7-20-15

Let's take a moment.... to acknowledge that it's not always possible to get everything you may want in one place... and while it's great to be able to forage around and get something fresh out of the garden or in the wild... it's not always available... or other factors might be at play.
Part of the beauty of eating according to the seasons... is that sometimes, you may only be able to pick up, say... berries... at the local farm market... and other times, it's all about the squash.
That's ok... because we live in a glorious time that affords us the abilities to store and preserve these fresh and local finds...
for times of the year when they wouldn't normally be as abundant... or even available at all.

My daughter was fortunate to be gifted with a food dehydrator one year as a Christmas present; and we have been putting it to good use ever since... and this summer is no exception.
So this last week or so; when I was contacted by a local, organic farm family and asked if I wanted to purchase some extra herbs and such...
I jumped at the opportunity.

This is what I was able to get from The Metzger Heritage Farm (they also have a Facebook page here):

So, the salad greens and chard (of course) were gobbled up in various salads.
The beans, gorgeous 'hericots verts', ... are thinner, delicate French filet beans that can be green, yellow, purple or mottled.
Because I happened to have quite a bit of fresh veggies at the time in my fridge, I decided to blanch them and freeze them for another time.
They will make a super dish later on... perhaps this.
The cucumbers, we treated ourselves to right away... you can just cut them, and add some coarse salt... and you are good to go.

Then there were the herbs... parsley, cilantro, 2 kinds of basil... and I had some fresh chives and such from my own herb pots that needed taken care of... and so... out came, and into the dehydrator they went. A few days later, they were done; and are now happily stored for future use.

See you all tomorrow...

for the weekend

It's the weekend!

I am sure you are as excited about it as I am... so I won't keep you from it.

After all, there is a lot going on this weekend... and hey... it's summer! 

So you can always go have some fun in the sun...

But, per my usual routine... here are some links to look at if you've got the time:

*wow! Photos from this year's Comic-Con in San Diego
*everyone was an artist in Kindergarten
*photographer Caroline Jensen
*NASAs photos of Pluto
*her name is Somolia
*garden tips with perennials
*some great vintage photos from France
*making lemonade from lemons .... and more
*artist Mike Church (collage)
*the Manul Cat... wild cat with awesome expressions
*abandoned PA  
*great rag rugs (Pinterest link)

**and some blogs from my reading list:
-Madelyn Mulvaney
-Misty Mawn
-Orangette
-Love, Meri
-My Daguerreotype Boyfriend (this is an old blog, but the photos are cool)

~~the photos for today's post were all ones I took in near or in my yard. It's great out there.
Have some fun... and I'll see you back here on Monday for my "foodie" post.

7-17-15

I try to be optimistic... but some days are harder than others.
Today I am going to be really busy. Lots of errands with my mom, a long test and possible follow-up appointment... and I hope to get to the farm market and do a couple things myself.... so it looks to be "jam packed"... today. And while there are aspects of this that I do enjoy... there are others that sort of stress me out. Combine that with frustrations about things I read online; and hear are going on... and sometimes I just want to retreat to the woods and not come back out for a good long bit.

I am sure we've all been there.
And if today is that kind of day for you too... I would encourage you to take a few minutes out...
Don't wait for a moment of rest to come... because sometimes it won't.
Carve out a few minutes.
Make some tea. Listen to the birds.
Watch the flow of water in a stream for a minute.
Feel the wind. Try to let it all go.

See you all tomorrow...

7-16-15

I came across a patch of mushrooms in the woods the other day. It was amazing really.
When we first moved here; there was a lot of random debris and trash in and around the woods near our house.
Slowly, but surely... the daughter has been clearing up sections... and nature has been rewarding her with things like this...
patches of mushrooms where there weren't any before. Little banks full of ferns where (previously) it had been filled in with choking vines, tires, and remnants of what looked like an old deck. Critters singing and letting us know they are happy.

I was reminded of this while reading some online "news" blurbs... and the news wasn't exactly good in my mind. And I got to thinking about how we all would like things to be better, but that each of us have an idea of what that "better" would look like. And we fear change... and we fear disapproval or backlash from others... and we tend to do nothing. In reality, doing nothing... (or even feeling like you can do nothing )... is sort of a decision to let the other guys win. It's giving up... and letting go of things before you even start.
And you can't always do that. Not when it's important.
Not when it could mean positive change.
I am but one person... and I am not an important person.
But sometimes there are things we can do.... even if they are small things... that make a big difference.
Sometimes you have to step in and pick up the crap and create something majikal.

What is important to you... and what can you do to make a positive change?
See you all tomorrow...

~~~~~~

((the photo for today's post is a photo of the mushrooms near our house. 

Obviously, I've altered it and played with it a lot... it's fun to do sometimes))

7-15-15

You all know I love taking photos. I take them most every day.
Even days when I feel like doo-doo... I find myself wandering around the house setting up still life vignettes. I can't help it.
The other thing I do... is think about jewelry. I design pieces in my sleep.
I am always thinking about how to wire wrap a rock, embellish a focal piece, color combinations.... textures...that sort of thing.
Add that to a deep desire to help folks if I can... protect the environment... support the arts and local businesses.... well, you get the idea.
It's about focus.
I was reminded of that while editing this photo I took the other day.
You find something you like, focus on it, strive to make it the best it can be, add your life and soul into it... and share it with the world in the hopes of bettering things around you... perhaps providing an inspiration... or giving someone a smile.

Get out there folks! ... and bring something you love into focus...
See you all tomorrow.

7-14-15

One of my favorite things to take photos of, are the plants/herbs/flowers around me.

Today I hope to get some work done in the studio... but in the meantime; 

I thought I would post some photos of some of this beauty bursting forth.

See you all tomorrow...

7-13-15

At the Farmer's Market on Friday... there was a gorgeous selection of freshly picked currants.

Red and white.... they took me back to my childhood when I used to snag the >> ahem << occasional >> ahem <<
stems of currants from my neighbor's garden.

Or the time when I was picking currents for my mom; and put my arm in a huge nest of wasps... but that's another story...

I love currants... and it seems like they don't get a whole lot of "play" in cookbooks... which I discovered while looking up recipes this weekend. There's few out there for currant desserts.... like this.... and this... but most of them are more of a bar type or torte-like concoction.

So I resorted to my old recipe box... for my Grandmother's (my mom's mom) pie crust recipe... which I jotted down many, many years ago.

Pie Crust

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup (plus a bit extra) shortening ( I use butter flavored Crisco)

a dash of salt (I use coarse sea salt)

*and here is the "trick" I learned from a wonderful Polish lady I used to clean and cook for... mix it all with ice water. ie: put a couple ice cubes in a glass with cold tap water... and use that to mix up your pastry dough. It will leave your crust flaky... yet moist and scrumptious.

((the top photo shows me making sure I had enough berries for a pie. The 2 photo/collage shows the prep of making the dough for the pie crust. The 3rd photo/ collage shows me making the pie crust. I recommend a generously floured surface to roll your dough out on; and "measuring" the amount of pie crust to fit your pie plate after rolling, and a spatula to help lift it up and into your pie plate. I always "fork" the bottom of the crust so that it bakes through and through. And I "roll" and flute the edges just like my grandmother used too.
It's just a habit... but it also makes it look pretty.))

Now. I couldn't remember if I should bake the crust (without filling) for a few minutes or not;  and so I decided I would.
Better a little dry, I thought... than all mushy. So while I was mixing up the pie filling; I baked the pie crust in the oven at 350 for about 10-15 minutes (until lightly golden).

Then I made my pie crust filling.... which was 3 containers of fresh currants (it took me 2 episodes of CSI to pick them off the stems the other night... I think I am slow). I added in a couple tablespoons of flour for thickening, a dash of sea salt, about a cup of raw sugar, and a mixture of cinnamon/nutmeg/ allspice & black pepper. Be careful when you are stirring this together that you are gentle with the berries,
as they crush easily.

I spooned them into the pie crust... and topped it (although you could put another pie crust on top) with cookie cutter cutouts of pie crust... and put it back in the oven at 350 for about 40 minutes.. or until golden brown.

Let it cool if you can  >> wink << before cutting it up.

This recipe is completely vegan... but you could easily add butter instead of shortening.

And you could certainly add some fresh whipped cream on top ... or even ice cream.

for the weekend

It's the weekend! 

And today I am a little late posting because I went to an art class at Firestone Forge.

I've been real good about getting my posts done a little bit ahead of time; but such was not the case today... 

and so I am sorry this is a tad "late."

On the plus side, I haven't really drawn anything since art class in high school... 

so even though I was nervous about it... I had a ton of fun.

So... for the rest of the weekend, I plan on doing some cooking... maybe some watching of movies...

maybe read a book and lounge on the patio. Who knows.

The photos for today's post are from a quick drive over to the recycling center the other day.

We happen to drive by several farms... and I couldn't resist a short stop to take some photos.

But hey... it's the weekend! So I've got some links I've gathered for you all:

* some great Fair Trade clothing shops

* awesome embroidery

* amazing nature

* this looks like fun

* this is going on right now! in State College, PA

* and this is going to happen next weekend down in Danville, PA

* 100 miles of Yard Sales here in PA... this is next weekend!

* this is an interesting read

* have I mentioned how much I love collage?

* things that are cheaper this summer (bacon???)

* how to build an easy fence

* this is super cool ... and so is this!

* what I am listening to... right now

Well... that's it for now. I hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll see you all on Monday for my "foodie" post.

7-10-15

The other day I went to visit a friend's house; and they have the most beautiful gardens.

Yesterday and the day before were so busy... and now I am finding myself in desperate need of some quiet... 

and so.... after I go to the Farmer's Market today... my day is my own.

Happy Friday everyone... I will see you tomorrow for my weekend post.

7-9-15

seems like , once things start moving... it gains momentum.
Ie: now that summer is really here (weather wise)... seems like there are a ton of things going on, tons of things to see and do
... and not enough hours in the day.

Yesterday was sort of a case in point.
Lots of errands and things to do with my mom... a rush of things to do at home....
Run to see music at the arboretum (and take photos and such).... run to a class through the PA Wilds...
visit with a few friends... get home very late... try to catch up on some chores and such...

You know how it goes.
All this run, run, run is good.... but it is also very tiring and there are some days my Lupus won't let me do anything....
so I have to be sort of judicious. I have to decide...
Is it something I will learn from, is it something I can potentially contribute to (add knowledge/ experience/ time/ funds),
will it help someone, will it help the area, will it effect a positive change...

Anyway.  I think it was all good.
--see you tomorrow.

7-8-15

It's amazing how busy some days are (and this is going to be one of them)...
Lots of errands, an appointment for my mom, a rendezvous with some music folks... and then a class.
Plus, I've been trying to edit photos from this weekend's Bark Peeler's Festival (see them all here) at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum...
and I hope to do some work in the studio... and the list goes on.
It's just the way it goes sometimes.

And we're all busy... I know that.
So I would encourage you... and I'm going to try as well... to take a few moments out.
Even for a brief period... to just... be.

--read more on this idea; here... and here.

7-7-15

It's been hot and humid... and summer seems to (finally) be in full swing.
And so... it was the perfect time to take a step back... and take a walk in the woods.
And low and behold... I found all kinds of wondrous things...
including this gorgeous Indian Pipe plant (top photo). I hadn't seen one of these since my Biology class days from 9th grade... when I was out and about looking for plants for my annual collection for class. Also known as "Ghost plant"... it is unique in that it grows without any chlorophyll... (the stuff that makes plants green). It's super cool... and quite pretty.

Sometimes you need to just take a moment...  see you all tomorrow.

7-6-15

As with most things ... the food variety at the Potter County Farmer's Market is seasonal.
Some days... there are tons of breads and jams and such.... other days it's rhubarb and garlic scapes...
 later on it will be tons of tomatoes and squash.
You have to go with what's available... and what is currently growing.
And this past Friday... there wasn't a whole lot. But that's ok... because I was able to get some fresh, young rhubarb, and I had some garlic scapes chopped and in the freezer from last week.
... and I had a recipe for a Rhubarb Salsa.

With it being the Patriot weekend... it was hot... and humid... and we were really busy.
You don't have time to spend hours in the kitchen... nor are you always inclined too... (or at least I wasn't)...so this fits the bill nicely.
Pair it with chips.... or even something from the grill... and you have a great summer feast.

Garlic Rhubarb Salsa

1 1/2 cup rhubarb, diced small

1/4 cup garlic scapes

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

1/4 mint leaves

1/2 cup jalapeno peppers, chopped

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

salt, cayenne, lime juice to taste

Now. I had a regular onion, not a red.... and I had no jalapenos or cayenne... so I completely omitted them. Otherwise, I followed this recipe exactly. It said to blanch the chopped rhubarb for about a minute or two (I did 2) and then immerse it in an ice bath for a minute... then add it to your bowl of other ingredients.  Mix it all well, and add the salt and such to taste.

Personally, I feel it was more of a pickle-flavor salsa... but then, I lived in New Mexico for  many years, and it just didn't feel like a salsa for chips. It did, however, seem like a perfect salsa/ chutney to put on a piece of grilled fresh fish.... which is how I would recommend it.

It would also be great in tacos with grilled fish or chicken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Because I had extras of the onion, peppers garlic scapes and lime... 

I went ahead and made a 2nd batch of salsa.... but one that was tomato based.

My salsa

I used about 10 romano tomatoes, chopped

1/2 a yellow pepper, 1/2 of an orange pepper

1/2 cup of diced garlic scapes

1/2 large white onion

1/3 of a bunch of fresh cilantro (loosely chopped)

1 lime (juiced), course sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

I put it all out on the table with plenty of tortilla chips... some leftover Sabra Hummus and guacamole... and we had a feast. 

Bring on the wine... and/ or iced tea.... and your're good to go. 

See you all tomorrow.

for the weekend

so... the other night, mama deer brought her baby down to see us.
We've watched "mama" since moving here a year and a half ago. First with her mate (a huge 8 point buck that we have not seen for about a year.... but he may be around, we may just not be seeing him)... and then when she was with another female (who had a leg injury right before winter... and is no longer around). Then when she was pregnant, and now... with her young baby. It's hard when you see wildlife like this, you worry about their safety and such... but we are so blessed to see them... especially with the young ones.

But I digress.
I hope you are all enjoying the weekend... and times with family and friends.
I've got a couple links to share with you all.... and I will see you all back here on Monday for my "foodie" post.

*stargazing in PA
*some amazing university gardens and arboretums 
*one awesome woman
*green chile cheeseburger
*some quaint covered bridges
*these guys can sing!
*1844 photographs of Jerusalem
*about white tailed deer
*just for giggles
*history in the making
*some new music I just discovered
*funny... yet true.
*some great travel photos

and a couple "4th of July" type links:
here
here
here
here
and here

7-3-15

...it's almost a busy 4th of July weekend here... and there are tons of things going on.
...not the least of which is a big hubbub at the local Pennsylvania Lumber Museum...
music, demonstrations, wood-hick contests, music... food and more!

This weekend with folks having all kinds of celebrations, picnics and more...
please be considerate and kind this weekend with your fireworks. Having been diagnosed with PTSD myself;
I can only imagine how hard the noise and such is for some.

But for now... lots to do!
So, I 'll see you all back here tomorrow for my weekend post.

7-2-15

some days are harder than others.
Political and religious viewpoints aside... it can be difficult to sometimes keep quiet.
((And yes, I am a natural redhead.))

The internet doesn't always help.
It's far too easy to see what everyone is thinking... everyone is posting...
and often times we are privy to things that in years gone by, folks wouldn't dare say in polite conversation.
The internet sometimes gives us a false sense of anonymity... and soon... the whole world knows our business, or mistakes,
our "less than complimentary" ramblings... and more.

But here's the thing...when all is said and done... what matters most... is love.
So here's to love.
Share it. Fight for it. Show it to everyone you know.
Be gracious about it.
Spread it around... even with those you may not want to... they may need it the most.

---see you all tomorrow.

7-1-15

We've all done it. We look in the fridge and wonder what we are going to make for dinner.
Leftovers, some fresh stuff... it becomes an episode of "Chopped" ... where we are racing the clock with a finite number of ingredients...
and are hoping for the best.
This is what I did.

I had some leftover french fries and a portion of steak.
Chopped up; I placed them in a skillet with some fresh garlic scapes, and a couple little cherry tomatoes I had from my mom's patio plant.
I then added a small container of "boom boom" sauce from take-out awhile ago... (it is a spicy cheddar sauce)... a little bit of leftover hummus, and some fresh ground pepper and coarse sea salt.

I also had half of a baguette that was a bit dry ... so I brushed it with olive oil and placed it in the broiler for a few minutes.
I added a schmear of guacamole that I also had in the fridge that needed eaten up.
Finally, I sprinkled a dusting of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.... and there ya go.
Now to open the wine...

See you all tomorrow!