A Little Older, but None the Wiser!

I just got through a stressful half hour trying to get onto my blog. I had to reset everything with google’s new guidelines. So tell me, how was that suppose to make my blogging experience more enjoyable?

Okay. Done bitchin’

Well, I, the Boss and Mickey Rooney turned another year older last Thursday. Strange that since both my parents have passed, I no longer celebrate my birthday. When I still lived close to home, my Mom would make me a German chocolate cake with peanut butter icing from scratch. It was the only gift I asked for. This year hubby paid for my Rosettastone Latin American Spanish course. It’s coming along nicely and has helped me with my volunteer work, since most of the people I come in contact at the Food Bank are Hispanic. Extremely grateful for my being able to communicate with them, are those who not only are unable to understand much English, but who are also nearly illiterate. In the past, if I was having difficulty explaining an item, I would point to the Spanish version on the package. However, some could not even understand that. I then realized that they could not read. Sometimes we take for granted the simplest things, like an adult being able to read.

And I put the Woody back in storage for another year. Charlie, Pud and I had an enjoyable year surfing the lake. But soon the winter draw-down of the lake will begin. However watching and hearing the southern migration of water fowl is somehow soothing. It let’s us know that the hush of winter will soon be upon us. Can not wait to crack open a nice bottle of wine in front of a crackling fire. Ahhhhhhhhhh…..life is good!

And one of the Peas emailed that she is now Dr. Sweet Pea. So I lift my glass to her. Well Done!

And for anyone who has ever passed a kidney stone….I say, thank God for hydrocodone. I endured the last two months ridding myself of one. Do you know what the horse chestnut hull looks like? Imagine squeezing that through a straw. Enough said!

And in closing, a thought about aging that most generation millennia forget. Always remember, "Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill."
Tis,
SF

Gray is the New Beige

Since Pea number one is thinking of gray and yellow for her wedding party, I decided to speak with some friends and family about this whole gray thing. The consensus was that the older the female person was, the less likely they wore that color. However, there were also some pros for wearing that color, especially from the male view. Didn’t have to worry much of color coordination and it hid such things as gravy spots and clothing wrinkles.

Youngsters seemed to be stuck on this color. Of course with youthful glow, great hair, no wrinkles and nice shapes, how could gray look bad?

On the other hand, I tried on some gray tops recently. It aged me fifteen years. Back on the rack they went, with me leaving the store with a bagful of tops in sherbet colors of yellow, peach and pale green.

When I spoke to my sister-in-law about this, she said gray has become the new beige. I looked at her and then remembered something she had remarked to me about years ago as we were walking through a parking lot of a pricey department store. We saw nothing but BMWs, Lincoln Town Cars, Mercedes’ and even a Rolls thrown in for class. They were all the same beige color. I think Champagne was the technical name. And the women who drove them had beige hair, beige clothing, beige shoes and handbags. The Beige Women. Plus they all had what we jokingly called “The Handbook”. You know, the unwritten rule book that women of this type all have and follow to the letter. How to wear your hair, what clothing to buy for each season or occasion, where to buy it, acceptable cars, and so on. Human Lemmings. Her title, not mine.

I don’t believe gray has quite hit that level, but I do see a lot of young women wearing it. And they can pull it off. We older folks have an on-going battle trying to keep color in our cheeks and our hair, than to wear gray.

Okay, I’m off my soapbox for now. I personally don’t care what color scheme Pea chooses. I’ll be looking at her and C. Everything else will fade into the background.

So in closing, love to all the Peas. And by the way, Happy Belated Birthday to Pea #1. I have some fresh roasted coffee and a few other things for you. Send me an address or are you still coming to Happy Valley? Pea #2……….ohhhh, it’s a guy thing. Pea #3……how’s the new apartment and Dutch? Pea #4……where the heck are you? In the ocean or home? And I have added another Pea from up by the East Cameron Homestead. Pea #5, who I believe has also moved. Hope things are going well for you and yours. Can’t wait to meet your little Peas at the wedding.
‘til later,
SF

Ooooh alright, I'll take the test........

Here's a request from Pea number one to answer a few questions.

1. What's your staple meal (ie. what meal do you cook most often when you can't be bothered to be adventurous)?

Pasta w/Roasted Grape Tomatoes & Garlic. If you scroll back thru my blog you can find the recipe. I always have the ingredients on hand.

2. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Well, let’s see…………the senior lady that others wish they didn’t have the inhibitions to be. You know, the woman with the long, natural curly hair tied back with a colorful scarf, rice paddy style, loose-fitting clothing, large hand made tote, always smiling. And when she passes you by, you get just a hint of exotic Casmir perfume. That’s what I want to be.

3. What book are you reading at the moment (if any)?

Wicked Philadelphia: Sins in the City of Brotherly Love by Thomas H Keels. What a great read! And on a more serious note, Escape from Davao by John D Lukacs. Not for the faint of heart. Story of the daring WWII escape from a Japanese prison camp.

4. How do you relax?

I have an icy cold Russian Vodka on the rocks with whatever nosh does it for me that day while watching a Tivo’d episode of House or a cooking show.

5. What color are the interior walls of your home?

Linen white. Period

6. What is your guiltiest pleasure?

I love to make spring & summer roll wraps. And then devour them until they come out of my ears!

7. What time is bedtime and getting up time?

Usually around 10PM and then up at 6AM. With three cats and a dog demanding to be fed, you don’t sleep-in at this zoo.

8. How long do you spend reading blogs (per day or per week)?

A few minutes to check in on all my Sweet Peas, every couple days.

Well, that's that. Now it's off for a leisurely ride in the Solstice with my long curly hair tied back, comfortable loose-fitting clothes, tote filled with an al fresco lunch and just a spritz of Casmir.
Life is good!

Love to all the Peas,
SF

String Beans, Sunflowers and Sugar Snaps………..

Three weeks ago I watered my garden with Miracle Grow because earlier this spring I couldn’t find any composted horse manure (the best kind) at the local nurseries. If you scroll down the pics in pairs, you’ll get an idea of the pre-fertilizer garden and pics from this morning.

My corn, cukes and sunflowers. Not quite the 3 Indian Maidens, but close.

Next is the Sugar Snaps, Dill and Hummingbird Feeder.

Next the San Marzano tomatoes and more Sunflowers, mixed in with Golden Red Beets, Swiss Chard, Parsley and Scallions.


Next my 'happy miracle', the self-seeded mixed Garden Lettuce we have been enjoying since the beginning of May. Plus the Blue Lake and Roma Green Beans and Basil. And one sweet and one hot Pepper. And some Mesclun Lettuce, Radishes and hiding behind the lettuce, an Italian Pumpkin sharing a pot with another 'happy miracle' Tomato (unknown what kind as of yet).

WOWSER!!! That stuff really works.

And now I give you my Bramble Rose Fence. And Charlie with his summer coat. The neighbors thought we had gotten another dog. He really doesn’t look like himself.

And I found this little fellow either sleeping-in or sleeping-off a nectar high.

And I tried to keep Charlie off the freshly vacuumed loveseat by blocking it with pillows.

Didn’t exactly work out.

And here is Pud working away at the computer. No wonder I sometimes come into the office to find the ‘screen’ printed.

And in closing, since it has become public, I can now congratulate Pea number one and C on their upcoming nuptials next year. Can’t wait to dance at your wedding!
Love to all the Peas.
‘til next time,
SF

Okay, I’m Baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Wowser! It’s been crazy busy here the last few weeks. We are nearly finished with the smoke and fire damage clean-up and repairs. And the demolition of the neighbor’s house begins tomorrow. The odor from the ruins hasn’t reached “dead deer along a hot road” yet, but it’s been pretty wicked with the summer-like weather we just had. Sooooooooooo, it looks like our anticipated quiet summer is going to be filled with the sounds of construction.
Okay, on to the next saga. Hubby and I met his brother at a store to purchase a new TV for another brother. While there, we decided to look for a front-loading washer and dryer. Found one we liked, went home to research it and decided against it. Went back down to the store the next day, purchased two mattress/box-springs and a French door refrigerator. (NOTE: Think carefully before buying a fridge manufactured by LG. Every shelf on the door and interior has cracked on our 4 year old Kenmore {made by LG}, with the freezer area rusting away.) Both bedding sets fit our antique beds, although you need a stepladder to get into hubby’s. However, even after measurements were taken and assurances made that the fridge would fit, it didn’t. Oh, it would fit the space, but we wouldn’t be able to pull out the long center drawer. Back it went on the truck. Ran around to four other places in search of another and found nothing but LG’s, fridges manufactured by LG, or name brands at the bottom of Consumer Reports lists. The August issue of CR is suppose to be updating their review of refrigerators. So we decided to wait another month before replacing our lemon. Personally, I wanted to U-haul it up to the Sears store parking lot and set it on fire. But calmer minds prevailed. Oh well…….
I’ve been keeping track of most of the Peas as some moved into a new nest and bought a “little girl in a dog suit”, aka Dutch.



Others are jet-setting around the globe. Others are holding-down the homefront. Gosh, to be young again. Grab hold of every offer given Peas and you’ll never have regrets!
Next time, I will take you on a tour of the gardens, some pics of “summer” Charlie and other amusing things.
‘til then, love to all the Peas,
SF

Everybody is Okay........

Well, Peas..........it's been a nightmare of a May so far. Late Wednesday afternoon I was sitting at the dining room table working on my laptop, when Charlie jumped to his feet and started acting weird. The cats shot off down the hallway and as I looked out the sunroom windows, all I could see was thick smoke. As my brain was trying to wrap itself around this sight, the phone rang. It was Marina next door asking me if my house was on fire. I jumped to my feet, ran to the back door and said, "No, but the next door neighbor's is!"
Twenty long and frantic minutes later the first fire truck arrived as I watched the house next door become fully engulfed and my siding start to melt as the flames leaped towards our home. They put a hose on the burning remains next door and concentrated the other trucks on hosing down our house.
Now let me fill in the blanks of what was transpiring in that first half hour. Hubby had been up at Geisinger getting a cat scan and then had headed west to a meeting. At 4:10PM the first 911 alarm was called in. I ran next door to see if anyone was home. The neighbor's elderly and quite ill mother lives downstairs. The three grandkids almost always get off the bus at 3:30. The wife's car was parked next to the house. Through the smoke I could see that the security bar was on the back door. As I then ran around to the front, a man across the street was screaming to me, "Is there anyone in the house?" I told him about the grandmother, grandkids and mother. However, the flames were shooting out of every door and window. It spread so GD fast. The man, soon to be a Good Samaritan, then shouted to me that I needed to move my car and vacate the house. Not being able to drive a stick, I threw him the keys to the wagon and the sports car. He moved them to safety, out of harms way. Then I leashed Charlie and left him with Marina next door. We could not find the cats. There was no time to look for them. I had to leave.
Then the frantic call to hubby to tell him to come home immediately.
Long story short, no one was at home next door, the cats were fine, we only have fire damage to one side of our home, but soot throughout the inside. It could have been so much worse.
Now I know when some one says they 'escaped with the clothes on their back', how true that can be.
We have restoration people working the last two days, and they will be back again next week to do the whole house inside and out. What a nightmare. But I have learned three valuable lessons. 1. Don't stop to save keepsakes. Grab your loved ones, your pets if you can, get them into a car and moved to a safe distance. 2. As a precaution, all photos, family keepsakes, jewelry, etc., should be kept in a fireproof box. Even if it is a pain-in-the-ass to get them out now and then. 3. And as harsh as it may sound, (my fireman grandson scolded me on this point) don't stay in a burning home trying to find pets that have gone into hiding.
A month ago we had another house fire that did not end as well. The husband foolishly tried to extinguish the flames, was immediately overcome and died in the fire.
So to all my Peas, we are okay, slightly barbecued, but much wiser to how quickly our world can be turned upside down.
Next you hear from me, I will talk about much more pleasant things. My garden, Charlie's summer hair-do, recent projects and the general goofiness that is a part of daily life at the Lake House Zoo.
Big hug and smootchies to all the Peas.
Love,
SF

Feels Like Home…..

The weather was so beautiful here on Easter Sunday, that we put the top down on the Solstice roadster and started our migration northward.
Hubby and I spent a very relaxing and enjoyable visit at the East Cameron homestead. It’s a magical place. There was much laughter, hugs and smootchies, fantastic food, met a new beau (he’s really nice), got a phone call from up North, Grammy looked terrific, the barn looked awful, and then there were the Brazilians. Holy Momma!
Unfortunately the time sped by way too quickly as I forced myself not to cry at parting. All the way home I had Randy Newman’s "Feels Like Home" on replay in my mind. It seemed to fit my mood. (And I still can't get that %#&$ video link to work.)
So in parting………….you know, lasting friendships are those that you can pick up right where you left off, no matter how much time has passed.
Love to the Peas,
SF

Surf's Up at the Lake

Hey Peas,
The lake is once again full from the spring rains and it is time to get the Woody out of storage for another year of surfing on the lake. The constant winds through the valley make medium swells that are easy for an oldie like me. Charlie, our Golden Retriever, is once again excited at the prospect of riding in the old Ford. Windows down, breeze flapping his ears in the wind, as we motor around the lake looking for the perfect spot to hang ten.Last year Charlie's friend Pete came for a visit over the 4th of July. They had all the female dog hearts a-twitter.
This year, Pud, our tabby cat, has shown an interest in joining me on the lake. Hubby has set the surfboard up on horses in the garage, in front of a large standing fan (for wind effect), so we can practice every afternoon on our balance. Coming along nicely.
Well, it's been b*tchin' and I would love to sit and chat, but I need to get a Chinese wax job (wax on the bottom) on the board.
SF
April Fool You All!

Top of the Morning……………..

.........and the Rest of the Day to You.
That is what my Irish father-in-law would say every morning to his family. So on St. Patrick’s Day, I say it to all.

The pics are of a wee folk Charlie and I spied this morn on our walk through the woodlands.

We spied him several times and Charlie very nearly had him.

But alas, we could not capture him. Nor did we see a leprechaun or his pot of gold.

But just once, off in the distance I do believe that Charlie spotted one.
Anyway, I just dusted my Ginger Cake and have put my Brown Soda Bread in the oven. Later I will start my beef stew and freshly grind some coffee beans for tonight’s Irish coffee. And trust me, no Irishman worth his weight would be caught dead using anything but Jameson’s whiskey in their brew.

But let me digress and embarrass my youngest Sweet Pea for a moment. When she was around four, I taught her a little Irish ditty. She had the brogue down perfect. I hope she still can.
Perchance she remembers?

Ahem!

Ahem!

Me mother has gone to church.

She told me not to play with you

because you're in the dirt.

It tisn't because you're dirty,

It tisn't because you're clean,

It's because you have the whooping cough

and eat margarine!

And, I give you my favorite poem by William Butler Yeats:

THE HOST OF THE AIR

O’Driscoll drove with a song
The wild duck and the drake
From the tall and the tufted reeds
Of the drear Hart Lake.

And he saw how the reeds grew dark
At the coming of night-tide,
And dreamed of the long dim hair
Of Bridget his bride.

He heard while he sang and dreamed
A piper piping away,
And never was piping so sad,
And never was piping so gay.

And he saw young men and young girls
Who danced on a level place,
And Bridget his bride among them,
With a sad and a gay face.

The dancers crowded about him
And many a sweet thing said,
And a young man brought him red wine
And a young girl white bread.

But Bridget drew him by the sleeve
Away from the merry bands,
To old men playing at cards
With a twinkling of ancient hands.

The bread and the wine had a doom,
For these were the host of the air;
He sat and played in a dream
Of her long dim hair.

He played with the merry old men
And thought not of evil chance,
Until one bore Bridget his bride
Away from the merry dance.

He bore her away in his arms,
The handsomest young man there,
And his neck and his breast and his arms
Were drowned in her long dim hair.

O'Driscoll scattered the cards
And out of his dream awoke:
Old men and young men and young girls
Were gone like a drifting smoke;

But he heard high up in the air
A piper piping away,
And never was piping so sad,
And never was piping so gay.

And it wouldn’t be St. Pat’s Day without a good laugh, so I give you a favorite Pat and Mike joke of hubby’s.

Pat met Mike outside church one morn with two blackened eyes.
“Pat,” asked Mike, “Whatever happened to your eyes?”
“Well,” say Pat, “You know the widow, Mrs. Murphy?”
“I do,” says Mike.
“Well,” says Pat, “She was in the pew in front of me, when we all raised and her dress stuck in her crack. Seeing her great need, I released it. And she put out me eye.”
“But Pat,” asked Mike, “Whatever happened to your other eye?”
“Oh,” says Pat, “Being the gentleman that I am, that happened when I put it back.”

So in closing, we will be watching The Quiet Man tonight (If you can find a copy of Maurice Walsh’s Quiet Man stories, you will get an understanding of the Irish). Over the weekend we will be watching Waking Ned Devine. If ever a movie proves that a ‘b*tch on wheels’ gets hers, this is the movie.

And I leave you with, The Parting Glass……

Of all the money e'er I had,

I spent it in good company.

And all the harm I've ever done,

Alas! it was to none but me.

And all I've done for want of wit

To mem'ry now I can't recall

So fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,

They're sorry for my going away,

And all the sweethearts e'er I had,

They'd wish me one more day to stay,

But since it falls unto my lot,

That I should go and you should not,

I gently rise and softly call,

Good night and joy be with you all.

If I had money enough to spend,

And leisure time to sit awhile,

There is a fair maid in this town,

That sorely has my heart beguiled.

Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,

I own she has my heart in thrall,

Then fill to me the parting glass,

Good night and joy be with you all.

Slainte,
SF

Pre-St Patrick’s Day Recipes

Here’s what on the menu for tomorrow night’s dinner:

Smoke Cured Salmon on Brown Soda Bread
Guinness Beef Stew
Champ with Peas
Ginger Cake
Irish Coffee

I wasn't going to provide the recipe for the stew, as most of the Sweet Peas are following a vegan or pescetarian (gussy-upped sort of oxymoron word for fish eating vegetarians) diet. However, I decided to add a link because I feel it can be adjusted for non-meat eaters. I also added butternut squash and substituted rutabaga for the turnip (I hate turnips). Please read the reviews of this recipe about the broth cooking away. I intend to make mine in a crockpot to solve that problem. You would follow the recipe, sauteing all the veggies instead of the beef. Then toss it into the crockpot to simmer.

And as to the Champ, I add a package of thawed frozen peas at the end. Sometimes I make the Champ with diced sweet onion sautéed in butter instead of the boiled scallions. I cook the package of frozen peas in the milk and add the onions, peas and milk according to the recipe. Talk about comfort food!

And here is a recipe, passed down from generations of hubby's family, for Irish Ginger Cake:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup butter
¼ cup unsulfured molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teas. ground ginger
1 ½ teas. baking powder
½ teas. baking soda
pinch of salt
1 egg, slightly beaten
½ cup milk, warmed

Combine brown sugar, butter and molasses in small saucepan; cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Cool.
Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour an 8 inch, square cake pan (do not use a flimsy aluminum pan); set aside.
Sift together flour, ginger, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl. Make well in center. Add cooled sugar mixture; mix well. Add egg and milk; continue beating 3 minutes. Pour mixture into prepared pan. (This can also be done with an electric mixer.) Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cake stand 5 minutes. Loosen from pan; turn out onto wire rack to cool completely. Place cake on serving dish. Dust with powdered sugar.
Note: This may also be made in a round cake pan. When completely cooled, I place a fancy paper doily on top of the cake and dust with powdered sugar shaken thru a sieve. Carefully remove the doily and serve.
Or you can try the optional Lemon Butter Icing:
3 tblsp. soft butter
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tblsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
Beat together the soft butter, sugar and juice to make a spreadable icing. Coat top of cake. Serves 6-8.

Well, that’s enough for now. Tomorrow I will post some anecdotes and poems for the occasion.
Tis,
SF

Beware the Ides of March

I guess we all know how that Ides thing worked out for Julius Caesar.

But actually in Roman history, this was the day the ancient Roman’s celebrated with military parades and toga parties (think National Lampoon's Animal House) in honor of the war god Mars. I can’t see myself celebrating war, but I will say a prayer of thanks in support of all our men and women who serve.

Anyway, it is still raining here in soggy PA, but on a more cheerier note, my tulips and daffodils are awakening from their winter sleep. Also the ice has finally melted on the lake, so the migrating water fowl are having fly-ins 24/7. And I have started my San Marzano tomato seeds. If you ever have the opportunity to have sauce made from these ruby jewels, by all means do so. I am hoping that this year’s growing season will be better than last. We had way too much rain and many vegetable varieties suffered from blight. Mine included. So this year, although I try to maintain an organic, pesticide free environment, I will be treating both the soil and plants with a fungicide. Well, need to run. Laundry and shopping day.

Later,

SF

Parades & Sweet Pea Explanation…….

What a dreary day here in PA. Most of the St. Pat’s Day parades were cancelled due to heavy rain and high winds. Not to mention flood warnings. Cripes! All we need now is a horde of locusts.

But back to the parades. If anyone has had the good fortune to see a coal region St. Pat’s parade or the one in Philly on New Year’s Day, you probably heard an Irish mummers string band playing “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover”. One word of advice; Never go to the New Year’s Day mummers parade with a hangover. Enough said!

Anyway, one of my Sweet Peas asked me about their pecking order, so here’s an explanation.I tend to put them in numerical order by gender and age rather than lineage. Isn’t that a great old word? I think I’ve been reading too much Jane Austen of late. So here are two clarifications.

My personal pecking order has the oldest Sweet Pea in Boston. Next is the latest transplant to Philly. Next has been in Philly for a few years. And the last, residence flexible.

In terms of lineage, the oldest Sweet Pea is addicted to knitting. The next is ‘working on the railroad, all the live long day’. The next I believe may be a crafter……with beads??? The last is a talented shutterbug. All of them thoroughbreds to boot!

If you scroll back to one of my previous posts, you can see a pic of them when they truly were my “little” Sweet Peas.

And it is the male heir to the throne that owes me a few yardsticks from back in the day when he was pretending to be a Transformer or Mutant Ninja Turtle. Kept forgetting to turn the yardstick before trying to run thru a doorway. It’s a wonder he still has both eyes or didn’t impale himself.

In a few days I will post some recipes and anecdotes for St. Pat’s Day.

So in closing, here are the lyrics to Four Leaf Clover:

I'm looking over a four-leaf clover

That I overlooked before

One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain

Third is the roses that grow in the lane

No need explaining, the one remaining

Is somebody I adore

I'm looking over a four-leaf clover

That I overlooked before

‘Tis,

SF

It’s March 12………Seraphina’s Day

One of my volunteer jobs is to make dog collar scarves and catnip toys to sell at fundraisers for our local SPCA. There is a patron saint for those who sew and her name is St. Seraphina. She had a most awful life and here is a short bio……..

St. Seraphina was born in San Geminiano, Tuscany during the early part of the 13th century. She was said to be a very pretty girl with a generous nature. She would save half her dinner and give it to someone poor in town. After her father died, she helped her mother sew and spin to support themselves. She frequently made clothing for the poor. At a young age, she contracted a debilitating disease that left her limbs deformed, with any movement causing unbearable pain. She was confined for six years to lying on her side on a wooden plank. Left alone for long periods every day, she had few visitors because her open sores kept people away. After her mother died, a kind neighbor did look in on her from time to time. But mostly she was left to suffer alone. She was told that St. Gregory suffered from a similar affliction and she became devoted to him. It is said that he visited her in a dream and told her that her suffering would soon come to an end on his feast day, March 12. And as foretold, she passed away March 12, 1253. Many miracles claim to have occurred as she lay in state which led to her sainthood.
Seraphina has become the patron saint of those who are paralyzed or physically handicapped. She is also the patron saint of sewers and spinners.
So today, March 12, I celebrate her feast day.
SF

Latest Recycling Light Bulb Moment

Monday is glass, plastic and cardboard recycling day. As I was sorting things this morning, I had one of those “BING, the light bulb lit” moments. Thanks to Winter Foliage’s recycling efforts I now have spice bottles.
I buy my herbs, spices, baking supplies, at the bulk food store down the street. They come in plastic containers that are strong enough to reuse for leftovers or in the freezer. However, the lids are so tight-fitting that just this week I went to open one and found myself wearing smoked paprika. I had on a white tee-shirt at the time. Need I say more?????
Anyway, I now have easy to open and close spice jars recycled from small horseradish bottles. I have enlisted my neighbors into saving them for me also. Being Russian, they go through a lot of horseradish!
And to my Sweet Peas:
Sweet Pea # 1…How is C doing?
Sweet Pea # 2…Hello? Helloooooooooooo?
Sweet Pea # 3…Loved the slideshow and we are scouring the Inquire for pics.
Sweet Pea # 4…You still owe me three yardsticks!
Oh, and when I get pics, I have some vintage clothing that the female Sweet Peas may be interested in.
We are having a gorgeous spring-like day here in PA and I plan to fully enjoy it.
SF

Today’s Mission……Onion Skins

Okay Sweet Peas, your mission today, if you choose to accept it, is the following. Go to your grocery store or green grocer and place one yellow or red onion in a plastic bag. Proceed to fill your bag with all the red and yellow onion skins you can find in the bin. Yes, other shoppers will stare at you, but remain calm and quiet. Continue to do your regular shopping and move on to the check-out counter. Casually empty your cart. You may want to put a sweet smile on your face as the clerk picks up the bag of onion skins and say “I’m making Greek Easter eggs this year.” Once safely in the confines of your home, stash them away in the refrigerator for further use. Continue in this skullduggery for the next four weeks. I find you can never have too many onion skins. By that time you will have enough to finalize your egg dyeing mission.

Okay, enough of the silliness………I’ve made them like this for years. Other than when the Sweet Peas were little, I have never been a big fan of store-bought Easter egg dyes. My Russian neighbors make these the same way as the Greeks. The only difference is that the neighbors use a wax crayon to make an orthodox cross on the egg before dyeing.
So if you want to go green, and use some more of Mother Nature’s natural dyes, here’s a link to more colors.

SF

To Chase the Winter Blues Away

Above is one of two little pots of sunshine that hubby brought home from the green grocers. They are dwarf daffodils. Although the flowers are delicate, they can withstand the harsh winters of the northeast. However, on closer inspection, you see why scientists should not mess with Mother Nature.

Three blooms on one stem. Not quite “Little Shop of Horrors”, but slightly concerning. Which for some reason made me think of the old Rocky Horror Picture Show. Have you ever seen the movie? Many years ago, when I was much younger, my old high school gang and I went to see it. We stopped at the local convenient store to pick up some props . We didn’t take them all. Just the rice, bread, newspaper, lighter (we all smoked back then) and toilet paper. And since most of us had seen the movie many times, we knew the dialogue. Plus doing an abbreviated pub crawl beforehand didn’t hurt. We had a blast!
If you ever find yourself lucky enough to have this playing at a theatre near you, I’ll give you some sage advice.
1 Call the theatre first to see if they allow props
2 Sit in the back row
There are quite a few sites that explain about the props and such. I don’t know……..maybe young people now are not as interested in this type of entertainment. Oh well………it’s hellish getting old.

And I am currently reading Game Change. A really good read. So much so, I am changing my registration to Independent!
SF

Snow, coffee beans and Sweet Peas….

Cripes! Is it ever going to stop? Another snowy day in PA. We woke up to 12 inches and high winds. Keeping our fingers crossed that the power stays on. But just in case, we lugged a mess of wood up from the basement for the fireplace.
And I am stuck at my computer. Two days ago was my volunteer day at the Helping Hands food bank. I’m not suppose to lift anything heavy and of course I did. So now it’s back to using my cane to get around for a few days. Thank goodness for heavy meds!
And as to roasting coffee beans…………not much to it. We have a friend who lived in South America for a time as a reporter for the NYT. He said that coffee roasters were as common in homes as toasters. Everybody roasts their own.
Anyway, one of our Russian friends got me interested in roasting my own coffee. And it must be done outdoors or you will suffer carbon monoxide poisoning. There are some sites that give you step-by-step instructions. The first pic below shows what the green or raw beans look like. The second pic shows them a nice chocolate brown and double in size when properly roasted. Now and then, when I send my Boston Sweet Pea a care package, I try to include some freshly roasted beans and a small cinnamon stick. You break up the stick and grind it along with the beans. And did you know that fresh ground cinnamon is good for your blood sugar?

Well, enough of that. I wanted to leave you with few more pics. The top is of a cute little Valentine I got from Winter Foliage that I have propped on my desk by a pic of all the Sweet Peas from years ago. I will probably get an earful for including it.
The next is of our Zoo at breakfast. It’s the only time they all tolerate each other.

And lastly………the reason why I have so many spell checks.
`til later,
SF

The Lump on the Bed

Sorry for the lack of input. Tax time has me near crazy. Plus the fact that I am one of the world’s worst procrastinators. Having an e-commerce business can be fun, but it takes a great deal of commitment. And I am going to jump into the world of Intuit. Hubby got me signed on. This week I am going to start on the web page. My understanding is that the templates are really easy to use. Cripes! They had better be.
Anyway, I was changing my bedding when the phone rang. By the time I came back to finish, there was a lump under the blanket.


Lambie Pie, our latest rescue. He had to be coaxed out from under an abandoned car. When he arrived at the SPCA, he had injuries from being attacked by a dog. My friend Becky called me and asked if we would temporarily foster-care him until he healed. The first few weeks he spent in hiding. He would disappear for the entire day. Only to emerge to eat. He was terrified of Charlie, who is the biggest sweetie around our other cats. Well, I think we all know how that temporary thing worked out. To make a long story short, he has become a buddy to our Pud, learned to stay away from the resident b*tch, Miss Jinx, no longer runs from Charlie, but still likes to hide. He’s a little skiddish, but we are hopeful. His only vice…………unraveling the bath tissue.
I was trying to find something in my recipe drawer to chase the winter blues away, when I found this, Caipirinha. It’s a Brazilian drink, not for the faint of heart! If you can’t find cachaca, you can try vodka. But really, if you can find the Brazilain rum, it’s much better. I add a few fresh mint leaves before shaking. But that’s just me. There is a video on Google Videos entitled How to Make the Perfect Caipirinha. I don't know how to do the video thingie yet, so you'll need to look it up yourself.
Well, need get my recyclables ready for trash day tomorrow. And it is such a gorgeous day in PA today that I am planning on roasting some coffee beans outdoors to soak up some of Mother Nature’s organic Vitamin D. You can’t roast them indoors because they give off carbon monoxide. My first attempt at doing it in the basement garage set off all the alarms. More on roasting beans later, with pics.

SF

Geez Loweez! What’s With This Snow?

As of 12:30 PM yesterday we had 14 inches of new snow. At 3:PM we had 19 and it was still coming down. We had to clear the driveway during the storm so the snow blower would not be overwhelmed. It partially drifted shut overnight, but we will finally get the driveway cleared today. And the bitter cold wind chill is not helping matters. Even Charlie is finding this winter too much.

Miss Jinx was so obsessed with the birds feeding on the back patio, that she leaped out the door into a drift and disappeared. She was hissing and spitting all the while I was rescuing her. Once inside she started shaking every paw and was so p*ssed at getting her tail wet, she attacked one of the bar stools she bumped into. Hilarious!
Some of my Sweet Peas got caught in this mess. I hope all is well with them.
Today will be spent starting to make a liquid levain. It is a natural occurring bread starter that is activated by the trace yeast found in organic flour. It will take nine days from start to finish. Hopefully at that time I will be able to make an Artisan-style bread. If it works out, I will include the recipe.
We are getting company this weekend and a request was put in for Cinnamon Sticky Buns. I particularly like this recipe because you can prepare the dough the evening before, pan them and let them rest in the frig overnight. Next morning you set them out to raise (I find you need to let them raise at least an hour), pop them in the oven and Shazam! Yummy, gooey, hot sticky buns from the oven. Anyone who has had these, knows they are Nirvana. And they reheat great in the microwave next day. That is if there are any leftover.
Need to get some coffee. Tell you about roasting your own beans later.

And I guess I put my Easter wreath up too early.

SF

What The Heck To Do With Buttermilk?

A few days ago I had some leftover buttermilk from a cake recipe and I remembered a recipe for Whole-Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes. I find that this recipe works best when you make small 3 inch pancakes. I sometimes make a double batch of these, layer them between wax paper, put them in a zip-top freezer bag and freeze flat. Then when you need a healthy breakfast in a hurry, you can just nuke a few and add your favorite syrup. I prefer warmed Winterberry Preserve from SpeasFarm. It comes in a huge 25 ounce jar that I purchase at the local Ollie’s for $2.99.
And I have got to start proof-reading and do a grammar check before posting. Sorry about that.
Well, need to run. They are calling for 12-16 more inches of snow between this evening and tomorrow, so I am getting firewood from the basement in prep for a snowy night in front of a cozy fire. I can always tell when it's slightly chilly in the house. Jinx seeks out her personal heater, Charlie.

Until later.

SF

Are You Having Cat Problems?

Recently one of my Sweet Peas reminded me of a funny incident with a cat and her high school Spanish language book. And a more recent problem. So it prompted me to call Becky from the SPCA and get her opinion on the matter.
If your cat suddenly starts using your bed or bathtub/shower as their little box, here are two categories of possible reasons:
Is litter box cleaned daily?
Have you changed to different cat litter?
Have you moved the litter box?
Was cat accidentally locked in room?
Is there a new cat in the house?

Now onto health/age of cat:
Female cats having bladder infections will squat and try to pass urine (bloody urine or blood drops turning up on floors, bathtubs, sinks or counter tops ).
Male cats with crystals in the bladder that causes blocked urinary tract from a diet too high in ash will do the same.
Cats up in age, who sleep on furniture or beds, sometimes can have a form dementia that when they feel the urge to go, they can’t remember where the litter box is located.
Also, if there is a newcomer in the house, even an overnight guest who has a cat, a cat may smell their presence and proceed to mark its territory.
These are just a few suggestions that came to mind.
PLEASE NOTE: If your female or male cat is showing any signs of infection or blockage, get them to a veterinary immediately, especially a male cat. Their bladder will literally burst, causing a very painful death.

And in closing for now, I will leave you will some more pics of the Zoo. Miss Jinx waiting to be served.

Our Kvetch doing what he does best.

And of course Charlie preparing for a walk in the Arctic chill, looking like a refugee.

Oh, and when I find a link, I'll add my favorite good-for-you pancakes.

SF

12 More Snowy Inches and Latest Rant

What is it with people and snow watch warnings? And these Super Bowl followers? The stores are packed with people buying everything edible. Don’t they eat any other day of the year. Same thing with holidays. The grocery stores are always jammed, people with crazed looks buying all the fixin’s, whether they need it or not. Amazing. So Saturday, on our way back from Russo’s in Reading, we really did need milk when we stopped at the local green grocers. You couldn’t get near the deli, gallons of milk, ice tea and bottled water flying off the shelves two at a time. Families in panic mode, piling high their carts. And then there was the fight in parking lot over a grocery cart. One woman helping unload the cart owners groceries, when they both turn their backs and another woman grabs it. I high-tailed for our car and never looked back.
So we woke up to another 12 inches. However, my Sweet Peas in Philly got another 28. Oh well, life in the Northeast. And they are calling for another storm Tuesday into Wednesday. Guess that lousy groundhog was right after all. But Charlie liked it.

And I must admit, when the sun peeked out, the snow glistened like diamonds.
I didn’t feel much like cooking, so I scrounged around the freezer looking for manna. And what do you reckon? I found a container of homemade Roasted Butternut Squash soup leftover from Thanksgiving. Yummm.
And it’s so easy to make. You’ll need:

2 lbs. butternut squash, peeled and cut in 2 inch chunks
1 medium sweet onion, Vidalia or Walla peeled and quartered
1 head garlic (do not separate)
4 cups chicken stock or veggie stock (not broth)
4 sprigs fresh thyme
Chopped fresh chives for garnish (or It. parsley)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with veg. spray. Add the squash, onion and garlic. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes. In large pot, heat stock and add the squash, onions and fresh thyme. With a sharp knife cut the bottom off the garlic head. Separate the toes and gently squeeze the garlic from the skins into the pot. Gently simmer the soup for about 30 minutes. Pick out thyme stems. Leaves should have fallen off by now. Puree the mix in batches using a food processor or blender. I remove the pot from heat and use a hand blender. If the soup seems too thick add more stock (if available), low fat milk or water. Adjust the seasonings, garnish with chives or parsley and serve with crusty oven-warmed bread. Serves six.
NOTE: For a richer soup, add ½ cup sour cream. To give this a more Indian flavor, add one large parsnip, peeled and cubed to the roasting pan. Add a teaspoon of cumin or curry powder and a dash of cinnamon to the stock. Serve with warmed Naan .

Well, it’s time to light the fire. Oh, just thought of the old Kinky Friedman song “Put Another Log on the Fire”. What a wild man. When he was running for governor of Texas he was asked what his position was on gay marriage. He said he was for it, “Because they should just as miserable as the rest of us.” Still crazy after all these years.

And in the future I will post recipes for Whole Wheat Oatmeal Panckaes, my favorite Bellini, Brazilian Mardi Gras' famous libation, Portuguese Fish Soup, and on and on.

Til later,

SF