Silver Joys

     Christmas Day has passed but the front porch wreath will remain in place till Epiphany in January. After hanging the wreath early in December, I decided it needed updating - the small shiny red ornament accents were not so shiny anymore and the big red and green plaid bow seemed tired. The hobby stores were displaying all sorts of sparkly Whoville-type trimmings and decorations so I chose a few and added them to the  traditional spruce wreath. I especially like the glittery message that greets anyone who comes to the door - JOY!

     So of course, while I was perusing the floral department in the hobby store, I discovered some stems in the same silvery color scheme as the wreath updates. These were added to the existing arrangements on both sides of the front door. I love how the contemporary shimmer of silver complements the traditional green/ red of the pine and berry sprays!

"Goodwill" Lantern

     Daughter-in-law had thrown out an idea for Christmas, that didn't quite pan out, not because it wasn't a good idea but because it was proposed just a mite too late - we had already done most of our shopping. However, partly to humor her and also because I couldn't pass up a white wooden lantern at the local thrift shop, one of DIL's gifts complied with the request. I put batteries in the "candle", added a floral spray and tied a ribbon to the top. Results speak for themselves in the photo and DIL loved it!

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Boo-tiful Cookies

     These were a quick fix. In the past, I made the grand kids occasional treats or special holiday cookies but now they live too far away to drop things off on the way to work or church.We were meeting for lunch this past Sunday and I hadn't seen them in quite awhile, so I wanted to bring something. There wasn't time to do any baking or shopping but I did have a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints in the freezer, so I pulled them out and mixed up a small batch of white frosting, which was easy to pipe on the cookies. Spirals with a toothpick drawn through became spiderwebs, two circles topped with chocolate chips made leering eyeballs, and the word "Boo" was accented also with chocolate chips. 

     There was one major problem, however - stupid me FORGOT to bring the box to lunch!! Oh well, the three neighbor kiddos thoroughly enjoyed their spooky cookies.

Post-Season Sprint of the Cardinals

     When we bought our house almost thirty years ago, it was agreed that Pop would be in charge of the interior design of the basement and I would captain the main floor. My concern, and hence the reason I proposed the arrangement, is that the entire house would assume the look of a sports bar if Pop had free rein! The plan has worked well, with only a minor battle here and there. 

    Recently our St. Louis baseball Cardinals made their final sprint of the season by competing with the San Francisco Giants for the National League Championship. The Giants were triumphant, not sweeping the series but winning in five games - to us Cardinal fans it felt more like post-mortem than post-season. So with heavy hearts we find that it is now time to remove the red accents that have appeared, by mutual agreement, in MY autumn decor.

Halloween Village

     When I saw the collection of cheap resin houses meant for a Christmas village, I snapped them up and gloated at the thrift shop find - only seventy-nine cents each! However they are not packed away until December but rather are on display as part of my Halloween decor. Transformed with a coat of black acrylic paint and then drybrushed with white, the houses have assumed a neglected, spooky appearance. Now I think I'll add some twigs for dead trees, a few spiderwebs and maybe even backlight my haunted village with some tiny lights - lots of fun options for the Halloween fiend that is my alternate October persona.

Racism - Crossing Swords

     In nearby Ferguson , Missouri, an agonizing moment in the course of a  normal August day spurred an aftermath of turmoil and speculation. The facts? A policeman shot Michael Brown in the street...18 year old Michael was unarmed...policeman was white and Michael was black. The possibilities? Michael had his hands up in surrender and was murdered...policeman feared for his life as 6'4" 300 pound Michael advanced toward him..Michael had assaulted policeman inside the squad car moments earlier..Michael had committed strong-arm theft previously in the same day. While tending to believe that the officer did not shoot a man who posed no threat, I do not presume to judge what happened at the scene - that is the responsibility of the court system, and everything I know has been gleaned from local media (which is to say it has been persistently twisted, sensationalized and inciting).

     However, I have seen the protesting, rioting and looting and heard the accusations of racial inequality that is disturbing on so many levels. As these events have unfolded in the last few weeks, many friends and I have appraised our own neighborhood, city, workplace, shopping and dining venues, concentrating on racial relations. Our joint conclusion remains as constant now as before the Ferguson incident. With a few exceptions, people are friendly and courteous, even the teenagers. All seem to be treated with respect and it is evident that people of all colors can be employed at entry level positions and/or hold occupations which demand higher learning, ie: teachers, doctors, dentists, business owners, policemen, etc., We are proud of our (the adjacent cities of Florissant, Ferguson and Hazelwood) diversity and our willingness to embrace it. Those of us who did not take part in the "white flight" take umbrage in the accusations that we live in the "ghetto". The group that is protesting (and being incited by nationally known civil rights activists) is NOT representative of the general population. Therefore it is painful to see national and even world-wide news reports that paint our areas with a broad brush as "racist" when in fact, we are anything but.

Lemon Boys

     After a slow cool start, this summer has proved perfect for a bumper crop of tomatoes. We grow three varieties: Sweet Million (cherry), Early Girl (slicers), and Lemon Boys (heirloom). All are indeterminate because we love the continued production and because the plants are grown vertically on trellises along the side of the house. These heirlooms are a newer favorite - so sweet and meaty, however because of the yellow hue, a sort of optical illusion tends to fool the eye and make taste buds expect a lemony flavor!

My Mother - My Self

     On a recent hot summer afternoon, Duncan and his kitty spent some time reclining (and stretching)  near an air-conditioning vent... I've experienced a languish that rather feels how they look, especially since July 11... On that day, my mother died.

     On the morning of her death, a swirl of opposite emotions dueled within - grief that Mom was forever gone and relief that this proud, fiercely independent person was finally at peace after months of physical and mental ill health. It was confusing but expected because that conflict typified the lifetime of emotional duplicity that played out between my mother and myself. I remember a simple, pleasant childhood, at the center of which was a loving, caring mother. I didn't realize then the narcissism which, while not absurdly excessive but veiled and covert, affected all her relationships. As an adult, I began to comprehend that while she loved her children the best that she could, it was incomplete and invalidating, and the result was an affliction that took me years to identify and attempt to heal - the bewildering erosion of self-esteem.

     That said, I am glad that I have begun to remember Mom in a good way - reading a book and thinking that she would have liked to borrow it, peeling apples and wishing I could invite her to share a piece of pie, listening to a young tenor sing hymns and knowing she would have loved to accompany him.

Cherry Limeade Margaritas

     Since our front porch is now featuring red accents (see next post), we assembled the ingredients for an appropriately colored drink with which to toast the new look. Actually it was entirely coincidental, but what the heck, claim the fame! Frozen limeade, cherry juice concentrate, ice and tequila were placed in a blender and whirled into a luscious froth. Instead of a traditional margarita glass, I served the drink in a heavy-bottomed cut-glass tumbler which was less apt to tip and break on the concrete. A lemon slice was added as a bright garnish and our frosty, fruity treat was ready for the patio tribute.

Glider Gets Cool

     Many a sunset or an approaching storm is watched from this glider on our front porch. Despite the wrought iron construction, it is quite comfortable and the rhythm of the sway is soothing (even the high-energy dog enjoys a sedate "swing"!)

     The cushions and pillow on the glider got a recent revamp when I realized how faded they had become from the wicked western sun. They were mismatched as well - thrown together more for comfort than style. A piece of cotton fabric (part of a gift box of several lengths from a sewing friend who was moving cross-country) was just enough to cover both. I added some red button tufts to match the tiny red floral print, and threw on another pillow, scarlet with white stars, that usually was part of my Fourth of July decor. Lastly, over the back I draped a tiny nine-patch quilt, which was pieced some forty years ago for my dolls and while not big enough for warmth, it complements the red color scheme. Altogether the effect is a cool, comfortable resting place - for humans and canines.

     

Shady Landscape Project

     The ground around this stately ash tree is a combination of bumpy roots and very thin soil - a landscape challenge that is ugly to observe and further aggravated by an energetic squirrel chaser. Pop has long wanted to alleviate this eyesore so when a friend asked if he was interested in some free concrete retaining blocks (removed for a pool installation), a new project was born.

     Using an old but trusty Radio Flyer, Pop transported the blocks from his truck to the back yard. He arranged them around the base of the tree, taking care with a level and some filler rocks that the horizontal surfaces were uniform (and moaning from a backache that evening!) A few days later, the new bed was filled with compost and garden soil, and Pop visited the local nursery with some definite ideas that he had gleaned from research. He chose a combination of hostas and caladiums - shade-loving plants with colorful foliage. After composing, planting and a thorough watering, Pop was rightfully proud of his gardening enterprise.

A Girl and Her Toad

     Mikayla likes pretty dresses and hair accessories. She is equally at home in her soccer uniform or digging for worms. On summer evenings, she and her little sister can often be found catching lighting bugs (or fireflies, as they adamantly corrected me).

   
     A bonus catch tonight was a small toad and Mikayla was delighted to pose with her squirmy friend - the beaming smile gave a slight indication of how thrilled she was with her new pal, who has a new, albeit temporary, home in a Little Tikes Playhouse.

Peachy Pie Bars

     On hot summer evenings, Pop "needs" his ice-cream fix so I thought a complimentary treat would be nice. For no special reason except that peaches are in season, I picked a new recipe for baking this weekend. (The peach crop in our part of the Midwest was hit hard by the severe winter and some of the orchards reported a 40% loss in fruit, but thankfully prices haven't risen sky-high - yet!) Perhaps another reason is that Pop LOVES pie as much or more than ice-cream. Anyway this dish differs a bit from a traditional pie because the crust contain an egg and is crispy yet slightly fluffy.

      Fresh peaches were added to a simmered sugar sauce and spiced with a big pinch of cinnamon and a little pinch nutmeg, and then spread over the bottom crust. The top crust was put in place and sprinkled with a drift of white sugar. A summer plus was that the bars baked in half the time a pie would have taken. After cooling completely, our peachy treat was cut and ready to eat. We thought that perhaps we would be saving calories by eating squares smaller then a pie wedge, but sabotaged that theory by having seconds!

The Sun's So Bright

     Because Dunc loves to hang his head out the window when riding in the truck, Pop thought it prudent to protect his best friend's eyes. A pair of doggie goggles seemed a good idea and fit well, however, Dunc will only leave them on long enough to get a treat and perhaps for a photograph!

Phone Stand

     After we painted the walls in the dining room, I found a simple iron and wood stand to place near an outlet. Its main purpose was an out-of-the-way place to hold my phone while it charged overnight, however I am equally thrilled that the stand became a pleasing accessory to the room's decor. Since the drapes and the area rug are predominately a dark red, I searched through my books and gathered some matching volumes, which then were bound with a wire-rimmed ribbon. A decorative metal milk can that is usually part of my autumn decor, was placed on the lower shelf and filled with a spray of greenery. Love my little phone station!

Miss Molly and the Turtle

     On a recent weekend, there seemed to be more than the average number of box turtles crossing the road, which made me wonder what was on the other side. Anyway we rescued one that narrowly escaped the tires of our truck and brought it home for the neighbor kids, who love wildlife of any kind. Before we turned him over, however, there was a momentary encounter with Miss Molly. I was a bit cautious because I wasn't quite sure what her reaction would be, but I needn't have worried. She only gave that bold wee reptile a passing glance - sometimes she is just the haughtiest little thing!

Bacon-wrapped Grilled Meatloaf

     Not your ordinary Sunday meatloaf, this entree was chosen by Pop from an episode of one of his favorite television series - Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I prepared and baked the meatloaf early in the day, refrigerating it till late afternoon, when it was sliced and a strip of bacon was secured around the perimeter of each piece. The slices were then taken out on the patio and placed on a medium hot grill. On the stove, fresh quartered mushrooms were sauteed in butter for a sauce, sliced onions sizzled to a crisp and potatoes boiled in preparation for mashing with a bit of cheddar cheese. When all the components were ready and piping hot,  a serving of the mashed potatoes was scooped onto each plate and topped with a slice of grilled meatloaf . The mushroom-butter sauce was ladled over and lastly the entrees were garnished with a generous share of crispy onions.  SO not low-fat or low-calorie or even health-conscious, but, oh my, so good!

Pink Farewell Cookies

     A cherished co-worker had given notice that she would be leaving for a position in another office, so of course, a "going away" party was organized. On Carrie's last day, we shared a delicious lunch, lots of laughs and good wishes. I contributed dessert, which was a a lovely box of spice cut-out cookies decorated in white and pink icing. She was thrilled with them and only a single cookie remained at the end of the day...good-bye cutie-pie Carrie!

The Donkeys

     The previous mentioned road trip took us through a small corner of Gasconade County, Missouri. It is pretty country with lots of family farms, hilly vineyards and a smattering of small towns. Occasionally we pass a few horses or cows, and less often sheep or goats, but on this day we happened upon a small herd of donkeys, grazing in the middle of a grassy pasture. We parked on the roadside, called to them, and immediately they lifted their heads to peer at us. Then the friendly little fellows trekked to the fence, where they stared at us and we admired them. After a few photographs, we bid the herd goodbye and were back on our way. I remarked to Pop that I thought they were adorable, but he thought they were asses!

Blue Barn with Quilt Block

     On a road trip that took us through Franklin County, Missouri, we passed this interesting barn on Highway 100. Pop has become accustomed to my penchant for photography, and immediately turned around and pulled off the road. I was intrigued with the overcast sky and the weathered gray and blue siding which served to highlight the brightly painted quilt star high above the barn doors. And I am glad Pop is so well-trained.

Oxalis

     A green and a purple oxalis are Pop's pride on the back porch. The trefoil leaves are delicate - the purple variety has pretty variegation - but the fragile looking flowers are just exquisite. So although these shamrocks were a gift on St. Patrick's Day, these symbols of Ireland continue to delight throughout their growing season.

Vineyard of Dreams

     I think I would like to own a vineyard. Despite the constant worries about rainfall, weather extremes and wildlife, there has to be great satisfaction in the growing and harvesting process. And mostly I just love the appearance of an established vineyard on a gently sloping hillside - the neat rows and the uniformity of the vertical trellising. In this photo taken recently in Hermann, Missouri, the symmetry of the field of grapevines is a beautiful contrast to the brushy thicket of trees in the background.

Chicken Pot Pie

     A lazy Sunday afternoon on a cool, rainy day calls for comfort food, the kind that takes awhile to prepare. It doesn't feel like work, however, to cook and shred some chicken, dice and parboil a few vegetables, and bubble a homemade gravy on the stove. Even rolling out and weaving a biscuit crust is fun! After baking, the browned, steaming pie is ready to place on the dinner table and we can't wait to cut into the flaky crust and ladle out bowlfuls of the creamy chicken filling.

Urning Volunteers

     In early May, the cleanup of autumn and winter debris from the yard is finally finished, the soil in the garden areas is turned and ready for planting, and the fun part can begin. Shopping for annuals and such (that I haven't started from seed at home) is an annual highlight of spring that is sheer delight. And so the planting begins...

     A complete surprise awaited in one of two urns that flank the garage door, where what appeared to be cucumber seedlings were sprouting en masse. I was baffled, especially at the number of seeds all grouped together and then, in an "Ah ha!" moment remembered that the urns had each held a small pumpkin during the months of October and November. Apparently they were covered by leaves and/or snow for the winter and I had forgotten about them while they languished, decomposing into nothing but seeds. What fun to find free plants after spending $$$ at the local nursery! My volunteer pumpkins have since been transplanted to a couple of different growing sites - we'll see which they prefer!

Mourning Dove Chicks

     Mourning doves (or coo-birds, as Pop calls them) are pretty common in our neighborhood and there always seems to be a pair close together above on a wire, on the ground near the feeder and even in the middle of the street. They are much less skittish than other birds and slow to take flight, which makes them seem "friendlier" to us humans. These two little fellows were nestlings only a couple of days ago - preferring now the stepping stones and rocks between the house and spruce that housed their nest, an area that offered some protection and maybe some warmth as well. I didn't even need a zoom lens to get a good photograph, and because they seemed almost like pets, I named them Micky and Minnie.

     A few days later, the pair had gained strength and the ability to fly more than a few feet. However it was kinda cute to see that they still stayed pretty close together on their chosen stone. On Mother's Day, one week after this photo was taken, Micky and Minnie were nowhere to be seen and we supposed, or rather hoped, that they had taken up ranks with the adults. I miss their quiet, gentle presence.

Lettuce Be Thankful

     A stormy night, predicted by the meteorologists to be full of strong winds, thunder, lightning, hail and possible tornadoes,  passed with some sleep deprivation but no material damage. The hours of scary darkness were followed by a brilliant sunrise, so welcome in its serene glory. Lettuce seedlings in the back yard seemed unscathed and were, in fact, standing tall and almost glowing with jewel-like color in the slanted sunlight of early morning. 

Easter - The Son Rises and The Sun Shines

     Was Easter joyful this year? Well, we celebrated the Resurrection at Mass with beautiful psalms and uplifting hymns. Thankfully we still have Mom for yet another holiday, and visited her at the nursing home. Afterward, we spent the balmy, sunny afternoon outside - dividing some perennials, filling the hummer feeders, and later enjoying the Cardinal game and a few drinks with sis and her hubby. All this and the fact that I have always loved holidays should have made the day joyful but I slept little that night, fighting tears that came unbidden.
     When my mother was a child, she visited at her grandparents' on the holidays - when I was young, my family did the same. My son and his cousins always made an appearance at their grandma's. I always looked forward to the day when I would be the grandma and the kids would gather at my house. Yesterday, in the neighborhood all around us, were families visiting their parents and/or grandparents, and the house behind us was quiet because that young family was off to do the same. I am a grandmother, yet our house was quiet. The gifts and candy for the grandchildren remain on the dining room table. My son and his wife want 'new' traditions - I respect their right but I feel a great loss at the absence of the people I love most in this world.
 

Cardinal Cookie for Home Opener Barbecue Bash

     Pop invited the boys for his annual home opener barbecue, where they enjoy watching their beloved baseball Cardinals, the NCAA basketball final game, and then finish with some (nonsensical) Wrestlemania. It is amusing to see the side dishes the fellows bring to accompany Pop's bacon-wrapped filet mignons - they are quite proud of their kitchen creations, ranging from green bean casserole to Rotelle dip to deviled eggs. My contribution was this chocolate-nut pan cookie decorated with Cardinal accents and red jelly beans affixed with white icing.

     The boys (a term used loosely because even though the youngest guest is seventeen-year-old Vince, most of the others are now silver-haired grandpas) have a blast - betting, cheering, arguing, ribbing, and giggling - and thoroughly relishing their mostly-male created buffet.

Beet Salad

     Dad grew beets in the garden for a couple of years. Mom cooked those tiny beets and their greens. Nobody else ate them - except for me. I was the only child of seven who loved beets (and liver and a few other things too!)  A half century later, I still eat the nutritious red vegetables once or twice a month but usually from a can and usually heated for lunch, much to the horror of my coworkers. However, a friend recently recommended a salad recipe that included julienned beets, green onions, sour cream, and balsamic vinegar. It was so appetizing that now I plan to have cold beets for many a summer lunch! 

"New" Kitchen Accessory - Tres Bon!

    It is the beginning of estate sale season and I really should stay home on Saturdays so I don't get diverted by signs on street corners. Yesterday, this sweet enamelware canister caught my eye and I didn't think twice - paid a dollar for it, scrubbed it clean and was quite thrilled with my purchase. I love almost anything with a French Country look, especially vintage accessories. I will admit that at first I thought it could possibly be antique but some research proved that these L'Hotel Des Royales canisters are still being produced, though hard to come by. In any case, I am pumped for more treasure hunting!

Finding Miss Molly

     Upon returning from a biweekly shopping trip to the grocery store, there are more than half a dozen bags to carry in from the car. When all of them are lined up on the table to unpack, I shut the door, hang up my coat and begin the tedious task of putting everything away. Today I was startled, however, by an inquisitive little face that seemed to be peeking out of a bag. Little Miss Molly strikes again with her penchant for investigating any new or rearranged household goods!

March Horses

     It was late March, the landscape was subdued into shades of gray by a long hard winter and the sky was completely overcast. Into this muted scene, two young friends walked through a pasture gate, calling for the small herd. They were rewarded with a hearty greeting as three horses galloped up the hill for a friendly pat and maybe a treat. At that moment the clouds thinned a bit and the congenial group acquired a slight illumination from a weak ray of sun. In retrospect it was a perfect photo opportunity and perhaps, my favorite of the day!

Below, the equine trio has tired of socializing and begins the short trek to the barn for a bite of carrot, following close behind their benefactors.

A Pink Party for Year #13

     For Rissy's 13th birthday, the original plan was lunch at Crescent Stable with her grandma, great-aunt and the horses. The plan morphed a bit when we decided to invite more aunts, cousins and friends to make it a girl's day at the farm. However, Rissy was not privy to the change, and we were able to surprise her when everyone jumped out of the tack room with armfuls of pink balloons. Even most of her gifts coordinated with the color theme!

Scoutie sported some lovely mane extensions and even li'l George

 showed that real men can wear pink with panache.

Friends Forever

     Despite a slight age difference, these two have been friends since they were toddlers. Hopefully they will go hand-in-hand through the rest of their lives as well.

Watkins Hearthside Cook Book

      Since "wear, stains, bent cover" are common descriptions of this charming 1952 book on Rarenonfiction.com, Etsy, and Ebay ads, a simple deduction is that cooks of the time made good use of the little spiral-bound text. My mother's copy fell into my hands about a year ago, but I hadn't looked through it until recently, at which time I fell headlong into a time warp.

     Perusing Watkin's book, it is easy to comprehend the beginning effects of consumerism, modern food storage and prepackaged food items as they combine with and emerge from the 'totally from scratch' cooking of pre-war generations. Even the illustrations demonstrate a change from the traditional - there are a few full color photographs of menu selections but many more of the stylistic two-color graphics.
     Despite the evolution of cuisine and its preparation,  I like to believe that a statement in the preface of my old Hearthside Cookbook probably is timeless, "the heart of the home is in the kitchen".

      A note about the Watkins Company: J.R. Watkins began selling liniment door-to-door in the mid 1850's, later he added baking products such as spices and vanilla. Housewives must have approved because the direct-sales company boomed by the 1940s. Economic shifts caused Watkins to file bankruptcy in the 1970s but some of the products are still carried by stores like Walmart, Schnucks and Target.