Miss Molly, the Watcher

     A small thunderstorm passed quickly through the area in the middle of the night. It was unremarkable except for the fact that it did wake me up, and because the wind gusts rearranged some of my outdoor Christmas decorations. As I hunted for and then reattached the wreath bow, then righted the small spiral trees (they have a thin, open build that is supposed to allow winds to blow right through!), I realized I was being observed. Miss Molly's expression seemed almost wistful, though I am not sure if she wanted to join me outside, or was waiting for me to come back inside. Sometimes she can be so sweet!

"Cinnabon" Pancakes

       For breakfast on Saturday morning, Pop loves a stack of pancakes drowning in syrup; I am not a huge fan, preferring french toast with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar if I'm going to carb overload. These pancakes, however, were fun to make and very tasty. It took just a little extra effort to swirl the cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter filling on to the half-cooked pancakes (of course, my spiral execution improved with each one - the first was not exactly pretty!) The cream cheese glaze was just the right complement to achieve the character of a "Cinnabon".

Trestle Table Restoration

     Husband and I bought this table about thirty-five years ago. We were newly-weds with very little expendable income and had been eating off of a borrowed card table for several months. At that time, Grandpa Pigeon's had a limited inventory of  furniture and we found an unfinished trestle table (of very good quality) and four ladder back chairs with rush seats (of not so good quality). I stained and sealed the table to match the chairs and was very pleased with the look

     Twenty-five years later, the table top was showing quite a bit of wear, so I resurfaced it. (Grown up son, Mike, feigned disappointment that his math problems from second grade were no longer etched in the finish). The chairs, still in very good shape but not exactly comfortable, were relegated to the basement and we bought six beautiful new ones in matching oak. 

     This autumn, I thought briefly about replacing the table because the top was again showing wear and the legs had multiple puppy teeth scars. Instead, I decided that the table just needed some new life so I spent almost two weeks stripping, sanding, priming, staining, painting and sealing. I love the new contemporary look for my old friend!

Jack-be-Little Twins

     Here is the sum total of my pumpkin harvest - won't make a very big pie, will it?! Jokes aside, the little guys are appropriately named "Jack-be-Little"  and they were actually a bonus because I did not buy seeds to plant. A Halloween decoration that was overlooked in late fall cleanup, overwintered in a flower pot, rotted under a blanket of fallen leaves, and self-seeded in the rich potting soil. I transplanted a couple of the strongest seedlings into a sunny corner of the yard but they did not thrive in the early summer due to a prolonged spell of cool wet weather. In August, finally, the heat and sunshine established precedence, the vines grew sturdier  and a few yellow blossoms appeared.

     Moments like this make me thankful that I do not have to depend on my garden harvest to survive!

Late Summer Color

     Sometimes one has to look close for color at the end of summer - after weeks of  hot, dry days have sucked the vibrancy out of many flowers and leaves, and before the cool, shorter days create the brilliance of autumn foliage. Case in point are these gingerland caladiums and accent red impatiens that have thrived in a shady area of the back yard. A small shrub of rosemary is potted in front of the flowerbed and contributes a silvery green (and a lovely fragrance.)

     Three pots flank the open porch in one of the rare sunny spots available in the back yard. Black Pearl Peppers grow there and the pretty spheres are a shiny black-purple, soon to ripen into a deep red. Even the purplish green leaves are attractive.

A Flapper Weds - Phyllis and Larry

     Phyllis Eleanor Phillips married her sweetheart, Lawrence Laverne Voorhies in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the mid-1920s. She was the beloved daughter of an immigrant English shoemaker and a second generation Irishwoman and was the youngest of five children, two of whom died in infancy. Lawrence was the son of an immigrant Belgian buggy maker-turned-farmer and his Flemish wife; he was the middle child of five. The beautiful bride looks demure in her wedding photo but was probably quite the feisty independent, as flappers had come to be in that era. She was also very fashionable in her tea-length gown of soft wavering fabric, distinctive headpiece with long veil, pointy low-heeled Mary Janes, and a huge round bouquet (all of which are similar to the vintage magazine cover below). The tall handsome groom leans close to his bride and gazes at her with adoration - he is dapper in his dark suit, bow tie, and polished shoes. However by the time a family portrait is organized outside in the sunshine, Lawrence's smile has faded into a grimace. Was he anxious for the festivities to be over? Or was he just tired of posing?

     The marriage lasted less than a decade and produced one child, my mother, Leah Joan. Lawrence, a baker by profession, suffered from alcoholism and died alone in Chicago in1942 - a sad ending for a story that had such a lovely beginning...

     

     Left to right: Juliana & Peter Voorhies (groom's parents), Jane Stoffer (bride's niece), Lawrence, Phyllis, unknown woman, Wendell David Phillips (bride's brother), Nellie and Alfred Phillips (bride's parents), Florence (bride's sister) and Fred Stoffer, Marie Stoffer (Fred's sister), Fred and Florence's sons - Robert and Alfred Stoffer

Italian Rice Balls

     I had never made, or even heard of Italian Rice Balls before the hubs saw a tv chef singing their praises. I looked up the chef's recipe and wasted no time trying my hand at the Arancini (if we're cooking Italian it is only correct to use the vernacular, right?) Besides, it looked quite simple: balls of cooked rice, cheese, eggs, and garlic coated with breadcrumbs and fried, then smothered with marinara sauce. Supposedly served as a side dish, we had them as our main course and they were plenty filling, with a little garlic toast to mop up the sauce. Because the Arancini are somewhat bland, I think the appeal lies in the crispy coating and the additional necessity of using a very tasty marinara (I use a simple recipe given to me by a second-generation Sicilian father-in-law when I was a very young and very thankful newlywed!)

Where's the Peck of Pickled Peppers?

     The old nursery rhyme about Peter Piper came to mind yesterday as we picked basketfuls of several kinds of peppers - probably because we have never had such a bountiful harvest. The freezer already held bags of whole peppers for use in cooking, and the pantry shelf boasted jars of Raspberry Jalapeno Jam and Hot Pepper Peach Jam, so after some deliberation, I decided to try my hand at pickling peppers. The contrasting colors of sliced jalapenos, chili peppers and banana peppers were beautiful, and the familiar pickling aroma of vinegar was tempered with a sharp peppery scent. The verdict on taste will not be disclosed until a later date when one of the jars is opened - we have our fingers crossed.

Tiny Tomatoes

     Our small garden is producing a boatload of veggies right now and we savor immensely the almost-daily harvests. When a thunderstorm is forecast, it is prudent to pick every ripe Sweet Million tomato or risk loosing them to high wind / heavy rain. So yesterday a large bowl of halved tomatoes was marinated in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, with a sprinkling of fresh basil added for additional flavor. We eat these as a simple side salad, or add them to chopped vegetables or greens during the week. It is amusing to see how the size of this variety shrinks with the ebb of summer.

A Mother's Ring

     My mother wore this beloved ring for more than three decades. A gift from her oldest son, who was working in a jewelry store at the time, it contains seven stones in a simple setting. The actual beauty of the ring lies in its significance (the birthstones of Mom's seven children who were her pride and joy) and in the arrangement  - four of the seven were born in January so garnets bracket the ends of each row, making the design seem planned.

     Mom passed away last year and her last and ultimate gift was to donate her body to medical science. Brother asked for the ring so after it was removed, I cleaned and readied it to send to him. I paused before packaging it, however, with a thought to photograph it for my own indulgence, and am so thankful now that I have a keepsake image of that treasured heirloom. It is still peculiar and slightly unnerving to see the ring apart from Mom's hand.

The Mansion and the Window

   We called it "The Mansion" - a big rambling house, c. 1900, that belonged to the prosperous owner of a dairy farm and company. In the late 1990's, when my sister rented a caretaker's cottage on the property, the mansion had not been lived in for some time and had fallen into sad disrepair. Raccoons and other scurrying varmints occupied the basement where a couple of bowling lanes were rumored to have been - we never ventured into the dank darkness to discover the truth. We did, however investigate the rest of the home, even up into what we speculated were small servant's bedrooms under the eaves in the second story. Beautiful woodwork abounded in all of the large rooms, stained glass, multiple french doors and a huge stone fireplace adorned one room that spanned the back of the house and a long narrow conservatory decorated with Italian tiles flanked the south wall. These details indicated the taste and refinement of the original owner and it was heartbreaking to see the rotting shambles it had become. In 2014, when the mansion was demolished for an upscale housing development, thieves had already purloined any architectural details that were worth recycling. However, in a trash heap destined for a dumpster, I salvaged a couple of window frames - weathered, glassless and covered with charming chippy paint (which was probably not lead-free!).

     After removing hooks and eyes, and a slight sanding to remove flaking pieces, I painted this frame with coat of varnish to contain any further paint chips from falling onto the floor and into pet territory. It perfectly frames a favorite canvas portrait of my beloved grandchildren (who are much more grown up now!) I am pleased that I have a reminder of the mansion and of life in another era.

Vidalia Onion Pie

      A pair of grilled strip steaks was on the menu for dinner and usually baked russet or sweet potatoes would be our side dish. However, the waning of summer brings an abundance of garden vegetables and herbs to the kitchen so instead this pie was assembled and served alongside the steaks. Vidalia onions sauteed in butter were combined with eggs, milk, paprika, salt, pepper and cheddar cheese, then poured into a  Ritz cracker crust. For added flavor (and, of course, presentation!) sliced cherry tomatoes and chopped chives topped the pie. Thirty minutes in the oven yielded just enough time to set the table, fire up the grill and cook the steaks. Dinner was delicious and the custard-y pie was also a treat for lunch the next day.

I Spy a Cardinal

     Every year I do some pruning to this Japanese Maple to keep it from becoming overly large for the small garden area near the front porch. (Although it was labeled "dwarf variety" at the time of purchase, it has since aspired to reach a much larger stature.) This summer I discovered too late that I had unwittingly removed the leaves that hid a cardinal's nest, exposing it somewhat to the elements. I felt like such a plunderer, ravaging an avian home in such a manner. Therefore I was relieved when a short time later, a female flew in and settled on the nest, appearing unruffled and tolerably camouflaged.

 

    Later that day I was able to photograph these five beautiful eggs while the mama was away. A busy week intervened and I wasn't able to take another peek until the following Saturday. I was horrified and heartbroken to find the nest totally empty. Was it my fault? Did a midweek thunderstorm wreak havoc? Did a predator pillage the nest for a snack? I searched the ground underneath and found an eggshell fragment but nothing else.
     Poor mama cardinal - I mourn with you!

Borador Dunc and his Duck

     Duncan likes to "help" his dad skim the pool every day. Usually he just hangs on the edge and supervises, but on this particular day he ran suddenly back inside the house and returned with one of his many toys - a stuffed duck - and placed it carefully in the water. We were nonplussed at the connection the little smartypants made all on his own!

Peach Cream Pie

 
      Peach season will soon draw to a close and yesterday we pondered how to use the last of a peck we had acquired a couple of weeks ago. The decision was a lovely peach cream pie featuring a crumbly brown sugar topping, that we savored after dinner. My favorite way to eat peaches is to simply peel and cut them up, adding a just touch of sugar, but this pie may run a close second because it is equally
good warm or cold!

Polyphemus Moth

     A fluttering of wings on one of the hydrangea shrubs caught my eye as I prepared breakfast this morning. Thinking it was an unfamiliar bird, I grabbed a camera, crept out the door and moved close enough to see that it was not a bird but a giant moth. After snapping a pic, I went back inside and researched moth species, finding the fellow easily enough by his impressive size and appearance. The wing markings are striking but his legs are rather creepy!

Walenty and the ANREF (Polar Bear Expedition)

     When I get an urge to become more organized, and begin going through papers, photos and other stuff in my genealogy files, without fail I get sidetracked by something interesting. Such was the case when I came across this invaluable gift from my aunt - WWI dog tags that belonged to my grandfather, Walenty Janus. I had seen his draft registration card online but had no idea about the scope of his participation in the war.  So, hoping against hope to get a clue, I Googled the numbers that were etched on the tags: 339th Infantry Regiment, Co. E. which resulted in way more than a clue - I hit pay dirt! And now I know my grandfather just a little bit better.

     Walenty immigrated to the U.S. in 1910 at the age of twenty, most likely leaving his homeland of Poland because of economic oppression, unemployment and to escape mandatory conscription into the Russian army. He worked in a furniture factory until he was drafted into the U.S. army and was trained in England, along with many other first generation immigrants from the Detroit/Grand Rapids area, for the 339th Infantry Regiment.  Valued for their ethnicity, they were chosen for the American North Russia Expeditionary Force (ANREF), whose mission was to secure the northern Russian ports of Archangelsk and Murmanks. The crossing of swamps and dense forests, and mismanagement by their British commander, played havoc with the operation, and many soldiers died from disease and exposure. Their incompetent general was replaced and the expedition then endured an extremely harsh winter and fierce combat with the Bolsheviks until the fighting in Europe ended in November 1918. The 339th returned to the U.S. one year after departing for Europe and demobilized. As a testament to its service in the icy clime of North Russia, the members were awarded a unit insignia of a polar bear and the regiment's motto "Bayonet Decides" in Russian.*
     So that's the story of Walenty's military career in a nutshell - the details are obviously more prodigious but to me, the gist of this narrative is paradoxical: a young man departs Europe to avoid Russia and ends up returning to the very same. I wonder how he felt about that and I wonder too at all the unknown complexites that form a person's life.

*Sources for photos and information: "On Point - The Online Journal of Army History" 

and the Library of The University of Michigan

Log Lips

     The first half of summer was just plain wet. Rainfall totals broke records and green things grew where they had never grown before. Even our firewood sprouted living appendages! These white half-circles (which looked like lips to me) are fungi and some research proved them to be a species called oyster mushrooms, and upon closer inspection, they did indeed resemble oyster shells. Supposedly they taste like seafood - we did not verify that first-hand...

Daniel Boone's Home and Village - Defiance, Missouri

Because these historic buildings are remarkably preserved AND beautiful...

Blackberry Bliss

     A bounty of blackberries was given to me by lovely neighbor, Christina. (She is a young wife and mother for whom my respect continues to grow. Her three children are delightful - funny and well-mannered - which is a reflection of her personality and parenting skills, and she sanctions simple traditional pastimes such as cooking, love of nature, games, sports and religious affiliation.) Recently, the family went berry picking at a nearby farm and then canned jars of mixed berry jam. Pop and I were the recipients of a pint, which was excellent spread on our Sunday pancakes, and also of half a box of leftover blackberries, all of which were VERY large, that gave me the incentive for my Saturday baking.

     Since I have never made a blackberry pie, I searched online for a good recipe and found a highly recommended version - apple blackberry pie. The combination of the two fruits was supposed to create a better texture (plus it stretched the berries even farther and I was able to make two pies!) The results were quite tasty, even though the larger of the pies could have baked another ten or fifteen minutes in order to thicken the filling and further soften the fruit. It was gobbled anyway...thank you, Christina!

The Art of Dance

     Rissy was born with a natural grace and has become a most beautiful dancer. During her performances at a recent recital, it was vexatious not to have my DSLR and a tripod but I struggled through with my compact Coolpix. Of course, the action shots were blurry but a few of the others emerged acceptable, especially with some Photoshop help. Four of the best shots were combined in the montage below for the my office desktop. My favorite of those is the candid pre-recital shot of the ballerina wearing mismatched dark socks and rumpled tulle. 

     Photoshop is also responsible for the allure of the photo at right. I extracted Rissy from the background and the other jazz dancers, and applied a painting filter. She loved the effect (even though she did NOT like the costume because, "It makes my belly look fat!")

Berry 'Bobs

     These nibblers were a contribution to the potluck table at a recent graduation party. The original recipe called for strawberries but the raspberries at the local market looked much more appealing. They were big and plump - just the right size to be skewered alongside marshmallows and circles cut from fudgy brownies (packaged because I was pressed for time!) A quick diagonal drizzle of melted semi-sweet chocolate chips prettified the kebobs, which disappeared quickly at the party. Oh, and the leftover brownie pieces and raspberries, combined in the blender with frozen yogurt,  made some fabulous smoothies the next day!

Borador Duncan and His Pot

    A late spring day spent in the gardens was a combination of fun and work - digging, planting, mulching, watering - and puppy Dunc was thrilled with all of the activity. His self-assigned task was to grab a just-emptied plastic pot and happily carry it around the backyard for the duration of our enterprise.

     We were not overly happy, however, when it was time for bed and found that Dunc had forsaken his favorite stuffed bunny for the prized pot!

Zucchini Pizza Boats

     Summer dinner alert! Another weekday meal for two made easy with minimal ingredients. The zucchinis were halved and pre-steamed in the microwave, then the seedy center was slightly hollowed. Marinara sauce,  mozzarella, and pepperoni slices were arranged on top and then the boats were baked for ten minutes to a bubbly gooey cheesiness. Parmesan was sprinkled over and, along with some crusty garlic bread, dinner was served. (Pop wants this again with Italian sausage.)

My Life and My Herbs - Out to Dry

     Interested observers will note that I have not posted since April's end and it is now June. A  low mood and a persistent feeling of sadness seemed to cause a continual disinterest in my usual creative spirit, and the writer in me was repressed. So many things I'm trying to shake off: missing my family, the death of my mother, the perpetuation of racist claims by the media and the sensationalism of anti-police sentiment, weight gain causing depression and depression causing compulsive eating habits (and non-interest in exercise.)

.

     So I'll stop there and with the beginning of summer, vow to improve what I can. First resolution is that I WILL write and/or photograph daily. Today involves the lovely task of cutting herbs from the garden and drying them on very low heat in the oven. The freshly cut oregano and basil leaves are so simple and attractive as they are arranged on a tray and soon the house has a savory smell that is quite pleasant. The gifts of earth can be very uplifting.

Summer of Sisters

     In the summer of 1963, four sisters played under the minimal shade of a young sweet gum tree. Content they seem, with their baby dolls, crib and paraphernalia, on the suburban lawn that still boasted an unobstructed landscape of  fenceless grassy knolls. I was the oldest of these four and probably directed the arrangement of the makeshift nursery. As I recall, however, we were just as apt to be running a veterinary with assorted stuffed animals as the patients (and the garage held a stable of imaginary horses!)