Useful Map!

The cutest fellow on the block showed up at the door with a map that 'takes you anywhere'. This map has greatly improved my sense of direction :-)

I think this map will be on our fridge for a while.....I miss having kid's art so this is precious!

Garden Photos!

Corn and Carrots

Sugar Peas

Beans and Cantaloupe

Veggies growing this year are corn, cucumbers, sugar peas, onion, kale, carrots, swiss chard, spinach, onions, zucchini, pumpkin, soldier beans, blue lake pole beans and green peppers.

Spinach and Swiss Chard

I really need to take a photo of our veggie garden at my parent's abode. We've grown a garden there for some 15 years now - the soil is amazing and do the veggies ever grow!  This morning, I was enjoying that garden at 5:30, picking spinach and swiss chard, and running the water for a good while lest the veggies start wilting due to the scorching sunshine we've been so blessed to have.

As soon as I returned home, the spinach and swiss chard were given a good washing, processed and packaged for the freezer for future meals. Here is a recipe that we all love:

MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE (from More-with-Less Cookbook)

Cook and mash 3-4 large potatoes

Add and mix through potatoes:
1/2 c. sour cream or yogurt
1 tsp salt
dash pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 c. margarine or butter

Add just enough milk to bring to  proper consistency and beat until fluffy. (I also beat an egg and mix with the milk)

Then add:
1/8 t. dried dill(or maybe parsley or both....)
2 tsp. chopped chives (I use green onion)
1 c. cooked spinach, well drained and chopped. I'm sure swiss chard would work well too.

Place in greased casserole and top with a bit of grated cheddar cheese.
Bake 350 degrees F. for about 20-30 minutes.

Next time a garden photo, complete with a 'keep-out-the-rabbits' fence my Dad engineered...aren't Dads wonderful? He doesn't like gardening but he likes watching things grow :-) Now if I can only convince him that weeding is a blast!

Thoughts for Today

I have a dear Aunt who occasionally sends me uplifting emails. Today she sent me 25 'Tips for a Beautiful Life'. Here are some of my favorites:

1.  When you wake up in the morning, pray to ask God's guidance for your purpose today. And, I would add, READ His Word.
2.  Take a walk every day and, while you walk, SMILE. It is the ultimate antidepressant.
3.  Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
4.  Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. And  drink plenty of water.
5.  Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts, but invest your energy in the positive.
6.  Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
7.  You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
8.  Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
9.  Help the needy. Be generous - a Giver, not a Taker.
10.Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
11. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
12. Each night before you go to bed, pray to God and be Thankful!

What did you do today?

At day's end, ask yourself this question, "What did I do today that truly mattered?".... most likely it will have everything to do with relationships and nothing to do with money or possessions.

Focaccia Bread

The finished product looks a bit flat, due to the angle the photo was taken I suppose, but they had risen and baked well. It was fun making these and, oh sooo good! - here are the instructions:

3-1/2 teaspoons of fermipan instant yeast
1/4 teaspoon sugar (I used honey)
2 cups lukewarm water
4-1/2 to 5-1/2 cups flour (I used unbleached)
1/4 cup olive oil plus additional
1 Tablespoon salt

Topping
rosemary seasoning
sea salt
diced red onion
..or whatever you fancy

1. Mix water, olive oil and honey together in a bowl. In a large bowl, mix 4-1/2 cups flour, (sugar if you are using this), and salt and make a well in the center. Add the wet ingredients and mix well. Add additional flour as needed to reach the desired consistency.

2. Lightly flour a work surface, turn the dough out of the bowl and knead until the dough is smooth, about ten minutes (adding more flour as needed). Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for one hour.

3. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets (or you could sprinkle cornmeal on the sheets instead). Divide the dough in half and, with fingers, press down and out until each half is about 1/2 inch thick. Place on the baking sheets, cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

4. Remove cover and, using the end of a wooden spoon, dimple the dough. Cover and rise 30-45 min. again.

5. Set oven to 375 F (I set my oven to 350 F because it tends to be hotter). Carefully brush each loaf with olive oil, sprinkle with diced red onion, followed by rosemary and a sprinkle of sea salt.  Bake 20-25 minutes (lower temperature if it gets too brown).

Spring Days

How I'm loving the sunshine. We planted a bit of lettuce behind the house and it's coming nicely. Can't wait for fresh garden salads again.

Sixteen years ago, a grade one boy came off the bus proudly carrying a bedraggled, sorry looking plant for Mother's Day. If that plant could have talked, I'm sure there would be stories of little boys tussling on the bus ride home with the plant thrown in the mix. I hugged that little boy, thanking him for such a wonderful gift but secretly wondered how that plant would ever revive. But survive it did and now it thrives each year again!

And another from the garden that comes back year after year.......in awe of our Creator!