Little Bear

I received an email from my grandson early this morning
He shared what a handsome dog
Bear has become.
I smile
as I remember the story.
Last Spring
little Bear on my country road
someone had dropped him off
and I spotted him.  He must have been
only weeks old.  Stopped the truck and
picked him up.   He sat in my lap all the
way to the cottage property.  Never took his eyes off of me.
Covered with ticks that I tried to remove.
He had captured my heart but knew I could not take on a puppy.
Gavin made a visit and fell in love with him.
The next day he had already been picked up by the animal shelter
when the call came that Gavin was going to pick him up.
So Bear was rescued and lived at the fraternity house with a lot of young men.
Time came for him to return to his parents home and Bear went to Tampa, Florida.
Special grandson is now in Washington, D.C. involved in an internship.
Future plans he wants Bear with him.
~~Lucky Dog~~

Oh Yes..

Borrowed from my Jamie.

Oh yes, light rain for 2 days
everything looks nice and green again.
On the way to purchase some rye and fescue
seed.   Hopefully it will stop the washing in some areas.

Even my compost pile is growing :)

My Jamie
removed verification
I do not want to miss any of my comments.
My link with the outside world :)

Small Meal - Butternut Squash Today

For many years
large meals prepared
and there was no problem.

But now...

When you cook small portions for one
that you want to be healthy and tasty
you run out of ideas.

This morning Butternut Squash is simmering.
I always buy any small squash I spot and add
to bowl in my kitchen.  They keep a long time
and are ready when I want to prepare this soup.
 Large ones are to difficult for me to peel.

The aroma is filling the air and it is so easy.

Cubed peeled squash
same of a medium potato,
chopped onion, stalk of celery diced
addition of garlic and chopped carrot.
Simmered in chicken broth until done.
Cooled and small portions put in my mini processor.
I will simmer and thin with some 1/2 and 1/2 or milk.
Into my bowl with fresh herbs and chopped crisp bacon on top.

Looking through recipes and came up with another idea of something not
prepared in a long time.

Chicken Ala King  -  must remember to purchase some pimento, chicken strips
and fresh mushrooms.  Peas are always in the freezer.
This can be served over rice and I like it over toast.

I can remember many years ago
someone I dated invited me to his home and
his mother prepared this dish.
It was so tasty.

This was never served in the home I grew up in
and it gave me an idea for years that followed.

On another day will prepare this old favorite.

Any simple meal ideas
for small portions
appreciated.....

When I Am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
   but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."

~~Mary Oliver~~  Thirst

Oh My....Old Recipe For Italian Meat Balls.

Going through old recipes trying to come up with something that would be tasty for my evening meal.
There it was...dated 1968,  paper turning yellow and must recopy so I do not lose this gem.

Anna's Meatballs.

Anna was one of those special people who always hugged me when we came in contact with one another.
I truly loved her and she always made me feel so special.
I have such fond memories of her.
She was a war bride from Italy and wish I could share some of her story but better not.
Now living with a daughter and husband is with his younger wife:(

I can remember the evening we were invited for dinner - my husband and children - before my two youngest arrived.

Oh the tantalizing aroma  as I entered her home.   The same aroma that is filling this cottage over
the last several hours.   This is a rare occurrence with my Sjogrens.  With this immune disorder there is much I miss and also much is not tasty.

2 lbs of ground beef
1/2 lb of ground pork
fresh garlic
salt and pepper to taste
4 beaten eggs
fresh grated Parmesan cheese
6 or 7 slices of bread that have been soaked in milk and then squeezed dry.

mix the above and form meatballs about the size of a golf ball

in a pan that you have cooked several slices of bacon and crumbled
chopped onion
add  olive oil

place these meatballs
gently in simmering oil, cook and turn often so evenly brown

add 3 cans of tomato sauce
1 can of tomato's

I put an addition of my fresh Basil and Parsley in this sauce.
Water was added from time to time to keep the sauce from being to thick.

Simmer for at least an hour - mine simmered for about 1 1/2 hours.

This is what she wrote out and gave me years ago.

I went online to see if there was anything missing?

I made 1/2 this recipe and it made 8 meatballs.   Could only eat one with the spaghetti and my
special bread.

Have lunch and dinner for tomorrow and also a carton to freeze for a later date.

Next time all of children and grandchildren are visiting
I believe I will make this along with a big salad....

Old Rocking Chair - Vintage Fabric

One who can hardly thread a needle is reading a
new blog and I am captivated by Mia's creations
and talent.

http://miaslandliv.blogspot.com/
I have read almost every past entry of Mia's.
Wishing I could paint every dark piece of
furniture in this cottage "white."

So talented she is
and I wish so I had her talent.
She is giving me some ideas
of some future projects.

Her home and setting in Norway
looks like a painting...
I marvel at that One Woman who
is in a country setting in the woods of USA
can with the click of a mouse enter
her world...

This a rocking chair that I rocked my son in
when he was a baby and toddler.  Guess I rocked
him and my other children until they were too big to
sit in my lap.   It was covered with a heavy plaid fabric.

Years later it was covered in a vintage piece of floral
cotton.  I can remember the person covering this
made the comment she did not think it would hold up.
Well it is 40 years old and looks like new.

About 10 years ago
in another home
I had the painter paint a maple table and chair
antique white and made to look old.
It is in my bedroom and I have enjoyed this
different look
and I am now thinking of
painting them snow white...

Loaded Quiche

Over the last several months I have tried quiche from our local tea room and Farmer's Market.
Seemed to me
they needed more in them.

With no recipe to follow
made this up
and put a lot in it.
Will make lunch and evening meal
easy for today and tomorrow.

Filling
1 1/2 cups frozen spinach - thawed and drained well
1 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms.
1/2 chopped red onion
1 cup of chopped Swiss cheese

Folded this into
4 beaten eggs
1 cup of half and half

Poured into a 9 inch deep pie shell

Sprinkled some Ceddar cheese on top

Baked 350 for 45 minutes

My Jamie just called
and I shared this with her.
Her remark "that sure seems rich."

So will see how it gets along with my stomach :)

Took an image before I cut into it..