Busy Morning

Laundry at dawn,  used little racks on deck as line is on a slope and did not feel like being careful
as I approached the line with laundry basket in hand.

 Filled bird feeders, deadheaded some plants and moved a few daylillies (before I forget the color) and then watered.  A sweet wonderful aroma fills the air, almost like someone has sprayed perfume, I believe it is my purple phlox that is in the garden and several other areas.

Living in the country it so welcome when a neighbor brings some fresh green beans, squash and
2 tomato's from her garden.  Then another call that the corn had come in and I will pick up 3 dozen later and cut some off for the freezer plus she has 1/2 watermelon for me.
A good meal in store, the kind I could eat every day.
Green beans, squash, corn, tomato and cucumber salad, tea and corn bread.

I look at this small quantity and have memories of my gardens in the past, the large amount that I picked,  how  freezer was filled and many jars sat in my cupboard.   Oh, how I loved doing this and would look with pleasure and pride
at all the many colorful jars.    Can remember how good the salsa was that I made from my garden
produce and my son would eat a whole jar at a time with his meal.   At the time I had
multiplying onions that came up every year and have not been able to find them for
many years.   All you need is a few and soon you have a bushel full, some to plant for the next year
and many to share.  Have several old recipes shared by some that were unusual.  One would
at the end of the season pick many vegetables and preserve them like you would pickles.
This mixture was delicious and another shared her squash pickle recipe with me.  Remember
these kind ladies in their late years and for many years they have been gone.
Their names come to mind - Miss Susie, Miss Alma, Anna Leigh, Maude, Miss Cora and
Miss Robbye are some of the names.  They were all so good to me and no one like that at this time.
Of course, I am now their age :)

A lot of memories
constantly
surfacing
and it is almost like
watching a movie....

Summer Continues

Every day for quite a few days has been beautiful,
delightful and perfect weather.
Not to warm of days and cool at night
and this one sometimes puts on long sleeves.

Wrote this post several days ago and now it has
turned super hot again and to continue.   Just watered
as the rain expected never arrived.   The soil in my garden
and the woods seems to dry out quickly.
Think heat has set in and garden losing the beauty of the last few months.

Enjoyed my Jamie and little girls on Sunday.
Amazed at the change in them from month to month
and guess grandma will always refer to them as her little girls

They like to ride in the back of the old pick up and donned my sun hats.
Continual laughter and they are just plain "happy."  Their visits too short and
far between but very aware of their city life with soccer, gymnastics, cheer leading, music
lessons, swimming and friends - their pleasure at this time.
More exciting then hanging out with grandma in the woods...

Jamie, took several bags of herbs back home and is going to share with some friends.
I need to begin freezing herbs by chopping and putting in ice cube trays, cover
with water, freeze and then transfer to bags for the freezer, so easy to season food during the
year with this method.

 Summer is going by so quickly and can hardly believe 1/2 the year is past.  This is very evident
in my garden with day lilies in their last days and many other favorites now gone until
another year.  Phlox are blooming

Can remember 4 o'clocks at a favorite Aunt's and friends home.   Last year some seeds were
shared with me and now have the beginning of this old fashion plant in yellow, white and purple.

They are in front of the only
hollyhock that came up this Spring with
giant leaves and flower about the size of a silver dollar.
It should be reversed.
When I lived in the city home
my daughter who lived in Massachusetts shared some seeds.
Oh my
the flowers were double and gigantic
and not so at this time....

Noticing very few butterflies this year,
a lot is different in nature and will probably continue.

Basil Freezing and Pesto

I love Basil
and the aroma fills this room
as I wash and cut off of stems
in preparation for freezing.
Many mornings planned on doing this
but it never happened.

Will place in ice trays
cover with water
freeze and then pop in plastic freezing bags.

Next I will do Dill, Parsley, Chives, Rosemary and Thyme,
it is so easy to add while cooking.
Sage always last through the Winter months.

This one thinks
she has a frown on her face
as she notices the high priced tiny bags of herbs
at the grocery...

Just made a small container of Pesto.
Oh my
so good.
No Parmesan cheese on hand
used some Bleu cheese,
pine nuts and olive oil.

Why
has she not been doing this
more often ?

Cast Iron Skillet Steak

Rarely eat meat
but have been craving a steak for a long long time.

Read with interest on google how good a steak
taste cooked in an iron skillet instead of on grill.
When in local grocery I spotted a less then 8 oz
Fillet Mignon at a special price and put in my cart.

Now eating my main meal between 1:30 and 2:00
healthy breakfast and snack in the evening.

Took out my very old medium iron skillet, a little oil
and soon it was red hot (turned the fan on so smoke detector would not activate.)
My beautiful small steak had been sitting out of frig for about 10 minutes
so it is not cold.  Used sea salt generously and placed in skillet.

Cooked about 6 minutes on one side and then with tongs turned it over and
continued cooking.  Taking out of pan and put in an oven platter and rubbed
some butter on it and let it sit a little to cool down.  There is enough to 2 more
meals for this one.   Storms moving into my area this afternoon and do not
have to be concerned over "what do I eat."

Oh my
it was so tasty along with potatoes (did not use oven to bake) made mashed,
arugula, with chopped home grown tomato, cucumber and olive oil.
Small can of Le Sueur peas and finished off with a slice of angel food cake
from Trader Joe's (a miniature cake described as the best in the world.)
Steak looks rare in image but it is medium

Sharing  that the grill purchased at Lowe's over the weekend
is being picked up at no charge as they have a truck in this area and I am returning.  Cord will not reach the outlet on porch, instructions say do not use an extension cord
and deck is at 98 yesterday afternoon.   Do not need another
something in this small home, the expense, something to clean and may seldom use.
It is so pretty and if it was a different time in my life - I might keep.

 I share a lot about food and it is a
challenge to cook for one when you always cooked for a big family but
it is growing easier..

Request - Zucchini Bread and Life

Zucchini Bread

This one
who considers herself
well organized finally found her
 original recipe of Zucchini Bread.
Over 40 years old and have shared online
but cannot find post :(

I will retype and post if this cannot be read.
Instead of using 2 large loaf pans I use 3 small loaf pans
and share.   This is so good and wonder how many hundreds of loaves I have made.
A lot of zucchini is chopped, frozen and used during Winter months.

Pulling boxes of recipes and folders off the high shelf
she is once again reminded of a number of unfinished projects.
She needs to organize recipes and finish putting pictures in boxes
to send her children and more.

My mind reminds me continually  of all I have to do, of unfinished projects
and thinks up new projects to help keep her busy.

I wonder
is this what life is suppose to be like
when you are near the finish line....

Busy Day

6:00 AM
the first Zucchini bread this year in the oven.   Recipe shared so many times in the past and is extra good
with the addition of crushed pineapple.   Half a loaf was consumed along with my yogurt, fruit and green tea - this morning.

On to Lowe's to look at an electric grill.  Years ago there was one on my screen porch.
Wanted gas grill but gas line and small grill close to $500.  This small grill with a bright red top
on sale and $150.   Easily loaded and the young man said "I think you can get it out of your truck."
Arriving home I put the wheel barrow at an angle and was going to pull grill out.    Not a good idea for this one with
balance issue and do not need to climb onto pickup bed.   Family arriving tomorrow and they can unload
to deck or screen porch.   I am not eating as much protein as I need and one of my daughter's has
been suggesting I make this purchase - so much easier then charcoal (which I love).    I now can cook 1/2 chicken, salmon, hamburgers or small steak on this grill.

Unloading this small grill was something I felt uncomfortable doing and in the past it would not have phased me.  Guess the list is growing....

As I was leaving the store
a man came through the door at Lowe's and spoke to me like he knew me.  Had a long white beard and said have not seen you in a while, remember me, Kent White.
His mother in a nursing home and father in his last days.   I listened to him share and did not have the heart
to say "I do not know you."  As I went through the door to my truck he added "nice to see you again "
need to ask my son if this was someone that use to work for our family business :)

A few images of garden from a different angle to share with family and 2 tomato plants in pots
are doing good...

Stopped at Trader Joe's on trip to the big city several days ago and the arugula purchased for my salads
has been the best and so much better then what I buy in my small local town.
Topped with my chicken salad, avocado, tomato, black grapes, walnuts with a dash of
olive oil - super tasty and I like my food better then anything I could purchase in a restaurant.

They were super nice at this store and when I shared I had quite a distance to
drive home they put frozen bottles of water in the grocery bags.  Another purchase
that I can hardly wait to try is Lobster Ravioli...

My day by the woods is ending
have taken down the bird feeders so squirrels do not chew on them and eat the seed :)
They have grown so tame and pay no attention to me when I try and chase them away.

Callie and I inside.

This morning it was 59 degrees and like this several mornings, so delightful
and I must say
"it has been a busy and a very good day."

Life On The Country Road

A few images from the garden
and I might add that this one never wanted much pink
but seems to have it in abundance...
Nothing new
everything growing.
Day lilies in full bloom and in all their glory
Crepe Myrtles beginning to bloom.
Soon Hydrangea and Cosmos will bloom.

Driving down the winding country road to town
everything is a luscious green because of all the rain.
Corn looks like it is close to 10 feet tall

This image taken 3 or 4 years ago and corn much higher at this time...
Soybeans and
tobacco look so healthy and green, wheat fields look like stubble in the fields where they have been cut and late soybeans have been planted and are beginning to emerge.

Life at the cottage continues at a slower pace but really not much slower but seems
like it is to me as I do not accomplish quite as much.   Miss using the lawn tractor and even
have thoughts of buying another one that is automatic
but when this thought arises  I put in "maybe not a good idea."
Young man comes every 2 weeks and cuts lawn surrounding this cottage
and I really want to do it myself :)

A/C acted up earlier in the week.  Stopped and it was 90 in this cottage but soon was back on.
Nothing the quality of past years and problems with this unit since it was purchased.

Trying to  be on computer less , really nothing new and it is so easy  as time goes by
to just talk about the past and think I have done my share and now trying to not do this.

Humming birds finally looking not so skinny, beetles have returned and do not like it,
miss my vegetable garden but a good idea that I gave it up and will make weekly trips
to Farmers Market for fresh vegetables.

Early this morning a trip to dentist and since I was half way to the big city continued onward.
Needed to replenish a few clothes and my favorite store is  Banana Republic and because
of the 4th of July arriving an excellent sale of all 40% off.
Jamie and family arriving on Sunday, the just married granddaughter is honeymooning in
 Italy - oh my.  Was on my to do list - but never made it :)

Have to share that I now receive the New York Times Sunday paper.   I love it and read over several days.   Must be the best paper in the world.

Quote from Rumni

Run from what is comfortable
Forget safety
Live where you fear to live
I have tried prudent living long enough
From now on I'll be mad....

I smile
because  not this one :)
at present time or ever
and wondered why I found it jotted down among my notes....

Thank you to all who inquired about me.

Much has happened
over a number of weeks
 that sent my emotions on high

A learning experience
and at this late stage of my life
guess I am still learning
and always thought I was a fast learner :)