FALL

My fall kitchen center piece includes an old Home Canning Book by Kerr, a rolling pin, a Mason jar filled with spaghetti, and some fall colored recipes card. All of this is tied together with my yellow gingham apron. Wooden spoons and a whisk are tucked into the pockets. A jar of honey and a fragrant pumpkin spice candle are placed on either side.



A basket of potatoes, an old Dutch oven, a meat grinder, rustic boards, and temple wheat set the foundation. Atop an organ bench that grandpa built for me 46 years ago sits a picture of an elderly woman praying over her meager meal. This picture hung in Gramma’s kitchen and now hangs in mine. A fall colored apron and a vintage card complete the ensemble.



Here, our Thanksgiving ancestors welcome and give thanks for the harvest.



My spicy harvest candles and pioneer rag doll adorn the end table. Laura Ingalls Wilder ties in the theme of simpliness, family, and harvest.



Old school books used by the children in Laura Ingall’s Wilder’s era, Tom Sawyer, and the poem and story The Touch of the Master’s Hand—A moving and wonderful story, accent the collection atop the table.





My little farm house collection… An old window frame I found, a pitchfork with a fall napkin tied in a bow, and some wild green foliage makeup my grouping.





My little pioneer rag doll is kept warm, by her shawl, during chilly autumn nights.



Miss Cleopatra decides to join in on the festivities.



Blessings to all this Thanksgiving season.

SPRING HAS COME!

I have to admit that growing up, summer was my FAVORITE season! I would lie outside in the shade provided by the North side of the house and look up into the sky. There I would find pictures, and there I would compose poetry, as I lay on the cool green lawn. Ahhh…those were the days.



As an adult, it seemed that I detested winter more and more with each coming year. I hated the cold; I hated the bound-up feeling and how hot I got with all the layers. Of course, when I was growing up and until about 20 years ago or so, we had real winters not the wimpy ones we have now. And, they WERE something to endure. Spring brought the wet and muck but also the hope; Fall brought the changing of colors from beautiful to dead and brown and the dread of what was to come. But, summer, ahhh, summer, THAT was season!



Back then…Boy, that makes me sound old!...Well, anyway, we would "lay out". The more sun the better, and the more baby oil, the more we would tan! One summer Mom and Dad were painting the house and had scaffolding set up. I donned the bathing suit, slathered on the oil, and climbed atop the metal sun bed.

Now days, rather than oil I slather on the sunscreen, keep my arms turned away from the sun as much as possible while driving, and try as hard as I can to keep from getting too much sun...

If only I had known the dangers! I shudder to think...

But you know, youth are infallible...



Well, as to the seasons…at some point about two or three years ago…my daughter and I had a talk. She told me that she actually lost weight in the winter! “Hmmm, how does THAT happen”, I queried. “Because I shiver, and that uses body heat, which in turn burns calories”, she replied. What a novel idea, thought I! We keep our house cool anyway to save on the gas bill, so I’m chilly a lot in the winter. Why not start looking at this horrid season in a positive way! I can lose weight!



As we talked, and as I thought…In the winter, you can cuddle up with kitty cats and books and Afghans. You can’t do that in the summertime!







In the winter, you can cook lots of homemade soups, which I love to do anyway…one more positive for the season! In the winter, you can hole up and hibernate much like a mama bear. It’s cozy, and it just plain feels good. The more I thought, the more I was beginning to like this time of year! In fact, winter ended up becoming my most favorite season of all…Gasp!



That being said, I have now begun to dread summertime ALMOST as much as I used to shrink from winter. I over heat and get so hot that I feel as if I might spontaneously combust. Now THAT’S dreadful! Summertime is quite claustrophobic to me what with being eternally hot and not being able to remove enough clothing to cool down yet still be presentable.

Well, what will be, will be and must be tolerated. Some of the things that I do to adapt are to wear a wet towel around my neck, and I have fans going non-stop in the living room, kitchen, and our bedroom. At bedtime when my feet seem to be burning up, I wrap them with wet towels. All in all, I’m glad that the good Lord gave us the four seasons.

This all brings me to thoughts of one of the finer more exciting features of this time of year...

Gardening!





This year seems to really be a beginning for many people, indeed. Countless numbers who have never gardened are—due to the economy—starting this year. Even the first lady is planting a garden—something that hasn’t been done since the Roosevelts were in the White House! Victory Gardens were a big thing for Americans during the war era. These efforts saved money, aided the war effort, and helped families be more self-sufficient.

As mentioned in another post or two, years ago when my babies were little (oh how I miss those days), I had gardens; I canned; I froze; I even dehydrated some. Those were the days—loads of work, but those were the days! Upon having to enter the quote-un-quote working world, the pleasures of homemaking and gardening had to take a back seat. So, for me this is an old beginning made new again.

I’ve been planning for quite some time now, since before the economy was really bad. Planning because I want to eat more organic. Planning because I want to be more self sufficient. Planning because…Well…it’s the right thing to do! So, I begin. Won’t you join me?



I just planted these little guys last Monday, and they’re poking their teeny tiny little heads above soil! The earliest any of them should have started to show was on day seven, and, many were in the 10-28-day range.

But...

Day Four...Broccoli arrives



Day Five...Peas pop!



Day Six...Dill, Carrots, Lemon basil, and Lavender show their little heads!

It is to me, such a testimony of our Heavenly Father’s plan. I see these tiny fragile plants that only He could create and instill life in. They, in turn, reach toward the light bending their little bodies Heaven-ward just as should we.



In the past, I have always had the traditional row gardens. I am quite impressed, however, and have been researching the above-ground container gardening. My thoughts are mostly formed, and next will begin the truly joyful sowing and reaping!





A wonderful site that I have found is The Square Foot Gardening Foundation. This gentleman has simple instructions and lots of advice on this gardening style.



I’ll keep you updated as we build, situate, and plant. To save money, I may get pallets, disassemble them, and use them to build the boxes. Next year, I’ll have my own compost; this year, I’ll have to buy it.

I pray that we may do all that we can to save this wonderful planet that the Lord has given us and, at the same time, get back to the basics.

Until I have my own vegetable patch to show off…

Please visit with me...

The Victory Gardens…

A DAY AT HOME

I wasn’t feeling at all well this morning and so didn’t go into work—bad on the paycheck—good to stay in bed for the morning time.

I got to feeling better and was able to cook a nice and hot yet simple meal for my family. The attitudes of everyone are so much different when they can come home to the smell of dinner cooking. My son walked in from work, sniffed the air, and said, “Mmmmm…MMMMMMM!” Then when he found out that it was one of his favorite homemade soups, he was extra pleased!

While I was in the kitchen, our sink piping sprung a leak, so I called my husband to let him know in case he needed to pick up a part on his way home. I think that the smell of dinner maybe even helped his mood as he walked in, knowing that he had work ahead of him. (I am most likely just humoring myself, but nonetheless…:)

The mommy in us never leaves, you know. The female spirit indeed has wonderful innate qualities to nurture, to love, to soothe. I yearn for days gone by when I was “just” a homemaker and a housewife. Well, today, I got to play that role again. Along with cooking, a load of laundry was washed and hung. I love to hang anything possible. It not only saves on electricity, but it is more pleasing to the soul and reminds me of days when I smelled Gramma’s fresh sheets hanging on the line. I don’t have a clothesline, so the basement rod has to do. :) I also got some crafting done, my bedroom tidied up, and a dessert made—something that is never accomplished at my house. In fact, more than one person said, “What’s with all the baking?” “Well………I pondered to myself…………if I were financially able to stay home, this would be the norm, sillies…………as in days gone by…”

When dh got home, we ran out to get a part, and I grabbed my knitting bag along the way. We had a cozy drive to Lowe’s (yes, you CAN have a cozy drive to a hardware store), and I sat in the car and crocheted on Elliott’s quilt while Steve ran in to get the pipe. Those little times together are cherished so very much. Holding hands, getting a hug, seeing a family who is happy that Mom is home, that hot food is waiting for them…these are the true treasures in life.

How I yearn to be able to stay home and perform the chores of homemaking rather than working for a wage. Will it happen while I am still able to enjoy my health and my strengths and abilities to do such? Only my Heavenly Father knows, but I certainly revel in these days, when I am able to “just” be a homemaker and a housewife. :)


PUMPKIN BROWNIES



INGREDIENTS

4 eggs
1 c. oil (I use Olive Oil)
2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. pumpkin
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
chocolate chips as desired

Mix by creaming eggs and sugar and then adding rest of ingredients.

I mix all of my ingedients in a large measuring/pouring cup. I like to add chocolate chips at this point for an extra treat!





Pour into pan.



I forgot my chocolate chips so added them to the top of the batter.



Bake at 350 for 20 to 30 minutes.

NOTE: I generally use two small cookie sheets. If you have to use an 8 x 8, which I did tonight, bake longer and watch so the top doesn’t get over done before the inside is cooked. You may have to turn the oven down to 325. Brownies are done when toothpick inserted near center comes out nearly clean.

FROSTING

3 oz. cream cheese
½ c. butter (recipe calls for margarine, but butter is healthier, so I use it)
1 tsp. vanilla or to taste
Powdered sugar to taste

Mix all ingredients and beat. Frost brownies when cool adding additional chocolate chips if desired.




I don't know the original author of this recipe, but it is one from a cookbook that I have had for well over 20 years. It was put together by our Fourth Ward Relief Society and entitled Seasoned with Love. For those of you who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Relief Society is a women’s organization dedicated to the welfare of all women everywhere.

NEW YEAR'S MUSINGS

I feel quite like an outsider as I read the wonderful blogs that I follow. I am the minority, as it seems, in blog land. I am in the transitional phase between mommy and empty nester. I confess that I hate the term and the very soon occurrence of the same. How I yearn, as I read these blogs, for my own now grown little people. How I desire those times past when I was able to stay at home and be a homeschooling mommy, a homemaker, a wife. Meals were made with love, and the house was cleaned and organized often. There are more remorses that I have that, due to causing undo hurt on others, I may not mention here. But, they are real, and they are very hurtful. They lend to the sadness I carry.

I very much dislike this passageway I find myself in and for the moment at least feel as though it leads only to much loneliness. After this comes old age and aloneness. An empty house is not ok with me. I want my children around. I want my family. I want activity and love. I very much do not want the empty shell that is soon to arrive. Never did I look forward to the day when my children would all be gone. Sure, I dreamed of not being so tied down and did indeed look forward to the days of “freedom”. I do enjoy certain aspects that come with not being a steward of little people. I do enjoy not having all of the tie downs that kids’ activities bring, that teenagers engage in, and others. But, all in all, I am very saddened by it all. By May 1st, my daughter and friend will have moved out. They are adults and need to move on with their lives, but couldn’t it be different? Couldn’t they just stay? Couldn’t we be as those souls in other countries who live together as family…forever…taking care of one another? My boy, too, will leave this Spring. He’ll be gone for two years and then back for a little season. He then will be on with his own life.

There is just something so final about it all. For all of these years, I was someone’s mommy, someone’s caregiver. Now, it will be just my husband and me. He, of course, is quite looking forward to the day. I am quite dreading it. Did I sign up for this when I married and started my family? I suppose I did, but I was so very involved in having those precious babies and caring for their every need that this day was eons away.

As I read these blogs that talk of having new little ones, homeschooling, and mothering, I am touched with a bitter finger on my heart. I do not desire to be here. I do not desire to be at the threshold of old age. While that is yet quite a ways down the road, it too will be here in the blinking of an eye, and I do not want to be the old woman who is but swept to the corner of life, only now to observe what she used to partake of—that of the motherhood she so enjoyed. Yet…I AM here, and I must make the very best of it. I must forge ahead into that cloudy abyss that I wish to shrink from. It is a time of transition, a time to allow this struggle to strengthen me. And so I shall.

NEFFLA SOUP--FOR SURE THIS TIME

I had one more request for the recipe and thought I had printed it earlier in its entirety but hadn't. So, here, with a bit of memory to taste, is Gramma's Neffla Soup.

Growing up with 100% German grandparents and a full-blooded German mother meant LOTS of good eats, as Grandpa would say. Oh my! Gramma and Grampa never had much, but they always had yummy, tasty, German food on the table. It was all made from scratch, even the noodles and bread, and there was ne'er a recipe to be found. If one would ask Grandma how to make something, she would say, with a little laugh, "Oh, I don't know..." and then proceed to tell you to put a "little" of this and a "bit" of that into your bowl...

That hardy stock of people is too quickly vanishing from our planet and another more hollow version has taken over. The old stock were pure through and through. They didn’t have the veneer that shines so gloriously on the populous today. Like a good old oak door, they were solid. They knew how to work; they knew what living through poverty, the Depression, and hard times was like. They were real.

Today’s lot are like a fancy door on a extravagant house, beautiful and glorious on the outside but except for their “core” of air and Styrofoam, hollow on the inside.

Yes…I miss them. How I would love to sit a while longer…to linger at her table and converse, as she rolled out her precious bread dough. How I would love to hear her voice again…I can remember it, but memories are never the same. How I yearn to be able to ask, as I did when but a small child, “Gramma, how do you say this in German?” Then, she would tell me or say, “Oh, I don’t know; ask Grampa.” Grampa spoke the high and she the low. I don’t quite know why she was so humble about it or if she really didn’t remember certain words. But, with her sisters, I heard her speak her fluent brogue all the time. They would go back and forth between German and English. It was amazing to listen to.

When I grew up, I trained my dogs in German. When I was in K-9 school, I’d call back home and ask, as I did when I was small, “Gramma, how do you say this in German?” Those words stay with me. The alphabet (or most of it) remains—mingled with my more newly acquired Spanish. The Bible verses and songs she taught remain. These things fill my heart. And, what fills my tummy now, as it did then, are her wonderful, irreplaceable, German “recipes” copied down as best I could…as she told me, as best she could…while she rolled out her dough.


NEFFLA SOUP

1 Whole chicken or several boneless chicken breasts
Bouillon paste (you can use cubes, but I prefer the refrigerated paste)
Nefflas (German egg dumplings)

Bring whole chicken (or chicken breasts), enough water to cover, and bouillon paste to a boil. (I add the bouillon by tablespoon fulls to taste). Then, turn down to a slow simmering boil for several hours—long enough to have tender chicken that will easily pull away from the bone.

Debone chicken and cut or shred into bite-sized pieces. Usually, after cooking for several hours, my chicken is quite tender and easily cuts/shreds with a knife. Add back to stock and bring to a boil while you prepare the nefflas.


Nefflas (Can double)

1 egg
¼ cup water
Salt to taste
Flour—enough to make a ball that comes away from the sides of bowl when mixed.

Beat egg; add water and beat. Add salt then mix in flour a bit at a time.

Add neffla dough one teaspoon full at a time into boiling soup stock. Continue until all the dough is used up. Because we like the dumplings, and they always are the first to go, I make a double recipe. I also make a very large pot of soup, however; so if you’re making a smaller kettle full, one recipe of the dumplings should suffice.

Continue to boil for 15 minutes allowing nefflas to swell.

Serve hot soup in home-style bowls with thick crusty bread or rolls.

Enjoy!

THE OIL LAMP CHALLENGE

I brought out an old oil lamp the other day that we had stored in an effort to bring into our home some ambiance and a little old-fashioned feeling of nights long ago.

Before I could officially light my lamp, I needed wicking and tried several stores to no avail. A couple of days later, my dad gave me a piece that he just happened to have. (Dad is an extremely self-sufficient man and is totally prepared for any disaster that may ever come upon him or us. He has three bug-out bags in his truck alone.) I was so excited to finally get to try out my light, so home we went.

What I thought would be a simple process turned into a much longer one. The turner (don’t know the correct term) I found out doesn’t turn, so it took me forever to get the wick threaded through the wick slit. A half an hour later, with sore fingers to boot, I got the material up enough to where I could grab it with two skewers and pull it all the way through the top opening. Excited, I lit the wick only to have the kitchen fill promptly with a large cloud of blackened smoke.

Another soaking of oil to the wick and another 20 minutes of threading the last bit of wicking through, I attempted once again to burn my beautiful oil lamp. I had thoughts of reading at my table by lamplight, while visions of pioneer homesteaders danced in my head…I struck the match, lighted the lamp, and voila, another cloud of black smoke filled the kitchen air! Of course, I had already opened the back door and kitchen window previously to air the room out from the first cloud of darkness. Once again, I hurried to open up the house to let the black smoke out and the cold winter air in.

Hoping to squelch the flame a bit, I very carefully took the chimney to place it back on the lamp. While doing this, however, I missed a prong, and down it went, crashing into a million…well maybe 50…pieces all over the floor and table.

So, no more wicking, no more chimney, and a pretty little half lamp are all that remain of my old-fashioned re-enactment of nights long ago.

I was able, between clouds of black smoke and pre-chimney explosion, to snap a couple of pictures…

A DOOR AND ME

It’s late in coming, but below is a picture of the old-time door vents (still can’t think of what they’re officially called) at my favorite get-away. This is the resort that we went to for Thanksgiving that I have been going to now for 35 years. I prefer to stay in the old rooms in the old brass beds. Some of the rooms have a sink, some a sink and stool, and some a full bath. This year, ours had just a sink and a shared bath down the hall.

Because they don’t have air conditioning, the vents above the doors could be opened to allow a cross draft with an open window on the other side of the room. Of course now days due to fire codes, these have all been sealed up with plywood. I miss the old days but am glad that they have at least preserved the overall look, for these doors hold wonderful memories for me.




My niece kissing my baby grandson, Christian.



Gramma and me. She's my only one left, and what a good one she is! I love Gramma with all my heart.

NOVEMBER 29, 2008

My Saturday...

I had a wonderful and productive day. I cleaned house, did laundry, and got some meat out to thaw for tomorrow’s dinner. Chanielle and boys stopped by for a visit, which is always nice.

Christmas Shopping: I visited a couple of second-hand stores and bought a stocking stuffer and some Christmas candles. I also stopped by our local Bible book store and picked up some half-priced Christmas cards and a box of candy canes and bookmarks.

Because we are cutting down this holiday season both for frugality reasons and also to get back to the true spirit of Christmas, I have some plans. For our Christmas Eve, I will be reading a couple of newspaper articles about “Christmas” today and then talk of how Christ’s birth should really be celebrated. I will tell the story of the candy cane and hand out the peppermint sticks along with a bookmark that shows a candy cane and has a saying which includes the word “Jesus” on it. We’ll then tell the story of Christ’s birth using one of the nativity sets that I have. Our treat will be hot cocoa adorned with our mint candy canes. I think that my little grandchildren will be able to understand the meaning by the use of these visuals. We have agreed on plain brown paper wrapping for our gifts. I may hand decorate mine—something I used to do years ago.



I ordered several Christmas gifts from Lehman’s this evening. Many of the products that they offer are from days gone by. I even picked up a couple of little things for myself, my much-searched-for Fels Naptha soap and a sock darner ball! I’m so excited to get these things! Since we are only spending a very small amount on each other, the price will be quite minimal over all compared to what we usually spend. It’s a nice feeling, and the stress factor is greatly reduced!







Shopping: I spent hours going through the material and craft isle at our local Mission second-hand store. What bargains I found! I am starting a collection of Barbie’s to go with the one I got as a girl. I thought that I would have a hard time finding them, and that they may be expensive. However, I found three of them at the bottom of a cake decorating box today! They were .99 a piece; I couldn’t believe it!



Someone must have unloaded their entire attic full of crafts, as there were all sorts of items from, I am assuming, the 1960’s. How fun it was to look through all of these things. I never did find the crochet hook that I was searching for but had lots of fun just perusing the treasures. I even found a dress for $3.99. I’ll wear it to Church tomorrow.

Struggles: I had the very rough decision these past weeks of whether or not I could continue school. At long last, I decided that I just couldn’t work enough hours to pay the bills and pay for school and carry my class load too. It was very difficult to come to this conclusion, as I have tried two other times to get my degree. This time, my straight-A GPA will also be ruined. It’s an ego buster, I guess, and it stays on my record for ever. I suppose that I just didn’t push myself enough. There is always good that comes out of bad though, and my good is that I will be able to spend more time in my home and domestic endeavors. Elliott has wanted me to crochet him an afghan to take on his mission, and I would like to do some sewing also.