SUMMER, KIDS, A DOG, AND A CARPET -- A childhood memory popped into my head the other day.  My mom worked as a secretary for a carpet manufacturer.  Periodically the company would allow their employees to purchase remnants at a lower cost.  My mom got the idea that our boxer needed carpeting in the new doghouse that she had just finished building herself.  Yes, I remember Mama liked home projects.  She was handy with tools, having learned from her father in how to use them.
     But first came the house.  Back then appliances like refrigerators and stoves came in large wooden crates.  My dad was the supplier as he was able to acquire enough empty crates from store owners for the proposed new rectangular dog home.  For most of one weekend my mom pried wooden crates apart, totally dismantling them.  Then she measured, sawed, and hammered together the pieces until they actually resembled a decent space with a flat roof and even a window. While all this was going on my sister, brother, and I HAD to be outside with Mama because, HELLLL-LO... had we stayed inside with her outside, well, not much producing would have been accomplished.  It was also summer and good weather, which to my parents meant kids should play outside anyway.  Truthfully, Mama was pretty smart in allowing us to be around to help (??) her.  My brother and I were each given an extra hammer and were allowed to build our own space with random unused wood pieces.  Instead of eventually getting annoyed with each other, we got to whack a few nails of our own.  That kept us busy with our imaginations, for sure.  Our older sister actually did help Mama.  In between the hammering and sawing, my brother and I made and delivered Kool-Aid, cookies and popsicles.
    All of our time and effort was for Penny.  She was a beautiful dog with her naturally floppy ears.  I remember her coat as the same color of the coin.  Penny had white on her stomach and white on the back of her neck in the shape of a vertical bow tie.  The only other distinction was her cropped tail.  Boxers usually have their tails cropped because they are really not attractive.  Because the boxer hair is short and somewhat course, the tail would never appear to fluff out or to be of any use.  Now, I only see it as something that would have been in the way. (Even though when I was little I thought it was so horrible to cut off some pet's tail!)  Penny was a good dog and would mind fairly well.  We soon learned, however, that Penny had a mind of her own.

This is not Penny, but this image reminds me of her.

     When Mama returned to work the next week she soon was able to purchase the carpet remnant.  I only remember it was a brown color and she brought it home rolled and tied on top of her car. It took my mom and dad together to carry the carpet to the doghouse on that Friday afternoon.  Both began immediately nailing the carpet down on the floor with specialty carpet tacks.  It took a little while, but they both got the carpet secured. Then they secured the roof before dark.  Finally the doghouse was finished.  I remember it sat up on concrete blocks and included a little step up for Penny.  Late that same night we all heard it raining and we wondered if Penny was in her house snug as a...(boxer)...in a rug.  Were we surprised the next morning!  Yes, we all could tell Penny had spent the night in her new home and was safe and dry from the storm.  We also knew that she either disliked the color brown or Mama's decorating ideas since the new carpet had been pulled up and dragged all the way out of the new doghouse!  There it laid, wet, muddy and disgusting on the ground.  I wish I could have seen Penny yanking up that new carpet piece with her mouth and dragging it piece by piece outside!  From then on, my parents let Penny decorate her own house.

FLOUR

     Focaccia, as pictured below, is a flat bread made with olive oil.  It can be eaten as an appetizer, or it can accompany a soup or stew.  Honestly, focaccia is so darn good that you will just like to make it to eat it, no matter what it accompanies. 
 

     
There are several recipes for making focaccia online.  It takes a short amount of time to make this delectable bread and very few ingredients.  Most of them you may already have at home.  There are some variations where one could add in herbs (which I recommend), or olives or bits of onion, for example.  The choice of how simple or how involved you want to make your focaccia is up to you.  I have made one recipe twice in the past two weeks.  My husband loved it both times.  Yes, focaccia might remind one of pizza, but it is so much more in its simplicity.  I used the recipe from Adam and Joanne Gallagher of www.inspiredtaste.net,  and do not gain anything except the joy of sharing this knowledge.  Their focaccia recipe called for using olive oil, yeast, water, honey, flour, garlic, thyme, rosemary, black pepper and salt.  So do some looking around and experimenting.  It can be fun and delicious at the same time.

FLOWER

Squash vine borer

     This is a very yucky picture of the squash vine borer that eats its way up your zucchini and/or squash vine.  The plant invariably withers and dies leaving you very disappointed.  I came upon this mess recently when I went out to my garden to see what I could harvest.  That day it turned out to be a worm-like larva!
     This creature hatched from an egg laid by a squash vine borer moth.  The moth came from a cocoon that first housed a squash vine borer from last year.  Over the winter in the cocoon, the larva became a pupa in the process of yet more change.  When spring arrived, the newly developed moth emerged from the cocoon and laid eggs at the base of my plants.  Then the damage began.
     It's been a while since I grew zucchini and yellow squash.  At the time the eggs were opening and the larva began burrowing, I was just so darn happy that my squash looked good.  That was a short-lived feeling.  Next time I will be more observant.      
    

     

     This is the FLOUR & FLOWER blog, but this time I will first take a side trip with this post...haha.  

     I thought I would write about traveling.

     For my husband and me, we have always thoroughly planned our vacations, primarily because both of us worked and had only a certain amount of time we could dedicate to travel.  I know we could have hopped on a plane to arrive sooner, but instead have opted to drive everywhere.  Why?  Both of us like to view the scenery along the way.  We even took many family trips by car and tried to teach our children to appreciate this as well.  Grant it, the miles begin to wear on a person after a couple of days.  I remember a long car trip to California when I was eight.  My mom and dad would switch off putting either my brother or me in-between them in the front to allow our older sister only one other passenger in the back with her.  We would not have made many miles with all three kids on the back seat of our Oldsmobile.  My husband and I try to choose a destination that is possible in a one to two-day period.  Also, he enjoys driving and actually does relax during the process.  Traveling in this way also provides more of an opportunity to talk and share things between just two people or the entire family.

      

This is a live oak tree.  It was part of the scenery on a trip we made to Georgia.

     The only thing I have considered changing now about our way of traveling is to have a day or so that is unplanned.  That's right.  Just get in the car and go.  Don't use a map.  Let what you see rule what you do.  Take the first turn you meet.  Stop for lunch in a small unknown town.  Spend the afternoon antiquing in a new area.  Or just take an alternate route to your chosen location.  Choose a place to spend the night along the way that is new to you.  Eat in one of the local restaurants.  Walk in the downtown area.  Enjoy riding bikes in one of their parks.  
     I remember once my husband and I chose to spend the night in an unknown town.  Then the plan was to get up the next day and continue driving to our designated spot.  We decided that evening to eat in one of the local restaurants, not a chain.  We learned from reading a poster there that a band concert was to be held that evening in the town gazebo.  We could easily walk to the concert after our meal.  The concert was really enjoyable and concluded a fun evening, just because we tried something different.

     So that's just my two cents worth.  Whether you travel by car, plane, ship or whatever; enjoy the time you have together.  My wish would be to take an entirely unplanned trip in the future.  I wonder where we would end up?

FLOUR

Lemon Balm Herb Bread

     I found a recipe for Lemon Balm Herb Bread recently and made it this week.  To me, it is more like a cake.  It is light and really lemony with lemon zest and lemon balm and includes a thin lemon glaze on top.  This is what I would call a real (hot or iced) tea bread.  It would also be great with coffee or even a glass of milk.  Anyway, I  wanted to share this and have gained nothing from it but the joy of making it myself.

Lemon Balm Herb Bread - taken from A Celebration of Herbs, published by the Memphis Herb Society 1991.


2/3 c. melted oleo or butter          3 c. flour
2 1/2 c. sugar                                    1 c. sweet milk
                                              4 eggs                                                 2 tsp. grated lemon peel (zest)
                                             1/2 tsp. baking powder                   1 c. chopped nuts (I did not use.)
                                             1 tsp. salt                                           4 tsp. chopped fresh lemon balm
                                             1/2 tsp. almond extract
Glaze:     6 tsp. lemon juice and 1/2 c. sugar

     Blend oleo and sugar well.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Add almond extract.  Sift dry ingredients and add to mixture alternately with milk.  Stir in lemon peel and nuts last.  Bake in loaf pans for 50 to 60 minutes in 350 degree oven. (It took less time in my oven.)
     Glaze:  Heat lemon juice and sugar until sugar dissolves.  (I heated the ingredients in the microwave.)  Pour over hot bread as soon as it comes from the oven.  Let cool for 10 minutes and remove from pan.  Makes 4 small loaves.  Delicious sliced thin and spread with butter or cream cheese.
     

 & FLOWER

                                                 
     Below are Annabelle Hydrangeas.  I have three large bushes of these.  The Annabelle is also known as a smooth hydrangea, wild hydrangea or sevenbark.  For about a month I have been cutting several of these and taking them to farmers' market with me.  Most people like them and comment about how they are different from the traditional mophead blue and pink kinds.  Several ladies have asked about whether a cutting will root in order to make a new plant.  One woman wanted to root a cutting by placing it atop the ground and braced by a rock.  Others wanted to know if a cutting would root in a pot.  I am familiar with weighing down a living branch on the ground until a new plant begins to grow.  I am more confident with taking a cutting, dipping the end in water then rooting hormone and putting it in a pot filled with soil.  I think either method would work.  One would just have to remember to check on the progress of the branch that would be weighed down for rooting.  The cutting would have to be checked on for proper moisture and lighting.  Too much of both could cause the cutting not to root.

Annabelle Hydrangeas

A COMBINATION OF FLOUR AND FLOWER PICTURES

     Recently I made the sugar cookies that you see below.  They are considered not crisp, but chewy.  After the dough comes together, one simply takes about a tablespoon of dough, shapes it into a ball, and rolls it into sugar before placing on a cookie sheet.  Then lightly press down on each cookie with your fingers.  I have two sizes of scoops that I use for baking.  I used the smaller one for these cookies.  They were rolled in a decorative sugar with larger granules, but regular sugar is fine.  I found the recipe on the Internet.  It is a simple one that included butter, sugar, egg, flour, baking powder, salt, and vanilla. They go really well with a glass of lemonade!

Chewy Sugar Cookies

    

Pink and white Clematis

     These pretty pink flowers are something I look forward to seeing each spring because they are so striking.  I don't know how long I have had this Clematis, but it continues to be a favorite.  Last spring I actually remembered to trim it back after blooming as it had suffered some dryness over the years.  It had also gotten so large and disfigured from being dry.  Seems like I always forgot the correct time to trim it back was after it had flowered because it blooms on old wood.  Then it would go another year in a repeated cycle of growth and getting drier.  Truth be told, it probably needed a new layer of mulch before now as well.  That should prove to you how hardy it is though. All of that color is worth a little mulch, fertilizer, trimming and watering.  Don't you think?

     The photo below left is lemon balm.  I have grown it for many years to the point now that it pops up in a lot of places.  This happens because I have had several pots of it or I have just planted it in the flower beds.  Invariably a piece or two will find itself left behind and it roots!  I wanted to grow lemon balm to put the herb in my baked goods.  It can also be added to salads, fish or poultry dishes. I have recently found a cookie recipe that includes chopped lemon balm.  Now baking those will soon be on my agenda!

Lemon Balm

Lily of the Valley

     The photo at right was my lily of the valley for this year.  These diminutive white bells are very special to me as they were part of my wedding bouquet.  I never saw them actually growing until my mother-in-law to be showed me those she had in her front yard many years ago.  When I saw them, I knew right then that I wanted them included in my flowers at our approaching wedding.  However, we were told by our florist where we were getting married that lily of the valley would be more of an expense than we realized.  Because they did not keep these flowers on hand, purchasing them and having them shipped in at the precise time would be costly.  So, I had to drop that idea.  Boy, was I surprised on our wedding day when I reached in the box to pull out my bouquet and my pink roses had tiny lily of the valley stems accompanying them!  My mother-in-law had actually talked to our florist and arranged to pick her own lily of the valley just prior to hopping in their car to make the trip to our wedding destination.  Those fragrant beauties will always be special to me.  And I had the bouquet dried and still have it!

Magnolia in bloom

      At left is a Magnolia flower in bloom.  I grew up around Magnolia trees and always enjoyed them when they bloomed each spring -- especially their scent-- aahhh!  The unfurling of the flower is indeed a process.  The blossom has just opened in this picture and all but a few of the petals resemble the shape and size of an individual salad bowl.  We had a Magnolia tree for several years when we first married.  When raising one in your yard, there is always the decision of whether to allow the branches to grow from the ground up, or to trim the branches so as to be able to mow underneath the tree.  I remember playing underneath huge Magnolias that still had their branches growing from the ground up.  It was like having your own dark green tent to hide underneath.

      At right are white azaleas in bloom on a nature trail we visited recently at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR.  This is a very beautiful floral nature trail exhibit.  It is nice to be able to enjoy our natural surroundings at outdoor exhibits and parks while getting exercise.

FLOUR

     As far as bakeware goes, my supply runs from old to newer and glass to aluminum.  I have not bought or been given any of the silicone pieces that are so popular now.  My friend swears by the ease of using the silicone.  I, on the other hand, still have two of my grandmother's glass Pyrex pie pans.  I don't make pies often, so these do not get used much for baking.  They do get used for holding leftovers at times; especially slices of meat or meatloaf.  I cannot seem to part with them just yet because of all the times I used to watch my grandmother place a rolled out crust in one of these pans.  

     My current baking stash is described piece by piece below.  Most of these are for legitimate baking.  Some pieces have alternative uses as well. Some of my most unique pieces are pictured at left.  Standing on end at left in the back is my spring form pan.  Then my large bundt with miniature muffin resting inside.  Then below spring form is my bar pan, then fluted tart pan, and miniature bundt, at bottom right.

     Angel Food cake is my husband's favorite.  I do not make one often, but I need the pan when we want the cake, soooooooooo...it IS important, especially if you want the round shape.  Angel Food has always been his favorite for birthdays.

     For special occasions, I sometimes use my large bundt pan or my two that are medium size that are actually made into one piece of bakeware.  Each cavity of this medium piece has its own design.  Usually I make one bread or cake batter and divide it between the two shapes.  I also have two pans with eight individual bundt cavities each.  These shapes are good for making the tops and bottoms of miniature pumpkin cakes.          

 

     Cookie sheets are prevalent and used often, sometimes for cake recipes.  They are often used for roasting vegetables too.  Sheet pan meals in the oven are popular now and would make a good vessel for this idea.

     Loaf pans have probably been used the longest in my kitchen.  I have six that measure 5 x 9 inches each.  I have one more measuring about 4 x 8 inches.  I began using loaf pans when I was a young teenage baker.  My dad's favorite baked good was his mother's nut bread.  I began making this simple loaf.  It was slightly sweet and buttery and always, made with pecans.  Don't worry.  I have updated my pans since then; and they remain busy.

     Muffin pans get used a lot here on weekends.  Every Saturday for the longest time was the day for trying a different muffin recipe.  What didn't get eaten got carried over into the new week which made good snacks.  I have a couple of regular size pans, one large, and three miniature.  I have since acquired a pan similar to one for muffins, but with eight rectangular indented spaces just right for individual bars.  I use it for miniature bread loaves.

     I have two 12- inch pizza pans that I have literally had FOREVER.  To this day, I still use them for warming bread, baking refrigerated biscuits, roasting vegetables, AND...baking pizza.  I would not get rid of them for anything.  My grown children will find them after I'm gone and shake their heads.

     I have one spring form pan that has been in my possession for quite a while.  I first thought it would only be used for making cheesecake.  Not too long ago I contemplated getting rid of it because I wasn't using it.  I mean, how many cheesecakes can you make and eat without taking on that round shape yourself?  Now I see some bakers on television using their spring form pans for one layer cakes.  I love that!  I'm glad I kept mine.

     My tart pan has a fluted edge which makes a pie crust, crumb or puff pastry look special when presented on a tiered plate.  Considering its two pieces, pushing up from the bottom of the pan releases it from the side.  This allows you to cut your pie or tart slices without competing with the side of the pan, giving you a clean slice.  Apple tarts are good baked in this pan.

     I have two 13 x 9 inch glass pans.  I do not make many sheet cakes anymore.  These get used mostly for brownies, bars or for something besides a baked good...like a casserole, any casserole.

     I look through my bakeware occasionally and sometimes get rid of things that are not being used.  I mean, who has that much space?  I would be down right dangerous with unlimited kitchen space.  Besides when I get rid of one, I can go out and purchase another!  Right?

& FLOWER

     We visited our daughter recently.  She lives farther south than we do and often there are other flowers, shrubs, or trees growing and/or blooming there that we don't have in our area.  One such blooming plant I saw was Wisteria.  There, the Wisteria was growing as a vine that had wrapped itself in and around trees along roadsides and in wooded areas.  I realize some people might see this as a nuisance plant if it got started in their yard.  However, I was delighted to view these beautiful lilac colored blooms since winter's cold (in our area) has decided to hold on much longer this year.  I even found some Wisteria in a wooded area near a parking lot where I broke off a few pieces.  It would really be neat if I could get it to root.  And I have already dipped the pieces in rooting powder and planted them in an empty pot.  Maybe this WILL work!

Wisteria bloom

   
     I have recently had both of my African violets blooming, as you can see from the photos below.
                                                                                                               

     The white one with pinkish tips I have had for a while.  I enjoy looking at the lacy edges.  Its center stem is getting rather tall.  That means this plant would probably benefit from being repotted this year, possibly a little deeper.

     The violet at right has bloomed out mostly with off white flowers all winter.  Some of them have just the tiniest bit of purple on the edges.  I was first concerned with these blooms after I brought this plant inside from its time outdoors on my front porch.  When it was living outside, it bloomed and the flowers were mostly all purple!  Amazing what Mother Nature can do.

     I am looking forward to when the outdoor temperatures will remain in the fifties at night  That is when I know my indoor plants can remain outdoors.  They all seem to do so much better then. 

Using Stored Ingredients/Experimenting/Signs of Spring

FLOUR

     I've gone most of the winter without baking very much....to my husband's dismay.  But lately I  wanted to get back to making some favorite quick breads and muffins....and maybe do a little substituting and a little experimenting.

Muffins made with fruit combo

     Recently I pulled out some frozen fruit from a section of our freezer I've designated as FRESH.  That means I purchased it that way or made it from fresh ingredients to use later.  On this particular day that freezer section also included grated lemon and orange zest, tomato sauce, applesauce, pumpkin puree, lemon juice, and basil leaves.  The fruit was a handful of blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries that had the look of  "save me now," or else they would soon end up in the trash.  So, I added them to a basic muffin recipe, you know, flour, sugar, egg, milk, oil, baking powder, salt.  I also added the frozen orange zest and stirred just until combined.  After about 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees, I had breakfast.  It's gratifying to be able to use what you have to make something delicious and to also know exactly what you are eating.

     Next, about a week later, I decided to follow a banana bread recipe I found that used brown sugar instead of white.

Ripe bananas best for making bread

I was not hesitant at all because I really like brown sugar.  This bread turned out really well.  The batter was a light brown color as was the finished product.  Its taste was richer, probably due to the molasses in the brown sugar.  Even though I didn't this time, I usually cut the amount of sugar in my recipe because I believe bananas are already sweet enough.  Some might be surprised to learn that banana bread is not my favorite, as much as I bake it.
     I'm sure one could swap out the sugars using any banana bread recipe or other bread recipe.  There have been times when I have even used different flours.  I may not have enough all-purpose to complete a recipe, so I add in whole wheat or cake flour to fulfill the quantity.  Sometimes I change up just to say I tried something different. 
     Lastly, just this week, I made blueberry muffins that included a small amount of cornmeal along with the flour.  They "stand up" a trifle more than the average muffin, due to the cornmeal adding a little stiffness, but these were outstanding.

Blueberry Muffins with cornmeal

  I used a basic blueberry muffin recipe,  except I took out one half cup from the total amount of flour and swapped it for one half cup of  cornmeal.  Or I suppose one could use their regular cornbread recipe and just add your blueberries to that.  Either way...yum, yum.  These are really good  Great for breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner.
     Enjoy experimenting and, if you are like me, using up your winter stored ingredients.  Have fun!

& FLOWER

     Well, just like in many other places, winter is still hanging on here.  Just when you think Spring is about to literally appear - especially because the daffodils and jonquils are opening - another cold snap arrives.  Hopefully this is temporary...as I say while crossing my fingers and toes!

Daffodils

However, the abundance of birds in the neighborhood, the greening of the grass, and buds on the trees are a sure sign of what is to come.  And, I am excited about that.  I really enjoy the newness of Spring.  I even enjoy the vibrant green, clingy weeds that think they belong in my perennial bed.  Eventually, I will go in every year and pull them out, despite their awesome color.

     Spring appears in the form of Tulip trees opening in our area. 

    

And, as in other areas of the country...the budding of trees.  This one is a Possum Haw.

     This is my favorite blooming shrub; a flowering quince.  I had one real quince form and grow on this shrub during last year's growing season.  It was the first one I had ever seen.  I love the coral color of the blooms, but also appreciate the fact that it appears first in our yard.  This one blooms in time with the average Forsythia bush. 

FLOUR

     I remember eating pancakes more for our evening meal when I was little, especially in the cooler months of the year.  I realized later that they were quicker to prepare and pleasing to everyone.  My mom probably liked them for being able to fill our stomachs and shorten her time in the kitchen after working all day.  After all, they do not take long to prepare.  Mix your batter.  Pour your designated amount in a hot greased skillet or on a griddle.  Wait for the bubbles to appear on the surface, then flip.  In winter they were filling and the richness from the butter and the sweet taste from the syrup made them almost sinful - like eating dessert for dinner. Yes, they are accompanied many times with bacon and I do love the combination, but I could eat just the pancakes by themselves.

Waiting for bubbles to appear

     We did not always make pancakes from scratch, however.  Let's face it, pancake mixes have been around for a good while and today they abound.  I sincerely would be hard pressed to decide on a favorite.  One has their choice of regular pancake, pancake/waffle, buttermilk, protein packed, alternative flour, whole grain, sugar free, gluten free,  and for those following a Paleo diet.
     I decided to make homemade pancakes recently.  I chose a simple recipe that included flour, salt, baking powder, egg, milk, sugar, and butter.  When baking I always try to make careful measurements, but I was a little lax when measuring out the cup and a half of flour at this time...just to see if I could tell a difference, and I couldn't.  I was accurate with the baking powder, salt, egg, and butter (I used margarine.) and was close on the sugar and milk.  Maybe pancake recipes allow for some
                                             flexibility? 

Puffy and almost ready

      I decided not to use any add-ins, despite the fact that my husband enjoys chocolate and I would lean more towards incorporating fruit or nuts.  I'm sure one could mix in both, like chocolate chips with chopped pecans.  Who am I kidding?  Of course you can!  I'm sure there are numerable combinations of ingredients for your pancake batters.  The choices of what could be introduced into the batter probably run from really sweet to extremely savory.  Sweet add-ins could be chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter.  Fruits might be strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, citrus fruit, and coconut.  Then there are pecans, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, etc.  Savory ingredients could be sweet potato, zucchini, carrot, cheese, avocado, and corn. And that's probably just for starters.
     These plain pancakes were just right for my husband and me and we had more than enough.  When they were ready, all we needed was our spread of choice and the syrup bottle.
    

& FLOWER

     I have seen photos of how some people have rooted fruits and vegetables from scraps that they did not use in their cooking.  Recently I decided to try this with two pineapple tops.  As you can see, the one in the background did not fare too well and I eventually had to toss it in my garden area, hoping it will turn into fertilizer.  The one in the foreground is still alive however, and very green on the inside of the stalk.  Who knows?  I might be able to actually start a pineapple plant!


     There are few things in this world that delight me more than seeing my bulbs re-emerge after the winter cold.  We have had a much colder winter this year, but in-between bouts of cold, there have been some mild days.  Could that be why these jonquils seemingly can't wait to show themselves?  Yes, I have seen this before.  I used to worry about the cold maybe ruining the beautiful blooms, but not anymore.  There have been a few years when some of the stems came up and blooms actually began to open way too early.  I admit I have even taken empty flower pots out to turn upside down over as many rising stems as possible.  I know...I can be goofy.  I have also covered what was already up with leaves and a light coating of mulch from the bed they were in.  The latter seems more sensible for me and basically about all I can do.  Some years I have had intermittent blooms, but the next year or so there have been no problems.  It seems that the blooms are as anxious to show themselves as we are to see them again.

Jonquil bulbs emerging

     My mom used to say that she liked pansies because of their pretty faces.  They do seem to stand up and look out as if they do indeed have faces.  Pansies are a favorite of mine, not only for this uniqueness, but also because they can be planted in early spring or late fall to provide color in your garden during the changing seasons.

Pansies

FLOUR

     There are some things I truly like about winter.  However, the three things I like about winter lately have to do with me staying warm in these cold temperatures.  LOL!

1.  Getting warm clothes out of the dryer
2.  My electric blanket
3.  A warm cup of something...tea, coffee, hot chocolate...to hold in my hands while I drink it.  (For me sometimes this is just warm water.  I know...weird, but still a good way to stay hydrated.)

     Another thing that helps in staying warm is trying out different recipes; which for me means turning on the oven.  So, I made blueberry scones recently.  I've never made scones.  It was a basic biscuit recipe -- flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter (I used margarine), and milk -- except for the addition of two eggs and the cup and a half of blueberries.

Blueberry scones

     One of the reasons I have never made scones is because they ARE so much like biscuits.  In previous attempts I have over-mixed biscuit dough.  Instead of tender bites of softly baked clouds, I've gotten crispy, crunchy rocks that tend to sink instead of slide down when swallowed.  So I decided to relinquish the task of biscuit making to others.  Then when I absolutely could not stand seeing TV chefs and bakers with their pumpkin, cranberry/orange, or maple triangular-shaped treats any longer, I thought I would try again.
     I measured out into one bowl the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisked them together.  Then added the cold margarine (no cholesterol) and used my pastry blender until the mixture resembled small crumbs. It is okay to have some loose flour at this point before you add your wet ingredients.  Next, I whisked the sugar, milk and eggs in another bowl and then combined the two.  I used my spoon to mix the ingredients lightly until everything just comes together.  This is where I usually mess up, thinking the dough has to be a cohesive blob. I poured the mixture out onto my board and folded in the blueberries with my hands in just a few folds, as per the directions.  Now that was challenging.  I had to chase down a few, but ultimately not one escaped.
     This scone baking experience was much better than those ill-fated past biscuits.  I had to add on more time to the prescribed amount allotted in the recipe.  Other than that, my blueberry scones were tender inside with a light crispy outer coating.  I liked their bumpy, imperfect tops with just enough imperfection to hold a smear of the olive oil spread we now use.  The challenge at this time is making the decision on which flavor to try next: cranberry/orange or pumpkin.  Hmmm?

 & FLOWER

     We've had a couple of really cold periods of weather for a week or so at a time this winter. 
Before the more recent cold snap and the resulting ice and snow, I was walking every day in my neighborhood.  There are days when I think about things when I walk and other days when I notice more of my surroundings.  Walking at this time of year is different because one can see the deciduous trees in a new light.  Without their leaves, some take on shapes and can remind me of other things like the big puffy cumulus clouds do on a spring day.  Some larger trees appear to me like a person who is bent over at the shoulders, too tired to stand up straight.  Others look like a person who has been scared out of their wits with arms out to their sides. 

Crooked tree

     Evergreen trees and shrubs can be a welcoming sight during our colder months.  It's nice to see green at times when we are cold and also be reminded of the coming growing season.  One of my all- time favorite trees that remains green throughout the year in my area is the Magnolia.  Even in the dead of winter, its long dark green almond-shaped leaves shine and sometimes seem to glisten with snow on the ground.  Yes, some leaves will drop and blow, but for the most part it is a neatly kept tree and a welcome sight at this time of year.

Magnolia tree

Pine tree

      One day while walking I came upon three blue jays flitting from branch to branch in a neighborhood tree.  There have been times in my life when I have witnessed this same scene with other birds and have actually been jealous.  They seem to have so much fun!  That particular day I heard the rustling of limbs before I looked up and saw movement and then the blue jays' brightly colored bodies.  I have always thought it would be wonderful to fly around looking at my surroundings.  Of course I am only considering the freedom this action would bring.  I'm sure birds do have their problems too.

Blue Jay

     Then I looked up at another tree and began to realize how many squirrels lived in that area due to the number of nests I saw.  The verdict was, if there weren't that many before, there will be soon!

     On another day I was driving home from running errands and for no apparent reason caught sight of a light pole on our street.  Something was different, but because I was driving, I could not decide what.  Then I looked up again and saw wings spreading on top of the pole and there, waiting for his morning snack was a hawk.  It reminded me of an angel on top of a Christmas tree.  We used to have more birds in our area when we first moved to our neighborhood.  Then a few hawks figured out a new neighborhood was a good place to hang out!

Hawk

     We may not be able to get outside very much at this time of year, but there are still things to see out our windows or during a walk.  Here's hoping you catch these few fleeting moments.