PASSING

I just recently learned of the passing of a beloved artist and writer. Stephen Huneck died on January 7th of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had been depressed and despondent; he feared he might lose his mountaintop farm home and studios, dubbed Dog Mountain, over the recent economic downturn. The Dog Chapel, which has been featured in many publications, was built to honor his own Sally, a Labrador. Inside the chapel, visitors have left notes and pictures of their own beloved pets.

I guess I am surprised by his passing and sad. One would think that by 60 years of age, you'd finally have it down enough that you wouldn't resort to killing yourself over life's disappointments. I guess not. The reality is, depression is lethal sometimes. Stephen's art and contributions will be missed.

A HORSE IS A HORSE

A horse is a horse, unless it's a Choctaw or Cherokee horse. Only 200 horses of these strains remain. Half a millennium ago, Spanish conquistadors brought horses to North America. Horses had been extinct in North America for 10,000 years. After the Spaniards began establishing colonies, they banned the native peoples from owning and even riding horses. That would have been the end of story, except many of the horses escaped into the wild where Indians found and tamed them. The rest is history but for the new challenge: surviving in the modern world.

In steps the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC). For centuries, the Spanish Colonial horses were the most common type of horse throughout the Southeast and regions west of the Mississippi. But in the mid-late 1800's, almost all Spanish stocks were crossbred with or replaced by horses like thoroughbreds, riding horses and draft horses. The Spanish Colonial horse was nearly extinct by 1950. ALBC advisor, Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, has researched and written extensively about both the Choctaw and Cherokee strains. "Besides being an important part of American history, their genes are irreplaceable. Red Road Farm in Morrisville, VT, has a Choctaw horse breeding program and a horse sponsorship program. The ALBC, in Pittsboro, NC has info and the Southwest Spanish Mustang Assoc. has extensive info on the breed.

And, this beautiful specimen, whinnies and comes running to my back fence whenever she sees me outside. No, she's not mine, but I feed her carrots, oats and apples.

PSSST

We've had temperatures in the 60's for the last few days, thank you Lord, and guess what I've been hearing at the farm? Yes, peepers. The cats even brought a one inch specimen in my kitchen yesterday. Also, a bee was buzzing me in the flower beds. I think Mother Nature is telling the creatures to get busy, gather, spring is coming. Yahoo!

HAIKU CHICKEN

The small gray rooster
Claims the red hen for himself
Cluck, clucking, clucked.


This guy's a whopper - at least 2' tall, a long and lean Araucana. This is the breed that lays colored eggs.

Big, fat Barred Rock boy. He'll be runnin' the show before long.

The first time out of the pen. The little gray rooster is hardly bigger than a robin. I think he's my favorite. I dare not name him or the coyotes or barn cats will eat him.

And all from these teeny chicks I bought last fall. Got my first eggs this week. Oh no! Means I have to clean out the chicken house (the worst job in my world).

EGGS

When I was small, I had a thing for bird's nests and their little eggs. Curious wild child that I was, I roamed the countryside, climbing into treetops as far as the tree limbs would allow me. Why was I so enamored of eggs? I don't know. As you can see, I still am. Clockwise from left, an ostrich egg, an emu, goose, chicken, banty chicken, quail, and in my sculpted hand, three little eggs I found on the ground and don't know the breed. I also collect nests I find here and there, but only after they have been abandoned.

BASSACKWARDS

You know that old saw about not getting kids or animals to cooperate....

Well, this guy was definitely bent over, shakin' a tail feather, at the barn. He finally decided to cooperate.

NATIVE AMERICAN MEDICINE BAG

During my 'treasure hunts', I come across many things that speak to me one way or another. This is a native American medicine bag, used much like a Christian sacrament, as a symbol or token. Once a brilliant blue, the silk has faded over the years. It is tied with deer hide. Of course I had to peek inside. Pandora had nothing on me. Anyway, it contains plant materials; nothing I could make out as to what the plants were though I did discern a dried up flower in the mix.

I had a friend once whose step-father was a full-blood Choctaw Indian. Marla said he was always making bags and tokens and stashing them places like under the couch cushions, the bed, etc. He supposedly would pull hair from her hairbrush and wrap it around a bone. She wasn't sure what else he would do, but she thought he made the bags to keep them healthy. In OK, we have hot, dry summers and Marla said she had seen him down on his knees in a dry creek bed. He would cup dirt in his raised hands, chanting. He said it would rain. It usually did.

MOCCASINS

Of all the antiques and collectibles I've bought and sold over the years, the Native American ones are the only things I never parted with. I don't know why. I guess maybe because of the historical factor and the fact that there are finite numbers of the old stuff. I have stacks of books covering Native Americana and I'm embarrassed to say, its been too long since I have read them because I can't remember anything about these moccasins. The bead work designs, the beads themselves, colors of beads, style of moccasins, what the moccasins are made of and stitches etc. are all ways to discern the area and tribe they came from. The top ones are women's moccasins. Believe it or not, the women made all the clothes and yet, menswear and children's clothing are worth the most. The top moccasins are from the Arapaho tribe.

The rest of the moccasins are either children's or baby moccasins. They also are all Plains tribes.

Though older, early moccasins wouldn't have used colored leather. They did use natural dyes and dyed porcupine quill work was used by the tribes in the Northeastern U.S.

The bottoms of these are made of parfleche (brain tanned deer hide) and are sinew sewn. Moccasins from the northeastern U.S. were made from moose hide and smell smoky from the tanning process.

These baby mocs were from Kansas and are older (early 20th century) and made for the souvenir trade. If the moccasins were beaded all over (on the bottoms too) they were burial moccasins.

A NEW YEAR

One thing I know for certain, about the coming new year, is that the sun will warm the earth once again around here. My sunflowers will be back [facing east in the morning and west every eve],

doing what sunflowers do; growing till ready to make seed for the birds and then starting the cycle all over again...

Happy new year, full of peace, for what must ever be.

HOPPIN' JOHN

Isn't that the cutest kitchen towel? Here is a recipe for Hoppin' John that is a little different. If you remember, I had to fight the deer last summer for the few bags of blackeyed peas they left behind. I've saved them for just this moment. I did hear that you also had to have collard greens with them, so I had to run out and buy some. I'll just layer them in with the other ingredients. Type in Hoppin' John in upper left corner for the recipe. They are sure to bring good luck in the new year.

PISS AND MOAN CLUB

I came home from a Christmas party the weekend before Christmas and found that Sister, the ornery half of Emmy and Sister, was paralyzed. I died. Freaked out of my head. I rushed her to an emergency animal hospital in Tulsa. Given meds for a ruptured disc and told surgery would probably be impending after the weekend, I took her home and watched for the signs of a worsening condition. The next afternoon, the signs were there and I took her back and was told to rush her to the Oklahoma Veterinary School for emergency surgery in Stillwater, OK. I have told you before I never cry, but I cried rivers over Sister. My dogs are like my kids; I feel the way about animals that normal people feel about other people. I don't know why. I'm just hardwired that way. When we arrived on a Saturday eve, they examined her, told us surgery had a 90% chance for recovery, and it would cost $3500. Can you imagine what other people do in that situation? Well, just go ahead and kill her then. Impossible. She was whisked into the CT scanner and surgery. After 5 days in ICU I got to take her home.
She is shuffling around now and I was told that for 3-4 weeks, I'd basically have to keep her on a leash (she's never had one on) even seated next to me on the couch, and/or crated. She also has never been crated and howls. No playing, running, jumping, etc. Nothing. I have to watch her every move. This has taken 10 years off my life, I'm sure of it.

Did I mention that I am babysitting my son's uber energetic Pokey, whom drives Sister nuts?

And, I'll never wish for a white Christmas again. Ever. We had a blizzard Christmas eve. I drove through it to Tulsa with a truckload of gifts, food, dogs and crates, {everything but the kitchen sink}. My little dogs wouldn't go out in the snow. It was nearly deeper than they were tall. Even after my husband shoveled a path, they held their duties, refusing to go.

Sister got her staples removed and has finally settled with the idea of being on a leash; isn't acting like a tiny bucking bronco and/or biting it. Mind you, all of this on top of putting on the annual Christmas show... I'll need at least a year to get over it all.

PS ~ The surgeon said Sister needs another surgery in the spring. An ablation of all the discs in her back with a laser to keep this from happening again. I'll do anything at this point to not go through the disc thing again. I love you Sister. And that is all from atop my soapbox at the piss and moan club.

DRAGEES

Do confectionery decorations remind you of when you were young? They do me and though they are basically tasteless, it wouldn't be Christmas without them. I'll not bore you with the encyclopedic history of the dragee - just a few facts I gleaned. Though dragee is from the french, the Greek term is tragemata, meaning sweet treats and they date back centuries. Who knew? The classic form are Jordan almonds. Throwing out these sweet treats at special occasions and weddings meant to ensure happiness, good luck, prosperity and fertility. Multi-colored paper confetti is now usually the replacement.

Silver dragees have long been used for pastry decorations. Gold, copper, rainbow and pearlescent colors are now available. The USDA says the silver dragee is inedible. Early in the 20th century, they contained mercury though they don't now. They were even banned for sale for a time.

What to do with them? Well, decorate iced sugar cookies for the holidays. Type in sugar cookie in the upper left hand corner for my recipe. I used to sell these at a tea room and have had many compliments. They are really good and great for the holidays as you gather together or gift your friends. And, you can make and ice them ahead of time. They freeze wonderfully.

GOURD ART

I've been away for the holidays though it seems not everyone has. I won't ever be able to read all the posts that you have written. Me, I got nada. I am still not over 3 days of cooking and cleaning while a two years old hangs on my legs with her arms up, "I hold you Nonna. Hold you."

And did I mention fighting the crowds after Thanksgiving on Fri. and Sat? Okay, I won't mention it. Okay. Here are two gourds I grew and inlaid turquoise into them. I have done many; some have been sold at various stores in Tulsa and at the Gilcrease Museum, also in Tulsa. Most of the turquoise inlay gourds have been western-themed. I also drew and burned birds and animals on them which sold well. Also oil painted a few. After I had done just about everything I could do to a gourd, I tired of making them. It really galled me to have to sell wholesale to the stores and retail outlets. Haven't tried ebay, etsy, etc. So this is what I post today. Nada lot, but something anyway.

PECAN PIE REDUX

Since Thanksgiving is nigh, I thought I would re-post this recipe for pecan pie. Simply type in pecan pie in the upper left corner and it should come up. If you remember, this recipe is not as sweet as most. It has a buttery, delectable filling that won't hurt your teeth. It's a keeper.

Japanese Maples

Just a pic to share the last Weeping Japanese Maple leaves of 2009. If you want the biggest bang for your buck where color is concerned, Japanese maples give all that and more. This tree is planted next to my goldfish pond and in fact hangs over it now. I think this is an acer palmatum but these maples come in many forms and sizes such as the weeping and upright and have quite different shaped leaves. The leaves changes many different colors from spring to fall.

VINTAGE TEXTILES

Vintage textiles love me. They jump into my hands whenever they can. Old yoyo pillows, quilts, rugs, and fabrics are tucked away here and there. This piece said something to me; kids, toys, horses, chickens, a dog - gathered at a farm (Marburger Farm to be exact many years ago by my friend Maggie). I don't know if it was used as a rug or wall hanging in its day. Made of wool, it has become more fragile through the years so I decided to keep it off the floor. Approximately 5' x 3', I'm not sure where it would fit on the wall so on the dining room table as a runner it goes. I have another one somewhere with kittens and dogs on it. Guess I'll have to go look for it.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Williams-Sonoma is one of my favorite stores. They have these turkey platters and some serving pieces along with table linens. Of course, turkeys being my favorite fowl, I had to have them. This platter weighs more than a turkey and they also have a round bowl platter to match. Yes, I got that one too; when will they ever have it again? It seems, I made my whole Christmas wish list from WS. Also, here is a product review. The concentrated Five Apple Cider mix is to die for. Crisp and not too sweet, it is the perfect cider. Of course, if you want, they have the mulling spices to go in it, but I think it would cover up the tart apple flavor too much, so I chose not to get it. This bottle mixes with up to one gallon of water, so the price ($20.50) isn't so bad if you price it per cup. It's only available during the holidays, so hurry down to pick up a bottle. I dropped the first bottle and broke it, so be careful with yours.

LEMONY GOODNESS

What do you get when life gives you lemon, lemons and more lemons? Curds, juice, limoncello, desserts...It is that time of year when my lemons are ripe and I couldn't be prouder if I'd made them myself. Meyer lemons are my favorite, hands down. A fellow named Meyer discovered them in China at the start of the 20th century and did whatever with them. A hybrid cross between a lemon and mandarin orange, they are perfect. Thin skinned and larger than supermarket lemons, they are fat and juicy. I've made limoncello for years, but as a light drinker, I have gallons of the stuff still in the freezer (type in limoncello for my recipe). Juice too. This time around, I am going to preserve them. These are used primarily in Moroccan food and though I don't think I've ever made any North African cuisine, I am willing to experiment. I recently saw a recipe for preserved lemon halves baked or broiled with a goat chevre filling and though I can't remember which magazine I saw it in, I'm going to try and wing it.

Here is one of my Ponderosa Lemons alongside a Meyer Lemon. They are softball sized and wait till you see one of my future Etrog Lemons. Supposedly football sized, my big girl Etrog tree is too young to marry her off to some bee. If you too would like to grow lemons, Logee's Tropical Plants in Connecticut has a catalog with wonderful fruiting plants. Even in Oklahoma, one can grow citrus.

HIGH TEA AT THE FARM

Testing, testing...

Another post, another recipe. For the Thanksgiving holiday, I usually make yeast bread rolls called Angel Biscuits. This year I have been searching for another recipe that requires kneading. I have been wanting to try the following recipe and though utterly delectable, alas, it is not the 'kneaded one'. These Sour Cream Muffins literally melt in your mouth. Had I kneaded them, they would have required chewing. Since my son is named Parker, I think I will have to go with a Parker House Roll. Nevertheless, this recipe was so easy I couldn't believe it and only three ingredients! You won't need a mixer for this one, nor strong hands. A few stirs with a wooden spoon and they are ready to bake. I must admit, I dipped my fingers in water to smooth down the tops of them before baking as I thought I wouldn't like the tops not being uniform. However, next time, I think I would like the tops cobbled somewhat to add a little crunch to them. Whatever.

SOUR CREAM MUFFINS

2 cups self-rising flour

2 sticks melted butter

1/2 pint sour cream

Stir ingredients to mix. Drop by spoonfuls into ungreased muffin tins. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with wild plum jam (or whatever you wish) and butter.

These are very similar to southern biscuits and are really, really good, and did I say easy?

APPLE PIE

Lo and behold, it's that time of year again. Apple pickin' time is nigh. In all the grocery stores, apples of all kinds spill out of the produce bins into our baskets. This year, my twenty year old Golden Delicious apple tree is just about kaput. It has been blown over by strong storm winds then stood back up and braced. Two major ice storms have laid it down again and again only this year, half of it died. I didn't have the heart to cut it down, but I did plant three new apple trees this fall. Truth be known, I rarely ever got to eat the apples as the squirrels and deer usually got most of them. Nevertheless, this post is about apple pie - and you have to use Granny Smith apples for the best apple pie. I have tried many other kinds, including different varieties together, but always go back to Granny's. I have run this recipe previously, so type it in the upper left hand corner for the recipe. I'd also like to give a shout out to Stark Brother's Nursery. I have purchased fruit trees and berry plants from them and their quality of plants are very good.

Grandma Merriott's Chicken and Dumplings

Just in case some of you missed this previous post, I wanted to run it again. You roll out your own dumplings and this makes the best chicken and dumplings. Great comfort food for the coming cold season. Simply type in chicken and dumplings in the upper left hand corner to search for the recipe.

PUMPKIN DESSERT

For all you pumpkin eaters out there, I give you a recipe old Peter would enjoy. It is a pumpkin pie riff with a topping. Yes you could use your own pumpkin. It is easy. All you have to do is slice it up and put it face down on a cookie sheet and bake till tender. Mash it up and viola! I love the texture the fresh pumpkin gives a pie filling and the lighter color too. This recipe will work wonderfully too. And, make sure and smother it with real whipped cream, not the oily stuff.

Pumpkin Dessert

16 oz. can pumpkin, 1 tsp. ginger

13 oz. can evap. milk, 1 tsp. cinnamon
4 eggs, 1/2 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. salt, 1/2 c. sugar

Mix and pour into large cake pan (8x13 or9x13). Picture 2.

2 1/2 c. flour, 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 c. sugar, 1 tsp. salt

3/4 c. shortening, 1 cup pecans or walnuts

Mix with pastry cutter and sprinkle evenly over pumpkin mixture. Picture 3.

1/2 c. melted butter, 1/2 c. milk.

Stir together and spoon evenly over top of flour/streusel mixture. Be sure to completely cover entire top with the mixture. Picture 4. Bake 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.