April Fools

Anyone out there notice that blogger is getting ready to change "the look" of blogger in April? Perhaps fooling with us?  I wish.   I went through something akin to this last month and the" new look" totally changed everything. They said my browser would no longer work (Windows internet explorer) and I had to download a new one, Google Chrome, which wouldn't work. This went on and on; need I say more.  I finally found my way back to the old blogger format and now they are changing it.  Good luck to all of us that don't want to learn how to do new things to blog.  It takes me days to find out how to do things on the computer whereas it only takes seconds for the computer geeks. 

Hosannah, aka Gracie, is now mine; I bought her last week.  We are soon going to have new fencing and a stable installed for her and that is no foolin'!

Mike The Headless Chicken

Poor Mike!  Yes, it's true.  Mike the headless chicken, lived for a long time after having his head chopped off.  It was said that Mike even scratched around on the ground as though trying to uncover a bug. The owners took him to fairs and shows, but alas, after a feeding in a motel room, they left Mike alone and he choked to death.

Makes me never want to eat chicken again.

Allium Time

It's time to plant your allium bulbs.  They look like a plant from another planet and are so sculpturally beautiful. They return each spring to greet you and the butterflies love them.  What's not to love?

Hot Magazine

In case you wondered, there is a magazine getting a lot of press lately.  I went in search of it at Barnes and Noble.  At first glance, I thought this is a guy's magazine.  Remind you, this is my first issue, so I really didn't know what to expect.  Bars, drinks and more bars - not exactly my cup of tea.  Turkey hunting; I'd rather see hunting with a camera.  Then, I came across an article about Rachel Aswell's growing empire and a spread about her new place in Round Top, Texas and a feature about decorating some old cabins. Hmmmm.... Another article that caught my eye was an article about Morgan Freeman. 

There was an article about Houston, a place I'm interested in because I lived there for eleven years before moving to the farm.  Also, an article about a famous landscape architect, Charles Stick. 

So, why all the buzz?  I'll have to get another copy of GARDEN & GUN to find out.

Edith Wharton's 150th Anniversary

Edith Wharton was a famous and gifted American writer and the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Some of her most famous writings were THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, ETHAN FROME and THE HOUSE OF MIRTH. Edith loved art, science, architecture, design and gardens. She traveled extensively and lived in many different countries. She was really a character. I would have loved to have known her. Her concise observations of human nature were things she wrote about...and the pursuit of happiness. From time to time, I think about this piece she wrote. It haunts me.

"I have sometimes thought that a woman's nature is like a great house full of rooms. There is the hall, through which everyone passes in going in and out; the drawing room, where one receives formal visits; the sitting room, where members of the family come and go as they list. But beyond that, far beyond, are other rooms, the handles to whose doors perhaps are never turned: no one knows the way to them; no one knows whither they lead; and in the innermost room, the holy of holies, the soul sits alone and waits for a footstep that never comes."


Previously posted in 2010

President's Day

In honor of the holiday, George the Washington's favorite cherry pie.  The easiest to make, the rustic tart, versus the lattice pies.  The grand kids were happy for their little ones.  I think I'll make one Monday.  Hear that Sis?  Type in cherry pie for the recipe.

New Chic Countertop

The new tin foil counter top is tres chic.  Matches all the new silver furniture and wall decorating I am seeing in magazines - a fad I think will be over before it started.  Nevertheless, I am trying it out - on my kitty cats.  Five now call my home their home and come and go through the doggie door tracking in little dirty paw prints and enough hair to stuff a couch.  I heard this would work to discourage them from getting on the kitchen counters as I am at wits end.  Short of shaving them bald, I'm giving it a try.  So far, I don't see one hair on the kitchen counter.  How do they even know it's there or that they don't like it?  They can't see up there from the floor.  Even so, the bad little kitties haven't set foot upon it.  Perhaps my cats are genius cats or super cats, or are in fact, reading my mind! Please give me some helpful hints before I shave them bald or sew them up into pillow cases, cut out holes for arms and legs and fashion little cat suits for them.  With spring coming, Teddy, Midge, Mean Mom, Boo and Buzzy are already starting to shed.  I read that Martha Stewart puts clean towels on her furniture daily to combat pet hair, but never read what she does to keep them off her kitchen counters.  PS ~ her cats have hair about three times as long as mine!

Unmentionables In Paris

This shop was the first one to sell brassieres in Paris.  Don't remember the date it opened, but the shop is so small, only about 3 or 4 customers could fit inside.   I spent about two seconds in there as I don't buy seductive underwear anymore and thank the lord I was way past wearing those thong things.

It's crisp white cotton granny panties from here on out! 

Baby Meyer Lemons

Already have a new crop of Meyer lemons growing.  Some have asked how I can grow such a large crop of lemons; this is just one little tip of a branch on one tree; multiply this by nearly 20 trees, voila.  This tree is covered in flowers and baby lemons.  Needless to say, I will have a large lemon crop next year too.  Now, if I can just use up last years juice and the year before...

Tulips In Paris

Passed by these green and white parrot tulips in a window in St. Germain des Pres one night - the most beautiful tulips I have ever seen.  The wild jonquils are blooming along the roadside around here.  My tulips are above the ground.  Spring will be here before we know it.

Lemon As Medicine

Some of my lemons for this past year.  Meyer is what I grow the most of, but I also grow softball-sized Ponderosa and football-sized Etrog (the nubby one in the bottom right picture).  I recently happened across a spot on tv where a man who makes healthy juice concoctions on the streets of Jerusalem said the most important juice of all was that of the Etrog so I researched it.  Appears that the Etrog, aka the Persian Apple, is prized in the mid-east for its medicinal qualities.  With over 70 medicinal chemicals, it is used for its juice and zest in cooking.  Cultivated back in 4000 BC, it was also known as the Paradise Apple as it was believed to be the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.  Today, it is used in the Jewish festival of Sukkot.  I know very little about keeping kosher, but in reading about Etrog (pronounced atrog) the fruit has to be unblemished, grown from actual tree, not a seed or cutting, and in fields that are watched over under strict observation by rabbis.  The lemon therefore must be used from a tree called/considered Hadar, named in the Torah from the days of Moses.  Wow!

Known for an antidote for snakebite, a cure for seasickness, and used as an antibiotic in times past, some other lemon remedies are used for:

Constipation

Reduction of body fat

mouth ulcers and throat infections

stomach upsets

cold relief

Lemons have also proved to be a blessing for  mountaineers.  In the case of insufficient oxygen or difficulty  in breathing, lemon comes to the rescue. Sir Edmund Hillary has admitted that his victory over Mount Everest was greatly due to lemon.

I think I'll grow more Etrogs this year.

Keith Jarrett - I Loves You Porgy

Keith Jarrett is a living legend.  No one does improvisation like he does.  You gotta watch Keith, not only for this tune but also to watch how he plays. From slow and low (like this piece) to something akin to musical chaos, Keith can't sit still; he becomes the instrument, becomes the music, levitates and cries out at times in ecstacy.  I saw the movie Porgy and Bess when I was young and never forgot this song. The piece was from his 100th performance in Tokyo.  His Sun Bear concert recorded in Japan is where I first heard of him in the 1970's.  Also heard him on Pacifica radio then saw a PBS piece that used his music. His Koln concert would be a good CD to start out with. My music was never the same after hearing Keith...

Chevre

When you have a greenhouse full of lemons (nearly 175lbs. of the golden gems), what do you do?  Make everything lemony you can think of.  This year, I will be freezing most of the juice, but I am trying something new - goat cheese, or as they say in France, chevre.  It is easy to make and delicious I might add.  I used Meyer lemons in this recipe and zest shavings.  It doesn't have quite the bite or tang that some chevre has.  Though I tried it atop crackers with a savory pepper jelly, I think it would also be good on toast points with a delicious sweet jam or marmalade and of course atop salads.  I believe in France, they eat it for the dessert course.  There are so many recipes on the web to choose from, and many call for rennet (you can purchase at Whole Foods) or Junket which can be purchased at most grocery stores near the pudding section.  These are what give the cheese more tang and help it set up.  I used buttermilk since I had neither of the aforementioned.  I'll be trying feta next.

CHEVRE

1 quart goat milk (I used the pasteurized since I don't have a goat)

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

2 Tbs. buttermilk

In a large non-reactive pot (stainless), slowly warm the goat milk to 180 degrees.  Stir occasionally to prevent scorching.  Let the milk cool for 20 minutes, then add lemon juice and buttermilk.  Stir, then let the milk sit for 2 hours. 

Line a colander with several layers of cheese cloth.  Place the colander over a large bowl and pour the milk into cloth.  Let it sit for 2 hours (I actually let mine drain for 6 hours) or until the liquid whey has drained leaving the curds.  Now is the time to season with a small amount of sea salt (approx. 1/8 to 1/4 tsp).  The curds will then be placed in a mold or tin and covered with plastic wrap.  Keep chevre in refrigerator for several days, if it lasts that long.

My Day of Days

I reached a new decade back in December.  One that didn't really bother me all that much as I am not very vain.  What are you gonna do?  Nevertheless, it was the best birthday ever.  I went to lunch with my daughters and friends, got the nicest gifts and had the best time.  And, nobody said a word about my surprise birthday party that night at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant, sneaky little devils.  They were all there having fun, grinning like Cheshire cats and no one had even let it slip.  I've never had a surprise party before.  It was wonderful.  All my children, husband, sister and her significant other, friends and their children were there.  I love them all.  My cake was a beautiful cake/mousse concoction covered in cherry blossoms ( this because my daughter knew how much I was moved by the movie) and I got a copy of the movie too.  My daughter had even sent out printed invitations with cherry blossoms inscribed and on the back a picture of me in the field and a line from the poem THE ROAD NOT TAKEN by Robert Frost that I quote from time to time.  My friends and family are so thoughtful, so wonderful.  I adore them. It was the best day and night.  "someday I shall be telling this tale ages and ages hence, two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."  I, I took the one less traveled by and now I'm lost on the farm.

It's Chili Time

It was a balmy 61 degrees yesterday and a winter killing 18 degrees this morning.  So, it is chili time.  Not just another bowl of chili, mind you.  This chili recipe is the best chili ever.  But, don't just take my word.  Capital Punishment Chili won the 1980 world championship chili.   Bill Pfeiffer, a native Texan, won a $20,000 first prize at the International Chili Society's 14th annual cook-off in LA.  As all of you serious cooks know, your riffs on recipes is what makes them sensational.  A word of caution here - for the first time you cook this,  I suggest you use the original recipe so you know what it is supposed to taste like. 

Texans don't mess around with their chili.  I have heard of ashes, cocoa and other exotic ingredients in their chili recipes.  If memory serves me well, I believe beans and even tomatoes are banned ingredients in Texas chili.  Having said that, beans are in mine and tomatoes.  I also love it topped with fritos, cheese and a dollop of sour cream.  My riff on Capital Punishment Chili is cornbread dumplings cooked on top during the last 20 minutes of cooking.  I think that back in 1980, the meats used were very inexpensive.  Imagine my surprise when I made this recently.  Enjoy!

Capital Punishment Chili

4 lbs. extra lean chuck, flank or round steak, coarsely ground (chili grind)

1 lb.  extra lean sirloin, cut into 1/4 inch cubes

2 lbs. pork loin, cut into 1/4 inch cubes

2 large onions, finely chopped

8 to 10 cloves garlic, finely chopped

7 heaping tablespoons chili powder (new bottle as spices only last 6 months)

4 tablespoons ground cumin

1 tablespoon ground oregano

2 tablespoons paprika (Yes, I bought all new jars of spices and herbs)

2 tablespoons flavor enhancer

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon mole powder (I omit this)

1 or 2 tablespoons flaked chili peppers

1 6oz. can tomatoe sauce (I used a 28oz can of crushed tomatoes)

2 cans beef broth

2 cans beer

1 tablespoon masa harina (corn flour)

Brown meat and onions in large stock pot.  Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, flavor enhancer, sugar, mole powder, and pepper flakes.  Mix well.  Add tomato sauce, broth and beer.  Mix well and simmer 2 hours.  Mix masa with enough hot water to make a light paste and add to chili 30 minutes before serving to thicken.  At this point, I also added a tablespoon of salt, but you can add as much as you want.  I also added canned beans.  This really is the best chili ever.

Just Thinking

Birdie and I are sitting in front of the monitor, drinking orange juice, just thinking about life and nearly everything else under the sun.  I've told my family that my epitaph should read, she thought too much - perfect for me.  I think maybe the old saying, ignorance is bliss, would be a preferable one.

Happy New Year to all my friends out there.  I have so enjoyed your thoughts and dreams in 2011 and look forward to another year of reading your blogs.

This photo was taken at the rear of the Rodin Museum in Paris.

Dragees

I've posted about dragees before, so type in dragees in the upper corner to find out more about them.  Once, I could only find the silver ones of my childhood, but now I think they make all sizes and colors.  I love them during cookie baking and decorating, but they really aren't so toothsome to bite into.  Anyway, you'll find my recipe for sugar cookies by digging into my past blogs.  Again, upper corner.  Hey, I'm still recovering so I'm borrowing from the old stash. 

Flu Who?

Here's a story.  There is this lady who hardly ever gets sick - never even gotten a flu shot.  A friend developed Guillaume Barre Syndrome after a flu shot, so she decides never to get one.  Then she gets bit by a flu bug and 15 days later is still having symptoms (mouth is raw, can't hear).  She was so sick in fact, twice, she thought she was minutes away from death.  She watched the news, certain they would come across the screen with an announcement that an epidemic had begun with a new terrible strain of flu.  No such pronouncements.  Ebola or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever thrown in with this new strain...  Moral of this story, she will be getting an annual flu shot from now on.

Rosebud

You know those things from ages past, tucked away, like these tiny gloves.  Brings to mind one of my favorite passages from Wordsworth's ODE.  It's not verbatim - I don't want to go look it up.

"what though the radiance which was once so bright, be taken now forever from my sight.  And though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower, we will grieve not, rather, find strength in what remains behind.  In the primal sympathy, what having been must ever be.  In the soothing thoughts that spring forth out of human suffering.  In faith that looks through death, and in the years that bring the philosophic mind."

The Last Hurrah

I make no bones about it.  I don't like winter and a cold wind is howling tonight. Winters in Oklahoma are hard and frigid. Last winter, Oklahoma recorded its coldest temperature ever at 29 degrees below zero.  I'd much rather be at the beach. Okay, the summers are hotter than you know where; our temperatures were the highest on record this summer at over 115 degrees.  There were terrible wildfires and we are still in extreme drought conditions.  In fact, our state has had crazy weather of late.  Just yesterday, Oklahoma had tornadoes, flooding rains, snow and earthquakes.  Yes, we are having quite a lot of earthquakes.  We've had small ones before; usually they aren't even noticeable.  Three in the last three days have been noticeable.  I never hope to be an earthquake stronger than the 5.7 one Saturday night.  It took me a minute to figure out what it was.  The roar was the first thing I noticed.  I thought a jet was going to crash into my house.  I never knew an earthquake made noise.  I heard today that the roaring was sound waves emanating from the earth.  Who knew?  Then the house started shaking.  I could even hear and feel it as it moved away.  Weirdest thing I've ever encountered.  Made the hair stand on end.  I don't know how anyone could make it outside during an earthquake.  I sat there mesmerized; an earthquake was the last thing I could have imagined.  I'm not superstitious, don't believe in the messianic end times soothsayers, but something strange is going on. 

You Can't Take Me Anywhere

Well, it's almost all Hallows Eve, or Halloween as we like to call it.  This is the scariest thing I could come up with (or it could be my parrot Birdie trying to pluck my eye out as I work on this blog).  During our 10 day trip to Paris this spring, we forayed two hours east of Paris, in the Loire Valley, and went to Chartres and Chambourg.  I really enjoyed this and heartily recommend spending a day or two around there to see how they live outside of Paris.  Tiny towns, or villages, dot the countryside in a patchwork mosaic of planted fields. Many of the homeowners also had large gardens.  I will show more of Chartres later, though I can't remember whether many of the pics are Chartres or Chambourg, but this old window was definitely in Chambourg.  Of course, you're not supposed to open the windows, so what did I do, yes, as my friends scattered, I had to lift the beautiful old latch and open the window.  Just inches away, on the sill, was this little bat.  It looked up at me and followed me with its eyes.  I looked up to see if it had fallen from the roof line, but saw no others.  Since bats aren't out during the daylight hours, I surmised it must be sick.  Rabies?!! Sorry little bat, I wish I could help you but I'm outta here.  I  took my photo, then gently closed the window.  See what you miss when you always follow the rules.  BOO!

Ryuichi Sakamoto - The Wuthering Heights(Trio World Tour 96)

A Small Gift

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite pianist/composers.

Oldest Paris Church

This large silver-rimmed shell holds holy water in the oldest church in Paris, St-Germain-des-Pres.  Originating in 542 when most of Paris was still swampy, it was mostly burned down during the French Revolution by the mobs.  Remarkably, it was heavily restored in the 19 century and looks beautiful today.  A powerful Benedictine Abbey in its day, it was built by the Merovingian ruler, King Childebert, to house holy relics.  You can tell it is a much older church; beautiful original painted columns and walls retain original symbols painted in wonderful colors.  I love this photo.  St-Germain-des-Pres, given its age, has seen many great and horrific moments in Parisian history, but is worth a visit.   One famous tomb includes that of Rene Descartes.

Cipher This!

As is often the case, I have to figure how to do things myself.  Frustrating, yes.  Knitting, painting, sculpting, sewing, carving, writing, cooking/baking...I would much rather have someone show me how.  It would save much trial and error, research, etc. I want to make my own cipher to use on my prints/artworks.  After several hours of attempting the smallest of workings and carvings, I had to drive to the city/crafts store yet again, for more supplies and another third attempt. I am the poster child for learning from mistakes.  I know I'll finally get one, but this journey is not more fun than the destination.

And Then There Were Two

Can you believe it?  Another huge mouth to feed!  This brown girl showed up last month.  She left her pastures and crossed a fence and eighty acres to get here.  Guess she was lonely and hungry too by the look of her ribs.  I expect this animal cruelty from our neighbors, but not from her owner, who is a school superintendent of a rural school system.  

Hosannah no likey brown girl - has to share her feed now.

You better not bite my knee!

Hosannah thinks that's hilarious.

She finally decides to lie down though when I moved an inch, she popped right back up just in case I might have hidden some graham crackers from her.

To all my dear blog friends that haven't had comments from me, I am still not able to comment on some of your blogs, but am reading and enjoying them.

Times Gone By

I found this old cookbook in the cabinet recently and looked through it.  Printed in 1932, some of the recipes are more than 100 years old.  I loved the recipes, two of which are Dimples and Nun's Sigh.  The author, Mary Moore Bremer, states in her forward, "The negro woman, who reigned in the kitchen, had inherited from her ancestors in Africa, as well as in America, a knowledge of cookery and herbs that made her skill look like magic."  In another section, she writes, "Many of these recipes were written before calorie counting became a world sport, but when a little colored delivery boy asked," "Missus, is dis reducin' or increasin' bread?" " I knew it was time to put in some whole wheat recipes for those who do reduce."  It is amazing to me that back in the early days of the 20th century, and in New Orleans, no less, people were dieting and counting calories. 

Another part of the book gives recipes for cocktails and spirits.  Seems drinking alcoholic beverages in New Orleans had rules which were to be strictly followed at mealtimes. Even the size and shape of glassware had to be correct for measuring amounts and just because (a pony is one ounce and a gill is four ounces.)   "Delmonico's chef, Charles Ranhoffer, believed wine was to be the intellectual part of the meal, which must be served in correct order and at the proper temperatures, though preference must be given to taste and the effect on health as he believes that certain tastes go with certain temperaments: The sanguine natures feel the want of light wines such as Champagne; the phlegmatic love the warm wines from Languedoc and Fontignon; gloomy dispositions crave sweet Spanish, Italian and Burgundy; while the billious require something stimplating like Bordeaux which is easily digested and leaves the mouth clear and the head free."  The rule for formal dinners was observed thusly: 
Sauterne or other white wine with the oysters.
Dry sherry with clear soup.
Sherry or Madeira with turtle soup.
Champagne with entrees.
Claret with salads.
Bordeau with game.
Claret with roast.
Burgundy with dessert.
Brandy, Liqueurs, Cognac or Pousse Cafe followed the coffee.

This book is charming and I wish I could have visited the New Orleans of long ago.  My mother left home at fifteen, and without shoes, walked to New Orleans, where she worked and lived until she met my father who was stationed there and in the Navy.  We never knew this story until after her death at forty when her sister told me. 

After seven weeks, my new knee is healing and I am finally able to get back to normal.  Glad to be back!

Vespers

In times long past, I used to go to summer camp.  Every evening we'd go up the mountain and sit around a camp fire.  Upon our descent, we would sing vespers.  "Day is done.  Gone the sun...."  I have great memories (but mostly about how homesick I was).  Nevertheless, here is a sunset at our Peaceable Hill Farm.

I won't be posting for a couple of weeks, but I will be reading all your blogs.  I am having my knee replaced this week.  At seventeen, I had knee surgery and I've needed a new one for nearly twenty years.  So, hope all of you get rain and cooler temps.  This week, it is supposed to climb to 110 degrees around here. 

And may I mention, I have been having trouble commenting on some of your blogs and have no idea how to correct the problem.  Any info will be appreciated.  Stay cool and well.

California Dreamin'

We grow em big here at our Peaceable Hill Farm.  Actually, without rain since April and 105 degrees for the past several weeks, not much is growing.  I spend my days and nights watering; vegetables, fruit trees, flowers, shrubs, potted plants and on and on...  I fear I will be losing many plantings due to this hellish heat.  I think my 15 year old hydrangeas are dead.  And, back to the berries.  They dried up before we could pick the wild ones.  Next time La Nina and her damn weather pattern is coming our way for the summer, I will be packing it up and heading to the California coast. 

Sculpture at the Louvre

This was such a monumental and beautiful piece.  Ancient of days. Something mythological.

Green Mansions

Growing up, my father had a radio station and as a courtesy, we had a movie pass.  I saw nearly every movie that came out.  This movie, starring Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins was one of the stinkers.  Imagine my young mind watching Butterfield 8, etc. and going "Huh?"  Nonetheless, Audrey's husband, Mel Ferrer, directed this movie, which was considered a huge flop.  Released in 1959, Audrey played Rima, the jungle girl.  The movie was adapted from a very sucessful book by WH Hudson and though the book sounds interesting, the movie was not.

Berry Odd

This is a fallow year on the farm for berries.  We usually get tens of gallons of blackberries by July 4th.  This year, we got nothin'!  We had a record freeze this winter and our thornless berries were killed back to the ground.  Even the wild blackberries are slim and none.  Our early heat (102 degrees today) coupled with no rain since April have left us with tiny berries not worth the effort to pick.  So, to market, to market, here we come.  I posted this dessert once before.  It has a buttery cookie bottom with a cream cheese layer on top of that.  The berries finish it and of course,  a dollop of whipped cream on top. 

Mile High Apple Pie

Since it is much too hot to bake, I'll share this apple pie I made last fall.  Secrets to a good apple pie?  Granny Smith apples, lemon juice, dotted with butter and light brown sugar gives it the most flavor.

Breathtaking Sculpture At The Louvre

Though I love the two dimension art at the Louvre, I was especially drawn to the 3D sculpture hall.  Just walked around, awed by the works in marble.  When you sculpt with clay, you can mold it by adding the clay or taking it away.  After drying the clay, you can then carve into it. I can not imagine working with stone and a chisel and making this look so beautiful.  Don't remember her name nor the artist's name, but she was stunning, and hardly anyone was around.