Have a Delightful day of Smiles and Laughter.
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween!
Seeking Beauty In Everyday Life
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Chow-Chow
At the end of the garden season, we often have green tomatoes still in the garden.
Some of them will ripen on the kitchen counter, but my favorite thing to do with them is make what we call Chow-Chow. A special Autumn relish, which nicely pairs with meat or even on a sandwich.
It is a recipe I have used for a very long time and thought you might also enjoy it.
Chow-Chow
20 medium green tomatoes
8 large apples (unpeeled) I like to use Granny Smith here.
8 medium sized onions
3 green peppers
2 red peppers
1 tablespoon each of salt, celery seed, mustard seed, turmeric, cinnamon
5 cups sugar
3 cups apple cider vinegar
Grind all the vegetables and drain well.
Put into a large kettle, add seasonings, sugar, and vinegar.
Bring to a boil and cook 30 minutes.
Put into jars and seal.
Note: I seal without a water bath, but keep everything very hot.
You may feel safer to use a water bath, whatever makes you most comfortable here.
ENJOY!
Some of them will ripen on the kitchen counter, but my favorite thing to do with them is make what we call Chow-Chow. A special Autumn relish, which nicely pairs with meat or even on a sandwich.
It is a recipe I have used for a very long time and thought you might also enjoy it.
Chow-Chow
20 medium green tomatoes
8 large apples (unpeeled) I like to use Granny Smith here.
8 medium sized onions
3 green peppers
2 red peppers
1 tablespoon each of salt, celery seed, mustard seed, turmeric, cinnamon
5 cups sugar
3 cups apple cider vinegar
Grind all the vegetables and drain well.
Put into a large kettle, add seasonings, sugar, and vinegar.
Bring to a boil and cook 30 minutes.
Put into jars and seal.
Note: I seal without a water bath, but keep everything very hot.
You may feel safer to use a water bath, whatever makes you most comfortable here.
ENJOY!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
All Hallowed Eve in the Garden House
Come and enter the Garden House
At this time of year on a special evening it feels like there are unseen visitors.
Can you see them here waiting to be served?
Are they waiting for their special cup of tea with secrets hidden here?
One of them has left their broom sitting by the door of this dear Garden House.
Will they be dancing in the star light?
Hummm? I wonder what will be in that cup of tea?
Is there someone at the window peaking in?
Come sit a spell and celebrate!
The tea is on
The time is now
Come dance in the moonlight.
Twirl in the night
And sing songs of JOY
We are celebrating here
Delighting in the Autumn light
Today I am linking to Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist
The tea is on
The time is now
Come dance in the moonlight.
Twirl in the night
And sing songs of JOY
We are celebrating here
Delighting in the Autumn light
Today I am linking to Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Richard Brandt, Ceramic Artist
One of the speakers at the NW Tea Festival this year was Richard Brandt, a ceramic artist.
He shared the history of the tea bowl, including the story of the clay and firing that goes into making a beautiful bowl. It is a journey that he is traveling, one of learning and sharing the story of the containers that serve tea. He told of being served tea in a beautiful tea bowl and becoming enchanted.
To learn more of the history visit this sight:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/j/jizhou_tea_bowl.aspx
In a tea ceremony I was honored to sit in at the World Tea Expo a few years ago,
I was served in a tea bowl that was over 100 years old.
The feel of the history of that bowl just felt so comfortable in my hands.
To hold a bowl made by an artist feels as if you become a part of that piece of clay.
The teaware by Richard Brandt just had that feel in the hands when holding a piece of his artwork.
He shared the history of the tea bowl, including the story of the clay and firing that goes into making a beautiful bowl. It is a journey that he is traveling, one of learning and sharing the story of the containers that serve tea. He told of being served tea in a beautiful tea bowl and becoming enchanted.
To learn more of the history visit this sight:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/j/jizhou_tea_bowl.aspx
In a tea ceremony I was honored to sit in at the World Tea Expo a few years ago,
I was served in a tea bowl that was over 100 years old.
The feel of the history of that bowl just felt so comfortable in my hands.
To hold a bowl made by an artist feels as if you become a part of that piece of clay.
The teaware by Richard Brandt just had that feel in the hands when holding a piece of his artwork.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Orange Spotted
Recently in the newspaper it said ORANGE was the hot color
in fashion this season.
Have you noticed ORANGE?
I have even noticed it on baby strollers
and baby blankets.
Do you like ORANGE?
I am loving spotting it as I am out and about,
but mostly I am loving it at the market and in the garden.
Take note as you walk through your day.
The color ORANGE is popping up everywhere.
in fashion this season.
Have you noticed ORANGE?
I have even noticed it on baby strollers
and baby blankets.
Do you like ORANGE?
I am loving spotting it as I am out and about,
but mostly I am loving it at the market and in the garden.
Take note as you walk through your day.
The color ORANGE is popping up everywhere.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
A Gift
A few mornings ago I was reading the morning newspaper, I stopped to look at the obituaries.
Do you read the obituaries sometimes?
I didn't know the woman that morning, but was drawn to read about her.
What struck me was the gift of her last words to her daughters.
"Remember to listen to the trees, talk to the flowers,
and dance in the rain
and continue running your own race!"
These words just touched my heart.
Yes, we must remember this.
For this will bring us JOY!
It doesn't cost us a penny,
but worth a million dollars.
Do you read the obituaries sometimes?
I didn't know the woman that morning, but was drawn to read about her.
What struck me was the gift of her last words to her daughters.
"Remember to listen to the trees, talk to the flowers,
and dance in the rain
and continue running your own race!"
These words just touched my heart.
Yes, we must remember this.
For this will bring us JOY!
It doesn't cost us a penny,
but worth a million dollars.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Last Garden Bouquet
Recently a friend said she had picked her last bouquet from the garden.
It seems like I can squeak out a bouquet from the garden well into Autumn.
The bouquets will get smaller as we get closer to a night time freeze.
This is probably the last full bouquet from the garden.
It was pure delight!
After the flowers are gone,
I will continue with bouquets from the market.
There is just something so special about having flowers in the house.
It is definitely one thing that makes my heart sing.
Do you still have flowers in your garden?
Do you keep bouquets in the house throughout the year?
May your weekend be full of JOY and bouquets of friends and flowers.
It seems like I can squeak out a bouquet from the garden well into Autumn.
The bouquets will get smaller as we get closer to a night time freeze.
This is probably the last full bouquet from the garden.
It was pure delight!
After the flowers are gone,
I will continue with bouquets from the market.
There is just something so special about having flowers in the house.
It is definitely one thing that makes my heart sing.
Do you still have flowers in your garden?
Do you keep bouquets in the house throughout the year?
May your weekend be full of JOY and bouquets of friends and flowers.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
A Gift of Tea
http://bluebirdnotes.blogspot.com/
Blogging friends are the very best.
Recently my friend, koralee, of bluebird notes
mentioned her love of David's Tea and especially
of Red Velvet Cake black tea.
I left a comment about how intriguing this sounded
and soon a gift of tea came knocking on my door.
Thank you so much, koralee!
Now as I have said before I usually drink unflavored teas,
but just opening up these three bags the scent was intoxicating.
The teas were beautiful and smelled good too, but
I wondered how they tasted.
There were three to taste and they did delight.
Red Velvet Cake was like sipping bites of this wonderful dessert,
but without the calories. It is a black tea with little pieces of
semi-sweet chocolate and white chocolate. Yummmm!
Pumpkin Chai, oh my the scent was like a cup full of Autumn.
It is also a black tea with all the spices of Autumn and caramel too.
This was probably my favorite of the three.
Banana Nut Bread was a total fruit infusion with pretty slices of
dried banana, almonds, dates, and currants.
Each was quite wonderful and I could have sat sipping them all day.
David's Tea is a Canadian company, but easy to order online
at www.davidstea.com
Blogging friends are the very best.
Recently my friend, koralee, of bluebird notes
mentioned her love of David's Tea and especially
of Red Velvet Cake black tea.
I left a comment about how intriguing this sounded
and soon a gift of tea came knocking on my door.
Thank you so much, koralee!
Now as I have said before I usually drink unflavored teas,
but just opening up these three bags the scent was intoxicating.
The teas were beautiful and smelled good too, but
I wondered how they tasted.
There were three to taste and they did delight.
Red Velvet Cake was like sipping bites of this wonderful dessert,
but without the calories. It is a black tea with little pieces of
semi-sweet chocolate and white chocolate. Yummmm!
Pumpkin Chai, oh my the scent was like a cup full of Autumn.
It is also a black tea with all the spices of Autumn and caramel too.
This was probably my favorite of the three.
Banana Nut Bread was a total fruit infusion with pretty slices of
dried banana, almonds, dates, and currants.
Each was quite wonderful and I could have sat sipping them all day.
David's Tea is a Canadian company, but easy to order online
at www.davidstea.com
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Celebration!
In celebration of my new grandson and having his other grandparents here to visit him,
it was decided we would have the first tea party with grandson in attendance.
Though he slept through most of tea time, it certainly was a celebration of his life.
Circled around the table were his family of grandparents, uncle, mama, and papa.
It was a special time of shared stories between sips of tea and goodies.
There was sandwiches of salmon cream cheese, egg salad, and cucumber,
then sausage rolls and scones. The last jar of Marmalady's Orange Marmalade
was served, as you know it was a celebration here.
For those with a sweet tooth there was English Madeleine's and Lemon Bars too.
Tea was served and only the best would do.
Yunnan Gold went well with the savories
and Alishan Oolong was just right for the sweets.
Now this is how I love to celebrate this new life.
Do you celebrate with tea?
How do you like to celebrate?
it was decided we would have the first tea party with grandson in attendance.
Though he slept through most of tea time, it certainly was a celebration of his life.
Circled around the table were his family of grandparents, uncle, mama, and papa.
It was a special time of shared stories between sips of tea and goodies.
There was sandwiches of salmon cream cheese, egg salad, and cucumber,
then sausage rolls and scones. The last jar of Marmalady's Orange Marmalade
was served, as you know it was a celebration here.
For those with a sweet tooth there was English Madeleine's and Lemon Bars too.
Tea was served and only the best would do.
Yunnan Gold went well with the savories
and Alishan Oolong was just right for the sweets.
Now this is how I love to celebrate this new life.
Do you celebrate with tea?
How do you like to celebrate?
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Tasting Tea
As I finish my small morning pot of tea this morning I am reminded of a recent visit
to the New Century Tea Gallery in Seattle's Chinatown.
It has become tradition for our small group from Portland to stop here
on our way to the NW Tea Festival the first weekend each October.
There is a beautiful table where we sit and sip tea, tasting this years tea delights.
How lovely to sit at this table with a group that loves tea.
It feels like for awhile we are sitting in Asia somewhere tucked away in
a secret corner of a teashop. A wonderful escape for tea with friends.
Now I must share I did buy one very special tea, which I am thoroughly enjoying.
It is Special Grade Dian Hong from Yunnan Provence in China.
It is similar to Yunnan Gold, which is usually my go to tea first thing in the morning.
A yummy black tea that leaves a smooth almost chocolaty taste in the back of the throat.
What a joy to have a tea such as this to start my day
and to make my day more special.
to the New Century Tea Gallery in Seattle's Chinatown.
It has become tradition for our small group from Portland to stop here
on our way to the NW Tea Festival the first weekend each October.
There is a beautiful table where we sit and sip tea, tasting this years tea delights.
How lovely to sit at this table with a group that loves tea.
It feels like for awhile we are sitting in Asia somewhere tucked away in
a secret corner of a teashop. A wonderful escape for tea with friends.
Now I must share I did buy one very special tea, which I am thoroughly enjoying.
It is Special Grade Dian Hong from Yunnan Provence in China.
It is similar to Yunnan Gold, which is usually my go to tea first thing in the morning.
A yummy black tea that leaves a smooth almost chocolaty taste in the back of the throat.
What a joy to have a tea such as this to start my day
and to make my day more special.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
October Moon
In the Dark of the Moon
In the dark of the moon,
Beware! Have a care!
Of the ring at the door
And nobody there.
Of the soap hieroglyphics
On a clean pane;
Of hushed, ghostly giggles;
Of steps down a lane.
Beware! Have a care!
Of the small shape in white
With a pumpkiny lantern,
Its features alight.
No use to be looking
Stern, staid and sober-
Better turn goblin
This night in October.
author: Ethel Romig Fuller, Kitchen Sonnets
These big orange pumpkins remind me of a large harvest moon.
I hope you are all celebrating the beauty of the season.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Catching Up!
Just catching up today!
Life sometimes gets quite hectic
and then the computer quits running.
So I am drawing on old photos on
my very old, very slow laptop until computer returns home.
Baby "Mondo", grandson, is just beautiful and doing great.
The photo from yesterday was taken on the Island of Burano in Italy several years ago.
And the NW Tea Festival was teariffic!
I learned more about tea (yes, that is possible)
and drank so much of the wonderful varieteas!
If I am slow at showing up to this wonderful land of blogs
it is because life is in the way and missing all my bookmarks to your blogs.
I will see you soon.
Miss you all!
xoxo
Monday, October 8, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Tea Time Thursday
Reminiscing this morning of past teas.
Isn't this a beautiful way to be served tea?
I will be away for three days celebrating tea in the Northwest.
The NW Tea Festival is this weekend in Seattle
at the Seattle Center.
If you are in the area please stop by.
Our NW Wuwo contingency will be presenting tea on Saturday afternoon at 1:30pm
Come on by and say hello.
Have a wonderful weekend celebration of Autumn.
Celebrate the day with a special cup of tea.
Isn't this a beautiful way to be served tea?
I will be away for three days celebrating tea in the Northwest.
The NW Tea Festival is this weekend in Seattle
at the Seattle Center.
If you are in the area please stop by.
Our NW Wuwo contingency will be presenting tea on Saturday afternoon at 1:30pm
Come on by and say hello.
Have a wonderful weekend celebration of Autumn.
Celebrate the day with a special cup of tea.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
In His Hands
Our new little one in the hands of his Grandpa.
Sweet little toes and fingers too!
He is precious to us all.
A special little one to love.
Born at 11:20 on October 1st.
Weight: 7lbs9oz., Length: 21"
A perfect gift from God.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
October
Happy October!
Happy Harvest Time!
Celebrate with a visit to the Farmer's Market
or a bouquet of harvest flowers from the Flower Shop.
Celebrate the day!
Happy Harvest Time!
Celebrate with a visit to the Farmer's Market
or a bouquet of harvest flowers from the Flower Shop.
Celebrate the day!
