The Clinging Vine

There is a unique plant that comes out here in the Spring. It is light green, very sticky, and apparently very tasty to dogs. It is called a cleaver vine because it "cleaves" to your clothes, skin or the hair of your pets.I've noticed Amos eating the smaller, tender leaves. This is how he came back from his walk with Mike today. He must have found a good patch of cleaver vines. It took a little work to get them out of his hair but he looks cute.

Pistachio Shortbreads

This is a delicious, not too sweet, recipe from Baker's Banter at  http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/ . I made them for Palm Sunday and came home with an emply platter.

Pistachio Shortbreads

1 cup softened butter
1 small box of pistachio instant pudding
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups flour
2/3 cup chopped pistachios

preheat oven to 300 degrees, line 2 round cake pans (8-9") with buttered parchment paper.

Cream the butter. Add the pudding, sugar and salt. Mix thoroughly. Add the flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Incorporate all of the flour (the dough will be very stiff). Press half of the dough into each of the prepared pans. Flatten with your fingers and prick each dough disc all over with a fork. Press half of the nuts into the surface of each disc. Bake for 30-40 minutes. Cut the cookies into wedges while they are still warm or they will crumble. Makes about 24 cookies.

We have a restaurant in town that has started making their own fries. Mega fries, I would say. We brought my daughter a plate home for lunch and she found this-the longest curly fry we've ever seen. We thought it was worthy of taking a picture and sharing it....with all of you. It is good for a smile today, don't you agree?






We will also celebrate today because it is Palm Sunday, the celebration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Sad, sad situation, but happy, happy ending!

Mike and I spent the last 4 days remodeling our bathroom. After 16 years, it looked really sad. We had focused on the rest of the house and neglected this area. I don't think the sheetrock had ever been sealed or treated-you can see all the stains and worn areas. We bleached, sanded and painted it with 2 coats of Kilz. Then we put a light blue finish on the walls and a creamy white coat on the vanity, put down a Walmart "rug in a bag", then added a new shower curtain and 2 bathroom rugs. It looks amazing and I'm thrilled.

This area was a big embarrassment and I finally decided to just dive into remodeling it.

Yes, that is a hole in the vinyl, we've only looked at it for about 5 years.

Everything turned out so pretty. I love the light blue against the dark brown rug. The creamy vanity blends with the rug as well. The white shower curtain looks so clean and brightens up the area. I am pleased with the outcome. Not embarrassed anymore.

All dressed up

Mike is ready for church. I bet you can tell where we're from.

Happy Birthday Mike..

Mike's birthday gifts:

being with family

entertaining his audience

banana pudding

homemade bacon cheeseburgers and oven fries

a new tiller for the garden (maybe that is more of a gift for me!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!

Art update-quick still life sketches

Simple Salmon Cakes

Here is a very easy entree made with canned salmon. I make it in small patties, very crispy, and we love them.

Simple Salmon cakes

1 can of pink salmon, drained, liquid reserved

1 egg

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder dissolved into the reserved liquid

Flake the drained salmon with a fork. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Mix in the flour next. Add the liquid combined with the baking powder. Stir well. Drop by the spoonful into hot oil. Fry until crispy and brown on one side, turn and fry until very crispy. Drain the cakes on paper towels.

My mother used to make the cakes big enough for a sandwich. I make them smaller because they are much more crispy. Some people roll them in bread or cracker crumbs before frying but this version turns out very crispy and tasty. It is one of my old recipes from my childhood. A real comfort food...

A morning gift

Misty dawn, lilac sky,

Weary spirits look up high.

Early morn, brand new day,

Rising sunlight brightens our way.

Misty dawn, lilac sky,

Each day your beauty magnified.

All the world is in its prime,

Each horizon yields a new springtime.

Misty dawn, lilac sky,

Puffy white clouds float on by.

Across the heavens eagles soar,

While far below the oceans roar.

Misty dawn, lilac sky,

All the earth must comply.

Amber light, coming sunshine,

Time to sing praises to the Divine.

   

Gil Saenz

Patient, Persevering Hands

Teaching a craft class at a nursing home lets me see many kinds of beautiful hands.

Hands that struggle but succeed.

Young, caregiving hands that stop what they're doing to help out a little bit.

Two pairs of hands working together.

Aged, but still nimble.

Hands that hesitate, trying to remember what they're supposed to accomplish.

Hands that are stiff and move painfully and slowly, but never abandoning their task.

Artistic hands

My daughter sculpted a miniature soda bottle for an art class. I liked sitting in the sunroom and watching her put on the tiny details.  It was her first sculpture and the assignment was an everyday object. After it dried, she painted it, mailed it, and I forgot to take a picture!

New Book Choice for Reader's Haven

Please join me in reading this month's book selection: My Antonia

This is a pioneer story of hardship, perseverance, and different kinds of love.

You'll love it-I did!

http://readers-haven.webs.com/thismonthsbook.htm