“What does reward mean to you?”
Reward to me means a day walking, beachcombing or sitting on a sandy/rocky beach beside the ocean waves. I’ve been blessed in my life to have my idea of a reward fulfilled. Here are some of those ways…a reminder of a day at the beach on a cold Friday afternoon.
STRATHEMERE, NEW JERSEY
CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE, CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
TREASURE BEACH, JAMAICA
CHESAPEAKE BAY, ELK NECK MARYLAND
BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND
My houseplants are showing signs of shedding their winter slump. It’s time to top them up with an inch or two of new potting soil or repot them into a bigger pot. I’ve been adding a little time release fertilizer as I make my rounds watering this week. I’m also trimming dead leaves and leggy branching.
The only place available to store my fuschia over the winter was a basement window well. The fuschia ia alive, but the growth it has put out is spindly and weak. I am going to cut away these thin branches and keep a few to root in potting soil. In eight weeks time, if they develop a root system, they will be able to be planted into outdoor garden pots.
The coleus sprouts are beginning to show colors. I’m going to separate them and plant into small pots within the next week.
I did right in cutting my vining morning glories back. The vines have sent out double and triple the shoots. Hooray! I can just imagine the lush blue flowers opening up around my windows.
I’m still winter-sowing half-hardy annuals. In Mid-march I will begin sowing some of the vegetable seeds (tomatoes, eggplant, etc.) that need more warmth. As always, I wish you Happy Gardening!
PS: Did I remember to tell you that my hoop house blew right off its moorings in the terrible winter storms we’ve had? Oh well…nothing lost but a bit of plastic. We saved the pvc pipe and will use it for another project.
I love Willow Tree Figurines . I have quite a few and display them on a living room shelf.
Willow Tree is a line of figurine sculptures created by artist “Susan Lordi in January 200. The Willow Tree line specializes in rustic faceless people and angels intended to represent feelings or life events. The figurines are made from hand-painted resin which is cast from Lordi’s hand-carved wooden sculptures.” ~ Wikipedia
Because of their delicate nature, Willow Tree Figurines will lose a hand if dropped or knocked down. Because of my nature, I lay the loose hand aside, promising myself to glue it back on soon, and often lose the hand. I could buy craft-store clay and fashion a hand, but why spend money when I have what I need at home?
Aleene’s Glue and Bread Dough Technique is the perfect medium to sculpt and repair my broken Willow Tree figurines. This technique will also work on other resin pieces. Aleene’s directions recommend using white bread for the bread dough clay. For this project I used honey wheat bread since the Willow Tree is created from molds of hand-sculpted wood and is very textured in appearance.
Break off the crusts from two pieces of bread. Tear the bread into pieces and place in a zip top sandwich bag. Next add two tablespoons of Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue and mush all this up.
At some point you will have to take the dough out of the bag and fnish kneading it. I recommend you take off rings at this point. Knead the dough until it is smooth and has pulled all bread dough residue from your hands. This is how I know it is ready to use.
Sculpt/Form the dough into the shape you need. I glued it to the Willow Tree figurines at this point with an additional drop of glue.
I also created an easy rose out of the bread dough. Add a few drops of acrylic paint to a small piece of dough and mash it in until the color is uniform.
Form small pea shaped balls.
Flatten the first pea, twirl into a cone shape.
Continue flattening pea shapes, add these in layers until you form the rose. I usually clip off the bottom with scissors to help the finished rose lie flat.
Let the repaired resin dry 24 – 48 hours. Paint with acrylic paints. Remember, you might not be able to find an exact color of fleshtone, add white or black to darken or lighten. Also, acrylic paint will be a shade or two darker when dry. I didn’t need to glaze in any way as the paint matched the matte appearance of the figurines.
Here’s a great video on how to create roses out of bread dough.
The choices in the supermarket were slim this week for sampling a new fruit or vegetable. There were a few novelties such as dragonfruit, but at 7.99 each, I passed on this one. I chose instead yellow plums. I’ve eaten golden plums in the past, but these were a brilliant lemon yellow when I purchased them. I set them on my windowsill to wait for them to ripen. Little did I know they would sunbathe and “tan” to a beautiful coral color. The flavor was delicious, but since plums are rather an ordinary fruit I wanted to do something different with them. I decided to stew them down until just tender, caramelize them and sprinkle with coarse salt.
I didn’t have a recipe to follow. I peeled the plums since they were imported (possible unknown pesticides) and sliced them. I added a bit of water to the saucepan and lightly simmered the fruit until they were barely soft. At this point I added brown sugar and cooked them until the water and sugar became syrupy. I turned the heat off and sprinkled with coarse salt and let everything cool.
I decided to make my recipe for cheesecake cupcakes and place the cooled plums on top. The recipe calls for a vanilla wafer, but I used half an oreo, minus the cream, in the bottom of the cupcake liner. The recipe for cheesecake muffins follows:
CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES
6 Oreos halved, cream removed
2 8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
1/2 Cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
Fruit Preserves ( I used my carmalized plums)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in 12 regular sized muffin tins. Cover bottom with Oreo half. Combine cream cheese and sugar in bowl. Beat until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat again until blended and without lumps. Scoop into muffin tins. I use an ice cream scoop. Fill about 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes…a few minutes longer if they are too loose in the middle. Chill in the fridge. Top with preserves.
I also top with chocolate chips when hot. These melt and create a chocolate disc on top.
These are super easy, delicious, and low in sugar. I can’t say they are low in calories, but they are VERY good!
The adorable Peas in a Pod Salt and Pepper Shakers in the first photograph in post can be found at Amazon.com. I bought several of them at Christmas and everyone who received a set loved it.
I found a new set of pearlescent watercolors this weekend. They are made by Yasutomo and available in craft stores and online. The set was less than ten dollars, and with the added benefit of a 40% off coupon, quite a bargain. I use Winsor & Newton watercolors, but am enchanted by the idea of adding a little touch of shimmer to a few of my more creative watercolor attempts.
The first thing I did was number the paints and make a chart to see how the watercolors reacted on paper. They are very pearly and quite sheer. The permanent marker is easily seen through all the colors.
I also experimented with a scrap of torn painting. The pearlescent pink added shimmer to the petals, but still let the detail come through.
Another plus is the watercolors perk up the faded colors of old pressed flowers. These johnny-jump-ups were very drab, but the pearlescent paint added a bit of gleam and color. I can’t wait to experiment with this effect and will probably create a few greeting cards to have on hand.
If you like to paint give these lovely watercolors a try.
PostScript: I found these to be very hard in texture. Before using, add a bit of water to each pan. Allow the water to sit and loosen up the paint for a few minutes before you begin to paint.
Once in a while I stumble upon a meal that is so yummy in appearance, I have to disengage my “Eating Healthy” rule and give into the joy of bacon or other unhealthy food. This week the food that enticed me was “Piggies in a Blanket,” purchased at the local Amish Market.
The sweet Amish lady at the counter told me to bake the piggies at 375 degrees for one hour. I did so, and my husband and I were really pleased with the taste. Even better, they were very inexpensive. I bought the piggies in a blanket premade, but they would be easy to put together. The inner layer is loose sausage shaped into a half sausage shape. The next layer is stuffing, packed tightly around the sausage and held in place with tightly wrapped bacon. I baked the piggies uncovered for an hour. They bacon got a little dark, and dried out a tad, so next time I will cover the pan for about a half hour, and uncover for the final half hour. The bacon keeps the inside moist. Delicious!
“Oh, eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of Thy son, Jesus Christ, that living in Thy fear, and dying in Thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy son, Jesus Christ.” ~ George Washington, Prayer
“Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.” ~ Proverbs 11:14
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” ~ George Washington
“To Those Who Appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine. Small mediaeval Italian Castle on the shores of the Mediterranean to be Let furnished for the month of April. Necessary servants remain. Z, Box 1000, The Times.”
This advertisement for an Italian Castle enchants me and gives me cause to dream. In a dreary, cold winter in England, two ladies, Rose and Lotty, become friends and persevere through many doubts to rent an Italian castle in April. It makes no difference that the book and movie are set in the era between the World Wars, when Lotty opens her window on the gardens of San Salvatore, I am there too.
The first time I was captivated by the story of Enchanted April was through the movie. The novel by Elizabeth Von Arnim, written in 1922, was harder to find. It is available in print again, and is also available free through the Guttenberg Library.
I’ve enjoyed browsing through the Guttenberg Library, searching out old stories and books I read as a child. If you love vintage stories, but can’t find the books you would love to read one more time, search for the title in the Guttenberg Library.
The score for Enchanted April is also beautiful, listen for a moment—
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Think Global, Act Local.”
“Think global, act local.” Write a post connecting a global issue to a personal one.”
Photograph Collage courtesy of Flickr and Peter Lopez
One of the books I’m reading for my morning devotionals is a volume of wisdom by Mother Teresa. When I read today’s Daily Prompt, I immediately thought of her. If anyone personifies acting locally and reaching the whole world, it would be this tiny, but spiritually strong lady. Though her life on this earth has ended, her wisdom and witness live on.
“We need to give Christ a chance to make use of us, to be His word and His work, to share His food and His clothing in the world today. If we do not radiate the light of Christ around us, the sense of darkness that prevails in the world will increase.”“Mother Teresa/No Greater Love.”
It’s a fact, there are many stresses in life. At this point in time it seems there are more than usual. I began to list a few and stopped myself, we all know what they are, in fact many of us are victims of the times we are living in. So, here’s a quick, easy and inexpensive escape—DOODLE a Bit.
A night or two ago I sat down with a blank journal. I chose to start small and gathered felt-tipped pens and colored pencils. I had some photographs of my grandchildren from Valentine’s Day weekend, and decided to make our celebration my first theme.
“A doodle is a drawing made while a person’s attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be abstract shapes.
Stereotypical examples of doodling are found in school notebooks, often in the margins, drawn by students daydreaming or losing interest during class.Other common examples of doodling are produced during long telephone conversations if a pen and paper are available.” Wikipedia
My first attempt is not fine art, but it was FINE RELAXATION. I had forgotten how completely relaxing it is to do simple, easy artwork. My advice: if you are stressed, grab a piece of paper, a pencil or pen—and DOODLE away.
I found a cute blog on Doodling: Doodle Addicted
Here are two of the blog author’s doodling videos. Watching the videos is almost as soothing as doodling yourself. Enjoy!
This amazing little video shows you how to create fillers for your doodles—so much fun!
🙂 Thanks for Doodling on By! 🙂
Shadowbox Painting by: Jaki Kaufman
Photograph courtesy of Flickr & R.Yoshi
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
At times in this world of trouble we need a reminder of where our focus should lie. Please pray today and every day for those enduring religious and ethnic persecution.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” Robert McCheyne (1813-1843)
Let each of us remember to pray every day for our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” ~ Ephesians 6:18
What fun!
It’s a perfect day for a rerun blog post. Many people bake these delicious cookies during Thanksgiving and Christmas. I bake them whenever the craving for pumpkin grabs ahold of me. They are delicious and the pumpkin makes them very nutritious. They are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. Enjoy!
My Grandmother Broadwell always baked these amazing pumpkin cookies for family and friends. I can’t bite into one without thinking of her. Every year, especially around the holidays, I bake up a batch or two. They are scrumptious, and best of all pumpkin is loaded with vitamins.
Pumpkin Cookies
Sift together:
2 Cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cream together:
1 Cup shortening (I use butter)
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup pumpkin (canned)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Optional:
1/2 Cup nuts, and/or 1/2 Cup raisins
Mix together. Add nuts or raisins if desired. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes.
While the cookies are baking make up your frosting.
3 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons milk (2% is okay)
1/2 Cup brown sugar
Heat this and bring to a boil. Stirring constantly, cook for 2 minutes taking care not to burn. Cool. Add 1 Cup powdered sugar (add more if needed, icing should not be thick, but rather runny) Add 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla and spoon over cookies.
My newest venture into the world of untried produce is Savoy Cabbage. I’ve seen this vegetable many times, but choose instead the well-known and less expensive generic cabbages. I realize I have probably unknowingly sampled Savoy cabbage in a restaurant or company dinner out, but I have not purchased or cooked one.
The cabbage itself is much prettier than its plainer cousin; the leaves are frilly and a beautiful lime green. I decided boiling or sauteing alone was out of the question and searched the Internet for an alternative. I didn’t find anything outstanding so I added a hodgepodge of items from fridge and pantry and came up with my own version of a Dijon sauerkraut. I didn’t measure or write down a recipe, but these are some of the items I added: half a can of beer, Dijon mustard, a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce, some sea salt, freshly ground pepper and herbs. I cooked everything in a saucepan until the cabbage was softened and the liquid condensed.
The finished sauerkraut dish wasn’t very pretty; the presentation on par with the canned or bagged sauerkraut I often have on hand, but the taste was much more yummy. The Dijon mustard added substance and the beer gave the dish a surprising tang. Best of all, the homemade sauerkraut was delicious cold. I also appreciated the bigger pieces of cabbage compared to the stringy strands I find in a can.
The big question: Will I buy Savoy Cabbage again? Absolutely. I loved it.
“Like the rest of the cabbage family, savoy cabbage has high nutritional value. It is very low in calories, and contains no fat or cholesterol. It is a good source of dietary fiber, and protein. It is also rich in many vitamins and minerals, such as: Thiamine (B-1), folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, manganese, calcium, copper, phosphorous, and copper. They are also an excellent source of both Vitamins K and C. Each of the different types of cabbage have high nutritional value, as well as tremendous antioxidant and disease combating properties. These properties make cabbage one of the worlds healthiest foods.” ~ SavoyCabbage.org
This week I came upon a post in memory of Kayla Mueller. Please take a moment and read about this extraordinary young woman. A Letter to Kayla.
Symmetry – “For this challenge, share an image of symmetry. Don’t limit yourself to architecture — you can bend this theme in any way you’d like.”
Symmetry – the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis.
Bird’s Nest Fern – Longwood Gardens Conservatory
This beautiful Bird’s Nest fern while not being perfect in its symmetry, is still a good example of a plant growing in a symmetrical manner. Growing a Bird’s Nest Fern is easy. The plant is more resilient against dry conditions than the more feathery ferns. An added plus is a Bird’s Nest Fern is a low-light plant.
Another example of symmetry is a gravestone. This one, weathered by years, wind and sea salt can be found in the graveyard on Block Island, RI.
A few years ago my son took a trip to Hawaii. Knowing my love for rocks, he brought me home two pieces. One turned out to be a piece of coral, but the other was odd, and had a funny texture when we held it in our hands. I can’t remember when the waxy feel of the rock joggled the little snippet of memory I had on ambergris, but it did, and I suddenly realized the texture pointed to the rock being ambergris. I did a bit of research, and yes, it had a definite ocean smell. It also had bits and pieces of squid beak and sand mixed in…yes, I had a real piece of ambergris. I was elated.
“Ambergris is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour produced in the digestive system of sperm whales.
Freshly produced ambergris has a marine, fecal odor. However, as it ages, it acquires a sweet, earthy scent commonly likened to the fragrance of rubbing alcohol without the vaporous chemical astringency. Although ambergris was formerly highly valued by perfumers as a fixative (allowing the scent to last much longer), it has now largely been replaced by synthetics.” ~ Wikipedia
As with any treasure, the quest was on to find more, and I did. The next piece of Ambergris was found in the opposite ocean, a piece of ambergris floated to me on a bed of seaweed, this time a gift from God. This piece is greyer in texture, not as aged and sweet as the first, but still a welcome find. It also has pieces of Squid beak embedded within it.
As you can see, my pieces of Ambergris have been cut in half. The other halves are with my nephew now, who was so intrigued by my treasures I was happy to give him pieces of them. I loved the fact that when I shared the piece from Hawaii, the resulting half resembled a heart. Somehow, in the sharing, the piece became even more special to me.
If you find a piece of “funky” stone on a beach and don’t know whether it is ambergris or just something yucky and gross, do the hot needle test on it. An example of how to perform this test can be found in the following Youtube video. Happy Ambergris hunting…who knows…you might find the biggest piece ever!
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. ~ Abraham Lincoln”
“And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.”
Photograph courtesy of WetCanvas and VMRS
“I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.”
Photograph courtesy of Flickr and Gage Skidmore
“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
Photograph courtesy of Flickr and Gage Skidmore
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”
