Saturday Ramblings At Home

garden peas

Summer finally arrived on the first day of summer, imagine that!  We had a long, cold wet spring again this year.  With just a few days of warm temps this past week, the garden is taking off.

Yesterday I tackled the weeds, applied fresh (homemade) compost around some of the veggies and gave everything a drink of fish emulsion-water.  With last nights thunder-lightening storm, the charged air and metal fence surrounding the garden produced a natural nitrogen fertilizer.  

The apple trees have been thinned of excess fruit to keep the branches from breaking.  This needs to be done before the fruit gets too big and wastes energy.  We'll have enough to store and can lots of apple sauce and make pie fillings for winter.  The sour cherry tree is loaded with fruit as well.  For several years our trees were producing every other year .. and this is the second year for consecutive fruiting.  Yea!

apples getting thinned out

jalapeno pickled eggs

dried peony flowers for winter pot-potpourri

The kitchen counters are brimming with homemade sourdough starter, pickled eggs, homemade stick deodorant, flowers drying for pot-potpourri and dishes needing to be washed.  What's going on in your garden/home?

update:  here's a link to homemade deodorant .  I use a little less tea-tree oil and add a little lavender oil.   Start with the room temp coconut oil .. and gradually add up to the suggested amount in the recipe of corn starch and baking soda .. I prefer organic corn starch (minus Monsanto round up ready corn)  and organic baking soda (aluminum free).  If you live in a hot, hot climate, you might need more cornstarch .. or make it as a powder form and skip using the coconut oil and place in a small jar with a screw cap lid.  Store in a cool location during the summer.  If you make this in a cold climate during the winter, the mixing bowl needs to be warmed to help soften the coconut oil. 

'refilled' deodorant containers

Floral 'Drinks'

It's peony season and I love to cut the flowers to bring in a wonderful bouquet of Heaven's scent.  Yesterday I had to stake them up a bit.  Our weather is so fickle still.  One day nice and sunny .. then the next day rainy.  Not being one to wish for warmer weather when much of the country is having wild fires, I will be thankful we are not suffering from such events.  Still, the garden could use a good dose of heat.  Drink in the beauty of summer flowers .. enough to last until next year .. that's my strategy for surviving the long winter season. 

Our Great Loss

My sweet Rowan passed into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father at 3:12 PM this afternoon. God gave her a beautiful day for her home coming .. perfect blue skies .. and a beautiful sunset. My how one little gift from God changed so many lives. What a privilege it has been being her grandmother. My heart rejoices knowing that hers has been made whole.  Thank you to the many readers and friends that have been praying for our little heart warrior.  She was born with hypo-plastic left heart syndrome where the left side of her heart did not form properly.  Our family will see her once again in Heaven. 

 With love from the Mac Family 

"In my Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you."

John 14:2

It's A Dogs Life

Meet Ruby and Daisy; my daughter's dogs .. also known as my granddawgers.

They are semi-permanent fixtures at our home of late.  After my beloved golden retriever (Miss Holly) passed away last year, it's rather nice having the company of two adorable pooches.  But it's also nice that they will one day be reunited with their family.

Ruby (short for Rhubarb:)

The larger dog is a golden-doodle and the little one is a Cavashon; both dogs are somewhat hypo-allergenic in that they don't shed (much).  When I move, they move.  Get up .. they get up.  My shadows at large (and small).

Daisy-Mae

 Both are well behaved and can run off leash around our big (unfenced) yard with some supervision.  And if they start to wander off, I just bribe them with the promise of a treat when we go inside (that's what grandma's do best :)

wild roses are starting to bloom .. time to make jelly!

cloudless .. finally

Today we wondered around in the cloudless outdoors .. it's been rather soupy of late weather-wise, so we all needed to get out and smell the (wild) roses.

Will have a baby update perhaps later.  Also, the pictures are much clearer if you click on them.  I'm having problems loading pictures on my blog (again!). 

The Story of Rhubarb a book

Weekend Reading

sourdough pancakes

I've come across a few interesting sites today and wanted to share:

Inexpensive way to grow your own mushrooms


Homemade Rhubarb 'Champagne


Sourdough Pancakes

soupy weather with chilly nights

We've had quite a bit of rain this past week.  In between downpours, grass was cut, weeds mowed, garden beds covered and uncovered depending on night time temps.  The local mountains got a dusting of snow, and Mt. Spokane had 4 to 6 inches of snow a few nights ago.

Our dinners have included winter fare once again ... soups and stews. 


Here is a little video clip of my granddaughter  Rowan.  She's still recovering in the hospital from heart surgery.


Have a blessed weekend!

The Patina That Comes With Living

When we built our home and took occupancy in 2007 everything was brand spanking new.  Wood floors that shined and had zero scratches; walls and white trim woodwork crisp and fresh; windows that had clean screens and sashes; shiny new appliances .. sparkly new sinks and carpet that showed footprints from being brand new.

My idea of a home and life has been somewhat shaped and modeled after watching the TV series, The Waltons.  I love how there were well worn floors and painted surfaces; a homey feeling conveyed from the front door to the attic and on the screened in summer porch off the kitchen.

A newly built home suffers from not having any lackluster.  When everything is new and without life's everyday scrapes and bumps, it holds little character.

Fast forward five years .. a relatively short time and pull up a chair at the kitchen table.  You will find older furniture with little scrapes and scars from being used countless times.  My table and chairs witnessed the everyday living beginning with two newlyweds, the arrival of four children, countless birthday parties, craft projects including paints and glue, and grand children sitting in a wooden high chair used by our first born.

Time marches on and wears well on the fabric (and furniture) of everyday life.  Now we have little scrapes and dings in our wooden floors that at first were troublesome (in my silly head) and now don't seem so noticeable.  Doorways that have worn painted surfaces from countless little hands holding on for balance.  A stainless steel kitchen sink that has a well worn sheen without notice of any particular scratch.  And appliances that show we have had plenty of good meals served up by examining how many times they have been wiped, scoured and cleaned.

New homes are good for a short season .. but the best part of a home is the character that is etched on the surfaces from holding on to the memories of every day life.

Update on my granddaughter:  I believe the doctors are trying to ween her off of life support as I type.  This is her last hope of recovery.  Will keep you posted.  Any and all prayer is appreciated.  

No Knead Sourdough Bread

So I've had lots of time this afternoon to pass the time in prayer for my little granddaughter ... and I put some of my nervous energy into good use by finishing up a nice round loaf of no-knead bread that was started last night.

I took the premise for the recipe from an article in the 'Mother Earth News' on-line magazine and made it my own by using my own grind of sprouted flour, soaked 6-grain cereal mix and some sourdough starter.  Of course, I didn't use a recipe .. just followed the one in the magazine for proportions of flour and water.

Click here for recipe and instructions.

Look what transpired :)

Update on baby Rowan:  She's off the heart by-pass and almost out of surgery.  After receiving a heart 'make over' and a new valve, her heart is much happier .. along with her mommy, daddy and entire family.

Gardening To Alleviate ....

STRESS!  Hubby and I were at the hospital for a good part of the day.  Our precious granddaughter, Rowan, is having major heart surgery as I type.  After four hours we had to return home to pick up our youngest son from the bus stop.  As soon as I got in the door and let out my daughter's dogs that we're watching, I headed to the garden to dig in the dirt to plant three blueberry bushes.  I don't know about you, but I find gardening such a great stress reducer.  Now that the berry bushes have found spots in the yard .. maybe I'll go plant some pumpkin seeds as baby is still in surgery.  I just may have enough stress to finish planting EVERYTHING!

Natural Tansy Insect Repellant

We have wild tansy growing on our property.  It is listed as a noxious weed in Idaho, but we don't have much of it so I leave some of it to grow instead of mowing over it.  You can use it as a companion plant with cabbage and other garden plants as an insect repellant.  I'm going to make a spray to keep cabbage worms at bay.  Once used for medicinal purposes such as de-worming, it has toxic properties and should be used with caution for human consumption.  However, as a natural insect repellant, I'm going to give it a try.

Homemade Tansy Insect Spray and other uses.

Tansy photo credit here

Because I Said So ....

There hasn't been as much flack over the use of homemade dressings and not having sugary lemonade available 24/7.  The Mr. is settling in to eating better and not complaining about eating only what is available at home .. which sometimes means he has to do without treats (fake food).  Why, 'because I said so .. (lol).  Sometimes a homemaker just has to put her foot down and do what is right and best for her family.  Even if that means change.  I think he's noticed that our food bill is a lot less .. yet we are eating real food that is satisfying and nutritious.

Friday afternoon we were out in town; the Mr. and our grandson at the City Park ... and I was grocery shopping.  Ring, ring .. my phone goes off.  It's the Mr. informing me at 2:30 that he forgot company was coming over at 5 PM for dinner.  Panic?  No .. I just bought some fresh Alaskan Salmon from the fish market .. thawed a few steaks from our freezer and made a surf and turf dinner in no time flat.  I did inform the Mr. to call the company to see if they'd come over at 6 instead of 5.  All's well that ends well.  Having a stocked pantry came to the rescue once again. 

Tonight I 'introduced' my family to the proper use of their salad forks, to pull the chair out for me, and to place their napkins on their laps.  Manners are being whipped into shape each time we dine.  Do you instill and insist on your family using good and proper table manners?

Without The Boxed Food

Beef Stock .. simmering

... in my shopping cart I'm able to afford the good stuff.  It's become second nature to put my kitchen skills to good use by cooking every meal from scratch.  Now that the pantry, storage room and freezers are kept stocked with garden and local farm goods, it's really not even necessary to buy much in the way of packaged food.  Our taste in food has developed to one that includes F.R.E.S.H. whenever possible .. and then frozen .. then canned.  We have fresh veggies some raw and some cooked that fills the dinner plate 1/2 full.  One fourth in a protein like meat or eggs .. and a small helping of a carb.  Dinners are a sit down .. s.l.o.w. eating routine and often begun with a thin soup.  Eating a well balanced meal including farm fresh milk ... and cutting out snacks has resulted in effortless weight loss.

If we (people) would just eliminate ONE item from our shopping carts .. anything containing high fructose corn syrup, that would be a GREAT start in healthier eating and send a message to the food makers that speaks loud and clear.  Take your health to heart and 'mind' what goes in your body.  Next to eliminate (or cut significantly) would be beet and cane sugar.  These sweeteners are contributing to the addiction that is fueling obesity.  Learn to live without artificial sweeteners too.. they can be toxic.  Having something sweet is best left as a once in a while treat.

Home Canned Goods

Wind In My Sails ....

Hiking at Tubbs Hill

Today was in the 80's (20 degrees above normal) .. and for North Idaho .. it was a great day to get out and hang bed clothes (i.e. sheets, quilts, blankets).  Seven loads were washed and only one went into the electric dryer.  Everything else was hauled up and out to the clothesline.  This is s.l.o.w. living.  You see, hear, and feel the environment when hanging laundry outside.  Tonight's sleep will be on crisp fragrant sheets.

Nathan and friend ... Post Falls, Idaho

The Mr. was out of town this past week ... which meant I was on a sta-cation.  A gal pal drove down from British Columbia and we tooled around town taking in the sights.  My kids treated me to a Mother's Day brunch at the Greenbriar Inn in downtown Coeur d'Alene ... followed by a quick stop at the water fall in Post Falls.


Garden time is upon us and we are 1/2 way to having everything planted.  One more good day and it should be done. 


What's up in your world?

Baby Cakes

We have nick named her Ro-punzle :)

Update on my little granddaughter.  She is growing leaps and bounds and is supposed to have her next heart surgery in three to four weeks.  At five months of age, she now weighs about 14 pounds and is getting chunky .. something the doctors want to see.  Thanking God for every day we spend with her.

Planting Seeds & Family Memories

Today was a wonderful day weather wise.  Sunny and in the low 60's .. perfect for yard work.  I planted cabbage, and more radishes and mesculin variety lettuce, dahlia tubers that are supposed to produce dinner plate sized flowers, and a canadice grape vine that will eventually climb a trellis hubby is going to build over the garden gate.  Our indoor plants needed some TLC so many were repotted.  The raised beds had been filled with a compost/sand mix that really needed some clay mixed in ... so with wheel barrel and shovel, I found a nice clay mound the was pushed aside when we built our home.  I think this will greatly improve the water retention of the soil (last year the onions HATED this compost/sand mix.).

It was nice enough to get out the BBQ.  Tonight's dinner menu was:

Chicken broth with spring green onions and carrot medallons

Grilled chicken brushed with a garlicky lemon-mustard sauce

Macaroni salad

Smoky grilled asparagus

Dessert

French vanilla coffee

Cherry puff paste strudel

We've really been playing up the importance of sit down dinners of late.  Even Nathan seems to enjoy all the fuss.  He gets spruced up for dinner and is practicing his best manners.  Sunday is a day to have a special meal and use the good dishes.  This is something I remember doing when I was a child having Sunday dinners at my grandparent's home. Are you in the habit of fixing special meals other than on major holidays or when company visits?  Time spent leisurely around the table makes for good family unity; and the clean up is easier if everyone works together.

Souper Supper

I've been going 'crazy' reading and putting into practice ideas found in my new vintage book, 'The American Woman's Cook Book,' taken from my mother's bookshelf, written long before convenience foods were 'born.'


Did you know that soups made from bone/meat broths aid in digestion by stimulating the digestive juices.  Cream soups, purees, bisques and chowders are valuable as they increase the nutrient content of your meal.  A heavy meal should begin with a thin soup (stock based) .. and a light meal should begin with a heavier soup.  Who knew there was such good reasoning behind homemade soup.  Economical and Nutritious!  When I see advertisements for products such as 'Joint Juice' .. for restoring joints I shout at the TV .. 'MAKE SOME HOMEMADE SOUP!'



Years ago a 'perpetual' stock pot was on the back burner day and night.  You could add any meat, bone scraps and/or vegetables to produce a very flavorful stock.  It is well worth the effort to learn how make your own stock and and keep some on hand frozen for easy use.


Last night we started our meal with a thin chicken broth based soup.  To one quart of flavorful homemade stock I added a diced carrot, leeks and fresh herbs.  Now that was simple.

We've started eating our meals in courses.  The family is tickled at the whole process as it makes dinner more enjoyable with anticipation.  First a small cup of soup is set on top of the dinner plate.  Next salad plates are taken from the freezer and the second course of fresh garden salad is eaten .. followed by the third course (of Salisbury steak with a little pan gravy and a piece of garlic toast).  Dessert can be as simple as a small dish of applesauce.


Tonight our soup was cream of asparagus.  I have not so fond memories of such soup from a can as a child.  But made in about 15 minutes on the stove with fresh milk and asparagus .. well ...it was the star of the dinner.  We started with a first course of chilled salad followed by the soup and small grilled cheese sandwiches .. for dessert .. freshly picked rhubarb turned into a quick sauce with a little raspberry syrup.

Fresh Cream of Asparagus Soup

4 cups milk (I used whole) 

2 tablespoons butter                                           

2 tablespoons flour
2 cups chopped asparagus

1 small-medium starchy potato peeled and diced

3 tablespoons of thinly sliced leeks, shallot or onion

salt, pepper or other seasonings (I added fresh thyme)

Prepare asparagus by washing and  trimming off tough ends.  The tough skin on the ends can be peeled away exposing tender asparagus underneath that would otherwise get tossed out.  Cut into 1/2 inch pieces.

Add the butter to a medium sauce pan (4-6 quart).  Add the onion and saute for a minute until tender.  Add the flour and gradually stir in the milk, whisking to prevent lumps.  Bring to a light simmer and add the asparagus and diced potato.  Cook at a medium simmer until the asparagus and potato are tender.  Add salt, pepper and seasonings to taste.  With a stick blender, blend the soup into a puree in the pan (or cool slightly and blend a little at a time in a blender.  I picked up a stick blender at a thrift store for $4; using it saves on washing dishes).  Blending makes the soup thicken up. Cook the soup for a few more minutes.  If you let it sit for a bit and reheat just prior to serving it will thicken up quite nicely.  Store any remaining soup in the refrigerator.  

To aid in portion control, I have started serving our meals from the stove and better judging how much food to prepare so we don't have too many leftovers.  This saves dishes, calories, money and keeps us from eating second helpings.  Serving in courses .. ending with a tiny 'dessert' (fruit sauce, pudding, etc.) gives everyone a satisfying meal and not feeling hungry before bed.  No 'supersize me' portions allowed :)

The reasoning and common sense approach to cooking nutrient dense foods was a standard in homes worldwide prior to duel incomes that started relying on ready-made food 'helpers' with the industrial revolution. These so called 'helpers' have become so loaded with artificial ingredients they rarely have any healing powers, instead tending to be highly addictive causing degenerative diseases of all sorts.  Get the stock pot simmering .. even in the summer for soups that include the bounty of the garden.  If it's hot out, try a cold fruit soup.  Think of peasant food as being economical and good for the body and soul.  Bon Appetite!

vintage image from here