Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Going...Going...Almost Gone

Hard as it is to imagine, 2011 is almost over. Anyone blame me for saying "thank Heaven for small mercies"? I will be happy to see this year in the rear view mirror of my life, for certain.

The 24/7 Time Warner Cable news channel is telling that today (December 28) is No Regrets Day, with suggestions to write what you want to forget about this past year ("troubling souvenirs of 2011") on a piece of paper...and SHREAD IT! There's even a giant shredder set up in Times Square. Well, I've got a good-size shredder right here, folks. Wonder if there is some limit to how many pieces of paper I'm allowed to use?

OK, moving on...

Speaking of moving on...NO, we are NOT moving...sorry to even put that idea in your head! I was referring to our grand "move" on Monday, from KY back to NC. We reversed the process of ten days ago, loading up two cars with all of our stuff...and the three dogs, and driving back through four states in ten hours. Somewhere between the third and last toll booth on the WV Turnpike and the VA Welcome Center, my body and brain began to join forces in protest, threatening to Un-Occupy the driver's seat any longer. "I'm so over this," screamed that voice in my head. "I don't want to do this anymore!"

Right. Roll the window down...turn the audiobook up ("The Language of Bees")...and keep on moving, woman. This too shall pass.

I have had this same feeling once before in my life. On my first overseas flight from ATL to Manchester, England, back in 1997, I think. Somewhere over the North Atlantic, I suddenly had this overwhelming need to GET OFF THIS PLANE! It wasn't fear...it was the "stick a fork in me, I'm done" feeling. It was also the middle of the night, and I had to do "laps" up-and-back in the aisles to calm down. Couldn't do that now, could I, what with post-9/11 security measures dictating that passengers remain seated? Ah well.

We're home...at least I am...and recovering from the trip. Actually, Mr. T was here less than 12 hours...long enough to repack the necessities...and then off to VA for a meeting today at one of his dealerships. The end-of-the-year stuff is piling up for him, with too-few hours left to accomplish it all. He's supposed to return tonight, as tomorrow will be close-of-business for Fuso...so the Blackberry should be burnin' until the very last minute since they are in a twizzle to meet their numbers. Fingers crossed...toes, too!


To help him keep up his strength, I finally got around to making the Bundt(tm) cake he requested (pictured above; recipe below). Although the original Cocoa Bundt* recipe called for a chocolate glaze, I substituted a vanilla one...made with Justa Wee Bit o' Bourbon. Thought he might appreciate that!

I'm trying to get caught up around the house. Laundry took less time than expected, because we took advantage of Missy M's machinery before we left to do the majority of the loads. Indoor gardening took more time than anticipated, as everything needed watering and tending...and this was the final feeding until March for all the houseplants. I'm still trying to make it through all of the mail, which includes many of your beautiful cards and letters. (Thank you!)

And, last but not least, I'm unpacking all our wonderful gifts. This is truly the fun part of the week between Christmas and New Year's, isn't it?

I have so much to be thankful for...Santa and his Elves were more than generous with gifts of books (I'm almost done with "V is for Vengeance" by Sue Grafton), batteries (bringing life back to several comatose watches), and all manner of gardening goodies. But I am over the moon over one special gift. One that was wished for...not expected...and already considered an heirloom.

Missy M made me a quilt. Full size. Pretty on front and back. And in shades of purple, one of my favorite colors (matching the paint below the chair rail in its new room) and teal-blues (another fav!)...with peachy-pinks, to match a solid color matelesse quilt I already have. I've taken this photo to share with you...but my skills and the lens of the iPad's camera are both lacking to do it justice. Trust me, it's absolutely gorgeous. Now where is that box of Kleenex when I really need it?


As you can tell from the photo (above), I've put it on the guest bed...beyond the reach and The Drool of The Houndz...and, I'm already planning the matching pillows I'll make with the extra fabric Missy M gave me. You'll just have to come see it for yourselves.

Maybe in 2012?

========================================================

Cocoa Bundt Cake*
1 2/3 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 small box vanilla pudding (I use the instant)
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Spray Bundt pan with cooking spray.
2. In large mixing bowl, sift the dry ingredients.
3. In a large measuring cup, beat the eggs; add the rest of the wet ingredients.
4. While beating on low speed, blend the wet ingredient into the dry. Beat mixture on high for 3 minutes.
5. Pour cake batter into prepared pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool for 5 minutes. Remove to serving platter.
7. Drizzle with glaze (like the vanilla one below)

Enjoy!

Justa Wee Bit o' Bourbon Glaze

1/3 cup butter, softened
2 cups Confectioner's sugar
1 Tablespoon bourbon (or vanilla flavoring) (more or less)
2-4 Tablespoons milk (more or less)

1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over LOW heat.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in the confectioner's sugar and the liquids, one Tablespoon at a time. Add enough liquid to make the glaze smooth and of desired consistency.
4. Pour over Bundt cake. Yields about 1 1/4 cups glaze. Can easily double.

*An updated version of a recipe from "Hershey's Make It Chocolate!" Cookbook (c) 1987

Monday, December 19, 2011

A Change of Scene

"You have arrived!" That's what the Magellan voice we call Maggie says when we reach our destination. And our destination for the Holidays is Missy M's house in Louisville.


We got here on Friday night. We were in two cars...with three dogs...driving through four states, which meant the eight-hour drive lasted 10 hours. New math. Anyway, we were exhausted and headed to bed without much hesitation.

Saturday was a busy day, starting early to get ready for The Lunn Family Annual Christmas Party. By 3:00, the two pots of chili (one hot, one wimpy, as Missy M says...:) were bubbling away on the stove, and the Brothers and SILs were arriving.

We made some ornaments (swirling acrylic paints inside of clear globes), ate our fill of chili and fixin's, played reindeer games (guessing what was in Rodney's stocking, etc.), and exchanged gifts. Much love was shared, and a great time was had by all. We placed the Memory Disc we'd received at the Service of Memories on the tree so we could recognize the presence of Nana/Momma/Edith...and Bro J passed out Santa stocking hats in her honor.

Speaking of hats...

We continued the Goofy Hat tradition by giving Bro J a silly hat. I will post pix and a video when I get back to NC...I'm posting this on my iPad (first time) so haven't got the technique down pat yet. Uploading photos to the post = still a challenge! Don't even ask me about creating a link to YouTube on this thing...:-)

Anyway...

Remember, I posted earlier about making many of my gifts this year per suggestions from the grief literature from my Hospice counselor? Well, if I can make this work, I hope to show you a pic or two of the Memory Terrariums I made for both SILs, Missy M, and N/M/E's BFF AW. I'm calling them Memariums (Memaria?).

Recalling a beautiful terrarium that graced the lobby of Hospice Home of High Point, I got the 1.5 gallon glass containers at The Container Store in Raleigh, and the plants and planting materials (potting soil and peat moss) at Lowes...which was the ONLY local source of small container houseplants this time of the year. Believe me...I went to several local garden centers trying to find the plants...no luck. Thank goodness for Lowes! I found some healthy "Pan Am" Pilea (a ripple-leaf variety), "Golden Gate" Peperomia, "Red Vein" Fittonia, and "Pixie Dixie" Ivy. One small container yielded three or more plants...which I didn't realize until planting day, so now I have lots of newly potted houseplants. A bonus! Oh, and I got charcoal (called carbon) and tiny-gauge gravel from PetsMart. I used a birthday gift certificate to Barnes and Noble (from Bro J and SIL J)...and then some...to buy three books on terrariums (and I'll give proper credit when I get back home), which told me how to create the containers...and one even sparked the idea of placing memory-items inside, with the plan for "Grandma's Jewel Box."

Borrowing an idea from high school friend LCM, I then created a "This is Your Life" photo frame for Bro J, using pix I found while cleaning out Momma's boxes. I'd scanned and saved about 75 or so, starting with his earliest baby pictures...and including a few of the Goofy Hat ones for good measure. The frame will hold 2,000 or so digitals, and if he needs more...he can use a disc!

For Bro T, I ordered a canvas-wrap picture, using a photo I'm calling "Fog Over The Caney Fork." I took several shots as we were driving from NC to West Tennessee in August for Momma's funeral...when he was in his car following Mr. T and me. He didn't know why in the world we kept stopping on the bridges over the Caney Fork...there are at least 4 on I-40 in Middle Tennessee...he thought we were having car trouble or something. I chose the best shot of the bunch and had it enlarged and canvas-wrapped at CVS (they did a SUPERB JOB!)...so he can always remember that there are bright moments even in sad times.

I think they were all hits. And I loved every minute of making them. Win-win!

It was great seeing everyone again...under happy circumstances. Bro T and SIL LaD had to make the hour-plus drive north, so they departed early in the evening, after we made tentative plans to meet again before we head back south. J & J were spending the night locally, so we met them for a tasty breakfast at Wild Eggs. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and decorating M's house for the Holidays. She has such a great eye for design and placement...as demonstrated in her decorating...her work...and her newest form of expression: quilting. You should see what she made for J& J (placemats and napkins) and what she's working on for LaD (shhhh...it's still a WIP...;)


The week ahead will be devoted to doing as little as possible. We have plans for the Nutcracker ballet (tradition!) and shopping must be done...along with wrapping, of course. But beyond that, we are all just chillin'!

What is it "they" say? "A change of scene will do one good."

No arguments from me!

=============================================================

[BTW, according to Missy M's research, there doesn't seem to be an easy, FREE, method of posting my photos using my iPad. Bummer. I've forced it to accept a couple of pix (the one at the top is of her tree all decorated; the other one is of her cute moose and yarn trees...and if you look closely, you'll see Ella sleeping in the chair in the background...:) via an iPhone ap she downloaded. Will edit this when I get back to my laptop. Meanwhile, here are my work-arounds (in the "where there's a will, there's a way" category...:): I've uploaded some Christmas shots to Flickr, which should show up in the slideshow over there on the right. I've also uploaded several to Facebook. Visit me there. There's a link over there in the right column. =====>>>]

Sunday, December 11, 2011

It's Working...It's Really Working!

I am here to tell you:  following the grief counselor's advice is actually working.  Imagine that. Will wonders never cease?

To review, I have been doing what I was told to do (a miracle, in and of itself...) in handling the Holidays during this first year without Momma.   Here are a few of the bullet points:

Red Lion Amaryllis
in full-bloom on the dining room table
 * Make or bake all of your holiday gifts. (Check back after the Holidays for photos on those...:)
* Shop by catalog or online in order to avoid the extra stress of the rush and crush of the crowds.
* Try to attend at least one special holiday event; fellowship with others is sometimes the best medicine for a grieving heart.
* Keep as many of the family traditions alive as you can manage.
* Start a new tradition in memory of your loved one. (More on this one in the next post.)
* Take time to be in touch with your feelings...you may find you are actually enjoying the holidays rather than just coping with them.
* Put a smile on your face...and you'll find one in your heart.


Christmas Tree...and Door Prizes
at the Master Gardener Christmas Party
12/8/11




Guess what? I have made the gifts, and shopped online (or on Tuesdays in the stores...seemingly the least-hectic day).  Mr. T and I have attended two concerts and a lovely Holiday party (photo, right).  I have written the traditional Christmas newsletter to tuck into the Christmas cards (still working on those...:), and baked some of the traditional goodies...all without tears. 

 OK, truthfully?  I did tear-up a little bit on the newsletter because I struggled mightily with how to address Momma's passing in a thoughtful and appropriate way.  But no tears actually splashed on the keyboard.  Honest.

 Following the advice has not only helped me manage my grief...it's even helped me feel some excitement and anticipation about the Holidays this year. 

 Now, I must admit that our "decorating" has been simple...compared to what is the norm for us:  one tree, a wreath or two, a couple of new nutcrackers for the collection on the mantle and the giant Nutcrackers standing guard at the front steps (tradition!), a few candles and some amaryllis blooms to decorate the dining room table (photo, above).  Duke Energy will probably send us a "We Missed You!" card, as our December bill should be considerably less...since we didn't put out all the usual exterior lights and decorations.  Of course, our yard won't be mistaken for one of the landing strips at PTI either this year.

Butterballs -
A Christmas Tradition for Us
And, my baking is subdued...for me at least:  a couple of batches of Butterballs* (picture, left; recipe below), chocolate chip cookies, and no-bake oatmeal cookies.  I made a big recipe of Spiced Tea mix...as much as my largest bowl would hold...most of that will be shared as gifts, but I'm keeping a large jar for myself. [Follow the link to a recipe similar to mine.]  Maybe I'll whip up a batch of Microwave Pralines. Possibly some Marshmallow Fudge.  Oh, don't get me started...:

Still and all, that hollow, empty feeling is being filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of the Season.  And joy is finding its way into my heart. 

Momma would be pleased as Rum Punch, don't you think?







======================================================
Butterballs*

 Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened (don't even THINK about using margarine...:)
1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus 1/2 to 1 cup more for rolling)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 T. water
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup pecans, chopped fine

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In the food processor, chop the pecans fine, almost to a powder.  Remove to a bowl, reserving for the next step.
  3. Cream the butter in the food processor.  Add the powdered sugar, the vanilla, and the water. Blend well.
  4. Add the flour, the salt, and the reserved pecans to the creamed mixture in the bowl of the processor.  Blend well until a soft dough follows the blades.
  5. Roll into 1-inch balls.  Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. These cookies do NOT rise or spread.  Remove pan from oven before any browning occurs. Allow to rest for 3 minutes.
  6. Roll in extra powdered sugar and place on a rack to cool.  Roll again in powdered sugar.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.  Enjoy!

*(Adapted from a recipe called Delaware Butter Balls in the 1975 Southern Living Southern Country Cookbook...one of my personal favorite cookbooks!)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

You Can't Believe A Word I Say

For as long as I can remember, if I would answer one of Missy M's questions...or respond to a request for information...and she would look doubtfully at me because of my answer or response, I would say "of course, you can't believe a word I say, 'cause I lie all of the time."  Say it with the proper amount of sarcasm dripping from each word, and you get the point across:  BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU...

Anyway...

I have said for weeks now (especially since I discovered at Thanksgiving just how painful memories can be during the Holidays after the loss of a loved one), I'm not putting up a Christmas tree this year. I just didn't think it was a good idea, for a number of reasons, not the least of which I couldn't imagine feeling any joy or happiness about the prospect.  Momma loved the Holidays, loved the shopping, loved the songs, loved the traditions, loved the lights and the ornaments.  Why put us through that pain?

First came the bereavement counseling.  These words from the pamphlet "Coping With The Holidays: the Road to Recovery" said it best:

"Decorating for the Holidays, although it may seem like more work than it is worth, will bring warmth into your home and should not be avoided....Once the decorating is done, you'll be happy to have the seasonal reminder that life is continuing on and so must you."

Quilted Tree Skirt
Made by Missy M - 2011
And, then came the quilted Tree Skirt.  I couldn't ignore this beautiful creation that our beautiful and creative daughter made and gave to us as an early Christmas present (photo, left).

A tree skirt needs a tree, right?  And a tree needs decorations, lights, and ornaments.  And a decorated tree needs wreaths and candles and nutcrackers and...and...well, you get the picture.  I found that I could not NOT decorate for Christmas.

Decorating for Christmas - 2011








So, you see (photo, right)...you can't believe a word I say.

Ah well.

In other preparations for the Season, Mr. T and I traveled to Durham on Saturday to hear Handel's Messiah at Duke University Chapel.  Inspirational!  I told Miss C (a childhood friend of Momma's and my former piano teacher in Henning) about the concert when I spoke to her this morning on our weekly phone call, and she said "well, you know Handel wrote that when he was at a particularly low point in his life."  Really?  Just goes to show that the passion from low points can lead to great heights, I suppose.  And the Chapel bulletin noted that he wrote possibly the Western World's most magnificent Oratorio in just 24 days.  20+4. Remarkable!



Pipes for the Organ -
Duke Chapel, Duke University
A little review - you might remember that we went to hear the Messiah at Centenary UMC in Winston-Salem a couple of Christmases ago; I posted about it here.  We had also been to Duke Chapel about 15 years ago, during our second time (of three...:) living here in NC.  As remembered, the Chapel is nothing shy of magestic.  It reminds one of the massive cathedrals of Europe, albeit on a smaller scale...although "small" isn't a word that comes to mind when in one of the pews.  The pipe organ's sound (photo, left) is soul-stirring.  And the music of the orchestra was moving.  However...the acoustics in the Chapel are dreadful...as you might expect with the soaring ceilings and all of that stone.  We had difficulty in hearing the soloists, who did not wear mikes.  We did NOT have this same problem at Centenary, which (while large as sanctuaries go) is more intimate than Duke Chapel. Next year?  We'll probably return to Centenary, which is also much warmer and more comfortable... important for a 3-hour performance, with only one intermission...and the standing for the Hallelujah Chorus, of course..., which All We Like Sheep (one of my personal favorite choruses...:) did just like King George II supposedly did...:)  [Hopefully, if you follow that link, you can hear the Project Gutenburg's free download.  I've been listening to it on a loop the entire time I've been writing this post.  Enjoy!]

Back at home, we did a little leaf clean-up on Sunday, bagging up the freebie leaves that our landscaper dumped in our back yard last Thursday.  He has this huge riding lawn mower he trucks into the neighborhood on a trailer, that makes quick work of several yards he has on contract.  It's a mulcher-mower with a massive collection bin on the back...and now, he just drives into our back yard and dumps the bin whenever it's full.  Yippee!  Future gold!!  And all chipped up, too!!!  I bought these Nutscene® jute leaf sacks at a local garden center; thought I'd test them to see how well they compost the leave mold by next Spring.  And, the rest went straight into the raised beds around the blueberry bushes (oak leaves are high-acid...which blueberries love...:) and into the wire bins that Mr. T has created in the garden.  What a wonderful gift!

Then, Monday morning as I was running late for a Master Gardener meeting, Lillie Pearl PTC wouldn't start...again.  This had happened after Thanksgiving, so having to have the battery jumped twice in two weeks was becoming a bad habit.  The AAA guys (both of them) said the battery was fine...that there was something drawing the current down.  So, Lillie is now having inpatient surgery at Ilderton Dodge...and I'm driving a bright, candy-apple red Avenger for the duration.  Good grief...this baby is as far from "me" as I can be!  I'm terrified I'm going to get a speeding ticket...not because I was actually speeding, but because the car is RED.

Honest, officer!  I wasn't speeding.  It's just the car.  Would I lie to you?

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

An Almost-Perfect Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Table all set...
Flowers from Missy M
Ah.  The week after a Holiday is always an exercise in returning to normal, isn't it? 

We enjoyed a wonderful seven days "at home" with Missy M and our grand dogs, Ella Rae and Dixie.  We traveled to our favorite family places and did some of our favorite family things.  We ate all the traditional recipes on Turkey Day (photo, left), served in the traditional dishes (Meemaw's turkey platter; Mama Stewart's Haviland gravy bowl and cut-glass relish dish; Nana's cranberry sauce server; and our very own silver and china).  We toasted our good health and happiness with chilled Biltmore Estates Riesling (an new tradition...:).  We postponed dessert until Friday because we were too full from the feast on Thursday.  And, I almost made it through dinner without tears.  Almost.

The turkey had been roasting since early morn, causing the dogs...all 5 of them...to be famished and fussy by mid-afternoon.  So, while we were trying to enjoy a lovely meal at the dining room table, the Houndz were circling our feet like a shiver of sharks.  Someone remarked that they probably were looking for a push-over to share morsels with them.  I said they probably missed Nana dropping bits of her buttered rolls or bites of turkey like she used to.  And that's all it took...that one observation triggered a grief ambush, as friend LCM calls them.  I tried to control the flow...to no avail.  The tears will fall when the tears will fall...I should be used to this by now.  Up from the table...off to the bathroom.  Cry a bit, dry the eyes, rinse & repeat.  Sigh.

Let us speak of happier things.
Thanksgiving Cheesecake

As I said, we got a couple of day-trips into the week.  The first one was on Friday to Boone (mountains), where we usually shop a little at Mast General Store (Christmas sweaters, anyone?), enjoy a big family-style meal of fried chicken and fixin's at Daniel Boone Inn, and then go to one of the many choose n' cut Christmas Tree farms for "The One." This year was a bit different, since we neither ate at the Inn nor came home with a tree on top of the car...more on that later.  Still, it was a beautiful day, and we had a fun time.  And, by the time we made it home, we were all ready to try that cheesecake with fresh strawberries.  Yummy!  (Photo, right; recipe, below)

Next up, Raleigh on Saturday, for the NC Symphony's Carolina Christmas concert.  Beautiful music...the Cary Chorus....the debut of an original work...and even a singalong:  just right for stirring up the Spirit of the Season.  Then, post-concert, we indulged another tradition of eating Chinese food post-Thanksgiving:  anything but turkey!  We got our favorites at P.F. Chang's at the Crabtree Mall, then did a little shopping at the Container Store (which neither of us has "locally").  It was late when we finally made it home...but we elected to have "just a small slice" of cheesecake...this time with fresh blueberries for the topping.

We started Sunday off in leisurely fashion, making family fav pancakes for brunch.  Afterwards, we began the process of removing the Thanksgiving decorations, in preparation for some Christmas ones...to be added later this week.  Mid-afternoon, we were dressing to attend the Service of Memories when...

Do you know what a little, long-haired black dog looks like after a romp in the attic insulation?  It ain't pretty.  While I was putting the finishing touches on my make-up, Mr. T and Missy M were putting the boxes of Thanksgiving decorations away.  Ella Rae decided that was the perfect time to make a dash into the pink stuff just beyond the floored part of the attic where all the decorations are stored.  Of course, every time they tried to get her to come out of the attic...she just made another run-through...thinking they were trying to play-play with her.  What fun!

What fun, indeed.  Missy M stayed home to give ER several baths, to try to remove all the fibres from the little mutt-mutt's fur.  Mr. T and I headed on to the service, which is an annual Holiday offering by Cumby Funeral Home for families who have lost loved ones in the past year.  We were comforted by the words of the minister from Jamestown United Methodist Church, who took his message from the scripture: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." [Psalm 30:5]  For most of us in the chapel, it was still "night"...for there was much weeping.  For me, the tears fell as before...and of course, I had forgotten to bring any tissues.  You'd think I would learn...


Service of Memories...
Gifts for the Grieving
 We were all given two gifts (photo, left) as we exited the service: a brochure on dealing with grief through the Holidays and a lovely ornament with our loved one's name.  Both will be helpful in the coming weeks, I have no doubt, as we follow the suggestions we were given.  I have already found some comfort in a quote in the brochure, Coping With The Holidays: The Road to Recovery:

"I thought I was doing much better.  The pain had subsided; I could laugh again.  I was beginning to spend time with friends.  My eating and sleeping patterns were back to normal.  Then, I had to face my first holiday without him.  I felt the familiar effects of grief wash over me and it was just like the healing process had never even begun."  -- Anonymous
While I don't feel that I am all the way back to Square #1, I do feel that I've been sliding back down the slope this last week.  More tears.  Less sleep.  That hollow, empty feeling of finality.  But reading that quote helped me see that I'm reacting to loss like others do.

Also in the brochure:

"Writing...will help you express your feelings.  When writing, be entirely honest...; it will help you gain control over your feelings.  Clarifying your thoughts will help you feel less overwhelmed..."
So, here I am.  Writing.  Expressing.  Clarifying.  And, all after midnight.  Ah, well...it's a process, right?  No doubt, I shall sleep better tonight than I have in days.

Another reason I was so glad that we attended this service was that we got to see and hear Thom Gill, a volunteer who sings and plays guitar regularly at Hospice Home of High Point.  He is an angel, and I am glad I had another opportunity to tell him how special he and his music are/were to us.  I hugged him after the service, and we chatted for a while about his music ministry.

We returned home, thoroughly drained but with more peace...only to walk into the final chapter of Doggie Chaos.  Missy M had decided to give ALL of the dogs baths!  Since Duche$$ refused to get into the tub, she got her "bath" in the shower.  The good news:  all the dogs were clean and fresh-smelling.  The bad news:  all the dogs were still a wee bit damp...and I don't think there was a dry towel to be had.  A small price to pay, to be sure...

Cheesecake, anyone?

=========================================================
*Thanksgiving* Cheesecake

Crust:
Graham cracker crumbs to equal 2 cups (about 1 1/2 packets)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pecan halves/pieces
1 stick butter, melted
Filling:
4 8-oz packages of cream cheese, room temperature
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 T. lemon juice
Toppings:
Fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, etc.), sliced and sugared
     or,
Canned cherry pie filling, chilled
Whipped cream
Chocolate sprinkles

A minimum of two days before you wish to serve the cheesecake, make the crust.  I use the Cuisinart to pulverize the graham crackers and the pecans, although you can put them in a large ziplock baggie and crush them with a rolling pin.  Add the melted butter to the crumbs.  Press the crust mixture into the bottom of a greased springform pan, pressing the mixture up the sides.  I use a greased glass for this part.  Place the pan in the freezer overnight. [You can do this step several days in advance, if desired.]

One day before you wish to serve the cheesecake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and make the filling.  In the bowl of your mixer or Cuisinart, beat the bars of cream cheese until softened.  Add the sugar, and beat well.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add the sour cream, the lemon juice, and the vanilla, incorporating well into the cream cheese mixture.  Pour the filling into the frozen crust.  Wrap aluminum foil around the base and sides of the springform pan, and place it into a larger pan (cookie-sheet size, but with sides of at least an inch).  Put into the oven.  Pour hot water into the larger pan, creating a "bath" for the cheesecake.  After 10 minutes, lower the temperature to 350 degrees; bake for an additional 1 hour and 30-40 minutes, or until the cheesecake has risen and has a lightly-browned top (which might be more or less time, depending on your oven). Turn off the oven, and allow the cheesecake to rest in the oven for another hour.  Remove from the oven. Let cool on a rack thoroughly before placing into the refrigerator (overnight).



Prior to serving, remove from the refrigerator 30-45 minutes ahead of time.  Run a sharp knife under hot water prior to making each cut.  Top the cheesecake slice with fresh, sweetened fruit; chilled, canned pie filling; or chocolate syrup, chips, or sprinkles...and a large dollop of whipped cream.  Enjoy!

Refrigerate any leftovers.  Yield:  10-12 slices 
[Don't even ASK how many calories are in each slice!]

*We have had this cheesecake almost every Thanksgiving at our house. 

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Mountain Memories - Fall, 2011

It's Turkey Time!
We're home again...and getting ready for Thanksgiving.  I wanted to take a little break from all the preparations to say "hello," and post an update of our recent adventures.

As I said in my last post, Mr. T has been using up over 3 weeks of vacation days this month - "use 'em or lose 'em."  Of course, if we are in town...at home...near his office, he works anyway.  Taking calls, checking emails, updating information.  Whatever.  He's connected 24/7 and, without some distance between him and his desk, he works.  And, I stew.  Not a great combination.



Mr. T taking photos at
The Fish Pond - Biltmore Estate
Hence the reason we hit the road on Wednesday...headed back to the NC Mountains.  I know, I know...we were just there in October.  But I wanted to see the Biltmore all decked out for Christmas and maybe take a side trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway...and we did! 

Going to the Biltmore in the middle of the week was perfect:  the crowds were light and all the folks were unhurried and pleasant.  We also took a class on Designing Woodland Wreaths at the Garden Center on the Estate, saw the Tiffany Lamp Exhibit, and ate at Cedric's Tavern in the Antler Village...a first for us. It was a beautiful day all the way around.




Linville Falls,
Blue Ridge Parkway
 The next morning, we saw our first snow of the season on the Parkway, portions of which were closed due to ice and snow.  Wow!  We got to see several excellent exhibits at the Folk Art Center and then found other roads to get us around the closings.  That way, we were able to get to Linville Falls and Gorge (photo, left) before the sun went down.  It was cold, but the walk on the trail (about a mile and 1/4, roundtrip) warmed us up...and energized us at the end of our long day.

We then back-tracked to Durham on the other side of the state for our last Duke football home game.  Lost another close one to Georgia Tech, sad to say, but still had a fun Fall afternoon.  There's always next year, right?


But, first...


Graduation Day!
I made it:  EMGV





Before we left, we went to the Extension Center on Wednesday for the Annual Meeting of the Guilford County Master Gardener Volunteers...and graduation for the Class of 2011.  Yes, I'm "certified!" Call me EMGV. A long year (for this and all the other reasons), but well worth the time and effort, I would say.  Ahhhh...so glad that's done!

Since Missy M and my grand-dogs, Ella Rae and Dixie arrive this afternoon, I've been trying to get as much of the cooking done...so we can have a lot of time together while she's here.  She's had a crazy schedule lately...including 3 "days" of working at night for training video shoots (which they can only do in the restaurant kitchen, after the restaurant is closed)...so, she's exhausted and needs a recovery period.

Of course, I can't help myself...I've lined up some Holiday activities for us to do while she's here, including the NC Symphony's Carolina Christmas in Raleigh and the Lights at Tanglewood Park in Winston-Salem...and we'll have to visit Old Salem while we are there.  And, she wants to go to Boone, so we'll head the car back to the mountains for the third time this season.  She'll probably need a couple of days back at home to recover from her vacation here in HPNC!

I feel the need to celebrate in order to keep any sadness at bay.  We'll miss Nana/Momma/Edith...and no amount of activity can substitute for her absence.  We'll attend the Remembrance Service on Sunday to celebrate her life and honor her memory.  Indeed, I am so thankful for all the wonderful years and memories...that I just refuse to let grief overwhelm us. 

I did have a setback yesterday that could have knocked me back several steps if I would allow it.  I saw my ophthalmologist and learned why everything was so fuzzy:  cataracts.  Both eyes...which is normal according to Dr. T, who declared that "cataracts are like geese...always come in pairs."  Really?  So what's next?  Well, I "wait and see" he says...monitor any changes over the next year.  OK.  Knowing how much I like to wait, you'll understand how frustrating that was to hear.  But, what else can I do?  Nothing.  Period.

So, instead of settling for doing nothing, I shall do what I can.  I can be thankful for my vision.  I can be mindful of how quickly things can change in life.  And, I can just keep on putting one foot in front of the other...and moving forward.

We can have our Mountain Memories
every morning with our coffee...
I'm so thankful you are all on this journey with me.  Cheers!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

From "Woe" to "Go" in Less Than a Week

What a beautiful way
to begin my day...
Oak Hollow Reservoir
What a beautiful morning!  I was up early, mainly because the Houndz are like Arizona and simply refuse to participate in The Changing of The Time.  Food into their bowls...bowls on the floor...by 8:00 a.m.  While they were eating, I slipped on a jacket, slipped my phone into the pocket, and slipped out the back door.  I grabbed my walking stix as I headed through the garage and was off on my very first morning walk since the time and the season had changed.  I selected the route that took me down to the lake, and I'm so happy that I did.  Check out that picture I took (left).  Could there be anything more perfect than a day that starts out looking like that?!

Hard to believe, but this time last week, I could hardly move without misery.  My back.  'Nuff said.  Lost almost a week of my life to the pain...and to the fog that the pain-relief pills put me in.  Mr. T was "in town," for which I was ever-so-grateful, as he stepped right into the fray to keep things running smoothly.  He's supposedly taking a few days of vacation, but he's putting in lots of work hours:  work-work as well as home-work. 

This happens every year at this time because Fuso's vacation "year" runs December 1 - November 30...I know, I know...seems goofy to me, too.  The upshot is that he gets 5 weeks of vacation a year plus a couple of personal days (yeah!); he can only carry-over 5 days from one vacation year to the next...no personal days (boo!); and he always, always arrives at November 1st with 15-20 days to "use it or lose it." And, if you check the calendar, there are only 20-22 working days in the month.  Sigh.  It's the nature of the beast.  So, he ends up "declaring" vacation days in November and still working those days...'cause he cannot NOT answer his d*mn Blackberry.  So, tell us how you really feel about this, Patricia? Ahem.

Anyway...

Elmo and Gus...
Supper at 5:00, in bed by 6:30
My back is better, thanks for asking, just in time, too.  Mr. T's off to a New Dealer Installation in VA he'd scheduled earlier (forgetting about that whole November issue).  Dogs are still on Summer Time, as they say in the UK, going to bed with the chickens (see photo, right, of Gus and Elmo last night) and getting up with the roosters.  And, I'm making up for those lost moments as fast as I can.

Yesterday, I put nearly 60 miles on Lillie Pearl PTCruiser as she and I jitneyed all over Guilford County with Master Gardening volunteering activities.  I had a Speakers Bureau presentation on Containers for Curb Appeal to the Sumner Garden Club at Rehobeth UMC mid-morning...but before that could happen, I had to get to the Extension Center way-the-heck across town to pick up the projector.  Then, after the presentation (which went very well...I love this group of gardeners!), I had to backtrack to Burlington Road to return said projector for its next engagement.

While at the Ext. Ctr. the second time, I got to chat with a couple of EMGVs who are conducting the interviews for next year's class.  One of them is also a knitter, so she and I got sidetracked on my second favorite topic (well, this year at least...:); we're trying to make a yarn crawl happen sooner rather than later.

As soon as I got home, I received an email about volunteering as a mentor, and I responded in the affirmative.  Less than an hour later, I learned that I may get TWO interns to mentor.  How exciting!

New Fish Tank...
Getting it ready for goldfish
I spent the rest of my afternoon working on my fish tank (left).  I'm in the process of setting up a small, 10-gallon tank, getting it ready for goldfish.  I have missed my pond...and my fish...so much since we moved from Missouri to NC.  The back yard here just doesn't seem to hold any possible sites for a pond, so Mr. T's created a fountain on the deck to give us the soothing sound of moving water.  But fish can't survive in it, so I had to go with Plan B. I'll probably let it run for a few more weeks before I add fish...just to make sure all's well.

Today, I'll catch up with laundry...and decorate for Thanksgiving.  While Mr. T was changing the clocks...and the smoke alarm batteries...this past weekend, he also brought the boxes down from the attic.  I didn't do anything really for Halloween...just put the lighted pumpkin in the window...and I found that I missed it.  So, even though Turkey Day may be a bit difficult for us this year with one chair at our table vacant, I still want to make the house...and especially the dining room...festive.  It's tradition...and it's comforting, too.

Tomorrow, I'll attend my first MG Board meeting.  As an incoming committee chair (I've agreed to co-chair the Speakers Bureau Committee next year), I've been invited as a guest...so, all I have to do is show up and eat my tuna sandwich...and listen and learn.  That, I can do!

And, next Wednesday, is the Annual Meeting...and we of the Guilford County EMGV Class of 2011 graduate!  Since I've completed my classroom hours and my mandatory volunteer hours, I will get to exchange my temporary nametag for a permanent one.  Woo hoo!!  I'm all a'twitter!  Seriously, it's been a long year...but I don't know how I would have gotten rid of that Little Black Raincloud of anxiety and grief without having Master Gardening to focus on...and Master Gardeners to lean on.  I should be giving "them" something.  Honestly.

Pear Tart... and Vanilla Ice Cream



You may have noticed that I didn't mention "writing my novel" in all of the above activity.  Well, no.  Apparently, I must not be destined to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge, good intentions to the contrary.  When you are flat on your back in bed, just having taken yet another round of pain pills and muscle relaxers, it's difficult to be creative...or, just to hold a laptop and type.  Then, when you get up and going again, it's difficult to write...when you have so much lost time to recover.  I agree with a cousin of mine who observed that November wasn't exactly the best month for this challenge.  Maybe she and I should move ours to say, January?  At least we'd gain another day for writing that way!

This weekend, when I began to feel like a Human Bean again (as Momma used to say...:), I made us a pot of Brunswick Stew, along with a Pear Tart (photo, right; recipe below).  This was a new one for me, and it turned out to be a nice treat...especially topped with some vanilla ice cream.  Plus, it was pretty, don't you think?

===========================================================

Pear Tart

1 unbaked pie crust
5-6 ripe pears (the riper, the better)
1 T. lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 T. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves)
2-3 T. cold butter, cut into chunks
Cinnamon sugar to sprinkle (opt.)

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Spray a tart pan with Pamr. Line the pan with the raw pie crust dough, and crimp the edges.
  3. Peel and slice all except one of your ripe pears, enough to make 4 cups of thin slices.  Add lemon juice and toss.  Add flour, sugar, and spices and toss.  Pour into the crust-lined tart pan.
  4. Cut the remaining unpeeled pear into quarters. Remove the seeds and stem.  Slice the quarters into thin slivers of pear, and use these to create a decorative topping to the tart.  Dot the top with butter.  Sprinkle with a dusting of cinnamon-sugar if desired.
  5. Bake the tart for 30-40 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden.  The filling will thicken even more as it cools.  Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 30 min.
  6. Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream.  Yummy!
======================================================
adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Cook BookCountry Pear Tart

Monday, October 31, 2011

What's a Mess for One?

I miss my Momma. Oh, not in a bad way, really. No, this past week has just had so many reminders of her as a person…and I miss that person.

First, there was one of those “grief ambushes” that my friend LCM wrote me about. An EMGV friend at a recent training session we were both attending, excused herself to make her daily call to her mom who lives in Virginia. The thought “I wish I could call my Momma,” just popped into my head as she walked off, cell phone in hand. My throat closed up, and I had to dash to the bathroom to keep from making a spectacle of myself.

Cold Weather's A-Comin':
Getting the Garden Ready
And then, I worked in the garden all day on Thursday, getting it ready for the cold weather that was a’comin’. Snipped flowers that would be nipped in the frost.  Took more cuttings of coleus and geraniums (see the Electric Lime coleus in the photo to the left.)  Sheared the ferns.  Covered the tender lettuce and spinach with row covers; put straw on the peas and the strawberry plants (which are covered in flowers and berries, if you can believe that). Then, because I seem to have gotten an extraordinary germination rate on the 7-Top Turnip greens, I picked a bagful (left). A mess for me, so to speak. Only…I think I may have overestimated the amount needed for a pot of greens for one person. When I was standing at the sink, washing and picking through that mound of greens, I started to tear up: I’m the only one in the house that eats greens anymore. (Mr. T wouldn’t touch turnip greens…won’t even be in the house when I cook them…not even in the same state, as he says.) I had once made the comment to Momma about this very subject…and now the day has come to pass.  It's a mess for one.

Most importantly, there was the realization that Momma would have LOVED the 2011 World Series. Loved. It. Although she was a Braves fan through-and-through, she had a sweet spot for the Cardinals… especially since she spent almost 6 years as a “local” fan when we lived in Missouri. She thought the world of Albert Pujols, the first baseman extraordinaire, and she would have been proud of his performance. Ditto “Yaddi” Molina, as she called the catcher. But the fabulous David Freese would have struck a chord with her: hometown hero and MVP of the series. And that extra-inning Game 6 that lasted until way past midnight here? She would have been wide awake at the end of it, whooping with the rest of us. She might have slept through the middle, but she would have been there at the end. Woo hoo!
Now, It's a Greenhouse!
The screen porch is transformed...

Sigh. Life moves on.

In addition to getting the garden ready for cold weather, we got the “grow-light” shelf set up in the plasticized screen porch and brought in the herbs. Then we arranged…and rearranged…the plants we plan to overwinter on the floor of the porch, and we set up lights on timers to provide both light and warmth (see the photo to right). Somehow or other, we were able to pack ‘em all in!

I tried something new this year:  I put my geranium cuttings (dipped in rooting hormone; rooted into potting medium in small plastic plant containers) in the big pots, arranged around the trunk of the large plants (the corn plant, the lemon tree, etc.).  Hopefully this will keep everyone happy and moist, without wasting water (or having it puddle on the floor of the porch).  We'll see how it goes.


Treats for the Houndz:
Mr. T hands out carrots to
Elmo (l.), Gus (c), and Duche$$ (r)
It’s the end of October, and time for the treats…hopefully no tricks. Mr. T is getting practice handing out some carrot treats to the houndz in that photo (left). He seems to have their undivided attention!  He's home this week, so I won't be trying to keep the houndz at bay while trying to hand the treats to the kiddos through the storm door...always a trick for me to accomplish.

I had so many flowers that I snipped before the frost nipped the buds that I fixed a vase for the dining room (photo below)…and one to take to Momma’s our family’s BFF AW. She treated us back that very evening with a chicken pie from Deep River Friends Meeting’s Chicken Pie sale. Yummy!  With a salad from some garden lettuce, it made a perfect supper.




New Dining Room chairs...
and the last flowers of the year
 Speaking of the dining room, I took this picture (right) of the new chairs that we found on a recent trip to TJ Maxx’s. We have had this DR suite for 33 years (!), and I still love the warm pecan finish on the table along with the bow-front glass on the doors of the matching hutch. The table has two leaves and can expand to one HUGE piece of furniture.  Amazingly, it has survived 11 (or more) moves...and it still looks pretty good.  And, since it was made by Stanley, it has “come home,” so to speak…since the Stanley Furniture factory used to be in Lexington, NC (no more, sad to say). But, the ladderback chairs have been re-covered for their last time, I think. So I was thrilled when I spotted these upholstered Parsons chairs in a nutmeg color. Mr. T loaded them up into his Outlander (which he is trading in today...time for a new co. car!) and brought them home on Saturday.  We tested them out last night, when we dined on our chicken pie…and both said they are perfect! (As soon as those flowers are gone, I’ll get out the Thanksgiving decorations…:)



Here I go again...
Goal:  50k words in 30 days!
So, here comes November! And, what happens in November, dear readers? Well, it’s time for NaNoWriMo, of course. The National Novel Writing Month, when challengers attempt to write a 50K-word novel in 30 days, beginning at 12:01 tomorrow morning. Once again…I’m signing up for the challenge. And, once again, I have such high hopes as the month begins.  Will our heroine be able to vanquish the foe or will her life intervene with her best laid plans?

I can already see it happening, and I haven’t even written a word yet! I have three Speakers Bureau gigs over the next 8 days, so I’ve got to be extra vigilant with my time. If you do the math, you’ll see that you must write an average of 1,667 words EACH day in order to reach your goal. I wrote a 500-word (which I then had to edit down to 300...:) article for the North Carolina Master Gardener Volunteer Association state newsletter on Wednesday of last week, and that took me most of the day! I’ll have to be diligent at following the advice of veteran NaNoWriMo’s: DO NOT EDIT, just write!

Easier said than done.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Catching Up

Here come the Blue Devils!
Ah, dear readers, forgive me.  I have been in such a whirl lately that I have neglected my blog...and you.  I can give you numerous excuses, but you've heard them all before.  And, I would rather spend our time together bringing you up-to-date on our adventures.

As you know, Fall brings football...and we have our season tickets to Duke again.  And, once again, their football team, er, struggles to bring a victory home.  It would be frustrating...except it's just so much fun to go to the campus on an Autumn afternoon and see a game. 

We returned home this weekend from a lovely trip to Asheville and the mountains. I attended the NC Master Gardener Volunteer Association's Western Regional Symposium, which was held Wednesday at the NC Arboretum...two "firsts" for me right there.  And, since I was already in the neighborhood, so to speak, I signed up for a class the next day at the Arboretum (what a beautiful place!) on Winter Container Gardening.  A real treat!


Biltmore House...from the front drive
 Of course, if we make it to Asheville, there are two places on my Must Do list:  Yarn Paradise and the Biltmore Estate and Winery.  Check and double-check!  I came home with a bag full of Koigu sock-weight yarn and 3 new patterns from YP (which is located in Biltmore Village).  And, after getting our photo ID's made for our Annual Passes, Mr. T and I spent a lovely day at the Biltmore on Friday before heading back to HPNC.

You might think we'd just relax once we got back home...and we did take it a bit easier on Saturday...but we have so much that needs to be done in the garden this time of year that we couldn't rest too long. 

To prepare for the protection of tender veggies, I got the "ribs" into the rows of lettuce and spinach, ready to receive the row covers when the temps drop below 38 degrees.  Mr. T tilled up several rows in the Way Back garden with the Big Tiller, as well as a nice, new flower bed next to the fence in the back yard with the Little Mantis. He's getting the Way Back ready to plant some new berry bushes and apple trees that we've ordered from the County 4-H...and, we came home from the Biltmore with a new Beautyberry bush (Callicarpa dichotoma, which has bright purple berries galore!), 4 "Scarlett O'Hara" narcissus bulbs, and three new Alive! Hardy Asters that needed a new home...along with the 100 daffodil bulbs I bought a couple of weeks ago.

Using the new potting table Mr. T built for me near the water faucet, I repotted 15 houseplants and then gave numerous herbs haircuts and a good dusting off...in preparation for over-wintering them inside.  I snipped several cuttings of the bright red geraniums on the deck and dipped them in rooting hormone...then put them in some fresh potting soil.  I also took lots of cuttings of the Electric Lime coleus...and new fav of mine.  Hopefully, I'll get lots of new plants next year.

Now, as the temps fall to the lower ranges of the 50's at night...possibly dipping into the 40's even...the population of the screened porch (which is wrapped in plastic sheeting for the Winter) has swelled...and we haven't even moved the palms inside yet. Pretty soon, you won't be able to walk through without being tickled by the fronds of a fern.  Winter weather's a coming', sooner rather than later...:)

Of course, neither of us will be able to move tomorrow...but that's another story for another day.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

It's Fall, Y'all!

Hummer on a break
I love this time of the year.  Absolutely. Love. It!  Fall is my fav. Well, until it's a beautiful Spring day after a long, cold Winter...then, I might sing a different song.  But as for now, it's Fall...y'all.

Cooler temps are bringing changes to Casa 3917.  Check out that picture of the hummingbird (right) that was just outside my window this morning while I was having my coffee. He was resting after being at the hummingbird feeder for almost a full minute. He comes regularly to the feeder, now that most of the flowers have stopped producing. Of course, I say that...and then I look out the window at the geraniums on the deck, which are blooming big-time.  They seem to like this reprieve from the heat and humidity that was August.  I'll soon have to give them a severe haircut and bring them in to overwinter.  I did the overwintering part last year...without the cutting back part...and they were too leggy come Spring.  Lesson learned.

The leaves around here are just beginning to change colors, but I understand from our news that the leaves in the mountains of NC are near "peak" color. We saw some pretty leaves as we drove through West Virginia last weekend on our way to Louisville. It’s cooler there, so there were more reds and yellows that we have in our trees.

It was Missy M's birthday on Sunday, so we were with her to celebrate. We went out to eat at the Macaroni Grill on Saturday night, then she requested that I make her pancakes on Sunday morning before we had to return home. Brother T, who lives north of Louisville, was able to join us for dinner, but SIL LaD had to take a rain check.  It was so good to see Bro T...who looked great.  He also remarked that it was good to finally see a smile back on my face. Yes, the little black rain cloud is almost gone now.
Mr. T and Friends Duche$$ and Gus...
on the sofa at Missy M's house

Oh, I wanted to share this picture of Mr. T, sitting on M's sofa with two of the Drool Gang, Duche$$ and Gus, in her living room (right). That quilt on the back of the sofa? She made it!! Here I have been talking about making a quilt "some day," and she just up and does it.  Impressive!

[Regarding the change in the spelling of Duche$$'s name...you see, she's recently had surgery to remove TEN benign cysts...and the bill was more than for Mr's T's recent surgery.  Sigh.  Gotta love'em.]

Back at home on Monday morning, I gave a Master Gardening talk on "Best Practices for the Fall Garden" at the Sumner Garden Club that meets in Greensboro at the Rehobeth United Methodist Church (which has been on that location since 1806).  They are a warm and welcoming group, and I like to think we all had a good time.  Volunteering for MG Speakers Bureau gigs is so fulfilling for me...I do hope that the audience members get something out of it, too.

Of course, talking about gardening isn’t nearly as much fun as actually gardening. I told you about planting our Fall vegetable garden in the Way Back in a recent post. Well, everything is up and growing now! It looks so pretty when I take my morning coffee out there…and I can’t wait to have our first Fall salad from the lettuces.

Mostly green tomatoes...
destined to be
Green Tomato Relish

I brought back a big bucket of mostly-green tomatoes (see the picture, left) from M’s garden. Louisville is a little cooler than we are here in NC, so she'll get frost before we do. She had a LOT of green tomatoes still on her vines in her garden, and she didn’t know what to do with all of them. I plan on making several jars of Green Tomato Relish (recipe below)…which I just love on those Black-Eyed Peas for New Year’s Day. I hope I have enough of jars to give a few away as Christmas gifts, too. We’ll see

It is so hard to believe that in just 12 weeks, we will be finishing up this year. I brought my amaryllis plant inside on Monday, hoping to force it into bloom by Christmas day. I just think they are such magnificent plants, don’t you? Momma always loved them…and enjoyed getting them to bloom again the next year. I’ve never done it "on my own," without her instruction, so keep your fingers crossed that it works

Speaking of the Holidays, conventional grief counseling says that one needs to keep busy, especially heading into the Holidays, and to pay attention to family rituals and traditions, which Momma loved. I know it will be hard, but we’ll make it.  I can say that with much more conviction than I felt just nine weeks ago tomorrow.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's not forget to enjoy the present season and the fruits of our labors. Fab Fall! Harvest time!  And here's a recipe for you to enjoy, now and later:

===================================================================
Green Tomato Relish

Ingredients:


24 large green tomatoes...or about 100 Super 100's
3 red bell peppers, halved & seeded
3 green bell peppers, halved & seeded
1 cayenne pepper (opt.)
6 large onions, more or less to taste
1 tablespoon celery seed
1 tablespoon mustard seed
1 tablespoon salt
5 cups white sugar
2 cups cider vinegar
 
Directions:


*In a grinder or food processor, coarsely grind tomatoes, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and onions. (You may need to do this in batches.) Line a large colander with cheesecloth, place in sink or in a large bowl, and pour in tomato mixture to drain for 1 hour.

*In a large, non-aluminum stockpot, combine tomato mixture, celery seed, mustard seed, salt, sugar, and vinegar. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently.

*Sterilize enough jars and lids to hold relish (12 one-pint jars, or 6 one-quart jars). Pack relish into sterilized jars, making sure there are no spaces or air pockets. Fill jars all the way to top.

*Screw on lids. Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with boiling water. Carefully lower jars into pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary, until tops of jars are covered by 2 inches of water. Bring water to a full boil, then cover and process for 30 minutes.

*Remove jars from pot and place on cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press top of each lid with finger, ensuring that seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Relish can be stored for up to a year.

...adapted from AllRecipes.com 
 

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