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Thursday, July 30, 2020

Gift

A recent blog from an artist: Click on this link to read all the way through.    

"And as I pull the first mug from the kiln I knew things would slowly get better. I packed up that first mug and Frankel’s book and gave it as a summer reading gift to one of my customers and supporters. So maybe sharing with community was some symbol of beholding the stars even though the the night was still a bit overcast."
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The mug and book were given to me!

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

July Blues...

Since I no longer can knit, crochet, or do much with handicrafts, I can still bake and make meals. My hands just don't work well now. My shoulder that was injured in 2008 is giving me grief. My torn leg tendon is finally not so painful but currently I can't do much more than read and play on the computer. I am very thankful that my eyesight is still strong! One of these days I'm going to go grocery shopping! The Mister picks up milk, bread and sundries but a real shopping spree is needed. The freezer is low on supplies. 

Yes, this is a crybaby post, please pass the towel.

I made a spinach quiche last night. Easy peasy! Tasty too!

His
Hers
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Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Three and Me


  1.  A neighbor gave me a dozen of his wonderful brown eggs.
  2.  A neighbor gave me a cup of freshly picked blueberries.
  3.  A daughter gave me a zucchini from her garden.
  • The walnuts were part of a Christmas gift from a son.

What to do? What to do?

I know! 
I'll bake bars.
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Zucchini Bars
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of 15x10x1-inch pan with shortening or spray with cooking spray. ( I lined pan with Release foil.)

2.
In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, oil and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in zucchini and
pecans. Spread in pan. (I used a cup of chopped walnuts) (I added a cup of blueberries)

3.
Bake 30 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and top is golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
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Sunday, July 26, 2020

Super Success!

Today I looked over the porch rail and what did I see? Tiny pink flowers looking back at me! Nice surprise!  I planted the free giveaway pot on June 1 and didn't know a thing about succulents. I didn't expect to have flowers!
 It is named "aptenia-cordifoloa-variegata"
I don't believe any of the others will bloom. They all look good so far.
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I also had planted two begonias. the "Carneval" is a really pretty color of orange.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Along the Road....

I just thought I'd take short ride to see if I could find something extraordinary. Well no, I didn't, but here are the results anyway. The first color that caught my attention was some Joe-Pye Weed at the edge of the woods. We have a beautiful and large growth of it at the beachfront here, but these were pretty.
The bind weed is seen wrapping around all of the thimble berry bushes. These bushes are now bearing fruit but the Japanese beetles and the birds get them before I can - at least within my reach! There are many wild blackberries along these roads, but this year they are very small and not quite ripe. I saw some elderberries coming on as well.
The local farmer has planted sunflowers between the corn rows. There seems to be many as far as I could see, but they were looking for the sun (of course they were) when I passed by. The field corn is almost 8 feet tall! REALLY!
One seed with a wild streak got away and grew in a very different place on the edge of a lower road. The awful thunderstorm and gulley washer two days ago beat and battered it, but it stayed strong. Shaggy is pretty too!
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Good read link here:

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Good Eats...

Last night we had our first corn from the local farm market and it was better than expected for the first that was picked! They picked over 90 dozen from the field across the road on that very morning yesterday. Cars were lined up and the place was busy.

  
I made coleslaw with 1/2 cabbage and used my home-made chive blossom vinegar. It is TASTY!! No, we don't like carrots in our slaw.

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Now to cut up another melon for lunch. 

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Sunday Surprise

Today the potter stopped by to pick up a box and packing materials that I had saved for his reuse after he delivered my fermentation pot on May 3. He came with a surprise for me. Another first! This little mug has the same rutile glaze as the other pot but it is special because it is a first try at using the speckled clay with manganese which gives it a peppery specked look on the bottom where there is no glaze. His composition is really pleasing to my eye with the ribs in the center of the body. Best of all - it is one of his "wobbly top" mugs. Yes, the rim is not a perfect circle. It feels really nice when I hold it in my hands. It hold 1 1/3 cups of liquid.  I treasure it already. I love my gas fired mug gift! These are his pictures of my mug. 
He also brought the gift of a book that he read and I already had it on my library list to order: "Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl. I look forward to the read.

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Someday, 100 years from now, a little glazed mug will be found among stuff saved in an old barn or home, and the finder will say, "I know who made this! It is a clay artist from the year 2020, you know, the COVID-19 Pandemic year! He did great work and everyone loved his creations. This is valuable in many ways! His name was Al Wayman."

Saturday, July 18, 2020

First Time Out in a While

Four weeks ago I injured my knee. It's not all better yet, but I'm making a little progress. I simply cannot sit idle - I cannot! Today was my first day out on the golf car with my camera. Things have really grown! ...each in its own time. Today is tiger lily time. They abound and were everywhere I went. Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrot) and pretty purple thistles showed off their spirit as well. The nectar and pollen of thistles are valuable food sources to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Some songbirds also feed on thistle seeds. Nature knows.....  just saying...
There is some wild mullein growing but not in bloom yet. From the internet I learned that the flower is used to make medicine. It is used for cough, whooping cough, tuberculosis, bronchitis, hoarseness, pneumonia, earaches, colds, chills, swine flu, fever, allergies, tonsillitis and sore throat. It is traditionally used for its ability to promote the discharge of mucus and to soothe mucus membranesPerhaps I should keep in mind where I found these!! At the bottom of this post is a link about Mullein tea.
I think this wild bush is an invasive wild honeysuckle. I see many of them throughout the area. It might be poisonous too, I don't know. The closest photo I found identified it as Morrows Honeysuckle.
And on June 21,  I thought this was a portal to a peaceful place, but today I see that it is only a massive "KEEP OUT" gate.
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Mullein Information

Friday, July 17, 2020

Good For You

Do you know that cantaloupes are bursting with nutrients? They are loaded with vitamin A, and vitamin C and even are a good source of potassium. They are full of flavor and low in calories. They have water and fiber. I have FOUR here today. Well, not really - we ate almost all of one already! Our local farm market was our source and they were only $2.00 each!! Yes, I took a ride out after being leg-challenged for almost 4 weeks. I didn't get out of the car, but the Mister was a good sport and did the cantaloupe shopping. 

When we were in SC we always hit the fruit stand for the fresh Athena melons that came up from Georgia. They were our favorite but we don't seem to find them here. They have a longer ripening period and remain firm and sweet without becoming soft. They closely resemble the local cantaloupes - in appearance. This is an Athena.
I just gave an alert to my neighbor and daughter who now plan to head on out there and get their own!

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Thursday, July 16, 2020

The Lake Activity Continues

Yesterday our daughter came to visit and take a relaxing soak in the lake for a couple of hours. She has been known to swim with the large snapping turtle at her side and she is also very good at fishing ever since she was a little girl. Her love of nature and natural things is very dominant. After her swim, she spotted a tiny toad in the grass just before going home and brought it indoors for us to see. Of course I grabbed my camera and captured it before it was released.
I posted the lake photo on my Facebook page and was delighted that one of our former residents and very special younger friend, who now lives in HI, wrote that this photo inspired good memories to come forward. This is what she wrote:
    "Oh, how many hours I spent in that very spot! Taking turns jumping off the diving board. Feet getting tangled in seaweed. Not wanting to put my feet down on the slimy rocks below, while hearing your father’s pleading warning not to knock over the rocks on the edge. Opening my eyes under water only to see brown and gold shadows. Mustering up the courage to swim under the float for the first time. Avoiding the duck poop while walking on said float, while at the same time swatting horse flies off of the heads of others. I can still smell the water and feel the silkiness of my hair as it dried. And I can picture you and all of the other Moms in your chairs on the lawn, patiently responding to our calls of, “Mom, look! Watch this! Mom!” And your mother calling for Gemma to “Come! Jemma, come!” Many fond memories!"
Her memories brought tears to my eyes! I'm so glad the photo triggered them. (Gemma was the big black lab who always wanted to swim and dive with the children, but she annoyed them because she often scratched their backs as she swam right over them!)
Now I think I should dig out some old snaps and scan and print them for more memory- making fun.
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Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Education Continues...

Complements from a life-long friend's daughter today have pumped me up to always keep on keeping on. I received a note from her today and it really struck me hard. She lives in HI and is a school principal, going on with virtual training. One question that was asked was who they considered their kupuna. Her reply was that her mom was number one and I was number two. She included a link for me to learn about being a kupuna.  Now I know that my mom was mine and I couldn't think of a second one other than my dad.

If you are interested in the meaning, please click on the link below and read its various meanings.  We can never stop learning!
Kupuna

She is the Principal of Kahului Elementary School in HI.
410 South Hina Avenue
Kahului, HI 96732

To think that her mother and I used to call her "Marion the Librarian." Well she showed us, didn't she?

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Projects Complete

This is what I did while hopping around in my kitchen mainly on one leg. I have been hankering for a pumpkin pie for several weeks now and today was the day! It was a very successful endeavor and the Mister said it was the best I've ever made! Trash Guy said he is one lucky fellow to get tastes of my bakery goods. I know he looks forward to a treat when he stops by. (crust not from scratch)
I must tell you that my cucumber project from July 12 was successful and finally in the refrigerator. We love these! I shared a sampler with a neighbor. 
The cauliflower and carrots (project of July 2) fermented in my pot for two weeks. I wasn't totally fond of the final result so turned them into a pickled variety. Maybe I didn't wait long enough. Anyway now they are fine! I'll let them marinate some more before digging in!
I'm hoping to create some yeast breakfast buns with cinnamon-sugar filling in the near future. I know I need more stamina and a stronger knee to make this but I'll do it! Yes I will! I'll share S O O O N! I'm going to take the rest of the week off - away from the kitchen to rest a little. I'm so fortunate to have friends do my laundry and grocery shopping for the time being. This is a first!

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Monday, July 13, 2020

Juiced

How many of you still make orange juice at home with real oranges? Not too many, I suspect. Our daughter brought over seven oranges that she said were too sour for her, knowing I had an old juicer. Yes I do!  I bought it on January 26, 1996 at Wal*Mart and it cost $14.96. How do I know this? Of course I kept the sales slip with the manual in the box. Once in a while I pull it out of its hiding place and use this juicer. Of course I also have an old glass juice reamer, but I use that mostly for fresh lemon juice.
Everyone washes fresh fruit, right? Well I do, anyway - always. After slicing, I use the electric appliance and within a few minutes I have fresh orange juice. These made just over a pint. It is just fine in taste and texture.
I remember my mother always juiced oranges on her Sunbeam Mixmaster that had attachments.
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