Finding Gold

As summer winds down and we prepare ourselves for the cooler days ahead, we experience the golden light of Indian Summer.

 

Not quite summer, not quite fall.

 

We get a little hint of things to come from the changing light this time of year.

 

At certain times of the day, with the sun lingering lower on the horizon, rays filter through the tree tops.

 

 

 

Late afternoons seem enchanting with dappled, flickering light weaving patterns on the path.

 

 

 Light and Shadow equal.

 

 

I take advantage of these last summer days, using any excuse to be outside.

 

Here I am enjoying one of my Dear Mother's favorite sandwiches.

 

It is simply thick slices of sun-ripened tomatoes, sprinkled with a tiny bit of salt and pepper, nestled on tender leaves of 'Butter' lettuce, and resting on toasted whole wheat bread with light mayonnaise.

 

She loved tomatoes and called them her 'red gold', cradling them home from the market in a hand held bag.

 

She grew tomatoes every year on her deck, but this cool mountain weather gave her pitiful crops.

 

So every year my sister would travel to the 'hot' side of the state, to Yakima, and buy her flats of sun ripened tomatoes.

 

When we came to visit, she would make us tomato sandwiches.

 

I think of her while I enjoy my Indian Summer afternoon.

 

 

 

Later, as the hills turn gold, I come inside to prepare dinner for my Ramblin' Man.

 

 

 

 

As the light slowly fades I am treated to one last beautiful light show.

 

 

 

 

A sudden shower and a mountain rainbow.

 

Showing clearly where the pot of gold is hidden!

 

 

 But wait!

 

 

 

 There are two pots of gold!

 

 

 

But the true treasures in life -  time spent with those we love -  cannot be bought or sold.

 

These hours are golden.

 

I hope you get to find a little 'gold' in your life during this beautiful season of light.

 

Linking with: http://www.theviewfromrighthere.com/blog/?p=8070

 

 

 



Late Summer Flowers for a Sweet Birthday

 

We've had another birthday here in Beatrice Euphemie Land.

 

My eldest daughter, Heather.

 

One of her gifts were these sweet late summer flowers.

 

 

Pansies, Asters, Chrysanthemums, and Pineapple Sage

 

 

I had so much fun with the presentation!

 

I used various sizes of bushel baskets with 'antique' handkerchiefs for a sweet touch.

 

You can find bushel baskets at www.GrowOrganic.com

 

You can find the sweet reproduction 'antique' hankies at www.newarkdress.com

 

 

Bushel baskets made it easy to transport the flowers.

 

 

The family met at our favorite Mexican Restaurant to celebrate this special day.

 

 

Our sweet birthday girl makes a wish.

And this is what she did with her flowers!

Beautiful

xoxo

 

 



Another Installment of Life on the Edge!

 

My latest News Tribune Column....

 



http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/27/2269329/rural-life-not-always-peaceful.html

 

Life in the slow lane.

 

xoxo

Vintage Cottage Style Embroidered Tea Towel

 

 

I've been busy embroidering a new tea towel!

 

 

I really fell in love with this sweet vintage design.

 

 

 

It is another Aunt Martha's Embroidery Pattern in 'Kitchen Designs' #400

You can buy this pattern book and many others at www.colonialpatterns.com

 

Each booklet contains a dozen or more reusable designs to simply iron on.

 

You can also buy vintage striped towels, flour sack towels, pillow cases, reusable bags, and napkins, all ready to transfer and embroider.

 

I used a large flour sack towel, 33"x38".

 

 

Slide your transferred design into a medium sized embroidery hoop and tighten.

 

Choose several complimentary colors of embroidery floss.

 

 

Here I have used pastels.

 

But it would be equally sweet done in bright colors.

 

These colors match my kitchen.

 

 

I used 3 strands of floss. Floss comes in 6 strand skeins. Just separate the threads after cutting your length.

 

I used a simple back-stitch, shown above, for the entire design.

 

 

 

I love this embroidery because it is portable and easy.

 

 

I used a 6 strand blanket stitch around the edge in sweet lavender.

 

These country cottage dish towels add a special touch to your kitchen.

 

 

 

And can also be used as charming tea cloths for entertaining.

 

 

 

 

Or a gift for someone special.

 

Recipe for oatmeal cake here; http://beatriceeuphemievintagecottagestyle.blogspot.com/2011/05/oatmeal-cake.html

 

 

 

xoxo



Seattle Storm Women's Basketball Game

Key Arena as we arrive for Seattle Storm Game

Last Thursday evening we went to see Seattle's 'Storm' Women's Basketball play Phoenix 'Mercury' at Key Arena.

Our group, 'Tim's Cascade Snacks' (Hubby's employer), is a sponsor.

On the hottest day of the year, we were treated to a private, air conditioned suite, fully catered.

There is nothing quite so special as getting your game hot dog from a heated, silver serving dish!

Of course, the highlight of the game was seeing Sue Bird play! Here she is getting a personal welcome before the game and a congratulations on her most recent gold medal at the London Olympics.

Sue Bird has won Gold Medals at the last three Olympics, including the 2008 Beijing games and the 2004 Athens games for Women's Basketball, representing the United States.

She has been with the Seattle Storm since 2002.

Before that, she was a 3 time winner of the prestigious Nancy Lieberman Award as the Top Point Guard in the Nation in college at the University of Connecticut.

These ladies don't mess around! The game was very exciting as our team (in white) kept the lead, but in a very close game.

Fans filled the stadium with yellow batons which they shook in the air whenever we scored.

At every break in the game, the mascot would run onto the court and form a conga line with all the children.

Whoever was last in line would get carried sideways back to their seat.

So much fun for the little ones!

Of course we won, and as the last of the fans left the stadium, we lingered for some ice cream sandwiches and a little 'catching up' with friends and colleagues.

We walked out into the balmy Seattle night, with our iconic Space Needle lighting the skyline above us.

(You can see our little group with Hubby in the khaki's and red shirt)

Victory!



Peach Cobbler

This time of year peaches are fresh and plentiful.

This recipe takes advantage of the abundance and is very simple to make.

The flavor is light and delicate and not too sweet.

A perfect ending to a late summer day.

Peach Cobbler

Serves 6

Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes

Buttered 1-1/2 quart casserole dish

Recipe

4 cups sliced fresh peaches (approx. 10 medium)

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2-4 Tbsp flour (depending on how juicy peaches are)

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1-2 Tbsp butter

Shortcake Topping (recipe follows)

Place sliced peaches in buttered casserole dish.

In a small bowl, mix together nutmeg, brown sugar, and flour with a fork. Add lemon juice and mix again.

Sprinkle over sliced peaches.

Dot with 1-2 Tbsp chilled butter cut into pieces.

Top with Shortcake Topping (recipe follows)

Shortcake Topping

1 cup flour

2 Tbsp sugar

1-1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup chilled butter

1 slightly beaten egg

1/4 cup milk

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt with a fork.

Add butter in small chunks

Cut in with the fork, or a pastry blender until crumbly

In glass measuring cup, mix milk and egg with fork.

Add all at once to flour mixture and mix just until moistened.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto peaches in 8 mounds.

Bake for 25 minutes in a 400 degree oven or until shortcake is done in the middle. (test with toothpick)

Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.

Sprinkle peaches with brown sugar mixture and dot with butter.

Cut in butter and mix egg with milk for shortcake topping, then combine just until mixed.

Drop by spoonfuls onto peaches.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Serve warm or room temperature.

Enjoy!