Banana Bread

This is the very best banana bread. I experimented with so many recipes over the years and this one came out on top.  If you are like me, you always end up with bananas that are past their prime. This recipe calls for over ripe bananas, so instead of throwing them in the compost heap, put them to good use! You can also freeze them to use for later. Just be sure to thaw them before using. Speaking of freezing...this banana bread freezes very well and is great for gift giving on the holidays.

1/4 cup room temp. butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 med. bananas (extra ripe)

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 to l cup chopped walnuts or dates (if desired)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Grease a glass loaf pan with solid shortening and dust with flour to prevent sticking (or use a non-stick pan)

In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork or masher, then add the butter and mash together well. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon just until moistened and blended. Do not over mix or the bread won't rise.

Bake in middle rack at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until knife or pick inserted into the middle, comes out clean.

Cool completely before removing from the pan. Will keep for several days if wrapped well and stored in refrigerator.

A Sunny Day

We had a rare sunny day in this very gloomy Spring and I ran outside as soon as the sun came out and decided to mow my little side lawn. Last year I bought myself a push mower so I could mow this area because Hubby was mowing over all my Forget me Nots. He wasn't doing it on purpose, he just didn't know what a Forget me Not looked like when it wasn't in bloom. I recommend buying one of these little mowers, as they do a good job without any gasoline and are very good on your waistline, too.

My domesticated Bleeding Heart is blooming now. I think the flowers are amazing! I thought you might enjoy them, too.

A Little Walk-About

Spring is progressing despite the damp and drizzly weather we are having here in the Pacific Northwest. It has been unusually gray this year and even though we are used to rain here, people are starting to complain about it. But being the hardy and optimistic people that we are, there is always light at the end of the rainbow, and after every complaint comes the typical hopeful remark that goes something like this, 'Oh well, that is what makes everything so green and beautiful here'. I love that sense of optimism and gratitude and that is what makes this place so wonderful. I was not born here, and spent my childhood in New England, and it did take some getting used to the gray skies. But now that I have been here most of my adult life, I can't imagine another place that is more beautiful or peaceful. Nature is all around us here, whether it is the water, the mountains, or even the high dessert, just a short drive across the mountains. There is even snow all year round if you climb high enough. I would say it is as close to Paradise as you can get. And in fact, that is the name of the beautiful lodge at the base of Mt. Rainier. When the wildflowers are in bloom there is no other place on earth you would rather be.
Speaking of wildflowers, I took a little walk-about the other day and snapped these pictures. The native pink bleeding heart are in bloom now and I have a little woodland glade along the driveway that is carpeted with them. There is a trail running through them from the wild critters passing through. No matter how many times hubby tries to block the hole they dig under the fence, they always dig another. We suspect it is raccoons, but we have seen coyote and possum, even porcupine. Anyway, it is lovely there and the dogs and I always like to take a little walk through the glade. At the beginning of the trail, there is an ancient stump. You can still see the ax marks where the loggers stood to cut it down. This must have been a very old cedar tree, as it is still enormous after almost 100 years since being cut. I try to imagine what that ancient forest must have looked like and I feel sad that it is all gone now.
The Red Elderberry bushes are also in bloom now with their pungent smelling cone shaped clusters of white blossoms. Later, there will be red berries that the birds love to eat. We have a pair of nesting Western Tanagers that come back every year, just as the berries are ripening. The first time I saw one, I thought it was an escaped parrot! They are amazingly colorful and beautiful. Maybe I will get lucky and get a picture this year.
The Trillium have started to fade, and turn from white to pink just before the petals drop off, one last show of beauty until next year.
My columbine are also starting to come into full bloom, just as the daffodils are fading away.

I hope you enjoy my little walk-about and are having a lovely Spring Day of your own.

Daughter H's 'Paris Apartment' style and hubby E's 'Hawaiian Room'

Mother's Day Weekend

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. Hubby surprised me with two hanging baskets, a new bird bath (the old one leaks), and a very special gift for my Mother, an angel for the commemorative garden. He is so sweet and thoughtful and I love him dearly.
Later we headed over to my daughter H's and her husband E's for a celebration with family at their lovely home. We had a delicious meal served with Lemonaide Mimosa's in H's signature 'leopard' wine glasses. She loves animal prints and this is the year of the 'leopard'. H loves to decorate and her signature style is 'Paris Apartment'. As a student, she was fortunate to get to travel with her class to Paris, and it has left a lasting impression. Her hubby, E, spent the majority of his time in the Marine's stationed in Hawaii, so he has his own special room devoted to the tropics. I happened to have a vintage McCoy cookie jar shaped like a pineapple, and I brought that over as a gift to add to his collection.
There is never enough time spent with them all, and the day went by too fast. They were sweet, generous and thoughtful and I love and appreciate them more than I can say.