Finally...Spring

 

 

Finally, it's spring in Vermont.  We love our flowers all the more for the wait.  Spring comes earlier in most of the other 49 states.  These are trilliums that grow wild in the woods.  It's against the law to pick them unless it's on private land.   

Looking Back

 

Sometimes looking back helps us to appreciate the present.  This piece of farm machinery seems daunting to me compaired to my little Mantis tiller.  Can you imagine breaking sod this with rusty metal plow?

 

 

 

Healthy Chocolate-Almond Pudding Cake

 

40% less fat, 75% less saturated fat, 27% fewer calories than the

original recipe.

 

 

1 Cup of all-purpose flour

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup chopped almonds, toasted

1/4 Cup unsweetened baking cocoa

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup fat-free milk

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

3/4 Cup packed brown sugar

1/4 Cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1 3/4 Cups water

 

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 8 inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray.  In medium blwl, mix flour, granulated sugar, almonds, 1/4 cup of cocoa, the baking powder and salt.  Stir in mlk, oil, vanilla and almond extract until blended.  Spread batter in pan.

2.  In 1-qurt saucepan, mix brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa with wire whisk.  Stir in water.  Heat just to boiling, stirring occasionally. 

Pour over batter.

3.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until center is set.  Cool 30 minutes

before serving.

4.  To serve, spoon warm cake into individual dessert bowls; spoon pudding from baking dish over cake.  Serve with ice cream.  Makes 9 servings.

Variation:  For a mocha-flavored dessert, add 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules to the batter mixture.

240 calories per serving.

 

 

  

Friends and Family

 

One way traffic only.

 

Sue and Marty are here for the weekend.  It's so nice to have family that we also consider our friends.  We spent the day roaming around our beautiful Vermont stopping at this covered bridge to take a few shots.  If you magnify this, you will see their cute little smiling faces peeking though the windows. 

 

This was taken inside the bridge looking out at the West River.  Every spring we put baby salmon in the river to grow up and spawn.

 

 

Focus

 

On days like today I prefer to focus on something I love.  I love the color blue, sheep, yes even snow.  I also prefer to stay in my cozy, warm house to enjoy the view and not go trudging somewhere I don't belong.

 

 

Finally Some Sun

 

The sun peeked in and out this morning so I took a quick trip about town looking for something interesting to photograph.  I waited awhile to catch this shot.  The sun went under a cloud long enough for me to get a sunshine and shadow effect on Magic. 

Cold, Clear Water

 

When I was a child, I remember playing in a creek just like this.  Even in the winter we waded in to our knees.  Back then I had high rubber boots that would keep my feet dry but certainly not warm.

One day I was testing the ice and fell in, right up to my neck.  I was on my way to catch the school bus.  I had to go home, change and get warm.  There was no one home so I was left to my own devices.  I didn't think it odd that my mom worked but just once in awhile I wanted her there.  Just a hug, that's all.

 

 

Back Windham Road

 

This road most reminds me of Bowbell Road in Greene, NY.  It's still dirt, sets high and has hedge rows of maples reaching for the sun.  It's almost time for sap.  It would be time in NY but here in Vermont, because of our high elevation, we tap a month later than there.

 

I am so glad I did this when I was young.  My physical strength is waning which makes this activity a thing of the past.  We live on memories as we age and this is one memory I'm thankful for.

 

 

Winter, Winter Go Away

 

Come again another day!

 

 

The East coast was blanketed with snow this week.  Thousands were without power.

 

I remember cross-country skiing in weather like this and loving the feeling of brushing against the snow-covered trees and it falling down my neck.

 

 



Cemetary Gate

 

The gate is open.  Does anybody want to come in?

Forty three years ago my son Christian joined our family.

 

 

He was such a fun kid, always laughing and telling jokes.  Often I had to ask him to leave the dinner table because I was choking on my food.  He could perfectly immitate Bill Cosby and had every SNL sketch down pat.  "The Church Lady" was a favorite.  (unless it was during dinner) 

Chris has made quite a success of his life.  He married and added three beautiful daughters to my list of people to love.  I hold him close to my heart and cherish our time together.

 

 



Vermont in Autumn

 

Is this not the most beautiful day?  It's has rained all month so it was such a treat to see the fall colors blooming in the sunshine.  I made this picture large so you are sure to enjoy the blue sky that I have been so longing for.

The Five Dollar Club

 

We've come to the end of our Five Dollar Club for this year.  Each month (for $5) we purchased a quilt square pattern and fabric to make one square of our quilt.  I joined twice so I ended up with two quilts.  The one on the left is called "Annie's Farm Stand," and the one on the right is "Batiks."  I liked the one on the left the first few months and then after all was said and done I liked the one on the right.  It was a fun quilt and I learned a lot!

 

 

Vermont Fiber Festival

 

Tom and I went to the Vermont Fiber Festival in Tunbridge, VT today.  It rained all the way up, while we were there and all the way home.  The alpacas always make it worthwhile.

 

 

Tell me anybody could resist that tooth, that smile and those eyes.  And they are ever so soft.  I bought three pounds of light gray wool to spin and knit myself a sweater. 

 

 



Fall cookies...

 

The woodstove it lit, the kitchen is warm and cozy and cookies are on the agenda this morning.

 

 

Get this - these cookies are cinnamon, oatmeal, chocolate chip and raisin cookies.  They are chewy-licious!

 

 

3 Eggs, 1 teasoon of vanilla, 1 cup of raisins

2 1/2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 cups oatmeal (not quick cooking), 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Whisk together eggs, vanilla and raisins.  Cover and let stand for 1 hour.

3.  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

4.  In another large bowl, beat the butter and sugars together until completely combined.  On low speed, gradually beat in the flour mixture.  Add the egg mixture and mix until combined.  Stir in the oatmeal and the chocolate chips.

5.  Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, until set but still slightly soft.  Cool 2 minutes on the sheets before moving to a wire rack.

 

 



 

 



Nice Country, America

 

Nice country, America, we have only to load up our car with fresh vegetables that are bountiful in this beautiful land.  We've had the best garden ever this summer.  I go to the farmer's market on Saturday morning just to partake of its beauty as my own garden is full to overflowing.  I am thankful to have the wherewithal to put food by for the cold days of winter sure to come.

 

 

Tomato Time

 

This is what I spent this morning doing.  First you pick the tomatoes, then can them, then make the pizza.  I had fun with this picture trying to capture steam as it rolled up from the pot.  Fog is also a challenge.  Anyway, it's just me having fun.

 

 

Goldenrod

It's late summer in Vermont and with that comes fields of goldenrod. The butterflies love it. I was chasing three for a shot today.  This is testimony to the beauty around me if I stop a minute, focus and look.  The weeds of life are everywhere too and if that's all I focus on, the reality of this will become my truth.  Sometimes I have to look through and beyond it to see the beauty that is there as well.

It's Garden Harvest Time...

I chopped a bunch of vegetables from my garden yesterday to make ratatouille  It's been a record year for everything we planted.  We've had plenty of summer squash, zucchini, peppers, and herbs.  I will bake this for an hour, sprinkle it with fontina cheese, then serve it over rice for lunch.  Who wants to join me?

A Week in Maine

I took this picture the day we arrived.  We got there first and had some quiet time before the thundering herds showed up.  Scott and family were next, then Laurie plus five, and bringing up the rear, Shirley and Foster.  When I look at this picture now, I long to be back there.  Even retired our lives are much too busy.  It seems that this place is all there is or all there should be.  We have a comfortable bed, an organized kitchen in which we prepare simple meals, and this calm lake in our front yard.