The Event ~ Making Blackberry Dumplings

Blackberries are a treat here in western Nebraska.  I don't really know if they actually are available or grow anywhere else, unless someone elsewhere is given seed from a blackberry harvest.  They are not the dime-size bumpy blackberries you buy in the store.  These are round little pea-size fruits, and it takes a long time to pick them and a whole lot to make something. 

Now I have several bags of blackberries hoarded in my freezer from the last two summer crops.  I never seem to get around to using them.  I only use them for dumplings and for dinna kuchen.  In anticipation of all the kids being home for Christmas I spent an evening making blackberry dumplings, but freezing them before cooking them and having them ready to go for a Friday nite meal when they all get here.  So now all I have to do is cook them.  Tra-la-  dumplings on the table.  What a good mom!  But no one adult can pig out on them as I only made 33 of them for for the 15 of us who will be here to eat them.  Bad mom (should have made more!) 

THE RECIPE:

The dough:  Beat together, preferably with a dough hook, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup water, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt  until a nice soft dough is formed.  Roll out to about 1/8" thick.  Cut into 4" squares (more or less). 

The filling:  Coat about five cups more or less of partially frozen blackberries with about a cup of flour and 3/4 cup of sugar (each more or less). 

Using a large cookie scoop, put 1/2 cup (more or less)  on a square, pull up the corners and pinch together, making sure the seams do not separate.

Drop a few dumplings in pot of boiling water and cook for 2-4 minutes (more or less) and remove from water with a slotted spoon.  Put into large flat bowl (something with alot of bottom surface so the dumplings don't have to be piled on top of each other).  The dumplings will begin to be layered very carefully.  Pour warm cream over all and top with toasted bread cubes.

To make toasted bread cubes, I melt butter in the oven on a cookie sheet and spread cubed bread over the butter and mix and coat evenly and let toast to golden brown in the oven.  Watch carefully as they can burn quite fast.  I know, I usually burn them!

Sitting down to a meal of blackberry dumplings is a treat, a real eventful dining experience.

The Event ~ It's a Black and White Tradition!

Looking ahead to hosting Christmas this year, I know we MUST have the traditional black and white fudge.  This is a sweet treat I grew up with.  My mom made it every year for years that I can remember growing up.  I'm not sure where she got the original recipe, but it was one of those recipes that has to be passed down through the generations.   A Christmas tradition for sure.  I know she still makes a batch of it each year.

I remember for several years I couldn't get it quite right.  Then I discovered I was not beating it good after taking it off the heat and before putting it in the pan.  Sometimes the atmospheric pressure also plays a part in how certain foods turn out, including fudge and candies of any kind. 

This fudge is awesome, and so-o-o bad for you!  But so-o-o- good!  It's hard not to just keep eating piece after piece after piece!  So I've got a container of five dozen pieces in the freezer waiting to put out on Christmas Eve.  With 26 people around, that's like only two pieces each.  Maybe we can hide it from the little kids!!  My mouth is watering as I write this.  Do I need to make more???  This is worth coming home for, isn't it???

The Recipe:

Black Fudge:  Combine in 3 qt kettle:  3 cups sugar, 1 ½ Tble white syrup, 1 ½ cups cream,   4 Tble cocoa.  Cook to softball stage.   Remove from heat.  Add:  1 Tble butter, 1  Tble vanilla, ¾ cup nuts. Do NOT overcook beyond soft ball.   Beat with electric mixer until creamy,  1 1/2  -  2 1/2  minutes.  Pour into well-buttered 9 x 13 pan.

White Fudge: Repeat the same as Black Fudge, but omit the cocoa.  (I cook the white fudge a couple degrees longer than the black fudge because it tends to be softer without the cocoa).    Pour on top of black fudge. 

Without a candy thermometer you will know when soft ball stage is reached when a  drop of mixture dropped into a small bowl of cold water can be shaped into a ball with your fingers.

Keeping simple family traditions alive is an event worthy of keeping alive through generations.  Black and white fudge and lefsa are two traditions that I hope can be passed on for generations to come. 

The Event ~ The Cedar Chest Revisited

In looking ahead to hosting the Christmas celebration in my home for 26 people for two days, I had to figure out how to make space in my living room.  The solution:  move the cedar chest into the back bedroom and put the loveseat in that space, opening up the entire room.  I like it, it looks nice. I also had to move the decorative exercise bike out of the bedroom.  But that's not what this is about.

In order to move my cedar chest, which is filled with all sorts of memorbilia, I had to empty most of it, put a rug under it and drag it to the bedroom.  Then put everything back.  This was an opportunity to see just what I had stored away.  I don't save alot of stuff, but I do get nostalgic about little things from the past.

Some of the items still stored:  Cash's baptism outfit; a couple cute baby dresses that were Janel's & Alexis;  baby quilts I made for the kids, family history/geneology books,  Terry Tribune (my hometown) newspapers reporting the assasination of JFJK in 1963; Newsweek magazines and books reporting the 9/11 events;
stories and elementary art work done by the kids; nearly every card from our children for Mother's Day, Father's Day and birthdays, especially if they had nice sentimental words from their own heart written in them, which most of them did.  The kids have always been so good expressing their love and appreciation with written words.  My set of three confirmation books; a pair of beautiful crocheted something or other made by a special Grandma neighbor lady and given to me either on my confirmation or my high school graduation (always too pretty to use, so put away all these years!);  calendars ( why??); mementos that may have monetary value at an auction, like a few glass enclosed collector baseball cards, some Beatle cards found in bubble gum wrappers 40 years ago,  Farmall tractor cufflinks that belonged to my Dad, collector stamp blocks, autographed replica of Rockies opening day game ball and miniature collector tractor replicas,  a couple collector toys still in the box, laminated obituaries of loved ones.  Tim's satin snow suit he wore as a baby (we took a picture of one of the grandson's in it - so cute); and also a satin western black jacket with white fringe that Tim wore when he must have been 1-2 years old; baby books, high school and college diplomas, newspaper clippings, the kid's wedding invitations & programs; high school letter jacket insignias; a Woman's World magazine featuring an article about my Mom and her metal detecting; and a stack of old letters that Janel and Alexis wrote home when they were in college!  That was before email!  And they were good about writing.  I had to stop and read some of them. It was interesting to note that Janel always wrote on lined school paper, and Alexis always wrote on pretty colored stationary!   Included in the stack were even some letters I wrote home  when I was in college (on colored onion paper, which I thought was so cool!).  My mom must have given them to me when she was cleaning house.  There was even a letter I wrote home when I was a junior in high school and I flew to California for the National FHA convention.  I started that letter on the plane, and wrote about the fabulous three-course meal we were served on the plane.  Those days of meals served on a plane are long gone.  How funny.  I also found a letter my dad wrote to me when we were going through rough times back in the 80's.  I can't forget to mention three cassette tapes:  one when Janel was two and saying her bedtime prayers and reciting her alphabet & stuff; a similar one when Alexis was about that same age; and the infamous accidental tape recording of Janel, Alexis, & Cash in the kitchen in about 1983 which has provided hilarious laughter everytime we listen to it.  We just played it again a couple weeks ago when Cash and Annie were home.  I have a feeling Janel and Alexis would like me to destroy that tape!!  The above is all just a partial list.  .  .

This bottom picture is when it is all put back.  I actually discarded some stuff finally.    Kind of a nostaglic trip back in time ~ an eventful couple of hours.  I wonder why we keep some of the stuff we do.  I think it is so our kids have something to remember and then throw away when we relocate to our final home and can't take any of this clutter with us!   Look, I still have room to add more!! 



The Event ~ A Shared Birthday

A week ago today, November 10, was  Tim's birthday.  He is 63 years.   He doesn't look 63 and he says he feels like he is in the prime of his life!  We went to lunch together at Taco John's for super potatoe ole's, and then went to his mom's house for dinner.  Tim's mom is always so good about fixing birthday dinners for whoever happens to be around when it's their birthday.  That is usually just me and Tim and Tom as there is no one else around.

An event that has  been repeated year after year for about 40 years is getting together with our friends, Doug and Lorraine Kizzire from Bayard for a birthday dinner because Lorraine shares the same birthday as Tim.   We became neighbors east of Bayard shortly after we were married when Doug and Lorraine moved to farm across the county road from us.  They still live there today.  Even though we moved from the neighborhood twice since then, the first time to a farm on the west side of Bayard, and the second time to Scottsbluff, we have remained very close friends.  I would like to say we have never missed a year getting together for dinner in November, but in reality, I think we did miss one or two years in the last 40. 

This year Tim and I went to their house the following evening for a meal of blackberry dumplings. I shared the traditional German chocolate cake.  Most years we go out to a restaurant, but occasionally we have  enjoyed home cooked meals at home.  Lorraine tells me that last year we hosted the dinner and Tim cooked lamb on the Traeger grill.  I'll take her word for it. 

It's nice to share birthdays with dear friends, especially when it becomes a tradition that we don't want to miss.   Happy birthday to two special people in my life!  An event to celebrate for sure!

The Event ~ Making Lefsa

Lefsa is a treat from my Norwegian heritage on my dad's side.  I grew up with lefsa ~ always available at Grandma Corneliusen's house whenever we went to visit, which was often because they only lived 45 miles away ~ and always on every table at every family gathering.

I have learned to make lefsa through the years.  It requires the right tools, such as a lefsa rolling pin, a lefsa sock to put on the rolling pin, a lefsa griddle, a lefsa stick, and a heavy cloth to roll it out on.    A few days ago, while on a vacation day from work, I rolled  about 44 rounds of lefsa and put 38 in the freezer for our upcoming family Christmas gathering. 

The recipe:  Boil, drain and rinse red potatoes, but be very careful not to over cook them. That’s the key for perfect rolling.   Mash the warm potatoes though a ricer.  Mix together 4 cups riced potatoes, ½ cup cream, 1/3 cup soft butter, 1 Tble sugar, 1 tsp salt with electric mixer.  Refrigerate over nite, covered loosely with a paper towel to evaporate some of the moisture.   The next day, add 2 1/2 cups flour.   Knead to soft dough.

Roll dough into a  2" rope, long enough to slice about 14 slices.  Put the slices in  the fridge, taking them out two at a time to roll them out thin. Cold potatoes are easier to roll than room temp. Pat a slice on generous floured surface with fingers to about 4"  in diameter.   Then finish rolling out  to a  thin 10" circle, on well floured surface.  Using lefsa stick start on one side and work the stick under the circle all the way to other side of circle to make sure none is stuck to the cloth.  Pick up in center with the lefsa stick and transfer it to lefas griddle set at  400 degrees. (don’t grease the griddle!) Use the lefse stick to flip on the grill.  Grill the first side till bubbles appear.  Flip and grill the second side.  Both sides should have light brown spots.

7-8# of potatoes will make about 3 batches of 4 cups of riced potatoes.  Do not double the recipe.  Instead make two or three separate batches of 4 cups of mashed potatoes in each batch.

When removing lefsa from the grill, place them on a tea towel and cover them with a tea towel.   Enjoy warm with butter.  Once cooled, store in zip lock bag in the fridge, or freeze in freezer bags. Warm in the microwave, butter and enjoy!

Eating lefsa is a really wonderful event!  Dat is so-o-o-o goot!  Yah?

The Event ~ Veteran's Day

Today is a day that too many people take lightly, but many do take it seriously.  Veteran's Day.

Thank you to all the men and women who serve in the U S armed forces, fight in wars, lose their lives, are separated from their families for months or years, for me and the people of America, so that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms of this country.  Sadly, many of the freedoms on which this country was founded on are slowly being eradicated (to do away with as if being pulled up by the roots).

My father served in World War II in the Army.  Here is his picture. 

My oldest brother, Allen,  served in Viet Nam in the Army.  My youngest brother, Kelly,  served in the Navy.   Thank you to my family members for their service.  I love you all! 

The Event ~ Mystery Solved

July 2nd I wrote about participating in a mystery quilt project, where I was given an instruction clue once a week for seven weeks for the making of a quilt, but had no idea what the quilt would look like until completion.  It is now completed, and the mystery is solved. 

It's perfect for a twin size bed.  Have no idea what I am going to do with it, but alot of quilters have no idea what they are going to do with their stack of quilts.  Quilters quilt for the relaxation or therapy of the activity.

Currently I am in the process of binding several baby and/or crib or nap quilts for the Linus Project.  The Linus Project disperses quilts to children in hospitals.  The local Linus Project shares children's quilts with the valley and region hospitals, so our contributions pretty much stay  local in the valley.

I am sure it is a happy event for the child receiving a warm, cuddly quilt of their own when in the hospital.  For many children, this could be the only warm blanket they have.  I'm glad to share in this eventful project.

The Event ~ Blues and Bowls

So I said to stay tuned for more hang ups.  The dictionary does have an entry for "hang up".  In addition to the usual obvious definitions, it does state "to become stuck or snagged. . . "

So what are my hang-ups that I'm stuck or snagged on?   The last blog entry reflected my hang-up about eating off plates with pictures on them and writing on checks with pictures on them.

Another hang up?  I don't like the color blue.  Except in the eyes of my husband and son and the beautiful sky.  HOWEVER, in my senior moments, I am coming around and actually indulging in a little blue here and there.  At last Saturday's auction, I actually bought (yes, I bid on it, it was not a leftover!) some blue dishes.  Just a small set of two Frankoma soup mugs and platters.  I wanted them because I have several other sets of these mugs/platters that are perfect and fun to use when serving tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, or chili and cinnamin rolls, or noodle soup and creamed chicken.  And often we share soup supper with family or friends.  They are kind of mix and match, but at least they have NO pictures on them!!

Tim commented he couldn't believe I put blue dishes in my cupboard! Yikes, that is hard to believe!

Another hang-up:  I like bowls, all kinds of fancy or unique bowls.  I like to serve out of fancy and unique bowls, mis-matched serving bowls, maybe even bowls with pictures on them!  Yikes, did I say that??  I can't resist a unique bowl at a garage sale.  My cupboard is overflowing with bowls.  But I seem to use them all.  I don't necessarily collect them, as a collection is usually something one doesn't use. 

I guess I am at my wit's end trying to think up creative things to blog about.  My life must be really boring right now, or maybe it's just that I am hung up on living the simple, uncomplicated life with nothing exciting or demanding going on, so I blog about bowls and blue dishes.  I can't really call this an eventful event!

The Event ~ The China Trade Out!

Everyone has a hang-up, and mine is stuff with pictures on it.  Specifically, checks, dishes, t-shirts!

I do not like to eat off of plates with designs, flowers, picures, borders, etc.  I do not like to write on checks that have pictures on them, especially over the center of the check where I have to write on.  And I don't like to wear t-shirt with pictures.  Plain jane, simplicity.  That's me! 

When I was young and engaged to be married,  living and working in Denver, I succumbed to the ever popular door-to-door salesman pedaling his new-bride wares of silver, crystal, china, pots and pans, etc.  That was indeed the beginning of the end of the era of door-to-door salesmen.  I only bought china.  Good girl!  Even then, all the china had silly colored flowers or other such stuff on it.  But one set had only a few small white roses on white, and that is the set I bought.  White on white - the most plain set available.  For the first 35 years my china was carefully stored and displayed in a corner china cabinet that Grandpa Grabe built for me.  Only taken out two or three times a year for holidays or special company meals.

About five years ago, I put my "fine china" in the kitchen cupboard to be used nearly on a daily basis.  I did this because I discovered from the many auctions that we do, that china has no value,  nobody wants someone else's old china, and children definitely do not want to "inherit" it!  So why do we save nice dishes for special occasions??   So now I use it often.

HOWEVER, it has tiny little white roses on it, and whenever I use it, I am bothered by the roses when I set the plates on a patterned tablecloth - like a fall foliage tablecloth, or a red Christmas tablecloth with red poinsettias on it.  The roses don't go with fall leaves or Christmas poinsettias or spring bouquets, etc.  (By the way, I don't mind tablecloths with pictures or designs!)

From our auction activity and buying a houseful of personal property to feed into auctions, I ended up with a complete set of china that has been stored in my garage for two years, serving accessories and all.  It is almost identical to mine, except it is PLAIN white - no flowers, no design, no rim.  And it was just sitting in boxes in the garage.  I was going to give the set to Cash and Annie, but they got nice plain white dishes as a wedding gift.  So last week I got the brilliant idea to trade out dishes; put my "fine china"  with pretty (nasty) little roses on it in the garage, and bring in the plain white "fine china". 

I made the china trade-out with no regrets, no remorse over getting rid of "my" dishes.  Now I can feel good about setting a table with plain white dishes that go with anything!  How lovely!  Anybody want a nice, lovely set of beautiful white china with pretty little white roses on it? 

Now I can  enjoy using nice, unique tablecloths - simple or wild.  I seem to have a hang up with table cloths.  I like them.  A nice gift idea! A special event for sure - setting a nice table to share with family and friends.   Stay tuned for my next hang up!

The Event ~ San Antonio & Texas Trails

It was a really nice rest and relaxation for Tim and I in Texas for six days last week.  We took our first "old timers" bus tour trip.  I say that because we were the youngest couple of the 13 couples on this tour trip.  I would guess the others were within 5 - 15 years - under 75.  I guess that's what retired people do ~ travel via organized bus tours.  But they were a lively group regardless of age!  We hope to be lively when we retire!

That said, we both thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip, including the people and friends we made.  Once in San Antonio, we traveled exactly 1,150 miles in and around the area.  We visited the largest King Ranch, the LBJ Ranch, the YO longhorn and exotic animal ranch (including giraffs, zebras, etc).  We spent the night at a really fun dude ranch with free booze from 5 - 10 p.m., a t-bone cowboy cookout, followed by more free drinks and a refresher course in country dance.  The following morning we  rode horseback about a mile down the trail to a real outdoor cowboy breakfast.   

We visited the Alamo, some "painted" churches,  an old mission, an art ranch, an apple orchard, and a small German town.  We were treated to the biggest and yummiest apple turnovers and apple dumplings at the orchard. We went to  Corpus Christi where we spent a night and toured the USS Lexington ( an aircrafat carrier used during WWII). 

Back in San Antonio, we enjoyed lunch at  a Mexican market,  spent three nights on the Riverwalk, and took a boat ride through the river.  

We met a very nice couple who live in San Antonio who bought hay from us; they came to the hotel to meet us and took us out for a Texas steak dinner.  We went to a country music concert that was very, very good.   We were treated to two other barbeque lunches on the King Ranch and the YO ranch.  The food was of course very good and always more than we needed!  The hotel in San Antonio had a daily "happy hour" that served enough food to make a meal and included up to three beverages of choice.  Needless to say, we had our share of margaritas each evening.   

We also enjoyed a private wine tasting.  It was actually quite nice to sit on the comfortable bus and watch the scenery go by while someone else drove; and visit with people from all over (there were 11 states represented among the 13 couples.)  We saw a whole lot more than we would have if we were on our own, as many of these places we would not have even been aware of. 

This is the summer Texas is experiencing it's worst drought and heat record in history.  It definitely was very dry.  We saw dried up rivers, and absolutely no water in any creeks or ponds anywhere; and cattle trying to graze on bare dirt-dry range dirt land that used to be lush pasture for the cattle.  The week we were in Texas, there was a reprieve from the heat, as the temps only hovered around 98-100 degrees each day, a relief from the over 100 straight days of over 100 degree temperatures.  We were glad it cooled off a few degrees!  Notice what this bony, skinny longhorn has to graze on below!

Tim and I both agreed that this type of travel suits us quite well, and we will definitely seek out similar tour vacations in the future.  This was definitely a top-notch tour company.  Let's see,  I think I will look closely at the Niagara Falls and Western New York, Sweden and Norway Spectacular or perhaps Hawaii. 

Yes, this little vacation was an eventful treat for us ~ a Texas-style event!  We had f-f-f-u-n.  Oops! 

The Event ~ Friendships Rekindled

What a pleasant surprise when we got the call last week from friends we haven't seen for eight years.  Dan and Beth Forbes were coming to town over the weekend, and I was ecstatic that their agenda included a visit with us.  Their trip was quick, so we got together over breakfast at our house on Sunday morning.  Of course, Tim was the cook ~ he cooks breakfast every Sunday morning!  (yes, I know I'm so spoiled and lucky!)

I was so excited to see them again.  We last saw them when we stopped at their home in Boise, Idaho in 2003.  We got to be good friends with Dan and Beth when they moved into the house across the street from us on Avenue K in Scottsbluff, I think in the spring of 1987.   I remember taking a chocolate pie over to them when they were moving in to welcome them to the neighborhood.  One of the best things I did because a close, long friendship resulted.  We were sad to see them relocate to Boise. 

We shared a wonderful breakfast and lingered longer for five hours of great fellowship catching up with them.  Renewing old friendships is such a heart-warming event.  I look forward to the day when we will make another road trip to the northwest that will include a stop in Boise again.  Friends are among the most precious blessings in life.  Too often too many friendships wane through time and distance.  So it's  a real joy and a blessing to renew and revisit friends of the past, and keep that spirit alive into the future.

Dan and Beth are among those pictured in my August 19, 2010 post "The Season of Friends."

The Event ~ Ten Years Later

The entire USA nation is gearing up to memorilize the 10-year anniversary of September 11, 2001, the terrorist attack on America through the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in New Yorik, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the plane crash in Pennsylvania which thwarted an attack on the Capitol, all resulting in the loss of thousands of lives of American citizens. 

This event is one that is etched on the minds of every American who was alive, still alive, and old enough to remember the events of that day.   It will not be soon forgotten, and in the last ten years we have been reminded of it almost daily as America continues to fight the war on terrorism to protect our country and its people.  It is debateable how successful this campaign has been in ten years. 

In my mind, this is the most tragic, devastating event that has occurred on American soil.  It has its place in American history books.  My grandkids and great grandkids will read about it, but will never comprehend it. 

Life goes on, one day at a time, but its amazing how tragedy can be forever etched on the mind, more so than historical victories.  I can remember exactly where I was on that day ten years ago; and also exactly where I was when John F. Kennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963; when the space shuttle Challenger exploded  in mid-air shortly after take off Februry 1, 2003; when Robert Kennedy was shot in California June 6, 1968; when Princess Diana was killed in a Paris car crash in a tunnel  August 31, 1997; when hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans August 29, 2005.

But where are the victories and celebrations of America?  Are there any beyond the announcement of the end of World War II?  (I wasn't around for that one, but it's in the history books!)

We can vividly remember the celebrations within our own families - the happy times, the memories created.   But beyond that, our brain seems to etch tragedy over triumph.

I saw a church sign just the other day that said "God doesn't promise to protect us from storms, but he does promise to get us through storms."    9-11 brought the nation together under one God - for a fleeting moment in time.  It was a very brief moment in time when the nation in unison actually turned to "one true God" in prayer and supplication. "One nation under God."  Then it was back to business as usual in efforts to remove God from everything important ~ like government, schools, families, businesses.  Don't get in my way God.  I'll call you when and if I need you ~ that seems to be the common thread among so many people, including many, many Christians.

Now, as we prepare to "celebrate together" the ten year anniversary of the most tragic event occurring on American soil, we will hear many refer to the "grace of God", "prayer", etc for another fleeting moment.

I thank God for life, and for getting me through the storms of life, because it is the storms of life that  draws one closer to God.  Drawing close to God and STAYING there (close to God) is the challenge.  How often we drift off in left field.   He is surely disappointed when we do not acknowledge His hand in our life.

So anyway, as we all share in the media hype, the special programs, rewatch the chilling events on tv, bow our heads in praise and thanks to the God of all nations, ask for His continued blessings on this country, I hope we all acknowlege that God is still in control and He will continue to be with those who seek Him in many more storms of life to come.  Remember, God doesn't throw things in our path to disrupt it and then walk away.  He has a plan for us. 

Now let's remember the victories of life, the pleasant events, and count our blessings, all of which are undeserved but continue to be poured out from the hand of God.

The Event ~ Startled by a Rattlesnake

Last week I was startled when I walked upon a snake while out on a real estate call with Tim.  Not a big snake ~ only about an inch in diameter and about two feet long.  He was pretty much stretched out, half in the weeds and half on the sidewalk.    I've encountered snakes in the past, and it's always startling, but they are usually garden snakes, or bigger bull snakes.  I even picked one up, years ago in Bayard,  off the garage step only to have it twist it's head around and bite me in the finger ~ a puncture on each side of the finger.  A snake is suppose to be picked up by its head, but I guess I wasn't close enough to the head to immobilize it.  Actually, a snake isn't suppose to be picked up at all!!

So I walk up on this snake, startled, and stand there for all of at least two minutes, first wondering what kind of snake it is, and then wondering if I should just proceed to walk around it ~ between it and the building which was about two feet of walking room.  I thought to myself, that the walking movement that close might cause him to strike.  In those two minutes of me just standing two feet away wondering what to do, the snake was constantly hissing his black tongue at me, his beady little eyes not losing contact with me. 

The rattle was there, but then, I've never heard a real rattlesnake, and all snakes tend to make some funny kind of noise, so I still wasn't sure if I should just continue to walk aroaund it towards the car. I thought just don't bother him and he won't bother me.   The rattle continued and I really got concerned, so I backed away and went back inside the building where Tim and the owner were talking.  I asked if he had rattlesnakes in the area, and he said not that he was aware of.

We all went back out, and the snake had since coiled up beside the building in the same place.  Sure enough it was a rattlesnake.  The owner got a shovel, hit it over the head and then cut the head off with the shovel blade.  Then Tim tells me that small rattlesnakes are more deadly than big ones, and that snakes can strike up to at least the distance of the length of their body.  Like the two feet distance between it and me!!

So all that time I was within instant striking distance of that snake, way too close for way too long.  And being barefoot in open sandals, he could have struck like lightening, and I wouldn't be around to be writing this now.  Gees, that gives me the creepy willies! 

Genesis 3:15 says: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."  Women and snakes have been bitter enemies since Eve encountered the snake in the Garden of Eden and succombed to its temptation. 

That snake almost bruised my heel, but we bruised its head instead!  That is one event I don't want to repeat!

The Event ~Still in the Kitchen

The kitchen is the hub of the house in most homes.  I think that holds true for my kitchen as well.  I love being in the kitchen, but I don't like to cook.  However, I like to do kitchen projects, like baking bread or cookies, seasonal canning, and, yes, a holiday meal.  I'm not good at planning or cooking everyday meals, but I can enjoy planning and fulfilling an event meal. 

It seems this time of the year, it's hard to get out of the kitchen. It starts with the rhubarb early in the season, followed strawberries when I can get some.   Last week it was corn. 

Then it was pickle relish.  A friend gave me an abundance of cucumbers from her over abundant crop.  With my carrots, onions, peppers, and green tomatoes, it was time to make sweet pickle relish.  I try to do this every two or three years and make enough to last that long. 

Now I have zuchinni waiting to be made into bread, cabbage waiting to be made into cabbage burgers, and blackberries to pick.    I did chop and blanch two heads of cabbage for the freezer, which will be added to vegetable soup this fall.  I have to get to the farm truck and buy a box of peaches for preserving for the winter and making into jelly.  

Yes, working in the kitchen is a rewarding event; and  it's hard to get out of the kitchen at this time of the year.   But I am always glad to turn my (our) kitchen over to Tim when it comes to cooking a meal. 

Here's my simple recipe for pickle relish that I have been making for forty years.  It's the same one my mother used to make when I was growing up.

PICKLE RELISH:   Fill a kitchen sink with cucumbers, green tomatoes, carrots, onions,  a few green peppers, and a few  red peppers.  Grind through a meat grinder, alternating veggies as you grind.  Add 1 cup canning salt to about two gallons of relish mix.  Mix well.  Drain by squeezing through a colander and squeezing out  excess juice with hands.   Put drained relish in big kettle.  Add six cups sugar and six cups vinegar to 12- 16 cups of relish. Adjust vinegar/sugar amounts per amount of relish.   Mix well.  Heat to boiling.  Put hot mixture into hot jars.  Turn upside down and cover with towel to help heat to seal lids.  Excellent on hamburgers, hot dogs, and ground meat sandwich mix. 

The Event ~ Preserving the Gold

It doesn't get any more golden than this!  And there is nothing better in August than juicy, sweet, golden corn on the cob.  No one in our family stops with just one.  When corn on the cob hits the dinner table, there is usually enough for 2 - 3 ears per person or more. 

(Now I understand that our newest family member, Annie, grew up enjoying a 1/2 or 1/3 section piece of one cob, and that was a serving!  Ye gads, Cash had to retrain that eating habit in a hurry!)

Next best thing to eating corn on the cob is preserving those golden kernals for winter meals.  It's a family affair when family is around.  From pickin' to shuckin' to cuttin' to baggin'. 

This is the first year in many that we actually raised our own sweet corn, only because Tim plowed up an alfalfa field and planted it to corn, and he planted a small triangular corner to sweet corn.  Usually we buy it from a local farmer or street vendor.  

So it's been a long time since Tim has had to irrigate a corn field.  But that's where it all begins. 

Not only did I freeze those golden kernals.  I also made some corn relish!

Preserving the gold and preserving the memories ~ an event worth preserving!