9/25/13

~ Blessings

 
 

Today is a grand day
 
1.  Last year I was victim of check fraud 5 people stole thousands of dollars from me and  from a few other folks in this area -from our mail boxes that are located on our roads....which is part of the rural charm here in the country. These guys hit the jack pot with me- they stole my whole check box newly ordered from the bank that I never received. For weeks they wrote out checks in my name, had fake drivers licenses made in my name ...all this locally.
I can't express how violated I felt- as if my identity was null and void.
 
Yesterday the case closed.
 
She/they pled guilty and have to pay restitution.
 
2. Visiting Norway this summer- I found out in a very "horrible" way my mamma had cancer. She was in hospital most of the time we were visiting. Needless to say we were all devastated.  She has healed completely and today I am picking her and her husband up at the airport to stay with us for 2 weeks.  If that isn't great enough- she is pondering upon moving to Montucky..so we will be looking at homes while she is here.
 
 
Good grief! Does it get any better???????
 
It's been a hard year - but today...well today, I am smiling from ear to ear. 

Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you.
~Rumi

9/23/13

Montana Morning

 
 
 
 
 
 
feed horses
breakfast
kids to school
 Lily
wet
early a.m. ride
 
Okay Monday...let's do this!

9/21/13

I'm still learning....

 
 
 
after the rain comes beautiful mornings filled with promise
 

mid September is pretty neat to still wear flip flops


there is still time for a swim before the snow flies
 

that the local thrift store holds so many treasures
 like these linen napkins


and as if that wasn't enough...some nice person had dropped off a WHOLE BOX of
large fabric sample from France- that I bought for 5 bucks


 how nice it is that the flowers in my garden are still blooming


how pretty weeds can look with a little morning dew


the advantages of leaving holiday trees up all year
... don't have to put them up this season


how much I really love to sew- and that, " I can do this"


how much I missed Auggie being away at fall retreat for 2 days .... yes, it was only 2 days



and how happy I am when things turn out




 that I can bake delicious zucchini bread
(with a green vegetable the size of a baby python)
recipe
 

" I'm still learning "
Michelangelo, age 87
 
So how was your week?

9/19/13

...and then - the rain

 
 




But the true lover of rain.... has a deep inner enjoyment of the rain, as rain, and his sense of its beauty drinks it in as thirstily as does the drinking earth. It refreshes and cools his heart and brain; he longs to go forth into the fields, to feel its steady stream, to scent its fragrance; to stand under some heavy-foliaged chestnut-tree, and hear the rushing music on the crowded leaves.
 ~John Richard Vernon, "The Beauty of Rain," 1863


 
 my favorite music that inspires me on this wet day.





9/9/13

Montana Morning

 







Mimi peaceful
down the stairs
granola & tea
bed making
battle
escape



Wishing you a lovely morning.
 

9/8/13

Sunday - what's for breakfast?

 
 


Sunday breakfast at our house is usually a little more special than the weekdays. Chef is home in the morning and the kids are not rushed off to school, so there is a little more time to be. One of our favorites breakfasts are crepes- something I am quite familiar with. Many moons ago I worked in a Swiss restaurant in Park City as a prep cook- the chef  gave me the task to make the crepes, they where made in the late afternoon, chilled - ready for the dinner guests to be filled with all kinds of delicious for dessert. It's almost Zen poring the right amount of batter in the pan and  swirling it around - seeing the small bubbles emerge and the edges slightly crisping, I could do this for hours....

I grew up eating "pankaker" and " plattar" in Sweden, it is very common in Scandinavian households to eat several times a week- it's quick and affordable. Plattar is just a little difference in size they are much smaller - the pan has several little rounds for the batter- and fun to eat! Crepes are essentially very similar, just less milk in the recipe, easy to make and very versatile- you can either make them sweet for breakfast or dessert or savory for a midday meal or dinner.

I eat mine as simple as they are served in Sweden- simple, with Lingon berries ( if I can find the jam)  I like something tart- so the cherry jam works too. Love lemon and sugar- divine. If we are feeling fancy that day we'll add whip cream and maybe fresh berries...that really puts it over the top. Pierre likes to put Maple syrup on every thing (can you blame him- he 's from Quebec) The possibilities are endless- you can really use crepes as a simple neutral palette and add what ever you want to .


Here is the recipe that I use- by Alton Brown-
(I have to admit I do doctor it some- but  it is pretty darn great.)


Ingredients


  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • Butter, for coating the pan

Directions

In a blender, combine all of the ingredients and pulse for 10 seconds. Place the crepe batter in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This allows the bubbles to subside so the crepes will be less likely to tear during cooking. The batter will keep for up to 48 hours.
Heat a small non-stick pan. Add butter to coat. Pour 1 ounce of batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly. Cook for 30 seconds and flip. Cook for another 10 seconds and remove to the cutting board. Lay them out flat so they can cool. Continue until all batter is gone. After they have cooled you can stack them and store in sealable plastic bags in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for up to two months. When using frozen crepes, thaw on a rack before gently peeling apart.
*Savory Variation Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs, spinach or sun-dried tomatoes to the egg mixture.
*Sweet Variation Add 21/2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of your favorite liqueur to the egg mixture.



Total Time: 26 min
Prep 5 min
Inactive 1 min
Cook 20 min

Yield: 17 to 22 crepes




When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.” 
 A.A. Milne

Enjoy your Sunday!

9/7/13

La Cucina- part deux.













 
Ink Blue!

...is what Sarah said,
 
A color I became very aware of in Norway this summer.
Somehow I must have lived with this color in my head for some time-
because there was no question
what the new color in the kitchen would be.
 
Yet, an unexpected color for me.
It's so dark it becomes a neutral.
 
I love how it picks up the blues in the tile and makes the maple cabinets more of a feature.
 
Changed out my fuchsia lamp
 to a simple silver farm style lamp
works with the counter tops.
Painted the bench red- contrasting the blue.
 
 happy. happy. happy.
 
 
The paint chip is:
 5009-1 Black Evergreen
Valspar American Tradition

9/2/13

Montana Morning



 
 





coffee
early light
roses
morning dew
Bella
 
 
Happy Labor day!