A Walk in His Gardens: A Beautiful Journey

A Walk in His Gardens~Oregon's Coast

My best friend and I went on a trip this week (with the blessing of each of our hubbies). I think we both needed time to get away to talk and relax in God's creation. Besides, I'd heard that the forecast for Oregon's coast was almost springlike (and springlike sounded very, very good and ---- warm!).

Although I am a mountain loving girl (as opposed to a beach girl)-- there is a beautiful mountain range that borders the coastal area AND once you get to the coast, you have views of mountains and the blue, blue ocean (well blue if you are there on a sunny day).

When you get to the other side of the mountains (we went to the central coast this time) you pass the world's smallest river and the smallest harbor too, a lake, wetlands with a gorgeous wildlife refuge and some very nice beaches (we went to 4 of them). You also pass a lot of good places to eat and stay for a night or more; art galleries and little shops.

The weather was perfect--little wind in most areas, warm and partly sunny skies. I felt like it was summer or spring and not winter! We met some nice people and ate at a restaurant on one of the bays (a restaurant with an amazing bathroom and a great view!). We got to talk to some local residents and the beaches were not very crowded, which was really nice:)

On our journey we passed horses (I love horses), cattle and llamas too , saw seals and bald eagles and enjoyed a 'convention' of seagulls.

In terms of culinary fulfillment---we dined on breakfast sandwiches, desserts, crab and some other little treats...on the way back home salt water taffy as a gift for my parents and some friends, some chocolate for my wonderful husband and a few (three small pieces) of the best, most yummiest chocolate I've had in a looooooong time:)

It's late and I've not processed the photos yet so here are a couple from years before--of the same area...enjoy till tomorrow!

" And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good." Gen 1:10 KJV

Blessings, Aimee

Note on photos: these were taken quite a few years ago and the resolution is not as good as with my newer camera. Sorry about that--tomorrow's will be much better:) Photos: Central coast, OR--Depoe Bay, Boiler Bay

A Horse's Tale

I first saw him on Christmas Eve.

A very cute, black and white pinto wearing a small lambswool blanket, black saddle and bridle.

He neighed at me and shook his head and tail.

Did I say how adorable he was???

I imagined my newest grandchild sitting astride him--her feet in the stirrups and hands on the reins; her glee and delight as she sat on his back!

I was totally won over!

The price was right and so I made an impassioned plea to my husband of 25+ years--but to no avail. I couldn't persuade him and so I sadly left without the little horse.

It was not a happy time...

Christmas passed and a day or two; I continued to sing the glories of the little horsey and how our grandchild (and I) needed him!

One night my hubby left for awhile and when he came back there was a little 'friend' with him!!! It was the horse with a brightly colored bow attached to his bridle!

I was SO excited and quickly made a place for the small horse! I texted my DIL the great news; but she did not share my enthusiasm. It was OK--I knew the pinto and I could win her over in time; after all we had won my hubby over!

Maybe in a year or two...or three.

After the text, I introduced our new baby to the rest of the family, his canine brothers -- all three of them--the dogs of the long, soft white fur and loud barks!

Aimee seemed to be particularly interested in his (um) rear end but I suppose this was to be expected as she sniffs everybody, and the horse did not seem to mind.

Her brother largely ignored the new arrival, but that was to be expected as he has sadly lost most of his eyesight

And then it was my dog's turn...at first he sniffed around and then left. What was my little canine prince thinking?

One could not be sure.

He returned, and then my perfect, little canine prince...

BIT the poor, sweet, little horsey right on his nose!!!

BAD DOG!!

Poor baby --- it’s hard to be the new horse on the block!

Blessings, Aimee

The Ten Commandments for Seasoning Lodge Cast Iron Cookware

Now that the holidays are over, my husband is back at work, our visitor has left and the weather has more or less settled down-----I'm getting ready to reseason some of my cast iron cookware. As you can see from the photo, my griddle/grill is really, really awful...I'll confess right now that this is a result of breaking Cast Iron Care Commandment #4.

Since I had recently bought a new Dutch Oven, I contacted the great people at Lodge Manufacturing Co. for directions on how to reseason properly. They also kindly gave me permission to post their instructions here in case anyone else out there has broken a commandment or two in caring for their cookware! Their website is: www.lodgemfg.com

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR SEASONING LODGE CAST IRON COOKWARE

1) Wash utensil in hot, soapy water. Use soap this time only. Rinse utensil and dry completely. Discoloration on towel is normal.

2) Apply a thin, even coating of melted shortening (Crisco, Wesson, etc.; do not use butter or butter flavored shortening) to the utensil with a soft cloth or paper towel. Apply inside and outside (NOTE: If your utensil has a lid, make sure you season it as well.)

3) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place utensil on top shelf of oven, upside down. Place aluminum foil on a baking sheet and put on bottom shelf of oven to catch any drippings. Bake in oven for one hour, then turn oven off and let utensil remain in the oven until cool.

4) To clean utensil after use, use boiling water and a plastic scrub bun or brush.
Do not wash utensil with soap or dishwashing detergents, unless you are going to repeat the seasoning process. Do not put in dishwasher.

5) Always wash immediately after use, while still hot.

6) After washing utensil, dry thoroughly, then spray lightly with vegetable oil, (Pam, for example), wipe with a paper towel, and store. Never store utensil with lid on. (Cast iron needs air circulation.)

7) Do not use utensil as a food storage vessel.

8) To remove heavy food or grease build-up, scour with steel wool, SOS pad, etc., then re-season.

9) Deep fry in Dutch ovens at least six times prior to cooking beans of any kind.

10) Re-season utensil after cooking acidic foods, such as beans or tomatoes.

Follow these simple steps and your Lodge Cast Iron Cookware can last a lifetime.

Source: Lodge Manufacturing Co, 03-28-01 SECTION V.A. TEN COMMANDMENTS OF SEASONING

Blessings, A

A Walk in His Gardens: Sunnier Times. Maybe Not.

A Walk in His Gardens--Rural NW

This week I took a road trip with one of my kids.

We traveled by wetlands, rivers and..

more wetlands,

beside woodlands and ...

farmlands,.

up hills...

and on mountains.

.
It was a good day! We even got to eat out--twice:)That is if you count 'homemade' coffee cake from a restaurant as one of the times.

I ended up with dozens of beautiful photos to post, but then I got to thinking... I've heard, and from more then one source, that many people are tired of this weather.

I understand. I really do. I'm one of the few people I know who love snow close up! But I know, what is a treat for me (and all the kids in the NW), is a real pain for others.....although the ski areas really like it.

So I thought maybe a 'Walk' in sunnier locales might be just what the doctor ordered for those of us currently at the mercy of nasty weather--and I'll even let you define what 'nasty' weather is! Unfortunately, our sunny desert 'Walk' in Sedona and California will have to wait as I still need to scan the numerous prints I've been sorting (and labeling, and sorting) for the last 2 days now..

Maybe halfway through winter would be a better time to post them anyway. Then we ALL (rain haters, snow haters and winter haters alike) will need them! And for you snow haters -- I was very good and didn't post any more snow close up pictures though I was very, very tempted to.

Blessings, Aimee

Photos: rural NW Oregon

Plattar-The Morning of the Swedish Pancakes

It was very, very late in the morning and I was starving for Swedish pancakes

and was actually able to talk my non-pancake loving hubby into them!!

I grabbed my 'long time, not used' cast iron platt pan and....

"lightly greased" all of the indentations (or at least thought I did that) then heated it.

While the platt pan was heating, I started the breakfast sausage and mixed up the pancake batter (this time from a prepackaged mix rather then a recipe).

and mixed, mixed, mixed it some more.

Stubborn little batter clumps!

First with a spoon and next with a whisk, I mixed the batter, hunting down every last clump till they were all happily dissolved in a thin, smooth liquid. Then I cooked the first 7 little pancakes.

They ended up looking rather mauled..

I'm way too embarrassed to show you them; after all this is a culinary arts post. Besides I scarfed the little, defective evidence (um, pancakes) all down within minutes.

I was really, really hungry.

The second batch (or was it the third) was OK, not shredded this time, but a bit on the done side--although they looked very much like the ones on the box. My hubby dutifully ate them...

although he referred to them as 'caramelized',

his favorite adjective for 'overcooked' --'burnt' --'overdone'.

He was exaggerating I'm sure.

I experimented with batter amounts---

1 Tbsp as recommended by the package, then 2 tbsp and finally 3 tbsp

I thought 1 Tbsp was too little (it wasn't a measuring tablespoon), 2 Tbsp was more to my liking and 3 was---well don't go there if you are using a platt pan.

It's not a pretty picture; see above for the proof.

and with pouring methods--

First from a tablespoon, as recommended on the package, and then from a cup - carefully! The cup was faster and I was really hungry.

I 'm an impatient lot when I am THAT hungry.

I experimented with butter vs. cooking spray--

'lightly' vs. more heavily greased.

I decided the cooking spray worked better then butter and ended up with a light to medium greased pan.

and with the burner setting--

The pan may not have been hot enough or too hot.

I grew faint--literally--with all the experimenting.

And then they were done -- and I ate more, a lot more.

Yum! Swedish pancakes with geijost cheese and breakfast sausage.

Summary:

**We used (yes my hubby helped when I got faint) a small knife to turn the plattar. They're very thin and each indentation of the platt pan is small and shallow. Go slow and loosen all edges before flipping them. Remember, patience is a virtue--or at least that's what they say.

**The pan must be hot--400 degrees the package said for them to cook properly because of the thinness of the pancake. You can use a platt pan (available on the Internet or at your Scandinavian shops or you can try a cast iron griddle or skillet). Watch the greased pan closely if you have trouble mixing the batter (of course if I had used the whisk from the beginning....)

**It took awhile to get the batter totally mixed and smooth--those 'clumps' were stubborn little guys. At first I used a spoon but then traded that for a whisk which worked better. You can buy a package or make the pancakes from scratch (when I did them years before I always did them from scratch). There are many recipes on the Internet (google 'plattar")

**I prefer a 'doneness' somewhere between the two samples shown above, but the lighter pancakes were totally cooked. When you are cooking them they don't really bubble but turn dull--like a matte finish as they cook. They are delicate, thin, mouthwatering, fantastic....

**We used orange blossom honey on these, but they're so much better with lingonberry jam or another berry preserve. Some people like theirs topped with whipped cream or powdered sugar too.

I love lingonberry jam, but I think we all know that now...

Try them, you'll like plattar (and they're very kid friendly). I know because I've loved them since I was a child:)

Breakfast Blessings, Aimee

As the Blank Pages of a Journal Are

Aimee sat with the new journal in her lap, its pages blank and not filled in yet with the record that would be. It was dawn and as she watched, the light from the sun came over the mountains and dispelled the darkness that was the night -- the nightime that had stood between the old but which had also given birth to the new. The first day of the New Year had begun.

Trees stood bare in the countryside, surrounded by tall bushes and taller yet rock formations and mountains. They awaited the coming of their leaves which would herald in the springtime--but that would not be for several months more--for the season of snow, rain and cold still held court in the lands of the NW.

Aimee looked down again at the book which lay in her lap--there were pages to write in this new chapter of her life, before she placed this book too on the shelf with the others of times gone by--the journals of her childhood and youth; many of motherhood and more recently those of being a grandmother.

So as a new day and New Year began, Aimee picked up her pen and started to write...

******************

A New Year, like a new journal, has a beautiful cover. You can't see it's length--nor the stories in it--and yet it is full of promise for this journal will hold stories of the priceless gift that is your life.

As you open it and turn to that first page, you can turn the page on things of the past too--of hurts, fears and mistakes made. They belong to your past and you will always remember them, but this is a new chapter in your story and you can use these painful times and memories to learn from --- and go on.

Make this year the best yet--strive to fill each page with beautiful stories of love, joy and peace. Stories that will be remembered by others who are just starting their own books or have just a few chapters completed. And remember, this journal will be your legacy. so make it a good one!

Happy New Year from the mountainside.
Blessings, Aimee


Photo: Columbia River Gorge area

A Walk in His Gardens-the Coastlands

The Coastlands of the Pacific NW

I walk in the high places and see the beauty of the panorama below me. The mountains and rivers, the bay and the ocean to the west.

The sand of a beach, washed smooth by the surf..

Rocky cliffs high above the sea...

A bay, where many boats set out to sea carrying men in search of fish for the dinner tables of the NW.

************

"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1: 9, 10 KJV

Blessings, Aimee

Photos: NW Coast Views

Recap

Christmas is over and plans changed. But that's OK:) We go with the flow, huh?

Celebration:
We had a really low key Christmas. I spent a lot of time outdoors walking around, listening to sounds of nature, taking many photos and enjoying God's blessings. We communicated through text and other methods with family who we will see after the roads improve.

Gifts:
We spent about the same as last year, I think.
Gifts tended to be practical -- sometimes cash for those we know preferred that, clothes, paying for yard work, dinners out, etc.
My Christmas gift to myself was a Fattigman cutter, Rosette & Timbale set, a Norwegian Rosemaling calendar for 2009, LED lights and expanding the pantry with specialty items! I am very excited to start using a lot of these soon; the lights were marked down to 50% and I'll use them next year.
I'm still trying to decide about the Goro iron (used for a specialty Norwegian cookie-cracker that looks like a work of art) but ....save or spend?

Christmas meals:
Breakfast was seasoned fried potatoes with scrambled eggs & ham. The potatoes were perfection! (Actually the meal was more a brunch as I woke up nauseated this morning and didn't cook it till about noon). Thank goodness it got better; it would be such a bummer to not be able to eat Christmas treats, right?

Dinner ended up to be fresh angel hair pasta with a marinara/seasoned ground beef sauce and shredded (not dry!) Parmesan cheese on top! We'll have the apricot-orange honey glazed Cornish hen tomorrow and the roast later. Yum--that sounds good.

Trips:
A lot of time outdoors in simple pleasures enjoying the handiwork of God.
Earlier this week we went on a drive--past some beautiful mountain scenery and gorgeous Victorian homes. They looked really Christmasy with the snow! (Is Christmasy a word? Apparently not per blogger..) Oh well.

Blessings:
Many, many. The music of the season, snow, hearing from friends & relatives and much more!

Well that is a little recap for you all. How was your Chanukah or Christmas celebrations?

Blessings, Aimee

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you joy & peace this Christmas, and always!

Photo: Wyoming. © J. Blessings. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission..

A Walk in His Gardens

Sights & Sounds of a Christmas Week Walk~

A walk? Yea mom! See, I remembered my coat;

but I could use some winter boots.

Did you see that? Even the apples have hats on. They must be frozen.

I'm doing fine though; this cold, wintry day feels much warmer then a rainy one to me.

We walk by a wheelbarrow laying, at rest, under a deep snowy blanket.

Looks peaceful although I don't think I'd enjoy it much.

Next we wander beside a pond laying at rest too; frozen under a layer of ice and surrounded by snow. All is silent except for the sounds of a few passing cars and the birds singing nearby in the trees; they're calling each other to share in the bounty of a winter's feast of fruit.

And finally a table that's become a tall snow covered mushroom with no place to put a book or plates; but whuch looks very cool.

And inside the warm house, Aimee keeps a watchful eye out for any visitors and more snow!

**********************

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas.May you experience the amazing joy & peace which does not come from gifts or a nice meal, but instead comes from receiving the greatest Gift of all--God's Holy Son.

Blessings always, Aimee

Photos: rural NW views

What's for Christmas Dinner? Help!

I need help. There's only a week left before THE day and I have a BIG problem. I haven't decided what to cook for Chrismas Dinner yet.

I've asked the husband for his opinion; no answer, no guidance, no help. Besides he might ask for his all time favorite and I am not going there. Ick!

The winter in autumn weather we're having is playing havoc on my shopping. But of course I would not have it any other way.

After much reflection (and web surfing) I've narrowed it down to these finalists:
* Glazed ham, mashed potatoes, vegetable, homemade bread with herb butter
* Roast beef, new potatoes and other root vegetables, Yorkshire pudding
* Lamb, rice pilaf, stir fry asparagus, focaccia
* Apricot glazed Cornish Hen (stuffed), stir fry asparagus, Yorkshire pudding or homemade bread or focaccia

Other holiday meals--
* Cheese fondue. Not being man-food, I'll have to serve that with a meat/cheese tray. It's so hard at times to make a meat and potatoes man happy when you're an international/gourmet food aficionado, but at least my grown kids take after me. That's a comfort in my old age.
* Christmas Morning: breakfast sausage (maple), plattar (Swedish pancakes), potatoes. Just eggs, sausage and fried potatoes for the man cub; he doesn't do pancakes. Good thing I have 4 working burners now.
* Christmas night: blessed leftovers.

So what are you all having? I am always open to other ideas! That is unless it's hot dogs and bologna --my hubby's favorite foods :)

Advent blessings! Aimee

A Walk in His Gardens--mountains & snow

Snow on the mountains~

and points in between.

In the Northwest we are getting hit hard by winterlike weather and I can tell that for most people this is getting old, very old.

But not for me.

No, with every new weather report my glee & childlike delight are more then evident. And when -- for a moment -- it looks as if it might be going away,

I feel sad.

I just can't help it; it's the way I am made.

I love the winter carpet on the rolling countryside, by the rivers, lakes and waterfalls, in the forests and even on the high desert. I love it on houses--especially if they're Victorian ones and on old churches too. I love it by ponds and falling from the sky. I even love it as it covers our decks and paths

.

But my favorite...and I am sure this will be difficult to guess.

Yea, the mountans & foothills.

But I want you to know--this is a good thing.

Because if it wasn't for my love of snow and the mountains & foothills, I would have missed this..

and this.

And if it wasn't for my almost obsessive love of the snow and mountains, I would have missed this on the way down from one of those trips..

and then I couldn't have shared it with you.

Advent blessings, Aimee

Photos:

Cascades, Coast Range, Foothills & near Bend--all in Oregon, Colorado.

Colorado photo: © J. Blessings. All Rights Reserved. Used here by permission.

My Favorite Things

Let's start out with the link first for those that might need a refresher -- or just a musical interlude:

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/favorite.htm

We’ve all heard the song--“My Favorite Things“--you know from the Sound of Music. The one sung during the big thunderstorm, that sends all of the kids into Maria’s room? Yep. That one.

So right now we’re enjoying one of my favorite things that just so happens to be on Maria’s list too--snow--and I am in a great mood because of it!

And because I am in such a great mood, and because Christmas can be stressful (and I don’t want any of you feeling sad or bad)… I’m wondering what are a few of your favorite things? Things that make your world a brighter, happier place?

Do you like raindrops on roses?

I really like roses-especially the miniatures and climbing, very fragrant ones but I certainly do not like rain. At all.

After all we get rain, or some form there of, for almost 9 months a year here in the Pacific NW . OK maybe a slight overstatement; a very small exaggeration. But Lewis and Clark, the explorers hated over wintering here and it was because of the icky cold rain. They really did. Look it up. I must be their descendant-somehow-give me snow and I am good. Or sun. Lots of sun.

But back to the list--I am really a dog person now, although there are certain cats that I hold in deep awe. I just don’t like the fact that when you think they like you they're really saying they own you. Or at least that's what I've heard. Sounds scary (LOL)

I do like copper on kettles but not as much as I used to--more into natural wood and marble now. And cast iron. Nice black cast iron. Good stuff.

So I’ll go with the ponies (but I would prefer Arabian or Fjord horses or Icelandic ponies as my Welsh pony was way too ornery for me!! Of course he wasn‘t cream colored come to think of it--more a buckskin), apple strudel (warm with whipped cream please), snowflakes and schnitzel please!

And those are just my favorite things from the song...

What about you?

Song lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Music” Richard Rodgers
Film: The Sound of Music

Blessings, Aimee

Photo: Near Leavenworth, WA

Like a Child in Winter

I hate to admit it, but I've never quite grown up.
 

Surely this grandmother jests, you say, but I have proof and that is-
I really LOVE all the winter-like weather we've been getting lately.

Really!

It’s so true…the minute a perfect snowflake falls from the sky, I lose

all semblance of being a mature woman and I become a little child again, totally entranced and exhilarated by the falling snow beyond my window! I race around shooting photos of it, I constantly check to see how deep it is and I even wake people up to tell them it's snowing.

 

 

 

And I’m not embarrassed about it. Not even a tiny bit.
Just ask my long suffering husband, best friend and DIL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think of all the past blessings in my life and so many have been accompanied by snowflakes---

As a child, the 2-3 ft snowfalls we used to get, sledding and building snowmen.

And snow days!

As a teenager, a failed attempt to walk on water, like Jesus, on the not quite frozen enough stream behind our home.

And the very cold horseback ride home afterwards by our kind neighbor.

As a kid/teen, skiing--at Mt Hood, Hoodoo, in Washington state and even near the rural town we lived in when I was younger; and ice skating (I know it‘s indoors and ice, not snow, but it’s white and it's frozen).

It counts in my world.

 

As a college student, one Thanksgiving visit to a friend's family in very rural Idaho (population: 13) I just knew they should, logically, have snowfall at that time of the year and then having this wish come VERY true (much to their total shock and my immense joy!)

And the very long, very slow, very crowded bus trip back to college since we couldn't fly because of all the snow!

As an adult, a magical, wintertime train trip from the NW to the Rockies with my mom (just after being in sandals only, warm Hawaii for about two-three weeks!).

We arrived in blizzard-like conditions.

As a married woman and mom, watching my kids make snowmen and…many, many more wonderful times in the beautiful snow covered mountains of the Northwest!

Where Paradise was a (very) snow covered meadow instead of a wildflower filled one!.

So, despite snow being dangerous, and my fervent wish & prayer that no more weather related accidents will occur, I feel very blessed right now surrounded by this beautiful pristine carpet of white, powder snow.

I feel like a child; it's as if God knows the desires of my heart:)
 

“For he saith to the snow,
Be thou on the earth.”
Job 37:6 KJV
 

Thank you God!
Blessings, Aimee

Photos: camellia, mushrooms and rose hips in snow.

A Walk in His Gardens-- Canada

A Walk in British Columbia, Canada

"For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth."

"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."

"Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God!"

Thank you Lord for the beauty of this earth
and
for your everlasting love to your children.

Aimee

Photos: Interior of British Columbia, Canada

Verses: Job 37:6, Psalms 95:6. 7, Psalms 36: 6. 7 KJV

Thinking Nordic..

At this time of year, I always start thinking of the Nordic countries. I guess it's just that whole mountain, snow, skiing, tree, reindeer, stave churches, candle, cookie thing! (Well honestly I think about the Nordic countries all year long but especially at Christmas & Advent).

In keeping with the Nordic Christmas/Advent theme, I've been researching such sublime treats as Goro cookie/crackers, lefse, aebleskivers, Swedish jelly cookies, etc, etc. After days of doing such 'heavy' reading, I can hardly wait to start baking and eating --especially since I only have till Jan 1 or 2 before I convert from my carbo-loving ways to my 'be good' ways. Hopefully convert that is...

There were, thankfully, a lot of good blogs/websites to be found that specialize in Scandinavian cooking--some of them are written by natives to the Nordic countries! Problem though--some of the recipes will not pass my 'husband test' even though they sound intriguing to me. But there are a lot that I think he might fancy (despite his propensity for being a meat and potato m'am person)Well drop the m'am part!

Here are a few of the sites I found. I'm especially interested in trying the Goro cookie/cracker and lefse. Lefse I've had before, but I have never tried a Goro cracker/ cookie--although they remind me a bit of Krumkake though not cone shaped like them. The photo I found is beautiful--I love it when food is pleasing to the eye and the mouth!

Have I told you how much I love food???

Links:
Scandinavian food/blog/forum
Norwegian Christmas site
Sons of Norway site
Christmas cookies
More recipes

Blessed Advent everyone!

Aimee