Surprise!

 

This little tyke seeded himself from planters on the deck above. Isn't he a sweet thing?

Seventy Squares

Last night I finished knitting my seventieth and final 6-inch wool square for a blanket that I have been planning since last fall. Today I began the blocking process. Eighteen squares blocked. Fifty-two to go.

After the Rain

A Walk Around the Yard

 

Although these pictures are from one and a half weeks ago, little has changed... excepting, of course, that those wilting flowers have been removed from the front porch.

Outdoor Theater

An evening of girls' discipleship research with Maren. It is far nicer to watch a seminar outside, I think.

 



Hydrangea and Sedum



Onion Harvest

Cosmos and Lavender

I would be hard pressed to name my favorite flower. These would have to be two of them.

Miniature Surprise

A surprise in our friends' garden.

Bright Lights Bonfire

 

We grabbed the opportunity of a quiet and beautiful evening to invite "our girls" to a bonfire at our home - a time to catch up after a summer's break from discipleship meetings.



 

 

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

- I Timothy 4:12 -

Good Medicine

"A farmer was haulin' manure, don't you know, an' 'is truck broke down in front of a mental institution. One of th' patients, he leaned over th' fence an' said, 'What're you goin' t' do with that manure?'
"Farmer said, 'I'm goin' t' put it on my strawberries.'
"Feller said, 'We might be crazy, but we put whipped cream on ours!'"

-Jan Karon, Light from Heaven (2005)

"Joy"

 

"...the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10

Authentic Russian Borscht

Mom filled the house with the aroma of a Russian kitchen last Tuesday. A big pot means I got to eat one of my favorite soups for breakfast today. Our recipe card is titled "Russian Borscht," but I think I should rename it to "Authentic Russian Borscht." All that we missed were a dollop of sour cream, black bread (sourdough rye) and hot tea to aid digestion.

 

- Authentic Russian Borscht -

 

1 T. oil

1-1/2 c. finely chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 c. chopped carrots

4 c. raw julienned beets

5 tsp. tomato paste

16 c. chicken stock

2-1/2 c. peeled, cubed potatoes

6 c. finely chopped cabbage

3 T. sugar or 1 T. honey

1/3 c. lemon juice

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

fresh dill weed

sour cream

 

 Sauté onion and garlic in oil for 5-7 minutes.

Add carrots and beets and sauté an additional 10 minutes, stirring often.

Add tomato paste to sauté mixture and set aside.

Bring chicken stock to a boil.

Add potatoes; cook 3 minutes.

Add cabbage; cook 5 minutes.

Add sauté mixture, sweetener, lemon juice, salt, and pepper; cook 15 minutes.

Serve hot with a generous sprinkling of dill weed and a dollop of sour cream.

 

Per my cousin's recommendation I tried a couple spoonsful cold this morning. Yummy if non-traditional gazpacho.

Art-Cards

Giant art-cards from our little friends. I love children's artwork! It's a little, fresh peak through new eyes.

My Cozy Retreat

It was time for a retreat on the deck. Bird song, humming bees, flapping cottonwood leaves and the gentle trickling of soak-hose met my ears. And this was my peaceful view.