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In: In The Garden

It’s almost Labor Day and time to enjoy all the traditions that come along with it.  We like to stay home for the long weekend and take care of last minute Back-to-School preparations, relax and enjoy our last Monday of sleeping in for a while.  This is also the perfect time to start getting the garden ready for fall so it’s not a mad scramble to get it all done before first frost (been there, done that, got the t-shirt).  I know it sounds odd to be thinking of frost when it’s almost 100° out, but when you’re busy with work, school and everything else it sneaksRead More →

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In: In The Kitchen

The zucchini are really coming on and will be ready to harvest soon.  Time to break out all my recipes for everything zucchini!  One of our favorites is Grandma Rachel’s zucchini bread.  Moist and delicious served warm with a little butter, oh my goodness.  I especially like it with my coffee in the morning, can’t wait! Grandma Rachel’s Zucchini Bread 2 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 cup oil 2 cups grated raw zucchini 3 t. vanilla 3 cups flour 1 t. salt 1 t. baking soda 1 t. baking powder 3 tsp. cinnamon Mix all ingredients and place in a greased bread pans.  Bake atRead More →

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In: In The Garden

School starts here in a little less than two weeks, also marking my pear picking time.  Every year, after dropping my son off for the first day of school, I come home and start picking our pears.  Within a few days all the pears are picked and depending on how many we get I usually can some in a light syrup, make spiced pear jelly and pear butter.  My favorite is to just eat them fresh and they are delicious in a crisp green salad with sliced beef, dried cranberries and parmesan cheese.  Of course, we always have some to share with the critters. When picking pears, it’s bestRead More →

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In: In The Kitchen

This unusual recipe came from my great-grandmother Emma (Cook) Lee and I am lucky enough to have a copy of it written in her own hand.  Originally, Emma came from Vermont, then moved to Iowa then she eventually ended up in Oklahoma.  Honestly, I have tried to make this and I just can’t seem to get it right.  They have been too watery, too lemony, too sweet, not sweet enough and just plain weird.  I think I will stick with having my watermelon served cold and dripping down my chin. Watermelon Preserves Made with the red part, seeds removed – cut up in pieces.  To 6 lbs. of melon and 3Read More →

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In: Reflections, Thoughts and Ideas

I first met my husband’s grandparents, Gus and Rachel, in the late 90’s.  Everyone loved Gus, he was funny and kind.  Rachel had the sweetest smile and made the best strawberry jam you ever tasted.  Their gardens were amazing.  When Brad and I moved to Idaho Rachel gave me a paper sack with some hollyhock seeds from their flower garden.  Not realizing what a treasure I had, those seeds got put on a high shelf in the laundry room for a very long time.  Between unpacking, setting up our new home and getting our son ready for preschool, I completely forgot about them. It wasRead More →