Thought for the Day

You are the seed that decides the harvest around you.

Village of Brockport

For a little history on the Village of Brockport check out this site.

www.daileyint.com/mytimes/sisthree.htm

Don't Plant a Shrub if You Want a Tree

Between the 8 and 10:00 masses on Sunday, I sat outside in Our Blessed Mothers garden looking around, taking note of how everything was growing and enjoying the peacefulness around me. My thoughts turned to the shrub I planted several years ago. It has the most beautiful white, fragrant blooms in spring, however, I planted it with the intention of pruning it so it would substitute as a tree to provide shade on our deck. I did this because I was told at the nursery that I could prune it if I wanted a tree instead of a shrub. Yeah, well, live and learn. This shrub requires constant pruning that I just can't keep up with. Suckers continue to grow up from the bottom. Why would I try to turn it into something that it is not? Wouldn't it be easier to plant the shrub in a location where it would grow naturally without the pruning?

We often do this with our lives don't we? We try to force ourselves or others to be what we or they are not. Wouldn't life be so much easier if we could only accept others as they are? We all have different gifts. May we also be blest with the wisdom to see, accept and appreciate these gifts in others.

I Corinthians - Chapter 12 - Spiritual Gifts

God Bless!

In the Garden...Another Visitor

FYI: You can click on any picture to enlarge. :)
Previously in the article titled "Morning Visitor," I mentioned the "Monument Garden" and said I would talk about it later. I was planning on later being today but something has gotten in the way, so today you are going to get a slightly different story. The Monument Garden is an extention of a garden I am planting in memory of my mother. When the idea originally came to me, it wasn't quite this big but when I'm outside (walking; working; assessing/reassessing; contemplating; just sitting; sipping coffee; etc.) ideas are being formulated. The total garden area is larger than what I can till all at one time so it has several phases ;).
Phase I - Clearing the area of brush and weeds. To accomplish this I cut down and burned everything in that area. A chainsaw makes this fairly easy work but is very hard on the back. We had several huge, huge bonfires. So huge that we singed two of the trees that are considered part of the garden to be (oops). Thank goodness we had the garden hose handy.
Phase II - Tilling the bonfire area and planting.
Phase III - Adding on to the southern end of the garden which would eventually be connected to Phase II. This was where the Monument Garden came into being. There is a small story but once again will be given at another time.
Phase IV - Connecting Phase II and III, and this is where I start my story for today. I set out with all the tools necessary to complete the job at hand: tiller, rake, shovel, buckets (for stones and weeds/roots), garden gloves, kneeling pad (Pic #1 & 6). I have so much tilled, it is time to stop and remove some of the stones. I grab a bucket, turn and. . . What is this? (Pic #2)? If you look closely at this picture, you can see near the middle right side border, a little white speck. Where did this little guy come from on top of my freshly tilled soil. I get a closer look and can't believe it. How cute is he (Pic #3) ? And what am I going to do with this little baby? I'm not one for having mice around and we have Tiberious to take care of such matters? He doesn't appear to be making much headway so of course I'm going to get a few pictures. Here you have it. A few pic's of this little guy. As I am taking pictures I hear noise coming from under some black plastic, (only a foot or two from where I am), which I put down last year in preparation for tilling this year. I contemplate lifting the plastic but think first of what I will find. I don't want any mamma mouse coming at me :). . . Okay, I get into position, ever so slowly I lift the plastic, taking a chance and hoping I don't have to scream and run away like a little chicken :-))). I find another little baby mouse (Pic #4). The little adventurer is going to get lost, or eaten so I put him back under the plastic with his sibling, (Pic #5) cover them back up and place a rock near that spot so I won't step on it, which I had been doing during the tilling process. And now it is back to work. Yes, I have granted a pardon of sorts. How could I do harm to these little babies? As the guys always tell me when I see Tiberious playing the cat and mouse game with chipmunks, life is the survival of the fittest. So in the end, Tiberious will probably take care of them but for now, they are safe and this tragedy is not on my conscience :). This garden as it stands is a little over crowded. I will be moving some things into the new spaces I have created.
Phase V - Will be building an arbor located where the green chairs are. (Pic #6) I will be spraying the area and tilling to create additional gardens around the arbor. It will have a bench inside for relaxing in the shade. This will be my project for next year, spring/summer of 2007. I have a picture of an arbor that I really like and will try to build it using the picture as a reference. I don't know if I am capable of such a project and am a little hesitant but always up for a challenge.
Phase VI - Will be gathering additional flat rocks to create a stone sidewalk/patio under the singed trees where there will be a park bench. You can see the collection I have started in pic #6. This I fear will be the most challenging. I may have to modify my plan :). We'll see.
Phase VII - Will be tilling around the gardens now connected to shape and create a finished edge. Hopefully this will be the end of my garden creating. My goal is low maintenance. I am getting to old for all this intensive labor and am looking forward to just walking through these gardens and keeping up with regular maintenance. You may be thinking that low maintenance would be skipping the gardens and having only lawn to mow. This is true but how much enjoyment, therapy, character, peace, etc., does a lawn provide? I'd much rather have the garden which provides all these pleasures and exercise too.

Sweet Coffee

Okay, I have been using my coffee maker and this morning had the sweetest cup of coffee ever. Now, I don't mean sweet in a sugar way, I mean sweeeeet in an awesome way. I normally drink decaf but have been using the regular coffee beans that came with my basket and unfortunately it is making my hands shake so I'll be picking up some decaf very soon.

You put fresh coffee beans in the built in grinder. It grinds them and then sends them to the filter where the water drips through. How neat is that? This is the ultimate in coffee making and I am lovin' it!

Cuisinart Coffee Maker

Today, Sunday September 16, I went to a wine and beer tasting benefit. There were many different wines and beers to sample. The Australian Riesling and Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat beer were my favorites. Outside there were several baskets made up for drawings. One of the baskets was a Cuisinart Coffee maker. We have been using Matt's coffee maker for several months since ours died so of course I wanted to take a chance on that. I bought an arms length which turned out to be 17 tickets, for $5.00 and put all the tickets into the one container for the Cuisinart. When they called my name I couldn't believe it! My cousin says I win everything. What is he talking about? I don't usually win anything. J E A L O U S . . . That's what he is :). I can't believe it but here I am with my trophy: Cuisinart Coffee Pot and a basket of coffees and chocolates :).

Conference "A Time for Prayer"

I have had a busy weekend. Friday and Saturday I attended a conference featuring Fr. John Corapi and Dr. Scott Hahn. Excellent speakers! If you ever have the opportunity to hear them, you will not regret it. I also ran into some old friends at the conference which was a very pleasant surprise. As a result, I have declared Tuesdays are 'Nancy' days here at home :). That means I'm not doing dinner on Tuesdays!!! Shouldn't we all get a day off some time? Well Tuesdays are my days!

As far as the conference goes. . . Fr. Corapi's main topic was "Why do people leave the Catholic church?" He says that only 20% of Catholics attend church. He says to many people want to play with the doctrine of the faith. Basically we know right from wrong, we may not like it, but it's too bad, suck it up. He says it like it is. The bottom line...he quotes nike and says "Just do it!" No Sympathy from this man. Don't get me wrong, he was an excellent speaker and I very much enjoyed hearing what he had to say. One of his quotes:

" No humility, no holiness"

"No holiness, no heaven"

Dr. Scott Hahn spoke of his conversion and recommended several books to help with bible study. I had planned to make a purchase but the books I was interested in were sold out. I will look further into this"theologist du jour" to make a purchase or perhaps wait until he comes around again.

First Presbyterian Church of Tuscarora

Me and the girls on the road again. We were invited to sing for the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscarora. Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006 we put on a little concert (about 15 songs). A few members of their congregation sang as well. A potluck dinner followed. We enjoyed, delicious food and oh my, what a tremendous variety of foods there were to choose from, yummy desserts and wonderful people to share it with. Needless to say, we had a great time. They spoiled us! :)

Elaine's, Bully Hill and Pleasant Valley

Me and the girls on the road, visiting Elaine and a few vineyards. We arrived Friday and had pizza and wings for dinner, had a little jam session and then played Catch Phrase until 2:30 a.m. We sang Melody to sleep but she got up in time to join us for Catch Phrase (and we were just about to gossip about her :-))). We went to two vineyards (couldn't handle any more than that). Our first stop was Pleasant Valley Wine Co. Then we had lunch at Bully Hill's restaurant and continued with wine tasting at Bully Hill Vineyards. What a great time. We had a dinner meeting at my place a week or two later to wrap things up (it was really an excuse to have more wine :)) Danielle wins the prize for best chocolate covered strawberries ever!!!

Thought for the Day

"If you want to walk on water,

you have to get out of the boat!"

Author unknown

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crackers

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CRACKERS

Graham crackers

Peanut Butter

Melted Chocolate Chips

Spread some peanut butter on crackers then spread melted chocolate on peanut butter. That's it! Very simple, very easy. For some added crunch, use crunchy peanut butter or top with chopped peanuts. Eat slowly and enjoy :-)!!!

Who doesn't have peanut butter and chocolate around? Are graham crackers a staple in your house? They should be! If you haven't been shopping and the kids or even the adults are looking for a snack, these are quick,easy, and satisfying.

A Word of Advice

Do not file your tax bill until it is paid :)

Thinking about the tax bill and remembering it came, I went to the bill folder to check out the due date. I was a little surprised to find it wasn't there, where I knew I put it. I began frantically checking in all those piles of papers we all know and love. You know, the ones that tend to clutter our kitchen counters. After searching through the last heap of these undesirables, I'm thinking, Father in Heaven, when was that blasted bill due and where is it now?. . . . . . . . . . . Ahhhhhh yes, I was shocked at the size of that bill when I received it and went to compare it with the previous year. After completing this task, well you guessed it, I filed it along with all the other tax bills. Yeah, that's me. :)

Traditions

During the Christmas season I bake several different kinds of cookies. There is one particular kind that creates a destinctive aroma. I can remember a time my daughter entered the house returning from an outing. She said, "It smells like Christmas. " She loves that smell. These are things that kids associate with holidays and family traditions.
We always put our Christmas tree up in the front hall where we have an L shaped stairway. One thing she loved is coming down the stairs on Christmas morning and seeing the reflections of colored lights on the walls.
Isn't it great when kids share their thoughts? Otherwise how would you know what things they associate most with Family Traditions?
How do you define Family Traditions?
What traditions have you brought to your family from your childhood?

Shrimp with Peppers and Onions

Have an abundance of garden veggies? We had this for dinner tonight, it was wonderful. If you don't have the necessary veggies in the garden. . . go buy them:) it's worth the trip.

Shrimp with Peppers and Onions

1 1/2 pounds medium-size shrimp
1 pound sweet peppers (preferrably combination of green and red)
3 ripe tomatoes
4 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
Salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. dried red pepper flakes
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup white-wine vinegar
1/2 cup finely shredded fresh basil

1. Shell and devein shrimp (save yourself some time and buy shrimp that has already been prepared for you but not cooked).
2. Cut onions in half, place each half cut side down and slice thinly. There should be about 2 1/2 cups. Set aside.
3. Cut pepper in half, discard core and seeds, place each half cut side down and slice into thin strips. There should be about 4 cups. Set aside.
4. Cut tomatoes into cubes. There should be about 2 cups.
5. Heat oil in a large skillet (I used an electric skillet which gave me plenty of room) and add the onion. Cook, stirring until wilted. Add pepper strips, bay leaf, thyme, salt, pepper, dried pepper flakes, garlic and stir. Cook about 2 minutes stir and add tomatoes. Cook 1 minutes. Add wine and vinegar, cover and cook about 5 minutes.
6. Add shrimp and basil and stir. Cover and cook about 2 minutes. Serve over rice with a glass of white wine. Makes 4 servings.

I like my veggies a little softer than al dente so I cooked the peppers and onions a little longer. Obviously you can alter it as you wish.

Stargazer Lilies

This past Easter my dad brought his friend Dot over for our family dinner. She very thoughtfully brought the centerpiece for the table which was a single stargazer lily. It had a few open blooms, several buds and filled the air with fragrance. This was a new flower to me and I really enjoyed having it. I asked her if they would grow in our zone and she said she didn't know so I dug out a catalogue or two and checked it out. Later that week I went shopping at a local garden center and bought some. Dot said if I found any, she wanted some too. So I bought 4 bulbs for her and 4 for me. I didn't get to planting them until. . . I think it was May. Here are the first blooms in all their glory. I bent to smell them but didn't notice much scent and thought: where's the scent! I don't smell anything! As I walked further, there it was permeating the rest of the garden. I found it odd that I couldn't smell it up close but was very satisfied with their performance. Thank you Dot for bringing such beauty to my garden in a delightfully, thoughtful way and for the entertainment it provided through socializing, competition and just the sheer pleasure of watching them grow :).

Country Cottage Birdhouse - Garden Project

This is one of my spring projects. It is not complete yet. I have one more thing to add which is a sign.

I got this idea from one of my garden magazines. My friend Carol was interested in it too. She had an old barn that collapsed and has been slowly burning the wood by having bonfires. I asked her if she had any wood left so we could build our own bird houses and she said yes. So we got together, gathered some wood (I think it was March), and let it dry out while we worked on trays. We could have bought bird houses and trays but why spend money if you don't have to?

I tried my hand at hypertufa the year before and still had some ingredients left over from that so we got together and made hypertufa trays. These needed a few months to cure so while they were curing we worked on building. Once the wood was dry we pulled out nails, cut off all rotted areas, sanded and made our blue prints, well. . . we put our basic ideas on paper. Basically, we were winging it! :) We did have to make a few purchases, like you need wire to staple on the roof to hold the moss, and you need moss :). I think those were the only things we had to buy other than a few plants for filler. However, most of the plants are perennials I dug up from the garden. The Thunbergia, growing on the trellis, I started from seed. I made the fence and trellis out of her barn wood and some floral wire.

"The Gathering" which is what the sign will say if I ever get things together and finish it. One hold up is, I can't decide if I want to hang it from the perch; put it against the front of the house under the perch; or over the doorway. Any suggestions?