It's May Day Already!

    

     Oh, my, I just realized that the month of May has dawned upon us!  How did that happen?  I thought I was watching for it, but I missed an entire week somehow.  I have still been laboring under the belief that I have three weeks to prepare for the grandbabies visit.  It's two weeks!  Not three!  Yikes. 

  

This is Nehemiah.  He is nearly eight months old.  I haven't seen him since February 25th, which means I haven't seen him since he was five and a half months old.  He is so happy, and so cute.  I can't wait to hold him and enjoy him.

 
      Here is a recent picture of Ezkeiel, who will be turning 3 at the end of this month.  I miss him so much.  I really have to make reservations for another trip to Indiana!  I know, they're coming to see me, but then what?  I can't wait until Christmas to play with this little boy again.  That will not do.  Not when children grow up so fast.  No, I'll have to go out and visit him at least two times between now and December.
 

     This was the last activity I did with Ezekiel when I last did my "grandma" visit.  We had so much fun coloring together.  I would color houses and buildings, trees, birds and sky, and while I colored I told stories about the places I drew.  Ezekiel would get all caught up in the stories, to the point where he actually thought a door to a house would open upon continued knocking on the picture.  It's just magical, this age.  That's why I can't miss too many months in between visits.  I can't give up the magical part of my grandchildren's lives.

     Like going outside and pretending to build Eyore's house. 

     Or making a cave out of pillows.

Peek-a-boo, I see you!  I see someone else too.  Looks like Mama.





 

 I know, I found you!  You're so cute.  Grandma loves you, and I can't hardly wait to see you and wrap my arms around you, and kiss you and love on you. 



I love the month of May!!



Mouth Watering Country Food In Southern Indiana!

            I'm about overdo for a visit to Joe Huber's Family Farm and Restaurant in Starlight, Indiana.  Why?  Because they make the best mouth watering country food, and because I haven't been there since last summer.  And, besides, their fried chicken is legendary.  But, then, so is everything else they make.   And, one more thing, it's almost strawberry season on the farm!

    

     It's time to order dinner, so if you'll excuse me. . . . . and, oh, before I forget to tell you, there is a "take-out" window outside, around the back of the restaurant.  People line up to get their dinners to go, but I opted for a nice dinner inside this time.



     And, in case you weren't getting hungry yet, let me tell you about the rolls at Huber's.  They are sooooo . . . . delicious!  The rolls remind me of binets you can get in New Orleans, or Portuguese malasadas you can get in Hawaii.  Funny story about the malasadas, but I'll tell you about that later. 

 

     Uh huh, almost ready to eat!   I can't stand it!  Sigh.  Please, look away for a moment. 

     While I'm enjoying my roll dripping with butter and strawberry jam, may I direct your eyes to the other side of the restaurant where diners wait for their delicious meals to be wheeled to them on a cart, and placed in front of them.  Yep, that's how food is delivered here at Huber's.  You can fit quite a lot of fried chicken platters on those trays with wheels.  As my friend, Martha Stewart, would say.  "It's a good thing." 

 

* Disclaimer:  Martha is not really my friend.  I've never met her before.  I just feel I know her like a friend because she taught me a lot about cooking and hostessing, in my younger days.  And, I can imagine she is my friend, can't I?

 

     Alright, that was enough time for me to finish off two of those malasadas.  I mean rolls. 

 

    

     And, now, a word from our sponsor. . . . . .

 

 

. . . . no, not really, just kidding. . . . . 

 

 

     But, you should know if you ever come to southern Indiana during "Kentucky Derby" season, which can last anywhere from a week to several months (depending on the quantity and quality of mint), you will find varying forms of julips being offered at various eating and drinking establishments.   Enjoy.

 

    

     Ahhhh . . . . my dinner has arrived.  Fried chicken, "real" mashed potatoes, gravy, and lima beans.  That's right, lima beans.  Important, and popular (I might add), food source in the south, and if prepared well they are quite delicious. 

 

 

 

I can't wait for dessert!  I've been mulling over my options ever since I sat down.  What shall I have, I wonder?

 

      Hmmmmm . . . . . .  Pie?  Sure, I'll have pie, and make that ala mode, please.  I think the pie lady wasn't quite sure I should have a piece, so I took the whole pie instead.  That way I could share it. . . . Yeah, right.  

     They have cookies too?  Great!  I'll take half a dozen.  And, a stomach pump?  Where would those be? 

     Actually, never mind the stomach pump.  Walking off dinner on the farm is easy, unless of course you ride in the tractor trailer.  I did a little of both, mostly because the fruit I wanted to pick was at least a mile up the road. 

 

     Oh, Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.  Turns out there were plenty of all-ready picked strawberries in the farm store, for those who were faint of heart, i.e. too full to bend over and pick the berries for themselves. 

     This nice woman volunteered (eh hem) to taste a strawberry for me.  I couldn't put another thing in my mouth, but I wanted to buy some berries for later. 

 

      Really?  Is it true I couldn't put another thing in my mouth?  I just found this little video that shows otherwise.  Oh, dear.  Well, I think this is important enough to bust me, so . . . . . . . here goes.  This video is up for an award, by the way. 

 

 

Not really. . . . . . but it probably should be.  The star is me.  The film maker is me.  The director?  Also me.  Okay, just watch it and then you'll know why I should get some sort of an award. 

 

 

 

 

See?  Now you understand.  Btw, that's "darselect" strawberries.  They're yummy.

 

 

 

 

     Oh, dear, here comes the tractor.  I better get onboard if I'm going to try out picking my own fruit. 

 

     And, while I'm at it I think I'll grab a menu so I can order some "take-out" before I go to the field . . . ., you know . . . .for later. 

 

      Now I really need to visit Indiana again.  Soon!

 

For More Information About Joe Huber's Farm: click on the link

 

 

p.s.  The malasada story:  I was visiting the island of Maui, with my sister-in-law Marilyn, who happens to have friends on the island, who love malasadas and took us all over Kahului to taste test every kind of malasada made on the island.  We had to taste and rate the delectible rolls which weren't so delectible after about the sixth one.  I don't know if I can ever eat another malasada after that.  Although, now that enough time has passed I could probably eat somewhere up to four, or maybe five.  But never six and beyond again. 

 

    And, that's my story.  I'm sticking to it.  I hope you enjoyed this southerncottagegirl culinary tour. 













Tea and Lilacs

     Today, because I love lilacs and because the sun is shining, I decided to get in the jeep and drive north to the Hulda Klager Lilac Garden in Woodland, Washington.

     After paying a $2.00 entrance fee, you walk through the gate and along the path towards the garden home of the Klager family.  The home is part of the tour, and very much worth a walk through.    

     So, I walked up the porch steps, and went right through the front door. . . . .

     Isn't that a pretty entrance door?

     After admiring the door, and taking more than a few pictures of it, I went into the parlor . . . .

     Where a lilac quilt was on display.  I plunked down five dollars for six raffle tickets, for the quilt that will be given away in July.

     Back outside again, I took a picture of this front porch scene.  I love the old fashioned-ness of it.  Look at the old cushions underneath the new decorator fabric cushions.  So quaint, and so right for a lilac garden farm house. 

     It was time to wander the grounds.  Such a pretty day.  Did I mention I love lilacs?  I do.  So much so that my children used to beg the neighbors for a bouquet off their bushes so they could give them to me for Mother's Day.  Isn't that sweet?  I miss those days, when the children were home and little, and brought me bouquets of lilacs.  Sigh.  Anyway, the grounds were lovely.  I couldn't think of a better place to be than in a lilac garden. 

     Along with walking paths and garden seats, there was a gift shop and lilac nursery for making your own gardens at home.  

     Here's a man pulling his cart of lilac bushes towards the parking lot. 

     Awwww . . . . now, is that a feast for the eyes, or what?  Okay, I know, there aren't any lilacs (yet!), but look how ridiculously lush and beautiful a spot for garden seating, that is.  Please.  I just want to go and sit there on the hotest days of summer (which I'm sure are coming in spite of the long chilly winter we've had).   So, when it turns hot, you'll know where to find me.  I'll be the lady with the straw hat, fan in my hand, glass of sweet tea on the arm of the chair, that blue one over there.   Sigh.  So Beautiful!

     I love that there is a lilac society!  It's probably a national thing that I've just never heard about.  Thank you, Hulda!  Did you know your name comes from the Bible, btw.  Hulda was a prophetess.  I believe you must have been too, because you saw a vision of lilacs all around you and you created that vision for all of us to enjoy.  What a wonderful thing to do. 

     I didn't get to enjoy tea today, but I'll be going back soon. 

New Moves on Photoshop Elements

    After 20 or so hours of watching the little photoshop ant run around whatever I selected with one of the selection tools, and trying to figure out how to paint in watercolors, look what I made?!  

This is what I started with.  I'm glad my daughter pointed out the scaffolding around the church tower.  I didn't notice it, and I would have worked all those hours only to feel compelled to throw it all away and start again.  Thank you, Rachel, for cluing me into my almost disasterous mistake. 

By the way, did I mention how much I LOVE Nantucket Island?  That's the picture.  It's Nantucket Island as you come in on the ferry, early in the morning.   The funny thing is, my husband asked me;
                          "Did you find that picture online somewhere?"
Me:                    "No, honey, I took it with my camera."
My husband:     "Oh, well, that's a pretty place.  Where is it?"
Me:                    "It's Nantucket Island. 
                            Don't you remember?  You went with me."  Sigh.

Apparently, the town did not make as big an impression on my husband as it did on me.  I'm sure glad I got a picture of it. 

Here's another photo I've been playing around with on photoshop elements.  

I love this picture except for the fact that I don't love it because I realize it has a green line in it that I didn't see to take out before I had this picture printed up.  At least I went to a store that does faux canvas prints for around fifteen dollars.  FIFTEEN DOLLARS!!!  That's quite a lot for a print on a piece of foldable cardboard.  Note to self:  Don't do that again! 

But, I do like it. 

Here is another photo I edited this week.  I love this photo!  It's a picture of my grandbaby sleeping on my sofa in the living room.  I wrapped him in this soft beige blanket that looks very cute with his blue outfit.  He is so precious!  I love babies.  I miss him, even though he's two (almost three) now, and he has a brother who is seven months old. 

There he is now, with his mama and his baby brother, Nehemiah.  I love this photo too.  Don't tell my daughter-in-law but I had this made into a gift for her for Mother's Day.  I can't wait until she gets it.  I think she's going to love it.  

And now,  ta da!



Wait For It . . . .



I love this one . . . 
 
 

One more picture I've been working on this week.  I have a bit more to do on it, but I love how it's turning out so far.  I recently took my camera to Moss Farm and begged this woman (who shall remain unkown because I'm not wanting to be rude by posting a picture before I've asked permission to do so), to pose for me.  She was busy running around the farm, but I brazenly scoured her closet, threw this jacket on her and said, "smile"  before she could say "no wanna."  I love this picture.  I think I'll make a canvas print of it.  I think I'll hang it in my house.

So, that's what I've been doing all week.  Working on photoshop elements day and night.  Yikes.  It's one in the morning right now.  I'm turning this computer off.. . .. . .

 Good night. 

New Places, New Loves

I just spent a day and a half in Kirkland, Washington with my sisters.  I've never been to Kirkland, but I know Kirkland because who hasn't seen the Kirkland brand on Costco products, right?  But, now, I have to say that, "to know Kirkland is to Love Kirkland".  I mean, of course, the Lake Washington, cutsey shops side of Kirkland. 

This is the lobby of the Woodmark Hotel on Lake Washington in Kirkland.  My sister Mary had a room, compliments of her job, and she invited us to crash (I mean, stay) with her.  We (my other sister and I) jumped in the car and drove right up.  That's her, over there in the chair, drinking champagne and looking out over the lake.  It was lovely being greeted with a flute of bubbly, especially since I'm much more used to being greeted with a napkin holding a half baked chocolate chip cookie, which I smash on my way to my room with my arms loaded down with bags.  By the time I eat "the welcome" cookie, of other hotels, it's stale, and it's still half baked.  Ick.  Do you see my point?  This place is my kind of place, thank you very much. 

I sat here in the morning with my 'cup of jo', in front of a warm fire.  Lovely, just lovely.  I'm telling you, this place has ruined me forever.  I will never be able to face camping again.  Yes, camping, or what I consider camping which is to say, rving.  I am, at this very moment, scouring the internet for a deal at this place, so that I can bring my husband here and cure him once and for all of the need to camp.  I think this will do it. 

By the way, do you like my new outfit?  Well, the shoes were not new, and neither was the blouse, but the jacket and slacks are newly purchased, and while I was shopping for something new, I kept hearing a voice in my head, saying,  "Get some color on you, girl!"  That voice belongs to my friend Chris who knows how to shop and look good all the time, so I listened to the voice this time and bought this colorful attire.  You will not lose me in a crowd, in that jacket, that's for sure!     

Here I am again, having fun in my new jacket.  This interesting bust can be found (and posed beside, if you have a bright orange jacket such as mine, which you can easily have if you go to Macy's and look for it) at the little Italian eatery in Kirkland, called, "Lucia".  I love the food at Lucia!  I just had to shout that out.  I love Italian food!  I want to go to Italy!  I want to eat my way through the country, and through the Islands, and across the sea to Croatia, and so forth, though I don't know why I'm still shouting!  Deep Breath.  Sorry.



This is my sister Debbie Moss (of Moss Farm Fame), posing for me, though she hates to pose and protests profusely when I whip out my camera (an annoying habit, I know, I've been told by more than one person, and I apologize profusely whenever I annoy anyone because I love my family and friends and I don't mean to annoy them, it's just so easy to be annoying and not know it.  Sigh.)

Mostly, we shared an appetizer of crab cakes (they were outstandingly delicious!), a salad, and a dessert.  It's the dessert I want to focus on because as my sister commented, the pictures of the table with all the salad looked a lot like we were feeding in a pasture instead of a restaurant.  Now, you want to see those pictures, don't you?  Alright, I'll put one up, but I have to say, "I told you so" when you look puzzled and wonder why I would put up a photo that looks more like a pasture. 

Are you happy now?  Good.  Let's go back to the dessert and pretend we never saw this.  Agree?  Good.  Thanks. 

So, I can't find this dessert on the Lucia website, but it's called, "Elderflower Creme Brulee", and it had a subtle hint of floral that was very nice in the custard, and paired beautifully with the strawberries and the moscato d'asti wine I was drinking.  Yum!  Next time I'm ordering the blackberry cobbler because the northwest is known for its blackberries and cobblers.  Oh, the visions I'm having of my next trip to Kirkland, I tell ya. 

This is me, oh so happy, and having fun, in Kirkland. 

* p.s.  Thanks, Mary! 

*p.s.s.  A few of the pictures may look blurry to you, but they are not blurry without intention.  You see, I was trying out the "orton effect (effect?  affect?)" on photoshop elements.  It's suppose to make pictures seem more real, I guess, so you add a little blur here and a little noise there, and then lighten it all up, and voila!  Right?!  Sigh.  I don't think it works as well as one would like.  I think you will look at the pictures and say,  "Awk.  She is not focusing again!  The pictures are blurry.  I better have a word with her."  yada yada.  So, I hope this saves you some trouble. 

Blessings!  And, go visit Kirkland.  It's definitely on my list of new places to love.