trillium mama

it's 25 degrees and summer

Nothing could be more delightful than a taste of summer, in the cold dead of winter-at least I think so. And in thinking so, I set out to tickle my family’s tastebuds with a simple and delicious cobbler. The recipe was from a none too fancy Weight Watchers cookbook, but of course I tweaked it a little.

The recipe:

First I put on a lovely vintage apron that I found at a yard sale last summer-after all one must have a cute apron to make cobbler. Next I took two quart jars of home canned peaches, with just the slightest hint of honey. To this I added three tablespoons of cornstarch and one-half cup homemade blackberry jam. I sent these to the microwave oven for about six minutes, or until bubbly(I made sure to stir a few times).

While this was heating, I mixed one cup flour (use a sifter is you prefer) with two teaspoons of baking powder, one-quarter teaspoon baking soda, and two tablespoons sugar. I caved in a well in the center with my favorite vintage green spoon, then added one-quarter cup buttermilk(actually I didn’t have buttermilk so I made due by mixing one-quarter cup milk with one-quarter teaspoon vinegar).

I gave this a few gentle stirs just to moisten, then placed it in the hot fruit mixture by heaping tablespoon. I topped the dough off with some raw sugar, then tossed(more like gently placed) it in the oven at three-hundred-fifty degrees for about twenty-five minutes.

When I took it out, the thought of warm summer days came to my mind. The smell was heavenly, and the taste- well, you’ll just have to make some for yourself!

whisked away

I admit that I have not been posting lately. I have been trying to recover from the holidays, and get back into school. What better for this than a trip to my hometown Bend, Oregon? Rest, relaxation, and a three day excuse to avoid homework. Yes, it was perfect.

We stayed at our favorite local pub/hotel McMenamin's St. Francis School. If you live near Oregon, this is a must stay place. You get to stay in unique rooms in a school converted to a hotel/theater/soaking pool/pub/restaurant, and you can drink their yummy craft beer and wine anywhere on the grounds. Heaven!

We shopped and took in the amazing sunny winter sites by day, and unwound by the wood stove sipping wine and eating whiskey salmon by night. When we returned to our room, we soaked in matching claw foot tubs in a girls bathroom converted to our own personal spa complete with a (roomy) bathroom stall.

We were sure to take a walk at the famous Mirror Pond at Drake Park, where Ava and I fed the duck and geese just like I did as a little girl. I told her about the first time I set foot in Bend-we stopped at Mirror Pond first, and I was in love. The ducks we were feeding very well could have been descendants of those very ducks I fed when I was six. She didn't seem to excited about the story, but did think the ducks were pretty neat.

Now we are back home and even though we had a great time, we are glad to be here. I am finding that kicking back on my sofa with a glass of local wine and cheese is just as spectacular(if not better) than having to travel and live out of a suitcase. You said it Dorothy-there's no place like home!

hello new year

As I was trying  to explain the concept of a new year to my almost two year old, I started to ponder what a new year means to me. It is kind of like meeting someone new. You don't know anything about them, but as the months pass you become ever more comfortable with them. Sometimes they turn out to be a good friend you remember forever, and sometimes they turn out to be someone that you try to learn from, but never see again. Some years are very memorable with lots of highs, and some are incredibly trying on us and memorable in a different way.

Although his past year flew by for me, it was a good year. I didn't get many of the things done that I wanted to, but that's ok. I achieved other things that I didn't expect to. Looking forward to getting to know this new year is exciting, and I can't wait to see what it holds for our family.

To all of you, I wish you a new year filled with whatever you hope it to be filled with. I have hopes that this year will be a healthy, active year for my family, with plenty of time together. Best new year wishes friends.