A Sight for Sore Eyes

There is nothing finer than to see the arrival of a snowplow in the driveway during a blizzard. Now, if it would only come back.

Red Tulip

I do not often buy myself flowers but at this time of year I am drawn to the colors and green smells of the flower stall. The spring flowers have just started to come in. How can I resist color this rich?

Wordless Wednesday

Giving

I was sitting in a meeting the other day and as the conversation swirled around me, I heard someone on the other side of the table talking about making charitable donations in lieu of gifts for Christmas. That is just what my sister and I decided to do this year.

We started talking about it back in the fall when the "What do you want for Christmas?" topic came up. We tossed around some ideas: buying a wood stove for a Native American family; giving a sheep or cow or water buffalo through Heifer; something bigger than Toys for Tots or picking a card off the giving tree at the supermarket. My sister works closely with her local food pantry; growing vegetables for them in the summer. In the end, we settled on writing checks to them. It is local, there is a desperate need and she had a connection.

I had never been in a food pantry, so I wanted to drop off the check in person. The Marysville Food Pantry services 140 families. Each family can come in once a month to get a box of staples, dry goods, 3 packages of meat, some sweets, fresh fruits and vegetables (in season - what my sister donates for example.) as well as some health items on demand.

The folks do not get to choose their items from the shelves, instead are given a pre-loaded box. The size of the box depends on the size of the family. The pantry is only one day a week for a few hours but accepts donations in the mornings on the other days. It is run by volunteers and is an amazing place. It was the best gift to give and receive. Thanks, Sissy this was a great idea!!!

Bundled Up

I didn't put many decorations out this year for the holidays. A little of this and a little of token that, and of course the window candles, de rigeur if you live in a colonial. Since I neglected to put away my steel family in the fall, I made them red mini mufflers. Sorta cute. They may just have to wear them until Spring.

Corn Chowder

This recipe was given to me years ago.

5 slices bacon
1 medium onion thinly sliced and separated into rings
2 medium potatoes, pared and diced 1 1/2cups
1 can of cream-style corn
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper

In large saucepan, cook bacon till crisp. Remove bacon; crumble & set aside. Reserve 3 tbs bacon drippings in saucepan; discard remainder. Add onion slices to saucepan and cook till lightly browned. Add diced potatoes and water; cook over medium heat till potatoes are tender about 10 minutes. Add corn, milk, S&P. Cook until heated through, Pour into warm bowls; top each serving with crumbled bacon and a pat of butter. Serve with crackers.

Serves 4-5

First Snow of the Season

It started as an occasional flake, and soon grew to a light flurry like dandruff scratched by taloned fingers against the leaden sky. Within a few hours the earth had cooled enough for the snow to start to blanket the yard. It continued throughout the day and into the night. I awoke to a marshmallow world. The prediction was for 6 inches and I would say we came in at 5 1/2. It is always lovely the first time.