Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
fly
I miss the little folks so much. I am, however, enjoying the quiet, cooking, and the whole book I read yesterday.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
april
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Sunday, April 01, 2012
a door closed
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
growing
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
grapes
Not so long ago it was stlil winter. Back before the daffadils popped out and the grass started growing wildly I pruned our grape vines. I read a few articles on the internet, and then just went out and did it. I felt like a was cutting away a lot, but that it what you are supposed to do. I don't think anyone has pruned them in many years.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
the force that through the green fuse drives the flower
The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.
The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.
And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.
The hand that whirls the water in the pool
Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind
Hauls my shroud sail.
And I am dumb to tell the hanging man
How of my clay is made the hangman's lime.
The lips of time leech to the fountain head;
Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood
Shall calm her sores.
And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind
How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.
And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb
How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.
Dylan Thomas 1934
Monday, March 19, 2012
spring reveals
We moved into this house in the middle of winter. We could see the shape of the vegetable garden and some flower borders, but now March reveals borders from many years ago. Across the front of the front yard is a long row of daffadils, tulips, and bluebells coming up and blooming in the grass. In the side yard is a wide patch of grape hyacinths. The girls can't stay out of them, and I have several bouquets in the my kitchen window. I think there are peonies coming up in the front yard.
The man down the road at the Christmas tree farm told me that a woman named Lake used to live here and that she was a wonderful gardener who grew all kinds of flowers and vegetables. Maybe there are Lake's hyacinths, and she planted them in front of the root cellar at the house her grandfather built in 1876.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
filling the raised beds
I'm going to have these raised beds filled with dirt in a few days, but I'm starting some seeds on the back porch. I thought I'd start off with greens, onions, and some herbs in here. I need chives, dill, parsley, and cilantro. It looks like the lavender made it through the winter.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Monday, March 05, 2012
meatless pecorino meatballs
Meatless Pecorino Meatballs
8 large eggs
3 cups fine dry breadcrumbs
1 cup freshly grated pecorino ( or half pecorino and half Grana Padano or Parmesan Reggiano for a milder flavor)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 T. finely chopped basil, about 20 large leaves ( out of season, use pesto)
2 plump garlic cloves, minced
1 cup vegetable oil
2 batches (6-7 cups) Tomato Sauce
Fresh basil for garnish
Beat eggs well in a large bowl. Heap the bread crumbs, grated cheese, salt, chopped basil, and garlic on top of the eggs, and mix everything together well, first with a big spoon or spatula and then with your hands. The dough should come together in s soft mass, leaving the sides of the bowl. If it is very sticky, work in more bread crumbs a bit at a time.
Break off tablespoon pieces of dough and one by one roll them in your palms into a smooth ball. Place the polpettine on a board or tray covered with waxed paper or parchment – you should get about 60 balls.
Bring 1/8” oil in a heavy skillet and set over medium flame. When the oil is hot enough that a test ball starts sizzling on contact, lay in as many polpettine as will fill the pan with clear space around them. Turn balls to brown on all sides. When they are evenly browned on all sides, lift them form the pan, let the oil drip back into the pan, and then lay them on paper towels to drain.
Fry all the polpettine this way, adding more oil as needed. As a snack of hors d’oeuve, serve each freshly fried batch while hot and crispy. Keep warm in a warmed oven.
Monday, February 27, 2012
time
Ella is getting artsy and philosophical with her science fair project his year. Even better, she is doing this on her own for the most part.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
May 19, 1920
We found this inscription in the concrete beside our well. Was this the year that they got indoor plumbing? Beside the well is a small outbuilding with a trough, obviously the old pump house. In 1920 this house was thirty four years old. I know the man that built it was named Smith and that he was the local blacksmith. So, slowly the house reveals itself to us. bulbs are coming up through the grass in the shape of long gone flower borders. Daffadils, apparently, can not be stopped. Soon, I'm going to walk up the road to the old cemetery and see who I can find.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 02, 2012
lost another front tooth today
This little person swallowed his tooth today. He lost it in a seaweed rice cake with peanut butter. Never felt it go. He told his teacher he thought he used to have a tooth, but it might be gone. His friends were so supportive in the sweetest way, telling him that all he had to do for the tooth fairy was sleep with his mouth open.
rainbow morning
What a great way to start off the 100th day of school. The kindergarten had 100 flags, popped 100 balloons, ate a 100 piece hiyuku mix snack, put 100 stickers on party hats, did 100 piece puzzles, had 100 seconds of silence, and ate celery and pineapple rings served in the shape 100.
Monday, January 23, 2012
nest
I feel like I'm just starting to take it in, to really live here. It doesn't seem like a month, but a blur of boxes and lists. There are still boxes and windows without curtains and things to settle into, but it is starting to feel like home.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Saturday, January 07, 2012
the play's the thing
We were in invited to a play tonight up in John's room. Who knew that the pirate bed was also a theatre. They had actually rehearsed, and I got to kiss all the actors.
