ITS AS GOOD AS THE MEMORY!

 Do you ever long for a special meal, or soup, or cake, or cookie from someone who is no longer with you?  Something that a special person prepared without even knowing the effect that food item had on you, and maybe not realizing the effect they had on you, themselves?  Maybe you didn't realize their effect on your either - until they were gone!

I was a very lucky person growing up.  I had so many special aunts who in their own way helped shape the person I am today.   Each one gave me something special - some skill, some advise, some wonderful memory that I can relate to only them.  

It might have been a story of my ancestry, or a lesson in crochet, a warning about the perils of youth...  A lesson in gardening, a passage from the Bible - a shared family recipe....

One of my Aunts, made the most amazing Apple Kuchen.  From the time I was just a little snot, I remember her in her kitchen on the farm, encased in her generous hand-made apron, rolling out dough on her kitchen counter.  Her home always smelled of baking, and warm milk, with a tiny hint of fresh hay added to the mix.

She said Kuchen, with the German way of pronouncing a K.  Like the K was caught deep in her throat and she had to get it to her tongue first before she could spit it out.  No one said Kuchen like her... at least no one, I knew.

And the taste!  My Golly, the taste!  Her warm Apple Kuchen right out of the oven had no description at all - just pure taste followed by complete satisfaction.

Being a kid, I wolfed it down in less than two bites, but even so - even now, I remember the flavour.

So I started trying every Kuchen recipe I could find.  None of her family had her recipe, because she never used one.  Of course she didn't - that's why it was so darn perfect!

None of the recipes I tried were anything like her KKKuchen.... ( that's not a typo)!

Until last week...

I was back on the hunt again, and found a recipe that turned out to be really good, actually - it is almost the same, but not quite as wonderful as My Aunt Anna's Apple Kuchen recipe.

I have actually figured out the missing ingredient in every recipe I have tried -  it's her - she is what is missing.  Her and her generous home-made apron, her kitchen that smells like baking, warm milk with a hint of fresh hay, and her pronunciation of Kuchen.

As it turns out the recipe could not be any simpler than it is.

So just in case you have had this very same dilemma - I'm going to share the recipe I found, with you.

Enjoy!

Apple Kuchen

1 cup flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 Cup butter

Mix with pastry blinder and press into a  8x8 square pan

..............

4 cups apples peeled and sliced

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix together and place on top of crust in pan.

.........

Topping:

1/2 flour

1/2 cup sugar

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix together and sprinkle on top of apple layer.

Baker at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.  Refrigerate leftovers ( if you have any)

A COLLAR FOR CHRISTMAS!

 This post is extremely personal to me.  That's because it is about my husband, Gary.  

It was not an easy decision to make this post, because Gary is a very private person who doesn't like to be in the spotlight - in fact if truth were told, I had to really work on him to convince him that his story was special enough to even be told!

If you met Gary for the first time, you would say he's a quiet fellow, friendly, a nice guy.  All those would be true.  His gentle soul was what first made me love him, all those years ago.

But he is also fiercely loyal to those he loves, and he also has a generous amount of stubborn determination, when life demands call on him to use it.

Gary was born in Chicago in 1956, he is 64 yrs old, and we have been married for 36 years.  

In 1977, when Gary was 21 years old, he had a tragic accident, that should have ended his life - He fell 32 feet from a Ferris Wheel at a small amusement park in Justice Illinois.  

The accident was remembered in a column in the Chicago Tribune called "What Ever Happened to..." in 2009.

Have a read:

Gary recovered his injuries, but what he didn't share with the press in the Update above was his recollections of the fall itself.  Only those close to Gary know what he felt as he plunged the 32 feet to the ground.  

He recalls having no fear in the seconds it took for the bar of the cage he sat in to swing out, and for him to reach the small arcade roof, which he crashed through, essentially breaking his fall before he hit the cement pavement.  What he did feel was a presence, as if someone was with him, cradling him as he fell... a feeling that has stayed with him all his life.

Fast forward thirty years or so.  Gary's vision which has been poor due to severe myopia is deteriorating rapidly.  After being assessed by several specialists, Gary is told that he is going blind and there is no cure.  He can no longer drive, or work, and is now confined to our home.  He has begun falling down stairs and having accidents around the home due to his inability to see.

Instead of becoming a victim of his circumstance, Gary walks to a nearby Lutheran church, where he once was employed as an organist.  He meets with the Pastor, who has known Gary for a long time.  He explains his need to feel useful, and his desire to do something, even though his options are extremely limited. 

The pastor points Gary to a organization called Lutheran Volunteer Ministries, where volunteers are trained to visit shut-ins in hospitals and care homes to bring spiritual care and comfort to the people they visit.  Soon Gary is Volunteering at Misericordia Hospital and participating in personal visitation as well as group spiritual care gatherings.  His vision continues to deteriorate, and in desperation he visits his local optometrist who refers Gary to one more specialist for consultation on his blindness.

After several visits to the new specialist, Gary is slated for surgery ( removal of massive cataracts) and within months, he can once again drive and work and function in the normal world.

Gary is offered the position of co-ordinator of Lutheran Volunteer Ministries, which he accepts and he throws himself into his new vocation with all he has.  He begins study in Theology and progresses from

Lay-Minister
to a Deacon.  He begins performing  monthly church services in Personal Care homes, and then progresses to church services to congregations in a church setting.  

Gary continued his studies and now he has received Ordination from the Independent Lutheran Synod as a Pastor.

At 64 years of age, Gary has achieved his life- long dream, and I am so proud because I know first hand how difficult this journey has been.

If ever a life has been powered by the hand of God -  Gary's surely has.

- - -

I was going to get him a new wallet for Christmas ( he needs it), but instead I am shopping for a special shirt and a special collar. 

 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Pastor Graumann.

IT IS A WONDERFUL WORLD!

With all that is going on, and has been going on in our world this year, it is very easy to get caught up in the negative sentiment that seems to be prevalent everywhere you go, and pretty much with most of the people you meet or associate with.

I suppose it is our own choice as to whether we join that sentiment, or not.  I choose the not version of this conversation.

That's why for a very long time, I have been searching and finding like-minded people on social media.  

That statement might immediately turn you away from this blog post.  So be it!  That also is your choice!

Last fall I happened across a You-tuber from Northumberland England called Kate.  Her Youtube channel is called The Last Homely House.  When I started watching her channel it was The Last Homely House East of the Sea.  Why wouldn't you check out someone who had a channel name like that?  It was her channel name that first drew me to check out her channel.

Kate is almost exactly the same age as I - right down to the month - and I often think we could be twins in our thinking, our love of gardening, animals, and crafting. 

Her channel is not over the top - it's just Kate being Kate - doing what she loves and taking you along through her ordinary day - even when it's just cleaning out her craft room drawers.

When the Pandemic hit and lockdowns were occurring all over the world, Kate created a virtual "LIME GREEN SOFA" in her home, for all her beloved subscribers and viewers.  It was a place we all could gather together to sew or knit, visit, have tea, snacks and conversation.  In other words - she invited her viewers to connect to her and to one another through her channel.

Her idea sky-rocketed!  People from all over the world, including myself started participating with the idea of the "Lime Green Sofa".  Her comment section became a place to have a conversation with other like-minded people, and so Kate took the idea one step further and introduced the lime green sofa to Facebook on her group The Last Homely House East of the Sea.

The Lime Green Sofa Facebook group has only been up for a few weeks, but it too has just exploded.  I have no idea how many members are there already, but the group continues to grow daily.

One woman!  One woman sitting in the comfort of her sewing room where her computer sits off to one side, has connected thousands of like-minded people!

I don't know about you, but it seems to me that she has accomplished more in her short time on Youtube, than any celebrity or politician has in their entire lifetime.

Well done Kate...and Norma, and Eileen....

Who are they, you ask?  

Not telling - find out for yourself!

I have found new friendships, some even close to my own home.  Think of it - a woman half the world away has introduced me to someone in my own area. 

Let that sink in awhile - 

The World IS a Wonderful place - because of people like our Dear Kate.  

Kate  - Thank You from the bottom of my heart.  You have made a difference - and in my mind - that counts for so much more than most of us can hope to accomplish in our lifetime!

October is Out - November is Moving in!

 It seems to me that October went by very fast this year!  

As October's go, it was a particularly special one this year.  I turned 65 on the 13th, and although I really don't get into the number aspect of age a whole lot, I have to admit that this one stung, just a tiny little bit.

The very first thing I thought about on my birthday was my Mom.  She was 61 when she passed away in 1984 - four years younger than I am now, and yet somehow, I considered her a lot older than I believe people consider me.  Does that make sense?  Maybe I am the only one who thinks this - maybe everyone else does think of me as an elderly person - who knows!  

But all that "thinking" has passed now, and instead of pondering my age, I am moving forward to new ventures.  My body may reflect my age, but my mind is that of a much younger person... or again - so I believe!

So what new ventures are ahead, you ask?

Well for one thing, I really want to get my Youtube channel running better than it is.  I need a better camera and some editing capabilities so I can progress to more professional looking Vlogs and Podcasts.  My equipment is pathetic and very frustrating to work with - that has to change - and soon!

Secondly I am determined to get my Etsy shop up and running before Christmas.  I have a lot of work to do towards that end, but hopefully now that gardening season is really over I will have time to really devote to this task.

To that end, I am organizing my studio ( again).  I need space to store my Etsy inventory, I need space to do my packaging/ shipping stuff, and I need to get my computer organized to handle all the "business" end of my shop.

Filling the shop won't be a problem - I have more than enough to open the shop already.

I also am planning A Special Advent Calendar Event on my Youtube channel for this season's Advent.  Starting on Sunday November 29th, I will be doing a video a day for Advent.  Consider it a door opened every day, but instead of getting a piece of candy or chocolate, you will get some kind of Advent treat - from me.

There will be music, crafts, stories, baking, readings, decorating... something different every day from November 29 until Christmas Eve.  

I will be co-ordinating my event with my blog.  So for instance, if we are going to make something together - I will post the pattern or recipe, here on my blog several days before the video - so you can gather your supplies and make along with me.  

I will also post the schedule for the videos a week in advance here on the blog, so you can see what is coming up every day for that week.

I can't wait to get started, I think it will be a fun way to get us to Christmas Eve during a time, when fun is difficult to imagine.  If you are stuck at home - join me - I think you will be entertained enough to want to come back every day for the entire month.

So Out with October 2020 - November is just around the corner - and it's going to be a busy Month!

Stay well everyone.

OCTOBER IS HERE!

 

Can you believe it's October 1st already?  Where on earth did the summer go?

Here in Manitoba Canada, we are just weeks away from our first snowfall.  Yes, snow!  Typically our first snow is around Halloween, but last year we had a huge snowstorm on the Thanksgiving Long Weekend ( the second week of October).  

That wasn't normal, and no one was near ready to start winter that early - but we did - the snow stayed until April... it was a very long winter indeed!

Hopefully there won't be a repeat of that event this year.

As nasty as last fall was, this fall has been glorious.  The colours have been brilliant this year, and although a lot of the leaves are already on the ground, there are still some places around where you can find some gorgeous fall colours.

I took these photos a week ago on one of my morning walks...

As pretty as these colours are, nothing beats our unbelievable prairie skies - especially when they frame a golden crop of corn waiting to be harvested.

I took this photo this week while we were stopped on the highway for construction vehicles to pass.  There was a storm promised for later that day, and in this photo you can start to see the clouds moving in to the area.  The combination of blue sky, huge puffy clouds and the golden dying stalks of the corn just took my breath away.

Is that not a beautiful view of a approaching storm?

I hope we get more days like this one through the month of October.

So much nicer than snow...

MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL - LITERALLY!

 Yesterday I walked past my front steps on the way across the street to my neighbours house.  As always my eyes sought out my flower beds that flank each side of the stone steps leading to my front door. 

My eyes were checking out my fall daisy plants which are just about ready to burst out in beautiful little purple - blue blossoms, and then I noticed a pile of dirt, which I couldn't remember being there before.

I stopped walking and really took a good look and there was not one mound of dirt, but 6 mounds in formation that loosely resembled a question mark.  it took me a minute to realize that I was looking at a series of mole hills appearing like a mini-city in my flower beds and front lawn.

It's not the first time we have had moles on our property.  The last time was about 4 years ago, when mounds started appearing in our large garden in the back yard.  It was early spring, and I had not yet planted my garden, but it took no time at all until the yard was covered with hills.  

I had seen mole hills many times at my Uncle's farm, I knew about them, but never was much concerned whether they were there or not.  Mole hills in my own yard - well that was a horse of a different colour.

I immediately set about trying to find someone in town to "deal" with my problem.  I remember asking several people what I should do.  One suggestion was stick some Juicy-Fruit gum in the hole for them to eat - and then they would blow up!  Yuk.  

Another suggestion was to put a hose down the hole and drown them out - Yuk, Yuk!

We went to the hardware store looking for a trap and honestly there were no traps at all!

In the end a kind old fellow came to my aide, and with a trap that looked like a guillotine turned supreme torture chamber -  he trapped and disposed of the critter without my even seeing it. Yeah!

So here we are - four years later and they have decided to take up residence in my yard again.  Once again I am asking for help from my neighbours - mostly retired farmers.  You'd think they have traps?

Apparently not - they left them on the farm -  have never needed them in town! 

Really?  Never?  I'm from the city, and now I have needed them twice!

Again I get the advice on how to trap them.  Find the hole, put the trap in, don't cover the hole, some say... cover the hole tightly, say others!

I'm told they have claws like a badger... are the size of a large rat.... are ugly beyond description.... 

Do I want to do this?  Do I want to see this mole?  NO and NO!

And then I look outside and overnight they have added another house to their town!

Now I am told that each mound of dirt is a room.  You know - one to store food - a birthing room - I guess they have a living room and a bathroom?  No Sunroom tho - they don't like light.

Hubby has warned I am on my own with this -and I just want to stay up in my studio and keep writing!

Am I making a Mountain out of several Molehills?

You bet I am!  I'm procrastinating too!

I don't even have a trap yet!

OH could someone please come over and deal with this for me!!

I can't call the old guy who helped me before - he was killed in a tragic accident just months after he got my mole.  I'm so sorry Mr. Blake - we all miss you so much!

I think I am being tested.  Buck up, city girl - you're in the country now - get some grit!

I need to take a deep breath, get off this desk chair and get to the hardware store!  Do I really have to do this?  Really?

Pray for me... or pray for the mole... I don't know.  Maybe pray for us both!

Wish me luck?

I'm getting off the chair now....

THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN FALL - EXCEPT MAYBE THIS "OVEN APPLE PANCAKE!"

 I'm not sure there is anything better than the season, of Autumn /Fall.  Mother nature pulls out all the stops on this the last true season of the year, and even if for some of us the season is rather short - it still is as beautiful and glorious as they come!

It happens to be my favourite season.  I was born in this season, so that might explain why I love it so much, but I think it's the way that fall prepares us for a different pace that I love the best.

The colours are spectacular, but then the leaves are shed and cover the ground... Mother Nature is saying "Gather your blankets, harvest the food that I have grown for you, rest now, gather your strength - I'll turn down the light and make your days shorter."

I try to allow Fall's influence into my life, by doing some of the things that the season suggests.

I gather my harvest and store it for the winter.  I pick up my knitting needles that have been sitting in a bag most of the summer forgotten, and I get back to making those socks, and blankets, mittens and shawls. 

 I go to bed earlier,  I sleep much better;  I make more hot satisfying meals, and I take more time enjoying those meals.

Fall is the only time we get to pick apples from the tree and this year the apples are plentiful in our community.  On my walks around town I have been watching trees load themselves with plump apples for the past couple of months.  And now they are ready to pick.

Everyone is giving apples away here, it's been an incredible harvest this year.

My neighbour picked 500 lbs of apples from one little tree and very kindly shared a garden-wagon full of them with me.

So yesterday I spent my day peeling coring and freezing apples to use this winter.  

One of my favourite things to make with apples is   OVEN APPLE PANCAKE.  I thought I had shared the recipe here before, but I can't locate it so, I am going to share it again.  

It's perfect for Brunch, or a special breakfast, or even an evening meal.  We have ours for our supper  along with some sausages or ham.  It is a recipe that you will make over and over again - I can promise you that!

So here is the recipe.

Note:  I make my pancake in a quiche dish, or a very deep pie plate because the batter really expands and will go over a regular sized pie plate.

OVEN APPLE PANCAKE:

1/4 cup butter 

1/3 cup brown sugar

Ground Cinnamon, light sprinkle

3 large eggs

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

2-4 apples ( enough to cover the bottom of your pan) peeled, cored and sliced

Set oven to 425F

Melt butter in your pie plate or quiche pan. Stir brown sugar into melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon.  Place apples over sugar mixture, enough to cover the bottom of your dish and cook in oven for 10 minutes.

Beat eggs, add milk, salt and flour.  Stir to moisten.  Pour over apples, return to oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve inverted so the apples and syrup are on the top.

Enjoy!