Monday, June 28, 2010

A Lesson with Anne

"Anne walked home very slowly in the moonlight. The evening had changed something for her. Life held a different meaning, a deeper purpose. On the surface it would go on just the same; but the deeps had been stirred. It must not be with her as with poor butterfly Ruby. When she came to the end of one life it must not be to face the next with the shrinking terror of something wholly different--something for which accustomed thought and ideal and aspiration had unfitted her. The little things of life, sweet and excellent in their place, must not be the things lived for; the highest must be sought and followed; the life of heaven must be begun here on earth."

~Anne of the Island, L.M. Montgomery

A Reminder

"One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald." (Rev 4:2-3)

A Couple of Mountain Memories

During a recent jaunt to the cabin, our crew of seven huddled into picnic table benches on the deck to enjoy the evening air while playing "Spoons", one of our favorite, get-physical card games. The competitive mood pinnacled against our peaceful, foliage-filled surroundings when the last available spoon took flight over the deck. Awareness that this plastic precious was still a free-for-all sent the spoonless pounding their feet around the deck, down the steps, and through the gate to finally descend upon the prize below! To the victor (Kylie) went the spoon!

After scooting around the table for a few more rounds, we were taught a new card game called "I Doubt It". Everyone sits in a circle, and a deck of cards, excluding the jokers, is passed out until none are left. The player following the dealer begins the game by choosing one to four of his cards to lay face down in the center and declare that they are "[1/2/3/or ...however many cards laid] aces", either by bluff or in truth. The play continues around the circle clockwise with each player declaring the amount of the next type of card in order of ascending card value. For instance, the second player will lay one to four cards on top of the center pile, declaring (or bluffing) "[that many] twos". The third player will have to lay one to four cards face down on top of the center pile declaring (or bluffing) that many threes. Then the same is done with the following players with fours, fives, sixes and so on up to kings, cycling back to aces, twos, threes, again. The catch is that anytime after the recent player has made a declaration of cards, but before the next player takes his turn, any player can say "I doubt it" if it's thought that player was bluffing. When "I doubt it" is said, the recent card layer must turn over only his center cards declared thereby revealing whether he was bluffing or not. If he was telling the truth, then the ACCUSER must take ALL of the cards in the pile without exposing the rest of them that were underneath. If the accuser was right and the card layer WAS bluffing, then the OWNER of the revealed cards must take ALL of the cards in the pile, again without exposing the cards underneath. The object of the game is to be the first to have no cards left in your hand. FUN!

Finally, while playing yet more card games the next morning, a doe and her two fawns were spied meandering through nearby paths. It's always a treat to feel somewhat amidst flora and fauna!


(There really are two there!)

Monday, June 21, 2010

Mixed Vegetable Grill

  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons basil leaves
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • (*These can be substituted with equal amounts of Salad Supreme seasoning.)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 asparagus spears, trimmed
  • 1 medium sweet red or yellow pepper, cut lengthwise into 6 strips
  • 1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
  • 1medium yellow summer squash, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
  • 1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds

Directions

  • In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, herbs and spices. Drizzle oil over vegetables in a large bowl; toss to coat. Add seasoning mixture; toss to coat. Grill the vegetables over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are fork-tender, turning frequently. Yield: 6 servings.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Book Swap Finds



Poems and Souls

"Look, do you see that poem?" she said suddenly, pointing.

"Where?" Jane and Diana stared, as if expecting to see Runic rhymes on the birch trees.

"There...down in the brook...that old green, mossy log with the water flowing over it in those smooth ripples that look as if they'd been combed, and that single shaft of sunshine falling right athwart it, far down into the pool. Oh, it's the most beautiful poem I ever saw."

"I should rather call it a picture,"said Jane. "A poem is lines and verses."

"Oh dear me, no." Anne shook her head with its fluffy wild cherry coronal positively. "The lines and verses are only the outward garments of the poem and are no more really it than your ruffles and flounces are you, Jane. The real poem is the soul within them...and that beautiful bit is the soul of an unwritten poem. It is not every day one sees a soul... even of a poem."

~Anne of Avonlea, L.M. Montgomery

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

A Movie Night Suggestion....

After reading The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers, I enjoyed how the movie did a better job at putting flesh on the characters, the culture, and especially on the Good News. Intrigue, laughter, and tears for the joy of Redemption proved it a worthy watch.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Healthier Yummies


Using white whole wheat flour and almost half the sugar, these were a less-guilty indulgence.


C is for Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2-1/4 c. whole spelt flour, or whole wheat, or white whole wheat
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. mini M & M's

Preheat oven to 375. Mix sugars, butter, egg and vanilla in a large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. (Dough will be stiff.) Stir in mini M & M's. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 3 inches apart onto an ungreased baking stone or cookie sheet. Bake until light brown, 8-10 minutes (center will be soft). Let cool slightly, then remove from cookie sheet with a spatula. Makes about 48 cookies.



Cranberry-Orange Scones














These are one of Kylie's and my favorites as a breakfast or a snack. The high-fiber cereal, orange yogurt, white whole wheat flour, orange-flavored craisins and small amount of brown sugar yield a palatable hearty sweetness that we enjoy even without the orange glaze.

2 c. any whole wheat flake cereal
1 c. all-purpose or white whole wheat flour
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. grated orange peel
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 c. firm butter or margarine
1/2 c dried, orange-flavored cranberries
1 egg, slightly beaten
2/4 c. orange yogurt

Orange Glaze:
1/2 c. powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp. grated orange peel, 2 to 3 tsp. orange juice all mixed together until thin enough to drizzle.

1. Heat oven to 400. Place cereal in plastic bag or between sheets of waxed paper; slightly rush with rolling pin; set aside.

2. Mix flour, brown sugar, baking powder, orange peel and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in cereal, cranberries, egg and yogurt until soft dough forms.

3. Place dough on lightly floured surface. Gently roll in flour to coat; shape into ball. Pat dough into 8-inch circle with floured hands. Cut circle into 12 wedges with sharp knife dipped in flour. Place wedges about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes until edges are light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack (place rack on waxed paper to catch glaze drips). Cool 5 minutes; drizzle with Orange Glaze. After glaze is set, store tightly covered.