I've been away

To sunny California



It's great to go and wonderful to be back.

Home is where the heart is.

Gina



A remarkable Book, Winner of the 1995 Christopher Award

"The Ledger Book of Thomas Blue Eagle"

"Mules are harder to steal than horses...they came willingly when they heard our calls".

"Our tipis were round like the sun and the moon.  My people believe there is great power in a circle".

"We followed the huge herds of buffalo over the Plains, packing tipis on pony drags and our other belongings on dogs".

"My pony was strong and proud, and at first we had many arguments.  I painted him with different earth colors on each side and called him Two Painted Horse". 

"The Crow charged like thunderbeings...yelling their war cries...some of my people were killed and the rest ran in all directions... I climbed inside a hollow tree..."

"A soldier came to my father and asked him to send me to a place called Carlisle Pennsylvania.  The soldier promised to teach me the white man's language and his skills".

Note: "row of little houses"  the train which took the children to the white man's school. 

Winner of the 1995 Christopher Award

By Jewel H. Grant and Gay Matthaei

Illustrations by Adam Cvijanovic

Published in 1994 by Thomasson-Grant

All images from book entitled "The Ledgerbook of Thomas Blue Eagle"

Available from Amazon ISBN 1-56566-063-3

Happy Superbowl Sunday my dear Blogging Friends

Gina

You say you don't know how to cook?

Yes you do!

Almost all soups begin the same way.

 You need only 4 items;

onions, carrots, celery and a good soup stock (I don't expect you to make your own stock).

To 6 cups of vegetable stock add 2 cups of lentils or split peas and 2 to 3 smoked ham hocks.  Cook over low heat for about an hour or until peas become slightly tender. (Don't forget to stir the pot once in a while).

Cut up a handful each of  carrots, onions and celery into bite size pieces and add to the simmering soup.  Continue cooking for another 20 to 30 minutes.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Prepare a salad of Romaine lettuce,  hearts of palm, whole small peppers and sprinkle salad with blue cheese.

Serve with warm crusty bread and fresh, unsalted butter.

Next week follow same instructions but omit legumes and smoked meat.

ADD a cut up chicken instead and at the end add a few of your favorite noodles.  Cook until noodles are al dente (done).

That's called home made chicken noodle soup. 

Serve a ripened pear with aged cheese for dessert.

This is only the beginning of your culinary adventures. 

Soon you will be preparing Lobster Thermidor. 

Think of all the accolades you will receive.  

Have a great weekend my dear Blogging Friends 

Gina   

My Kitchen is like many other kitchens

It has the typical assortment of cabinets and other

fittings.

A lot of cooking, baking and canning takes place in this kitchen.

And there is one corner that holds a secret.

It hides my 25 year old washer and dryer.

That stick, with the bicycle hook attached to the end, is for reaching down into the machine to retrieve my laundry.  I designed this washer and dryer cabinet for a NEW front loading washer but this darn old thing will not give up the ghost. 

Now, every household should have a stick such as this.  It is very handy.

This Miele ironing machine only rolls into my kitchen twice a year.

Great for large tablecloths and the many napkins we use throughout the year.

For the remainder of the year the ironing machine stays tucked away in the closet.  That is what I like about this machine, it folds up to the size of a vacuum cleaner.

 When this corner table is not stacked with newly ironed linens it serves as my Studio.  My corner studio where I paint ceramics.

My kitchen also has a large table in the center.  A table where friends are recruited to help cook, cutting up vegetables from the garden and where we have had many a casual candlelight dinner.  

So you see, my kitchen is not just any ole kitchen

Have a great weekend my dear Blogging Friends

Gina

The second Unannounced Contest

You might recall my list of pet peeves
of a few weeks ago.

Tina of The Enchanted Home, listed several pet peeves but the best of them was "people who talk really loud on their cell phones..."





Tina, please choose your prize from any of these

A Baker's Dozen of my hand printed little cotton drawstring bags.
OR

A hand painted door sign
OR

Custom hand painted for you.

OR

A vintage Lace handkerchief.
OR

An assortment of my famous organically grown fruit  preserves in jars with hand painted labels. 

Thank you Tina for participating.

Gina











Why I love Orchids

It's because they are repeat bloomers,

especially the Phalaenopsis Orchid.

And of course, because they are so exotic.

Do you remember when orchids were very expensive.  I do.

Now you can purchase orchids in grocery stores and many other non traditional plant places.

And they come in so many different colors.

There is never a need to have a plastic Phalaenopsis.

They cost less than a flower bouquet yet each flower spike lasts 4 months or even longer.

When they finish blooming,  place them in an out-of-the-way place, water once a week and watch them bloom again.

Phalaenopsis Orchids  are not difficult. Once they bloom they are very happy in any light condition. However, you must keep them away from  direct heat.

 Place Phalies wherever they are appreciated the most. 

Give them a try, you will be so pleased that you did.

Gina