Quietness & Solitude

Quiet beauty. Fragrance. Flutter.

Sudo & Sweden

We are loving having Sudo staying with us for awhile. She has adapted to our household very well. In fact, I'm afraid she is becoming very spoiled! The world revolves around her and she thinks that is the way it is supposed to be. Even Ms. Schnauzer has taken a secondary role to sweet Sudo. Every day they spend time playing together; pulling tug-of-war with a pair of socks or taking turns chewing up a piece of cardboard.

The Longest Day

How did you spend "the longest day"? From here on out, each day will just get shorter and shorter, until the cycle starts all over again, of course. Yesterday we had 15 hours, 22 minutes, and 7 seconds of daylight. 

It was a perfect day to spend in nature. Lunch was complete with fresh foods of the season: blueberries, strawberries, Rainier cherries, and sweet onions. Fresh and local food is such a delight!

Sudo enjoyed the longest day too. She experienced her first visit to "the woods". She did quite well for a city dog. She loved attacking the pillows on the cabin sofas and took naps on a plaid, wool blanket. Actually, she took her naps burrowed under the wool blanket. She loves to be covered up! Later, she took a very long walk and actually wore herself out and begged to be carried for awhile.

There was a chill in the air and a campfire was welcoming and warming.

The wildflowers of the woods are transitioning into summer flowers. It seems like those plants that bloom with red blossoms don't show up until June. The Indian Paintbrush is lining "Paintbrush Lane" aka the winding road from gate to cabin.

Yesterday there were 24 hours of daylight at the North Pole. We didn't get close to that here, but the day was amazing anyway. How did you spend your longest day?

Happy summer!

Today I am linking up to Bernideen's Tea in the Garden

Of Course You Love Me: Sudo

According to dog experts, the Italian Greyhound has a gentle personality, loving and affectionate with family members. We've found this to be true with our house guest, Sudo. Essentially, she believes that she is the center of the universe with an endearing attitude of "of course you love me". The world revolves around Sudo these days, and everyone is happy with that occurrence. She sleeps burrowed deep under a quilt or blanket during her naps. At night she burrows beneath the covers of a human bed, cuddling close. But she is particular about who she'll sleep with. She has a mind of her own. She likes to sleep in, but once she wakes up she acts as delighted as can be to see you! It's like she cannot wiggle fast enough. Such joy! Her favorite place to sit and be is perched on the chest of a human. It goes with her "of course you love me" attitude. But, if you put her down or tell her to move along, she cheerfully goes without a second thought. Ms. Schnauzer is slowly adjusting and is coming out of hiding more and more. They had several fun "romp and play" sessions today with Sudo essentially dancing around Ms. Schnauzer who thought she was being active, but compared to Sudo was quite dignified and proper. Sudo's been a pleasure to have around. She's even learning to like it outside and has learned how to walk on green grass without stepping quite so high. But more about that another time. . .

Blueberry Scones & Tea

I saved enough fresh blueberries from yesterday's picking to bake a batch of scones. They baked up beautifully with abundant, juicy, blue orbs in each one.

The recipe called for lemon zest, but I didn't have any lemons, so used lemon juice in the dough and baked them without zest. Then I decided that orange marmalade would be an appropriate sweet to go with the scones. The zest of the orange in the marmalade made up for the lack of zest in the scones. They paired perfectly.

Gluten free scones "act" a bit differently than regular ones. Because they don't contain gluten to trap the carbon dioxide gasses when the baking soda and baking powder do their job, I try to choose forms or shapes that are most likely to rise well without much handling. Sometimes I bake gluten free scones in one large mound that is flattened and then cut with a pizza cutter to make wedges. And at other times, like today, I prefer the drop biscuit approach. I was pleased with the lightness and flavor of these scones.

A simple black tea was selected to accompany the blueberry scones. My choice was Yorkshire Gold because it's full bodied without being overpowering. It's produced by Taylors of Harrogate, a company that was founded in 1886 in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. It is a blend of five varieties of tea grown in Assam, Sri Lanka, and Kenya. A review of this tea on Serious Eats reports that: 

• Yorkshire Gold from Taylors of Harrogate is a "luxury blend" of second flush Assam and peak-season East African teas. This is a robust black tea that works well with milk, though given its silky smoothness that's certainly not required. There are hints of cedar and earth; this tea is slightly fruity but mostly savory, perfect for getting your eyes open in the morning.

Although this is a delightful tea with the addition of milk and sugar, I tend to prefer my tea "black" or "plain" so I can taste every undertone as it is, with just a tiny touch of stevia to sweeten.

I chose this teacup because it was blue. It seemed so appropriate for the blueberry theme. It is called Saxony, by Royal Doulton. It is one of my everyday favorites.

Blueberry Scones

Makes 8 - 10

• 2 cups gluten-free flour (I used 1 cup garbanzo/fava flour and 1 cup Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour blend)
• 1 packet stevia powder (about 1/2 tsp.)
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 6 Tbsp. Smart Balance margarine
• 1 egg OR 1 egg substitute {flax seed gel}
• 2/3 cup soymilk
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 generous cup blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add margarine and cut in with a pastry blender until the size of small peas. Add vanilla, egg, lemon juice, and soymilk. Stir gently with a fork until dough is moist and blended. Gently stir in blueberries.

Form scones by spoonful and place onto a baking stone. Push stray blueberries into dough so none are left out.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from heat and allow to cool on the baking stone. Serve with margarine or butter and orange marmalade. Also delicious with lemon curd.

Of course, at the end of every good photo shoot comes the pleasure of sitting down at a pretty table setting to enjoy what's set out to eat and a nice, hot cup of tea. Today I had a little helper. She's such a polite little thing. She was curious, but asked permission with her eyes before attempting to share. Her nose is long, though, and she has a pretty keen sniffer. I gave Sudo a few crumbs which she appreciated and enjoyed. I discovered, though, that she prefers plain blueberries to scones. She's such a dear.

Good morning, Sudo!

Good morning, good morning! Sudo is a sleepy-head today. She is not an early riser! Her sleepy eyes mask the intense energy that she usually exhibits! As I mentioned before, she's staying here for awhile while her master and mistress travel. She's settled in very well. She's still bugging Ms. Schnauzer with much attention, but the two are finding balance in their friendship (or lack thereof). Sudo would enjoy more play while Ms. Schnauzer spends her time hiding out most of the day by my pillow on the bed. Silly dogs!

Sudo is an Italian Greyhound, but the breed is called Iggy or I.G. by those who are affectionados of this type of dog. The Iggy is the smallest of the sighthounds. And Sudo, being the runt of her litter, is on the small side of the smallest. She's a tiny, slight little thing. Iggy's are the "toy" version of the full grown greyhounds, but remain a true genetic greyhound. Their bloodline is documented over 2,000 years. Iggy's, like other greyhounds, have a distinctive gait that reminds me a bit of a horses gallop. Sudo also exhibits the distinctive trait of walking on three legs with one held high and out of the way. And she can run like the wind! Her favorite game of all is "chase" and she wears the humans out in the family in short order. She, on the other hand, never seems to tire.

Sudo seems to think that anyone and everyone will love her. And they do. She loves people, although has a genetic trait of aloofness. These traits exhibit themselves in both ways --- on a whim! Sudo could aptly be described as athletic, agile, companionable, mischievous, intelligent, and affectionate. She really is a dear.

Little Miss Sudo

The granddoggy, Sudo, has come to visit for awhile. Her master and mistress will be traveling to places she cannot go, so she's staying at our house. Ms. Schnauzer is not too pleased and chooses to stay out of Sudo's way and to ignore her the best she can. But Sudo is delighted to have a doggy companion for awhile. As far as Sudo is concerned, Ms. Schnauzer is the "cat's meow". Sudo is still a puppy, and her energy levels verify that! Last night she was romping and playing with delight in the dark house. This morning revealed the last of a toilet paper roll shredded all over the living room floor and the cardboard tube that was inside all chewed up. But she's so sweet, you just have to love her anyway! I chalk it all up to "being excited to be here" and hope it is not an indication of nights to come! She is a constant companion and a bundle of energy. I took more than a dozen pictures of her today, and all of them are a blurry blob except for the one above. There will be lots of excitement around here for awhile! 

Happy as Kings

March is blowing in with its usual force. It's blustery weather outside! The wind chimes go from moments of quiet to a full jingle of tinkling and noise! A little bit is serene. Too much is annoying! It does keep one aware of the blustery conditions, though. Clouds cover the sky. The sun shows its merry face occasionally. And we wait for spring. In addition to the yellow crocus and the white snowdrops, the purple crocus has burst into bloom. But walks around the yard reveal a slow pace for many other signs of spring. Even the lawn is still brown and dreary. Inside, though, it is cozy and bright. They say it is too early to prune the rose bushes, so a day of cutting quilt blocks is in store instead. Like Sudo, the grand-puppy, I think I'll cozy up to the warm fire during quilting breaks, pour myself a cup of tea, and be happy as a king! Happy Monday!

March is Here!

The month of March is here. A snow storm is predicted for tonight. Gray skies and zero sunshine. It's hard for me to find things to blog about. Hurry up and get here, SPRING!

Tidbits of cheer still abound on these dreary days, though. Sudo, the adorable grand-puppy has learned to sit. Here she is, sitting on a stool, and posing for the camera.

Can you see her tongue? She's saying "those frozen chicken-bits were delicious!

One son has escaped the dreary weather for a climate that is hopefully a bit warmer and that teams with SUNSHINE! Flying anywhere in the USA right now, though, can be a bit tricky with delays and jet de-icings. Happily, he arrived safely and in a timely manner.

My baby was happy to go for a walk at the park. She found a squirrel and could stand there watching it for hours if we didn't coax her away. Once away, her attention span is short and she's on to new discoveries.

My mother's handmade and embroidered "heart" quilt was on display in the library 

for the month of February. It looks a bit small in that vast expanse, but it is a lovely quilt that exemplifies hours and hours of careful handwork. It looks more at home displayed over the back of an old oak chair in my house.

The large white maple tree in our front yard has been sick for a few years. We finally decided to cut it down. It was much larger in real life than this picture makes it look! It's being cut and split for firewood...and three trailer loads of branches are being hauled to the local landfill. Exercise!

What's happening in your neck of the woods? 

Any sunshine, warmth, and flowers yet?

My first snowdrops are blooming.

I'll take pictures and show you soon.

I hope you are having a blessed day!

Where is Spring?

We are nearly through the winter months. It's seemed like "The Long Winter" this year, with many storms everywhere and gray days. February has brought several major snowstorms to our state, removing concerns about drought and water rationing. The neighboring orchardist has crews out pruning their apple trees. And shoots of daffodils and popping up through the soil in my flower beds. Within a month spring should "burst forth" and I am looking forward to it! In the meantime, cute pictures of the grand-doggy sent to me by text message cheer my days! I even got to "chat" with Sudo via Skype this week. Isn't she cute wearing pearls? She's growing and is filled with energy! "Chase" is her favorite game. She'll wear anyone out! But, the game has to happen inside the house! As soon as she is out the front door she's too cold and insists on being carried. What a sweet baby.

Mark Twain has some interesting thoughts on spring. He says "In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours."

And here's another interesting quote as we anticipate spring. "No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." Hal Borland

We wait. Anticipation. Spring will be here --- soon.

In the meantime, like Sudo, I appreciate the warm and cozy indoors!

Puppy Love & Blogging

Greetings! Autumn nears and with that, anticipation of cooler weather grows! It's time to start blogging again!

This cute little puppy agrees! She came to visit me yesterday. Isn't she precious? So cute! She's six weeks old and a mix of chihuahua and shih tzu. 

Sweet puppy breath. Adoring eyes. Cuddles.

She needs a name. Any ideas? Can you hear a name or moniker calling to her? What would it be?

She belongs to my friend, Tari. Last night was her first night in her new home. I wonder how she did? I suspect she was cuddled all night long.

I hope you, dear reader, are doing well and that your summer was fun, blessed, and happy! I'm looking forward to the resumption of blogging. Here's hoping for creative, thoughtful days ahead! 

Bye for now...

{Tari decided to name her puppy SuzieQ}

l a v e n d e r * l o v e * k i t t y

The small, cultivator lavenders are in bloom. I love their vivid color and sweet fragrance. It is natural for me to swipe my hands through the plants as I walk by them in the garden. The fragrance clings to my hands and I enjoy the soothing and tranquil smell. Although they do not have stems as long as the Grosso lavender, a good selection could be found, so I decided to cut some stems and create something. A small cluster of lavender in hand was carefully arranged. I secured the cluster with a small rubber band, right below the blossoms. Then, I measure down about 2 inches and marked the stems with my thumbnail. At that mark I folded each stem upwards, leaving a sharp crease but not cutting the stems into pieces. A length of ribbon was used to weave in and out of the stems, creating a "basket" of lavender blossoms. I added a piece of ribbon around the base and at the top of the basket. A bow was tied and added to embellish. It was a fragrant craft! So small and cute! It's drying now, and once dried I will adhere a small magnet to the back. It will become a fridge magnet so that it can be enjoyed for years ahead. Have you ever made a lavender basket?

The rest of the cut lavender was formed into a small bouquet and place into a milk glass vase. This is a 'no water' bouquet for me. The lavender will dry in the arrangement and can add charm to a shelf or sill for weeks to come. More of the striped lavender ribbon was used to tie around the neck of the vase. Old kitty was happy to see me in the garden and came to say hello. Meow!

Can you see kitty peeking past the lavender bouquet?

Lavender is in the mint family, as is cat mint (catnip). I wonder if Old Cat was as interested in me as in the lavender? I like to think he was. He's such a sweet kitty.

Do you grow lavender? Is it blooming yet? June is the month for lavender to bloom around here. The spring flowers of May will now be accented with an abundance of lavender in June. I can hardly wait!

A Very Impromptu Tea!

It was a mixed day of sunshine, rain, clouds, and brisk breezes yesterday. But the sunshine ruled for most of the day. Garden gloves, pruners, and a wheelbarrow were gathered to help me as I trimmed roses and lavender, pulled weeds, and spiffed up the flower beds. 

Nearly done, I went into the house for a glass of water and discovered a missed call on my phone. It was my friend, Tari. I called her back and she said she'd be passing by my house in about half an hour and asked could she stop by. Of course!

I swiftly changed my focus from gardening to making afternoon tea. It was definitely impromptu, plus! It was the end of the week-end and there wasn't a single slice of bread in the house! Time was of essence! I was about ready to resort to "just tea" when I remembered my blogging friend, Tammy, from T's Daily Treasures. She always creates simple and delicious looking tea times. So, I decided to create like Tammy! She truly inspired me.

Old London Melba Toasts and Wasa Rosemary Flatbread were in the pantry. Peanut butter and raspberry jam were found and spooned into little glass containers. Almonds, walnuts and dried apricots made a pretty mixture in Turkish nut bowls. And there was oatmeal cake that was quickly cut into squares and plated.  Adagio Sonata Ceylon was brewed and poured into a teapot and Tari's favorite teacups were found. She'd given them to me for a birthday one year, and when we have tea together, I always use them.

Things were ready to carry out to the porch table when she arrived. Whew! That was a quick put-together! Although it wasn't proper, nor fancy, it was wholesome and a perfect accompaniment to tea. We chatted for an hour or more, soaking in the sunshine, enjoying the tea time snack and friendship.

At some point during our tea time, our family pets found us, one by one. Two dogs and a cat, just hoping for a tasty morsel! So patient and quiet, yet with eyes one could not resist! The pets enjoyed tea time too!

Bucky and Feathered Snow

When he spoke, what tender words he used!  So softly, that like flakes of feathered snow,  they melted as they fell.

John Dryden


Photo:  Remembering Bucky, who's pictured enjoying a cozy comforter and warm sunshine filtering through curtains on a winter day.

A Lot Like Christmas

 It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!

And a curious nose is peeking over the counter top.