Saying Goodbye

patience rewarded

up from the ground again soon

yellow dreams live on

Winter. It is grey, white, and cold.  I do NOT like it.  Okay, I can take brief amounts of it, but it is starting to get to me. The cold makes me achy. It makes me crabby. It makes me a hermit. Did I mention I did not like it?

The irony in this? I would LOVE to spend a Christmas in Vermont during a heavy snow.  It would be brief and I could leave it behind though. I think of winter in Vermont as romantic and dreamy.  Here in Oklahoma, it just isn't.  We are not prepared for the nastiness that follows. There aren't any pretty scenes in the city. Our time comes when the crocuses start to bloom and the daffodils start forcing their way through the soil.

I was thinking the other day about the hundreds of bulbs that I have planted in my front yard. Tons of tulips, crocuses, and my favorite daffodils were planted in the cold of November.  I knew they would bring me out of the doldrums of winter and give me hope of sunshine and happiness. The birth of a new spring, yet again. 

And, then after Spring...may I skip to fall?


Lemon Bars are one thing that just taste like sunshine to me. They taste cool, refreshing, and scrumptious.  I have been making this recipe since high school.  Every year the FHA hosted the Second Congressional Art Competition at our high school. I made and planned most of the refreshments.  This was always a favorite and I have been making them for over twenty years. You can make them with bottled lemon juice and they are okay. However, if you make them with fresh lemon juice and the zest of half of a lemon they are over the top. They will make your grey day a sunny day.

Enjoy....Reflecting Hazel

Lemon Bars Deluxe

30 servings

2	cups flour, sifted
1/2	cup powdered sugar, sifted
1	cup butter
4	eggs
2	cups granulated sugar
1/3	cup fresh lemon juice
1/4	cup all-purpose flour
1/2	teaspoon baking powder
	powdered sugar to dust

Sift together 2 c flour and 1/2 c powdered sugar. Cut in butter until mixture clings together. Press in 13x9x2-inch pan. Bake at 350° till lightly browned, about 20-25 minutes.

Put eggs, sugar, and lemon juice in blender. Blend until thick and smooth. Sift 1/4 c flour and baking powder and add to blender, blend to combine. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Pour over crust. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cool and cut into bars. Makes 30. 

Blueberry Season Approaches!

Warm blueberries with a crispy topping is complete heaven in a dish! I have been watching out my window waiting for my blueberries to ripen and my mouth is watering just thinking about the bursting blueberries! I have made this recipe with Splenda, but I have substituted brown sugar or cane sugar, too.  You can use equal amounts of either for the Splenda in the recipe.  You can splurge and put some vanilla bean ice cream on top!  Use the "sugar free" or low-carb varieties if you would wish. Enjoy!

Blueberry Crisp
Recipe By : Real Food for Real People
Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Desserts Diabetic
Fruits

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 cups Blueberries -- fresh or frozen
1 tablespoon Flour
1 tablespoon Splenda
--Topping--
1/2 cup Oatmeal -- slow-cooking
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 tablespoon Flour
1 tablespoon Splenda
2 tablespoons Butter or Margarine -- melted

Blend together flour and Splenda in a large bowl. Mix with blueberries and place in a 9x9 inch baking dish or pan.

Topping-
Mix all topping ingredients together in a large bowl. Sprinkle on top of blueberry filling in pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

No Routine.

Life currently is "up-in-the-air" on a daily basis.  My plans change with the wind and I never know what the next day may bring.  I work part-time outside the home and I am basically on call.  I am a communication-transportation-specialist, sometimes people are happy to see me and sometimes not. HA!  Typically, I work Saturdays, however, like I said I am on call and will be working the next two days.  That is why my postings have been sporadic.

Well, to be honest there is another reason for the sporadic behavior.  My plans are not always HIS plans.  My husband and I have been dealing with a medical issue since November of last year, and he has been home since mid-March. While home, my husband has decided, or so it seems, that I am now officially his body to use.  We started by building a raised strawberry bed, planting vegetables, tearing the carpet off of the stairs, sanding the railings, staining, painting, etc... He is wearing me out. lol  I am so very happy that he is feeling so much better, but I sometimes have a hard time trying to keep up with him.  Needless to say, my plans are not always HIS plans and I haven't been able to do some things I had planned on doing.

I have been working on my quilt in small parts, but I truly want to take on so many other things.  I have HUGE goals and some day, I will partially accomplish them.

Have a blessed day!

Under the Pines in Romance

Where is your peaceful spot? Where do you go in your mind, or memory, for that quiet moment of relaxation? Do you go the ocean? The mountains? Is it snowing? Or, are you in a field of wildflowers?  I ask because I truly want to know.  I want to know what you find peaceful?

Close your eyes, okay, just figuratively close them or you won't be able to read this. Imagine a dirt road, it is a hot July afternoon, but there is a slight breeze.  You are sitting a blanket in the grass under some tall pines and you can hear them and only them as the breeze blows the needles.  For the pines block out all noise and it is very cool, almost chilly.  That is my peaceful spot.  It is the spot I go to when I close my eyes and try to block the world out.  I take deep breaths and close my eyes to block out the world, so that I can find peace.

The spot exists in my childhood memories of being at Grandma Hazel's house.  There were pine trees in her front yard where my cousin and I would have picnics.  We would have a blanket, lemonade, and sandwiches on the hot July days when I visited.  And, those are the memories that bring me comfort in times of despair.

Where is your peaceful spot?

Confetti in process

2" Squares Hand-Pieced Confetti Quilt

My Great-Grandmother was a quilter and my mom is to this day, so quilts have always been part of my life.  Many family members of mine are quilters.  To me quilts have always told a story of family stages.  My mom is a gatherer/re-purpose quilter.  I can look at her quilts and see my clothing from childhood and dresses or shirts that were worn by members of the family.

My first major piece that I have started is a Confetti Quilt.  I saw one online and thought it would be beautiful hand-pieced, so that is my goal.  I will eventually hand-quilt it, also.  Periodically, I plan on posting pictures of it here, so that I can be held accountable. I did cheat on part of it; I bought the squares off of Ebay.  *shhhhh* please don't get onto me for that little indiscretion. So, if you would ask me about my progress, I would appreciate it.

If you knew how many quilts that I have in some stage of completion, you would understand.  Just an idea of how many I have...there's the Patriotic Quilt, the TWO Sunbonnet Sues, the nine-patch, the sunflower quilt, the...well, you get the idea. 

Grandma Hazel was not a quilter, but sewed mostly out of need.  She patched Grandpa's overalls and shirts as needed.  She sometimes made clothing, too.  I am proud to own her singer sewing cabinet and her sewing chair; they mean so much to me.

Do you quilt? How many do you have ISSOC(In Some Stage of Completion)?

Reflecting Hazel Ferne

An effort to honor one of the greatest influences in my life.  I learned by her hands, I followed in her steps, and I worshiped with her.  She was born on December 29, 1914 into a life of hardship, adventure, and brought love that passes all understanding to those that knew her.  Her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  I pray that someday someone will be able to say, She did it Hazel's way.