The Spiritual Side of Food

I know that I say this every year, but this year I resolve to become more aware of what I eat. Not to necessarily lose weight (although I wouldn't mind), or to buy all my food items at Whole Foods (can't afford to), but to simply be more mindful of what I prepare for my family and myself.
I read somewhere that all the food that we put in our mouths contains the energy that was used to prepare it. Therefore, if food is lovingly prepared, with care and positive intention, that food transmits this loving energy to those who consume it. Although I don't think that that we will immediately be filled with negative feelings each time we eat a McDonald's hamburger (I've been known to enjoy a Big Mac or two), we can strive to make food preparation an act of positive intention. An example of this is when your mother made you homemade chicken noodle soup when you were sick. Not only did the chicken broth and the vegetables feed you body with nutrients, there was a certain amount of mental comfort within that soup that helped you to heal. Think of the last time you prepared food with love. It may when you whipped up a bubbling hot lasagna for your friends, or added just a pinch of chili powder to a mug of steaming hot cocoa for you husband. It not only gave your loved ones a good feeling, it gave you a good feeling as well.
So I put forward this challenge; prepare at least one meal a week with positive intention. Think what you can cook from scratch with healthful ingredients that are raised and harvested in organic and humane ways. Dust off that old cookbook your grandmother left you, and attempt to bake a loaf of bread from scratch. Knead some raw honey into the dough and add a sprinkle of love. You and your family will thrive from it.

Little House is back on!

After a "brief" hiatus of a couple of years, I have decided to resume my blog. Although I cannot promise consistenly entertaining and informative posts, I will strive for my best. In realtiy, I'm quite aware that this blog is probably only read by my husband, maybe my sister-in-law, and some guy who mistakenly thought this was a porn blog. I don't even doubt that my mother doesn't even read this anymore, especially since her battery ran out on her laptop and she doesn't know how to charge it back up again.
I shall continue to blog, not for the multitudes that read my posts, but for the mental "clean-out" it provides. I can ramble aimlessly about topics that I may find of great interest, and not be faced with the glazed-over expressions that frequent my ramblings in person.
And so dear reader, if you find a dull hazy feeling coming over you while reading my blog, you have my permission to log-off, and you will not hurt my feelings. In the meantime, I shall continue....

Flowers are blooming in the garden!

The month of June brings flowers, flowers, flowers into my garden. There are a couple that have never bloomed before. It seems that it takes a couple of seasons for most plants to bloom. This year I've got Flander's poppies that are all over my side yard (which need very little water to bloom apparently), Oriental poppies ( I love their pale pink color), and orange lilies. Also, my rose bushes have also bloomed prodigiously despite the attack of aphids in late spring.

And for a daily dose of cuteness . . . .

There are a couple of blogs out there that will satisfy anyone's need for a big fix of "CUTE"! One is call Cute Overload. Here are a couple of pictures that makes me want to get another dog (preferably a tiny little Chihuahua puppy that I can dress in little sweaters!) Now, if only I could convince my husband!

Vintage style pot holder

Here's my first attempt at a potholder. I didn't use a pattern - I just cut out two cotton fabric squares. I made one larger than the other so that I could overlap for binding. I also cut out a matching square of batting. Next time, I will use a thicker batting. This potholder was made with lightweight cotton batting and it is just too thin. I might even double up the thicker batting next time. Before embroidering the design, I first quilted the entire potholder, then folded over the edge for a binding. On the front of the potholder, I transferred a design using an iron-on pattern from a company called Aunt Martha's. This company makes reproduction vintage transfers that are very easy to use. I then stitched over the lines, making sure that my needle didn't go all the way through to the back of the potholder. At the end and the beginning of each thread, I buried the ends in the batting of the potholder, thus hiding them. My next project is a matching tea cozy made with coordinating fabrics and a small Scottie embroidered design. These will be donated to a silent auction benefiting the Nevada Society of Scottish Clans.

Miss Marple returns Sunday on PBS. Set your watches!

Tomorrow night the Miss Marple series returns with "Sleeping Murder". It is post-WWII Britain and the wiley elder sleuth continues to solve crimes even before the police detectives on the case have a clue. I love Agatha Christie and these are well done renditions. Fortunately, they are on late so I can sit in the quiet after everyone has gone to bed and enjoy!
By the way, if you enjoy British mysteries, I recommend books by Elizabeth George and P.D. James. Two more great lady mystery writers. You can just lose yourself in their books.

Interesting and yummy childhood recipes

Here are some great food recipes from my childhood.

• Tuna jello salad mold (See picture and recipe above) Although this sounds awful, it is great! I can sit down and eat about half of this in an afternoon (nothing to brag about!) My mom also makes a sauce for this consisting of lemon juice, sugar and mayonnaise. You could make this with low fat mayo and use Splenda to convince yourself that you are eating something healthy. This recipe comes from a 1973 Jello cookbook that my mom had - now I own. It has everything you every wanted to make with jello in it.
• Fluffernutter sandwiches You take two slices of white bread (preferably Wonder bread, or any other kind of white bread that you can roll into dough balls to store in your pocket to eat for later) and spread peanut butter on one side and Kraft marshmallow cream on the other. Squish together and enjoy!
• Banana, peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches (I think Elvis liked these) I personally can't stand them, but my mom always made them for my lunch.
• Fruit "salads" with marshmallows, nuts, Jello, and whipped cream My grandmother made Waldorf salad every holiday, and it is wonderful in all its green fluffy goodness! By the way, why were these called "salads"? Maybe another way to convince one that one is eating "healthy". Canned fruit does has some vitamins.

Pillow is complete!

Finally, I've finished the pillow I have been working on for the last month or so. I started with a design of my own. I appliqued the moon, hills, and some of the stars onto the fabric, then I embroidered around the applique and added some more decorative embroidery. The top says "Every child begins the world again", but since I used a light green thread, it is difficult to see on the purple background. Next time I will use a darker thread.
I started to hand quilt the top (with border), but I lost patience and decided to do the rest by machine. As you can tell, my quilting and sewing is not "perfect" and it probably never will be. Like my cooking, I go for the "hand made" look. Therefore, I do not have to try to do it perfectly and exhaust my limited patience in the meantime (and thus give up before I finish!)
I have no idea what I will do with this pillow. I might put it in my son's room, but I think it would just get lost in the mess! I might try to do a craft show this fall and see what I can sell. Maybe the pillow will be one of my items. I find that I really don't make many things that I would actually use. Generally, I just like the process of making them. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.