Warm Spring Days

Now that the weather is beginning to show signs of Spring warmth, our little family decided to have a picnic and enjoy an afternoon exploring last Saturday. With gas at nearly $4.50/gallon we chose a spot relatively close to home, but still far enough to feel like we'd "gotten away from it all"---at least for a few hours.

Kuchel Visitor Center is just a mile, or so, south of Orick, at the mouth of Redwood Creek. It's back door opens onto the beach, with waves from the Pacific crashing to shore just a stone's throw away. This particular area was once home to the Yurok tribe. There is a sign posted outside the visitor center that tells a local Yurok legend---let me take a moment to share it with you:

"There was a young Yurok girl from the village known as Aut-mec-quar who was always crying and wailing for no apparent reason other than for her own amusement. The girl's parents tried to explain to her the seriousness of crying for no reason----to the Yurok people it was like wishing to be in mourning.

After a long while the girl's parents pleaded with her to stop, warning that something bad might happen if she continued. Sure enough, one night the great owl, Tech-quan-is, who is the bearer of bad news, came and carried her away to a huge rock called Aus-keel-el that stands in the ocean, just off the shore.

Day after day, various men from the tribe would row out to the rock to rescue her after hearing her cries, but each time they did, her feet would turn to stone and she could not be moved. As the men would start back to shore, they could see her running across the rock, but when they once again returned for her, she would be held fast by feet of stone.

Each time the men came for the young girl over the course of many days, they would find more of her had turned to stone so that she could not move at all. Eventually, the girl's entire form became solid stone and, if one looks closely enough, you can see her still standing on the huge ocean rock, and if you turn your ear to the ocean you can sometimes hear her wailing and crying. The moral of the story is aimed at children who behave badly and cry about nothing."

Heading north, there is a trail that leads to the creek----a calm, peaceful area just right for shell-searching and driftwood-hunting.

We spent a lovely several hours exploring and simply enjoying being out in nature, smelling the faint scent of salty air and listening to the birds flitting in the nearby trees. As we walked slowly back to the Visitor Center, we could see cows grazing in the meadow on the east side of the creek and watched as two Canadian geese came in for a landing on the creek.

After we had our fill of exploring, we headed back south, toward home. On the way, we stopped at The Little Red Schoolhouse (a local museum and summer RV haven) to take photos of the largest wild elk herd in our area. This herd has been coming down the mountain to graze in the meadow there since I was a little girl. At the height of tourist season, the roadsides are packed with those anxious to take photos of what we may sometimes take for granted.

Every time I take the opportunity to be outdoors in this magnificent paradise that I am blessed to live in, I feel refreshed and renewed. I find myself becoming more aware of not just who I am, but of the importance of being spiritually connected to this beautiful earth that we share with so many other creatures.

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." ~~~John Muir

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive." ~~~Eleonora Duse

Scottish Oat Scones

I LOVE scones----all shapes and sizes and flavors! I am particularly fond, though, of the plain oat scone. I used to make them often when my two older boys were little----they were easy, quick, and inexpensive afternoon treats, but, they were always a bit too dry. I ran across this particular recipe in a wonderful gem called Babe's Country Cookbook (yes, folks, as in the movie about a sheep-herding pig!!) quite a few years ago and I haven't bothered looking for another scone recipe since. This one is beyond excellent.

Real Scottish Scones (or so the cookbook says)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar (if using Sucanat, reduce to 8 tsp.)

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small chunks (NO substitutes, please)

1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup currants, raisins, or dried cranberries

1 large egg

1/3 cup whole milk

Topping:

1 Tbsp. whole milk

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. With a pastry blender, cut in the butter. Stir in oats and dreid fruit. Make a well in the center of the mixture.

In another bowl, mix egg and milk, then pour into well in the dry mixture. With a fork, stir together until evenly moistened. The dough should be soft and just a little crumbly.

On a lightly floured board, pat the dough into an 8-inch round. Carefully transfer to prepared baking sheet. With a knife dipped in flour, cut into 12 equal wedges.

For the topping:

Brush wedges with milk, then sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until golden brown.

Best served warm from the oven with jam, marmalade, or honey, and, of course, a nice cup of English tea.

For the Love of Cooking

I've been trying to stay committed to blogging more regularly---needless to say, it's been hard! I look at my life as being rather simply-lived, and although simplicity really suits me, it doesn't provide much in the way of excitement that some might find worthy of sharing. So, just the other day, a friend suggested I start posting my menus/recipes on occassion; the ones that seem to have appeal and sound incredibly delicious. I've decided that it's a good idea.

I am going to kick off this new portion of my blog with a tribute to the "mom" who raised me; my maternal grandmother, Kay Dean. Mom was such a wonderful cook. Growing up in the 1920s and through the Depression years and, later, surviving as the divorced mother of a young child for several years during the 1940's before she re-married, she learned to be creative with food preparation and to be able to, somehow, whip up a feast with very little.

In the late 1960's and early 70's, when I was a little girl, Mom would stand me on a chair in the kitchen right next to her so I could see what she was doing and participate, at least as much as my small hands would allow, in the whole kitchen process---from stirring, to chopping, to washing dishes and wiping counters, I wasn't viewed as a nuisance, but as a "helper". I lovingly acknowledge her for encouraging my love of cooking and for teaching me that food doesn't have to be "fancy" to be delicious. Her kitchen motto was always "simple is best".

Growing up, one of my favorite cold weather, rainy day meals was Shepherd's Pie. Because ground beef has always been an economical option, we ate our "fair share", to be sure. Here is her recipe for that lovely, stick-to-your-ribs casserole.

Shepherd's Pie

Topping 1 1/2 lbs. Russet potatoes, peeled, quarted, and boiled until tender

1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream

2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1/2 tsp. garlic

ground pepper and salt, to taste

When potatoes are cooked to tender, drain and reserve 1/2 cup liquid. Return to pan and mash with remaining ingredients, adding some of the reserved potato water if needed. Using electric mixer, whip potatoes until smooth and creamy. Set aside and keep warm.

Filling

3 Tbsp. cooking oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 large carrot, peeled and diced

1 celery stalk, halved length-wise, then cut into thin slivers

1 lb. ground beef (or lamb)

1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. dried rosemary

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 pinch ground nutmeg

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 cup beef broth (more may be needed)

salt and pepper, to taste

paprika

In heavy skillet, heat oil on medium heat, add onion, carrot, and celery, and cook until tender; about 5 minutes.

Add ground meat, 1 Tbsp. flour, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Cook until meat is no longer pink and mixture is bubbly and thickened. Add additional beef broth if mixture becomes too thick---should be a gravy-like consistency.

Pour mixture into a 2-qt. casserole dish and top with mashed potato mixture. Sprinkle top with paprika and bake at 400°F for 30 minutes.

***NOTE*** When I make this for my family, I always add 4 oz. sliced, sautéed mushrooms to the filling and I sprinkle the top with 1/4 cup butter-toasted bread crumbs and 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese and just a bit of paprika for color.

Mom always served Shepherd's Pie with green beans cooked with chopped onions and a little bacon grease, with bread pudding for dessert.

Mom's Bread Pudding

3-4 cups stale bread, torn into pieces (I always use French bread)

2 cups whole milk

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup raisins, soaked in warm water, drained

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

3 Tbsp. butter, melted, and more to butter dish

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a medium bowl, soak bread in milk until completely absorbed. In a separate bowl, mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, raisins, and spices. Add to bread and stir to combine. Pour mixture into a buttered casserole dish. Pour melted butter over top. Bake 30-35 minutes until firm and golden brown. Serve with vanilla custard or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

"Food is our common ground; a universal experience." ~~~James Beard~~~

Love Thy Neighbor

I guess it's about time I wrote another post-----I just keep putting it off hoping something exciting will happen.

Well, it did! After the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, we had our own tsunami warnings here in Humboldt County. As a whole, it turned out to be absolutely NOTHING compared to what Japan is suffering, but frightening nonetheless, for residents up and down California's coast.

Crescent City, about 60 miles north of us in Del Norte County, experienced the worst property damage in our area, along with one lost life, which was the result of failing to follow orders issued to keep folks off the beaches and ocean-emptied waterways. Crescent City Harbor lost 11 boats and saw additional boats damaged, many beyond repair. The docks there are no more.

Here, in northern Humboldt County, the surge was just a few feet, with very little damage. Check out this video!





It amazes me that there were folks there, with their children, watching the surge----surge height was expected to be over 6 feet. Although I'm sure it was an awesome thing to behold, from afar, I'm quite sure it wasn't worth the risk had the water height been as predicted. However, I do appreciate being able to see it, if only from the lens of someone else's video camera.

When we got the intitial information on Friday morning, we immediately pulled up the National Weather Service online and called the boys. Ryan was already on "stand-by" with the National Guard, but both he and Matthew decided to drive up to McKinleyville and wait it out with us. Shortly after they left their apartment, the local police requested a non-mandatory (suggested) evacuation of several apartment complexes since they were in a low-lying area. We waited it out most of the day here at home, listening to the local news and checking weather updates off and on, until the warning was lifted in the early evening. Much of neighboring Eureka, which is at sea level, was shut down on the perimeter and inland about a mile until late afternoon. With the exception of just a few, all schools in the entire county, even those not directly in a tsunami zone, were closed for the day. The "tsunami sirens" in Samoa sounded----at least we know they work!

Although I was concerned, I was not as worried as my husband was, who had us gathering water and establishing evacuation plans for ourselves and our pets. It was my sincere belief that we would not have it nearly as bad as was being predicted, and although I was right, it could have been much, much worse (like the 1964 tsunami that was spawned by a 9.2 earthquake in Alaska) had the surge been what was originally expected. We were lucky that day!

Japan, however, was not to experience that same kind of luck. My heart aches for that nation as they deal with the aftermath of the quake and tsunami. I feel helpless, really. I can pray and send my love and warm thoughts, but that is all. With the world joining together to support our Japanese brothers and sisters, maybe it will be enough to help lift them into a place of recovery, of healing. Healing goes so far beyond the re-building of a home or even a city. For most, it will require the re-building of a life and learning to go on, somehow, after the loss of loved ones.

It is sad, on many levels, that it often takes a disaster of massive proportions to bring people together in a real and tangible way, rather than only paying lip-service to the idea that we are all, regardless of our national or ethnic allegiance, fellow travelers on this earth, bound together by our humanity. We all love and laugh and cry--we all endure hardship and sorrow--we all feel pain--we all rejoice in our triumphs. Now it is time to embrace a nation who is suffering in ways that most of us never will, in whatever way we are able.

If you feel led to donate, please contact the organizations below. They offer help and aid all over the world, with no strings attached. I believe in their mission.

http://www.ifrc.org/ OR http://www.icrc.org/eng/index.jsp

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the

whole earth." ~Bahá'u'lláh

A Lovely Blog to Share With You

I adore handmade things, regardless of what they are. Handmade is always better, lovelier, in my opinion. When a person takes the time to create something, whether it is a painting, a piece of jewelry, or a hand-carved trinket, they cannot help but put a little bit of themselves into each item. I suppose people create for different reasons, but, mostly, I believe people create because they have no choice---they simply MUST do it. Their art is so much a part of who they are it is almost as necessary as breathing.

Jeff and Taryn, at Wooly Moss Roots, are those kind of people-----they live a beautiful, simple, purposeful life (with their little son, Bracken) and spend their time creating lovely things to share with the world. The amazing pieces that Jeff hand-carves speak volumes to me about the reason he creates and I've no doubt that each and every work of art he turns out has been lovingly and joyfully made.

Inlaid Tree Pendant

(photo courtesy of Wooly Moss Roots)

Wooly Moss Roots is having their very first give-away (entries accepted until February 28th); an inlaid tree pendant that anyone would be proud to wear. Please take a look at their Etsy Shop and enjoy browsing at the lovely things they have to offer.

Road Trip

Today is a lovely day-----the sun is shining, although the wind is brisk and it's a bit chilly. That's okay, though, because I know that Spring, glorious Spring, is just around the corner. For some reason, after the winter holidays, I am SO ready for all the things that go along with springtime. I start getting anxious to plant flowers, re-do the garden beds, clean up the yards, just generally get everything into top form. I start daydreaming about picnics and walks along the river and a return to warmth that, as I get older, my body aprreciates very much.

I am also looking forward to the trip that my son, Alex, and I are planning for late Spring/early Summer. He and I, and our little dachshund, Bruno, will be taking a "road trip" North to visit family and friends. Our final destination is the Seattle area of Washington State, but we will be making many stops along the way so I can show Alex all the lovely places I enjoyed as a child. There is something magical about sharing favorite places with our children, places that we once enjoyed with our own parents so many years ago, places that we loved and thought about long after we left.

Our route will take us from northern California up into Oregon and Washington----some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet, in my humble opinion, of course! The state and national parks offer so many activities, or just spots to enjoy being surrounded by nature. The Pacific Northwest is dotted with lakes, rivers, mountain ranges----a true wonderland of scenic beauty. I am excited, and truth be told, a bit nervous, about taking this trip with just my young son and our little pup. But, the thought of passing up such a splendid opportunity to see so much and share so much is just....well, unthinkable!

Mount Hood, Oregon

Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

Mount Rainier, Washington

Although we will have a basic plan for where we will end up and how many days we will be gone, we WILL NOT, I repeat, WILL NOT, plan our days to a tedious fault. I will not remove even the slightest chance for some serendipitous moment of bliss by over-planning and trying to create the "perfect vacation". I want to allow precious time for wading in streams and stopping at some silly roadside attraction and wandering through the trees and picking up shells on an unfamiliar beach and pulling up to an out-of-the-way diner for a piece of pie and a milkshake.

I want to instill in my son that some of the most wonderful times to be had are times spent simply, with family. I want him to know deep down in his soul that it isn't necessary to spend a few days and a small fortune at some theme park or other to have the adventure of a lifetime---all it really requires is a car, a map, a mom, a boy, and his dog.

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” ~~~ Miriam Beard

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~~~ Mark Twain

Happy Eating

Although I don't particularly enjoy making New Year's resolutions, or at least making formal ones, as in writing them down and sealing them in an envelope to return same time next year to see with my own eyes how miserably I failed, but I do find that I seem to make a mental note of the things I'd like to change, things I'd like to see happen.

My big "resolution" for 2011 (or maybe "committment" would be a better word) is to make the change to eating completely organic fare, in all food catergories. I've been gradually making changes here and there, for the benefit of myself and my family, but I've also been doing so much reading that shows, time and again, that choosing wholesome, organic, and preferably, sustainably-raised foods, is best for our bodies and our planet. What is there to discuss----it's really plain and simple.

I'm well on my way to a healthier lifestyle and as I write I'm smiling. I really do feel better when I eat better. Don't you? Now, that's not to say that I will never indulge in a pizza from the local take 'n bake, or that I will never eat something that is not all the things I mentioned previously---I won't say that because I know I will. I would never be such a "food snob" as to turn down a meal with a dear friend or refuse to eat what someone lovingly prepared for me and my family simply because it didn't meet my criteria for healthy food. I suppose that what I'm saying is that I am making a committment to make good food choices as much as is possible and not beat myself up when I don't or can't. I will say that because 'organic' and 'healthy' are becoming synonymous, though, it is becoming much easier, and more affordable, to find those options when dining out.

Before the new year began, I flirted, rather briefly, with the idea of trying a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Now, this was mostly for health reasons, although doing my part to stop the needless suffering of animals in conventional feed-lots is important to me, too. I weighed the possibility of a strict new way of eating against the fact that I enjoy consuming small amounts of both meat and dairy and decided that, although I respect those who make such choices, it just wouldn't do for me. Instead, I chose to reduce the amount of animal products I eat and make sure that those milk and meat items are mostly organic/grass-fed/sustainably and humanely raised.

Jersey Cows in Humboldt County

I recently discovered an organic ,"cream-top" jersey milk that is so delicious and local to my area. The Borges Family Creamery in Smith River is a family-owned dairy that cares about how they raise their cows and cares about the quality of product they make available to the public. As a now-loyal customer to their non-homogenized milk, I hope they will expand to include butter and other dairy products of the same high-quality.

My favorite yogurt is from another organic producer, Straus Family Creamery, in Sonoma County. They use fresh Jersey whole milk for their yogurts and also produce various other milk products, including butter.

I have been buying Humboldt Grassfed Beef for some time now. It is locally raised and processed right here in Humboldt County where I live. Contrary to what some folks say, there really is a huge taste difference between conventional beef and those that are fully grass-fed. We had a BBQ last July for my oldest son who was returning home after serving 3 years in the U.S. Army-----folks couldn't stop raving about how delicious the hamburgers were and I was happy to tell them it was Humboldt Grassfed Beef. Yummy!



I am fortunate to live in an area that supports a large seasonal farmers' market from April-October and that also has many local farms and small food businesses. The North Coast Co-op, where my son, Matthew, is employed, offers a plethora of these products, too, and is an important vehicle for spreading the news about the availability of local foods. With so much being offered at mostly reasonable prices, there is no reason not to try to incorporate as many local, organic food choices as possible. I can imagine that, wherever you live, you will find at least a few sources for seasonal produce, although you may have to do a little research. Of course, the best way to provide ourselves with whole foods is to grow them, but we can't always do that, or simply don't want to. That's why it's important to encourage our local farmers by buying what they work so hard to grow for us.

Considering that there is a wealth of information about healthy living and organic eating, I would imagine that it would be easier than ever to find support and encouragement for this journey. At no other time during my 43 years have I noticed a bigger shift toward "green living" than I do now. We are becoming more aware of how our living choices and eating patterns effect, not only our bodies, but this planet that we share with every other living thing.

HAPPY EATING!!!

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" ~~~ Hippocrates