Gardening – The Welcome Home

Autumn Days

The lazy, hazy days of summer are giving way to the busy, hurry, scurry days of autumn as the new “school year” begins and demanding schedules and activities fill the calendar. You know the first thing that comes to mind as I consider these upcoming autumn days? Where’d summer go? It came and went so fast. Sort of like motherhood (but that’s another topic for another day).

Did you complete the plans and projects you had for summertime? Me neither. But there’s still time to get a few things done before the time comes to put away all the outdoor equipment, furnishings, plants, etc. I’m just writing to encourage you (and myself!) to make use of the few sunny days remaining in this season. I’m determined to attempt to preserve some of the plants and hanging baskets by bringing them in to the greenhouse before the chilly weather and to finish up some minor outdoor painting and cleanup that I’ve put off all summer.

To help me with these projects I’ve started a new Gardener’s Journal (I’ll include some notes and pages from old calendars and journals). I decided to do this bcz I’ve noticed that I’ve forgotten when/where some things were/are planted (both plants and bulbs) and what needs to be divided and replanted and I want to have a record of these, a diagram of my rose gardens (with the specific name & location of each rosebush) plus a place to keep future ideas/plans.

I hope you’re all doing well! God bless you, keep and guide you. ♥

The Provision of the Lord

teacuppamela

Marveling the sweetness of God and His provisions… our yard is filled with things that seem to be here for ‘whateverailsya’!! Sweet that He would provide for me very specific herbs/remedies in abundance.

♫ Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

The more I study (and read the labels on my *purchased* tinctures) I see what the Lord has *already* provided here in abundance!! Massive abundance! I am brought to tears at the goodness and mercy of God on my behalf. Incredibly, different herbal remedies I have needed (and have purchased from my healthfood store) are here in abundance. Just to consider this is so humbling. As I consider my favourite flowers… Hydrangeas! Well, the hydrangea root is an ingredient in a tincture I regularly use for kidney/bladder issues. Then I think on many other ingredients listed on the bottles and tinctures I have in my cabinet and fridge. Garlic. Burdock. Dandelion. Juniper berries. English Walnut. Black Walnut. Cleavers. Raspberry leaf. Chickweed. Plantain. Lavender. And, ta-dah! Just discovered the medicinal benefit *willow tree* bark — acetylsalicylic acid – aspirin! Isn’t this incredible to ponder?!?!

Before we bought this home, during the search for a home for our family, my sister-in-law suggested that I make a list of things to present to the Lord — a list of my heart’s desires for our family home. On the top of that list, I asked the Lord for a willow tree and space for the children to run and play. How sweet of the Lord to provide for me in ways I knew not — and gave me desires He would later fulfill or reveal. All the while we’ve lived here, year after year I’ve discovered new things about Him and His precise provisions for me – for my husband and children. Interestingly, it seems I’m just discovering them as I need them—-generally after I’ve purchased an herbal remedy, I will look up the different herbal ingredients and that’s when I discover that God’s already provided what I need and mercifully shows me what to do next. His care is unending and His love, eternal.

I pray the Lord will be your All in all, your provision and peace and that He’s demonstrating Himself strong on your behalf today. May you always be blessed.

Whose Plans?

teacuppamela It’s sure a beautiful Springtime day here in the Snohomish Valley — it’s the kind of day that puts thoughts of rains and flooding to a very distant memory — though such a great possibility only a few short months ago. It’s funny how quickly a current reality can totally erase or totally eclipse another, isn’t it?

As I walked around outside for the first time in a week, I stopped at each of the different garden beds and then on out to the vegetable garden where my initial delight was slightly dimmed by the vision of all the weeds… all that needs to be done. And you know what song came to mind? The House at Pooh Corner song: “… So help me if you can, I’ve got to get – Back to the house at Pooh Corner by one – You’d be surprised, there’s so much to be done – Count all the bees in the hive – Chase all the clouds from the sky – Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh…”

And then it stuck me that there’s nothing more to be done than what’s been needed in years past. Same thing. From the beginning, year after year, it’s the same thing: we pull the weeds, we till the ground, we plant the seeds and water them well. Yet, each year I say the very same thing… sort of the inane, “you’d be surprised there’s so much to be done…” statement. And then I smiled at the thought of counting all the bees in the hive. But life’s like that — the surprising things that need to be done are generally more than we can do — like counting the bees in the hive. And yet, has God truly given us more than we can do? I think we’re the ones who lay on ourselves more than we can do and what God gives us to do is not more than we can do — because if we would remember: it is God that works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. In that same passage, the following verses admonish us to: “…do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” — Philippians 2.14-15

So what does the simple storybook song have to teach me in this? The things I fret over getting done: I cannot possibly get done. But what God gives me to do, I will seek to do without murmuring or complaining — for what He calls me to do: He will equip me to do. Ergo, if He hasn’t called me to do it, He hasn’t expected me to do it and, at this moment, hasn’t equipped me to do it and those frets and expectations came not from Him but from somewhere else! So then, I have to ask, if I’m fretting, murmuring or disputing over things I’m doing: am I doing what I’ supposed to be doing? Or, perhaps, am I doing things out of selfishness? fear? pride? envy? guilt?

Now, there are times when we do things or must do things that we feel we cannot possibly do but we know we’re to do them — I can think of many examples of this, and you probably can, too. These are steps we take in faith — but inherent in this is the fact that we lean on the everlasting Arms and trust in Him for His provision. These are the: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” times. You see? If we’re doing we’ve been called to do, even if we feel as though we cannot do them, He’s already there, and by faith, we are IN Christ by the faith OF Christ and HE has said HE work in us to will and do to of His good pleasure. That’s great and blessed assurance.

So when I see all that needs to be done, when I think of the many other things that also need doing, I have a couple of options. I can (and very easily so!) become overwhelmed at all there is to be done –OR– I can observe all these things, and acknowledge they are out there and evaluate them for what they are. And then, the Lord being my helper (calling to mind again, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” –philippians 4.13), I will do that which He guides me to do and leave off doing those things which are motivated by those other sources that are not of Him. This is hard sometimes because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is so weak. We’re so often more controlled by what others think than what God thinks — but, truly, you and I must consider our motivation when we list out all that we (think) we must do.

It’s been brought to mind so many times for me over the last week as I’ve not been well and have spent so much time in bed… all my fretting over what I shouldda, couldda, wouldda been doing had I not been laid low all these days… all my fretting didn’t get those things done and didn’t get me out of that bed any sooner. I realized as I was reading in the Book of John several days ago that the Lord had something for me there (and for such a time as this)… something for me to let sink down in my ears, to really take in: Jesus repeated, on many occasions, that He did only the will of the Father. And so must I: for the express purpose of being Christlike: doing that which the Father directs–doing the will of God. As I purpose to concentrate on health, I must also concentrate on motivations — the what and why of all my doings. I hope you’ll be encouraged as I am for the will and work of the Lord in each of our lives… and that you’ll join me in waiting on His plan and purposes in His time. So let your light shine…

Springtime is coming…

teacuppamela I’ve been browsing the seed catalogs, the websites and books for “what to do this month” in (or about) the garden. I must admit: I’m anxious. Very anxious for Spring to come. But then, you probably already knew that. You know, though, I’m sure not as weary for Springtime as I have been in other years. Maybe so much has been going on that I’ve not noticed that there has been enough rain to completely fill the swimming pool. Or, maybe it’s been so busy around here that I haven’t stopped to notice (and lament) that there have only been a few — a very few — bright sunny days. I guess I’ve noticed.

I came across a number of sites — yes, I got tripped up by the beautiful foodie sites — that are focusing on gardening. Being in zone 8a, it might seem like there’s not much to do outside right now — O, but there is!! It’s time to spray, it’s time to plant, it’s time to mulch, it’s time to prune! And… it’s time to walk around and see the growth of all the lovely Spring bulbs! If for nothing else (but there is soooo much more!!), planting Spring bulbs is a wonderful thing to do in mid Autumn. The sweet surprise of crocuses coming up or in seeing the lovely hope of Spring in the crisp hyacinth or tulip leaves is truly a wonderful blessing! You’ll miss it, though, if you don’t walk around the yard from time to time… or, worse, if you never plant Spring bulbs.

Another wonderful serendipity this time of year is the brilliant beauty of primroses — they actually bloom a few times a year, but somehow the winter blooms are the prettiest and most needed!! In the wintertime, the explosion of colour from a pink or red or yellow primrose is like a bold exclamation point on the canvas — whereas in the summertime, blooming primroses are like a comma or an ellipsis…

Aluminum sulfate… I’ve been asked if it’s true that one can alter the colour of hydrangeas or that the colour depends on the ph level of the soil and: how to make hydrangeas blue? It’s a little more difficult than it might seem — but for blue-blue hydrangeas, you need Aluminum Sulfate (garden store or feed store) and you need to add it long before the blooms are set (so, early spring and in the late fall). Some people put the powder around the base or drip line of the hydrangea plant — but that has a tendency to put too much concentration on specific areas of the plant and might be too shallow. So, if you mix a couple of tablespoons in a gallon of water and pour it around (wet!) soil beneath the hydrangea plant, you should have good success with bluer blooms! Don’t get the aluminum sulfate on the leaves and you can repeat this process every three weeks until you have blooms. Note: I’m finding that all the (used) coffee grounds I dump on some of the hydrangeas are tending to make them pink(!) instead of the Blue that many report achieving after regularly applying coffee grounds. Maybe they’re using fresh grounds instead of used? I sure wouldn’t want to waste the coffee that way! O, and another Note: white hydrangeas (Annabelle or Wedding-gown) will stay white — but I always wonder why anyone would want to change a white one to blue, anyway.

So if you’re looking for some more encouragement, ideas and suggestions for the garden each month, take a look at this site! And, in the meantime, be sure to plan daily outings (even in the rain) to see what’s going on in the garden and to dream about what you’re going to do this year. Have you considered planting a tree? Now’s a great time to do it! Have you thought about planting a garden? Now’s the time to order seeds (ASAP!) and be sure to NOT order or purchase at your garden store GMO or Monsanto et al seeds. Jenn has a long list of reputable seed companies (though, like many of us, she hasn’t updated her list in awhile). It’s a great list here.

Also… when weather permits, do some tidying, weeding (what you do now will greatly help you reduce weeds later!!), and cleaning of tools, porch and walkways.

May you always be blessed.

a gardener’s journal

May I suggest….

A gardener’s journal… or a summer log… a season’s log…

I’m making one of these so that I can keep a running log of what’s going on in the garden — and what’s *supposed* to be going on ~wink~ in the garden.

As an example… my entries are including what’s being picked now, what I need to do as far as clean-up, storage, etc., etc. I’m dividing a simple notebook into sections — a section for an overview of our yard/garden (what’s planted where) and a basic timeline for maintenance. In this way, I can see when something was planted, if it’s in an optimal place, when it was fertilized and when it will need to be done again.

It also alerts me to what needs to be pruned this autumn and what can wait for springtime — I think I’ll make a note of the results of prior year’s pruning — especially if we made significant changes or did more drastic cutting.

As I make a note of vine fruits or tree fruits and their initial ripening date or length of harvest, I can better plan for food preservation — as an example, I can note when we first pick the strawberries or raspberries, when the black berries were ready and when the Italian prunes will be ready. As I see the squirrels gathering and running off with the hazelnuts, I’ve made a note of the date and in this way, I can better plan for getting the buckets ready and the nuts picked up. Since this is not a new activity to me and I’ve never really taken the harvest all that seriously, I’ve always just watched for the squirrels — but now I’m thinking it’d be wise to be a better steward of these trees and so, having the log will help me to keep better track of harvest dates. Who knows? I just might start keeping track of just how many buckets of walnuts and hazelnuts we actually gather. Until now, the amount has been generally quantified: a bunch or a whole bunch. We’ve tended to figure them in terms of prior years — more than last year or not as many as last year. While that seems to have been sufficient, I’d still like to have a better idea so that I can measure how well the different pruning styles have affected or will affect the next season’s yield.

I think that one of the most important reasons I want to maintain this gardener’s journal is so that I will be more accountable or more responsible with the bounty I’ve been given. I read something some time ago… a mother talking with her daughter describing someone’s character and it went something like this: ” they’re the kind of people who let blackberries die on the vine.” Now that may not seem like all that big a deal — perhaps unimportant, really, but I read that with some measure of conviction bcz I’ve allowed blackberries and many, many other things to just die on the vine. I don’t want to be the kind of woman who lets fruit die on the vine. I don’t want to waste opportunities or waste what I’ve been given. Wasted seasons… the fruit of a season dying on the vine. God gave me a great blessing as I let that mother’s comment sink down in my ears… to my shame, I remember many seasons where fruit was left on the vine to fall to the ground. And, so… in light of this, in light of God’s great love, grace, mercy and kindness, I endeavour to, from this day, so far as it depends on me, to be careful with what He’s given me to tend.

Has God given me fruit, a harvest, a bounty… that I’ve let die on the vine? What can I learn and change? Have I been careful with what He’s allowed me to grow? Have I cultivated, pruned, watered, weeded and tended well to the garden the Lord has given me? What can I do today? How can I best plan for and invest in this and the coming season? I repent, I rejoice, I seek and find my answers in the Master Gardener’s Journal and I take another step today…

Autumn’s in the air…

Each morning I walk around our yard and garden to pray, to sing and to see the changes, the growth and produce each day brings. And then each evening seems to be the time I walk around our yard and garden in much the same manner… only the mood and thoughts are different — it seems to have become a time to reflect on the changes of the day and make plans for the next. Lately, the changes of the days almost feel like an assault to my senses as I realize that Autumn’s in the air… I can smell it, taste it, feel it. The air is changing and another year is coming to a close.

I’ve been sincerely working at looking forward — instead of dwelling on the loss of another season. Now, that may seem pretty morbid to state it that way — losing another season — but when I think of summer’s passing and autumn’s arrival, I’m never thrilled with the prospect. But I should be — I should be glad — especially this year, I should be thankful and I should be hopeful: so much is ahead! The road ahead already has markers and I really ought to be embracing the thought of the marvelous plans and opportunities ahead. Still, I lament the passing of the warm, breezy, soft days of summer.

Since I’ve been freeing myself from the tangled web [here, etc.], I’ve spent at least a portion of nearly every day outside — the sunnier the day, the longer I’ve spent out in it. Summertime’s my favourite time of year here as it’s the only time of year in the Pacific Northwest where there’s a remote possibility of a very warm day — and, to me, the warmer and brighter the better!

I bought a notebook for a garden journal — should’ve done this long ago and really don’t know why I haven’t — but I got the notebook so that I could log the different things I did in the yard and garden this year — what I planted and when, what grew well and what didn’t, when trees and plants blossomed, when fruit or produce appeared… those kinds of things. I’m leaving lots of pages between sections or categories so that I can make this sort of a perpetual journal from year to year. I used to rely on my memory for what was planted and when maturity would happen or which bulbs were/are planted in different places and spaces. But I can’t do that very well now and want to be more productive with my time anyway.

A recent browsing of photographs reminded me of the importance of writing things down. The bush I thought I’d fairly recently planted has actually been in that spot, according to the photograph, for over a dozen years now. It seemed like only a few to me. So, you see the need for the garden journal?

As I’ve gotten used to being outside, getting my hands dirty, growing things and watching changes, I’ve seen and been where I’d forgotten I love to see and do. Instead of reading about what I love, instead of writing about what I love, I’ve been doing it… and every day I’m reminded of what’s most important. The passing of another season also reminds me that I must be about the work of the day, of looking forward, of treasuring this home and family: autumn’s in the air… the seasons are passing (snap your fingers) just like that.

Fruitful

As the fruit and nuts and leaves fall from the trees around our yard, I can’t help but notice the poignant reminder that our lives, too, have seasons — and they change. As I reflect on this, I am reminded that the most fruitful season may not appear to be the currant one – even though it may appear so with the fruit that is dropping into the baskets at this time.

I’m looking ahead to the winter when the trees have no leaves or blossoms or blooms and I’m praying this time will be the most fruitful of all.

Fruitful:
a: yielding or producing fruit.
b: conducive to an abundant yield.

So, I’m in prayer that the Lord will continue to shape my life that it will be conducive to yielding abundant fruit. It may not seem like it from season to season –or even in the moment– but that’s where the being “conducive to an abundant yield” comes in — and that’s where prayer and fasting/waiting on the Lord comes in.

The prunings, the waste, broken limbs, the honeybees, the drought, the water, the shade and, yes, the fruit of my yesterdays all give me great hope for tomorrow.

I’m thankful for the pictures the Lord continually presents me… as He often speaks to me in or through the things He’s put in or taken out of my life. I’ve seen our children and grandchildren swing from the branches of the willow tree outside our bedroom window and I consider the strength of a tree. They’ve eaten the fruit of the trees in the garden… I consider the value of a well tended tree. They’ve seen years where there was no fruit to gather in the baskets… sobered at the value of a well tended tree.

Sometimes there’s no one to gather the fruit — no one to appreciate the fruit… and it falls to the ground and becomes part of the soil.

Write It All Down Before You Forget

If you spend time with me… you know it won’t be very long before you notice me writing something down. I write lots of notes — I even write notes about notes.

Well, tonight in this “write it all down before you forget” blog entry, I actually want to encourage you to add more to your kitchen counter journal or your kitchen log. If you don’t have one, may I encourage you do get a notebook — preferably an inexpensive, but thick, “half sheet size” spiral notebook that you can keep in your kitchen to record your daily chores and activities, calls, appointments, lists, etc. I know this might seem archaic to women who think palm-pilots are old relics and who don’t even use a PC anymore — but seriously, there’s something about pen and paper — the visual and tangible.

So, what you might want to do is write down on a few different pages: lists. You might have a “from now till year’s end” list and you might have a garden list and you might have a basic home maintenance and repair list. These lists are sort of running lists that you’ll add to and cross off (you might reserve a section of pages at the beginning of your notebook for such lists). Things might remain on your list for a long time — years even — these aren’t like shopping lists or activity to do lists — these are more permanent/ongoing lists. Don’t fret over what you don’t have — just work to appreciate what you do have and take care of it. If you cannot replace/improve it, learn to appreciate it. Cultivate a thankful heart. Write down “thankfulness” verses from the Bible. That might be a page of your kitchen counter notebook.

Write it down… before you forget.

I’m suggesting this tonight because this is sort of the lull of autumn (at least here in the States) and, like the month of March, is a great time to get some things done… before the next big push. The last big push — around here, anyway, was to get outdoors: gardening, planting, outside repairs, and then the next big push was the food preservation – jams, jellies, canning and freezing – all the “putting up” for winter. Well, now it’s the other side… now it’s time to put everything away outside, get ready for the colder days and longer nights… it’s time to do the indoor repairs, a well stocked pantry, setting in the wood, candles, flashlights & batteries, lamp oil and other preparations and necessities. All the things you might want to do before the next big push… celebrations and family times. You may want to use this time for a really good deep cleaning of your home — every room, top to bottom, inside out. Wash and iron the curtains, wash walls, ceilings, touch up paint and whatever else you might consider needing to do.

Write it down… before you forget.

And, before you forget… maybe one more list:
What were you glad you did this past year? Write down what you’d like to repeat next year.
What were you glad you planted in the garden and yard?
What sort of garden did you envision and what really happened?
Now… write down the plans you want to hold onto for next year’s garden, next spring, next summer…

There’s a phrase and, sadly, I know it to be so true: Fail to plan = plan to fail.
But I like this better: Make a plan… Make a good plan… and follow through. This is my encouragement; again, I know it to be true: Your plans will work if you will work your plans.

Look up and write down verses on industriousness and slothfulness, hard work and laziness… these are great motivators for all of us… as we help our husbands and families.

The cool thing about notebooks is that you can still read and write in them when the power goes out or when the batteries are dead or when the phone lines are down. ;o) ♥

Springtime… seasons

The lacy green leaves are slowly appearing and daffodils are beginning to bloom around the old willow tree. Isn’t it an awesome wonder: Every year, every passing season, has its marvelous reminders of the lavish mercy and everlasting kindness of the Lord. May I never take this for granted nor think it not majestic.

Passing through many seasons in thirty-three years of marriage, I so hope I never again take for granted my husband’s care and thoughtful gestures. You know, it’s something we all do — take for granted things that are or have been long present with us. We assume things will continue just as they have… and then an illness, an accident, a tragedy occurs and that once steady, once forever, once ‘always there’ part of our life is taken away, lost, given away — whatever.

I was reading a long, detailed obituary this morning — a recounting of the life of a beloved wife, mother, grandmother. A story of a stranger, yet after reading her obituary, a friend. I began to think of different things I might want to write about my own mother; things I might want to write about my husband, my children, my friends. All filling different spaces, memories, needs and seasons in my life — yet, do I take them for granted? Do I tell them today the things I might be called upon to record in tomorrow’s obituary? Might I never have another season with them?

My husband has the music player beside our bed set to play a few songs for me to hear when he wakes me up each morning. He’s carefully chosen such encouraging music for me — I’m so blessed and inspired by the music — but, really, it’s the words I hear that linger in my thoughts and set the tone of the morning. Like prayer and God’s Word… the music stays with me, greatly inspiring me for the day.

Ever mindful of just what I need, lately he’s included a song that’s been particularly encouraging to me. It’s called Springtime’s Coming, sung by Kim Hopper ( The Hopper’s are Southern gospel singers). Interestingly, I actually only really like a very select few Southern Gospel groups and wouldn’t ordinarily choose this particular one, but there’s something particularly beautiful and instructive to me in the one song he’s chosen for me. I can’t find a clip to post, nor can I find the lyrics to share with you. But here’s my attempt to share it with you. It goes something like this… I’m sorry to not have the beautiful music for you.

Springtime’s Coming

It’s been a long hard winter, Spring’s long overdue…
Icy wind, cruel and bitter has chilled hope out of you,
you want to look ahead, but your heart’s so full of dread,
you can’t see the subtle changes in the air…
Springtime’s coming…

On the heels of a Winter wind, balmy breezes
will blow across your garden again,
the seeds of hope you’ve planted,
are alive beneath the snow, the blooms are yet to show…
this season will end.

Springtime’s coming, after the winter wind.

I know it’s hard to imagine that Spring’s on the way…
With the trees brown and barren and the skies so gray

Right before your eyes God has the sweetest surprise
All the new things He’s prepared to colour your world…
Springtime’s coming.

As long as heaven and earth remain
God promises the seasons will change
Springtime’s coming.

My husband gave me this card some years back for our anniversary… Many seasons have passed from that anniversary to this day. And I can truly say that God has had the sweetest surprises in store for me following some of the seemingly most barren seasons. Praise the Lord. He only does all things well. May I never take this for granted.

Autumn’s ushering in Winter

It’s sure chilly-chilly here tonight!! The forecast even includes snow! Suddenly it seems to be just fine to give up wishing for warmer days and working in the garden for the year — for now, baking season is here! And around our home it’s time for “special requests.” By this, I mean that it’s time for everyone to submit this year’s favourites for me to bake — or, better said, this year’s update to the list of things “we have to have ________” for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Confession: I simply cannot keep track of who likes what and who doesn’t like what for the traditional Thanksgiving meal. So, I decided a few years ago to sort of announce the menu (though the menu doesn’t change a whole lot) and that’s when I really find out this or that child doesn’t really like this or that menu item. And then, too, I have a few others who say something like: we have to have_______!

Some recipes never change and some have sort of evolved as children have aged, tastes have matured and new favourites have come into play. Some things I don’t make bcz they just don’t taste the same as they used to taste — for example, my dear mother-in-law always used to make the most delicious layered jello salad for both Thanksgiving and Christmas… she’s living far away now and so that dish is just one of those sweet lingering memories.

Some of the must have’s include turkey — of course, fresh cranberry relish, russian cream, potato rolls, sweet potato casserole and… pies. Lots of pumpkin pies — otherwise, what would they eat for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning?? 😉 Each year I’ve been working at making sure there are lots of things from the garden for the Thanksgiving meal. So, this year from the garden we’ll have carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, pickles, raspberries to top the russian cream, apples & walnuts in the salad and pies. I’ve been making walnut pies using a standard pecan pie recipe.

Since we have walnut trees and a bazillion walnuts, it doesn’t seem all that prudent to buy pecans — though I must say pecans are pretty tasty! So… Monday’s the first “pie day.” Besides those, this year I’ll be adding Swedish Pear and Almond Cream Cake and Hazelnut pie to the dessert menu. We didn’t have much of a blueberry crop this year and though the blackberries were plentiful this year, we were attending to other things and the blackberries didn’t get picked — so, no blueberry pie, no blackberry pie this year.

I’m so looking forward to this week in the kitchen… thankful for so many things… and the beautiful music in the background.

But another confession: I do not – do not – like the smell of turkey cooking in the oven. Or turkey broth simmering on the stove. But I like cold turkey the day after Thanksgiving. And simmering cinnamon, cloves and oranges make the kitchen smell soooo sweet.