Got the Spirit? Let's Hear It!

The first job that I do each year that ushers in the Christmas spirit for me is to gussy up Galion Public Library with fresh-from-our-farm greens and wreaths. I am glad that we have this contract because it transitions my soul from mourning the loss of autumn to the joyous Christmas season of special programs, concerts, meals, and family traditions.

As you can see, the sky was a brilliant shade of blue today when I installed the greens.

I've not always been so lucky....today's 41 degrees felt downright balmy compared to years when I'd be out in below freezing weather, sometimes accompanied by freezing rain or snow, trying to wire pine rope, swags, and bows on the beautiful antique wrought iron fence.

Galion is lucky to have such a beautiful library building. Back in the day, forward thinking citizens of Galion matched Carnegie funds and gave our town a legacy.

But wait!

There's more!

Not only do we have this fantastic building, which is also an important part of American history, Galion has a top-notch library staff to go with it.  And I ain't just whislin' Dixie...the staff truly cares about library patrons and goes the extra mile...not only for library business, but also as a hub to connect different people and projects together. With excellent adult and children programs, the library is also a valuable center of learning and entertainment.

As I was installing the greens today, I pondered the fact that Jim and I have been making greens for the library's Christmas for about 20 years (I know! time flies faster than the speed of life!). I just about couldn't get over that fact, and was humbled by the idea of it. l feel extremely privileged to be the person the library board trusts to do the outdoor decorations for the very special season of Christmas.

Marcheta *the fortunate one

Where's Marcheta?

No, I am not donning a stripped shirt and stocking cap and hiding amongst the throng of holiday shoppers in hopes that you will find me.

Just the opposite, I'd love for you to find me!

"Where's Marcheta?" is a new page that I added to OCJ today to keep you informed of the community activities I'll be a part of. Also posted are the fresh Christmas Trees and other products that Jim and I have for sale here at the farm with the hours that we are open for business.

Today I'll have a rather sad patch. I adore autumn and hate to say goodbye to such a glorious season. But the earth is entering a new season, and so must I. Today the fall home décor items will be put away, and maybe a few winter/Christmas items will take their places. I am helped along this path with the scents of fresh pine and juniper...we've begun the process of making fresh Christmas greens. So, really, I am still in a "green" season. How great is that?

Marcheta *keepin' it fresh

We Gather Together

One of my favorite songs that I learned in grade school music class is "We Gather Together". Every year our school sang this song at Thanksgiving pageants, so naturally I've always connected it with Indians and Pilgrims as they gather together to celebrate the first Thanksgiving. I mean, c'mon...the lyrics are practically shouting, "We give thanks!"

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

My childhood mind could not figure out the real meaning of "sing praises to His name, He forgets not his own." I thought it meant that God does not forget that his name is God. It wasn't until I was in high school that I realized that it means God does not forget his people.

Well, duh! What an epiphany!

When looking up the lyrics today, I learned that We Gather Together was not written especially for Thanksgiving, but was written in 1597 to celebrate a Dutch victory, who were, indeed, giving a big shout out for praise for their safety and for freedom.

This is the website that I visited this morning to learn more about the song. It has the beautiful melody playing in the background as you read about the song of praise and read the lyrics.

Just listening to it brings back many happy childhood memories.

Today, as we count our blessings, I hope that you are also remembering the happy times in your lives.

Marcheta *epiphanized

Cedar Waxeing

 

 

 

This past week my friend and fellow nature photographer buff, Steve, has been finding hoards of Cedar Waxwings at Amann/Amick Reservoirs.

 

I have not been so lucky.

 

 

Bummer :(

 

 

 

The first time that I saw Cedar Waxwings was during a home invasion of my Hawthorn tree, which is right outside the window where I work.

 

 

Below is part of what I wrote about the experience for the Galion Inquirer. Stay tuned to this blog for chapter 2 for more info on Cedar Waxwings and another friend's experience with these awesome birds :)

 

Marcheta *waxing ornithological

 

 

"Cedar Waxwings (bombycilla cedrorum) are lovely to watch. They sport black masks that I am sure are the envy of area raccoons and spiked crests that resemble those of cardinals. With wings smooth as doves’, these birds are a color mix of soft brown, gray, and lemon yellow, with bright red patches on their wing tips. Being extremely social, they are usually found in large numbers. 

I first noticed cedar waxwings twelve years ago while I was working in my home office. It was early March and suddenly from the corner of my eye I saw a huge flock of birds land in the Hawthorn tree that is close to a window. Since this room is on the second story, my window is at eye-level with the tree’s canopy. 

 

 The tree is so close to the house that I felt that if I opened the window, I could reach out and touch the birds. Those masked marauders were feasting on the Hawthorn berries like nothing I had ever seen. I stood in awe for the half hour that it took the birds to completely strip the tree, which is the pride and joy of my winter landscape. 

 

 I didn’t know what kind of birds those were, nor did I understand what had just happened. Lucky for me, Jim knew. He identified them as cedar waxwings and explained that the bright red berries attracted the huge congregation.

 

 Having depleted our tree, they were off to strip other trees and bushes. I was miffed that my tree was left barren, but the memory of the exhilarating experience of watching the birds is something that will stay with me for my lifetime."

 



Shoulda

Snowing today.

How I love it.

***BUT***

Although I am ready, mentally, for the slower paced days that winter brings, I am not quite caught up with the fall chores that need to be done.

I am in good company. Even the poet Robert Frost found himself in a similar circumstance, as he eloquently recorded in his poem, The Star-Splitter:

"You know Orion always comes up sideways.

Throwing a leg up over our fence of mountains,

And rising on his hands, he looks in on me

Busy outdoors by lantern-light with something

I should have done by daylight, and indeed,

After the ground is frozen, I should have done

Before it froze, and a gust flings a handful

Of waste leaves at my smoky lantern chimney

To make fun of my way of doing things..." 

And so it was with me and the birds today. 

The lone feeder was completely empty, and I had as yet to put out 

more feeders and suet cages. 

Feeling guilty, I braved the fine, misty snow that traveled on a biter

wind to hang another feeder and the suet cage, which I had filled

with new cakes. And, guess what? 

Yep.

Nearly out of bird seed. :(

In all my "stocking up" on things to prepare for winter, I haven't gotten around stocking up on bird and cat food.

All is not lost, though...there was enough seed left to get my feathered friends through the night, and Jim had put ears of corn for Blue Jays and Woodpeckers to nosh on. 

Guess what is priority on my shopping list for tomorrow?

At least, I do not have to go feed the birds by lantern light, but I am sure that our winter constellation friend Orion, along with the airborne leaves, probably makes fun of the way that I do things, too. :)

Marcheta *slowly Gettin' 'er Done

The Hunter ~ A Thanksgiving Tradition

 

Today I switched out the plates on the kitchen plate rack. It is always sad for me when I change the inside decor from fall to Christmas/Winter because I hate to say goodbye to Autumn. I mean, what's not to like about a season that has it all? Mild weather, beautiful colors, bird migration, fun outside activities, harvest festivals...on and on. 

*sigh*

However, this pattern by Myott, "The Hunter", which has several scenes of a hunter and his trusty dog, is more than appropriate to grace the kitchen because hunting season is in full swing. 

The hunting scenes depicted by a Myott artist all those many years ago bring back fond memories of when Jim was growing up,his farm family had a tradition of hunting on Thanksgiving morning. Jim, his brother, dad, uncles, cousins, and anyone else who wanted to join the hunting party bundled up like Elmer Fudd's (at least, that is how I remember them the first Thanksgiving that I spent with them) and headed out the door, happy to be out of the confines of an overloaded house.

Maybe they thought that they were getting out of work, but really it was a blessing to the womenfolk to not have the men underfoot while they prepared the feast.

These days the men lay around on Lazy Boys and sofas watching TV, and the women have become hunters (at area grocery stores for pies, relish trays, deli salads, and the like to ease their burdens of feeding a large crowd). 

One thing remains constant no matter who is the hunter (or even if there are none)....the family gathers. 

Marcheta *let the hunt begin

Sweet Ham Sliders...oh, YUM!

A great thing about reading blogs is learning new sources. Today I was visiting Noel's Apron Free Cooking blog. Her post about holiday appetizers appealed to me. Noel gives credit to Boar's Head for these sliders made with ham and apple butter.

Yes. That's right.

Apple butter!

I know, right? I was thinking the same thing..."now THAT looks interesting and is different from the usual mustard that goes on ham".

I cannot wait to try these...or even to just forego mustard the next time that I make ham sandwiches and get out the apple butter instead.

So...here it is. One idea sparks another. And all because of blogging.

Neat, huh?

Oh, and naturally I had to go to the Boar's Head website to find out more about them. This proved to be a good move as they have a wonderful recipe section. Check it out here.

Marcheta *sparked

Here's what Noel says:


Get your party started right with a delicious assortment of appetizers and just relax. As long as the drinks and delicious foods are flowing, the good times will as well.

Sweet Slice® Ham Sliders

 

 

Ingredients

• 8 appetizer size rolls
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 4 slices Sweet Slice Boneless Smoked Ham, sliced thick
• 4 slices Whole Milk Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese, sliced thick

Preparation

1. Slice rolls and spread with apple butter. Cut ham and cheese slices in half to fit on roll. Add one slice each of ham and cheese to roll. Arrange on dish and serve.

Serves
Serves 8
Cook Time:
10 minutes
SOURCE: Boar’s Head

Favorite Thing: Plate Rack

This plate rack was made for me by friends Gladys and Ray Clark for my 50th birthday (just a year or so ago...*wink*). 

I love it not only because it was such a thoughtful gift (and handmade) but also because the plate rack gives me a great place in our kitchen to display vintage dishes.

 I switch these dishes out for each season. Here it is all dressed up for autumn. It has a mix of dishes; plates and bowls that I've gathered during thrift shop haunts that I think go nicely together and give a big shout out to my favorite season.

Tomorrow or Sunday I plan to take these dishes down, which will feel sad  for me because I am not ready to let go of fall just yet. The new "art show" will not be a hodge-podge; I'll bring out a matching set of transfer-ware called "The Hunter" by Myott which is also a favorite of mine. This set (bought at the community theatre rummage sale one year) is appropriate as we enter hunting season and also because the colors go well with Christmas decorations.

Marcheta *hunter/gatherer

The Major Award

Jim saw this lovely Dresden Plate quilt on display when we were at Zoar Harvest Festival last August. The Canton Quilt Guild were raffling it as a fund raiser, so Jim bought six tickets for $5.00 and we each signed three tickets.

Well, dang the money! We got a call a few weeks ago that one of our tickets was the lucky winner :)

The guild offered to mail the quilt to us, but Jim decided that we'd take a "day off" and drive to Canton to pick it up. 

Yesterday we drove through several climate zones (all while traveling due east on U.S. 30) on our way to Canton. Mostly it was the perfect snowy day for a day trip, but we did hit some freezing rain and a white-out or two just to remind us that we live in Ohio.

We met guild member Sherry Reed at a Bob Evan's restaurant to get the quilt and then have lunch. Sherry is a delightful person and I was happy to meet her.

Jim is so excited about winning, he reminds me of Ralphie's Old Man in A Christmas Story when he won the leg lamp. He called it is major award. So that is what I am calling this quilt...our major award.

How much does Jim love his major award? Enough to build a special shelf that has a quilt bar so that we can display the quilt in one of our living rooms.

*Sweet*

I feel as if I've won THREE major awards:

Quilt

New hand-crafted shelf

Happy husband.

What a great way to begin the Thanksgiving/Christmas season that is knocking (rather loudly) on the doors these days.

Marcheta *answering   

Lucy Goosey

Now what? :)

My friend Lucy, who I see almost every day at the reservoir, seems to be thinking, "I don't know! I need  a time out  so I can get everything thunk out and sorted!"

 

And that is what I am doing today...taking time to re-group and re-organize to prepare for my last wave of busyness for this year: Christmas tree and wreath sales. 

We won't be making the greens for at least a week, we like our customers to get them nice and fresh. What I am doing now is preparing what I am able to ahead of time, such as get the price-list updated, make a few posters to put around town, get the ad ready for the newspaper, and other what-not. 

Today's chores don't include any of that, though. I spent all morning getting banking accounts updated, bills paid and out of my way. Now I'm off to the stores to stock up on household staples so that I won't have to be bothered with shopping after a long day of work. I am trying to get as much off of my mind as possible.

Yesterday after our Happy Birdday party, Jim trimmed a juniper that had gone a bit wild at Kerry's house. 

Juniper is my favorite green for fragrance and helped me get it in my head that autumn and all of its glory is disappearing **fast** and I need to gear up for Christmas and winter. The snow flurries that are predicted will help.

Meanwhile, I am going to enjoy being out and about today. One highlight will be meeting up with a few of my writer buds at Barnes and Noble. We're meeting to check in how we're doing and to offer support and encouragement to each other. Like me, most have given up the pressure to be done with NaNoWriMo on time, and to know that others are of a like mind helps me relax about changing the date of my personal goal.

Marcheta *breathing

Happy Birdday! The Un-traditional Way to Celebrate

 With two birthdays and Thanksgiving this month, we've decided to "bundle" the celebrations and create a new one: Happy Birdday.

My way of thinking is that a holiday can be any day that we want, and if a day other than what the calender says we have to celebrate works better, than why not?

Kerry has graciously agreed to host this party at her house instead of trying to manage the kids at a restaurant.  Her home is closer for everyone (but me and Jim), and this way she does not have to pack up three kids and make the long drive to Galion. The kids will be happier, too, as it won't mess up their nap times.

Cooking is easier, too. The guys want a brisket from a well-know place in Columbus, Kerry is making a few sides, I made deviled eggs and am buying cupcakes.  Which brings us to economics, two or three are saving on gas to drive Up North and one celebration means one payout! LOL.

Win/win/win, I'd say!!

Marcheta *celebrating (for more reasons than one!)

Speical Moments

Throughout the year, we are blessed with special moments. Birthdays, anniversaries, welcoming new babies, getting a new pet, and weddings are but a few.

Last month I had the honor of preserving wedding memories for Casey and Grant by being their photographer.

I do not like photographing weddings, but I was Casey's child care provider (formerly known as "baby sitter") when she was growing up, so naturally I could not say "no". In fact, it was my pleasure and my gift to the newly weds. I *finally* finished the collage pages for the album, which is one project that I can put on my "ta-DONE!" list :)

Casey is now a beautiful young woman and I am so happy that she has found  her soul mate, and just in time to celebrate two important holidays with her husband.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are busy times for us because we have a Christmas Tree business, where we have both cut and live trees, and make fresh, mixed greens wreaths, swags, and grave blankets. With so much work, if I am not extremely organized the holidays are not much fun for me. Yet, as I reflect back, they, too are full of happy memories. 

For me, the key to a happy holiday is to ignore media hype as to what it "should be" and go with the flow of how the day fits into our lives.

Marcheta *fa-la-la-la-la

Noel's Dutch Apple Pie

Noel is back this week with a yummy recipe for Dutch Apple Pie.

 

Doesn't her picture just make you want to pour a glass of milk and/or get out the vanilla ice cream for a yummy snack?

 

Marcheta *headed for the fridge

 

 

For more of Noel's recipes, visit her website :www.apronfreecooking.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the holiday season is approaching, I thought I’d start getting in the spirit by making an apple pie this week. The prep time is only about ten minutes, so you can have a hot apple pie in about an hour.

 I like Dutch Apple Pie with the crumb topping, probably because it seems like a special treat with the sweet crumbly top coating instead of a pastry crust.

Dutch Apple Pie

Ingredients:

1  pie crust for 9 inch pan

 4 apples
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup sugar
2 TB flour
½ cup raisins
Topping:
1/3 cup flour
8 TB butter
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon


Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place pie crust in the bottom of 9 inch pie pan. Peel and slice apples into a small bowl. Add raisins. Mix 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ cup sugar and 2 TB flour and toss with apples and raisins. Pour apple mixture in pie crust. To make the topping, melt the butter and mix in the flour, sugar and cinnamon. Stir until small lumps form. Sprinkle over apple mixture. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 55 minutes.

Last Apple Standing

Today Jim picked the last of the apples, putting an end to his orchard work for this season (and what a long haul it's been!)

We've got about four bushels left that I am working on storing for our own use, so for me the saga continues.

While fixing lunch I did up half a peck of Golden Delicious into applesauce. This batch did not make it to the freezer as we ate it hot (with butter and cinnamon) and I put the rest in the fridge.

I also cleared out veggie drawers in the fridge to store as many eating apples as I can fit into them. 

In looking for different ways to make apple crisp, I found this one at allrcipes.com, which I have copied and pasted below. I love the All Recipes website because of the ease in printing the recipes.

Marcheta *searcher

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 pinch salt

1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces

1 cup chopped walnuts 

 

1/3 cup white sugar, or to taste

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 cups apples - peeled, cored and

chopped

2 tablespoons lemon juice 

Directions:

1. Mix flour, brown sugar, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl. Combine butter with the flour mixture using fingers or a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts and set aside. 

2. Whisk together 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Place the apples in a slow cooker, stir in the cornstarch mixture; toss with lemon juice. Sprinkle the walnut crumb topping on top. Cover and cook on High for 2 hours or Low for 4 hours, until apples are tender. Partially uncover the slow cooker to allow the topping to harden, about 1 hour. 

The Accidental Emerald

Things are pretty quiet these days at my favorite nature spot. The other day I was feeling a bit dejected as I walked the shoreline, hoping to find....well, whatever I would find. I always treat these daily walks as explorations with no goal in mind. Just see what I'll see. But I always hope to see wildlife. And I usually wish that I lived up on Lake Erie.

Because of the wind, the waves in the small reservoir were extremely choppy. This gave me a feeling that I actually was at the Lake. To complete the picture, a group of Herring Gulls began to congregate, giving me hope that I would get a nature picture, but most were too far out of camera range.

Drat.

But something else caught my eye...a glimmer bounced up from the ground. A brief ray of sun had hit a shard of green glass. 

Again, I was reminded of a favorite place on the Lake where I always find lake glass, sometimes called "sea glass" or "beach glass". No matter what moniker it goes by, it is simply pieces of glass, broken by the waves and polished by the sand as it gets washed ashore. It has no control over where  it will land, but after being tossed about in stormy waters, the glass becomes transformed from "litter" to "value", as it is highly sought after by jewelry makers.  I just put my collection in a vase.

I did not take the "emerald" that day; I left it to its fate (hoping that it would get pulled back in the water and given a proper polish).

My brief encounter with the faux emerald made me feel transformed, too, that I have value here in farm country.

Marcheta *green with envy

Natural Gems

Yesterday could be viewed as a dreary, wet day. Or it could be seen as a day to stay cozy inside. For me, I saw it both ways at different times.

At one point in late afternoon, the clouds let a small ray of sun fall through the rain, creating diamonds on the slender branches of our river birch tree. This is how it looked from my the big window in the kitchen. Even though it was still raining, I could not resist opening the window to take pictures of the Ruby crabapple tree that is just outside the window.



 

Marcheta *bejeweled

 

Planting a Tree

A few days ago  I tagged along with Jim when he went to deliver a red oak tree for a customer. Her grandson had already dug the hole, and the deal was that Jim was only to deliver the tree, as they were not able to pick it up at our nursery. Well, this is how Jim is: while he was explaining how to plant the tree to the homeowner, he ended up doing most of the work. No extra charge.

The only thing left for the grandson to do was to finish filling in the hole with the dirt he had removed.

Question. Have you ever gotten this kind of service from a big-box store?

Didn't think so.

Marcheta *chalk one up for the little guys!

 

 

 

 

 

New Project, New Blog

November is a transition month for me, thank goodness!



The busy schedule of fall has wound down. It takes a few days to adjust to the reality that I don't have to rush to get produce ready for a market or to be someplace at a certain time.

Such was the case this morning. I can tell you this, a heavenly feeling washed over me when I realized that I can take my time doing whatever I chose to do.

What I chose to do was to get to work on my NaNoWriMo project. To help keep me inspired and to record my thoughts and feelings as I travel this wordy adventure, I started a new blog called NaNo Notebook. If you are interested, you can see it here.

Today was successful, I have over 2000 words so far. At the kick-off party at the library, I wrote four more pages longhand...so when  get them typed up I'll have an even more impressive start.

I know that I won't always have this kind of success, after all, much of what was typed up today was planned ahead of time. But, well, with almost a full month of free days before I need to start working on Christmas greens, this just might be the year that I "Get 'er Done" :)

Sure, I am now spending my days typing like crazy to reach the 50,000 word count by November 30, but never fear...I ain't exactly done talkin' 'bout apples just yet! The trees are still colorful, the weather is not too cold. What a great way to start the end of Autumn!


Marcheta *blog blabber