Auld Land Syne

Today we are standing on the edge of time, peering into the possibilities and adventures that 2014  has waiting for us. How exciting is that? And even more exciting is that we have the memories and experiences of 2013 to build on.

The title of the famous Scottish song Auld Lang Syne, written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, translates to “times gone by”. The song is about remembering friends from the past and not letting them be forgotten. 

Writing about people and the  happenings of a country year on this blog; the friendships new and old that gathered here, is something that I am not likely to forget unless I go into a coma sometime. Writing Ohio Country Journal has been a labor of love that came with the unexpected benefit of keeping me focused and mindful of the important things in life.

Writing about the successes that full-time country women have achieved and their valuable contributions to our society has kept the blog on a positive track. Sharing a few sorrows reminds us that we all need each other, that we need to be receptive of  receiving compassion as well as to give it to others in need of quiet embrace.

I had planned to retire the blog today. My goal on this day last year was to commit to recording one year. However, the people who know that today was intended to be my last post have encouraged me to keep the blog going. How can I resist such support and positive feedback? :)

My goal for 2014 is to keep OCJ, but with a slightly different goal. Posting daily was a grand idea but a goal that I was not able to obtain. My new goal is to continue writing about country women and the daily work on our own little tree farm, but to limit posting to once or twice a week.

Again, I invite all of you to submit a story, poem, recipe, and your ideas to OCJ. After all, a community isn't made up of just one person, is it? :)


Here's wishing you all a Happy New Year, and Auld Lang Syne.

Marcheta *raising a cup to kindness

Goals

A new year is a good time to set and work on goals. My goal for 2013 was this blog. My intention of posting daily fell by the wayside this fall, but still I feel successful. After all, a daily posting was an ambitious goal and I was not sure I could pull it off.

 

 

 

The project that I have chosen to work on for 2014 combines a new goal with an old one. I've been interested in making a few (simple!)cookbooks for a few years. Of course, I want the format to be consistent, but did want the process to be complicated. About three years ago I bought a software that I thought would be helpful, but even though it was a Windows platform, it did not play nice with my Windows OS. I gave up on publishing a cookbook, but continued to collect and tweak recipes to my liking.

 

For Christmas, Jim gave me a new software called Cook'n. I've spent the afternoon becoming familiar with it, and I think that I finally have the right tool at the right time of my life to achieve the goal.

 

The recipe today is one that I captured from the Betty Crocker website using the Cook'n software, which imported and formatted it for me. Then I was able to edit the recipe to fit the changes that I made.

 

The software has many themes, I chose this one because I thought it looked nice with the recipe.

 

What are your goals for 2014? A new project? Finishing an existing project? No projects? Travel? Whatever they are, I wish you much success.

Marcheta *let's do this!

 

Baked Butternut Squash with Apples

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 1/2 pounds butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 cups)

2 to 3 large baking apples cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (4 cups)

1/4 cup real maple or maple-flavored syrup

1/4 cup chopped pecans toasted*

---

 

 

 Heat oven to 375°F. Place butter in 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish; heat in oven 5 to 7 minutes or until melted.

 Stir cinnamon and nutmeg into melted butter. Add squash; toss to coat. Cover with foil; bake 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix apples, and syrup.

 Pour apple mixture over squash. Cover; bake 10 minutes. Stir; bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until squash is tender. Stir before serving and sprinkle with pecans.

Family Cookbooks

Several years back, my cousin's daughter, Alison, took on the task of creating a family cookbook.  With the help of her mother, Alita, the cookbook is much more than a house for family recipes, it is also a home filled with memories that are brought to recollection via pictures and copies of hand-written recipes.

Alison and Alita chose a cookbook publishing company for their book and asked me to design the cover and chapter dividers. Their creation was  originally planned for family members, but became so successful that eventually Stories and Standards has three print runs.

A cookbook like Alison's is a wonderful way to keep a family (especially those whose members are scattered across the country) close by preserving family lore. And this can be done on a smaller scale, too. For instance, another friend (and frequent guest blogger) Gladys also made cookbook that she presented to her grandson's bride. Gladys' version was her own hand-written copies of her tried-and-true recipes and family favorites. She bought a three-ring binder that had a clear pocket on the front for inserting a custom cover and put the recipe pages in clear sleeves. Again, I was asked to design the cover.

All of these women have inspired me to finally make a family cookbook so that I can get the idea out of my head and into print. I have no idea what the cover will look like, but I am sure that during working on the project, inspiration will shop up.

My cookbook idea is somewhere between the highly involved and simplistic versions. I am not sure how I will go about printing if I am successful. I am considering having a small run printed at Staples or Office Max, or printing the pages at home and filling three-ring binders with the printouts. 

Would your family appreciate a cookbook that features their recipes? If so, why not give the idea a try? They would make fantastic Christmas gifts, making next year's shopping much easier :)

Marcheta *let's go!

Special Made Simple

Holidays do not have to be complicated to be fun. In fact, the more complicated they are, the less fun they are for me (and many others who do the planning and work). Our family expansion (first sons-in-law and now grandchildren), means more shopping for and/or making of presents and has me looking for even simpler ways to make our holidays fun.

I like Noel's idea of dressing up a favorite, yet easy to make, treat to make it special for holidays like Christmas. Rice Crispy Treats take on a whole new persona when they show up in living color.

Now, I've 'altered' the crispy treat recipe myself at times, such as adding peanut butter and/or chocolate...and have even gone the extra mile by adding appropriate sprinkles on top. This does not take much extra effort, but really, Noel's idea doesn't take any, she lets the colorful cereal dress it up for her. How sweet is that?

To read Noel's full post, visit her website at www.apronfreecooking.com and go to this link http://www.apronfreecooking.com/recipes/rainbow-treats-recipe/



Marcheta *savoring the sweet life

Noel writes:

My family is planning several get togethers over the holiday week. Of course, we always plan these events to be pot luck so that one person isn’t stuck fixing all the food.

Depending on the day and the time of the event, we’ll be carrying in appetizers, side dishes for dinners, or cookies. Sometimes it’s a challenge coming up with a recipe that doesn’t require too much time or effort.

For the cookie carry in, I’m bringing Rainbow Treats. This cookie isn’t really a cookie, but it is a very popular snack with the folks. Kids and adults gobble them up. You may know this treat by another name: Rice Krispies Treat.

I wanted something colorful and fun, so I bought a box of puffed rice cereal that featured multi-colored pieces. These would make great treats at a baby shower, or mother – daughter tea party, so you might want to clip this recipe and save it for later!

Rainbow Treats in Pan

Rainbow Treats Recipe

3 TB butter or margarine
10 oz marshmallows
6 cups puffed rice cereal, in rainbow colors


Butter a 9×13 baking pan and set aside.
Melt the butter in a large pan over low heat.
When the butter is melted, add marshmallows to the pan and stir. Continue heating over low until marshmallows are completely melted.
Pour in rice cereal and stir until all cereal is coated with marshmallow.
Scrape the rice mixture into the 9×13 pan.
With wet hands, press until spread evenly in pan.
Allow to cool for 30 minutes.
  Cut into squares and serve.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays this Christmas Season.

Marcheta *fa-la-la-la-la

One Upon a Winters's Solstice...

 

... it rained all day.

 

 

However, Denise and I did not let the rain dampen our spirits. The car braved flooded roads and we braved a downpour as we drove to an old-fashioned dinner in the small village of Shiloh. 

 

Shiloh Dinner is a favorite place to visit because the food is homemade and the banter between the dinner's workers and the regular customers gives the place a local flavor. Ease-dropping has never been so much fun as it was on that day!

 

 

***New Daily Special****

Yap With a Side of Coffee

 

Geezer....it's getting a bit damp outside.

Other Geezer...yep

Woman...yep. Rainin'.

Waitress...you guys gonna order or just yap about the weather?

Geezer...yap, with a side of coffee

 

 

 

With stomachs full of good food and our brains full of good laughs we decided to head "up north" because the rain had settled down. Vermillion, Ohio, was our destination.

 

The 45 minute scenic drive was uneventful...passed a few Amish buggies along the way, and a few fields of damp corn shocks standing like sentinels on the rolling hills against the grey sky...maybe wishing Old Sol would put a stop to the rain and dry them out. As we got closer to the lake, we were amazed by the thousands of sea gulls in the fields, gleaning bits of grain. At one point, the gulls left a field on one side of the road to green pastures on the other. The thousands of beating wings overhead gave me an other-worldly feeling.

 

Vermillion's businesses go all-out when they decorate for the seasons. This year, the town was exceptional, as soon as we hit the town limits we felt welcome. The wreaths on the lamp posts were life-savers decked out in winter greenery and Christmas-red bows. This type of attention to detail and individuality is what sets towns like Vermillion apart from other small towns. I wish that all small towns would take as much pride in their historic districts as Vermillion does.

 

Vermillion's small beach on Lake Erie was the first place we stopped. Gulls, mallards, and Canada geese made their way around the frozen waves that had broken up into dirty chunks of ice. I could not resist taking pictures, and took my camera for a walk along the beach in a cold drizzle.

 

The drizzle did not last long; full out rain sent me running back to the car. I noticed that the rain on the windshield gave a painterly effect to the light house and lamp post, and once again the camera was at work.

 

 

 

Denise and I never did see the sun...not even a ray. Oh, well, it was a great day, a day of quietude amongst a much-too-busy month.

 

Marcheta *make mine a combo

 

 



 

Happy Winter Solstice!

 

 

In looking for a poem that fits this picture of a gull taken during the Winter Solstice in 2012, I turned to the Poetry Foundation's website. Right off, I came across this poem by a favorite poet of mine, Mary Oliver, who was born in Ohio. Mary lived in the east during her adult years, but many of her nature poems have their roots in Ohio.

 

I love the winter solstice. It is a day to remember ancient people who planned their celebrations of life around the natural calendar. I always take the day off, a welcome break in all the Christmas preparation frenzies. I usually do not have a clear-cut plan of how I will spend the day, I simply drive around to see what I'll see. Last year I came across gulls at my regular nature spot, which was a treat because gulls are not all that common at the reservoirs.

 

This year, I invited Denise to motor around with me. Our loose plan is to meander to Lake Erie, but with heavy rains predicted for the day, our plans may change to staying closer to home. Either way, and with or without Old Sol, we'll enjoy our respite from Holiday Madness.

 

I wish calmness and serenity on this Winter Solstice Day, the shortest day of the year. I'm feeling a little bit like Age of Aquarius right now!

 

Marcheta *let the sun shine, let the sun shine in!

 

White-Eyes

By Mary Oliver b. 1935 Mary Oliver

In winter

    all the singing is in

         the tops of the trees

             where the wind-bird

with its white eyes

    shoves and pushes

         among the branches.

             Like any of us

he wants to go to sleep,

    but he's restless—

         he has an idea,

             and slowly it unfolds

from under his beating wings

    as long as he stays awake.

         But his big, round music, after all,

             is too breathy to last.

So, it's over.

    In the pine-crown

         he makes his nest,

             he's done all he can.

I don't know the name of this bird,

    I only imagine his glittering beak

         tucked in a white wing

             while the clouds—

which he has summoned

    from the north—

         which he has taught

             to be mild, and silent—

thicken, and begin to fall

    into the world below

         like stars, or the feathers

               of some unimaginable bird

that loves us,

    that is asleep now, and silent—

         that has turned itself

             into snow

Full-Time Country Woman, Julie Petty

Julie Petty, from Alpaca Meadows website

I met Julie Petty about a month ago when Jim and I stopped by her farm store at Alpaca Meadows. Last year, Jim saw the Petty's ad for their open house and bought the best pair of socks I have ever worn for part of my Christmas present.

Well, one pair of socks that keep my feet warm and dry is nice, but really, a gal who is outside almost everyday needs more than one pair, and I set out to expand my alpaca sock wardrobe.

Raising alpacas is more than a business, it is a lifestyle. There are several alpaca farms in our area, and my neighbors have added a few to their operation (see the post about Bunny and Claude). However, meeting Julie was the first time I've talked with an alpaca business owner.

Meeting Julie was a pleasure. Her enthusiasm and passion for her animals and country lifestyle is evident because she can't stop smiling when she is talking about her business. She gave me permission to use her picture and her bio from the farm's website: www.alpacameadows.com. You can read her bio below, and then visit the website to browse the products and classes that the Petty's offer, visit their Etsy store, and read the bios of the whole Alpaca Meadows team.

Marcheta *feeling warm and fuzzy :)

Julie writes:

I love my job. Never did I dream I’d be raising alpacas when “I grew up”! Seems like it might have been something God had planned. When I was little, we raised Irish Setters. We always had huge litters and had to help bottle feed those puppies. I loved it and practically lived in that dog pen! Maybe that’s when my love of animals first began.

People that come to visit and listen to me talk about alpacas say they can tell I love them and have a passion for what I’m doing. What a gift! I am wife to Matt, mother to Adam, Aaron, and Abby, step-mother to Libby, step-mother-in-law to Charles, and step-grandmother to Keandre’, Zavier, and Leila.

I graduated from Ashland College with a degree in Clothing Fashion Merchandising. I moved to Durango, Colorado to “find myself” and spent the next four years in “God’s country” where the sun shines most every day! My favorite job (for awhile) was working for Durango Cookery where I managed the office, and was involved with the marketing of the products we sold—I also skied a lot!

Though I said I’d never live in Ohio again, I met Matt (on a blind date) and we were married! We owned Hallmark stores and I did the bookkeeping for the stores in our home for the next ten years while we raised our children. We sold our house, built two more, moved, rented, and moved again. The birth of our third child and the growth of the stores put me “over the edge” as far as trying to do the work at home and my “career” at Petty’s Hallmark came to a close.

There were a few “off” years and in the Fall of 2002, we plunged into the alpaca business! What a journey it has been. I often tell people that half the fun has been all I’ve learned – about things I never knew I’d need to know! I hope to explore the fiber end of this business much more – I have learned to spin, and felt, and dye, and knit.

It is very rewarding to actually deliver the baby and raise the animal that produces the fleece for the items in our farm store! I love sitting in the pasture on a warm day just watching the alpacas and I love sitting in the straw when the barn is bedded for winter just observing. There is a peace about being with these beautiful creatures that God has blessed us with – it just doesn’t get much better than this!

Must Have Been Some Magic....

The population of Galion grew considerably during our recent snowfalls. The new kids are a showy group who thrive in the out-of-doors while the rest of us seek comfort indoors.

I admire people who can turn a cloud into a sculpture. I love seeing their creativity when I am driving around town and country; like the snowflakes that make up their DNA, no two snowmen are the same, which turns an ordinary trip into town a mini adventure.

The one in this picture was made by my friend, Denise. I think that her little guy is the most creative I've seen. If I were a snowman contest judge, Denise would get the blue ribbon for sure!

One reason that I think snowmen bring such joy is that we know that they are fleeting....already the warming temps are causing the happy jolly souls to have severe meltdowns, but the smiles on once frozen faces usually hold on till the bitter end.

In a few days, the rain that is coming will transform our new citizenry into round blobs or messy puddles.

Here's a thought...when the snowmen evaporate and become clouds once more, who knows where they will be reincarnated? Maybe Denise's snowman will materialize in Canada, Switzerland, or even back here in Galion. That's the neat thing about flakes...they flit about freely and do their own things. Is there a lesson to be learned? :)

Marcheta *he'll be back someday

Warm Woolies

Today's snowfall makes a perfect setting for going to Alpaca Meadow's  Christmas Open House. Last year, Jim purchased a pair of alpaca socks for me from Matt and Julie's on farm store. I gotta tell you, I've never had such nice, warm socks! I am looking forward to buying a few more pairs today, as I love tromping around in the snow taking pictures with my camera, and having toasty warm feet makes my "play dates" more comfortable.

Julie Petty is a "Full-time Country Woman", and I know I'll enjoy taking with her again today. If she agrees, I'll post her bio here on OCJ. :)


Meanwhile, if you are interested in the Petty's business, check out the links above.

And, of course, for no reason what-so-ever, now I have the song "Wooly Bully" playing a continuous loop in my brain :)

Marcheta *uno, dos, one, two, tres, quarto!

The Art of Remembrance

This picture is of three grave blankets and four grave pillows, ready to be delivered to the client.

Making Christmas greens has always been an emotional mix for me. The lines "and the prettiest sight to see / is the holly that will be / on your own front door" from the song, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" resonate with me as I prepare wreaths and swags that are destined to adorn homes and public buildings. 

With Mannheim Steamroller on the C.D. player and the piny scents of juniper, arborvitae, Fraser Firs, Scotch and White pines mingling with wood smoke from the barns faithful heater filling the barn with energy, making Christmas greens can be a wonderful occupation.

At first.

Then, mid month (as now) making wreaths loses it's luster and can become a real drag.

And wreath making is not for the faint of heart...orders like the one above can be downright sad for me. Living in a small community, I know the people personally who are buying greens for their loved ones who are no longer with us. 

Tears have streamed down my face as I've made wreaths for my own dearly departed,...each sprig of greenery bringing back memories as I tuck them into place. 

My consolation in making cemetery greens is that they bring a sense of comfort to the families who place evergreen remembrances on headstones. It is a way of keeping our deceased loved ones a part of our Christmas. 

Marcheta *comfort and joy

"Peter Pan" Syndrome

Some kids never grow up.....

...need I say more? :)

Snow brings memories of childhood outdoor winter fun. Building snowmen, ice skating on a frozen pond, making snow angles, racing down hills on sleds, or (maybe the best of all!) snowball fights are classic activities that kids still enjoy today.  

These days, one snowball tossed from the relative comfort of our front porch is enough for Jim to relive nostalgic memories of growing up on a farm.

Marcheta *hanging wet mittens by the fire

Betty Crocker's Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Who doesn't like chocolate peanut butter cup candies?

No one?

Thought so!

I mean, how could they be any better? Well, the folks at Betty Crocker have pondered this question, too, and came up with ...

TA DA! Peanut butter cup BROWNIES!

Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!

And, just how do I know these things, you may be asking?

I simply popped over to Noel's blog, www.apronfreecooking.com to look over her newest recipe sharing.  I was not disappointed, because, as usual, Noel has been busy searching for yummy, quick and easy recipes. She found today's recipe at Betty Crocker's website (link is at the end of her post).

Thanks, Noel!

Marcheta *copycat baker



Noel writes:
 Copycat candy
Whip up a batch of these decadent Peanut Butter Cup Brownies, a dead-ringer for everyone’s favorite chocolate peanut butter cup. Also featured in Betty Crocker’s Red Hot Holiday Trends, these brownies feature gooey fudge and rich peanut butter, and are poised to be the hit of the holiday baking season.

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Ingredients

Brownie Mixture

1 box Betty Crocker® fudge brownie mix

3 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa

2/3 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup water

1 egg

Cookie Filling

1 pouch Betty Crocker® peanut butter cookie mix

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Topping

1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips, melted, cooled

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Cut about 1/2 inch off around top of each of 48 regular-size foil baking cups. Place cup in each of 48 regular-size muffin cups.
2. In large bowl, stir together brownie mixture ingredients until well blended. In another large bowl, stir together cookie filling ingredients until dough forms. Spoon and spread 1 measuring teaspoon brownie mixture evenly into bottom of each foil cup. Shape 1 measuring teaspoon cookie filling into a ball; flatten into 1-inch circle. Place on top of brownie mixture in each foil cup. Spoon and spread 1 measuring teaspoon brownie mixture over cookie filling in each cup.
3. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until toothpick inserted into edge comes out clean. Spoon generous teaspoon melted chocolate on top of each, spreading chocolate to edge of foil cup. Remove cups from pan. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set chocolate.

Serves
Servings: 48
Notes, Tips & Suggestions
These little treats can be made ahead, placed in resealable freezer plastic bags, and stored in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
These easy bites are also great for any dessert platter or cookie exchange and are especially nice as a gift. Layer them in a decorative tin with colored tissue paper, then include the recipe.
Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Calories:	150g		Total Fat:	8g
Cholesterol:	10mg		Protein:	2g
Carbohydrates:	16g		Sodium:	115mg

Preparation Time:
1 Hour 30 Minutes
Start to Finish Time:
2 Hours
SOURCE:
Betty Crocker

Coming in for Splash-down

A fine mist of a fog created interesting lighting this morning during my nature walk at the twin reservoirs. What seemed like an endless supply of Canada geese, which used to be neighbors from the North of the Border but now are permanent residents of Ohio, flew in for landings. I'm tellin' ya, it was one big slash after another! I was thankful for my good luck of absorbing some of the energy these geese generated. It truly set me up for a great day.

We are now in "wreath season", which means that I hand-tie hundreds of bows, much to the dismay of my thumbs, which are begging to be eligible for retirement. No such luck as we have "naked" wreaths, but today my hands got break from ribbon duties for an old familiar workout.

 Last October we stored a bushel of apples on the cellar steps because we were totally out of refrigeration room. This works pretty good, especially if the weather stays cold. This year, though, the apples were losing quality pretty fast. Not wanting my harvest work to degrade into deer food, I set out to "do up" the 3/4 bushel remaining.

This entailed making fried apples for lunch, and tossing in about half a cup of leftover cranberry sauce just as the apples were tender. Oh, let me tell you this: it was some serious YUM!

After lunch I made an apple crisp. While it was in the oven, I peeled and cooked down the rest of the apples. It took about an hour to make the apple sauce, which went in the freezer.

All in all, it was a good afternoon's work, and one that I am glad to finally have behind me.  To celebrate I don't exactly feel like splashing around in cold water...but a nice hot soak in the tub sounds mighty inviting :)

As for the deer? Well, they are not forgotten; we have a huge pile of apple peels for their evening treat. :)

And all I can say now after peeling that many apples, the doctor BETTER stay away!

Marcheta *splish, splash...where's my bath?