Summer Country Living

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis

Summer in the rural Midwest is hot but heavenly.

Here you can drive down the street and find fresh picked garden veggies on a bench in front of a farm with a cup to stuff some money in. The honor system.
My kids and I happily stuff the cup with dollars and pick up round juicy sweet onions, zesty peppers, and giant green zucchinis.

Up the road a little I can grab a pint of natural honey from Cara and Braun's while the bees buzz around. This morning my friend Amy dropped off a loaf of fresh baked zucchini bread on her way to the county fair where her kids will show sheep.

I sliced the bread, spread some butter and honey on it and washed it down with an icy glass of dark sun tea. Heavenly. She promised me she would give me the bread recipe.

Next stop, the sweet corn stand for tonight's dinner.

Celebrating Summer, Abundance, & Growth

Hello friends~ Summer is here!

My Wildflower Garden Blooming

Are you feeling more alive in the light of summer? Do you feel a yearning for growth or new directions? Do you have dreams of learning something new, starting a business, getting healthier? Listen to your inner voice inside. Go outside and walk in nature and feel the abundance. Grab a little journal and write seven things you want to do. Just by writing them you will begin to create the energy for these amazing things to grow and happen. I am confident they will. Shine that light of yours.

I just returned home from a wonderful visit with my 95 year old grandmother. Last year she moved to be closer to my Aunt and cousins. I miss her so much but know in my heart that she is where she needs to be now.

Tuesday was my favorite day of the year. Summer Solstice. The day of the longest light from the sun. I always feel so alive during this time. It has long been celebrated as a time of light, love, growth, and fertility.

The night of Summer Solstice at my Aunt's house we were gathered there for dinner. She had friends in town from Tuscon, Arizona. Liz, who I met and is in her sixties, and I instantly connected. I told her this was my favorite day of the year. She instantly agreed and said, "Midsummer!" She told me she teaches high school English and loves teaching Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.

A huge storm came out of the sky with lightening, thunder, and buckets of rain. Liz and I went out onto the porch and danced in the storm together celebrating the summer sky. It was a rush of cleansing energy!

I am feeling grateful for so many blessings.

Wishing you an abundant summer!

kathy
keep me posted on your amazing new directions.
kathyanne70@gmail.com

What's for dinner? Grilled Steak Sandwiches with grilled peppers, onions, and melted cheese.

Hi Friends~ I love to share meals that my family devours. They did tonight with these sandwiches made from leftovers.

I had leftover grilled sirloin steak that I sliced thin and leftover grilled sweet onions and red and orange peppers. (they can be sauteed too)

For the kids: Set aside some sliced steak and lightly salt.

For adults: Put the sliced steak in a baggie with the peppers.

Grab some hot dog buns and sliced cheese. Turn on oven to 350.
On the stove top, saute the steak and peppers until they warm.

Place steak and peppers on bun and  top with cheese and a dash of spicy brown mustard if you please. Place in oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese in melted and bun is toasted. Serve with a light salad or fresh organic blackberries like I did.

For the kids: saute steak and place on a bun and top with cheese. Toast in oven. I hope you get two thumbs up like I did!

Happy Summer!

Love is exactly as strong as life ~Joseph Campbell

Love is exactly as strong as life .~Joseph Campbell

This was today's quote in one of my favorite little books called Grace Notes by Alexandra Stoddard. I love her sweet inspirational books. This was a day that I felt love.


Wildflower Hill

 Wildflower Hill is beginning to bloom.


nest of three baby sparrows

Baby sparrows have hatched in a bush next to the front porch. The mama sparrow is working hard to care for them. 
The kids helped me plant small container gardens of lettuce, red peppers, carrots, and flowers.

Little Scout found a toad friend.

And I am embracing the moment while drinking a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and waiting for my husband to finish on his tractor and join me.

Are you embracing the moment?
~kathy
Note from the next morning:
The night did not turn out as blissful as when I wrote. My dog Betty found the nest and killed the baby birds, the toad died from too much love and attention, my wine glass broke and I stepped on a chard of glass, and my husband did not come in until much later. I'm still glad I embraced the serene moments while they lasted.....c'est la vie!

May Days

“It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”~Mark Twain

The Mothers

The month of May has been sprinkled with good things. Mother's Day was filled with family together here at the ranch. To make it easy on the moms, my dad picked up food from a  Mexican restaurant and we set up a taco bar. It was easy, delicious, and no cooking. Hooray!

Huge Mushrooms!

We were able to sit out on the new deck and drink bubbly while the dads and kids went mushroom hunting with huge success.

Little Scout turned 4 and we celebrated at the Zoo with Mimi, Aunt B., and cousins Zach and Gracie. The big highlights were petting the Dog Sharks, riding the zoo train, and the close pacing Cheetah.

waiting for zoo train

Soccer and baseball season are in full swing and Indy, Blaze and Phoebe are loving the action.

big defensive kick

Blaze and best buddy

Spring has given me energy to create a few new things of my own. I'll write more later about those. How about you? Do you have any new creative projects to begin or new directions you want to take?
Shine your light,
~kathy

Grace is not the property of youth or talent. We find the necessary measure where we need it most: in our own good humor, in the love of family, or in the kind act of a friend. ~Claire Davis

The Great Motherhood

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one.
 ~Jill Churchill
In Honor of the Great Motherhood

Sleepless nights, diapers, Desitin, runny noses, fevers, tears, tantrums, smiles, giggles, tiny toes,
Love.
Dinosaurs, baby dolls, butterfly kisses, twirl the earrings, wash baseball socks, spelling tests, pony tails, hair cuts, soccer balls,
Love.
Play dates, mom friends, PTO, school lunches, grocery shopping, breakfast, lunch, dinner, cook,
Love
Growing pains, doctor appointments, dentist, vet, birthday parties, cakes, costumes,
Love.
Hungry mouths, runny noses, bills to pay, fundraisers, laundry baskets, hugs, kisses, bedtime stories, prayers,
Love.
Game balls, trophies, homework projects, disappointments, heart to hearts, discipline, tears,
Love.
First love, heartbreak, graduation, gray hair, worry lines, weight gain, laugh lines, confidant, friend, Mother,
Never ending Love.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy May Day!

Let all thy be as the month of May...~Frances Quarles

When April steps aside for May,

Like diamonds all the rain-drops glisten;

Fresh violets open every day:

To some new bird each hour we listen.

~Lucy Larcom

There are infinite shades of possibility

with which we paint the canvas of our life.

~ GRACE

April gave us enough rain to nourish our garden and now we have May to renew our spirits. Let's use May to focus on all the joys in our lives and remember the more we give, the more we receive.

Magical May Blessings to you.

Easter Munchies: Fig & Goat Cheese Spread and Sauteed Morels

My sister and her husband always host our family Easter dinner. I made a chevre-fig spread for a starter. It was very festive and I served it with sea salt pita chips. It went well with crisp bubbly Prosecco.

Chevre-Fig Spread
3/4 cup snipped dried figs
3/4 cup crumbled chevre (goat cheese) 3 oz.)
1/2 cup light sour cream
3 Tbsp. snipped fresh basil
2 Tbsp. milk
Salt
Ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Directions
1. In a small bowl pour boiling water over figs to cover; let stand 15 minutes. Drain well.2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl stir together chevre, sour cream, basil, milk, and thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in drained figs and half the walnuts. Cover and chill in refrigerator up to 24 hours.3. To serve, transfer spread to serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining walnuts and fresh thyme sprigs. Serve with baguette slices or crackers. Makes about 1-1/2 cups.

We also brought our fresh picked Morel mushrooms and Chef Cam sauteed them in butter, salt, & pepper. Delicious!


Aunt B's Bunny Cake

 Lastly, my sister Libby and my mom are the bakers in our family. Libby created an adorable Bunny Cake and my mom made Paula Dean's dreamy bread pudding. Those recipes will follow soon.


Easter Bunny Mimi & kids

Libby, Grandpa Sam (100), & me.



Mushroom Hunting Success

I am... a mushroom; On whom the dew of heaven drops now and then.
~John Ford

Here at the ranch mushroom hunting is a family sport. Today we went out for our first hunt and it was a big success.

My son Indy found the first four so we crowned him Mushroom King. I did not think we would find any today and did not bring bags.

 We found this old pot in the woods and used it. Maybe its our lucky pot.

I found a fair amount so they called me Mushroom Queen.

Finding these mushrooms is such an adrenaline rush. I just washed them and hope to saute them in butter after Indy's baseball game.

When my sister and her family come mushroom hunting she likes to do a mushroom dance with the kids. Hopefully that will be soon.
Happy Easter Friends,
Kathy

Spring Bowtie Alfredo with Ham and Peas

Happy Spring! This pasta dish was a huge hit with my family tonight. I created it because my kids love creamy sauces and it has flavors of Spring. It took less than 30 minutes to make and was simply delicious. Use your leftover Easter ham or buy one just for this like I did.

Here is the short list of ingredients:

1 16 oz. package of Farfalle (Bow tie) Pasta

1 jar of Newman's Own Alfredo Sauce

1 16 oz. bag of frozen peas

2 C. chopped ham

Chopped fresh Basil

Grated or shaved Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 minutes. Add frozen peas to pasta and boil for 5 more minutes or until al dente or soft. Drain water.

Add Alfredo sauce and ham. Serve and top with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper. Enjoy!

Note: I have made this same dish using sauteed shrimp instead of ham and topping it off with crisp crumbled bacon. So elegant and delicious!

A Change of Scenery with a Family Road Trip to North Carolina

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flow into trees. the winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~John Muir

An invigorating climb of Mt. Baldhead - there's no vegetation up there!

We took a family road trip to the mountains of North Carolina for Spring Break. My dad and Helen have a one hundred year old house nestled in a mountain affectionately called "The Rock House".



Phoebe Fireball, Dad, & Helen

The weather in the mountains was mostly rainy and chilly with some snow. I'm sure glad I packed boots and coats for all. On the one sunny day we drove up the Roan Mountain and hiked the Appalachian Trail to Mt. Baldhead. It was truly beautiful. I felt so invigorated after the gorgeous hike.

Dad & me on the Appalachian Trail



Phoebe on Mt. Baldhead

We visited a gem mine and panned for rocks and minerals. We found some cool stones including amethyst, aquamarine, and topaz. The kids loved doing this.

Looking for gems

Me & Blaze on the front steps of the Rock House

My sweet husband even had rings made for Phoebe and me out of some stones we found.

The boys can't wait to put theirs in the rock tumbler.
The kids also loved feeding two horses in the pasture named Doc and Rebel. We went through a lot of apples and carrots!

The Yerf Dog go-cart got lots of use as my husband drove up and down the mountain with the kids and taught them how to drive it too. They also panned for gold in the stream and hiked in the rain.

A wonderful week in the mountains without TV, cell phones, and computers. More memories and delicious Rock House recipes to follow.

Happy Spring,

Kathy

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