Clouds

I love watching the sky; clouds in particular  fascinate me.  I keep a cloud chart NOAA pinned to my wall near my desk to check the sky and identify the types of couds I see.  I've seen some strange formations over the years.  One stormy day the clouds looked just like Picaso had painted his Starry Night over the yard.  They were big fluffy swirls of gray and white.  Today however, I've encounted the strangest cloud yet.  I've learned that I can keep my music in a cloud.  So Grandma Swift has claimed her tiny spot in one of those virtual clouds whose whereabouts seem as nebulous as the mist and wind in the clouds that roll through the sky.  I think I will call it my heavenly music - even if it is just an old cowboy song or two.

Spring Rain

There is nothing quite like a spring rain.  The grass turns green before my eyes.  The birds at the feeder this morning are slick and shiny with the cool rain, but they seem to be enjoying the moisture.  They take their time and reflect as they crack the seeds and eat.  The red bud has exploded in color all the more vibrant against the gray sky.  I find myself, cup of tea in hand, watching from the windows.  The illusion of being kept inside can last just a bit longer before I have to venture out umbrella in hand.

Winds from the East

Today I found an almost forgotten recipe.  It was tucked into a stack of cards that I seldom use.  But there it was faded and written in my childhood script.  It is called Indian Curry, but truth be known it is a very Americanized version of an Indian dish.  During the 1960's my parents had friends from India.  When they visited us here in the US, they would bring gifts.  So in my closet is a genuine silk sari and three glass bangels.  Gifts from a lovey lady named Pushpa.  Pushpa also gave us this recipe for curry.  What makes it stand out in my memory is that she said since beef was not available in India she would use lamb or monkey.  Just the idea of eating a monkey made me curious.  However, she adapated her dish to use our all American hamburger.  As I made the dish for dinner the memories of many days with our friends were as pleasant as the food.  So if you are up to something a bit different, try Pushpa's curry.

2 Tbls oil
2 large onions
2 Tbls of curry powder
2 large green peppers
1/2 cup coconut
2 lbs of hamburger
1 cups of peas (I use frozen)
22 oz of tomato juice
salt to taste

Grind onions fine and set aside.  Grind the green peppers and coconut together and set aside.  Heat the oil in a heavy pan or dutch oven and brown the onions.  Stir in the curry powder and continue browning stirring constantly.  Add the hamburger and brown.  Add the peppers and coconut mixture and brown well.  Add the juice and cover and cook for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.  Add the frozen peas and uncover and cook until nearly dry.  Salt to taste.  Serve over steamed rice.   (You can easily make half a recipe)

First Planting

St. Patrick's Day is traditionally the day for planting potatoes, but for me it was the day to plant lettuce.  The raised bed is cleaned off and new soil has been added.  Rich and black, it felt good to dig my hands into the moist ground and see the worms wiggling and at work enriching the soil.  It is almost a holy action.  The earth is still cool, but it is moist from the rains.  It always amazes me that such tiny seeds - and lettuce seeds are tiny - can grow to be so lovely and green and good. There will be much more planting when the ground warms, but for now I dig and sing.  I always sing David Mallett's Garden Song as I plant.  You can listen to the song at his website http://davidmallett.com/music/listen/.
Find a pot or a spot in your flower bed or yard and plant something this week.  Be a part of spring.

Spring at latitude 36°N

Sure Signs of Spring

• The daffodils are up and blooming
• We have 30 degree weather one day, and two days later it is 70 degrees!
• The oak trees have shed all of the brown leaves from last fall.
• The peepers are singing in the ditches and in the ponds.
• Where the pavement hasn't crumbled on the country roads, the potholes are multiplying.
• The marten house is up and open.  The scouts should be here any day.
• The trees all have fuzzy green tips.  One weeping willow looks like beautiful strings of green pearls.
• The skunks are up and out.  Dead skunks on the highway are a sure sign of spring in the country.
• The children are playing outside.
• I'm curled up in a chair on the porch catching the rays along side the cat.

Lent

I'm thinking this evening of Lent and how I might observe it this year.  Yes, I know it has already begun, but I keep turning in my mind the various observations of the season.  My understanding is that in the early years of the church, those who were going to be baptized were literally set apart from the community for six weeks.  During this time they fasted, prayed and prepared themselves for baptism.  Over the years, the practice came to be observed communally as the six weeks before Easter - our Lent.


I am not a strict literalist, but I find the idea of setting myself apart from my everyday life one that I want to pursue.  For me this has to go beyond giving up chocolate (especially since the doctor has already taken that away - not much of a sacrifice).  I think it has to be some of my time.  Time perhaps that I guard for myself.  I will spend that time listening to God.  Praying too, but I think I need to listen more.  Especially in this time of preparation for the baptism that is Easter.

Pancakes

There is nothing quite like the smell of warm syrup and pancakes on a Saturday morning.  I still enjoy pancakes, but I don't eat them as much as I used too.  I began making pancakes for pure self-preservation.  When I was about 11 years old, I had learned to cook, thanks to 4-H, and my parents decided that I should have more opportunity to use this new skill.  Consequently, they began to sleep in on Saturday mornings.  To stave off my own hunger after an hour of cartoons, and to keep my younger siblings in a better humor, I would make pancakes.  I became quite skilled at making almost any design the siblings wanted with my pancake batter.  Giraffes were my favorite, but they could be difficult to flip.  More than one giraffe broke his neck in my pan.

In my early married years these pancakes really did stave off hunger.  As poor college students we could eat for a week on 1/2 pound of sausage, a carton of eggs, a gallon of milk, some flour and soda, and a bottle of syrup.  We ate pancakes 4 or 5 times a week.

So, next Saturday morning, or any time, stir up a batch.  These are quick and easy, and so much better than what you can get from a box.

Grandma's Pancake Recipe

1 cup of flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon baking soda
a dash of salt
1 egg mixed into 1 cup of milk (mix in a 2 cup measuring cup and you only have one container to clean)
1 Tablespoon melted shortening (you can use oil, but shortening is best - it makes them tender)

Mix the dry ingredients together.  Add the egg and milk mixture.  Gently mix together until the dry ingredients are just moistened. (You can add blueberries or other goodies at this point.) Too much mixing will make the pancakes tough.  Melt the shortening in the pan you will cook in and add to the batter.  Stir in gently and let the batter rest for a minute.  Pour or spoon the batter into the pan or onto the griddle in any size you want (try a shape!)  When tiny bubbles appear on the top it is time to flip.  Cook until done and serve with butter and syrup.  Yum yum!

For a fancy pancake, top with fresh peaches and whipped cream.  Just to die for!