Friday, November 25, 2011

Wild Turkey

Grandpa and I were up early this morning to walk a trail along one of our local creeks.  To reach the trail we first have to drive eight miles along meandering country roads through the woods and by neighboring farms.  It is always a beautiful drive, but we had a special treat this morning.  Rounding a curve near a pond, five or six enormous birds flew out of the trees right in front of our car.  Big dark forms that even from the car were intimidating as they passed in front of the windshield. Wild turkey.  Now, these are not graceful birds when they fly.  They are heavy and generally they fly more like chickens - rather low to the ground, but they can fly fast.  Swooping across our path these birds were flying like it was the day before Thanksgiving and their lives depended on their escape.  Most flew on across the field and disappeared into the far woods, but one bird just couldn't keep herself air born.  She came down in the field and than ran to catch up with the rest of the flock her strong legs pumping her across the field.  A turkey can run up to 25 mph, so it didn't take her long to disappear into the woods with the others.  You never know what you will see when you go for a morning walk.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Soothing and Reassuring

It's been raining all day.  It's a light rain, the kind one thinks of when one thinks of the weather in Seattle.  It is a beautiful fine mist.  You can stand in it and not realize you are slowly becoming soaked.  You know it is raining, but you don't notice that you are getting wet until suddenly a small rivulet of water begins to run down your collar.

It is the kind of day where staying by the fire and reading is a joy. It is a soft day - soothing and reassuring.  Of course, Grandpa Swift says that his snoring is soothing and reassuring too!  He says that it is reassuring because I know he is alive, and it is soothing because it is steady and constant every night.  I think I prefer the soft patter of rain on the windows.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Persimmon Bread

The spoons just keep coming in  the ripe persimmon seeds!  Just in case the persimmon prognosticator is correct and we are in for a winter with lots of snow, Grandpa and I have the wood cut and piled and covered.  We even had a good portion of it split and ready for the wood stove.  What is the old saying?  Wood heats you twice:  once when you split it and again when you burn it.

So while you are sitting next to that crackling fire and enjoying a snug room on a cold day, bake some persimmon bread!  This recipe came from the book Foxfire 3. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press, 1975. 

1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp soda
1 cup mashed persimmons
1/2 cup walnuts

Cream shortening, add sugar and eggs; beat well. Sift dry ingredients, add to creamed mixture alternately with persimmons and nuts. Pour in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

(note: if the batter is a bit thick, add a small amount of buttermilk to make it the consistency of banana bread.)
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Author Unknown