I’ve just noticed that I’ve been neglecting to put up pictures.

I’ve carted my camera about and took many shots but they just haven’t made it to a public forum yet.  So- today, I’m going to put up some of these “Oh so cute!”  photos!

Here is my brother, Ralph, Allyson and Aiden at Dan’s Dogs.

They seem to be having a clash with the cameras!

And here is a series that Daniel took when I handed him my camera.

I love the pictures children take- they are so focused on their view of reality.

And food- reality being the food.  Chicken Lascola and Grilled cheese with fries.

And then we went to the Square and looked at the ice sculptures.

Although Allyson and Aiden actually looked THROUGH one of the sculptures.

And that was what I did on Monday.  Amy and Roger and Daniel and Ryan and Ralph Schley met Allyson and Aiden and Cynthia and me at Dan’s Dogs and had  a very nice visit.  It was cold outside and the snow started in earnest after these pictures and we totally enjoyed ourselves.

The End.

For the recipe see this post.

Basically, these are Lebanese hush puppies.

But if you like the flavor of chick peas, they are delicious- and much better for you than hush puppies.

Make a small ball and smoosh it gently- so that it cooks evenly.

I found that the recipe I used needed about 1/4 to 1/3 cup more flour, and I used chick pea flour so as not to take away the flavor.

Using a slotted spoon, turn them over and fry on other side for about 5-6 minutes and then drain on a paper towel.

Serve with a cucumber and yogurt salad-

And dip into the sauce of your choice-  I like tahini and yogurt- but you could use a baba ganoush or hummus dip or even a curry flavored sauce.

Whatever you dip them in- or even if you eat them plain, they are wonderful.

I like storms.

A book that starts out, “It was a dark and stormy night” has my attention immediately. (Although other than Snoopy in the Peanuts cartoon, I don’t believe I’ve ever actually seen a book start out that way!)

But you know what I mean.

There is something in the air- and electric tang to the atmosphere right before a storm…. the light changes its quality…. shadows intensify until they almost disappear…. and suddenly, I’m running from window to window until I can bear it no longer and I run outside…. looking for the storm on the horizon.

Only I live in a suburb in Ohio and the horizon is not visible for all the houses and trees.  So I take pictures of the sky and the trees and let the wind and the mist of the moors stay in my imagination. 

There was a storm brewing the other day.  It was rather ominous in its approach and I was sitting in the kitchen talking with Cynthia when I could stand it no longer and I jumped up with my camera and ran outside.  Cynthia is pretty used to my ways , so she stayed there drinking her diet Coke whilst I ran about taking pictures . 

The skies were all over the place, dark turbulence approaching from the west, brave sunshine in stark contrast from above, and the blithe blue skies in the NE
scuttling away before the oncoming storm. 

It was magnificent!

I wish my emotions would give me the same degree of warning. 

Out of nowhere it seems I am dumped into a morass of depression and self loathing.  I am skipping along and suddenly, the bottom drops out and there is no longer a path ahead and I am clinging to the promises of God’s love and protection.   (Don’t get me wrong, the promises and the FACT of His love are very satisfying and real- and I don’t doubt them.)

Clinging is not a bad thing in these circumstances.  It helps me keep my balance and gives me a focus when everything seems to be futile and without hope.  I have been fighting these battles since I was a young girl and I know that these emotions are an attack and that they are based on lies propagated by the evil one and I am more prone to them when I am sick and tired and stressed.  But they are so real when I am in the midst of them that I sometimes falter and fall.

Right now the sun is shining in my windows and the birds are singing so cheerily from the arborvitae trees in the yard behind me, – there’s not a storm cloud in sight.  But the forecast is for more snow and falling temperatures and I know everything can change in a moment.

That is why I am so thankful for the constant prayers of those that love me.  They are the storm watchers in my life.  They keep me in their thoughts and go to our Father with the love and concern that they share for me and I feel and know that the love and thoughts for my welfare are a web of protection that surrounds me daily.  Our lives are lived in community- we are NOT alone- we have each other.  We have a spiritual connection through the Body of Christ and through the bonds of His love and I am aware of our commitment to each other.  You pray for me, I pray for you, we hold each others hands, commiserate with each others sorrows and encourage one another to good works and stronger faith.

So, in the midst of the storm, I just wanted to say Thanks – I’m happy to know you are there.

My life is in fast forward.

Last Sunday, I woke up in Chincoteague-

we went on a tour of the Naval Academy in Anapolis-

and drove home in frigid temperatures through the hoar frost in Pennsylvania.

(AND I got to say hoar frost one more time! )

The week whizzed by-  Dr.’s appointment Monday- then on to Columbus!

Three Aidan-filled days – then a quick trip to Grandpa’s Cheese Barn and home.

A funeral on Friday-

Dinner at a young couple’s home last night

(Thanks again Adriel and Belen)

And here it is Sunday, again!

The Naval Academy was worth a second mention- I got some great pictures of Meredith, Cynthia and Blythe- and I love the pictures from the Chapel in the Academy.

Here’s a picture you won’t see again- Meredith at the Naval Academy.

And LOOK- she’s smiling!

Here they are by the statue of  Tecumseh.

And in front of the Chapel-

Which is really quite beautiful inside.

And here is a great shot outside-

Of  Blythe and Meredith in front of a huge anchor.

It is mid January!  I have to kick everything into high gear just to catch up.

And, right now, my gears are grinding pretty slow.

While in Columbus this last week, Willow and Aidan and I went to the Franklin Conservatory and enjoyed a stroll through the gardens.

It was really beautiful- the gardens are FULL of orchids- there were orchids everywhere!

And Chihuly art festooned all over the gardens!  Flowering from the greenspaces,

Overhead in cave-like spaces,

In boats, and floating like big easter eggs in the greenery-

And then there was a lot of child interactive fun- -AND-

The train village set up in the entrance-

where we spent a lot of time looking and ooh-ing and ah-ing as the trains went toot-tooting by! 

We spent the entire morning enjoying the gardens and art- and Aidan  played and   looked at the ponds and trees and structures and we ALMOST forgot that Winter was still holding a firm grip outside.

I have the shivers.  I’m trembling and feeling like an old lady who needs a shawl to keep the drafts away, and I keep shifting from hot to cold.

I’m sick, again, sick still, just sick, and tired of it!

Driving home through Pennsylvania on Sunday, the temps were in the low teens and the trees were covered with hoar frost. ( I love saying hoar frost- it comes out sounding as cold as it really is outside!)

Right now I feel like I’m covered with hoar frost inside and out.

A lingering cold was joined by a new one and now my throat is tight and sore, my cough even deeper in my chest, and I keep shivering with the cold.

Add to that the cold I felt at my brother’s graveside and I am talking sub-zero temperatures.  A cold service in the winter’s cold and feeling like a stranger among strangers- I’m so glad my oldest brother and some of his family was there.

There are some frozen territories that cannot be crossed alone.  Someone has to meet you at least part of the way.  My brother tried at the end to include us, but it was too little, too late.

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

That is how I feel- cold and bereft and unforgiven for offences unknown.

This is a time for grief.

A time of sorrow.

A time for memories.

I’m looking forward to healthier times, more forgiving climates, and the surcease of sorrow.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

Achoo.  I mean Amen!

My brother, Gary, died today.

He is the third of my siblings to die. 

He has been sick for such a long time.

His death did not come as a surprise.

I am feeling the loss.  Sad because we were not as close as I would have liked, sorry for my part of the distance, and wondering why it isn’t easier to have relationships with people you love.

I’m thankful that he said that he had made peace with God.  I’m not really sure what that meant – he never did speak much about spiritual matters to me. ( I was his “little” sister and there was always those years between us.)

I just wanted to say goodbye in a tangible way.  To somehow offer out a statement of memorial for a man who mattered to me.  I was never sure how much I mattered in his life, but in many ways his life helped to shape mine.

Please pray for his wife, sons and grandchildren- he loved them very tangibly and their loss will be great.

I am wondering what happened.

Was it all a dream?  The last three weeks were like a Celtic moment-

Time out of time.

Christmas happened and New Year’s-

Meredith came and approved of the house-

we cleaned and cooked and ate and talked.

I came home.

Went to the doctor.

Came to Columbus.

That’s the story.

I also went to the Fractured Prune for some donuts.

YUMM!!!

They are so very good- and fresh- the last picture is of my french toast donut- Maple syrup and cinnamon sugar coating on a fresh fried (translation-still HOT).

If you have a chance to try them- go get you a donut!

This was the last picture we took in Chincoteague.

Meredith is a home owner.  And this is her home.

It was a real privilege spending time with her there.

This is my last week here this month.  I’ve been here since December 21st and  Sunday I’m going home for one night.  And then off to Columbus for a little while.

I’ve been VERY busy cleaning and cooking and helping set up a gourmet kitchen and stage pictures so that a room can be seen to its best advantage.  And I’ve had a lot of children to play with and run after and enjoy.  Plus, I got to spend some very special time with my family- AND show Meredith her new home- AND make a wonderful tea for some new friends.

The tea was called winter tea at The Sailors Rest.

I will share our menu here and later perhaps some recipes!

– goat cheese truffles

-pickled grapes

-three berry trifle

-rum balls

-stuffed figs ( with pistachio cheese and wrapped in prosciutto)

-Scotch eggs

-bee sting bars

-mini carmelized onion and sundried tomato quiches

-finger sandwiches- ham and cranberry sauce on tiny sourdough buns, cucumber and avocado with sprouts on whole wheat heart bread, and salmon and mock boursin cheese on white hearts.

-and finally, apricot and pecan scones

Here’s an overhead view of Meredith and I putting the finger sandwiches together and Cynthia stuffing figs in the background.  Most of the good pictures I have are because Allyson took pictures of some of the activity with my camera.  Thank you, Ally!

We went onto Assateague today- saw some ponies and walked along the beach.

It was cold but not too windy so the ocean was calm and the walk on the beach was very cold but not bone crackingly so.

My favorite pictures are of the ducks on Swans Cove pool.  It was frozen- back in the estuary and the ducks were swimming in a smaller and smaller pond.  Except for a couple adventurous and hardy ducks that were waddling on the ice.  So cute!

I love it here in the winter!  No crowds- no traffic- lots of wildlife and friendly people.  ( And NO SNOW, FRANK!)

Well- that’s all I have to say for right now.  Sorry I haven’t been posting lately- I’m just so tired by the end of the day that I can’t find time to put up anything.

I will leave you with a recipe for the hit item of our winter tea.

Pickled Grapes

1 bunch of red or green seedless grapes

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup sugar

1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

10-15 peppercorns

Wash and dry the grapes, take them off the bunch and set aside.

Put all other ingredients in a saucepan and heat until sugar has melted and the syrup is infused with the spicey flavor.  Cool.

Pour syrup over grapes and place in fridge over night.

These are really yummy!

I found this list on another blog and thought it was cute.

I offer it to you as a source of puzzlement and fun to share with your family.

Name That Christmas-Time Tune

1. Two hundred eighty-eight Yuletide hours.

2. Proclamation of ecstatic emotion for this planet.

3. Thrice I implore, don’t impede the crystallized precipitation.

4. Minuscule hamlet south of Jerusalem, known as “House of Bread.”

5. The lad, the diminutive percussionist.

6. Assemble, everyone who is loyal.

7. Fantasia of a colorless Dec. 25.

8. Far back in the hay feeder.

9. Identify the juvenile present here.

10. #1 ABCDEFGHIJK_MNOPQRSTUVWXYZ.

11. Perambulating through magical realms of the December solstice.

12. Listen, the winged heavenly messengers are proclaiming tunefully.

13. Speechless Sir Lancelot, sanctified Sir Reginald.

14. I envisioned a triad of nautical vessels arriving.

15. Present me naught but dual incisors for this Yuletide festival.

16. Depart and broadcast from an elevated peak.

17. At a particular time in blue-blooded Davy’s capitol.

18. Dost thou perceive the same stimulus that excites my auditory organs?

19. As the guardians of woolly animals protected their charges after dusk.

20. Behold, the aspects of tightly gathered petals as they open continuously.

21. Unmannerly Dolf, crimson beaked draft critter.

22. The arrival was a smogless event, twixt evening and morning.

23. Our audio sensors detected top level celestial messengers.

24. Boulder featuring rhythmic tintinnabulating hollow metallic sounding instruments in triplicate.

25. Psychiatrist’s office or apartment.

I’m putting the answers up in the comments section- try and see how many you get right.