Archive for October, 2008

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The Top Ten Wonders of Fall


2008
10.29

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I’ve always felt I would have a difficult time living in an area where the definition of seasons is not as keen and striking as it is here in New England. That being said, I am not as enthusiastic about the extremes of summer and winter, but I admit it, I’m a sucker for fall and spring. There’s something about the “newness” that is integral with each, and the incredible energy I get from these two seasons.

Allow me to share with you my ” Top Ten Reasons for Loving Fall “:

1. the inherent vibrancy that comes with the harvest and the changing colors of the leaves, the sunlight that plays off these colors and provides an amazing show – unmatched, for me, in any other season. Mesmerizing!

2. new plans, agendas, and rituals – a renewal, another fresh start. Patterns change, the kids are off to school, warm weather outdoor activities come to an end. We all must shift gears again, and I like the fresh energy I derive from it.

3. the closure to the garden season. I am an avid gardener and love every phase of it, but, for me, there is also a sense of completion when I put down the last shovel of mulch, do the last of the deadheading and trimming, and put the garden to rest for the winter months. With that comes the promise of a new season to come in the spring – full of new sprouts and a chance to correct or better that which I did the last garden season.

4. neatly stacked piles of sweaters on my closet shelves, and crisp jeans ready to go! I know…it probably sounds weird, but there’s a nice “feel” to getting up on a chilly Saturday morn and donning a pair of jeans and a “cuddle-in” type sweater. When the temps drop to zero for days on end, however, I might think it pure tiresome! Stay tuned!

5. a simmering pot of soup on the stove, something baking in the oven – things I don’t do much of in the sweltering heat of summer. The whole process of it. To say nothing about the aromas that fill the house – divine!

6. the change in decor in the house. Each season I make changes – don’t we all?  In the summer, we lighten it up a bit.  We change with the holidays and the seasons to reflect the nuances, and perhaps traditions, we’ve come to love.

7.  the flurry of activity in nature as the squirrels scurry about gathering , the frenzy at the bird feeders, the change in the air….

8. “nestling in” with a stack of magazines and a bowl of popcorn watching some sappy or dramatic movie, wrapped in a blanket on those chilly nights.

9. the anticipation of the first snowfall – the sheer beauty of it, the glisten, the slowing down for a moment to take it in and appreciate its charm.  The quiet…

10. making a list of wintertime activities around the house – those projects you just can’t (don’t!) get to when the nice weather beckons you out of doors.  I’m already thinking of photos that need sorting, gardening catalogs to come, that garden journal I’m going to ready for next spring…..the list goes on.

Share with me – what do you love about the season???


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The Indefatigable Organizer meets The Ultimate Challenge


2008
10.23

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I did mention in my “About Me” section that in my spare time ( !!! ) I liked to organize, didn’t I?  I get much satisfaction in putting the pieces of something in place, a puzzle, of sorts.  Well, I’ve met my match – and am ready for battle.

Here’s the scenario:  When I closed my shop and left Kingston, NY close to two years ago (boy, does time fly!), I did so somewhat hastily.  My Mom had passed away, and Dad needed care and companionship, so I moved to a wonderful CT town where my family had spent summers, and where Mom and Dad retired some years ago.  I liquidated as much gift merchandise as I could in a short time and carefully packed what I thought I would use in a new retail venture once I settled in.

Then, life happened…Dad had a really rough medical year, and I don’t have to tell you about the economy – probably not the best time to open a “Gifts for the Home & Garden” retail shop.  So I put everything in storage, and lived with Dad for a few months till I purchased the home I live in now.  Little by little, whenever I got the chance, I began the arduous task of sorting my personal belongings from the packaging, giftwares, and display items I had brought with me.

To add to the mix (why do anything simple??? I keep asking myself…with no response), shortly after moving in, I decided to update the heating system in the house, and put in central air at the same time.  As you might imagine, it was a messy task, and my basement still shows it.  ( The heat and AC work great though!)

I’ve made the decision to “right” my basement and empty my storage units.  The sorting out of all my “nesting materials” will be, I believe, cathartic and healing.  I will write of my progress as I go;  I anticipate the journey will have some interesting twists along its’ path.  Pics to follow…suggestions always encouraged and appreciated!

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The Final Hurrah of the Tomato Crop 2008


2008
10.16

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They’ve been good to me, the tomatoes this year.  Kept me amply supplied with their luscious juiciness.  I’m going to miss them!  Two days ago I picked the last of the crop.  I saved a few that were slightly underripe to enjoy in a day of so.  The rest were ripened to perfection for the most part, so I rinsed them and set them out to dry while I gathered an array of fresh herbs from my kitchen garden to complement them.

Every year about this time, I prepare what I’ve dubbed “Tomato Fusion”, fusing the flavor of vine-ripened garden tomatoes with a variety of fresh herbs.  Simply done, and yet so versatile and delicious.  I’ve use the finished product in soups and stews, as a pizza or pasta topping, with scrambled eggs for breakfast, and more. I’ve used it fresh, and frozen it in ziploc bags for wintertime use, when I’m really craving that fresh tomato taste.

Here’s what I do:  Select herbs enough to cover the bottom of a roasting pan.  Here I’ve gathered basil, thyme, lemon verbena, parsley and even a few nasturtium blossoms.

I tear the herbs into pieces and line the roaster with them.

I cut the tomatoes in half if they are plum tomatoes, and like-size pieces if they’re not.  Placing them face down on the herbs, I pack them close together as they shrink during cooking.  I then take pieces of peeled, fresh garlic and position them in between the tomato pieces.  Season with sea or kosher salt and about 1/4 tsp. of crushed red pepper.  Sometimes (as shown below) I add sliced onion and/or peppers. (Admittedly, I prefer the pure herb-tomato-garlic combo best.)

I then drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes.  The tomato mixture is roasted in a 375 degree oven for 1 hour or more, depending on the size of the tomatoes.  (they will soften and caramelize slightly) When cool, I slip off the skins.  Discard the skins and herbs, then scoop up the pure tomato essence to use or store.

In my eyes, nothing beats biting into a lush, ripe, fresh tomato – but this is a terrific way to utilize a bumper crop and enjoy the wonderful flavor of  one of summertime’s true delights.

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A Collection of Cookbooks


2008
10.10

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When I moved to my home in CT about a year and a half ago, I brought with me a four-piece set of bookcases that had been custom made for a wall in the loft apartment where I had lived.  Created to look like a built-in bookcase when in place, this set of bookcases housed my collection of cookbooks.

Cut to size for a new space, the bookcase unit is now comfortably housed in a sweet little room, a “clubby” sort of den, off the dining room.  In the morning, on a sunny day, the light fills the small space and invites you in to sit and linger awhile.  Not often enough, I do.

My cookbook collection is at home there now, back on the shelves once again.  Over the years I’ve accumulated some 400 or more volumes, although I’ve never actually counted them.  (always on the lookout for new favorites to add … )  The collection covers the gamut of the culinary world, loosely organized on the shelves to fit my browsing needs.  They inspire me, motivate me, direct and delight me.  In some ways they chronicle periods in my life, remind me of places I’ve been, and take me to places I haven’t.  They are like old friends, always nice to come back to, always there to offer stimulation, advice and recommendations.

A short stack of cookbooks also sits on the island in my kitchen.  They’re the current favorites, the culinary works in progress, or in the thought/planning process, at the moment.  When I am done trying a recipe, and tweaking it to fit my tastes, I type it up and put it in a very well-worn, now over-sized, folder.  One of these days (really!), I’m going to take the time to make a cookbook of my favorites to pass along to the family.  I’m hoping my grandchildren will want to try the recipes at some point in their lives, and enjoy them, as I have.  Part of my legacy, so to speak.  I treasure the few of my grandmother’s recipes that I still have – on very dog-eared paper, in her handwriting, blue ink.  My father still talks of her ultra creamy cheesecake from time to time;  I remember, with deep fondness, the terrific German Apple Cake she made.  Reminiscent of so many wonderful things…..

Sitting in the stack at the moment, to highlight a few …The Farm Market, one of several farmers’ market cookbooks I have and love, Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooking Cookbook ( time to get back into using the crockpot – there’s  that chill in the air! ), Provence Harvest – a superb book, soon to be added to the website, that embraces a Farm to Kitchen philosophy, and does so with great photos, recipes, and a lot of inspiration for a kitchen garden.  It entices all the senses and makes me want to pack a bag and board a plane!

At the top of the stack is another favorite, The Apple Cookbook, which has a great recipe for a French Apple Tart.  I’ve used it often, this week with golden delicious and fuji apples from the farmers’ market.  Can’t wait for the scent of apples and cinnamon in the house…..a down-home, feel good feeling.  Don’t you agree?



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Creative Juices


2008
10.09

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While surfing the net a short while back, I came across this quote, author unknown.  I’d like to share it with you:

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“Being creative is not a single act, but the act of living itself.

The creative woman is on fire with imagination, ignited by the certainty of her relationship with a living God, and her surety of purpose.

She lives in freedom, not measuring herself by the lives around her.  She takes calculated risks, understanding  the risks of going beyond the horizon of the known and coming back to report what she has discovered.

She tackles life’s challenges with heart, hands and faith.“

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This quote really speaks to me;  it “gets” me.  I’m a woman who is itchy when not in creative pursuit. You’ll come to know that I always seem to, and prefer to, have a few projects going, both in the works and on the horizon.  Time restraints and daily obligations are my usual stumbling blocks.  Going forward with this blog will perhaps help me focus … journaling often helps me prioritize – I just have to write it down!  This could be a good thing all around….thanks for coming along on the journey – I trust it will be a good one for me, and wish the same for you….

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From My Nest to Yours…


2008
10.02

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Hello, all! I’m a newbie on the blog circuit - this is my first attempt, and I’m really pleased to finally get going on all this…bear with me as I find my way.

I write from my nest this evening, after a busy day.  It’s relaxing to finally sit down and put my thoughts in order and in print.  I have much I’d like to share and will do so diligently as time goes by.

My nest is a small cape about a block and a half from the shoreline in CT.  I bought my home last year, and am still settling in.  A work in progress, as they say, and I’m okay with that.  What fun would it be if it were all done?  I am not happy, nor do I feel complete, without a few projects in tow at all times.  ( more on this over time… ) I will share my projects with you as I plod along, and much more, as well.

As an adjunct to my newly launched website, www.thewellseasonednest.com, it is also my intention and hope to give you a glimpse at the person behind the scenes, a little bit of authenticity and human-ness, if you will.  The site is a spin-off from the brick and mortar store I closed when I moved to CT. I miss the one-on-one daily contact with the customers from the shop, but as we all know, life changes often necessitate the need for a new direction.  As it turns out, this new direction has been very positive in my life.  Hopefully, albeit in a new fashion, I’ll get to meet a lot of new people through this venue as time passes.

I hope you will visit often. Your comments and feedback will be most appreciated throughout my blogging journey.  For now … my thanks for stopping by!