Autum crocus

Just peeking up their pretty little heads...

Are you tired of zucchini yet?

I'm actually NOT tired of zucchini... it's just hard keeping up every so often. They ripen in spurts. Found another recipe I hadn't made in quite a while, and since my tummy wasn't feeling great yesterday, decided it would be just the thing. And it was.

Zucchini and Brown Rice Soup

1 lb zucchini (about 2 medium)
½ lb spinach or chard (1 bunch)
6-8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
½ long grain brown rice
1 ½ cups sliced onions
3 Tbsp butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Wash, trim and grate the zucchini.
Wash the spinach leaves, dry and cut into thin strips. (I used chard and removed tough stems)
Bring the broth to a boil, stir in the rice, lower heat, cover and cook slowly until the rice is just tender, about 40 minutes.
In large sauté pan, cook onions in butter until wilted and golden.
Stir in zucchini and cook, stirring, 4-5 minutes. There will be moisture left in the pan.
Mix in the spinach and cook until barely wilted. Set aside.
When rice is cooked, stir in the zucchini mixture, heat through, and season with salt and pepper.
The soup will be fairly thick. Thin with additional broth if you wish. Makes about 2 quarts.

For a heartier soup, add cooked chopped chicken.

Jen's recipe

I was digging through the recipe box (which I've had for 37 years, by the way) looking for a recipe for Zucchini bread. Decided that's one way to use up some of the bounty. Anyway, found a recipe for Spicy Zucchini Bread in Jen's handwriting... *insert happy tears here*

I've wondered where her recipe box ended up. It occurred to me once long after they cleared her apartment without me (long story) and I never did find out. Never did ask, actually. Telling myself to remember all the times we cooked and baked together is what is real and is what matters. Recipes in her handwriting are not necessary for me to remember.

So I have this great recipe (which I'd also written into our extended family cookbook created 20+ years ago) and am off to make bread while Jen is smiling at me. Thanks, Jen.

Traveling Journal

I sent this on it's way to 9 other artists yesterday. First stop Scotland. My theme is "In the Garden" and this was made using paper napkins in the background, and for the flower images. Tedious cutting out of flowers, but I love how it turned out.

I'm excited to see what the other artists will do on this theme. And I get to play in their journals too. :)

We still have blooms

The garden is starting to wane... however, we still have blooms. And tomatoes and cucumbers and zucchini.

At Silver Lake

Early Saturday morning before anyone else was up, hubby spotted otters near the dock, although I never saw more than the bubbles. The water on the lake was smooth with a slight mist above it. The sun hadn't come up over black mountain quite yet... it was lovely.

The family reunion was a fairly quiet one this year, only three "east-siders" came, and a sprinkling of us west-siders. I spent a lot of the time reading with with my three year old grand niece and visiting with my neices and sister. Played card games with Jason (I lost as usual). BBQ'ed salmon and hot dogs, made lovely salads, and had lots of snacks. Enjoyed family history and women of the family books put together by my sister-in-law. Defended ourselves against the yellow jackets nesting under the picnic bench through out the weekend. Took a couple of short walks.

Sister rented a canoe for the afternoon, so I went out with John and Jason Saturday afternoon... that's me doing all the work. ;)


We rented two paddle boats Sunday and paddled ourselves all over the lake. John fished Sunday with grand-niece and her new fishing pole. We even trolled while in the paddle boat, and played pirates...

It was a lovely weekend, with good people. My kind of family reunion.