Archive - June, 2005

Dandelion jelly

By on June 13, 2005 in Comfort Food 23

Invasion of Dandelion

April K. Curfman

Blatantly you disregard
Our efforts to exclude you
And pop-up – like stars
Across our yards
In irrespective profusion
Your final act
A child-like gift
Of whimsical illusion
Your courageous grace ignored
You’re labeled
An intrusion.

My constantly active mom has been busily picking dandelions and making dandelion jelly to share with everyone. Kids especially love it. It tastes a lot like honey. There have been requests for the recipe. It’s so unusual that I thought it’d be fun to post.

Dandelion Jelly

Wash one quart of dandelion blossoms (no stems).
Put in pan and boil for 3 minutes in one quart of water (mom lets it simmer for a while).
Strain.
Strain again through a coffee filter.
To every three cups of liquid add 1 pkg. sure-jell and1 tsp. lemon or orange extract (mom uses lemon juice).
Add 4 1/2 cups sugar.
Boil 3 minutes (mom says it takes more like 10 minutes) Use jelly setting on candy thermometer or use a glass dish from freezer. If a few drops on the cold dish sets that is an indication that it is done.
Jars need to be hot. Mom puts them in a cake pan of water and heats on stove. She puts parafin in each jar. After it melts she adds the jelly.

You can add any flavor of dry jello to taste or color. (Mom adds about 1 T. of strawberry)

“If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn.” Andrew V. Mason

Still dreaming…

By on June 11, 2005 in Home 17

I’m in love… I think I have discovered the camera I’ve been longing for. Ok, I know it’s not a digital SLR, but it seems to take awesome pictures and the price is right. I am convinced, if I owned this little puppy, that I could go bloggin crazy!!! Take a peek. Cannon! Of course, I have to have the red one! Now I need to figure out what I can sell, to make a few bucks, so I can bring this baby home! Hmmmm…. One of the children? No, I DID NOT just say that!

I must confess, I am thinking about becoming a stalker. I have visited quite a few blogs in my free moments. It’s interesting to see what’s out there. I have found one that I really love and it sparks my interest. Her pictures are so fun. I e-mailed her to find out what kind of camera she uses. She introduced me to the above camera! Her blog is fun and sweet and just plain COOL! I am inspired! Check it out… secret-agent-josephine

Oh, and that camera is small enough to fit in my purse. It could become a permanent part of the contents, as essential as my car keys, checkbook and lipstick tubes! Just think of the moments I could capture!

“I gotta have the red one!” ~Julie

Dream Big

By on June 8, 2005 in Home 39

Mary sent me this card, which I love. I love to dream. Like someday I want a big two story house with a porch across the front. Hanging plants and white wicker furniture would compliment it perfectly.

I look forward to the day when all four of my daughters will bring their families home at once for a wonderful visit. It will be loud and fun and exhuberant! I will be in the kitchen baking and cooking for a house full of people! I’m sooo excited!

I dream of taking my girls to the ocean! I like to picture them there, running around giggling and playing, with their little feet in the warm, wet, sand. We’d collect lots of pretty sea shells to bring home. Oh, and I want to swim with dolphins! I can’t think of anything more exhilarating! James and I could sneak off at night and lie on the beach on a blanket. Oh-la-la! That would be paradise.

I also dream of little things, like coffee in bed each morning and a day with no sibling rivalry! Someday, I want to lie around with James for an entire day like we used to. We would wake up on Saturday morning and drag our mattress into the living room and go buy lots of good junk food and rent several movies and make a day of it!!

Here’s what every mom with small children dreams of…

How about you? What do you dream of? Do tell!

“Dream as if you’ll live forever, and live as if you’ll die tomorrow”
James Dean

Coolies and yellow roses

By on June 6, 2005 in family, Home 28

I had a refreshingly silly weekend with my family! Grandma, Mom, my two Aunts, cousin Kandi and I left our families, and met at a local hotel for two nights, to kick back and have some girl time.

Our craft project this year involved decorating coolies. You know, those things you stick pop cans in to keep them cold. Mine is the red one with the mushrooms. It’s a masterpiece, I know.

Friday night we ordered pizza and had our time of emotional cleansing. We visited for several hours while watching Aunt Marilyn admire her new boots. I’ve never seen someone wiggle their feet that much. The funniest part was watching Kandi re-enact what Aunt Marilyn looked like while boot shopping! Have fun trying them out on the dance floor, Punky!!!

Some little girls asked us to play with them in the pool Friday. We learned the game Marco Polo. I need to play childish games more often. The hot tub felt really good, too.

Saturday after breakfast, we went and shopped at the City Market. There was a cool coffeehouse there. Yummy! One of the ladies behind the counter took this blurry picture for us.

Coffee was a highlight for Kandi and I. We snuck off upstairs to visit.

While we were gone, James had yellow roses sent to our room for us. He scored big points with the fam with that one. The note said, “Not just family, but friends.”. How true… They were beautiful on the coffee table where we sat and visited. Thanks hon, you’re the best!

This year we had visitors! Mary and Tori stopped by for a spell!

Sunday we did some more shopping before it was time to go home.

Now I have to wait a whole year to do it all over again. I am already looking forward to it. The best part, I think, is having the freedom to act as dorky as I want to! Now that is fun! I am proud to be a part of such a fun family.

Aaaaawwwwwww…….Oh, and the baby is cute, too!!!

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” Richard Bach

Oh Charlie!

By on June 5, 2005 in Home 13

A family friend has started his own blog! Charlie and his wife are long time friends of James’ parents. They go way back to early child rearing days. His lovely wife played guitar and sang at our wedding. I’ve loved the times I’ve had a chance to visit their home and look through their photo albums and listen to their stories. They have canoed down the Amazon!! Let me tell you, these people know how to live life! They are fun and full of wisdom. I look forward to reading Charlie’s blog at http://ohcharlie.blogspot.com/. Charlie is an excellent amateur photographer. I was happy to see some photos on site as well. Check it out!!

I’ve been away for a wonderful weekend with family. As soon as Tootsie e-mails me some pictures I will post more.

Whatever coaxes us out of hiding, to write, record, and express, is a revolutionary act. It says that we believe our lives count: our lives do count.” SARK

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