They Are Back....

Don't we all just love warm sunny days?? Today it was in the upper 60's and about as beautiful a day as one could ask for. I spent much of my time pruning grapes in the vineyard, four rows down and eighteen to go. This early spring has us concerned that bud-break will come much sooner then ever. I love being outdoors, and to be truthful, it was better then the indoor alternative that presented itself to me today. With the sun and the heat out come the Asian Beetles. For those of you who do not live in this area, and for my family out East, I took the following pictures so you could see for yourself what it is like. I know for certain that this is going to gross out my siblings...but for those of us who live here, it is now simply a part of our lives. I recall when the first of these arrived maybe 6-8 years ago, I thought them Lady Bugs, and the first several I found in my house, I gently picked up and placed in my potted plants. Well, now I'm not so gentle, and it's the vacuum that picks them up.

Looking south out the front enclosed porch window. The porch is entirely windowed on the upper half, and each window, I think twelve not counting the windowed door, looks like this. And, this happens to be a mild day.

A little closer look, and you can see how bunched up they are. We believe that they live in the walls through the winter. And what seems unbelievable to me, but is entirely true, is that each of these little Asian Beetles lives for THREE years!!

This is perhaps two square feet of our lovely red oak floor. There are four Asian beetles visible, and pretty much you can find these little ladies by the twos, the fours, and the sixes anywhere on any floor, dead or alive.


And on another note..I am having a basement put in underneath my workshop (cabin) and the work will begin as soon as the road bans are lifted for heavy trucks. When I had the cabin moved in and 'redone' I bought about $300 worth of landscaping plants to put in front of it. Well, now I am spending my day when not in the vineyard, digging up the 30-40 plants/bushes and moving them temporarily to a plot nearby while the work is being done. (This is no easy feat, but I'd rather be doing that then vacuuming up Asian beetles.)

Anyway, I have flower containers that hang over the railing of my cabin deck which I generally fill with pansies. I spend a little time during the flowering season deadheading them daily. I throw the dead flower heads over into the plants below. Every year, new ones come up from them. As I was digging up an iris clump, I spied a pansy tucked in the leaves. I saved it.

I always wondered why 'pansy' is a derogatory term for a wimpy man, when these are about the hardiest of the flowers I plant. If I plant them directly in the ground, I often have them blooming still in November, and even into December. It makes no sense to me to call a wimp a 'pansy'.

Are We Not Sisters?

I am probably the most apolitical person that I know. By that I do not necessarily mean I am uninterested in politics, but rather that I can not bare politicians, almost none of them. I can not bear the studied sound of their political voices, the yearning and preaching that is so evident in their histrionics. I do, however, stand staunchly behind just causes and always have. Still, I am stepping forth in an unusual manner today, haunted by a film I viewed the other night.

The Stoning of Soraya M.

For me it had been a day filled with blessings and joy. As I walked to my workshop Tuesday morning a bluebird streaked its blue just before my eyes, trilled its song, and lifted me high. That afternoon, I took a bike ride through the Reserve along the old road and the river; birds, butterflies, smells, sights, sounds of spring abounded so forcefully that on my return home, after hanging my bike, I felt larger than my body, so filled with joy was I.

That night we watched The Stoning of Soraya M. It is difficult to find the words to talk about this. It was a graphic movie based upon a true story. I was riveted by it, and am haunted still.

I felt compelled to do some research on the internet only to find what I feared would be true, that this practice continues to this day in countries around the world.

This movie "was the story relayed to Freidoune Sahebjam by Soraya's brave aunt, Zahra Khanum. His riveting and spare account became an international best-seller. Critics compared "The Stoning of Soraya M." to Kafka, but actually nothing in the western cannon of literature is comparable to the inadvertent self-parody--the simply lunacy-- of a system of law that maintains that if a man is accused of infidelity by his wife, she must prove his guilt, but if a woman is accused, she must prove her innocence. Thus, in a single sentence, is a belief system codified. It is a system that rejects modernity, justice, equality and rationality--and treats female sexuality as a vice. Apparently, you can get away with this kind of madness in much of the world by simply inciting crowds to chant, "God is Great," while you throw stones."

(And Soraya was innocent...framed by her forced-marriage husband who wanted to wed a 14-year -old.)

"Soraya M's brutal execution occurred more than two decades ago, but it was only last October that a girl barely into her teens was stoned to death in a stadium in the Somalian port city of Kismayo. Initially, her "crime" was said to be adultery, and her age given as 23. Actually, according to Amnesty International, she was 13 years old, and she came into the custody of an Islamic militia when she had the temerity to report to authorities that she had been gang-raped. Her three attackers were not charged. The girl was publicly murdered before 1,000 cheering spectators. Her name was Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow." (Quotes from Carl M. Cannon, 5/09)

Her name was Soraya Manutchehre, she was 35 years old when she died. She had two young sons who took part in the stoning, as did her father.

I cannot understand my blessings nor bare my joy these days...

THE SECOND DAY OF SPRING

A beautiful Sunday afternoon, mid 50's, lots of sun, and the second day of Spring. Where to hike today? Should we go to the Reserve and hike along the river, or start at our own place and hike through the woods, on some neighbor's land, on some reserve land, and back on home? I opted for the second choice because our dog, Sapala could hike close to home and I needn't worry about her. Plus, it was her birthday on Wednesday, and this was a great birthday treat for her.

We started up our hill out back and came to the top where this magnificent oak, dated at over 200 years old, stands. It is truly an incredible tree, limbs outflung in some ballerina-like dance, and seemingly wise, so wise.

Some of the branches nearly touch the ground, and no matter the season, this tree is beautiful.

Standing beneath her and looking up. What stories she must have. We wonder what the land around here looked like 200 years ago when this tree was just a sapling?

This limb is so close to the ground, and appears to offer a hug.

I come to this tree quite often in the spring and summer, sometimes bring a book and a pad, lean my back against her trunk and read and write. It is quietly peaceful, the silence is soft and gentle.

We moved on from this tree and hiked several miles. In another part of the woods, on the Reserve land we came upon this phenomenon. We wondered if this was the result of a lightening strike, though it is something we had never seen the likes of before.

It almost looked as though 'someone' extremely heavy sat upon its top and squashed it.

Poor Sapala, nine years old last Wednesday, and she was showing a bit of exhaustion at the top of this crest. We sat down just below a corn field, overlooking Rockton in the distance, and took a brief rest.

Nearly home. Hiking though what we call the Middle Valley, there stands another old oak tree, not quite as spectacular as the one at the top of the hill, but still stunning in its beauty. I feel blessed to have these wise, old ones standing sentry over our land, and over us as well. And I feel blessed to have days like today.

...in my EASTER BONNET....

I have been inundated with Chicks...
admittedly of my own making!

...not exactly on parade...
but gathering to look over each other's finery.

Just another view..."Do I look O.K. from behind?"
(The lone male in the skewed burgundy cap simply does not care how he looks from behind.)


"Do I look as good as I feel?"

Ladies you are "lookin' good tonight!"

Reclaimed fabric, some of it vintage (the chicks in vintage happen to be my favorite), wool stuffing and vintage buttons adorn the 'bonnets'.

"...with all the frills upon it..."

A few more Easter projects and then back to weaving!

NAAN

Several weeks ago I found a recipe for Naan, an Indian bread, that I wanted very much to try. It seemed simple enough, and the fact that it used yogurt and milk plus an egg, intrigued me.

The Naan rising.
(It can rise anywhere from 1 hour to 4 days!)

The Naan shaped into long oval flats.

I have adobe tiles that I keep on the shelf of my oven. I do not remove them even when baking pies, muffins or anything for that matter. For pizzas and bread, I bake directly on them but with parchment paper beneath the dough. For the Naan, I bake directly on the stones.

And aren't they beautiful. Full, puffed up, crunchy, golden and with a flavor that is subtle, unique and delicious!
The first couple of times I made them, I made them simply as bread to eat along with one of our more traditional meals. However, I vowed the next time to make an Indian meal that would rightly compliment this bread.

Mixed rice cooked with vegetables from last summer's garden; peas, onions, garlic and purchased organic carrots.

I had some organic chicken in the freezer, some sweet potatoes from the garden still in storage, and along with plenty of onions and garlic, this stewed in the slow cooker all day long.

And the meal was wonderful! Yes, we will be eating Indian food much more often now.

Following is the Naan recipe which makes 6 large breads:

2/3 cups hot milk...(if using instant yeast you don't need the milk hot, merely warm, if using active dry yeast follow the recipe as is.)
2 tsp. each sugar, active dry yeast (instant yeast I use a scant 1/2 tsp.)
3 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. each salt, baking powder
2 tbs. vegetable oil
2/3 c. plain yogurt, slightly beaten (I use whatever I have on hand, often drinkable yogurt.)
1 large egg

Put milk in bowl, add 1 tsp. sugar, and all the yeast. (If using instant yeast, I skip this part and put the yeast directly in with the flour then add the liquid.) Stir to mix. Set aside until yeast is dissolved and frothy.
Sift flour, salt and baking powder into large bowl. Add remaining 1 tsp. of sugar and the yeast mixture, the oil, yogurt and egg. Mix and form into a ball of dough. Knead dough on clean surface until smooth and satiny, about 10 minutes. (I have done this, but have also read that knead only until it is formed, then let rise, the longer the more flavor, which is what I do.)
Cover and set in warm place until doubled, at least one hour.

Heat oven to 500 degrees and heat a heavy baking try or upside down cast iron skillet in oven. Divide dough into 6 pieces, roll each into an oval about 10" long and 5" wide (though next time I am trying circles.) If not going directly into a 500 degree oven, keep covered with a damp cloth.
I then put the breads directly on my tiles and bake for ONLY 4 MINUTES! Keep Naan warm by wrapping it in a kitchen towel. Enjoy!

If this sounds complicated to you, it is not. It takes barely any time, and the results will prompt you to do it often.

I'VE GOT YOU COVERED


As much as I wanted winter to hang around for a few more weeks, I am now in the Spring mode. When I was shopping several weeks ago I spied an adorable, very spring-like half apron with panels that were tie shaped, varied in color and flower print and I fell in love with it. Yes, I purchased it, took it home and made a pattern from it, without taking it apart. That was to become my spring (Easter) project. My first apron turned out quite nice, and I know the following ones will be easier and 'more perfect'. Doesn't everyone need an Easter apron?

On my next shopping trip to La Crosse, I found a hat that I really loved. I also bought that, took it home and without taking it apart, I made a pattern from that. Looking at what I considered my Easter apron, I realized it needed an Easter 'bonnet' to go with it. Aren't we tired of those muffin-shaped chef's hats anyway. Funky women need a funky hat to keep the hair out of their eyes and dishes. So I decided to make a matching hat to go with the apron. The hat was considerably more work than the apron as it is many pieced and identically lined as well. Still, I think the hats I embark on now will not be so complicated!

That funky woman with her Easter apron and Easter 'bonnet' slaving away in the kitchen sure needs a matching Easter Rose to brighten up her outfit.

The Easter Rose pin.

Hat and pin.

Now I need to find that funky woman. Perhaps it'll be me. But I'm excited about making more of this threesome.