CAREGIVERS' DAY OFF

Fred and I finally got away for a Saturday, driving west into the rainy spring afternoon.  We did some healthy grocery shopping at Terhune's Orchard and General Store.  Fred brought apple cider and apples and I found some parsnips, tomatoes,  and greenhouse lettuce, very fresh and farm grown.  We sat on the front porch with the cat and drank tea while viewing the newly pruned vineyard.  We then toured the art gallery behind the winery, admiring the local artists' work and the beautiful l50 year old barn structure.  Our next stop was the Green Expo in Lawrence --in the Armory which also has a interesting Field Artillery Museum.  Some of the Army vehicles are housed in the old stables, which date from 1900.  Our last stop was for late lunch at La Piazza in Allentown, very relaxing with no interruptions.  Can't wait until the next getaway!

AUDUBON PARK FOUNTAIN, NEW ORLEANS, LA

Tapestry in cotton canvas

IRISH SODA BREAD

My artist friend, Liz Ryan bakes Irish Soda Bread every St. Paddy's Day season.  I know it is a finely tuned recipe that has progressed over the years and  has become the most delicious breakfast bread that I look forward to.  Liz also creates beautiful Irish landscape watercolors, inspired by her trips to that country and her love of Irish music and folktales.   Yesterday we got together at our favorite sushi place and got lost in talk about the long winter and new ideas.  I have always celebrated the holiday and took part in the music, food, partying and stories.  I always felt  I was a bit Irish on the day, until finding out just recently that I actually do  have an Irish ancestor.  His name was Gustavus Brooke, a Tragedian, born on April 25, 1818 in Dublin, Ireland. 

INFOAGE ART FESTIVAL-MARCH 15-CAMP EVANS- BIRD SILKSCREEN PRINTS & TSHIRTS - MOTOCAT

INFOAGE ART FESTIVAL - MARCH 15 - CAMP EVANS - MARCONI HOTEL - Silkscreen Birds & T-Shirts, The Greenman

INFOAGE ART FESTIVAL

BIRDS OF CAMP EVANS - Original Silkscreen Prints by Cheryl Briard - Saturday, March 15, 2014 10 AM - 5 PM - Marconi Hotel, Wall, NJ

SNOWY OWL IN KONA COTTON

D. LION IN KONA COTTON

FANTASY FABRIC IN KONA COTTON

RED BANK IN LINEN COTTON FABRIC

ODE TO SPRING - #2

a href='http://www.spoonflower.com/explore/2775037' title = 'springtime_in_blackwood by cherb on Spoonflower - custom fabric'>

CANVAS UPHOLSTERY FABRIC - Ode to Spring

TWELFTH NIGHT

Tonight is Twelfth Night and traditionally the end of the Christmas Season.  It is a time for the last party and also the day we take the decorations and Christmas tree down.  Everything will be packed away in the barn and the house readied for 2014.

HERITAGE NEW YEARS EVE

New Years Eve...Part 2.  We welcomed in the New Year with a Heritage Party, each of us bringing a dish from our country of  origin - England, Germany,  Norway, Austria, Hungary and Holland, and, of course, Havana (Misty, the darling Havanese). 

We all helped in the kitchen preparing the pot roast, walnut and cranberry salad, egg noodles, roasted root vegetables, salmon appetizers and bread.

Bob, our host, set a beautiful table and Hanna led the after dinner reading of New Years' Eve traditions from our different heritages.  It was a great time to look back and share  all the stories of our past years of friendship, too.  Happy New Year to Everyone!

LEISURE SUIT REVISITED...

NEW YEARS, PART 1 -  I decided to make my New Years outfit from my vintage recyclable collection.  This 100% Wool Pendleton Mills men's leisure suit jacket was just in line for a makeover.
First, I removed the sleeves and cut the bottom and pockets off.  The collar was also removed and bias tape put on the seams.  With my electric pinking shears I made 2" black velvet  trim for the hem, sleeves and collar.  I finished off by putting the original leather buttons back on. 

HAPPY WINTER COOKIE BARS

EVENING CLUTCH IN MINKY

An evening clutch handbag in  sweetheart satin, pink and ivory, interior in white minky, quartz and rhinestone fastener.

OLD TENNENT CHURCH  MONMOUTH BATTLEFIELD - We used to have our 4-H dinners at this historic Presbyterian church, but never attended a church service here.   Today, we had breakfast in Farmingdale and then walked the foggy Monmouth Battlefield.  We wanted to see the new location of Molly Pitcher's Well, which is supposed to be near the last important campaign of The Battle of Monmouth, near Perrine Hill.  We decided to search for the well on another day, but did not want to miss the 11:00 service at this beautiful church.    It was built by Scottish Dissenters (Calvinists) in 1697.  Its Georgian architecture is simple and beautiful, no lavish interior adornments, so the parishioners could focus on God's word.  The family box pews have doors to keep the heat in during the cold winters, as the church is not heated.  The church was used as a field hospital during the Revolutionary War, some of the woodwork is still scarred by the battle markings and the  blood of Patriots, many of which are buried in the Church's cemetery. 

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Our Little Kitty, age 20, had been missing for over a week.  We had looked everywhere for him, thinking the worst had happened.  Little Kitty was completely blind and deaf and was totally reliant on us to feed and carry him around.  One day he got out and disappeared-- we assumed he was somewhere  around the outside or in the barn, but no trace of him was found.  Until yesterday, when

my husband, Fred was sitting outside the pharmacy and noticed a large "Lost Cat" sign in the window, which looked exactly like our cat!  He called the telephone number on the poster and drove over to the home and there he was, Little Kitty!  He had been found by a kind neighborhood family, they had fed him, cared for him, and even taken him to the vet (who clipped his nails).  They said that they had found him in the woods and he seemed like he was trying to find his way home.  Thank you to this kind family who took such good care of our cat and showed true  animal compassion. 

FRESH FROM THE VINEYARD

These beautiful,  blue Concord grapes are the best for jelly making.  They must be picked when fully ripe,  (for the best flavor and aroma) just before the birds discover them.

Wash, and gently pick the ripest ones.

Mash the grapes with a potato masher, careful not to press too hard to avoid the bitterness of broken grapeseeds.

Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly, until the rich purple color comes out.

Layer cheesecloth into colander or sieve, tie, and let juice drip into large canning jar or bowl.

Take the strained grape juice, add one cup of water and 1 box of pectin, bring to a full rolling boil over high heat.  Boil for one minute.  Quickly add 7 cups of white granulated sugar to the juice, bring to a second boil, stirring constantly and until it cannot be boiled down, about one minute.  Ladle into clean canning jars, lid and then band.  Turn upside down for 30 seconds to make sure there are no leaks. 

Put jars into a large water bath, and boil for 20 minutes.  Lift out of bath and cool on towel.