Lupine

The Lupine are blooming again on our hillside.  I wanted to take lots of pictures this year 'cause the dirt work being done here this summer may tear them up and they'll be gone.  I've tried for years to get these started in many places I've lived, but these all came about by sort of an accident.

I had a little box of wildflower seeds that I'd picked up from the Dollar Tree and they'd been around the house a couple years since I really didn't have the space to formally plant them.  One day I took the box outside to the top of the hill and just threw them to the breeze.  I really didn't have much expectation since I didn't think there were viable seeds anymore.  The next summer I had a variety of wildflowers blooming on the hillside.  Over the years the only ones to survive were the Lupine and Daisies.  They started small, but spread each year.  Mr. D likes to mow the hill and make it look better, so I let him do that once they have gone to seed.  I try to keep some of the weeds down a little during the early spring, but since he mows once a year, they really aren't bad.  There's a few dandelion that bloom early, colts foot and  paint brushes, but the Lupine are above them and beautiful. 

Thinking of the beauty of God's creation... it all points to the Creator, just as the Lupine spires point to the sky.  Although we love the beauty all around us and we do live in a beautiful part of the country,  it makes us love God all the more for giving us this to enjoy. 

We would not want to begin worshipping the beauty we see since all nature declares the glory of God.  Think of those who have done this.  Where does it lead?

Romans 1:22-27
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Help us Lord to give proper praise to you when we see your hand in nature. 

Memorial Day Snow

Woke up Sunday morning to this...

then Monday we planted the garden.  Monday was a beautiful day, sunny, breezy, and warm.  I got the laundry on the line and it dried in no time.  It was cool enough so working in the garden was wonderful and the breeze kept the bugs away. 

Just a little achy this morning and had lots of leg cramping last night but all-in-all and very successful work day.

Hope you had a good Memorial Day Weekend.

Spring is in the Air

Winter seems so long ago today, yet the last few night have been down below freezing.  Checked the garden this morning and all seems well.  I have stuff in the greenhouse still that needs planting but don't do the tender stuff till Memorial Day, our traditional planting day at the Millett Farm.

Just thought I'd share a few little pictures with you today.

Here in our tiny perennial garden that is waiting patiently for construction to end so it can spread it's wings we find a fully blooming pink Barrenwort...

I've had this little plant on my blog before but it's a little bigger now and hope it will thrive until it is time to transplant to a permanent home.

This is my tiny bleeding heart started last year. 

This is my "old fashioned" bleeding heart that I transplanted here a couple years ago.  It's small, but mighty and yearning to be planted in a place it can thrive.

These little guys are surrounded by ladies mantle, tansy, phlox, daffodils, and some other varied and sundry perennials longing to be free.  Maybe this year.

Don't you just love spring?

When I see the beauty that God has created I just can't help but praise Him... and I do praise Him for the beauty of winter... I just like to garden and you can't do lots of that in the winter :)

ONE YEAR AGO

It doesn't seem possible that Norman will be a year old on Friday.  He is such a wonderful baby.  I'm sure the spice will come out as he is fairly strong willed already, but at this point it is just a joy to have him here.

Here he was a year ago...



And here he was on Sunday in his first Easter "suit and tie"....

Love ya lil' Norman!  Happy birthday!

FRIKADELLEN



This photo is from http://www.gedankensprudler.de/?id=5874
but closely resembles my own recipe and serving ideas.
I like that she added caraway seeds to the brussel sprouts. Mmmm.



Share one of you families favorite dinners.

I thought my Aunt Jean had made up the name for these.  My mom used to call them "space burgers" 'cause the recipe used bread crumbs to take up space.  This was one of my favorites growing up.

German in origin, I'm guessing it is similar to German Meatballs (also known as frikadellen), but looks more like a hamburger patty.  I cook mine in a cast iron skillet and add stuff like mushrooms or diced onions even though there's chopped onions in the patty. 

Here's my recipe for Frikadellen

1 - 1 1/2 lb ground meat... beef, pork or lamb... whatever you have.
1 egg slightly beaten
1/4 finely chopped sweet onion or leek or green onion
1/4 c milk (can use a little yogurt/milk mixture)
1+ dry bread crumbs... don't need to be real crispy... I use old heels or crumbs from the bread board after my husband cuts his bread I save all the crumbs.
I add here spices... salt, pepper, paprika, parsley... anything you like to taste.

Mix egg, milk and breadcrumbs together then add all other ingredients and mix well.
Form into small patties 3" round and about 1" thick and fry all together in skillet. 
You can cook your mushrooms or onions right with the patties, or you can cook those afterwards in the pan drippings.  Keep patties warm in oven.  Don't overcook.  Use any pan drippings to make a light gravy to pour over patties and veggies.

We serve ours with whatever vegetables we have on hand, but my favorite side dish with this is something from the cabbage family and if you like potoatoes the gravy is nice over potatoes or mashed squash.  Mmmmm.  It's one of my most favorite dinners.

Please Vote

Joanna has entered a contest through Vermont State Parks by drawing a new logo for the water bottles they sell throughout the park system.  This is her drawing:

It's original.  I like it and if you do too would you please vote for her drawing at Vermont State Park Facebook  .  If you don't Facebook, maybe you have friends who do.  We're seriously lacking in "Likes".  Did you know you can actually PAY to have people "like" you on FB?  No kidding.  Well, we're not going there.  We're all appealing to those we know and who are hooked to internet or FB somehow to go to the above link, click on the picture and "Like" to make your vote count. 

Thank you all!

The Very Happy Snowman

Nice background, but here he is, minus his carrot nose and no arms.  He's still happy.