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Life cycles

Amazing how life circles around. We lived in NC for 16 years. I had a big garden, chickens, goats. Hunted. Canned a LOT of produce and some meats (FYI - canned snapping turtle is to die for). Then we moved back to Maine for 16 years, had small garden spots and busy lifestyles. Moved to SC for 3.5 yrs, again small gardens and fought with SC weather. Back "home" last year and a first year garden - ended up freezing what produce I had extra of. Then this year. Bigger garden (though lots more to develop) and plan on canning again. AND I got Tattler canning lids. So this girl has got to get back in the groove. Will be making and canning rhubarb chutney, then potato slices, then chicken. That will get me through the re-orientation process of high acid, low acid and meat canning. Let the games begin.

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My understanding

Our Father - not my Father, but the Father of everyone I see, plus more. Who art in Heaven - a real place, even if above my understanding. Hallowed be Thy name - may your Name always be honored. Thy kingdom come - bring it on down, Bro. Thy will be done - not my will but Your will. On Earth as it is in Heaven - I will do my part but I'm gonna need help and guidance. Give us this day our daily bread - Just today. I'm not promised tomorrow. And forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us - I am reminded to let go of grudges. It releases me to focus on what God needs me to do today. And lead us not into temptation - Yo, Lord! I can find temptation all by myself, thank You very much. But deliver us from Evil - with the understanding that it is my soul that is delivered, not my physical being, but I can always hope it's both.

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It is Sept 2nd, 2020 as I write this and I planted some of the seeds on Aug 18th. The picture you see is what the seedlings looked like on Aug 23rd. Looks like about 99% viability. I am a lazy gardener. I just  scatter the seeds, tamp them in with a hoe, then thin them out after plants have two sets of true leaves. I don't pull the thinnings, just pinch off or cut them and put them in a salad. Collards are a cool weather crop which is why I planted them in August here in SC. If I was home in Maine, I would probably start some in the house and set them out end of April. They can take some frost - even took a few hard freezes here last winter. Once the plants mature, cut off the bottom leaves to harvest. The plants will keep growing, producing more leaves to harvest. If you want to know how I cook them, read on...

I have an Instant Pot, but you can do this stove top by simmering about an hour to 1 and 1/2 hours. I rough chop the greens after washing them; I don't bother to remove the center rib since these are fresh picked. In the pot I put either 2 TBSP oil or bacon fat and saute 1 chopped onion for a few minutes then turn off the heat. I put all the rest of these kids in the pool: 2 garlic cloves, minced 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 2 cups water 2 cups chicken stock (or vegetable broth) 1 teaspoon sugar 2 teaspoons cider vinegar 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1 dash salt (optional) 2 TBSP molasses 2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce dash or 2 of Tabasco Add your chopped greens and if you happen to have some smoked meat (I smoke a whole wild boar then freeze baggies of chopped meat for later use) add some of that too if you like. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and move knob to unvented, select manual for 20 to 25 minutes and let it do its thing. Natural release is best. If you want something ultra decadent, spoon out the greens, boil down the pot likker to about half and add a slurry of flour and water to thicken it and make a gravy. Great over rice or potatoes.

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My fall collard greens getting their little heads above the dirt.

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Tomato jam

One of my guilty pleasures Friday evening after a week of work is to watch an hour or two of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Yes, I've seen most episodes at least twice, but sometimes something will pique my interest when it didn't before. So last night, we see a BLT made with tomato jam. YUM. It was rainy this afternoon. Not that I'm complaining; it's been awful dry. I watch the snippet on the food network website, google a few tomato jam recipes to get the idea, then of course make it my own way using my much beloved Instant Pot. You certainly can use a pot on the stove.

Diced onion - I used half of a very large Vidalia 3 TBSP bacon grease 1 large can crushed tomatoes 4 or 5 diced fresh tomatoes (from my garden) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp liquid smoke 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup vinegar

Set the Instant Pot to Sauté, add the bacon grease and once hot, add the onions and cook until soft. Add the fresh tomatoes and stir a few more minutes. Turn off the pot. Add remaining ingredients and set the Instant Pot to Slow Cook so you don't have to watch it much. Let it go 1.5 hours or so, stirring occasionally (probably every 15 minutes) until reduced to a thick sauce. It will continue to thicken as it cools. I got about a quart of jam from this. Keep in a jar in the fridge and use within two months, or can in small jars like you would tomatoes.

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A little lost with extra time off

Overall, the 2.5 day workweek is great. However, I'm not quite sure what to do with myself some days. With us not quite living here, not quite living in S.C. I'm reluctant to get involved in too much. On the plus side, I'm walking 2-4 miles at least 4 days a week. This morning I saw a blackbird chasing the resident eagle. You would think a huge bird like the eagle would just ignore a much smaller bird like that, but it was dodging and weaving trying to get away.

The jack-in-the-pulpits are up, very healthy looking this year with the cool, rainy spring we've been having. I don't believe I've ever caught jack in this stage of his life before, as it is so fleeting.

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Following the beat of my drummer

I took today and tomorrow off, and Monday is a holiday. It was a last minute decision, but my boss was OK with it. I'm feeling mentally, physically and emotionally tired. This decision to uproot our lives once again, and get out of our comfort zone, is both exhilarating and distressing. Yet, many times in our 34 years together, Rick and I have felt compelled to do something and we have stepped out on faith and succeeded by doing one step at a time, one day at a time. I find I get most stressed when I reach out beyond that one day...and apparently I've been doing that frequently lately.

Penny, the mother of my step-sons, recommended the book Life Wide Open, and I was able to download it from the online library and have so far read to page 88. It helps me to realize that just because we are stepping out on faith, there won't be challenges. There are some friends and family that do not understand what we are doing "you worked to get everything you wanted right here" but for me, the goal is not a comfortable existence; it is a compulsion, my passion, to be where I am needed to allow my soul to grow.

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A new life adventure

The title of my blog is Maine Blessings. I was so happy to be able to move back to Maine 16 or so years ago. We’ve lived in several towns, had camps, now living on a lake instead of having two “homes” (which basically happens when you have a camp and a house.) I was happy to spend time with Ma in her last years. She’s been gone 9 years now.

Now we (the hubs and I) are looking towards a new adventure. He just left for South Carolina for a month, to fish and house hunt. We put the lake house on the market 3 weeks ago http://www.surette-realestate.com/listing/1284672/154-brickett-point-ests-oakland-me-04963/ and are debating snowbird lifestyle vs. living down there. I’m going to stay “fluid” as one wicked stepson says. Besides, work has been so busy I seldom have time to ruminate. Plus it’s craft show season and my jewelry making has amped up.

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This blog thing

Yesterday on the bus trip back from a system meeting, one of my co-workers suggested I write a blog. Then today, I get an email that my Tumblr blog is 5 years old. I hadn't used it in ever so long. I use the computer at work, home for news and weather, Facebook for keeping track of friends, family, current and former co-workers, and Etsy, my site for selling my creations.

With all that time on the computer, is there room for more? Perhaps. I have many stories and observations to share, as well as food. One of my friends once said "Ellen has so many stories, and they're all true". Yes, they are true, though some some stories have been altered to protect the innocent (or guilty).

I've managed to polish my nails, not a grooming chore that I do often, and now to get dressed and be a party animal. Until my bedtime...after all, at my age I need all the beauty rest I can get!

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My kingdom for some Zen?

My daughter-in-law wrote the other day about maintaining her Zen, and I thought that's what I need "Zen". I had this last week off as vacation. Now it's Saturday morning and I don't feel like I've had a vacation. I've checked my work e-mail twice, have done a lot of cooking, rearranged furniture, and in general continued on the many chores that remain partially done between here and Brickett Point. My blood pressure varies between very good and very high. I'm sure some of it can be blamed on menopause.

I have a book that I enjoy reading entitled Simple Abundance, a daybook of comfort and joy. Maybe I need to write my own book (life) of comfort. I do find comfort in cooking and recently have found that I enjoy washing the floor on my hands and knees instead of using a mop. I have half finished projects everywhere - in this house and Brickett Point, at work, upstairs in my two craft rooms, on my computer in the guise of a partially written novel - the list goes on and on. I imagine some of these projects will still be around when I die, and I don't plan on dying until a ripe old age. It's not that I don't like these projects...I do. My brain says to just plug away at the projects and do what I enjoy but I don't do that. I stress because they are not done. It's time for change, and I realize it is not going to happen overnight. Today I have a craft show to go to; one of my friends is going to be there and I told her I would come. I also need to pick up a few things at Home Depot and Caswell's. I will work hard at letting the rest of the day unfold by itself.

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wow, where have I been?

Months have gone by. I'm whirling around with work, home, Brickett Point and of course, cooking. I find that I'm more out of shape, even with working out at the retirement house. I come home, sit on my butt and play on the computer for several hours after working on one most of the day. And yet it's so hard to get going and be active after a full day. This 4 day weekend is supposed to be gorgeous weather-wise and I am in hopes of at least a walk every day. Plus get the bathroom tiled and more ceilings done. For all I b...h about being out of shape, not getting stuff done, I love my life. Comfy, loved, lots of laughter with family and co-workers. I am truly blessed. I just have to remember :)

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best fish cakes ever

Rick had caught a large Northern Pike a couple of weeks ago, and I had cooked it on the grill, deboned it and froze in 1 and 1/2 cup portions. So I thawed out 2 bags overnight (total 3 cups) and before going to work this am finely chopped 1/3 cup each of carrot, celery and onions. I zapped them in microwave for a minute to soften and put in fridge. So tonight (after getting off at 3:30 and going out to work at Brickett Point for a little over an hour) I combined 2 eggs, 1 tsp blackened seasoning, 1/3 cup mayo, the fish and veggies and enough bread crumbs to make everything hold together. I fried them in a little olive oil with a pat of butter put in for good measure. They were so good, I had cocktail sauce with only one of them - the rest got eaten "naked" as the flavor was YUM.

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My husband said I'm trying to kill him...

All I did was saute an onion, garlic, 2 nearly withered leeks, a couple of carrots, some pale celery stalks from the bottom of the crisper drawer, throw in some red pepper flakes and whole peppercorns in olive oil until deep golden brown and obviously good-smelling. I did this is my 12-quart dutch oven to leave plenty of "room to groove" as Rachael Ray says. Then I added 8 quarts of water, the frozen turkey carcass from Thanksgiving, parsley stems, a couple of bay leaves, the remains of the roasted chicken from Thursday, the container of assorted pan drippings I keep in the freezer and a little salt. As soon as it comes up to a boil, the lid goes on and it goes in a 275 degree oven to slow cook overnight. Decadent, rich poultry stock that you can't buy. I strain and fill freezer containers to keep for a variety of meal bases. As it cools, it gels.

Today of course is superbowl Sunday. Which means Muffaletta's, guacamole and chips and chewy baked pretzels. Lots of carbs and sodium. It's only once a year. I made the (very large) muffaletta yesterday so the bread could absorb all the flavors of the olive salad. Now that we had to spend so much time outside today, I'm grateful it was easy meal day. All I had to do was bake off the pretzels and make the guacamole. Score currently is 3 to 14 with Greenbay ahead. Enjoy your evening.

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cold snap

There is something comforting about bitterly cold weather. A lot of the "obligations" are recognized as choices, which rapidly vanish into "there is nothing I HAVE to do; I'm just going to hunker down in the house." For me, it involves sleeping in (7am!), crafting and cooking. Since it is football Sunday, I'm thinking spicy jambalaya and garlic bread. I've got some cherizo and instead of chicken, I think I'll put in scallops. I made bread pudding last night but it won't last through midday, so maybe some 7 layer cookies will top it off.

I both worked and crafted in my sleep last night. I didn't resolve anything for work (software issues I can't figure out yet, but I will) but I did come up with a couple of ideas for beading. I am mostly working on beaded lanyards for ID holders. I've got some dragonfly beads and I think I will combine them with dark blue (sky), a few greens (tree branches), some clear swarovski (stars) and one large pearl (the moon) and call it "summer eve". I'm still perfecting my technique to make good quality lanyards that are bleachable (important for nurses) and break-resistant (good quality wire and 8 crimp beads per lanyard) but I think I've got it. Now I'll have to make up 10 or 12 and start selling, along with a plan to make a few new ones most evenings. I've signed up for etsy, but never done anything with it. Maybe it's time to do that too.

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Multitasking

I often multitask at work and at home. Sometimes it is necessary, sometimes just a challenge. The problem with multitasking is that I don't give complete attention to what I am doing and my mind seems to stay in turmoil.

This past year I have learned to play sudoku. It's part of my morning ritual and it helps to center me in the moment. I usually play the newspaper version online (I get the paper delivered too, but then I'd have to erase) and Mondays are easy with each day becoming progressively more difficult. One Tuesday I could not complete the puzzle without multiple errors and I shared this with my co-workers at morning meeting. During the day I had problems completing one task after another and made several errors. My boss said "you can't say she didn't warn us!" That is a mind in turmoil.

Meditation is a gift to those who can accomplish it. Meditation is basically the ability to rest the mind. Sudoku helps me to focus on just one thing, but it's still a mind at work. When I lived in North Carolina I used to take walking meditations along the neighborhoods of Sylva. I'd walk sometimes over an hour as the squirrels in my head slowly subsided and the mind was allowed to land softly as a butterfly on a hazy sunlit flower. There are many times I have no idea where that butterfly was, or for that matter where I was, my feet just droning out the miles.

Cooking and beading can be my meditations now when I allow them to be. It's the allowing that is difficult. I cooked Thai squash soup, shrimp noodles and made a black bean, pineapple and corn salsa for supper. I also baked a coffee cake and orange brownies. Did I meditate? No. I talked to the hubby, watched TV, played on the internet and in general spent what could have been a relaxing evening multitasking.

I'm not much for resolutions, but maybe this year I need to make one. I will find a way to meditate at least once a week. My body, mind and soul will be happier and healthier.

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food and other odd things

 I've never learned to cook for just two people, even when I was single! So it's been a real effort to clean out my freezer (have succeeded) and my cupboards (1/3 of the way) especially when I love to watch cooking shows and keep picking up odd foods to try at Caswell's. So today Rick is looking for something specific in wool socks and we end up at Reny's where he buys a bottle of hot cinnamon apple syrup. He wanted me to make a cake, so I search for the cupboards for a cake mix I vaguely recall seeing. Yup, white cake mix, from Ma's house (she's been gone 4 years). I didn't want to bother getting out the mixer, so I beat the batter with a wire whisk. I don't watch the clock or use a timer when I do kitchen stuff. I sing "Old McDonald had a farm" - 3 verses (animals) equals 2 minutes and 5 animals equals 5 minutes. Remember you have to keep repeating all the animal noises so it extends the time. How do I know how many minutes, you ask? Well, sometimes a patient has lung disease and chest percussion is ordered. It is impossible to focus on a watch on your wrist while doing 5 minutes of chest percussion. So I'd sing old McDonald to myself. I'm sure my old Whittier gentleman would have thought I was nuts if he knew that! Speaking of that - did you know there are two songs to hum to yourself when you are doing chest compressions (CPR) to keep your pace correct? One is "Staying Alive" by the BeeGee's and the other is "Another one Bites the Dust" by (I think) Queen. Depends on how optimistic you are about the outcome I guess.

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a fresh start?

It's been a while - life seems to have a way of marching forward even when you're yelling "whoa, wait a minute". Rick and I celebrated our 26th anniversary yesterday as we both had it off; actually it's Tuesday when I have to work and Rick is gone on a fishing trip. Little brother Jim got married (finally) to the gal he's been with for 10 yrs. We decided to start looking for our retirement home on the water, and found one on North Pond that is going through foreclosure. We may not be able to get it, but we're doing the footwork and will make the attempt.

I'm still working for EMHC as the quality director. A lot of challenges but it keeps me out of trouble; the hardest part is keeping work time to less than 50 hrs a week. There is so much to do, and working from home lends to starting at 5 or 5:30 in the morning. But all work and no play makes Ellen a dull girl. I've been enjoying a lot of walks in this gorgeous weather we've been having and have decided not to start any new projects until I have some of the old ones completed. There is still some fix-up at the house, plus gardening, cooking, crafts...oh my.

I'm looking forward to becoming a grandmother next month; amazing since I still feel like a kid myself. I am very blessed just where I am right now; grateful that I have wonderful people in my life, a nice house, a job I like. I pray that you have the same.