20 Things. . .

I would like to accomplish before I die.

I take no credit for the idea of this post. Jennifer over at The Peterson's Go Public did a list in honor of Dave Freeman who co-authored the book 100 Things To Do Before You Die, who died unexpectedly at the age of 47.

So I decided to make a list. After all, lists are my thing. I often make lists of things I would like to accomplish, so I had a short list ready. And I have done a few things noteworthy to date, I have written two novels, eaten dinner with the president of my church, spent a week in Mexico where I was the only 5'10" blond girl in sight, and fallen in love and married the perfect man for me. But I think I have more to do. Here are my grandest aspirations. . .and a few things I'm itching to try:

1. Publish my novels.

2. Learn the art of photography like a pro and maybe sell some of my photography.

3. Travel all over England (and France and Italy).

4. Have a yard worthy of a magazine -- landscaped by me.

5. Write a recipe book.

6. Open a restaurant.

7. Spearhead an educational program for underprivileged youth.

8. Finish my degree, and get a graduate degree.

9. Serve an educational mission for my church.

10. Learn to play the piano.

11. Speak a foreign language fluently.

12. Learn the art of cake decorating.

13. Try being a brunette.

14. Run 10 consecutive miles.

15. Own and restore a historic home.

16. Build something on my own using power tools--even the scary bladed ones.

17. Learn to ballroom dance.

18. Research and write the life story of an ancestor.

19. Become independent enough to drive around in a large city on my own.

20. Own a lake house.

So, there you have it. They say the first step in accomplishing a goal is to write it down. What would you put in your top 20 things?

Misty Morning

Like silent sentinels shrouded in mist, the trees in my neighborhood fade into the distance as the sun rises every fall and spring.

The world takes on an ethereal quality and a hush falls upon us all.

I couldn't resist the call to walk in the early morning light and set out with my daughter and our dog to greet the morning.

New vistas emerge slowly as we make our way down the street, past silent houses, breathing in the crisp, clean air.

It's like looking at the world in a whole new way, lined up in layers, each less distinct than the last.


Until the horizon is engulfed in misty whiteness.

The mist brings a hint of mystery that makes an otherwise ordinary lane hold promise and intrigue.

Where does it go? What will I find?

Does it really matter when the scenery is this enchanting?

As we make our way back home the sun is beginning to burn away the veil of whiteness. . .

But I can't help but notice the way it frames the houses so beautifully. . .

And adds a dreamy quality to a rail fence.

Then I round the corner and my house emerges from the fog and greets me, welcomes me home, beckoning like a safe harbor in the sea of a misty morning.

I can't help but sigh. I love this little corner of the world I call home.

Fall Is In The Air. . .

. . .so you can find me in my kitchen.

I LOVE fall. The air is turning crisp and a few leaves have begun to fall. One side of my burning bush in turning red. It may be a little premature, but I am going into fall mode. And judging by the displays in the stores, I'm not the only one.

Something about fall makes me sigh with pleasure, then tie on my apron and starting baking, or making soup. I think soup is our mainstay in the fall. All kinds. We kicked off this season with a big old pot of French Onion soup. . .

Then we walked along the railroad tracks near our house and picked blackberries.

Or rather, we (me and the girls) wore completely inappropriate footwear, got pricked by thorns, and then let Rob pick blackberries.

In no time we had ourselves a bucket of berries. . .and purple hands.

And some cute photos of the girls walking on the tracks with our very un-outdoorsy dog, Charly.

Then we came home, just in time to miss a torrential downpour, and washed up our berries.

And made the yummiest blackberry cobbler. It's so simple, I'll share. And if you are sick of me sharing my recipes, you might get bored this fall, because fall is full of craftiness and baking and cooking and photography of fall colors and. . .anyway, it's bound to become a regular part of the blog for a while.

Take five cups of blackberries and mix them with 1/3 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of flour. Then add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and mix.

Pour into a 2 quart baking dish.

Mix together:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk (I used heavy cream)
6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Blob on top of berries. Bake for 40 minutes at 375 degrees.

Add ice cream or, like I did, whipped cream, and enjoy.

***If anyone cares to know, I tried the coconut ice cream recipe. . .OH.MY.STARS. yeah, it was better than the vanilla honey. So, if you want that recipe leave me a comment.***

If Only I'd Known What I Was Missing. . .

I have come to the conclusion that I am living life a little backwards. At least in one regard. Most people look back at their high school years and remember the music they collected and the concerts they went to. I never attended a concert until after I was married and all my extra money was spent on decorating my bedroom. It was a decked out in lovely shades of sea foam green and peach, even my laundry basket matched.

In recent years I have bought a slew of CDs and I have begun to attend concerts. At the age of thirty I can only claim three. But tonight was memorable enough to post about. About a year ago I heard a song on the radio titled "The Story" by Brandi Carlile. I LOVED it.




I went and bought her CD and love every song on it. So this year when we bought Portland Zoo memberships and looked up the Zoo summer concert schedule and I saw Brandi Carlile listed I impulse purchased.



The Zoo concerts are great fun. I had already purchased Amos Lee tickets for this week but, hey, two concerts in a week equals two date nights! Those are rare around here.



Let me just say, Amos Lee was great, and fun and I love him, but I was really looking forward to Brandi Carlile.



And she didn't disappoint.




I think she is better in person than on her CD and that is rare--at least I assume from my three concert experiences. Come to think of it, they were ALL great (the other was Lyle Lovett and I was shocked how much I liked it).




And they were all outdoors, which I really enjoy. So I guess it was rather presumptuous to say most aren't as good in person. . .but I've heard. . .




She is working on a new album and I will be purchasing it. I wonder what other teenage rituals I have been missing out on. . .

Princess Mud

Last winter I dubbed my little four year old princess tom boy "Princess Mud" because on any given day she could be found outside with her umbrella and her rain boots. . .in the mud. Living in the Northwest we get a lot of rain, which means we have a lot of mud. But I assumed that once summer arrived and the rain stopped so would the filthy muddy laundry. . .

I was wrong.

Because even dry dirt can get you dirty and when paired with an Italian ice or a hose, there is really no distinction. And apparently both are equally as fun.

Popularity Contest

It would seem that despite our best efforts to leave the insecurities and bids for popularity behind us in the corridors of high school, we never quite out grow the need for approval. I like to consider myself an independent minded person, but I am fully aware that I am a seeker of affirmation. I like to be liked, even by people I don't like.

But there are those of you who give off the impression that you are who you are and you don't care who thinks what. You know who you are. I like to think of myself in those terms occasionally, but if I manage to fool others, I rarely fool myself.

My husband is one of those people who can do anything, or at least he will tell you he can and then figure it out. He doesn't generally let other's opinions effect him over much and his confidence is certainly not lacking. So it made what happened today particularly amusing and revealing.

For work today Rob was scheduled to speak via conference call three different times. At least a thousand people of the North West were invited to join. He was all set up for the conference call and waiting on the line when the operator came on and informed him that no one had joined the call. He was shocked and dismayed. Then even more so when the experience was repeated for his second call. Luckily the third was well attended, but for a short while there it was clear that, despite all logic, part of him took it just a little bit personally. I think at one point he might have even said, "No one wants to listen to me." with shock and awe and little hurt in his voice.

It made me realize how often we seek the approval of others. I seek approval from my husband, my friends, even strangers who read this blog. Maybe not always approval, but acceptance, and encouragement. So, I was just wondering, do you feel the need for approval from others, and if you are willing to admit it, who do you seek it from the most? Your boss? Your parents? Your children? I find that in some way this show of approval and acceptance seems to validate us in our own eyes. Perhaps we are too worried about what we can do, and not who we are. I know I sometimes am.

Home-made Ice Cream and Summer Insanity

As summer is barreling to a close we have been cramming in every ounce of fun we can. Cousins and parties, swimming and picnics, scores of outdoor activities and hours of good old tiring summer freedom and craziness for all. It seems every summer is a contest to out do the one before and this year has been no exception. By the end of summer vacation I need a vacation! Or at least the return of schedules and sanity. But one summer ritual that never gets old (But which I try to restrict due to the direct and undesirable affect it has upon my waistline) is making home made ice cream and waffle cones and bowls.

Each year I try new flavors and, of course, often make my tested and true vanilla batches that can be sprinkled with fruit or drizzled with gooey melted peanut butter and melted chocolate chips. . .or enjoyed in all it's unadulterated simplicity--YUM-O. This year I have a new favorite--Honey Vanilla. AND I tried a new waffle cone recipe that is oh so good. So just to tempt you, I'm going to share.

Honey Vanilla Ice Cream

The very small cast of ingredients. (Here is where I--queen of picture taking--forgot to take pictures of the steps so you will have to use your imagination. . .or follow these few simple instructions.)

Beat five yolks and 1/2 cup of honey in a mixing bowl.

Heat 2 cups of milk in a sauce pan until it reaches boiling point, then simmer. While it is simmering, stir in the egg yolk/honey mixture. Stir until it thickens

Remove from heat and strain. Let cool. (Or like me, finish mixing ingredients in, stick it directly in the mixer then run out of ice before it freezes, then let it cool while the ice maker makes more ice and try again--on second thought, just let it cool first!)

Now that it is cool add 1 cup heavy cream and 1 teaspoon of vanilla, THEN transfer to ice cream maker. Freeze according to directions for ice cream maker.

When it looks like this, put it in the freezer to get really good texture and stiffness.

Then let your four year old (Or ten year old, or forty year old) lick the ice cream mixer clean.

In the mean time, make your waffle cones, or bowls, like I did this time. For this you will need a waffle cone iron. Buy one, it's worth it--just ask my mother.

My New Favorite Waffle Cone

Stuff you will need: Heavy cream, vanilla, powdered sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch and oil for the iron.

Whip 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla until mousse-like (no peaks).

Sift together 1 1/2 cups of powder sugar, 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Stir into cream to make a batter. Let sit for 30 minutes.

Heat up the waffle cone iron and brush or spray with oil. Spoon the batter close to the lid so when the lid closes it spreads out evenly over the iron. (This is not my best example, but it's the only one I took a picture of.)

Here you can either wrap around the cone form (and stand up in a cup to keep its shape. . .)

Or like I did this time, press into a bowl to cool.

Then fill it with ice cream and try not to drool while spooning it into your mouth. Mmmmm. Well, maybe just a little. It is THAT good.

Next I think I will try Coconut Ice Cream. It's a good thing summer is only three months. This could really get out of hand! But hey, with all the energy we have been exerting surely we've earned it!