Reborn...Again

One of the little bats that live in our old barn where I feed the old horses their daily pelleted feed came out into the daylight and ended up flying down around the house.  Now it had warmed up a bit and I imagine this little one was a bit hungry and looking for some insects of which a few were flying around.  Of course in my mind the little critter was sending me messages...Rebirth...let go of the old habits and start fresh.  Cousin bat stayed around for a couple of days and then tucked itself back into the barn until the evenings get a little warmer.

I, in the meantime have done a little pondering and reading friends blogs and decided that it is time for rebirth...just like all the plants are getting ready to do and all the baby birds and animals will be doing.

My "rebirth" will not be too quick, but already I am becoming more of my  refreshed self.

Since it is still snowy and cold in so many places and no one needs to be reminded of this, I thought I would share a few photos of previous warm, green, sunshiny days!  PLEASE ENJOY...

Have a Beautiful...warm...sunny February 24,2014

Love & Joy!
Diane

 

January is Half Over ...I can't believe it!!!!!

Everything has been moving soooooooo fast since my last post.  I'm afraid that the colder weather here has kept me from being on the computer very much and my mouse is looking for a warm place to hibernate.
Right before Christmas was my last post...much has happened since, however, if I tried to catch Y'all up, we would be lost in the past...
Sooooo, I'll shoot some photo's out with a caption or two of what has been going on as I prepare to keep up with what is going on now.

For those of you wondering about the pastel pet portrait, I will get back to it.  The studio is tooo cold to do any lengthy work and the house is not good for pastel work.

Let's relive some of the Holidays at home in Cypress Inn Tennesse!

 

Daniel prepared our scrumptious Christmas Dinner feast of Vegetarian Lasagna.  Now he is a Lover of Pizza, so his lasagna was kind of like a pizza with lasagna noodles instead of crust.  I had given up meat to protest the slaughter houses last year, that is why there was no meat.  But as you can see from the ingredients...no meat was needed.  There was enuff lasagna left for 3 more meals...one meal awaits still in the freezer.

 

 

New Years Day I always cook.  We started a traditional dinner for this many years ago when there was an article  in the Twin Falls (Idaho) newspaper.  Daniel and I incorporated several different dishes to bring Good Luck and Abundance to our New Year.

We always have my version of "Hoppin' John" for the black eyed peas and rice.  Greens vary each year (that's probably why I never have any of the greenbacks in my pocket!Haha)...this year it was spinach with tomatoes & cucumber.  The dressing was homemade mayonnaise from our dear hens eggs...it's the yellow stuff in the yellow bowl, no food coloring, our hens yolks are so orange & sunflower oil is darker than some other oils. Yum! 

Instead of cornbread I made a Cornmeal-Sweet Potato casserole, celebrating the South once more.  The meat is a Pork tenderloin.  Eating the pig is to ensure going forward (there is a rumor that pigs can't go backwards) with your nose in the dirt (lots of good garden work)!!!!!

 

That was our holidays!  All the Santa's have been put to bed to rest until it's time to deliver gifts again and now I start to plan on Spring.  I've been busy distributing manure and dirt from the barn into the planter boxes for the veggies and flowers.

 

Next up...some of the Awesome winter sunsets right here in Southern Middle Tennessee!

 

Until then, I wish you Joy & Love and please visit with me again!

 

Diane

 

One more thing...if you would ever like recipes for my dishes...comment, or email me here

Winter Holidays...Santa Claus...Dixie Peanut Brittle!

Just thought I'd share a little of our "beginning of Winter Holidays" in our magical place that we live.  I'm a big fan of being outdoors, so when the weather gets too cold...too rainy...too cold & breezy, I tend to spend too much time indoors.  Especially when Winter Solstice is coming and we're about to experience the "Longest Night"!  No matter how early I get up...there is never enuff time to take care of all of the children.  You know, the furry, hairy, feathery, muddy, hungry, wet, cold ones.  I spend too much time inside because it is dark outside...so I try to make it as comfortable as I can.  I've decorated the living room with Christmas collections and handmade items.  I love vintage & antique & I'm always crafting some art thing too.

Just for a little clarification....the baby on the left may be the only photo you ever see of me...I was much cuter then and prefer to remain that way.  The people on the right are my mom and her husband ( I called him Papa...my Daddy died when I was young and Mama remarried after I grew up and moved away from home).  That photo is also from quite a few years ago.

This next photo I have titled:
              "The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care"
                

  They didn't get all dry hanging outside with the rest of the laundry and it was the best place to make sure that I had dry socks in the morning!!!

So...You're saying OK...we've covered Winter Holidays, Santa Claus, but Hey!!! What about the Dixie Peanut Brittle?

I'll just grab a piece and munch on it while I give you the recipe!  I wish Y'all could come and visit and we could make it together...what a good time we could have.  For now this will have to do...Here Goes...

You will need:

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
4 cups raw peanuts with the skins on
2 Tblsp butter
2 tsp baking soda

Lightly butter a cookie sheet:

Heat sugar, syrup & water in a large saucepan to a rolling boil. 
Add peanuts and reduce heat to medium, medium low and stir.

And Stir...and stir.  You don't have to keep a constant stir on...but don't leave it alone for too long at a time.  It's going to take from 1 hour to 1 hour & 15 minutes to reach it's high temp of 290 degrees... so have a beer, cup of tea...and stir every so often.

As it cooks and you stir...you'll notice that it is getting thicker and darker and smelling cooked and brown.  Have patience until you reach 290 degrees.
When your candy has cooked enuff...turn off the burner and take the pot off the heat.
Add your butter and then the baking soda and beat with the wooden spoon!

Pour as best you can...it will be thick as it cools...onto the cookie sheet and try to spread it evenly.  Be careful!!! the cookie sheet will get hot!!

Cool until brittle and cold...break into pieces...give some to your postal delivery person... put a little out, out of the dog & cat reaches...and hide the rest to be doled out!

Enjoy...enjoy...enjoy!!!

Merry Christmas!!
Diane

After the colors of Autumn turn to brown, black & white of winter

The time after Thanksgiving (for those of us in the U.S.) or the first day of December, is, to me...the beginning of Winter.  We've had cold temperatures and rain and frost and a tiny bit of snow.  The leaves now all cover the ground and when it rains or the animals & birds walk thru them, they crackle and rustle...lovely sounds that you can only hear at this time of the year.  The only bright colors are in the sunsets...now that the leaves are mostly gone from the trees, the winter sunsets are fabulous.  I think that is Mother Natures way of brightening up our world when all the outdoors is resting, some in a very deep sleep.

Since it is December, I can "correctly" begin my "holiday" decorating.  I like to bring the bright colors of the season that we only get a glimpse of into my home.  The reds of the berries and the beautiful Cardinals and Finches.  The greens of the evergreens, winter vines, and duck feathers.  The rainbows and golds after a rain and the sun comes out.  In keeping with the "holiday" season...I LOVE Santa Claus and have begun making a collection of this most magical being on Earth.

 

 

 

I plan to share often in this Quiet...Restful...Meditative time. 

Filling our home with the wonderful fragrances of home cooking & baking is another joy of my husband's and mine...Sharing them with you will be part of the Merry Season!

 

Thank you for letting me share!

Love & Joy!

Diane

 

NOT The Recipe for Cornbread & Warm Spiced Pears

As I was getting the hay together into the wheel barrow and pushing it out toward the pasture to feed the horses last evening, I looked up and was so inspired by the light and shadows in the edge of the woods, I had to stop!
"You guys and dolls are going to have to wait for a few minutes for your dinner.  I must go get my camera & try to save some of this glory."
It took a good half an hour for it to unfold and even as I went down to the house, in the gloaming, the sky was gold and pink, low on the horizon.
This morning I came up to the studio early to create this...ah yes, there are many ways to create and to share what we see " Thru Our Eyes".
                                              Please Enjoy!

The Cornbread and Warm Spiced Pears will have to wait for another day.  The mornings are so much cooler now and promising to be even colder in a few days...I will share their deliciousness in a few days!

Thanks for visiting, please come back again!
Diane

A LITTLE AUTUMN COLOR FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE!

 All these images are from our humble home in Cypress Inn Tennessee

I drove into Florence Alabama yesterday to do my monthly heavy shopping.  When I left home the frost kissed leaves were dancing down out of the trees relieved not to hold on to the branches anymore.  Now the ground is inches deep in leaves and they rustle whenever anyone (including the 4 leggeds step thru them.

 

 

These are just a few images of the Creators wonderful mysteries...gifts given to all of us if we take the time to look around.  This is my gift to all that can't take the time to go out and see for yourselves, whatever your reasons...so please enjoy!
Diane

 

AWESOME AUTUMN GRANDFATHER SUN

I find a special quality each season with the changes in the light from our awesome beautiful sun.

I share some of these today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that you have enjoyed a little bit of my world today.

Autumn is by far my most inspiring time.

There will be more to share another day.

 

Sending out Joy & Love!

Diane