LITTLE LEGS AND LONG ONES

photo courtesy dreams that came true

"TWO ROADS DIVERGED…"

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that, the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.  

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

photos courtesy tumblr

IT'S MONDAY, IT'S LAUNDRY DAY!

This is for those of us who have trundled

 to an outside line and had the

satisfaction of pegging wet clean

laundry, watching it whipping in the breeze.

Can we ever forget the smell of sleeping

on sheets that have hung out in the fresh

air--the smell of the sun and the sweet 

clean grass in them?

This is for those of you who haven't, and 

have only known an inside dryer.  It's

not too late to string up a line somewhere,

or just drape a few wet items over a 

nice clean shrub and then bury your face

in them when dry, and inhale the 

perfume that is like none other.

Some don't even let the snow deter them.

Old pegs that keep soldiering on.

Curious pegs, peeking down the line.

Upright pegs, just doing their job.

What's this?  A lamb among the linens!

And the golden sun bleaching white.

A soft flapping sound greets me,

like the sounds of a sail at sea.

And the faithful laundry basket,
waiting to haul the fragrant happy 
load back inside.
Until Monday rolls around again.

The site of clean, folded laundry cheers me.

And ahhh, clean, fresh, fragrant sheets...

Photos courtesy themurmuringcottage

CHICKEN POT PIE FOR A WINTRY DAY

This is a real quick, easy-peasy recipe for you busy women. Remember the Julia Child Pie Dough recipe posted January 13th?  This is where it shines, because all you do is prepare the pie filling, roll out the thawed dough, slap it over the filling and pop it into the oven!  Your own chicken pot pie will be real comfort food, especially on these chilly winter days.

I made this recipe up out of desperation awhile back, loved it and try to make it often.  You do NOT have to purchase the items from Trader Joe's, the broasted chicken from Costco, or have a pre-made pie crust in the freezer as I did; but feel free to duplicate from elsewhere, remembering the point here is to make something that tastes like you've slaved for hours in short order!

1 large ONION (bigger the better)

1 BROASTED CHICKEN from Costco

2-16 oz. bags frozen Trader Joe's VEGETABLE MELANGE

2-16.9 oz. jars Trader Joe's ALFREDO SAUCE

1 or 2 4-oz. cans SLICED MUSHROOMS

1 pre-made, frozen Julia Child Pie Crust, thawed

Remove pie crust from freezer and place in the refrigerator to thaw THE DAY BEFORE.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Remove all meat from your broasted chicken, cut up into chunks the size you like, and have ready in a bowl.

Chop large onion, fry in a big fry pan or dutch oven in 2-4 Tbsp. real butter ("One can never have enough butter"~Julia Child) over medium heat until translucent.

Cut open two bags TJ's Vegetable Melange (which contains more butter!), pour into pan mixing with onions, stirring until just thawed (not over-cooked) and vegetables are a bright color.

Pour in the two bottles TJ's Alfredo Sauce (getting every last bit out with a spoon), stir until all is coated and warmed nicely.

Add one or two 4-oz. cans sliced mushrooms, incorporate.  You can add fresh, sliced and fried gently in butter mushrooms if you like, but this takes away from the easy and fast aspect.

Stir in chicken chunks and bring it all to a warm stage, but not so it bubbles.  I guess I have a horror of overcooking things!

Have a clean casserole dish ready that will hold the pie filling comfortably, to within 1"-2" from the top.  Pour it in, level off.

Roll out pie dough on floured surface so that it is 1"-2" wider than the casserole, lay over top, crimp edges, cut several steam holes in middle (see photo), and place in a pre-heated 375-degree oven for 20-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown (keep a watch).  Since ovens vary so greatly, I do underline that you check toward the end of the baking time.  I also think it wise to place casserole on a middle rack and place on a lower rack a cookie sheet just in case your pot pie oozes a bit.

ezrapoundcake

To serve:  Because there is no bottom crust, I often serve my pot pies in a bowl.  Dip into the steaming yumminess, close your eyes,  and enjoy!

This is definitely a keeper.

Like you.

PATIENTLY WAITING...

As we wait for winter to pass,

 let's step aside for just a moment

and take an imaginary trip

over the sun-splashed land of

Provence, France,
high in the sky

in a brightly-colored balloon,

drinking in the 

dazzling colors that surround us!

travelprovence

Oui!  Provence, my heart.

FRUIT OF THE NEEDLES

How satisfying when the brain, hands, and eyes work together,

 producing something utilitarian--

or something just outright gorgeous!

photos courtesy themurmuringcottage

HERE KITTY KITTY...

Kittens kittens everywhere

Kittens chewing on my hair

Kittens climbing up my jeans

Kittens hanging from the screens

There's a kitten on each shoulder

Will they do this when they're older?

Kittens fighting on the chairs

Kittens tumbling down the stairs

There's a kitten on my head

There's a kitten in the bread!

There's a kitten in my shoe

I don't believe we just have two!

~Anon

We say "Cat" and "Kitty".

The French say "Chat" and "Minou". 

The Fins just say "Kissa".

The Germans, "Katze" and "Kater".

While the Russians say "Koshka" and "Kotyonok".

Mainly, the cats just say "Meow".

Like the Chinese, who call, saying 

"Miu" or "Mau".

I just say "Ow!" when they purr 

and un-sheath their sharp claws.

 The Irish have a proverb:

"Don't trust anyone who doesn't like cats."

Others say just the opposite is true.

But I ask you, who amongst us 

can resist something like this:

the animal rescue site

Photos courtesy of themurmuringcottage

except where noted