Pickling

I feel like we are in full swing summer mode. Lots of barbecues, potlucks, and hanging out late into the night. Time in the kitchen is hot and sticky, so I’m trying to develop a summer food menu that doesn’t require being in the kitchen every day. I’ll let you know how that goes… That said, exceptions must be made in order to put by and preserve (and make delicious delicacies…), so we found ourselves in the kitchen for a couple of hours last week pickling garlic scapes. So yummy. You should try it if you get your hands on some extras!

Here is what I did:

Prep clean jars and lids by placing in boiling water. They can sit there until you are ready to get started filling them. Meanwhile, boil equal parts vinegar and water and a few teaspoons of salt (I used a 1:1:1 ratio). Remove jars from hot water and place in each jar: couple sprigs of fresh dill, 5-10 whole peppercorns, and any other spices you wish. (I used fresh oregano in some and red pepper flakes in others). Fill with vinegar water to 1/8″ from top. Lid, and process in a hot water bath for 20-30 minutes. Once you’re done, I’d wait about 3 weeks before eating them…let them soak up that yummy brine! Enjoy.

My website

My website

I finally created a little website. Enjoy.

in my kitchen

Maybe I haven’t told you about my kitchen?

You see, I love my kitchen so much. I love to cook, but mostly and truly I love to bake. Now…I wish that meant we were up to our elbows in fresh baked bread every week, but the kind of baking I love to do is the kind that has a stick or two of butter in, needs to be rolled out on a lightly floured surface, and is usually cut or folded into intricate shapes or pockets. In other words…I love to bake the most flaky, complicated recipes I can find. Why is that? ohhhhh. Perhaps it is because it is somewhat like making a craft…all those steps, attention to detail, and beautifully imperfect results. I do love an imperfect pastry…

the rain just keeps coming

Some weeks there is no stopping.

Perhaps if the rain would go away and it weren’t so muggy and my baby girl wasn’t trying to cut her second tooth…perhaps then it wouldn’t feel so heavy. Its just one of those days where I feel stressed in my bones and I know that if the sky wasn’t grey, my house wouldn’t look so dirty.

 

cherries and other good things

When we moved to Virginia we had been rootless for years…we had lived in Illinois (twice) and California before moving here and living in three different houses in our first year. Weary of moving around so much, we settled here and hoped that we could set roots down. While the wind has blown us about and forces both within and outside of ourselves have threatened to uproot and carry us along again…we have remained. After convincing myself at last that we would be in this house for a good couple of years before we find a plot of land, I finally started treating this house like mine. 

Last year I planted asparagus.

This year I have embraced the mulberries and even learned to enjoy the fruit in more ways than just jam…we’ve had a crisp, eaten them in salad, and I have plans to store some in the freezer to see what they might become when we need a little additional fruit come winter.

It feels so nice to be here, fully, in this house…growing into this little yard and the sweet offerings it has. Our little cherry tree has even surprised me with its bountiful fruit this year. What a joy it is to pick fresh fruit in my own yard. Maybe soon I will settle in a little more and buy berry plants…

being present

It has been a long time since I have felt like writing here. It has been a truly long year for me. I have been trying to think about getting back to this space and using it as a helpful tool for keeping record of the beauty in my life while also allowing some transparency to the difficulties and the ugliness that are present in every good life. It is my goal to write here at least once a week for the summer…while I have the space in my life to do so. I do hope you can enjoy, be inspired, and feel as though truth has been spoken to you here. 

New in the shop

New Dream Catcher Necklace available in the etsy shop now…

Living

Life has been a whirl wind. It will continue this way for a long spell I believe…watching these girls of mine grow and soaking up so many little moments like a sponge. These times are so precious. Ever changing.

Little Logo

I made myself this little logo today. Here’s to trying new things…

Moments

As Eleanor laid down for her nap, I slipped into my studio. She fell asleep to the sound of sawing while the Ry girl watched My Little Pony and I took a few moments to forget about all the other chores. As I cut my designs and they kept coming out a little differently than planned I learned a valuable lesson. That was all the time I would have to slip away and create. Those were my moments. I looked at my work and decided not to be discouraged that they weren’t what I had planned, they could still be beautiful. Valuable life lessons learned at the the jewelers’ bench.