Back at the House

PEPPERNUTS

2011-11-28T18:37:00.000-08:00

Dark Crunchy Peppernuts

from Anna Penner Duerksen

Cut with a thimble...

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2/3 cup margarine
1 egg
2/3 cup dark brown corn syrup
1 tsp. each baking soda and baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. each cinnamon, nutmeg and ground star anise
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. each cloves and black pepper
3 1/2 - 3/3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

Cream sugar and margarine. Add egg and mix well. Add syrup and blend. In a bowl stir together bkaing powder, baking soda, salt, spices and sifted flour. Gradually add to sugar and margarine mixture and knead well. Form ingto a ball, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Roll dough into finger-sized ropes and cut into thin slices. Dough with brown sugar sometimes tends to crumble. Keep working back together. Lay pieces, cut side down, on greased baking sheet. Bake aat 350 F for about 5 - 7 minutes or until cookes are golden brown. Cool. Store in airtight container. In convection oven 9 - 10 minutes. If you use a thimble roll dough out very very thin instead of making ropes and slicing.

zwieback recipe

2011-11-28T17:35:00.000-08:00

2 cups scalded milk
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 yeast cake
8 - 10 cups sifted flour

Scald milk, add shortening, salt and 4 tablespoons sugar. Crumble yeast in a small bowl, add 2 teaspoons sugar and 1 cup lukewarm water. Set in a warm place until spongy. Add yeast mixture and beaten eggs to lukewarm water. Mix well and stir in flour gradually. Knead dough until very soft and smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk. Pinch off small balls of dough the size of a small egg. Place these 1 inch apart on greased pan. Put a similar ball but slightly smaller, on top of bottom ball. Press down with thumb. Let rise until double in bulk about 1 hour. Yields approximately 4 dozen. Mr. J J Voth, North Newton, Kansas. From the Mennonite Community Cookbook

Peppernuts!

2011-11-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

Bathroom Remodel

2011-11-26T11:37:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting my bathroom remodel. Yea! The new tub shower combination is in and today the tile floor, minus the grout, is going in! I am so exicted!

Holidays and Cleaning

2011-11-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

Okay so I decided to go through some trunks in my basement, you know, really get rid of more stuff. I found the two flower girl dresses that I wore at my sister's weddings, when I was 3 and 4. They are taffeta and really coming apart. Time to toss...... but...... let's see what could I make with these for keepsakes......

Last of the Garden Yield

2011-10-02T17:19:00.001-07:00

Garden Delights

2011-09-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well this year I grew two new vegetables I had never tried before. This is my harvest of okra. I tried a recipe Mike found on the internet. It turned out terrible! Maybe I picked the okra too soon. Anyways.... I might try one more. Anybody have any good okra recipes? The other vegetable I have tried this summer is brussel sprouts. I couldn't find the darn things at first and now they are finally getting big growing along the stem. Duh! I was looking in the wrong place. Both veggies are easy to grow. And I know how to fix the BS!

More favorite things....

2011-08-31T10:58:00.001-07:00

I got the most wonderful gift from my long time friend Linda. When she recently moved the people left alot of items in the house. She knew I was in love with blue dishes and blue stuff more than anything and she gave me several boxes of blue china. This was probably one of the best gifts I have ever had from a friend. It makes me happy EVERY SINGLE DAY to look at the lovely blue items she gave me. She has been a wonderful friend from the beginning (she got married on my 18th birthday) and threw me a wonderful baby shower for my first kiddo, Nickaila, and has been there through it all. I love you Linda!

More of my favorites!

2011-08-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is a sweet tomato bowl that my DIL Heidi and Andres brought me from Italy! I love it!

And even more favorite things...

2011-08-01T03:44:00.000-07:00

A few years ago my son Salvador ran his first marathon in Miami where he lives. ING took a shot of him crossing the finish line and decided to use it to promote the ING Miami Marathon the following year. This photo was in Runner's World and Running Times in the months preceding the race the next January. It was so fun to get a magazine and see a full page ad with Sal's picture in it. I couldn't be prouder of him for pushing himself to run that distance. After that he started training for triathalons (swimming, biking and then running). He completed the Half Ironman Kansas a couple of springs ago and numerous other tri's since that time. I tell you it wore me out just watching him and all the others completing the Half ironman. Training to compete at this level is unbelieveable and takes commitment of a really special kind. And what is really great is his running inspired his brother and sister to take up running and they have each completed marathons and half marathons since that time. His sister and her boyfriend Brian are now training for a fall marathon at this time. Way to go Salvador!

More favorite things......

2011-07-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

This is a darling Mother's Day card I got from my sweetie pie daughter Nickaila Renee, alias, Kyla Ray, when she was in Kindergarden. I have looked at it so much over the years that it is pretty stained and for awhile it was on my frig so....I have had really wonderful cards from my children over the years but this was one of the first hand made ones and so it has a pretty special place in my heart. I think it is so funny that she says I am the best mom she every had. I tell her that her birth was the purest moment of real joy I ever experienced. The first of three.....

These are a few of my favorite things......

2011-07-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

This is a calendar I got from my son Andres... while he lived in Italy. There is a sticky note attached that says: Mama, From Cortina, Hope you like. That's where the name of my other blog came from - Mama Sandate. I loved being called mama by my adult son (well he was in his early 20's then) but Italian mama's get to hear it all the time and I think while he lived in Italy he kind of adopted some Italian ways.... anyways I love the calendar and his note the most. It is a foodie calendar. I also have a wonderful statue of David he brought me from Florence that helps me remember my two wonderful trips to Italy to visit him in 2001 and 2003. On the first trip he met me in a little town near Venice and took me to see the Ponte Degli Alpini. He made me close my eyes and then walked me onto the bridge and I opened them and it was the most wonderful view I have EVER seen. I treasure that memory so much. Thanks Andres for having the courage to live out of the country and spread your wings. It inspired me to spread mine.

My garden cucumbers! I am so proud!

2011-07-13T08:23:00.001-07:00

New Mexico Folk Art - flea market style

2011-06-26T04:43:00.000-07:00

My new sewing center!

2011-06-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Painted a $1 desk with a nice blue from Ace Hardwear and now I have a new Sewing Center. Paired with Elda Goering's old pattern back chair that I bought at a country auction in Moundridge, I am ready to sew. Oh... but wait..... the pulls have to be added.

Grand ole Flag and Grand ole Dog

2011-06-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Trumpet Vine

2011-06-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

There are about 20 feet of trumpet vine running along the fence right outside the back door where I sit in the morning to write and update my blogs etc. It's so beautiful. Right now there is alot of pollinating going on so there are hundreds of bees buzzing all about but....it's still nice. I leave the door open to get fresh air and ennjoy the sun and sounds of birds chirping. A nice sweet experience most mornings.

GardenTour - Wichita, KS - May28, 29, 2011

2011-05-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

The garden tour this year was fun. My favorites: The Porter street house and garden in Riverside. Manageable for doggies and people. I always did love Riverside. And..... the Socoro street house. WOW! I really liked this house and garden. It was lovely, cool, green and such a huge outdoor space that it felt rural. They have done a wonderful job over more than 20 years with their home and garden. I loved the vegetable garden, the greenhouse - painter's shed and the little fishpond and well....everything about it.

Mother's Day has come and gone!

2011-05-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

Hi - just remembered I put together a flower from my garden and an old vintage book I found recently before Mother's Day and forgot to post it. In rememberance of my mother! I miss her so!

Love this camera! and I love SPRING!

2011-05-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

What a difference a haircut makes!!

2011-05-06T16:18:00.001-07:00

Iris!!!

2011-05-06T16:16:00.001-07:00

Iris!!!!

2011-05-06T16:10:00.001-07:00

Chairs etc.

2011-05-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Well you can see I am back to my refinishing/painting furniture phase. Two chairs. Maple and $1 each. Heirloom white spraypaint from Ace Hardware. As you can see - not quite finished. But will be for sale on Saturday at the annual Newton Citywide garage sale. Aren't they cute?

After the race and recovery.

2011-05-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Brian and Nickaila Half Marathon April 30, 2011

2011-05-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

This was the very beginning of the race. They are full of energy. They finished in about 2:22 if I recall. Great job both of you. There were over 1000 people in this race. It was a beautiful day. Mike and I went to the Riverside Cafe for breakfast and then went back to the race to see the finish. Hurrah for them.!

Spring has sprung!

2011-05-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

The trees.... glorious trees.... around here have been beautiful. Aren't they gorgeous?

Christmas tree pack up!

2011-01-20T09:36:00.000-08:00

After packing up all my Christmas decorations for this year, I decided on next year's christmas tree! See above!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!

2011-01-11T07:02:00.000-08:00

Off to the side! Wow it's beautiful!

The flower boxes! Still full of poinsettas, greenery and pine cones.

Bird Bath!

Buddha

2011-01-06T21:58:00.000-08:00

This is the Buddha Mike gave me many years ago. It has been in several different locations in my house. One of the most meaningful events of my life was the Yoga Teacher Training I took at Ghost Ranch in Abiqui, New Mexico many years ago. It wasn't the yoga, however, that was so memorable, but the Meditation experience. After 9 days of meditation 3 times a day - 530 am, 1130 am and 530 pm, every day, I had a really interesting experience that I can only describe as an unusually keen awareness and clarity that I hadn't experienced before. It was the deepest moment of "knowing" I have ever had. The practice of meditation for me was hallmarked by the absense of fear and acceptance of "what is." My Buddha is a reminder of that experience and the portal to that place of calm and acceptance.

Out Front, Off to the Side

2011-01-06T21:39:00.000-08:00

This is a view of the front of my little house. I have lived here over 30 years.

The view above is looking out from my side yard. This is a garden gate that my partner and I built (along with a side fence) out of old cedar wood that he tore off of an old building in Wichita when it closed. I actually learned to use an electric saw for this one. I cut each of the designs on the top of the fence pieces one at a time. It was great to learn how to do this. I think I have the genes for it as my dad was a carpentar. The plant growing along the arch is Wisteria we bought on sale a few years ago. It grows like CRAZY!

Hand of God

2010-12-31T10:45:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my mother's hand (Emma, 102, presently,) and her brother's hand, Leonard, who died earlier this year. This was taken on my mother's 100th Birthday. I thought the way this picture came out reminded me of Michelangelo's Hand Of God painting. Both my mother and her brother have been very spiritual people and their family has had great longevity. They are also very gentle people. I am thinking of my mother today as she is ailing. This morning she had no pulse or blood pressure for a little while and then she once again returned to us. But no doubt she is probably now in her last days. I am at peace with that and so glad I had my mother for so many years. God Bless you all in the New Year - 2011.

The Mantle

2010-12-28T07:58:00.000-08:00

This year I decided to do a collage mantle. I collected all the snowmen and Santa Claus's I could find, along with a few teddy bears and some green tree candles fromy my favorite resale store. Now, keep in mind, that none of these items cost me more than 50 cents. Together they looked pretty cute sitting on my mantle. Well Christmas is over now for another year but I have already hit the Dillards post Christmas sale to pick up inexpensive sale items for next year. It's always fun to unpack my Christmas decorations and see what I bought last year. Other places to check great sale items in the Wichita area are Twigs and Traditions. Happy New Year!

Fresh Paint - Oh What a Difference!

2010-12-26T09:06:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas Mike took a look at the house and decided it needed freshening. The result? A new color on the front door. Christmas red!