A New Look in the Garden

 

I think we've all heard that old expression "looks can be deceiving".

That would most definitely hold true for this photo of the Kwanzan Cherry tree blooming away in the garden in April.

Upon closer inspection it would be easy to see a trunk that was diseased and beginning to decay.

It would also be evident that the root system was heading for the nearby cement sidewalk.  In truth, the tree had outgrown it's home.

In fact the entire bed had become overgrown.

It's funny how you can live somewhere for years and know that the landscaping has grown through the years, but then one day it really hits you how out of control it has become.  These camellias used to be a nice tidy row under the kitchen windows.  Suddenly no amount of pruning could keep them below the windows and it was gradually obstructing the view as well as making the kitchen feel a bit closed in.  Call me strange, but when I look out the window I like to see the view and not feel like the view is overtaking the house.

Along with the overgrown vegetation, the lighting was in a sorry state.  We talked a bit about spray painting them all until we discovered that several of them were rusted right through.  Believe it or not, this is one of the better looking ones :/.

Clearly action needed to be taken.

 Lacking the proper equipment for the job, we called in the experts.

In under an hour my beautiful Kwanzan Cherry was no longer with us.

One day's work was all it took to totally eliminate sixteen years of growth.  I wouldn't even want to guess how long it would have taken Brett and I to do that.  Maybe another sixteen years :D.

On a side note,

see that little hole between the bricks?

One of the workers rang the doorbell to let us know he had watched a five foot long black snake slither in there.  He wondered if that might lead into the house.  Yikes!!  Thankfully it is an air vent into the crawl space.  I guess that's something to be thankful for although it still gives me the creeps to think of him slithering about under my house.  I'm hoping that the removal of the tall shrubbery will make him feel more vulnerable and perhaps he will mosey on out of here.

Although we will miss the week in April when that Kwanzan Cherry put on her show, we now look forward to getting to know this new garden space.  Much less to keep pruned and hopefully less to camouflage that unwanted visitor.

Dear John

 

Dear John,

I'm sure you don't remember me, but boy do I ever remember you.

Long, long before there were blogs, there was you.

You with your special way of adding joy and beauty to each season of my life.

The way you shared the highlights of each season through recipes, photos and lists was something that I will never forget.

Lists like this:

  Thinking back to when I first met you there on the library shelf, I realize what a different world it is today.

Back then as a young mother I found a sense of peace among those library shelves.  Although I relished my role as a stay at home mom, the demands of child rearing, cooking, cleaning, carpooling, etc. sometimes found me needing a break from it all.

That's where you came in.  Although I'm sure you never knew that.

In those days there were times when an evening trip to the library was an especially indulgent time to find a little "me time".  I'd leave  bathtime to dad and recharge my parenting battery perusing the library shelves.  

Before there was Amazon I found a way to own a copy of Down Home.  Most likely it required a trip to the local book store.  I loved you so much I introduced you to my sister and she, too, came to love you.  Something about your Ohio farmboy roots and your love of life endeared you to us so much that we often talked about you and consulted your book for inspiration and advice.  

As the years went on, I added a few more of your books to my library.  Some purchased used from the internet.

Last week "The Holidays" appeared on the thrift store shelf.  Just seeing your name brought about the fluttering of my heart.

Glancing through the pages I realized the photos were really quite dated.  The copyright of 1986 (gulp)... the year my first baby was born, reminded me of how far we go back.  It made me a bit sad that someone had discarded you like that.  Fear not, you have a new home and a place of honor on my cookbook shelf.

All these years later I still find myself reaching for "Down Home".  Your lists and photos never fail to bring about an excitement for the current season.

Now that summer is near, I am reminded of the way you lit your gazebo with oil lamps on that sweltering evening so long ago.  There amongst the pretty garden flowers you served your guests a seasonal and refreshing menu.  You provided the recipes and tips needed to allow me to do the same thing should I choose to.

So much about this book reminds me of the way we share on our blogs.  I feel like you would be a great addition to blogland.

Yet, when doing a search for you now, I only find links to your books and a few old articles.  It's then that I have to remind myself how long it's been , how many years have past since I first became acquainted with you.  Perhaps now you are retired from writing cookbooks.  I really don't know.  But one thing I do know is that you will always hold a special place in my heart and your approach to enjoying the best of each season will continue to inspire me. 

 As a matter of fact, seeing your oil lamps lighting the summer night has once again reminded me to retrieve mine from storage and put them to good use this summer.  I do believe they add a touch of magic to those summer evenings.

In conclusion, I realize that it may seem a bit one sided this relationship we share.  But, truly that's alright with me because without ever meeting you face to face, you have added so much joy to my life.  Mostly in the small, day to day ways... you know the ones that matter most.

With warmest regards,

Kim

 

******

This week marked my seventh anniversary in the blog world.

As I look back over the years, I think that, just like my memories of John Hadamuscin, so much has changed with blogging since the early days.   Once in a while I stumble across an old post and see a comment from an old "friend" that at one time was such a vital part of my day to day blogging.  I wonder how they are now... I hope all is well with them and, to be honest, I miss them.  On the other hand, I accept that time marches on and things are constantly changing.  There seems to be a lot of discussion about just how much blogging has changed in the past few years.  While I can't speak for anyone else, I can say that it has been and continues to be an inspiring and enjoyable place to hang out.

Much like my "relationship" with John, I have never met any of you face to face either, but yet, I feel like I know many of you better than I know some of my face to face friends.  

You all have inspired me in more ways than I can count and I thank you for it.

Now, on to year 8!

 

Welcoming the Rain

 When rain has been in scarce supply, waking up to dark, moody skies is cause for celebration.  Candlelight on the kitchen island before the coffee is even brewed.

 The breaks between showers were ideal for gathering a few hydrangeas for the table.  Last night after dinner I was blasting them with the hose hoping to revive them a bit from their droopy plea for moisture.  Nothing like a good rainfall to put the pep back in their step.

 I was momentarily irritated with Peanut for making me chase her all over the yard... that was until I wound up on the far side of the magnolias and discovered the beautiful blossoms that always stop me right in my tracks.  I never would have noticed them from the inside of the house.  They are a flower worthy of up close appreciation.  While out running a few errands today I noticed several blooming in the median of a local road.  Pretty, yes, but nothing like standing before them inhaling their delicate scent while gazing at their elegant beauty.  I imagine each year I have done at least one post raving about this amazing plant.  I just can't help myself.  They may be one of my top favorite things about living in the south.

 Sorry, Peanut.

Are we still friends?

 Rainy afternoons and reading just seem to go together in my book (pun somewhat intended :).

It's rather common for me to have a book in my lap, a pile next to me, a pile across from me and even...

 a stack on the table next to me.

In this case a stack of old children's books.

I'm almost afraid to read that precious edition of Honey Bunch's first trip to camp.  It's a 1925 edition and in great shape.  My sister-in-law and I share a love of these old books.  She let me borrow it and as she handed it to me she jokingly said " I wouldn't let just anybody borrow it."  I would hate to be the one to cause any damage after it hanging around so nicely all these years.  So, I plan to refrain from eating or drinking anything while reading this one.  Ha!

Now, as I sit here typing this, the rain has stopped.

Evening is moving in.  The skies are still cloudy.

I'm watching a variety of bird friends checking on the (now empty) feeder.  Male and female cardinals, chickadees, goldfinches and the always amusing tufted titmouse seem to be asking "where's dinner?"  So, I am off to fill the feeder.  It's the least I can do for them.  They who add so much joy and beauty to my days.

Then, I guess I'd better feed the hubby too as he also adds joy to my days.  Come to think of it I'd better tend to Peanut first.  I may already be on her bad side :D.

New Life to an Old Herb Garden

The Herb Garden c. 2008

 

I had to dig way back into the blog archives to unearth a photo of my herb garden in it's prime.  A couple of steps from the kitchen door it stood ready each day to offer me a sprig of this or a pinch of that.  Often just the right ingredient to add a touch of flavor and freshness to the evening meal or breakfast omelet.

Since then the Kwanzan Cherry tree has gotten huge grown exponentially.  Between the expanding canopy and root system, my herb garden has been reduced to two lone survivors.  Lemon Balm can be seen at the bottom center of the photo and if you had microscopic vision you might even see it sprouting up in the grass too.  Gotta love that herb for it's tenacity.  The other survivor, Garlic Chives, have been relocated to a new home.

See them there in the upper righthand corner?

They are now mingling with oregano and thyme in a sunny little pot.  The thyme is a silver/green color bearing the name "High Ho Silver".

 

I put one on each side of the grill.  
They should like the full sun and I think it will be a convenient reminder to the chef to add a snip or two to the food as it cooks.

The remainder of my herbs will now reside in my one and only raised bed.  The chives have been growing in 3 spots along the front of the garden.  We just got the garden planted last weekend, which is late for this area.  Four tomato plants, 3 peppers, a small row of leeks and the rest are herbs.

Basil
When I think of the tastes of summer I think of watermelon, corn on the cob, fresh crisp cucumbers and basil, to name just a few.
Last year we enjoyed fresh pesto and I froze pesto in ice cube trays.  What a wonderful treat that was in the wintertime.  I also dried every last leaf that was left at summer's end.  I like the fact that I know my herbs are organically grown.

Sage
Planted last year from seed, this sage hung out in the corner of the bed all winter.  It is now doing so well I decided to leave it right where it is.  I must admit that I don't use sage all that often, but hope to find some new ways to do so this year.  Do you use fresh sage?  If so, what are your favorite ways to use it?

Tarragon and Parsley
When I think of Tarragon I think of chicken, in particular chicken salad.  My favorite recipe can be found here .  
Parsley finds it's way into many of my meals.  I can't imagine not having it close at hand as I think it adds just the right touch of freshness to so many things.  I prefer the Italian flat leaf variety.

 My herb garden wouldn't be complete without Mint.
Those who have grown mint are well aware of it's tendency to go a bit wild in the garden.  It is definitely more well-behaved when grown in a pot.  When selecting a mint plant this year I was tempted by the many interesting varieties.  In the end I went for the chocolate mint. (one of my very favorite flavor combinations).  Once potted I was looking around the yard for a place to put my mint plant.  It needed to be somewhere that I would see it daily to remind me to check whether it needed to be watered and also for convenience in snipping.  I had read that mint can grow in partial shade which helped to make the decision.  The bench in front of the blue hydrangeas.  I must say I love the selection of glazed pots that are currently available at the garden centers.  It was really hard to make a choice based on the many pretty color combinations.  
I'm thinking this one will work just fine in my garden.

 Herbs are such a wonderful addition to the garden.
Most require very little care.  My original herb garden grew happily for almost ten years.  It was a great return on my original investment of about a dozen plants.  If you've bought those jars of dried herbs or fresh bunches at the grocery store you know how costly they can be.
As you can see they can grow in a garden plot or a little pot making them ideal for just about any situation.  
I'm beginning to sound like an herb sales person. Ha.  Not meaning to do that at all, just sharing my passion for herb gardening with you here today.  If you share this interest and want to talk herbs, please do so in comments.  Favorite herbs to grow, favorite uses for particular herbs, recipes, etc.  I'm all ears :).

Happy Herb Gardening and Happy Weekending too!!

Since Last We Met

 

 When Brett went off on a business trip with my laptop (aka:  command central for all blogging activity) I wasn't too concerned.  After all, it was only supposed to be for a few days.  When it became apparent that the trip was going to be extended, I started to get a bit itchy and twitchy.  Ha!  I guess that's what happens when the blogging groove is interrupted for too long.  The next best thing was to keep snapping the moments.  Like a shot from Mother's Day which also happened to be my two son's birthdays.  Lots to celebrate that day :D.

 Right after that I had a visit from an eager little helper.

Each morning he was all too happy to help me keep up with the lettuce harvest.

 He has a great work ethic except for the occasional slowing of production to observe a passing jet.

 Much to my delight the first blooms of the "Double Delight" rose appeared.

As did the first hydrangeas.

 Meanwhile, my little helper happily fed Peanut every day.

Gotta love their enthusiasm at this age.

In the kitchen, great amounts of vegetables were prepped and consumed.

And many new-to-me recipes and ingredients were put to the test.

Here a sweet potato pie with an oatmeal/pecan based crust met with rave reviews.

My interest in a whole food approach to eating was just intensified after completing this workshop .  So well done by Heather who has the lovely blog Beauty That Moves.  

Now that the hubby has returned with the laptop, I plan to get around to visit with you.  I feel hopelessly behind at this point, but will do my best to catch up.

Slowing the Pace

 

 When my parents retired and moved to Tennessee, their dearest friend Bernice came for her first visit.  My mom was pointing out the beauty of the mountain views which were lost on Bernice.  Being a gal who loved to be where the action was, she looked at the mountains and said "half an hour of that view and I'm done."  She thrived on the constant activity going on near her Florida beach home.

I often think of that little conversation when I am gazing at the mountains.  This past weekend brought just such a moment.

A short getaway into the Smoky Mountains brought us to our home away from home for the next couple days.

Upon reaching our destination, we happily spent a few moments checking out our new surroundings.

 

 It was hard to resist the lure of the front porch rockers.

Particularly when the view in front of us looked like this:

Hills, valleys and the Smoky Mountains all combining into a beautiful, tranquil landscape.

In the foreground the croak of the bullfrogs could be heard loud and clear.  

The greening of the springtime earth was evident as far as the eye could see as was the sound of the birds singing their sweet melodies.

 Definitely not a fast-paced place, but that was just fine with us.

 A walk around the garden revealed that the irises were the star of the show at the moment.

Little hand painted ladybugs were hiding in amongst the plants courtesy of one of the innkeeper's granddaughters.

 The story of how this inn came to be is one that is best told by the owners.

Twenty-Seven years ago the idea of owning a bed and breakfast inn began to grow in the minds of Norman and Sarah Ball. Sarah, an elementary school teacher, particularly was intrigued with the idea. The 60-acre farm where she had grown up would make a perfect location. Once the idea turned to passion, she quit her job. Norman, an educator himself, was also an architectural draftsman and started drawing the plans for a Victorian-style farmhouse to sit on top of a hill overlooking the rolling hills and mountains. (He kept his job.) The inn opened in July 1987, when Norman and Sarah had a daughter in college, a fifteen-year-old son, and a five-year-old son.

The Blue Mountain Mist Country Inn & Cottages

Sevierville, Tennessee

And this in reference to the "blue mountain mist" part of the name :

The mist rises from every hollow and ravine, and the hills and mountains appear layer upon layer—their hazy-blue color giving meaning to the Cherokee phrase “Shaconage” (land of blue smoke). This land has a wonderful, mysterious, magnetic pull. The lush vegetation, varied wildlife, and spectacular views have an appeal that attract the Smoky Mountain visitor.

Each morning the tables were beautifully set.

Unfortunately I didn't think to take pictures until the meal was over and the tables were cleared.  Oops.  Guess I was too busy enjoying the scenery and the mouth watering food.  Speaking of food, it was all prepared by one of the sons, served family style and extremely delicious.

On this weekend they had a full house.  We shared breakfast with another couple who were about our age.  While making introductions, they told us that their getaway was a Christmas gift from their kids who think that they have too much stuff :).  We smiled and said that ours was a Christmas gift from our son who thinks we need to get away more often.  We all could relate to this stage of life where vacations may be more about a change of pace and scenery than visiting the local tourist attractions and purchasing souvenirs.    If however one was interested in that, Dollywood and Gatlinburg are just a hop, skip and a jump from here.  Since we had been there before with our kids when they were younger, we opted to avoid them this time.

Each evening homemade desserts, coffee and iced tea were set out at the "Temptation Station".  Did I manage to get a picture of the chocolate cake or the apple cobbler?  Of course not... but, trust me, they were scrumptious (and also made by one of the Ball's sons).

 All too soon it was time to head down the stairs, past the little frog pond and bid farewell to the Blue Mountain Mist Inn.

Pulling away from the picturesque country setting I felt thankful for the decision Norman & Sarah Ball made all of those years ago to share their land, home and gentle southern hospitality.

Also thankful for a thoughtful son who made it all possible.