I'm Melting and Dreaming of a White Christmas

See that. That's ME !!! I took that picture less than a minute ago. Here. In California. On Sunday, December 12th !!! And it felt good on my feet cause it's so HOT out here...You see...it is 80 degrees today. And NO. I am NOT HAPPY about it. Not one little bit. It's CHRISTMAS. Teddy and I are sitting here with all the doors and windows WIDE OPEN. I am looking at my Vermont Castings woodstove and oak wood piled by the door with tears in my eyes. I think I'll go and turn down my Andy Williams Christmas music...it just dosen't seem right.How sad is this?The Christmas tree even looks sad baking in the hot sun. I wait all year for Christmas. And now this. Did you notice in my profile info that I am "pretending" that I live in Vermont. What a stretch that is. Not even close. But I will not complain anymore, my friends. I will carry on and be grateful for all that I do have. I am going to the market to get the dried fruit to make my Panettone....I make it every year...80 degrees or not. All I can do is hope that it breaks soon. I know I have zero chance of snow...but rain would be nice. Stay cozy....wherever you are.

Sending december love,

Kary and Teddy

Time Off

Hello my sweets....we are taking a few days off and hitting the road. Not really sure where we're headed.Wherever the wind blows, I guess...I'll be back towards the end of February ...I'll bring the camera and take pictures for sharing when I get back...I'll miss you all and I look forward to being back with all of you soon.....sending love, Kary

My Favorite Place On Earth

This is it. Deetjens Big Sur Inn. On the Pacific Coast Of California. Julie and I have stayed here many times on our way to Carmel, San Francisco and Napa Valley.It is simple and charming....all the food served is grown in the organic garden out back. Cats and dogs sleep stretched out on the porch. Woodsmoke fills the ocean air. A fire is always smoldering in the fireplace in the dining room. Classical music plays throughout. A large wood bar serves tea in the morning...wine in the evening.Bouquets of wildflowers and stacks of old books fill every room.I am trying the best I can to make Farmhouse like Deetjens. There really isn't much more to say. The pictures say it all.

I'm Not Kidding You

I'll keep this short.
I really did hesitate on if I should show you this...or not. But I'm not kidding. These flowers are really blooming in my garden...today. February 10th. To be fair...it has been raining alot. But this morning we woke to clear sunny skies and a warm sun. Took Buddy for his walk in my slippers. Then headed out to the garden in a t-shirt in see what was blooming. I won't dwell on it. We are going to walk downtown now for some tea. There is an old plum tree in full bloom right now at The Old Mission in downtown San Luis Obispo. I want to get a picture of it before it goes by to share with you...Spring Dreams, my friends....

Heart's Ease

Yesterday I rode with John back up to Cambria..and while he worked..I did a little side trip to my favorite shop...Heart's Ease. I wanted to share it with you, dear ones...and most especially I had my dear friend, Dawn from May All Seasons Be Sweet To Thee in mind. I really wanted her to see it and knew all of you would enjoy it as well.

As some of you know..it was started nearly 30 years ago by my friend, Sharon Lovejoy... I was Heart's Eases's first employee..and it is still my most favorite job I ever had...and it really did change my life. I have to give credit to Sharon for showing me the ways of a New England lifestyle. She taught me about gardening and herbs and decorating and always making time in you day for making small fresh flower and herb bouquets in your home...for all things New England really.

Sharon sold the shop several years ago, and it isn't the same as it was.You can tell Sharon is gone, but the building is so wonderful..it's an old home that sits on Burton Drive in the downtown of Cambria.It is filled with soaps and lotions and cards and potpourri, candles, books old and new and gardening supplies. Out in the back is a nursery section with herbs..many of them that are very hard to find....

It is a shop filled with charm...I have always loved Heart's Ease. But as I was telling my friend Julie Whitmore yesterday it makes me sad too. I remember the days when all of us would laugh and giggle and run across the street to Robins to share a bowl of soup for lunch on a rainy day..my mom would come to Cambria every Friday..we called it 'The Friday Loop'. We would all go to Robins for lunch then hit the Friday Cambria Farmers Market and then ...we saved the best for last. We would always go to Heart's Ease late in the afternoon to see what treasure we could bring with us back home. I looked down the street where we would all walk together. And I was alone. Sharon was no longer there. And I lost my mom 3 years ago to pancreatic cancer. And me too. I don't live there anymore. All memories of good times....that are no more. I told Julie last night about it and I told her it made me sad. She said, "yeah, it makes me sad too".

Is It Over Yet?

Only 2 more days to go till it's finally over. Why do i dislike January SO MUCH ! I try. Tell myself it's cozytime. Time to make hot chocolate and heart shaped cookies and get cozy by the fire. It doesn't work. I don't like it. So as I was hanging around the house ...John said ride with me to Cambria. So I did. And we took Buddy too. Cambria is about a half hour north of San Luis Obispo on the Senic Highway One. It runs along the Pacific ocean on one side and beautiful green pastures on the other. And with all the rain we have been having I thought we might see some wildflowers. And we did. The skies had cleared and all that was left were the big high puffy clouds. Somebody called them strawberry clouds.And when the sun hits them late in the afternoons..they sometimes do look the color of strawberries. We saw the yellow mustard coming up alongside the road. The story on that is when the priests were establishing the missions here in California, they would drop mustard seeds to form a path of yellow so that others following knew where to go...and now..in the spring it is all over...all over hillsides and vineyards....i just love it...i also saw a tree in bloom here in Cambria....and coming back down the coast we saw lovely views of Morro Rock sitting out in the sea....the ride was nice...actually it was a breath of spring air.....

To Brighten Rainy Days

This has been incredible. It hasn't stopped raining since Monday.Day and night. As I write this Buddy and I look like 2 drowned rats. The sky cleared for a minute and I thought it was over. My poor little outdoor stray kittys came running when I walked in the gate from the grocery store. They were hungry.... been kinda watching them and trying to sneek out food between downpours.

I tried to take Buddy for a quick walk...and it was quick..we didn't make it very far and we were in a downpour. I didn't take an umbrella..good thing you can't see us.....

Yesterday at about 5 o' clock I thought the world was coming to an end. The sky turned this really weird orange sherbert color..almost transparent...have never seen anything like it..and then....a double rainbow. I thought I was going to see angels any minute coming down from heaven. It was strange...I was talking to my brother, Mark on the phone..and I said, Oh, let me call you right back...I've got to get a picture of this..so I grabbed the camera. Boom. Dead Batterey. Bummer.

The little tiny treasures are from my one minute walk with Buddy today. Love the red rose petal, found some more green pods, a grape leaf leftover from my zinfandel grapes stuck to the fence,a branch with red berries, a branch of rosemary with the blue flowers still on it,some flowers...I think it's called "Kiss-me-over-the-Fence"..well, that's what I've always called it...I'm sure that's not the name.And the pine is falling all over cause we have by the steps going up to our bedroom a HUGE pine tree. It kind of had me worried. If that went over Farmhouse would be toast.

I needed some spring color and found this kale..even though it is winter..i couldn't pass it up..the green looks springy..and it looks so cute on my drainboard in the kitchen. I have had the blue hyacinth for a while...Oh, it smells so good....and the bouguet was a filler bouquet but I loved it..so simple and green.No flowers. I added the big green pine branch that was on my doorstep when I got home today.

Our rowboats are packed and loaded. We're ready .....

Charmed, I'm Sure

It's finally raining out here in bone dry California. Finally. We had such a downpour around lunchtime I had to don boots and coat and take a broom to the front porch. It was raining so hard and fast the garden looked like a lake. I thought Farmhouse was a goner. I thought for sure it would flood. But we made it o.k. We're all high and dry.For now at least.

So on this rainy Monday..my thoughts go to supper. Haven't been able to turn on the oven much. Just been too warm...but not anymore. So I got out one of my favorite cookbooks. "Fanny at Chez Panisse" by Alice Waters. It was first published in 1992. And the illustrations are adorable. The recipes are simple.It's about making good food easily with basic ingredients and simple techniques.And I wanted to make the gingersnaps for dessert tonight to serve with a scoop of french vanilla ice cream. My favorite gingersnap cookie recipe is in "Fanny". The book is just so charming I wanted to share it with you.

When we were little my mom would make Mark and I spareribs and potatoes in the oven on rainy days. She would just get out a big old baking pan, quarter the potatoes, pour a little olive oil over them, toss and sprinkle them with salt, throw them in the pan and place some seasoned spare ribs over the top. Bake at about 375 degrees for and hour or so and...supper. All you need is a salad. And on this stormy night, biscuits wouldn't be bad either.

Whiskey Sour has on his tweed sweater..the one with the leather buttons and is wearing his Christmas scarf. He has a nice spot in the red plaid chair here by "woodstove". And I made Dandelion a cozy bed in an old red wool blanket I brought back from Maine...she is on top of the farm dining table. Just don't tell anybody.She likes it there.

GOLD STRIKE !

So I am over at our local natural foods store this morning..waiting to pick up Buddy's cough syrup prescription at the pharmacy next door......and I am cruising in the produce isle and there they were. PURE GOLD ! Right there next to the lettuce. Chanterelle Mushrooms. I could hardly believe my eyes. There were only 3 of them. So I grabbed a bag and scooped them up. I could feel my heart race. I would rather have these than a bag of diamonds.

And what perfect timing. I was planning on pizza for Sunday night as the storm slams in from the Pacific Ocean. With El Nino out there...we are suppose to have a real downpour.

I saw the produce guy and asked where they came from...just as I thought...Big Sur.

When we lived in Cambria..which is about an hour and a half south of Big Sur on Highway One, a kid who worked for John knew where the "special secret spot" was in Big Sur. John went with him one time and he said they walked back into the woods for an hour... although no forager worth his salt would ever tell the truth about where to look....unless he's a really good friend.The kid would sell them to restaurants up in the bay area...he told me he used to sell them to Alice Water's restaurant Chez Panisse. The mothership..to be sure....

Julie and I have eaten there a few times...and it is all they say..and more.

To tell you the truth, the kid's name was Jim, but I called him Zipper. I have no idea where that came from either. But Zipper would show up at my back door when we lived in Cambria with bags of freshly picked chanterelles. I usually just kept it simple...I would make some fresh pasta...saute the mushrooms in butter, add a little cream or chicken stock, salt and pepper, add the pasta to the mushroom skillet, grate some parmesan over the top and serve. That was it. Simple. And it was GOOD !

For our Sunday pizza night....I will roast the sliced mushrooms in the oven with just a toss of olive oil and sea salt, then scatter them over the top of the pizza with just a simple tomato sauce ,gruyere cheese and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley from the garden.

We'll build a fire in "woodstove",make our pizzas, light some candles..and wait...for RAIN !At Last !

Dusk in California One Week Past New Years

We had a beautiful dusk tonight.The stray cats came for supper at Farmhouse.We fed them all.This is the view from my garden looking north. 5 o'clock p.m.
And yes..it was warm today....took these pictures in my flip flops...again.

Have a great weekend dear ones....

Chicken BBQ Tonight and You're All Invited

I don't mean to dwell on it, I really don't. But I just got back from Scolaris Grocery and when I walked in the gate the temperature on the thermometer read 81 degrees.Sorry.It is hot. We are in a Heat Wave. I thought about getting out the fan for Buddy, but he seems o.k. for now. All the doors and windows are wide open. We decided to bbq chicken tonight and I wish you were all here with me.I am sauteeing spinach and making couscous. After the holidays we are burnt out on Christmas Food.

The cosmos are coming up on the side of the fence. Those big green stalks against the shed are sunflowers. Sorry, again. The other plants are basil...and me in my sandals today.Wish you were here.

Thanksgiving..California-Style

Most of you who read me know I wish I was in New England...so yesterday for me was not my favorite sort of day.I'll just say it. It's hot out here in California.We took Buddy to Burger King for a double cheeseburger. He loves the drive-thru down in Arroyo Grande. Then we drove along the Pacific into Pismo Beach..checked out all the surfers, beach goers,and assorted dog walkers in the sand. After that we made our way to Avila Beach. Buddy loves the little playground there. I however do not. But I do it for him. People were actually laying out on the beach. On Thanksgiving. And they love it...but to tell you all the truth, it was putting me in a really bad mood.Where are the falling red maple leaves,the woodsmoke curling from chimneys,big overstuffed couches piled high with wool plaid blankets, apple cider simmering on the stovetop? It was smoothies and sunscreen here.KSBY T.V. was on early this morning. Did he just say we will reach a high of 81 degrees on Thanksgiving? He did. I heard him. 81 degrees. As I write this all the doors and windows are wide open and Buddy is panting. I may have to get the fan back out. And I wanted to put on my flannel Santa sheets today. Maybe not today.

But it is Thanksgiving..and I have alot to be grateful for. So I told John I'm done complaining.The weather should be the least of my problems... so now I feel greedy and petty for ever even saying anything. There is so much worse that 81 degrees. Way worse.So I am letting it go. I am thankful for the turkey in my refrigerator, the big sack of brown russet potatoes on my drainboard,the bakery box of rolls,the fresh green beans,the cranberries and the little carton of cream,my bag of walnuts from farmers market and the Limbertwig apples from Gopher Glen. My crock of fresh butter with sea salt.My soft warm bed upstairs,my garden, my kitty Whiskey sleeping happily in that red plaid chair,getting to take Buddy on his walk, what was left of my walnut bread to have toasted this morning with my "JOY" tea.The goldfinches tweeting at the feeder, my family....and all of you, my dear friends. I am thankful for you... Happy Thanksgiving.

FOG

See that? Yep. Gray sky. The fog rolled in off of the Pacific last night. And just in the nick of time.These pictures were taken outside my upstairs bedroom window this morning about 7:30. So now I can stop complaining. And even though it's not raining...it's misty....misty enough to open the Martha Holiday Sweets magazine. And misty enough to play some Christmas music.

I'm in a good mood today. Going to go get the Thanksgiving coffee that's out at Starbucks. My friend from "Entertaining Mom" mentioned it on her blog.Going to go get cranberries to make some cranberry bread too. I got Red Plaid out and found Bessie's recipe. I think it is the same one that is on the back of the cranberry bag. I'll check and let you know.

So I am draining the wading pool. Putting the tank tops and flip flops back into the closet. Dumping the ice. Putting the sunscreen on the top shelf in the bathroom.Unplugged the fan last night and put in in the barn. (Buddy was glad to see it go.) And getting out the Kenny G. Christmas c.d. (Poor John, he no like-ee Kenny G. what guy does?)

So I'm back. Back to cooking and baking and building a fire. And really, it was just in the nick of time.Oh, and if you look really close in the last picture looking through my bedroom window. That is my neighbor on Church Street. That house is 104 years old. Isn't it adorable?

Cooling Trend..It's only 86 Degrees Today

Well, thank god for the "cooling trend". It was a little cooler when we got up this morning...but by 10 a.m. ...there was no doubt about it...it was HOT again. Got the fan back on Buddy. What a trooper. Filled the wading pool with water. Shredding my closet looking for tank tops and shorts. Can't take anymore bbq..last night was a total bust. It just tasted..well,tired. So tonight I am going to make veal saltimbocca. I have the meat and prosciutto. I just don't feel like going to the store in the heat.

The pictures are to show you my attempt at decorating for Thanksgiving. I got it out the day after Halloween. All happy and hopeful. The paper turkey in the wooden bowl was my grandmothers. I've had it all these years after about a zillion moves. I can't believe it is in that good of shape. I can't believe I even have it.

I saw the Pepperidge Farms stuffing in Scolaris the other morning.I know, boxed stufing. Tried making my own, but it didn't go over very big. Frankly, I didn't like it much either.It just doesn't taste like the kind mom used to make. And I've learned...some things you just don't mess with. And the Thanksgiving stuffing is one of those things. I didn't buy it cause the weather just isn't right. Now I kind of wish I had. I like to look at it in the month of Novemeber...and dream about the BIG DAY.

And I am still looking at the Martha Christmas magazine...and waiting..I hope it rains before New Years.

We'll Be Reaching A High Of 89 Degrees Today

What did he just say? Did he say we will be reachig a high of 89 degrees.I think he did. Please NO. It is the second day of November out here on the Central Coast of California and I have the fan on. And I'm not happy about it either. It's Fall. We turned the clocks back Saturday night. I was at Scolaris this morning in my pajamas at five minutes past seven buying a sack of ice, a carton of neopolitan ice cream, hamburger ( hello..PETA) amercian cheese, corn on the cob and a can of beans. You see....we're sitting OUTSIDE bbqing tonight.

We are on Day 3 of the Heat Wave. And I give up. I am shifting back into summer mode. What else can I do? I'm tired of trying to pretend that we are in Fall. My pilgrim and turkey candles are literally melting in the sun. Had to move 'em out of the kitchen window. I made rolls last night to make some beef dip sandwhiches...from the leftover of that motherlode of a prime rib. When I bought it I didn't even look to see how many pounds it was. It was 7 pounds. SEVEN. That's ALOT O' BEEF...Even Buddy ....our toy poodle is starting to get burnt out on it. The first couple of days he loved it. Tried some more for his Birthday breakfast this morning. He turns 14 today. Nose turned up.Lips sealed shut. Head turned. Eyes rolled to the side.Nope. He's sick of it. I am thinking maybe tostados tomorrow night. With the leftover beef bonanza. But tonight we are BBQING...in the garden. That's what we're having. BBQed hamburgers on the rolls I made. Corn on the cob and a can of "Trail Camp" beans..... No stew. No pot roast. No soup. No stuffed and baked chicken. No pasta bake.No chili. ......BBQ

At least it will be dark.

The Door To Gopher Glen In October

I looked North yesterday afternoon and saw the sky turning a dark blue black color. The sun was gone. And I was cold. It has been in the 90's here the past few days, so every morning we get up, put on our shorts and t - shirts, slip into our flip flops and head out the door. So yesterday was no different. I just figured we were in Indian Summer around here...even though, secretly I don't like it. Everyone else seems to like it. So I just smile and say, "Oh, yes, we are so lucky." So as the temperature sank and my mood rose, I knew a trip to See Canyon was the goal of the day. John and I got Buddy and loaded up in the car. We made our way through See Canyon, watching the yellow leaves of the apple trees swirl in the cold October sun. The air was damp and smelled of apples and leaves.

When we got to Gophen Glen .... we were greeted with rain. As the rain began we ran inside to check the board for the "Apples of the Day." Heavenscent, Turley Winesap and Limbertwig were the ones we got. We got back into the car the conversation turned to one of my favorite topics...Thanksgiving Pie. Should we make pumpkin or pecan or apple. Definelty apple..if for nothing else than an excuse to go to Gopher Glen on Thanksgiving Eve.