Then the Fence was Gone

Well, yesterday I said I'd get a photo of Johnny today since he escaped my camera lens during the big family gathering. Fortunately, when I arrived at Mattie and Jim's today, Johnny and Wayne were busy tearing out a fence in the backyard.

Of course, this required much discussion...

And ripping out posts...

And then replacing posts for tomato cages. But no need to hammer those into the ground by hand when you can use a tractor to push them in. I'm not sure this is one of the recommended uses of a tractor, but it did work.

However, Leah was sure it was a little off...

It didn't seem to me that her help was appreciated.

Wayne did take a little time to play with Sam, who liked to fetch the discarded chunks of wood and then chomp on them for awhile. Not sure what was so fun about that, but he was having a great time at it, so you can't argue with success.

But that was just a brief break. They got the fence out and all but a couple of the holes filled. They had a list of things they wanted to accomplish this weekend and most got done. Painting the porch didn't happen, though, because it was just too chilly to be doing that. It seems Easter Sunday will be a little nippy tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Jim shocked his granddaughter, Leslie, today when she walked in and saw him on the computer. He has only gotten interested in the computer in the last few months. I'm proud to say he's a regular reader of this blog. Well, at least that's what he tells me. I guess your brother has to say such a thing.

Leslie took a picture herself. I decided it was a good idea to do the same. Of course, maybe it's easier to get people to read when they're reading about themselves. That's a good trick for me to remember for the future...

Family

Today has been a big family gathering. I've seen people I haven't seen in more than a decade, and even met some folks I didn't know before. My brother, Jim, wanted to have everyone to their house today and so we all showed up. And when I say, "all," I mean all - including his granddaughter and my great niece, Leslie, who I hadn't seen in many, many years. She lives in Mississippi.

I affectionately refer to both Jackie and Jim as "big brother," because to me they both are my older brothers. But there's less than two year's difference between them, so I'm the only one who can call Jim "Big Brother." For some reason that occurred to me as I was driving to Kentucky.

It was a day filled with lots of laughter and lots of stories. Wayne is a big story teller, as are Jackie and Bobby, my brother Jackie's son's. I seem quiet by comparison, if you can imagine. That's Wayne in the photo above with his mother, Mattie.

To the right here is Angie, Wayne's oldest daughter and Mattie and Jim's oldest grandchild. She was there with her husband who I'd not met before and their kids.

Angie's son, Alex, turned six this week. His new sister, Hannah, is nine. They were less than excited about all of these people they didn't really know. Remember when your parents made you go to some boring function with lots of people you didn't know and there wasn't anyone fun to play with? Exactly.

Frankly, they did very well, playing for a long time. I think maybe the Easter Bunny had made an early visit.

Some of Mattie's brothers and one of her sisters were there today. I hadn't seen any of them in ages, so it was cool to see them. She also had some cousins visiting I'd never met before.

Kenneth, on the left here, lives in Wisconsin, so we don't get to see him very often. He was catching up with Bobby and Jackie. Kenneth is the baby in Mattie's family.

Bobby and Cathy (above) and Jackie and Kim (below) all live here so I get to see them whenever I come in. They're all great fun to be around.

I am thrilled that Mattie and Jim are living here, now, too. That means that I get to see them much more often, as well as their sons, Wayne and Johnny.

Somehow my nephew, Johnny, escaped my camera lens today. I'll have to make up for that tomorrow. I had not met his girlfriend, Leah, until today. She is very sweet. I got the feeling she didn't care too much for having her photo taken.

That's Leah on the right, and Joyce on the left. Joyce is Wayne's significant other.

I love having both my brothers in one place. That's Mary Ann and Jackie in the photo below.

I was struck by technology today, more than once. Not only were there a couple of us taking digital pix, but whenever a phone would ring, it meant a dozen people had to check to see if it was their phone. Also, phones were the digital photo conveyance of choice.

To show pictures of kids...

and pictures of horses... (it IS Kentucky, after all)

I'm really blessed to have family I enjoy. I thought I'd try to share photos since I talk about everyone occasionally. As I said, Johnny escaped me today but I'll try to correct that tomorrow.

And this is an opportune time to suggest that you make plans now for a summertime family reunion. You may discover there are people you're related to that you like on multiple levels.

Chinese Garden on PortlandMany

I have a bad habit that I can't seem to break. I go somewhere and see or do something really cool - I take lots of pictures and gather tons of information - and I fully intend to blog it - in great detail. And a year later, or two years later, the photos are languishing in my harddrive, the information is scattered here and there, and life has moved on offering yet new cool things to blog.

Well, I'm trying to rectify this on even a tiny scale by sharing some photos from last fall's trip to the northwest.

One of my favorite stops was a visit to the Chinese garden in Portland. It was on my "maybe" list, and could have easily been missed. Thank goodess I got there. It was an amazing place.

It covers a relatively small area, but it seems much larger. And it's right downtown. I can't recommend it heartily enough. If I lived in Portland I would definitely have a membership so I could go all the time.

They have these amazing rocks that were brought from China that has these holes in them. They're a specific formation and incredibly cool.

There were tons of water lillies and fishies, of course.

And a ton of amazing vistas...

all with great walkways...

Many, many, many of the pathways were these intricate designs of rocks. They had a dozen different combinations and everyone was incredible cool. One of these days I'll get more of the pictures done and post them.

As you may know from reading here I am a rock lover, so this was paradise on many levels to me.

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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more.

Travel

I've been thinking a lot lately about travel. I think it is time for me to visit Morroco. I've wanted to go for a long time, and it's not a place I've been able to interest anyone else in going, so I think I just need to make plans and go on my own.

I really enjoy travelling with a companion - it's fun to share discoveries with someone and splitting expenses is another bonus. But, alas, my taste in travel seems a bit out of step with everyone I know.

It's also hard to find a hotel arrangement that fits everyone's tastes. I'm content with something basic, but with some niceties. I like to have a private bathroom. I don't *have* to have it, but I like to - and that's what I consider a nicety. Others can't imagine staying somewhere that doesn't provide a hairdryer and coffee maker. I don't use a hairdryer or drink coffee, so I don't care. It's hard to find something that can satify all those wants and still be what I consider a good deal.

I like things to be relatively clean, but the decor is not a huge issue for me. I stayed in a place in San Francisco that had cotton candy pink flowers on the wallpaper, highlighted with gold, a red bedspread and powder blue tile in the bathroom. Others might have been horrified. I just paid my $42 and settled into the clean, but unattractive room, and prided myself on the deal I'd found - a block down from a conference hotel where the cost was four times that for a night. I know people who would have been terrified to stay there because it wasn't perfectly pretty. I know others who would consider it far more than you need - a hostel would do. I want something inbetween.

Of course, I'm delighted to stay in a very upscale place, but I don't want to spend all my travel budget on where I lay my head. I want something decently cheap and decently clean. Whatever perks I can have - elevator, private bath, fluffy towels, etc. - are great, but there's a limit to what I want to pay for them.

All of this rambling to say that I don't think I'm going to find anyone who wants to go to Morroco anytime soon. So, I think I need to start making plans - doing some studying, some research and start looking for some deals. I'm sure there are some to be had if I just pay attention over a long time frame.

It has been too long since I've been abroad. I start to long for it. And I try to satisfy the urge with other kinds of travel but it always falls short. There's nothing quite like negotiating in a language you don't speak in a culture you don't understand. Exhilerating.

My friend, Trish, the city council person

Well, I just knew it was going to happen and it did! Trish won her bid for the Hutchinson City Council today.

Congratulations Trish!
I have been going around for weeks saying I was looking forward to saying, "my friend, Trish, who's on the city council."

Trish was so excited and it was great to see her that way. She was talking to her sons on the phone and I couldn't resist a photo.

She has worked really, really, really hard on this election, as has her husband, Jim (in the red sweater, below). They have had coffees to talk to people, had gatherings in people's homes, put out yard signs all over town and done door to door campaigning.

The best part of it all is that Trish will do a fabulous job. She got elected not just because she campaigned, but because she has a long history of working hard in this community, giving of her time and talent, and proving herself a great leader. I was thrilled that she also got the endorsement of the local newspaper.

She had a very worthy opponent who has also been involved in the community in a variety of ways. It was a good race, with real choices in many offices.

I was joking with Trish that she has constituents now. There were lots of people at the Anchor for the victory party.
I went down about 8:30, figuring it would be another hour or so before there were significant results and they already knew she had won. So, I missed the big announcement because I was doing laundry.

But I saw Jim as soon as I arrived and he told me the news. I couldn't wait to give Trish a big hug.



Teresa was excited for her, too.







I'm so very proud of Trish for the way she has run her campaign. Jim has been an exceptional campaign manager. And their hard work paid off tonight.

Now we get the privilege of having Trish represent all of Hutchinson on the city council.

She will do a great job, listening to everyone, and doing her best for the city. It feels good that we have someone in office who will be devoted to the good of everyone, regardless of their address, their past, or their political affiliation.

Congratulations, Trish!!!



And now I think it might be nice to be walking around saying, "My friend, Trish, the mayor..." We'll see what happens!

For the moment I want her to just relish in this and enjoy every moment of it.

Creating a Tea Party - Art of Gracious Living #65

Inviting some friends over for a tea party creates an atmosphere where conversation can flourish. It gives us a way to connect with others, which is an essential for our good health.

Of course you can serve something other than tea, but I suggest tea because it seems to encourage lingering over a cup.

But, what's really important is that you have the conversation. If you do want to serve tea, some recipe suggestions are offered below.

Listen to the podcast for more information.




Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber Sandwiches are a tea essential. There are a zillion different recipes. I was chatting with a lady on a bus in London some years ago and she told me how she prepared hers. That is basically this recipe with a few modifications. She chopped cucumber into tiny bits and added it into the cream cheese mixture.

Also, if you're not going to make these right before eating, butter the bread so the bread doesn't get soggy. It has to be butter - not margarine - and that whole side of the bread covered. Just like oil and water - butter and sandwich filling don't mix - and that's a good thing in this case.

white bread cut into rounds (use a glass if you don't have a round cutter)

cucumber - I peel mine about halfway, leaving some green on them - sliced into thin rounds

butter

Filling:
cream cheese
onion
garlic
chives
dill

I mix these ingredients until I like the taste. Other people use different combinations but this is my favorite mix.

I use a bread round, buttered, then a bit of the cream cheese mixture, then top with a cucumber slice and garnish with a little fresh dill.

There's no wrong way to do them. As of yet, I've never seen anyone eat as many cucumber sandwiches as they'd like. They go quickly!



Lemon Bread

I found this recipe in a church cookbook. I made a few modifications, and I really like this bread. If you want a really tangy taste, add more peel and/or lemon extract to the mix.

1/3 cup butter, melted
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 T. lemon peel
3 T lemon juice

Blend butter and sugar and beat in eggs. Combine dry ingredients and add to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix in lemon peel and juice. Bake in 350 degree oven for about one hour, until loaf is done. It will slice better after sitting for a day. You can use cookie cutters to make it into a pretty shape. Add some whipped cream and fruit on the side to dress it up if you like. Tea is all about the details.


Ginger Cookies

Ginger cookies are the perfect accompaniment for tea. I love this recipe with the crystalized ginger - it gives them a little extra punch. But you can leave it out if you don't have any.

2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
2 ounces crystallized ginger, minced

Mix and form into 1 inch balls. Roll the balls in sugar and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Don't overcook them - take them out when they're still a little soft.

Sunday was the flea market and I got a number of goodies. It was as if every dealer thought, "hmmm... what do we have that Patsy might like? Lets take that today..."

I was barely in the door when I ran across a suitcase full of vintage linens with a beautiful little sign saying, "$1 each." Well, I swear, it's like crack for me. I went through them, gathering a stack in my left hand while I continued to riffle with my right. When the dealer offered to hold them for me I clutched them protectively and shook my head. "No, thank you, I'm... uh... comparing."



There were hand crocheted doilies and embroidered table runners. There were birds and flowers and initials. And lots of hand crocheted lace. Lots of lace. Such a rush.

Then, as I turned to pay I spotted yet another suitcase full of pretties. What a treat. They even gave me a break on the price. How can you beat that?


One of my favorite pieces came from another booth, also for $1. It's a little dish towel with embroidery. That was sweet enough on its own, but when I opened it up to look at the whole design, I spotted these two little patches. I was completely and totally charmed by this.

We live in a time when dishtowels get tossed out pretty quickly, but this one was important enough to be patched and reused. Maybe it was because someone special had done the embroidery. Maybe it was because things just had to be used until they couldn't possibly be used anymore.

Young girls would often practice on something simple like this to learn mending, but if that's the case here she was a quick study. The stitches are quite tiny and perfect.

I also found four little vases - two identical ones in perfect shape, and two others very similar.

I have developed a real affection for these little treasures lately. Interestingly enough, I don't think I've yet found one that didn't have some pink on it. I love pink, but it has been out of favor for some time. I don't think I would paint my walls pink or anything, but I do like touches of it here and there.

I think I have enough of these little vases now, unless I just happen to find one that's unusual or particularly appealing to me.

As I was leaving the flea market, I picked up one last treasure.



This is only part of a quilt, but it is so soft and well-worn. I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet, but I had to bring it home.

After the flea market I did some of the modern "hunting and gathering" necessary for life - grocery shopping, gas in the car, etc. But I got home in time for Teresa to come over at 3:30. We worked on magazine collages for about three hours around the dining room table and then went to dinner.



I actually got one completed today, instead of just pulling out the photos like I usually do. And, I have a foot high stack of magazines to recycle so that's a bonus.

Jocelyn joined us for dinner. She had thought about coming over and doing collages, but decided to spend time organizing instead. It was great to see her and catch up a bit.

I wish I had one more day of weekend. I guess everyone always does.