who cooks for you

 

I spent some of last week at Lake St. Catherine state park in Vermont camping with both of my daughters, my son-in-law and my 3 grandchildren. 

We had the best time! 

My daughter, Hannah, went for a bit of a walk on Sunday morning when much of the campground had cleared out. She came back and invited us all to go see something with her.

It was a barred owl sitting in the low branches of a beech tree!

Here we are watching the owl watch us. He didn't seem to mind us observing him one bit. He just sat there in his tree observing us right back. 

Perhaps he was on the lookout for a tasty treat or perhaps he was just taking a bit of a rest.

Every year we go camping together as a family. We always camp in a rather remote campground, though this year we had token operated toilets and real toilets! This was a bit of an upgrade since we normally camp with no running waters and a rather questionable outhouse. 

Encouraging my grandchildren to enjoy and respect nature is very important to me. 

There should be a deep reverence for the natural world in every person. 

Perhaps that is what this wise old owl was trying to say to us from his perch in the beech tree.

Nature notes

Apple zucchini bread

 

Since apples and zucchini are so abundant at this time of year, it’s only natural that the two be used together in one recipe. I don’t really know the origin of this bread, but I do know it’s been one of our favourites for many years.

Ingredients

4 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon backing soda

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 eggs

1-1/2 vegetable oil 

2 cups sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini

1 cup peeled shredded apple

1-1/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs. Add oil, sugars and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients; mix well. Stir in zucchini, apples, and pecans (batter will be stiff). Spoon into three greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until done. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: three loaves

~ ~ ~

Busy Monday

Mercy

 

t

For mercy triumphs over judgement.

James 2:13

~

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is god for building up, as fits the occasion that itmay give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29

Scripture and a snapshot

The one where they go camping

 

Me and my grandchildren on the last day of our camping trip.

We sure did have a lot of fun!

We camped on the beautiful Lake St. Catherine. Our site was just up the hill and I could see the lake through the trees from my tent! We heard loons at night and in the early morning. So pretty.

My daughter went for a short walk and when she came back she told us there was an owl in a Beech tree just up the way. So we all walked up to see it. It just sat there watching us watching it. 

There was a swimming beach at the bottom of the hill we were camped on and we went swimming a couple of times a day!

One of the families from my classroom gave me a gift certificate to L.L.Bean at the end of the school year and I purchased a camp stove with it. It worked great! 

But the best part was getting to spend time together with my family!

Friday fave fives

Meadow hawk Dragonflies

 

As I was leaving work one afternoon this dragonfly flew right by me and landed on the fencepost I happened to be walking past. 

I believe it is a meadow hawk dragonfly or a darner dragonfly but I am not absolutely sure. 

Shee sat there for quite some time...we both sat there watching one another. Well, I was watching her and I assumed she was watching me as well but it was difficult to tell.

I awoke early enough to walk down to the harbour and get a photo of a beautiful sunrise. It was a bit muted because of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires. 

Nature notes

Tansy patch in August

The weather has finally turned from beastly hot and humid in July to beautiful, "sweetheart" summer weather in August. I have been enjoying the out of doors as much as I can. 

I spent the weekend at the farmer's market picking up some things for my upcoming family camping trip.

Myself, (my husband doesn't come because he has health problems that prevent him from camping) my 2 adult daughters, my son-in-law, and my three grandchildren all spend 4 or 5 days camping in our tents once a year in August! It is so. Much. Fun!!

I will be doing some cooking this week so that I can bring all sorts of things with me.

I will be pre-cooking: apple-zucchini bread, chocolate chip cookies, gingersnap cookies, an oatmeal chocolate spice cake, Tuscan beans with sage, baked beans, corn bread, a three bean salad. I'll also bring a large piece of salmon to cook over the fire with corn on the cob and small new potatoes, a giant watermelon, apples, berries, and bananas, green salad and various other sundries.

The last night we usually make a succotash and/or a soup with all of our leftovers.

My daughters will also be bringing things to eat so we are in no danger of running out of food!

It is such a joy and a blessing to get this time to spend with my family. We are able to relax and just enjoy one another's company.

🩷

Busy Monday

 

Sweet tea and friends

Walk in love

 t

Fill us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all of our days.

Psalm 90

~ ~ ~

scripture and a snapshot