Mixed Citrus Salad with Escarole

We've been having this salad a lot lately and I thought you might enjoy it too. I wish I could upload a pdf file to Blogger, but I can't so here's the recipe in a jpg. Not nearly as nice, but if you add your email address in your comment, I'll send you the pdf version which will print out all pretty.
Basically it's an escarole salad with any kind of citrus segments, red onion, blue cheese and a vinaigrette dressing. The bitterness of the escarole is perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the fruit and the savoriness of the blue cheese. I usually peel the membranes off the grapefruit and oranges because they look so much prettier, but you probably don't really have to do that. Either way, it's delicious.
Enjoy!

Masses of Wisteria

Our wisteria is now in full bloom and I spent quite a while outside Sunday admiring and photographing it.

I is beautiful in every form from these unopened tips...

to these about-to-open buds...

to this fully opened nectar filled flower.

Surely wisteria is one of my favorite pleasures of spring.

Finally Spring

I think it's finally spring here in California. We've had a cold wet windy season up to now, but yesterday and today are looking perfect: blue blue skies, white puffy clouds, gentle breezes, and green fields. Here is a photo of the wind generators on the Altamont. We drove by them Saturday on our way home from Nova Albion and I was reminded of a certain someone from Arkansas who snapped a photo of them last December. And who just happens to have a birthday today. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to that very special person!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone!
I made a decoration for my front door. I took a hat that was left over from the Tea Party, put some flag-ish ribbon on it, and embellished it with firecrackers! Terrible festive, don't you think?

I just hope no one decides to put a match to them. That would even be louder than my door knocker, which is unbelievably loud.

We hope to go black berry picking today. It's a tradition here Amongst The Oaks. Then we will make a berry cobbler, but don't tell Teen2, she's already mad that she missed the lorikeets, that might send her over the edge.

Almond Blossoms

Right on schedule the almond trees are in full bloom all around our area. My mother always used to say they were blooming for her birthday which was yesterday. Thank you almond trees, for all the birthday bouquets for Mom.

Can Fog Be Pretty?

I'm behind on my pretty things posts, aren't I?

Usually I think of fog as ugly, dirty, cold and depressing, but this photo of fog is rather nice. It was taken early in the morning and the fog was lifting and burning off but still tucked amongst the hills. I guess fog can be pretty.

SNOW!

Hey, check this out. We have snow in Central California! See the blue stuff on the satellite image up above? That's SNOW. In Sacramento and Stockton. I can't remember the last time it snowed here, but it's a big deal. Usually our winter storms come from the south and carry tropical moisture which is always warm, but this storm has collided with a blast of cold from Canada, so it has brought the white stuff down to our valley. What fun.

Teen1 and I first noticed it about 6:40am when we were coming home from the grocery store. I thought the rain was kind of fluffy and sure enough, it was snowflakes. There's one on her coat sleeve.

Here's what our house looked like with a few flakes in the photo. Almost as soon as it appeared, it disappeared, but I'm hoping it comes back and stays a little longer. Snow Amongst The Oaks. Amazing.

Window Pains

When we started remodeling this house way back in the summer of 1997, we knew we wanted traditional building materials to reflect the style of a true English Cottage. So those first four rooms got new double paned, all wood, true divided light casement windows and we loved them. Compared to the old circa 1950 windows that were in the house they were a dream; they cranked in and out effortlessly, they were warm and quiet and they looked beautiful.

In 2001 when we did the "Big Remodel" we simply ordered more of the same type of windows from the same manufacturer and again, we loved their beauty and energy efficiency. And when we did the kitchen remodel we again ordered two more of the same windows to put beside the range.

So now we have seventeen fenestrations plus this interior door filled with these beauties. They have a lot of panes. Lots and lots of panes. Two hundred and thirteen to be exact. Which I am now in the process of washing. Inside and out, so that means four hundred and twenty six panes.

So far I have done about half and I intend to get them finished this afternoon. I like to have clean windows for the holidays, don't you? And with the sun lower in the sky this time of year, I like the way they sparkle. Wishing you sparkly windows too from here Amongst The Oaks.

White Pumpkins

I'm so predictable. I got two little whitish pumpkins and arranged them on some fall leaves on each pedestal. I know, I know, I really need to push myself to try something different now and then, but I'm planning Thanksgiving dinner now so my mind is elsewhere.

We are having the families over as usual, but I think only 17 will be here, so {miracle of miracles!} we get to all sit down and eat together at the same table. It's so much more relaxing that way; I'm actually looking forward to it.

I wish I had time to post more often and put more into these blogs, but juggling a full time job, two teenagers, the house, the bills, the laundry, shopping and cooking leave very little time for blogging. Please just know that I read every comment and enjoy them immensely, and I appreciate all your help and suggestions. And thanks for taking time out of your busy day to visit us here Amongst The Oaks.

First Day of School

Used to be this time of year we were thinking of red plaid skirts, knee socks, Mary Janes, and character lunch boxes, but now it's Pwn3d T-shirts, stud belts, Converse high tops with lime green laces, and {shock!} make up. Where has my little girl gone?

Here's Teen2 this morning just before she rushed off for the first day of school. We've done this thing with the chalkboard every year since they first started school. It's just one of my goofy little traditions. I always wrote their (real) names, grade, school and the date. It's fun to look back on the photos and see how they've grown and changed over the years. I guess we will keep doing it even as they go to college. I just hope that poor old chalkboard lasts a few more years.

Cherry Season

The little town of Linden nearby likes to call itself the Cherry Capital of the World and they grown some fine Bings, but truthfully cherries are grown in lots of towns around the world. We were given some cherries yesterday from our neighbor who got them from a friend out near Linden. It was a mixture of Bings and Raniers. We've never had the Raniers before and they are even larger than the Bings and maybe a little sweeter. Really yummy.

I had fun playing with them yesterday morning. I took some photos to share with you all, then I ate a few.

Then I took some more photos, and ate a few more.

More photos, more eating.

Look, cherries on parade, then more eating.

Oooooo, synchronized swimming, then more eating.

Guess what? My stomach was upset yesterday. I wonder why.

A Milestone

What have I been doing that kept me from blogging yesterday? I've been busy helping prepare for a milestone in Teen1's life.

I've known this day was coming for almost 18 years, but it always seemed like I had plenty of time. And then in the blink of an eye, it was here: my little baby's high school graduation! So we've been making lists, getting announcements and photos, designing invitations, addressing envelopes, and preparing for the big day and all the celebrations that accompany it. There's the senior prom, the Disneyland trip, the commencement, the All Night Party, the Open House, and then the flying off to England for the summer.

I can't believe my little baby is this beautiful young woman now. Where did all the days go? They seem to have just slipped away like water through my fingers. And now here she is ready to step out on her own. I feel like the mommy Phoebe - do you think I should follow her to England and feed her bugs, and keep her safe?

Mother's Day

Teen2, Me, Teen1 in 1997

Teen1 recently asked, "What do you want for Mother's Day, Mommy?" And I pondered the question wondering if I should answer with a politically correct thing like: a big party with my family...or the truth: a quiet day puttering in my garden and someone else to do the cooking.

So what exactly should Mother's Day be? A day to surround yourself with people or a day to sidestep your responsibilities and nurture yourself? It's every mother's dilemma, isn't it? If you say you'd like to be alone, they will be hurt and feel like maybe you don't really love them. If you say you'd like to have a party and invite lots of family, you'll be working on your special day.


Luckily some of my favorite Mommy Moments have been the little daily ones; playing peek-a-boo, teaching them walk and talk, sharing my love of art and nature, meeting up in the afternoon to discuss our days, cooking together, sharing meals, laughing at ourselves. So maybe I have been celebrating Mother's Day in the best possible way all along: just enjoying Teen1 and Teen2 in those little snippets of every day life. So my answer to Teen1's question was the politically correct one: "A lovely day with my family" because after all, there's no need to be greedy, I've already celebrated 6438 wonderful Mother's Days since Teen1 was born.

Rainy Sunday

It's rainy here today but we thought we'd go to the Lodi Street Faire anyway. When we arrived it wasn't raining at all and we enjoyed walking and looking at the antiques and collectibles.

However, it soon started misting, then drizzling, then outright raining, so we headed for the gate.

We stopped by Blockbuster on the way home and got two movies. When we got home we settled in with this and felt much better in no time. Warm wishes to you on this rainy day from Amongst The Oaks.

After The Rain

Rainy Day Views

Paris Redwork

I've been working on the next redwork tea towel and this one is Paris 2001. I've included some sights that impressed me: men playing Petanque, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, the Metro and tulips. I've realized buildings are much harder to embroider than cactus.

First I drew my designs on plain white paper then I traced them onto the tea towels with this magic felt pen. After I finish the sewing, I'll spray cool water onto the towel and the marks will disappear. I love these felt pens.

When I took these photos this morning it was so dark and dreary outside I had to use my full spectrum lamp to get decent photos. It's the fog - it's horrible today. Honestly, I don't know why I stay here in this foggy old valley. Check out my drive to work this morning. It was so foggy I couldn't even see a block ahead! You're supposed to slow down and use your headlights, but some numb skull almost plowed into me as I turned onto a street in front of him, because he didn't have his lights on!

But I did manage to make out See's Candies there on the left. It was good to know I was on the correct street as I felt my way to work Amongst The Oaks.

Winter Surprises

I always prune my roses in January. So last weekend I was out there pruning for hours and I found a few surprises. One was this pink rosebud. Even though the weather has been chilly, here is a rose still putting on buds!



In shady area of my garden mosses are starting to bloom again. Here are some on a stepping stone. I also find moss on the bark of the oak trees, on the roof, and directly on the soil. I like mosses, and often wish I had more.

I found another wonderful surprise in my friend JB's garden on Saturday. Look at those finches gorging on Niger seeds! They were plentiful and almost tame; I want to get one of those feeders. And in my own garden I saw these little birds clinging to the wall eating bugs I guess. I think they are bushtits.

Sometimes winter can seem a little boring. Maybe that's because we are all inside by the fire oblivious to what's happening outdoors. We'd probably be amazed at what's happening if we only got out Amongst The Oaks.