When it Rains......Play in the Kitchen

We woke to a gentle rain, which means the seeds are getting the moisture they need to do their thing.  Although we had plans to get the new flowers in the ground there is always something else to do inside.  For me, bake brownies and put up some strawberry rhubarb jam.  That time of the season and one more full circle for rhubarb and strawberries.  I bought a nice batch of berries just for the jam.  Once all the "stuff" is done in the kitchen it will be off to the cabin to hang the hardware for the slide door.  I really can't call it a barn door since it doesn't look like one, it only slides like a barn door.  My order from Amazon (do I love Amazon, yes I do!) arrived.  The door has 3 windows in it which means no privacy for the bathroom and bedroom.  Can't have that so I am going to put a static cling on the windows.  It is called cotton wood and has a floral design on it.  Hoping we like it and it looks good. 

About the cabin............for some reason I am thinking more along the line of a "play house" for girls.  Every color and design I have decided on (with the hubs approval of course) leads me to believe I am filling a little girls dream.  A play house seems to be popping up daily or nightly.  Nights are a great time to figure out what is next and new ideas.  Even the lawn and flower beds have been thought and rehashed many times.  As I quietly set on the porch it is with a vision on the finished look.  If it turns out like my dreams it will be a quiet, pleasant and soothing place to be.  Even the little chipmunks will add to the time well spent relaxing on the porch.  A picnic table is being moved over this weekend, a fresh coat of paint and a little design added should make it doable.  Time is a ticking as the saying goes and with every tick another accomplishment and two more wants are added. 

The previous blog I mentioned about the "last dance".  It doesn't mean an actual last dance because there are lots of lasts in my memory that I call the last dance. Such as the last words with a loved one, the last time my kids sat on my lap, kissed goodnight, kissed an ouchy, the last time they walked out of our house to pursue their adult life.  The last time I sat quietly looking out over the ocean, viewed the snow capped mountains or looked across the desert.  The last ride on our motorcycle or camping in the tent.  The last time I walked out of OVHS on my graduation night.  Life is full of last times, I  never looked at it that way  until a few days ago.  Along with the last dance is also the first dance of many happenings.  They are always fun, exciting and quite often unexpected.  After all there can not be a last without the first.  Life is good that way.   We can be thankful there are some "last dances" that we are not aware of until the dance is over.  Let there be many firsts and lasts down the path of life for everyone!

The day is near the end, the rain has moved on and the sun is shining off the green, green grass of home.  The hills are in full foliage and the  grass in the fields is tall enough to blow gently with the evening breeze.  Take a deep breath and think of what a wonderful day was given.  The only sounds are a few birds chirping and the beautiful sound of ping, ping, ping.  That makes me smile because all 8 pints of strawberry/rhubarb jam has sealed.  Off to the basement shelves until late fall and early winter.  Then with a warm buttered slice of Salt Rising toast it will be a memory of the rainy, spring day it was canned.  Lucky there is a half pint left for tasting.  The man of the house thinks buttermilk biscuits are needed for breakfast.  I agree! 

Strawberry/Rhubarb Jam Recipe:
2 cups crushed fresh strawberries
1-3/4 cups thin sliced fresh rhubarb
1/2 tsp. butter
6-1/2 cups white sugar
1 pouch of certo
In a large pot add fruit, sugar and butter.  Bring to a rolling boil and boil for 5 minutes.
Add certo and boil 1 minute. 
Fill clean warm jelly jars, seal with lids and rings that have been in hot water, do not let the water boil.
Seal and put in a water bath for 10 minutes, remove and let cool.  This is when you should hear the pings as each lid cools and seals.

A beautiful color, unfortunately the fruit sets on top but no worry, just stir the jam when
we open it and all is mixed and tasty.

My favorite chocolate brownie recipe:
2 sticks of butter, not the fake stuff.
2 cups of sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup of flour
1 cup of walnuts or pecans if you want them.
In a medium size sauce pan melt the butter, remove from heat and add sugar, cool slightly and beat in the eggs one at a time.  Add vanilla and stir in flour and salt.  Next stir in the walnuts.  Bake at 350 degrees in a 9x13 greased baking pan for 25-30 minutes.  I don't frost these brownies, they are so moist and chocolaty they don't need anything but a cold class of milk or hot cup of coffee. Enjoy!

The evening snack.