Well Hello Lucifer

It's been a long time Lucifer, a year to be exact.  Lucifer is the name of a flower given to me by a friend.  Almost 20 years ago!  Every summer I keep watch for the first signs of buds.  Now they are in full bloom and just as vibrant as past years.  They reseed themselves and so far have never failed to produce a lot of plants.  I am going to harvest some seeds and start them in the green house next spring.  My phlox are also in full bloom, they are a florescent pink.  They have been with us for 15 years.  Sure doesn't seem like that many years but like they say, time flies when your having fun.

Lucifer

Five petals, the true Phlox.

Speaking of fun, or not.  A very large snake is hanging out by our bridge.  I threw a bucket  to scare it away because I don't dare kill them.  Way too close for me!  Tonight while mowing the lawn I was watching for it and there it was, slithering away at a snails pace.  I asked the husband, you want to know how big it is, well I will tell you.  It is so big it doesn't even try to move fast!!!  I am beyond "pissed off" that I am the only one that sees it when someone else walks by that end of the bridge at least 6 times a day.  Why?  Why am I the only one that sees snakes????  I have lost track of how many this summer.   My eyes are darting all around when I am outside.  This does not make for a relaxing, enjoy the great outdoors for me.  Another reason I LOVE WINTER!

Today was canning the last of the carrots and pickling beets.  Check those off the to do list!  Tomorrow more peas to be picked and check the green beans.  After those two end we will get a few weeks rest until the sweet corn is ready.  Then I will buy bushels of tomatoes, peaches and pears.  I love seeing the shelves filled with beautiful colors of canned food.  Is it cheaper than just buying canned goods?  No, but I love watching the garden grow and then canning plus knowing who touched my food and where it came from.  If I could raise a beef cow and pigs to butcher I would.  We have an empty barn, plenty of pasture and the time........but......once I look in their eyes I know it would never be possible to eat them.  So, I will buy the meat and never have to remember them as alive with big beautiful eyes.

I had some sour cream that was close to outdated.  By the way, it is already sour.....how do you know if it is not good?  Not a clue.  Almost a full cup for the soft sugar cookie recipe of Eleanor Stavisky's.   To make the full cup I topped it off with some buttermilk.  All buttermilks are not the same.  What is in our local stores is a low fat.  Not the same results for baking and dressings.  Wegmans and sometimes Walmart have the gourmet buttermilk which is full fat, the real deal and so thick.  Very seldom do I not have buttermilk in the frig.  I use it for cookies, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and dip whatever I am deep frying in it.  Buttermilk makes fried foods very crisp and the end product is not as greasy.  No idea why but it works!  Ok, back to the cookies.  Some were traditional round with a sprinkle of sugar on before baked and some were filled sugar cookies with dates and walnuts cooked with a little water, butter and flour for thickening.  Top it off with a quarter tsp of almond flavoring.  The recipe makes about 30 cookies which go to the freezer for us and company when I need a treat in a hurry.  This week I will be baking molasses cookies.  Trying something I have never done, a filled molasses cookie.  They will be filled with apple and walnut filling.  Might be a good thing considering the cookie dough has cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.  All the seasoning that go good with apples. 

It sure feels like the Millport Fair weather.  Hot sunny days with big fluffy clouds floating along.  Just enough to add a little reprieve from the sun being so hot.  Sad but this is probably the first year any of us can remember not having the fair.  The place looks rather sad and lonely when we drive by.  Normally there would be the fair committees sprucing up the building and mowing the grass.  Not to be.  I can never remember not going to the fair.  My favorite things were the horses, the vegetable and flower building, canned goods and anything that pertained to material, yarn, thread and painting.  There was always a choice few entries that were amazing to see and know that a young girl or older woman had created the beauty.  For the food, candied apples, cotton candy and lemonade.  Then there was always a chance to see some old friends or people that have moved away, good times at the Millport/Potter County Fair.  If you are from here do you know one of our teachers started the fair?  Flossie Shields, little did she know at the time the wonderful thing she started would still be
giving to our community.   Hoping for next year and if it is a go and your in the area stop in at the Historical Building on the fair grounds and read about our history.  The pictures and exhibits are very enjoyable.

Remember, Pass it On.  What ever it is.