The 4 Seasons

 Part 1

Living in NW Pennsylvania, Potter County and our little township of Clara, the 4 seasons rule what is going on at Cook'n by the Creek.  We all have our favorite time of the year.  I am not sure I can really pick just one.  They all bring a special happening to me.  

Fall, the beauty of the hills, hunting, cold nights, crisp blue sky days and all the beautiful root vegetables, squash, cabbage and pumpkins.  A hot cup of coffee watching out the window first thing in the morning.  Day light is getting less which means a time to  get ready for winter.  Take care of lawn furniture, put the flower beds to sleep and rake leaves.  Side by Side rides around the dirt roads of Clara and Hebron Townships.  At least once a day Ellie and I go for the rides.  She is my faithful watch dog that makes sure nothing gets in her territory!

With the cooler days come my knitting projects.  Summer is too uncomfortable to have a knitting project on my lap.  Last spring I started a Nordic sweater from Icelandic wool.  I had knit 3 grandsons sweaters first.  They wear them all winter long, working outside and hunting.  They can wear wool comfortably, me, absolutely not.  It feels like a thousand pins sticking me.  So, why am I knitting me one?  They are the best to wear out on a cold winter's day.  I wear a turtle neck under it, that way the wool does not touch me.  With a Nordic sweater made from Icelandic wool it serves its purpose.  Light weight, not bulky and easy to more around in on my winter hikes and snow shoeing.  Plus it is excellent for wicking the wetness away

Fall also brings baking, cookies, banana bread, date and nut bread, orange cranberry bread for the freezer.   Of course cinnamon rolls for my friends that appreciate them.  Sourdough survival, from bread to bagels.  This year I hope to master English Muffins and focaccia.  That will be another post on my granddaughter-in-law.  I taught her sourdough and she has taken it above and beyond.

Speaking of food and fall, let's not forget the most famous season of all,  hunting!  With that brings fresh venison for the freezer.  Pickled heart and tongue.  I know, most of you are thinking, no way.  As a farm girl I was brought up on beef heart, liver and tongue.  A couple of my kids and grand kids enjoy them too.  A friend gave me beef heart and liver from a beef cow that was butchered.  The heart is in jars with onion, garlic and pickling spices just waiting for next week when it will be ready.  Comfort food from my young farm life.

Fall is also a time to travel.  North Carolina to visit the Bryant kids, relax and of course go to their beach place to snoop around Southport, thrift stores, cafes and maybe visit family at Myrtle Beach for a day. 

We are creatures of habit, some things never change, some things do.  Like it or not, make the best of what you have and how your life goes on.  Remember, always Pass it On.  That one or more things you can teach others, young or old is something that can never be taken away.

                          One of 4 Nordic sweaters.   Soon to be 6 as this is my winter peace time. 

When my granddaughter stayed Potter County Fair week she learned to measure and bake cupcakes and cookies for her fair entry.  The smile says it all.  This is a "Pass it On" day.

Thank you for reaching out to tell me how pleased you are to see Cook'n by the Creek back at it.  I forgot how much I enjoy it.
 

Best You Can Buy?

 Sometimes the best you can buy is not always what you need.  Through the years I have had many so called hobbies that required buying "stuff" to be able to do it.  The first thing I remember being taught was quilling, not to be confused with quilting.  Walking through Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, WV I was amazed at one of the artisians quilling.  I watched her for quite a while, she then asked if I would like to try.  Of course, always up to learn something new.  She instructed me most of the afternoon.  When it was time to close up she asked my address to send me the quilling tool I would need and some quilling paper.  She said, don't buy the fancy tool, just a waste of money.  A week later the package arrived and there was the tool she made from a small dowel rod and a sewing needle that she filed the top so it was an open eye.  My point, no pun intended, is I was able to accomplish the same outcome with not the best I could buy.

The same goes for knitting.  Scissors, yarn and knitting needles are all you need.  Those markers I make from a different colored yarn to mark a change in the row.   Machine sewing, yes you need a sewing machine.  I have been sewing since I was about 12, never has my machine cost more than $100.+ tax.  It goes forward, backward, stitch adjustment, winds a bobbin and serves me just fine.  A couple of the best seamstress I knew used an old machine and one even a treadle sewing machine.  My mom and the other Marie Brown Stout.  They made everything with their not the best and far from fancy sewing machines.  

How about in the kitchen?  Yes, I have a nice mixer, blender, toaster, electric griddle, waffle iron, pizzelle iron, microwave, pressure cooker and coffee pot.  Could I do the same without all of them?  Of course.  Do I want to? No.  These I will call my necessities. Hobbies are just that although hobbies really are my necessity in maintaining my crazy wandering mind!  Keep the hands and mind busy.

When getting ready to learn a new hobby try using just the necessities to learn.  If it is something you find really is important then by all means get the equipment that will give you a calm and make it easier.  That is what a hobby or craft is meant to do, relax you and let your mind enjoy what you are doing.  If it doesn't and ends up more frustrating than fun then leave it as a lesson in something you don't want to do.  I will say throwing mud for pottery did just that to me.  I was seriously ready to throw the mud and not on the wheel.  Never have I had something I was trying to learn leave me with such tension.  6 lessons and good bye, let someone that enjoys it make those beautiful clay creations I love to look at and buy 😛  

Best doesn't have to be the most expensive. Google the reviews and decide what suits your needs.  I love google, it has saved me so much time and money reviewing items and even with sewing and knitting patterns.  I can gripe about the internet but seriously it has more +'s than -"s for me.

Tonight was perogie night.  The filling was different than the usual as I added chopped smoked ham, green onions, a mixture of Italian cheeses, cheddar cheese, garlic along with butter, salt and pepper to the potatoes.  The were so tender and fluffy!  The different will be from now on. Just caramelize the onions and garlic in butter to pour over.  Fresh broccoli and that was a meal.