Chinese Classical Garden

Instead of settling into the shorter days of fall and preparing myself mentally for the holidays, here I sit, still finding myself thinking of summer, of growing things, and even weeding.  ohhhhh... I got it bad. 

And so, I hope a little escape to a special garden my husband and I visited this past summer will let me linger a little longer on those sunnier days.

Portland has an authentic Chinese Classical Garden right smack dab in the middle of town.  Built by visiting Chinese architects it is a beautiful inspiration to behold. 

Actually several gardens or rooms make up this garden.  With water a predominate theme, and  precise placement of stone  and plantings. 

Entering the garden was this pergola of classic chinese design.

Our guide explained the precise placement of the rockery so that as you approach different areas of the garden you would see all aspects of each stone.  It was awesome!

I found myself so intrigued by the cement shingles or tile I guess that covered the roofes of the little buildings.  Not a gutter anywhere, to clean!!!  But the rainwater was purposefully directed where the gardener wanted it.  In pools and swales around the garden. 

This closeup is a little blurry but see the the pointed shingles hanging down from this garden room?  Now picture rainwater dripping from  the points.  Everything that happens here is planned and intentional and beautiful.

Even underfoot, mosaic walkways of small stones were meticulously placed.  It took little encouragement for guests to remove their shoes and walk the garden barefoot.  It felt wonderful!

The best part of my visit was when I grabbed my husbands hand, leading him to this authentic chinese tea house in the garden before he could protest.  The tea selection was extensive and as difficult to choose as that new JUST RIGHT perennial.   Each tea was served in it's own unique pot and cup and accompanied with small almond cookies.  Cell phones were not allowed here, and though there were other guests, a respectful peace was observed.  Quiet comtemplation followed as our server refreshed our pots with a second helping of hot water.  The tea house had an open atmosphere and you could sit overlooking the ponds and floating water lillies.  Bliss I tell you, "Bliss". 

  Okay then, Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  God's blessings and thanks for coming along with me on my little trip back to summer.

bfitz

I Can Do It!

I am trying real hard to not to write about the garden, or the compost pile. 

" Can I do it?    We'll see........."

So how about this nifty bench here.

We live an hour from the Oregon coast, and every summer when my sister Cindy comes to visit, we make a little overnight trip to the beach.   It is so fun to see creations like these by beachcombers.  With driftwood, stones, shells even seaweed, people come up with the most clever pieces of artsy stuff.   I already imagine this bench in a garden, oops, okay I'm trying. 

On our last trip Cindy and I arrived at the seaside late in the day.  Hurrying to get the last glimpse of the setting sun, we scurried (it's hard to scurry on sand) down to the waters edge.   It was beautiful!   Cindy insisted on a picture of me sitting on a washed up log.  Would that be considered  driftwood?  Anyway, I was a little concerned about turning my back to the waves lapping the shore, as the warning signs attest to, but Cindy assured me it would be fine "Just one quick shot!" 

"Are we not supposed to trust our older sisters?

She got a good laugh when the ocean (it sneaks up very quickly and quietly) swirled around my feet.   I jumped up running for dry sand.  I'll never learn!!

But, sweet sis that she is.  She spent the next day in my shop putting together her one of kind creation from all the driftwood she collected on our trip. 

Like my new thingamabob?

I especially liked her use of the rusty found objects I love to collect.  At the top a piece of rusty plumbers tape and a nicely  corroded old padlock at the bottom. 

I love my sister!  

"Now can I go back to the garden?"

Blessings,

Bfitz

Special Potroast

SPECIAL POT ROAST

I know, I know, everyone thinks their recipe for Pot roast is sooooo special, but give me a minute and you will see just why this pot roast is the most  "SPECIAL" pot roast of all. 

Right smack in the middle of the pot of goodies, submerged under all those delectable vegetables, is a SIRLOIN BEEF ROAST.   That's kinda special isn't it? No? Well, how about the small RED POTATOES, the peeled whole ONIONS, fresh garden TOMATOES and sprinkling of crisp CELERY.  Not doing it for ya? 

Did I mention the organic BEEF BROTH and the special special MONTEAL STEAK SEASONING ON THE VERY TOP?!

Maybe none of these ingredients seem to make this Pot roast any different or special than any other recipes you have found for this typical american meal. 

But there is one teensy tiny ingredient that makes this one of the most delicious mouth watering recipes I have ever tasted! I ooohhed and ahhhhed over every bite.  After savoring the last bite, I lounged on the sofa pondering all the tasty wonder of it all!

That secret ingredient?

Our 28 year old son, who on a visit, made us this meal, made my day, and what I will always lovingly refer to as the most

"SPECIAL POT ROAST" of all.

Bon Apetit~

bfitz

It's not happening!

This is soooooo disheartening!

You know that wonderful warm all over feeling you get when you light the first fire in the woodstove, and you hear the comforting sounds of that first crackle of the firewood before it ignites into a full flame? 

It's just not happening for me this year.   sigh....

This item has reappeared as our front porch decor for the next several months, and what I really wanna see is a little more of this.

I'm sorry those warm fuzzy toasty feelings are eluding me this year.  Just can't get there, trying, hmmm.....

Please send prayers and warm fuzzy toasty feelings my way.

Please.

While I am waiting for the warm fuzzy toasty feelings let me insert one of my garden "to do's".  Cause my head is stuck here. Okay? 

 From my garden notes , a little sketch of  something I want to experiment with one day(when it's not almost winter). No tilling! These simple topsoil bags plopped right on top of the ground are cut open with holes poked through the bottom for drainage.  They can be reused for several crops of veggies and flowers by refreshing the soil with a few amendments and then planting again. 

But it's almost Winter,

Not Spring,

Not a hint of it.

Yet.

Blessings,

bfitz

The List

It was not in my plans today to putter around in the garden, I even had a list, a pressing list of " to do's", and nope puttering around in the garden was clearly not on the list!  I thought I would just quickly run the kitchen scrap bucket out to the compost pile, "quickly", before tackling "the list".  Scurring along the path, there they were, just hanging there, crying out'

" Pleeeeeease pick me! "

This is not normal, raspberries this late in summer?  Okay, I must pick these immediately before they are history. 

Pop two in bucket, two in mouth, repeat....

Ooooooooooooohhhhh....   The cool nights have made these gems sweeter than ever. yum.

A perfect moment, except my friends Howard and Henry by their patient murmurings over the fence, beg me to share. 

Raspberry leaves are their delight. I guess it really was a late summer treat that was meant to be shared.

And only after my other companion got his share.  That dadgum pooch loves raspberries too!

" I don't care how cute you are sitting there Gus!" 

Repeat with me, "Two in the bucket, two in the mouth".

Yeah yeah, the list , right?

The basil cryed out,

"Pleeeeeease pick me! "   

Okay thats it!  Bye bye list... 

This calls for some serious tea time to contemplate the evils of list making.

In my teapot

Red Rooibus, nettle leaf, slice of fresh ginger.

Blessings,

Bfitz

Before and after

If you haven't had enough already here i go again talking dirty again!  Compost that is, i love that dadgum dirt!  Here is a little before and after photo for your perusal.   I am currently building the pile in the middle layer by layer. Its's about hip high now so iv'e placed some downed limbs on top to add a little air space and i will just keep on layering till it's about double in size.  The left pile gets most of the kitchen scraps to feed those precious earthworms, this pile will be ready for next spring applications.   The far right one i have been using all summer to mulch gardens and feed that middle pile when needed. 

Oh, that chair?

 Well the chair is the most important element.  Nothing like sitting there watering the compost piles for a completely mindless moment, er, i mean hour.  

Did i tell you i was queen of the hill? 

Okay, it's a compost hill, but me and my pitchfork are ready to defend against all foes uh huh.  This is a before picture taken last summer of the pile that is almost gone in the previous photo.  You can be queen too!

blessings!

bfitz

The Love Bank

Another Memorial Day has arrived, and "sigh" these beautiful late summer days are fading fast.  Hub worked this holiday as usual.  The company he works for shuts down for a few days, giving most employees a mini vacation except the maintenance guys (my hub is one) stay on to maintenance the machines.  Soooooo.... I mowed the lawn for dear hub, making a deposit in the ol' Love Bank.

And sooooo...looky here!

 I know,  can't help it,  all my posts are just a few degrees from compost, but isn't she a beauty in the making?!!!!   What to do with all the compost? Hmmmmm....... 

 Borders my friend, that little space between lawn and garden, the line every agressive lawn likes to cross.  I put a nice layer of newspaper here, topped it  with nicely rotting straw from the goat barn (nice goaties) and then..........

Finished it off with a nice layer of compost to hold it all in place.  Oh... the earthy wormy glory of it all!  

Ohhhhh. the sore achy back!   Ah, I think it's time to stop now and mosy on over here to enjoy the smells of summer........ And,

....... enjoy some of these beauties while I think about the withdrawal I will soon be taking out of the Ol' Love Bank! 

Blessings,

bfitz

How Sweet it Is!

HOW SWEET IT IS!

A VOLUNTEER BEEHIVE!

Hub decides he is through with beekeeping, too many stings, but a MIghty Queen and her troops have discovered an old hive we had up in our barn loft.   Even the Hub is loving this, so he moved the hive close to the loft door to make it a little easier for the girls and allow us to do lofty things without upsetting the hive.  And ooooooooh how we love the honey, lotsa of flowering woodsy plants, plenty of blackberry, the honey is so rich and fruity mmmm..........

Did I mention Tea?

Hub salivates at the thoughts of homemade bread with honey,  cornbread with honey,  biscuits with honey,  yogurt with honey, coffee with honey,  and honey with, well, just honey.  Whats a few stings, huh?  Do I need to talk childbirth again!?  Look there are rewards for the pain!   Hub, keep thinkin about that delicious dark golden honey, that's it, mmmm....... okay then how about a little honey for my tea. Yes, indeed.  Here is some raspberry leaf i dried, a pinch of this is good for us girls, "why?"  Oh just google it K?  Some how I am a girlfriend to myself when I throw a pinch into the teapot

In my little teapot short and stout, I am enjoying 2 pinches white tea leaf, 1 pinch red raspberry leaf, and a 1/2 pinch licorice root (to sweeten) till the honey flows God willing. 

From my cottage porch, good day, and God's richest blessings!

Love,

bfitz

Mission Field Designs

With out the help and encouragement of my daughter Ali, i would not have found my way to the homestead family.  you may have noticed the button on my blog on the right side bar, Mission Field Designs, she is my go to gal for everything regarding my blog here.  thankfully, God has blessed her with hidden talents i never could have imagined.  a busy wife and homeschooling mom, she has been a blessing to so many others needing help with their blog/websites on a donation basis which helps supplement their family's income.  thank you and God bless you my dear daughter.

These Two Things

It's a jungle here on the homestead.  This past week the temperatures have been hitting 90+ degrees.  The humidity is high too here in the woods and the weeds have shot up.  I am taking a breather as i have done frequently today.  a little burst of energy and then i take refuge here in the house, kicking off my shoes, propping my dirty feet up and cooling down so i can hit it again.  Two things brought me smiles though.  I did a succession planting of buckwheat in our vegetable garden today and instead of raking it in which usually does not come up very uniform for me, i dragged a little skid of plywood behind me that was carrying two good size paving stones. it pressed the seed in nicely and smoothed it out too.  i will remember that one and then as i was putting away the skid in the garden shed, i heard the familiar squeak of a mouse, i spied it up in an eave in plain sight, it's nest made of soft yellow lab fur from when i groomed out Gus' winter coat.  Vermin, i know! but it was so cute sitting up on that ledge squeaking a warning not to come closer and i could see the morning light through it's dainty transluscent ears.  well, back to the weeding! 

blessings,

b

Interesting! but what is it?

Greetings ya'll, i have emerged from quite a lengthy retreat from blogging.  The ash bucket was my last entry 4 long months ago and it has been tucked away in the garden shed.  Spring has run head long into summer on our little homestead and i am feeling a bit renewed, and eager to share the happenings here at Panther Creek Cottage.   You may know exactly what this is that is featured here in my picture.   Like many country folk, dragging garden hoses here and yon are a daily summer ritual.  I have crushed many perenials trying to negotiate corners of our property.  Hoseguides were the solution, but the ones at Lowe's lacked the character and proper color of rust to suit me.  Scrounging in the barn i discoverd several old trailer hitches.  With my husbands experience with welding (bless those skills!) we produced some one of a kind hoseguides!  This one stands a little higher than the rest  because it is located at the bottom of some steps.  Yeah! no more smashed flowers.   Now the kinks in the garden hose are my new pet peeve.  I hope your summer is blessed and gloriously long.

B

Ye Ol Ash Bucket

Down by the woodshed

DOWN BY THE WOODSHED

here a most valuable tool pressed into service each fall.  i was thinking how often over the years my husband has replaced ax handles.  and of course they just don't make them like they used to.   even a good ol hickory handle will crack and break after a few years of steady use.  this was one of those years and it is one of those tasks i have never really paid attention to as to how one replaces a handle.  so my husband gave me a little demo, cause i always wondered how the heavy steel head stayed secure on the end of the handle.  am i the only one who feared a flying chunk of steel would go flying off the end of that ax handle and kill someone!???  once i learned the procedure my fears are at rest from flying ax heads.  the brand new hickory handle has a split in the top end that fits into the hole in the ax head, then a small wood wedge that comes with your new handle is placed in the split and hammered down spreading the end out and firmly securing it in the ax head.  it was neat to see how  quickly an ax handle is replaced and woodchopping resumed.  but i see that  crocus' are blooming,  daffodils are beginning to emerge and splitting wood will soon give way to garden chores.  people seem more lighthearted almost joyful with the unusually warm sunny weather we are having.  but not all as i found out when i greeted a gentleman who when i said "how are you?" replied, terrible!! he was gassing up his rig that had a beautiful boat hitched up to it. i guess those gas prices make it a little hard to enjoy those luxuries that require ample fuel.  these leaner days certainly have most of us homesteaders relying on those skills we value most and don't you just feel good knowing you can make do with less? the Lord truly does supply all our needs.

blessings,

bfitz

Baby it's cold outside.

Perhaps oregon can't claim being the coldest as the rainiest, but the northern cold front has made it's way to our little cottage.  We have kept our water taps running a smidge and keep a light on in the pump house.  Our goaties are closed in the barn at night with a nice manure pack under the straw to generate some heat and keep them warm as well as their water bucket from freezing.  Gus our lab sleeps close by the goat pen on his bed with a heater board underneath.  I find that as cozy and warm as our down comforter keeps us at night, my poor head freezes.  Hence, ma in her cap scenario again, (sorry hubby) warmth trumps attractive.  but the cold snap has brought blue skies that are  so welcoming and always a side bar to every conversation while it lasts.  Returning from a trip to town I found my package from Penney's on the porch. Yeah!, our new flannel sheets have arrived! 

Blessings always,

bfitz

Grandkids and goatie

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas homesteaders, and a blessed New Year too all!

The homesteadbloggers are an industrious bunch, with many traditions being celebrated and heaps of holiday cookies and other goodies prepared as families gather to commemorate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  As I was reading along I imagined how wonderful it would be to turn the latch on each door entering into homes filled with the aroma of holiday treats, crackling fires and laughter and warm embraces.  The homestead spirit is an especially blessed one this time of year and how gracious of our Lord to give us peace to live simply with quiet and thankful hearts.  Praise Him. 

What can I share?  This great snack mix makes a wonderful gift when given in a tin or decorative jar.  And in the spirit of simplicity.......

SWEET AND SALTY SNACK MIX

2 large pkg. white chocolate chips

3T. vegetable oil

1 large pkg. M&M's ( red and green for Christmas)

1-10 oz. pkg. small pretzels

2 cups salted peanuts

5 cups Cheerios

5 cups Rice Chex

Melt chocolate chips and oil in the microwave, stirring often until smooth.  Mix the rest of the ingredients in large bowl.  Pour melted chocolate chips over mixture and stir to coat.  Spread out onto a wax paper covered counter.  Let set up, break apart and it's ready to go.  Makes 8 quarts.

The grandkidlets displaying ornaments they made in our annual grandma's Christmas workshop.  In the new year I would like to share about this wonderful little studio my dear husband built for me in what used to be our llama barn.  Blessings, bfitz

Black Walnuts

Is harvest time over?  Here it is almost Christmas and I have black walnuts drying.  I have always heard they are close to impossible to crack so I usually let the squirrels gather them.  Amazingly enough you will find halved shells lying all around the tree.  The grandkids find them and call them pig noses, and if you follow the familiar grinding sound you can spot the industrious squirrels up on limbs cracking those nuts.  But how am I to do it?  Any suggestions?   I thought maybe a hammer, but I am afraid I might ruin the nut inside. 

Driving home along one of my favorite routes, a graveled way through neighboring farmers fields, I spotted a tree among the hedgerows of mostly hawthorn and rugosas.  I am thinking it was a crabapple, but I can't be certain because I have never really seen one formally.  I stopped however because it was pretty full of  extra small dangling golden fruit.  I bit into one, and it was bittertart , if thats a word.  I thought wow this would make wonderful jelly so I picked about 5lbs.  Was it ever!   A beautiful amber jelly with just the right combination of sweet and tart.  I thought this would make lovely gifts for the holidays.  Then I got up the guts to knock on the door of little farm not far from the road who had a row of those orange pumpkin leaf bags stuffed full lining the drive.   But they weren't home.   I left a note offering to dispose of them if they would like, and mentioned that I was in need of mulch for the garden.  Truly, we have mostly fir trees and very little deciduous trees.  Leaf mold is a fantastic winterizer for garden beds, keeping weeds and grasses supressed,  and of course it's also great for the compost pile.   I haven't recieved a response yet but I will get a jump on this great idea next year for sure.  Dear homesteaders, God has blessed us with some awesome sunny weather which has lifted spirits immensely following the storm and flooding last week.  Many are still dealing with the destruction of homes, barns and livestock.  Please offer a prayer these kindred folk. 

Blessings always,

bfitz

My small pile of black walnuts, outer husks still intact.  The inner lining is mushy and very black making the walnut itself very black too.

The passing storm

The storm has passed.  A real gully washer!  Panther creek overflowed it's banks and became a river, brown and muddy carrying limbs and bits of debris.  Today we have normal rain, and the coastal winds didn't affect us this time.  My husband came home from work early fearing he would not make it through.  Later roads were closed due to high water so I was glad he was home.  The barn began to accumulate water.  I moved some alfalfa that was beginning to get wet (too expensive to lose), and trenched out some behind the barn to keep water moving away, but the goaties were dry on their deep bedding happily munching away. Hubby and I decided to take an afternoon nap, snuggled and listened to the rain on our little cottage roof.  I later wrapped Christmas presents for the grandchildren, and served up goolash for dinner.  Why is it so delicious the second day? 

I was blessed to recieve a devotional forwarded to me by my daughterAli on the high calling of motherhood from "Above Rubies" by Nancy Campbell.  For those homesteaders raising little ones these words of wisdom are filled with God's assurances and encourage one to just hang tough.

Blessings

B

Love and Togetherness

Thanksgiving was a beautiful day here in our neck of the woods.  Crisp fall day with sunny skies.  Family gathered and much turkey with all the trimmings was heartily enjoyed by all but, oooooohhhhh... leftovers the last two days have me thinking I need to take in some serious hiking.  My youngest daughter Katie made the pumpkin cake recipe recommended by Marilyn Moll of the Urban Homemaker and it was superb and a nice change from the traditional pumpkin pie.  With our children grown, my husband and I enjoy preparing the feast together.  It's amazing what clever ideas the menfolk can come up with in the kitchen.  His method of making deviled eggs was really interesting and of course he loved explaining why his method works best!  Our son Joah came early thus  peeling the potatoes became his job, now two men in the kitchen!  I loved it!!!   I thought of all the love and togetherness occuring in countless homes across our country and what it means to hearts young and old.  God bless you all dear homesteaders, God bless you all.

Thankful Heart

Like ya'll, I have been preparing at least mentally, my list of "to do's"  before the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Our little cottage is quite small and planning as to food prep, seating, where to put those coats!, etc. takes a lot more brain power than in days of yore.  But thanksgiving always gets me motivated to jump in and get organized thus allowing more time just to enjoy and take in the Holiday Season.  I have been particularly blessed this year with my introduction to Homesteadblogger.com  by my daughter Ali, who posts on Homeschoolblogger.com.  She is such an  inspiration to me and of course I am very proud of my girl.  Thank you to those who have blessed me with your encouraging words.  With all the wickedness that pervades the internet, God has used this same modem to connect  His people in ways we never could have imagined, all to His glory, and proclaims His goodness to us.  Praise God.  My Heart is truly grateful. 

In my last post I pondered the humble clothes line and was happy to hear that I am not alone as many of you have the same feelings.  A post by Marilyn Moll,  also shared thoughts on the subject too.  Her entry was very imformative too on the benefits of 'linedrying"  And may I add that everyone must know the pleasure at least once of drying off from bathing with a freshly line dryed towel.  My friends, not only is the absorption ten fold, but you get the great little bonus of gentle back scratch.  Oh the joy!

Blessings,

Bfitz                                 "where all the little orphan pumpkins go"

Right to Dry

Tell me.  Is anyone offended by the humble clothes line? I mean does not this traditional mode of 'doin laundry' evoke memories of yesteryear for many of us?  In the quickly growing central Oregon town of Bend it seems that 'doin laundry' the old fashioned way may mean being sued.  You see as more and more association governed communties spring up across the country, the rules in which they adhere to seem to becoming more stringent and absurd.  For those who believe a clothes line is unsightly remember your neighbor is being a conscientious consumer by conserving energy.  Doesn't that benefit the community?  I have admiration for those who line dry.  I personally know the time and effort it takes to task.  Perturbed neighbor here is an opportunity for you to get to know who those folks are in your neighborhood.  Are there oshkosh bgoshes hanging on the line?(children are present).  Diapers? ( babes, and enviromentally conscious mom).  Overalls ?(hardworking folks).   Now that you know a little about your neighbors, take over some home baked cookies and a "howdy' and get to know the ones who wear those clothes you've seen drying on the line.  A little more appreciation for this time honored tradition of 'doin laundry' benefits the whole in so many ways.  It's all about how you choose to look at it.

Blessings! And may your laundry be bright, white and hang proudly on the line.

B