The Underside of the Tapestry

We all know that life brings each of us seasons.  Seasons of plenty, seasons of lack, seasons of joy, seasons of pain...

I'm a "big picture" kind of person and it helps me a lot to keep things in perspective if I have a good picture in my mind of what's really happening.

When life brings me one of those times when things just aren't the way they "should" be, I remember that I'm not home yet in heaven.  From our viewpoint here on earth, it's like the underside of a tapestry.  We get glimpses but only the Master Weaver can see clearly what's being woven on His side.

I sometimes wonder what good could possibly come from a particular trouble I'm going through.  That's when I remember the knots and frays that are all over the underside of an embroidery.  Perspective is everything and sometimes you just have to trust that God knows what He's doing.

A wonderful christian writer popularized this.  Her name was Corrie Ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place.  She published this poem of unknown origin.  I hope this helps you as it has helped me.

My Life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.

Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.

Fresh Basil Pesto

We grow lots of Italian Basil in our garden every summer. Usually it reached "hedge" status by mid-August and we have a "Pesto Party" with a dozen or so friends to make loads of pesto for the coming winter.

This year our basil was adversely affected by the cold summer weather and we didn't harvest much.  We had enough for a few batches, though.  Here's our tried and true pesto recipe.

Start with 1 cup of fresh basil and 1 cup of fresh parsley.  Put these herbs in a food processor with 4-6 garlic cloves, 1/2 cup Romano cheese, 1/3 cup walnuts, and 1/4+ cup quality olive oil.

Process all ingredients until a thick paste forms.  I spread my pesto on a long sheet of wax paper, roll and wrap to form a
"log" like this:

Then I wrap that log in a long sheet of plastic wrap to keep it fresh in the freezer.

When I want to use some I just peel back the plastic wrap and cut through the wax paper. Approximately 2 inches of this pesto log will season a pound of cooked pasta, tortellini, ravioli... We add more olive oil to the thawed pesto as needed.

If you have a large food processor, 11 cups or more, you can double this recipe and make 2 logs at once.

This pesto can be mixed with cheese for a 16 inch pizza.  Just top it with fresh tomatoes or roasted red peppers for a fantastic meal.  It is a great addition to bechamel sauce for meat and fish dishes.

Here's link to an interesting Food Network page if you're a pesto lover:

50 Things to Make With Pesto

Tony's Fiesta Saute

My husband Tony is an excellent cook.  He can take ordinary ingredients and make a beautiful and delicious dish!  Here's another of his creations.  By the way, most of these ingredients came from our local farmer's market.

Start by chopping 6 or 7 garlic cloves and a jalapeno pepper, if you like some heat.  In a heavy-bottomed skillet heat 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil and add the garlic and jalapeno. When the garlic is nicely golden brown, start adding...

3 thinly sliced carrots

some chopped red cabbage, a red bell pepper, a few golden fingerling potatoes, a few mushrooms,

and 3 ears of fresh corn cut off the cob.

Saute at medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are all cooked through but firm.

Add a generous amount of kosher salt and coarse ground pepper.

Tony finished this with some chopped fresh parsley and basil from our garden.



You could add other garden vegetables you like, or some black beans, and serve with rice or pasta.

Isn't this a beautiful dish??

Hanging Clothes On The Line

My childhood memories are filled with clothesline images - my mother hanging clothes, putting my dad's work trousers on stretchers so they dried with the right shape, running outside to get the clothes off the line when it started to rain, mowing the lawn under the sheets on the line...

I still remember the smell of getting into my small bed with fresh sheets and blankets dried in the sun, the clothespin bag my mother kept near the back door made to look like a woman's apron, and the time my mother had to rewash my quilt because she said "A dirty bird did something on it!"

My sister tells a funny clothesline story about my 2 brothers. Vince, probably 16 at the time, once used my mother's clothesline to hogtie Dave, 4 years his junior.  Then he wrapped the line around and around the dining room table, tying knots as he went along, then out the front door to the telephone pole before winding it back inside.  After he was done he went away with his friends, leaving Dave lying on his stomach, hands and feet hopelessly bound, unable to free himself.  My sister arrived home and found her captive youngest brother begging her to cut the rope to which she replied, "I can't, it's mom's good clothesline!"  My mother was so committed to hanging clothes that she would take her "good" line inside after every use to protect it from the elements.  My sister slowly untied the knots and freed my brother while saving the clothesline.

I've lived in 4 different homes since I married Tony and I've always found a way to hang a clothesline outside somewhere, even if it meant wrapping it around trees or porch railings. Currently I use a retractable line that goes from my porch to the garage.  I also have 2 lines strung in my laundry room so I can hang clothes winter and summer.

My boys asked me one time when they were in elementary school, "Why can't we just put clothes in the dryer like everybody else?" as we were lugging heavy basket after basket of clothes out to the yard to hang.  I don't remember what my answer was, but I guess it's just in my blood.

Tony's Fresh Tomato Sauce

Here's another staple in our house from my dear husband. Our tomatoes are ripening by the minute outside.  He loves to freeze many quarts of this lovely tomato sauce for the winter.

Like all good Italian recipes, he starts with lots of fresh garlic, chopped.  For this many Roma tomatoes he uses 6-8 cloves of garlic.

He chops the tomatoes and browns the garlic in a "nice amount" of olive oil on medium high heat.  You can add a chopped jalapeno pepper with the garlic if you like more heat.

He chops some fresh basil and oregano from the garden.  When the garlic is nicely browned add the tomatoes and herbs and lowers the heat.  Add a generous amount of kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper.  Tony says to "fight the urge to stir the tomatoes" otherwise the skins will  separate and you'll have an unappetizing pan of tomatoes with the skins floating on top.  He simmers the sauce for about an hour until most of the water reduces and the sauce is thick with chunky tomato pieces.  Just touch the tomatoes with your cooking spoon, don't stir!!

This can be served with melted feta and grated Romano cheese over pasta, ravioli, tortellini, etc.  I just had some of his sauce over zucchini noodles, "zoodles" as they're called.  It was luscious!

Is Your Glass Half Full?

Are you the kind of person who tries to see the bright side of even the darkest of situations?  Do you look for positive attributes in people before you focus on the shortcomings?  When life throws you lemons, do you make lemonade??  Then your proverbial glass is half full!

I think we need more "glass half full" people in this crazy and scary world we live in.  I wear my optimist badge proudly and try my best to influence those around me positively.  I've even been compared to a little bluebird sitting on someone's shoulder whistling a happy tune:)

A while ago my husband was going through a particularly difficult work situation.  It was relentless, stressful, and didn't show any sign of ever changing.  I took this photo, framed it, and presented it to him as a gift for his office.  He took one look at it and asked me why I gave him a picture of a half empty glass of juice!  I knew I had my work cut out for me.

We put this photo on a shelf where he would see it every time he lifted his eyes up from his desk.  I also wrote him lots of notes of encouragement to combat the darkness that was swirling around him.  God helped him so much during and after that trying season.

So, if you're a glass half full person, how are you using your perspective to "brighten the corner where you are?"  I'm throwing down a gauntlet with this post to challenge you to be used for good in the life of someone who needs some encouragement!

Back to School Organization

We all want our children to succeed in school, right?  Part of that process involves a student's ability to bring papers home, do homework, then bring them back to the teacher.  That may sound like a simple process but for many youngsters it's not.  Here are a few simple tips to help your child get organized and have success in school!

1.  Go through the contents of their backpacks every day...
together!!  Then you can sign permission forms, look at all the classwork, and get the homework pile ready!  Let your child talk you through all the papers and "stuff."  If this becomes a routine, your child will know that you are seriously interested in what's going on at school.  And the backpack will not become a disaster area.  Kids need to be taught organization, it doesn't come naturally!

2.  Have a designated place for all school papers.  It could be a folder(s), basket, or drawer, but pick a spot and keep important forms there for quick reference.  Teachers will send home contact information, classroom policy sheets, school event info, field trip forms etc...  Keep it in one place at home.

3.  Establish a routine for homework, either right after school or after dinner.  Don't assume they have it all done, ask about every class and what's going on.  Ask to see books and worksheets.  Help your children with their work and if it's beyond your level, be honest and find them the help they need.

4.  Let the teachers know that you WANT to hear from them if they see a negative habit forming in your child.  If homework is not done a few days in a row, or if your child failed a quiz because he was unprepared, you want to know! Email is a very helpful and quick way to keep communication going.  

I assume you all know how important it is for students (young and old) to be eating healthy meals and getting enough sleep - that's common knowledge, right??

What other helpful routines have helped you with your children and schoolwork?