Cool thoughts on a Hot day…

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I love this picture from the beach on the coast of Oregon.  This was taken in the last week of

June.031  It was coming on evening and the beach was wonderfully cool.

It is SO hot right now in Ohio, 94 F with a heat index of 100+ – that just looking at the beach is cooling.

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Bruce thought we should have warm coats- but we just brought carry on luggage-

and I wasn’t wearing anything that was going to make me any hotter!

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Cynthia wore a coat that Bruce brought for her- but I just rolled up my pants and walked

in the water!  It was cold- but good cold- do you know what I mean?

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The next day we walked around the town and did some shopping.

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The flowers were still so lovely- it has been cool in Oregon- a prolonged Spring.

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So, today, I’m staying inside with the central air conditioning on and looking at cool pictures.

I was going to take some great pictures of my garden- but some critter decided to eat all the leaves

off of the cucumber and squash plants and all the outside leaves on the geraniums in my container

pots. 

I’m thinking cooling thoughts, cleansing thoughts, and not looking at the GARDEN CARNAGE outside

my window. 

Psalm 111– An Old Song

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Psalm 111

1Praise the LORD.

I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Today’s guest blogger; Frank Fodor

Psalms 111  and 112 are a matched pair.  Both consist of ten verses

and each poem contains twenty-two phrases which are arranged

as an acrostic, the phrase successively commencing with the letters of

the Hebrew alphabet.

(quoted from the New Bible Commentary, Eerdmans,  publisher)

Both psalms begin with the phrase, Jah, which means Hallelujah (literally).

Psalm 111 through 119 were supposed to have been sung by the Jewish people at the

celebration of the Passover, namely the singing of the Gospel Hallel.

That hymn, in all likelihood, which our blessed Lord sang with his disciples after

last supper.  The psalm is composed in alphabetical order, each verse containing two letters.

The first verse begins with aleph, while the letter beth is placed at the commencement of the

of the next half of the verse.

Example: (aleph) I will praise Jehovah with my whole heart,

(beth) in the congregation and assembly of the just.

2. (gimel) The works of Jehovah are great

(deleth) sought out of all who have a desire to them.

3. (he) His work is beautiful and magnificent,

(vau) And his justice is forever.

4. (zain) He has caused His marvelous works to be remembered,

(cheth) Jehovah is compassionate and merciful….

(Information from Jebb’s literal Translation of the Book of Psalms,

Christian Classics Etheral Library, Calvin College, www.ccel.org)

Acrostic form most likely aided in memorization of the song.

 

 

 

 

In my kitchen…

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… is this happy little onion!

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I saw this big smile when I cut into the onion and it made me smile right back!

In my kitchen…

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are these salty almond bars- packaged and ready for lunches!

In my kitchen…

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is this loaf of peasant bread – raised in the banneton Celia sent me

(Thanks again, Celia!) and fresh out of the oven.

In my kitchen…

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is this wonderful tea infuser pot!  Jordan bought it for my birthday- he doesn’t know yet

that he bought it- but he did all the same!

In my kitchen…

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is this can of Tasmanian honey!  I love the tin- and the honey is delish-

Thanks to Meredith for this beauty of a treat!

In my kitchen…

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are my favorite rolling pins.  Most of them were gifts and I love them

and use them all throughout the year.

In my kitchen…

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is dinner!

Grilled Ahi (yellow fin tuna) with a swirl of basalmic vinegar on a bed of

vegetable couscous, baked sweet potato, and a garden salad!

Yum!

Summer Garden

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NOT mine.

My garden looks very new.  And slightly uncertain.

I took too long to plant- spent too little time caring for it.

And although my containers are looking rather nice, the garden

itself is not up for public display, yet.

But Saturday, I went to Ally’s garden and took a little tour.

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The garlic is looking fine!  She made some scape pesto last week

– although she hasn’t shared the recipe- I hear it was VERY good.

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Here we are admiring the bean tower- there are tiny little velvet beans

growing.

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The basil and nasturtiums are so happy!

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And the thyme was blooming!

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It was toe tappingingly tempting!!

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And the lavender was lush with blooms.

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So I picked some and made some lavender wands.

I think Allyson has better dirt than I do.

The secret to a good garden- timing and dirt.

When good things get even better…! Salty almond bars- a recipe.

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I made these bars once or twice before, but had forgotten about them until our

family’s 4th of July picnic.  Then my niece, Dianne mentioned them, and I haven’t

been able to get them off my mind since!

I changed up the recipe- http://heidiannie.com/2010/07/homemade-salted-nut-bars/

from this one- using almonds and white chocolate rather than the peanut butter morsels.

Ingredients:

1/2 white or yellow cake mix (use other half to make a small portion of lemon filled cupcakes .

1/4 cup unsalted melted butter

1 large egg

Mix together and fit into jelly roll pan.  Bake at 350F for about 8 minutes or until golden brown.

Drop 3 cups of miniature marshmallows on top of hot base and put back into oven.  Turn off heat

and allow the marshmallows to melt on top.

Meanwhile-

in a large sauce pan, mix together:

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup Karo syrup (corn syrup- clear)

1/3 cup butter

2 tsps vanilla

2 cups white chocolate morsels

and bring them to a slow boil.

Add 2 cups Rice Krispy cereal and stir all together.

Pour this mixture on top of marshmallow layer,

use a real light hand- this can get really sticky, really fast!

Now, sprinkle 2 cups of lightly salted almond slices and press gently with the back of a spoon

to get them to stick into the rice krispy layer.

So- the bottom cake layer is thinner, the peanuts and peanut butter morsels have been replaced

by almonds and white chocolate, they are cooling in the kitchen as I type- AND –

All is right with my world.

See the difference a good recipe can make- especially when it is fitted to your personal tastes?

Do you have any recipes that you have made better?

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Psalm 33- A new song.

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Psalm 33

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
   it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
   make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
   play skillfully, and shout for joy.

4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
   he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
   the earth is full of his unfailing love.

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
   their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars[a];
   he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
   let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
   he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
   he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
   the purposes of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
   the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
   and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
   all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
   who considers everything they do.

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
   no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
   despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
   on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
   and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
   he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
   for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
   even as we put our hope in you.

Sing to him a new song…

there are many references to a new song in the

scriptures- most of them in the psalms. 

What does it mean to sing a new song?

Is it about a change in tone or behaviour?

Or is it more about style and tune?

Does it require a change of attitude?

Perhaps we need to find some deeper meaning,

some hidden symbol or heightened understanding

of the text.

This psalm has 22 verses- and often that suggests that

the psalm is an acrostic psalm- each verse corresponding

with the Hebrew alphabet  Alef to Tav.  This is a very old

mnemonic device used by the Jewish people to signify

that the psalm is all inclusive – what we would say includes

everything from A to Z.  The next Psalm –34- is an acrostic

psalm- but 33 is not.  It is a NEW  song.  It has its own style

and rhythm – it is not following the tradition, but speaks of

the LORD from an experiential point of view.

Not a hymn- a praise song.

I’ve been singing a new song, lately.

Looking at the brevity and frailty of life here from a different

point of view- and praising the Lord for His protection.

I’m recognizing that truly, God is in control.

And I’m grateful for His Providence.

Singing a new song in Akron, Ohio.

Pie- Glorious Black Raspberry PIE!

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Nothing says summer more clearly to me than berry pie!

I love pie.

Apple, pumpkin, pecan, peach, cherry, coconut cream-

Mmm- have I mentioned how much I love pie?

But berry pie- specifically,  black raspberry pie- that is a midsummer delight!

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Just look at this luscious berry goodness!

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And when it is baked up into a pie- you have summer on a plate!

Just make your favorite pastry dough-

mine is:

2  1/2 cups of pastry flour

1  1/2  sticks unsalted butter

1/2 tsp  salt

1/2 cup ice water

Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour and salt mixture.

( Flour will have the consistency of oatmeal when ready,)

Make a well in the middle of mixture and pour water and then

lightly mix with a fork.  Gather the dough and flatten into two disks

and place in a plastic bag in the fridge for at least 45 minutes.

Flour flat surface and rolling pin and

roll it out and place in pie pan.

Then use 1  1/2 quarts of berries.

Crush 1/2 quarts, squeeze out the juice- leaving the seeds behind- and cook the juice up with

2 tsps lemon juice, 1 1/2 cups white sugar, and 1/8 cup cornstarch ( you can add 1/4 cup water if the

sauce is very dry).  Bring to a slow boil and

then  take off heat and add 1 TBS butter and allow to cool. (Or- buy a good quality of black or

red raspberry preserves and eliminate the first step altogether and mix up with your fresh

berries.  It is a cheat- but a real time saver and not that much more expensive!)

Add berries to cooled mixture, put into pie crust, roll out top crust and place on top.

Decorate with a garnishing knife tip and bake at 375 F for about an hour.  Keep an eye

on it so the crust doesn’t get too dark and allow to cool for at least an hour before cutting.

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Then cut and serve a little bit of summer on a plate!

 

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MMmmm!

Slovaks are Hobbits!

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This has long been my opinion.

I have been reading Tolkien since I was

15.  Rereading the trilogy every year since

my thirties- it is like an autumn journey

I take every year. 

And the more I read about Hobbits, the more

familiar they seem.  My mother was definitely

from Hobbitish stock.  She certainly had the feet

for it.  And the earthy sense of humor- in fact-her

reasoning was rather more or less hobbitish as

well.

But I got a couple of pictures from my cousins that

have me totally convinced!

Slovaks ARE Hobbits! 1

This is my aunt Anna in 1956.

Slovaks ARE Hobbits! 2

Hobbits for sure!

Celebrating with cupcakes!

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Lemon filled white cupcakes with cream cheese frosting-

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YUM !

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brownie bites with coconut filling and coffee caramel Icing.

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Cake pops in white and milk chocolate!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!!

I made a white cake mix into cupcakes,  made lemon pie filling,

and cream cheese frosting and put them all together!

The brownies are a Ghiardelli mix, baked into cupcakes after placing

a small macaroon inside.  Then put a dark chocolate icing circle around

the edge and fill the center with a smooth caramel sauce.

And the cake pops are a crumbled cake mixed with icing, frozen in

balls, speared with a lollipop stick and dipped into either white or milk

chocolate and then sprinkled with colorful candy stars.

I’m tired so I used some shortcut mixes – but they turned out great.

Psalm 133

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Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is
   when God’s people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
   running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
   down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
   were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
   even life forevermore.

And in the Message-

Psalm 133
A Pilgrim Song of David

1-3 How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!
   It’s like costly anointing oil
      flowing down head and beard,
   Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
      flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
   It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
      flowing down the slopes of Zion.
   Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing,
      ordains eternal life.

Blessing, even life forevermore!

Really – what a time of blessing we had in Oregon last week.

The only one we were missing was Ralph- and he was there

in spirit!  How thankful I am to have siblings that all love

the LORD and each other.

How wonderful, how beautiful!

And how very special to spend time together in prayer

and in praising God for His goodness.

Our first three days on the coast of Oregon was mostly

spent in talking.  We went to the beach and shopped

a little- saw some beautiful sites- but most of the time

was sharing insights and memories.

And in recognizing that God is in control.

And later, after the accident,

I was so thankful that we had had that

time to know that God IS in control.

I love my brothers and sister-

and I love the family of God.