The sweet cherries are ready at the local orchard. Soon it will be cherry pie time as the sour cherries become available, then the blueberries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears and apples. The fresh local fruit is always good fresh or baked between two crusts. Yum!
Author: Mary
Hay Raking
Local Amish youth using the draft horses to rake hay.
Shades of Hydrangea
I came to a new appreciation of hydrangeas when my daughter-in-law used them for her wedding. When we did some landscaping several years ago, we planted several hydrangeas and now we enjoy the beautiful shades of the blooms throughout the summer season. Until I looked at the photos on the computer, I did not realize…
Channa Masala
This is an vegetarian dish which uses chickpeas and a lot of spices to make very filling dinner. Serve with rice, naan bread and enjoy. Channa Masala or Chickpea Stew 2 tablespoons butter 1 whole onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 piece fresh ginger (about 1 inch), peeled and chopped 1 whole Jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped 3 tablespoons tomato…
The Green Tunnel
One enjoyable aspect of the daily drive to work and back is the section of the road where the overhanging trees meet. This time of the year it is like driving through a green tunnel and it provides welcome relief when the hot summer weather arrives. In the fall, the “tunnel” turns into a yellow and…
Mountain Laurel Time
The state flower for Pennsylvania is in bloom now. More information on the selection of the mountain laurel for the state flower, which is a blooming shrub rather than a typical flower, can be found here. I just enjoy the brief season with the pale pink blooms showing up along the country roads.
4-H Club Biscuit Bake-Off
Each summer when I was growing up, we would have the 4-H Club County Biscuit and Cookie Bake-Off . The winners of the local clubs’ bake-off comptetitions would meet at the demonstration kitchen in the REA (Rural Electrical Association) office and proceed to make plain sugar cookies and biscuits. We all followed the same recipe and a panel…
Finding Treasures
This area of Pennsylvania is a mecca for antique and flea market lovers. Adamstown is home to Renninger’s, Black Angus, Shupps Grove and many other shops, both large and small. A personal favorite of mine is Fiesta Ware and other kitchen objects. At one time I collected Depression glass. I also collect Pennsylvania redware pottery…
In Praise of Greenhouses
My favorite place to visit from now until late fall is Black Creek Greenhouse. It is owned and operated operated by a Mennonite family and was started in 1980. It has a wonderful selection of all types of plants, plus you can also pick up some locally grown produce and farm fresh eggs. Customers use a…
Closer Look
This is a close-up of a bearded iris blooming in the yard (Germanica Hemstitched). The nice thing about a macro lens is that you see things you never noticed before such as the fluffy “hairs” and the inner part of the bloom. It is a reminder to be a closer and more thoughtful observer of the wonderfully diverse…
Apple Cream Coffeecake
This coffeecake includes slices of apples and a cinnamon-nut mixture in the middle of the cake and extra cinnamon/sugar/nuts sprinkled on top. Apple Cream Coffeecake 1/2 cup chopped nuts 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Spring Planting with Mule Power
It is time for spring plowing and planting. This is an Old Order Mennonite farmer with a team of five mules working his field. There are two different “horse and buggy” groups who live in this area — Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite. They differ in their dress and customs but share many practices such…
Hidden in the Woods
The pink ladyslippers are making their annual appearance in the woods. Due to all of the downed limbs and trees from the October snowstorm, we do not have as many this year. But if you look closely and are careful of where you step you can still find groupings of the delicate pale pink member…
Zesty Pork Loin
With a marinade or rub, a boneless pork loin is easy to bake or grill. This recipe uses a marinade that includes red pepper flakes to give the outer part of the roast a little zip and a glaze made with apricot preserves. Zesty Pork Loin Boneless pork loin roast (2 – 2 1/2 pounds) Marinade 1/2 cup light…
Hazy with a Chance of Farms
As a complete newbie when it comes to photography, I learn something new each time I head out to take some photos. I spent an hour driving around this afternoon making photos of some of the local farms. I was wanting to capture all of the various shades of green at this time of the year….
A New Perspective
I invested (“invest” sounds so much more responsible than I spent money on something I wanted but did not really need) in a macro lens for the camera today–40mm 2.8. Came home and, without reading any of the directions, put the lens on the camera and headed outside. Since we have an early spring, I have both…
Covered Bridges of Berks County
We spent an afternoon during the Easter weekend making a tour of the five covered bridges in Berks County. Four of the bridges are still used by traffic and one is located in the Berks County Heritage Center park. The Greater Reading Convention & Visitors’ Bureau has a map and guide to the bridges which you can print by…
Pulgogi (Korean Barbeque)
We lived in Seoul, South Korea for two years and during that time, we learned to enjoy many of the Korean foods. Pulgogi (Bulgogi), or Korean Barbeque, is one of best-known Korean dishes. As we traveled around to different sites, it was common to see Koreans cooking pulgogi on a small grill on the sidewalk…
Landscaping with the Word
In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. James 1: 21 (The Message)
The Promise of Peaches to Come
The peach trees are blooming at the local orchard with the promise of sweet, juicy peaches for the summer. The strange weather this year does not seem to have damaged the apples nor the peaches. While peaches are usually associated with Georgia or South Carolina, there are many peach orchards in southeastern and central Pennsylvania. We are…
Nature and Life Notes 