Organic Strawberry Preserves

New rating from my husband and loving food critic: 5/5 stars for flavor and 4/5 for texture. The updated recipe and tweaked cooking technique yielded great benefit. Organic and pectin-free... I think our Bonne Maman days may be over. *wink*

Rising Sun

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

C. S. Lewis

Wheat Field with Rising Sun

Vincent van Gogh

Let the Sunshine In

spring cleaning back in april

we've retired the heavy winter blankets

and prepared the bed for light spring linens

letting the sunshine back in

to read and be inspired...

by france once more

with a french pastry (homemade brioche) always at hand *smile*

Reckless Abandonment & The Sweetness of Life

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."

Lao Tzu

There are days (many days lately) when I have the urge to throw caution to the wind and abandon my adult responsibilities. To start anew or to simply nurture the little pleasures that spring from my heart. Wishful thinking. It has been over two months since I last posted here and although time stood still here at 2000 Miles Away, that has not been the case at Lavender Hill.

We've had many celebrations of birthdays, graduation, friendships; there were singing, dancing, laughter and tears of joy. There's been hard work with the studies, at the job, at home, in the kitchen and in the garden. There's been countless prayers lifted and answered. My goal is bring you glimpses of these very soon as it is my desire to get back with you...

Lavender Hill produced its first strawberry preserves this spring! (I wish I could say that the strawberries came from our garden. Well, there are strawberries growing in garden but they're not quite ripe yet and there's not enough of them to harvest for canning.) It's my first attempt at making preserves and I have sworn to make preserves and jams with reckless abandon this spring and summer. Until my new journey begins, they will be my little jars filled with life's sweetness.

By the way, the preserves are still in the 'test kitchen' mode. As soon as I perfect the recipe, I promise to share the sweetness with you. ;) My husband and faithful food taster gave this first batch 4 out of 5 stars for flavor and 3 1/2 out of 5 for texture. Definitely room for improvement; I love the challenge. LOL! Special thanks to Ate Jenn for a wonderful day at the Eastern Market, where I purchased the glorious strawberries and to Becky who inspired me to preserve fruits and berries and showed me the tricks of the trade.

Write God's love on your heart

As I began to look at the remaining days of this month (to see when I can get around to writing that winter newsletter), it dawned on me that the winter season ended yesterday! Today is officially spring and indeed the rain came to announce it. Here's to God's promise of renewal, here's to God's invitation of Him into our hearts, here's to a life-- beautiful, abound in His love.

Wait on the Lord:

be of good courage,

and he shall strengthen

thine heart: wait, I say,

on the Lord.

Psalm: 27:14

In Steinbeck Country

"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike.

And all plans, safeguards, policies and coercion are fruitless.

We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us."

- John Steinbeck

And we arrived in the land of poets and writers.

February 19, 2011

On The Road Again: Road to the Stars

Come away with us On The Road Again. This time were not taking the road to nowhere (*wink*), we're taking the road to the stars... (lol!)

star titles courtesy of sydney. the following photos were taken by us three... (there's 13 posts ahead, please click on 'older posts' ;)

Three is a Magic Number

Three is a magic number

Ya it is, it's a magic number

Somewhere in that ancient mystic trinity

You'll get three

As a magic number

The past, the present, the future,

Faith, and hope, and charity,

The heart, the brain, the body,

Will give you three,

It's a magic number

It takes three legs to make a tripod or to make a table stand,

And it takes three wheels to make a vehicle called a tricycle

And every triangle has three corners,

Every triangle has three sides,

No more, no less,

You don't have to guess

That it's three

Can't you see?

It's a magic number - Schoolhouse Rock

Thank you Sydney & Izzy:

1) For only wanting the celebration of our friendship for your birthday gift

2) For arranging our girls getaway

3) For flying me out 2000 miles away to be with you

au naturale, courtesy of vista blue spa

Carmel-by-the-Sea

A little charming restaurant in a French country inn setting is where we had our first meal. Cassanova on 5th Avenue between Mission and San Carlos. We had the perfect lunch in the outdoor garden.

Tor House

"Look how noble the world is, the lonely-flowing waters, the secret-keeping stones, the flowing sky." - Robinson Jeffers

We were not at all familiar with this great American West Coast poet until we stumbled upon his enchanting home he named, Tor House. Historically preserved by the Tor House Foundation founded by Ansel Adams, walking through the house and the land brings anyone who stops here to the simple life of bygone times. We were informed that Robinson Jeffers planted some two thousand cypress and eucalyptus trees here in Camel. They are everywhere and still stand strong in the Pacific Coast. There's truly poetry in every tree here.

For Una - By Robinson Jeffers

I built her a tower when I was young--

Sometime she will die--

I built it with my hands, I hung

Stones in the sky.

Old but still strong I climb the stone--

Sometime she will die--

Climb the steep rough steps alone,

And weep in the sky.

Never weep, never weep...

To-night, dear,

Let's forget all that, that and the war,

And enisle ourselves a little beyond time,

You with the Irish whiskey, I with red wine

While the stars go over the sleepless ocean,

And sometime after midnight I'll pluck you a wreath

Of chosen ones; we'll talk about love and death,

Rock-solid themes, old and deep as the sea,

Admit nothing more timely, nothing less real

While the stars go over the timeless ocean,

And when they vanish we'll have spent the night well.

This house was built in 1919. The grey door to the left is the entrance to the main house. Once we entered the home we discovered the most memorable and breathtaking view. The living room displayed a sitting window overlooking the pacific ocean. Appearing a bit foggy from its old age, the french window pane is like a canvas with the most awe-inspiring painting of the ever changing sky and sea. There was but a small plot of land which was the back yard that separated this enchanting house to the water's edge. Oh, but there's more...

The later addition to home, a formal dining room and kitchen.

The Hawk Tower, built by the poet one stone at a time.

All for the love of his life. Imagine that.

The garden behind the stone walls.

The English courtyard garden.

Cameras were not allowed on this tour, but thankfully our nice guide allowed us to take pictures outdoors. : )