Forgot the Camera

Yes, Nora and I did just get back from visiting Mollie in See-attle. If you want the scoop on the visit check out her blog (click on the link). I forgot the camera, but Mollie took lots of pix.

It was a wonderful visit. My favorite was Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park (west of Seattle). When you travel, you want to be in a different place than you left. The ridge was alpine meadow with wonderful views of the mountains. So perfect it looks like they were sculpted.

The other notable part of the visit was our discussion about why Jane Austen's Pride and Predjudice is so good. I used it as a refuge when I was having problems at work, Nora says it always makes her feel good, and (I think) Mollie uses it to make it through Joel separation. Why? My theory is that it is the humor and the common understandable themes of family, embarrasing mothers, and love. What do you think?

Jody

Better Than Yours Oatmeal Cookies

I've had some unfortunate interactions with some commercial and home made Oatmeal Cookies lately. While some of them might have been made with love, they left me ultimately unsatisfied. So my thoughts turned to my mother's Oatmeal Cookie recipe. I haven't been baking much lately--it really hasn't been much fun since being empty nesters. But, Nora is home for the summer and Mike is an appreciative eater, so I gave it a try. I left out the raisins (seeing the raisins in the Raisin Brand cereal lined up on the edge of Nora's bowl in the morning gave me a clue about how she felt) and used pecans in the recipe...great eating.

I got a new stove and oven just before Thanksgiving last year--what a difference. It has two sensors and bakes everything without burning. I've got some rhubarb ready in the garden and I'm thinking of baking either a pie or a rhubarb crisp (again, Mom's recipe).

Oatmeal Drop Cookies

2 cups sifted flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
1 cup shortening (part butter)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
2 cups rolled oats

Sift flour once, measure. Add salt, baking powders and soda. Sift again. In separate bowl, cream shortening with sugars until light and fluffy, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each additional. Add vanilla and blend.

Add dry ingredients gradually mixing well. Fold in coconut, nuts and oats.
Drop from a teaspoon onto a lightly greased baking sheet and bake in a 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool and store in an airtight container. [end of recipe]

I don’t know when my mother wrote this recipe out for me. The recipe card is in her handwriting and I feel very tender when I read the recipe and its last two words. Love, Mother.

I have definite memories of helping her bake these cookies and never thought them remarkable until I took them to a church social and a women who I had great respect for complemented them by saying that they were the best she ever tasted. I guess we never really appreciate what we've got until we see the value through other's eyes.

What's with this?

Mollie started a blog when she went to Seattle this summer. Hers looks so great and is so much fun to read that I thought that Mike and I should have one. Every other year or so we send out a holiday letter ( I call it a holiday letter because we begin it at Thanksgiving and usually get it out by Easter), but I thought that a blog would allow us to post more current news and let Mike publish some of his excellent photographs. In fact, I started with a picture taken at Andy's house (Mike's brother) a weekend or so ago. It was a beautiful day!

Jody

Sunflower Image Test