Friday, April 10, 2015

April Goals


Physical
     Sit and Be Fit
     Healthy Breakfast and Snack

Quilting: Block #19

Reading
     Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith
     The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
     H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald 
     Vincent Van Gogh: A Life by Philip Callow

Cooking
     Stuffed Wieners, Corn, Salad
     Chicken Parmigiana, Salad
     CB hash, Broccoli 
     Chocolate Chip Cookies

Home
     Clean out next section of closet

Personal
     Order new exercise DVD

Life in the Grass at OakMeadows

Copperhead


Fawn 


Killdeer Eggs


Monday, April 6, 2015

Spring Blooms at OakMeadows

After a long rainy winter of overcast skies for weeks at a time, I am reveling in the beautiful colors of spring. 









April Cooking--Pot Roast


Pot Roast

This is adapted from Pioneer Woman.  It is easy to put together and produces a tender (from the long cooking time in a low temperature oven), juicy roast with a very good gravy.  I usually make some mashed potatoes mostly for the gravy. 

Chuck Roast or Eye of Round Roast about 3 pounds (2 pounds if it is just Joe and me with plenty for leftovers)
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 large Onion cut into quarters
4 large Carrots cut into 2 inch lengths
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder to taste
1 cup red wine (can use beef stock)
2-3 cups Beef Stock
1 teaspoon dried Rosemary
1 teaspoon dried Thyme

Heat oven to 275 degrees and place oven shelf in the middle of the oven. 

Season meat with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. 

Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or other oven safe pan with a lid until very hot but not smoking.  Brown the onion quarters on each side about a minute per side and remove to a plate.  Add the carrots to the hot pan and brown for 2-3 minutes and remove to the plate with the onions. 

Add 1 tablespoon more olive oil to very hot pot and place seasoned roast in the pan. Brown on each side and remove to another plate. 

Add red wine and cook down for 2-3 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan. 

Return roast to the pan and add the onions and carrots. 

Pour in Beef Stock until it is about half way up the roast. 

Sprinkle dried Rosemary and Thyme over the roast and vegetables. 

Cover with lid and place in oven at 275 degrees for about 3 hours. I cook a 2-3 pound roast for 3 hours. 

That's it. Enjoy. 

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. 
As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. 
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. 
Be yourself. 
Especially do not feign affection. 
Neither be cynical about love – for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. 
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. 
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you from misfortune. 
But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. 
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. 
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. 
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. 
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.” 
― Max EhrmannDesiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life

Friday, April 3, 2015

April Goals

Spiritual
     ABF/Church
     Daily Bible Reading--done. 

Physical
     Sit and Be Fit--done. 
     Water--done. 
     Healthy breakfast and Snack--mostly done. 

Quilting: Block #18--finished. 

Reading
     Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith
     The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
     H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald
     Vincent Van Gogh: A Life by Philip Callow

Cooking
     Pot Roast, GMP, Carrots----done. 
     Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Veggie Tray--done
     Chicken-Rice Bake, Salad--done. 
     Roast Beef Hash, Leftover GMP, GB--done. 
     Strawberry Shortcake--done. 

Home
     Clean out one section of closet--done. 
     Buy new towels and washcloths--done. 

Personal
     Birding trip to Brazos Bend State Park--rained out. 
     Order summer clothes from LLBean--done. 




April Poetry Anthem for a Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen



Anthem for Doomed Youth 


What passing bells for these who die as cattle? 
Only the monstrous anger of the guns. 
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle 
Can patter out their hasty orisons. 
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells, 
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs— 
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; 
And bugles calling for them from sad shires. 
What candles may be held to speed them all? 
Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes 
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. 
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; 
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, 
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. 

Wilfred Owen, 1917