LOOSE ENDS

This is a good day to stand up, gather up, wrap up and finish up a number of my interesting projects that lie around in nooks and crannies sadly waiting for my attention. It just does not make sense to have five half-pairs of mittens, six half-pairs of booties, all in assorted colors. Also I have a pair of sox down to the last toe and last two heels for my youngest granddaughter's birthday LAST year, yes, 2009. Elizabeth Zimmerman has directions for an after-thought heel in her book which I lent to CC and am waiting for its return. (Rediculous excuse, eh)? Then there is the marine blue nubby sweater that I've ripped back a bit because Freckles thought it was too uncomfortably long. Nevertheless she does wear her starry night sweater every morning on her two=mile jaunt, even though it still does not have its little twinkling stars. I do have GG's fuzzy aqua sweater ripped out, washed and re-wound waiting for a shrug for Jailgy...even have her measurements which I took from a favorite green shrug. AND...to add to the chaotic confusion, my friend Debbi just gave me a garbage bag full of yarn, Red Heart worsted which is the kind I like to use for kid sweaters because they can be tossed into the washer and dryer. Then there is the pair of water-colored sox that knitterykate made me that are now missing their heels. I do need to repair the moth damage to Freckle's pink cable-knit, too. On my list before Canada trip is Dolly's smocked dark blue dress that in wearing became un-smocked. So, now what am I doing blogging?
+

GERANIUM

Spring iz sprung
The grass is riz
I know just where
The flowers iz

Yep! In my front yard, and the back yard, too, I have bright red flowers blooming their fool heads off. GERANIUMS or is it GERANIA? What started out as a few cuttings from my neighbor, multiplied into much joyful happiness. My dreams of a good old English Garden disappeared a long time ago. Afterall, this is Hemet and Hemet nourishes only four things: cactus (which I abhor), spider plant, crape myrtle and geranium. Sometimes hollyhocks bravely struggle to raise their heads, and occasionally we'll find early sweet peas, but California poppies peter out, daisies wilt under the sunshine and heat, daffodils and iris bloom in a hurry and are gone before they have to experience those horrid blasts of dry, hot westerly winds. Because Freckles had some after work errands to do this week, I took Lily for her necessary walk up and down the front sidewalk. I so enjoyed coming home and being welcomed by those Chinese red f;owers, spaced out, standing straight and tall, daring the aftenoon sun to do its thing to try to wilt them. Ah yes,

"...trust in the living God,who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;" I Timothy 6:17

SCONES

Recently someone said that life is just like a roll of toilet paper, that the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. I must be getting close, for my days are just whizzing by. To keep occupied usefully, I've started a collection of scone recipes and am in the process of trying them all out with the ingredients I find in the pantry. This morning my refrigerator held only one egg and I had to snatch that from Freckles for she was going to use it for her breakfast. Nevertheless, I found a recipe using only ONE egg...MOCHA-CHOCOLATE CHIP!. It has been our little ritual of late to settle down to a cup of tea when she gets home from work, just shortly after five. It is so relaxing to have a scone with our tea, then our supper follows much later at around seven. Lily (her highness white/apricot toy poodle) developed a hankering for any crumbs that might fall her way, even growls softly, not a whimper, to alert us to her need.

Scones are easy...just dump all the dry things in a large bowl. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender. Make a well in the middle and then pour in the wet ingredients. Stir, scraping dry bits from the bottom. Turn out on a floured board and pat into about 3/4 inch thickness. Then cut squares or triangles or even cookie cutter rounds and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bskr at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. So far my favorite is good old:

IRISH SCONES
1/2 cup butter (or margarine)
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar (I increased to 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 cup milk (I use evaporated skim milk)

You can also add chocolate chips, currants, raisins, dates or other dried fruits to the dough.

The recipe says to roll the dough out, but it is just as easy to pat it with floured hands so they don't stick.

Try them, you'll like them, even for breakfast.