Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

Tomato & Figs, Oh My!

I've been so busy in the kitchen that my son commented last night, "Wow, mom, you've been cooking a lot lately. What's up?" His comment is justified, because I'm not normally in the kitchen except to make tea and see if hubbies cookies are cooled enough to eat.  That's why you don't usually see any food on my blog.  But this last weekend and early this week I've been saving our incredible tomato and fig harvest.

First the tomatoes were made into Salsa, with half the batch made into Mango Salsa. I didn't actually can these because Salsa doesn't last very long at my house. It goes on chips & quesadillas, and into Chicken Tortilla soup.

Hubby made a lot of dough and topped it with cheese, basil, and tomatoes.  The remaining tomatoes were processed into six 1 quart canning jars. 

With the juice left over from cooking the tomatoes I made my version of a V8 drink, except it was more like a V6 with a couple of large spoons of the mango salsa and juice from half a lemon. I know not everyone likes tomato juice but I love it and glad to be the only one in the family who does.
 
By far the easiest to make, and definitely the prettiest, was the Strawberry Fig jam. It looks like Christmas with its golden seeds submerged in the the deep crimson sweetnes.  Won't this be scrumptious on scones?  Here's the recipe:

     FIG & STRAWBERRY PRESERVES

     6 c. fresh figs (I used 8 cups because I had so many)
     6 c. sugar
     2 (6 oz.) pkgs. strawberry Jello

Wash and peel figs (this took the longest time). Mash well (do not use blender). Place in a large pot with sugar. Heat until the figs start to cook. Add the dry gelatin and simmer 10 more minutes, stirring often. Pour into hot sterilized jars. Yield: 5 to 6 pints.

With more figs ripening on the tree every day, I even  made Fig Newtons last night.

For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.  Galatians 6:7-10

Roscoe & Kalvin

I adopted a new kitty.  He's 4 months old and already big for his age.  He's all white with a black cap, nose, and tail, with green eyes.  My daughter named him Roscoe.  My son adopted his playful buddy, a 3 month old tiger, and named him Kalvin.

We planned on getting only one, but the shelter was having an "Adopt A Buddy" Special.  After seeing these two playing together combined with my son's comments, "Oh, Mom, how can you separate them. They need each other."  Well, you know how it ends up: 2 kitties singing a duet from their cardboard boxes in the back seat, more cat food bowls set out in the kitchen, to extra thump-thump-thumpings up and down the wood stairs early in the morning as the chase each other.

The best part is all the extra purrs and cuddles they generously give.

MOM Upside-Down Spells WOW!

I am blessed by my MOM's handiwork.  As a girl she made all my adorable dresses. For my home she made me this Quilt.

Then from all the remnants of the dresses she made me in the 60's and 70's she made this colorful quilt which I recieved on my 40th birthday.  She knows I love squares.

Yes, I really wore dresses made from these wild prints.

She also knows I love 'tone-on-tone' and made me a beautiful tablecloth with Autumn leaves. WOW, like I'm really going to eat on it!

Recently, with my failed attempt to even understand the instructions of this cross stitch, she took it home, worked on it for over a year and gave it back to me as a gift. 

My mom is truly known for her labors of love, and I am WOWed by her talent.

Baby Birdies

 
The soft peep, peep peeping  heard overhead was so sweet.   A mommy Sparrow finally moved into my son's bird house that went unoccupied for so many years.  I couldn't resist climbing up for a closer peek inside.

Don't you just love Spring?

Garden Critters

This fuzzy Caterpillar was found on my Artichoke plant and this baby Black Widow crawled up for a visit.  Yes, this little white spider is a Black Widow.  I just learned that the newly hatched Black Widows are white with small dark spots, which change to stripes as it molts, before turning black.

When small,  the Black Widow is less venomous, but the adult female is the most venomous spider in North America, 15 times more toxic than Prairie Rattle Snake venom.  The Black Widow is generally shy, but she becomes aggressive when harassed or her nest is disturbed. 

I'll leave you with a prettier picture of small blossoms on my newly blooming Lady Banks Rose vine, which is what lured me into the garden in the first place.

Beeing Thankful

This little bee paused for a moment just before going into the center of this rose, as if it was giving "Thanks" to its Creator.

Once inside, it buzzed and wiggled in the pollen, like a small child who had the  multicolored balls at Chuck E. Cheese all to himself.   Oh, to be able to say, "I work all day in the center of lovely fragrant blossoms." She was a joy to watch, and I gave "Thanks" to our Creator that she came for a visit to my garden.

Spring Blossoms

 
  

My favorite garden flowers to grow are pink Lilies, pink Lilac vines, tall Hollyhocks, Camellias, invasive Primrose and  Zinnias.  What are your favorite pink garden flowers ?

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY EVERYONE!!! For the entire list of all the PINK SATURDAY participants visit the very sweet Beverly at How Sweet The Sound.

My Spring Time Give-Away is happening now? Scroll down to my last post for details on how you can WIN a Spring Time collection of my Teacup Stationery. Three winners in all!!!

Pink Blossoms

Now that I'm working at home, I set up my work space where I can watch the fruit  trees in my yard blossom. Flowering trees are one of my very favorite things.

I have Apples,

Apricots

and Pomegranates.

It's amazing to me how a tree that looks dead all winter comes alive in spring bringing the hope of delicious fruit. It reminds me of myself, how without God I was like a tree that looked dead, and by God's grace He gave me a hope for a fruitful life.

Genesis 1:11 which says, "Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so."

Prized Tangerines

One of the greatest gifts from Grandma is her Tangerines.  They are better than candy.  I  decided to give them the high honor they deserve and placed the on the ledge in the kitchen.

I've been home this past week. I decided to give myself some time off.  I was hoping to get a painting or two done, but haven't been motivated.  I just feeling like a homebody moving things around and organizing little spaces.  One day I stayed in my P.J.'s all day, which definitely kept me in, and made it easy when it was time to go back to bed.  Hope you're enjoying the transition into the new year.  Blessings to you all in 2009!

Merry Christmas

From my home to yours, wishing all my blogging pals a Very Merry Christmas!!!  Tonight if you had a chance to visit, the smell of pumpkin spiced bread would greet you at the door. I'd invite you in and start a pot of Harney & Sons Holiday Tea.
 

Snowflake Tradition

Hanging snowflakes started as a family's tradition 14 Christmas' ago when the kids were really little. Due to the economy in the mid-1990's I lost my design job at an Architectural office. With my husband's job just covering the mortgage of our recently purchased first home, we had very little money for gifts. We did however have paper, scissors, thread and tape. Together we made white snowflakes in all sizes and hung them from the ceiling of our little dinning room. It was beautiful and really came alive when they turned on the ceiling fan.  The kid's had no idea Christmas should me any different.  In fact, it never changed since then.  At our recent home we have an entry hall with a lowered ceiling (yes, 1960's) which stages our growing snowflake collection perfectly. Each time the front door opens, they all blow happily in the breeze.

 

My Happy Pumpkin

Received this cute story from my mom:

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?" 
The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin.  God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes the dirt off of you.  Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.  He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.  Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Coming Rain

Booming thunder woke us up early Monday morning, followed by lightning.  From my front yard, I watched in wonder as God demonstrated His power in the clouds that quickly gather over the west.

One next-door neighbor rushed to cover things around his house, while the other invited their scheduled house painters inside.  My dog was running in circles around the backyard barking towards the heavens.  By the time I walked through the house, on my was to comfort her, the clouds opened in a sudden down-pour.

My heart was moved as I recalled a verse from the Bible which says,  Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12

Home With A View of God

 

As an artist it takes me a couple of days to paint a picture, more often a week.  After finishing my creation I have a terrible tenancy to think more highly of myself than I aught to.  From my front porch I am always humbled by what God can paint.  It's as if He says to me, with a smile on His face, "Hey, Kim, you thing you're so talented, check this out."  In ten seconds he paints the shy, changes the colors, moves the clouds and causes me to stand in awe at His greatness.