On Crooked Creek

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Simplistic Hues. . .

While we're waiting for Spring to arrive
here On Crooked Creek,
I did a simple re~arrange of the built~in hutch and buffet.

Simplistic Hues. . .

Soft sage greens combined with creamy ivory
and pristine whites awaiting to welcome Spring.

Pristine white vintage feminine dinner plates
combined with our everyday white porcelain
fit nicely on the contrasting black wrought iron plate stand.

Crystal salt and pepper shakers await use on a petite green tray.
Due to unseasonably cool temperatures,
our bowls have been used more for soups than cereal
in the past few weeks here On Crooked Creek.

Sorry, I couldn't hide the over~cast skies in this photo, dear ones.

Staining the pine box,
made by "Mr. Ed", a honey oak brings warmth to our dining area
harmonizing nicely with our dining room furnishings.
The delicate embroidery of soft buttery yellow hues
gives me hope that more Seasonable days are soon approaching.
Paying homage to the Robin's that frequent our feeders,
I added this Robin's Egg hued creamer to enhance
the idea that Spring is in the air.

I filled the box to the brim
with my ever growing collection of scalloped cream ware dishes.
Just a piece, or two, of Bordallo Pinheiro
keeps the vignette from becoming too stark.

On Crooked Creek,
simplistic hues ease the long awaiting of Springs arrival!

Until next time. . .

* * * * * * *FYI* * * * * * *
To view above the open shelf of this built~in china cabinet
see a past post Coloring My World. . .(here)!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.betweennapsontheporch.net

Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch

for Metamorphosis Monday!

Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirations

for use in your own home décor!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Thyme For Herbs. . .

The Herb Society of South Central Kansas
Extension Master Gardeners recently presented Herb Day 2013.

"Mr. Ed" and I braved the cold, rainy, windy Saturday morning
for a delightful excursion at the Sedgwick County Extension Office
in Wichita, Kansas.

We were met at the entrance to the building
by vendors from The Farmer's Market.
Yes. . .it was that cold!

Although my heart went out to the vendors. . .
I didn't tarry long out~of~doors!

Indoors. . .the building was a flurry of activities!

Seminars. . .

"Mr. Ed" heard that something was good in your tea.
Thus the purchase of the Lemon Balm!!!

. . .Plant sales

Garden Vendors. . .

. . .Garden Magazine and Book $ale, Children's Activity,
and a Cooking Demonstration
by Chef Jason Febres, Taste and See Restaurant.

Thyme to Sit ~
a Seminar about using an old chair as a container
for Thyme the Regional Herb of the Year!

Until the weather warms
a bit above the 48 degrees we're currently experiencing,
"Mr. Ed" and I will tuck the Lemon Balm
and the Sedum we purchased neatly inside the patio doors!

Until next time. . .

Friday, May 3, 2013

May Day Brunch Recipes. . .

Just in time for your upcoming Mother's Day
or Graduation celebrations,
I'm sharing On Crooked Creek's recipes

from our May Day Brunch (here) with

Yvonne @ StoneGable for On The Menu Monday!

Garden Chowder

Ingredients:

8 slices bacon, coarsely chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green pepper, chopped

2 (14oz.) cans cream~of~potato soup

1 (13oz.) can chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup milk

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped broccoli

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped cauliflower

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen cut corn

1 tsp. snipped fresh dill

Directions:

In a 5~quart Dutch oven, over medium~high

heat, sauté bacon 3 minutes or until crisp.

With a slotted spoon, remove bacon, set aside.

Remove all but 2 tablespoons fat. Add onion

and pepper; sauté 3 minutes longer.

Stir in potato soup, broth, cream and milk;

bring to boiling. Add frozen vegetables and

return to boiling. Simmer, covered 10~to~12

minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Add ½ tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, the

bacon and dill. Serve immediately!

Makes: 8 to 10 servings.

“Mr. Ed’s” Easy Cornbread

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup all~purpose flour

¾ cup corn meal

¼ cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt (optional)

1 cup milk

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 egg, beaten

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees .

Grease an 8 ~9 inch pan or muffin pan.

Combine all the dry ingredients.

Stir in milk, egg and oil, mixing until

The dry ingredients are moistened.

Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes: 8 to 10 servings.

Herb Butter

Ingredients:

Basic Recipe

½ pound ( 2 sticks) unsalted butter

5 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs

and / or herbal flowers

OR 5 teaspoons dried herbs or

2 ½ teaspoons herb seeds

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Chop the herbs very finely or

pulverize the seeds.

Cream the butter and blend in

herbs and seasonings.

Shape as desired and chill OR

freeze up to 6 months.

Strawberries and Cream Pie

Ingredients:

1 cup semi~sweet chocolate chips

3 tsp. shortening

1 Oreo pie crust

(or graham cracker crust)

1 8 (oz.) pkg. cream cheese

½ cup sugar

½ cup sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1 8(oz.) container Cool Whip

2 cups fresh strawberries, halved

Directions:

Combine chocolate chips and shortening

and melt in the microwave. Microwave

30 seconds and then stir. Microwave

15~20 seconds and stir again. Stir until

well combined and then pour about ¾ of

the mixture into the bottom of the crust and

refrigerate until firm.

Beat the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream

and vanilla until smooth.

Fold in the Cool Whip.

Pour or scoop the mixture into the crust

and refrigerate overnight.

Before serving:

Arrange the strawberries on top of the pie.

Microwave the remaining chocolate and

drizzle over the top.

Refrigerate, again, for about an hour

before serving.

Makes: 6 to 8 servings.

Be sure to visit Yvonne @ Stone Gable

for On The Menu Monday!

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

You’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirational

menu and recipe ideas for use

with your own family meals!

May Day Brunch Tablescape (here)

Until next time. . .

Thursday, May 2, 2013

May Day Brunch.. .

A May Day Brunch ~
On Crooked Creek
for my dear friend, Julie and I.

Since retirement,
I am continually blessed with life On Crooked Creek.
Now, the luxury of time allows for me
to stay connected with former work colleagues,
enjoying our ever growing friendships.

My friend, Julie and I, truly enjoy each other's company.
An abundance of laughter is usually the order of the day.
While Julie is undergoing some major home renovations,
I invited her to join me for a May Day Brunch.

When deciding upon our menu for the day,
I had no idea it would be raining and cold. . .
and this hot soup and warm bread were a perfect choice!

May Brunch Menu

Garden Chowder

Cornbread Muffins

Herb Butter

Pink Lemonade

Strawberries and Cream Pie

Raspberry in Paris Rooibus Tea

Keeping this a totally feminine tablescape,

for our color palette,

I chose soft buttery yellow hues with pastel pink.

My inspiration came from the floral arrangements

in my newly purchased flat baskets!

Utterly feminine, the buttery yellow blossoms

accompanied with yellow and pink berries

against the baskets warm texture,
filled my creative soul with enthusiasm!

Picking the color palette from this floral arrangement,
I began with my honey hued chili pepper over~size plates
rimmed in brown used as chargers.

Daintily scalloped cream ware dinner plates
placed atop the chargers continue the feminine design.

Next, I placed a layering of paper napkins.
Partially to prevent the side~to~side movement
but more importantly for a whimsical touch!

First, these pink polka dot with rick~rack trim. . .
followed by this over~sized pink Dahlia floral print.

Atop the paper napkins,
I placed a matching scalloped cream ware soup bowl.

Continuing the scalloped cream ware
bread plate and butter pat keeps the place setting
from over stimulating our senses.

Printed recipes are given as a favor to each of my brunch guests
to add to their favorites.

The flatware used in this tablescape is heirloom silver
with a single rose blossom intricately embossed in the handle.

Crystal rose etched stemware compliments
my Bavarian China pattern in the cup and saucer.

A single pretty peat pot (here)
holds a packet of Zinnia flower seeds at each place setting.

Rose floral print napkins are gathered inside napkin rings
then fanned for a full skirted feminine effect!

Todays rain and cold certainly didn't damped our spirits
as we enjoyed good food and each others company
On Crooked Creek.

Sunshine occasionally peeked through the cloud cover

allowing for these sun~filled photos of our May Day Brunch. . .

A divinely delicious piece of Strawberries and Cream Pie,
a hug, a smile and a promise to meet again bringing this
May Day Brunch to an end, came all too soon!

I'll be sharing today's May Day Brunch recipes
in a future post with Yvonne @ StoneGable
for On The Menu Monday!

Until next time. . .

spring. . .

The possibility of a Season might come to mind for many,
especially after this unSeasonable Spring for 2013.

But for me,
since 1967 during my first visit,
Bennett Spring State Park at Lebanon, Missouri
is forever etched into my heart, mind and soul.

31
And he said unto them,
Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place,
and rest a while; for there were many coming and going,
and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
Mark 6:31

So~o~o. . .
each Autumn "Mr. Ed" and I heed the Scriptures
and literally come apart and rest a while.
Over the past two decades, our desert place has been
an Annual Trout Fishing Trip to Bennett Spring State Park.

This annual homeage we take On Crooked Creek
is the retreat that helps to bond us closer together
as man and wife. . .
and draws us into a deeper relationship with our Lord.

Away from the coming and going of our everyday lives,
we are afforded the leisure time
to listen and hear His direction for us.
The beauty of Bennett Spring State Park
is certainly no desert place~quite the contrary.

What better place to inwardly
and outwardly experience God's handiwork?

spring. . .

Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining