SALTY BREEZES

Off to the rock...

An Island: a tract of land completely surrounded by water, in layman's terms PARADISE!

MAINE BLUEBERRY CAKE

Cooking Down East by Marjorie Standish is a cookbook I received 34 years ago as a wedding shower gift. This cookbook not only has remained a constant in my kitchen, but holds one of my favorite blueberry cake recipes. This recipe is what I would refer to as a "simple" cake, meaning there is no crumble topping, just a dusting of granulated sugar. It is the perfect dessert to follow a Maine lobster feed.

MELT-IN- YOUR-MOUTH BLUEBERRY CAKE~

2 eggs, separated

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shortening

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/3 cup milk

1 1/2 cups fresh Maine blueberries

Beat egg whites until stiff. Add about 1/4 cup of the sugar to keep them stiff.

Cream shortening, add salt and vanilla to this. Add remaining sugar gradually. Add unbeaten egg yolks and beat until light and creamy. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk.

Fold in beaten egg whites. Fold in the fresh blueberries. (Take a bit of the flour called for in the recipe and gently shake berries in it so they won't settle.)

Turn into a greased 8 by 8 pan. Sprinkle top of batter lightly with granulated sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Serves eight.

*I removed my cake at 50 minutes, my oven is electric

My eggs were farm fresh, coming straight out of the nest, thank you Gladys

Also used was my homemade vanilla.

ENJOY!

IT'S BERRY SEASON~

How quickly the weather can change... a storm blows in...the hot humid air quickly replaced by cool, dry air...it was to be short lived, the weather in Maine is known for it's unpredictability however, the clear skies remained long enough for me to enjoy the berry fields... I was informed that the berries...raspberry and blueberry... were ripening 2 1/2 weeks ahead of schedule. Can there be anything more satisfying than sweet raspberry jam on a cold winter's day? Slathered on warm homemade toast or topped on old fashioned vanilla ice cream, the taste transports you back to the fine summer's day when they were picked. Last year I learned a valuable lesson when it comes to raspberries, their shelf life is short. I made a batch of jam, stored the remainder of the raspberries in the fridge, when I returned to make another batch the berries had begun to mold. I did not dare use them, but needless to say my girls/chickens had a very expensive treat, and I learned a very expensive lesson...

There were just two of us picking in the raspberry field, the picking was slim to say the least, but the berries' flavor was so sweet. The sun began to warm us and the berries' fragrance soon filled the summer air.

Mission accomplished...

The blueberries on the other hand were big, juicy and plentiful...their branches were weighted to the ground...it took very little time to top off a box. Typically I pick high bush berries for jam and savor the low bush wild blueberries, which Maine is known for, for my baking...

again, mission accomplished...In my next post I'll share an old Maine blueberry cake recipe, a simple recipe, but oh so yummy and one that goes well with lobster and corn on the cob. I do have to ask, are you a clean berry picker or are you like me, head to toe in berry juice? I have learned from experience to don my old jeans and tee shirt...and bring a towel to sit on, just in case! Goodnight...

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS~

You never really know what goes on behind closed doors...and that holds true inside a hen house too...silly girls...don't you know... two's company...but... three is a crowd...

what's happening inside your coop?

SUCCESS~

Travis's first sleepover was a huge success...grampy rocked little "Sweet Cheeks" off into Slumberland...at 8:30 pm Saturday night, Travis was fast asleep...

at 4:00 am, his blueberry blue eyes fluttered open...he slurped down his morning bottle, had a diaper change and returned to bed.

7:30 am...truth be told I just couldn't resist any longer... I scouped Travis out of his Pack and Play and we snuggled together in the rocking chair...I felt transported back in time to when my sons were babes, every morning felt like Christmas morning, I so loved seeing those precious little faces, arms reaching to be picked up...the smell of sleep lingering in their soft downy hair...children are our most precious gift... a blessing from God...

and when I ask Travis who loves his crazy granny?

this is the reaction I receive...

a laugh, with a grin and a smile, all compiled onto one little face...a face that this granny just cannot resist...

LOOK WHO'S SPENDING THE NIGHT~

Look who's spending the night with his Granny and Grand Dad...
Little Sweet Cheeks is having his first sleepover...how wonderful it is to have a baby in the house...all to ourselves...now, any bets on how much sleep we'll get? I'll fill you in tomorrow. Goodnight...

THE JOYS OF GARDENING~

How rewarding it is to gather a bouquet of flowers, after the morning's dew has dried, from one's own flower gardens.I love flowers, it is my opinion you can never grow to many, in my humble patch of earth I try to incorporate as many long blooming flowers, mostly perennials, which will provide color throughout the summer. Gardening is such a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, but it does require dedication. Dead heading, weeding, thinning, transplanting, watering and of course the ever on going battle with insects...oh... and deer, how could I forget the deer... I never have a color palette, it's hit or miss. I tend to tuck flowers in here and there. Black Eyed Susan, Shasta Dasiy, Ladys Mantle, Cone Flower, Hollyhock and Delphinium are a garden favorite. Working in the garden you find peace and solitude, you are left with your own thoughts, hear the trees sway, the birds sing and in my case chickens are always close at hand...sometimes helpful and sometimes not...mostly not...

my future gardener...our little blooming flower...

Travis Lloyd is two months old today...

under the shade of a maple tree he dreams.. I see a tiny pair of garden gloves in his future...why, his granny can dream too! Do you garden with your grandchildren? please tell!

THE OLSON HOUSE

Yes indeed, this is the Olson House located off the beaten path in Cushing, Maine. It is the location of Andrew Wyeth's painting Christina's World. This saltwater farm house was home to "Anna" Christina and her brother Alvaro. At 17, Betsy James introduced Andrew (her soon to be husband) to the Olson's. Betsy described the home as "looming like a weathered ship stranded on a hilltop." This three story home is one of my favorite places to visit. If you are a admirer of Artist Andrew Wyeth you must add this home to your list of places to visit while in Maine. 300 of Wyeth's paintings were done in this old home. Images of paintings are framed and found throughout the rooms giving visitors an idea of what Wyeth saw. Most of the rooms are found empty with the exception being a lone chair. In the kitchen however, the original wood stove along with Alvaro and Christina's rocking chairs are found. On the kitchen windowsill, glass shelves hold Christina's beloved red geraniums. Wyeth documented life on the farm in many of his works. "The windows are eyes or pieces of the soul almost." "Each window is part of Christina's life."

One May day Andrew saw Christina dragging herself out to pick flowers from her garden. Paralyzed from the waist down, with an unknown medical condition, life was not easy for Christina. Alvaro took on the role of main caregiver and neither he nor Christina married. Wyeth took artistic license while painitng Christina's World. He separated the barn further from the house, and omitted the tree line which formed the horizen. 30 year old Betsy was used as his model, however, the gnarled hands and arms belong to 55 year old to Christina.

The Olson House, with all it's history is amazing. To stand in a room and look through the old wavy glass windows, to visualize what Wyeth saw, can take your breath away. I recommend the one hour guided tour and photography is permitted... Gazing out an upstairs window, looking across the street, over a field, on the edge of the Atlantic ocean...

a small cemetery is found...Christina and Alvaro are buried, together in one grave...

and with a simple black headstone, Mr. Wyeth too.

MY BEST FELLA TRAVIS~

When my best fella stops by for a visit with his granny... he gets my undivided attention...can you blame me?

Tomorrow, part #2 of Who's House Is This...goodnight...

WHO'S HOUSE IS THIS?

This old weathered saltwater farm house is one of my favorite places to visit. Located off the beaten path, in a small Maine village...this house proudly stands...One step through the front door and you soon realize you have walked into history...the farmhouse is empty with the exception of a few original items...

the old kitchen stove remains ...

as does the original slate sink...

field cut wildflowers displayed in canning jars are scattered throughout the house... and geraniums adore the kitchen window... just as they did many years ago...

across the street and down a well trodden path you will find a small family cemetery...there the inhabitants of this home and the artisit who made them and this house famous rest...now, lets see if anyone knows the answer ...who is this famous artist? and couple?... anyone? the answers tomorrow...

WE'RE HAVING A HEAT WAVE~

The lazy, hazy days of summer have set in...today is a day for a tall glass of lemonade and cold watermelon slices... along the coast the southerly wind blows, the smell of salt is in the air...a gull soars into billowy clouds...

tourist are now in abundance...shopping and seafood being their main focus... the vast majority of "snowbirds" have returned to their cottages and summer homes, opened now and readied for summer enjoyment...as this day comes to an close, we cast open our windows allowing the cool evening breeze to flow throughout the house, dispersing the days stale air...

at dusk we hurry to our gardens which are found in dire need of a cool drink, we find them hot and thirsty from the day long heat...

the girls take the heat in stride...dirt baths and fresh water keep everyone's spirits happy...

and the grand finale to my day... an evening stroll down our bumpy dirt driveway accompanied by my best fella...Travis Lloyd...

works like a charm everytime...Life is good...Sweet dreams...