Chinese Classical Garden

Instead of settling into the shorter days of fall and preparing myself mentally for the holidays, here I sit, still finding myself thinking of summer, of growing things, and even weeding.  ohhhhh... I got it bad. 

And so, I hope a little escape to a special garden my husband and I visited this past summer will let me linger a little longer on those sunnier days.

Portland has an authentic Chinese Classical Garden right smack dab in the middle of town.  Built by visiting Chinese architects it is a beautiful inspiration to behold. 

Actually several gardens or rooms make up this garden.  With water a predominate theme, and  precise placement of stone  and plantings. 

Entering the garden was this pergola of classic chinese design.

Our guide explained the precise placement of the rockery so that as you approach different areas of the garden you would see all aspects of each stone.  It was awesome!

I found myself so intrigued by the cement shingles or tile I guess that covered the roofes of the little buildings.  Not a gutter anywhere, to clean!!!  But the rainwater was purposefully directed where the gardener wanted it.  In pools and swales around the garden. 

This closeup is a little blurry but see the the pointed shingles hanging down from this garden room?  Now picture rainwater dripping from  the points.  Everything that happens here is planned and intentional and beautiful.

Even underfoot, mosaic walkways of small stones were meticulously placed.  It took little encouragement for guests to remove their shoes and walk the garden barefoot.  It felt wonderful!

The best part of my visit was when I grabbed my husbands hand, leading him to this authentic chinese tea house in the garden before he could protest.  The tea selection was extensive and as difficult to choose as that new JUST RIGHT perennial.   Each tea was served in it's own unique pot and cup and accompanied with small almond cookies.  Cell phones were not allowed here, and though there were other guests, a respectful peace was observed.  Quiet comtemplation followed as our server refreshed our pots with a second helping of hot water.  The tea house had an open atmosphere and you could sit overlooking the ponds and floating water lillies.  Bliss I tell you, "Bliss". 

  Okay then, Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  God's blessings and thanks for coming along with me on my little trip back to summer.

bfitz

I Can Do It!

I am trying real hard to not to write about the garden, or the compost pile. 

" Can I do it?    We'll see........."

So how about this nifty bench here.

We live an hour from the Oregon coast, and every summer when my sister Cindy comes to visit, we make a little overnight trip to the beach.   It is so fun to see creations like these by beachcombers.  With driftwood, stones, shells even seaweed, people come up with the most clever pieces of artsy stuff.   I already imagine this bench in a garden, oops, okay I'm trying. 

On our last trip Cindy and I arrived at the seaside late in the day.  Hurrying to get the last glimpse of the setting sun, we scurried (it's hard to scurry on sand) down to the waters edge.   It was beautiful!   Cindy insisted on a picture of me sitting on a washed up log.  Would that be considered  driftwood?  Anyway, I was a little concerned about turning my back to the waves lapping the shore, as the warning signs attest to, but Cindy assured me it would be fine "Just one quick shot!" 

"Are we not supposed to trust our older sisters?

She got a good laugh when the ocean (it sneaks up very quickly and quietly) swirled around my feet.   I jumped up running for dry sand.  I'll never learn!!

But, sweet sis that she is.  She spent the next day in my shop putting together her one of kind creation from all the driftwood she collected on our trip. 

Like my new thingamabob?

I especially liked her use of the rusty found objects I love to collect.  At the top a piece of rusty plumbers tape and a nicely  corroded old padlock at the bottom. 

I love my sister!  

"Now can I go back to the garden?"

Blessings,

Bfitz

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas homesteaders, and a blessed New Year too all!

The homesteadbloggers are an industrious bunch, with many traditions being celebrated and heaps of holiday cookies and other goodies prepared as families gather to commemorate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  As I was reading along I imagined how wonderful it would be to turn the latch on each door entering into homes filled with the aroma of holiday treats, crackling fires and laughter and warm embraces.  The homestead spirit is an especially blessed one this time of year and how gracious of our Lord to give us peace to live simply with quiet and thankful hearts.  Praise Him. 

What can I share?  This great snack mix makes a wonderful gift when given in a tin or decorative jar.  And in the spirit of simplicity.......

SWEET AND SALTY SNACK MIX

2 large pkg. white chocolate chips

3T. vegetable oil

1 large pkg. M&M's ( red and green for Christmas)

1-10 oz. pkg. small pretzels

2 cups salted peanuts

5 cups Cheerios

5 cups Rice Chex

Melt chocolate chips and oil in the microwave, stirring often until smooth.  Mix the rest of the ingredients in large bowl.  Pour melted chocolate chips over mixture and stir to coat.  Spread out onto a wax paper covered counter.  Let set up, break apart and it's ready to go.  Makes 8 quarts.

The grandkidlets displaying ornaments they made in our annual grandma's Christmas workshop.  In the new year I would like to share about this wonderful little studio my dear husband built for me in what used to be our llama barn.  Blessings, bfitz

Love and Togetherness

Thanksgiving was a beautiful day here in our neck of the woods.  Crisp fall day with sunny skies.  Family gathered and much turkey with all the trimmings was heartily enjoyed by all but, oooooohhhhh... leftovers the last two days have me thinking I need to take in some serious hiking.  My youngest daughter Katie made the pumpkin cake recipe recommended by Marilyn Moll of the Urban Homemaker and it was superb and a nice change from the traditional pumpkin pie.  With our children grown, my husband and I enjoy preparing the feast together.  It's amazing what clever ideas the menfolk can come up with in the kitchen.  His method of making deviled eggs was really interesting and of course he loved explaining why his method works best!  Our son Joah came early thus  peeling the potatoes became his job, now two men in the kitchen!  I loved it!!!   I thought of all the love and togetherness occuring in countless homes across our country and what it means to hearts young and old.  God bless you all dear homesteaders, God bless you all.

Panther Creek Potluck

I love this sign that was posted on our street a few weeks in advance to a get together for family and friends of the "Creek".   The hosts supplied hamburgers and hotdogs aplenty cooked over an open fire pit on a cast iron setup I envied.  It was fun to see how it was operated, and my hotdog, yum, a nice black crispy line down the center. Lotsa mustard and onions of course.  Seems these get togethers don't happen with much regularity these days and it was a pleasure to catch up and see how children have grown.  One young lady a year older than my oldest daughter shared about her homesteading and the particular difficulties in their 2 years of working a 75 acre farm.  The fencing, coyotes and the endless repairs and maintenance of an old home and barn.  And loving it I might add.  She had previously completed college and is also a "door lawyer" she stated. " What is that?" we asked, and she replied "What ever comes through the door!"   It was suggested that maybe next year we would try to miss opening of hunting season as some of the menfolk were un accounted for.  Per Oregon weather the sprinkles did come, but some lovely old trees made a comfy refuge.  A fine day! 

Grain binder

This grain binder was being pulled by a beautiful pair of belgians with blonde manes. You can see these majestic animals at the top of my blog site being retired from the field.  It was fun to watch how gracefully everything flowed in rhythm.  The driver carefully watching and pulling the levers at the appropriate time to bind and then dispense these delicate grain bundles in small piles.  Youngsters ran along behind gathering and placing them into larger shocks for the hay wagon crew.