It is Halloween!

Our front door. I am a big Poe fan!

Bats, cats, witches and treats, Oh My! I love Halloween! When asked what is my favorite holiday, many assume I would say Christmas. Nope. It is Halloween. What is it that makes me love this day so much? I really do not have one concrete answer. Maybe it is because it arrives with Fall, my favorite season. Maybe because I have a dramatic flair and dressing in costume reminds me of my old theater days. I don't really know. I love it all.
When I say Halloween beats Christmas in my book, I get some strange looks. Especially since I am a Christian woman. Halloween is not viewed as a mainstream "Christian" practice. However, if you know your history of Halloween, you will know that October 31 is really about warding off evil and protecting yourself from it. The folk lore is fascinating to read. For example, dressing in costume. This is suppose to confuse the evil spirits/ghosts who are suppose to walk the earth today, in thinking you are one of them. The Jack-o-Lantern, once again to scare off evil spirits from your home. 
This year I have been a bit off my Halloween game. Sad, I know. It seems today just flew here. Plus illness has struck our home, nothing major thank goodness! But illness has arrived, despite my efforts. For the past two weeks everyone in the house has suffered some sort malady except for me. But wouldn't you know who gets it last night? Yep, Me. Oh, the injustice of being sick on my favorite holiday! So maybe instead of "Bats, Cats, Witches, and Treats" it will be "Tissues, Soup, Thermometer and Sleep."

My Halloween tree. Notice I used up those Sweet Gum pods. Which are also known as "Witches Burrs!

Our mantle. I used a black feather boa and attached Vintage Halloween cards on it.

Aunt Cathy's Chili Sauce

  Aunt Cathy's Chili sauce a favorite of our family. It is not a typical "chili" sauce that you would use on a Chili Hot Dog. The sauce is primarily made up of tomatoes, green and red peppers and onions. It has a sweet and tangy taste. We use it as a condiment on Beef or Pork roasts.

The Recipe:

24 Tomatoes
3 Green Peppers
3 Sweet Red Peppers
3 Large White Onions
6 Cups of Vinegar
4 Tablespoons Salt
1 Tablespoon Celery Seed
3 Cups of Sugar
1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon of Mustard
Canning jars, lids and rings (your choice preference) I use half pint jars.

Prepare the Tomatoes and Peppers by removing the stems and seeds. Dice all your vegetables into small pieces. In a Large Stock pot, add all your ingredients together. Mixing them well. Cook over low heat until the mixture thickens. Stirring occasionally. Once your mixture has thickened, fill your clean jars. Leave about 1/2 head space.

Prepare a water bath in your canning pot. Fill the water up to cover your jars. Bring to boil. Once your mixture has thickened, fill your clean jars. Leave about 1/2 inch head space. Process jars for about 10 minutes and remove. Listen for the "pop" to know that the jars have sealed.

Once jars are opened store into the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Heather

Sewing Jars

Do you have left over Canning jars from this year's canning adventures? If so, do not let them sit on the shelf, do something with them. There is a ton of things you can use these jars for. All you have to do is go to your favorite Search Engine and type in "Canning Jars" and the ideas are limitless. Here is what I did with my little jelly jars.

 

I made a Sewing Jar. My space is limited so my sewing stuff is stored on a shelf in our basement. I only bring it out when I am actually going to work on a sewing project. So looking for a needle and thread is not always convenient. I have my jar in the kitchen for those times when I need to make a quick fix. These are super easy to make and great to use up your fabric scraps.

Here is what you need:

-Small Jar

-Fabric scraps

-Styrofoam ball or floral ball

-Sewing items:  Pre-thread needles, pins, buttons etc. I actually put a mini sewing kit into mine.

-Knife to cut the Styrofoam ball in half to fit down into the canning ring.

-Hot Glue gun. Used to glue the fabric over the cut ball and then to glue it to the canning lid *Watch out so you do not burn your fingers!*

-Scissors or Pinking Shears. To cut extra fabric around the lid. Normally I use Pinking shears for a more decorative edge, but alas, mine are missing in action.

"Cheater" Rosemary and Cheddar Biscuits

Cooking is one of my favorite things to do. I relish time in the kitchen. Oh, the satisfaction of donning an apron, and creating healthy food. However, there are days that the sun is setting and you realize, "Dang! We still need to have dinner." Sound familiar? Today is one of those days. Lucky for me I had prepared our Chicken and Noodle soup earlier. But there is no way I am going to get the roll recipe done I wanted to do. So, what do we busy woman/Moms do? We improvise.
Hence, the "Cheater Rosemary and Cheddar Biscuits."

I just used regular old refrigerated biscuits. Basted them with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, sprinkled them with Rosemary, a bit of Italian seasoning, and cheese. Voila! They are actually quite tasty. Using my heart-shaped cake pan I thought it may send a subliminal message to my family that I still love them, even if I am running around like a mad woman! 

A Treasure passed down.

Creative minds are always turning. I am constantly looking, dreaming and thinking about my next project. This time I did not have to look to far. I am blessed to have come from a long line of creative people. The woman in my family have been musicians, bakers, gardeners, artists, photographers you name it! But the person that I credit the most in my creative "upbringing" was my Grandmother, Phyllis. She saw the potential in me, and she cultivated it. My Grandmother, "Gram" as I called her, always had things on hand for me to work with. She belonged to a Garden Club. She taught me how to floral arrange, make bows and garden. When I wanted to learn to sew, she pulled out her ancient black 1950's sewing machine. She would supply me with clay, to sculpt, paper, crayons and actively participated with me when I would draw. Gram even taught me how to bake. Every year from the time I was five years old, we would make cut-out cookies for Christmas. But there was one thing that my Grandmother did that was outstanding, she was a China Painter.

Gram!

She was self-taught and her work graces the walls and shelves in most of our families homes. When I was eight years old, Gram let me paint my first piece. It was a trivet with a Rabbit on it. I did not further my "formal" instruction after that. China painting is time consuming, and being a young girl, I was to busy off doing other things. However, I observed and helped. I helped load the kiln, helped mix paint, and just sat and watched. I can smell the paint now just thinking about it. When I was older we planned on my continuing my instruction, but then I became pregnant with my first child and life as parent was my priority.

Unfortunately, we lost Gram almost five years ago. October is her birthday month, so naturally my memories are flooded with her at this time of the year. As I was thinking of her, I began wondering what happened with all her china painting items. A quick phone call to my mother I found out that all her things were stored at my parent's house and that Mom could just not get rid of them. I quickly grabbed my keys and headed over there. There in large box was everything! The kiln was still there too. It was as if it was waiting for me. 

It may sound silly, but I believe there was a reason that Gram's china items never were sold. I think that I am suppose to continue in Gram's footsteps, to continue this lost art. It is my sincere hope that I will make her proud, and that she is with me on this new journey. Thank you Gram for leaving me this treasure. 

Study book, paint palette, tools, and a plate of violets painted by Gram.

Sweet Gum Trees: Can't Beat them? Embrace them!

 The Sweet Gum tree. Official name Liquidambar Styraciflua. These are the trees that line our street. To be honest, I never knew what they were until we moved into our home. We quickly became educated. Our first lesson was dealing with the spherical, spiked seed pods. There is an ever abundant supply of seed pods. They vary from the green new pods to brown dead ones. Here is the problem. They are a mess! They litter our street and yards in full force. There is never a time when the pods are not around. We are plagued. Not only are they messy, they are a hazard.  I can guarantee that everyone on our block at one time has slipped and fallen when walking on these. I have a scar on my knee as proof. When new people come over, we always tell them to watch out for the "Evil Spiky Balls." Maybe I should make signs warning others of the dangers?

Sweet Gum seed pods. New and old.

My negative attitude soften a bit, when someone told me that these pods are used in crafts.  I became intrigued. This was my second lesson. The craft world uses these pods in many ways. I have seen wreaths, pumpkins, ornaments made from these pods. Did you know that people actually sell them? Wow, maybe I have a gold mind in my front yard.

My Fall center piece. Sweet gum pods, willow branches and Eucalyptus

 My third lesson. I found out that these trees have a long history in Herbal medicine. The oldest record of these trees dates back 55 million years ago. Many cultures have utilized the trees in medicinal practices. The sap and bark is traditionally used. They are used as incense, sleep aids,  treating ailments from skin disorders, Ringworm,and when taken internally to help with coughs, and colds. The Sweet gum sap or resin has been used in the Southern states as a chewing gum.

My fourth lesson and last is that the pods have use in the garden. The pods provide a natural slug deterrent. Placing the pods around the base of your plants inhibits the slug's access. I have also layered the pods in my flower beds to stop feral cats from using them as a free litter box.

With all these wonderful uses, I no longer have such a negative attitude about the Sweet Gum. I have embraced them as one of my favorite trees. However, I may need a little reminder when I am out cleaning up their mess.

Sweet Gum leaf.

Native Roots

Native Americans are not all living on Reservations in the west. They are alive and well and just might be your neighbors. How do I know this? Because my husband and I have Native heritage. Let me first start off by clearing up some misconceptions. Not all Native Americans have dark skin. Not all have big noses and the high cheek bones. Yes, many tribes have those distinguishing features and skin coloring that fit in the stereotype, but many do not. Why? Because of a few factors. The first would be because of geography. Those Natives living in open plains or deserts have darker skin tones simply because they live in area that do not have much coverage from the sun. Whereas, the Woodland tribes lived in areas that were dense and shaded. The biggest factor is due to Native Americans marrying and having children with other cultures. Or what we call assimilating. In these instances the "blood quantum" (a term the government uses to measure just how "native" you are) has been reduced or cancelled out by the other ethnic blood. That is my family's reason. For me, my own personal heritage goes back to my 5th Great Grandmother, Manga. She was a full-blood Ottawa Native woman. However her husband was a French man. As my direct line from this woman came down through the years, there was no more Native American lineage added that we know of. So for blood quantum purposes, I would not be considered Native by government standards. My husband's Native blood is closer in his lineage. He is Cherokee and Choctaw, and is about 1/4 give or take. (I know ridiculous, it is not like you have to prove how much German, Irish, or English you are.)

My 3rd Great Grandmother. Julia Rumery Thayer. 1/4 Ottawa.

That brings up another issue, the "That we KNOW of." Native Americans did not always claim their heritage. Did you know that at one time it was considered better to be African American than Native American? So many Natives claimed themselves "white", Black Dutch, Black Irish, or African American on government records such as the census. There was also the government's way of "assimilating." There are so many stories of Native children being removed from their tribes and put into schools where they were told to forget their Native ways and become "white." But they did not forget. I was told by a wise Elder, "that if you have one drop of Native blood in you, than you are Native." It is more than blood lineage, you must live it.


Regardless of all of this. We are here. As a family we have brought the ways of the Anishinabe (the Original People) back into the light, we honor are ancestors. We are teaching our children the traditions of the old ways, we are teaching them to live in harmony with the Earth, to love those around us. To be better.

Brian dancing in the circle with Lavinia in 2009.

My husband Brian in his traditional Southeastern style regalia.

Brian in Traditional Men's Dance Regalia.