First Day of School

You know it's September when in spite of all your best efforts to deny, the kids go back to school. First day for us started with first announcement of the day occurring at 4:31, just in case I might sleep through the alarm at 6 am.  By now in the afternoon, I am feeling quite blurry as that was a long time ago.
While it is not my First Day at anything, for September My new resolve is to try and save on those silly expenses like parking and lunches that I could have brought from home. so that calls for a recipe that is family friendly
Pasta is a big hit at our house, and so I am including a quick recipe that could be modified and should satisfy the younger folks too! We still have lots of lovely chard in the garden and some broad beans, so that is likely what I will use.  Soccer and cubs, school and church, we all need a lot of energy in these rainy September days.  I will share my crockpot goodies next time!

Spaghetti with Pancetta, Green Beans and Basil
Ingredients:
8 oz. spaghetti
4 oz. pancetta (or 4 slices of bacon)
3/4 pound green beans (stem ends removed)
grated Parmesan – however much you want
a handful of basil leaves, roughly torn

Directions:
1) Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente; save 1 cup
2) While spaghetti is boiling, brown the pancetta in a skillet – it should take about the same amount of time to cook as the spaghetti. Transfer it to a paper towel to drain.
And don’t forget – don’t pour the grease down the drain, or you may clog it. Then you’ll have to get Liquid Plumr and you’ll never cook this again. Instead, pour the grease into a mug or something that can withstand the heat.
3) Add the green beans to the skillet; cover and cook about 5 minutes.
4) Transfer the green beans to the cooked and drained spaghetti. Mix in the pancetta, lotsa Parmesan and reserved water. Dish onto the plate and top with basil. And more Parmesan.

Enjoy

Buckle Up...September is here.

Dang....denial didnt work again!  I try an pretend that September and the hurry up season isnt coming but here we are. Today was another one of those days where all my plans to get 1,000,000 things done didnt happen. My idea was that while the chicken was barbecuing outside and the potatoes were boiling inside, somehow I could start waxing pots for another firing before Friday.

As I was running in and out of the house and up and down to the garage, I suddenly just stopped and said it aint gonna happen. Usually I dont like to give in, and usually crash and burn before giving in, but today I just put the pots away, moved the glazes back into the garage, and focussed on making and enjoying dinner with my little person. I am trying to stop running with the multi tasking fantasy that I can do 10 things at a time and do them well. My mother had a lot of old adages, and one of the best was - A job worth doing, is worth doing well. 

Over the next three months of working, gardening, parenting, soccer schlepping, potting, and volunteer work, I pledge not to be a crazy lady, and to enjoy the blessings of my busy life.  The season of harvest and gathering is here, 

here is a selection of baskets for physical or metaphysical gathering.

Projects for September

This is our classic first day of school Picture next to the sunflower. It is bigger than ever.  Even on the ladder he is tiny next to it!

The prairie needs three colours, blue , green and gold.  The intensity of the colours is powerful.

I still have dreams of making ground cherry jam but they are a lot slower to gather than these beautiful citrus fruits for a marmalade.  The smell is glorious even if it does make our hot and stinky hot, hot and steamier.  September with all of it busyness is hectic but I am pledging to enjoy the bright blue skies , golden fields and glorious sunflowers all around me