Cabin Life

 I have enjoyed Brenda's posts about living small. Her blog Cozy Little House has been talking about the benefits of small dwellings both from an ecological and emotional standpoint. Perhaps this is why I love the little cabin so much. I found this cabin the summer after my husband died. It was here that the healing began. Some wondered how I lived in such primitive surroundings. When I met Jack, he loved the cabin. That was the first hint about how well we would get along. It had always been his wish to spend a summer by the lake - the second hint. A kiss stolen on the cabin porch was the first page of the first chapter of the new life.

The cabin is not ours. We rent from the wonderful owners who have graciously allowed me to add some furniture and decorate a bit. Quilts hang from the loft railings and Fiestaware fills the cabinets.

Last year my resolution for the new year was to accomplish. I did. This summer I plan to enjoy these surroundings more than I ever have. I need to blend relaxation and accomplishment.

The porch has a glider. We found a table and chairs for the porch and have most meals outside on the porch. This weather the past few days has forced us inside.

Cookouts are a frequent occurrence. Watermelon is a favorite.

More to follow.

Rambling in and about the cabin...

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The birthday month is still in effect. My favorite lovely presents are a new tripod and a new camera bag. I am a lucky girl.

Internet connecting has been difficult making for frustrating writing. The weather settles over the lake and the connection doesn't stay connected. So now I am trying Blogpress. I am going to ramble a bit because I am experimenting.







I would like to be able to edit pictures and there is probably a way. All I know is that I am spoiled by all the tools available when I am online.

I got 4 quilts back from my quilter Lynn and will be sending one to her this week.



Some Dr. Seuss fabric found its way into my stash and a quilt for my grandson was created.




I read Lynn's blog Happier Than a Pig in Mud and we made a Pickle Pot. Not sure how to enter a link with program so just look in my sidebar and you will find her and a link to Miz Helen.

Well, we are off for a birthday breakfast and then just a relaxing day. I hope the rain stops as I would like to photograph the quilts outside.

Pinks in the park...

We are lucky to be close to Bridgton. We can do basic shopping there, see a movie, go out for lunch and, then in June, there are the peonies.

The park in Bridgton is Shorey Park and it is right next to Highland Lake. This time of year there are peonies. I had thought there was a story about how the main street in Bridgton came to be populated with peonies but Google couldn't help today. This year (because I can walk), we parked the car and I strolled around an took pictures of these glorious flowers. I love the cloud-like fluffiness of the regular peonies but the single peonies are outstanding. I wouldn't presume to give these peonies names but I always thought they were called Japanese peonies.

I am joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for her weekly Pink Saturday! Please stop by and see the other pinks. Happy Pink Saturday!

Closer and closer.....

I got up bright and early and straightened up the cabin. Jack made a dump run (no pickup at the cabin). Then I went out to my little garden and took some pictures. I wandered down the lane to my neighbor's and took some pictures of her flowers. There is a lady slipper growing wild in her garden but that shot would have had to be a "crawl on your belly" vignette - too hard to get up in the woods. So I wandered closer and saw her amazing Irises.  I came back to the cabin and played with a still life. So let me share the results with no more talking.

Have a great week!

Pinks, Picasa, and Picnik

The peonies are from the market. Ours are not quite open yet. The fragrance was intoxicating on the porch of the cabin.

I am really enjoying the ability to edit photos in Picasa using Picnik. I like playing with the photos. I find that I like to have a frame around the picture. I miss the frames from Photoscape but Macs and Photoscape are not speaking. I also miss the ability to turn my photos into artwork. However, I am researching filters that might be able to do this. In the meantime, I am going back and forth between the 2 programs and blogger.

 

A touch of white from Jack's Garden

Cosmos with a filter and the blossom from a scented geranium

I am joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for another Pink Saturday. Each week bloggers celebrate the color Pink with wonderful photographs and stories. If you get a chance, stop by.

Birthday Man

Today is Jack's Birthday. 10 days from now is mine. Neither one of us know where all the years have gone. We have been together for almost nine years and we both have lifetimes before us. We shall celebrate this day and our lives together.

We shall sit by the cabin and look at the lake and my little garden. Hopefully the weather shall hold so that grilling will be a possibility.

See you tomorrow. His birthday present today is me turning off the computer!

Soup for supper....

It has been damp and cold in the cabin. Jack wanted soup to help with the chill. My mother had always talked about cranberry beans so when I found a package of beans at Williams-Sonoma, I decided to give them a try.

I googled some recipes for cranberry bean soup and sort of combined the ones I found - taking what I thought was the best from each one.

We soaked the beans overnight.

I used 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, and 2 small onions - all chopped and diced the way we like them.

A hunk of chopped Pancetta was tried out with a little olive oil.

I used a big pinch of Kosher salt and a few dashes of black pepper. Fresh garlic has been disappointing recently so I have been using minced garlic from the herb and spice rack.

When the vegetables looked ready, I added 6 cups of water and a small can of chopped tomatoes. I used a half a teaspoon each of Better Than Bouillon chicken and beef. Herbs from the garden simmered slowly. Two bay leaves completed the herbs and a glug of red wine for good measure. We have also started using the rind from Parmesan cheese. It is a very subtle flavor that I like with tomatoes (remove before serving).

We cooked the mixture for a little over an hour. Almost done. It was very good on this cold damp day and there are leftovers for tonight!

Hope your weather is getting better! See you on Pink Saturday!

Cabin Fare

We had a run around day yesterday. We went to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. We then went out to lunch and ate far too much of course! So, a simple supper seemed in order.

I made a frittata of sorts. There is no precise recipe. I sliced Roma tomatoes and covered them scallions which I cut with scissors. I season this with sea salt and ground pepper. I used 5 eggs. I whisk the eggs and add a big glob of sour cream (we use fat-free) and a handful of grated cheese. I have used many mixtures. Last night was Mexican 4 cheese. Pour this mixture over tomatoes and bake for about 30 minutes at 350. The top should be slightly browned.

It was a rainy, cold and damp day. I couldn't get on the Internet with my computer which is very discouraging. The iPad is a godsend. I am using an app called Blogsy and it is allowing me write a post. However, I cannot correct a mistake after I have published. I need to study their directions a little more - could be user error!

Have a great day.