OATMEAL COOKIES

It’s a beautiful day – at least right now – but more rain is in the forecast for tonight, tomorrow, the next day, etc. Mike is off on his bicycle right now, fearing that this may be the only chance for a while.

A fellow blogger reports that her muse went away because nothing is happening, and I can relate. Our days are very routine. Even the work in my little sewing room is “nothing to write home about,” though I am having some fun. I’ve compiled as many patterns for 18-inch doll skirts as I can find, and I’m pairing fabrics and trims to follow-through on some long-cherished, simple ideas. There’s something to be said for simple, uncomplicated projects. And besides, I need to use up some fabric from my stash so that I can buy more. (I can hear Jo-Ann calling me clear out here.)

Occasionally, I bake a loaf of banana bread or a batch of cookies. Mike says I’m a cookie-baking machine, but I hardly think so. Still, I’ve baked cookies since I was 10 or 12. Back in the day, my grandfather complained to my mother: “She always bakes those ones with the chocolate in them, and they leave a bad taste in my mouth.” So, I had to alternate chocolate chips with something else. I think he liked oatmeal cookies.

But in my opinion, homemade oatmeal cookies have a tendency to be dry, dense, and tasteless. I thought maybe I was the only one who thought so, but the other day a friend said the same thing. The last oatmeal cookies I made, Mike fed to Bess, and I had to agree they weren’t flavorful.

I’ve only had one oatmeal cookie recipe I thought was worth anything, and it’s one Mother brought to me many years ago. To this day, I don’t know what prompted her to hand me that recipe, but if it was because she thought it was tasty, she was right. Unfortunately, when I went to my old recipe box, I couldn’t find that recipe, and I was disappointed for the loss. And then I remembered – I have Mother’s recipe box – and sure enough! There it was! I celebrated by baking a batch.

Here’s the recipe:

Oatmeal Cookies

(Originally from the Lewiston Tribune – many years ago)

Cream together:

1 cup butter or margarine

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

Add: 2 eggs well beaten

1 ½ cup flour

1 t salt

1 t soda

1 cup minute oats

1 cup nuts (I used half nuts and half raisins.)

1 t (or more) vanilla

Refrigerate dough 2-4 hours or overnight before baking. Drop by teaspoon (I use a 1 ½ inch scoop) on lightly greased cookie sheet (I use parchment paper). Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Leave on sheet 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack.

These are flat cookies – even on the lacy side. And while the recipe says to refrigerate, I didn’t – the need for instant gratification, you know -- and they turned out fine. KW

DISHWASHER UPDATE

Springtime comes to the Valley (behind Methodist Church on Broadview, Lewiston)

The other day I saw Mike carrying the space heater from his office to storage. “Oh-oh,” I said to myself, and sure enough, the seasonable temps we had enjoyed suddenly dipped into cooler temps and early spring rains. This is Idaho, you know – or close enough – and it’s too soon to count on consistency. A cheery fire burns in the little stove this morning, sending welcome warmth into the house.

Followers may wonder if we ever replaced the problematic Kenmore / Whirlpool dishwasher. No – not yet. While I’ve moved beyond the disappointment of having purchased a lemon, Mike is still disgruntled.

Daffodils finally bloom

“Our first dishwasher was a portable,” said Mike, speaking of his growing-up years in Mississippi. “It would break, and Dad would fix it.”

I’m not sure Mike should compete with his dad on this issue. Times have changed. I really think the days of “dad fixing it” are about over, but whatever . . .

But the other issue in the back of my mind is that I’m not sure we can do better. I’ve read review after review about machine after machine, and there isn’t a model with consistently good reviews. I know – they say that mean people will sabotage product ratings by writing poor reviews for the fun of it, but having had a bad experience, I can relate to the problems reported, including: failure to clean dishes, trouble with mother board, poor customer service, delayed response (or no response) from repair service, costly repairs, and continued issues despite repair. It’s enough to make me think twice.

Daffodils -- and the promise of more blooms

So, Mike pulled the dishwasher out – again – and we checked it over. We identified nothing because we know nothing. We pushed it back, and then it wouldn’t come on at all, so we pulled it back out. Mike fiddled with connections again, and we just left it extended from the counter for a week while I continued to use it. If I tried long enough, I could eventually get it to run. Mike checked connections again, and when it would run consistently, he carefully pushed it back under the counter.

Meanwhile, it seems to run with a bit more vigor, but I still don’t trust it. I keep my soapy sponge at the sink and clean the dishes as I load them. I also examine them as I take them out.

And that’s where we are today. KW

OPENING THE FARM HOUSE 2017

Maple tree in front of house

Mike and I went to the farm yesterday (Wed., April 5) – our first trip of 2017. The grader was working on the lower end of Gilbert Grade, and indeed the road is rough and needs attention. On top, we kicked up dust as we traveled; wetness seems to be confined to low places in fields. At our lane, the low spot near the culvert had washed a bit, but we were able to cross.

Several branches had broken out of the big maple in the front yard. I asked Mike to leave it long enough for me to get a picture. “Don’t worry,” he laughed, “you’ll have plenty of time.”

In order to understand what happened here, you have to remember that the hard freezes began to happen quickly last fall. On the first of December we went to the farmhouse to turn off the water, expecting to return before Christmas. Unfortunately, due to continued cold and snow, that didn't happen. Mike and son Clint walked in from the road on December 30 in order to check on the house and bring out what they could. The cold winter didn’t let up, and then it was wet. And that brings us to today.

House from pond

Entering the house, the first thing I noticed was that condiments and a few other things had been left in the fridge and were now thawed. I threw out most everything. I always resolve that this shall not happen to me again, but who knows.

Turning on the water didn’t go well.  Suffice it to say, there’s a leak somewhere. Mike is trying to reach the plumber even as I write. We’ve always pitied my grandparents because they lived in this place without plumbing, but on occasions like this, they get the last laugh. Yes, I’m sure I hear them laughing. Mike keeps a five-gallon jug of water for emergency purposes, and I used that to clean the refrigerator.

Munched apple tree

The day being pleasant -- the temp was right around 60 and actually warmer outside than in the house – I toured the yard. Unfortunately, things outside also sustained damage. Among our newer plantings, the sweet cherry tree seems to have survived, but the deer crumpled the fencing around our young apple tree and nibbled it but good. I don’t know if it will survive the summer heat. The struggling maple trees were also noshed and used for antler grooming. They need to be gone now.

Crown Imperials & daffodils

The deer even nibbled the lilac bushes on the bank behind the house. Lilacs are thought to be deer-resistant, but you can’t count on a deer not to nibble.

Lilacs bushes in compound

On a positive note, the lilacs and other plantings in the fenced area look great! If they survive the rodent activity (of which there is plenty), they should have a good year. The rhubarb is coming back and so are the strawberries. The Crown Imperials look great and will bloom soon.

Hallie planted these daffodils

Daffodils in the grove

And through it all, the daffodils smile and bob. I can always depend on the daffodils. Perhaps I need more daffodils. Hallie says I just need to crochet for a day or two in order to allay discouragement and set a fresh course. Sounds good to me -- even if it's doll clothes and machine embroidery. 

We brought the 4-wheeler back to town with us so Clint can borrow it. We avoided the grade and construction on Hwy 12 and came back through Nezperce on Hwy 95. KW

A view to the north