A FALL POEM

 

FALL WALK

or

(I FORGOT TO PACK A FIRE EXTINGUISHER)

Fire above me.

Fire below me.

Wind rushes through

the tree top canopy.

 Ablaze with vibrant hues of

 yellow, orange, and red.

Branches throw glowing orbs,
radiant leafy shapes, 

to my burning feet

 I hear them cackle,

"Fire...Fire...Fire"

                                      C.W.L.

LEBANON PARK : AUTUMN

What would life be without October?

I couldn't imagine.  It's my favorite time to hike, enjoy the gorgeous fall color, to let my mind wander, in my favorite place...Lebanon Park.

(Some photos from a recent hike, wearing a "close to my heart" hat from my dear Dad.)

Lunar Eclipse

I'm sure you've seen other pictures of the recent lunar eclipse.  Mine did not turn out so well, with my everyday small camera.   I loved being out at 5:45 a.m. to experience the whole event.  I felt awe struck and small at the same time.  This picture was taken as the sun rose and the moon set, out of a partial shadow of the earth.  Our universe is magical...

AUTUMN

12x12 oil CW Larson

 How I love this time of year!  October officially starts mid-week and autumn is finally here.  We expect a week of cooler temps in the 60's...my kind of weather.  I enjoy changing out the flower pots to reflect fall colors...yellow mums, purple cabbages, and cornstalks.  Truly there is something so joyful in setting a pumpkin (or two) at the front door!

And it's the one time of year I can display the pumpkins I have painted on canvas, one with a few warts, and one quite gnarly!!

12x12 oil CW Larson

My sons had a favorite Halloween poem when they were children:

  Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate. 

The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late."

The second one said,"There are witches in the air."    

The third one said, "I don't care!"

The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

Woo- ooo went the wind

And out went the light

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

by Reid at age 7

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE-CHIP COOKIES (based on a recipe from David Lebovitz's "Ready For Dessert")

 
To say these cookies are chocolately chocolate-chip is an understatement!!  While they bake, watch them carefully because you want to remove them from the oven while they still feel molten and are barely cooked around the edges.....and eat one (or two) before they cool completely!

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE-CHIP COOKIES

1 pound bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

4 large eggs, at room temp

1 3/4 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.

Add the chopped chocolate and butter to a double boiler to melt,( or melt in a microwave.)

In small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.

Using a mixer with whisk attachment, whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla on high until a well-defined ribbon forms when the beater is lifted, about 5 min.  With mixer running on low, mix in the chocolate-butter mixture until thoroughly incorporated, then stir in flour mixture followed by the chocolate chips.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and drop generous Tbsp. size dough, 1 inch apart.  Bake rotating sheets until edges feel just slightly firm, about 9 min.

Let cookies cool on the baking sheets until firm enough to handle, then transfer to wire rack.

T.S. ELIOT

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time. 

MAKE PASTA!

Making pasta at home can be one of the most delicious and satisfying experiences.  Homemade pasta has a lightness and tenderness that nothing out of a box can replicate.  With a few simple ingredients and easy technique, it's something we all can do.  I'll share with you my favorite way to make tagliatelle or pappardelle.  The recipe comes from Marcella Hazan.  I use a food processor and pasta machine.

 MAKING THE DOUGH
Pour 1 heaping cup of unbleached all-purpose white flour into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade.  Break 2 eggs into the bowl and run the machine until the flour and eggs mass together.

Open the bowl and poke two fingers into the mass.  It will probably feel sticky.  In this case, add 1/2 Tbsp. of flour, cover the bowl, and process again.  Test the mass again, if still sticky, add another 1/2 Tbsp. of flour and run the blade again.  Follow this procedure, until the dough is no longer sticky and feels springy to the touch.

Place dough in the center of a wooden work board and mold it into a rounded shape. knead for 1 min.  When done, wrap in plastic and let rest at room temp. for 15-60 min.

ROLLING OUT DOUGH
With a pasta machine roller set at largest opening and several dry kitchen towels spread over a table or counter top, unwrap the dough.  Cut into 6 pieces.  Flatten one and run through the machine.  Run through 2 more times and place flat on towel.  Continue with all the pieces.
Close down the machine one notch and run the pieces through again.  Again , close the machine down one more notch and run the strips through.  Stop when the pasta is as thin as desired.  Let the strips dry for aprox. 15 min. turning over from time to time until they start to feel leathery.

CUTTING THE DOUGH

With a fluted pastry wheel or a broad, straight-edged knife,  on the wooden cutting board, cut the pasta into 1/2 to 1 inch ribbons. Spread out onto a tray lined with a towel to dry.  May be used right away in your favorite dish or store in a plastic zip lock bag after drying for 24 hours.

BUON APPETITO!

Bike Ride

There's a wonderful feeling of freedom riding a bike!  Pedaling around with the wind, choosing fast or slow,  holding handlebars or not, cruising down hills,  and all the while smiling!  Childhood returns...  

Before I left for my bike ride this morning I passed by the morning glory trellis. And the first flower has bloomed!  Such a pretty shade of blue...

Summer of Parties

It has been a glorious summer !!  Lovely summer weather.  Not plagued heavily with humidity or strong storms.  Idyllic actually!!  And it has been perfect for all the summer parties we have attended... one almost every weekend!  Birthdays, graduations, weddings, and reunions.....

Front Door

At the front door I planted two Euonymus topiaries this summer.  I was afraid there wouldn't be enough sunlight,  but so far, so good!  Every season I try to experiment with different plants.

Our Doorman:

Larry