Out and About

Starting last Saturday I seemed to be on the go most days, - out and about to lunch, to sing, to knit, and then there were the long, wonderful drives!!!

One of mysweet DILs came and picked me up early on Saturday morning and we took our time driving to Penticton, stopping to take oodles of pictures, and that was a change from taking them on the fly, as I usually do.

I took pictures of soft fading yellow leaves on dark grey trunks and ducks, swimming in the creek that winds along the highway,

We visited parks that I haven't seen in a long while and enjoyed the colours and the sun and light breezes of the morning; and the small children playing on the bright playground equipment.

On our way through the centre of town we came upon this wonderful fall display on a local estate.

and brilliant autumn flowers in brilliant gardener's front yards!

And we caught a glimpse of the Dragon Ladies, practising on the river channel that joins Okanagan Lake with Skaha Lake.  I have learned since that these were the Survivor (cancer) Crew, who are the only ones still practising for an upcoming competition.  I was inspired!

We lunched at the Hooded Merganser, on the lakeshore, and although all we saw in the water fowl category were mud hens, there was a sailboat off shore and the lunch was delicious.

After securing our wallets and putting on the blind-folders we went into Knapps Plantland,  armed against unanticipated purchases and bought some potting soil, vermiculite, a few bulbs and some bunches of Mum's, all wrapped up and displayed along the paying counter at a price nobody could ignore!!!  They don't last forever, being bargain items, but lovely to have for a few days.

On the way home we were enticed up Sheep Creek Road to preview the Christmas Sale that was to start on Thursday of this week, - knowing from experience the great crowd of ladies that make visiting the Red Rooster during spring and fall sales it seemed the wise thing to do, to visit early....

Not only is the shop delightful, - so also is the garden and the numerous bird feeders that attract all the small birds and fill the air with their chirping and contented cries.  I tried to take some pictures with my 'clever' camera, but by then it was starting to rain

 and the camera didn't care for that situation.

I did get some lovely pictures on the way back down the hill, to the highway, and home.

Home is marked by Bear's fruitstand and its wonderful display 

of pumpkins and fall fruit and veggies.

Also by the very distinguishing signage which our eldest daughter designed 

and painted many years ago.

 Well there, that was Saturday, and I haven't even begun to tell what a wonderful time we had driving through the lower Similkameen and the vineyards of the south Okanagan on Sunday,

and here it is, time for supper.

Sunday's adventure and pictures will have to wait for another time.....but this was

a day I enjoyed and appreciated so much.  I miss my drives with Himself......

Onions

ABC Wednesday
October 22nd, 2014

The letter is O and the subject is ONIONS

Julian Merrow-Smith

What can I tell you about the onion that you don't already know.

Such an ancient, familiar, priceless part of our plant heritage, onions are endlessly

versatile and absolutely essential in so many of the dishes we savour.

When chopped, onions produce a volatile, sulphur rich oil that makes the eyes water, but

never let that deter you  - its taste, the lovely odour it imparts when cooking

and the unbelievable medicinal qualities it has make it one of the most valued additions

to any menu.

What is a kitchen without a bag full of onions - red, white, purple - all

delicious and so good for you!

I keep a half a dozen frozen onion soups ready in the freezer for days I have

unexpected company for lunch, or to pop into the oven on chilly, damp days.

and what better than onion rings to spice up a burger, or eat alongside a green salad!!

I love onions roasted in the oven, or the delicious aroma of them frying in a pan.

I am particularly addicted to creamed onions served as a vegetable....(although my youngest son only 

recommends creamed onions as a poultice if you get bitten by an alligator)

but what I love most is Onion Pie!!!!

Here is a nice recipe I use....

Combine one and one half cups of flour, 3/4 tsp of salt and one and one half

teaspoons of caraway seed.

Add one half a cup of shortening (diced) and cut into flour mixture.

Mix with 3 tablespoons of ice cold water.

Well you know how to do this pastry making thing, and when you have mixed if and rolled

it and fitted it into a pie pan, bake at 425 degrees for ten minutes.

In the meantime, back at the range, saute three cups of thinly sliced onions

in three tablespoons of butter. Spoon into the baked pastry shell.

Add one and one quarter cups of sour cream and 1/4 of a teaspoon of salt to

two eggs, well beaten.

Blend two tablespoons of flour with a quarter cup of sour creams and combine this

with the egg mixture.

Pour over the onions and bake at 325 degreesF for thirty minutes.

It is nice garnished with bacon curls.....

Very deliciously edible.....

When wool dyeing was one of my passions I used to save the thin papery skins of onions

and sometimes I would beg them from the local grocer,  and they

made a wonderful variety of yellows and golds with just an alum mordant and a bit of

baking soda and cream of tartar.

Also, for many years in my garden a cousin of the onion has been keeping company with the tulips

and looks very tall and elegant amongst them - the allium, also available

in white and pinks.

For more interesting Os visit here at ABC Wednesday

with many thanks to Roger, Denise and the people on their team

who come to visit you....