FIRST DAY OF SPRING?

Spring 2011 was welcomed by snow. Gratefully, I have a little pot of wheatgrass from Elizabeth to remind me that green will come soon.

OLD SCHOOL FUEL

Something struck me about this hint of the former days of fueling. The mechanicalness of it was cozier. And they trusted me to pay after the gasoline was in my car. It made it a little easier to give up $3.50/gallon.

ANOTHER VIEW

I don't know why, but I feel compelled to share photos of the horizons I see. Especially the ocean. There's just something about them that reminds me, wherever I am, of how big and amazing and gorgeous God is. These are from a trip to Fort Williams Park, the Portland Head Light, in Cape Elizabeth. Another beautiful fact: it was a 50F day.

BEGINNER GRANOLA-ING

First ever attempt at home-making granola, with Elizabeth.

We combined 4c rolled oats, 1c sweetened shredded coconut, 1c sliced almonds, 1tsp cinnamon, and 1/4c vegetable oil. Then we boiled 1/4c maple syrup, 1/2c brown sugar and 4tsp honey in 3/4c apple juice. We added 1tbsp vanilla extract after the liquids boiled and were removed from heat. The wet was mixed well with the dry and the whole lot was spread evenly over two foil-lined baking sheets.

The sheets went in a 275F preheated oven and we tossed the granola and rotated the sheets every 15 minutes or so until almost golden brown. About 40-45minutes. Then the oven was turned off and the sheets left in it with the oven door ajar until they cooled.

And voila! A basic tasty and crunchy granola. We both thought it could stand for a little more sweetness. And we might get braver and add favorite seeds and/or dried fruit in the future. But for a first try, we patted ourselves on the back as we scooped up another scrumptious handful.

QUARTER CENTURY SEA