Isabella Bird Miscellany

kitch-en:  a room or area where food is cooked (Free Online Dictionary) I'm a person who enjoys spending time in my kitchen...trying new recipes, experimenting with ones that I've fixed dozens of times.  The kitchen is a place of hospitality.  It's a way of life.  Recently, I've had conversations where friends have mentioned being in a slump when it comes to meal preparation.  Maybe it's because we are in one of the "change-over" seasons or perhaps fresh inspiration is needed.  The peasant's kitchen was one that utilized what was in the pantry, or could be garnered from the countryside or potager's garden.  With these simple thoughts in mind, here is what we are having for supper tonight...perhaps it will get you on the road to creative cookery. Pasta with Pan Roasted Corn, Peppers and Salmon 2 cups frozen petite corn 2 cups sliced bell peppers (red, yellow, green mixture) 1 red onion, sliced 3 cloves minced garlic salt a

Bright blue skies, mild temperatures and the cheerful chirping of birds ... that's what I woke to last Friday.  Now this might not be terribly exciting for some, but living in the Northwest in the month of February...this is not the norm.  After downing a cup of coffee laden with the perfect amount of cream, I donned jeans and rubber boots to venture outside. Natural Fountain Zion National Park...A Gentle Trickle The air was crisp, the grass still wet, the ground soggy...it was a fountain kind of day.  You see, I adore hearing the cascading splashing of fountains.  Only one problem...I couldn't find the adapter to plug the cord into the outlet.  It seems it had been commandeered for the Christmas lights, and was nowhere to be found.  Not to worry, a quick trip to the local hardware store yielded the object of need and a few wants.  Pots of already sprouted daffodils with their dancing blooms, heady grape hyacinth and pansies in colors of white and peach.  A delightfu

Grafton, Utah ... a Ghost Town  When was the last time you took time out of your day to sit on a bench  or curl up in your favorite chair to just think?  Having, or ... taking time to contemplate may seem like such a luxury in the midst of our chaotic lives. When visiting Zion National Park, we wandered to the little ghost town of Grafton.  In 1930 it had a booming population of 23.  A few lovely, old and well preserved buildings still exist.  The community was established to grow cotton in the fertile soil along the Virgin River.     I'd like to think this bench was used by some woman who just needed to sit and enjoy a few moments to herself.  She might have had a sketch book in hand, a well read Bible o r she just wanted to breath in nourishment for her soul.  What this photo doesn't show is the view beyond. Having been there, I know what the view is.  There is a beautiful sweeping valley, with now uncultivated fields and rugged mountains in the distance.  One