Natural Designs Studio

KEEP LOOKIN

PLEASE PASS THE CHEESE

Making Sense of Scents

 Scents trigger memory.  I love the smell of fresh cut hay.  On evening  walks  near my home I am doused in this scent of summer.  When the  sweet  smelling aroma reaches my nose my mind retrieves a recollection  of  childhood. Before my eyes spot the hay mounds, the smell transports  me to  youthful days playing in the barn. Time travel is possible!

 I recently read an article about designing your garden around fragrance.  Not  only is a flower’s scent enjoyable, but it serves a specific purpose.  Plants  give off scents to attract pollinators such as bees. This strengthens  the  growing environment of the garden.  Once the flower is pollinated the  scent  lessens because it is unnecessary to attract more pollinators.  This  makes  me wonder how people can be pollinators in the garden of life.   

 Many hybrid flowers have little fragrance.  Bred for vibrant colors and  lasting  blooms, their appearance becomes more important than their  sweet aroma. I  find this interesting.  The old fashion roses along my  house, planted several  generations ago, are very fragrant.  The      petals keep their  pungent  scent even after drying. Perhaps that is why  heirloom flowers and  vegetables are being sought after once again.

 As with hybrid flowers, some people have lost their fragrance.  Others  like my  heirloom roses get sweeter with age.

CURIOUS QUILTS

Almost undetectable in the summer foliage was a little sign with handwritten  black letters that said QUILTS.  I always passed the sign with curiosity.  The  one end of the sign was cut into a ‘V’ pointing towards a white farmhouse  with an enclosed porch and a few smaller buildings surrounding it.  Vegetable  gardens and fruit trees filled the yard but nothing was weeded or tidy.  A  gate stood between some bushes near a chicken coop but there was no sidewalk to the house.  

Searching for an entrance, I pulled my car into the lane behind a parked black buggy.  Suddenly, a woman peeked from behind the cart.  Her bright, big eyes glared at me with a hint of confusion. When I asked about the quilts she smiled and said she would show them to me but first she had to get the lettuce. Carrying four plastic bags brimming full of fresh garden lettuce, she carved out a trail.  Following her path through high grass, past thorny raspberry bushes, I came to what seemed to be a summer kitchen. Mint green walls with creamy yellow trim covered the space like a worn-out  quilt.  The room was dark and plain.  

On the freezer (or the locker as she called it) was a stack of brightly colored  handmade quilts.  She was excited to show them.  I rummaged through the  pile enough to see the beautiful patterns and check prices. She introduced  herself as Katie and fumbled around to find a business card.  I asked if she  would finish a small quilt my mother-in-law started.  “Well maybe during the  winter I could to do that” she cheerfully replied.  With this in mind I will be  visiting Katie again.  

SWING AROUND THE VALLEY

 I enjoy my Amish/Mennonite neighbors. After finishing some bookwork this  morning, I made my weekly run for fresh eggs and milk.  As much as I love freshness, there is something more that keeps me coming back each week  to my farming neighbors.  It is the friendships and relationships that we build  with every visit. 

 Today when I stopped for milk, Mrs. Peachey, a Mennonite, and her children  were busy in the kitchen making applesauce.  Three children were coring  and  cutting the apples.  One daughter was at the stove and another daughter was working with the food processor.  I am always amazed at  their cheerfulness.  While pouring the milk into my glass jar we talked about  making cheese.  They shared their recipes and she gave me Rennet for my  cheese experimentation.  There is never a generation gap or cultural difference when we talk about cooking. I left feeling rather cheery myself! 

 My next stop was just a short distance down the road to buy eggs.  Fannie  is Amish.  She has the brightest smile and talks rather fast.  Sometimes her  wit takes me by surprise.  Like today when I bought two dozen eggs and a  few blueberries for tomorrow’s breakfast.  I wanted more blueberries but  they were sold out.  A pint box only half full sat on the table and she told  me to take them.  As my daughter and I were leaving we couldn’t help  eating a few as we stepped off the porch.  From the screen door we heard  Fannie say “There won’t be any left for breakfast”.  We all laughed. 

 The Amish keep to themselves but respect the “English people” as  customers. They have their own church, schools, and language.  I often  hear them speaking in Dutch while shopping in the Dry Goods Store or as I  call it the Amish Wal-mart.  It surprised me today when the owner of the Dry Goods Store asked if I would take her niece home.  She had kept the  store for the morning and did not want the girl to walk the mile home in the  rain.  I was delighted that the elder woman felt comfortable to make her request as  it was a testament to our budding friendship.    

I returned home with freshness in my spirit as well as freshness for my cupboards.    

 
FOR THE LOVE OF LAMB'S EAR

FIELDS OF GRAIN

  Low humidity, cool breezes, and sunshine...couldn't ask for a better July day.