Wine & Chocolate= LOVE

Lest it be wine & cheese, then I'm truly smitten! It's not a difficult task for the Head Hillbilly these days to woo his lover, now that our little town of Carlton has become a wine country destination not but a few short miles from our cottage. Valentines BE BIG here folks!

So many choices, what is a cottage woman to do? I'm reminded to pick just one or two wineries to sample. Not sticking to this rule inevitably robs one's recollection of why one purchased that phenomenal wine to begin with. I like knowing when I see that bottle in the pantry that I remember why it made my heart go pitter pat in the first place. Go figure ;)

Savoring the memory of a particular wine and imagining it paired with a lovely complimentary meal is part of the joy of the whole wine tasting experience. Even if the meal be merely a few simple ingredients I adore like bread, cheese or choc-o-late.

Zenas is a regular stopping place for me. Could be that special half off tasting invite I get via email for their special events like this one. So frugal, So me!

Lots of love to you, be it a little weird and a tad bit hillbilly, but always genuine and lots of it!

Push Mama from the LOVE TRAIN

That was my first choice of title for this post, because egads!, a whole week of talk about Love? If you think I have taken this theme way to far and long and that I'm refusing to jump this train willingly, you have my permission to give this mama a shove, politely, for virtual reals that is.

So my alternate and summarily final title on the subject is (for reals),

'It's All About The Heart"

Not the intangible thoughts and feelings from the heart but the actual physical blood pumping organ.

You see I was still aboard the Love Train at this point and it just so happened that HH had a scheduled check up with the cardiologist and we went together, yeah, on Valentines Day. I didn't want to at first, but what the heck, it was Valentines Day and I could see the humor. And I asked myself, "could this not be anymore fitting for a couple of weird ol' birds like us to fondly remember (if we remember) at some other more romantic setting in the future?" Like at a table for two overlooking the rocky sea shore for instance.

But then lo and behold I was unexpectedly and pleasantly surprised.

First, we were escorted by a very amiable and accommodating nurse to a lovely room with very comfy seating for two.

On the room's lavender painted walls hung this heart shaped art piece. It was a nice touch.

As we waited for the cardiologist we occupied ourselves with the intricate workings of the human heart, the muse and inspiration of Valentines Day.

Then we flirted and meddled with this model while we waited, engrossed with right and left ventricles.

And then he arrived, our congenial and colorfully attired host. And then what happened next probably made this the most significant and memorable Valentines Day I will ever have. And probably the best.

It happened in the brief quiet moments as the Doc fiddled with some knobs on the heart monitor and then, I saw the beat of my beloveds heart as it appeared on the monitor screen and subsequently etched on graph paper that ticked out . It was something, really.

Misty eyed I almost asked for the Doc's stethoscope for a listen too, almost. But in the next few seconds, feeling a little more composed, I thought maybe, just this time, I would only ask if he would be so kind as to let me take his picture for the occasion. And he graciously agreed.

What a sweet H-E-A-R-T

Love and Weirdness

We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love. ~ Author Unknown

I can easily tally up the virtues of the Head Hillbilly that make him the ideal spouse for me. Like faithful, strong and patient. Hardworking, spiritual, and kind too. These are the distinguishable qualities most married folk share mutually and are the bedrock of any successful marriage. But they are not the complete recipe without what I like to call the weirdness factor.

I'm talking about those funny little habits and quirks that each person in the relationship has that when joined together creates the marriage weirdness factor. You know, the familiar if somewhat mildly annoying weirdness that is the monkey glue that binds the two of you together in the nicest kind of, unique kind of, weird way.

That funky little weird little factor that when you say, "Hey baby, your weird", in sweet sentimental tones equals bliss.

Have a happy and hopefully weird
Valentines Day.

Hillbilly Love

Young love. First love. It's powerful stuff. The drama and passion of young love is so profound that the afflicted are compelled by forces (nearly beyond their control it seems) to forever immortalize it on , well, stone, or wood, or in the case of some hillbilly youth,

STEEL.

A steel entry gate on a logging road to be exact.

Oh yes, she really loved Cody. I remember.






And maybe Kyle too. But I don't recollect him.

J? Well J had it all goin' on for B.



But then, young love is fickle, hot then cold, and often times unrequited.

The frustration similarly proclaimed and permanently inscribed.






And when the boiling kettle of affection has been reduced to a slow simmer and eventually turns cool.






A poet is born.

Love and Corn

It's needlin' me. Poke by poke cupids small pointy arrow pricks reminding me that the day of love is approaching.

The love between man and woman has been forever immortalized in history. From the ancient biblical words of Solomon to his beloved, to the giving of precious stones, herbs, flowers and food. We bestow on those we hold dear gifts of virtue and significance to commemorate and give tribute to our love.

Getting Corny yet? Well, let me nudge it along. There will be corn!

With the DAY approaching I have been,wondering what would be the appropriate confection I could prepare for HH from our humble cottage kitchen. Something that would by content and taste be a representation of our love and life in this little cottage in the woods.

I scoured some recipes from the net.

This one, too complicated.

That one, nope, no fru-fru liqueur thank you.

And then. I found it. In the local paper.

A recipe that made me chuckle as it sums our hillbilly love. A little corny, a little flaky, but sweet. Thrown together with deep red dried cherries and gobs of chocolate,

Whodoggie!

It's simple, meets my frugal requirements, and....

just might make us the next hottest couple on the box of Kellogg's Cornflakes.

Chocolate- Cherry Clusters
(makes 18 clusters)

3 cups cornflakes
1/2 cup dried cherries
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (1 3/4 cups;divided)

In a large bowl, break cornflakes into small pieces with your fingers. Add cherries and toss together.

Place 2/3 cup chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Stir occasionally until chocolate melts, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and add remaining chocolate, stirring until melted. (Alternatively, microwave the chocolate in a bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted.) Pour over cornflake mixture and, with a rubber spatula, gently fold just until cereal and cherries are completely coated.

Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto two parchment-line baking sheets and let set in a cool, dry place, about 1 hour. (Store in airtight container, up to 1 week.)

(recipe courtesy of The Oregonian)

Love Quilt

If you've read about my quilt here, then you know that I have haphazardly been working on it for-EV-er. But guess what? Yep, I finished it! Just a few minutes ago. I can't believe it.

When I knotted the thread for the very last time, I tugged on it gently until it popped just like it's supposed to just under the fabric backing.

Well, I'll be, I'm done.


I might just have to marvel at it the whole dadgum day.

It's a sampler quilt of old heritage patterns like the Churn Dash, Ohio Star, Star and Compass, 24 Patch On Point and Card Trick. 100 % Cotton fabric and batting, and completely hand stitched ya'll.

Pardon me if I'm impolite in relishing in what is a big accomplishment for this cottage woman. I'm having a moment.

And the timing couldn't be more perfect. I will give it to my sweetheart on Valentines Day, with all the loving sentiments I can muster.

Now if you think that's corny, I got more tomorrow.

xoxo