Queen Without a Country

Visions of Angels and Turkish Delight Danced In Their Heads

 

 

'Tis the season for crafting and making, wrapping and baking! 

For the last twenty-five or so years, my daughters and I have created ornaments, gifts and treats for family and friends.  Though Hilary and Cori were not able to be with me last weekend, the youngest two, Caroline and Clare joined me around the kitchen table to continue this tradition - though I'll admit they ditched me now and then to study for finals and to hangout with friends - the nerve!  We managed to make enough of this year's projects to have visions angels and turkish delight dance in our heads. If we weren't in the holiday spirit before, we certainly are now!

 

The Handkerchief Angel, one of the earliest ornaments we made over twenty years ago, long before the two youngest girls were born, made a comeback this year.  Made from vintage (new is ok too!) hankies or napkins, these heavenly ornaments can be made in just minutes, which was a good thing since this years food treat, Turkish Delight, is a bit more labor intensive. Things always have a way of balancing out, don't they?

 

We've been wanting to make turkish delight for many years.  Ever since reading the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe where Edmund betrayed his siblings to the White Witch for a bit of the exotic Middle Eastern candy treat (known as Lokum), we've wanted to make our own turkish delight but I was always too intimidated by its seemingly tricky recipe and persnickety nature to give it a whirl...until this year.  I found a great recipe and video tutorial on the good ol' worldwide web to finally feel confident enough to go ahead and take a whack at it. We made two delicious traditional flavors: Rose Water with Lemon and Orange Blossom. It was surprisingly easy and oh-so-good! If we can do it, you can too!

 

Here's the link featuring Natasha Levitan:

mideastfood.about.com/od/dessertssweetspastries/r/turkishdelight.htm

look for the video to the lower right of the recipe

Let me know if you find it helpful and decide to give turkish delight a try!

 

~~~

 

 

 

 

 

~~Handkerchief Angels~~

 

What You'll Need:

Any square handkerchief or napkin (vintage is best!)

 a round crocheted doily (I found ours at Joanne Fabrics)

narrow ribbon or string - apx. 12inches

1/4 inch wide lace trim or pearls - 4inches (for the halo)

hot glue or Fabri-Tak fabric glue

batting (for stuffing the head - I reused a dryer sheet)

 

What You'll Do:

 

 

Fold your hankie or napkin into a triangle

 

 

Gather the center of the folded edge to form the head, stuff and tie-off with string or ribbon

 

 

Tie a knot toward the end of each of the two points of the folded edge to form "hands"

 

 

Gather the center of the doily and tie with a string to form the wings; glue the hands together

 

 

Cut a length of ribbon or trim to form a loop for hanging; glue loop to wings.  Glue wings and hanger to the back of the angel.  Cut a short length of lace trim or small pearls to create the angel's halo, gluing to the head.

Just heavenly!

 

 

Now all we've got to do is package up 400 pieces of turkish delight.  Sampling along the way, of course! 

Just delightful!

 

May you too have visions of angels and delight, turkish or otherwise, dancing in your head!

 

AWreathA

~~~

Wreaths are the order of the day for this holiday season in the Cullen household.  Twenty-two of them in all...

 

 

Wreaths of recycled grapevine canes...a symbol of abundance and rebirth...

 

 

Wreaths of evergreen rosemary from the garden...symbolic of eternity and remembrance...

 

 

 

 

The circle unending and unbroken...infinite.

 

 

 

~~~

 

Did you know?

 

Greeks and Romans used wreaths to symbolize victory and glory in competition.

In ancient cultures, the circular shape of the wreath symbolized the sacred space within.

Rosemary is so named to honor of the Virgin Mary.

Rosemary is said to prevent nightmares when placed under one's pillow.

Napoleon's favorite perfume was rosemary water.  He used 100 bottles of it on his honeymoon alone.

"Where rosemary flourishes, the woman rules" Ancient Roman proverb.

Anyone who smells rosemary on Christmas Eve is guaranteed happiness in the coming year.

 

 

~~~

 

Making your own rosemary wreath is incredibly easy.

Here's how:

 

This is all you need...3 items...

a base (grapevine, metal, or straw)

 material (rosemary or other foliage, enough to cover the base)

  attachment (paddle of 22 gauge wire or hot glue)

 

 

Keep it simple...

 

This is what you do:

 

Wire together bundles of two or three 6inch sprigs of rosemary, enough to cover the circumference of the base plus a few extra (I used 12-14 bundles for a 12inch grapevine base; Hilary used shorter and fewer sprigs for her little 6inch wreaths).  

Place a bundle onto the base, winding paddle wire around the bundle and base to secure (do not clip wire, just keep winding as you go).

Add bundles, slightly overlapping previously placed bundles with the new; continue winding wire to secure bundles until the wreath is completely covered with foliage.

Tuck additional sprigs into the wreath to cover any wire that remains exposed.

Hang anywhere that could use a festive, symbolic touch of the season. I plan on leaving my rosemary wreaths up all year long!

 

 

 

~~~

 

Christmas Eve Happiness Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

(What could hardly be called a recipe, it's so simple!)

serves 6-8

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Scrub and halve, then quarter 10-12 medium red potatoes.

Drizzle potatoes with 2-3 T. olive oil.

Add 6-8 whole cloves of peeled garlic.

Sprinkle with coarse sea salt, black pepper and 3 T. roughly chopped rosemary leaves (add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, if desired).

Toss.

Place on a baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, turning potatoes midway through cooking time.

 

 HGW!  (Heavy Garlic Warning)   BTWI! (But They're Worth It)

 

These rosemary garlic potatoes are sure to guarantee happiness for Christmas Eve dinner AND the coming year - just make sure everyone eats them...or the poor person who doesn't, can't be guaranteed of happiness unless they have a clothespin for their nose! 

~~~

Sources:

Hilary Decker

Michaels Arts and Crafts

Country Living, Crafting Wreaths at Home; Hearst Books

Botanical.com

Pinkie D'Cruz

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Things Merry & Bright

My collection of Christmas ornaments is one of my most prized possessions.  Among them ornaments made with my daughters and their friends each year at our kitchen table; ornaments given to me by dear friends who are aware of my ardent appreciation for such things; ornaments I picked up along my travels.  

Treasured ornaments fancy and rare, simple and tug-your-heartstrings humble - all find an equal place on the tree - transforming it into an effervescent expression of color and sparkle, memories and time. 

Our family Christmas tree has become part scrapbook, part curio cabinet, part art gallery, part jewelery box, part diary.  Last year I attempted to have a "color coordinated" tree, limiting the ornaments to those within a narrow precept of green and white.  It lasted less than a day.  I missed the ornaments that have become like old friends, so up they went! 

As long-time readers of QWC probably recall, each year I design an ornament (at least one!) to make and give, placing one on our very own tree. While I've got something in the works, this year I'm getting a late start. But The Tree waits for no one! 

I'll add this year's edition later on.  In the meantime, I decided to take a trip around the house looking for special mementos and treasures that could be transformed into ornaments with the mere addition of ribbon (and sometimes not even that!).  Items deserving an exhalted position among what will one day become family heirlooms, by my estimation anyway - part of my legacy! 

All things merry and bright!  Here's what I found...  

 

 

 A pair of pince-nez glasses...

 

  An old watch face...

 

 

 A handmade lapel pin...

 

 

 An old corncob pipe...

 

 

 A robin's nest...

 

 

Gift tags from years past...

 

 

A locket...

 

 

 

One of my Nana's keys...

 

 

A pair of baby shoes...

 

 

 A doll from Brazil...

 

 

 

 My favorite thing...a mask from Venice, a present from a dear friend...a good home for it until I can have it framed in a shadow box...

 

 

 

 

My merriest and brightest treasures - even though they won't fit on the tree!

 

What treasures can you find around your house?

Mise En Place - Holiday Edition

 

 

 

 Mise en place, French for "the act of putting everything in place before starting"

~~~

 

 I'm not ready.  The holidays are upon us, primetime for us creative types (according to Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, we are ALL creative types).  And I am not ready (Julia also says you are ALWAYS ready to create!). 

My love for Thanksgiving and the month of November in general could be a factor; I want to savor both just a bit longer. 

Though I have tons of  ideas floating around in my head I have yet to place pen or paint to paper, the hot glue gun has yet to be fired up, and the only thing I've made lately is the bed. 

I just can't seem to get it together and CREATE!  First things first, I need to get the mise up in my place! 

Making a plan and getting organized are key and here are some words of wisdom about the basic principles of creativity from Ms. Julia Cameron herself:

 

 

 

                              "Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy"

 

"There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life-including ourselves"

 

   "We are, ourselves, creations.  And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves"

 

"The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature"

"It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity"

"Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity"

~~~

The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron is available at:

www.amazon.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

or wherever fine books are sold

Call of the Wild

 "In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks"

John Muir

 

On a gray-flannel Sunday in late autumn, while on a car-trip from my parent's home in Oroville to our home in the Bay Area, my family and I decided to make a pit-stop at Delevan Wildlife Refuge (near Willows, CA).  We had heard that it was the best time to view large flocks of wintering snow geese. We're not normally a big bird-watching family but figured what the heck, it's on the way home.

 

 

 

We pulled into the refuge and onto the dirt road that snakes its way through the marsh; following the labyrinthine track a short distance until we came upon a flock of what had to have been tens of thousands of the majestic geese.  So many geese floating shoulder to shoulder on the still surface of the water that it appeared one could walk from goose to goose on a carpet of eider down for a mile without ever getting wet!

 

As we marvelled at the sheer number of birds, a photographer with a long telescopic zoom lense set up next to us.  He moved quickly, quietly preparing for his shot.  Once ready, a single small click of the photographer's shutter startled the geese.  Goose after goose, wave after wave, in a roll-off that could not have been executed with equal precision by the Rockettes themselves, they took off for the sky. 

 

 

 

The powerful beating of a hundred thousand wings displaced such a great volume of air that it changed the atmospheric pressure surrounding us.  We felt a WHHOOSSHH blow past us, through us, not unlike a sonic boom - a fonic boom since it could be felt instead of heard! 

 

 

 

 

With jaws on the ground, we could only look from one shocked face to another, speechless in our awe.  The photographer packed up his camera; we silently piled into our car.  Each of us inherently knowing that we had witnessed Mother Nature in her most sublime magnificence.  In an amount that was far more than our share, far more than we could even fully comprehend. There was nothing to do but to leave.

 

 

 

Upon reflection, what I came to see is that on any ordinary gray-flannel day, when we least expect it, Mother Nature will so eloquently illustrate her glory and teach us her unforgettable lessons.  If we're willing to turn onto the unfamiliar road, hike up an unknown trail, or take the long way home, Nature will welcome, inspire and connect us in a way that is soul-feeding and soul-humbling. On that day in late autumn, I was shown how the small, in numbers, can be mighty - powerful beyond measure!

 

 

I have often wondered if the photographic documentation of that moment could match what will forever be captured in my mind's eye and my soul...somehow I doubt it!

 

 

 

This post, Call of the Wild was originally written as a reply/comment (but became way too long!) to a beautiful blog post written by Corey Amaro of Tongue in Cheek fame.  Corey is an American from Willows, CA living in France.

To read Corey's original article (and to read more from Corey!) go to:

"Mystical Morning Call" - 11/13/12 

Tongue in Cheek: http://willows95988.typepad.com

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

XOX, V

 

 

Comfort Food

 

 

 

My Nana made the best macaroni and cheese.  Nana's mac 'n cheese has been a family favorite for decades.  Though Nana's been gone a few years now, she left the recipe for this delicious classic comfort food as part of her culinary legacy - sort of. 

When anyone in the family would ask Nana for her macaroni and cheese recipe she would gladly share it.  What we eventually realized is that the recipe was slightly different each time she shared it. 

The discrepancy could've been attributed to forgetfulness as my grandmother aged, though I find this is not likely due to her mental sharpness when it came to anything else that was important to her - like her wardrobe or her home, both of which were always impeccable, even into her nineties!  Perhaps it was due to the fact that she would just wing it each time she prepared everyone's favorite dish. Possible. Or, and I believe I'm onto something here, she didn't really want anyone making her famous macaroni as well as she made it! 

Nana knew for years to come, each time someone in the family tried to duplicate her signature dish, we would all say sure, it was good but not quite as good as Nana's!  It seems to be missing something...

Nana and Colonel Sanders had something in common; we'll never know their secret ingredient.  I don't know about the ol' Colonel but I think Nana's secret to the best mac 'n cheese had to do with love...

 

 

~Nana's Mac N Cheese~

 

Penne Pasta, one pound

Canned Chopped Tomatoes with Basil, Oregano and Garlic,  two 15 oz. cans

Colby Cheese, 1 lb. cut into 1/2" cubes

Garlic, 3 cloves minced

Olive oil, 3 T.

Shredded Parmesan Cheese, 1/2 C.

Panko Bread Crumbs, 1/2 C. (my own twist to Nana's recipe)

Salt and Pepper, to taste

 

 

~What You'll Do~

 

1. Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions; toss with 1 T. olive oil.

2. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. While waiting for pasta, in a large pan, saute' garlic in 2 T. olive oil for apx. 1 minute over medium heat.  Add slightly drained tomatoes to garlic and oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn mixture down to a simmer, allow it to simmer until pasta is ready. 

3. Stir tomato mixture and cubed colby cheese into prepared pasta. 

4. Pour entire mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.

5. Sprinkle the top of the casserole with parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs.

6. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes, or until bubbling hot.

7. Turn oven up to 425 degrees.  Remove foil from dish, return to bake for apx. 10 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown on top.

This hearty dish easily serves 6 to 8 as a side dish.  Add browned italian sausage before baking to create a delicious main dish.  Serve with a green salad and sourdough bread. YUMMMM!

 

Nana would be proud!

 

 

 

 

Glamp-O-Rama

 

 

 

 

Camping does not come naturally to me.  Isn't it ironic that living in nature doesn't come naturally?  Trust me, it doesn't.  For the last 20 years my family and I have camped one weekend each year with a group of my oldest and dearest friends. 

 

 

 

The Girls' Camping Trip (a misnomer because the trip is open to husbands, kids, pets and occasional guests - and because we are no longer girls!) and the time we all spend together has become woven into the fabric of my personal history, and that of my children, in a way that is nearly indistinguishable from the threads of significant annual events like Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Some of my life's best side-splitting-laughter has occurred during The Girls' Camping Trip; some of the best conversations; some of the best memories.  With friendships reaching back four decades, the camping trip is a chance to catch up on what's going on in our hectic whirling lives, to reestablish bonds, to remember why we were friends in the first place. 

 

Contemplating nature...then sticking it in her hair...(see group pic, above)

My daughters will never forget exploring the creek, swimming, hiking the trails, playing cards and Scrabble, the sing-alongs, and toasting s'mores.  They will have lifelong memories of Theresa's famous snipe hunts and talent shows!  They won't forget, though probably wish they could, witnessing the adults acting like children or that Poppy (Mr.Greenjeans) ate a bug. They've made permanent connections with people, especially kids, that they may only get to see once a year but that they've known since birth. Despite the priceless memories, I just can't seem to separate the good times from all the packing, setting up, tearing down, sleeping in a tent and dirt!

 

 The dudes...ready for golf and bbq...

 

Hardly a year goes by where my family and I don't have some camping mishap or other: One year our entire load (including our tent, mattresses, tarp, etc) blew off the top of our car.  Twice, we awoke in the middle of the night to find ourselves getting rain-soaked because we neglected to put the cover on our tent - once when I was eight months pregnant (I wound up sleeping in the car with the kids, leaving Mr. Greenjeans to soak and stew!).  Another year, our tent wouldn't go up at all. Yet another year our food was attacked by huge rodents (my friend Lisa will love that one!).  Many of these mishaps can't be blamed on camping per say but more likely on human error - which only serves to strengthen my resolve that, while we do other things very well, Mr. Greenjeans and I are simply not cut out for camping.

 

Bubble-gum blowing contest...not just for kids...

 

As the years go by, it never gets easier, never feels like second nature (get it? second..nature, ha!). I wouldn't trade the time with my family and friends for the world but I would trade the camping part of camping.  And the older I get the harder it is.  As I see it, that's where glamping comes in...  

 

 

 

 

 

Glamour + Camping = Glamping

 

MaryJane Butters, author of Glamping with MaryJane is considered a pioneer in a number of arenas: the first woman to attend her Utah trade school, enrolling in the decidedly un-girly carpentry program.  After working as the only female on a home-building crew, she became one of the first female wilderness rangers in the United States, where it was necessary to hike 27 miles from the end of the road to her assigned firetower. 

MaryJane lead the way in the area of organic farming, founding an environmental group that remains in place to this day.  Ms. Butters' business empire includes a line of organic food products, home goods, and a lifestyle magazine.  She fills the role of the main "Sister" in the Farmgirl Sisterhood, the group that she established, and has now set her sites on bringing the idea of glamorous camping to the masses through her fourth book, Glamping with MaryJane.  This is one busy pioneering lady!

 

 

The luxurious wall-tent cabins that are part of the B&B on the grounds of Butters' Moscow, Idaho farm...complete with wood-burning stove and outdoor cast-iron tub - for bathing under the stars!...

 

MaryJane describes glamping as equal parts grit, grace and glam.  Think Out of Africa meets The Long, Long Trailer.  You don't need a five wall tent or vintage Airstream to glamp.  According to Ms. Butters, you can glamp in your car or your backyard - though I love the idea of my very own retro rv!  It's all about getting away, even if it's not far, and giving yourself permission to create a place that's beautiful and transportive and fun.

Glamping with MaryJane gives practical tips about how to erect a tent, shop for a vintage trailer, what to pack when you're ready to hit the road and more.  She offers sound advice for travel safety, about where to go and how to get there in one piece. There are housekeeping tips for keeping things neat and tidy and comfortable while you're on the road.

 

 

"Remember, you were once wild, you bathed in the OPEN"...

 

 

Glamping is also chocked full of hittin'-the-road craft and building projects (such as how to build your own cot or camp table) plus, as you would expect of a woman who owns her own food company, delicious recipes for living it up along the way.  All of it beautifully illustrated through artistic photography, nostalgic graphics and helpful diagrams. 

MaryJane runs her own deluxe wall-tent B&B on the rolling acreage of her Idaho farm but for going mobile she owns not one but three trailers: a tear drop trailer, a vintage Shasta trailer, and a 1968 22' Safari Airstream, which at the time of publication was being refurbished and not yet complete - updated photos and descriptions are available on MaryJane's Glamping website (see below).  The results are so stunning it's hard to believe that anyone wouldn't want one of their own!

 

 A dreamy, restful spot...

 

As usual, Ms. Butters is really onto something. Glamping has gone global with around-the-world 5-star glamping destinations available to rent by the night or the week on GlampingGirl.com.  Starlite Classic Campground in Canon City, Colorado offers stays in vintage trailers for the very affordable rate of $79-$119 per night - Starlite is also known for their vintage trailer/glamping conventions and how-to seminars. Or for just a few thousand dollars (and quickly up from there, depending on condition) invest in your very own vintage pull-behind trailer. 

That sounds good to me.  The Girls Camping Trip would never be the same. We could each get one in different colors!  Now I've got 'til next August to convince everyone...C'mon, girls!  Let's glamp!  Maybe I should re-watch The Long, Long Trailer first...I'll keep you posted.

 

 

MaryJane Butters, the Glamping Queen...

 Sites to check out for your own glamping experience:

 

 www.internationalglampingweekend.com

www.GlampingGirl.com

www.starliteclassiccampground.com

www.vintagetrailersupply.com

www.maryjanesfarm.org

 

 All images from Victoria Cullen or from the book, Glamping with MaryJane for the sole purpose of review only.

 

 

Halloween Words of Wisdom From Madame H

      Over the last couple of weeks on QWC you've gotten to know Madame H, the Hostess of      All-Hallow's Eve, the Sorceress of Spookiness, the Goddess of Ghoulishness!  This week, just days before the BIG day, Madame H has some Halloween messages for you...

 

Read on if you dare...

 

 

Happy Halloween from the Queen and the Madame!

 

I See a Project in Your Future...

 

 

You met Madame H last week here at Queen Without a Country. Madame H is doing a terrific job of greeting our guests and I can't wait to see what little trick-or-treaters think of her on Halloween Night! 

 

 

 

 

I decided that the run-of-the-mill chalkboard I'd used to announce Madame H just wasn't up to snuff.  Recently, I saw a cute idea for transforming a metal serving tray into a chalkboard and I knew it would be the perfect touch for the All-Powerful, All-Seeing Madame H!

 

 

 

 

I think it turned out pretty great and was super simple to make.  Here's how to make one for yourself: 

 

 

~What You'll Need~

 

An old metal serving tray - any size, any shape

(I got mine at a thrift store for just a couple of bucks)

Chalkboard paint

Sponge brushes

Chalk

 

 

~What You'll Do~

 

1. Wash and dry your tray.

2. Using a sponge brush, paint your tray with a thin coat of chalk paint. The scalloped edge of my tray gave me a nice crisp edge but you could use painter's tape to help define the edge and to protect the parts of the tray you don't want painted if you wish.

3. Apply a second coat of paint after allowing the first coat to dry for at least an hour.

4. It may be necessary to apply one or two more coats of paint in order to fully cover the metal of your tray.

5. Once you've achieved full coverage, allow the paint to dry for a minimum of 24 hours before "seasoning" the chalkboard surface of the tray.  Seasoning is achieved by rubbing the entire surface with chalk and then erasing it.

6. Now you're ready to write your ghostly message. 

 

Your chalkboard doesn't have to be limited to use during Halloween. Use it for any holiday, occasion or an every day message board (I know what you're thinking...really, Captain Obvious?)

Enjoy your new chalkboard!

 

 

 

 

Madame H

 

Welcome to Cullen Manor where Madame H will deliver mystical predictions on the upcoming All Hallow's Eve! 

 

 

Madame H has been furiously consulting her other-wordly spirit guides through her supernatural oracle, her crystal ball, in order to bring you the most accurate glimpse into the swirling mists of the future.  The All-Powerful, All-Seeing Madame H also possesses the rare ability to grant (or deny!) wishes of the most personal, cryptic nature.

Make a wish!

 

You may remember Madame H from last Halloween when she adorned our porch as Old Joe Henderson, former Benicia educator and builder of our house back in the 1930's.  Old Joe has had quite the transformation in the last year thanks to an old prom dress, some black silk foliage and flowers, costume angel wings, a few fun doo-dads and some hot glue. That Joe! So...flexible!

 

 

This year, Madame H (aka; Old Joe) dons an ensemble featuring a flowing dress, black as pitch, an unearthly crown, dark irridescent wings, and my grandmothers crystal necklace for a touch of glam. 







On Halloween night, peer into the mystical Madam's crystal ball...

 

 Consult with her raven winged friends...

 

 

 

Touch her talisman for luck...or for a trick or a treat...

 

 

 

 

 

 Madame H does not discriminate, even vampires are welcome...

 

 

 

She may even grant your wish...

 

 

 

Whatever you do, just don't call her JOE!

 

Happy Halloween!