Redbud blooms....with lilac buds???

It's a little early but redbud are in bloom at The Homestead. Redbud are not actually native to NJ but are to points south such as the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. I confess I didn't know it was a tree much less what one looked like until I visited Asbury Theological Seminary as a prospective student twelve years ago (and I took a dendrology course in tree identification in college!). But during that trip with my parents we saw so many trees in bloom that I actually questioned a park ranger at to what they were when we stopped at Big Stone Gap on the border of TN and VA. Dad loved the tree so much that he had some planted on his property at the Homestead.

A natural variety blooms in the foreground
and the cultured variety is at the background

The lilac bush that was covered with snow
in Feb now has tiny buds and florets.

Lilac really should not be blooming till my birthday next month.
Regardless they still smell just beautiful.
Another redbud in the background behind the tire swing.

Cell mates

Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton. Bert and Ernie. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. David and Johnathon. Fred and Barney. Jack and Butch. The last two names belong to my dad and his lifelong buddy Dallas Folk. The two of them have a friendship stretching back to before kindergarten. And their 55th high school reunion is around the corner, which gives you an idea of how long these guys have been friends. They have been fishing and hunting buddies since they were young. They actually were voted 'cell mates' in high school and have been so close over the years that my brother and I always referred to his parents as Grandma and Grandpop. Uncle Butch is down from Maine for the weekend so the two of them could get some chores done around the Farm where Grandma still lives.

The guys returned from the day's work in time to feed the fish here at the Homestead. They hope to feed some other fish come Monday with bait and tackle. Lucky for the fish that Monday is a catch and release day.

only part of the story

In a couple of weeks I can tell you why this picture represents a good portion of my day today. But right now I can tell you that the photo was taken at Jose's in Warrenville. My s-i-l, Lorraine, introduced me to the place this evening. It was good, but not the Mexican food I've come to expect living in Kentucky, North Carolina, or Virginia. I'm on a quest to find some pico de gallo and refried beans here in Jersey that rivals what I've enjoyed elsewhere. As a Jersey girl, I love my diners, bagels, and hot dog stands, but I am missing me some good Tex-Mex these days.

Tulip time in my reading nook

I have a beautifully adorned reading nook these days.

It's torture to have to spend a few hours here between tutoring appointments
Reading has to get done somewhere....

A golden friendship

At 5:00 this afternoon, I was visiting with my friend Ursula. We've known one another since elementary school and were in Girl Scouts together from Brownies to earning our First Class and Gold Awards as Senior Scouts. She lives in North Carolina, about an hour from where I lived when I lived in Greenville. Her husband, a police officer, kept my car safe and secure in the parking lot at the police dept near the train I took back and forth to NJ when I had travel. She keeps her Jersey roots in tact by visiting her folks from time to time and rooting for the NY Giants. When we were in scouts we used to sing a song about friendship:

Make new friends, but keep the old
One is silver and the other gold

She's one of the gold ones.

Blooming Hot in April

Violets don't normally bloom for another three weeks here in New Jersey, but there is a patch in the front lawn. The recent heat wave is rushing some blooms a little early. I feel as if I might be in Kentucky with the temperatures going up and down at random and at will. But it is pretty.

Tulips along the garage

Cherry, magnolia and forsythia at the end of Sandbrook Village.

Sandbrook's own phone booth. Better bring your mobile if you want to make a real call.

On the corner of Sandbrook - Headquarters Road.

Lovely little rock garden along the side of an ice house.

Magnolia

White picket fence with little yellow carpet flower

Hyacinths - one of my favorite spring fragrances - as long as we are all outdoors.

My ride home from Princeton is picturesque these days.

I will be sad when the daffodils "go crunchy" in the heat.

A favorite cherry tree in Princeton.

One big babka

When you grow up in New Jersey, ethnic foods are a staple - even the foods that are not a part of your family's heritage. I know how to make a lasagna that's molto bene because of Mrs. Gallo. I can make a decent spanakopita (Greek spinach) because Mary Gosnell taught me how. I have a trusted recipe for charoset (served during a Seder meal) because Mrs. Weingartner offered me one when she hired me to serve Seder meals during college. I even have several authentic Asian stir fry recipes from Mrs. Lee, the mother of my brother's best childhood friend. And today I made a Polish babka for the last night of the Charles Wesley hymn study because - well - because my mother asked me to since we had a few packages of yeast left over from the hot cross buns last week. She has fond childhood memories of her mother (w/o a single drop of Eastern Europe in her) getting it at a local bakery plus she has a recipe from an acquaintance that was handed down from her great-great grandmother. Though my family is not Polish, I have had plenty of neighbors and friends over the years that are, and babka is the traditional sweet bread served at Easter. It's good. Mine is not swirled with cinnamon or chocolate as made famous in a Seinfeld episode. But it is big - bigger than this German/Danish/Welsh/Irish/English all American girl expected it to be - and I like the serendipitous tie-in it has with tonight's hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today". The line, "Raise your joys and triumphs high" might be an obvious give away to the 11" high bread I have cooling on the counter, but the sixth verse contains the words "Thee to know, thy power to prove" refers to the work of the yeast that is proved in a risen loaf of bread that is supposed to be similar to the action of God's love and grace in the life of a Christian: it's evidence is unmistakable. May the light and love of the Risen Christ be evident to you this Easter season.

Great-Great-Grandma's Babka (from Jennifer Bober)

2 pkg. yeast
1/4 C. warm water
1 1/4 C milk
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C butter
5 C flour
1 tsp. salt
4 eggs
1 C raisins (preferably golden)
1 Tbsp. grated orange peel

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Scald milk. Pour over sugar and butter; let cool to lukewarm. Add yeast. Add 1/2 the four. Beat well. Add salt to eggs and beat until thick. Add to flour mixture. Mix well. Add remaining flour, raisins and orange peel. Knead for 15 minutes. Cover; let rise till doubled in bulk. Punch down lightly. Place in a well buttered tube pan. Let rise till doubled. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.