Patty Van Dorin

hurdy gurdy

What I have been listening to this summer.

Fig and Prosciutto Crostini

 
Woo hoo, it's fig season!

Fig and Prosciutto Crostini 

Top each half of a fig with a small piece of brie, push the cheese into the center of the fig, drizzle lightly with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, top with a small sprig of rosemary and wrap in a piece of prosciutto. Put fig prosciutto wrap on top a piece of toasted french bread slice.

Place in 350 degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes.

These are good as an appetizer or as an entrée with side spinach salad.

zombie baby charm lamp

 
the charmed lamp
always changing finding stuff to add
bits and pieces of accumulated junk
a lamp that is a charm bracelet
 
 
 

my favorite summer pasta

 
Lemon Pasta with Pine Nuts

1/2 package of angel hair pasta
1/8 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon of lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup toasted panko
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/8 cup fresh chopped basil (I used thai basil but use what you have)

Prepare pasta to al dente and place in a large bowl. 
Add rest of ingredients and toss to combine.

Enjoy!
 

light my fire

 

ode to a pluot

 
Where have you been all my life?
Oh how I love you, sweet pluots.

Beautyberry

 
The berries are just starting to turn. This fall, my plan is to try dyeing some fabrics with the berries. 

Have you tried dying with natural plant materials? 
If so, please share with us in the comment section.

first find

My current read is "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier.

When I saw the word "fossil" in the description of the book, I didn't have to know any more and started reading.  Although, I have just started, I love it.  As a fossil hunter, I found an immediate connection.
 
This book made me recall my first fossil find nearly 50 years ago. One that I still have and is what propelled me on a life long love of "the hunt".
 
Since this first one, I have amassed good size (heavy) collection.
 
Fossils gathered from all over the world during travels.
 
With some even found in my own backyard. I have some lovely single specimens.
 
And some so amazingly complex, I can study them for hours.
 
Hundreds upon hundreds of tiny fossils.
 
Buckets of fossils. I think I would like to find a cabinet to display the larger ones. One of the things I enjoy about the fossils is being able to touch them and examine them.

One day when I was out hunting for fossils, I found an old fossil key chain.  I found that very amusing and put it in with my collection.
 
In addition to fossils, I will pick up sea glass and interesting shells and other pieces of stuff that others would consider junk.
And a piece of a meteorite for good measure.
 

 

sunshine in a jar

 

meter reader