Tea at the White House

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden were hosting an afternoon party for military mothers, grandmothers and children at the White House in Washington on Thursday, May 9, when a “surprise” visitor showed up.

Prince Harry, a Captain in the Army Air Corps in the British Armed Forces -- on a weeklong visit to the U.S. – showed up in the East Room to pay tribute to the guests.

The First Lady's guests responded with cheers and applause from seats at round tables for ten containing an elaborate menu of sweet and savory treats, including finger sandwiches, intricately decorated cookies and mini cupcakes sprinkled with confetti, and "White House Garden" tea made with chamomile grown in Mrs. Obama's Kitchen Garden.

The Tea menu was a contemporary version of High Tea:

Smoked Salmon

Pickled Red Onion and Creme Fraiche on Pumpernickel Toast 

Smoked Chicken Salad on Reggiano Puffs

Corn Madeleines with Jalapeno and Cheese

  

Watercress, Tomatoes, and Radishes on Wheat Thin Bread

  

Vegetable Spring Wrap in Jicama Paper with Red Wine Vinaigrette

  

Assorted Cookies

  

Chocolate Bonbons

  

Mini-Cupcakes with Confetti Garnish

  

"Black Dahlia" Darjeeling Black Tea with Floral Notes

  

"Confetti Fruit" Strawberry And Peach Tea, Balanced with Citrus and Rose

  

"White House Garden"Light, Herbal Blend Featuring Chamomile From The Kitchen Garden

A military harpist played as guests enjoyed honey harvested from the White House beehive. Rose petals were scattered on each table. Butlers constantly replenished the treats and re-filled glasses.

Pastel tablecloths covered the tables set with the cream with gold border Clinton State China, the only Presidential set that features an image of the White House rather than the Presidential eagle.

Floral arrangements were different on each table – some featuring low arrangements of yellow, cream and green blooms with ivy, including tulips, roses, and ranunculus in square vases.  Other tables featured bright pink, magenta and purple blooms with ivy.

Mrs. Obama said the prince has focused on honoring the sacrifice and service of veterans and military families and when he heard about this tea and all of you he wanted to be here to personally thank you for your service. 

The 28-year-old bachelor Royal arrived at the White House party after visiting the U.S. Capitol, where he'd caused an outpouring of excitement on Twitter, and swooning among mobs of female staffers. His visit includes promoting the anti-landmine charity the HALO Trust, continuing the work of his deceased mother. 

(All photos and information from the Obama Foodorama website here.)

Burdock, Beggar's Lice and Velcro

I read yesterday that it was on that date, May 13, in 1958 that Velcro was patented. Velcro was invented by Georges de Mestral, an electrical engineer from Switzerland.

Credit: askville.amazon.com

(Parts of the information presented below is from The Writer’s Almanac Newsletter

http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/ )

Mestral’s idea for the invention began in 1941, when he went on a hunting trip with his dog in the Alps. He passed through fields dotted with the burdock plant, whose spiny seeds latch themselves onto anything or anyone passing by. When Mestral got home, he was picking the burs off his dog's coat and his own clothes, and wondered how burdock was so effective.

Burdock

Georges de Mestral, Velcro inventor 

He placed the seeds under his microscope and saw that each bristle was a tiny hook that was able to catch in the loops of clothing. He realized that by copying burdock he could create a way to simply bind materials together.

Most people Mestral told about his "hook and loop" cloth thought that his idea was stupid, but he kept on with it. It took him 10 years to get it right. With the help of a talented weaver, he was able to make a workable product, but the cotton didn't hold up to wear.

Credit: wikimedia

Then he discovered that nylon sewn under infrared light made the perfect set of loops — but that meant sewing hundreds of loops per inch, a slow and inefficient task. Eventually, he was able to mechanize the whole process, and 10 years after his walk with his dog, he applied for a patent for his invention: "Velcro," which combined the French words velour (which means velvet) and crochet (which means hook).

Lately as I walk the dogs, tiny green seed-like particles attach themselves to the dogs paws and my clothing. I don’t know if it’s burdock; I am not that familiar with names of plants/weeds that grow in the fields and woods.

Traditionally, any seed of this type that attaches itself to clothing in the fields and woods, we call "Beggar's Lice."

Whatever its name, it’s quite a painstaking task to remove these sticky seeds from dog fur. And from my clothing.

I wonder….. could I apply Velcro to the seeds to remove them? Might be worth a try.

Velcro. What a great invention that was!

Are you familiar with Burdock or Beggar's Lice? Is it a problem for you while roaming around in the great outdoors?

Creative Uses for Coffee Filters

I’ve been seeing information around the Internet about the multiple uses of coffee filters – those round ones that don’t fit my coffee pot. But I’ve been buying them to use in various ways.

I use them to drain herbs after washing: 

And to blot vegetables before tossing into salads: 

Below are some of the other uses of coffee filters around the house. Some I've tried; some not, but all seem to be great uses for the filters. They are cheaper than paper towels and come in handy in oh so many ways.

• Clean mirrors; much better than paper towels because they are lint free.
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• Holders for dry snacks; saves messing up bowls.
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• Nail polish remover. If you run out of cotton balls, the filters are softer than a paper towel and will allow you to rub your nail without leaving the residue of a paper towel behind.
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• Cover food in microwave to prevent splatters.
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• In the bottom of flower pots to prevent soil from leaking through the drainage holes.
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• For the kids. Poke a hole into a coffee filter and slide it up the length of a Popsicle stick. It’ll help prevent the Popsicle from dripping and making a mess.
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• Cut up a stack of filters, place them in a small tin and you’ve got a set of face blotters perfect for your purse and last-minute shine control.
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• Good-quality coffee filters are made from 100 percent virgin paper, so you can use them to clean your glasses without leaving lint.
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• Clean computer monitors, television screens, and windows. They clean without leaving residue.
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• Line the bottom of cookie tins.
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• Strain bacon drippings by pouring them through a coffee filter into a ceramic bowl or mug. The brown bits, grains, etc will stay in the filter. Also works well for recycling frying oil.
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• Dampen a coffee filter with white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil and place in the dryer. Your clothes will come out smelling fresh and the coffee filter reduces static.
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• Food holders for tacos, hot dogs, pita sandwiches, etc
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• Make homemade tea bags by filling coffee filters with a selection of loose tea leaves and dried fruit peels. Tie together with string and use just like normal tea bags.
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• Wrap jumbo dill pickles in coffee filters to prevent dripping when eating.
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• Use as a sandwich wrap (inside the baggy or plastic container) so your sandwich doesn’t get soggy in your lunchbox.
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• To hold small parts when working on a project.
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• Place herbs in a coffee filter, tie with string, and stick in the soup pot while cooking. Makes for quick and easy removal later.
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• Polishing leather shoes. Apply a dab of polish and use the filter as an applicator.
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• To remove the silk from an ear of corn. Dampen a filter and wipe it in one stroke from the top to the bottom of the shucked ear of corn.
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• Place in the bottom of a cast-iron pan to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
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• Put a couple of coffee filters in your pocket when you are working outdoors or going on a hike. They work great to wipe sweat, dirt and oils off your face.
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• Use filters to bake jumbo muffins or mini cakes in the oven. Fill the filter 1/3 full with batter and place in a shallow circular pan to bake
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• Wrap cut celery stalks (or any other vegetable or herb) in a coffee filter before putting them in a plastic bag to store in the refrigerator. The coffee filter will help absorb any moisture, and keeps the celery crisp longer.
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• If you have a small cut or even a razor nick, grab a piece off of a coffee filter and put it on with pressure to stop the bleeding. Your coffee filter will work similar to a styptic pencil but without the stinging.
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• Place a few tablespoons of baking powder in a filter and twist the top together with a rubber band. Place in shoes, gym bag, closet, refrigerator, or anywhere else that may have developed some less-than-pleasant odors.
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• To sprout seeds, dampen a coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag.
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• Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
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• Keep in your car glove box for window cleaning, to use as napkins and for quick cleanups.
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• Since you have a package in the glove box anyway…..the next time you need to check the oil level in the car, use a filter to wipe the dipstick.
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• In the bottom of the kitchen compost pot. It keeps messiness from sticking to the bottom of the pot, and goes right into the compost pile outside along with the pot of compost when emptied.
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• Make hats for dolls.
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• Line a colander or strainer with a coffee filter, place the strainer in a bowl, fill with regular yogurt, and let sit in the fridge overnight. Fresh Greek yogurt for breakfast!
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• Use a coffee filter to spot clean your clothing. Use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and the spot will be greatly reduced if not disappear completely.
• Separate tortillas for freezing.
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• To prevent holes in your clothes when wearing a pin, try putting a piece of coffee filter inside your clothing as a “stabilizer”. It makes the cloth sturdier and the pin is less likely to snag.
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• Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
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• Make a flavor packet to add to your sun tea. Take a filter and center the contents in the middle. Gather the edges, twist and tie with string. Drop into your jar along with tea bags and let it brew as usual.
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• Get spills out of carpets, before they stain. While the spill is still wet, cover it with a coffee filter. They will wick up the spill.
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• For perfectly heated tortillas, spritz a coffee filter with water and lay a tortilla on top of it. Spritz a second coffee filter and put it on top. Heat the stack in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, and your tortilla will be warm and still pliable. You can use the same ones over and over.
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• Wrap Christmas ornaments for storage. 
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• Coffee filters make great blotting paper for pressed flowers. Simply place the flower between two filters and put them inside of a phone book or any other object with weight.
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• Diffuse the flash on a camera.
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• Great in the tool room when separating nails and screws then use in to bottom of containers to remove moisture and prevent rust.
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• Use as a “pre-filter” for your water purification system to help extend the life of you water filter.
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• Put a filter in the bottom of a metal fruit bowl to prevent brown spots on your fruits or vegetables.

Have your used coffee filters as a paper towel substitute in any of these ways? Do you use them in other ways? If so, please share.

Seriously Gardening

Hello again!

Yes, I still have my blog. I have thought about it each day I've been away from it and have missed all of you! I not only haven't posted, but am so far behind reading your blogs that I'll never catch up.

But you see, I've taken advantage of the (somewhat) warm days and stayed outdoors from almost sun-up until.....

There's just something so therapeutic about being in the garden. The sunshine and fresh air are rejuvenating, especially after a long winter. And I have ideas for new things I want to accomplish outside. And that's not even taking into account all the weeds that are flourishing in the rich, warm Earth.

I've not been lonely, however. The animals have been my constant companions. They enjoy being outside as much as I do.

Kris taking a rest among the thyme and oregano

Not to be outdone, Valerie decides to lie down in a different bed of thyme.

Even Kitty Myrtle joins us. Her two brothers, Carl and Murtie, are off hunting for mice.

Another view of the thyme with the oregano and rosemary in the background. My herb garden is looking good. The tall dark green shrub is a yew.

St. Francis is a sentinel at the herb garden entrance

Liriiope border outside the herb garden

Potted up new this year

Kris is never very far away from me.

More pots

Ivy trained around a small baker's rack. A pot of bocappa sits on a shelf.

Sweet Potato Vine, which grows almost as fast as Kudzu Vine here in our Southern climate. Love the lime green color.

Assorted Succulents.

Creeping Jenny - a great ground cover.

There was much weeding to be done in this flower bed. At the forefront are Sedum Autumn Joy and Iris.

I have tons of Lemon Balm -- a quite invasive plant.

Hydrangea

Vinca ground cover interspersed with hostas and hellebores.

Lamb's Ear, Lavender, Poppy and Snapdragon.

Wire Vine from last year. It stayed outside all winter so I found out it's winter hardy. Sweet Potato Vine peeking out at the bottom of the photo.

Snowball Bush. The blooms were huge this year.

Zephirine Drouhin Rose. Thornless, disease resistant and extremely fragrant. What more could you ask for in a rose?

Strawberries growing in concrete blocks - a new project.

My old bicycle fromthe 1980s has become a garden ornament.

Knock-Out Rose

Doublefile Viburnum 

Mock Orange - smells like heaven.

Mock Orange close-up

The beginning of my new Moon Garden

The unfinished rock garden. This is an on-going project. I have planted tiny succulents between the rocks, although part of the green you see is grass I haven't successfully eradicated just yet!

So, I have shown you many more photos than you likely wished to see. But as you can see, I haven't been bored.

I'm hoping that now the worst, or best -- depending on how you look at it - of the garden chores are complete, I'll get back on a more regular blog posting schedule.

I'm In The Garden

Hello! I'm afraid I've been remiss in posting to my blog but I imagine you guessed where I am.

Now that we are having consistently warm days I'm trying to "make hay while the sun shines." In years past when I was still working, there was never enough time to do everything in the garden I wished to do. And perhaps I'm going a bit "crazy" this year.

In addition to all the cleanup, weed pulling, application of fresh mulch and the like, I've also undertaken the making of my much longed for white/night garden.

Here are some of the additions today:

Dwarf English Boxwood

Lots of white Impatients

Bocappa to be added tomorrow

Diamond Frost

Oak Leaf Hydranga

White Petuinas

Hosta

Pots of English Lavender for accent

Hellebores

Succulents for accent and interest

Solar lights for when the moon isn't shining

Wow, I did so much today! I was outside fro 5:30 a.m. until the last light disappeared over the western horizon. I stopped for a quick trip to the store and for lunch and that was about the only time I sat down. To say I'm tired is the understatement of the year!

I will soon have plants started from seed, which will provide fragrance in the night garden. Germinating are moon flowers, white alyssum, nicotina and a few more that I'm so tired I can't recall just now. 

In a few weeks the plants will begin to fill out and by that time (hopefully) the white Deutzia bush, the Mock Oranges and White Jasmine will begin bloom. And with my glow-in-the-dark stones and pots I may never want to go inside.

I can hardly wait!

By the way, if you have received an e-mail with my name on it I DID NOT SEND IT. I learned today that my sister received an e-mail "from me" (NOT from me and NOT my correct e-mail address). The purpose was promoting some green coffee bean product for weight loss. It seems some individual has found my name and email address, perhaps through this blog, and commandeered it for inappropriate purposes. It's possible anyone who has ever commented on my blog received a similar e-mail.

I promise you that I would never send such emails to you! Have you heard of such things happening before? Has it ever happened to you? G-rrr.

I hope to be back to more frequent blog posting soon.