Tranquility of Order

Annie’s forsythia bush is 

blooming. My bush, just across 

the street stands naked. Buds 

aplenty, but no blossoms yet. 

The scillia is just pushing its blue head through the leaf 

clutter.

Can you spot the scillia?

I can only see the scillia because I know just when and where

to look.

In a chaotic world finding a bit of peace can be elusive if you 

don’t know just where to look. 

 Nature is the surest place for me to find the Creator steadily

 at work crafting peace. The order of spring’s unfolding brings

 me peace.

Father Thomas Keating writes, “Peace is the tranquility of 

order. It is true security.” First snowdrops last week. This

 week scillia and forsythia. Spring and the tranquility of order

 nourishes me.

I am here in this place but a moment in eternal time. Before

 me and after me there was and will be this order: 

snowdrops, scillia, forsythia.

Around these cycles of bloom I make my own rituals. When

 the forsythia bloom it’s time to freshen the bath towels. Mine

 grew stale over the winter. So I wash them first in detergent 

and hot water, then I run them through another cycle with a

 cup of vinegar, finally I finish them off with another cycle of

 hot water and ½ cup of baking soda. If it’s warm and dry, I 

dry the towels on the line. If not, it’s OK to dry them in the 

dryer.

Fresh towels, snowdrops, scillia, forsythia—may the peace of 

the tranquillity of order by yours.

Corpse Reviver

We are back from our winter quarters in Beaufort, South Carolina, one of the most charming places I know.  When we packed our bags to come home, spring had sprung.





Back home, spring is still wearing her winter coat.

One moment March is spring and then it’s back to winter. March doesn’t ever seem to be one thing or the other--except maddening. Teasing us with warm caressing breezes, then freezing us out with a blizzard the next day. On warm days, windows are thrown open. Tulips and daffodils leap out of the ground; all stopped in our tracks by icy pellets and blistering wind the next.

March reminds me of the one sure lesson of failure and change—resilience.

The daffodils and tulips bounce back from a blizzard. The question is when life buries us in a blizzard of deadlines, to-do lists, phone calls can our inner, secret flower burst forth when conditions are right?

To help create spring in your heart.  Here's a lovely cocktail with the appropriate name for this Lenten, spring season of Corpse Reviver.

I tasted this creation at The Old Bull Tavern in Beaufort.

You'll have to ask a local how to find this restaurant because the only sign is this little sign in the window. 

Or plug the address, 205 West St., Beaufort,  and let GPS guide you.

It's a lovely tavern with great food and seasonal cocktails.  The Corpse Reviver, our server told us, comes from the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock.

The recipe is as follows:

1 part Bourbon, 1 part Lillet Blanc, 1 part Lemon Juice, 1 part Cointreau. You could substitute Gin for the Bourbon, if you prefer.

Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker, shake. Pour into a martini glass, garnish with a slice of lemon peel.

This bracing drink will revive and refresh and flavor your spring dreams. 

Enjoy!

First Day of spring

Last Monday the view out my windows looked like this.  It snowed 10.5 inches over night!








This week, the view from the garden looks like this:

The  Snow Bells are BLOOMING!

Yes we're still using the word "snow", but in a whole different context.

They make such a pretty bouquet.

Such a glorious day! Enjoy

Delicious Corned Beef Recipe....Just in time

Irish Blessing

May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.



 We await all year long for today. 

 The annual invitation to Bill and Marijo's for St. Patrick's Day feast. At the end of this post I'll include Marijo's Corned Beef Del Monaco. You'll want to try this melt-in-your-mouth corned beef, the best corned beef I've ever tasted.

Every year at the appointed hour, a bottle of whisky in hand, we walk the short distance between our front door and Marijo's, usually through snow or the tattered remains of snow covering the lawn like a blanket dirty with age. 

Chilled from the brief walk, we welcome the merry fire in the grate, the air spiced with beef brisket.

Bill fills our glasses. We drink, share stories, laugh.

Finally it's TIME!

Bill carries the platter of corned beef and cabbage.

Marijo follows with bowls of Irish soda bread and roasted potatoes.

The table is set with Marijo's best silver 

and china--cheery with strawberry and ivy pattern.

The corned beef melts in the mouth. Glasses are refilled.  Will we have more potatoes? Yes! and cabbage? Why not? A little more corned beef? Oh my, yes!

Do you know St. Patrick's Story?

Irish raiders kidnapped a teenage St. Patrick, taking him from England to Ireland.  There, St. Patrick was forced to become a shepherd.  After six years of slavery, God spoke to St. Patrick, urging him to flee to the coast.

Heeding God's call, St Patrick found a ship on the coast waiting to take him home.

Safely back in England, St. Patrick became a priest. Again feeling God's call, he returned to Ireland to Christianize the Pagan population.

March holds spring's promise.

Hope, freedom, reunion, redemption, new beginnings--St. Patrick's tale contains all of the elements that March and second chances promise.

St. Patrick's dinner with Bill and Marijo is a treasured tradition in our house celebrating another year of friendship and the promise of spring and good-will.

As promised here is Marijo's recipe for the best corned beef you will ever try!

Marijo's Corned Beef

Del Monaco (serves 6)

1 5-6 lbs boneless brisket or bottom round corned beef

2 cups white wine

½ cup onion

¼ tsp garlic powder

2 stalks celery

1 bay leaf

1 orange rind

2 whole cloves

¼ tsp cinnamon

4-5 drops Tabasco sauce.

Cover brisket completely with cold

water. Bring to boil and simmer 15 minutes. Drain and discard water. Re-cover with water and following ingredients:

white wine . onion, finely chopped . garlic powder . Celery . Bay leaf . orange with rind, sliced . whole cloves . Cinnamon .Tabasco sauce

Cover and simmer 3-3 1/2 hours.

Allow to rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Luck of the Irish

An Irish Blessing for you

May you always have...
Walls for the winds 
A roof for the rain 
Tea beside the fire 
Laughter to cheer you 
Those you love near you 
And all your heart might desire.