Thursday, April 27, 2017

From the Air


Here's what the Schoolhouse looks like from the drone's perspective. These aerial shots are so incredibly beautiful--I'm inspired to gather up the messy hoses and tarps and take a couple of beauty shots while everything is so lush and green.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

He Always Smiles When He Is Buying a House


Let me bring you up to speed. Felix and Molly have finished their work in South America and have decided to settle RIGHT HERE!! Felix is back to work on his graduate degree, and Molly will be starting a master's degree in history this fall.

They just bought a house yesterday--a charming Arts and Crafts bungalow set on two acres, with three wells and an enormous ancient oak tree in the meadow.

In fact, this house will be known as The Meadows.

I look forward to showing you all around it, as soon as they get moved in. 

Monday, April 24, 2017

Clara's Sunday Tea for the Other Grad Assistants


 Coffee-Walnut Sponge Cake
Deviled Eggs
Cucumber Sandwiches
Scones with Crushed Raspberries and Thick Cream
Chocolate Macaroons
Decaff PG Tips Tea
Cream Earl Grey Tea



Friday, April 21, 2017

Dutch Babies


Daisy's baby rabbits are impossibly cute.


Chunky, rounded, healthy, bright-eyed, and active.


It strains the imagination, but they are actually more appealing by the day.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Log Cabin Quilt Top: Quercus Alba


 . . . or, A Forest of White Oak Trees.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Easter 2017

"[While reading the Magician's book, Lucy] came to a spell 'for the refreshment of the spirit.' The pictures were fewer here but very beautiful. And what Lucy found herself reading was more like a story than a spell. . . When she had got to the third page and come to the end, she said, 'That is the loveliest story I've ever read or ever shall read in my whole life. Oh, I wish I could have gone on reading it for ten years. At least I'll read it over again.'

But here part of the magic of the Book came into play. You couldn't turn back. The right-hand pages, the ones ahead, could be turned; the left-hand pages could not . . . . and it was all fading away. 'How can I have forgotten? It was about a cup and a sword and a tree and a green hill, I know that much.'

























'Shall I ever be able to read that story again; the one I couldn't remember? Will you tell it to me, Aslan? Oh do, do, do.'

'Indeed, yes, I will tell it to you for years and years. But now, come . . . .'"

C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Sunday Dinner: Pork Shoulder


We continue our Young Adult Dinners, which happen once a month after church (and more often, on a less-formal basis). Here's a recent favorite menu:

Slow-roasted pork shoulder
Baked sweet potatoes, whole or in pieces
Cole slaw

The pork shoulder is awesome--it feeds everyone for less than a dollar a piece, and it's effortless to make. Buy a nice big one, and put it in *the night before*. Believe me here. You want to put it in the oven fat side up, in a covered roasting pan, with plenty of salt and pepper, and a couple of cups of water. Turn your oven on as low as it will go--mine goes to 200. Cook it for 8-10 hours.

So I put mine in at bedtime, and in the morning I check on it. At this point it can be cooled to serve later, left at room temperature for a bit (not forever though--there's the whole food safety issue), or served immediately. It will be falling apart tender, and should be shredded with a fork and knife.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Mint in a Pot


One of those things I'd been planning forever and just hadn't gotten to: planting my mint up in a pot under the spigot. This should be good.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Afternoon in the Backyard


Sister came prowling around the rock work.


Then we went and admired the rosemary in bloom.


But what was *really* interesting was the two giant swallowtail butterflies visiting the honeysuckle.


It's been a great spring for tiger swallowtails--these are our first giants of the year!


Thursday, April 06, 2017

Sometimes Instead of Salad


Sometimes instead of salad I set out a plate of pears and some Brie.

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

Japanese Craft Magazines for Sale

 I'm spring cleaning my bookshelves and have many beautiful Japanese craft magazines to sell! These are all in excellent condition with all the patterns intact--however, if they came with a packaged fabric sample, that won't be included. I'll list the available issues below each picture, and will remove titles as they are sold. To buy, please send me an email at pleasantviewschoolhouse  (at)  gmail then a dot then com. I'll send you a paypal invoice. First come, first served.

Each issue is $8. If you want to know more about an issue, please ask Mr. Google. Also, be aware that these are actually in the Japanese language, although the patterns are usable by anyone able experienced in following a pattern--very clear diagrams. 


Cotton Friend

Volume 23
Volume 30
Volume 31
Volume 32
Volume 34
Volume 37
Volume 38
Volume 39
Volume 44
Volume 45



Cotton and Paint

 Volume 27


Cotton Time

Volume 78
Volume 89
Volume 90
Volume 95
Volume 97
Volume 99
Volume 100
Volume 101
Volume 106

Tuesday, April 04, 2017

Daisy's New Rabbit Chapter


Daisy dipped her toes into rabbit-world with the purchase of two pet-quality lionhead males. They very quickly became Not Enough and also Not Show Quality, so she found them good homes, and began her quest for excellent rabbits she can show at competitions. 


She decided that Dutch rabbits (above) and Mini Satins (below) are the rabbits for her.  A week ago she got a breeding pair of Dutch, and yesterday the doe gave birth to NINE babies. The best of these will go to the fair in September, and the others will get sold as pets or eaten.

We're lucky to have a very active and educated 4H rabbit community around here. So even though the Composer and I don't know much about rabbits, Daisy has all the help she needs.

Saturday, April 01, 2017

Spring Saturday


Some running, some gardening, some sewing, some reading, some cleaning out the mudroom.