Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Flapjacks and Flowers

Hello there!  Are you having a good week?  I'm happy as today is a nice, unplanned, quiet day.  I needed one of these.  :-)  My lead photo (which shows up in blog lists so I like to put a pretty one first) is of a hardy Hibiscus we got last year.  It FINALLY bloomed after growing all summer.  Isn't it beautiful?


The buds are all ribbed, they're cool.  


Switching gears, I wanted to share with you the sourdough pancakes (or flapjacks which is an old name used by pioneers and gold miners) I made for the boys and us on Sunday.  This summer my brother gave me a recipe he'd perfected over time and I love how it turns out!  You start out with flour and warm water, make a batter and then fold in the sourdough starter.  This is after it's "worked" overnight and is foamy with the sourdough yeast.


I thought it would be fun to take a photo of my brother Robert's (Rob) hand written recipe.  You can print this up if you want to try them.  You can get the sourdough from a friend or google how to make it yourself.  I began one years ago with flour, water and yeast - you let it grow for several days then feed it with more flour/water batter.  It's kind of like a "pet".  :-)  One thing on his recipe, beat the warm water and flour first, then fold in the sourdough starter.


When you're ready to make the pancakes, beat together the egg, buttermilk, soda, salt and sugar - then stir it into the batter you made the night before.  (MAKE SURE you remove 2 cups of the sourdough before you add the 2nd ingredients or you won't have any starter to carry on with.)


Then ladle the batter on a medium hot griddle and cook away!


They may be a bit odd shaped, but look at those golden beauties!


Nom nom.. oh WAIT.. forgot to take a photo.. *SNAP*.. nom nom nom.


My son and DIL brought me this gorgeous shell wreath from their anniversary trip to the beach, isn't it gorgeous?  I think it's neat that it's bits and pieces of shells and pebbles found on the beach.  Right up my alley!  


How about the name of her business.. "Peace *Love* Wreaths".  Very cool.


I love the green moss in the wreath.


Dayle surprised me with a HUGE potted Chrysanthemum the other day, it was all in buds and now they're popping open and I love the Autumn hue of the flowers, rusty orange and lighter orange.  Now I need some pumpkins by it!


The potted plants on the deck are trying to hang in there.. but it's been one heck of a long, dry, hot summer and my poor flowers are a bit crispy.  Here is the one bloom left on this Lantana. 


I love the sun shining through the leaves of this rose pink Tuberous Begonia.


Poor hydrangeas are pretty dried up, but when I look at them I see a wreath, do you?  :-)


I found a photo on my iPhone of my grandsons while we were at the dam.. I found a pleasant little courtyard with two benches in the shade with the river and the blue cliffs beyond.  The colors remind me of a Maxwell Parrish painting!


This last photo.. we're having a bad fire in Estacada, Oregon - 3600 acres or 5.5 miles in diameter - and this plane flew low over our house over and over to scoop up water from the river and fly over the fire and drop the water on the fire.  Dayle snapped this photo so you can see how low it was flying over the farm.. see the apples on the tree?  This plane has a loud roar!!  I hope they get this fire out fast.


Well, time to have lunch, Dayle is making us Potstickers and Yakisoba noodles with veggies.  Before you get all impressed, they are frozen, but still, he prepares them very good!  :-)  Talk soon.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

22 comments:

  1. I'm VERY impressed with Dayle, buying you a beautiful plant, preparing lunch. Lucky, lucky you! The sourdough pancakes look delicious. I love the handwritten recipe, it's always really special to have a recipe written out for you by someone. I have one or two that I treasure. All of your flowers are looking wonderful, hard to believe it's autumn. CJ xx

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  2. I love the flowers, I am looking to buy a very similar chrysanthemum as I think one would love lovely outside my front door to welcome in the autumn season.

    Hope the fire is put out soon, hats off to the firefighters, they do a great job.

    I love the seashell wreath, what a thoughtful gift.

    Helenxx

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  3. Love the wreath Teresa, it is really stunning! You sure did make me hungry with those beautiful flapjack recipe. I could go for breakfast at dinner time! Your flowers are still so lovely, even the hydrangea's! I see the wreath now. Have a nice dinner, xoRobin

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  4. Your pancakes look so good! I love the wreath, it came out beautifully. Your flowers are looking great too. My hibiscuses are all done now and the leaves are even turning yellow already. I'll just have to enjoy yours. :)

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  5. As always I enjoyed every word of this post from the flowers to the wreath and the pancakes. I think I'll need to copy that recipe down. I LoVe pancakes-they are a real weakness of mine. We must have a fire burning close by too because the smoke smell is heavy in the air and you can barely see Mt. Spokane because of the haze.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  6. I was glad to wake up this morning to no smoke. It looks like you guys were pretty clear but in Canby, we had a smokey pall over us the last two days. One of my co-workers had to leave yesterday early because he lives in Estacada and they were told they might need to evacuate.

    I wish I could eat sourdough pancakes - I bet the smell is divine. My mom always made these on Sundays.

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  7. BEAUTIFUL!!! Thanks for posting, Teresa. I'm almost packed, and am so excited I wonder if I will sleep tonight :-) xx

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous pictures and those pancakes are making me hungry. I've never made Sourdough Pancakes before, so I might try out your recipe. :)

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  9. Your flowers are specatular my friend...plus now I am so hungry. hugs.

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  10. That hibiscus is truly gorgeous--I love the ribbing and the pretty color! Great lighting on the begonia and your flapjacks have me starving now:) So hoping for more then just "light" showers tomorrow--everyplace in NW Oregon needs rain desperately.
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  11. So beautiful pictures and beautiful flowers ! Gorgeous ! Have a nice day !

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  12. Some truly beautiful pictures, the sourdough pancakes look a real delight. Thanks for sharing the wonderful recipe.

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  13. Your lead photo is stunning - such amazing colour.
    Thanks for sharing your flapjacks - they are nothing at all like our flapjacks which are made from oats.0, sugar , melted butter and syrup, all mixed and pressed into a tin then baked in the oven for a bit

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  14. I love sourdough pancakes at our pancake house. MMMMM Im so hungry now.
    Your flowers are lovely!!!

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  15. beautiful blooms, delicious food and a beautiful wreath - love that especially. Glad you had some quiet relaxing time. Hugs Anne x

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  16. Oh how I love a good pancake and yours look very good !! That first pic on your post is absolutely gorgeous but then all your photos are beautiful. I took a photo on my iPhone yesterday which turned out rather nice - I plan to use it in a blog post soon. Am away from home at the moment with intermittent internet connection problems so will probably wait till I get home on Sunday.

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  17. Wow Teresa, the potted Chrysanthemum is glorious! Lovely photo of your grandsons, perfectly framed by the beautiful big tree and the mountains beyond. Always a pleasure to glance through your photos, you are very good!

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  18. Beautiful flowers Theresa and how thoughtful of your DIL and son to bring you such a beautiful gift. I love your flowers and your grandsons are just adorable. I hope I see you soon ... Are you going to flock and fiber this year ? Remember that is when we first met 2 years ago?

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  19. Oh the flowers are so pretty! And the pancakes look yummy! ((hugs)) to you sweet friend

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  20. Yummy pancakes, beautiful flowers and cute little boys, a perfect post.
    Hugs to you and hope that fire get put out.
    Meredith

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  21. That is one huge mum. Did you know that when they are planted and start to bud that if you pinch back all the buds before the 4th of July they will bloom better and be even prettier in the fall? A garden center guy told me that, but if you wait till after the 4th it will not work.Thank you for the recipe. I will make a mental note to find it here. The shell wreath is pretty and was a very nice gift. Hope you have a great weekend.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  22. I've now had a good read about a "starter" recipe. Haven't ever had that experience and it looks kinda involved. Not sure that it's something for me right now as I no longer consume such things, but I love having the knowledge. Those pancakes look amazing! What a fun idea...the starter. Loved reading your post...you are always a delightful "read". Bugs, Annette

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