Sheep May Safely Graze

We were crossing the western Pyrenees from northern Spain into France last summer, Molly, my youngest daughter and I, searching photos for a future (hopefully uttered) book. She clicks the shutter while I gasp at the beauty --- 360º of it. More than that actually, the majesty of the mountains not only surrounds on one plane, but towers above and pervades below.

I’ve braved the Pyrenees before, but never at this particular crossing. This traverse was less rugged and a peaceful quiet prevailed. We happened upon a flock of sheep, very picturesque. Molly, in her youthful vigor, burst forth, camera in hand. I sat in the car and mused. It was one of those perfect moments and the only possible conjure were the words, “sheep may safely graze.”

Which brings us face to face with the consummate, brilliantly compelling music of J. S. Bach. Buzzing my brain was the well known aria/anthem from the Hunting Cantata (BWV 208), Sheep May Safely Graze. If you have never heard it, then you should make the effort to do so. (Follow link found below)  It will be one of the more moving moments of your life. It had to have been the beauty of such fields, rolling lushly green, trails of wild flowers, billowing clouds in a pristine sky, animals grazing, safe and contented, all combining perfectly to move Bach to write such music.

A rough translation of the words; as beautiful as the music:

Sheep may safely graze

Where a good shepherd watches over them

Where Princes rule wisely

Tranquility and calm will also reign

And there will be peace throughout the land

A bit of assistance, here is a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VJoEe_zO_Q

Listen and consider thus doing, a gift to yourself

All photographs taken in the western Pyranees, 2009, by Molly Ware

Fall "Must Do" .......Rhumtopf

Speaking of things cooling down, viz a viz, the weather, constellation’s shifting into the southern skies and geese flying in formation; all things that happen in the fall, the beginning of which is but a mere 6 days away……that is, this year. The first day of fall is tied into the autumn equinox when the hours of daylight and darkness are equal, more or less. Actually, it depends upon where you are standing, sitting, sewing, or whatever in relation to the equator. This year, in the northern hemisphere, the beginning of autumn officially falls on September 22. In the southern hemisphere, we’ve already missed it! since it happened on the 20th of March. Lest this turn into an astronomical lesson, my intent is to talk about things that need doing this time of year. In addition to potting herbs to bring in for the winter, planting bulbs and airing the woolens, there is one essential thing that must be seen to: prepare Rhumtopf for the enhancement of the celebrations of winter. It is a wonderfully German mixture of fruit, sugar and alcohol which requires time to mature. If you want it ready for Christmas the very latest you can wait to start the mixture is at the autumn equinox. It is good to begin several months ahead, even better to have a jar that has matured for a year and the very best is when your Rhumtopf has been awaiting it’s opening for many years.


I am usually in Spain when cherries are in season and though Rhumtopf can be made from almost any fruit or combinations, my preference is cherries. Try to make more than you will need for this year and be sure to label with the date. That way, there will be a jar or two extra to hide in the back of the cupboard for another year’s celebrating. Once you have a well aged stock, Rhumtopf can be brought out for any special occasion and even occasions you just want to make special!

It is a simple process. Prepare the fruit: wash, peal if required depending upon the fruit, de-stone larger fruits such as peaches; I leave the pits in for cherries, but it’s your call. If ever you have a large amount of cherries and wish to de-stone, a little gadget called a “Cherry Pitter” (! of course) is invaluable. The best ones are from Germany, and are easily purchased from the Internet.

Choose a wide mouth container with a lid that seals. There are special crockery Rhumtopf jars available, but glass clamp top work equally as well. Wash and sterilize the container and begin the process. Layer about 1 ½” of fruit then sprinkle with about ¾” to 1” of sugar and continue in like fashion until you have used up the fruit. It does not have to fill the container as it can be added to periodically as different fruits come into season. Pour over your chosen spirit to just cover the fruit, then seal. Any number of spirits will work, but choose one that is clear. White rum is traditional, other choices can be vodka, any clear, or almost, brandy such as l’eau de vie, Armagnac, I’ve even tried Calvados, again, your choice.

There are many ways of serving Rhumtopf. It can be used sparingly as a topping or place a cherry in a shot glass with a bit of the liquid or even add to champagne for increased interest. Have fun.

That’s it! Store in a cool, dark spot and let the magic work—two or three months, absolute minimum. Such a small amount of trouble for such a tremendous sparkle added to your merriment.  Enjoy

The Marigold Forest

I think I mentioned in a newsletter that the marigolds have grown in prolific fashion this year. I plant the corner stone bed in the back garden the same every spring. There are a few perennials which appear as expected each year: the lilies, the foxglove toward the back, coral bells and aubrietia at the front; among these are planted the annuals for predictable, long lasting color except this year the marigolds were very unpredictable! I grow them from seed for the variety, so the plants are healthy when placed into soil, nevertheless!

 Poor little periwinkles, which are usually the show cannot be seen, except for an occasional flash of magenta, forget the petunias altogether, well actually, just forget it all. It is as I said, simply a forest of marigolds. One positive result is that the bunnies have a haven. The gardener has seen more than one rabbit nest there. Actually, it could be a rabbit version of “Sleeping Beauty”! Asleep among 100 years’ growth of marigold vines!

I was at a loss at what to do with all these yellow wonders besides accommodating the bunnies. There’s dandelion wine, I wonder if marigolds turn into wine as well? But that, at best, doesn’t sound too appealing. Finally, the obvious--- who needs a cutting bed? There are now marigold bouquets in every room of my house, they are beautiful!

I cut hydrangeas, why not marigolds?

Sit-n-Sew

I wish you could all be here in the shop to see the rich fall colors.  Fabrics in the hues of fall are entering our domain. When I arrived at work today, Kim was changing the fabrics in the windows to challenge the trees or maybe even get ahead of them ! I think fall is my favorite season except for spring and winter and summer. We are fortunate indeed to live in a four-season part of the world.

Tonight begins again the ever popular Sit-n Sew. Begin gathering at 6:30, bring your machine and/or projects, or not. It’s perfectly OK to just come for an evening out. We provide popcorn and the movie begins at 7:00 which you are not obliged to watch but it’s fun. Tonight’s feature is How to Make an American Quilt. Finn Dodd (Winona Ryder), a graduate student having second thoughts about her fiancé (Dermot Mulroney) and marriage, spends the summer with her grandmother (Ellen Burstyn), her great-aunt (Anne Bancroft) and their quilting circle, whose life stories captivate the conflicted young woman.

The Sit-n-Sew happens every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 6:30 pm or whenever you can arrive.

There is a lot happening right now, so be sure to check the “Class Schedule” as well and make plans to spend some time with us at Just for Fun Fabrics.

Learning to Blog

I went to see Julie and Julia the day it came out and will never be the same. I love Paris, I love Meryl Streep, didn’t really know a great deal about Julia Child and have been being told for ages that what the Jfffabrics website needs is a blog; the film touched every nerve. A blog, a new word is a thing I truly, truly know nothing about, so I’ve started reading blogs in an effort to get my mind around yet one more thing the electronic world is assuming is within my frame of reference. OK, not so bad. I have to admit though that it was Julie Powell’s blog in the film that gave me the first insight although I certainly don’t intend working my way systematically through Julie Child’s recipes, but I did order "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" from Amazon"!



I’ve decided a blog is a lovely way of getting to know people, of sharing experiences, knowledge and personal information. So, let’s give it a go. Yes, this is a fabric and mainly quilting website, but for years I’ve written about all sorts of other things as well, in the monthly newsletter that goes out to our shop customers. Cooking is one of them! And people have come to expect that of me. I do think that most people who sew, also cook. I'm often away for months at a time at a second home in Spain and when I'm there, my sister, Kim, runs the shop and when people ask her what I do in Spain, she answers: "Cooks and sews". I thought, surely not, but upon reflection realized that it was a fairly accurate summation of activities……anywhere! So, as you can probably guess, this is also a site about food and I hope to use it as a springboard for sharing recipes, especially ones I’ve acquired living in the Mediterranean region. This month’s featured recipe is "Alioli Potatoes" and its use in a great regional salad. It’s under "Recipe of the Month". If you try it, let me know what you think. Of course, there will be more than one recipe a month!

Tomorrow will be soon enough to start talking about fabric, such an exciting subject needs a page of its own, don’t you think?

Bobbi’s Blog / Roberta Cardew