stillmeadow's Blog

Important Site News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Everyone...
 
Yes...I'm still alive and kicking here.  I've had a number of health issues over the past few weeks (now bordering on months!) and I must once again apologize for not being active on the board with you. 
 
The reason however, that I'm writing you this note here (and if you're on the yahoo mailing list you'll get another email that is similar) is to let you know that geocities has closed its doors for good and that means that the Gladys Taber website is out of house and home yet again.  Sigh. 
 
At this writing, I do not yet have a webhost home for the site...but I will do my best to get it up and running again by Christmastime.
 
I wish I had better news.  I am, at this point, frustrated with all of these companies. 
 
Hopefully, there will be better news to report soon!!
 
Lots of love,
Shelley

Re: Friends of Gladys Taber

Welcome Linda...

Glad to have you aboard!! 

Re: Mustard Beans - These are delicious!!

Oh how pretty!!  Yep...that's what the mustard beans are supposed to look like!!!  Nicely done Bonnie!!

Mustard Beans - These are delicious!!

MUSTARD BEANS

6 Quart basket yellow wax beans

4 Cups white sugar

4 Cups white vinegar

1 TBSP celery seed

1 TBSP turmeric

1/2 Cup dry mustard

1/2 Cup flour

Cut tops from washed beans.  Boil in salted water until just tender.  Do not over cook. 

Heat the vinegar and sugar in a large preserving kettle.

Mix mustard, flour and spices with a little cold vinegar and gradually add to the hot mixture, stirring constantly to prevent lumps, and until sauce is as thick as cream. 

Add cooked beans.  Bottle after tasting for sweetness, as more sugar may be needed.  Seal in jars.

~*~*~

**You can cut the beans in to bitesize pieces however I think that the whole beans are a nicer presentation when serving and you can fit them into the jars a lot easier when they are whole.

Re: Spring Harvest - A novel by Gladys Taber

Hi Bonnie...
 
Have you ever tried Mustard Beans made with yellow wax beans??  My Grandma's cousin, Helen used to make these and I remember literally scarfing them up they are sooo good.
 
I'll try to hunt up that recipe and post it here!!
 
Shelley

Re: Exciting News Re: Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion 2010!!

Dear Gladiana...
 
Welcome to the Stillmeadow Friends forum.  My name is Shelley Rogers and I am the founder of the forum.  As it happens, I am also the person hosting the 2010 Reunion at Southbury, CT.  There will be more information forthcoming in the Friends of Gladys Taber Newsletters. 
 
Your letter from Gladys sounds like a treasure indeed...but having met our dear Gladys...how blessed you are. 
 
I look forward to hearing more about you.
 
Best, Shelley

Re: Spring Harvest - A novel by Gladys Taber

Delightful find Bonnie!!  Bargain price too!!

About Stillmeadow Friends...

For anyone who doesn't know, Stillmeadow Friends (the predecessor to this forum) and Gladys Taber's Stillmeadow were founded by Susan Stanley.  She was a wonderful kind woman who you couldn't help but feel a kinship with from the first time you met her.  Originally from Wales, Susan came to this country with her husband and two small children over 20 years ago.  Knowing absolutely no one here, Susan happened upon a book by Gladys Taber.  She felt an instant bond and often told me that Gladys (through her writing) was her first friend her in the United States. 
 
Susan taught herself how to write code on the computer and started a personal tribute website to Mrs. Taber which reached a number of people all over the US and Canada and even reaching into the United Kingdom.  Susan continued with these sites until her untimely death in 2007. 
 
When she passed away, I was honored when her husband Mike said that I might continue them. 
 
Susan's sites were never affiliated with any organizaton...they were simply one woman's tribute to the Author that she loved and admired.  These sites remain that way today.  They have no connection with any group whatsoever. 
 
Please do enjoy the sites and think of Susan when you do.
 
Shelley
 

Re: managed to post a picture!!

Hurray!!  Well done Ginny!!  Nice to SEE you!!

Re: Exciting News Re: Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion 2010!!

Oh Wilma...I'm so glad to hear that you're happy!!  And I hope that you'll be there. 

Exciting News Re: Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion 2010!!

Just a quick note to let you in on some exciting news before it's announced in the upcoming newsletter by the FOGT. 
 
Erik and I will be hosting the 2010 Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion in SOUTHBURY, CONNECTICUT!!!!!
 
I have some wonderful ideas and there have been great ideas submitted by our own Mary Lou (who I will be contacting in the near future). 
 
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!!  What would you like to see at a reunion??  Have you been to Southbury before?? 
 
And an update... 
 
As most of you know, the sites that I have are NOT connected to the FOGT.  The original sites were started by Susan Stanley (who passed away in 2007) and they were her own tribute sites.  They will continue to be just that. 
 
Before Susan died however, she and I had discussed placing an information page about the FOGT on the main site, since we get so many inquiries about it.  It's for this reason that I will be placing a contacts/information page on the main site.  I have always endeavored to do things according to Susan's wishes and I think this falls into that realm. 

Re: Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion 2009

Dear Mary Lou...
 
I'm so happy that you found your way here!!  And what a treat to see the photos that you've posted!!
 
Everyone...this is Mary Lou...she's a member of The Friends of Gladys Taber and I was so happy to have met her at the 2009 Reunion at Wellesley (which I will write more about soon).  Please do say hello and welcome her to the group!! 
 
Mary Lou...I'm looking forward to hearing more about you and your sweethearts and too, looking forward to getting to know you better.
 
Shelley!!

Re: Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion 2009

Hello Hello??  Roll Call!! 

Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion 2009

Is anyone here from our little group going to be attending the Reunion at Wellesley, Massachusetts?? 
 
Erik and I are going for the weekend, however I'll be the only one attending the meetings.  Erik's going to take the opportunity to catch up on work
 
A show of hands??

Re: My New Garden Guest

Hilarious Ginny!!  Gives new meaning to the term "talking turkey", that's for sure.
 

Re: My New Garden Guest

How interesting!!  I've never had the pleasure of seeing the hens on the nest so I count you both as very fortunate.  I do love the turkeys...and Beth, as you say...there are so many shades of brown in those feathers.  I do remember seeing turkeys at a friend's birdfeeder once...now that's a sight for sure!!
 
x0x0x
Shelley

Re: Sunday Afternoon

I forgot to add though that Cassandra climbed the tree in the backyard.  True to form...I could not watch her crawl down!!

Sunday Afternoon

I planted some pink petunias today with the help of Cassandra.  Rebecca played with the stray kitten who has returned yet again.  Apparently, we serve better food here than at other digs.
 
I wish the weather could stay like this for the next four months...then we could ease into the fall...have a couple days of winter for Christmas...then into spring again...just in time for the daffodils. 
 
I have chocolate mint growing in a container in the back...what a glorious smell that gives off.  Has anyone made a tea from this??
 
Shelley

Re: garden heaven!!

Your gardening sounds just lovely Ginny.  There is something just so comforting about getting the hands in the dirt. 

Erik has almost completed the first level of our three level stoned in garden.  I really must post photos so that you can all see what he's done. 

We've had a stray kitten sleeping on our front porch for the past few days.  Skinny as all get out and a flea collar (so we knew that someone owned him--yes definitely a boy).  We fed him up good and he was content to snooze out on the chair on the porch.  We posted flyers in the neighbors mailboxes and had a call within about 5 minutes.  He apparently belongs to the people across the road.  Well...that seems the case.  They said he has been a stray around their house too.  So...he is a kitty without a real home. 

I have no idea what I'll do if he keeps crossing the busy road...as they have no intention of keeping him indoors.  Ugh.

Re: Reading "Dewey"

Dear Beth...
 
I truly did get the book that you mentioned and I've been bad and haven't read it yet.   (hanging head in shame)   I've finally
finished Dewey though...and now I'm going to try to get on to The White Witch.  I really did mean to get to it before now and that makes me feel just awful.  I do enjoy Elizabeth Goudge so very much. 
 
Dewey, by the way, had me crying at the end.  Erik kept asking me when I was going to finish Dewey and I said, "Well, I sort of suspect that the ending will be rather sad...so I am in no hurry."  A wonderful read...and the storyline that Vicki Myron follows isn't just Dewey's life, but her own. 
 
Also...there is going to be a Dewey movie and they're negotiating with Meryl Streep to play Vicki.  Interesting!!
 
Shelley

Re: Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Dear Jeanne...
 
Your Memorial Day Monday sounded just lovely and your table filled with summer delights.  Yummy.  Your grass is growing at the same rate ours is here in NY.  It reminds me of that car commercial.  "Zoom Zoom"
 
Dear Wilma...
 
Are you looking forward to your mountain vacation??  That sounds like a nice time.  I'm always happy to get back home...I guess I'm like Gladys that way. 
 
Will you and Bob be attending the Friends of Gladys Taber reunion at Wellesley this year??  Erik and I and the Sweet Potatoes will be there!!
 

Re: Nana....Squirrel

Dear Bonnie...
 
...and how is our little squirrel baby doing these days??
 
x0x0x
Shelley

Re: Yay!!

What a wonderful photo...and yes...my mouth is watering!!

Re: Yay!!

Oh my...that sounds lovely. 

Re: Yay!!

107 gallons!!  Wowsa!!  Girl...I am impressed!!  I just told Erik and the girls and heard a collective "Wow".  We're hoping to make it to the reunion at Wellesley so if you're there too you'll get that chance to talk syrup with Rebecca!!  Tell me about the maple cream...I would love to hear more about that.