Open Thread – Cranberries
In Alaska, the season of flowers is over, and the berries have taken over. The tiny tundra plants are turning impossible shades of red and orange. Soon the high slopes above tree line on the mountains will be awash with maroons, and deep reds and gold. It’s a welcome diversity of color, since the deciduous trees in this region all have yellow leaves.
In a land of huge sweeping vistas, it’s amazing that some of the best autumn landscapes require getting on your knees to truly appreciate.
[photo by Spouse via Blackberry. Pretty impressive!]
From one who lived in Alaska collecting every wild berry I could, my favorite was the Low Bush Cranberry……yes they are Lingonberries! The fantastic experience of being out in the woods on the soft tundra collecting the berries is on the top 10 list of life experiences! It is impossible to describe the wonderful fragrance of the woods mixed with the
I have enjoyed utilizing these amazing berries in many ways…. making the most beautiful Low Bush Cranberry Liqueur and a very big hit at my daughters wedding, Wild Alaskan Cranberry Chocolate Truffles.
Since moving from Alaska (too long ago) I have attempted to locate a person or company that I could purchase the frozen cranberries from. My hope is that some one on this site has the ability to connect me with that source!
I can be reached at [email protected] or [email protected]
Real Alaskans know these are lingonberries. Found in our boreal forests in Alaska and other northern tier countries, lingonberries offer up plentiful health benefits. Please don’t perpetuate the confusion by calling the wonderful lingonberry a cranberry!
I wish I could smell them from my home. I hope to get to Alaska someday
Me, too. My mother lived there for about a year back in the nineties, and said it was like nothing you could ever experience. When our son is a little older, we’ll try to get there. I’d especially love to visit Juneau.
Oh, and two more things I would love to see…the famed Northern Lights, and of course, the town of North Pole. 🙂 One Christmas we had a letter “from Santa” sent to our son from the there! It was really cool to see the postmark.
Those cranberries look mouthwatering! What a grand, sweeping place Alaska is.
Here’s a feel-good story about a school superintendent on Fresno who’s giving up most of his salary over the next three years in order to fund some of his favorite programs.
“The Powell’s decided giving up three and a half years of Larry’s $288,241 salary was a start. So, until 2015 Powell will govern 325 schools within 35 districts, educating 195,000 kids for $31,000 a year. Ten-grand less a year than a first-year teacher, and he’ll receive no benefits.”
That totals nearly $800,000 he will be giving back to the district!
http://www.businessinsider.com/larry-powell-school-superintendent-fresno-california-2011-8
At the same time, you’ve got Mittens Romney telling people he’s unemployed, and members of Congress complaining to their constituents (many of whom are out of work and running out of unemployment benefits) that their $174,000 salary isn’t really a lot of money. I’m betting this school sup’t doesn’t have millions of dollars in investments and private businesses to fall back on!
Now THAT’S someone who’s dedicated to their job and to their students!
Ms Leenie 17- at the risk of revealing hy ignorance,may I ask if you teach in public schools? If you have mentioned this before,I humbly apologize and will chastise myself severely ASAP.
http://thepragmaticprogressive.org/wp/2011/08/22/fifteen-differences-between-democrats-and-republicans/
Pretty good list there…
And the preceding article on Why I should be happy that the government picks my pocket to help the other guys”. couldn’t have said it better myself, actually, I couldn’t say it better.
Rethuglicans will come up with their own lists,but I say, who really cares that their fifteen commandments all are geared at love for the wealthy and no one else?
Ahhh, Harvest. You up there with cranberries and us down here with grapes. Pretty soon my feel will be purple and your mouths will be red!
FEET will be purple!
TW…. have you been sipping the juice of the grape ?
Not yet!
I don’t know, tigerwine, to my you have always had kind of a purple feel . . ..
Awwww, shucks, Slipstream.
I happened to notice that the Alaska State Fair is in full swing but I didn’t see any reference to that lover of all things Alaska Sarah Palin attending. Funny that she flew like a bat out of he11 then loaded up the family bus to visit the Iowa State Fair. Kind of makes you wonder about her loyalties…or not.
It must be raining up there – the Ak State Fair is happening!
Beautiful photo. I love the colors.
Love spouse’s photo, AKM, including the leaves (some of which look like green coffee beans, others like roasted coffee beans).
I cook a fabulous cranberry sauce, but these days prefer my cranberries raw. I VitaMix them with soaked dates and vanilla bean, tangerine or orange (including zest) for a beautiful treat.
I also just eat them plain (I like sour cherries , too, and was a little upset that the sour cherry tree across the street didn’t fruit this year). And I think crabapples are delicious, as well.
There are simply no words to adequately describe how incredibly heartless, despicable and cruel Eric Cantor is.
Millions of people along the east coast, INCLUDING THOSE IN HIS STATE, have been hit by one of the most devastating and widespread natural disasters in memory. Cantor STILL wants to tie any federal relief funds to spending cuts and is encouraging Republicans not to authorize additional funds for FEMA.
Considering how long the fight for raising the debt ceiling took to finally be resolved, and that was running up against a deadline for national default, it seems like the Republicans would love to argue about this funding until after the next election…insuring that the American citizens in 10 states suffer as much and as long as possible.
Are we sure these members of Congress are really human?
The republicans are playing a dangerous political game where real Americans will be hurt–that’s right Sarah those real Americans that you claim to support. Sadly, I believe that they listened to Rush Limbaugh after Obama’s election, where he said that he hoped Obama would fail and they have driven the conversation towards that end regardless of the millions of real Americans who are suffering.
Yet another reason why it’s now immoral to vote Republican, because their party platform sings:
“It’s OKaaa-y-y-y to be ignorant, to be dumb, to be dense, to be ignorant…”
Krugman:
“Now, we don’t know who will win next year’s presidential election. But the odds are that one of these years the world’s greatest nation will find itself ruled by a party that is aggressively anti-science, indeed anti-knowledge. And, in a time of severe challenges — environmental, economic, and more — that’s a terrifying prospect.”
NS!
We buy pounds and pounds of cranberries and eat them year round. Throw the bags in the freezer, and then just use as needed. Favorite way to use them? Probably in rice. We cook wild rice and brown rice, then mix them together. Saute onion, celery, pecans, garlic in olive oil and butter. Throw in a handful of frozen cranberries and a couple glugs of white wine and let cook down. Mix in with the rice. Delish!
Also, too. Boil down cranberries with sugar and some orange juice concentrate. Add pecans. Add brandy. Can in jelly jars. Serve with foul or pork. Or ginger snaps!
Today in the oven is a white peach/cranberry cobbler. So good! Looks awful (turns a not-known-to-nature pink), but the taste is wonderful!
Sounds fantastic…what time should we all be over for a helping of cobbler?
Yum, yum… I’ll bring my own fork and dish.
How’s the wooded preserve faring these days. Any news about your furry and feathered friends? I could sure use some gossip and insights into how critters from across the river behave. Up here the blackbirds are bunching up by the hunnerts and slowly moving South. They apparently don’t like ladybug infestations,either.
Phantastic fotograph! Thank you for taking it, Spouse, and you, AKM, for posting it — a brilliant visual to start the day.
Personal preference: jellied. With pork, yummy. Mixed on the plate with buttery mashed potatoes and corn, yummier. ‘long about 10pm on Thanksgiving and 25 December, a thick slice on a white bread with mayo, salt, pepper, and dark meat turkey sammich, yummierest! (Oy! My mouth is watering!) beth.
–little known factoid: Cranberries are one of the few things people on Coumadin (blood thinner) aren’t allowed to eat. My poor DH…forced to miss out on such a culinary delight just because of his dang meds. When it comes to jellied cranberry sauce, I more than happily eat what he can’t. I guess I’m just nice that way. 😉 b.
thank you SO MUCH for the tip-off on the blood-thinning properties of cranberries! As a tattooist, this is a real issue – blood thinners make for difficult tattoo sessions, and the tattoos are less likely to heal well. A search on your tip led me to a whole world of blood thinners I didn’t know about – ginger, avocado, and several others that weren’t know to me. The sources I looked at didn’t mention garlic, but it also is a strong blood thinner. Might be one of the reasons vampires hate garlic 😉
AKM, if we promise to be really, really good could we have a bombshell or two this week? Please.
Thank you.
So glad you spoke up, AFFC. I know it’s rude to ask for a serving before the table is ready, but . . . we are soooo hungry! Beautiful berry photo, though! Truly. But after 3 yrs we are so very hungry and eager for this particular travesty to be over.
This comment by midnightcajun should not get lost.
http://palingates.blogspot.com/2011/08/open-thread-tuesday_23.html#comment-294275002
It is surprising to me that McG would be surprised by the existence and content of the Bailey book upon receiving the draft. My recollection is that bloggers were well aware of it. This tells us that McG is not aware of what the bloggers have identified.
Is it okay for me to post an O/T comment like this? Or do you prefer that we stick to the topic?
*****************************************
You can never be off topic in an open thread! Articles should have on topic comments, but the open thread, regardless of content is fair game. 🙂
AKM
The current crop of GOP POTUS candidates keep escalating their superior Ear to God relationships. Michele Bachmann to a crowd on Sunday:
“I don’t know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We’ve had an earthquake; we’ve had a hurricane. He said, ‘Are you going to start listening to me here?’ Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we’ve got to rein in the spending.”
She’s borrowing from the sane Michelle – Obama, with the morbid obesity reference and stealin from Sarah, that tired old talking point, reigning in spending.
Krugman has a ‘must read’ column today on the subject of the GOP’s faith vs science move:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/opinion/republicans-against-science.html?src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB
Tnx OMG. I commented below, but it was meant to be a reply here. Maybe I need to up my meds.
I fear that many progressives and moderates will either not vote in 2012 our of apathy or anger or that they will throw away their votes on inconsequential symbolic protest candidates and then we will be stuck with someone like Bachmann or Perry. I firmly believe it that comes to pass, the blame will be entirely upon those apathetic or wrong-headed voters.
I can almost understand how people indoctrinated by fearful dogma from incompetent, misguided or corrupt religious leaders might stand up for Bachmann, Perry or Palin, but anyone with a clear head and caring heart cannot take a chance to allow these miserable fools a chance to take over the country.
There can be no excuses when it comes to this. We must ensure that President Obama wins and that the House and Senate both gain clear Democratic margins. It is not just a matter of sensible patriotism, it is a matter of common sense pragmatism. If we allow these zealots into higher office, we will be handing over our rights, surrendering our freedoms and putting ourselves under their control. I, for one, cannot tolerate even the possibility that that will happen. We have to nurture others to vote for progress and against these loonies. No vote can be overlooked or wasted. Every single vote will count.
The current crop of GOP/TP candidates are not patriots. They are self-serving opportunists who don’t understand the basics of what this country is all about nor how to preserve what makes this country work. Their ignorance and arrogance will destroy us, but they don’t care – as long as they get power, prestige and financial rewards. End of rant.
ks sunflower, I have been trying to figure out how to motivate the apathetic to vote for decades. The “it doesn’t matter” meme drives me nuts.
Sometimes, I have to hold my nose when I vote for someone, but I always remember: it’s better than the alternative.
I’ve often had to vote for the lesser of two evils or to vote against one candidate as opposed to FOR the other one, but I always vote. I figure that there are a lot of people much crazier than I am who WILL get themselves to the voting booth, and other reasonable people of sanity need me to join with them to help mitigate the damage!
I don’t care how frustrated some progressives are with the President – the alternatives are just NOT acceptable!
Zyxomma — I always just thank them when they share they won’t be voting. I tell ’em that means *my* vote will be theirs, too; too bad, so sad for them. It makes for some very baffle looks. beth.
According to Reuters today,Bachmann’s spokesperson claimed Bachmann was only jesting about the hurricane. She was probably only jesting when she said we need to cut the deficit and debt.as well. No offense to Mudpups,but my imaginary god thinks Bachmann’s imaginary god is a wienie.
My imaginary god is chuckling at your imaginary god’s rather sensible perspective
My imaginary god wants to send best wishes to your imaginary god. With a peace sign.
We made it through the outer bands of tropical storm Irene. We had 4+ inches of Irene and wind gusts of 50+.
Yesterday was pouring, torrential rains and unbelievable wind. Today is 60 and sunny it looks like a beautiful Fall day.
I love cranberries. My daughter lives near Cape Cod and we have been able to have freshly picked cranberries for sauce for Thanksgiving. I’m going to add the bush to my garden next year. The blueberries and raspberries are doing well and cranberries are next!
Thanks for the great picture.
Glad to hear you are ok. Sounds like you had similar experience as my son and his family in Maine.
Yes, very impressive, spouse!
Cranberries rock!
Wild lowbush and highbush varieties and all the cultivated types!
I have much to learn about Alaska as it looks like you grow green coffee beans with your cranberries. I can see the commercial now-the Tundra Tart with a sombrero and serape and fake moustache telling the world the reechest coffee een thee world is handpeeked by Senor Juan Palin. Then she gets nailed for plagiarism. YEE-HAH!
I, too, noticed that the leaves just above the bottom cranberry cluster bear a striking resemblance to coffee beans.
Hee hee, good ‘un, Mike. She;ll be dancing with bananas on her head next.
I think the “coffee beans” you’re seeing are leaves of the Labrador tea plant – it is common in the muskeg. I don’t know if it is actually used for tea, though.
Thanks, Bretta. I love botany, and Alaskan botany is fascinating to this native New Yorker.
Gorgeous photograph. Those colors are so energizing and the detail is so crisp that it’s hard to realize that the photo was taken on a Blackberry. Beautiful to start the day.
To add to the national weather report: here in KC-metro area, temps have dropped out of the triple digits but the humidity still makes it uncomfortable – particularly when trying to ride a cycle. The helmet (mandatory in MO, optional in KS) takes a bad-hair-day to a whole new level as sweat streams down one’s face. Riding is fine as long as you are riding, but stopping for extended red lights is a bit grim when the humidity is high and the sun is searing your skin. Still, a day with a ride is better than one without one. 🙂
We will soon have to load all the huge houseplants into our little pickup so husband can take them down to his classroom. His librarians also take some of our plants under their wings for the winter (bless them). We have a bird of paradise plant with seven-foot tall leaves. Sad to say, though, it always blooms at school so some years I don’t get to see it.
BTW, is anyone else noticing how the Republican governors are getting praise for hurricane prep, but President Obama and FEMA are not? Makes me want to growl.
We feel the change in season is upon us in southern Ontario with cool evenings and crisp mornings. The days are still warm to hot and we do not have such stunning colors as those shown in AKM’s lovely photo but change is definitely on its way.
Good job, spouse!
The colors are spectacular and my mouth is watering.
There’s a bit of a chill in the air in the forest this morning, if you call 68 degrees a bit of a chill. After temps and humidity in the upper 90s (with that liberal heat index nonsense in the triple digits, though Rush wouldn’t feel any hotter), 68 qualifies/quantifies as “a bit of a chill,” and I am grateful.
Last week brought The Return of JesusHawk. 🙂
JesusHawk perches right on top of the head of a ten foot Jesus statue in a cemetery on my way to work, but I didn’t see him all summer. Cracks me up. Reminds me of Horus, the Egyptian hawk god, and sends me into fits of giggles imagining the reaction of the local bible-thumping, hell-fire-and-damnation preaching, holier than all y’all uber-fundamentalists if I clued them in on some comparative religion.
Also, too, last week brought my first longan fruit. Weird, different, delicious.
Off to see what fresh discoveries await this week.
Have a lovely day, all.
L’Shalom,
thatcrowwoman
Update: The raven I rescued died. Apparently she had taken in too much water. However, my little granddaughter and I rescued a small-eared owl with a leg band from one of the troughs last night. That was a first! This one has a better chance of survival as he seemed to be suffering from a serious case of drenched feathers and cold. He was so docile that he just let me cuddle him against my shirt and carry him into the house. Of course, I was thinking, “What the hell am I going to do with a full-grown owl in the house?” Four-year-old granddaughter to the rescue! She suggested we put him in a dog crate. He is currently on the counter in the bathroom in a crate with water. His feathers look fluffed, and judging by how he hissed at me, I’m guessing he is ready for release. I think I will have to figure out some kind of ramp for the water troughs so that the birds and occasional rabbit can get out. I have water in a bucket on the ground for them, but they prefer the 500 gallon trough for some reason.
Oops! It’s a short-eared owl not small-eared. It pays to Google first.
you might try chicken wire,from the top of the trough side to center bottom, a basic V shape. run the entire length. This would give them something to grab on to and climb out, possible use a couple of cinder blocks to weigh it down in the bottom of the trough.
Great Idea! I’m also thinking of building a ramp with cleats that is hooked on one side and wedges down in the trough on the other side. Now if only those darn horses will not play with it.