An Inch of Time

Wandering through a cemetery

2012-02-28T17:42:00.002-05:00

Rain is in our forecast for tomorrow but today is beautiful, sunny and light jacket warm. It's also a day to get out for a few hours and take some photos. It's on my list of things to do this week and with tomorrow's weather not looking very promising I decided to grab my camera and head out the door.

I was anxious to explore a small, abandoned cemetery not far from where I live that my husband and I stumbled upon last weekend while we were on our way to another destination.

The cemetery sits back off the road. Parking isn't great because it's on a narrow road and half-way down a small hill. I pull as much off the road as I can and get out.

After manuevering a small bank without breaking my neck, I begin walking among the headstones. There aren't many and if I had to guess, I would say there are about 50 scattered about the small hedge-row enclosed area.

Two Grand Army of the Republic (the Civil War) veterans and three Revolutionary War veterans are also buried here. Many of these people lived long lives dying in their late 70's and 80's, which is remarkable because it's still fairly rural where this cemetery is located and I can only imagine how tough life must have been.

I know cemeteries are rather morbid for most people but I love to haunt them (no pun intended), especially old ones whose residents lived during the 1700 's and 1800's. Why that period? Because during that time headstones were chiseled or carved with a lot of information about the deceased.

For instance, it would give the relationship: wife/mother, brother/sister, son/daughter, and husband/father as well as the birth and death dates. It would also have the age at death: 17 years, 5 months and 6 days. It might also include a short paragraph all painstakingly, and beautifully chiseled or carved onto the headstone.

Less than an 1/8 of a mile and within easy walking distance from this cemetery is a large church with an even larger cemetery. I can't remember the date the church was built, and I'm guessing here, but once the church was built, the abandoned cemetery was no longer used.

Some of the headstones in the churh cemetery have beautifully chiseled/carved motifs.

Sadly, due to the elements and some vandalism it's hard to read many of them now. Those that really get to me are the small markers where it's almost a given that a child is buried. Also the ones where the grave is marked with a small, simple, crudely shaped piece of flat stone -- some are marked with a name and maybe birth and death dates. Some nothing more than just the plain marker.

Another reason I like cemeteries is because, believe it or not, they are quiet places to walk and think.

Namaste
Chris

Tomato Bisque

2012-02-18T00:01:00.019-05:00

Just a hop, skip and a jump across the Delaware River, in the quaint town of Sergeantsville, NJ, is one of my favorite restaurants, the Sergeantsville Inn.

While Chef/Owner Joseph Clyde never fails to impress diners with every delicious, beautifully presented meal I have several favorites. But one takes first prize every time for me. It's his signature Tomato Bisque soup.

Before it folded, a well-known food magazine, once approached Clyde wanting to write an article about his Tomato Bisque. One of the requirements of the magazine is the chef is asked to surrender the recipe. Clyde graciously declined saying it had taken him 30 years to perfect the recipe and wasn't about to give it up. But ask the Inn's fun-loving, gregarious and handsome bartender, Dylan Carew, who tells the story better than I have.

Whenever we have dinner there I almost always have a bowl of this rich, incredibly delicious bisque. It's that good. No, it's that great!!!!

But after eating and enjoying it for a number of years I was fairly sure I could (somewhat) deconstruct the recipe. Before I give you my version, I want to make it perfectly clear I am not out to best (or guess) Clyde's recipe because no one will ever make a better Tomato Bisque. His will always be the BEST. Besides my version uses a ubiquitous ingredient I am sure is not part of Clyde's recipe.

So without further adieu here is my version of the Sergeantsville Inn's Tomato Bisque:

Tomato Bisque

1 10-3/4 oz. can of Campbell's Harvest Orange Tomato Soup
1 medium shallot, peeled and finely diced
1 1/2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
Splash of white wine
1 pint of Half & Half
Dash of dill

Sauté shallots in unsalted butter until opaque about 5-6 minutes. Do not brown. Add the white wine and cook until the wine evaporates. Add the tomato soup (do not dilute) and stir until the shallots are incorporated and the soup is heated through. Add the Half & Half slowly stirring until fully incorporated. The bisque should be somewhat thick. Before serving and if you're using dried dill, add three pinches of dill and stir. There's just a hint of dill in the bisque.

Again, as I mentioned earlier, Clyde's version is, and always will be, the BEST!!! I'm also positive there's a few more ingredients I am unable to discern and it takes a lot longer to make.

"Bon Appétit."

Namaste

Chris

Rachmaninov had big hands

2012-02-16T06:05:00.000-05:00

My good friend Lynn, at Allegria Images emailed me a YouTube link about Igudesman and Joo, two musicians, who are not only extremely talented but very funny.

Wishing you all a great day.

Namaste

Chris

Color My World

2012-02-15T13:55:00.002-05:00

Kaleidoscope

While doing the dishes this morning I washed eight lemons and set them on the counter next to the sink. When I looked down at them and glanced out the kitchen window, I realized I was in desperate need of some color on this grey and overcast/looks-like-rain day. I grabbed my ever ready point-and-shoot and snapped these two photos.

Hope they color your world on this post-Valentine's Day.

Namaste

Chris

Steamtown

2012-02-13T15:47:00.008-05:00

Sunburst

Don't ask why but for some reason I'm attracted to peeling paint, rust and trains. Why trains? It wasn't until I headed off to graduate school I took my first train ride. I remember like it was yesterday because I was heading into Philadelphia and another first happened on that ride. It was my first experience with wide scale grafitti, abandoned homes, burned out buildings and more trash then I'd ever seen at one time. Growing up, I lived in a rural area where none of these things existed. But, like abandoned homes in the same state of decay as trains, I often wonder who lived in the house or rode the train. In many cases it's an often shocking, visual realization of the end of a slower, gentler way of life.

In past visits, the train yard had a lot of old trains, many of them, sadly, rusting and rotting away on the tracks. Literally. There's no money to save all of them and many of them were gone notably one, a business car, we'd gotten permission to photograph years ago.

Mosaic

Perpendicular

Blow Out

Divergence

129

Snow Plow

Power

Namaste
Chris

Quietly Snowing

2012-02-11T10:17:00.008-05:00

It's early morning as I write this post and the line, "to watch his woods fill up with snow," from Robert Frost's, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening keeps playing in my head. It's so beautiful I quickly bundle up, grab my camera and head out to the woods before the sun rises or winds arrive to rearrange this beautiful, peaceful landscape.

The snow isn't deep but it's heavy and wet so it sticks to every surface in its path. Tree branches have a thin vertical edge of snow that looks so fragile you could knock it off with a slight breath.

The only sound in the woods are the squeaky, noisy crunch of my Muck boots and a handful of noisy birds whose raucous cries puncture the peaceful quiet of this morning. Sadly, we live in a noisy, and getting noisier, world and I'm always on the lookout for places where the quiet can be heard and enjoyed if only for a minute or two.

Snow is gently falling and there's no place I have to go today and, "the woods are lovely, dark and deep."

Bird Santuary

Snowy Hedgerow

Snow Spider

Snow Cherries

Earlier this week it snowed and I happened to glance out the window to see a collar of snow hanging precariously from our bird feeder. It was large and it boggled my mind as to why it hadn't fallen off the feeder since the sun was melting what little snow had fallen from the night before.

I grabbed my camera and ran outside to take a few shots and just as I "clicked" the last shot, the collar released and hit the ground at my feet.

Last, but not least, Valentine's Day is Tuesday and I want to send my family, friends, readers and fellow bloggers the following:

Namaste
Chris

but mostly, have a really fun time

2012-02-08T07:33:00.001-05:00

I admit I've never been a big fan of Katie Couric. No one can be perky all the time. But in her defense my opinion was based solely on her news anchor persona. So I didn't really know anything about her at all. However, my (false) opinion changed markedly since discovering her book, The Best Advice I Ever Got: lessons from extraordinary lives.

The book's dustjacket says it best, "this inspiration-packed book reports from the front lines of the worlds of politics, entertainment, sports, philanthropy, the arts, and business -- distilling the ingenious, hard-won insights of leaders and visionaries, who tell us all how to take chances, follow our passions, cope with criticism, and, perhaps most important, commit to something greater than ourselves."

"Among the many voices to be heard are financial guru Suze Orman on the benefits of doing what's right, not what's easy; director Steven Spielberg on listening rather than being listened to; quarterback Drew Brees on how his (literal) big break changed his life; novelist Curtis Sittenfeld on the secrets of a great long-term relationships, not to mention advice from Michael Bloomberg, Joyce Carol Oates, Jimmy Kimmel, Apolo Ohno, Madeleine K. Albright" to name just a few .

One of my favorite pieces of advice comes from Emmy Award-Winning Actor, Eric Stonestreet who wrote the following entitled:

but mostly, have a really fun time

follow your fear
prepare don't plan
do what you say
say what you mean
know what you don't know
don't hold yourself to other people's standards
own a pet
call your parents
create a comfortable living space
be happy for other people
cultivate friendships
stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves
understand what realistic expectations are
don't lie
get to know your gut and then listen to it
say you're sorry before you're too embarrassed to
always wear clean underwear
be on time
be nice to receptionists
appreciate other people's talents
identify people who don't have your best interests in mind
people will disappoint you
people will amaze you
people will inspire you
overlisten
you will disappoint people
you will amaze people
you will inspire people
don't drink too much alcohol
remember that the old lady who's taking forever in line is someone's grandma
be curious
ask questions
give yourself a break
have truthful conversations with yourself
think about your day in the shower
reflect on your day before you fall asleep
reward yourself from time to time
have a good clean joke at the ready
have a good dirty joke at the ready
silence can be golden
have someone you admire evaluate your handshake
be humbly confident
smell good
don't let the highs be too high, so the lows aren't too low
get to know you
learn to like you
let people love you
no one does you better than you
want what you have and you'll have what you want
lead with justice and judge with mercy
don't let your mouth overload your rear

Filled with down-to-earth, common sense advice to keep you on your path to wherever you're going, Couric intersperses, and dispenses, her own advice with personal anecdotes. It's a quick read and wherever you open this book, new insights will be found on every page.

Happy Reading.

Namaste
Chris

For Chocolate Lovers Only

2012-01-30T10:42:00.001-05:00

I left boxed puddings in the dust long ago and over the years have occasionally dabbled in making them from scratch. But when I read the recipe for "the ultimate chocolate pudding" in the February issue of Real Simple, I knew I had to try it sooner than right away!

Well, in less than a week I've made it twice. I've also neglected to take a photo of it before it was totally scarfed down, which is why there is no photo of this rich, luscious dessert above my post! I kept telling myself to take a photo and I usually take it as soon after the recipe is made but this time, by the time I remembered, the pudding was gone . . . again.

Don't take my word for it but I would appreciate comments from those of you who do try it.

The Ultimate Chocolate Pudding

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder*
pinch of kosher salt
2 cups whole milk
4 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons, unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt. Gradually whisk in the milk, then the egg yolks.

Cook the milk mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened to the consistency of mayonnaise, 7 to 8 minutes. Continue to cook, whisking, for 1 minute more. Add the butter and chocolate and stir until melted. Mix in the vanilla.

Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding (which prevents a skin from forming on top of the pudding) and refrigerate for at least two hours and up to two days**. Before serving, gently stir the pudding to loosen it. Serve with whipped cream.

NOTES:

*cocoa powder -- I used Nestle's Special Dark cocoa powder and Baker's semi-sweet chocolate for the chopped chocolate.

**up to two days? It won't last that long, trust me.

The next time I make I'm going to use skim milk for the whole milk and faux eggs (as in EggBeaters) for the eggs. It might not be as rich and the consistency might be different but I'm trying to trim/eliminate as much of the cholesterol as I can.

Namaste
Chris

Thought for the Day

2012-01-06T10:02:00.000-05:00

Explanation Unnecessary

Namaste,
Chris

A Clean Slate

2012-01-05T05:00:00.017-05:00

The start of another new year. A clean slate to create a life of your choosing. This isn’t a post about resolutions since we’re told every year that resolutions fall by the wayside long before the month of January is over.

Just the other day I got to thinking about the last three years of my life and they haven’t been good ones; none of them my own fault either.

In 2009, I had a work-related injury that kept me out of work for two weeks and sidelined my personal life for another six.

In 2010, I was involved in a serious auto accident that almost claimed my life and so far I seem to be doing well. The only thing it did claim was my new car. Two and a half months later, I was laid off from my job.

And 2011, saw me still unemployed but certainly not for a lack of trying. So be it.

All in all I am very much aware these last three years could have been far worse; a fact for which I am eternally grateful and thankful. But I’ve decided this will be my year. For what? Don’t know. Haven’t figured it out yet.

Like a lot of people who’ve been unemployed for a long time, I’ve been depressed, angry, wondering, searching, and worrying. But in a recent conversation with my sister-in-law who said, about herself, “I’m right where I’m supposed to be,” I had an Oprah Winfrey “AH-HA” moment!

“I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

Maybe that’s the answer. Maybe I need to keep this in mind as I continue to search for another job this coming year. And I know it will come . . . eventually, for as my good friend Se’Lah says, “nothing stays the same.”

While I choose not to look at the glass as half empty, lately Jospeh Campbell’s “follow your bliss” keeps rattling around inside my head.

These quotes are not resolutions but affirmations to keep me on a path toward something very rewarding. I have to have faith and be positive. I have no idea what the next 363 days (it's leap year) will hold for me but I’m looking forward to whatever the future holds. I hope you are as well.

Namaste,
Chris

Bitter Cold

2012-01-04T13:37:00.002-05:00

It’s after lunchtime here and the temps are struggling to make it to 30 degrees. But it’s January and it’s suppose to be cold here where I live.

I love winter. The colder the weather, the better I like it! For the last three days temps have been colder than they’ve been in awhile. But today, when I woke, temps were in the low 20’s; perfect weather for a walk in a nearby park.

There were only two other brave souls walking their dogs in the park when I arrived and by the time I made it around twice, I was the only one in the park!

The photo above the post is from one of the ponds in the park. I couldn’t believe the fountains, for the lack of a better word, were still on. A thick collar of ice rings its base.

The following two shots are courtesy of our upstairs bathroom window where ice crystals form on very cold days.

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!

Namaste
Chris

Bumper Tweets

2011-12-08T11:24:00.006-05:00

This morning after food shopping and a quick trip to the hardware store to pick up a part for our Weber grill, my last stop was the bank. I found myself behind a Prius from Oregon waiting for a red light to turn green. I quickly grabbed my ever present point and shoot and took two shots before the light went green. I did manage to read most of them but here are few of my favorites:

Keep Portland Weird

Rock is dead long live paper and scissors

Atheism is a Non-Prophet Organization (not a proponent just passing along a clever turn of phrase)

I express my individuality through mass produced bumper stickers

God give me strength to deal with all the idiots who cross my path. (A personal favorite.)

Politicians and Diapers need to be changed for the same reason. (Amen I say to you!)

Got wind? Chicago

Powell's Books (A well known book store I hope to visit one day. Must add that to my bucket list.)

Reading is sexy (another favorite)

I chose the road less traveled. Now where the hell am I?

And my all time personal favorite?

I'm not in Heat so get off my tail!!

I'd put this bumper sticker right next to the one that says, STOP TEXTING!!!

Please note I am in not in the habit of taking photos of strangers or their possessions, unless I ask permission first. It would've been tough to ask permission to take this photo. The owner's license plate number was smudged before being posted.

Hope your day is going well.

Namaste
Chris

$24,263.18!!

2011-12-05T08:42:00.002-05:00

No, it isn’t the auction price paid for a slice of toast depicting Elvis but this year’s cost of The 12 Days of Christmas. As to be expected there is a 3.5 percent overall increase over last year’s total.

According to our local newspaper here’s how it breaks down:

A partridge in a pear tree: $184.99 (Up 14.2%)

Two turtle doves: $125 (Up 25%)

Three French Hens: $150 (No change)

Four calling birds: $519.96 (Down 13.3%)

Five golden rings: $645 (Down 0.8%) I wonder how this price is arrived at because I want to know if the rings are 10, 14 or 18 karat gold, since the karat weight would impact the price of the ring. Also, how wide are the rings? The wider, the more expensive. Someone needs to define this better as I don’t think it’s a good economic indicator.

Moving on.

Six geese-a-laying: $162 (Up 8%)

Seven swans-a-swimming: $6,300 (Up 12.5%)

Eight maids-a-milking: $58 (No change) I guess there isn’t a big demand for maids-a-milking, let alone eight of them.

Nine ladies dancing: $6,294.03 (No change) Finally a place where women are making more than the men! See below.

Ten lords-a-leaping: $4,766.70 (No change)

Eleven pipers piping: $2,427.60 (Up 3%)

Twelve drummers drumming: $2,629.90 (Up 3%)

After reading about this song year after year, I decided to do a little research to learn about its origin. Like everyone else, I turned to the Internet and specifically Wikipedia for the short answer. NOTE: I take Wikipedia with a grain of salt since the information is not always accurate or reliable. But here’s what I found:

--Although the specific origins of the chant are not known, the song is apparently older than the printed version, though it is not known how much older. Textual evidence indicates the song was not English in origin, but French, though it is considered an English carol.

--The song was imported to the United States in 1910 by Emily Brown, of the Downer Teacher’s College in Milwaukee, WI, who had encountered the song in an English music store. She needed the song for the school Christmas pageant, an annual extravaganza that she was known for organizing.

--The lyrics of The Twelve Days of Christmas may have no meaning at all. Its meaning, if it has any, has yet to be satisfactorily explained.

--According to The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, “Suggestions have been made the gifts have significance, as representing the food or sport for each month of the year.”

--A bit of modern folklore claims the song’s lyrics were written as a “catechism song” to help young Catholics learn their faith, at a time when practicing Catholicism was discouraged in England from 1558 until 1829. There is no substantive primary evidence supporting this claim, and no evidence the claim is historical, or “anything but a fanciful modern day speculation.”

--Since 1984, the cumulative costs of the items mentioned in the song have been used as a tongue-in-cheek economic indicator. This custom began with and is maintained by PNC Bank. Two pricing charts are created, referred to as the Christmas Price Index and The True Cost of Christmas. The former is an index of the current costs of one set of each of the gifts given by the True Love to the singer of the song. The latter is the cumulative cost of all the gifts with the repetitions listed in the song. The people mentioned in the song are hired, not purchased. The total costs of all goods and services for the 2010 Christmas Price Index was $23,439. The original 1984 cost was $12,623.10.

So there you have it. Lucky for me none of my Christmas presents are on that list.

Namaste
Chris

Best Apple Pie

2011-12-02T00:01:00.029-05:00

When I was growing up my Mom made the best apple pie. She had two secrets -- using tapioca instead of flour to thicken the juice from the apples and adding a few drops of brandy before putting the top crust on the pie. Sadly, she longer bakes but her shoes have been filled by my wonderful, hard-working son-in-law who’s been in the family for six-and-a-half years.

While his wife, my daughter who has a culinary arts degree from a college in upstate New York, is an excellent cook, it is my son-in-law who really shines with his apple pie.

He puts me to shame, in a good way I might add, by using a pie crust recipe passed down through at least four, possibly five generations of his family. To say he’s a master at scratch pie crust is an understatement. Me? Scratch crust and I parted company years ago after my first and only attempt. All I'll say is it was ugly. Until Pillsbury’s came out with their refrigerated pie crusts and the rest, they say, is history, which leads me to the reason for this post.

Ever since he came into the family I’ve been trying to find an apple pie recipe worthy of his praise. I have no desire to compete with him for the best apple pie. But he's my incentive to make a really good apple pie.

For the last few years I’ve tried to perfect my apple pie filling and every Thanksgiving, at least to me, it’s been a dismal attempt if not a failure. Personally, I think my son-in-law is too kind to tell me what he really thinks. But this year I think I might have nailed it.

A friend of mine was downsizing her large home to an apartment and gave me Simple Pleasures, 101 Thoughts and Recipes for Savoring the Little Things in Life by John Hadamuscin. While meandering through this slim volume I discovered a recipe for Sour Cream Apple Pie. The recipe follows.

I love sour cream but wasn’t so sure my son-in-law would but I decided to try the recipe because it sounded so yummy. Instead of sour cream I substituted Greek yogurt and the pie was one of the best pies I’ve ever made. It was also the first time I tried my hand at a lattice top for the pie.

So what did my son-in-law think of it? I think he really liked it because the next morning he had another slice with whipped cream. However, I have one more feat to accomplish before he will tell me what he really thinks of my apple pie.

I need to make scratch pie crust. Now that I’m older and have spent a considerable amount of time in the kitchen, I’m ready to attempt the final task of making a good apple pie. Not wanting to rush into these things I may even try to make it before next Thanksgiving!!!

Sour Cream Apple Pie

Double crust for a 9-inch pie
¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup sour cream OR Greek yogurt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
6 cups peeled and thinly sliced baking apples, such as Granny Smith or Yellow Delicious (I used a combination of both apples)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a 9-inch pie pan with a single crust. (Do not bake the crust before adding the filling.)

In a large mixing bowl stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and flour. Add the sour cream, egg, and vanilla and blend well, then stir in the lemon rind. Add the apples and toss to coat well with the sour cream mixture.

Fill the prepared pie crust with the apple mixture and use the remaining crust to make a lattice top. Bake 15 minutes, reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking until the crust is well browned, and the apples are tender, 30 to 35 minutes.

Bon Appétit!!!

Namaste
Chris

Four Cents

2011-12-01T12:19:00.029-05:00

It began with a simple trip to Michael's for yarn to finish a scarf I was knitting. But as we all know things don't always go as planned, do they?

If you've never heard about Michael's and its sister competitor A.C. Moore, they are the crafting meccas for hard-core crafters. Luckily, I am not a hard core crafter. I can go months without stepping foot in either store but when I do, I usually have a goal in mind.

Of course, the yarn department is at the furthest corner of the store so I put on my imaginary crafting blinders and make it safety to the yarn without anything in my hands not related to my visit. I pick out four skeins and make it to the checkout without being lured, seduced, sabotaged or blindsided by some new craft technique or product.

The cashier rings up the yarn and the total is $23.96. I hand her $24. She enters the amount and the cash drawer glides open. I watch as she makes change only to realize she's about the hand me much more than I'm entitled to.

"What are you doing," I ask.

"Getting your change," she replies.

"But that's the wrong change." And then she says something I will never, ever forget.

"But the machine says I owe you two dollars and forty-four cents," she responds.

I can't believe what I'm hearing! My brain frantically searches its memory banks on how to convince, and eventually explain why she's giving me the wrong change. What's even scarier is she isn't a 20-something, gum chewing, hair twirling, Facebook and Twitter addicted individual, she's an older woman who should know how to make change without "the machine" telling her.

I look down on the counter and there's the receipt for the yarn. I turn it around and point to the $23.96, and say, "Here's the total and here's what I gave you," as I point to the $24. "The difference between the two is four cents, not two dollars and forty-four cents."

"But the machine says," she continues again.

My brain launches into battle station mode but not before an evil little voice says, "You know that $2.44 will go a long way for your favorite drink, a Starbucks Grande Caramel Frappaccino!" Oh does "the voice" know how to push my buttons. I shake my head to oust him and decide to do the right thing and fight fire with fire.

"But the machine is wrong and if you don't have this cash register looked at you're going to lose hundreds of dollars before the day is finished." By now we're both flustered and I can see she doesn't know what to do.

"Please, trust me, my change is four cents." She finally gives me four cents, puts the yarn in a bag and out the door I go.

Sadly this is not the first time I've tried to help someone when they've given me the wrong change. It happens more often than it should. And I almost always meet with resistence when I point this out and it's beginning to wear me down. But I've learned several things on this shopping trip.

I now understand the cliché, "No good deed goes unpunished."

Years ago I unilaterally declared myself Poster Woman for the Mathematically Challenged. I am happy to report I've stepped down from this honor because I realize there are people whose math skills are far worse than mine.

While this sounds funny, it really isn't because it means our educational system isn't doing a good job at teaching rudimentary math skills and we're relying way too much on technology to give us the answers.

However, the next time someone wants to give me the wrong change, I'm going to accept with a smile, walk out the door, and beat feet to Starbucks!

Or . . . maybe not.

Namaste
Chris

True Colors

2011-11-25T09:55:00.003-05:00

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors, true colors

True colors are beautiful,

Beautiful, like a rainbow.

Phil Collins, True Colors

I realize the words above mean something else entirely but I was out and about on a dreary, drizzly day earlier this week and the words to True Colors, by Phil Collins, popped into my head. This flag hangs in the trees day and night and at night a single light illuminates its simple but powerful glory. As I stood and leaned on a nearby fence to take some shots, a few minutes later a voice behind me said, "Isn't it beautiful?" I turned to see a woman in her car who stopped to verbalize my thoughts exactly. I responded, "Yes it is especially in the mist."

Namaste

Chris

Feeling Lazy

2011-11-21T08:28:00.005-05:00

Thanksgiving is three days away and I'm feeling lazy today. Not a good sign but I'm going to go with it anyway. The weather is gloomy and rain is expected although I haven't had a chance to poke my head out the back door to see if it's already arrived.

I'm not worried about this lazy business because the hardest part of The Big Turkey Day is the shopping!!! Food shopping that is. (Hereinafter referred to as "shopping.") I hate food shopping before the holidays!

Normally, I have all the ingredients for the big day a week before and before panic, like a major snowstorm is on its way, strikes everyone else. Yesterday, I realized I had a few more items I needed to pull off this year's feast for which I'm hosting. With my hastily scribbled list of remaining items needed, including the menu to make sure I wasn't missing anything, I head off to my local Giant.

I pick a good time to go, about two hours before dinner, thinking the shopping will be light. I pull into the parking lot and it looks like I'm at the Mall of America. I'm guessing here since I've never been to the Mall of America; probably a slight exaggeration but to me it seems accurate.

Grabbing my Giant shopping bags and my list I head into the store. It isn't too bad, yet. I often wonder why people wait until the last minute to do holiday shopping, food or otherwise. Food shopping on a good day is hard for me and even moreso when a holiday lurks at the end of a month like the Grim Reaper.

I start in the produce aisle and pick up what I need and head over to get the guest of honor, the turkey. I snag a 20lb. turkey and toss it in the cart. Yes, I can still toss 20 pounds without pulling anything that might cause me to walk funny. Twenty pounds should be enough to feed four people with leftovers I'm sure. Sometimes, I like living on the edge.

Next stop, the baking aisle. Let's face it, holidays are probably the biggest baking days of the year. The King Arthur flour section, which is normally well stocked looks like an abandoned warehouse. You can tell what kind of flour my fellow residents prefer over all others. (I totally agree.) But flour isn't on my list as I always have that because I never know when a frantic urge to bake brownies or a cake will strike and I never want to be without flour or sugar. But my sugar stash is more than adequate to tackle the upcomng baking I'll be doing in the next day or so.

A few more necessary ingredients find themselves in my cart with the last items located in the milk and cheese aisle. My cart turns the corner and carts, every which way, clog the aisle looking like a 30 car pile-up on the freeway. Another guess here as I don't live near or travel freeways as they make me nervous and they're noisy but that's another story and I digress.

If there's one thing that drives me bonkers it's shoppers who are clueless that other shoppers are about. For instance, there's the "middle-of-the-aisle" shopper. They usually make it difficult to pass on either side because the store has parked stand-alone cardboard box stands of product in the aisles. Why can't they put this stuff on the shelf? The aisles are crowded enough with shoppers, thoughtless and otherwise, without having to dodge and weave flimsy advertising containers full of product that would certainly topple over if the Wolf from The Three Little Pigs were nearby.

Then there's the "parked cart at an angle" shopper. This occurs when two people, usually friends or neighbors, are jawing away once again clueless there are other shoppers who just want to get the heck out of the supermarket and as fast as possible. Like me!

There's also the "25 carts pile-up" where you find every shopper and their cart in an aisle and you have to constantly say, "excuse me, excuse me." It's also my luck to find someone who is elderly or hard of hearing and I have to yell, which I hate to do as I never know if I'll startle them or they'll have a heart attack right before my eyes.

Did I mention I hate to shop for the holidays?

There's usually one ingredient I can't score for my holiday dinner and it's almost always heavy whipping cream. Go figure. I never realized there were still people out there who made their own whipped cream like me. I mean how can you have pumpkin pie without whipped cream? It's sacreligious to say the least. But this year I left, guilt-free I might add, someone else frustrated as I scored another pint of heavy whipping cream and three pints of half-and-half I'll be using for a scallpoed potatoes recipe I came across recently, which brings me to another point about holiday cooking and baking.

I think it was Mario Batali, whom I love dearly, who said you should never try a new recipe out on guests. Oh please let me debunk that little bit of advice right here! For years, I've been trying new recipes on my guests and I've been cooking and baking for more years than I can remember, but not as many as Mario I'm sure. Sorry Mario I disagree with this sage piece of advice.

My thoughts on trying new recipes on guests is if you feel confident you can pull it off and have the cooking and baking experience then go for it! Heaven knows we've all had our fair share of cooking and baking faux pas but it's never stopped me from trying new things on my guests. Besides, I get tired of making the tried and trues. I want to step out of my comfort zone, even if it might be a flop, and dazzle my guests, which usually happens more often than not. Well, maybe not dazzle but they seem to enjoy whatever I prepare. Or are they just being polite? Can't be, they ask for seconds.

In any event, the hardest part of the Thanksgiving holiday is behind me. Over the next few days the fun part begins with the preparation, cooking and baking. And finally, being thankful while eating a delicious dinner in the company and camaderie of family and friends.

If you're wondering why there's no photo at the top of this post, like I said, I'm feeling lazy.

For those of you who celebrate this day of thankfulness, I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Namaste,
Chris

Tidbit Thursday

2011-10-13T06:39:00.001-04:00

Here are a few things I came across recently in my reading travels. They all come from the October issue of Real Simple.

From the Life Lessons column/Expertise
5 quick rituals that will improve your day, written by Stephanie Booth
1. Eat the same breakfast every day.
2. Savor your coffee.
3. Write an "ignore list." (This one I especially like!)
4. Turn off your mind for a few minutes.
5. Really listen to the answer when you ask, "How are you?"

From the guide column/money
Looking to purchase a major item and want to know if your model of choice has a history of safety issues? Then check out SaferProducts.gov, a database run by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can also report problems with products you've already bought and find out about recent recalls.

Last but not least, from Real Simple Thoughts, a quote from M.F.K. Fisher from An Alphabet for Gourmets:

"Gastronomical perfection can be reached in these combinations: one person dining alone, usually upon a couch or a hill side; two people, of no matter what sex or age, dining in a good restaurant; six people, of no matter what sex or age, dining in a good home."

Wishing you all a Happy Thursday.

Namaste
Chris

Mexican Potstickers

2011-09-29T10:40:00.003-04:00

Last night, I was in the mood for Mexican potstickers. No, I’ve never made them before but I had a recipe I’ve been hankering to try for some time. The recipe, by David McCann, is from Every Day with Rachel Ray and they are delicious!

Mexican Potstickers

Makes about 5 dozen

PREP: 30 min COOK: 40 mins.
Halving the recipe makes more than enough potstickers for two people

2 cans (15 oz. each) black beans, rinsed
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 jalapeño chilies, seeded and finely chopped
¾ cup finely chopped seeded tomato (used a Roma tomato)
¾ cup finely chopped red onion (used a shallot)
½ cup chopped cilantro (used dried and about a ¼ cup)
¾ cup sour cream (used plain Greek style yogurt)
1 tablespoon hot sauce (used Cholula hot sauce)
2 teaspoon salt (omitted the salt)
60 wonton wrappers (usually found in the fresh produce section of your supermarket)
Vegetable oil, for frying

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the beans, corn, jalapeños, tomato, onion, cilantro, sour cream, hot sauce and salt. Mix well, breaking up the beans with the back of a fork.

Fill a small bowl with water. Working with 8 wonton wrappers at a time, place a teaspoon of the filling into the center of each. Dip your finger into the water and use it to moisten the outside rims of the wrappers. Fold the edges to form a triangle, and then press to seal. Transfer the potstickers to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining wrappers.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Slide as many of the potstickers into the skillet as can fit without touching. Cook, turning once, until golden-brown, about 3 minutes on the first side and 1 minute on the second side. Transfer to a papertowel-lined plate. Repeat with the remaining potstickers, using more oil as needed.

NOTE: Filling and sealing the wontons was a tad labor intensive but these potstickers are well worth the effort!

In case you're wondering, only two potstickers were leftover and after snapping the photo a few minutes ago, I ate both of them!! Definitely a recipe I will make again and again.

Namaste
Chris

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T06:47:00.001-04:00

Namaste
Chris

Chicken Pie

2011-09-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine was downsizing her home, moving into an apartment and she gave me a book by John Hadamuscin entitled Simple Pleasures, 101 Thoughts and Recipes for Savoring the Little Things in Life, where I discovered a recipe for chicken pie.

I love chicken pie. It’s great comfort food on a cold, winter day. Since those days are just around the corner, yes, I know you don’t want to hear that, this recipe is fast, relatively speaking, easy and delicious.

I made it the other day and unfortunately, it didn’t last very long and as a consequence I didn’t take any photos; rest assured I will be making it again very soon it’s that good.

Grandma Wynn’s Chicken Pie

Double pastry crust for a 9-inch pie
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 medium onion chopped
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken stock
4 cups cubed cooked chicken (I used 3 cups and that was plenty)
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup peeled pearl onions
¼ cup parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon or ½ teaspoon dried tarragon
Salt, and ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan with half the pastry dough.

In a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, mushrooms, and chopped onion. Sauté until the mushrooms are browned and the onion is golden, 7-10 minutes. Slowly add the flour, stirring until it is all absorbed. Gradually stir in the milk and chicken stock, and continue cooking a few minutes until the sauce thickens.

Stir the chicken, peas, carrots, pearl onions, and herbs into the pan; season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared pan, top with the remaining crust, and crimp the edges. Cut a few slits into the top crust to allow seam to escape during baking. Bake until the crust is nicely browned, 40-45 minutes. Serve hot. After baking, let the pie sit for at least 15-20 minutes. Serves 6-8.

NOTES: I marinated and grilled the chicken. The flavor of the marinade enhanced the pie’s flavor.

I had two issues with the pie, which I can rectify. The bottom crust was soggy and like paste. The next time I will bake the bottom crust before filling. The sauce wasn’t thick enough. I think that was due to the mushrooms so I will cook them longer making sure all the moisture is out of them.

So, as Julia Child always said, Bon Appétit.

Namaste
Chris

Early Morning Ramble

2011-09-26T10:50:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I hiked around Hawk Mountain before the sun crested the treetops. It was humid and damp but I loved how the sunlight illuminated the fog into shafts. The carpet of ferns was slowly dying and the chipmunks were frantically getting ready for winter. Or were they upset by my presence? Who knows what goes on in the minds of chipmunks?

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Wishing you all a good week.

Namaste
Chris

Llamas, Llamas

2011-09-20T09:18:00.003-04:00

Our neighbor has two llamas. Several weeks ago I saw the neighbor’s wife out walking her dogs. One a mild-mannered little dog and the other a high strung standard poodle who goes nuts every time I drive by. I’m not sure it’s me. I’m more inclined to think it’s any vehicle that drives by.

Anyway, I asked if I could take some photos of her two llamas. She said yes and told me the llamas would be leaving this month as their house is on the market. No not the llamas' house, her house.

Since yesterday was another perfect weather day, thank you Mother Nature, I pulled into their driveway and headed down to the barn. I parked a short distance up from the edge of the split rail fence and pulled my camera from the back of my car.

At first, I kept my distance as did they. I knew they spit and didn’t want to be llama christened.

Unfortunately, when I asked the neighbor about taking photos, I neglected to ask their names and their sex but I assumed they’d be mother and child, two females or two siblings. One was smaller than the other and more timid. And while I tried to take pictures of both it was the larger one that had me laughing.

I hate paparazzi.

Who IS this and what does she want?

I'm watchin' you!

What are you looking at?

It's been a rough day and I have a headache.

Talk about a cooperative subject!!!! Every time I raised my camera to take a picture this llama would pose. After a few shots they both decided to check me out but only the larger one was bold enough to get in my face. The smaller one stayed inside the doorway.

Maybe if we ignore her she'll go away.

How do my ears look?

I have no idea why I'm in a line-up, I didn't do it!!

I managed to escape spit free. But I’ll be sad to see them go as they’ve been in the neighborhood for more than a few years. Llamas are something you don’t often see on the agricultural back roads of Pennsylvania.

Namaste
Chris

Early Signs of Fall

2011-09-19T00:01:00.002-04:00

Last Friday I took an early morning walk at the park. While I don't go every day, I was the first to roll into the parking lot but was soon joined by other early morning walkers.

By the time I got around to the small pond at the far end of the park, intersected by an arched bridge, the sun was beginning to crest treetops and illuminate the mist gently rolling off the pond’s surface. Trees and bushes showed early signs of Fall’s imminent arrival and I took advantage to snap a few photos of my favorite time of the year.

On another early morning walk earlier in the week, even the spiders were getting ready to wrap up another summer.

Wishing you all a Happy Fall.

Namaste

Chris

Grounds for Sculpture

2011-09-17T12:38:00.004-04:00

Even though Fall officially begins in less than a week here in my part of the world, it arrived early yesterday with a hint of cool things to come.

The sky was undecided on clouds for the day so it was a mixed bag of overcast areas and small puffy or wispy ribbons of clouds. Only a light jacket was needed to be comfortable as the sun felt warm, not hot. And I was on my way to Grounds for Sculpture, located in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey.

This 42-acre sculpture park and museum is located on the former site of the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. Founded in 1992 by John Seward Johnson II (of Johnson & Johnson) the venue was intended to be dedicated to promoting an understanding of and appreciation for contemporary sculpture by organizing exhibitions, publishing catalogues, and offering a variety of educational programs and special community events.

In July 2000, it became a nonprofit organization open to the public. The sculpture park counts on the support of visitors, art patrons, donations, and grants to continue its growth as an outstanding center for the arts.

Comprising over two hundred and forty large-scale contemporary sculptures, the venue includes works by Johnson, as well as renowned and emerging American and international artists. The park's outdoor collection grows by fifteen sculptures annually. Outdoor works are selected to augment indoor exhibitions, to add new artists to the sculpture park, and to complement the landscaped environment.

What follows are only a few of the pictures I took while walking around for about three hours soaking up the day and the art.

Before reaching the park's entrance,

you'll see sculptures like this along the road.

And this.

Time Reversing by Brower Hatcher

stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper, iron

Only part of a sculpture, which incorporates a continuous mist.

The Eye of the Beholder by Seward Johnson

cast bronze

The Nine Muses by Carlos Dorrien

granite

On Poppied Hill by Seward Johnson

cast bronze & aluminum

One of my favorites.

It's easy to miss as it sits on a hill surrounded by tall grasses.

Three Figures by Marion Held

wood, stoneware

Depression Bread Line by George Segal

cast bronze

Henry Moore in a Sheep Meadow by Red Grooms

cast bronze

Another favorite. I love the movement.

As if she's on a mission.

Mesteno by Luis Jimenez,

fiberglass

At the Visitor's Center be sure to pick up a park guide where you'll find a two-page spread of the facility with the following: Please note all sculptures throughout the park have plaques that indicate whether or not they may be touched. Some of the sculptures may not be touched in order to protect the surface finishes and for your own safety. We ask you touch only the designated sculptures with care and respect. The collection and exhibitions at Grounds for Sculpture contain art works that may be of a challenging, sensitive, and/or mature nature. Please be aware and consult GFS staff for advice if you have specific concerns.

I apologize for not being able to name all the art in the photos. There is also a slim chance the ones I remembered and have named, may not be correct.

You can spend hours at Grounds for Sculpture. Art is everywhere so be sure to look into small forested areas and bamboo stands as you never know what you'll find inside.

Enjoy!!

Namaste
Chris

Waiting for Irene

2011-08-27T14:56:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Irene that is. She’s on her way and should hit our area by afternoon.

Sitting here with the hatches battened down as they say, I’ve been going through my photos and thought I’d share a few.

The first four, including the above photo, were taken at a nearby park I’d never been to. Knew it was there and was on my list, I’m sure we all have them, of things to do when I had time. Well, time was the motivator for my first visit about a week ago.

Our road used to be a lovely country road. It doesn’t go anywhere in particular nor is it a short cut to anywhere but the traffic has reached take-your-life-in-your-hands when taking a walk proportions. I tried walking very early in the morning, which worked for awhile. Then I tried walking in the mid afternoon, which also seemed to work. Often, it wasn’t necessarily the amount of traffic, it was the speed at which people were driving.

There are no lines on our road, which is my definition of a country road. No speed limit signs are posted, which means, at least in PA, the speed limit is 50 mph. Our road can’t handle 50 mph. It's narrow and deer are always a factor when traveling our road.

Hence my visit to the nearby park. It’s close to home, which means in less than 10 minutes I can be at the park, walking with other like-minded individuals, some with dogs some without. And the best part is I’m safe. I don’t have to keep looking over my shoulder or jumping into ditches to avoid someone driving like they’re at the Indy 500!

It was a foggy morning yesterday when I went to the park. The fractured sunlight bent around trees piercing the fog giving the park an ethereal glow. It wasn’t going to last long as the sun was rapidly burning off the fog. I knew I had to work quickly. I grabbed my camera and within a few minutes was able to shoot these photos before the sun took control of the day.

The next two are from another local park, much bigger with a large lake enjoyed by fishermen, yakkers, wind surfers and skaters. A beautiful, low humidity day with comfortable breezes; perfect for launching a kayak or two.

And before I go, some humor. Or, caught in the act!

This bird feeder should be advertised as an automat squirrel feeder. Full of sunflowers seed, it didn’t take long for an opportunistic, gluttonous squirrel to arrive. Not long into his feeding frenzy, a mockingbird harassed him mercilessly. But the squirrel persisted as did the mockingbird. I’ve learned it takes a lot to intimidate a squirrel.

For those of you who are experiencing or will be experiencing Irene, please be safe.

Namaste,
Chris

Fathomless Mystery

2011-08-13T07:35:00.000-04:00

Listen to your life.

See it for the

fathomless mystery that it is.

In the boredom and pain of it

no less than in the

excitement and gladness:

touch, taste, smell your way

to the holy and hidden heart of it

because in the last analysis

all moments are

key moments

and

life itself is grace.

Kenneth Bucchner

Just Picked

2011-07-27T14:04:00.000-04:00

Recently, I discovered my brother-in-law, who happens to live next door, has a plum tree bursting with beautiful, deep amethyst plums. After calling and asking permission to come over and pick some, I hoofed it over with a small pot.

He came out as I was petting Micah, his long-legged chocolate Lab and Austie, an aging Springer Spaniel with soulful eyes. We walked down to the tree where he poked his head into a tiny shed not far from the plum tree and pulled out an apple picking device. Looked like something you'd use to change high-over-your-head light bulbs. He showed me how to use it and handed it over. It didn’t take me long to fill the small pot and I probably have enough plums to make two tarts.

Oh my, this will mean a trip to Giant to pick up another box of refrigerator crust. Then I’ll have another lone crust left. Oh well, I’ll think of something for that crust I’m sure.

Anyway, as soon as the plums ripen in a few days; maybe I’ll speed the process up a bit by putting them in a brown paper bag and folding the top down, I’ll be making Sunny Anderson’s Open-Faced Plum Tart. I found the recipe in the July/August issue of the Food Network Magazine.

Speaking of which, this is the second time I’ve picked up the magazine and I’m very impressed with the recipes and the articles. It is definitely one of the better cooking magazines out there. This issue has an article about my favorite chef, Guy Fieri, host of that delicious, off beat and wild foodie show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

I was in the mood to bake today so I whipped up two loaves of lemon bread. Now if only the plums would speed ripen so I can make my first fruit tart I'll be happy. If the tart turns out well I'll be posting about it, complete with photos, in the next couple of days.

Namaste
Chris

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-20T06:40:00.000-04:00

Namaste
Chris

Celestial Musings

2011-07-16T11:46:00.002-04:00

It was earlier this week, Wednesday I think, around 3 a.m., after being awake since midnight and not seeing sleep happening any time soon, I got up. It was a lovely night. A refreshing breeze rustled the lace curtains at one of the bedroom windows. It was much cooler than it had been for the previous two days; a welcome relief to be sure. Zenon white rays slanted across the foot of the bed courtesy of a full moon, which probably contributed to my sleeplessness.

I headed downstairs but wasn’t in the mood to read a book my usual M.O. for nights like this. I wanted to go outside and enjoy the last vestiges of night before the sun arrived.

I grabbed my Halloween orange hoodie from the kitchen closet because I was chilly. I put it on, unlocked the back door and stepped onto the deck. I was in deep shadow but the deer, spotlighted by full moonlight and grazing several yards from our deck, sensed something was amiss. But since they couldn't see me, they went back to grazing.

Barefoot, I tip-toed down the steps and across the lawn. The grass, nothing more than a controlled field, felt cool and dry. I love going barefoot; however, I'm always dislocating the little toe on my right foot. Ouch!! Anyway, I moved out onto the lawn to where the moon was shining and just drank in the entire ambience of the wee early morning hours. I closed my eyes and embraced the breeze wrapping my arms around myself. Then I gazed up at the stars sprinkled across a cloudless, crystal clear sky and then at the moon beaming like a celestial flashlight. It was heavenly to say the least. I’m not in the habit of venturing out in the early morning while it’s still dark, but tonight was different.

Recently, I came across Astroviewer where you can view, and get a printout of the night sky in your area. On my next foray into the night I plan on taking a printout with me as I’m hopeless at identifying constellations.

It wasn’t until I came inside that I realized I should’ve taken a blanket with me. Next time I will so I can lie down and look up at the stars. I might even get lucky and spot a few meteors zipping across the night sky.

Namaste
Chris

An "A" for Effort

2011-07-14T00:00:00.012-04:00

My good friend Susan noticed this on a telephone pole while we were walking around a nearby town. I’ve left out his email address as I’m sure he wouldn’t want his Inbox bombarded by emails from women all over the country. Or maybe he would.

This guy not only has guts but his honesty is refreshing. I’m also impressed with the detailed list of likes/dislikes. At the bottom of the sheet of paper were several small slips of paper that could be ripped off with his email address on it. I won't tell how many were taken.

Many would probably view this as a guy who's desperate. Maybe he is but I prefer to believe he's being creative in his search for his Yin. But then again, life being what it is this could be an ingenious hoax or a cool guy really on the up and up. I'm hoping for the latter and, more importantly, that someone drops him an email.

Namaste
Chris

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T07:40:00.000-04:00

Namaste
Chris

New Horizons

2011-07-07T07:37:00.013-04:00

Window Dressing

Years ago there was a tiny shop in New Hope, PA, located on a side street, that sold vintage clothing. I didn't pass the shop very often but on this particular day I happened to see a beautiful, diaphanous white embroidered gown in the window. Just the dress nothing else.

A headless wire form highlighted the dress beautifully. It had a high collar and long sleeves both finely embroidered. Definitely of a time when shorts, halter tops, and flip flops weren't even on the fashion horizon. I thought Victorian era as it was a beautiful dress to be sure. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a full shot of the dress due to a few bushes in front of the store's only window so I moved in closer towards the bottom of the dress because the way the light fell across the embroidered detail caught my eye.

As I stood there trying to figure out how to take a shot of this beautiful dress, my mind wondered about the wearer? It was definitely made for someone who was thin as the waist was incredibly tiny. I picturered her hair piled on top of her head in the style of a Gibson Girl. Did she wear this dress to a formal garden party or some other summer party? I will never know because the store wasn't open or I would have gone inside and asked.

Only one other time did I pass this shop when another article of vintage clothing caught my attention. It was a gorgeous full length, black velvet coat sprinkled with small red embroidered flowers. Again, the wearer would have been thin and tiny. The shop was open this time and I ventured in and the woman did know the coat's history but all I can remember is it belonged to a Hungarian princess.

There is no rhyme or reason to why I wrote this post. I came across this photo not long ago and it is one of my favorites. But I do have a thought for today, which has nothing to do with the photo above but has everything to do with it's almost a year since my job layoff. I am still looking but this quote from spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle gives me hope:

"Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge."

I hope it also gives hope to those who are still unemployed far longer than I have been.

Namaste
Chris

Hazy, Hot & Humid

2011-07-04T10:04:00.004-04:00

It's been almost three weeks since my last post. Those of you who are kind enough to drop by might think I've disappeared from the face of the earth. But the truth is, I've had nothing worthwhile to write about. No one's ticked me off lately, well they have but they aren't blog-worthy or even worthy of a rare vent-post.

However, today's post comes from an email the other day to my good friend and fellow blogger, Se'Lah over at NECESSARY ROOM, about my current and extremely annoying bout with poison ivy.

Borrowing late President Nixon's fave line, "I want to make this perfectly clear," by merely mentioning the words, "poison ivy," I can come down with this annoying and itching malady within a matter of minutes.

I've told my husband this on numerous occasions.

The other day he was wrestling a lone, tenacious poison ivy vine that had taken up residence amongst the branches of a large azalea and he needed me to hold the vine. For one split nanosecond I almost said no, only because of my previous comment above. But then thought, if I wear gloves and be careful not to let the vine brush up against me, I should be fine. I'm sure you see where this is going.

After we evicted the ubiquitous upstart, I went inside and immediately washed both my arms with hot water and plenty of soap. I thought I was safe.

Again, all I have to say is, "poison ivy," and . . . well, you get the picture.

For more than a week now both arms have been itching like mad! I've tried Benadryl tablets, extra strength Benadryl ointmet, IvyRest, straight rubbing alcohol from the bottle (no, not to drink!), a mixture of apple cider vinegar, alcohol and peppermint drops, as well as a mixture of apple cider vinegar and alcohol (again, I didn't drink it!) I found in a book on vinegar. All of which have done nothing to help with either the itch or drying up the rash.

Unfortunately, I live in a rural area where poison ivy runs rampant! Not just in our field but everywhere. What I find mind-bloggling is I do a lot of hiking and never catch it. One five minute trip to my backyard, where the grass is a controlled field, and I've got the worse case I've ever had!

Summer is my least favorite season for not just the poison ivy, but for ticks, and the hazy, hot and humid weather that turns me into a slug, worse than a couch potato. Really. Soon Fall will be here bringing cooler temps and I'll be happy again. Right now, it can't get here soon enough.

Now I'm off to sit in front of my oscillating fan with a good book by Debbie Macomber. I told you I turned into a slug with this kind of weather.

Happy 4th of July to all you who celebrate this holiday.

Namaste
Chris

O Wow Cow

2011-06-15T07:12:00.000-04:00

The weather here in our little corner of the universe has been idyllic for the last three days. So the need for ice cream has not been as great as if the weather were in blast furnace mode. But the need for the BEST ice cream is always there.

And O Wow Cow has done it again.

Last night, as I stood perusing their new flavor selections, I zeroed in on “Grapefruit with chocolate covered lemon peel”. Before you wrinkle up your faces and say “ewwww,” I must admit I was hesitant at first . . . for about a nanosecond because I love grapefruit, chocolate and lemon peel. So combining all three into ice cream was not such a stretch for me.

A woman and her husband standing next to me were also pondering the very same flavor. I asked her if this was her “first time” and she said, “Oh no, I’ve been here numerous times!”

As soon as the first spoonful hit my taste buds, I turned to the woman and said, “This is amazing!” I didn’t have to sell her on the flavor as she ordered the same thing.

As you can see by the photo there are tons of chocolate covered lemon peel and those light amber colored bits are the grapefruit. I don’t know how they figure out the right combination in their flavors but every new flavor I’ve ever tried has hit the mark.

I have a feeling though this will not be a big seller and that’s a shame because it was one of the best dishes of ice cream I’ve ever had.

Within the next day or so I’m heading up there and getting myself a pint of it before it disappears forever.

CAUTION: O Wow Cow is addictive.

Namaste
Chris

BEST Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

2011-06-13T08:34:00.002-04:00

Rhubarb season will be over soon and if you’re in the mood for some of the BEST strawberry rhubarb pie you’ll ever taste, then stop at the River Blue Café, located in Frenchtown, NJ, and have a slice. They serve it warm with a dollop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Not into ice cream? Not a problem.

Even before you pick up your spoon, use a spoon so you don't miss a bite of this delicious pie, the ice cream is melting adding its own bit of sweetness. It’s homemade by owner Jim McCormick’s mother, “who’s been baking them for as long as I can remember,” he adds.

It definitely should be a River Blue Signature summer dessert. I wonder how Jim's mom will feel about this when she finds out!

The downside is soon I’ll have to wait another year before I can enjoy my next slice!!! To drive home my point, below is what my bowl looked like after I finished.

Enjoy!!!

Namaste
Chris

Too, too, HOT!!

2011-06-09T07:59:00.001-04:00

Just a little something to help us think cool/cold thoughts as we move slowly through our blistering high 90 degree day.

Also, Lilian Jackson Braun, author of "The Cat Who" series died last week in South Carolina. If you're in the mood for a fun, quick read pick up any one of her 29 books recounting the tales of the Koko, Yum Yum and their owner, Jim Qwilleran.

Please keep those who are still fighting the raging forest fires and those who have lost their homes in Arizona in your thoughts and prayers.

Stay cool.

Namaste
Chris

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-08T13:59:00.003-04:00

Borrowing an idea from Darcel at The Mahogany Way today --

Wordless Wednesday.

Part of a chalk drawn sidewalk sunburst

Namaste

Chris

Marigolds and Spider Webs

2011-06-06T12:28:00.004-04:00

The other day, while planting some flowers on our deck, I accidentally decapitated two dwarf marigolds.

I scooped them up and put them in a small, clear dish of water; their heads floating gently. Within a few minutes the early morning sun came barreling through the kitchen window slanting its rays through the ripple-sided dish spotlighting the marigolds and splashing abstract-like designs on the counter.

I’m not particularly fond of marigolds mainly because they’re stinky, but every year they seem to “grow” on me (pun not intended). Deer don't like the smell either, which is another reason I plant them.

Because of the light that shines through this window, no matter the time of year, a lot of photo shoots take place here; often serendipitously.

Lately, I've been hung up on spider webs.There are probably more than a thousand species of spiders around the world all with their own unique web and the way they’re spun. Many of the webs I see, I'm never able to spot their web-owner. I'm sure though he's lurking somewhere off-web waiting for the web to vibrate with a fresh victim.

These two webs I saw this morning even before the sun crested the trees. The first made me think of an overachieving spider. I mean there isn’t anything he probably couldn't catch in this web!! Maybe even a small rodent if he’s lucky and carnivorous.

However, the second web, is another kettle of fish if you don’t mind me mixing metaphors or is it a simile? Anyway, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a spider web like this! What could a spider possibly catch with this web? I mean really.

Being a nature lover, I question things like this. How could this spider possibly catch anything? It looks like a badminton net that's seen better days not to mention there’s no rhyme or reason to the design. My only hope is the spider knows what he’s doing because surely he’s going to be hungry.

I’ll be back writing somewhat more serious, if not interesting, posts as soon as my “mouse elbow” (think “tennis elbow”) clears up. In fact, I shouldn’t even be posting now.

Namaste
Chris

Miscellany

2011-05-31T09:03:00.000-04:00

Floral Equalizer

Sorry I haven't posted lately. My right elbow is in a lot of pain. No doubt to overdoing it on my computer. Probably shouldn't be using it. Anyway, I've been limiting my computer time because of it. So here are a few shots I took recently.

Skewed DNA

Probably a destructive beetle of some sort.

Love his jacket though!

Bejewelled Pansy

Namaste

Chris

It's hotter than we think!!!

2011-05-25T10:03:00.001-04:00

Saw this sign on the way to the bank this morning. Did a double take to be sure I wasn't experiencing double vision, in which case I shouldn't have been driving, but here's the photo to prove it.

I'm wondering if this is a new marketing gimmick this beer distributor will be using to entice customers to pull in and stock up.

It got my attention and I did pull in but only to take the photo. But now that I think of it, I'm thirsty.

Namaste
Chris

Tic Tac Dew

2011-05-21T07:21:00.001-04:00

The sun has finally made an appearance!!! Hopefully, things will begin to dry out. These two photos are courtesy of my bedroom window.

Namaste
Chris

Web Bling

2011-05-20T07:23:00.001-04:00

It has been raining here for almost an entire week and while there was a string, lasting more than a week, of great weather prior to this soggy onslaught, I'm not complaining. Since the rain has been deluge-like, it's been tough for me to get out with my camera for any length of time. However, last Saturday my husband alerted me to the fact there were spider webs glistening with dew within a short walk from our back door. I excavated my dusty tripod, grabbed my camera and hustled out. Trying to use a tripod in a field full of various types of weeds in different stages of growth while beating off a horde of insects is not fun. Arrgghhh!!

Everywhere spiderwebs dripped with tiny orbs of dew and for a few nanoseconds, the sun appeared turning all those orbs into golden globes of sunlight. Unfortunately, the bugs were vicious (where's a bat when you need one!) and I lingered only long enough to capture these two spiders lounging in the early morning waiting for some unsuspecting insectoid to stumble into their lair and have breakfast. Ah, if only breakfast were that simple in our house!!

Wishing you all a fun-filled, if soggy, weekend.

Namaste
Chris

Poetic Wisdom

2011-05-13T12:55:00.001-04:00

I will not die an unlived life.

I will not live in fear

of falling or catching fire.

I choose to inhabit my days,

to allow my living to open me,

to make me less afraid,

more accessible,

to loosen my heart

until it becomes a wing,

a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance,

to live so that which came to me as seed

goes to the next as blossom,

and that which came to me as blossom,

goes on as fruit.

Dawna Markova

Namaste

Chris

Living in the House of Spirit

2011-05-06T08:34:00.000-04:00

Years ago my sister-in-law, Judy, gave me a copy of Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach for Christmas one year. It wasn’t until a few years ago I unearthed it while cleaning out some books.

If you are unfamiliar with this book, it is a “book of 365 evocative essays – one for every day of your year – written for women who wish to live by their own lights.” Her down-to-earth, common sense suggestions are easy to implement and many times merely require a change in attitude or thinking to work.

Right now I’m on my second or third read and am usually behind in my daily readings. This morning I’m on the essay for May second entitled, Living in the House of Spirit where she talks about the late English writer, Rumer Godden, “whose secret to living an authentic life seems to have been dwelling, no matter where she actually kept house, in the House of the Spirit.”

Godden wrote, “There is an Indian proverb, or axiom that says that everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.”

While I love the concept of four rooms, I especially agree with her admonition of, “unless we go into every room every day . . . we are not a complete person.”

So, what rooms have you been living in lately?

Namaste
Chris

Beach Walk

2011-05-03T14:10:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful morning Sunday. A perfect day to walk the beach, take pictures and of course, indulge in one of my favorite pasttimes, collecting shells.

Sandy Hook, New Jersey, is one of my favorite beaches. I don't get there near as often as I would like but when I do I always walk the beach.

Due to the rough winter and recent storms, the contour of the beach has changed drastically and not necessarily for the better. Sadly, there was far more trash than ever before and it breaks my heart to see such a beautiful beach in such a state. While I realize a lot of the trash washed ashore, some of it is due to careless individuals who use the beach as their personal garbage disposal. You name it I've found it on the beach, seriously.

But this post isn't about the trash, it's about the sights and sounds of the ocean. So here are a few of the things I saw along my beach walk.

A clam shell spotted on a very large, storm tossed, sea sanded trunk of a tree. The clam shell looked out of place on the tree trunk. A seagull no doubt used it to get to the clam.

From the distance I could not tell what kind of fishing boat this was. As it passed by, I noticed the large cage on the back and thought maybe it was a crab boat.

Signs were posted and sections of the dunes were off-limits to people because of nesting sea birds. This particular nest, I think, is a plover's nest as two plovers seemed to be guarding it.

There was a flock of large seagulls standing at the edge of the water just hanging around. Since you can't get very close to them and I didn't have a long lens, I walked slowly up to them when they all took flight. Realizing a possible golden opportunity, I kept my camera clicking and this was one of the best shots.

My usual time to hit the beach is well before Memorial Day and several weeks after Labor Day, after all the tourists have gone. Yes, I know that's when the beach is deserted but that's the way I like it.

This is probably the latest I've ever gone to the beach and the dunes were covered with these beautiful white flowered bushes that I could not identify. It's also strange, at least to me, to see cactus on the beach, but they're there as well.

The last shot, below, was taken while sitting on an old, long abandoned observation post used during World War I, I think. It's a great place to sit and just look out over the bay. Wonderful sea breezes are almost a given. It was a perfect day to soak up this beautiful scene, listening to the waves roll in and out.

I've often wished I lived closer, much closer to the beach. But I know all too well the fury of Mother Nature and so choose to live further in land and visit whenever I can. The ocean is a very special place where I find peace and tranquility. It also brings back many happy childhood memories with my parents and younger brother.

Namaste
Chris

Cedar Maze Annual Spring Art Show

2011-04-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: Please note the information in this post is not a paid advertisement. I happen to like Snyder's work very much and want to share with you information about his upcoming art show.

This is another favorite place of mine -- Cedar Maze. Every year sculptor Steven Snyder opens his outdoor stone sculpture gallery to the public. This year his show will be held two weekends on May 14-15 and May 21-22, 2011 from 11 am to 6 pm, rain or shine.

If you're looking for something beautiful, unique, creative or whimsical, this is the place to find it.

At the moment I'm not sure which weekend or which day I'll be going, but going I will. I always enjoy seeing what this talented sculptor creates from the stone he uses.

Hope you can make it!

Namaste
Chris

Jazzy & Tigger

2011-04-26T09:35:00.002-04:00

This is Jazzy(left) and Tigger, horses owned by my friend Anne, who also happens to be a very talented potter and artist. I mentioned her in a recent post for an upcoming Student Pottery Sale at Kissimmee River Pottery, located in Frenchtown, NJ. Recently, I spent the afternoon at Anne's house doing my first photo shoot of her horses.

For me, they are beautiful, powerful, mystical and graceful equine free spirits.
I'm not sure how many photos I shot but there were about 12 or 13 that weren't half bad considering it was the first time I shot an animal that moves like greased lightning in the blink of an eye. But I won't bore you with all 12. I've narrowed it down to four, plus the one at the top of this post.

Jazzy

Tigger

Jazzy

Tigger

This happens to be one of my favorites.

He looks pensive.

A warm day is on tap. I'm not ready for summer, yet. But any weather where the sun is in residence is all right by me.

Namaste

Chris

The Art of Color

2011-04-24T16:30:00.001-04:00

No, this is not a post about dogs. Just a few shots I took while wandering around Frenchtown, New Jersey this beautiful Easter Sunday. Sorry about the reflection in the above shot.

This was only a small section of a much larger circular stained glass piece done

by Don Hector of Hector Studio/Art Glass,

who makes incredibly beautiful stained glass windows,

doors and anything you can imagine.

This explosion of color wicker planter sat

between Cathy Smith Designs and Hector Studio mentioned above.

I love orange and purple!

I can't believe the state of this door! Nor do I want to know where it goes

or even what's behind it. It's funny it was painted but not fixed.

Can there ever be too many tulips?

Or pansies?

The Chinese Year of the Rabbit.

A explosion of vibrant color!

And last, but not least, to come full circle with the photo at the top of this post and for all dog lovers (as is yours truly), the sign below was alongside the one at the top of this post.

Wishing you all a beautiful and colorful Spring!!

Namaste

Chris

"State-ly" Mailbox

2011-04-22T09:32:00.000-04:00

I pass this mailbox often in my travels and finally the other day I pulled over and grabbed a few shots especially with the beautiful daffodils blooming around it.

It's a clever idea and I wonder if the owner lived in all these states before finally settling here in Bucks County or did they come from family or friends who've lived in New Jersey, Iowa, Illinois or Arkansas to name a few. It took me a second or two to realize the flag was actually a California license plate. The knob is a miniature eight ball from what might have been a miniature pool table. How clever and creative!

Just one of the unusual things I often see on my daily wanderings with my camera.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter or however you celebrate this upcoming holiday.

Namaste

Chris

Peanut Blossoms

2011-04-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

This quick and easy cookie recipe came from a friend and neighbor years ago. Recently, I had a reason to dig it out of my recipe box for an upcoming art show I was in and volunteered to make cookies for the event.

Peanut Blossoms

Whisk:
1 ¾ cups of sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Cream:
½ cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup peanut butter (I used Smart Balance creamy peanut butter)

Gradually add:
½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar

Add:
1 unbeaten egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat all ingredients well. Blend in the dry ingredients gradually and mix thoroughly.

Shape dough into balls using a rounded teaspoonful for each. Place on greased baking sheets. (I found a teaspoon too big as the cookies spread and get larger as they bake.)

Bake in 375 degree oven for 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Top each cookie with a chocolate kiss (I use Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Kisses) pressing firmly so the cookies crack around the edge. Let cookies sit for a few minutes and then move to a cooling rack until totally cool.

I just realized I missed the last part of the recipe the last time I made them, which says, “Return to oven, bake 2-5 minutes longer until golden brown.” If you want the kiss to retain its shape don’t do this last part.

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

These cookies also freeze very well.

Enjoy!

Namaste
Chris

Kissimmee River Pottery

2011-04-19T10:44:00.002-04:00

If you live in or are visiting Frenchtown, New Jersey the weekend of April 29 through May 1, stop in at the Kissimmee River Pottery for their Student Pottery Sale.

Having never been to a pottery sale, I plan on going to see the work of 15 potters; one of whom is a friend of mine and an excellent potter.

Featured Potters
Anne Ballantine
Valerie Chaucer-Levine
Nanc Conner
Marie Cuper
Deb Donahue
Bob Fellner
Rosemary Fellner
Susan Goeckeler
Ann Greer
Amy Kamenir
Bob Moncrief
Phil Unetic
Marian Van Buren
Irene Veneziano
Rosa Yoo

The reception is on Friday, April 29 from 6:00-9:00 pm. Hours for Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 are 10:00 am-5:00 pm.

Directions: www.kissimmeeriverpottery.com

Kissimmee River Pottery is located at One Eighth Street, #11, Frenchtown, NJ 08825. Phone: 908.996.3555.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Namaste
Chris

Floral Walk

2011-04-16T10:44:00.000-04:00

Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

After ten days of not being able to do a three mile walk due to inclement weather, Friday finally arrived with beautiful weather that beckoned me out. It was a little windy and chilly but the sun had finally made an appearance and I was fortunate enough to get a walk in before the day descended into a half hearted sun and overcast skies.

Here in the east, Spring is definitely here. Below are a few of the flowers I saw along the way.

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

White Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

The last shot is a rain-soaked pansy from our deck the day before.

Hoping Spring has arrived or is on its way soon wherever you are.

Namaste

Chris

Frustration Central

2011-04-15T06:36:00.020-04:00

Yesterday, I had a melt-down on the way to the gynecologist's office.

I don't own, nor want, a GPS duck-taped to my car’s dashboard. When trying to locate a place, I go out to Bing or Google for directions and, if need be, print them. I even look at, and prefer using, an ancient document called a map, which is as scarce as hen's teeth these days. A map? Who uses a map? Well, I do.

Anyway, my gynecologist has three office locations and I have never been to this location. I leave at 1:00 p.m. giving myself plenty of time to get lost and still get there on time. Well, get lost I d0 . . . in a big way!

It’s 40 minutes before my appointment and I pull off the road to call the office and get directions. Guess what I get? A menu and after making a selection, I'm immediately bounced into voice mail!!!!! I hang up and a few minutes later try again getting the same response. Over the years, I've learned hitting “0” (zero) will usually get me a body. This time it dosen't work as a disembodied voice announces, "the operator is not available at this time." How can this be? Operators are always there!

What to do? So I dial again hitting the number for "emergencies." Finally, an actual person!!!! The first words out of my mouth are, "This is not an emergency but I have a 2:15 appt. and I'm lost. Can someone please give me directions?" I’m put on hold while they try to find someone to deal with the crazy lady at the other end of their emergency line. Many seconds pass and I'm thinking they either forgot me or they're giving me time to cool off. Then a friendly voice picks up and gives me great directions.

But my ordeal isn't over yet!!! Route 309 is a heavily traveled road at all times of the day and there is still construction! Where isn’t there construction or “road closed” signs these days, especially where I live. The road narrows and I am forced into a single lane cattle-shoot of Blaze orange highway cones when I look in the rearview mirror to see an idiot (not the word I really want to use) in a Jeep Wrangler literally on my bumper. My blood pressure is still at warp level and is rising rapidly.

I think to myself, I am so tired of aggressive, rude and ignorant drivers. So I slow down. He can't pass me as we're in a cattle-shoot. But when I finally manage to move over to let his Royal Idiot-ness pass, I raise my finger in the universal, ubiquitous salute. Not once, not twice but as many times as I can until he's out of sight. I know very childish and equally as rude no doubt and all the while thinking, one of these days that salute is going to get me in some major trouble or dead. Doing the salute is not something I engage in but there are times when I’m pushed beyond my limit and this was one of those times. I know I’m rationalizing.

My blood pressure is reaching critical levels and I say to myself, This is just great! When the nurse takes my blood pressure it's going to be through the roof! So I start “breathe-ing” as my friend Se’Lah often says to me and incredibly find myself calming down rather quickly. It’s all that yoga and breathing I do, I’m sure of it.

I make it to the doctor’s office on time and the god's are with me because the office is patient free. Usually, his offices are always a sea of pregnant women and I have to wait until he wades through most of them before I get to see him. Not a problem. I was pregnant once and know how uncomfortable it can be.

The nurse takes my blood pressure and it's 170 over 55. That doesn’t sound too bad. (Since writing this post I've learned normal/good BP is 120 over 80. So 170 over 55 is high!!!)

In the end everything turns out well. On my way home, I get lost for 5 minutes but arrive home without any further travel or harrassing drivers issues.

After all this, I now have good directions to this office and the best time to make an appointment for next year, which I’m going to mark down in my datebook as soon as I can find it!!! Yes, a datebook an actual book with calendar pages in it. But then I’ll have to leave myself another note in the very same datebook to indicate where I’ve filed the directions as I’ll never remember them, nor where I put them, by next year.

Hope you’re all having a good day.

Namaste
Chris

Jabberwocky

2011-03-31T09:27:00.000-04:00

While traveling around cyberspace this morning visiting blogs I follow, Jaime, over at Rhayne, posted a much loved childhood poem entitled, Wynken, Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field and it reminded me of another favorite childhood poem my Mother read to my brother and I.

Written by Lewis Carroll, it's entitled Jabberwocky. I gave her a framed copy of it one year for either her birthday or Christmas. It now sits on my filing cabinet where I can read it any time I want.

Jabberwocky

by Lewis Carroll

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the momeraths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought --

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

He chortled in his joy.

"Twas brillig, and slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the momeraths outgabe.

Long ago and far away is my childhood but when I read this poem I can be back there in the blink of an eye to hear my Mother's voice.

Namaste

Chris

Walking it off

2011-03-30T05:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day and since I ate far too much at my niece's recent bridal shower it gave me a chance to head over to Peace Valley Park and walk off those extra carbs. Here are two shots of the park, which is always a nice place to visit.

Even though it was a bit windy and chilly enough for a heavier jacket, it was still a beautiful day to be outside. Spring is definitely on its way now if only the temps would warm up a bit. But it's still nice even if a little chilly.

Hope you're having a good day.

Namaste
Chris

3 to Zip

2011-03-29T07:38:00.001-04:00

The spectrum from failure to success is often defined by two clichés: Three Strikes and You’re Out to Third Time’s the Charm. Yesterday’s attempt to melt chocolate for a cake didn’t result in a charm but an out. A temporary out that is.

My determination for a thick slice of chocolate cake was greater than the issue of my third bowl of seized chocolate. And when faced with a problem my tenacity is limitless. Rather than succumb to my own personal meltdown and after slamming the bowl of ruined chocolate on the counter, I calmly and quietly turned to another chocolate cake recipe that is not only foolproof but does not require melting temperamental chocolate!!

As we get older we become wiser and over the years I’ve learned if you step away from a problem and engage your mind elsewhere on something unrelated to the issue, a solution often arises.

So while putting the ingredients together for the runner-up chocolate cake, I realized what I need is a larger and heavier bowl. The culprit of yesterday’s seized chocolate session was steam. A tight fit is needed between the bowl and the pan of simmering water.

My theory will have to wait until the next time I have a hankering for chocolate cake.

However, there was a minor issue with the runner up cake recipe. This was my fault and luckily it turned out not to be an issue. I think the whole issue was my desire for chocolate cake!! If I’d just let that go I would have been fine. But then I wouldn’t have had fodder for two blog posts.

The recipe called for 1 ¼ cups of cocoa. Again, with the chocolate! But at least I didn’t have to melt it!

Before I put the batter into the pans, I cleaned up the kitchen. In my next life, my kitchen will be the size of my first floor, which should be enough space. Anyway, as I was cleaning up and putting things away I grabbed one of the measuring cups and looked down at it, the handle read “¼ cup”. What the heck did I use? Over by the sink, waiting to be washed was the measuring cup I’d used. I glanced down at the handle -- “1/3 cup.” It’s too late now to do anything about it as I peered into the stainless steel bowl of my two ton KitchenAid Pro mixer.

Well, all’s well that ends well because the chocolate cake is to die for! I’m not kidding. Although I think the recipe has more to do with it than my skill . . . as evidenced by the three bowls of seized chocolate.

Now I’m off to spend some quality time with a thick slice of chocolate cake and a tall glass of ice cold skim milk.

Namaste
Chris

Seized Chocolate

2011-03-28T10:36:00.006-04:00

Seized chocolate is not where you’re in a deep, deep chocolate haze and your BFF is waving a luscious bar of dark chocolate with orange peel in your face and you snatch it before she knows what’s happening, ripping off the wrapper like you haven’t eaten in a month and biting the bar in half.

Nor will it garner you jail time like drugs do.

The seized chocolate I’m referring to is a baking term. It happens when chocolate comes into contact with a single drop of water or a whiff of steam triggers particles in the cocoa butter to solidify it into a dull mass.

You already know where this is going.

I had good intentions yesterday to make a chocolate cake for my niece’s bridal shower being held later in the afternoon. This recipe calls for melting unsweetened chocolate, Dutch process cocoa and water together. I’ve made this cake at least three times and have never had a problem melting the chocolate and water together.

I should also add my intuition, which I often ignore with semi-disastrous results, was warning me in a kind way not to bake this cake. Did I listen?

After gathering all the ingredients and greasing and flouring the pans, I melted the chocolate. Or attempted to melt the chocolate because within a few minutes, I couldn’t understand why it had turned into a dull, thick mess.

Normally I also know when to cut my losses but that wasn’t happening. I wasn’t going to let three baking ingredients get the best of me!

So I repeated the process and you guessed it, it happened again. At which point I realized the chocolate had seized and went upstairs to “google” it to see if there was a remedy for this baking faux pas. Indeed there was but I didn’t have the time to test it as I was already behind the eight ball time wise.

So I threw both batches out -- that would be 8 ounces of unsweetened chocolate, not cheap and a combined ½ cup Dutch processed cocoa also not cheap. At that point I put all the other ingredients away, washed and dried the pans and will be attempting to bake the cake later on this afternoon.

Last night on my way home from the bridal shower I stopped at Giant and bought two more bars of unsweetened chocolate. They were on sale -- 2/$5! Great! Now I have four more chances to get it right! Like I said, three baking ingredients aren't going to get the best of me! If all goes well the cake should look like the photo at the top of this post. Wish me luck.

Namaste
Chris

Gobble Gobble!!

2011-03-23T16:18:00.016-04:00

Yes, I know Thanksgiving is little more than eight months away. No, I’m not getting a jump on the holiday season. Please! I hate when flyers for Christmas arrive in my mailbox in August.

Lately my life has been one errand or event after another with little or no down time. Forget about getting out with my camera! But this morning was different.

I looked out the window and saw my favorite weather pair – fog and snow. Oh the picture taking possibilities were endless! I had a hunch the fog would disappear in short order so I jumped into my Muck boots, grabbed both cameras and headed out the back door into the field behind our house. And saw the following:

NOOOOOO . . . MORE . . . SNOW! PLEASE! This from someone who loves winter with all its beautiful, frosty, snow covered wonders. But when opportunities like this appear you don’t question the weather gods you go with the flow. Thirty minutes later I’m in my car and on my way to a few of my haunts that almost never disappoint when it comes to winter weather.

The Gobble Gobble part is coming, I promise.

I drove down a back road that’s not a short cut to anywhere just a nice winding back woods road. The barn I normally like to shoot looked blah this morning so I drove a short distance when I saw five male turkeys, or toms, at the edge of a field that rose higher than my car. I quietly rolled down the passenger side window, grabbed my camera and took a few fast shots before they decided to take flight. They looked nervous.

Then I got out of my car to see if I could get closer. I thought for sure they’d beat wings and take flight. They didn’t but kept me within their beady little eye-sights. I think because I was lower than they were, they weren’t too concerned or feeling threatened. But they weren’t taking any chances.

Gobble Gobble! from behind me.

Gobble Gobble! volleys back from where I stand. Is it an echo? No, it’s a call and response thing going on. I’m guessing here because I don’t speak nor can translate gobble-speak.

I turned and behind me is a flock of at least 50 turkeys of both sexes in a small field. The males are prancing around like peacocks with butch feather cuts. Must be mating season I think.

Back to the four toms in front of me. I snap my fingers to get their attention and to possibly get them to do something other than stand in profile. They oblige moving in the direction of a nearby hedge-row. Unfortunately, a car came and as I was somewhat blocking the road, I jumped in my car and moved. So I have no idea where the four toms went. I had hoped to watch them cross the narrow road and get a few more shots but it didn’t happen.

This was the closest I’ve ever been to turkeys. They often visit our backyard feeders but before I can get the back door open they morph into their distant relative road runner persona and take off like a shot.

While I missed yoga and my sun salutes, I have to say it turned out to be a really good day.

Hope your day went well.

Namaste
Chris

Zucchini Bread

2011-03-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

I love good zucchini bread and this recipe has been in our family for years. I don’t know if my Mom found it in a cookbook, a magazine, or was given to her by a friend. It’s one of my favorite recipes due to its great taste and texture. It's quick and easy to make because all the ingredients are combined in one large bowl. A wooden spoon and a whisk is all you'll need to pull it together.

Zucchini Bread
makes 2 loaves

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1-1/3 cup sugar
3 medium zucchini, grated and well drained (2 cups)*
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour**
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins

Whisk eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in oil, sugar, zucchini and vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt onto wax paper. Stir into egg mixture until well blended. Stir in raisins. Spoon batter into greased and floured pans and bake in a 375 degree oven for 1 hour or until centers spring back.

NOTES:

*If you use young zucchini (usually the smaller ones) there was no need to drain. If using older and larger zucchini, scoop out the seeds with a spoon, which eliminates (usually) the need to drain.

**I do not sift, but whisk, the dry ingredients well.

I found at 375 degrees, the breads were done in about 45 minutes. While all ovens are different, I found 40-45 minutes worked best in my oven.

Also, do not use spray oil on your pans. For some reason when I did this the breads did not come out smoothly.

Before I go I'd like to dedicate this post to Lisa, a friend and fellow foodie, over at Anali's First Amendment whose post on my Hot Milk Sponge Cupcake recipe turned into an addiction.

Namaste
Chris

Meet Miss Saturn

2011-03-18T00:00:00.002-04:00

Several weeks ago my husband and I saw Los Straitjackets at the Sellersville Theater. Knowing my taste in music is often far different from his, he was a little apprehensive about taking me thinking I might be bored or just outright hate their music.

Au contraire.

While hubby has a few of their CDs, and I’m sure has asked me to listen to their music, I guess I wasn't paying attention because when the curtain opened and they began to play I was mesmerized! What incredible musicians!

But this post isn’t about Los Straitjackets. Sorry.

It’s about Miss Saturn who was on the same bill.

Also known as Jennifer McGowan, Miss Saturn is, “a physical comedian, character actor and hula hoop artiste who has been performing for over 15 years and has become a mainstay in New York City’s top vaudeville and cabaret scene.” (from her website)

Did I mention she’s known to hoola hoop as many as 75 hoola hoops at one time?

I’m trying to remember my own hoola hoop days and it seems I may have been passable with a hoola hoop . . . one hoola hoop that is. A far cry from 75 indeed!!

Gosh, I wish I’d known you could do this for a living as I could’ve been ahead of my time and probably still employed.

All kidding aside, Miss Saturn is an amazing and talented artiste. If you have the opportunity to see her act, please take advantage because she is very entertaining. I also hope she'll make another appearance at the Sellersville Theater in the future.

Namaste
Chris

Laughter Abounds

2011-03-16T16:04:00.003-04:00

New York Times Bestselling Author Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite writers whose legal thrillers are page turners. But I was recently surprised to learn she’s also a very funny lady.

In “My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just has More Closet Space,” co-authored with her daughter, Francesca Scottoline Serritella, they unabashedly spill family secrets. Most readers will likely shake their heads saying, “Yep, been there, done that.” Inspired by their weekly “Chick Lit” column in The Philadelphia Inquirer, which I intend to check out as soon as possible, “My Nest . . .” is a quick and funny read that will have you laughing until the last page.

Here are two hilarious passages from their book. The first is from “Nutty,” in which Lisa talks about, what else, nuts. Pistachios to be specific.

Plus nowadays we know the red dye on pistachios causes cancer, or at least, a lifetime of celibacy, so we eat the normal brown kind. They’re meaty and delicious, and many of them come out of the bag part way open, which is helpful. Occasionally you run across a closed pistachio, and if you do, here’s my advice:

Move on.

There’s nothing for you there.

Don’t even try to open a closed pistachio. Tenacity doesn’t begin to describe these hardy few. You could use a clam shucker, a blowtorch, or a nuclear weapon, but in the end, the closed pistachio will defeat you.

Instead, calm down and have an almond. It will take your mind off the closed pistachio, and it’s always easy to crack, though it’s disappointingly healthy. Walnuts fall into the same category. It’s no fun to be addicted to something that’s good for you.

Now don't tell me you haven't tried to open at least one closed pistachio. I readily admit I've tried to do this and Lisa's right. It isn't going to happen.

The second passage is from “Killer Apps” in which she describes her issues with appliances, specifically her dishwasher because her dishes aren’t getting clean.

I give up and call the appliance guy. He examines the dishwasher, then asks, “Do you use a drying agent?”

“A what?” Evidently not.

He points to a mysterious hole in the dishwasher door. “That’s what this is for. You put the drying agent in here. It will prevent the buildup from the water.

Now they tell me. “Why didn’t I know about drying agents?”

“It’s in the owner’s manual. Did you read it?”

“Does it have a car chase?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Then, no.”

He adds, “You can buy a drying agent in any grocery store, and you should also pick up a dishwasher cleaning agent.”

I try to follow. “My dishwasher needs to be cleaned?”

“Sure.”

“But isn’t it supposed to wash things?”

“Yes.”

“So why doesn’t it just wash itself?”

He gathers my question is rhetorical, which it isn’t, and I walk him to the door cranky. I have to buy dishwashing powder, a drying agent, and a dishwashing washing agent – all to clean seven dishes? What does the dishwasher do to earn its keep? If you ask me, somebody’s slacking and his name rhymes with Kitchen Aid.

To pique your interest even more, check out the chapter entitled, “Name Game.” You’ll also love her pet names for her ex-husbands. Here’s a hint: they’re named after two characters from a Dr. Seuss book.

Happy Reading.

Namaste
Chris

Here's to Annie

2011-03-13T00:00:00.008-05:00

I read the obituaries. Yes, I know it’s morbid. But often as we all do, we lose track of friends and acquaintances that we’ve known. I also read them to be sure my name isn't among them! At least not yet. As Mark Twain once said, “the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

I never met Annie personally. I only knew her through the eyes of someone who knew and worked with her, my friend Mim.

Early last week while reading the obits, I happened to see her’s at the very bottom of the page with less than a paragraph to mark her passing. She was 92 missing her 93rd birthday by about a week.When she was 80, she was still working and her co-workers wanted to celebrate this major milestone. So they threw her a party.

Mim shared with me something she’d written for the celebration. I didn’t get a chance to read it until much later and when I did I realized Annie had lived in a world, and at a time, we will never see again and the youth of today have no concept of. Here’s what it said.

Ann, the world has changed since you were born; and here are some of the things that have happened since your birth.

Woodrow Wilson was President. Our country was in the midst of World War I and it was also the year that a devastating influenza epidemic swept the country and the world. Twenty-one million people died in the world due to this flu (500,000 people in the USA). By the end of 1918, World War I claimed the lives of another 10 million people (53,000 from the USA).

George Cohen’s super hit, “Over There” became the World War I anthem. Other popular songs were “K.K.K. Katy,” “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” and Irving Berlin’s song, “Oh, How I Hate to Get up in the Morning.”

The Red Sox won the World Series from the Cubs in the sixth game.

Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Lillian Russell toured the country selling war bonds.

You were born before house husbands, computer-dating, dual careers and commuter marriages. Before day-care centers, group therapy and nursing homes. You never heard of television, tape decks, artificial hearts, word processors, frozen foods, and guys wearing earrings. For you, time-sharing meant togetherness – not computers or condominiums, a chip meant a piece of wood, hardware meant hardware and software wasn’t even a word!

You hit the scene when Woolworth’s 5 & 10, was a store where you bought things for five and ten cents. The drug store sold ice cream cones for a nickel, and for a dime you got a bag filled with penny candy. A pound loaf of bread cost 10 cents, a quart of milk 13 cents. For one nickel you could ride a trolley out to Willow Grove Park, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi or enough stamps to mail one letter and buy two postcards. The pop-up toaster was invented in 1918 and the nation’s first three-color traffic light (red, amber, and green) was installed in New York City. A house cost $3,821 and The Stanley Steamer was selling for $2,700 while the Model “T” cost less than $400, but who could afford one . . . a pity, too, because was 11 cents a gallon.

Jim Thorpe was the best known athlete at this time – an Olympic champion. He was the first premier attraction in pro football.

You share your birth year with Mickey Spillane, mystery writer; Ella Fitzgerald, American jazz singer; Ingmar Bergman, Swedish film director; Ted Williams, baseball great; and Spiro Agnew, who was vice president under President Nixon.

In 1918, a New York toy firm began manufacturing the Raggedy Ann doll; the doll soon grew into a $20 million a year business. There are some similarities between the two Ann’s. Both born in 1918, both have red hair, both have tremendous endurance, both are huggable and are so easy to love. Both are survivors.

Annie, while I didn’t know you I want to mark your passing. God speed.

Namaste
Chris

Flood Aftermath

2011-03-12T14:41:00.000-05:00

It rained non-stop Thursday with flood warnings in effect. Above is where I stood, early this morning, when these flood photos were taken. To the left is the Delaware River; to the right the canal.

From the foreground to the row of trees should not be under water!

Not much more before the water rolls over the towpath.

Concrete pylons under the Stockton Bridge are more than half submerged.

The Delaware in all its fury.

Then I saw this and

knew Spring was finally on its way.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend and having fun.

Namaste

Chris

Chocolove

2011-03-09T00:00:00.019-05:00

In the last few years I’ve gotten hooked on organic foods and have been trying different brands as well as searching for new products. Around my way it’s either Acme or Giant and since I was closer to Giant that’s where I found myself. This particular Giant had an entire aisle dedicated to organic food. After I found the rice milk I was looking for I wandered down the aisle checking out other brands and products they carried.

Of course, from the photo at the top of this post, you already know it's about chocolate! I don’t consider myself a true “chocoholic,” but I might be a “wanna-be chocoholic." Maybe. There are other foods I can easily be bribed with that will turn my head, even from chocolate. But I admit I love good chocolate! My days of Nestle’s and Hershey’s are over and my palate has moved on to, unfortunately, high end or Belgian chocolate; both $$$. Which leads me to the topic of this post.

As my rapidly glazed over eyes roamed the selection of high-end chocolate bars, and I wasn’t really looking for anything specific mind you, they came to an abrupt halt when the following came into view. Orange Peel in Dark Chocolate. Remember I mentioned “other foods” above, well “orange peel” especially in dark chocolate definitely gets my attention!

I picked up the bar, sucked in and doomed, and started reading the label front to back as I’d never heard of Chocolove. Freeze-dried orange peel enveloped in Belgian dark chocolate crafted from African cocoa beans. Okay, I’m hooked. But then NCIS Agent Gibbs, aka hunky Mark Harmon's voice-over popped into my head to read the last bit of the wrapper's "you're goin' down" blurb. Smooth, semi-sweet dark chocolate melts in your mouth while the crispy bits of orange peel release their gentle flavor. Chocolate and orange unite exquisitely and then relax into a lasting orange finish. Be still my heart! Or is it my taste buds? Is it necessary to add the chocolate bar found its way into my shopping basket? I really don’t know what came over me! Really!

I paid for the few items I needed and out the door to the privacy of my car, which I’d parked at the far end of the parking lot. Mind you, not for clandestine chocolate consumption but because I have this thing about parking my car next to other cars whose owners might whack my car getting out of their car. I know what you're thinking, "Yeah, right." Well, it's the truth!

Anyway, you realize I wasn’t going to leave without opening the chocolate bar and conduct a little taste test did you? The minute I opened the wrapper, the deep, rich chocolate and orange flavor immediately grabbed my attention like a chokehold and well, as they say, the rest was history. By the time I made it to the traffic light at the end of the shopping center, where I had to stop due to a red light and how convenient, I’d inhaled, I mean savored at least two, or was it three, pieces.

Common sense took over . . . somewhat and I managed, out of guilt, to save a few pieces of the 3.2 oz. bar for my husband who not only liked it but finished it. I have no willpower!

This was my first experience with Chocolove’s products, which are made in Boulder, Colorado with Belgian chocolate. Their artful packaging and entertaining advertising is further enhanced by a tiny white box in the upper left hand corner, which actually resembles an open book if you look close enough. In the box are the words, love poem inside. The poem is located on the back side of the wrapper. Chocolove's FAQ section explains where their poems come from as well as other interesting information about the company and their other chocolate products.

Now, I’m off to Giant to pick up another Chocolove chocolate bar. My taste buds are hankering for their Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate. If you don’t hear from me in awhile you’ll know where I am.

Namaste
Chris

Spring has arrived!

2011-03-08T08:58:00.001-05:00

Snow Drops

I hope I don’t jinx all this lovely weather we’re having with the title of this post but I’m sure I’m not alone with wanting Spring to arrive and the earlier the better! At least in my neck of the woods, it’s here! What a welcome surprise! So enjoy the following early harbingers of Spring I saw on my walks yesterday including the one at the top of this post.

Crocus

Aconite

Hee's hoping Spring is on its way wherever you are.

Namaste

Chris

Today's Thought

2011-03-07T11:13:00.000-05:00

"If we learn to open our hearts,

anyone, including the people who drive us crazy

can be our teacher."

Pema Chödrön

Namaste

Chris

Tomorrow's Another Day

2011-03-04T11:50:00.000-05:00

I believe we have the power and the ability to determine how our day will go even before we get out of bed. It’s called attitude. I’m not saying it’s easy but if you say, or even think, you’re going to have a bad day then you probably will. Well, yesterday morning I got out of bed before giving myself time to decide how my day was going to go. I just got up and went and that’s where it all fell apart.

While I don’t wish to sound whiny or rationalize why I had a bad day, part of it was burning the candle at both ends and not being able to find a job doesn’t help either.

I went food shopping early and things sort of went well. If I go early enough the store is relatively empty and I fly through. Yesterday was such a day. It’s when I got through the check out things went downhill.

My groceries were packed in the cart except for a large round of French bread packaged in, unbeknownst to me, a thin, flimsy bag. When I grabbed it, it exploded out of the bag and shot across the counter. Had I been in a better frame of mind I would’ve laughed as it was rather comical but I wasn’t. The cashier asked if I wanted to get another one and mentally realized I’d have to walk to the farthest back corner of the store to get another one. I told her, “no, thanks,” while thinking about the “30 second” rule and stuffed the busted out bag and the bread into the store’s ubiquitous plastic bag. As I turned my cart towards the front door I said to the cashier and the woman behind me whom I’d been talking to, “I think I’m going to go home and climb under a rock until tomorrow.” The woman behind me said, “or go to bed and just stay there.” I liked her idea better and out the door I went.

I’m on my way home and come to a red traffic light. As I’m waiting I glance in my rear-view mirror and the idiot behind the wheel of a mid-size black BMW is TEXTING!!!! The light turns green and he’s still TEXTING!!!! I cross the intersection and immediately pull off to the right to let this idiot pass me as I want him in front of me. He passes and takes off like a shot.

I won’t bore you with the rest of the day but by 2:00 I decided I needed a nap just like any three-year-old who’s cranky and Mom knows it’s because he needs a nap. I slept for about three hours and woke in a much better frame of mind.

When I have days like this I try not to beat myself up. We all have off days. Some of us have off weeks, months or years and sadly I have no advice for them. But by the end of the day yesterday I’d reviewed what had happened and let it go. That's all we can do because we don't have control over things that happen to us only our attitude towards them. But I’m happy to say today is indeed a much better day; so don’t beat yourself up if you’re having an off day because . . .

Tomorrow’s Another Day.

Namaste
Chris

P.U.S.H.

2011-03-02T09:02:00.003-05:00

Without a doubt we’re living in troubled and worrisome times. Global unrest is spreading and growing like a darkening cloud. The global economy is on shaky ground and America’s government is threatening to shut down. Unemployment is at an all time high and people like me have been unable to find jobs for months or years. We’ve been hammered by Mother Nature, prices are rising on just about everything and gas is expected to reach $5/gallon by summer.

All of which leads me to the photo at the top of this post.

It was rainy Monday when I drove to the First Methodist Church of Perkasie to take a photo of this sign. I first spotted this pithy acronym/quote on the way to the Sellersville Theater for a concert with my husband. I saw it this past weekend, again on our way to the Sellersville Theater. Both times, I’m embarrassed to say, my camera was not with me. Hence my trip on this rain-soaked Monday thankful it was raining and not snowing.

Since it was raining I was hoping to find a convenient place to park in which to minimize my camera getting wet. As luck would have it as I approached the church there was a driveway not more than a few feet from the sign. I turned in and stopped. As my window squeegeed down I took three quick shots. Just as I was about to make a quick getaway, since I was blocking the driveway, a man emerged from a side door to the church and walked in my direction.

“I love the quote,” I exclaimed, my camera pointing towards the sign.

“With the times we live in now sometimes this is all we can do,” he said as he moved closer to my car.

“I couldn’t agree more,” I replied mentally breathing a sigh of relief for not saying, “Amen to that.”

“Are you the pastor,” I asked hoping I was using the correct term of respect.

“Yes, I am,” he replied and added, “I’m Blaik.” I then introduced myself.

“Did you come up with the quote,” I asked.

“No, one of our parishioners,” he said, adding, “they have a knack for this sort of thing.”

“Well, it’s great and please pass along my compliments to them.”

Had the skies not opened up and poured rain I would’ve told Pastor Blaik (his first name) about my blog and that I planned on writing a post about the church’s sign.

Pastor Blaik didn’t know it at the time but he brightened my day just by walking over to my car and speaking to me. He made me forget my worry over being unemployed and made me realize I’d been given a gift of a simple exchange of a few words. Words that stayed with me for the rest of the day and I’m sure this quote (although I suppose it’s really an acronym if you stop to think about it) and his words will stay with me much longer than a week.

Sometimes all it takes is a few words or just a smile from a complete stranger to put a smile on our own face, brighten our mood or our day.

Pray Until Something Happens – what else can we do other than Hope and Believe?

Thank you Pastor Blaik.

Namaste
Chris

Hot Milk Sponge Cake

2011-02-19T08:48:00.003-05:00

The other day I had a yen for cupcakes so I pulled out a recipe for Hot Milk Sponge Cake a friend gave me many years ago and made a batch. Then I cheated by icing them with Duncan Hines Creamy Home-Style Chocolate Buttercream icing. In any event, here’s the recipe in case you’re experiencing your own cupcake yen.

Hot Milk Sponge Cake

4 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 c. milk combined with ¼ lb. (1 stick) of butter (heat together until butter melts)
2 c. flour
¼ t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1 t. of either vanilla or lemon extract

Beat eggs with sugar for 5 minutes. Blend in the flour mixed with salt and baking powder. Gradually add the milk and butter mixture. Blend in flavoring. You can either make cupcakes, which usually yields slightly over 2 doz. or you can make a cake using a 13x9x2” greased and floured pan. Or use two 9” pans. Bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes for the 9” pans, the cupcakes are around 15 minutes.

Even though there are 2 cups of sugar in this recipe the cupcakes are not real sweet.

Before I go, the wind is literally howling outside supposedly at 50 mph. With the much warmer weather of the last few days, the isles of white (mounds of snow) are giving way to green and brown once again. Just the other day the birds sounded like they were as anxious as we are for spring's arrival. However, don’t let this short winter break lull you into a false sense of security as Old Man Winter can and probably will hammer us at least once more before spring. I’m hoping spring slips by him before he knows what's happened.

Namaste
Chris

A Heartfelt Lesson

2011-02-14T00:01:00.021-05:00

Early yesterday morning I had what Oprah Winfrey calls an “AH-HA!” moment. Sadly, it’s taken half a century plus a few years for this moment to arrive and it has to do with the concept of being romantic. It all began Saturday evening while driving to WDVR’s "Heartland’s Hayride."

My husband and I were listening to The Road Less Travelled (Saturday's 4-6 p.m.) with Melba Toast. No, that’s not her real name. Her real name is Melissa. We tuned in towards the end of her show, which she’d dedicated to Valentine’s Day, when she told radio listeners about the romantic thing her husband had done. He bought her her own domain name because she’s in the process of building her website.

At first, I didn’t think that was romantic. But then, early yesterday morning, I let my feeble little brain out of its box to explore the concept of being romantic. Like music or art or anything else that comprises an individual’s world, we all have different definitions of what constitutes, in this case, being romantic.

It isn’t about flowers, candy, cards, jewelry or expensive dinners. Here’s where I might offend some and I apologize in advance.

Being romantic, especially on Valentine’s Day, is not (necessarily) about those things mentioned above. Flowers wilt and die, candy is eaten, cards are thrown away or shoved into the back recesses of a drawer. The jewelry, well, that has a longer shelf life and expensive dinners are lovely and memorable but again are short lived.

What I might find not even remotely romantic someone else obviously will. That’s all right because that’s what makes us individuals. But Melissa, and her husband, taught me the true meaning of being romantic.

Simply put, it’s all about knowing your loved one, female or male, so well that you know what will make them happy whether it’s Valentine’s Day, their birthday or any other day. This isn’t brain surgery or rocket science.

I am not against cards, flowers, candy, jewelry or expensive dinners, but society and the industries that produce them have conditioned us into believing this is what Valentine’s Day is all about. Call me cynical or jaded but I’m tired of the same old, same old.

What Melissa’s husband did was romantic and seeing his gift through her eyes made me realize this is what being romantic truly means.

Thank you Melissa, and your husband, for opening my eyes; it is a lesson I will not forget.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Namaste
Chris

Mother Nature's Icy Touch

2011-02-03T06:56:00.005-05:00

We lost power yesterday just before 4:30 a.m. and it wasn't back until 7:00 p.m. When I finally pulled myself out of bed, not looking forward to the increasing cold creeping into the house, I peeked outside and saw an incredibly beautiful wonderland.

Trying to stay warm wasn't all that difficult as I babysat our sump pump to make sure it didn't overflow and flood the basement. Between helping my brother-in-law hook up a portable generator and my occasional bailing water the old fashioned way using a pot and a large bucket, we managed to keep the cellar dry until the electric was back.

As the temps rose the ice began to fall often taking large tree limbs. We lost a limb off of a much loved maple and this spring we will probably have to replace it. I stood on the deck listening and watching as the ice fell and smacked the ice-hardended surface of the snow. Eventually fog slowly rolled in and I love when fog and snow get together as they make for some great photos!

The Three Trees!

Red, white and fog all over!

BRRRR!!!

Arthritic Ice

ET in tears . . . after an all night binge!

And last, but not least, is the photo I mentioned in Tuesday's post, the snowman the neighbor's built. This has to be THE best snowman I've seen in a long time.

Hmmm, I've got a "red" theme going on in this post. Come on sun!! It's time for some warmer weather!!!

Namaste

Chris

Something Completely Different

2011-02-01T19:40:00.008-05:00

As I sit here writing this post, an ice storm warning is in effect for the Lehigh Valley. By tomorrow we could have a 1/4 inch to 3/4 of an inch of ice. There's also a strong possibility this ice will cause downed power lines and trees with no electricity or heat. With temps hovering around freezing and projected to go even lower it could get nasty very quickly.

While I am a Winter person through and through, all this snow is beginning to get to me. As I'm sure it is of those who also are tired of all the white stuff. I want to see color and plenty of it. I want to see green grass!! So I'm thumbing my nose at Old Man Winter by putting up a new banner in hopes of spreading some much needed color.

I have a cute picture of a snowman the neighbor's built at the end of their driveway but I just can't bring myself to post it at this time. Although the snowman is wearing a cherry red hat and scarf. Nah! Still not enough color for me. Maybe I'll post it later on in the month; right now I'm in dire need of a color transfusion. The sooner the better.

Namaste
Chris

Photo of the Day

2011-01-26T14:11:00.001-05:00

Winter Wonderlands are beautiful but I'm ready for some major sunshine and a big burst of color!! It's been snowing since early this morning and it's still going. Sigh!

This is a photo I took almost one year ago! Gee, things don't look any different then they do now!

Hope you're warm and cozy wherever you are.

Namaste
Chris

3233

2011-01-25T14:51:00.043-05:00

Sunday was bitter cold. As I drove through a small town in the early hours of the morning, three electronic temperature gauges had a different reading in bright red. Ironic since red is the color of heat. The first said 17 degrees, the next 12 and the last was +7 degrees!!! I shivered in my coat and cranked up the heater one more notch.

A friend and I were heading to Steamtown, located in Scranton, PA, to take pictures of old railroad cars and steam engines whose days are long gone. Wooden cars rotting, metal cars rusting and both shedding their paint in unusually artistic ways sit quietly; a testament to their former glory. As I wandered around the cars, I wished they could tell me what they've seen, where they've been and about the passengers they carried.

At the far edge of the parking lot a massive, glossy black and gray steam engine sits on a section of rail looking quite impressive and in great shape for its age. In its heyday, the sound of its engine must have been deafening as it waited to leave the station.

It was the perfect morning to take photos as the sun cast an oblique light across the cars as we trudged through the snow from car to car.

Ironically, graffiti artists find these cars great canvases for their art and some of the cars sport new and vibrant color schemes. I would love to watch one of these artists as they do their art thing. It amazes me how accurate they are with a spray can.

From Steamtown we headed back to Lake Nockamixon where we found a lot of activity going on in spite of the bitter cold.

When we pulled into the parking lot, out on the far side of the lake were two ice surfing (not sure what they're called) rigs rapidly skimming across the surface of the ice. When they finally returned to shore, two older gentlemen climbed out of their sled like contraptions. Doesn't this look like it'd be fun to hop in and go for a spin? I so wanted to try it out but didn't have the nerve to ask either of them if I could, so I took photos instead. It's like wind surfing but with a sled.

While you might think I’m crazy to be out in this kind of weather, this gorgeous sunset complete with two ice fishermen in the distance, made it all worthwhile.

Namaste

Chris

Lost in the Snow?

2011-01-21T04:57:00.004-05:00

As I sit here writing this post it's snowing . . . again!!! Not that I mind the snow or even the cold, I love both but we've been under a blanket of snow since the day after Christmas. Even I want to see some patches of green and not have to worry about having my feet go out from under me and find myself on my butt.

In any event, levity should be the order of the day especially since later on I'll be bonding with my ergonomic shovel pitching the white stuff onto a pile next to the deck that's growing taller and taller with every snowfall. Without breaking a sweat I could probably fashion what would otherwise look like a melting snowman out of that pile.

So . . . whatdya think happened to this guy? Why a guy? Well it is a man’s glove so I’m assuming here.

I was on my way to the library when I passed this glove perched on a piece of white PVC tubing by the edge of the road and my mind started wandering as to what might've happened. At the time I didn’t stop but promised myself that if there was enough light on my way back I’d stop and get a few shots. On the way back it was getting dark so I returned the next afternoon when the light was better.

Could he be waving? Is he beckoning us to come a little closer? Did he fall in the ditch and can't get up? Is this a leftover Halloween gag gone wrong or an early 2011 Halloween gag in the making? Or is he at a winter auction desperate to make that final bid on a two-story igloo?

No more speculation. I frequent that road often so I will keep an eye on the glove on the pipe to see if anything further develops.

In the meantime, what tickles your funny bone?

Namaste
Chris

Icy Abstract

2011-01-18T09:11:00.010-05:00

This is the view from our back door window this morning. The reddish blob slightly to the left is our shed and the skinny dark blob, foreground right, is a maple tree where we have three bird feeders. The undulating, solid dark shapes in the back are the woods behind our house.

At the moment ice and rain, combined with freezing temps, encrust every surface. All the windows on the back of our house are covered with a wavy, nobby ice covering making it nigh on impossible to see outside. All you see are muted shapes. Not necessarily a bad way to look at the world every now and then. Gives us a different perspective.

Even the recent snow has a high gloss patina that has softened the hard edges to a soft peak stage. If the sun decides to make an appearance later on, we’ll need something stronger than sunglasses, maybe welding goggles to protect our eyes from all that glitters . . . is ice encrusted.

Thankfully I have nowhere to be today. I'll be working around the house and getting outside with my camera to take some more photos of this beautiful, if not somewhat eerie, landscape that is my backyard.

Namaste
Chris

River Blue Cafe

2011-01-16T11:27:00.004-05:00

Early this morning, before people were up and about, Hubby treated me to breakfast at the River Blue Café, located at 51 Bridge Street, in Frenchtown, New Jersey.

This is my fourth trip to this wonderful café. My first visit was Christmas Eve morning when a friend and I stopped in for breakfast. I had a Burrito Vegetales and my friend had Florentine Benedict. Both were made with fresh ingredients and were excellent.

Whenever dining out, I try to keep my options open in case something more appetizing or different might entice the old taste buds. Today though my taste buds were hankering for French Toast.

Most restaurants have “specials” and it pays to peruse these offerings as it means the restaurant likes to step outside their usual menu offerings and try different things.

After giving their regular menu a cursory glance, I picked up the 5x7 white slip of paper with their “Specials.” I skimmed the sheet of paper and was almost at the bottom when my eyes stopped dead in their sockets and locked onto, “French Toast stuffed with Nutella and Bananas.”

As an aside, there are a few foods and condiments that when waved before my eyes render me putty in your hands. Nutella is one of those foods. On the off chance you might not know about Nutella, it is “hazelnut spread with skim milk & cocoa.” This stuff is deadly and addictive. Trust me, I know.

Getting back to breakfast. I think by now you know what I ordered. And let me tell you it didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed every last forkful. It had the right amount of sweetness and the bananas were a nice compliment to the Nutella.

Hubby had the blueberry pancakes with a side order of sausage. He passed a forkful over to me and they were also very good. The blueberries tasted fresh and the pancakes had a light, airy taste to them.

If you find yourself in the Frenchtown, NJ area, I highly recommend making it a point to stop by the River Blue Café. Food is very good, reasonably priced, and the wait staff is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. Jim, the owner, has done a wonderful job at combining everything that makes a restaurant not only successful but provides a wonderful dining experience.

“Bon Appetit,” as Julia Child always said. Now where did I put that jar of Nutella?

Namaste
Chris

Decaying Beauty

2011-01-12T00:01:00.012-05:00

I love decay especially when it applies to anything abandoned. Where some see ugliness, I see beauty.

Take an abandoned house. The house as a whole is beautiful, but then isolate parts of the house: a sagging window with an old, shredded and faded floral curtain snagged on a jagged shard of window pane, or a shutter hanging askew, its surface a relief map of peeling paint. Or, if you’re lucky and can walk through the house, rooms with stained and peeling wallpaper, fireplaces with once beautiful and expensive architectural elements that have sadly fallen victim to vandals; that’s when you can appreciate its real beauty. When I am fortunate enough to stumble across such a photographic find, which isn’t often, questions like -- who lived here, how long did they live here, why did they leave bounce around inside my head. I also think if the walls could talk what would they tell me?

But this post is not about an abandoned house but an abandoned Ford F-100 pickup truck sitting so long by the side of the road that its tires have sagged comfortably into the grass on which it sits as if it's finally given up waiting for its owner to appear. Its once red color, at least I think it was red, has gradually faded to a rusted, mauve color.

I’ve passed this truck more than several times and every time I pass it, I wonder who owned it and why is it parked there? Why not in the shaded side yard alongside the house that’s a stone’s throw away? License plates are still affixed to the front and back as if any minute the owner might jump behind the wheel, fire it up and zoom off into the sunset. Okay, maybe not zoom, maybe a slow putt-putt down the road.

It is doubtful I’ll ever have answers to my questions and one day I will drive by and the truck will be gone either for parts or to the junk yard. Most likely the latter. But in a world where obsolescence is built in and we live in a throwaway society, it’s nice to know I lived in a world, and a time, where things were built to last.

Namaste
Chris

Raspberry Ice

2011-01-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

This morning, on my way to the post office, I decided to take River Rd., which runs along the Delaware River. The river was on my right and to my left were high rocks sporting serious looking icicle formations.

Since there wasn't much traffic, I took my time and checked out the icicles to see if there might be any good photo ops. Most were ho-hum until I saw the above. In fact, I drove by it not thinking until I jumped on the brakes and decided it might be a good shot as I'd never seen anything like this before. Often, icicles have a bluish cast but never raspberry. I backed up very carefully as I was on a curve, rolled down the window, and grabbed my trusty point-and-shoot and snapped off a few shots.

For several seconds, I tried to figure out what, or where, the color came from but had no idea. It didn't look like paint as the color stained the ice through and through. There was a puddle of raspberry color at the base of the icicles but that was probably due to the ice breaking off from time to time. There's also a section of tea-colored icicles, to the left, which may or may not have been caused by tannin from nearby oak trees.

Anyway, thought I'd share it with you as it was something unusual.

Some of us are getting ready for another round of snow due to begin mid-afternoon. Not only does it look like snow, but it feels like snow.

Hope you're all having a good day.

Namaste
Chris

Color Splash

2011-01-07T12:13:00.001-05:00

The snow finally arrived just before sunrise and, as I write this, it appears to have stopped completely. Went food shopping this early this morning and had the entire supermarket to myself. Slowly cruised my cart by this beautiful, in your face colorful bouquet of summery flowers and had to have them. It's almost lunchtime and I thought I'd bring you a splash of color for those of you buried under a snowy white blanket.

Two other shots follow, the first from nearby woods after a storm the day after Christmas and the second of the Mercer Museum, located in Doylestown, PA, I shot on a walk earlier this week.

Now I'm off to see what's for lunch and to shovel the deck.

Namaste
Chris

Thought for Today

2011-01-07T05:47:00.001-05:00

"We all live under the same sky, but we do not have the same horizon."

Konrad Adenauer

Namaste

Chris

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T14:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I cyber-hopped over to Happenings on Chaos Ranch where Sharon did a post on her word for the New Year. While was it an interesting and thought-provoking post, it gave me ideas for my word for the New Year. Actually, I came up with two words: Patience and Possibilities.

Patience is a trait I sorely lack and the older I get, I think it's an age thing, the more patient I am becoming in some situations, but not all. Being more mindful of my impatience, the easier it becomes for me to be patient.

One of my goals, notice I didn’t say resolutions because like many of us “resolutions” don’t last and studies show it’s often a matter of weeks after resolutions are made they fall by the wayside. If I call it a goal it will be more important for me to succeed. So this year I am going to try to be more patient with myself, my family, with strangers, with situations where I have to wait and when I’m driving, which is where I’m most apt to lose my patience.

My other word for the New Year is “Possibilities”. Since losing my job last July, I realize there are many opportunities for my writing and photography and I need to take advantage of them NOW!

Before I go though I’d like to share these two photos taken several years ago epitomizing what New Year’s is all about for many people especially those living in Philadelphia, the annual Mummer’s Day Parade. Several weeks after they strut their stuff during the Mummer's Parade, they highlighted Lambertville, New Jersey's Winter Carnival and it was kind of exciting to be this close to the Mummer's.

I'd like to wish all of you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. While this New Year, like every New Year, gives us the same blank slate to create our lives anew, let’s make 2011 the best year we can.

Namaste
Chris

Eight

2010-12-30T00:01:00.018-05:00

Photo courtesy of:
http://www.manhattanstyle.com/manhattan-ny/times-square-nye-ball-drop/

Before you hit the New Year’s Eve party scene tomorrow night, I thought I’d give you some trivia about the New Year’s Ball that drops in New York’s Times Square. Especially since by the time midnight arrives I will, no doubt, be sound asleep. That is until the neighbors, one of whom is my brother-in-law, head out to their backyards and set off a few firecrackers.

“The number of balls that have dropped in New York’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve since 1908, when the tradition began. The current one, on duty since 2008, weighs 11,875 pounds, measures 12 feet tall, is embellished with 2,668 Waterford crystals, and has 32,256 LEDs to light its way. A bit flashy, you say? Not for Times Square, where buildings are required to have at least one illuminated sign that stays lit until 1 a.m.” (From the simple list compiled by Sharon Tannebaum and Ashley Niedringhaus found in the December issue of Real Simple Magazine.)

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Namaste
Chris

Snow Fight!!

2010-12-28T06:01:00.032-05:00

In light of the recent Nor'Easter the day after Christmas, this short movie clip courtesy of Budweiser and youtube, should make you laugh in spite of the inches and inches of snow. And while I don't drink beer, Budweiser has indeed done another excellent job of advertising their product.

Hope you're dug out by now and enjoying the post-Christmas, White Christmas.

Namaste
Chris

P.S. This movie clip works even though there's a black screen. Click the black triangle at the bottom on the white bar beneath the screen.

Hot Cocoa Time!!!

2010-12-24T00:01:00.011-05:00

Several years ago, a good friend of mine, who also likes to cook, found a recipe for hot cocoa on the Food Network and passed it along to me. Not only is this recipe easy to put together, prep time is five minutes, but it makes 5 ½ cups of dry mix that keeps indefinitely in the pantry.

There’s nothing like a mug of hot cocoa on a windy, cold winter’s night. Even moreso when you’ve made the cocoa mix from scratch. If you’ve got five minutes you can do this.

Hot Coca
from Food Network.com

2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
2 ½ cups powdered milk*
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 pinch cayenne pepper*, or more to taste

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. The mixture works in either water or milk. I prefer milk because it has a richer flavor.

*Cayenne intensifies the chocolate flavor. This will indeed push chocoholics over the edge.
*If you want a creamier and richer flavor, substitute a powdered non-dairy creamer for the powdered milk. I use a hazelnut flavored powdered non-dairy creamer.

After it’s made, throw in a few mini-marshmallows, or even better a shot of peppermint schnapps and you’ll have the best hot cocoa you’ve ever tasted!

Now I’m off to enjoy this luscious mug of hot cocoa along with a slice of homemade Poppyseed and Almond Bread. Yum!!!

Namaste
Chris