Basking in the Weekend

I spent last weekend more or less taking it easy, recovering (or trying to – it’s still a battle) from the bronchitis, sinus and asthma that has been plaguing me since Labor Day.

This post is illustrated with photos from my trip to the City Market on Saturday. I needed veggies and thought I’d rather go there than the regular supermarket. It was a beautiful day and a great decision.

I also enjoyed a fabulous concert by Michigan State University’s College of Music – there was one number that gave me chills, it was so powerful, emotional, spiritual and elegant. But the whole evening was well worth it!

Then on Saturday, we enjoyed a local theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors, which was simply delightful in every way. (Although I think the Gypsy has taken lessons from Audrey II, the hungry plant – maybe not in food content, but in his aggressive delivery when he’s hungry!)
(Seen here at his Executive Assistant spot in the art room!)

Saturday also included time getting in the fall mood with my market visit!

It was nice to spend time with Rick when I wasn't totally obnoxious with my maladies! The prednisone is SLOWLY kicking in. (I thought it would be faster, but I shouldn't complain!)

Sunday I managed to deal with mall tasks – including the hunt for a dress to wear to an October wedding. I hate dress shopping more than anything (particularly since I have shoe issues, given my orthotics). I found something, but feel compelled to try again.

This photo expresses my angst at dress shopping!

And finally felt like cooking again, even though I haven’t been able to smell a thing since Labor Day and everything tastes metallic. I did this wonderful banana/chocolate bread from a Cooking Light recipe.

When you cut it open, it has a nice swirl.

Also served my tried-and-true Kate’s Salmon and made a nice dressing for broccoli slaw.

Broccoli Slaw

1 package (or what you need) of broccoli slaw
Mixed veggies – I used radish, scallion, cherry tomato
Extras – I used dried cranberries, spiced nuts from Trader Joe’s.

Dressing

About half of one small container of plain yogurt
Juice of ½ lime
Chimayo pepper (ground) – I would have used chipotle if I had any left
Cumin
Salt
Pepper
Cayenne
Basil (dried)
Dill (dried)

I just mixed up this interesting combo of ingredients until it was a dressing consistency and had a nice flavor. No quantities or measurements, unfortunately, but give it a shot!

Welcome, Fall!

The banner (a gift from my friend Judy -- thank you!) says it all!

Of Friendship and Celebration -- and Welcome a New Blogger!

I’m very fortunate to have a beautiful circle of friends. Some go back decades. Some live far away. Some (many of you) I have never met face to face.

But every month or two, I revel in the company of good friends who gather for food, fun, solace, and joy.

The other night we met at one of our newest member’s lovely new home. Rhonda welcomed us with such warmth and hospitality, we were filled with happiness and delight.

Her garden gate served as a great venue for photos.

My friend Judy (seen here with her camera!) shot the one of me, as well as many others.

She also had the best image of the evening of Kitty, the co-host!

Everyone brought an appetizer, and the food was to die for.

Sharon brought a fabulous tiramisu!

And of course, there was plenty of glass-clinking as the eight of us went around the table offering a toast. (Though we were minus one big part of this group, we welcomed a new kindred spirit, Beth.)

This group is so very special. We all deal with communication, public relations, writing, media, and design in our jobs – the things that make us better communicators and able to work best with the public.

Jane has also added a new title to her resume: Joyworker. Jane teaches about the law of attraction – a second career she “attracted.” No one is better suited.

I can’t really write about the “project” that evolved during the evening, other than to say when you get a group of great women, soulful women, women with connections, women who care gathered around a table and begin to brainstorm about something that is troubling or challenging, the challenges become opportunities and the solutions – or ways to find the solution – seem never ending. I hope to update you about this at some point soon.

Let me simply say the synchronicities keep coming. Maybe that’s what a joyworker helps bring to the forefront!

So, here’s to friends, here’s to joy. Here’s to the family you’re not born into, but that you create for yourself.

******

Speaking of family not born into, sometimes the best new family members are added at a later date! Such was the case when my cousin David married the wonderful, witty, (and great cook!) Bonnie!


Bonnie has finally started a blog called MamaKsblog, and I want to encourage you to please visit, give her a comment, encouragement and – oh, yes – make sure you read her very funny post about water aerobics!

We all know blogs are works in progress, finding our voice, finding ways to make our blogs look the way we want (hey, I’ve been blogging for eight months and just added my sort-of banner!)

So, Bonnie, if there’s anything you want to ask – ask away!

Write on Wednesday: Write What You Know

"If there’s a book that you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Toni Morrison


This is the quote with which Becca begins her Write on Wednesday post this week. She discusses the idea of whether it’s possible to know “too” much about a subject and if that affects the excitement of discovery in the written work.

After her very thoughtful discussion of this quote she asks:

How about you? Is there a book you’d love to read that hasn’t been written? What do you love reading about, and how could you write about it? What fascinates you that could become the subject for your next story, essay, poem, or blog post?

What DO I love reading about?

I love reading anything related to England. England in World War II. England period – King Arthur, Elizabethan times, Jane Austen, Victorian period, Edwardians, right up to the present. Biographies, mysteries, novels, history, monarchy… I love it all.

And that extends a bit to European topics as well. Stories about World War II and the Holocaust fascinate me.

But then there are biographies in general. I do like a good biography, which contemporary or not, is a bit of history. (This spring/summer, I’ve read about the Mitfords, Groucho Marx, Pattie Boyd, Diana, and Bob Newhart – eclectic? Yes!) And now and then a contemporary novel really gets me.

How could I write that book? More research, I suppose. More commitment, too. But I’m not so interested in doing that. I guess I figure there is enough that I haven’t tapped that I don’t need to add to the words out there. I suppose if there was a biographical subject that just inspired me, I’d consider it. But there isn’t, really.

So, what COULD become the subject for my next story, essay, poem or blog post? I never seem to run out of ideas. My life is too rich and full of remarkable people and interesting situations, so full of the beauty of everyday existence, that I have a little list! My next blog post after this will be on the joys of friendship and the energy that when combined with others might make anything possible.

What about you?

Recipe Tag Books: A Tutorial!

One of my favorite things to make for gifts is a recipe tag book.

You can include family recipes in categories or in a single category (like desserts). Or, you can use the same idea to make a booklet with household hints, drinks, family memories, favorite quotes, baby tips, or other good wishes.

I am lucky to have a good group of friends who gathers together for dinner periodically. For this week's gathering I said I'd bring the party favors!


Everyone was asked to submit a recipe and then I put together little booklets.

Here's how:

Supplies: largest-sized shipping tags (office supply)
papers
inks
glue stick
Golden regular gel (or strong glue)
ephemera (try images from The Vintage Workshop! They're great!)
embellishments
binder rings
ribbon or yarn
beads (optional)
Optional: Cuttlebug desktop embosser

Working with the Recipes

1. Collect recipes (shorter recipes work best).
2. Type recipes in 3-column, 8 pt. (you may need to modify, based on font; 8 pt. works for arial)
3. Print copies.
4. Separate recipes (I often tear, but doing this decided I like deckle-edge scissors just as well)


Prep tags (one tag per recipe, plus cover and dividers, if needed)

1. (Optional step) -- Use Cuttlebug to emboss (for a great post by Beth L. on this, click here.)

2. Color tag -- in this example, I brushed a pad across the embossing.

For the covers, I did ink-to-paper technique.

Glue and Creativity Time!

1. Attach recipes to all cards with glue stick.


2. Decorate divider tags and color using ephemera, papers, stickers, embellishments. For heavier pieces, use Golden gel or a stronger glue.


This is my master book, which has about 36 recipes.

In these examples, from my master book, I used a combination of techniques -- here's the cover, with ephemera and papers and a few stickers.
Here are a couple of the dividers.

For the party books, I wanted them to look similar but not identical.

I tied together the look with kitchen images from The Vintage Workshop (I love these folks!) and a kitchen-like scrapbook paper. For these, I did covers only.

Attach with binder rings and add ribbons or yarn.

These make great party favors for lots of occasions. They are time consuming, even if you get on the assembly line. Producing eight six-page (plus cover) booklets took about four hours, and that was using the Cuttlebug which was quicker than ink-to-paper for that many tags. My master book has 38 recipes, cover, and dividers for "dedication" page, dinner, salads, parties, and desserts.

My Feet Stink! (Not Literally!)

There are those of us who have lovely feet and can wear any shoe.

That's not me.

The other day I went to take my shoes in to the pedorthist (whom I call the foot goddess, because she is so amazingly good). Keela Yount, Mid-Michigan Pedorthic can make heel spurs not hurt and make walking infinitely easier.

After having pain on the side of my foot for awhile (plus this big bump on top), I had it xrayed. It came back with a long report with lots of words I couldn't even find on the web! But basically, it meant that I had some arthritis in the foot.

Keela is adjusting my orthotics, so it will take some of the pressure off the bad parts and even things out.

This is NOT my foot...

Keela's showing how she's lifting up the inside to flatten out the hurt part.

I know. Too much information. But I am so fascinated by all these bones and all the things you can do -- just the way you walk can make other parts of you hurt.

The end game? If your feet hurt all the time, see a pedorthist (and if you live in Michigan, I recommend Keela!). You may be able to correct some of that pain with the right shoes.

Coming this week -- a tutorial on making tag recipe books!

If Wishes Were Dishes!

I have this "dish" thing. I think it's genetic. My mom collected china patterns like they were postage stamps. When she died, I inherited all the collector plates, Christmas china, Thanksgiving china, autumn china and pretty little teacups.

Well, the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I think in the last post, I showed you the Fiesta that my friend Nancy's mom was so gracious to share with me.

Isn't it pretty on a table (with my quarter-a-piece drinking glasses and a vintage tablecloth I got for a steal at a shop closing for the summer a couple of years ago)?

And I may have posted this photo that shows the additional pieces I have for both my Hall Tulip and Crocus dishes -- I also have plates, bowls, dessert dishes, and even cooking bowls for both of these patterns.
While I was up at the lake, I did an archaeological dig in my garage (if you saw my garage, you'd know I don't exaggerate) and found my grandmother's old china.

I can only have three people to dinner and dessert (but have tons of saucers, bread plates). Only one cup, though. Isn't the pattern pretty?

But then the other night when my friend Jane came to visit (pictured with her friend Kevin and Rick below, she brought me a grand surprise!

Her neighbor had these gorgeous dishes and wanted someone who would give them a good home! They are by Taylor ---(I'll update this after checking the back)---- and have a different tulip pattern from my other.

It's very similar to the crocus pattern I have, but also very unique. There is great detail with the pattern flowers inside the cup and on the edges.

There were even serving bowls!

Well, dishes make me happy!

Oh -- and just what did I serve for dinner?

Jeanie Crostini

Panzanella

Sauteed sweet potatoes with red onion, fennel and herbs...

And steamed salmon with spicy peach/corn/onion and avacado relish.

And blueberry crumble pie!

Here's how my friend Kate told me to prepare the salmon so that it comes out perfectly -- and it's an ideal meal for guests or a busy day, because you just pop it in and let it go:

Kate's Salmon

Spread out your salmon on a rack over a baking sheet or pan.
Salt, pepper (or whatever other seasoning you like -- I like lemon pepper and sometimes Cajun spices)
Bake at 200 (not a typo) for an hour.
(If it's extra thick -- or thin -- you might need a little more or less time).

I had dinner the night before with friends and our food came with little orchids. Might I add my thanks to my dinner companions for giving me their orchids after dinner to dress up my food!

Well, thanks for walking through my kitchen with me! Enjoy!