good . bad . happy . sad .

Morning Visitor

2011-08-01T09:56:00.003-04:00

Eating breakfast on the deck, I saw a large flying creature land on the Japanese maple. Hummingbird, perhaps? No, it was this very sizable dragonfly. One of summer's surprisingly strange friends.

Asclepias is Milkweed

2011-07-18T11:26:00.004-04:00

On my lunchtime walks I've been passing this milkweed plant, watching it go through its various stages of growth. I wondered how the flower cluster could create pods - and now I've seen for myself. The pods grow from the base of the flower cluster, as it is wilting.

In Full Bloom!

2011-06-23T16:45:00.003-04:00

Do you remember this post from back in May, about my orchid getting ready to bloom? As you can see, she's putting on quite a show.

I have to give credit to my co-worker Dan H., who shot these pics in low light with his iPhone. My camera wouldn't cooperate without a tripod in low light. Thanks Dan!

Oregano Harvest

2011-06-13T19:17:00.002-04:00

The Greek oregano I planted last year came back this spring - very energetically! I just cut it back - before it flowered.

I'll dry it for a while in this basket, then strip the leaves from the stems and dry it further. It's the year's first product from my teensy herb garden.

Summery Hors d'oeuvres

2011-05-30T13:25:00.002-04:00

I made these little bites for a party the other day. I used English cucumbers with thin skins, cut into chunks. I used a melon baller to scoop out a hole in each chunk, and using a pastry bag, filled them with sour cream. I added baby greens as a garnish. Quick, fresh and summery!

About to Bloom

2011-05-27T16:38:00.008-04:00

This lovely orchid plant was given to me for my birthday last year - almost a year ago. About 2 months ago I noticed it was sending up stems with flower buds! The first buds shriveled and fell off. I think the window seat in my kitchen where it was living was too cold.

So I moved the plant to my sunny office, where it's flourishing! Two more branches with multiple buds have appeared. It's so much fun to watch them grow.

Please Vote for Me!

2011-04-20T11:16:00.002-04:00

Please consider voting for my home in the Apartment Therapy Small Cool 2011 Contest. Thanks!

Morning Light

2011-04-09T09:30:00.002-04:00

A nice little surprise on this April morning.

Entertainment

2011-03-30T18:48:00.006-04:00

This winter Bettie started watching TV. It started with a chance viewing of a PBS Nature episode about polar bears. She was sitting next to me on the couch, and suddenly noticed the lumbering bears on the screen. Since then she joins me whenever I turn on the tube.

We've watched Nature's special on hummingbirds (I bought the dvd to ease her winter boredom), several artist documentaries, including an American Masters episode on Andy Warhol, and the biggest surprise - "8: The Mormon Proposition" about the Mormon financial influence on the passage of Prop. 8 in California. She watched the whole thing!! She's transfixed by Rodney Yee's "A.M. Yoga." As soon as I cue it up in the morning, she takes her seat by the set!

Simple Gifts

2011-01-02T10:59:00.005-05:00

Thinking about what I could make for simple Christmas gifts, I settled on potholders. I made a stack of 16 of them. I loved watching them pile up!

I thought about each friend or relative I was making them for, and chose fabric combinations for each.
Simple, fun, functional and satisfying. I hope they'll be well-used!

Wow. A GF Pie Crust That's Really Good!

2010-11-18T22:15:00.008-05:00

When November rolls around I want to bake pies. I'd like to bring a really good one for Thanksgiving dessert, but I confess my pie-making has really gone downhill in the last few years. When you're eating gluten free, pie crust is a challenge. It's not easy to find a decent recipe. All the same, I was seeing the glass half-full this week, so I got it in mind to make a rustic, free-form, French-style tart. I used this crust recipe developed by Helene over at Tartelette. She is a French ex-pat pastry chef, living in the US, and she's an amazing baker. Sadly for her, she had to go gluten free. No need to tell you that her loss is my (and many others') gain! She has come up with some beautiful gluten free pastry recipes. You can read all about them, and drool over her food styling and photography on her blog.

Because I can't get enough of cooked apples, I chose this recipe from Epicurious for the filling. It uses what I think are traditional French elements: the apples are tossed not with cinnamon, but with lemon zest and a little sugar. The crust is spread with a thin layer of apricot jam beneath the apples. I used Bonne Maman preserves - a little pricey, but delicious and not too sweet. This combination of flavors is new to me, and really good!
Still, I must face facts. This crust is tasty, but not fabulous enough to warrant all that extra folded up around the edges. Next time I'll make this in a tart pan, and keep the crust really thin. I think that will be just right.

A Quilt for Addianna

2010-11-15T19:15:00.004-05:00

In May, my nephew and his wife had a lovely little baby girl named Addianna. If my sister Anna were still living, this little girl would be her first grandchild.

I wanted to make something special for her. I didn't start the quilt until Addi was a few weeks old, and she's just received it - at around her six-month birthday. I'm sad that it's so late in arriving, but I really enjoyed making it. I think she'll still be able to make use of it.

It's my first real quilt. I've made a few pieced tops that I stitched onto store-bought comforters. This is the first time I designed, pieced, filled, quilted and finished a quilt - although I did it all on a sewing machine - not by hand. I used my mother's 1951 Singer Electric Sewing Machine, Class 15-91.

I have a baby quilt that my grandmother sewed by hand, while she was expecting my mother, her first child. It's yellow and lavender - gender neutral colors - because back then there was no way to know the sex of your baby until her arrival.

I chose fabric patterns and colors I thought a little girl might enjoy. I hope Addi will get lots of use out of this thing.

And here she is, my great-niece and her great-grandma, who just happens to be my mother. (Photo from Addi's mom Caty's Facebook photos.)

She Likes It!

2010-11-09T19:35:00.003-05:00

My friend and coworker Dave grew this cat grass at work, and sent me home with a pot for Miss Bettie.

She knew right away that it was for her . . .

I'd say the gift was thoroughly appreciated - by both of us!

Spooky Oreos

2010-10-31T21:59:00.006-04:00

Last week Gluten Free Girl & The Chef featured homemade gf oreos on their site. (You'll find the recipe there if you want to try it.) I had to give them a try! I figured it was best to make them for a party - so I wouldn't eat more than a few. I've been wanting a pastry bag - this was my excuse to go out and buy one. I whipped them up for a Halloween party, where I knew there would be at least one other person on a gf diet.

A few comments on the process: I substituted brown rice flour for the white rice flour because that's what I had on hand, and coconut oil for the vegetable shortening because I don't like to use trans-fats. I also think that this dough could be rolled out and cut with a cookie cutter, or rolled into a log and sliced. It was a bit labor intensive to form each wafer by hand. The chocolately smell that filled the house while they baked was out of this world!

To decorate them for the holiday, I bought some yogurt covered raisins and poked holes in them with a fat needle to make little skulls, which I attached with a little blob of icing. :-) They were well received at the party, even by non-gf people. That's always the test: will the people who can eat everything else enjoy these too? They did, although I have to say I liked them best the next day, after they'd spent the night in the fridge. The filling stayed really firm when cold, so it didn't squeeze out when I took a bite. Let me know if you make them - and how they turn out!

Weather Magic

2010-10-21T19:55:00.004-04:00

This afternoon some weather rolled in - magical autumn weather - the kind of weather that stirs thoughts of something much bigger than our puny selves. I was at my desk, on the third floor of the office building where I spend my days. My cube-mates and I were in awe of the drama taking place outside the glass.

Leaving work, walking to my car, across a little wooden bridge over a wetland, the slanting rays were hitting bittersweet berries with a light that made me see them for the first time.

A half hour later, when I exited Whole Foods, this greeted me. It lasted for the longest time, and grew in size and brilliance until it was a full rainbow, spanning the sky from horizon to horizon. I watched people come and go in the parking lot. Some were oblivious, others stopped for a moment to appreciate it. I spied a very tall young man standing in the next row of parked cars. He stood almost motionless, sometimes in the falling rain, from the moment he noticed the rainbow, until it faded away. When it was over, I watched him walk toward the store, with the sweetest smile on his face.

Please Don't . . .

2010-10-19T19:15:00.009-04:00

Last Saturday, S. and I wandered over to the Hessel Museum at Bard College to have a look at the exhibit Home/Not at Home. The show was okay - there are a few standout pieces. I found most of the work in the collection to be clever, but lacking heart.

As we walked toward the museum door, the breeze picked up, and we heard, behind us, the distinctive sound of a flag - a big, substantial one - unfurling and snapping in the wind.

Expecting to see the Stars and Stripes, we turned, and . . . surprise!

The flag was made by David Shrigley.

Through a Prayer Flag, Lightly

2010-10-14T22:53:00.001-04:00

Brothers

2010-10-02T22:23:00.005-04:00

You may recall that I bought a little 6x6 painted construction by Simon Draper a while back. Well, in August I was lucky enough to find another one that I love. I found both pieces at Roos Arts in Rosendale, NY.

These pieces are actually cut outs made from torn down studio sheds that were constructed as part of Draper's Habitat for Artists program. Roos Arts' current exhibition, which opened this evening, features this work. You can read more about it here.

Putting the Best of Summer By

2010-09-30T20:32:00.012-04:00

I took the summer off from blogging. My camera is old, and the Memory Stick I was using went bad. Sony no longer manufactures the cards, and I struggled to find some. I finally found two -- in my desk drawer!! While I was fretting over my camera and its memory, this lovely pile of basil grew in my teeny-tiny garden.

Last night, a dry evening between bouts of rain and wind brought on by a tropical storm, I cut the plants off at the base, brought them inside, and stripped off their leaves. It took about 90 minutes to complete this part of the project. Those bowls you see up there? They're very big! And full of fragrant, lovely basil leaves.

I stuffed as many as would fit into the food processor, poured in a little olive oil, and churned away.

The mixture filled these three zip-lock bags, which I carefully flattened, spreading the basil mush in an even layer, and filling each bag to the corners to keep air out. Also, the thinner the layer, the easier it is to use later.

After a night of laying flat in the freezer, they're ready for use. Any time I need basil, I'll just break off a piece and reseal the bag. In cooked dishes, it's a thousand times better than dried leaves!

Light & Shadow II

2010-06-27T10:01:00.005-04:00

Light & Shadow

2010-06-26T11:26:00.003-04:00

Shadow play from a lampshade.

Summer Breakfast

2010-06-18T10:07:00.003-04:00

I know it's still spring - technically - but it feels, and tastes, like summer!

Hang it Like This

2010-05-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

Which Way Should I Hang It?

2010-05-15T09:23:00.007-04:00

I bought this little 6"x6" painting/construction at Roos Arts in Rosendale, NY.

It was made by Simon Draper.

There were (and perhaps, still are) many 6"x6" works for sale at Roos Arts, as part of a fundraiser for Habitat for Artists, project started by Mr. Draper.

Which way do you think I should hang it?

Pretty Evening Light

2010-05-03T22:01:00.001-04:00

Just a pretty evening . . .

I Love My Bike!

2010-04-24T18:05:00.000-04:00

As bikes go, it's nothing very special - a Giant Cypress - a hybrid - at least ten years old. For most of its life it sat in the garage or basement, collecting dust. You see I don't feel safe riding on the road with cars, and until two years ago, I lived in neighborhoods with lots of auto traffic. Now, however, I'm lucky to live in quiet neighborhood near the Norowottuk Rail Trail. Just a quick, bumpy ride through the woods to the trail, and I can ride without fear of being knocked over by a car. I might get knocked over by a rollerblader, or perhaps another cyclist, but still it feels much safer. I'm not an athlete, not that kind of rider, but when I'm on my bike, flying down a hill, I feel like I'm 10 years old again. There's no better feeling!

Wood Anemone

2010-04-23T14:30:00.003-04:00

Another sweet woodland flower in my yard. This one is called Wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia).

I found its name it using this wonderful Flower Identification website.

Fiddleheads!

2010-04-22T10:50:00.002-04:00

Every day there's something new to see outside my door. This morning, these unfolding ferns were the prize winners! I've never eaten fiddleheads. Have you? I don't know if the ones growing in my yard are edible, but even if they are, I think I'll let them grow into the bushy greenery that I love.

Wakerobin Outside My Door

2010-04-14T19:15:00.004-04:00

Trillium - a delicate forest wildflower also known as "wakerobin" - blooms outside my door.

A host of sweet woodland flowers bloom while they can catch a bit of springtime sun - before the trees leaf out.

How lovely to find these so close to home.

Making Gluten Free Pizza

2010-04-10T11:10:00.003-04:00

This is the first pizza I've eaten since going gluten free, and the first I've ever made. It came out really well! I used a frozen crust from Against the Grain (a local GF company) and topped it with homemade marinara sauce, sauteed onions, red peppers, mushrooms, and part-skim mozzarella cheese. Sometime soon I'll try making my own crust, but that's another matter!

A Visit from E.B.

2010-04-04T21:28:00.004-04:00

Have you ever tasted Burdick chocolates? They are like nothing else. Tiny little things, perfectly made, subtly flavored, amazingly delicious. I am so lucky that Ananda sends them to me!

That's My Girl!

2010-03-29T16:00:00.000-04:00

Pretty kitty sittin' in the sunshine . . .

Signs of Spring

2010-03-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

I so love seeing the brave little crocuses emerge!

Morning Light on Green & Red

2010-03-27T10:18:00.004-04:00

Do you know the name of this plant? I've tried planting cuttings in a pot with dirt, and it just doesn't thrive. It seems to prefer being in this bowl with only stones and water - no soil - to being planted! My friend J. gave me the cuttings. He keeps his planted in soil, under a glass dome and it's very happy.

Mmm . . . Mmm . . . Oatmeal Cookies . .

2010-03-25T22:55:00.017-04:00

I made up a recipe for gluten free oatmeal raisin cookies this evening. They turned out really well! I combined elements from two different recipes: one, my favorite gf chocolate chip cookie recipe from Gluten Free Girl and the other, the oatmeal raisin cookie recipe from The Best Recipe (which, unfortunately, isn't available online).

Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
(makes 24 cookies/ 108 calories each)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl:
1/4 cup teff flour
1/4 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup ground flax seed
2 Tbsp sweet rice flour (also known as "mochiko" (Japanese), "Bot Nep" (Thai) or "sticky rice flour." Available at Asian markets.)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (This, from The Best Recipe, replaces the more common cinnamon.)

In stand mixer, beat:
1 stick softened unsalted butter
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp dark muscovado sugar (Also available at Whole Foods Market)
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp white sugar

When sugars are fully incorporated into butter, add:
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Add the dry ingredients, and mix thoroughly.
Then add:
1 1/2 cups gluten free certified rolled oats
1 cup raisins

Scoop out about 2Tbsp of cookie dough and roll in a ball, pressing to make the dough into a solid ball. Place on buttered cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Repeat about 24 times (12 per cookie sheet), and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Allow cookies to cool slightly before removing them to a rack to finish cooling. Cookies are fragile when warm.

Never Dull?

2010-03-17T12:29:00.005-04:00

Lately I've been checking in on an interior design blog that's new to me: Apartment Therapy. They run a program every year called "The Spring Cure," that's a series of assignments to clean up and organize your home. This year there's also a kitchen-only version called, "The Kitchen Cure." I haven't officially signed up, but I'm inspired! I cleaned out the fridge & freezer last week. Today - my big ol' junk drawer.

It's quite satisfying. I threw out some junk, saved a few things for the Shambhala Center tag sale in the fall, and I found a few things that I thought I'd lost! It may be dull to some, but to me it's a pleasure.

A Winter Hike with Friends

2010-03-07T19:12:00.002-05:00

Friends from the Shambhala Center in Northampton gathered for a hike on Mt. Tom in Easthampton, Massachusetts.

I've never hiked in the snow before. It was a warm day, the snow was soft and a little slushy in places. Walking in the snow was challenging, and the mountain was beautiful.

The view from the Dry Knoll, looking toward of the Oxbow (part of the Connecticut River).

It was a more challenging and fast-paced hike than I'm used to, but it was a great day!

Gluten Free Baking from King Arthur Flour!

2010-03-03T11:32:00.008-05:00

I don't usually post this sort of thing, but I thought the gluten free readers of this blog would like to know that King Arthur Flour - long a great source for traditional baking information and baker's ingredients and tools - has a whole new line of GF baking mixes, online recipes and information about gluten free baking. It looks like a wonderful resource! Click here to visit the King Arthur Flour gluten free website.

Minnewaska Walk

2010-02-22T09:06:00.005-05:00

A chilly walk along the rocky Shawangunk cliffs at Minnewaska State Preserve.

Climbers spotted ahead . . .

Someone waits patiently, in her fleece jacket, for the safe return of her people.

Waiting

2010-02-12T21:55:00.002-05:00

There's not much to say about it . . .

. . . just a passing train I had to wait for on my way home this evening.

A Tasty Recovery

2010-02-10T16:44:00.006-05:00

I'm recovering from a nasty little stomach bug. Many years ago I learned about three macrobiotic foods that restore beneficial flora to the digestive system: miso soup, sauerkraut, and uzu tea. I could never deal with the tea, made from arrowroot powder, tamari and umeboshi plum, as I recall. But I like miso soup, and sauerkraut is okay. They really do help! Click here for the recipe I used. I made the simple kombu dashi (kombu stock), which added some depth to the soup. I also added some gluten free tamari to the bowl. Most miso has wheat (and soy) in it. I used locally made South River Azuki Bean Miso, which contains no wheat or soy ingredients.

KMOCA Opening: A Girl and a Gun, Again by Steve Derrickson

2010-02-07T11:55:00.005-05:00

Stephen's show at KMOCA opened on Saturday evening.

There was a great turnout . . .

with friends of all ages!

"She Sells"

A Girl and a Gun . . .

. . . indeed.

It's So Easy!

2010-01-22T22:41:00.007-05:00

Wow! I followed the recipe from Jill Santopietro's Tiny Kitchen video for tangerine sherbet. (The delightlful little bowl is by Shelburne potter Molly Cantor.)

I started with the most amazingly juicy tangelos. Did you know that a tangelo is a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit?

I zested 2 of them, then juiced the whole lot by hand.

There are a few more simple steps. Go the NY Times website and follow the whole recipe if you want to try this.

There it is, churning about inside the machine . . .

Holy smokes! The most delightfully light, delicate tasting sherbet I've ever enjoyed. If I'm going to keep exploring this sort of thing, you'd better come over and share some . . . or else I'm going to become quite a chubber! :-)

Winter Trees

2010-01-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

I love to see the structure of trees when they have no leaves in the winter.

January Thaw I

2010-01-17T10:00:00.007-05:00

Here in the Northeast US, we usually have a brief respite from January's below-freezing temperatures: the January Thaw. It began yesterday with daytime highs soaring into the 40s! (he he)
Really, it was sunny and quite pleasant, and I couldn't resist a nice long walk.

This charming couple looked quite content, noodling about in the little unfrozen section of the pond.

We Can All Do Something to Help

2010-01-14T20:15:00.005-05:00

Please help the people of Haiti however you can. Click the image below to make a donation to Doctors Without Borders. Every donation, no matter how small, helps people who are suffering in unbearable ways.

Broken Dishes

2010-01-12T18:39:00.010-05:00

I have a long, sporadic history of making pieced cotton pillow covers and quilts. I made my first quilt in 1977. In the early 1990s I happened to flip through a copy of A Treasury of Amish Quilts by Rachel and Kenneth Pellman in a fabric store. Inside those pages I discovered the Amish quilt pattern called Broken Dishes, and I've been fascinated by it ever since. I love the straightforward, graphic use of solid colored cotton fabrics that Amish quilt makers employ. And Broken Dishes is barely a pattern at all - the order of the triangles is the only requirement. The color arrangement is random - or so it seems. As you can see below, I made considerable effort to orchestrate the arrangement for this pillow.

Here are the triangles, cut from 2" squares, laid out on the counter. I spent quite a bit of time moving them around until I was satisfied.

The finished top. I think I managed to keep all but one row in the desired order! I adore the fact that a mistake like getting the pieces out of order is easily incorporated into the whole.

Here's the cover stuffed with a 20"x20" down & feather pillow insert. Hey, what's that black fuzzy thing on the right side?

Oh . . . it's my little helper, Miss Bettie!

This pillow was a gift for my dear friend D. It looks really nice on the blue couch in her office.

Soup to go with the Corn Bread

2009-12-30T16:00:00.002-05:00

The other night I made the "White Bean & Escarole Soup" (I substituted spinach for the escarole) from Mollie Katzen's "The Enchanted Broccoli Forest" cookbook. It was good, but a little bland for my taste. This evening I was inspired! I cut up an Applegate Farms Chicken & Turkey Andouille sausage, browned it in a little olive oil, and added it to a bowl of the hot soup. With the corn bread - holy smokes - what a yummy meal!

Southern Style Corn Bread

2009-12-29T15:41:00.003-05:00

I followed the recipe from "The Best Recipe," using the butter & a little vegetable oil option instead of the traditional bacon grease. I love it when I find a recipe that's gluten free in its original state!

The View From My Weekend Post

2009-12-14T10:26:00.007-05:00

Looking up . . .

up . . .

down a little . . .

And at the floor . . .

I helped Ananda at her booth at Craft Boston this weekend. The show was held at the Boston Center for the Arts in the Cyclorama, a stylish, historic, remarkable building in Boston's South End. It was a lovely event in an amazing building, in a gorgeous neighborhood. Oh . . . and the company? It was really good! :-)

Fruitcake Bars - with thanks (once again) to David Lebovitz

2009-12-09T11:39:00.001-05:00

Here's my gluten free version of David Lebovitz's Fruitcake Bars, also known as "Friendship Bars." No disgusting, neon green and yellow candied fruit here - just honest to goodness dates, apricots and nuts. All I did to make it gluten free was switch the 6 T of all purpose flour for 2 T each of tapioca, sorghum and sweet rice (mochi) flour. Whilst baking , it filled the house with the most divine fragrance. And they're delicious too! Click the link above for David's recipe.

'Tis the Season . . .

2009-12-08T11:03:00.002-05:00

You may recall that last year I went a little wild cutting paper snowflakes.
Well . . .

. . . this year I made even more! I couldn't resist filling my huge living room window with them. Each flake is attached to the glass with a few tiny bits of scotch tape.

This is how it looks inside, in the morning light . . .

. . . and from outside at the same time.

It was a little scary getting up to the top row of window panes - it's a good 12 feet up from the floor, at least. Click here for Camilla Engman's Snowflake Tutorial at Studio Violet if you'd like to make your own. Welcome Winter!

Roasted!

2009-12-02T19:40:00.003-05:00

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, YUKON GOLD POTATOES, ONION, GARLIC (LOTS), ROSEMARY, SALT, BLACK PEPPER, AND HOT PEPPER FLAKES, ALL TOSSED IN OLIVE OIL . . .

ROASTED AT 425F FOR 30 MINUTES, TURNED OVER ONCE HALFWAY THROUGH. WOW! DELICIOUS! THE GARLIC IS SO SWEET AND CHEWY, A PERFECT COMPLIMENT TO THE SALTY POTATOES AND ROSEMARY. YUM.

The Day After Thanksgiving in Manhattan

2009-11-30T19:09:00.002-05:00

S. AND I HAD A LOVELY THANKSGIVING FEAST WITH FRIENDS IN THE CITY. BEFORE HEADING HOME ON FRIDAY WE STOPPED IN CHELSEA TO SEE WHAT WAS SHOWING IN THE GALLERIES. I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE DAVID HOCKNEY PAINTINGS AT PACE WILDENSTEIN ON 25TH ST. IF I HAD KNOWN THE SHOW CONTINUED AT THEIR UPTOWN GALLERY I WOULD'VE RUN RIGHT UP THERE TO SEE IT. BOTH PARTS OF THE SHOW CLOSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE, SO VISIT IT SOON IF YOU CAN!
HERE IS A LINK TO A VERY GOOD ARTICLE IN THE NY TIMES ABOUT HOCKNEY'S LATEST WORK IN ENGLAND. THERE'S A FUN MOVIE CLIP AND AUDIO SLIDE SHOW ATTACHED TO THE ARTICLE. HERE IS A LINK TO JAMES KALM'S SURREPTITIOUS VIDEO OF THE 25TH STREET GALLERY SHOW. SKIP AHEAD TO THE 4:00 MINUTE MARK (SKIP THE BORING BOOK SIGNING) TO SEE THE HOCKNEY SHOW.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HERE'S A LINK TO DAVID HOCKNEY'S WEBSITE, WHICH LOOKS LIKE HOURS OF FUN.

The Best Cranberry Sauce Tool

2009-11-24T08:03:00.007-05:00

THIS TIME OF YEAR IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE AN OLD FASHIONED FOOD MILL. I USED TO HAVE A FOLEY MODEL - IT REALLY TOOK SOME STENGTH AND DOWNWARD PRESSURE TO MAKE IT WORK. MY FORMER SPOUSE HAS THAT ONE NOW, WHICH IS FINE BECAUSE HE'S GOT THE STRENGTH TO OPERATE IT! THIS LITTLE MODEL IS INEXPENSIVE (AROUND $25) AND WORKS LIKE A DREAM. I BOUGHT MINE AT DIFFERENT DRUMMERS KITCHEN IN NORTHAMPTON, WHERE THEY HAD FANCY VERSIONS FOR OVER $100! IT MAKES QUICK WORK OF APPLE AND CRANBERRY SAUCES, AND I'M SURE WOULD MAKE A MEAN MASHED POTATO. IT COMES WITH THREE DIFFERENT SIZED DISKS, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE REMOVING FROM THE SAUCE (FRUIT OR VEGGIE SKINS, SEEDS, ETC.). I WAS HESITANT AT FIRST ABOUT THE PLASTIC, BUT IT DOESN'T ABSORB COLOR OR SMELL FROM THE FOOD. EASY TO USE AND EASY TO CLEAN. IT'S THE RSVP INTERNATIONAL VEG-3 ROTARY FOOD MILL.

Potato Soup, Since 1972

2009-11-18T16:10:00.003-05:00

I RECEIVED THIS VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK EARTH, WATER, FIRE, AIR: COOKBOOK FOR THE NEW AGE by BARBARA FRIEDLANDER AS A GIFT IN 1972. I PULLED IT OUT LAST NIGHT TO MAKE THE BEST POTATO SOUP - A FAMILY FAVORITE FOR 37 YEARS. (EEEK . . . I'M REALLY DATING MYSELF!) THE BOOK IS FULL OF HOMEY, SIMPLE RECIPES, AND AT THE TOP OF EACH RIGHT-HAND PAGE THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR MUSIC, OR A BOOK. A FEW OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS: ALL AND EVERYTHING BY G.I. GURDJIEFF, KNOTS BY R.D. LAING, AND BEETHOVEN'S NINTH SYMPHONY.

Wantastiquet Walk II

2009-11-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

THERE'S THE MIGHTY CONNECTICUT RIVER - LOOKING RATHER TAME FROM THIS VIEW. I LOVE THE WAY THIS RIVERSIDE FOREST LOOKS - THERE'S NO UNDERGROWTH. IS IT BECAUSE THE RIVER FLOODS THERE IN SPRING?

A TORRENT RUSHING TO THE RIVER . . .

THE SWIRLING POOL WHERE THE WATERS SLOW A BIT, BEFORE HEADING FURTHER DOWN THE EMBANKMENT AND OFF TOWARD THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

Walk Along the River at Wantastiquet

2009-11-16T16:00:00.002-05:00

EVERYTHING WAS WET FROM SATURDAY'S RAIN - THE MUTED AUTUMN COLORS WERE POPPING! THE PATH FOLLOWS THE BANK OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER, BUT IT IS HIGH UP ON AN EMBANKMENT. THE STREAMS WERE TORRENTS, FLOWING DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE, THROUGH CULVERTS UNDERNEATH OUR PATH, AND ON TO THE GREAT CONNECTICUT RIVER.

Variations on a Theme

2009-11-15T09:00:00.004-05:00

OK, THIS IS MY SECOND CHICKEN & POTATOES POST IN RECENT HISTORY. I CAN'T HELP IT - IT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO ME IN THE FALL! :-) BUT THIS VARIATION ON THE THEME WAS PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL, MEANING DELICIOUS. I MODIFIED A RECIPE THAT CAME FROM MY FRIEND D.'S GRANDMA FOR PORK LOIN ROASTED WITH PRUNES & BOURBON. I MADE IT WITH CHICKEN BREASTS, PRUNES & TEQUILA INSTEAD - TO VERY GOOD EFFECT. THE POTATOES ARE YUKON GOLDS, MASHED ROUGHLY WITH OLIVE OIL, FRESH PARSLEY AND SALT & PEPPER. IF YOU'D LIKE THE RECIPE FOR THE CHICKEN, JUST LET ME KNOW. (I put the recipe in the comments section. Click on 'comments' below.)

Is it a Frittata? A Quiche?

2009-11-14T09:00:00.001-05:00

IT'S JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF THOSE DISHES I GUESS. I'VE BECOME RATHER CAVALIER ABOUT FOLLOWING THE RECIPE WHICH I ROUGHLY DOUBLED FOR THIS DISH. (YOU CAN FIND THE RECIPE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS OLDER POST). I'M BOTHERING TO POST ABOUT THIS DISH AGAIN BECAUSE I HAPPILY FREED MYSELF FROM THE PIE PLATES, DOUBLED THE RECIPE, ADDED 2 ANDOUILLE SAUSAGES TO THE SAUTE, AND GENERALLY DID WHATEVER I FELT LIKE DOING, AND THE RESULT WAS LOVELY. IN THIS 8"x8" PYREX BAKING DISH, I ENDED UP WITH SIX SERVINGS. WITH A GREEN SALAD, IT GOT ME THROUGH MOST OF MY LUNCHES & A DINNER THIS WEEK. SO PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE WITH THIS RECIPE TOO - AND LET ME KNOW HOW YOUR FRITTATA . . . UM QUICHE . . . WHATEVER IT IS . . . TURNS OUT!

Highly Recommended!

2009-11-13T09:03:00.004-05:00

I FINISHED READING THIS BOOK LATE LAST NIGHT. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT. MICHAEL POLLAN IS BRILLIANT. THE RESEARCH IS THOROUGH, AND THE WRITING IS ENGAGING AND ENTERTAINING. IF YOU READ THIS BOOK, AND I HOPE YOU DO, YOU WILL NEVER LOOK AT FOOD SYSTEMS - AND THE FOOD ON YOUR PLATE - THE SAME WAY AGAIN. POLLAN HAS ALSO WRITTEN AN EDITED VERSION FOR KIDS. NOW I'M ON TO HIS NEXT BOOK: IN DEFENSE OF FOOD.

Recent Walk II

2009-11-08T18:00:00.001-05:00

ALSO TAKEN A FEW WEEKS AGO: THE ASTERS AND OAKS ARE A FEW OF THE LAST HOLDOUTS TO SHOW THEIR AUTUMN MAGIC.

Recent Walk I

2009-11-07T18:00:00.001-05:00

MOST OF THE LEAVES HAVE FALLEN NOW. THESE IMAGES ARE FROM A WALK S. & I TOOK A FEW WEEKS AGO. IN NEW ENGLAND THE LANDSCAPE CHANGES ARE SO DRAMATIC IN LATE FALL.

Migration

2009-11-06T17:39:00.003-05:00

I THINK THEY'RE STARLINGS . . . ON THEIR WAY TO WARMER CLIMES.

Yogurt Update

2009-11-05T18:54:00.007-05:00

YOU MAY RECALL MY PREVIOUS POST ABOUT MAKING GREEK YOGURT AT HOME. I MADE REGULAR OLD YOGURT, THEN STRAINED IT THROUGH A PAPER TOWEL LINED STRAINER. I RECENTLY RECEIVED THIS NIFTY LITTLE ITEM AS A GIFT, AND I'M JUST THRILLED WITH THE RESULTS! IT'S THE 'CUISIPRO YOGURT CHEESE MAKER.' IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE DEVICE: A PLASTIC BOX WITH A TIGHT FITTING LID, WITH A SCREEN INSERT. YOU JUST SCOOP YOUR YOGURT INTO THE THE SCREEN, LEAVE IT IN THE FRIDGE TO STRAIN FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIKE AND THEN . . . VOILA! THICK, CREAMY YOGURT!

I'VE ALSO BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH USING DIFFERENT KINDS OF MILK AND/OR CREAM. I GOT ON THE EXPERIMENTAL KICK AFTER THROWING 1/2 CUP OF LEFTOVER HEAVY CREAM INTO A 1/2 GALLON OF 2% MILK TO MAKE A BATCH. HOLY SMOKES - THAT WAS DELICIOUS! I TRIED 4% MILK WITH CREAM, SKIM MILK WITH CREAM, PLAIN 4% MILK. . . IN THE END, I THINK I LIKE THE PLAIN 2% MILK, STRAINED, THE BEST. THE OTHERS ARE SO YUMMY, BUT REALLY TOO RICH FOR EVERY DAY EATING. I FIND HOMEMADE YOGURT SO MUCH SWEETER AND DELICATE TASTING THAN STORE BOUGHT. I'VE BEEN USING WHOLE FOODS 365 PLAIN YOGURT FOR THE STARTER.

Homemade Granola, with thanks to David Lebovitz

2009-11-03T22:08:00.013-05:00

Lately I've been following David Lebovitz on Facebook and Twitter, and reading his blog. He's a delightful American food writer, living in Paris. He recently posted a granola recipe that uses applesauce, or another fruit puree, as a substitute for a lot of the oil that usually goes into granola. Since going gluten free, I've wanted to make granola, using certified gluten free oats. So last night, I did.

I started by making the applesauce, using organic Braeburn apples, skins, seeds and all, roughly chopped, and tossed in a pot with a little water. I simmered them until they were very soft, and plopped them into my food mill. Yay for the food mill! It removed the seeds and skins with ease, and left me with a lovely, thick, unsweetened fruit puree.

Ooooh . . .

I didn't follow Mr. Lebovitz's recipe to the letter - I used what I had on hand: a few pepitas, some walnuts, lots of almonds and maple syrup instead of rice syrup. The applesauce-instead-of-lots-of-oil is genius - the resulting product is light and just sweet enough. I ate it this morning with extra apple sauce and homemade greek style yogurt. So good!

Julia's Coq Au Vin - Slightly Modified & Gluten Free

2009-09-15T20:27:00.008-04:00

WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD MY BEST FRIEND'S MOTHER TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE THIS DISH - STEP-BY-STEP - IN HER KITCHEN. SHE WROTE THE RECIPE DOWN, AND I BROUGHT IT HOME AND COOKED IT FOR MY FAMILY. I WAS SO PROUD! LIKE SO MANY RIGHT NOW, I'M RE-INSPIRED BY JULIA CHILD. S. AND I COOKED THIS UP ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. ALL I HAD TO DO TO MAKE IT GLUTEN FREE WAS MAKE THE BEURRE MANIE TO THICKEN THE SAUCE WITH POTATO FLOUR INSTEAD OF WHEAT FLOUR. MY FAVORITE PART WAS THE FRIGHTENING IGNITION OF THE COGNAC!
(Thank you Janelle Branneky!)

My Nephew Is Getting Married

2009-09-15T20:22:00.002-04:00

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT! THE BRIDE WILL BE WEARING BLACK . . . AND THERE'S A GLUTEN FREE ENTREE!

Have You Ever Seen a Lotus Pond?

2009-09-01T18:54:00.006-04:00

I NEVER HAD, UNTIL A FRIEND BROUGHT ME TO THIS POND ON POMEROY LANE IN SOUTH AMHERST. YOU MAY KNOW THE LOTUS AS A SYMBOL OF ENLIGHTENMENT. ITS ROOTS HOLDING FIRM IN THE MUCK AT THE POND'S BOTTOM, IT RISES ABOVE TO CREATE ITS GLORIOUS, TRANSCENDENT FLOWER. WITHOUT THE MUCK OF LIFE, WHERE WE MUST PLANT OUR FEET, WE CANNOT WAKE UP TO THE FRESH, ASTONISHING PRESENT MOMENT.

CAN YOU GRASP THE SIZE OF THIS BUD? IT'S BIGGER THAN MY FIST.

THE OPEN FLOWERS . . .

. . . ARE JUST HUGE . . . YOU HAVE TO SEE THEM TO BELIEVE IT!

WHEN THE PETALS FALL, THE YELLOW CENTER TURNS GREEN, AND THE SEEDS CONTAINED INSIDE DEVELOP FURTHER. (I CAN'T HELP THINKING THIS LOOKS LIKE THE MULTI-NOSTRIL NOSE OF SOME CRAZY ALIEN, GENTLY SNIFFING THE SUMMER AIR.)

AS THE POD DRIES, THE SEEDS MATURE. EVENTUALLY, THEY FALL INTO THE POND, SEEDING THE MUD FOR NEXT YEAR'S SHOW.

Late Summer Gift

2009-08-31T22:59:00.003-04:00

TINY, DELIGHTFUL, POPS OF COLOR AND FLAVOR . . . THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A HOMEGROWN TOMATO!

Celebrating Diane's 50th

2009-08-25T16:00:00.002-04:00

WHAT A LOVELY DINNER - IN THE WINE CELLAR OF AN ORGANIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT. IT WAS A DELIGHTFUL PARTY - SO SORRY WE HAD TO LEAVE EARLY TO DRIVE 2 HOURS HOME! ( I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE RESTAURANT - BUT IT'S NEXT TO THE PARK SLOPE FOOD COOP). HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANE! WELCOME TO THE 50'S!

Next Stop DUMBO

2009-08-24T19:06:00.004-04:00

ON OUR WAY TO THE BIRTHDAY DINNER IN PARK SLOPE, WE STOPPED AT S.'S OLD LOFT ADDRESS, 247 WATER ST., IN DUMBO (DOWN UNDER THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE OVERPASS). HE MOVED AWAY FROM THIS LOFT 15 YEARS AGO, AND HADN'T BEEN BACK SINCE. THE BUILDING WAS BOARDED UP, BURNED OUT INSIDE.

HERE'S THE GRAFFITI DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET . . .

. . . AND THE GENTRIFIED BUILDING ON THE NEXT BLOCK, WHERE WORKING ARTISTS WERE OFFERED $100,000 EACH TO GET OUT. S.'S OLD BUILDING IS RIGHT THERE IN THE FOREGROUND.

Cosmic MapQuests to Enlightenment

2009-08-24T06:59:00.003-04:00

S. AND I TOOK A TRIP INTO MANHATTAN ON SATURDAY FOR A VISIT TO THE MET FOR THIS WONDERFUL SHOW: 13th & 14TH CENTURY IMAGES - MAPS TO ENLIGHTENMENT - FROM THE VAJRAYANA BUDDHISM OF JAPAN. EVERY PIECE IN THIS SMALL COLLECTION IS A GEM.
DUMBO & DINNER TO COME LATER . . .

New Sofa!

2009-08-04T19:03:00.004-04:00

I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH MY NEW MID-CENTURY SOFA FROM URBAN OUTFITTERS. I LOVE THE COLOR AND THE CRISP LINES. THE CUSHION IS VERY FIRM - IT COULD STAND TO BE A LITTLE SOFTER IN MY OPINION. BUT OVERALL, I REALLY LIKE IT. IT COSTS $480+ SHIPPING. THE ORIGINAL THAT THIS A KNOCK-OFF OF IS AVAILABLE AT DESIGN WITHIN REACH FOR $2100. I'M THRILLED THAT I COULD FIT A PIECE IN THIS SMALL SPACE THAT I CAN FULLY RECLINE ON - NAP TIME!

Sol Lewitt at MASS MoCA

2009-08-01T11:36:00.004-04:00

THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE ROOM WITH THESE WALL DRAWINGS BY SOL LEWITT IS NOT EASILY COMMUNICATED THROUGH PHOTOS. THEY ARE MOST IMPRESSIVE BY THEIR SHEER SIZE, AND THE BEAUTY OF THEIR SURFACES, WHICH ARE PRECISE AND IN SOME CASES, LUSCIOUS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUSH TO SEE THEM - MASS MOCA HAS DEVOTED AN ENTIRE BUILDING TO THIS WORK. 1ST FLOOR: EARLY YEARS; 2ND FLOOR: MID-CAREER; 3RD FLOOR: LATE WORK. IT WILL BE ON DISPLAY UNTIL 2033!

The Nanjing Particles

2009-07-30T21:50:00.004-04:00

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THIS STRANGE, BEAUTIFUL, UNUSUAL WORK BY SIMON STARLING! HOW ODD - THE ROOM WAS EMPTY ON THE MONDAY WE WERE THERE. THIS ROOM IS AS LONG AS A FOOTBALL FIELD.

The Walls - Not the Art

2009-07-29T18:08:00.004-04:00

I LOVE THE WALLS OF MASS MOCA . . . SO MANY GHOSTS.

I'LL SHOW YOU A BIT OF THE ART TOMORROW.

Monday at MASS MoCA

2009-07-28T20:07:00.002-04:00

S. AND I MET AT THE CLARK IN WILLIAMSTOWN AND SAW A GREAT SHOW: DOVE/O'KEEFE. I ADORED IT, SO LOVELY. THEN . . . 15 MINUTE DRIVE TO MASS MOCA.

FIRST STOP, PIT STOP. CALL ME CRAZY, BUT THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPACES IN THE MUSEUM: THE WOMEN'S REST ROOM IN THE BASEMENT!

IF I EVER HAVE A HOUSE BIG ENOUGH, I WANT A SINK JUST LIKE THIS ONE.

THEN OUT THE DOOR . . .
MORE MOCA TO COME.

My Little Prize

2009-07-23T19:26:00.004-04:00

MY LITTLE BRIMFIELD PRIZE: AN INDIAN SHELF WITH MIRROR. IT'S FUNKY AND WOBBLY, BUT MY DAD'S LITTLE IVORY BUDDHAS FROM JAPAN SEEM TO FIND IT A PROPER HOME.

THAT'S IT FOR THE BRIMFIELD REPORT!

A Peek at the Creepy Side of Brimfield

2009-07-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

THESE CERAMIC GLOVE MOULDS LOOK PARTICULARLY DISTURBING AS A LARGE COLLECTION.

WOULD YOU WANT THIS GIRL IN YOUR GARDEN?!

More Brimfield Buddhas

2009-07-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

SWEET LITTLE BUDDHA IN THE GRASS . . .

6-FOOT BUDDHA AMONGST JUNK . . .

HUGE, GORGEOUS BUDDHA HEAD WITH JUNK & SANTA CLAUS!

Brimfield Buddhafields

2009-07-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

IT SEEMS BRIMFIELD HAS MORE BUDDHAS THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT!

Quick Summer Meal: Black Bean & Corn Salad

2009-07-19T16:00:00.000-04:00

THIS IS MY SLIGHTLY REVISED VERSION OF A RACHEL RAY RECIPE I FOUND ONLINE.
I MADE HER SALAD, BUT USED TWO ROASTED RED PEPPERS INSTEAD OF ONE RAW ONE, AND LESS RED ONION. (THE RED ONIONS AT WHOLE FOODS ARE GIGANTIC!) I ADDED LOTS OF CHOPPED CILANTRO, AND SERVED IT OVER A SPINACH, CUCUMBER & SUNFLOWER GREENS SALAD. EASY, FAST AND DELICIOUS!

The Simplest Summer Breakfast

2009-07-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

HOMEMADE YOGURT AND A PEELED GEORGIA PEACH, TOPPED WITH A SMIDGE OF MAPLE SYRUP. WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE?
LOCAL PEACHES FROM CLARKDALE FRUIT FARMS WILL BE READY AUGUST 1!

Where the Heck is the . . . ?

2009-07-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

Friday at The Harp

2009-07-18T09:46:00.004-04:00

AT THE END OF A SUMMER WEEK . . .
R.I.P. WALTER CRONKITE

Are These Your Glasses?

2009-07-02T18:12:00.004-04:00

I FOUND THEM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY CAR THE OTHER DAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THEY BELONG TO, OR HOW LONG THEY WERE UNDER THERE! COMMENT HERE, OR CALL ME IF THEY BELONG TO YOU!
OH, AND THE SOFA IS STILL FOR SALE!!

Sleeper Sofa For Sale!

2009-06-30T11:14:00.002-04:00

THIS IS NOT MY USUAL SORT OF BLOG POST, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THIS SOFA!

Sleeper Sofa - $675

Nearly perfect condition, rarely used. Opens to a full (double) sized bed. No dirt, no smell. It's only blemish is a tiny blue ink speck on one seat cushion. That cushion is easily turned over and the stain is hidden. It's very comfortable to sit on. The plastic tape on the front of the arms (in the photo) is there to prevent my cat from scratching it, and is easily removed.

As a bed, it is like other similar sleeper sofas: you wouldn't want to sleep on it every night. In my experience younger people are comfortable on it for a few nights, but it is not a very good sleep surface for those of us with more aches and pains.

I paid $1400 at Danish Inspirations five years ago.

Impromptu

2009-06-27T08:45:00.003-04:00

I HAVE A LARGE COLLECTION OF LITTLE BUDDHAS. THEY SEEM TO BE GATHERING AROUND THIS IMPROMPTU WINDOWSILL GANAPATI SHRINE.

GANAPATI, GANESH, THE ELEPHANT-HEADED-BOY PROTECTOR. THE IVORY BUDDHAS, BROUGHT BACK FROM JAPAN BY MY DAD DURING THE KOREAN WAR, ARE MADE FROM ELEPHANT TUSKS.

A Quick Evening's Work

2009-05-23T09:29:00.006-04:00

I HELPED ANANDA SET UP HER BOOTH FOR THE PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL IN NORTHAMPTON LAST NIGHT. AFTER DOING SHOWS REGULARLY FOR YEARS, SHE'S REALLY GOT THE BOOTH SET UP DOWN. IT WAS EFFICIENT AND QUICK! EACH EXHIBITOR CREATES A LITTLE WORLD IN THEIR 10' X 10' SPACE.

Reading

2009-05-17T22:02:00.004-04:00

. . . ABOUT FOOD . . . LOVING IT, PRODUCING IT, TRANSPORTING IT, SUFFERING OVER IT . . . OH, AND UH, EATING IT . . . FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . .

Coffee Break

2009-05-16T21:35:00.003-04:00

MY SISTER JANE VISTED ME THIS WEEKEND. WE HAD A LOVELY TIME TOODLING ABOUT, LOOKING AT ART, AND ENJOYING THIS COFFEE BREAK AT THE HAYMARKET IN NORTHAMPTON.

A Fresh Start - Daunting, But Fresh

2009-05-07T19:09:00.006-04:00

BECAUSE MY HOME IS IN THE WOODS, AND THE YARD IS NOT SUITABLE FOR GARDENING, I'VE SIGNED UP FOR A 20' X 20' PLOT HERE, AT THE MILL LANE COMMUNITY GARDEN. IT LOOKS RATHER GRIM HERE, DOESN'T IT?

IT'S ONLY BECAUSE THIS YEAR'S GARDENING HASN'T STARTED UP YET, AND IT WAS ABOUT TO STORM WHEN I TOOK THE PHOTO THIS AFTERNOON. BETWEEN THE GARDEN PLOTS, THERE ARE RIOTS OF PERENNIAL COMFREY AND MINT, GONE WILD.

MY PLOT WILL BE IN THIS NEWLY PLOWED AREA, WEST OF THE RUMPLED, LIVED IN, OLDER PLOTS.

IT'S STILL TO BE HARROWED, BUT I THINK I'LL BE PICKING A LOT OF STONES OUT OF THIS SOIL, DON'T YOU? IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD FOR THE REWARD OF SOME TOMATOES, ARUGULA AND GREEN BEANS! BUT I HAVE DREAMS OF GARLIC COMING UP IN MY RAISED BEDS NEXT SPRING!

Spring Through the Window

2009-04-23T17:56:00.003-04:00

IN MY THIRD FLOOR OFFICE, STANDING AT THE END OF THE HALL, I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SEE THIS HUGE WILLOW DANCING IN THE WIND. SHE'S THE FIRST TO DRESS IN GREEN IN SPRING, AND LAST TO CHANGE TO YELLOW IN THE FALL. TODAY WAS SO WINDY, SHE WAS SWAYING WILDLY.

Tomato Politics

2009-04-06T17:50:00.001-04:00

I HAD NO IDEA THAT EATING TOMATOES (IN THE U.S.) IN THE WINTER SUPPORTED SLAVERY. I DISCOVERED THIS ARTICLE THROUGH GLUTEN FREE GIRL'S BLOG. IT'S NOT WHAT EXPECTED FROM GOURMET MAGAZINE. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE - IT'S WORTH IT!
I'M GLAD I BOUGHT THESE LITTLE GRAPE TOMATOES (THE ONLY KIND THAT HAVE FLAVOR IN WINTER ANYWAY) AT WHOLE FOODS - APPARENTLY THEY ARE THE ONLY GROCERY CHAIN THAT HAS PROMISED NOT TO BUY FROM GROWERS WHO TOLERATE WORKER ABUSE. THEY ALSO PLEDGED TO PAY A PRICE THAT SUPPORTS A LIVING WAGE.

Look Ma - No Crust!

2009-03-30T22:40:00.005-04:00

EATING GLUTEN FREE DOESN'T MEAN NO QUICHE - IT JUST MEANS LOSE THE CRUST! HONESTLY, WHO NEEDS ALL THAT EXTRA FAT ANYWAY? I MADE THESE WITH LOTS OF ONIONS, GARLIC, ASPARAGUS AND ROASTED RED PEPPERS, AND PEPPERJACK & PARMESAN CHEESES. WITH A SALAD ON THE SIDE, IT'S A LOVELY MEAL. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT THE RECIPE (LEAVE A COMMENT), I'M HAPPY TO SEND IT ALONG.

At the Guggenheim: The Third Mind

2009-03-22T20:24:00.005-04:00

Brice Marden, Cold Mountain Painting, 1989-91
(This painting is not actually in the show, but there are similar works by this artist.)
THERE'S AN AWESOME SHOW AT THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM. FOR AMERICAN BUDDHISTS WHO APPRECIATE CONTEMPORARY ART, IT IS, AS THEY SAY, A "MUST SEE." ORGANIZED INTO CONSECUTIVELY PRESENTED TIME PERIODS, BEGINNING WITH THE MID-19TH CENTURY, THROUGH THE PRESENT, I RELATED MOST WITH THE POSTWAR ABSTRACT, AND PERFORMANCE & VIDEO (1970'S THROUGH 1989) SECTIONS. ANN HAMILTON'S SITE SPECIFIC PIECE IS THOUGHTFUL, LOVELY, AND WILL MAKE YOU SMILE.
I WISH I LIVED CLOSE TO NYC, SO I COULD GO BACK AND SIT WITH SOME OF THE PIECES WE HAD TO RUSH THROUGH YESTERDAY. SO, SO GOOD.
IF YOU GO, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ARRIVE EARLY AND STAY LATE. WATCH ALL OF THE VIDEOS!

Hot Dogs? Really?

2009-03-20T21:00:00.004-04:00

SOMETIMES A HOT DOG CAN BE VERY SOPHISTICATED - WELL, AT LEAST I CAN TRY!
I COMBINED AN ONION, LOTS OF GARLIC, A COUPLE OF CARROTS CUT TO MATCHSTICKS, A BUNCH OF PERFECT MEXICAN ASPARAGUS WITH ORGANIC CHICKEN HOT DOGS, SLICED ON THE DIAGONAL TO CLASS THEM UP - ALL SAUTEED, HOT AND FAST, IN OLIVE OIL. SALT, PEPPER, AND A LITTLE GRATED PEPPER JACK MELTED ON AT THE END, SERVED OVER TEXMATI RICE - WOW - REALLY GOOD!
LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS, I BOUGHT CHICKEN HOT DOGS ON AN IMPULSE. YUM!

How We Feel in Late Winter

2009-03-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

OUR TOES, FROZEN SOLID THROUGH THE WINTER, CAN PEEK OUT INTO THE SUN!

How Can You Mess Up Corn Bread?

2009-03-16T20:04:00.005-04:00

THIS IS THE BATCH I MADE TONIGHT - BEING EXTRA CAREFUL TO MEASURE CORRECTLY AND INCLUDE ALL THE INGREDIENTS. IT'S QUITE LOVELY!
LAST NIGHT S. AND I MADE A TERRIBLE BATCH - TO GO WITH OUR SPLIT PEA SOUP. OH, THE CORN BREAD WAS JUST AWFUL - SOGGY AND TART TASTING. IT WAS SO SAD.
DRINK YOUR WINE DURING DINNER - DON'T DRINK AND BAKE! :-)