There's Always Something...

New Car...

You see, I've been looking for a new economy car and I found this one in a nearby Arizona ghost town. I tried to make an offer, but couldn't find anyone around. So I tried to steal it but couldn't get it to start. So I took a photo and just think about it a lot.

 

Snow...

One of the pictorial blogs I follow regularly is the one put out by the Boston Globe.

The photos are so darned real that they plunge me into wonderful nostalgia.

I've lived in several snow states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, New Mexico, Connecticut, and going way back, Massachusetts - in addition to some that had SOME snow. Lots of fond, snowy memories. Maybe mostly enjoyed around this time of year. 

The romance of it can often blot out the tedious and sometimes violent realities of things that happen in the snow. Watching the recent weather reports is a sobering experience.

We rather enjoy the sunny 60's of the Arizona Solstice. I'm perfectly willing to relish the joy of the Globe's squirrel frolicking in the morning snow - at a distance.

Merry Christmas, friends!

 

The Importance of Good Donuts...

Maybe it's just cranky old me. 

But something funny happened yesterday. We go to this monthly get-together that keeps the residents of our community informed on what's going on behind the scenes. It isn't exactly the high point of the month for me, but I go because I don't want to miss anything.

Yesterday everybody seemed upbeat and positive. The atmosphere was relaxed; fun. Folks were hanging around the refreshment table - even going back for seconds. I did too. Lots of laughter. Then I realized what had happened. Someone on the staff had stopped by Dunkin' Doughnuts and loaded up with freshly cooked donuts. Then on to a New York bagel shop for freshly cooked bagels. The atmosphere and the food were electric!

The breakfast goodies generally consist of somewhat stale rolls from the day before - still cool from the night in the frig. I'd never given it much thought. Isn't that what happens? Besides, it gave me an excuse for not eating anything on top of our own breakfast of a few hours before. 

It also started the meeting on the wrong foot.

But that's the way it is and isn't the type of thing that folks talk about. Who wants to be a grouch?

There's a lesson here. For businesses, churches, clubs, etc. - any organization that starts things off with refreshments in the morning. There are few things as soul-satisfying as fresh, delicious, thoughtfully served donuts and coffee. It says to people in delightful terms, "you matter - and what we're doing here this morning matters!" Something like that may involve more effort, more thought, but it is a special gift to those fortunate enough to be there and it pays off in unexpected ways. This is second mile stuff.

I look forward to next month's meeting. Yes. I said that. I did. And I do.

Close to You...

My son Roger III posted this on his blog this morning. I was quite touched by this fine old song done by two fine old pros. All I can say is that Barbra's eyes are even better than her voice. I once sang a Karaoke duet, "Shall We Dance", from "The King and I" with my daughter-in-law, Jeanne, and she totally intimidated me with eyes just like that.

Look and see what I mean.

Chicken Cacciatore Using Slow Cooker...

Had a few FaceBook requests for my Chicken Cacciatore recipe. So, here it is in all its glory.

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

3 medium cloves garlic minced

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 cans (14.5 ounces each) stewed tomatoes

2 teaspoons leaf oregano, crumbled

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper, or to taste

1 bay leaf

pinch of red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons tapioca

3 cubes chicken bullion

1 chicken, about 3 pounds, cut up

3/4 cup dry red wine

1 cup coarsely chopped mushrooms

Preparation:

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Brown chicken on all sides in hot oil, about 10 minutes. Remove chicken and drain off excess grease, leaving a tablespoon or two. Add chopped onion, green pepper, tapioca and minced garlic to hot skillet; sauté until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, wine, oregano, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. 

At this point, I take all the meat off the chicken, discarding bones and skin. Add chicken and mushrooms to sauce and bring to a boil. Transfer to Slow Cooker and cook on low for 6 hours - or until chicken is tender. I splash a bit of Olive Oil on the dish at this point. Discard bay leaf and serve with hot cooked spaghetti or other pasta. 

It goes without saying that one fine tunes such recipes by seasoning to taste at the end, using sugar and salt until it is just right. 

Also, if you want roughly the same result with less work, just toss everything in the slow cooker and set it on low for 10 to 12 hours!

Chicken cacciatore recipe serves 6.

Never Make Burgers With Women Around...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/32358254#32358254

If you wonder why, try to get this between your ears while keeping your sanity.

"But," you say, "you're being sexist!"

As a matter of fact...

Death to FaceBook...

Cowtown Patti has long been one of my favorite bloggers. She thinks. Here's an example.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Death to Facebook and Other Life Oddities

Nope, I didn't join the Peace Corps and move to some remote exotic island to teach poor islanders how to grow edible hemp, but I have joined the ranks of the odious Facebook and Twitless Twitter Movement. Jsut so much time in the evenings after the daily grind, and I have been spending it frivolously, trying to convince myself I like it, I really like it...just give it a more lengthy testing.

I went there, tried it, bought the tee-shirt and now I am tired of all the shinola.

So, here I am again mixing misery and gin, sittin' with all my friends and talkin' to myself, I look like I'm having a good time, but any fool can tell, that this Honky Tonk Facebook really makes you feel like hell.

(With apologies to Merle.)

I think I'll close up my FB page and stick the one who brung me to the dance - blogging.

Twitter can join FB in the ranks of "who truly gives a crap about knowing every meaningless thought of every person on the planet." It ain't me, babe.

I am at risk of becoming a curmudgeon before my time. Sigh. Just when I thought I was techno-grannie, too. Me obsolete? NEVER.

Uh huh.

Give me some real food for thought, blogs that enrich both the mind and the soul: Time Goes By, Citizen K, Coyote Crossing, Elusive Abstractions, Along the Way, Fool in the Forest, 2blowhards, Whiskey Prajer, or any of the Herd listed in the lefthand column over there.

I've grown older and wiser blogging with these intelligent friends.

So to all my lighter weight acquaintances and non-acquaintances, go Tweet yourself.

// posted by Cowtown Pattie @ 7/28/2009

On Grown Children...

Our eldest spent some time with us this week. Our kids are spread clear across the nation and we don't get to see them often. So when we do, it's a treat.

Bo has always been open and honest with us. Well, maybe not as a teenager. But as an adult he has been forthcoming and spontaneous in sharing his life with us. This is a beautiful thing. When one sits down with one's grown children and starts off like it was just yesterday when last we met, it is true family. There aren't any awkward gaps that need filling in due to secrecy, thoughtlessness or shutting loved ones out of everyday life. Life just has gone on; a continuum of days when we grew up together. Things change. Things develop. Things remain the same.

Aging parents love that! It gives the feeling that days spent helping kids become what they are were well worth it. Like salting away a few dollars in a savings account and watching them gradually grow into something significant enough to be both of real value and a source of happiness well into the future.

We had more fun! He showed us the miracles of the latest Palm Pre and Kindle. We toyed with our laptop computers together. He gave me a lovely antique cane and some Bose  headphones that he had gone beyond professionally (he's a musician) but that I never dreamed I would have anything to compare. We shared some great food and some excellent wine.

Best of all we caught up on stuff. Family gossip, professional and political happenings, memories of childhood, books read, ideas and plans shared. Lots of laughs. Some thoughtful sharing of soul matters. "The whole catastrophe", as Zorba so magnificently put it. But times like that don't happen in a vacuum. We've all paid our dues in staying in touch and keeping each other updated as to what was going on over the decades lived apart.

I would wish things like that for all families. Maybe one has to be well into the "declining years" to really appreciate what joy a family can be. Maybe not. Jo Ann and I are certainly appreciative. Life is a wonderful thing, a never-failing opportunity to love and be loved in return.

Bitch, Bitch, Bitch...

Good friend Nikki, expatriate in Sweden, shared this marvelous, lively musical bitch with me. Love it!


Helsinki Complaints Choir

Fun Music!

Nikki, good Swedish friend, shared this delightful bit of youthful Slovinian fun on her blog. I think you will love this!