No-Knead Bread Recipe courtesy of The New York Times.
Here's CL with his masterpiece! Home-made bread with an almost perfect crust and tender insides!
I am a lucky woman! Bring out the olive oil and garlic! And a little plum wine. Mmmmmh!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Bread of Life
No-Knead Bread Recipe courtesy of The New York Times.
Here's CL with his masterpiece! Home-made bread with an almost perfect crust and tender insides!
I am a lucky woman! Bring out the olive oil and garlic! And a little plum wine. Mmmmmh!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
37 Days
What would you do if you only had 37 days left to live? What would you be doing with the precious time you had left? and with whom?
A few years ago, I had the brilliant realization that I was not going to live forever. Feeling mortal (then), I decided that my legacy would be my art-quilts. So I was in a mad rush to finish the Oliver quilt--because no one else would be able to do it. He's my kid. When it was done--I didn't die (not yet anyway). I also realized I was spending a lot of time in my sewing room, not talking to anyone, not building the relationships with those who mattered most--my family and friends. Although I'm happy with the result, the quilt lacked CONNECTION. That's been my theme for 2008. As a result, I haven't been quilting much and communicating more.
Now, if I only had 37 days left to live, I'd forget about my day job and spend all the quality time I could with my loved ones (CL, Oliver, my parents, Gramma, Janna, SKS, Ray & Rosita, Dottie, Caroline, my Anchors). It's not rocket science--no fireworks--no trips to Disneyland. Just quality time with the people who mean the most to me. It's the relationships that matter most in this world.
This summer, I was fortunate enough to reconnect with an old friend from my early days at Summit Ave. Coop. For 36 days we spoke or emailed almost daily. On the 36th day, I left for a trip to Scotland. Those 36 days were swell! I was really HAPPY to spend so much time re-connecting with this long-lost friend. I remember being on the plane over the Altantic Ocean, thinking, if I died tomorrow (Day 37), it'd be okay. They know I love them ... We're still in contact, and I hope this friendship continues the rest of our lives. Here's to you, SKS! Thanks for coming back into my life. I'm enjoying you here in my life!
Having just 37 Days left really makes me think about what's important, and what's not.
I'd also try to prepare my loved ones for life without me. I've learned a few things in my lifetime--losing a few of the ones I've loved. I want them to know that I'll still be around them. Those who love us, love us still even after we're gone. It's kind of like in Fanny & Alexander where the Dad was there as a ghost--observing--but he couldn't talk. He still cared about his family, but he couldn't do anything but FEEL for them. I want them to know that they can still talk to me (I talk to Sandy regularly) after I'm gone. It may be hard to hear my answers, but I'll be listening--I'll still be with them as long as they need me. Keba and Sandy have both managed to communicate with me since they left--It may not be as often as I would like, and it's a different kind of listening ..... I'd tell them, "You only have to think of me and I'll be there with you. It won't be the same, but I can still be with you ..."
There was also a scene from that Isabelle Allende book / movie, House of Spirits, where the mother prepared the grand-daughter for her death. What did she say?
"Just as when we come into the world, when we die, we are afraid of the unkown. But the fear is something from within us that has nothing to do with reality. Dying is like being born : just a change." Clara said. "Death would not be a separation, but a way of being more united" (p. 290).
My best friend, Sandy, died suddenly and unexpectedly 2 months before my son was born. I never got to say goodbye. Since then, I've had many conversations with her. It's a different kind of being together, a different kind of listening for her ... I can still hear her big laugh, still hear her saying, "I'm proud of you," and "Buttonsth" [sic]. She's still there when I really need her.
Part of that realization last summer was also a need to set down my family stories and lessons learned--the things I want my kid to know and remember after I'm gone. So I started this Hidden Passages Blog as a gift to my loved ones--friends and family alike.
Kate Bush sings, "These moments given are a gift from time. Just let us try to give the moment back to those we love, to those who will survive" (Moments of Pleasure).
Glen Phillips "Last Sunset"
Now, if I only had 37 days left to live, I'd forget about my day job and spend all the quality time I could with my loved ones (CL, Oliver, my parents, Gramma, Janna, SKS, Ray & Rosita, Dottie, Caroline, my Anchors). It's not rocket science--no fireworks--no trips to Disneyland. Just quality time with the people who mean the most to me. It's the relationships that matter most in this world.
This summer, I was fortunate enough to reconnect with an old friend from my early days at Summit Ave. Coop. For 36 days we spoke or emailed almost daily. On the 36th day, I left for a trip to Scotland. Those 36 days were swell! I was really HAPPY to spend so much time re-connecting with this long-lost friend. I remember being on the plane over the Altantic Ocean, thinking, if I died tomorrow (Day 37), it'd be okay. They know I love them ... We're still in contact, and I hope this friendship continues the rest of our lives. Here's to you, SKS! Thanks for coming back into my life. I'm enjoying you here in my life!
Having just 37 Days left really makes me think about what's important, and what's not.
I'd also try to prepare my loved ones for life without me. I've learned a few things in my lifetime--losing a few of the ones I've loved. I want them to know that I'll still be around them. Those who love us, love us still even after we're gone. It's kind of like in Fanny & Alexander where the Dad was there as a ghost--observing--but he couldn't talk. He still cared about his family, but he couldn't do anything but FEEL for them. I want them to know that they can still talk to me (I talk to Sandy regularly) after I'm gone. It may be hard to hear my answers, but I'll be listening--I'll still be with them as long as they need me. Keba and Sandy have both managed to communicate with me since they left--It may not be as often as I would like, and it's a different kind of listening ..... I'd tell them, "You only have to think of me and I'll be there with you. It won't be the same, but I can still be with you ..."
There was also a scene from that Isabelle Allende book / movie, House of Spirits, where the mother prepared the grand-daughter for her death. What did she say?
"Just as when we come into the world, when we die, we are afraid of the unkown. But the fear is something from within us that has nothing to do with reality. Dying is like being born : just a change." Clara said. "Death would not be a separation, but a way of being more united" (p. 290).
My best friend, Sandy, died suddenly and unexpectedly 2 months before my son was born. I never got to say goodbye. Since then, I've had many conversations with her. It's a different kind of being together, a different kind of listening for her ... I can still hear her big laugh, still hear her saying, "I'm proud of you," and "Buttonsth" [sic]. She's still there when I really need her.
Part of that realization last summer was also a need to set down my family stories and lessons learned--the things I want my kid to know and remember after I'm gone. So I started this Hidden Passages Blog as a gift to my loved ones--friends and family alike.
Kate Bush sings, "These moments given are a gift from time. Just let us try to give the moment back to those we love, to those who will survive" (Moments of Pleasure).
Glen Phillips "Last Sunset"
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Popcorn Trout Incident
Just look at that gorgeous Rainbow Trout skin! Is there anything prettier in this world?
Me with one of the beloved rainbow trout.
At our house, CL does most of the cooking. But every once in a while, I get back into the kitchen just to prove I can still make a favorite meal.
One weekend, we'd gotten groceries, and I wanted to make trout ... We'd also purchased popcorn, and CL transferred it from the plastic bag to a glass jar for preservation, but it didn't all fit. So I left the remainder in the bag on the stove as a reminder to pop this batch of corn later that evening ...
Later that day, I got the trout ready and put it in the oven to bake. After a while, I heard a popping noise and checked the fish. I saw popped white popcorn kernals in the bottom of the oven with more popping by the second ... Puzzled, I asked CL, "Why is there popcorn in the bottom of the oven?" By then it had started to smoke ... I turned off the oven and went for a walk to sort all this out.
The bag with the remaining popcorn melted from the hot air coming up through the vent on top of the old stove. The loose popcorn fell down the vent into the hot oven and popped.
I cleaned out the popcorn and finished baking the fish a little while later. We had a nice trout dinner--sans popcorn.
Oliver's Green Tea
One summer, when Oliver was 2 or 3, he decided to make some "green tea ..."
One day, I made my usual cup of tea, but it just didn't taste right ... so I dumped it out and made a new cup. The second one also tasted funny. So I decided to replace the water in the tea kettle.
To my surprise, when I dumped out the tea-kettle, pea pods fell out! Oliver had stuffed the tea kettle with pea pods--unbeknownst to the rest of us. Eeesh!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Fall Color 2008
I went home to Polar, WI, this past weekend. I always like to see the Fall Color right around my birthday, so I make the trek home. These are pictures from my Dad's woods, which he gets to walk in every day with the dogs. Enjoy!
Gramma's Potato Salad
Gramma's Potato Salad is a family institution. When she's not around to make it anymore, it just won't be the same. These days, she "directs" the making of it. She has a hard time cutting up the potatoes now ... (She's 80 yo.)
Gramma Pickles' Potato Salad
Ingredients :
Russett Potatoes, diced and boiled
Boiled eggs, peeled and diced
Chopped Onion
Dressing :
Miracle Whip (no substitutions or you'll hear about it)
Cider Vinegar
Sugar
Milk (Gramma says whole milk is best)
Paprika
Parsley
Pepper and salt
Mix all ingredients according to taste. There are no exact measurements with Gramma's cooking. You just add ingredients, and make adjustments until it's right.
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