Category Archives: Editorial

Welcome to the blog

Thank You, Readers!

Posted on September 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

You literally make my day when I write my musings on life and cooking. Unfortunately I’m better at writing than the technical stuff that goes along with having a blog and my husband is always too busy to help so I’ll start following your blogs soon.

Our place smells like Lazy Chicken once again because I re-roasted the onions, potatoes and carrots in the oven while the ribeye was on the grill outside.

Oh, I got rave reviews on the Lazy Chicken as well as the special bottle of wine I opened for dinner. It was delicious as well.

I DO think about food every day, just don’t have the time to write about it. I try to keep a pad and pen near me all the time so I can write down an idea for a post lest I forget. OK, let’s be honest here, in over 1600 posts I’ve probably forgotten 100.

You get the thought in the grocery store or walking the dog and by the time you’re home it’s just lost. That’s the way it is. Imagine what a great book I’d have if I’d remembered those 100 lost posts.

Thank you for reading, liking and writing in. I find it strange that WP helps people with writing, thinking we all know the technical things. I have a much bigger problem with the latter and would like to help my fellow bloggers write if that is the issue of the day. Cheerio and good night, lads and ladies, Dee

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Storm Clouds

Posted on September 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

An hour ago I walked to the market, walked back and it started pouring. I helped one woman with her bags so we wouldn’t both get soaked.

The winds were coming from the west 1/2 hour ago. Now they are coming toward the NW. Yes, they have changed position and will rain on us twice.

Only on a lake like this can I see with my own eyes the same storm go out and come back in again.

A marvel of nature, to be sure. Dee
p.s. Later, the winds have changed several times since I wrote this, we have been pelted with rain some of the time. Now they’re going an entirely new direction and the sun is hoping to come out. I guess that’s why they’re called “lake effect” storms. No boats out on the water so there must be a small craft advisory. It’s just amazing to see nature in full force and fury, like the Greek or Roman gods fighting each other in the skies and on the seas. D

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Harleys, Horns and Sirens

Posted on September 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

That’s what we hear from high up. A purple Harley parked yesterday and I said “Nice ride.” Then I told him what we hear and he apologized for the noise.

No need, I said, that purr has gotten some to adopt feral kittens with a loud purr and name them… Harley.

The Harleys are cool, not so much at 2:00 a.m. but much better than sirens and the inevitable mad honking horns. Dee

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Ladybugs

Posted on September 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

It’s rumored in Italy that they’re good luck, or maybe that was just Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun.

Ten years ago we had one tomato plant out on our back deck. It was being eaten by bugs and we didn’t want to use pesticides. At the local hardware store we found 1,500 ladybugs for a few dollars.

We let about half of them go out back. They cleaned up our tomato plant nicely and flew away after a couple of minutes.  What are we going to do with the remainder?

Well, I was charged with taking care of the many plants of our next door neighbor (no, not SK the suspected Serial Killer, the other one who was friendly and nice) and he was not at home so my husband climbed over onto his balcony and released the remainder of the ladybugs.

We haven’t seen that neighbor in ten years and never told him about the ladybugs! He’s coming for dinner tomorrow night and it will be good to catch up with each others’ lives.

Many neighbors were probably helped that day and they had no idea where the ladybugs came from. Now, if they read this, they’ll know.

I was the self-appointed dog and cat rescuer in our neighborhood. Find an owned dog or cat, see if it has a collar, if none take it to the local shelter and have it scanned for one of three kinds of microchip and call the owner.

Another neighbor took care of birds, snakes and once, an iguana. We had each other on speed dial. He’d call about the cat, I’d call about the pet bird. It worked great.

The ladybugs were a one-time thing so far. If we do a lot of planting in the future (winter is coming) I’ll remember our lovely bugs. Cheers! Dee

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A Growing Family

Posted on September 15, 2012 | 3 comments

I am unable to have children and we have none, only our dear dog. But our family keeps on growing.

Grandmothers never entered the picture until about 1976 (mine died before I was a year old) and ML&B took me on as a granddaughter, then in 2002 Nanny took me on as well.

I have one brother but my husband’s brother now calls me “sis” and I have more sisters than I can even tell you about. Talk about new posts…..

Also aunts and uncles and another mother, J, whose husband we interred this year at his alma mater where she will join him when her day comes. That will be a sad day, indeed and we will be there for her and the family.

I cannot have children but my family is secure and keeps increasing. Thank you for believing in me and making me a part of your family. The “circle of trust” grows every day (thanks, Robert DeNiro, I don’t need you as an extra dad)

That’s one thing I don’t have, an extra Dad, and don’t need because mine is alive and well and living… wherever. I was always Daddy’s girl and he can never be replaced or have a “sub.”

We take in the local adult “orphans” every year over the holidays. I love to cook and they love to eat. What a great combination. With thanks to everyone who has been a friend, given me advice, mentored me, Dee

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The Little Things Matter

Posted on September 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

And they add up.

Holding hands while walking down the street. Doing a favor for a friend. Turning in a good day’s work.

Singing a song because you just feel like it. Taking the dog for a second morning walk because on the first one she only wanted to chase squirrels.

Pondering over what to cook an old neighbor after ten years. Picking a nice bottle of wine. Talking to your in-laws because you want to, and missing them.

Returning your husband’s book to the local library and walking there with the dog. Wanting Saturday so bad that one is up at 12:40 a.m. needing desperately to write these words.

Writing haiku. Bad haiku. Making a milkshake. Reading an old journal or writing a new one. Looking at old photographs.

Calling your dad. Writing a kind note. Framing a photo you took years ago and placing it on a wall. Taking the dog for a ride on her orthopedic bed in your car.

Writing a note to yourself that reminds you to RELAX!

This minutae of everyday life makes it a life. Don’t skip it. Savor it. A wise man told my father many years ago that to clean one’s desk on a Friday means one could die over the weekend. Do I have things to do? Yes. Is Monday right around the corner? Yes.

Of course I’ll keep up with the cleaning, laundry and drycleaning but make a point to keep it to a minimum because my husband is home and we get to choose what we’re doing today and whom we entertain on Sunday. It’s that simple. Enjoy! Dee

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My Playlist

Posted on September 14, 2012 | 2 comments

While there’s much more out there, the Today show is showcasing cast members’ playlists and off the top of my head, in no order is mine, narrowing it to ten.

Father and Son from Cat’s In the Cradle – Harry Chapin

Isle of Capri – Frank Sinatra, of course

If I were a Carpenter – Johnny Cash lyrics

Your Song (how wonderful life is with you in in the world)  -Elton John

Whipporwill song by Juni Fisher

Layla – Eric Clapton

Someone To Watch Over Me as sung by Linda Ronstadt and arranged and played by Nelson Riddle and his orchestra

Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s

Wait, I have more space!

Sarah by Bob Dylan

London Homesick Blues (to the Swamp) as sung by Jerry Jeff Walker, our school anthem!

At Last, as sung by Etta James.

Anything by Cole Porter, Rogers & Hammerstein, Lerner and Loew, Johnny Cash, PPMary, anything sung by Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne of Joan Baez or Marion Anderson. CSNY. James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel. Or written and/or sung by John Denver.

Whew! Hope that’s all for this train ride/wreck, bringing up my entire childhood and putting it on display! D

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Old Friends

Posted on September 14, 2012 | 1 comment

This weekend we’re hosting an old neighbor we haven’t seen for ten years. It’ll be a treat to get together and catch up on things. He’s here for a wedding so has a couple of hours before heading home.

I don’t want to be running from grill to stove to oven preparing things so have to come up with the perfect one-dish meal.

You may have the recipe from me already but I’m writing so have to keep on going.

Lazy Chicken

Four chicken breasts in an oven proof baking dish, seasoned with salt, pepper and thyme. Add an onion cut into eighths, a bunch of carrots, sliced potatoes, a bit of white wine and some chicken broth, butter the top and toss it into a 450 degree oven for an hour. Push up the veggies (put in a tight pan) and brown everything, it’s delicious.

Oh, of course season the entire thing with salt, pepper and thyme. Baste every twenty minutes. It guarantees no running around the kitchen as it will be in the oven when your guests arrive and all you have to do is open a nice bottle of wine.

Aye, there’s the rub. I’ll have to get the wine tomorrow as the wine cellar is closed  most of the weekend. No, I’m not a snob, it’s just that two weeks ago my father gave me some nice expensive wine and I couldn’t store it in the closet!

Lazy chicken is perhaps a Romanian dish that allowed housewives to place everything in a pot over the fire or pan in a hot oven and cook it together. My brother never called it “lazy” as more than five elements were involved.

Perhaps when we open a bottle of this special wine we can toast all good friends over the years. And family, of course. Cheers! Dee

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Rainbows

Posted on September 13, 2012 | 4 comments

I can only hope that things went well for my husband this evening, but right now after a day of rain a full rainbow is going all over the Lake, even illuminating the old water tower.

Like an upside-down horseshoe it can only bode well for us. It is incredible and there’s no way I’ll get a photo of it, but wait… there we go. Dee

Always chasing rainbows

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Beautiful Views

Posted on September 13, 2012 | 2 comments

It’s raining again today and the dog and I went to the library and grocery store. I hope this photo comes out for you because it’s a good one. We do find nice places to live. I love looking at the little waves coming in at the “beach” by the marina. Burgers tonight with some kale slaw, tomato and sauteed sweet onion and mushrooms.

Our place is clean and an old friend is coming into town this weekend, haven’t seen him for ten years and I look forward to making him a home-cooked meal. Cheers! Dee
ps WordPress why are my readers not getting this lovely photo? Oh, and we walked to the library and grocery but I wouldn’t let her sit outside. No checkers on that side and I knew it would take a while and she’s nine and might still go home with anyone. Tough thing for a “mother” to say. D

Rain, last week

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