Category Archives: Uncategorized

Over Thanksgiving weekend Jim’s father Joe ate quiche. One with bacon, one with ham. Pre-baked crust, vegetable or meat, cheese (Fontina) and custard and we were good to go.

Last weekend I gave Margie two new removable bottom quiche pans knowing that she’ll find lots of uses for leftovers that would be enhanced by cheese, milk, eggs and pastry. Put those ingredients on cardboard and I’d eat it!

btw, one egg sets one cup milk or half-and-half or cream. Cook, cook, never enough cooking. Dee

It’s late at night, Steve, and I’m hearing the trains come in about 1/4 mile away. I hear the horns and the wheels on the tracks as sometimes during winter months they sound like they’re right next door.

I’m sure Jim could explain to us the atmospheric conditions we’re experiencing, as that’s what he’s good at. I just like hearing the trains. Many years ago Johnny Cash wrote a song about trains. That’s what got him to sing at Folsom prison: that wonderful concert.

The sounds make me think of olden days when rail was the preferred mode of travel. I know it’s still yours. Hey, next time we visit will you show us your train room? I don’t think I’ve seen it since Jim mapped out your overhead tracks seven years ago.

Thanks, Steve. Merry Christmas! Dee and Jim

I’ve been running around like a maniac! Didn’t like the bowl I picked for trifle yesterday (still don’t know which recipe I’m choosing) so got a nice one at a good price but now can’t get the sticky label off it, even after soaking, scrubbing and acetone. Now it looks even worse.

But I buy us each an ornament every Christmas, as my mother did when we were young. Last year it was a Scottish Laddie and Lass given our time there. This year Jim’s a lasso-ing snowman with Texas stars on his vest. I’m a reindeer cook, bearing cookies.

And at Sur La Table, they were 45% off. Nearly normal price! Cheers, Dee

I’m hoping this one, tomorrow evening, trumps the rest. I’ve only been to one holiday party with Jim, on a Friday, and he was laid off the following Monday. So much for getting our photo in the mail!

For the past four years a major bank has gotten a hotel ballroom and only invited employees, no spouses. There was food and beverages but since they were stacked up like sardines no-one got near anything. Isn’t it great to spend time with your co-workers when none of you can breathe? Jim stayed 15 minutes every year, then came home to normality.

Now we have a recruiter who placed him at his current place of employment, that is celebrating its tenth year. Luckily it’s less than a mile from here. Jim’s only been there four months and he doesn’t know many people and I know virtually no-one.

I try to make the best of these situations. It’s always good to meet Jim’s co-workers and recruiters. But we usually walk into a room and he gets involved in an intense work discussion with a colleague and I’m on my own.

By Jim’s own admission, he’s a high-functioning nerd, socially, and I agree. He just gets into such intense conversation at dinners/parties (especially ours) that he forgets his guests, or at others’ forgets me.

The few people I’ve met at the company are very nice and we got along well when he signed on. So I’ll let you know how it goes. I know, no politics or religion. I can talk about my blog…. Dee

I think of churches. I didn’t as a kid, as we always went to a small town church. But when I started seeing cathedrals in Europe I was awed at what man did to aspire to godliness. Or to have God see man in a good light. Or whatever motivations were present for man and God at the time.

Please enjoy my pedestrian portraits of Glasgow Cathedral, the cathedral’s basement simple Abbey, and Melrose Abbey, the home of the heart of Sir Robert the Bruce that was brought home to Scotland from the Crusades.

When I was a child, churches and history never entered my realm except for studying for tests and taking communion et al. It didn’t mean anything until I took art history in college and followed up with my own travels.

Perhaps I take a tortured route to God, as I’m not there yet after fifty years. I do appreciate his works and inspirations and urge people to continue to demonstrate these acts to gain believers. Please let me keep cooking and taking care of people and animals and hopefully I’ll live a good life. Cheers, Dee

Just as Jim and I shopped at TSC (Tractor Supply Co.), Wal-Mart and the grocery store on Black Friday, so are we doing holiday shopping. I’m going to a restaurant supply store today to see if I can find a trifle bowl. Off to Zoe’s daycare place to pick her up some frozen medallions, to shoe repair to pick up Jim’s brown dress shoes, which have been re-heeled and reconditioned. Exciting shopping, yes? We are going away this weekend so I may have to go to the feed store to make sure Zoe has enough dry food for the duration. She’s not coming, and will do doggie daycare half-days and sleep in her own indoor kennel at night.

I’m staying away from the malls at all costs. Unless airplane seats open up at the last minute, it appears we’ll be spending a quiet holiday at home. So far it doesn’t seem as if we’ll have rescues this year, but that could change any moment so I’ll keep open the option of cooking a nice dinner for friends whose families are far away.

Every year I’m more appalled by the commercialization of Christmas. I remember more innocent times, with caroling and midnight Mass. Here’s to the season. Dee

Last night I made Chicken Saltimbocca (see recipes). The first organic 1/2 chicken breast was so huge that I served in slices and it fed both of us, so I had one to photograph this morning. Yes, I’ve been up for hours walking dogs, making corn bread and taking photos.

It is in one of my favorite dishes, what was called a fish dish but is really a gratin dish. It was a gift from Joan and Jim, my surrogate parents. Jim wrote our wedding vows, became a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a day and married us nearly six years ago.

I cooked the Saltimbocca in this Le Creuset dish that is also lovely for scalloped potatoes or mac and cheese. In front are our newly polished wedding rings. We think the new jeweler our friend Trish introduced me to is marvelous!

Next we have another favorite thing. Years ago I learned that a curry comb is wonderful for scaling large fish, so I bought one for $4 and had it in my catering kit until someone used it on our dog, then lent it to other dogs. It’s now on the dog shelf. This one is a different color, and I picked it up on my first-ever visit to TSC, where we bought the horse tie-down cable to keep the dog from escaping “doggie SUV prison.” Try it! Oh, now it’s nearing the $6 mark, that’s what 20 years will do!

Then there’s my dog, two hours after her long walk with Jasper, curled up at the feet of her sleeping master, Jim. I’m just the food wench.

It’s gorgeous here and people are running and biking and skateboarding and walking their dogs. I hear corn bread calling me. Only have one egg left so I should run to the store quickly before my guys awaken. I’ll take the clean car that needs gas. Dee

For Jim

Breathing,
I see life clearly
Through the eyes of another.

Safe,
He makes me feel
Cherished, we walk and laugh.

Tomorrow
May not be ours.
We live each day in question.

Today
I feel the light, heat, strength,
Love, to go on.

dhdc10/01

I love personalities. Not necessarily famous ones, just good ones around the neighborhood and around town and the friends made over many years. People who have an “aura” of interesting-ness. Artists, business-women. Yes, they’re mainly women. Except for the Jewish neighbor who is an ordained minister and stands ready to help us out in a re-commitment ceremony and the gay dive travel coordinator I’ve worked with in the past.

Personalities have always been in my circle, though I’ve never seen myself as one, a participant but just a chronicler, yet some have thought me a leader. Only in certain political pursuits – otherwise I’m just another old married lady! See you Sunday! Dee