Category Archives: Uncategorized

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

Thanks to NotionsCapital for posting my Bailouts poem. I love the artwork he added. Thanks Mike! Dee

I just took these a few moments ago.  The sun obliged us with a visit, while it’s still cool enough to require a coat.

First photo is of b-i-l John and son Joseph getting ready to vaccinate and worm the 12 goats.  Next is the hay barn across the street from the house.  The modern farm has all the wood stacked for the wood stove, underneath the satellite dish.  Finally, dog prison, on the floor is a new tie-down so that she can’t escape to the driver’s seat again.

Enjoy your weekend.  Dee

My sister says the Peanuts’ Thanksgiving is wonderful, so I’ll look for it on cable.  In general I’ve appreciated the earlier tv episodes to the newer ones.

I always look forward to Christmas for the Schulz Christmas episode, the Grinch, Rudolph, and White Christmas.

OK, I’m sappy and want to cook traditional and new foods over the Thanksgiving and holiday season.

New challenge for my Texas family: mincemeat tarts? I’ll have to think about that one when from now I’m worried about being safe at my purported polling place.

Mincemeat tarts may be worth trying, but I can’t be disappointed if they’re not a “hit.”  I tried lebkuchen on the family a few years ago and it was too spicy so they returned it.  Like mincemeat, it’s something I grew up with and loved.

Much to do today, so must go!  Cheers, Dee

When we first moved to Texas it took us a few weeks to settle in and find a place to live. Jim’s company paid for a hotel. In the room we had a small frig and microwave.

Breakfast was “free” every morning and every day Jim made himself waffles and also ate a bowl of cereal. I kept tea bags and mugs in the room.

Five years later he cannot eat a waffle. Last October we got a hotel on Hotwire to see some friends and when the hotel was revealed, it was the same waffle hotel we stayed at for a month.

So he’s been through a Crystal Light phase, yogurt, apples, pineapple and any strange fruit he can find. He gets lost in the produce section looking for anything he hasn’t tried before. Luckily we own Uncommon Fruits and Vegetables (on my cookbook list) and I’m able to look things up and try them accordingly.

He doesn’t waffle on anything serious like work or marriage or family and friends. But I won’t be getting a waffle-maker any time soon. Dee

More favorite kitchen items include: linen twine for trussing birds or tying roasts. I keep the bag on top to keep dust out because I plan to have this lovely kitchen twine for many years.

Microplane for everything from Parmesan cheese to grating nutmeg. I don’t even pull out the nutmeg grater anymore.

A box of various-sized cutters. I made James Beard’s radish hors d’oeuvres the other day and used cocktail rye bread which I cut into rounds and buttered, sliced radishes paper-thin, arranged them on top and salted the radishes. Tasty!

Also there’s the other day in TX, a blustery day indeed.

Gorgeous flowers from Jim, four vases worth! What a sweetie. He likes driving to work (used to walk and there was no flower store or grocery en route) and whenever he asks if I need anything from the grocery store out there, I know he’s buying flowers! Shhh, don’t tell him I know. Always the practical husband, he also bought 24 rolls of toilet paper. What a romantic.