Category Archives: Utah

Missing

Posted on June 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Yes, I’ve gone missing. That’s what being a host, cook, maid, laundress, activity director and chauffeur does when guests are in town. Jim’s mom and our nephew (age 7.5) are in town and it’s been a fun and exhausting week.

I’ve joined them on some journeys and let them go on others on their own. I think everyone’s had a good and exhausting time. We bought our nephew a few little things, a book, yo yo and a game, UNO.

Some of my favorite times are hanging out around here and playing UNO or singing Beatles songs on Rock Band. Yes, we stood up in front of open windows and played “Eight Days a Week.”

My husband pitched in with a scenic tour on Saturday and we did the open air market on Sunday in frigid temperatures. What I hope will be a successful visit when they leave early in the morning is if Jim’s mother got some needed nature, views and mostly relaxation from her normal duties at home. We hope our nephew leaves with a sense that he has family here, and his aunt and uncle are going to hold him to the same high expectations that his parents and grandparents have for him.

Last time I played UNO was in college. The guys took over guitar and drums so I was left with voice and blew them all away. No, I’m not American Idol material, believe me. I don’t know what they score on but it’s probably tonal with added points for keeping up with the beat.

More to write. Sorry for missing a few posts, but I was busy and glad to be with the company we had. Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Utah

Fire and Ice

Posted on June 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

We’re being bombarded with lightning and thunder and have dire warnings of hail. The skies are troubled and we’re glad to have both cars garaged. It is a spectacular sight that I look forward to seeing upstairs in a moment.

Right now I can tell you that we are safe and against all odds, our modem is still working (it usually peters out if there’s a cloud in the way) but will sign off now. There’s much coming this way in terms of weather and family in the next couple of days.

Jim and Zoe are home safe from their brief walk, both of them ran to the door when the storm hit and are upstairs drying off. Big lightning, like the end of one of Pyro Paula’s fireworks displays (she does Freedom Over TX) in Houston.

Take care now, we’re turning in for the evening and will watch our natural mountain fireworks. Cheers. Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Utah

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Home + Delivery

Posted on June 2, 2010 | 1 comment

We’re home after only a long weekend and so much has changed! The grasses are taller, the trees budding and flowers starting to bloom. It says something about where we live that we don’t leave often and when we do, no matter the adventure, we are always glad to get home.

The weather is beautiful. It rained last night and threatened today but we awakened to blue skies and an absolutely gorgeous morning. It was probably in the 60’s today.

The fish was back on our counter when we arrived, having been taken care of by a kind neighbor. He’s a betta with a coffee theme, after the language my husband often codes in, Java. He’s in a coffee pot and is named Mocha Joe, or MoJo for short. He was meant for the office but Jim doesn’t want to clean the water at work so he’s my fish, so much for the surprise for the new office!

The dog, Zoe, was very well-adjusted after her sojourn with a colleague of Jim’s for the weekend. She had human companionship that is so important to her and to us for her. She was happy to see us but not freaky happy like after being at the kennel or a vet.

We had to get the dog 25 miles from home, drop off Jim to drive his car home from work and then when Zoe and I started up the mountain I was thinking of what to make for dinner (it was 6:00 p.m.) and what I needed for breakfast this morning. I ended up buying a crusty loaf of rosemary bread, sliced emmenthaler cheese and herbed roasted and sliced turkey. Plus kettle chips. Then I remembered: DELIVERY!

Yesterday morning I finalized my order so first thing today I had fresh juice, milk, bread, bacon, sausage and eggs. So when you arrive home tired from a trip, it pays to have a weekly food delivery in place. Today all I did was several loads of laundry and unpacking.

There’s much more to do tomorrow as we have a work function on Friday and I need to plan for guests for a week beginning a week from today. Menus, cooking, cleaning, snow tire removal, and much more. Back to the daily grind and more! It’s Spring. Time to plant herbs and tomatoes. Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Travel, Utah

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Dear Birder,

Posted on May 24, 2010 | Leave a comment

Yes, you, who told me that glossy ibis do not exist in Utah. I found out about them from photographs at a Utah State Park. This morning I counted 29, about fifty feet from my living room. I couldn’t get a good photo because of no telephoto lens, no sun to show their gorgeous iridescence, and it’s snowing like mad.

They’ve moved a few hundred feet further away now but are still finding yummy-ness in the muddy ground they’re sharing with a solitary Sandhill crane.

Nature folks and birders here confirm their existence. Come see for yourself! Cheers, Dee

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Four Girls Four

Posted on March 27, 2010 | 3 comments

This girl group (I should say ladies’ group) was composed of Rosemary Clooney, Rose Marie, Helen O’Connell and Margaret Whiting.

They were fantastic singing classic big band and other songs, and I was lucky to see them in the early 1980’s at Chautauqua. Tonight I’m surrounded by Two Guys Two, my husband and a work pal are here, for the weekend for skiing (not my Jim). I’m working on dishes and while they set up a movie, they start into total work mode and start talking tech.

In the midst of the work conversation and had settled on a movie, I broke in and told them I’d been to a seminar this past week. We learned that while the Greater Sandhill Cranes mated for life, one guy asked why the male bird had to show his feathers for the gal every year. I said it was like dinner and a movie. Most people laughed.

While we’ve been together over eight years (seven married) it’s always interesting to meet fellow colleagues. Yes. it is always better to have other guys, gals/wives around for a social event. At home, taking care of weekend guests, it’s different.

It’s always a treat to have guests here, we wouldn’t have had an extra bedroom except to have people visit us in this gorgeous location. Several folks have and it’s always good to see them, cook for them, and see them off.

Now there are folks who want to kick us off this place and we don’t want to leave. What I hate more is that someone who sees me regularly on a public route with my dog on a leash (when his is not) goes home and has wife send a letter saying we’re not allowed to have a dog.

This morning I picked up a beer can that had been buried in the snow and put it in the trash, my dear husband shoveled the trail himself after he got home from work yesterday, and now I’m wondering why we’re such bad neighbors. After all, our dog is six now and we’ve had her six years so why are we supposed to get rid of her to pay a fortune for a lovely home that we care for diligently, and are recognized as great neighbors.

It would be nice to just have a break, to be recognized for being good neighbors and not be ostracized by one couple for having a friendly, special needs dog who does nothing to hurt anyone. Hope y’all are having a good weekend. We enjoyed our long drive today! Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Pet, Utah

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O Canada

Posted on February 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

Our home and native land….

Yes, my mother came from Canada and had a Green Card here for 50 years. She’s gone now but family abides in Canada and nearby and everyone loves the Olympics. We happen to be living where the 2002 Olympics resided and are keeping our eyes out on Vancouver.

Apparently Lindsey Vonn is a neighbor of ours who is using cheese (topfer) to help heal her shin. Let’s hope Lindsey and our other neighbor Shaun White do well in the Olympics.

My godfather/Uncle Don had the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch prior to the Calgary Games. I salute all the athletes, thank Canada and Vancouver for hosting the Games, and wish everyone the best. OK, I’m from the USA so will shout a little bit louder there.

As a nation, we’ve spent a lot of time walling off one neighbor, Mexico. We’ve ignored our Northern neighbor, Canada, for far too long. It’s as if we’re such good friends that we forget about Canada because it doesn’t pose a threat to our borders.

We’ve been engaged to Canada for many years. While I don’t have inside info on what Canadians think of the US right now I believe we pay Canada no mind. It seems we like to be involved with Iraq and Afghanistan but ignore our kindly neighbors to the North.

For me, I hope the weather allows for a good and fair Olympics. Kudos for taking on this monumental challenge and we look forward to visiting Vancouver and sacred places nearby where my mother has been memorialized in future years. Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Utah

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Lost

Posted on February 1, 2010 | 1 comment

I wrote an entire piece for you with recipe ideas, everything, and it was lost. I continued an earlier post and went to post it and my kind host made me sign in and everything was lost! I’ll try to reconstruct over the next couple of days because there was some good stuff in there for you.

Beef Carbonnade with traditional Pappardelle noodles; and a chicken liver mousse that is softened by onions, apples, brandy and cream cheese. I just looked up a recipe on epicurious for duck ragu that will go with the prepared egg pappardelle I found at the specialty grocery.

Not that there’s a competition going on, but when my neighbor brings over a plate of cookies or other treats, I return it in kind. So I got gorgeous cookies today and responded in kind with a bowl of chicken pate. It was a joy to spend much of the day exploring new territory on an eastward drive we’ve never taken, even though we were splashed by every semi going the opposite way.

Then I got to spend several hours in the kitchen making stew and pate. I love to have a fire going, look at the mountains and figure out what to cook. Lately, now that Sundance is over, it’ll be easier to find a place to live. Someone here doesn’t like the fact that we have a dog. They like our dog. Their dog likes our dog. But every time we see them there’s a complaint lodged against us because we have a well-behaved, now (I just decided this is her birthday) six years old. Happy Birthday Zoe! We got her March 12 and instead of being 8 wks she was only six. So I don’t want her to have to compete with Punxatawny Phil tomorrow.

It’s interesting that some of the places have been on the market forever, always for a reason. Two properties look promising, I’m steering clear of the places that advertise regular moose sightings because moose hate dogs and kick them to death. Yes, Ms. City Gal is talking about moose properties. What has become of me? I’ve got to tell you what my dear husband tells all the recruiters that call him: “this is the prettiest place I’ve ever lived.”

I’ve lived in a number of pretty and interesting places but this, with the mountains and wildlife, is rich. And I’m going to learn to make a proper Texas chili (taking it from Lady Bird Johnson’s White House recipe) and maybe even cassoulet before the weather warms up in May.

What did you make this weekend? Are you helping a friend out? Write in and let everyone know.

I’m sending out a dedication today to Wynk, a horse saved from the slaughterhouse by Val, our cousin and our dog Zoe’s hip surgeon, only to become a dedicated endurance-race riding horse. It appears he died of a heart attack in the stable overnight, in old age. Godspeed, Wynk, and cheers to all reading this blog today. Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Utah

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Famous People and and Selves

Posted on January 22, 2010 | 1 comment

As I become wiser I know to look to someone who lives their art. Sundance opened today and it is a huge extravaganza of parties, are there movies? I don’t know. We’re recent “locals” who didn’t get our tix three months ago.

When it comes to movies, books I look for a basic truth in the story (even if it’s an animated fable). The storyteller lived something or got to know someone to tell the tale. I may have to wait for the Oscars to be awarded to a film I did not see, but as an outsider I see Sundance as something its founder may not have wanted it to be. A bunch of rich Hollywood folks competing for titles. There are other indie gatherings but this is star-studded and the place to be this winter.

While us locals will not be able to go to restaurants for the next couple of weeks these folks are propping up the sad economy and should be commended.

It is a gift for a writer of non-fiction, poetry, song or prose to sound like themselves in the final product. I have the privilege to know a few who can transcend everything and write or play or sing and create a unique profile. I wish I could, instead I study or am lax in my studies, and marvel at all the wonderful people I’ve met in my life that has made that life richer for meeting and knowing them.

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Posted in Editorial, Utah

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Boom!

Posted on January 19, 2010 | 3 comments

Zoe (our dog) recoils as the guns blast: avalanche control measures are in effect in ski country. It must be time for comfort foods, as detailed in my latest blogs.

Regarding delis, I’ve a tale to tell. Raised Catholic (lapsed long ago) and married to a fundamental Christian, my knowledge of the Jewish faith is meager, only what I can read or glean from friends. A short time ago friend and noted cowgirl poet/singer/songwriter Juni Fisher was visiting and the subject of Ashkenazy and Sephardic Jews came up. She asked the difference.

I explained the cold climates of Russia and Poland, and the Southern climes of Spain and told her about borscht and matzo ball soup as opposed to the one Sephardic meal I was invited to attend (a friend was shocked to see me there as she didn’t know I was in the “tribe,” no I wasn’t, just a guest). I waxed poetic about foods to keep you warm and foods to keep you cool and when I finished, Juni said “Leave it to you to explain the entire Jewish faith in terms of food!!!”

She’s right. It’s laughable and a comment I’ll remember. I guess that’s what started this blog. Food has been an interest of mine for most of my life. I cook, and have attended great schools: I write so why not combine the two. It’s been an honor to host this blog and have nearly 25K hits in 18 months. For a niche blog that’s pretty impressive. I’m certainly thankful that so many people consider my prose worthwhile reading.

View to Nature Preserve

View to Nature Preserve

Boom! Boom! Someone here is not happy. The blasts must sound much louder to a dog’s ears. My husband just called to say he got to work OK even though I-80 was not plowed. Thank goodness he has AWD, DSTC and great snow tires! The ladies are walking to lunch today, in boots. I just sent in a photo report to our local weather station.

Time to get moving and make progress indoors as it’s snowing yet again and will for the next few days. Early this morning I read that this is the driest winter here in 67 years! Enjoy the day, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Utah

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Sundance

Posted on January 15, 2010 | 1 comment

The PIB’s are back. This is our first year living up here on the mountain during Sundance. PIB, in localese, means Person In Black. We couldn’t find a parking space downtown Park City and the festival hasn’t even started yet, so ended up coming home to a local fish restaurant with a neighbor who flew in to get ready for Sundance people to come in. As I believe I’ve mentioned, the window for “locals” to get tix was first week of November. Who knew?

Apparently roads and restaurants will be packed until end of the month and the only way to see a film is to camp out in the cold and hope that someone sells you a ticket on the street before the film begins. Not for me. I’d rather be invited.

Our neighbor is a musician and documentary film maker. Very interesting folks we meet up here. Sometimes because we have dogs, sometimes a burst pipe. Anyway, he took me to see another property and while it doesn’t work for us (doesn’t give me an office or the ability to get our “stuff” out of storage) it’s fascinating to see other neighborhoods and homes as we may have to look sooner rather than later. We love this place and it’s ideal except we need a two-car garage and more storage space. And our stuff!

I have to have a working kitchen, whenever we’re anywhere longer than a week. At my age the nomadic lifestyle should be packed in a bag in the attic, but instead we have high ceilings! I don’t mind it usually, but for five years we’ve had a dog, so it’s going to be more difficult as time goes on. Going out to eat 3X per day is more than I can take. If my father complained about our talking about food at family gatherings, having to get everyone together and go to a restaurant B, L, and D is insurmountable. Give me a flat where I can make eggs or a bowl of cereal with fruit and a glass of juice. Let my husband go to lunch with the guys from work while I have a grilled cheese sandwich I made at home. And in Scotland I’ll make my own burgers, not the hockey pucks they serve in restaurants, but I will go out for mussels and fresh salmon!

We are very lucky to have our place overlooking the nature preserve as we’ve seen elk and coyotes and watched the Greater Sandhill cranes rear a young colt. They’ll be back in March and it would be a joy to see them again. No, I don’t have a high-tech camera with huge telephoto lens but I’ll try my best to get you some wildlife shots this year.

It’s time for pot roast and stew. I’m going to make chicken fajitas tonight (was last night until we neighbors decided to go out) then Mom’s simple pot roast if I can find the right meat. It’s also a good time for my Beef Carbonnade, with beef, onions, bacon and beer. Can I find egg noodles up here? Nothing says warmth and coziness than hot beef stew in front of a fireplace. Cheers! Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Recipe Ideas, Utah

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