Colleen is diligent in painting/drawing almost daily and I made sure to provide subject matter.
Heck, she marvelled at the persimmons I brought back from California, and darn if she didn't paint them. They are pretty striking, right?
She also shared her art with unsuspecting folks like the Irish guitarist at Hibernia Irish Tavern /a dog portrait at Riverbottom Winery for its owner.
I caught the unsuspecting artist at work at the Old Mill.
Time well spent, I'd say...
But it was the following rendition my Dad played on our record player by none other than
(English translation too)
Enjoy!
FOTO FRIDAY:THE BIGGEST RAINBOW EVER greeted my Delta flight descent into Little Rock. This was even zoomed from the opposite side of the plane. Incredible.
What a welcome home!
MIDWEEK MUSINGS are a bit delayed, but it's always time for tea. This just didn't get posted due to Bubbe fatigue. I just had way too much fun Halloweening in San Francisco. Actually, it wasn't the partying you might assume. It was because I was spending time with a 2 1/2 yr old grand, and we were very busy.
So what a nice welcome home to my last World of Tea class, where today we could learn about the benefits of matcha tea, how it is grown, harvested, processed, and prepared, in addition to sampling. :)
TBT:TURKEY MONTH brings with it many memories.
You know the friends who have been part of your life, at least since I was a newlywed in 1976 in Charleston. I was to be Missee's matron of honor...
Yet this 2010 (?) pic was taken in Madison while she was visiting her eldest daughter, whose hubby was doing his residency there. The serendipity of this child's move enabled us to meet up a couple of times, even later welcoming a grandson.
Since I moved South, Missee visited last November to be introduced to Little Rock and she will return this Turkey Day again for new adventures.
I know art, food and a good time awaits... because old friends just pick up where they left off.
-
tUESDAY tUNES today has special significance as we all need to exercise our right to vote, turning out in unforeseen numbers. We need to show the future generation that complacency is not in anybody's interest.
With today being an important day to cast your vote if you haven't! listen to the advice of this14-year-old ,
MONDAY MUSINGS: My daughter-in-law gave me a very lovely gift during my visit this past weekend as she let me help harvest the fruits of her labor and she has quite a green thumb.
It has been no easy feat fending off critters from destroying her efforts. Whether it's insects/ bigger vermin... California squirrels are very bold. I think the presence of a hawk has helped curtail their palate a bit.
Tomatoes in abundance-
Early Girls that were late girls...
sweeeeeet... sunny gold
Chili peppers are still flowering,
and the persimmons which weigh down their branches ...
Aren't they all so beautiful?
MONDAY MUSINGS : APPRETIZER,ANYONE? It's been forever since I shared a recipe so enjoy this one as it's a good one. Think of me when your guests want the recipe.
Time to share a new appetizer. This one reminds me of my New Orleans dining adventures. This is an easy one and will be part of my Turkey Day celebration this year.
FRENCH QUARTER CHEESE SPREAD
Ingredients
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 T grated sweet onion (from 1 small [4 oz.] onion)
1/2 t. grated fresh garlic (from 1 med clove)
1/4 c (2 oz.) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
2 T light brown sugar
1 T. tap water
1 1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 t Creole mustard
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 c chopped, toasted pecans
Buttery crackers, for serving (such as Ritz)
Whisk cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth. Stir in onion and garlic.
Spread mixture evenly onto serving plate. Chill, uncovered, in frig until firm ~ 1 hour.
Remove cream cheese mixture from refrigerator and let stand until softened slightly, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine butter, brown sugar, water, Worcestershire sauce, Creole mustard, and cayenne pepper in a small saucepan. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly, 5 to 6 minutes.
Remove from heat; stir in pecans. Let stand until cooled slightly, about 5 minutes.
Spoon over cream cheese mixture. Serve with buttery crackers.
ENJOY.
My Buddy Sue, z"l and didn't have to wait for a holiday to be mischievous ...
October 29, 2016 La Crosse, WI Sue joined me and our Pumpkin friend at Java Vino this morning for Customer Appreciation Day.
We sure laughed a lot... but also took our politics very seriously. I sure miss this comrade in arms...
MIDWEEK MUSINGS are about being in a boisterous, full auditorium where I only knew 2 people. One was a Master Gardener friend who was ushering, and my friend Mary Ann, who invited me as her guest to attend Carisa Hendrix's Lucy Darling Show. All I knew going to this performance was that we would be seeing magic. Mary Ann has seen Ms Hendrix perform at a couple of her magic conventions, and Mary Ann ran into members of her Little Rock Magicians' Club.
1987 Canadian-born Carisa Hendrix, with a following of over 4 million, is a sharp-tongued comedian, magician, and fire eater, selling out everywhere. (Everywhere, except Little Rock. I recently saw free ticket offers with purchases.) But, it was a full theater, and the beer lines were ginormous. The crowd's dress ranged from jeans and sweats to all outlandish types of outfits, not just cuz it's Halloween week either with more skin showing than I even see at water aerobics.
Hendrix's best known as ' Lucy,' a 1940's socialite donning glittery evening gowns and wielding a martini, using vaudeville, crowdwork and magic with this adoring fan base.
Hendrix identifies as gay, non-binary, and a drag queen and attributes her Lucy character to Eartha Kitt, Mae West, and Dorothy Parker.
I might have been a fish outta water, but I joined in on the sing-alongs and laughter. There were definitely innuendoes that went over my head, but it was an enjoyable evening of schtick. The crowd loved her even if her magic has taken more of a back seat. We were bewitched by her impressive sleight of hand.
For tour dates, check: carisahendrix.com
tUESDAY tUNES Hold On by the Sounds of Blackness encompasses what Natureman would constantly say, "Everything is Political. " VOTE. Help get out the vote. You don't have to wait until the 3rd of November, vote early.
Here's the entire song:
I made my own self-portrait:
For today's TBT I've gone through the archives and pulled up a post about from Oct 22, 2012 Another One Bites the Dust ... Life in the End of the Rainbow Valley.and my intro to having chickens,..
With the change of seasons, have you noticed how the sky has been really busy morphing? Intense cloud formations and sky color. That crispness in the air ... FALL.
It was time for a convertible ride down Highway 10...
I called my neighbor and asked if she'd like to join me ?
She was game and Mother Nature did the rest... Just in time for sunset ... in a matter of minutes
Another day in the Natural State...
tUESDAY tUNES features Sheku-Kanneh Mason, a 27-year-old British cellist who won the 2016 BBC Young Musician award delivers Prayer from his new album. It is powerful and tugs at one's soul strings.
Lady Susan was actually published after Austen died in 1871. The story revolves around a flirtatious, scheming widow (played by friend Anne (center) who has been kicked out of her friend's house for her coquettish behavior with the married man of the house. Shameless! She ends up on the estate of her brother-in-law (played by my junior high buddy Alan) and sets her sights on his 17-year-old son, trying to marry off her own daughter and ends up with a wealthy husband of her own.
Thank goodness the play is cleverly told through letters as the actors are all LifeQuest members (translated 'seniors') and that would be oodles of lines to memorize. I loved the director's disclaimer "to be aware that the actors'ages may not always correspond with characters portrayed." Wink, wink...
What a hoot it was, and another example that "All the World is a Stage."
Last week's FOTO FRIDAY: GEORGIA ON MY MIND
TBT: 2014 Fall in the End of the Rainbow Valley
For 20 years Natureman and I were so fortunate to share and marvel at the most beautiful sights without ever leaving home... We never took any of it for granted...
I washed the dishes with this fall view:
The chicken coop on the left where I encountered more than fresh eggs and chickens inside; add those unwanted guests, i.e., opossums, raccoons, a snake, and even a white weasel. On the right: The Tractor, a 1952 Ford, which helped clear and grade our one-mile road besides pulling/hauling a lot of stuff. Next to it was the pile of 9 cords of wood, which would be used for heating our home, the 1890s barn, which housed our goats and barn cats with 100 bales of hay in its loft, and the stunning, ever-changing valley's hillside...
My initial thought of what I'd write about today changed within a matter of a minute so that other topic can just wait for another MIDWEEK MUSINGS.
Tuesday is one of my catch-up days as I don't have any classes that I need to be at a certain time. I had a couple of errands in mind, and it is that first one where today's topic changed. I needed small snack Ziploc bags to package a chocolate trail mix treat I had made for a Halloween luncheon I was attending.
After living in the middle of nowhere for 20 years, folks know I avoid going to the supermarket as much as possible. Anyhoo, I have my system of navigating the Kroger parking lot since I hate going up and down lanes looking for a spot close to the door. Instead of turning early, I wait to turn down the next-to-last aisle even though speed bumps are along the road until the turn. I made my turn and proceeded cautiously. It's easy for folks to back up without really looking both ways, right? I saw a couple of open spots ahead when, out of the corner of my eye, a grey flash made me brake hard. Someone was speeding diagonally through the lanes via open parking spaces. The driver didn't even hesitate after almost hitting me. I pulled into one of the open spots and sat there dumbfounded for a bit. As I headed to the store door, I turned to see where the person had parked. That silver car was right in front of a chiropractor's door, but the driver hadn't emerged right away. My brain gave the driver a minute of grace, poor thing's in pain... But when I glanced back, a lanky blonde emerged, swishing her ponytail as she headed to the nail salon door.
The grocery store mission had those mini snack bags on a top shelf and the search for a taller employee ensued. It gave me time to cool down. The decision was made to not let this incident go.
After making the purchase, you know me, I headed to the nail salon. The only customer was a 50-ish blonde sitting with her work binders at the pedicure chair. I introduced myself as the person she almost hit cutting through the parking lot. She spewed indignation, " You mean you came all the way over here to tell me that?" " Yes, I did, because I wasn't sure you realized that you could have caused a terrible accident, and instead of criticizing me, perhaps there should be some remorse/ recognition of your wrongdoing."
"Oh, "she blurted out unapologetically,"I'm sorry."
Who knew that needing those baggies would prove that candy can kill us?
