Elaina loves to cook. She smells everything, to insure freshness, even the play doh.
Cooking Schmooking... On Food. On Life.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sous Chef in Training
Elaina loves to cook. She smells everything, to insure freshness, even the play doh.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Another Chapter in Dee's Life
Tomorrow was Saturday and Dee was looking forward to helping her dad out in the garden. Every spring he'd plant rows and rows of fresh vegetables and it was time to weed and pick the lettuce. Soon the carrots would be up and after that the cucumbers, then tomatoes and corn...and much later those beloved onions and potatoes! Just the thought of eating fresh, crunchy vegetables made her mouth water.
In North Dakota, the growing season was short so her mom and sisters would end up canning lots of the fresh produce. Dee chose to help plant, water, weed, and harvest in order to get out of having to "put up vegetables" in the hot kitchen every year. Seemed like once the vegetables were really going crazy, canning went on most every weekend. That's what they ate all winter...and what meat was hunted and prepared.
This morning Dee's mom had one of her premanitions, which she admitted to having about 3 or 4 times a year. Lydia said she had a vision that Glen (Dee's dad) fell out of a tree and died. This pretty much worried Dee, as once her ma had a vision that her brother Clarence had died in the war, and sure enough...five days later a telegram came telling of his death in Germany.
Later that summer, Dee was out back harvesting tomatoes when she heard her neighbor screaming "get him outta my yard", over and over. Dee figured it was Jim again, the white dog from down the road. While she went running toward the neighbors fence, her mom and Patty came running out the back door. It was Glen Tolliver, Sr., laying still in the neighbors back yard...with a tree limb through his chest. The next thing Dee recalled was riding in the back of the ambulance, next to her father. She thinks she must have screamed, or cried, or something. All she was aware of now, this very minute, was the sound of her own breathing.
In North Dakota, the growing season was short so her mom and sisters would end up canning lots of the fresh produce. Dee chose to help plant, water, weed, and harvest in order to get out of having to "put up vegetables" in the hot kitchen every year. Seemed like once the vegetables were really going crazy, canning went on most every weekend. That's what they ate all winter...and what meat was hunted and prepared.
This morning Dee's mom had one of her premanitions, which she admitted to having about 3 or 4 times a year. Lydia said she had a vision that Glen (Dee's dad) fell out of a tree and died. This pretty much worried Dee, as once her ma had a vision that her brother Clarence had died in the war, and sure enough...five days later a telegram came telling of his death in Germany.
Later that summer, Dee was out back harvesting tomatoes when she heard her neighbor screaming "get him outta my yard", over and over. Dee figured it was Jim again, the white dog from down the road. While she went running toward the neighbors fence, her mom and Patty came running out the back door. It was Glen Tolliver, Sr., laying still in the neighbors back yard...with a tree limb through his chest. The next thing Dee recalled was riding in the back of the ambulance, next to her father. She thinks she must have screamed, or cried, or something. All she was aware of now, this very minute, was the sound of her own breathing.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Deck the balls with halls of folly.. and Adrienne Barbeau
The kids have a large deck out back...about 12 feet above their forested back yard. I am about ready to jump..head first. I think I overheard my son say the same thing earlier.
I don't know why 50-something year-old women are choosing to have babies. Adrienne Barbeau is the only one I've heard be honest about how hard it is. She had twins at age 51. Remember her? She was "Maude's feminist daughter"...and was married to John Carpenter...she was on Carnivale on HBO..the one with the huge boobs. Sidenote: now she's 60, and still looks great! I could look like that if I were her. Maybe she stays in shape chasing twins around.
I am whipped, pooped, scrambled, fried, and I feel like crying myself. At 54, I am perfectly happy to sit and watch a boring sitcom at night. Perfectly. I yearn for the sound of silence.
I think my "almost 2 year-old" granddaughter was on crack today...and I wish I had some pot right now...and I haven't wished that since 1978.
Good Night and Merry Frickin' Festivus already.
P.S. I am not making yorkshire pudding.
I don't know why 50-something year-old women are choosing to have babies. Adrienne Barbeau is the only one I've heard be honest about how hard it is. She had twins at age 51. Remember her? She was "Maude's feminist daughter"...and was married to John Carpenter...she was on Carnivale on HBO..the one with the huge boobs. Sidenote: now she's 60, and still looks great! I could look like that if I were her. Maybe she stays in shape chasing twins around.
I am whipped, pooped, scrambled, fried, and I feel like crying myself. At 54, I am perfectly happy to sit and watch a boring sitcom at night. Perfectly. I yearn for the sound of silence.
I think my "almost 2 year-old" granddaughter was on crack today...and I wish I had some pot right now...and I haven't wished that since 1978.
Good Night and Merry Frickin' Festivus already.
P.S. I am not making yorkshire pudding.
How about a vegetarian Christmas? Are You Friggin Nuts?
I bought a standing rib roast for Christmas dinner. I just couldn't do a turkey..no way. So, as I am still in Portland, OR. I went to Haggens..a market similar to The Nugget in Sacramento.. but much larger. I got a choice cut standing rib roast on sale for $5.99 per lb...normally selling for about $12.00 per lb. or more. I'll make Yorkshire Pudding with it..of course.
For Christmas Eve we are having BBQ'd baby back ribs. My son makes the best...well, my husband makes some damned good ones too but he won't be here till Christmas morning.
Speaking of Christmas morning; we are having scones with lime & lemon curd and clotted cream from the Lavender Tea House. These are the best scones I have ever had..in fact, they are really aren't like English scones at all. They are more like huge, flaky sweet biscuits. The Lavender Tea House makes it all from scratch. Yum. Jenn took me there for tea and a light lunch a few days after I arrived. Lovely.
I will get back to Sacramento one week from 6:30 p.m. this evening. Do you think I miss home? As much as I have absolutely loved bonding with my granddaugther, being with Mike and Jenn, and getting to know little Ethan...I can't wait to sleep in my own bed, with my own husband. (I've been borrowing the neighbors for the past few weeks). I am sure the kids will be happy to be alone in their home again.
For Christmas Eve we are having BBQ'd baby back ribs. My son makes the best...well, my husband makes some damned good ones too but he won't be here till Christmas morning.
Speaking of Christmas morning; we are having scones with lime & lemon curd and clotted cream from the Lavender Tea House. These are the best scones I have ever had..in fact, they are really aren't like English scones at all. They are more like huge, flaky sweet biscuits. The Lavender Tea House makes it all from scratch. Yum. Jenn took me there for tea and a light lunch a few days after I arrived. Lovely.
I will get back to Sacramento one week from 6:30 p.m. this evening. Do you think I miss home? As much as I have absolutely loved bonding with my granddaugther, being with Mike and Jenn, and getting to know little Ethan...I can't wait to sleep in my own bed, with my own husband. (I've been borrowing the neighbors for the past few weeks). I am sure the kids will be happy to be alone in their home again.
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