recent events with people...recently

do you get the 'recent' idea? ;)




These 2 are new (and welcome) additions here! L (on the left) teaching English. J (right) hanging out with me for a few months.




This lady and her husband are back... rumor has it they kissed and hugged on their grandkids all summer (or part of it) and when the g'kids got sick of all that, they came back to us... or something... (you know how rumors are...) ;)

so we had a ton of company recently (and please forgive the pic quality... I seem to be into taking trembly pix these days... it adds to the aura, don't you think?) So- L took in 2 arrivals at something like 3 am the other day... we were heartbroken that they went to her place and not ours at that time of the day... yawn...



Later, we all met up there and did a bunch of yakking. I just want you to notice L's completely cool slippers over there on the left... they're pink... well- a bit hard to see- they're lamb's wool (pink lamb's wool, in fact... how about that?!) with harlequin cut out top. I love them!

and speaking of cool slippers... and cool in general- J's slippers- love that color! And the top- the next time it ends up in the laundry, well... it might get lost on its way back to her cupboard... that's all I'm saying...

so then there was the bday to celebrate. How considerate of her to do that while she was up by us... we're always looking for a reason to have cake around here!



there were people everywhere- at my desk, on my floor... I just rambled around for a bit ;) (it's awesome to have friends!)

in the kitchen...






people in the living room... A there at the back? She's wearing my shoes... used to be mine, I mean... sniff... well you can't see them all that well either, so I'll just show ya....


Here ya go. The rotten thing is, something in my foot changed and they hurt my feet like fury now... but she had great fun waltzing around the apt in my 'big girl shoes'... so they went home with her... it just seemed the right thing to do. But I really did like them.... (I'm looking into visitation rights...)



oh yes- S up there- she's getting to know Mackie... as in Mac-ie... as in Steve Jobs as opposed to Bill Gates... you get the picture... takes some time, learning to know Mackie... Mr Husband (of the lady with the squash) came home eventually and gave a guided tour (another really bad pic...



<--but shows Mackie a bit better).





eventually, everyone left... here's Little T with her brand new completely orange scarf...








So, on to another day



O's smiling because it's her bday; V's smiling cause he's married to O... They're both smiling cause I'm taking a pic of them.

and this? This is M holding up A's shoes... proof, Ange, that he has your shoes and should be taking them back this weekend...so if you never see them again, don't blame us!

and then there was a murder

If I were you, I'd be tensing up right about now... run, Mr Potato, RUNNN....

changing seasons

my favorite view, out the kitchen window...

a few weeks ago in heavy fog... but still fairly green out there

a few days ago... quiet and calm as can be out there... with a little bit of color

this one today- windy and the canal surface is ruffled.... and- although it's hard to see it here, there's a lot more color... looks like it's going to be a dull-color year, though. The last 2 days have been gorgeously sunny and exceptionally warm... summer's last hurrah... and we're loving it!

cats and dead flies

always land on their feet
on neatorama

almost a malaprop

Last night, while eating my PB and jelly for supper, I scrolled through my feed reader... and came across the word 'egregious'.
Which reminded me of a recent conversation where I tried to use that word and a dear friend, keeping a straight face, said Oh do you mean...........? (with a very odd pronunciation of that word- that I couldn't get, by the way.)
Let me just say that I'd always sort of liked that word- it had a cool sound (I thought) and seemed so specific and Right-to-the-point. If you use it, you don't need the other 15 words- One word covers it.
Conversation moved on. Forgot my 'egregious' friend (the word, not the person).
Then last night...
I just couldn't accept that this really interesting and fun word would sound like that... so I did the logical thing- f/b-ed it- as in My status: How do you pronounce 'egregious'? And within minutes another dear person (who mercifully had never heard me try to pronounce it) had replied: egre·gious Pronunciation: \i-ˈgrē-jəs\
Doesn't look good. I go to a dictionary site and click on the button to hear it... Yikes...
Let me just say- I liked my way a whole lot better. It was just- I don't know- it fit better... it sort of started with a nice 'egg' sound and tripped on from there. Admittedly, I had a few extra syllables in there... but still...

The other blow? It has a much stronger negative connotation than I'd been fondly picturing.

I tell you, this word has let me down. I'm trying to pick up the pieces of my life and go on...

My therapy:

ever eat these?

We grew up on these super yummy pickles... They're made in a plant not far from Mom and Dad's. All kinds of pickled stuff- veggies of all kinds as well as your ordinary cukes... sweet pickles, sour pickles, hot pickles... totally unique. I've never had anything quite like it or quite as nice in the pickle line. If you ever have the chance, try some!

Link to the flickr page I got the pic from... I took a screen shot and cropped it....

family pix

I'm going through pix tonight... lots of them that need sorting and caring for... Here's one I got recently (from???? I think from my cousin Dort) of our Grandpa J, Mom's dad. He has 12 living children (2 sons died- 1 as a newborn, 1 as a young adult), all married and heaps of grandkids- no idea how many of us there are now- over 60, most of us married... the only thing I know for sure is there have been no new ones for several years now... there are lots of great-grands... and at least 1 great-great-grand. Grandpa's nickname is 'Kivel'- and when the Kivels get together- it's a great and large time. Looking at this pic brings it home forcefully that my ageless (to me) Grandpa J is, after all, aging. He's amazing though. He learned to rollerblade after he turned 80 and still zips around on his 2-wheel bike (no 'old-fogey 3-wheeler' for him!); he spends part of each winter in FL; he loves the Bible, poetry (sometimes writes his own, often quotes favorites) and writing letters... and his family. He was married only once- to Grandma, a union that lasted 68 years and 10 months; he cared for Grandma in her last years when she suffered from dementia and could do less and less for herself. When I was with the 2 of them last, Grandma was 'home' if Grandpa was there- no matter where they were; if Grandpa was not there, she'd say Don't you think it's time to go home now?- even when she was home. He's unique as can be and pretty special...

And another pretty special family member... my brother Paul. He was my first best friend and my first sparring partner. It was Oh So Special just to have him around to look at and talk to and joke with! That's him reading Mark Twain in the kitchen during their visit... he's always loved to read and had pretty good taste! And he left that book here for me- a massively fat volume of many of Twain's works.

I have a ton of pix to sort through and want to get more posted eventually... this'll do for now.

Family- we need our family. Do all you can to keep the peace in your own family... they are so so special. There is no one like your family. xo

Making jelly with Mom

When Mom was gathering up stuff to bring, I requested several boxes of SureJell. Ok- you can get something similar here, but she's familiar with SureJell and I wanted a SureFire success... because, well- there is nothing like Grape Jelly with your Peanut Butter!! (I should know- I had some tonight for supper!!) And, You Cannot Get Mom's Grape Jelly Here In Ukr. Nope. So- 'we' made jelly...
or rather, Mom made grape jelly.... I took pix! ;)
The grapes simmering

then into the guaze to drip

the gauze full of pulp and skins and stuff... from it drips the juice... yummeeeee!

and the juice simmers...

while the jars and lids sterilize

ooo- now we're ready for serious stuff...

over here, you put a spoon in the jar to keep it from breaking when the hot liquid gets poured in... Mom had never heard the likes...and later I did another batch without the spoon- and whaddya know? No broken jars...

Paul kept us company... It was seriously nice just to have his body parked over there within easy reach.

And some super yummy jelly!

Meanwhile, there was still some dripping going on from the guaze... so, even though you're NOT supposed to squeeze it... tell me- could you have resisted?

I couldn't either... it was oddly satisfying... and the juice was not-so-oddly delicious!

Thanks Mom!! xo

ps- and these last 2 pix? See those seriously short and business-like forearms? I mean- sort of like tree trunks there... we're talking shade-tree tree trunks. One of my sister's girls has the exact same forearms... built to pitch bales of hay... but feminine? Not so much... ahhh well... All I can say is We get them from my dad! He's got 'em too... only they look pretty much ok on him...

cool fake photography

This is so completely cool, I can't stand it. Mind you, I didn't understand a whole lot of the explanation... and mind you, I can't even draw that well with a pencil, never mind with my mouse or any other electronic dealy... but it's still really cool. It came through my feed reader...

no likey

saw this (re Skype) on my news feed tonight... I'm trying to track down people on skype right now- have 3 different conversations opened, hoping to eventually talk to some of my family... Please don't sink Skype... pleeeeeze????

and I'm ditching comment moderation... drives me nuts.

we need some chocolate!

Need a laugh? Listen to this-The Chocolate Song.

Someone sent it in an email recently... then someone else did... and now someone ELSE is using it in their English class. It's pretty great, really...

Now go find some chocolate! :)

speaking of cake

I saw this awhile ago on my feed reader... PW's Coffee Cake. Made it for dessert last night at Julie's. (I love going to her house for a meal and taking along some fun cake... ok... I love cake... so shoot me...) ;)

fyi- this pic is from PW's cooking site (see link above)

Well wow- you should go try it. But be warned- it is rich... as in super sweet and creamy and... well, R-I-C-H. I used decaf coffee in the interest of everyone getting a good night's sleep.
And guess what?
I want another one! It was that good.
But first I have to wait for my pancreas to regenerate and my gall bladder to unexplode. But we'll meet again, Oh Yes We Will.
my little 2 cents about the frosting: you don't need quite as much as the recipe makes- like about 3/4 that much would be sufficient. The frosting is what's really *POW* so making a bit less might put off adult-onset diabetes and/or gall bladder surgery a year or so...

hitatus

I've done a lot less posting lately than sometimes. Of course, with Mom and Paul here- who wants to spend time online (more than necessary) when you've got people like that hanging around? Not me, For sure.

But that's not the only reason. The other is...

different, to be sure.
If you know me well- and if you spent time with me at all the past couple years- you would know that I spent a lot (a whole lot) of time chewing on ice. Lots and lots of ice. I craved it- it felt good in my mouth, on my tongue and in my tummy. I didn't pay much attention at first (although I'd never liked ice before- I hate watered down drinks). A few people noticed and mentioned it- and I always said: It's good for my nerves. And I guess I thought that.

Well......
google this: ice craving
interesting. Craving ice is a fairly common symptom of iron deficiency anemia. So is an enlarged spleen. So is abnormally pale (not pale but sickly white) skin- although I didn't notice my white skin until it was pink again... if that makes sense.
To make this shorter- because of prolonged dizziness and periodic bouts of extreme weakness and overwhelming hunger- I went to the doctor in Aug. And found out a bunch of stuff I never would have dreamed.
The anemia and spleen stuff are history (as of last week).
The hyper-thyroidism is next up for tackling.
The (most likely) benign fibroid tumors are in line, too. (And believe me- talking about tumors and meaning your own body- well, that is... bizarre, odd, unsettling- like Get These Space Aliens Outta My Body... NOW... even if they're only harmless little old benign dudes... Forget it- I don't want no truck with ya- now git gone. Thanks.)
This would, I believe, explain my longer than normal silences. And lack of much personal stuff.
For one thing- when I had a minute and felt like it, I took a nap. I've never done that in my life. Never had the time or the inclination. Know what? It felt really good.

And the ice? I haven't had any for at least 3 weeks (except in a McDonald's soda)... and I don't miss it and I don't care if I never have it again. I would never have believed craving something so plain and boring and 'nothing' as ice could actually be tied to some medical problem.

And 1 more thing? If your hair falls out more than normal, if your nails change- crack, peel and get bumpy little ridges, if you're way more nervous than normal, if you're more sensitive to heat than normal, if you're eating more or less normally and losing weight: Ahem- go have your thyroid checked. I should have known long ago that something was up... but I guess we can be amazingly stupid about what's going on with our own selves.
I don't like 'all about me' posts much, either (nods to fellow blogger)- but this was one.

for angels... and the rest of us, too

I love angel food cake- a whole lot. I never knew that, though, until a very dear friend took the time and trouble to teach me how to make one from scratch the hard way. Believe me, there is no comparison between a good old-fashioned homemade one and a box mix or store bought one. I've never had any that are as good as the from-scratch-without-a-mix kind. I got in the mood for angel food cake the other day... and Julie had invited a bunch of us over for lunch, so the timing was right. Here's the finished product...

cooling- this is the fun part- balancing it (well- it's one fun part- the funnest part is the eating... oh my...)

getting ready to dish it up. Done like this, you don't need any sauce to go with it... but it is good with butterscotch pudding (which is a good way to use up some of the egg yolks). We had this one with fresh peaches. It was so good... I want another one... ;) (and trust me, it's not the cook, it's the recipe and simply taking the time to do it the 'hard' way- and it's really pretty easy)

Here's the recipe:

Ercie's Angel Food Cake (Ercie was my friend's sis-in-law; most angel food recipes are very similar- but in honor of my dear friend and her wonderful SIL, I'm leaving the name as it is in my recipe book)

To start with, make sure your bundt pan and large mixing bowl are grease-free. Grease will kill the cake.

• 
  
  sift together 1 cup sugar and 1 1/4 cup plus 2 tsp cake flour* Set aside.
• 
  
  2 cups egg whites (be very diligent to not get any yolk)- beat only until frothy (the real die-hards whip their egg whites by hand; this works well because you don't over-whip them as easily. I use an electric beater but you have to be very careful to not get the whites too dry.)
• 
  
  add 1 rounded tsp cream of tartar. Beat till stiff but NOT dry- you just want soft peaks to form.
• 
  
  pinch of salt
• 
  
  1 1/3 cup white sugar- add this gradually while beating.
• 
  
  put away the beaters and don't look at them again until you're cleaning up the dirty dishes.
• 
  
  Gradually add the flour/sugar mixture, folding much between each addition. The batter gets quite nice and shiny at this point.
• 
  
  Add 2 tsp vanilla (you can substitute almond flavoring- but use less)

Bake at 300 F for 1 hour or a bit longer. The top of the cake turns golden brown and cracks. Don't overbake- this is deadly to angel food cakes. My friend would take it out after 1 hour, no matter what it looked like and tip it upside down to cool. I generally do that- but of course, ovens vary and I've had a couple fall because they actually weren't quite done. Not a problem though- they're still to-die-for delicious, even slightly underbaked. (If it falls, chunk it up and serve with pudding- sort of like a trifle.) After cooling, use a long bladed knife to gently loosen it from the sides and around the middle. Tip out upside down onto a platter. Then- this is VII (very important information): pick off and eat all that yummy stuff still stuck to the pan- you won't be sorry.

I'm not kidding- done right, this is the best cake you'll ever have.

I wish there was some out in the kitchen right now...

*this odd measurement comes from the fact that Ercie used a 1 cup pyrex liquid measuring cup full of flour which equalled 1 1/4 cup plus 2 tsp; my friend swears this is vital... or if she swore she'd swear to it... you get the point

ps- sometimes you get a recipe that calls for egg yolks (noodles, for instance). What to do with the whites? Did you know that you can accumulate the whites in a plastic container in the freezer? When you get a lot of them, thaw them and make cake! ;)

fyi

Comment moderation has been enabled for now so if you're struck by the blinding overpowering urge to leave a comment and do... don't get excited when it doesn't appear right away. It'll be there after I've had a chance to look at it and say Oh yes- this is an ok one. That's all. Good-bye.

not long at all

2 weeks is not long at all.
Mom and Paul arrived 2 weeks ago today... and now they're somewhere over Great Britain headed back to, as Paul says, Reality. Well, I'm just glad that the reality of it is that they were here for 2 weeks; that we had some great chats and laughs; that I got to see and touch them for a few days. 2 weeks isn't long but it was a great and wonderful time.

Their flight was at 6.20 this morning, so we left good and early. Here are some shots from the airport.

just before check-in... my hand sort of shook... or something

There they are way over on the left

Paul's almost visible

and there he is once more... Mom was obscured, mostly...

edit- their flight landed in Detroit safe and sound (I'm assuming) about 30 min ago. I can only imagine that they're might glad to be nearing the end of the trip now! Dad'll be waiting to pick them up in Fort Wayne. Safe Journey! I'm going to bed! xoxo

and radish earrings

or maybe a lion-shaped hat that roars? Just a thought...

oh but I do enjoy this strip
and since I'm wound up and need you to help me worry about something... worry about this: Mom and Paul have 50 min in Amsterdam to make their connecting flight... now that drives me nuts. Who was the crazy travel agent that booked that flight?! And why didn't I notice it before last night?????

agnes...yet again

I miss pop tarts... not so good at multitasking, either...

my head is an indycar track...or nascar...or formula 1... the brickyard- that's what it is...there'll be a crash before it's over

And in case you're wondering- well, they're on their way... or they soon will be. Talked to them at their gate, waiting to board... via skype... what a marvel communication is these days.

At 38-nearly-39, you'd think I'd be all calm and old-hat about this...but I'm as wound up and excited as a 5 year old just before his birthday party... his actual party on the actual day...

:)

Europe's nice....

but it was great to get back!

back to where everyone knows that the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line and you'd never go the long way 'round since you have to go everywhere on foot anyway... sidewalks are to keep the concrete and paving stone people happy, not for tired people carrying umpteen packages...not when you can cut off the corner and get there a little faster (this, however, does NOT apply to weird straight lines that would require you to cross the same street twice, No, it most certainly does not... just so we're clear...)back to where anything that holds still is automatically a billboard of sortsbut look at how nicely we've done up the flowers... ahh, yes, we do love flowers hereanddddddd

back-to-school shopping... the stores the past few weeks have been crawling with people getting supplies for their kids. There were 4 big tables here with nothing notebooks on them... and it is a serious, important and major decision picking out just the right notebooks...make sure to bring your best friend along so you can cooridinate your notebooks...by all means...

(funny- I don't think I ever did that- I got what I liked and didn't bother with what my friends had... weird little squirt I was...)

fun stuff you find when you don't expect it

One day in France we dug through an old dresser... someone wanted to put wheels on the bottom of it to make it easier to move around. It was the kind of dresser you could really appreciated having wheels on, too- old, heavy wood... so- everything had to come out. It was also the kind of dresser that hadn't been emptied in a longggg time. Funnnnnnn. We found lots of interesting fun things, had some gut busting laughs...

but I liked this stuff. I'm a sucker for old tins...

look at the writing on the lid... wouldn't you just love to know what it says? Me, too. (Is it Korean, Chinese, Japanese? Something else?)

has a helpful label on it, too...in French...I have no idea what it says, so I just forge ahead...
ahhh- thread... lots and lots of it... can you see that a lot of these spools are wooden. When did they stop selling thread on wooden spools? (I asked if I could take one back- how could I NOT? I needed half-rotten centrury-old black thread, yessireee bob, I did.) moving on... this one is gorgeous... I could have cheerfully taken it home with me

what's this? ummm- curtain/drape supplies- cafe rings and clips and tape and all sorts of stuff to do your own window treatment... funnnnnnnnnnnn

moving right along... I'm sorry I didn't sneak this one out in my oversized handbag, either... (oh- I don't have an oversized handbag...I guess that's what saved me)

ah yes- ribbon... lots and lots of ribbon...and hem tape and all kinds of fun stuff for garment making but the find of all... the one I really really really wanted to sneak home was this... not for myself, but for my Trude friend (are you there, Little T?)

see it? know what it is?

so wow and neat. hand-held punching/sewing thing for canvas and the likes... and for handmade leather slippers made by people who get into a flower-child mood and make stuff like that...

Little T? I'm sorry I couldn't sneak it out...they were watching me...getting suspicious I think...