Happy post Thanksgiving avoid the mall day. I'm waiting till it warms up a bit for my run. In other news, I have a leaking roof and I'm leaving for Cleveland today and Ethiopia on Sunday. Won't be back until Christmas. Ugh.
So on to Friday Five--from Songbird who has been making pies--Pies
Please answer these five questions about pie:
1) Are pies an important part of a holiday meal? Hmmm no. I suppose I always, usually, sometimes bake a pie. It's bought crust and canned fruit. Now, I'm doing lemon tarts as my fav dessert. It has a shortbread crust and a lemon-cream cheese (really lemony) filling. Much better than pie. I make it like lemon squares, but it is nothing like lemon squares.
2) Men prefer pie; women prefer cake. Discuss. I don't know. I'm trying not to eat sugar any more (or salt either) and so my dessert of choice is lemon tart. (See #1 above)
3) Cherries--do they belong in a pie? I think cherry pie is my favorite fruit pie. Unless it's apple. Or maybe blueberry. Actually as a teen, my favorite pie was a cherry cheesecake make with sweetened condensed milk. It was a popular recipe.
4) Meringue--if you have to choose, is it best on lemon or chocolate? Meringue? Are you kidding? The only white stuff that belongs on a pie is real whipped cream. Maybe ice cream in a pinch. Meringue--ugh.
5) In a chicken pie, what are the most compatible vegetables? Anything you don't like to find in a chicken pie? Chicken pie? Why would you put chicken in a pie?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
One Perfect Day
I have been thinking of volunteering with a hospice. One of the volunteer options is to help provide "one perfect day" for one of their clients. The client describes what their one perfect day would be and then the staff and volunteers try to make it happen.
Recently, I read on someone's blog that someone had seen St. Francis hoeing and asked what he would do if he knew he was to die at sunset. St. Francis said that he would finish his hoeing.
So often what people want to do as they are dying is reconcile with loved ones. So, why do we not do that while we have time? Why do we wait until there is no time for a relationship with those from whom we are estranged?
Shouldn't each day be one perfect day?
Recently, I read on someone's blog that someone had seen St. Francis hoeing and asked what he would do if he knew he was to die at sunset. St. Francis said that he would finish his hoeing.
So often what people want to do as they are dying is reconcile with loved ones. So, why do we not do that while we have time? Why do we wait until there is no time for a relationship with those from whom we are estranged?
Shouldn't each day be one perfect day?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Friday Five: Gratitude
We lead privileged lives.
True, some are more privileged than others but the fact that we are communicating right now via technological devices puts us in the privileged category.
There are many perks in my life for which I give thanks and then there are some that make everything right in the world during the moment I am enjoying them. I'm wondering what a few of those things - five to be specific - are for you.
Five things I 'm thankful for (not thankful for the fact that I can't get rid of the itals).
I don't even know where to begin!
1. First is my son. I am grateful that we talk to each other. I know so many people who are estranged from their parents or children. I enjoy being with him. He is funny, has a wry take on the world and is a phenomenal tour guide.
2. Next Are my friends in Memphis, in Cleveland, in California, in Michigan and across the web and the world. I love being with them. I should mention my sisters too. I love that we are connecting on FB. I love seeing my nieces' daughters.
3. OK, away from the smaltzy stuff. I am grateful for my house which I love. There are big windows in the back and it is full of light. I had the back yard completely landscaped (it is tiny) with a pond and a waterfall. The birds love it and I love watching the birds play.
4. I love good food. I am finding that I love cooking. And so, I have a friend who comes to lunch once a week. Cooking for one is not fun, but cooking for two really is. I love going to Whole Foods and sampling the good stuff and the junk food. I love eating in good restaurants. I love eating (in most places) when I travel because the food is so fresh and tastes better than food in the US.
5. I am addicted to travel. I love to get on a plane knowing I am going somewhere I've never been before, knowing that an adventure is in store for me, knowing that I will see things I've never seen before, meet people I've never known before, encounter ideas I've never thought of before. I love getting on a plane knowing I am going somewhere I've been before and love, knowing that I will see old friends, eat at favorite restaurants, visit familiar haunts, hike well loved mountains, dive under the ocean and visit favorite reefs, see favorite fish, celphapods, turtles.
6. I love being alive. I love learning new stuff. I love sitting in the sun. I love going to sleep at night. I love smelling the flowers. (I was serving at More than a Meal last night and began to smell jasmine. I realized the rice I was spooning up must be jasmine rice. I never knew it smelled of jasmine.) I love the feeling of relief in my legs when I've reached the top of the mountain, the end of the trail. I love mountain air. I love the smell of the ocean. I love strong coffee with cream. I love a clean house (not enough to clean more often, though). I love drinking wine with friends and talking about the strangest things. I love photography. I love tools. I love the web.
7. For the last two weeks almost every morning, the first thought that enters my mind is "I am happy." I can't believe the difference retiring, giving up, saying I simply can't do this any more has made in my life.
Five things I 'm thankful for (not thankful for the fact that I can't get rid of the itals).
I don't even know where to begin!
1. First is my son. I am grateful that we talk to each other. I know so many people who are estranged from their parents or children. I enjoy being with him. He is funny, has a wry take on the world and is a phenomenal tour guide.
2. Next Are my friends in Memphis, in Cleveland, in California, in Michigan and across the web and the world. I love being with them. I should mention my sisters too. I love that we are connecting on FB. I love seeing my nieces' daughters.
3. OK, away from the smaltzy stuff. I am grateful for my house which I love. There are big windows in the back and it is full of light. I had the back yard completely landscaped (it is tiny) with a pond and a waterfall. The birds love it and I love watching the birds play.
4. I love good food. I am finding that I love cooking. And so, I have a friend who comes to lunch once a week. Cooking for one is not fun, but cooking for two really is. I love going to Whole Foods and sampling the good stuff and the junk food. I love eating in good restaurants. I love eating (in most places) when I travel because the food is so fresh and tastes better than food in the US.
5. I am addicted to travel. I love to get on a plane knowing I am going somewhere I've never been before, knowing that an adventure is in store for me, knowing that I will see things I've never seen before, meet people I've never known before, encounter ideas I've never thought of before. I love getting on a plane knowing I am going somewhere I've been before and love, knowing that I will see old friends, eat at favorite restaurants, visit familiar haunts, hike well loved mountains, dive under the ocean and visit favorite reefs, see favorite fish, celphapods, turtles.
6. I love being alive. I love learning new stuff. I love sitting in the sun. I love going to sleep at night. I love smelling the flowers. (I was serving at More than a Meal last night and began to smell jasmine. I realized the rice I was spooning up must be jasmine rice. I never knew it smelled of jasmine.) I love the feeling of relief in my legs when I've reached the top of the mountain, the end of the trail. I love mountain air. I love the smell of the ocean. I love strong coffee with cream. I love a clean house (not enough to clean more often, though). I love drinking wine with friends and talking about the strangest things. I love photography. I love tools. I love the web.
7. For the last two weeks almost every morning, the first thought that enters my mind is "I am happy." I can't believe the difference retiring, giving up, saying I simply can't do this any more has made in my life.
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