August 2012 Archives

I'm hooked on Downton Abbey! I've been playing it while I've been working in my studio this week, and I love the stories, the history, the costumes, and the building they are using as Downton Abbey. It's all wonderful.

The DVDs of the second season arrived yesterday. I'm two thirds of the way through the season, but there's a problem. I put the third disk in, and it says it's "Loading," but it's stuck. It's so stuck it won't let me open the disk player. I am very concerned about going through withdrawal tomorrow! *G*

I'm hoping that letting it sit and cool off over night might let me open it tomorrow. (Typical non-techie response.) I may smack it, if it doesn't open up! I NEED to see the rest of the shows! lol

I'm eager for the third season to open on PBS this fall. I should check the schedule to find out when it returns. Dr. Who starts on September 1. I also like the newer version of Sherlock Holmes on PBS. That's another that I need to check on.

Until then, I want to get the DVD player up and running again, so that I can actually LOOK at more of the Downton Abbey footage. Gorgeous dresses (that I'm so glad we don't have to wear on a daily basis!)!

My youngest sister, Frankie, has just completed her first full week in school as a new assistant-principal. I talked with her very briefly, and had an e-mail from her, but it's been very quiet in that part of the world.

You have to know that she puts her all in to everything she does, and most of us who have taught know that the first week back is a killer, even when you think you are prepared for it.

I didn't call her this afternoon for the details because I suspect she needs time to decompress, and I can talk with her this weekend. But, I'm eager to hear how things went.

I hope she keeps a journal, because there HAVE to be stories from this first week that she will want to visit in the distant future! *G*

Sis....I hope you had a fabulous week, and that you love your new job. I am confident that you ARE a success! *S*

I had a GREAT day!

I've been having a problem with edema in my feet and ankles. I've seen the doc, and he and I are working on it. One of the things he suggested was that I should put my feet up so that they are higher than my heart. It's very difficult to do this during the day, so I don't accomplish it as often as I should.

My-Sister-The-Nurse suggested elevating my feet when I was in bed. I've been trying to figure out how to do that, because I toss and turn all night long. I put pillows at the end of the bed for a couple of days, but halfway through the night, I'd kicked them off the bed.

Dear Husband came up with something for us to try. He brought home a cement block and cut it in half. He lifted the bed frame, and I pushed the blocks in place under the legs of the frame. The bed looks a wee bit odd, but it elevated my feet, and I managed to sleep through the night.

I have to wonder if that accounted for having such a great day. I had more energy at exercise, and I came home and jumped right into chores. By early afternoon I was able to sit down and work on quilting, and I finished up two small charity projects, and put the binding on the back of a larger quilt. I was really happy to work on these things, because I had been putting them off for several weeks, and felt guilty about not getting them finished.

IF, tilting the bed is responsible for this spurt of energy, I hope it continues! I'm reminded of what my younger self felt like.

WHERE does the time go??? I just checked to see when I last posted, and it was August 12th. I know I've been busy, but nothing special has been going on.

I have a friend in exercise class who is going blind. He's had the opportunity to take instruction at Hines V.A. hospital to learn how to get around, and how to take care of himself. At the moment, he lives with his mother, and both of them are in the exercise class. David needed someone to take him to the Farmer's Market, so two weeks ago, I picked him up, and we went to the market I usually visit.

He can see enough to move through crowds, but I didn't think he could determine all the varieties of fruits and veggies on the tables, so I kept up a running commentary, directing him to vendors whom I thought were better choices. He used his folding cane to check out the ground, and people gave him a little room.

I helped to carry our finds, putting the heavier things like cantaloupe in my bag, so the delicate things, like tomatoes, wouldn't get squished. We re-bagged things when we got back to the car, and then went on to breakfast.

He needed to pick up half a dozen things at the store, so we stopped at a Meijer's on the way home. He had never been to one, so I steered him through the store.

Last weekend, Dave called, and asked if I could give him a hand again, with the grocery shopping. The woman who normally volunteers for this duty had a conflict. Since I wanted to pick up a few things, I said, "Yes!"

This time, we went to the Farmer's Market in our own town. I was surprised to find it was totally acceptable. I'd attended it once when it was held in a different location, and it seemed there was an abundance of jewelry and kitch. This time there was a lot of variety in fruits and veggies, with just a few non-food booths thrown in. I'm really glad we gave it a try.

We stopped at Panera for breakfast and then headed on to Woodman's, a MONSTER grocery store. Dave shops there regularly, so he could direct me to the aisles where we would find the things on his list. As we walked through the veggie department, people who were in a hurry were practically bowling him over, so I asked him to get his cane out. I thought if he "advertized" that he couldn't see, they might give him a little respect, and I was right. Better he use the cane than have to call for a ride because I was arrested for decking some snotty shopper!

Soooo....I should have called Dave earlier today, but I was happily buried in my quilting and I let the time get away from me. I plan to go to the Farmer's Market early, and I want to see if he needs to go too. I sent him an e-mail tonight. I'll break the 8:00 rule on the phone, and call him before I leave Saturday, to see if he needs to shop.

I've enjoyed the time with him more than I would have guessed.

I need someone to take me by the hand and lead me out the back door. Or, give me a swift kick in the tush!

I have been thinking about gardening all morning. I just need to go do it! Isn't that what Nike says? Just Do It!

I want my garden to be beautiful. I know how to get started making it look better. I'm just feeling very lazy.

Maybe admitting to all of you that I'm a sloth will embarrass me enough to get me going. I hope! *G*

Did I say we'd been traveling? The summer got away from me. I kept thinking I had a month and a half to get in a visit with my sister Frankie, and her family. What I forgot is that she has just started a new job as an assistant-principal, and her first day was the last Monday in July! OMG! Where did the time go!?

We asked if she and her hubby thought they could fit us in, and they graciously made room in their lives for us. We left mid-day Thursday and were with them through early afternoon on Sunday, and every moment of the time was lovely.

Frankie comes here to stay, and I put her to work. I go to Frankie's, and she lets me sit out on their wonderful porch, or on the deck, and veg out. I was feeling guilty about that by Saturday night, and helped out by making a salad. I really should have done more, and I apologize to you, dear Sis, for being such a sloth.

We visited a Farmer's Market, and ambled through several antique places. We ate, and ate, and ATE! We made a stop at Starbucks, and chatted, caught up on all the family news, and just enjoyed the relaxed life for a few days.

Sunday morning we packed up the car, and headed to church with the family. Frankie and her youngest daughter had gone on a mission project this summer, and Sunday was the day all the mission efforts were presented to the church. It was good to be able to see all they had done, and be there to support their efforts.

After the mission presentation, we headed out to brunch, which was just fabulous. We were so full that I don't believe I cooked the rest of the day!

Dear Sis, it was lovely, as always! Thank you for letting us be a part of your gracious life.

Apparently I've been busy the past two weeks. I think my last post was July 24th. I know there was a trip to visit with my youngest sister and her family, but the rest has flown by with all the basics of life. Chores, errands, cleaning, cooking, some packing, a little quilting, just the usual stuff, plus a lot of my annual doctor visits.

So, for my first post in August, I want to talk about making pesto. My house smells fabulous. This is how I think Italian houses must smell all the time, and my sense of smell is saying, "Yuuuummmmmm!"

I surfed for recipes for pesto and learned that there is a classic version that most people use. Garlic, lots of basil, pine nuts, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, Parmesan cheese and olive oil are the ingredients.

I bought a pot of basil in May, intending to plant it outside, but it kept residence on the shelf between the sink and the kitchen window. My sister, Frankie, repotted it for me when she was here, and I'd been watering it. It was long and leggy and had started to grow shoots off the stems, so I had a LOT of basil. I was shopping with a friend yesterday and saw Colavita olive oil on sale for a great price, so I decided this was Pesto Weekend!

I peeled the garlic and cut off the root end. I have a VERY basic food processor. It has no amenities. It is either off or on, and you can pulse the contents, but that's all it has to offer. I use it about once a year, so I didn't really want to spring for the terribly expensive one that I'm sure Cook's Illustrated would like me to use. It chopped the garlic very nicely. Next I added the basil, which I had snipped from the stems. It took four cups. The only thing the recipe didn't explain was how densely packed the leaves should be, so I went for a medium amount of compacting. The processor chopped the leaves finely.

At that point you add the pine nuts, Parmesan, salt and pepper and blend it all together. It looks odd, and was trying to form a ball. The final step is to add, with the motor running, one cup of olive oil. Almost immediately I got something that more resembled pesto. Once all the oil had been added, I unplugged the machine, took the top off, and scraped down the sides. I reassembled it and gave it another whirl to be sure everything was well incorporated. It was beautiful, and smelled heavenly.

The recipe advised freezing the pesto in ice cube trays. Each "cube" takes about one tablespoon of pesto. I ended up with 18 tablespoons. To prevent the basil from turning dark, you cover the pesto with a light film of olive oil, and then cover the ice cube tray with plastic wrap. I pressed the wrap down onto the oil to push out the air, and then put the trays in the freezer. When they are frozen, I'll pop the pesto out of the trays and store them in a freezer bag to use as needed. I'm positive I'll be using it in my minestrone soup, and probably on pizza dough as the base of an appetizer.

I think next time I will try packing the leaves more tightly. And, next time, I may try doubling the recipe. Although, homemade pesto has a shelf life of about six months. I may need to keep an eye on the basil season at the Farmer's market, to see if I could make the next batch closer to the end of September. That batch would take me through March.

2012 shall be known as "The Year of Pesto!" *G*

For the complete recipe, visit The Yummy Life. Here's the site if you'd like pictures of the process.