Hi Croatia, What's for breakfast?
My brain turned on at 4:37 and wouldn't let me get back to sleep. The only thing to do was clean up the storage stuff from setting up the Christmas tree last Sunday. Clutter screams at me much louder than sewing. Eventually, I did crawl back into bed and slept through a couple alarms. The clock radio is set to classical music, which on most days is fine. The dress crisis has been averted. Someday, when my life isn't already consumed with sewing for a living, I will make a riotous dress for myself. Right now, there is enough on my plate. My wedding dress is getting a dye bath tomorrow...
While I was preparing for my wedding in 1999, a friend was heading to the LA fabric mart and asked if I wanted her to pick up some swatches. Absolutely!!! I was living in tiny Provo, Utah and was excited about the prospect of something different. She came back with a swatch of the world's most perfect lace and told me it was $7-8 per yard--really inexpensive for what it was. As she was leaving to go back to LA to pick up several things, including my lace, she asked if I had a price limit on the lace and how much I would need of it. Thinking the lace was so inexpensive, I told her no, I had no price limit and gave her specifications for how much I would need. She returned with 10 yards and gave me the receipt for $50 per yard. I heart was in my stomach, I was so sick about it.
My Gram had told me that she would pay for my dress fabric, as my wedding gift. I made a watercolor illustration of my design, stapled the swatch of the lace and the silk under dress to it, and told her about the misunderstanding. I also told her that I could sell the fabric in Utah for more than I paid for it. In reply, she sent me a check to cover the amount and her best wishes.
On my commute home, this evening, I felt strong and elated. I rode faster and further than I had set out. Long, lacy shadows covered the trail as the streets lights shown through the trees. Dusk was almost gone soon after I started and it was really dark when I got to our meet up point. JE pulled up with the car moments after I did. We headed home for pumpkin soup and cheesy toast.
I didn't swim today. I doubt I will this week. Right now I can't swim if I want to stay afloat.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Day 67: Onions
In 2000, JE and I moved to Michigan for the summer. We had our cat with us and she proved to be a fantastic traveler (she has gone across the country with us a few times, and goes for short trips around town, as well, including Pet Smart to pick up her food). One day I was sauteing onions. The kitchen small enough to have been considered a coat closet and it had poor ventilation. There wasn't a dry eye in the house--including the cat, who came to me protesting that I should really open a window.
This evening, again, I was sauteing onions with the Didi-Cat crying and blinking at me to do the sensible thing. On occasion I make a huge pot of something and divvy it up into individual servings. The fastest thing I know how to make is Chile. Here is the recipe:
Iris's really fast chili
Start with corn bread:
Whisk together:
Preheat oven to 425. Heat ovenproof skillet inside.
2 cups flour (50/50 white and whole wheat)
1/2 cup corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbl baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup grated cheese or a can of corn
Mix together in a separate bowl:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup milk
2 eggs
Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup butter to hot skillet and rotate around until melted. Pour batter into pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean--cheesy, but clean...
In the meantime:
Saute 1 large onion in 1 Tbl olive oil until tender.
Add 2-5 cloves garlic
Add 2 chopped chicken breasts or a can of roast beef (I know, but this is a pantry recipe!) Stir until mostly cooked
Add 2-3 canned chipotles in adobo sauce (I freeze them in ice cube trays because I never use a whole can. Once frozen toss into a resalable plastic bag)
2-3 Tbl chili powder. Stir for a few seconds
Add a 15 oz can of minced tomatoes and let simmer for about 5 minutes
Throw in 3 15 oz cans of your favorite beans: black, pinto, or kidney
and a can of corn
simmer until hot and serve topped with fresh cubed avocado and tomatoes
My life seems really full right now, with work, the holidays, parties, friends, etc.
Like an onion, there are many layers of my life. There is really no way to get everything done that I feel like I need to do before some deadlines come sneaking around the corner. What are the layers in the core, that my life is based on? What are the exterior layers that can be sloughed off so easily as onion skin but that are important to keep things from drying out? There are things I want in my life, now and in the future. Health and well being is vitally important. What am I doing right now to forge that into my being? what can I do better? I guess it all boils down to priorities. Where in my life's onion do my wants and desires fit? How deep does it go? What am I willing to sacrifice for it? Can I remember in the moment that which is ultimately of more value than that which is before me?
Where does my training fit into it all? See Day One of this blog... See the beginning of the vision. Recommit
And so I run. 3 miles. Stuck in the land of 3 miles because getting to work on time is tough enough. I didn't have time to do other exercise, and in honesty, drove to work and paid the $8 to park.
This evening, again, I was sauteing onions with the Didi-Cat crying and blinking at me to do the sensible thing. On occasion I make a huge pot of something and divvy it up into individual servings. The fastest thing I know how to make is Chile. Here is the recipe:
Iris's really fast chili
Start with corn bread:
Whisk together:
Preheat oven to 425. Heat ovenproof skillet inside.
2 cups flour (50/50 white and whole wheat)
1/2 cup corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbl baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup grated cheese or a can of corn
Mix together in a separate bowl:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup milk
2 eggs
Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup butter to hot skillet and rotate around until melted. Pour batter into pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean--cheesy, but clean...
In the meantime:
Saute 1 large onion in 1 Tbl olive oil until tender.
Add 2-5 cloves garlic
Add 2 chopped chicken breasts or a can of roast beef (I know, but this is a pantry recipe!) Stir until mostly cooked
Add 2-3 canned chipotles in adobo sauce (I freeze them in ice cube trays because I never use a whole can. Once frozen toss into a resalable plastic bag)
2-3 Tbl chili powder. Stir for a few seconds
Add a 15 oz can of minced tomatoes and let simmer for about 5 minutes
Throw in 3 15 oz cans of your favorite beans: black, pinto, or kidney
and a can of corn
simmer until hot and serve topped with fresh cubed avocado and tomatoes
My life seems really full right now, with work, the holidays, parties, friends, etc.
Like an onion, there are many layers of my life. There is really no way to get everything done that I feel like I need to do before some deadlines come sneaking around the corner. What are the layers in the core, that my life is based on? What are the exterior layers that can be sloughed off so easily as onion skin but that are important to keep things from drying out? There are things I want in my life, now and in the future. Health and well being is vitally important. What am I doing right now to forge that into my being? what can I do better? I guess it all boils down to priorities. Where in my life's onion do my wants and desires fit? How deep does it go? What am I willing to sacrifice for it? Can I remember in the moment that which is ultimately of more value than that which is before me?
Where does my training fit into it all? See Day One of this blog... See the beginning of the vision. Recommit
And so I run. 3 miles. Stuck in the land of 3 miles because getting to work on time is tough enough. I didn't have time to do other exercise, and in honesty, drove to work and paid the $8 to park.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Day 66: Travels and homes
We spent the afternoon with Gram today. She is back to her perky cute self, at least conversationally and mentally. Physically she is more stooped than I've ever seen her. But mentally, she is amazing. She and I chit chatted while JE drove to Boudin to pick up our order. Gram and I both love their butternut squash soup. I learned that Gram was born in Worcestershire, Mass by the same doctor who delivered my father--there was a war on, and all the young doctors were helping with that (who knew?). How many generations where born there? Quite a few.
All her life, my gram wanted to live in Southern California. Just as my father was graduating high school, Gramp was relocated here, so they packed up the family and headed west. Upon arrival, Gram bleached out her hair, only to return to her natural color for a quick trip to Massachusetts. Blondes definitely have more fun. The home that they bought when they first arrived in California is located on one of my bike routes. I pass by it all the time.
I didn't meet my Grands officially until I was 15 years old. Lisa (my older sister) and I flew into John Wayne airport and then took a shuttle to Escondido, where my grandparents owned a small avocado orchard. Gramp squeezed orange juice for us each morning. We watched slide shows of their travels to Africa, which admittedly, at 15 bored me to sleep (all I wanted to do was go to the beach--typical for 15). How interesting and fun to see those now! Instead, I hear the stories of Gram's international travels and the places she wishes she had gone. And I get to tell her about my adventures.
JE and I got home this evening and set up our Christmas tree. Each ornament on our tree has a clear and distinct memory of a place in the world we brought it home from, an experience we had together, or a person who gave it to us. Some of those people are no longer living, so those ornaments are especially precious.
Good news: My dad gets his hip replacement this Wednesday! He has been trying for years to loose weight and keep the infection out of his foot (exaserbated by diabetes). His hips are terrible--bone on bone in his joints. He finally will have some relief from that.
Bad news: no running for me today, though I did walk and got a wee bit of Yoga in. SO here is my plan for the week:
Monday: Get up and RUN! 5:55 am for about 30 minutes. Stretch and do some lunges, sit ups and squats. Ride to work--as long as it isn't terrible out. Deliver some Christmas cheer AKA baked goods. Start a dress for JE's fancy work party--all my formal-ish stuff hangs on me at the moment and making is easier for me than shopping--go figure-same amount of work, different energy-one creative, one destructive-I hate shopping.
Tuesday: Get up and work on dress in the morning. Ride to work-fast-training. Get home and go for a swim. Work on dress.
Wednesday: Same as Monday, except swear a lot while making cookies for a church function on Thursday that I can't even go to, but get them done anyway and wonder why I didn't just pass them off to some one else. Work on dress.
Thursday: Hopefully dress will be magically done (can I hire those darn shoemaker's elves?) and the cookies delivered, so I can ride to work in the morning. Leave work early to get ready for fancy party (when did I get my eyebrows done? and my pantyhose shopped?) After party tradition: head down to Laguna beach and walk on the sand in our formal wear. If it is still early enough, getting home (doubt it) go for a swim... And Blog about it!
Friday: Same as Monday, except now I need to get serious about all those people in my life I need to shop/make something for...
Saturday: Go for a nice looonnggg ride! I deserve it, Boy Howdy!
Looks like another week of eating out. I'll have to see what I can do.
All her life, my gram wanted to live in Southern California. Just as my father was graduating high school, Gramp was relocated here, so they packed up the family and headed west. Upon arrival, Gram bleached out her hair, only to return to her natural color for a quick trip to Massachusetts. Blondes definitely have more fun. The home that they bought when they first arrived in California is located on one of my bike routes. I pass by it all the time.
I didn't meet my Grands officially until I was 15 years old. Lisa (my older sister) and I flew into John Wayne airport and then took a shuttle to Escondido, where my grandparents owned a small avocado orchard. Gramp squeezed orange juice for us each morning. We watched slide shows of their travels to Africa, which admittedly, at 15 bored me to sleep (all I wanted to do was go to the beach--typical for 15). How interesting and fun to see those now! Instead, I hear the stories of Gram's international travels and the places she wishes she had gone. And I get to tell her about my adventures.
JE and I got home this evening and set up our Christmas tree. Each ornament on our tree has a clear and distinct memory of a place in the world we brought it home from, an experience we had together, or a person who gave it to us. Some of those people are no longer living, so those ornaments are especially precious.
Good news: My dad gets his hip replacement this Wednesday! He has been trying for years to loose weight and keep the infection out of his foot (exaserbated by diabetes). His hips are terrible--bone on bone in his joints. He finally will have some relief from that.
Bad news: no running for me today, though I did walk and got a wee bit of Yoga in. SO here is my plan for the week:
Monday: Get up and RUN! 5:55 am for about 30 minutes. Stretch and do some lunges, sit ups and squats. Ride to work--as long as it isn't terrible out. Deliver some Christmas cheer AKA baked goods. Start a dress for JE's fancy work party--all my formal-ish stuff hangs on me at the moment and making is easier for me than shopping--go figure-same amount of work, different energy-one creative, one destructive-I hate shopping.
Tuesday: Get up and work on dress in the morning. Ride to work-fast-training. Get home and go for a swim. Work on dress.
Wednesday: Same as Monday, except swear a lot while making cookies for a church function on Thursday that I can't even go to, but get them done anyway and wonder why I didn't just pass them off to some one else. Work on dress.
Thursday: Hopefully dress will be magically done (can I hire those darn shoemaker's elves?) and the cookies delivered, so I can ride to work in the morning. Leave work early to get ready for fancy party (when did I get my eyebrows done? and my pantyhose shopped?) After party tradition: head down to Laguna beach and walk on the sand in our formal wear. If it is still early enough, getting home (doubt it) go for a swim... And Blog about it!
Friday: Same as Monday, except now I need to get serious about all those people in my life I need to shop/make something for...
Saturday: Go for a nice looonnggg ride! I deserve it, Boy Howdy!
Looks like another week of eating out. I'll have to see what I can do.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Day 65: Bad Math
The problem with staying up late and waking up early showed in my communication and math skills today at my craft fair. While the set up and take down and was all physical and easy, talking to people about my products or making change was a bit of a joke. I/We did fairly well, however. Though our hourly wage would have been laughable, we earned back quite a bit more than the ingredients and have just enough left over to give to friends and family for Christmas. In essence, it paid for our gift giving.
The house is destroyed except the kitchen, which cleanliness has been maintained throughout the whole process of baking (otherwise I would have just gone stark raving and completed nothing). Tomorrow will be a great get things together day, church, gram, set up the tree.
When I give myself a project, or feel ownership of a project, I can focus on that project until it is complete. After completion, I stumble into bed and try to remember what my routine was prior to the project. Right now, my routine is training. Though tomorrow is my usual rest day, I feel the need to allow myself today-Saturday- to be my rest day. Tomorrow, after a rest, I will run. Right now I am crawling into bed
The house is destroyed except the kitchen, which cleanliness has been maintained throughout the whole process of baking (otherwise I would have just gone stark raving and completed nothing). Tomorrow will be a great get things together day, church, gram, set up the tree.
When I give myself a project, or feel ownership of a project, I can focus on that project until it is complete. After completion, I stumble into bed and try to remember what my routine was prior to the project. Right now, my routine is training. Though tomorrow is my usual rest day, I feel the need to allow myself today-Saturday- to be my rest day. Tomorrow, after a rest, I will run. Right now I am crawling into bed
Day 64: Baking
As of this moment, I have been baking and getting ready for tomorrow's craft show for 13 hours with an hour break for dinner. There are now 24 Christmas cakes covered with marzipan and fondant, 3 dozen gingerbread cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting, 5 dozen peanut butter balls dipped in milk chocolate, 2 dozen baggies (three to a bag)of chocolate cherry chews dipped in ganache, 2 dozen baggies (three to a bag) of Apricot, Pecan, Coconut chews splattered with white chocolate ala Jackson Pollack, 2 dozen almond macaroons resting on a bed of milk chocolate and 2 dozen apples polished to a shine my my sweet JE.
I am hallucinating from the sides of my vision. Time for sleep!
My commute was my work out-about 15 miles total. I will be better after this craft fair, I promise! Don't like the way I feel when I'm not doing what I know I need to do.
I am hallucinating from the sides of my vision. Time for sleep!
My commute was my work out-about 15 miles total. I will be better after this craft fair, I promise! Don't like the way I feel when I'm not doing what I know I need to do.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Day 63: Bugs
How do you tell if a cyclist is happy?
You can count the bugs in her teeth!
The first day out on my bicycle tour, I was zooming down a hill, when I met a large bug on its way up the hill. He smashed with a thud between my left eye and the bridge of my nose. It was a good lesson that I should always wear my cycling goggles.
Today, though, my goggles were in the car, and I wasn't. At work, I am ahead of the game (awesome!!!) and was able to leave early. The Newport Back-Bay was calling, so that is where I went. I hate to admit it, but I haven't been exerting as much energy into my cycling as I should. That means, today's ride was kind of hard and it was only about 25 miles. Along with the whole 5 or less hours of sleep each night this week, that equates trouble. Also, not having established goals at the beginning of the week is clearly not working for me. I'm in treading water mode at the moment with Saturday's event coming so quick. Tomorrow--running in the morning, baking and packaging all arvo and evening.
On my way home from the Bay, I was riding along, minding my own business, when my leg, just below my knee started hurting. I looked down and saw a bee--stinging me! I think I screamed and came abruptly to a stop and swiped at that bee. Now mind you, I was wearing my winter tights. Now mind you, I was going about 16 mph. Now mind you, It's December! What the heck! I have a little red spot and a bit of swelling, but that's it. I think I scared the pedestrians I passed while I was screaming. As I stopped to investigate my leg, a woman caught up to me and asked if I was OK. She cleaned my wound and bandaged me. So sweet.
Gram called today. "you know what Sunday is, don't you? It's the day you and John help me with my Christmas decorating." She will be taking us to lunch and then we come home to decorate our tree as well.
I have 2 sheets of Christmas cake baked, and iced with marzipan. The fondant gets rolled and put on tomorrow. I think I might make some buckeyes for the craft fair too. Sounds good.
You can count the bugs in her teeth!
The first day out on my bicycle tour, I was zooming down a hill, when I met a large bug on its way up the hill. He smashed with a thud between my left eye and the bridge of my nose. It was a good lesson that I should always wear my cycling goggles.
Today, though, my goggles were in the car, and I wasn't. At work, I am ahead of the game (awesome!!!) and was able to leave early. The Newport Back-Bay was calling, so that is where I went. I hate to admit it, but I haven't been exerting as much energy into my cycling as I should. That means, today's ride was kind of hard and it was only about 25 miles. Along with the whole 5 or less hours of sleep each night this week, that equates trouble. Also, not having established goals at the beginning of the week is clearly not working for me. I'm in treading water mode at the moment with Saturday's event coming so quick. Tomorrow--running in the morning, baking and packaging all arvo and evening.
On my way home from the Bay, I was riding along, minding my own business, when my leg, just below my knee started hurting. I looked down and saw a bee--stinging me! I think I screamed and came abruptly to a stop and swiped at that bee. Now mind you, I was wearing my winter tights. Now mind you, I was going about 16 mph. Now mind you, It's December! What the heck! I have a little red spot and a bit of swelling, but that's it. I think I scared the pedestrians I passed while I was screaming. As I stopped to investigate my leg, a woman caught up to me and asked if I was OK. She cleaned my wound and bandaged me. So sweet.
Gram called today. "you know what Sunday is, don't you? It's the day you and John help me with my Christmas decorating." She will be taking us to lunch and then we come home to decorate our tree as well.
I have 2 sheets of Christmas cake baked, and iced with marzipan. The fondant gets rolled and put on tomorrow. I think I might make some buckeyes for the craft fair too. Sounds good.
Day 62: oranges
A friend was telling me of her experience in Japan on one of the
smaller islands that had rarely seen a foreigner. She was riding her
bike one day, when an old farmer man grabbed ahold of her long blonde
hair, dismounting her from her bike. He apologized profusely,
explaining that he had been telling his wife about a girl with blonde
hair living on the island, but his wife wouldn't believe him. He was
trying to get a bit of hair as proof. My friend gave him some of her
hair. The following day, the old man and his wife brought a huge box
of oranges to my friend and her host family.
smaller islands that had rarely seen a foreigner. She was riding her
bike one day, when an old farmer man grabbed ahold of her long blonde
hair, dismounting her from her bike. He apologized profusely,
explaining that he had been telling his wife about a girl with blonde
hair living on the island, but his wife wouldn't believe him. He was
trying to get a bit of hair as proof. My friend gave him some of her
hair. The following day, the old man and his wife brought a huge box
of oranges to my friend and her host family.
So many American fruitcakes are based on citron-a candied citrus peel
that looses it's true flavors during the process. I make my own and
use it sparingly, soaking it in brandy. This years cakes are cherry,
apricot, and golden raisin. I top the whole thing with a layer of
handmade marzipan and top that with flavored handmade fondant.
Should I add my candied orange peel? Opinions please!
We woke up early and moved the furniture to accomodate our yoga mats
and practiced yoga for an hour. Kbyu.tv has a great show called Total
Body Workout. Even that felt hurried. So busy right now with the
craft fair this weekend!
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