Treoth!

fitz
You mean I may have finaly gotten the first post? Oh my what a day that will make!

Whoa. I didn’t even think I *could* post from my Treo, much less be first. Is everyone still asleep?

Dang, I knew it was too good to be true.

For me, relaxing and forgetting about the world is standing next to the shore of the lake trying to catch fish but mostly just listening to the sounds of nature.

Just a reminder folks — Jerry McNerney will be today’s Blue America guest. Ought to be a great discussion. :)

Peanut,
You also serve who sit and help your mom.

angrycyclone at 4 — Anywhere near water works that way for me — at a lakeshore or on the beach, so long as I have the space for some solitary walking. A crowded beach doesn’t work the same way for me, which is why we generally go on a beach vacation in the fall or winter, instead of summer. (I fry anyway, even with high-SPF sunscreen, so at least a trip during a colder month means less of a sunburn. lol)

Morning everyone. Sorry to hear you’re feeling under the weather Christy. Hope it gets better soon.
I could go for that beach scene too. Being a former sailor, anytime I’m around water is like heaven on earth for me.
Can’t stay around long this morning. Got to get a haircut today so it looks good for my brothers wedding next week. But I look forward to being back in time for Jerry McNerneys appearance on the shores of FDL.

Well, I just had this all teed up to submit on the last thread, but now that I see how your morning’s treating you, Christy, maybe I’ll just park it here . . .

Hey, my honeys – how y’all this pretty morning?

Well, I’ve been thinking some more about who’s boy-experience I might want to trade for. Somebody earlier mentioned Gregory Peck, and that not only sounded good but prompted me to remember Paul Newman too … short stroll from him to Robert Redford.

Of our boys who’ve said enough about their lives to give me a goodish picture, I count (in no particular order, and probably leaving some out that I’ll remember later): punaise, Peterr, imm, medaka and Ed*ward Teller as leaders of lives of very lush and satisfying texture.

In the category of Most Enviable Gig as Mate, my nominee is Mr. ReddHedd.

I’m really not a beach or water person - I’m basically a creature of night and shade, or at least overcast.

But I do like to walk, preferably fast, sometimes even through crowds. I find that relaxing, but it may be my New Yorker DNA.

It’s your New Yorker DNA, Eli.

Good morning y’all, bloody marys anyone?

Twisted Martini @ 11

Good morning y’all, bloody marys anyone?

Now that’s a way to start the day *g*

Twisted, dahlin’!

Well, I started saving for this new house. I only need $38,799,995 more! take a peek:
http://www.choi-realty.com/lis.....index.html

My New Yorker DNA *is* very strong, lotus. I’d say I was overcompensating now that I’m in exile, but I was the same way in NYC - even more so, actually.

See what to mean, twolfie — good luck with your piggy-bank!

Eli at 100 - ahhh, see for NYC, I am more than happy to deal with crowds. Love it. A couple of hours browsing at The Strand bookstore, an afternoon at the Met in the Asian collection or the Impressionists to see some of my favorite Monet’s or to MoMa for something Worhol-ish. And then to Joe’s Shanghai for soup dumplings. Or…well, there’s just SO much to NYC that is a fun escape. Need to get back there at some point soon…

Watching Chicken Little for the 800th time this week.

Now THAT demands some serious, full-on respect from all Firedogs, and I say that with ZERO snark!

Good morning, Christy!

See what YOU mean, twolfie . . .

When I’m in the weeds in the atelier, I put on Dreamgirls in Concert. Listen to the 2 cds straight through. Love it. And I’m always so much calmer after. There’s nothin like Audra and Lilias. Still have my goose-bump experiences like clockwork at the exact same moments.
Hope the same happens with the movie. I’m flying to NYC to see the first show!

twolf1 at 15 — oh wow, now THAT is a house. :) Let me know when you move in and I’ll come by to say hello. *G*

Good Morning early bird Christie.. LOVE the pic… I wanna go there.

Sorry for the double post, but I wanted to make sure the right people saw this…

WOW…. What a day yesterday. I’ve been lurking on FDL for quite a while and I add comments occasionaly. I can not remember a day where we’ve had 1609 COMMENTS in one day… This just goes to show the netroots gave Ned a shot of Nedreneline and His success has in turn given the blogs like this one the legitimacy and political power that it well deserves. I’m so glad that posters like TRex and Pach all the others have added to the content that Jane and Redd… er I mean Christy have so graciously bestowed upon us…

Thanks FDL for keeping the spotlight on the relevent issues that this regime and the CM have been trying to conceal from us..

thank you…

medaka 19 speaks da trufe.

Update: OS’s hubby is clearly a very lucky man, too.

Mornin’, everybody.

Wish I could stick around but I’ve got obligations all day.

Hope everybody can send lots of love to Jerry McNerney this afternoon. I hate to miss Blue America, but will check in when I can.

HopeSAT: Sure good to see you again and relieved Dr. Turtle is safely home.

mornin’ Lotus. How are ya today?Christy Hardin Smith @ 23

twolf1 at 15 — oh wow, now THAT is a house. :) Let me know when you move in and I’ll come by to say hello. *G*

I believe it has 2 four bedroom guest houses and parking for 20 cars so all are welcome!

My Calgon moment happens in the automotive tool aisle of the parts store. One of these days if my darlings ever pony up their share of the car insurance premium I’ll buy something.

What makes me happy is Autumn. September and October are my 2 favorite months of the year. The air is crisp, the smell of burning wood is beginning to surface, pennant races are in full swing, the Wolverines are usually losing games they should be winning (oh wait…)

Going to the pumpkin farm with the family on a day in the mid fifties, the sky a cobalt blue. Ride in the haywagon, pick your pumpkin in the pumpkin field.Come back and get some fresh apples with caramel, or some kettle corn.

You know, water is good for me, but more now, it’s what I’m doing now. I’m having my morning coffee and reading online on my laptop in the living room.

But that’s just half the picture. We have old, classic, swing era, big band music on in the background and my partner is reading the paper and eating his breakfast over by the picture window (at the moment, Helen Forrest is about to sing a forgettable but pleasant song with Benny Goodman’s band). This is our morning ritual on weekends. It’s us. Simple time like that with my partner is my centering space.

Oh, and feel better soon, Christy.

I never realized just how good I had it in NYC. Lots of good sushi places too, including an all-you-can-eat one.

I also love a good softball game, or even just batting practice or playing catch (a football works, too).

hey lote, good morning to you too!

I trust you caught my why-i’ve-been-outa-sight comment last thread? …to answer your question to my rude, short drive-by earlier today (your yesterday) …

Time zones: *sigh*

All-you-can-eat-sushi? Naaaw, Eli. Really? ‘Tain’t fair.

Here’s one of my dream vacation spots: Goldeneye. Isn’t it gorgeous? All of the properties listed through this company are amazing, but the Goldeneye one has such a rich writing history that I can’t help but want to go there.

OT, but not really: has anyone seen the movie Tsotsi? We watched it last night; very compelling. Movie night for us at home is a centering thing, too.

Twisted at 29 — oooh, that is a fun one. We’re going to take the peanut to the pumpkin patch this year for the first time. That’s gonna be a kick. :)

Yes’r, medaka — I caught that . . . then hadd bring out all my finger- and toe-petals to try to cipher how many hours ahead of mine is your clock. Took me forEVAH, but I think I finally decided that Nara = New Smyrna Beach plus 11.

‘mI close-ish?

Add me to the water crowd, Christy. For the past almost 3 years I have been fortunate enough to live in a little cabin on a creek in the redwoods. I walk out onto my deck, look down on the creek, and find peace in the simple sounds of birds and water. I watch the birds feeding at my birdfeeder (and the brazen-hussy squirrels try), spying an occasional mama deer and her babies walking by headed to the creek and/or river. Have only gone on one vacation since moving in here and came home early.

Where is the best place that you have ever gone on vacation?

A campground near Sequim at the top of the Olympic Peninsula. Blue skys, cool breezes and the view of the San Juan Islands. I wish I could hop on a plane and go there right now.

If you could eat any dish at any restaurant on the planet, where and what would it be?
The FATTEH BLAHMEH at the Lebanese Taverna in Washington DC. The lamb is so tender you can cut it with a fork.

If you could pick one song to get you up and dance or to mellow you out on your most frazzled day — or whatever — what song would that be?
Anything off of Nanci Griffith’s Flyer Album. It’s my chill out CD.

What gets you into your comfort zone?
Drinking a hot coffee in the wee hours of the morning, sitting out on the deck watching the sun rise when I lived in Washington State.

And what makes you truly happy? Chilling out with a good book or the start of a new semester at college. I really miss the sound of chalk on the chalk board and the scribbling of pencils/pens.

“….some of the things that say comfort to you.”

“Higher Power, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Serenity Prayer
Reinold Niebuhr

Pachacutec @ 37

OT, but not really: has anyone seen the movie Tsotsi? We watched it last night; very compelling. Movie night for us at home is a centering thing, too.

Yes! I have seen that movie and really liked it. If you liked that, you may also like City of God.

Ooo, Christy — that glimpse of Goldeneye does it for me.

Anybody here ever been to Mustique? I’ve often wondered what it has that makes it so big with the UK royals.

yes, lotus, that’s it. My non-math mind makes me do it this way: change am to pm, and minus one, and that’s the time there. My 2 AM is your 1 PM.

I hate math. I know that angels are more like music or mathematics than feelings. But I still hate math.

medaka, I sent a short email to your blog.

Any dish at any restaurant? The garlic shrimp at Las Brisas Del Mar, in Veracruz, Mexico. mmmm. The shrimp cocktail is good, too.

If you like beaches, you should try Ft De Soto Park, on the FL gulf coast. And Ft George Island and Little Talbot island near Jacksonville. I spent the summer working on Ft George Island, in the Timucuan Ecological Preserve, and it’s astonishingly pretty.

Well my favorite vaca is a Windjammer cruise. Its not one of those huge ships but much smaller ships which have been converted for tourist use.

link here.

I would be willing to head up one just for FDLers if there is enough interest.

having been blessed with a job providing eight years of travel - been lucky enough to visit most of the tropical hotspots -

Christy - about that chair

in Bora Bora, the hotel provided these molded plastic chaise lounges with no legs - where you were laying almost flat out, just barely propped up - and would place them just inside the water’s edge so the incoming waves gently washed over ya - could spend almost the entire day doing that

of course the attentive, large, rather muscular Tahitian surfer boys bringing guava/orange juice refills rounded out the experience *g*

and when you were done, you went back to your little haole built over the water where half of the room’s floor was plexiglass so you could watch marine life as you drifted off . . .yeah, unreal but true

Where is the best place that you have ever gone on vacation?

Greece.

If you could eat any dish at any restaurant on the planet, where and what would it be?

I’m thinkingthinkingthinking . . .

If you could pick one song to get you up and dance

“Have You Had Enough” sho’ been wearing out my carpet lately!

or to mellow you out on your most frazzled day — or whatever — what song would that be?

Aretha’s “Natural Woman.”

What a great thread idea.
At the risk of sounding silly, every time I see the Golden Gate Bridge, it takes my breath away. It’s so majestic and solemn and beautiful. I love the way the fog embraces it and the creaky sounds it makes as you walk along its lovely path. I love seeing it from the gorgeous Presidio or the miraculous Marin Headlands. I love coming around the bend and seeing it for the first time as you descend into the City. It’s so soothing and inspiring and gigantic.
Flowers, art, film. NYC makes me jump for joy. Finishing a gorgeous pastry object and standing back to enjoy the beauty of ingredients held with the highest respect makes my heart open. The smell of lavender and rosemary wafting through my bathroom. Farmer’s Markets full of vendors sharing their incredible bounty and shoppers grateful for the chance. Oaxaca. Spain. Milan. My friends are the dearest group of people anyone could ask for. Music! So many things to list!

Christy, my favorite tonic when I’ve got that icky cold thing is to roughly chop up some fresh ginger, no need to peel. Toss it in a pan, cover with water and let it come to a boil, then simmer.

Let it steep as long as you want, until it reaches your preferred strength and then strain over a glass. Lemon and honey are good in it, but I like it best straight.

You can keep reusing the ginger until it’s lost its strength and can keep it simmering on the stove all day, just keep replenishing water or ginger as needed. The longer it steeps, the spicier it gets.

Hope you’re feeling better soon!

CHS: Dr. OJS speaking here.

My prescription for you is to destress if you can. Your cold is your body telling you that you need to kick back a little. Begin by taking a few minutes a day, find a quiet spot (if you can when Peanut is napping), then just drop all thoughts of FDL, Lieberman, Bush and the whole wacko bunch. Just sit and pay attention to your own breathing, just following it in and out, and cherish and take wonder in that very thing happening under your nose. When you get up you will feel a lot better. No need for margaritas and stuff…well, maybe a cuppa mocha.

And one more thing: FDL is just another transient phenomenon, like life itself, and don’t take it too seriously. Give yourself, and it, some space. You know, you don’t have to post three times a day. They are all gems, and that is more than us folks deserve.

Hope this helps.

meta nails it.

I used to have a cabin in the Adirondack mountains (NY)- really a relaxing and mellow place to be. No TV; therefore it was always total music immersion time, and you could really listen. The ultimate “high” (literally) for me is that first moment upon arriving, breathless, at the top a mountain after an arduous climb for a bird’s eye view of the world.

Good Morning All from the great Central Valley of California!
As for the best place in the world for a vacation . . anywhere in California to hike, camp, sail, fish, watch the whales, backpack, etc.
Which brings up today’s Blue America guest, Jerry McNerney. Do any of you have an idea just how dangerous Richard Pombo is for our environment? For our beautiful coast?
I hope you all stick around and give Jerry McNerney some love and I will be looking forward to reading all the comments when I get back from . . . phonebanking for Jerry McNerney.

Decompressing? Comfort zone. Two things:

1) Cooking. Go to the kitchen, chop, sautee, simmer, sip, and at the end there’s the extra payoff of eating the activity. Cook double and the payoff lasts for days.

2) Dance. Salsa, merengue, cumbia, bolero. A few hours of pure zen - Be Here Now. This one started a couple of years ago when my kids asked, “How come we have to do some kind of physical activity and you don’t…?” I’m not good, mind you, but I am passionate.

Hey lotus,

Where in Greece? I used to deploy to Hania Crete back in the 90s. It truly is awesome there. Especially in the summer when all of the Nordic people come down and are gorgeous eye candy and go to the beach in skimpy bathing suits. Oh yeah, the food is good too.

Greetings Gang-

I take it from Lotus’s comments that I will have to carve out the time to read last night’s thread.

So glad to know that Hope and her man are back!

My two little kids, and their big kid father slept out in the tree house last night. So we are busy here hauling in sleeping bags, ensolite pads, and all the spent snack material.

I think a clear night spent sleeping outside, in the northern woods of Vermont, approaching Fall (not too many bugs), is a moment in life to be savored.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Suzanne @ 39 - That sounds sooo dreamy. I’m so envious.

I have this very smart basset hound named Poncho (that makes me Lefty) and we have a summer Saturday morning thing.

We live in the city of Milwaukee and it just got ranked number 1 on Forbes list for most drunken city. So Poncho and I slip out in the early AM while everyone else is hungover and sleeping in.

We go into the deserted park across the street and I let him off the leash. His relaxation is flushing out the pigeons. My leisure is highlighting the garage sale ads and sipping my coffee mug.

Nobody is around and all I hear are the early morning city birds and Poncho in the shrubs. It is a most relaxing time and I cherish it.

After the garage sale strategy is mapped out we both hop into my Chevy Prizm and do a morning perusal of items and gab with people about family, weather, dogs, and where the best sales are today.

It’s so relaxing and down home American I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who just wants to be free of commitment stress and hang out in the world.

Teuscher Champagne Truffles will cure anything that ails you. It is important to eat them while reclined on the couch with your beverage of choice, preferably wearing some silky jammies. Pure indulgence.

I posted the link to one of my favorite shopping sites but it must have been treated as spam because it’s gone now. I hope I’m not banned as well. I don’t post often but I’d lie to be able to occasionally. I didn’t post spam. It’s a legitimate shopping site that compares prices on all sorts of stuff from accross the web. I don’t have antthing to do with it.

smiley

[Moderator: an unknown commenter posting solely an URL to a broad-range generic shopping site sure looked like spam. It was www.bizrate.com . No, you’re obviously not banned, relax! ]

Today my laptop screen is inverted ?? Suggestions? Hard to type upside down.

Hi, lisadawn — I loved it everywhere I went (and ate and gawked)! Didn’t get to Macedonia or many an island, though.

But if I could revisit only one leg of that trip, Crete would get the call.

Heraklion, Mallia, Knossos and all points in between: ooooo.

Mary at 63 — my computer cure-all is to restart and cross my fingers. YMMV on that one, though… *G*

Good Morning:

Calgon Moment: Snuggling with the entire family on the big bed. Reading to/with the kids. Having oldest child bring me hot chocolate that she made by scratch in bed.

Best vacation is always the last one I just took. In this case to Jamestown, New York to show my kids where I grew up. They loved the Lucille Ball museum and I have yet to get tired of my 7 year old doing the skit from Vitametavegamin.

By the by if you had a very expensive, 8oz can of almond paste in your posession what recipe would you use to create something wonderful???????????

Vacations, each has its own unique memory, it’s hard to say which one was the best.

Food, I love a well prepared steak with a nice Cabernet. There used to be a place in Chicago called the Butcher Shop, where you could cook your own steaks. They had the most amazing prime rib I have ever had.

In terms of music that mellow me out, I love soundtracks. Lord of the Rings, The Right Stuff, Gladiator, Titanic, Last of the Mohicans, Moonstruck. and belive it or not (Christy you’ll appreciate this) Spirit by Bryan Adams. It was the first movie I ever took my daughter to by herself, and the music made me really emotional. Still does.

Decompress. Water would be involved. A cool fall morning on the banks of some clear lake at a primitive campsite. An Indian fire percolating coffee, and double stacked dutch ovens cooking breakfast. The aroma wasping from the lower holding the hungry man breakfast is mingled with the drop biscuits coming from the top. The sounds are of the sighing lakeshore, gently lapping in her endless song, providing a backdrop of the cheerful morning birds. Cell phone says no service. Complete and utter solitude shared only with the one(s) you care about.

smiley — I see that — bizrate, yes?

Refresh your browser.

My favorite getaway is canoeing at the break of dawn on a crisp, clear day in September through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the furthest reaches of Northern Minnesota.

There is not another soul around for tens of miles and the only sounds one hears is the cry of the loons (our official state bird) and the quiet hiss of the paddle as it sweeps through the water.

After several zen-ful hours of this, one stops to cook up a breakfast over a open campfire, the food tastes like the nectar of the gods even when it is nothing more than toasted hunks of bread with a bit of honey.

Ahhhhhh!

Best restaurant? Wow……um……well, my darling ex and I were in a jeep driving back from Tulum where we’d spent the day frolicking in the turquoise water. We hadn’t eaten much and suddenly realized we were starving. But no food in sight. Then as we drove we started to see these signs for a fish restaurant. The billboard said, “the most beautiful restaurant in the world!” We got excited and stepped on the gas. As we got nearer and nearer, we laughed about how many plates we would order. Then, we approached. Big parking lot. Tons of cars. We worried about getting a seat. We parked and got out and looked around. We couldn’t see any restaurant, so we asked some people heading for their car, “could you point us the way to this restaurant?” Sure, they said. “Just follow that path right over there.”
We walked along for a few minutes and then stepped into a clearing. It was an absolutely gorgeous beach with a little BBQ under a palapa. They caught fish and cooked it up and served it on the beach! I’d never had lobster, so I ordered it a la plancha. Truly one of the best meals I can remember.
Also, anyone ever been to the gorgeous restaurant run by the seven sisters in the little Zapotec village of Teotitlan de Valle? Oh. Maw. God. Regal!

on line shopping -

not really a shopper, but can pass the hours flipping through these 2, either on line or in print. plenty of over the top stuff, but love to flip through the ads in the design mag for inspiration

http://www.christiesgreatestates.com/

http://www.floridadesign.com/w.....design.asp

completely at odds with my simple country gal life

Relaxing place to vacation with small children:

http://www.copamarina.com/

Relaxing place to vacation with grown-ups with lots of money:

http://www.fourseasons.com/lanai/

(f.y.i., when Bill Gates got married there, he bought every hotel room on the island. There are only two hotels on this island. Both are exquisite.)

Not relaxing, but fabulous and not horribly expensive:

http://www.hoteltorreguelfa.com/

(has a 13th century tower with best panoramic view — anywhere).

Them ornery hamsters! smiley, my innocent li’l reassurance to you is now itself in moderation. All will be kewl inna minute or 20, though.

Morning ma’am, pups.

Music and a long drive. I can start the trip full of all the heart-rending news from the day, my mind so preoccupied by mountains of stupidity, deceit and dishonor, but once I slip the CD in, the music starts to take over. My strongest tonic is a two album set of opera highlights — it’s not that I’m an opera buff per se — because the music is such a powerful statement of what is possible for our species. By the time I’m ten miles down the road, the anger, frustration are being overwhelmed by such astonishing beauty that one forgets, for the moment, how awful other parts of the world are behaving. It’s a reminder that all is not lost, that there are still incredibly amazing and wonderful things that people can do, and are doing every day. And then I begin to hope that, even in these awful times, this too will pass.

lotus @ 64 - When in Crete, I remember going to work at 430am and seeing all of the little food shops with their squid hanging out to dry on the clothes line with clothes pins. Man, I knew I was going to have some fresh Calamari that night.

Okay, I have the picture that Christy posted. I live right next to one of the world’s ten most beautiful beaches (according to some guy). I would gladly swap it for a canoe and solitude. And campfire food. And rustling pine trees. Wow. Thanks for the descriptions of the great north. I miss it.

Florida Mom, where do you live?

lotus

St Pete baby and all points in between Tampa and Ft. DeSoto.

Where are you????

I be keepin’ over here by New Smyrna Beach-way, FM.

Lotus! Greece! The food, the beaches, the night life. Santorini, Paros, etc.,etc. I never tire of tomatoes or cucumbers. It was unbearably HOT, though. Geeze!

lotus @ 65

Didn’t get to Macedonia or many an island, though.

Oh god, stop making me remember how young I once was! I spent two months on the island of Paros one summer, writing poetry and drinking that nasty retsina. I had archeological satori at Ephesus. I lost my virginity on Mykonos.

I got 2 tricks~well maybe a few more but they all support the same thing.
1. The I am somehow so rich that I can do stuff that really makes a difference and do it right fantasy…..(I mean if I have a plan ready, maybe the universe will give the winning lottery ticket….)

2. read Buddhist writings. do yoga. bake (very grounding for me. plus I then get to give it away or I would eat it all)

Oh and really,
read FDL

Oh wow. I love your neck of the woods. I spent some time in DeLand in June. One of my photos was in the Florida Biennial there. I had never been over to Volusia county and am anxious to go back and photograph.

Hey Christy, — if you and the family ever make it down to the middle Keys, I can give you the name of a small quiet hotel on the Atlantic side with a view alsmost identical to the one above, including the umbrella, with much comfier chairs and a small outdoor jacuzzi as well. Just a hop skip and a jump from the 7-mile bridge, where you can get great fresh fish at the Seven-Mile Grill and sip on a cooling Corona with a lime slice —

If you’re of a mind, you can come down the back way - on Card Sound Road and stop at Alabama Jack’s on the way for the best conch fritters in the land.

get well soon, honey - love from Nick in Fort Lauderdale

Christy:
your picture made me wish that the Lake was not just something virtual, but real. I wonder which lake would be the “firedoglake”. Maybe Lake Tahoe or something like that. I would enjoy meeting other firepups at a designated firedoglake.

Hot, true, meta — but with the seabreezes, not so much.

Besides, the heat fit the sensualities of the place so well. Have you ever read John Fowles’ The Magus (first version, I mean, not the rewrite that I’ve never fathomed why he thought necessary)? It really captured this thing I don’t have words for . . .

Moderator: an unknown commenter posting solely an URL to a broad-range generic shopping site sure looked like spam.

Thanks. That’s what I figured. No big deal. I just didn’t want to be banned.

I lived in Washington, D.C. for most of my adult life. When the world was getting me down, I’d hop into the Maverick and drive up Skyline Drive, into the Shenandoah. Just me and whatever music seemed appropriate at the time. I’d spend the weekend just driving thru the mountains, hearing music or birds, whichever struck my fancy. I’d stay in some no-name motel in a little Virginia town for about $10, get up and start driving again as soon as the sun came up. By the time I came back down on Sunday night, I was ready to face the bear again.

I live in Illinois now. No mountains, no trees, no Maverick. I’ve got to find something soon.

Ft DeSoto is really nice.

Oh and may I add that Greece is where I shall retire. I have a photo of the squid drying on the island of Naxos that is unbelievable. Even more unbelievable is I don’t have is digitized to share.

Florida Mom: By the by if you had a very expensive, 8oz can of almond paste in your posession what recipe would you use to create something wonderful???????????
What a great thing to have! One quick thing comes to mind. Simple, homey, but elegant, too. Don’t know if it would appeal to you, but it’s Apricot Almond Bread Pudding. A recipe I developed a couple of years ago for a client who loved bread pudding and wanted it for his birthday.

Heaven is;
Tea For The Tillerman, Court And Spark, Seventh Sojourn, Blue, Late For The Sky, Thick As A Brick, It’s A Beautiful Day, Jim Croce (first album), (any) Kotke …… Drawing without the feeling that I should be doing someone else’s version of me.

lotus @ 88

Hot, true, meta — but with the seabreezes, not so much…

yeah, what was that wind called, the one from the south that happened every day at noon — was it the meltemi ??

Cleter do you live in Florida as well?

inthe doghouse,

amen on the driving, listening to Opera Highlights thingy

have done it 2 or 3 times on the 2 hour drive to the Central TX Coast - numerous places along the shoreline where for little $$, they’ll bring you 5 pounds of fresh, peel and eat shrimp - they simply dump the bucket on your butcher paper covered table - and when the last little peel hits the table, they bring you a big ol slice of key lime pie - yummers (yes floridian doggies, the tart, not overly sweet version)

lina - Firenze! That place is gorgeous. I want to go. I could see the David again. Sigh.

Here’s a great place to relax
http://www.willowslodge.com/index.php

It’s a spa in Woodenville, WA. Rent yourself a suite with a double size jetted tube, a fireplace, sitting area, large screen tv, another smaller tv by the bed, stereo, FREE STARBUCKS COFFEE in the room with french press and lobby, outdoor jacuzzi, incredible herb garden, and delicious culinary available.

It’s in Washington state wine country, easy access to Seattle and Woodenville is a great town.

I highly recommend it.

Meta:

Yes! Apricots are the bomb. I so want to use this paste for something wonderful and your recipe sounds like the ticket. Thanks.

Crisp Autumn days, a steady fire, and a cup of chai (Indian tea). It involves having the right spices handy, but they’re all available at any Indian grocery store:

Tommy Yum’s Yummy Chai

serves 4 to 6

6 green (or 3 black) cardamom pods
1 two-inch cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
20 black peppercorns
1 tsp fennel seeds (or a few star anise, whole)
8 quarter-sized slices fresh ginger
2 teabags black tea: Assam, Earl Grey, etc.

Place spices in a large sauce pan. Add 4 to 6 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat; let stand for a minute or so. Add your favorite black tea and allow to steep for several minutes.

Strain with a fine steel mesh and serve with sugar and milk.

Obviously, the proportions are all “to taste.” You’ll find your own combination. Personally, I like it very strong and sweet. Lately I’ve been adding a couple tablespoons slivered almonds and a 1/4 tsp dried orange peel as well–yum!

Black pepper cinnamon and cloves are all considered “warming” spices. Fennel and ginger aid digestion and settle upset stomachs and nausea.

For the waning days of summer, try making chai with assam, lemon grass and mint.

Come on over, FM — I love it here too, but it’s growing way too rapidly for my easiness-of-mind. Maybe this recession/depression — whatever BushCo has caused that’s about to hit us next — will at least slow that down.

Waving to nick in Lahdidah!

Y’all want on the partay list? Have you seen my email addy posted here before?

Florida Mom — hmmm….almond paste. What about a fresh fruit tart — pastry crust in a pie plate, filled with a mixture of egg, almond paste, a little sugar, a little cream, and some fresh, sliced pears fanned out across the top of the filling. Bake and enjoy. (Have made this with apples, pears, and apricots.)

Anywhere in Tuscany, I love Italy, but Florence is magic! Siena Lucca and San Gigminiano. (I’m sure that’s spelt wrong)

Christy:

I like your recipe as well. See I knew I was asking the wrong folks what to do with this can of almond paste. I should have come to FDL alot sooner.

lotus

no I don’t know your email addy. Mine is infoatwillknotdidotcom

Ahhhh, we can dreammmmmmm

On my way out, so I’ll have to read through this later - with a glass of 10-year-old Madeira and a couple of squares of 70% chocolate.

Have always loved Maine. It’s my drivable escape. I try to get up there as often as I can, which is never enough.

Here’s some Maine photos

I guess I’m jammed up in Morgantown WVA all weekend.

info at willknotdi dot com, FM?

I be lotuslanderATcflDOTrrDOTcom.

years ago I was out of work but there was an almond glut and were incredibly cheap. I had lots of time so I made almond paste from scratch and then made marzipan candy and nougat — expensive treats homemade with then-cheap ingredients…

When I’m frazzled, I put on the DVD “The Triplets of Belleview” and wait for the part where the dog climbs the stairs everytime the train comes.

Christy, among many, many other things, I love that you bake.

Yay, it’s our birthday boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, *ILSON !!!

(Now, since you know how and I don’t, please render that in appropriately major, rainbow, blinking font!)

Good morning. I’m glad you got some sleep, Christy.

I like to take photos. Landscape, mostly. Here