A little magic from a Yo-Yo Ma favorite of mine from his first Silk Road album. For a little more magic, try this clip from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the fight scene in the bamboo with some Yo-Yo Ma playing in the background.
It has been a long couple of weeks, and I need a break this morning. Not just a break from the news, but an all out break. Which means I’ll likely spend my day playing with The Peanut and Mr. ReddHedd, watching some movies or reading a great travel or fiction book and just escaping everything for a little while. Or maybe we’ll have a marathon Mr. Potatohead session. Who knows — but definitely something fun.
Sometimes, you need to just get away.
And if I’m feeling that way at the end of the week, odds are several of you are feeling it, too. Seems like every time we turn around another scandal or five has popped up out of the weeds. And I, for one, need a little downtime from it. So, I’m looking for some good movie recommendations for my netflix queue. Seen anything amazing lately? A good foreign film or maybe some great, scene-chewing science fiction? (We just bought the sequel to the SciFi channel Dune series because we hadn’t seen it yet. Will let you know if it lives up to the first one in terms of effects and dialogue.) Or some funny, quirky, yet light romantic comedy that has had you quoting goofy lines with your friends?
How about books? I whizzed through the latest Harry Potter in a day and a half (with a high school reunion, a blog, and a four year old…so yes, I was a bit keen to know the ending), and now I’m trying to figure out what to pick up next from the to read pile. Any recommendations?
How about cooking — what have you been nourishing yourself with lately? We’ve been eating lots of fresh veggies, since it is the season here with the market fresh bins bursting out with flavor ripe off the vine. Any new salad or side dish or soup? A good all-purpose bruschetta? A new favorite cookbook that you can’t believe you ever cooked without?
What’s new on your mp3 player?
Let’s just kick back and practice a little weekend escape this morning. Coffee’s fresh, and the birdfeeder is full. So pull up a chair…
PS — One more bonus YouTube find this morning. Igor Stravinsky directing his own Lullaby and Final Hymn from the Firebird Suite in London. You have to love watching a composer conduct his own work, don’t you? And Bob Geiger has the Saturday toons up and running…
Related posts:
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Good morning!
Good morning, Christy!
Good morning, Christy:
If anyone deserves time away, it’s you! Enjoy your family and the day!
Morning all — sitting here watching “Dinosaur” with The Peanut and drinking my coffee. How is everyone this morning?
Good morning Christy! All is well here.
Good morning!
Um, I know Mr. Potato Head from my childhood (way back!), but not sure what a “marathon” would consist of. Please enlighten!
‘Morning, Christy! Hope you do something with wonderfully restorative powers today.
We’re trying to take back the garden here; my fears that my spouse killed it with neglect while I was out of town for 2 weeks were unfounded. Or at least if he neglected it, the garden took advantage of the situation and went berserk.
My daughter has been grating football-sized zukes for chocolate zucchini bread, have already gone through 2 loaves of the stuff since we got back Thursday afternoon. Too funny, had to take a picture that I wish I could share — daughter armed with a Salad Shooter against zucchini, wearing safety glasses against the splashing and hearing protection against the noise of the Salad Shooter. Her grandmother will love it.
revmama at 6 — Let’s just say there are about a billion Mr. Potatohead configurations between the arm, hat, eye, mouth, and feet possibilities. And some days, we try to find them all. *g*
Christy Hardin Smith @ 8
How methodical—future scientist!
Ooooh, Rayne — you are going to share that recipe, right? I make a chocolate zucchini cake (will post the recipe in a sec when I dig it out of my recipe box…), but a quick bread sounds nummy.
g’morning!
Christy, that sounds like so much fun! I miss those little kid years!
I am home in Louisiana on a study leave and have rediscovered gumbo — warm, spicy, mysterious and dark. I have to learn how to make it so I can re-indulge when I get back to the hills of PA.
Good pleasure book that I have read this summer: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, a spiritual memoir.
Good morning Christy
et al
Your weekend escape sounds yummy. My weekend escape is the final push for the move. Movers show up monday morning—eek!— today I pack the kitchen and what’s left of my “art room” where I keep art/computer/makeup etc. All the things that don’t quite fit in an office or bathroom. Yeah, I know it makes no sense.
Monday morning I take off with the cats. I’ve got an air mattress, some basics, lamps, a fold up chair and Harry Potter waiting for me at the other end. I’ll bring along some movies to play on my laptop as I will have no cable or tv until Friday. In the collection is A Man for All Seasons, 1776, The Devil Wears Prada, Elmer Gantry, Groundhog Day . . .there is a theme developing here (except Prada, I think—haven’t seen it yet)
I’ve also made copies of the entire 2 seasons (25 episodes) of Showtime’s Dead Like Me when a marathon aired on SciFi a few weeks back. Odd, quirky, different from my usual fare. And if all else fails, King of Hearts.
Movers will take 2 days to load. Mr. Rev. has motel reservation on Tues night when he will be too tired to drive. He joins me Wed. Meanwhile on Tues at the new house the locksmith, electrician, plumber, carpet shampooers and house cleaners show up to get everything ready. sigh.
Fridge has bread, milk, butter, English muffins, frozen waffles and some Dove raspberry choc. chunk ice cream in the freezer awaiting my arrival. Bringing along Lillet and 2 bottles of french rosé to chill.
I think I’ve got it covered. But I will sorely miss being able to log on until Friday. Will try to escape to Panara or to the office just to check in during the week.
That’s the chapter for the day.
Wishing you a WONDERFUL play day Christy.
I have decided to start a Micro-Eco Farm next growing season. I read an amazing little book this week called Micro Eco Farming by Barbara Berst Adams. In it,there’s examples of teeny farms making a profit in a bunch of different markets with all kinds of resources the help you get started. The farms in the book start at less than a half acre and go up to about 20 acres,with the average being about 1-2 acres. I live on an acre,most of it just sitting there trying to be lawn. I’m inspired. AND I found out there’s a hidden little botanical garden right around the corner from my house. Seems an old MD died and left his land in a trust of some sort a couple of years ago. There’s an old historic house on the land,which most likely will help save it from developers.It’s only 13 acres,but it’s a hidden little gem in a sea of McMansions.
I’ve been making a cold marinated salad from tomatoes(yellow and red),cucumbers,feta cheese,olive oil,basil,oregano,black olives and a little chopped up salami(optional,go easy on it if you use it).Add a bit of fresh ground black pepper and a grind or two of sea salt. Pop it in the fridge for a couple hours and serve with a nice crusty bread and a cold glass of something. Yum.
I made bread and butter pickles last weekend,they turned out perfect.
With temps of 103 here,my veggie garden is getting cooked,literally. The only things really left thriving are a few tomato plants and a Moon and Stars watermelon plant(which has loads of blossoms but no melons yet).
CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE
1/2 c. butter
2 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 c. sugar
4 Tbsp. cocoa powder
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. each ground cloves and cinnamon
1/2 c. sour milk (or 1/2 c. milk mixed with tsp. lemon juice)
1 c. chocolate chips
2 c. zucchini, unpeeled and grated small
Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease 9×13 pan. In a bowl, cream butter and eggs. Add oil, vanilla, and sugar. Blend well. Sift together cocoa, flour, baking soda, baking powder, cloves and cinnamon. Add to the butter mixture alternately with the milk. Add zucchini and chocolate chips. Bake 40 to 50 minutes — time is a bit variable, depending on the water content in the zucchini, but knife should come out clean when inserted in center, other than some chocolate on it.
Hi Ya Rayne, egregious, Angry . . . Good meeting you all in Chicago. There’s something about blog friends that transcends the real world and the other civilian friends that we make along the way.
RevDeb, hope things go well on your upcoming move. Keep us posted and safe travel!
Am out in California for a week to visit egrDau and listen to the surf. Found a music store with piano/vocal music for Josh Groban music that I’m playing a lot recently. Just the day before was thinking, ya know, it would be great to knock out some of these harmonies on the piano, and then opportunity came by.
We have several Disney and the Transformer pieces for Mr. Potato Head…that could extend your day into a week, easily.
My favorite non-fiction book this summer was Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Also very inspiring.
angry at 14 — That sounds intriguing on the micro-eco farming. And it sounds like we are having the same “bake everything to a crisp” summer that you are — it’s been awful this year and nothing is thriving in my little garden. Just one of those years, I suppose, but if I’m going to can any tomatoes, I’m going to have to buy them this year.
Mmm. Sounds yummy, Christy, and really not too unlike the Chocolate Zucchini Bread we make.
Some of these more mature zucchinis are a bit dry after grating; I’m going to add a little plain yogurt when we mix them up, probably like adding the buttermilk.
Found where I’d posted the Chocolate Zucchini Bread in threads here before, code named 5-Megaton Russian Suitcase WMD. Will probably make a couple more loaves today to take to a party this evening.
RevDeb
Hope the move is as smooth as can be for you, don’t envy you one bit.
Good Morning, Christy and other early morning Firepups!
Our high heat and humidity broke yesterday, so I’m swaddled in my oversized Philadelphia Flower Show sweatshirt [my sibling unit and I go to PFS every year–always great garden ideas].
Mr. NJP’s parents are having serious health issues. He called me at 5:15 yesterday afternoon to tell me to take the train to where his parent live–his mom is back in the hospital with a high fever and some new infection. This has been going on for most of this year, and it does wear you down.
We’ll be taking this dinner to his dad on Sunday:
poached salmon with a caper herb vinaigrette [a tbs of dijon mustard, 1/4 c. lemon juice or white wine vinegar, lots of fresh herbs (parsley, basil, chives, tarragon), 1 small clove of garlic, 1 small shallot, 1 tbs drained capers; whirl that around in a food processor or blender, then slowly add 1/3 to 1/2 c extra virgin olive oil, continue blending until all the oil is incorporated; stir in another tbs of drainer capers before serving]
potato salad with cucumber-dill dressing [1 tsp dijon mustard, 2 tbs lemon juice, lots of fresh dill, some fresh parsley and chives, 1/2 small onion, 2 scallions, 1 peeled and seeded cucumber, about 1/4 c nonfat yogurt, 1/4 c reduced fat sour cream, 1 tbs cream cheese; whirl away in your food processor or blender]; add the dressing to cooked and cubed redskin potatoes, chopped celery, diced red onion
roasted vegetables with romesco sauce [a Catalan roasted pepper sauce with almonds, garlic, and olive oil—-mmmmmm]; whatever looks good at the farmer’s market today will be oven roasted tomorrow morning: skinny Japanese eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, peppers of various colors; just split the veggies, brush with olive oil, place cut side down on a baking sheet in a 450-degree oven, roast for 10 to 15 minutes, flip to skin side down, roast for another 10 minutes
I’m reading Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Paul Fussell’s The Great War and Modern Memory, and trying to keep up on line and with the NY Times.
And I knit a lot.
Cheers!
Rayne @ 7
Heehee. One year I decided to go all Martha Stewart and use a Dremmel tool to decorate pumpkins for Halloween. Oh,they turned out lovely,but Martha forgot to tell everyone that the Dremmel turns pumpkin skin and flesh into a fine mist that covers everything in a 10 ft circle around you and the pumpkin. Good thing I did it outside. It was hilarious though,I was orange when I got finished.
The kids all have jobs or schoolwork, are staying with friends, and my and the boyfriend are gonna play naked horny recnecks on his secluded mountain acres. And cook out, turn off the media feeds and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist till monday morning….
egregious @ 17
After I’m all settled in I will definitely have an FDL BBQ for anyone who wants to drive to the Philly burbs. Got a nice backyard that will be very amenable for such a party and plenty of house if it rains. But a few things to do before then ;-)
Choc zucchini bread/cake
2.5 C AP flour
.5 C Ghiardelli cocoa
2.5 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
.5 tsp nutmeg
1.5 tsp cinnamon
.75 C unsalted butter
1 C brown sugar
1 C white sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp lemon zest OR 1 tsp lime zest
2.5 C zuchinni grated
.5 C milk
.5 C (or more) chopped crystalized ginger
Beat sugar and butter to creamy consistency add eggs one at a time. Fold zuchinni and crystalized ginger in add dry ingredients a bit at a time add milk at same time. Pour into well greases and floured tube pan.
Make in 10″ tube pan
350 degrees for 50 mins (check at 45 w/toothpick)
RevDeb @ 16
I wish you would have met me in Chicago,lol. Alas,I was here,trying not to die of heatstroke….
it’s well documented that I can’t cook. I do like watching Repub’s eating their own, however…
Bush’s Muse Stands Accused
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..newsletter
and with that, I’m sending my bike out for breakfast. Guess I’ll go with along with it.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 19
We’re leaving behind a good dozen tomato plants that are thriving and just now producing lots of fruit. That will be hard for Mr. Rev. to leave behind.
btw, we watched “Pan’s Labyrinth” last night — one of our netflix movie choices. It was visually stunning, and emotionally draining, extremely well done film, but a very difficult one to watch at times. The young girl who stars in it was superb. Has anyone else seen it? Am curious what others thought about the film. Mr. ReddHedd and I found it both profoundly disturbing but also at times, it was like watching visual mythology. This one is going to stick with me for a while, I think.
njprogressive at 22 — Love the Philly flower show. Went while I was at UPenn in grad school, and it was so wonderful. :)
oh yeah, before I go:
“Outsourced” by Dr. Hillhouse is a great read – great beachy fiction, laced with educational reality.
Outta here for now.
Angry . .
LOVE my Dremmel but would NEVER have thought to use it on a pumpkin! I’m just imagining the spray. LOL.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 31
If you want to come up next year, you have a place to stay! I’m not far from Longwood Gardens either. Looking forward to spending many many hours/days there.
RevDeb @ 33
It really does work,but man is it messy. You get a really professional looking design,like those fancy jack o lanterns you see in the magazines.
Beach reading: Geraldine Brooks’ March, a fictional account of the father from Little Women who follows his ideals to serve in the Union Army. Lot of surprises, an amazing story.
Christy: Put C.R.A.Z.Y. in your Netflix Queue. I really enjoyed that last night.
anangryoldbroad @ 23
Now that’s hysterical!! I will have to let the girl try that this fall when the pumpkins come in; now that she has successfully taken apart and fixed a Playstation2, she has been reaching for power tools all over the place, can’t hold her back. She finished assembling a new computer desk only 20 minutes ago.
RevDeb — glad to hear you are approaching the final stretch of the move. Lillet – now that’s what I forgot to lubricate my move, good on you!! Great meeting you in Chicago; one of these days after the dust settles I should pick your brains as a pastor, should have done that in Chicago but my head was firmly centered on politics at the time.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 19
Sorry to hear that. We are being over run by the peaches this year so it is peach cake, peach pie today and made peach chutney last night. Peach ideas anyone?
Respectfully, this site is becomming softer and softer all the time. During the Scooter days we had solid insight and analysis and now we are sharing recepies? In the old days you posted incredible art…now you post the fav videos/music of Christy Hardin Smith. It is all very disappointing. Your readers hunger for POLITICAL analysis. If you forget that much longer you will lose us.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 30
Christy, I still have mixed feelings about the ending and I saw the film months ago.
RevDeb @ 34
And then both of you come on over to see NoVa’s Meadowlark Gardens.
After years of reading here, I have to dip my toe in for this request. I just saw a terrific German movie, “Downfall”, about the last days in Hitler’s bunker. It’s based on the recollections of Hitler’s personal secretary. Very well done. Maybe not so much in the “fun” category, but definitely one to see. Oh, and since this is my inaugural post (or close to it), thanks for everyone’s efforts that make this such a great site!
Fresh tomatoes!
We have lots of tomatoes with lots more to come!
I used Epsom salt this year, when I planted and when they bloomed and what a difference and was diligent about taking the suckers off.
I have only heirlooms, bought from a friend that loves to grow unusual things.
It is sunny and cool this AM, I am off to paint my gutters so they look nice with my new siding!
Have a good weekend everybody!
Also will bake bread to eat my tomatoes with!!!
And maybe make pickles too!!!
Rayne,
Any time. You know how to find me. If you want my cell, send me an e-mail.
Discovered Lillet eons ago in Paris. Totally forgot about it until we were in Quebec last summer. White Lillet in a glass filled with ice and a lemon twist. The best way to get through a hot summer evening—that or a Mint Julep.
texasblue @ 40
texasblue,
We work 8 days a week here and risk burnout. This is our one morning to kick back and remember love and beauty, what makes it all worthwhile. Rest assured we will get back to some serious buttkicking shortly.
Morning everyone. Christie that cake looks awesome. The squash will keep it moist and far healthier. May I grab a piece for breakfast, it will go nicely with coffee!
It has been an awesome summer here weatherwise, generally quite cool with lots of breeze. I am rushing toward a Nov. manuscript deadline and putting in long hours everyday, mostly under an umbrella on my back porch. Thanks to wifi, I get to check in here during coffee breaks.
Thanks Christie for your posts, warmth, intellectual breadth, and political heat!
texasblue @ 40
I hate to disagree but long time readers of FDL know that Saturday morning is pull up a chair time. With so much going on in the world, I for one enjoy sharing recipes and movie ideas and look forward to lurking on Saturdays.
Reading wise, sometimes a children’s book provides just the right salve for an aching adult soul. One of my favorites is David Almond’s Skellig,which administers snippets of William Blake along the way.
I don’t often comment here, since most everything I can think to add is out on the board before I’ve gotten to the end of a thread. But Christy, do let me say that you and your compatriots are helping to keep me sane in a crazy world, and for that I thank you.
mh
texasblue at 40 — Do take a look at the large amount of analysis we did yesterday by scrolling down the page. This is our regular Saturday morning break from the news. We do it every week. It’s called “get a life” — and I’m not changing it. If you don’t like it, scroll down to a prior column — there is a LOT to choose from here.
And while I’m at it, how incredibly egotistical is it to come here to my column on my blog and tell me what I should be writing about? I don’t run around to other people’s blogs and tell them what they should do because…well, because it is really rude and they’d be right to call me out for it. “Hi, write what I think you should write. And only what i think you should write. Your thoughts and your preference do not matter, only mine.” Jeebus…
texasblue @ 40
Sorry you feel that way. We’ve been doing this on Sat. mornings for well over a year. This is called community building. If you don’t like it, you are free to tune out. But we who call this our blog home do so for this as well as for the political junkie stuff of which there is an abundance all over the toobz. Surely you can find other sites to get your fix.
I, for one, applaud Christy for her intentional care to bringing us together as people as well as brains.
I’m also just finishing a book I purchased in the airport coming home last week. Suite Francaise about the occupation of France by the Germans in 1940. The book was written by Irene Nemirovsky who was arrested in Paris in 1942, deported to Auschwitz where she died. The novel remained hidden and unknown until now.
Diane at 44 — Epsom salt is the best with tomato plants. It’s also pretty great for peppers and eggplants, too.
RevDeb @ 34
Longwood is just wonderful. Amazing landscape design.
I did get a kick out of them threatening to move if the local gov’t taxed them too much. Hard to imagine that, eh?
RevDeb, you do have to catch one of their fountain & fireworks show.
And all the lillypads and lotus are beyond belief! and the orchids and the ferns and the bonsai and the…
*sigh*
Has anyone seen “The Lives of Others” yet?
RevDeb @ 51
Yep. All work and no play doesn’t just make a person dull either. More like cranky,mean,and maybe a little rude too.
texasblue @ 40
Frankly I am still suffering from the Richardson/gay shocker. He was my favorite until that moment. My spouse opines that it is his catholicism that over took his brain. I have no idea what he was thinking, how bloody stupid of him. Anyway cooking, cleaning, mowing, weeding and reading seem like fine occupations to allow the mind to drift and contemplate the next onslaught of idiocy from our putative candidates. Shoot we all need a break from politics once in a while.
PS forgot brush clearing
Christy, how are the caladiums? Still standing? Mine are.
Mack @ 43
Well, Mack, welcome to the lake! Hope you will chime in often.
Wondering if you would consider using a different nom de plume as there already is a frequent commenter named Mack. We are easily confused here :) Thanks!
And now,I gotta run to mail off some stuff and take the kiddo to martial arts school this morning. Have a wonderful Saturday everyone.
texasblue @ 40
Texasblue. This is Saturday wakeup and stretch. Did you miss the FISA heat? There was alot of hot discussion the last couple of days as well.
By the way the NYT has a front page very “soft” take on FISA (with little of the problematics, and without the complex analysis of the time line offered here by Powwow and Selise). I would be curious if anyone else has read the Times piece. The editorial page seems against FISA, and the paper itself seems a bit, well, things happen.
I mentioned last night that I think the Rethugs have really miscalculated on the new homeland security social security requirements. Farmers are really pissed, because it will play havoc with the harvest which is just around the corner. Once you piss of farmers (speaking of squash among other foods) it is over. They are an even stronger bunch than NRA. And that is in addition to the looming financial disaster with mortgage issues (and the proposed relief for banks but not home owners). The Rethug party is cooked. They are clearly desperate, as evinced in the rethug statement that we need a new 9/11 and lots of dead to save this country (now being give play on Fox and elsewhere). Thinkprogress has this latter item.
Books: Napolean’s Egypt, Juan Cole’s new one looks like fun. I only read the first few pages on the plane home, but reading history as a narrative is always more fun than in a textbook. My brain was too fuzzy to get far after a long weekend of political frenzy. Looks good.
AND he said he’d be glad to do the Sunday Book Salon. He thinks FDL is great.
For what it’s worth, I especially enjoy the diversity here. For instance, I’ve never heard of the Epsom salt trick for tomatoes. I’m definitely making a note of that. While we’re on the topic of gardening, any suggestions for keeping the bunnies away? Other than buying a fox, I mean.
Go Christy! I love this thread and read it and all of the comments every Saturday, even though it’s usually finished by the time I get up and get online out here in CA.
Only reason I’m up this early today is because my little peanut woke up extra early because he’s itchy. He’s got really bad eczema this summer…any suggestions beyond Cortaid, baking soda baths, and Cetaphil?
ccmask at 57 — The ones out back, in the shadier area of the yard are thriving. The ones that I planted in the sun are not so happy — but that’s because it has been so scorchingly hot with so little rain. We’re in the middle of a drought this summer, and everything is getting a little too crispy — although we have had a bit of rain the last couple of days which is helping a bit.
FWIW, some brain candy coming on one of the HBO channels even as I type – on HBO comedy west The Great Race is just starting (Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon).
Good morning! I watched Becoming Jane and Amazing Grace on Air New Zealand about two weeks ago (also a new version of Persuasion….I was thoroughly in 18th century England all the way across the Pacific). The first two were quite good, especially if you weren’t expecting historical fidelity to Jane Austen’s life in Becoming Jane. Amazing Grace is giving me incentive to look more carefully at the abolition movement in England then.
egregious @ 59
Is that better? :-)
RevDeb @ 29
But now Mr. Rev has a wonderful excuse for touring the surrounding region for farmers’ markets. They may be willing to tell him what grows best in the area for next year. ;-)
Christy Hardin Smith @ 30
Yes, stunning is the operative word, watched it several times over a weekend before we went on vacation. My nine-year-old insisted on watching it, and we had many lengthy conversations about what was happening and what the context meant, about the nature of children’s imagination and how impacts their perception of events around them, particularly stressful events. It wasn’t until the third viewing that I could watch all the way through without questions from him; the first two viewings took over 3 hours each because he had sooo many questions. Definitely not a film for children who are unable to grasp the complexity and politics of war. By contrast, the 13-year-old grokked the whole thing, and could also make the connections between the politics reflected in the movie and current events in America and abroad.
The most difficult issues we dealt with were torture and the death of a child — I had a harder time with these than my kids did, but they understood the gravity of the matters. Watching the movie also presented an opportunity to discuss the immorality of torture and killing, let alone political oppression.
The visual effects of the film are wonderful, seamless in their insertion into the film. In a way, this is exactly how the monsters around us now live, seamlessly intertwined with our reality. It is also difficult to pick out good from evil in our lives at first blush, just as it is in Pan’s Labyrinth, because of misperceptions and the seamless banality of evil in our culture. Most excellent movie.
Lea-no uh at 63 — Have you tried an oatmeal bath — either regular oatmeal or Aveeno? That can be wonderful, especially if it is a cooler one and a long soak. Really helps with the itchies. Aveeno lotion, especially the gentle baby version, also helps.
Morning Christy
The nice thing about Fridays is that there are only two more working days until Monday. Sigh.
A work day today to try to get all done before heading back to the antipodes.
A very late good morning, pups. I enjoyed sleeping late this morning! Today the NYT has the odious Ms. Collins getting snide about the Iowa straw poll, and Bob Herbert writes about horrific, senseless violence and says that parents are failing their children.
http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/
In case anyone needs another cup, I’ve got coffee and tea ready, and there’s French toast made from challah so it’s particularly yummy. Have a great Saturday.
Mack @ 62
We plant one garden, ours, behind a fence we also plant an extra little garden, the bunny’s, with no fence. It is a happy arrangement and as we tend to have interesting conversations with the bunrab while he/she is dining.
Back to packing.
I’ll check back later.
Have a great day everyone.
Thanks, Christy. You’ve reminded me I need to get more Aveeno oatmeal. We were using the Aveeno lotion, but the pediatrician told us to switch to either Cetaphil or straight vaseline. The baking soda in the bath seems to help a lot, but I’m afraid that the only thing that will really help is fall and cooler temps.
The artist formerly known as Mack—
Ok if we call you Tafkam for short?
Just threw ingredients into the bread machine to test a recipe called “Spicy Cheese Loaf” including dry mustard, pepper and worcestershire sauce. What a great new toy! Actually, not new……belonged to my mother; passed to cousin; returned to me b/c I’ve really gotten into “scratch” cooking. Have been very pleased with the two pizza dough recipes tested thus far, also a nice ol’ plain white bread. Mistakenly opened the plain flour bag vs. bread flour so have no idea what will happen to this batch.
Anybody got a recipe they really love featuring crab meat? Have been freezing lots in 8 oz. packages but used mostly for crab cakes thus far.
CHS @ 5:58 -
Sic’um, sister! *g*
There’s a new Silk Road Project CD out, recordings from their recent concert series in Chicago. Good stuff.
I’m longing for some antipasto salad. Hot here, too.
Books: If you haven’t read any Ngaio Marsh, do. She’s great. I clump her in with Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham and so on.
Philip Pullman is great in a sort of Potter vein.
Chef!
is one of the funniest shows, BBC from the 90s so you may have seen it, but i love it;)
Have a great day!
Christy – sorry for making you an “ie” person. I need another tank or 2 of coffie ;-{nomolos @ 72
Put out a basket of multi-colored eggs and the bunnies will think it is Easter and will be too busy to eat lettuce. Alternatively, put a stuffed fox in your garden (it works to keep Canadian geese away). Or, maybe you could hang some plastic owls from the tree branches near by-that works for pigeons.
Nomolos @ 73, I only half jokingly suggested we get some rabbit food and spread it around the perimeter of the yard. They seem to be leaving the tomatoes and peppers alone, but they love my lamium, echinachea and black eyed susans! I think the bunnies around here are already inviting all their bunny friends to party all night at Mack’s cafe.
btw, just a reminder that we have Rick Noriega who is running for the Senate in Texas as today’s Blue America guest at 2 pm ET/11 am PT. I think you guys are going to really enjoy the chat!
egregious @ 76
Perfect! It suits me. I hope it doesn’t me anything dreadful in Armenian or anything though.
heart you Christy and everyone here always, good morning and weekend
ccmask 52….picked up Suite Francaise at the bookstore the other day myself, dammit is there ever an end to normal people being f*cked over by f*cking invading warmongers….
off to hug my cat, get taken out to breakfast by my lover, then chores and guitar-playing
life could be worse
and Cheney’s of course working on it
My other new activity is the college hunt with my 17 year old, who will be a senior next week. Yesterday, I tucked myself in the backseat of the Corolla and let myself be driven up to DesMoines to Drake University by my son and his friend (their long legs gave them the front and besides, they could pretend they were on their first road trip if I kept quiet). The two boys are a total delight and give hope for the future.
The trappings and cameras from last Sunday’s debate are still up at Drake, as the Dem debate will be there in two weeks. Since my son is interested in political sci and journalism, he got a real kick out of that.
Any advice about the college hunt from others will be gratefully read.
Tafkam @ 82
Look it up in the Urban Dictionary!!! :)
Uh-oh. Just looked up Tafkam. And what do you know, it’s in the urban dictionary. I think I’ll stay away from that one.
How’s Calzee?
Wonderful recipes for zucchini – Has anyone ever fried zucchini slices that were dipped in egg and coated with Ritz crackers? It is wonderful – and the texture is somewhat reminiscent of tempura.
I’m missing my garden a lot with your stories – I used to plant carrots for the horses and goats, bunnies got carrot tops and lettuces, and the goats got tiny fingerling carrots. Chickens loved the greens, too. Nothing went to waste, that’s for sure. And when the apple and pear tress produced, it was a frenzy of feeding by everyone.
The artist formerly known as Mack @ 81
Heh. I used to be a building administrator for a corporation with some decent assets; the building sat on a lot that was partially wooded, adjoining neighboring woods. Meaning, lots of wildlife including deer. I’d even had to chase away snakes from the doorstep…
When planning the flowerbeds around the building each spring, I had to ask the landscapers for plants that were rabbit- and deer-proof. They suggested Dutchman’s Breeches (early spring blooms), daylilies (mid-summer blooms), and echinacea (mid-late summer blooms).
What a joke. They ate them all, leaving only enough behind to suggest how pretty they might all have been had there been no wildlife.
Worse, they seemed to prefer the ones closer to the building, right under the security cameras. Go figure.
NZ Expat, now in KS @ 85
Might I suggest you go a little (okay a lot) further to Galesburg, IL and look at Knox College if he’s interested in PoliSci? Their last three commencement speakers in reverse order were: Bill Clinton, Stephen Colbert and Barack Obama. John Podesta is an alumni and snags some good speakers. Plus I think the choice of speakers says a lot about the school.
Ooooops. nomolos @ 86 totally screwed up editing. Sorry egregious.
On reading, I’ve just started Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains about Dr. Paul Farmer, who is working on infectious diseases in Haiti as far as I am in the book. I heard that he is also working in Africa.
Anyone else read it?
NZ Expat, now in KS @ 85
Well, I believe Drake was the alma mater of Sara Taylor (who disgraced my surname).
But state supported colleges are often a very good option. Especially when we see the results of Yale educations and such by people like Little Boots, Lieberman, Yoo, et al. /s
Thanks, nomolos @ 86, just did that and saw that it definitely did not suit me!
Morning Christy:
My wife and I went to the new movie “Stardust” last night. A pretty entertaining “escape” film. Robert DeNiro was quite funny as an eccentric and cross-dressing captain of a Victorian sky vessel (part dirigible, part pirate ship). Michelle Pfeiffer was great as a 500 year old witch.
It was wonderful to get away from the real world for a couple of hours.
bntw: Kos and SusanG have a great editorial in the WaPo today. He’ll be on MTP tomorrow debating Harold Ford. Kos needs to keep making the point that we represent the mainstream of America, not the DLC.
I picked up Loreena McKenitt’s new disc An Ancient Muse about 2 weeks ago. And Nanci Griffith’s Ruby’s Touch is another one I got at the same time. I think you would like them both Christy.
JPL @ 41
Excellent photography.
They are clearly desperate, as evinced in the rethug statement that we need a new 9/11 and lots of dead to save this country (now being give play on Fox and elsewhere).
A work order for Osama? You don’t need an overt conspiracy when there’s such a coincidence of interests.
Kevster at 95 — I’ve seen the trailer for that and it did look intriguing. Thanks for the heads up!
Rayne @ 89, I know what you mean, the echinacea are the cruelest cut of all. Out of three plants I have one, count ‘em, ONE bloom appx. 6 inches tall. Same with the black eyed susans. Three plants, one bloom. Bah!
NZ Expat, now in KS @ 85
Meteor shower peaks this weekend
Thanks Calzee. I’ll go look at it. It sounds like the place that I would have wanted to go.
One of his desires is to live in a big enough city to have a variety of media outlets, as he wants to get practical internships while in college. He says that he wants to graduate with intellectual knowledge and a load of practical experience. He doesn’t want to just graduate with theory.
He’s been set on being a sports broadcaster forever, despite my questioning the redeeming value of such (tough having a Mennonite for a mother). But lately, he says that he is interested in how David Halberstam combined writing about serious subjects with writing about sports. And then we have our favorite sports broadcaster, Keith Olbermann.
We met a woman from St. Petersberg, Russia yesterday. When my son said he wanted to be a journalist, she almost gasped and said “That is a dangerous profession.” And there was a journalist killed in CA last week, but lately, journalism is just lapping out of the pet bowls here. I fondly hope that if my son does pursue this, he will have the courage now not often seen.
Have a safe trip RevDeb.
twolf1 @ 102
thanks for the reminder!
Stravinsky conducting Stravinsky. Doesn’t get any better than that. Great way to start the day. Thanks, Christy.
NZ Expat @ 103, lots of good choices out there and your son sure sounds like some fun to college shop with – good luck!
One of our favorite paces to go to get some serious down time is Denmark, that is, via Shakespeare. We have a copy of Hamlet directed by Peter Brook and his multi racial cast of superb actors. Brook’s colorful minimalist sets are stunning but it’s the intimacy and superb acting makes this production riveting. It’s like no other film production of Shakespeare we have ever seen. I think we’ll go to the well once again. It is also nice to be reminded that frailty, deception and madness are not new to mankind.
I’m into Book Two of the His Dark Materials trilogy (followup to The Golden Compass). What a remarkable read! This book is even better than the first, and I’ve been told the third will knock socks off. Mine, I guess.
I have Annie Dillard’s novel, The Maytrees, on deck.
And from time to time, for sheer mind candy, I shift to yet another Stephanie Plum book (by Janet Evanovich). Cheeky, earthy, funny.
Still listening to Irish music. But ‘The Gadfly’ score by Shostakovich is yummy. As is pretty much anything by Dvorak and Saint Saens.
Just figured out from reading this post and comments why I’m perpetually cranky. I’m allergic to chocolate. (Hear pups suck in collective breath, saying “Oh no!”)
TA-DAH!
SouthernDragon at 106 — I thought it was an amazing find. Watching his facial expressions as he cues in the various sections was such a treat. Thought some of you all would enjoy it as well…
texasblue @ 40
E. FUDD EXPWAINS SCOOTER WIBBY
You want to talk about Scooter Wibby? OK.
Vawewie Pwame was a gweat danger to Amewica. She was a CIA opewative, and she was mawwied to a Democwat.
Not just any Democwat, but one who wote in the New York Times that the Pwesident was wying about Iwaq.
Wichard Cheney decided to destwoy Ms. Pwame’s weputation to keep our countwy safe from tewwowists.
Scooter Wibby was ordered by Wichard Cheney to tell weporters about Vawewie Pwame. When the FBI asked him if he had committed a cwime, he told them it was all Tim Wussert’s fault.
Patwick Fitzgewald got the juwy to convict Scooter for obstwuction of justice and perjuwy, but Bush wet him off.
The Pwesident did not want Mr. Wibby to be tempted to become a wat, or tell a gwand juwy that Wichard Cheney had committed tweason.
–E. Fudd, Twue Amewican
barbara @ 109
A glass, or two, of merlot taken with chocolate will remove any toxicity
David Ehrenstein @ 110
cooper’s poop?
nomolos @ 113
Where’ve you been all my life?? Merlot and chocolate for breakfast. Boo-yah!!
David at 110 — Ooooooooh! FAB. U. LOUS! I had no idea he interned at CIA…and that did almost make me spew my coffee. *g*
NZ Expat, now in KS @ 103
Could try looking at Oberlin in OH, strong activism roots there, nice combination of politics and art.
However if he’s looking at a career in broadcasting, I wonder if USC-Santa Cruz would be a good option since they have excellent, well-know student media along with a good program in politics.
If he’s open to going overseas, you could look at Victoria University of Wellington, strong in both media and politics (and a trip back to NZ!). I’ve also heard that University of Sydney is good for politics. Both are likely less expensive than American schools, although that could change if the dollar crashes.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 53
And also if you have gardenias and the leaves are turning yellow.
Waitress I thought was very funny. It may not be out on dvd. The use of pies as a metaphor in was very poignant and funny, and it had some the oddest characters I’ve seen in a long time. Kerri Russell was very enjoyable to watch. The writer/director/costar Adrienne Shelly was killed after the film was released. Such a tragic story about her.
I had a positive interview yesterday so here’s hoping that it will come through. They would be foolish not to hire such a savvy professional as myself. And then of course another prospect was offered and fell through yesterday after I got back from the interview. That’s number 5 for the month.
David Ehrenstein @ 110
You’re just kidding us about the cologne, aren’t you?
Nice spot DavidE. I became a fan of Cooper when he went to New Orleans wrt Katrina. I only wish he was still there exposing the rest of the storm.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 116
same here! but I wasn’t drinking anything.
NZ Expat, now in KS @ 103
Your son might like the University of Iowa, a good, broad university, in a medium-size, progressive city, that has the full range of big time sports.
Speaking of readiing. I picked up a copy of Vince Flynn (I think the name is) in an airport bookstore in Atlanta a while back to read while waiting out the airlines. Not only was it trash, but the guy is clearly a neo-con. I bet alot of the rethugs have read him; he basically walked readers through the justification for torture (billed as the “only” way to get key information to save lives quickly) and the Iraq war invasion before it happened. Everything in it was “evil Islamists” out to blow up the white house and kill us all. Like the TV show 24 on Fox, his work seems to have been part of a broader trend to mix fact and fiction to make these actions have an even bigger imprint. He even thanks Mary Matalin in the foreward of one book. Alas, he writes an all exciting yarn, which kept me in it despite my better judgment.
Has anyone else read him?
Just wanted to say hi. Im half way through reading and want to say that I look forward to this thread every week
No craft show this week but I have been in the garden watering. Its way too hot and I wonder when it will end.
Drying some cherry type tomatoes. they turn out like tomato raisins for use later.
Books to Read “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by the author of “Kite Runner”. I will be haunted for a long time. What terrible treatment of women. It never seems real until it is made personal. We are so lucky.
The ixnays are finally going to England next month. Any tips on must-sees and avoid-at-all-costs? So far Slowtravel and Rick Steves have been invaluable.
Rereading “Wind in the Willows” and Bill Bryson’s “Notes from a Small Island” to get psyched. Bryson may be the funniest writer on the planet.
I just bought “Armed Madhouse”. I’ve only read about 50 pages or so but I’m really enjoying it. Actually, after reading just a few pages, I knew I would like it and set it aside for my labor day getaway. But, no, I don’t think I can wait.
Quick flyby from the tall timber. ‘mornin’ Christy and all.
We watched Pan’s Labyrinth when it first came out on DVD. A distressing movie. But excellent.
Yesterday’s Strib reviewed Neil Gaiman’s “Stardust” just out–this sounds like a fantasy you’d really like, Christy. Maybe until it’s on DVD the book would be a worthy read. I’m going to look for it.
Meanwhile, we’re battening down the hatches for a thunderstorm, watching the red pines swaying overhead, and enjoying fresh ground-n-brewed Caribou Coffee.
Later I’ll be trying to replicate the yummy artichoke pesto we got from our local Breadsmith until the distributor disappeared.
Whatever your escape passion, pups, make the most of it. ’cause our government may be on vacation, but Monday, we’ll be ready to roll again.
ixnay at 125 — Are you going to be in London? I loved strolling through Hyde Park. And the British Museum is amazing. But I’ve only been once, and I’m certain that you’ll get a LOT of great info from the well-travelled folks here in the comments. :)
Elliott @ 121
I had heard rumors. Great to have it out there. I hope media makes a big deal of it.
David at 110….I would say you wrote yourself a stylish piece there. Thanks for sharing it here.
NZ Expat at 130 — It’s one of the many reasons I love reading David’s work. His way with words is superb, and the snarky bits are always at the Wolcott level. Love it.
NZ Expat, now in KS @ 92
We read this book for my book club a few years back (still a favorite of the group). It is a marvelous testament to the difference one person can make….and is compellingly written.
Within the context of your son’s college search, this is a popular required summer reading for incoming college freshman. It was the choice at Duke (Farmer’s UG alma mater)for the class of 2008. Kidder and Farmer both came to the campus to meet with students. Everyone was capitvated by Paulas a person and astonished by his commitment.
Yes, Paul is working in Africa now too and has some affiliation with and support from the Gates Foundation. I suspect he and Melinda Gates met during one of these Duke trips because she was a trustee there at the time.
Best of luck with your college search with your son. I used to be a college/grad school admissions person. Could write a SNL skit about what you’ll see — mostly from the behavior of the other parents you will encounter. *g*
MSNBC reports that the Bush’s will serve hotdogs and hamburgers to French President Sarkozy and his wife while they are vacationing at the Bush family compound in Maine.
When my comment uploaded, my screen refreshed on texasblue’s comment, so I have to add this p.s.
You cannot sustain the flow of the lake without fresh energy from the underground springs and the trickling waters.
Renewal is vital for sustaining us all. We hope you’ll join in with nourishing waters that inform and energize us. Alkali just poisons the waters.
Richmond @ 123
No, but in Borders one of their little signs said ‘if you like Flynn then try…”. Well, I like to see who gets top billing and nearly bought one of Flynn’s books. Glad I didn’t. It would be like reading Crichton’s book about Global Warming. I’d read and think WTF, over and over and over….
3-4 days in London at the end of two weeks driving on the wrong side. Roughly circling the country anti-clockwise as they say. British Museum is high on the list.
ixnay – our great find was the cathedral town of Wells, south of Bath. I’m glad I saw Bath, but was overwhelmed by the tourist stuff and just needed a quiet lovely town. So we hopped on a local bus and bumbled down to Wells. The cathedral was started in the 900’s, if my memory is accurate. My engineering husband was impressed with the scissors arch, and I loved the worn stone steps to the Charter meeting room. It was a sweet and quiet interlude, off the beaten track. I highly recommend it.
twolf1 @ 133
What a buffoon.
solai @ 138
Maybe they’ll serve freedom fries too (insert best Jon Stewart ‘heh heh heh’ here)
I’m sure somebody’s already posted this, but just in case:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITI…..index.html
War czar calls for draft
Movie Suggestion:
The World’s Fastest Indian (based on one hell of a true story). Here is the description on the box.
Academy Award Winner, Anthony Hopkins stars as Burt Munro, a man who never let the dreams of youth fade.
In the late 1960s, after a lifetime of perfecting his classic Indian Motorcylce, Burt sets off from the bottom of the world, Invercargill, New Zeasland, to clock his bike at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. With all odds against him, Burt puts his irrepressible”kiwi” spirit to the test, braving the New World on a shoestring budget. Burt’s quest culminates in an unlikely conclusion and remains legendary within the motorcycle community to this day.
We accidently found this little gem in our local movie store when we were browsing last Saturday. We loved it. A real feel good movie. Here’s what Ebert & Robert said (and for once I agree with them).
“One of the Year’s most lovable movies. Anthony Hopkins finds all the right notes to create one of the year’s most endearing oddball heroes.
Ixnay,
Go see the Magna Carta in the British Library in London and tell us if any of the sections have been crossed out, now that we’re moving toward pre-1215 government.
ixnay @ 125
My favorite small museum of all time (history buff that I am ) is the Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms in London. It’s conveniently located and doesn’t have the crowds of other places. Also, is well curated. My daughter first went in her midteens and even she was a fan — has since directed her friends there.
I would urge Americans to say, driving on the other side or the appropriate side. I’m still a bit sensitive to this being called the “wrong” side.
Anyway, defensiveness aside, let me say that the best tip I got was that the driver is always in the middle of the road (one way streets do make me pause longer when I just arrive in one country or another, as they are an exception to the center of the road rule). I also move my hand in front of my body to orient myself as to where I need to be. My brain is hesitant on spatial issues, so I need to physically lead myself to the appropriate configuration. Also, be cautious coming out of parking lots, particularly if there isn’t much traffic.
I’m still turning on my windshield wipers when I make turns and it is about 100 degrees and dry as a bone, so I garner puzzled looks. My just turned 17 year old has driven now in New Zealand and here. He is much quicker at making transitions between American and NZ driving and generally drives when we are together. He’s good.
Add some pinapple-nut-cream cheese frosting to that choc zuc cake for some extra heaven – yumm
Good Morning-
Oh how refreshing you are today. You have hit the nail squarly on the head. We, I think are all tired of this meltdown attitude. Let us all to remember to (whatever your persuassion)
“Let go and Let God”
Have a Very Sunny Day!
yes, The Triplets of Belleville. A French animated movie. Now mind you, the only movies I have ever walked out on were French…well, except for that horrid flick with Dolly Parton (who I love) and a couple other famous women,..but anyway, Triplets… rent it. Amazing animation. Wonderful wonderful story
Pan’s Labyrinth was amazing albeit haunting. We saw it once several months ago and it’s on our list to rent again – definitely a film that needs more than one take I think.
As for reading, Sandy Tolan’s The Lemon Tree is a wonderfully written, balanced account of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict told through the stories of two people who grew up in the same home in Ramla. They meet when Bashir returns (’67) after 20 years in exile to see his childhood home and finds Dalia. Good read though not exactly beach material.
Yes, Jane (nyc) the Cabinet War Rooms are very good. Also, I made it a point to walk through as many of the public gardens as possible. It is lovely to spend at least one afternoon sitting in a public garden and just watching how others spend their time.
egregious, you asked a question a few weeks back. the answer is yes.
Potter for me this weekend, as all the ladies in the family (3) of them have had their crack at it and the partner has returned from her trip with our copy.
Tomatoes and Peaches in abundance. With no one home but me and the 3-legged, 14-year-old dog for two weeks, I could keep up with the ‘maters, but not the peaches, which litter the ground. I never have time to clean it up until the weekend.
But, as I said, the pie maker has returned home, so maybe some nice peach pie.
epsom salt…have to try that. will google for more info.
the college hunt with the kiddies is fun. they rule out places for reasons you dont even detect when you walk around with them.
best to you all. and there are some days when I dont take to saturday refueling on the blog….then I just go about my business. Glad to see it today.
David Ehrenstein @ 110
One of the great ironies of television was Anderson Cooper hosting “The Mole,” an adventure/reality television show, with the element of subterfuge explicit rather than implicit.
And Christy’s right: David does almost match Wolcott on the humour/snark factor ….
Thanks Neil.
OT, but a most provocative article from Salon-Liquidate Goldman Sachs!.
snip>
Sack Henry Paulson. Liquidate Goldman Sachs. Call Alan Greenspan to account. End Moody’s rating franchise. Arrest a few dozen salesmen of Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs). Those should be the correct responses to the chaos roiling western financial markets and beginning to have a knock-on effect on an otherwise soundly placed East Asia.
The market chaos is not a random event like a tsunami. This is the direct consequence of the Ponzi schemes created by Wall Street to satisfy its own inestimable greed. It is the result of a pyramid of lies which has immeasurably enriched U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson (whose shares in Goldman were worth almost US $1 billion) and a whole class of similar investment bankers at the expense of millions of U.S. home owners and tens of millions of pension plan investors around the world who were persuaded to buy Wall Street’s elegantly packaged deceptions.
The king of Wall Street for the past several years has been Goldman Sachs and the king of Goldman was, until last year, Paulson. He was paid U.S. $29 million and his successor Lloyd Blankfein, who took over in mid-year, was paid $53 million. They should give all that back, not to the shareholders of Goldman but to a fund to help its myriad victims.
What else needs to be said…poor Bush… not
Off to the library for some more
pointlesstargeted job hunting – reading Tragic Legacy now. I so admire Glenn’s writing ability and use of reason.ixnay @ 136
Devon, where I lived and went to school, is truly beautiful. A boat trip down the river Dart from Totnes to Ditisham (best plums in all the world!) is a joy and oh so peaceful. Dartmoor is marvelous to walk with places like Widdicome with thatched cottages or Cockington near Torquay, the English Riviera with tropical plants and palm trees. And the sea is toasty warm with long flat sandy beaches. Of course you always stop in at my first “local” called The Cott Inn, it was built in 1200 something. It is located in Dartington, the home of a VERY progressive school and the home of the Dartington Music School…. now I am getting teary with nostalgia…gotta stop.
Have a great time
OK folks, this is my summer food. Which I’m about to make for
the dp and methe in-laws.Peach Blackberry Cobbler
Filling:
6-8 ripe peaches, peeled and cut into 1/8ths
2 pints blackberries, rinse and cleaned
1 tbsp fresh lemon zest
1-2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
Fresh grated nutmeg
4 tbsp tapioca flakes
1/3 cup sugar
Place the peaches and berries in a large, non-reactive bowl. Add the dry ingredients. Add the liquid ingredients. VERY gently toss all ingredients, using your hands, until the berries and peaches are evenly coated. Set aside for 30 minutes.
Once the peaches and berries have macerated, place them in an 11″ glass baking dish. The dish should be about 2″ deep to hold the berries.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Once the oven reaches 350 degrees, place the filled baking dish in the bottom of the oven for 10 minutes. The peach-berry filling should just be starting to bubble.
Cobbler:
1 1/3 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
6 tbsp butter, cold, cut into 1/4″ chunks
1/4 cup cream
1/4 cup milk
Mix all dry ingredients together. Cut in butter with a pastry knife until the butter and flour mixture has an oatmeal like texture. Add the milk and cream. Mix until the batter just holds together. Do not over mix.
Assembly:
Remove the pre-baked filling from the oven. Make sure to shut the oven door. Place 1-2″ pieces of the cobbler batter on top of the filling, leaving only small breaks. Place the dish on the lower rack of the oven. Set timer for 10 minutes. At 10 minutes, move the baking dish and cobbler to the top rack, and sprinkle 1 tbsp of sugar on top of the cobbler. After 10 minutes, turn off the oven, and allow the cobbler to remain in for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool to room temperature.
Serve with vanilla ice cream.
To reheat cobbler, place serving in oven-proof bowl and heat in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.
Ginger with choc zuc? Now that sounds great. Back later – - going to the kitchen.
N=1 — if you’re still there…have you ever belonged to a union?
AFL was looking for another blogger, just occurred to me that you might be fit if you’d ever been in a union. ??
G’Morning, firepups! This is what’s playing in the background as i gratefully sip coffee (an old Swedish saying: “Of all earthly drinks, coffee is the most Heavenly”)
found this on the late nite thread. h/t to (whoever posted it – burnsperg?)
I think it’s lovely: Bruddah IZ – Somewhere Over the Rainbow…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL-uL2M3xvM
Hello Christy, Mods and all pups everywhere.
Beautiful mornin in Staten Island, New York.
Yeah I know I posted it recently, but these words just won’t get out of my head. Dedicated to Christy and all pups, Here’s Leon Russell.
snip
Well I don’t exactly know what’s
going on in the world today
Don’t know what there is to say
About the way the people are treating each other
Not like brothers
Leaders take us far away
from ecology
With mythology
and astrology
Has got some words to say about the way we live today
Why can’t we learn to love each other
It’s time to learn a new faith
To the whole world wide human race
And lay back
Relax
and get back on the human track
Stop racing toward oblivion
Oh, such a sad, sad state we’re in and that’s a thing
Do you recognize the bells of truth when you hear them ring
Won’t you stop and listen to the children sing
snip
Stranger in a Strange Land – You Tube
Rayne @ 160
Yes – one summer as a student working as a nursing aide, and a couple of years under a collective bargaining contract from a professional nurses association. Tula knows I’m looking, though – thanks.
newdealfarmgrrrlll @ 161
well that was a treat!
Went to London in Summer 2001. Did all the touristy things. One of my favorites was St.Paul’s cathedral. We had a wonderful tour guide who told stories of the lengths they went through to protect it during WWII and repair it afterward.nonplussed @ 154
I’m not going to pretend to understand all the intricacies involved here, but does it not seem like the whole BushCo agenda was to plunder the U.S. Treasury and enrich themselves at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer?
N=1 @ 164
Ask Tula to contact AFL specifically if she can do that for you. They may be interested in someone in a certain region, must add that caveat. But they were looking. They’ve hired a bright young man from my hometown, but there will be PLENTY to blog about this coming year for unions. Especially here in my backyard when the right-wing attacks workers on legal front with a ballot initiative.
Rayne @ 167
Thanks, Rayne. Yes – worker protections and rights are central to just about everything. Tula has already forwarded my info on, but there wasn’t interest. It was great of her to do that.
Elliott @ 165
he’s my fave local musician, absolutely breath-holding awesome to go to a home concert (a grass-roots music movement/phenom) in someone’s living room and hear him play. Have several of his CDs, highly recommend any and all.
nonplussed @ 154
Yup!
ixnay @ 136
I took my parents on the same tour in 1979.1100 miles through Scotland, Wales, and England. We stayed in B and B’s where we met the locals.
Be sure to include Edinborough if you make it that far north. Drive B roads if you really want to see the countryside but may have to layby for a flock of Ducks etc.
Have a great trip.
N=1 — You know, it occurs to me that local law firms are often looking for nursing experts to review case files for medmal cases — on both sides of the case, representing the medical professionals in defense firms and suing them in plaintiff’s firms, so there is potential for working either side depending on your personal preference. No idea if you would be interested in doing that sort of work, but it’s another possibility. Medmal was never my cup of tea, but it could be a decent job depending on the firm…
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. A contender for my best read of the year. Truly.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 30
Morning, all! Us left coasters have the advantage at night but definitely not in the morning ;-). I watched this movie not too long ago and I agree — it was a very well done movie, both poetical and very disturbing. NOT a children’s movie, for sure. One of the things that occurred to me about it was that for all the beauty, etc., of the fairy/fantasy world, it mirrored the real world too closely — leaves you wondering how much was supposed to be real and how much was the child making the best of the only thing that she knew. If you think about it, both major male characters (I’m trying not to be too spoilery) are equally harsh and dictatorial in telling her what to do, how to do it, get it done now, make me happy, etc. Creepy.
Of course, I’m sure Hollywood will have to get its hands on it to do a remake *shudder*.
I’ve been using PB as a handle, but if I get an FDL facebook setup, I’ll probably switch to PeanutButter. I don’t see anyone else using that?
Oh, and anangryoldbroad at 14 — ecofarming fascinates me greatly. I really think it’s one of the things that’s going to be essential for us to do — move back toward highly local, highly diversified farming, whether it be the tiny 1/4 acre lot tucked into neighborhoods, or selected floors on highrises given over to hydroponics and such. In the future, we will not be able to move food around as much, and we need to preserve the biodiversity … ecofarming gives us a way to accomplish both. I’m trying to plant more on my lot, though progress is slow, working by myself and experimenting with what I can do while employed full time. Anyway, enough yawping, back to catching up on the comments…
Rayne @ 7
Oh, Rayne, would I LOVE that recipie!!!!
You can find me @ the above sreen name at AOL.com
Jim Clausen @ 171
Mmmm…one of my best memories involves 6 weeks, two college friends, a ramshackle car, and Britain. We drove around clockwise from London, to Dover, to Lands End, up through Cardiff/Manchester, Lakes district, Lochness, Edinborough(sp), York, Cambridge, etc. Fun times.
Good morning everyone! Just now getting up after a Late Night hoedown here at the Lake. Green tea and Stravinsky, thanks Christy!
It’s Hatch season, picked up a 4 or 5 lb bag of already roasted peppers yesterday for only 2.50 and I’m needing recipes. This morning I’m going to stuff a few with cheesy, bacony scrambled eggs.
NZ at 144-
Which of us is driving on the inappropriate side?
;-)
Thanks to all for the wonderful ideas.
Now if I could just disarm this man attacking me with a piece of fruit…
Christy Hardin Smith @ 172
Thanks, Christy:
I reviewed several cases years ago, but I got panic attacks during the public speaking components – depositions, expert witness components, so it was a no go. I really did enjoy analyzing the records, though, and I still love anything to do with patient safety. I need to be a behind the scenes type – I’m OK when presenting to peers or in an educational setting, but no lights, camera and action for me. *g*
N=1 — I wasn’t thinking about as an expert witness, but more as an internal preparation paralegal type of job. Wasn’t certain about your credentials in terms of testimony — but firms often have in-house folks with expertise to provide guidance for deposition questions and such. Might be worth a shot…and it would require interaction with the in-house attorneys, not testimony, for something like that.
This ecofarming topic got me thinking that could be good topic for discussion when the enviromental group I work with does community outreach.
I’ll have to explore this further. There was a move on a few years back to limit high density housing here in southern NJ, and the communities that adopted this would allow one house per acre, which in turn encouraged builder to build bigger houses. Thus the rise of McMansions in southern NJ. There’s lots of properties with open spaces.
Gotta go host an Adoption Day we’re holding at the local Petsmart with some of our available chows, but I wanted to swoop in. (Haven’t had a chance to read all the posts; will do so when I return.)
Our family finds Mr. Potatohead a useful reference. Like we often refer to a rescue dog as a “Mr. Potatohead:” head of chow, body of Neufundland, etc.,; political policy similarly put together without rhyme or reason, etc.
Books: in addition to returning to Anthony Trollope or Jane Austen, my guilty pleasure is Fern Michaels — really easy “beach read,” but I find myself both absorbed and transported.
Video: I just ordered from Netflics some of the old Gary Sanders Show [Larry Sandling]: Funny, wry. Also, I can watch The Office endlessly (can’t wait ’til the latest season comes out Sept. 4), and episodes of the Simpsons with the comments “on” are great as well. Bonus is that my 19 year old son loves this stuff, so it’s “bonding time” before he heads back to college.
Off to get covered in dog hair.
In one way I understand texasblue’s sentiment (@40), but Christy’s point is well taken. I, for one, welcome a respite from the overload of corruption, calling our Congresspeople constantly, the dirt of the political landscape blowing in our faces.
If we can’t take some time to share the arts, music, food, literature, and laughter then what have we become?
There are more than enough places to get political analysis, day in day out. It’s the humanity here that makes the difference.
In this angry political season something has got to give. Wonder what it will be.
Comeback Kid?
Newt Gingrich carries some political baggage, but he knows how to shake up the system. It may be just what America needs for 2008.
The country wants different leadership, and Gingrich sees an opening. It’s hard to imagine him winning the nomination much less the presidency with the baggage he brings, but he’ll have a following if he can break through the canned commercialized process we’re trapped in.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20…../newsweek/
Back to robbing us blind. One of my favorites is Rumsfeld’s having stock in Gilead which makes Tamiflu. He said that he talked to people in the administration and they told him that as long as he was upfront about it, that it was probably okay. He raked in about 5-6 mil.
Thanks fans.
And I’m Not kidding about the cologne.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 180
Oh – that’s interesting. That’s what I had originally agreed to, and the paralegal who contracted me disappeared after I reviewed the cases, and then one of the firm’s attorneys demanded that I give depositions and testify. Was furious with me that I hadn’t done that before – even though it had never been discussed with me as a part of the contract. I dunno – that really intimidated me, and my level of self-confidence is already rock bottom – not sure I would feel safe in exploring that. But I’ll keep my eyes open and look for review-only types of jobs or contracts. Thanks!
E FUDD @112
You are weally, weally funny!
bookwoman at 183 — Yes, I think that point would have had more ooomph if I hadn’t done 14 substantive posts (not counting Sunday Talking Heads, which is really just an informational post) since last Sunday alone. And this was a slow-ish week for me, since I had to deal with YKos travel and I had a power outage to contend with mid-week and couldn’t do research that afternoon/night so folks had to scramble a few things together for me for first thing in the morning that particular day. Usually, it’s more along the lines of 20 or more posts a week, just about every week. And, since I work on the blog 7 days a week, I think doing a single non-political post on Saturday mornings isn’t exactly going to kill the blog.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 189
{{{{{Christy!!!}}}}}}
All work and no play and all that kinda stuff doncha know…
FWIW…I love Saturday morns.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 189
Oh heck, no. And look where some of the discussions branched off. There’s plenty of thoughtful intelligent commentary here in general terms even if it’s not directed at a specific political outrage (du jour these days, I’m afraid)…
Besides, now I have some killer recipes to try out ;-). I’ll have to post some of my own at some point.
A sign of the times. Is this what we in this country are in for?
Police to use terror laws on Heathrow climate protesters
Government has encouraged use of stop and search and detention without charge
http://politics.guardian.co.uk…..92,00.html
Pan’s Labryinth, to me, is a hauntingly beautiful story.
The fairytale in the beginning, as prologue, explains how the Princess became estranged from her parents, the King and Queen, and found herself on the surface of the Earth living a mere mortal’s life – having lost/forgotten the way back home.
Despite the horrific setting – fascist Spain and the heavy hand of a ruthless ideologue step-father hunting ‘rebels’ – in a parallel series of scenes the daughter, Ofelia, ’sorts out’ with the help of Pan her way back through his labryinth – by completing three tasks – in an effort to re-unite with her true parents, the King and Queen.
Ofelia seeks to complete the three tasks while her oppressive fascist-loving step-father seeks to catch the rebels. It all comes crashing to a dramatic confrontation at the end, with the step-father chasing the newly-branded ‘rebels’ – Ofelia and her just-born baby brother.
Pan tells Ofelia that the portal to the underworld won’t open without spilling ‘the blood of an innocent’ – meaning her baby brother – just as the step-father catches-up to them and draws his pistol.
In the end, Ofelia makes a noble choice – the choice we would all hope to make.
I’m reading No Self, No Problem by Anam Thubten, and he quotes the following in a story he’s telling,
“And the Yogini replied,
Sitting in the ocean of luminous consciousness,
Observe all of the ripples without doing anything.
The waves of thought jump up. You simply watch them.
They never stay longer than a few seconds.
They always go back into the water.
Nevertheless now and then they jump out of the water again.
You watch them. They dance.
Then they go back into the water again.
There is already liberation in this non-doing observation.”
nomolos @ 157
If you’re going to be in the SW corner -
I’ve not been (tho’ hope to before I die) but from research, the gardens of Heligan in the Cornwall area sound wonderful. Two refs include: The Lost Gardens of Heligan by Tim Smit and Heligan: A Portrait of the Lost Gardens by Tom Petherick (great pics), both enjoyable reading. Heligan has a web site.
In London – absolutely the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
Give my love to England.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 189
couldn’t get through the rest of the week without Pulling Up a Chair on Saturday morning.
Thank you some more, Christy, for everything.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 189
For newbies, did you and Jane ever consider at some point creating an introduction to the blog which highlights some of the regular features, the more or less blog rules and culture, and which serves as a reference point for someone who is interested in engaging? (Such as not seeking the hard core research in Pull Up A Chair posts *g*.) Could be a FAQ or just a welcome mat post or something else entirely….
FYI: Kos will be on MTP tomorrow w/ Harold Ford. Then Charlie Rose on Monday and Colbert on Wednesday.
He has a post up at DKos.
PB at 192 — Exactly. Frankly, I think nurturing ourselves, both with good food nd good conversation, is something we don’t do enough. A stronger community means that we can all do the work with a lighter load — and that means that more work gets done. Strengthening our ties is a conscious choice and why we started doing this weekly Saturday respite — we all need it from time to time to get away from the anger and the fear and the disappointment and the details.
Anyone who doesn’t think that is important clearly isn’t cooking for their whole family on a budget or trying to make ends meet while squeezing a little joy out around the edges. We cannot spend our entire lives angry — if we are, we are all doing something wrong. (Plus, given the zucchini surplus, who can’t use a recipe or two this time of year? *g*)
egregious @ 46
Hi egreg. Well said.
texasblue, you must be a relative newbie here, not that there’s anything wrong with that *g*.
This habit of kicking back and finding something to enjoy and share on a Satidie morn is an honored tradition at the Lake. I think I can safely say it’s one that will continue. There’s a long string of heavier subject matter for your pleasure just a click away, if that’s your desire. We haven’t lost our frustration and anger, just “filed” it for a moment to rest and recoup. ;->
Thanks for the music bonbons, Christy. I sent the Stravinsky link on to our kids – they’ll be delighted, both with him & with trying to figure out who would be the soloists in the orchestra back then.
Hope you have a MOST enjoyable day with Peanut and Mr. Redd. ;->
newdealfarmgrrrlll @ 169
Morning newdeal and thanks for the Tim Sparks! I think Mr. D will like that. (I can hear him in the living room picking Beaumont Rag right now.)
A late good morning to all. Sleeping in is da bomb! We have been dealing with a lice infestation here, which has been totally no fun. Had a great meal all ready to go for some friends last Sat and had to cancel, and have to bail out of a picnic tonight because of it. Kids have been cooped up in the house all week and going a little crazy. School starts this week and that should help.
I’ve been watching ‘The Wire” on my iPod, which my brother turned me on to. It is an amazing police procedural with lots of layers and depth. I would definitely recommend it if you like that kind of thing. Also watch a few Larry Sanders episodes when I can.
Good morning,
NZEP, Didn’t Kurt Vonnegut graduate from the University of Iowa?
Watched a rerun of the Bill Moyers impeachment episode last night.. It’s even better after in a different way on a second viewing.
Henry Rollins interviewed Gore Vidal and I must admit I have never read one of Vidals books and it is now time. Anyone want to suggest a best first Gore Vidal book?
N=1 at 198 — The minute a list of rules or a FAQ goes up somewhere, the discussion immediately becomes an ongoing argument about the rules or the FAQ. So…um…no, not really.
Here’s another dose of relaxation for Christy, who more than amply deserves it along with Pull Up A Chair on Saturday mornings:
Iz Kamakawiwo’Ole’s White Sandy Beach
Don’t know how you are doing it all in the 3-to-5 year age group, one of the more demanding times in a child’s life — you are grace under pressure. But maybe these Saturday mornings are exactly what keeps you sane and with us the rest of the week…and that’s priceless.
I also tend to look at these chances to build community another way. When (and I do mean When) we finally get shet of the Bush Administration and we have a solid, super majority in the House and Senate and are able to begin to undo the damage, what will unite us then? Our sense of community will allow us to work more effectively together when we no longer have as large a common enemy. If we do not have that sense of community, we will fight amongst ourselves and allow the beast to regain its strength again.
Bring on the zucchini cakes and beach reads, I say.
Twisted at 203 — I LOVE The Wire. The scripts alone are worth the watching, because the dialogue is smart and well-informed. But the acting is beyond amazing. It’s one of our all-time faves.
solai @ 199
Kos has an op-ed in the Washed-up Post today. He gives GOPHarold Ford what for.
-GSD
btw, PW has a fresh thread up for everyone…
GSD at 208 — Yes, the even more fun part of that op-ed is that he and Harold Ford will be discussing politics on tomorrow’s Meet the Press. Set yer TIVOs…
Christy Hardin Smith @ 205
;->
Any Dean Koontz fans here? Am reading The Husband right now.
As for music, I’m going to put on Laurdsen’s Lux Aterna soon. Dreamy. Relaxing.
I made two banana cream pies yesterday for a potluck I went to. Have one left. Breakfast anyone?
Check out Henry Rollins show on Independent Film Channel. Jeanine Garofolo has a segment. Last night’s guest was Gore Vidal.
Gore Vidal said that all is already lost (Bill of Rights, Habeus Corpus, two stolen elections). Vidal said that the people need to wake up. He believes that the Republicans will steal the 08 elections.
Rollins does a great show.
The film “Joyeux Noel” is excellent! It’s the true story about an improvised truce during World War I and reminds us all that before being enemies, we are humans.
Also, Christy, if you want some romantic medieval adventure reading, e-mail me with an address, and I’ll send you my paperback trilogy.
wangdangdoodle @ 202
reading your comments last night, I think we have some musical tastes in common. (i have NO musical ability, god/dess in Her wisdom knew some of us needed to be the audience *g* )
Relax and enjoy your family, Christy, you so deserve it.
I too am feeling overwhelmed and depleted. What to do? A long walk, simply soaking in the colors of fields, woods, and mountains often helps. Hanging out watching funny films with my son. Shawn of the Dead, anyone?
Film? Watched The Painted Veil a few nights ago. Love Edward Norton, and would recommend this – set in 1920’s China – cholera outbreak. Interesting, poignant.
Book? Reading Harry Potter with my son. We’re at the Battle for Hogwarts. Very gripping, I love these books.
Also reading The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez Reverte – quite fascinating, a mystery to unravel concerning a Spanish ship, a Jesuit secret, and shipwreck salvaging operation.
ene Stratton Porter’s “A Girl Of The Limberlost”
When I want to get happy after a day of reading depressing news, I watch clips from Billy Elliot, the Musical on You Tube. Main roles are triple cast by gifted, focused young (age 9-13) actor-dancer-singers who make me smile. There are 20 some Billys now, including Australian and American casts (opens on Broadway in 2008; recommended), as they are replaced as soon as their voices break.
This clip has three of the original Billys (James Lomas, George Maguire, Liam Mower) with Elton John (who composed the score)doing “Electricity” as a trio at the Royal Variety show. Billy sings “Electricity” at the end of his interview at the Royal Ballet School when the judge asks him “Just one more thing, Billy. How does dancing make you feel?” Watch through to the end for an idea of the talent typical of these kids.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WNcSF6xGHyI&mode
Or this one with Brad Kavanagh and Liam Mower as Michael and Billy,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..g&mode
I’ve seen this show in London 3 times and can’t get enough! Enjoy!
JDM @ 217
Yes! and her “Freckles”
Christy, I wasn’t sure how much you’d be into it given your past career of dealing with drugs, neglect, poverty, etc in real life. It is really strong, just finished season 1.
On an unrelated note, are the ‘Neers fans gathering couches to burn in anticipation of another strong season from WV? I talked to my buddy from Portland OR and we aere getting together for the Michigan-Oregon game in Sept. We are having dinner Friday night at the place where my wife and I had our first date!
okay, so here’s a zucchini joke:
Why do Vermonters lock their cars at night?
So strangers don’t stuff them full of zucchinis.
LS at 195
That’s a beautiful passage!
Christy and everyone, I need a rest as well. The outrage overload’s really getting to me. As a result, I’ll be watching “While You Were Sleeping” at some point this weekend. It’s sweet, funny, and soothing. I’m also re-reading “Jane Eyre”, and remembering why I loved it so much as a teen.
Speaking of beach reads, I just polished off an ARC (Advance Reader’s Copy) of another author’s book. I love Jane Porter’s novels because she has such a gift for writing characters whose shoes I can walk around in for awhile. Her latest is “Odd Mom Out,” and I loved it. It’ll be out next month.
Christy, I hope you have a great weekend with Mr. ReddHead and The Peanut. Please give them an extra hug from us.
-S
Christy, try video of Hidalgo. Story of horse race across Arabia; excellent cinematography and acting. (and no, not all animal stories are sad).
And if you’re still here ixnay: consider heading towards Gloucester region (w of London). Take in small town of Farmington – great eats, the beautiful and old Farmington Church, and some nice, small shops. From there, head further NW toward Worcester – countryside is beautiful with plenty of small town shops/B&B’s along the way. And just NE of Worcester is Stratford upon Avon.
I really hear that. A week of solid torrential rain, followed by a week out of town, and my garden is also a trifle wild. But my problem is, I’m not happy about weeding. Oh not the labor of it – the ethics of it. I can pull up anything that is clearly hampering my vegetables, but pulling up “weeds” that are simply trying to grow, not getting in anyone’s way? I have to let them be. So things are – not as orderly as they could be.
nzexpat at 103 says-”Thanks Calzee. I’ll go look at it. It sounds like the place that I would have wanted to go.
One of his desires is to live in a big enough city to have a variety of media outlets, as he wants to get practical internships while in college. He says that he wants to graduate with intellectual knowledge and a load of practical experience. He doesn’t want to just graduate with theory.
He’s been set on being a sports broadcaster forever, despite my questioning the redeeming value of such (tough having a Mennonite for a mother). But lately, he says that he is interested in how David Halberstam combined writing about serious subjects with writing about sports. And then we have our favorite sports broadcaster, Keith Olbermann.
We met a woman from St. Petersberg, Russia yesterday. When my son said he wanted to be a journalist, she almost gasped and said “That is a dangerous profession.” And there was a journalist killed in CA last week, but lately, journalism is just lapping out of the pet bowls here. I fondly hope that if my son does pursue this, he will have the courage now not often seen.”
ohio university has a great school of journalism…..scripps-howard…hard to get accepted……
ohio university also has their own pbs station, with a nightly news broadcast during the week, and special sports shows in season…..however, we are not near a large city……1 1/2 hours from columbus and three hours from cincinnati.
JPL @ 55
Lives of others is my favorite movie of the year so far (sadly the star just passed away in the last few weeks). Saw Volver last night and while I was not blown away, it is lovely to see a movie directed by a man who loves women as women and as people.
I second the motion for Eat, Pray, Love — not normally my kind of book at all (I am more a Philip Roth/George Orwell kinda girl) but she won me over.
Recipe — perfect time for a watermelon and feta salad I think.
I’m reading backwards thru the comments:
E Fudd @112 -LOL!
nzexpat: Your son could look at Coe in Cedar Rapids; my daughter loves in there. It’s a good sized town, good scholarships.
Quilombo
The Children of Paradise
Brideshead Revisited
The Red Shoes
Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy — Smiley’s People
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (’81)
The Night of the Iguana
Beyond the Fringe
From Russia with Love
The Lion in Winter (’68)
A little late to this party, but I want to mention that ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ hit home hard, I’ve seen it twice – and the ending is a fair one. We can escape the world only a short time in our imagination.
For reading I want to strongly recommend to all ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series by George R.R. Martin. If you start, with ‘A Game of Thrones’, you won’t stop until you’ve read the 4th book, and will eagerly await the 5th. Strong female characters, and one of the most agonizing and compelling traits of Martin’s writing is that he doesn’t hesitate to maim or kill main characters. “I can’t believe he did that to …” is a common comment.
I really can’t recommend this series enough – I am not a Fantasy reader normally, although I am extremely familiar with “The Lord of the Rings” but never found an interest in the genre otherwise, as it is usually just tiresome made-up names, places, conventions. This series will grip you like no other. Fantasy written for adults, like ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’.
Oh, that is very sweet. I also have company out in my garden. A lovely doe is there with her two fawns nearly every day. Then several days ago, they started in fright and I turned to see a large coyote. I love coyotes too, but I’m worried about the fawns.
EurekaSprings,AR @ 204
Vonnegut taught at the famous writer’s workshop in Iowa City.
Read Slaughter House 5 for his real life account of the firebombing of Dresden.
Book recommendation, courtesy of Arthur Silber:
I’ve written about Pullman’s astonishing trilogy in this essay (which is the second part of my ongoing “Dominion Over the World” series); when I have time, I intend to discuss it in more detail. (Some readers told me they were reluctant to read that earlier piece, out of fear that it might contain spoilers. I assure you that, very intentionally, it does not.) Although Pullman wrote it in part for a young adult audience (and to some degree, as a refutation of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia Chronicles and its numerous awful messages), His Dark Materials is wonderfully serious in ways that can (and are) enjoyed by adults of any age. In fact, I’m about to read it for the second time.
I received a fair number of messages about His Dark Materials after that earlier essay, from people who read it on my recommendation. They were all extremely enthusiastic about it and very grateful that I had brought it to their attention. So if you’re looking for books that are simultaneously entertaining, fabulously imaginative and inventive, suspenseful, crafted with enormous skill, and provocative, get hold of a copy as soon as you can.
Lea-no uh @ 64
Oatmeal baths (messy, but effective) and a cleansing diet for a while. Simple stuff. Oatmeal for breakfast, fruit, and plenty of water and no junk with all the additives. Worked for me, but that’s empirical evidence.
Lindy @ 235
Aveeno has an oatmeal bath product that is less messy. Worked real good on my stepsons chicken pox.
Have just finished reading “Suite Francaise” by Irene Nimerovsky. Great book, about the fall of France in 1940 and the first year of being an occupied country.
Nimerovsky has such a clear idea of what was happening around her that it reads as though it was written decades later, when it actually was written as the events took place. Very sadly, the author was sent to Auschwitz and died in August 1942. The novel was only discovered a few years ago when her surving daughter first read what previously were thought to be documents on some other topic.
EurekaSprings,AR @ 204
Oops, forgot the Gore Vidal recommendation — Burr followed by 1876.
nomolos @ 39
Sounds like there should have been a “farmers’ market” section @ Yearly Kos — at least at the FDK break-out section of it.
NZ Expat, now in KS @ 85
And with reference to your subsequent posts on this subject:
#1 – you WILL get through it!! You’re lucky to be in the “middle of the country” and not on the “Crazy Coasts,” where parents can just go nutso.
#2 – if you son really interested in sports journalism, he might look at USC (University of Southern California). My son goes there, is a sports journalist, and LOVES it. He will be the “beat writer” covering the football team for the school paper this year — rather amazing for a sophomore. Their Annenburg School is well known and well-regarded, and the “contacts,” particularly within the sports journalism community, are legendary.
Also, USC (a private university, NOT one of the state schools) has LOTS of scholarship money for both kids with financial need, and to lure kids who might not. They ought to be particularly interested in a student from KS, since they continue to try to diversify their student body (about 50% of kids are from CA).
If you end up wanting to inquire further, please contact me [@aol.com].
Good luck.
Reading recomendations, anything in Terry Prachetts Disk World series. Particularly Night Watch and Thud!
The Wee Free Folk is supposed to be a movie soon.
Thank you AJ.. I am ordering both recommendations now.
I’m watching Little Miss Sunshine on the cable right now…
If you like wuxia, then you should check out Kung Fu Hustle. It’s written, directed and stars Stephen Chow-who also did the trifecta with Shaolin Soccer.
Well, jeepers. This is my Sunday morning comment to the Saturday morning thread.
First: Scory 158 OMG, the peach/blackberry cobbler! I have copied the recipe. Now I have to get myself emotionally prepared to give it a try. If mine bombs, can I come over to your house and beg for a helping or five of yours?
Second: I have a TV and VCR/DVD, but no cable, which around here means no reception. But it also means lots of new premium channel stuff to discover when it comes out on DVD. For the past two evenings, I watched the first episodes of Showtime’s Weeds (Season One). Don’t know if I love it, exactly, but I like Mary Louise Parker’s character. She is weirdly endearing.
Books: I recently read Other Peoples’ Dirt: A Housecleaner’s Curious Adventures (Louise Rafkin). It isn’t new (1998), but it’s both funny and eye-opening.
Another one is A Place of Execution by Val McDermid (2000). It’s an intense murder mystery with lots of twists and turns. A young girl’s scary disappearance is central to the book, but she’s not used simply as cannon fodder or a cheap, lurid way to advance the plot. It’s set in the UK, in a small, remote hamlet.
(Actually I’ve been having a lot of fun cataloging my reading at LibraryThing.com)
Food: The other day while house-sitting, I ate one of my favorite summer dishes. I’d brought an heirloom tomato with me, and when I went out to tend the house garden (those tomatoes weren’t ripe yet), I saw several healthy, robust basil plants. And then I looked in the refrigerator and saw fresh Mozzarella balls! Lord Goddess Mama Earth, oh my, slice ‘em up, fan ‘em out on a nice plate. Take plate and glass of pinot grigio to the airy dining room with a wide-open view of the GGNRA headlands, and eat real slow, every bite, mmmmm.
Music: Can’t say much on the subject of new music. I don’t have the iPod stuff and don’t download. I have been listening to an older Aimee Mann CD, Bachelor No. 2. The first cut (”How Am I Different?”) cries out to be vidded. The last stanzas (”Just one question/ before I pack/ when you fuck it up later/ do I get my money back?”) I’d love to see that video of U.S. vehicles careening through Baghdad fade and dissolve into some footage of Bush, Rice, Cheney, and Rumsfeld ambling along in their faux Super-Hero flying wedge.
Ooh. Tired. Should I wait and review tomorrow before posting? Aww that’s ridonkulus. It’s a Saturday pull-up-a-chair confab post, not a position paper.
Also, I’d better make a copy of my post, because I am SO late I don’t know if any of y’all will see it. Maybe I can post it to my own tiny remote protoblog.
I second the Terry Pratchett rec. Also Gene Wolfe’s Soldier of the Mist — excellent stuff!
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out “The Devil Wears Prada.” Streep chews up the scenery like nobody else can.