Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Summer Official

Post vacation...back to the city
picnic lunch, full sun NOMA Square, wishing for shade to enjoy the lovely new space

contemplate summer projects, garden sprucing, painting up face lifts, looking for colors to upfit moods and cool thoughts

small art creations surround and smile at passersby, inspiring

hot days call for indoor nesting, sorting, planning, dreaming

evening gazing at the super moon

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Fast forward...

Fast forward 2013.........a few nice dinners and lunches with friends......some special outings to hear music by great local musicians...a mid-morning week day Circus Parade...a fun evening with a couple of friends viewing a cooking demo at The Cook's Station by the Lee Brothers presenting their new cookbook, 'Charleston Kitchen'.

The back yard menagerie has ebbed....gone is Inez, my beloved best friend of 15 years since her birth, and the great orange tabby, Rocco, meeting his demise on one of his great hunting expeditions. He was the best feline friend ever.

Working to get a daily rhythm in sync of long work days, routines, sorting, creating, care taking...balancing the scales

Losing friends in reckless abandon, and the menagerie grows again, as lovable Richie comes into our fold. Adding great purpose to our days.

Clearing cobwebs to focus on what really matters.

Vacation is in sight....days of contemplation and rest and loving friendship.........the things that really matter.



photo by Sarah Hammond

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Spicy Winter Comfort


Dreary damp February Saturday, splashing around in the drizzle doing errands, antiquing, shopping for fresh produce in spite of the winter. Nestled by the evening fire, I peered into my latest 'Bon Appetit' to the Hot Soup section and tried the concoction of Chicken Khao Soi, a curry chicken soup to stick to our ribs. What a perfect choice for this evening meal. With this we also enjoyed marinated tomato salad and a Korean style cucumber salad.

 Korean Cucumber Salad

1 lb. cucumbers peeled and thinly sliced
Salt
1 ¼ tsp. cayenne
1 ¼ tsp. paprika
1 clove garlic crushed and minced
1 1” piece fresh ginger minced
2 scallions, diced
1 TBS sesame oil
Place sliced cucumbers on a plate and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 3 hours. Drain.
Mix all other ingredients in a bowl, add cucumbers and let sit for a few hours for flavors to mix well.


 Tomato Salad

 2 – 3 tomatoes, sliced
1 scallion, finely chopped
1 TBS lime juice
½ tsp finely chopped ginger
Salt    Pepper
 Arrange sliced tomatoes on a plate or platter. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and other diced ingredients. Allow to sit for flavors to mingle. Enjoy

 *You could substitute chives, parsley, cilantro or any other fresh herbs for the scallions. Also, you could use grape tomatoes rather than large ones.