Lady Bugs

Why Ladybugs?
1.  They are red - my favorite color although they do come in other colors.
2.  There is a cute saying about ladybugs
3.  They make me happy - they are good luck and eat alll the bad bugs.
4.  They are covered in spots and I love polka dots.
5.  I was my Dad's ladybug


One of my favorite chick flicks is Under The Tuscan Sun. The main charachter is frustrated with her life as things don't seem to be going her way. She consults with one of her friends and the clips included in the video below sum up the advice she gives and how things work out.

The scale is up, the bank account is down, a nose that won't stop running, and work stinks.  I think I am ready for some ladybugs in my life...so I guess what I need to do is buck up, stop wallowing and get moving.  I will say that having my Mom here for a visit was a great distraction and a fun time.

My bookgroup met last night at my home.  The book I chose was The agency: A spy in the house.  Of all the books I have ever chosen this was my least favorite.  I was expecting much more of a story.  Without going into great details - a street urchin turns spy after being helped by a girls boarding school/spy agency.  She has a great adventure... I just wish there were more details in how she actually was educated and trained.  I also wish there was more historical information given about the times. ie The Great Stink There were a lot of things that took place that didn't seem to coincide with the Victorian time setting.  Overall - it was a fun read.   The author has written a sequel, it would be interesting to see if she answers some of my questions and fills in some of the holes left in the first novel.

We capped the evening off with food  - as always.  I served Garys good baguette bread with a choice of toppings - hummus, bruschetta, mascarpone cheese, nutella, and raspberries.  It was very tasty and enjoyed by all.

 I love to host a get together.  I am thinking of a formal tea party/stamping activity.  I will keep you posted as to where that is headed.

Ta Ta for now.
 

Book Review

I think it is time to catch up on a few of the books that have crossed my path and have been read.
I will start with the two bookgroup books....

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  This woman is better know in the world as HeLa.  A woman who grew up on a tobacco plantation in the south.  She lived a hard life but seemed to be happy.  She came down with cancer - and eventually died from it.  What the story picks up is how a sample of her cells were taken and became one of the most important tools in medicine.  Her cells were the ones that helped create a polio vaccine, as well as helped uncovered viruses, helped with cancer research, and many other amazing scientific advances.  It also addresses how her family found out about it 20 year after the fact.  The family had a hard time dealing with it - based on their beleifs and were very private about themselves and media and scientists continued to bugh them.  I really enjoyed the story - got sucked in right away.  I enjoyed the read and learning about a science that was new to me.  Definitely not a book I would have chosen to read on my own volition, but one I would recommend

The next book was Highest Tide by Jim Lynch
This book is about a boy coming of age in a not so easy time.   He has passion for sea life and marine biology.  He spends a good part of his summer searching the beaches for what ever the sea happens to give up to the beaches.  He also spends his summer worrying about whether his parents will split up, or if his geriatric neighbor is truly a psychic, or if his feelings for his former babysitter, or hanging out with his friend who is only interested in girls and music.  The question posed that I found interesting was how it dealt with mysticism vs truth.  I read this book from a "summer read" perspective instead of digging in and finding the symbols and hidden meanings behind the writing.  Not my first pick - but interesting. 

The next book was my choice.  Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt - Beth Hoffman.  I don't remember how I heard about this one or why I chose it, but I really enjoyed it - A young girl raised by a mother who has severe bi-polar disorder and a father who left on business a lot to avoid dealing with the issues at home.  It isn't until her mother dies and she is taken by her great aunts to be raised that life starts to turn around and she has to face and deal with her past.  Despite the hard things at the beginning of the book - I loved the direction the story took and the characters in it were funny and enjoyable.

The next one to review is The Scent of Rain and Lightning -Nancy Pickard.  I was looking for a good mystery and this was a well reviewed book so I gave it a try.  Definitely kept me guessing until the end.  This novel starts with a 26 year old woman in a small Kansas farm town learning that the man who was convicted of murdering her father(the same night that her mother went missing, presumably also dead) was being released from prison, largely about concerns about the fairness of the original trial. The book then flashes back to 23 years earlier and details the events and the people involved in the death and disappearance.  It isn't until the very end and some major plot twists that you find out who done it.  I loved it.

The last book to review is The Blue Sword - Robin Mckinley
The story is about a young girl who doesn't really fit in finds her strength after being kidnapped by a mysterious, magical Hill-King.  She learns about her heritage as well as an ancient power that she holds.   Full of insecurities she perseveres and does what she needs to do to fulfill her destiny. It is a lot like another book I have read which happens to be one of my favorites called Crown Duel - by Sherwood Smith.  The book was complete escapism and an enjoyable read.

Happy reading to all

Happy Birthday to my Sassy girl!

With a chance of Mar seeing her birthday card before she gets it in the mail - I will post the card tomorrow.  Just wanted to say Happy Birthday Mar!

Work has been "fun"  We have been given an actual date for a system upgrade that will be installed and should be "supposedly" working.  The team has really tried to keep up beat about the changes and talking about all the "fun" we will have trying to figure things out.  Well...I think my feelings are best shown in this video clip from "The New Emporers Groove"  I am fun'd out!


It is definitely going to make for a interesting October and year end process.  Hopefully we are all surprised that everything works.
I have a couple of books I have recently finished to share with you.
My bookgroup just reviewed Beyond the Earth and Sky by Jamie Zeppa

A story about a young 20 something gal who drops everything in her life to teach English in Bhutan.  I am not feeling the 5 star rating with this one that so many people have given it.  The writing is good, but she comes accross so naive and clueless.  I was irritated with her choices.  I did like how she "sort of" integrated herself into the culture by studying budhism.  I thought she was clueless when she tried to teach her "Western World" ways of thought to her students who have been raised with the strong political and religious beliefs of their families and country.  I would have thought in her training they would have warned against teaching western ideas.  I felt like her over romanticized view of the people and country was an over compensation for leaving her fiance and civilized world behind... kind of like her way of dealing with it.  I loved when the teacher from from India brought her back to real life.  Even if it only lasted a few minutes.  The ending left so many holes and so many unfinished stories.   Even though it was well written I don't know that I would reccomend it.

For pleasure I just finished Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman  I felt so sorry for this little girl to begin with.  I know there are kids out there in real life dealing with manic parents.  If I didn't know things were going to improve for her I probably wouldn't have finished reading the book.  It is a story of this young girl coming to terms with what she had to deal with in her early years of age.  Her Mother had some serious mental issues and her Dad did not know how to deal with them so he disappears into his work.  She is taken in by a great aunt and the "help".  I liked the story.  It had some very funny moments.  I wouldn't reccomend the book if you have real issues from childhood - it might hit too close to home.  To anyone else looking for cute story -give it a read.

Well - Things to do
Ta Ta for now

A Book Review and a Treat

Ok - for those following the Sam story - here is an update.

The little stinker is still peeing on the floor - We just have to keep better watch.  He loves sleeping and hanging out in his kennel.  I am sure if Riley had not had such a rough start with his giardia problem - he would love to sleep in his kennel as well.   Sam LOVES to go for walks.  He is like the energizer bunny - he wears all of us out by the end of the day.  Riley still thinks he owns all the food dishes in the house.   As long as I stand between the two as they eat and not let them cross the dividing line - they do ok.  Sam eats his food just like my Mom's dog.  He takes a mouthful from the bowl and takes it to another room where he drops the kibbles and eat them one by one and then returnes to his bowl for more.  Riley?   he just sits there and scarfs until he has had enough.  Sam is a lovey little cutey!  I keep trying to get more pictures but he just won't sit still.

I had bookgroup at my house tonight.  Which means I got to pick the book.  I chose Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.   The book...wow how do I sum this up.    The book starts out with a doctor and a couple of nuns headed for Ethiopia - which leads to a story about conjoined twins and their coming of age and then where their lives lead and those people who had some sort of impact on these boys.  And yet... the story is about so much more.  I will say there are a few "scenes" in the book that are not necessary and maybe - ok -not maybe, a little graphic.  I think it does belong on the best seller list - and I would recommend the book

For dessert - I once again faced the challenge of including or not including my vegan friend.  I came up with Cherry Jubilee - minus the "Jubilee"(alcohol spirits) served with a crisp cookie. Here is the recipe I used that was such a great hit.  I found it on the Northwest Cherries website It initially didn't sound very exiting to me, it is just a warm cherry sauce over ice cream.  It turned out to be a huge hit, lots of compliments - fed my ego a bit!
   
Ralph's input is that it would be super good with tart cherries.  Yes, it would be good, however this particular recipe is supposed to be sweet and showcase the fresh sweet cherry.

Fresh Cherry Jubilee
1/2 C sugar
3 T cornstarch
1/4 C water
1/4 C orange juice
3 C cherries - pitted and halved
1 tsp orange zest
1/4 C brandy - (or 1 1/4 tsp brandy flavoring)

Mix the sugar and cornstarch together - add water and orange juice  - cook until thickened and smooth.  Add cherries and orange zest return to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.  At this point I also added the brandy flavoring.  For those interested -gently heat brandy, pour over sauce and flame.  Serve over ice cream. 


Happy Reading!
Ta Ta for now -
 

Overwhelmed

I have too much to do this weekend.  I was talking to a friend at work and he asked me what we would be doing this weekend.  I proceeded to tell him my list (i love lists - don't you?)

1. look for a place to live
2. prepare a Sunday School lesson
3. memorize lines for a skit (work thing - long story)
4. prepare for a stampin class for next weekend
5. clean house -
6. find boxes to start packing
7. grocery shopping

My friend asked me if I was going to get any sleep this weekend - I said - oh yes...I am going to sleep in on Saturday.  I love snuggling under the layers of covers and dozing until I really feel like getting up.  I just call it another weekend in the life and times of the Curtis'

I had bookgroup last night.  We have such a good time together just talking and comparing notes on "family" and activities.  What I love most is that we actually discuss books.  This month we read The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  It has been on the best sellers list for quite some time.  Although it is an ok read - I don't necessarily know why it is on the best seller list.  I guess the best seller list has more to do with marketing than whether a book is that good.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the read.  The author had a tendency to build up to a "moment" and then nothing would happen.  There were a couple of chapters I wondered why they were there.  If she would have followed up with the incident it would have made a lot more sense.  It was those build ups that kept me reading to find out what was going to happen.  But I had to create my own resolutions to some of story lines.  The characters were redeemed and ended on a good note.  I love happy endings..period.  Would I recommend it...sure.  But I wouldn't set high expectations - you will probably enjoy it more.

Well - I need to go round up something for dinner.  What sounds good to you?  I can always eat a burger, but that isn't on the menu, so I am off to find something healthier.

Ta Ta for now

Optimism and some Football

It is snowing - not big heavy flakes, but light floaty flakes that will never really cover the ground.  Maybe the snow will help to bring in the Christmas spirit.  I have all the decorations up, but it still doesn't feel like it is Christmas.  I probably just need to get over myself and go find someone that needs my help.  Ultimately that is what is about.. Right?  Giving of oneself? 

Bookgroup at my house was a success.  The food was fabulous and I always enjoy so much talking with them and getting everyone's updates.  By the way...Vegan sausage rolls are ok.  I ate one as it came out of the oven.  Texture was still a little weird, but flavor was ok.  I am still very much attached to pork fat!

We read Candide by Voltaire.  I love discussing philosphy with my friends and with Ralph.  The bookgroup still found it a little hard to find humor in monkeys running around biting womens butts and the women actually liking it.  Or a one buttocked women thinking she is a sex symbol.  To me that is funny.  Voltaire takes a huge pop-shot at royalty and the church as he writes this book.  One of his centuries freest thinkers and trailblazers for it.  One of my favorite quotes from the book is "What is Optimism?" asked Cacambo.  "Alas!" replied Candide; "it is the mania for maintaining that all is right when everything is wrong"   I find myself frequently doing this, not that it is wrong but I think that you can mistake hope for optimism.  They may go together, but they are different.  Voltaire definitley spends the whole book showcasing human suffering, which of course causes the protagonist to see the world as perhaps not the best: "If this is the best of all possible worlds, what must the others be like?"  At the end after his whole journey to find Candide's beautiful true love - he finds out that she is not so much what he imagined.  He marries her anyway and after all the hardships and sufferings he endured, he grasps what is really important in life: "In Voltaire's most famous words, "Il faut cultiver notre jardin" ("we must cultivate our garden") .  After all the travails of life, Voltaire believes that work and industry are antidote to man's unhappy condition. "Labor keeps aloof from us three great evils, - dullness, vice, and want."  Great Book

Football - I love it. 
Oregon vs Oregon State - Wow what a game!  Those Rogers brothers are speedy speedy speedy.  I wonder if the Utes will end up playing them.  We might go to either Las Vegas or the Pointsettia Bowl
Pitt vs Cincy - Cincy has a chance, but Pitt looks amazing
Florida vs Alabama - I honestly don't care who wins this one - I would love to see both of these teams beat.
How will all of this fall out for the bowl games.  All I have to say is that if TCU and BSU don't get the games the deserve and end uplaying each other - there needs to be some serious changes.  The SEC is too afraid they will be beat by TCU.  I would like to see BSU be able to play Cincy or Pitt - that would be a good game.  Tomorrows  rankings and standings will tell all.

For the rest of the day we will be out and about, purchasing stuff to make gifts for friends and family.  I will be finishing up cards and gift tags.  Oh yeah, I also have a Sunday Schoool lesson to prepare.  Not too excited about this one.  It is on "being a good citizen".  Make sure you be good to your neighbor, keep your yards neat, and make sure you vote.  

Recipe for the day - Since it is snowing - I think a good soup is on the menu.
My Clam Chowder
Chowder recipes are a dime a dozen. This is one that we have adapted until we both like it. Feel free to increase the amount of clams.

1 ¼ cup diced celery
1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large onion, diced
1 ¼ pound canned clams, drained
2 – 3 cups of reserved clam juice
2-3 thick bacon slices, diced
½ tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbls butter
2 Tbls flour
3 cups heavy cream, half & half, or a mixture of both
6 Tbls cooking sherry
Tabasco sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Salt
Pepper

Place the potatoes in a large sauce pan, cover with water, and boil until tender.
While the potatoes are cooking, sauté the bacon in a large stockpot until it is crispy. With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon bits, and set them aside. Add the butter, celery, onion, garlic and bay leaves to the bacon drippings. Sauté until the onion is translucent.

Add the flour to the vegetable mixture, and stir over heat to cook the flour (2 -3 minutes). Whisk the cream and clam juice into the vegetables and flour, stirring constantly to work out any lumps. Reduce the heat to simmer. Season with the sherry, Tabasco, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and thyme. Strain the water from the cooked potatoes, and add the potatoes and clams to the chowder.

Heat to serving temperature and serve immediately with crusty sourdough bread.

Keep Warm and Ta Ta for now

Feeling Lucky

We just go back from going out to dinner with some good friends of ours.  I had such a great time.  I have to tell you, I think we are so lucky in the friends department.  It is so great to know that there are people out there besides your family that, at a drop of the hat, would come help or provide what ever I needed.  From chasing my dog down because he got out of the yard, to having someone to talk to, to moving our large furniture from one apartment to another.  I don't know that I deserve it, but I am so glad I have them.

As hard as things are at work sometimes, I am so glad that I have a good job and that the environment is good.  Is it perfect - Hell no!  Everybody comes with their weaknesses and there are always politics going on at the office, but what office doesn't..

In just a few days, I have noticed a huge difference around our house.  Ralph has been such a great help and it has been nice to have him around in the evenings, not worrying about so many other things.  I love him!  We are already planning a fishing trip.  I can hardly wait!

I have been reading Candide for my bookgroup get together on Saturday.  I have about 50 pages to go.  I forgot how racey the book the was.  Kind of fun though. The book begins with a young man, Candide, who is living a sheltered life in an idealistic paradise and being indoctrinated with having an optimistic view about life by his mentor, Pangloss. The bookwork describes the abrupt change of this lifestyle, followed by Candide's slow, painful disillusionment as he witnesses and experiences great hardships in the world. Voltaire concludes with Candide, if not outright rejecting optimism, advocating an enigmatic precept, "we must cultivate our garden", in lieu of the of Pangloss's view, "all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds".  Hopefully everyone will have read it and will have lots to talk about.

Well, I still need to go play with a dog who is feeling mighty neglected and I need to work on my Christmas cards.  There are just not enough hours in a day.

Recipe for today - my cousin introduced me to this pie.  I love it!

TIN ROOF FUDGE PIE
2 ounces semisweet chocolate

1 tablespoon butter

1 pastry shell (9 inches), baked

PEANUT LAYER:

20 caramels

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

1-1/2 cups salted peanuts
CHOCOLATE LAYER:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Whipped cream and salted peanuts, optional
TOPPING:
3 caramels
5 teaspoons heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon butter
Directions
In a small saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat; stirring until smooth. Spread onto the bottom and up the sides of crust; refrigerate until the chocolate is set.
For peanut layer, in a small saucepan, melt caramels and cream over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from the heat; stir in peanuts. Spoon into pie shell; refrigerate.
For chocolate layer, in a microwave, melt chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring until smooth. Let stand for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl beat cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Carefully fold a third of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture; fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spread over peanut layer; refrigerate until set. Garnish with whipped cream and peanuts if desired.
For topping, in a small saucepan, melt caramels, cream and butter over low heat. stirring until smooth. Drizzle over pie. Store in the refrigerator

Ta Ta for now