Monthly Archives: August 2009

>It’s all in the perspective of the one holding the camera

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>Along the road and along the track, Chuck (Husband) and I pointed our cameras in different directions. We did this not just because he sat in the forward-facing seat and I faced the back in our little roomette, but because we look out on the world in different ways.


I took this picture showing Chuck taking a picture of another train. In Chuck’s photo, you see the train he was watching. Hey, wait a minute — that train is on the same track as ours!


The last three may look the same, but they’re not. Two are by night — one with flash, one without. The bottom shot was taken by day. When he took the night shots, I was asleep in the top bunk of our roomette.


Chuck took a picture of this rare caboose still in use and hooked up to a freight train. I took a picture of the caboose that was turned into a cottage.

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Mommy, where does zucchini come from?

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Once upon a time, a very long time ago, about last May, there was a patch of dirt behind the garage. Mom dug in the dirt and called it Soil and planted many, many seeds. Then she watered, pulled out weeds, watered, pulled out weeds, and watched with pride as the many shades of green stems and leaves emerged from the ground. The stems and leaves and vines grew and grew until a forest grew all around and it became the place where the wild things are. Wait, that’s another story.

It was eventful along the way in that little patch of vegetables. A wood chuck paid a surprise visit. A rabbit snuck inside a small opening. Mom fixed the fence and hung old computer CDs to help scare away the critters, hoping all along that the bees would still come by to pollinate the squash blossoms.

What’s a squash blossom? Well, honey, it’s this flower: the one that magically changes into a baby zucchini if the birds and the bees stop by at the right time. Ahem. Let’s stop right there. There’s a fiddle tune called Squash Blossom Reel, I think. Let’s look for it tomorrow on YouTube.

Well, little one, after the big orange blossom fades and falls off, the pretty green squash will grow and grow until it’s so long that Dad calls it a baseball bat and Mom takes ahold of it and twists it gently until it comes off the vine. Then she’ll bring it in the house, clean it up, dice it up, and add it to supper. And lunch. And make it into bread. And grate enough to fill the freezer.
Maybe the question shouldn’t be where does it come from, but where will it go? It’ll go in the zucchini bread, in the salads, in the stews, in the freezer, and it’ll end up in…. No, forget I said that, honey, and just go to sleep. Once upon a time, there was a little one who asked Mommy all about zucchini….

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>Gumbo or Jambalaya?

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>For the crockpot

I found the original recipe for Gumbo in the July issues of the Braille Monitor. La Petite and I discussed gumbo vs. jambalaya and mainly came up with consistency as the answer. Gumbo is more like a soup, while jambalaya is a stew. New Orleans folks, is that correct? We can grill bratwurst with the best of them, but up here in Wisconsin, our knowledge of New Orleans style cooking is spotty at best.

Ingredients:
1 small yellow onion
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
Any other peppers available? Chop them up and add them, too!
½ cup celery, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cayenne
3 bay leaves
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
¼ cup chopped green onions (scallions)
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil (for browning chicken)
14 oz. chicken, shredded or cubed (cook’s preference)
8 cups chicken stock
Creole seasoning
1 pound Andouille sausage, New Orleans style
1 pound shrimp, precooked

Add onion, peppers, celery, and spices to pot. Set aside parsley and green onions to add later. Pour chicken stock over vegetables & spices.
Brown chicken. Season with Creole Seasoning. Dice or shred as desired and add chicken to pot.
Precook shrimp, removing tails and skins. Do not overcook! Add to pot.
Slice and add sausage to pot (or save until later if precooked – again, cook’s choice).
Season to taste; add 2 Tablespoons Creole Seasoning if desired. My family liked it!

Cook 4-6 hours on high or 8-10 on low heat.
About an hour before serving, add parsley, green onion, (and sausage).
Serve with rice.

My family’s verdict? Good stuff, mom. Even the spiciness was acceptable!

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>Reality show: The One Where the Blankets go to the Laundromat

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>

Imagine: a day in the life of Daisy, the groundskeeper. Let’s choose an ordinary, but not too ordinary, day of taking care of home, garden, family, and coffee. Here’s one: the semi-annual Washing of the Blankets: The Laundromat Visit Episode!

Director: “Okay, photogs, make sure you get a messy look. That’s right, nothing too neat. Big piles all over the mom-van. Can we see a little contrast? Pull that patterned blanket throw out a little more, make it look like they’re not stacked perfectly.”

The truth? They weren’t stacked neatly. The minivan really does look that messy when the blankets are headed out for washing day. I have to spread the piles so I can still see in the rearview mirrors.


A few token shots of the front-loading washers spinning, and it’s time to load the wet blankets in the minivan again. I’m sure there’s a punch line there: “Wet Blankets ruin enthusiasm for laundry!” Maybe not.

Director: Can you see how many blankets there are? Do they all fit in the baskets? Is there any water dripping? Wet feet? Come on, there must be something interesting here.

No, there isn’t anything interesting involved in taking the comforters and blanket throws out of the front loading washer, folding them, and stacking them in the baskets without dragging the clean corners through the dirt. Trust me. Move along now, there’s no drama here.


Director: Clothesline time! Blankets flapping in the wind on the clothesline. Classic video! Get it. What…what do you mean, you don’t own a clothesline? Daisy, you’re the queen of green! No clothesline?

Honestly, I don’t own a clothesline. I did, however, hang La Petite’s and Amigo’s blankets out on the deck and on the backyard swing. They’re the only family members without season allergies. The bedding that goes in the Master Bedroom goes in the dryer, or Husband (Chuck) and I would sneeze and wheeze our nights away.

Director: Oh, geez, didn’t you check this out? A clothesline would be the perfect ending shot behind the show credits. I can’t believe there’s no clothesline.

Assistant: Sorry. I was too busy checking out her coffee mug collection. Here, we made hazelnut flavor, full caff. Want some?

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>’Tis the season: Packer Training Camp Season!

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>You might be a Green Bay Packer fan if you know that training camp starts today.

You might be a Green Bay Packer fan if you have Packer Beans growing in your garden.

And now, the best for last: You might be a Green Bay Packer fan if even after years of retiring (or not), you still think this Montana town’s name ought to be pronounced “Harv.”

Say, Brett? Stay retired. Please. We love you, but really. Retirement is right. Right now, that is.

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