Halibut a Valoute

Wow - did we have a good dinner tonight.

Halibut, scallops, "Ers-styers" and a Champagne sauce to die for.

John did the honors with the oysters, since he's a Charleston Boy. (Citadel Grad...God Bless 'im.)

I do indeed love this Man.

Armour will need to be the judge, but I think he will decide this is "one of my best efforts."

Missed ya, Bro.

Dad is Here, and this is all I have to post of him...

Aha.


So Dad is here (he flew in Sunday night) and we've had some great suppers (beef rib roast and Mom's flied chickie) and some great laughs (always plenty to be had with him) but no good pictures. In fact, he's been working his tail off since he got here.

Mostly for me.

Er...

completely for me.

Every Dad should be like him.

*****************

I've included a couple shots I took today of Dad helping me put John's golf clubs on Craigslist. :) We're on the whole PURGE program ... and Craigslist is a great incentive. I mean, why not make $50? Or in this case, a little bit more?

SERIOUSLY. HOW did we accumulate so much stuff???

I cringe to tell you this - but since no one but close friends and family ever read this godforsaken cluster of my thoughts...I will go ahead and admit that I actually put dirty cat travel kennels on the curb the other morning and someone wanted to take them. She, maaaaaybe 22, sporting low ponytails, and adorably cute, jumped out of her little car and says:

"Ma'am?"

(At nearly 40, I suppose I should get used to this...)

"Um... are you going to use these? I mean, are these ok to take?"

**********

(People, I admit it...a little Devil on my shoulder wanted to just say "Go for it!")

....hmmmm.

....ahem.

...................................

{Sigh.}

In the end, I just couldn't. I had to tell her that one of the cats had tinkled in one of them.

I cringed...thinking she'd see me for the horrible old crazy Dr. Seuss "One-Fish-Two-Fish"-yellow-and-blue shorts and ratty-gray-tank-top-messy-hair-I-am-a-Saturday-garage-cleaner Lady I've become.

But she didn't.

Instead?

"That's ok! I'll clean it!"

Bouncy ponytails - Can-Do attitude.

There's hope for America, Folks.

Signs we're home and Mom has been here

So Mom is here, and SO ARE WE! We're in Tampa for the next 3 weeks - with a trip to Jordan in between - and we hope to be home in mid-June for (basically) good.

I rode today and realized horses are something I just need. I am happier when I can regularly be around them. More pictures from the barn I found in Pinellas Park when I come back in June. The only thing(s) that would make this barn better is if I could have Max and Sterling there.

Speaking of horses, here's one of two little Korean horses Mom found (on a trip to visit me!) in Seoul. We had them refinished because they were so pitted and damaged.

Love the horses. (There are two, actually. This is just one.)

Despise the wallpaper.

Can't have everything. \

Mom always starts avocado seeds. I had a four-foot plant I had to give to my neighbor, Sandra, when we left Germany (I rue the day) - and everytime I'm in a house for more than 6 months, she starts more. I might actually have a chance for a tree in Tampa.

I love the red toothpicks!

...and here's our Cheju Man - from the island off the southern tip of Korea. I think he's great! I got a multi-colored one for Mom and Dad and a miniature, leaning one for Arms. They're good luck.

Might as well be by the Pool, then.

Cool little "found object" Mom unearthed from our yard while we were gone. I have no idea what it is, but I like it.

The "num-num" stone (this one we found in France) is filled.

So you know, Num-Num stones are an invention from the most unique grandmother of all grandmothers - my dad's mom, Peggy Craig. She had a whole bunch of these circling her porch in Massachusetts, and always filled them with leftovers for the birds and squirrels.

Anyway, a "num-num" stone is any big stone with a natural (or manmade - but the rule is, YOU can't have made it!) depression that is suitable for goodies for the little varmints who might frequent your yard...

I know you wanted to know all that.

...Asparagus Fern in my one pot from Grandmother Peggy's porch. (The same porch that held all those beautiful Num-Num stones!)

...and here's my favorite subject - the pup. (He was diagnosed with Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever the other day, for Heaven's Sake!)

Love that puppy. Love you guys, too.

New blog coming soon! Mid-April! :)

Max, I was thinking of you, Sweetie!

Well, I certainly mentioned "Girl Time" and we've had it.

Mom has ferreted out all the best antique places in South Tampa - and look at what I found (this is actually only 2 of 6 that I found!!!!) These are the paces of the beautiful Lipizzaner Stallions of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

Which Max and I saw at the New Year's Eve Performance a few years ago - and yes, we cried, because it was so incredibly beautiful. Those horses are amazing.



These pieces, from the 1930s, are missing The Levade which was the military manuever that put the horse's body in front of the rider's in preparation for the death blow of the lance (sad, huh?) - but other than that, they're all there. If I had to have one missing, it would definitely be that one.


At a different store, I found these sconces - which I love, because there's no electricity required!

And here's the result! I love it! Danke, Mutti!

Bird Sanctuary

Ah...Cardinal Sanctuary, more like.

That's a tiny bit of safflower seed, which the squirrels don't like, and the cardinals do.

Check out the birdbath to the right:


Love it! And I LOVE my yard!!!!

My Grandmother Peggy would be proud.

...and they used to be The Worst Team in Baseball

Yes, they're Upstarts.


And...they're BEAUTIFUL.

Congratulations, Rays!

Typical Saturday morning

Though I hesitate showing this picture because of the state of my crowded counters (John calls this space the Hotzone) - I had to show what John saw this morning when he rounded the corner...

Deadeye - looking like he's lounging on a rock ledge...


...except that rock ledge is my shoulder - and I'm BUSY trying to order a coffee maker since ours is on the fritz. (See the Starbucks?)













He doesn't like it when I try to hold onto his paws...

Pantry / Closet Update!

Oh, my.

These spaces are SO GREAT now!!!!!

...and the dog's not bad, either.

She's a Beauty

1967 My Green Beret

1972 My Buick Skylark

2003 My Labrador Retriever

Black Dog, White Classic Car, and Cool Guy.

My cup runneth over.

:)

New (new-to-us, anyway) and Old

I finished paying off a really cool 1920s (?)-era curio cabinet. It was the only Art-Deco-ish piece in an antiques store I skulk around in when I get the chance. The proprietress said with its "almost-Queen-Anne-legs-and-the-burled-walnut-curved-shape-and-small-size, it really is a

Transitional...Piece."

Uh-huh.

I don't really know what that means, but it doesn't bother me anymore. I've accepted my lack of talent in the decorating arena, I just buy what I like and then appeal to my mom, Paulette, and Sisi to figure out how to incorporate it in "my grand design." This is what works for me, People.

Did I mention that the three of them will be here in about a week? I can't wait!!!! ...and they will have their work cut out for them.

Good Heavens...

...especially since I think my Old Man should be part of the Design Picture.

Late...the best time of Night.

It's late here...when I get most of my work done...ironing (which I detest), folding clothes (I don't like that chore either) and filing the neverending pile of paper we seem to accumulate.

Spectre keeps coming out of the guest bedroom (where we're sleeping since it's the only room with a real bed right now...) and grunting at me to come to bed.

Animals are funny.

Beautiful screen.

A gift from John's parents.

From India by way of Okinawa; their first assignment as a married couple.

More memories to come, no doubt.

Warning...and Public Service Announcement

If your air conditioner looks like this, all is not right with your world.

And, Friendys, please make sure that if/when you do buy a house, you ask the inspector to open up the panel...

We didn't; we learned an expensive lesson.

And I was totally grossed out on Friday.

But, all is not lost.

We have a great pool...

...a great dog....

...John has Tampa Bay Lightning pyjama pants (let's meditate on the positive things in this picture, okay?)...

and

I have, thanks to John's mom, Jan - two homegrown pineapple tops...which will become pineapple plants!!!!

*Note: pictures are blurry due to camera being stored next to the remaining working air conditioner - which meant cold lens in muggy Florida weather.

Just for Bookster

My dear friend and former West Point Roommate, Becky (check out her blog on the left-hand side under "Blogs I like to visit") asked me to post my recipe for making artichokes.

Quite a while ago, actually. :(

I'm going to do this the same way Ree does; she has a hilarious website, and she routinely posts about her wackadoo cooking projects. I have yet to make one of her recipes, but I think I will definitely try this sandwich soon for John.

OK, so enough rambling.

Disclaimer: I did this during out trip up to the Wedding at the Top of the Hill, so I was using the utensils I found in the cabin's cupboards...not the best of equipment - but I persevered and they were excellent, anyway! :)

So...start out with a deep pot filled about 1/2 full with water. And get it over high heat. You want that water boiling.

Chop up about 4 cloves of garlic...roughly. Skins on is fine.

See? Skins are fine.

Put those suckers in the pot!

Put in lots of salt.

Seriously.

About 1/8 cup. Sounds like a lot, but you need it.

Now, if you don't have a lovely steamer insert, or a cool bamboo steamer (like I have in storage and that the vacation cabin didn't have!!!!) then just put a colander into the pot. The thing is, you want the water to just reach the bottom of the insert...whatever insert you happen to have. What's inconvenient about having to cobble together a steamer is that you may have to add more water as the artichokes cook.

Now, prepare your artichokes (which are really a thistle.) And you know the only animals who can eat and actually enjoy thistles? Yep. My favorite equines: Donkeys and Mules.

So, anyway...cut off the stem at the base of the flower bud (which is what an artichoke is: the thistle's flower bud.)

You can also just tear out the stem, which gets rid of the "thready" fibers in the stalk. The Two Fat Ladies taught me that. I prefer cutting...it's just easier and prettier and the fibers cook tenderly so they really make no difference.

Still, it's a method.

Now, cut off the top 1/6 of the artichoke. It creates a nice flat top and cuts off all those nasty prickers.

Snip off (using scissors) the rest of the leaves' tops. The leaves all have a pricker at the apex. You need to cut that off...you'll see in a minute.

Rinse those suckers well, Honey. Sometimes there is sand in there, and you need to flush it out.

See how pretty? (The art-i-choke, Peo-ple. Not me! It was morning and I was cooking these for an eggs Benedict type-of-thing.)

Now, put them in the colander!

Put the lid on, and steam away (adding water as necessary to keep the water level up) for about 45 minutes, or until you can easily poke a knife down into the heart or pull a leaf without resistance.

And to eat? Oh, My. Pluck each leaf, draw the white parts through your teeth so you scrape off the flesh, and when you get down to the Choke, you gently tear out the "hairy" choke fibers, and divide the heart itself (which is the flower bud). Dip each piece of the artichoke heart in melted butter and luxuriate as it melts on your tongue!

Awesome! John's favorite!