Monday, December 31, 2012

2013 Goals (no resolutions)

No resolutions, but a few goals:

1.  Photography - I will improve in the following ways:

  • Concentrate on Golden Hour Photos - I have an "app" on my phone for when the golden hour is.
  • Recognize and narrow down what I truly enjoy photographing 
2.  Cooking/Baking - I will move away from "recipes" and try being more creative with what's "on hand".

3.  Reading - I will not spend any money on books!  The public library is my new best friend!

That's it for now!


Sunday, December 16, 2012

Its like snuggling in my favorite robe or blanket!

A really good book!

When a book is really good, it is like being all snuggled up in warm PJ's; robe, or a blanket. All outside influences disappear. I refuse to rush or skim pages.  Sometimes I'll re-read a page or two to savor the story as it unfolds or perhaps to better understand how the author is uncovering the character; or to better understand the plot.

Here a few of my "really good" books! - Not is any special order...


The Passage (The Passage, #1)







The Power of One






Shaken, Not Stirred






Cutting for Stone







The Art of Racing in the Rain





The Paris Wife






Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet






Still Alice






The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)






Room





Forgive me, but I need to vent.

I'm unable to let the events of Friday morning's violence in Newtown, CT pass.  I am hurting; weeping; and incredibly sad.  For two days in a row I've woken up thinking about the parents who have lost their children; grandparents who have lost a grandchild; children who have lost a brother or sister; a best friend; or even perhaps their very own teacher. Their grief is unimaginable.

Why did this happen? It doesn't make sense.

News reports immediately jump on the gun issue. A better issue I believe is mental health and how parents can deal with children who experience it. Parents need help; their children need help.  Please take a few minutes to read this. I can think of at least three friends/acquaintances I have known in the past who could have written it. Parenting is the most difficult job there is; and when a single parent is left to deal with it, it is nearly impossible to cope.

http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html


Sunday, December 9, 2012

Please do your part to save Santa...

Santa is getting old.  Be nice and save him a trip...by Being Naughty! 


This idea came from where else...Pinterest.  It was a fun and easy craft.  Now...who will receive them? 
MARSHMALLOW COAL
This is a picture of my results.  The front side is on the left, back side on the right.


Dark Cocoa Mint Candy melts*
Black sugar (sprinkles)*
Marshmallows
Straws or Skewers
Rice
Ziplock bags
Ribbon, glue/tape, stapler
*I used Wilton products purchased at a craft store


  • Melt candy melts following instructions on package
  • Place marshmallow on straw or skewer and roll in melted chocolate.  Use spoon to coat the places missed, then scrap off extra chocolate.  Place straw/skewer end in container of rice.
  • When it's set for a minute or so, roll in black sugar to coat the whole marshmallow.  You might have to use your hands to sprinkle it on the bottom where the straw/skewer is.
  • Stick back in the rice and let set until totally hardened, about 20 minutes.
  • Place the coal in a Ziploc bag
  • Create a document with images (below); print, trim paper to match width of ziplock bag, and staple to the bag
  • Glue ribbon to cover the staples




Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Dinner 2012

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Thanksgiving Dinner 2012, a set on Flickr.

Because I'm trying something new this year - dinner mid-day; I decided to see how much cooking I could do ahead of time. Still need to thicken turkey stock for gravy, make mashed potatoes and warm up dinner rolls, but I'm pretty much ready for "turkey" day! Looking forward to sweet potatoes; a vegetable and dessert provided by daughter-in-law Chris & daughter Shelly.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

My Memories are Safe

Recent stories from the East Coast after Hurricane Sandy focused on families returning to salvage what they could from the vast destruction.  Many homes and household items were destroyed either by flood, wind or fire.  Most people being interviewed said they were hoping to find photographs. They wanted very badly to hold on to their memories. When they managed to find a photo - they always smiled.

Memories are priceless. As I become more and more entrenched in photography, I learned about photo storage. I take digital RAW photos, download them from my camera onto my computer, then develop them into JPEG and sometimes TIFF files. These are very, very large files and take up a lot of space on my 8 year-old laptop computer.  The RAW files are deleted from the camera once I have them on the computer. A few months ago I purchased an external hard drive to store the RAW photos and backup up the JPEG & TIFF files. I also turn many of my favorite photos into prints either through Shutterfly or on my own printer. If they aren't in a frame being displayed, they are in a file drawer or closet staying safe...right?

Are my memories safe? Well lets suppose my home was flooded or burned down.  My computer would likely be lost; along with my external hard drive. And unless I gave away the prints and could get them back, they would also be lost. Not safe!

My solution is a Flickr Pro Account online for $29.95 a year.  I think that is a bargain.  Here's what I get:
  • Unlimited photo uploads (50MB per photo)
  • Unlimited video uploads
  • Unlimited storage
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Archiving of high-resolution original images
  • The ability to replace a photo
  • Ad-free browsing and sharing.
As long as I can get on the internet, my memories are safe.  That makes me smile.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

There is a "Leaf Thief" in the neighborhood!

Absolutely, no doubt about it. There is a "Leaf Thief" in our neighborhood. Yesterday we filled up our curb with the last of our yard's leaves. The pile stretched from the fire hydrant on the North to our driveway entrance on the South.  This morning, there is a hole in our pile. Someone - or "something" stole some of our leaves.  Doesn't look like any of our neighbor's were hit, just us...just no explanation!


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Chicken & Dumplings

This past year, I've had fun with the Cook's Illustrated / Test Kitchen recipes.  They typically are not quick and easy but now that I have more time on my hands, I'm more likely to give them a try.  This past week I made a Chicken and Dumpling Recipe...It was great so I thought I'd share...

By the way; I used a 6 quart Dutch Oven - don't use anything smaller unless you plan on reducing the amount of ingredients.



Published September 1, 2009.  From Cook's Illustrated.

SERVES 6
We strongly recommend buttermilk for the dumplings, but it’s acceptable to substitute ½ cup plain yogurt thinned with ¼ cup milk. If you want to include white meat (and don’t mind losing a bit of flavor in the process), replace 2 chicken thighs with 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 8 ounces each). Brown the chicken breasts along with the thighs and remove them from the stew once they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees, 20 to 30 minutes. The collagen in the wings helps thicken the stew; do not omit or substitute. Since the wings yield only about 1 cup of meat, using their meat is optional. The stew can be prepared through step 3 up to 2 days in advance; bring the stew back to a simmer before proceeding with the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

  • Stew  
  • 6bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds), trimmed of excess fat (see note)
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • 2teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 2small onions, chopped fine (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 2medium carrots, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
  • 1celery rib, medium, chopped fine (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/4cup dry sherry
  • 6cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
  • 1pound chicken wings (see note)
  • 1/4cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • Dumplings  
  • 2cups unbleached all-purpose flour (10 ounces)
  • 1/2teaspoon baking soda
  • 1teaspoon sugar
  • 1teaspoon table salt
  • 3/4cup buttermilk, cold (see note)
  • 4tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled about 5 minutes
  • 1large egg white

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. 1. FOR THE STEW Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season with 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken thighs, skin-side down, and cook until skin is crisp and well browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Using tongs, turn chicken pieces and brown on second side, 5 to 7 minutes longer; transfer to large plate. Discard all but 1 teaspoon fat from pot.
  2. 2. Add onions, carrots, and celery to now-empty pot; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, 7 to 9 minutes. Stir in sherry, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in broth and thyme. Return chicken thighs, with any accumulated juices, to pot and add chicken wings. Bring to simmer, cover, and cook until thigh meat offers no resistance when poked with tip of paring knife but still clings to bones, 45 to 55 minutes.
  3. 3. Remove pot from heat and transfer chicken to cutting board. Allow broth to settle 5 minutes, then skim fat from surface using wide spoon or ladle. When cool enough to handle, remove and discard skin from chicken. Using fingers or fork, pull meat from chicken thighs (and wings, if desired) and cut into 1-inch pieces. Return meat to pot.
  4. 4. FOR THE DUMPLINGS Whisk flour, baking soda, sugar, and salt in large bowl. Combine buttermilk and melted butter in medium bowl, stirring until butter forms small clumps; whisk in egg white. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and stir with rubber spatula until just incorporated and batter pulls away from sides of bowl.
  5. 5. Return stew to simmer; stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Using greased tablespoon measure (or #60 portion scoop), scoop level amount of batter and drop over top of stew, spacing about ¼ inch apart (you should have about 24 dumplings). Wrap lid of Dutch oven with clean kitchen towel (keeping towel away from heat source) and cover pot. Simmer gently until dumplings have doubled in size and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 13 to 16 minutes. Serve immediately.


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Why I always remember October 31st but don't look forward to it...

At the age of 61, my mother died of cancer on October 31st 1985.  Ever since, I find this time of the year difficult, and struggle to "celebrate" Halloween. I enjoy seeing children dress up in costumes and getting excited about play acting their favorite characters, but cringe at horror and slasher films and all the focus on death. I don't enjoy seeing tombstones on lawns or people in zombie costumes. It just doesn't seem right to take death so lightly. I don't get it.

Must be my Catholic schooling.  October 31st, Halloween, is All-Hallows'-Eve which is the night-before-All-Saints'- Day.  While growing up, our school celebrated All-Saints Day, a holy day of obligation and All-Souls Day which is November 2nd. I was taught that all of the people who had died the past year, and were worthy to pass into heaven, did so on November 2nd. While I do recall wearing costumes and trick or treating on October 31st, the more important days are November 1st and November 2nd.  

I don't remember much about my mother's funeral in early November of 1985, but I do recall a conversation I had with one of my mom's friends from church - a nun.  She said "Isn't it nice that your mom died in time for All Saints' & All Souls Day...she's in heaven now".  Thank you sister...at the time that helped, and continues to take the sting away from October 31st.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Photo Sharing

NEW...I am now sharing photos via Flickr. Look to the right for "My Photos" link to view current monthly photos. 

WHY?  Flickr is so easy!
This past summer I've discovered, online, Digital Photography School which I found to be an excellent source on how to use my digital camera.  DPS is a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in understanding photography.  I enjoy the Weekly Assignments (no prizes, just bragging rights) and Games & Challenges.  Receiving and giving feedback is quite rewarding. They have tutorials, tips and many forums.  

For more info on Flickr go here:  http://www.ehow.com/how_2031217_sign-up-flickr.html








Tuesday, September 25, 2012

I'm hooked on Downton Abbey

Because I've run out of Netflix movies I'd like to see I started looking at their TV shows available.  Downton Abbey caught my eye so I ordered Season 1; Disc 1.  Surprisingly I am hooked.  English drama has never been a favorite for me because I have found them slow, stuffy, and hard to understand because they speak English english; not American english.

Downton Abbey is not at all like that. The series, set in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey, depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants after the post-Edwardian era - with great events in history having an effect on their lives and the British social hierarchy in general.  Such events depicted throughout the whole series include the news of the sinking of Titanic right at the beginning of the first series.  It is a great story line with each episode building on the last one.  The characters are fun to watch.  A great soap opera well done.

I find myself smiling a lot whenever Violet, Dowanger Countess of Grantham appears on the screen.  She is played by Maggie Smith and I just love her.


On the flip side, Sarah O'Brien, the Lady's Maid is nasty and evil!  Always up to something.  She is played by Siobhan Finneran, who I've never seen before.  A really interesting character too.


I expect finish Season 2 in a couple of weeks and will anxiously wait for Season 3 to begin on PBS.  According to the website, Season 3 Premier will be January 6, 2013.

Check it out!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Communication – 1967 style


Private First Class “Sweetie” spent 1967 in Pennsylvania working as hospital lab technician compliments of the U S Army.  I was 16/17 years old, he was 19/20.  We met the summer before, but within three weeks of our meeting Uncle Sam sent him a “we want you” notice.  After boot camp, he was sent seven hundred and fifty miles away, but thanks to the U.S. Postal Service our courtship continued.  A first class stamp cost 5 cents, and 8 cents to send a letter “air mail”.  Seeing a letter in our mail box from him made my heart skip a beat. Many letters sharing our deepest thoughts and dreams were written and received by the two of us. It was how we learned about one another, and our main way to communicate.

One day, probably a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, the telephone rang.  As typical, our home had only one telephone, and ours was centrally located in the living room.  I raced down the stairs from my bedroom to pick it up before my mom or dad would, and heard sweetie’s voice on the other end.  Wow – I almost fainted.  He called long distance from Pennsylvania! Just to talk!  It was an inconceivable concept as the cost to make a long distance call was very expensive.  As it turned out, the long distance telephone operators were on strike, and sweetie’s brother who worked in management at AT&T was called in to man the lines during the strike.  He managed to hook the two of us up.  I still don’t know exactly how he did that, but boy oh boy was my heart pounding!  It was wonderful.

Within a week or two the telephone operator strike ended, but our phone calls didn’t.  About every two or three weeks, the phone would ring, and as usual I’d race to pick it up hoping it would be my Private Sweetie Pie. We continued sharing our deepest thoughts and dreams.  Because he would call from a "pay phone" he started calling “collect” meaning the operator would not put the call through until I would say “yes” to accept the charges. Of course I said yes. The calls were expensive, but once a month, a money order would arrive by mail from “sweetie” payable to my father to cover the cost. I no longer had to race to pick up the call, my parents would always say “yes” and accept the charges but I still did!

Communication was much different back then. I’m glad I experienced it. That makes me smile.


1967:
Median household income was $7,143 a year. 
Lyndon B Johnson, president and Hubert H. Humphrey, vice president.
The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, Cool Hand Luke were top movies.
Popular music was The Beatles, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Super Bowl: Green Bay d. Kansas City (35-10)
World Series:  St. Louis Cardinals d. Boston Red Sox (4-3)
NCAA Basketball Championship: UCLA d. Dayton (79-64)

Monday, September 10, 2012

Player Jerseys? Not me – No Way!


I see many adults, especially middle age and senior citizens walking around on “game day” looking really silly. I say GROW UP! Nothing looks more ridiculous than an adult wearing a player jersey. Jerseys are not flattering unless you are the player, or perhaps a kid under the age of 12. Wearing a player’s jersey does not make that player do better, or help their team win. Wearing a jersey is not supporting them or their team.  Well, perhaps it does support their wallet, seeing as they are way overpriced. Player jerseys are nothing but a marketing ploy. I do not need to wear a player jersey to be a fan, and I will NEVER, NEVER wear a player jersey.  Besides green and gold are not my colors.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Statues at Miller Park, Milwaukee WI

Recently, when the Milwaukee Brewers were out of town, I stopped by Miller Park to take photos of statues located outside Miller Park.  They turned out pretty good considering it was very sunny and the middle of the day.  The photos were taken in color, however I flipped them to black and white because I enjoy the effect.
                                                                                                                                                                 
"The Milwaukee Brewers biggest star today is a career .200 hitter who's never even played for the team. But Bob Uecker, the radio voice of the team for 32 years, has just about done it all. Nationwide, fans still remember Uecker as an actor, comedian and author. To Brewers fans, though, he's a no nonsense scholar of the game who's not afraid to criticize a pitcher who can't throw strikes. Here in Milwaukee, we also appreciate him for his dry sense of humor that can keep any game entertaining, even when the team is mired in a slump."- Columnist Andy Tarnoff in OnMilwaukee.com (April 4, 2002)


                                                                                                                                                                  
Robin Yount was a productive hitter who excelled in the field at two of baseball's most challenging positions -- shortstop and center field. Playing his entire 20-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers, he collected more hits in the 1980s than any other player and finished with an impressive career total of 3,142. An every day Major Leaguer at age 18, Yount earned MVP Awards at two positions and his 1982 MVP campaign carried the Brewers to the World Series.


                                                                                                                                                                  
 Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron (born February 5, 1934), nicknamed "Hammer," or "Hammerin' Hank," is a retired American baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1954 through 1976. Aaron spent 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) before playing for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League (AL) for the final two years of his career. Aaron is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on their "100 Greatest Baseball Players" list.

                                                                                                                                                                    
Allan H. "Bud" Selig, Jr. is the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, a role he has held officially since 1998, and held on an interim basis (as Chairman of the Major League Executive Council) before that, starting in 1992.
Selig, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, began his participation in Baseball as a majority shareholder of the Boston Braves in the early 1950s. After the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1965, he sold his stock in the team, and five years later, he purchased the bankrupt Seattle Pilots franchise and moved it to Milwaukee, renaming them the Brewers.


                                                                                                                                                               
Another sculpture, Teamwork by Omri Amrany, honors three Iron Workers Local 8 members killed during the construction of the stadium.  This is only one of the three. The lighting was pretty bad and only this one came out good enough to keep.  

I plan on returning to Miller Park when baseball season is over to re-take the statues.  Might be interesting - especially in Winter.  I wonder if they shovel that area?



Saturday, September 1, 2012

Milwaukee County Zoo

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Milwaukee County Zoo, a set on Flickr.

Enjoyed visiting the Zoo recently. I hope to return to capture more fascinating images.