Good food and friends

Had lunch with a good friend today. It had been awhile since we'd gotten together and it was great to catch up on each other's lives and hash around ideas. Macaroni Grill was the restaurant of choice and the atmosphere and pasta got our creative juices going and we discussed entrepreneurial options. She wants to do kitty things and i'd love to do quilty crafty things - from kitty mugs, embroidered t-shirts, kitty mats and quillows. Next step i think is to get our web sites going and inventory to sell. Stay tuned....
On another note, my son went out to buy a laptop, finding nothing in his price range for the functions he wanted, he decided to buy rock band instead - i am now learning to jam out - a little We Got the Beat anybody?

The Deens are Coming to Town!

I am so excited!! The Deen brothers will be in town on Sept. 16 for a book signing of their cookbook entitled - what else: The Deen Bros. Cookbook. The book features not only recipes but tidbits and stories of their travels through the southern states from Florida all the way to Colorado and on up to Washington!
From Coconut Fried Shrimp, Chocolate Chip Cake, Ratatouille Supreme with Pepper Jack, Lemony Honey Almond Teacakes and Texas Margaritas - it all sounds yummy and i can't wait to try my hand at them.
This will be a treasured addition to my cookbook collection and who knows maybe Mama Deen will drop by for surprise visit? I've got my copy, now just waiting for the date - Check out the great photo on the cover.

Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao

I was finally able to make it through this book. It took me a couple of times to get into it as some of the language was a turnoff. The second time i started reading it I almost put it down again because it seemed to jump around alot, but i stuck with it and it was a very good story. The book takes you through the adolescent period mostly of Oscar's life, a little bit of his sister's side and alot of his mom's side to show how Oscar's life came to be and end the way it did. Oscar's mom is also from the Dominican Republic and the story very much features their culture and beliefs especially in the scenes that take place on the island. A strong testimony to how the children can end up paying in one way or another for the sins (or in some cases bad luck) of their fathers (or mothers, grandparents, etc.).

for love of....

It seems like a woman's quest to do something fulfilling with her life has been going on forever....whether one is a homemaker or working full-time for many of us we still are not satisfied even though what we may already be doing is an important thing (i.e. raising a family, taking care of the home, contributions at work, etc.). For some of us there is something lacking and sometimes it can take us years to discover it. Or if we know what it is to be able to use it in a way that we can make a living out of it so that we can do what we love all the time and not just in our spare moments.
The movie Julie & Julia is a perfect example of two women who discovered their passions - cooking and then writing for Julia. Writing and then cooking for Julie. I have not read the book but the movie is so heartwarming and humorous depicting a time in their lives when both were searching to leave their mark on the world in some way - even if only in their surrounding world, but something that they felt good about. I completely could identify with Julie - I wonder if she is an Aries? Her comments (and those of her friends and family) regarding unfinished projects sounded so familiar....
And Julia's love of food - a woman after my own heart, no wonder Julie was inspired by her! Julia definitely had one of the best husbands around. The movie definitely has me wanting to cook again and i'll definitely be trying my hand at her Beef Bourgingnon

Priorities

In this day and age when people are losing their jobs, homes, 401K, barely making a living and looking to save any way possible, it's amazing some of the littlest things that people will sweat about. For instance whether to help in the green efforts or just to save on electricity, some people are haning their laundry out to dry versus using the dryer. Myself, i love the smell of fresh sheets - but sheets, blankets and comforters are about the only things i hand dry outside.
mostly because i don't like the stiffness in my clothes if hung outside and i do not have the set up to hang that many clothes out (or a handy husband).
A small community in the state of Vermont however has part of their town in an uproar over their right to dry clothes outside. Many people consider it an eyesore and feel it brings down their home value "would you like to see that outside your window" says one lady. I look at it like a tv program, don't like change the view. Is this lady constantly staring out her window that she would she this all the time. Does her neighbor hang dry clothes 24/7? If it bothers her that much perhaps she could add a trellis or something to block the view. If you didn't view the story this morning on CBS Sunday Morning check it out -

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Honestly some people get their panties in wad over the littlest things - me i'm more worried about the Obama's plan for our health care and how all that will net out. Get real people.

Bargains galore

Today i took a day off today. Wanted to do some things around the house and work on my sewing/quilting. took a little trip to my local dollar tree store. love that place! every single thing is $1! EVERYTHING - so don't ask, cause it's a $1 (you wouldn't believe how many people do ask). Since this store is not on my route with my grocery store i usually forget about, but i've really got to go there first before going to regular store. i would save so much on paper goods, personal care, party decorations, i mean everything!
For instance i bought 3 packages of very large safety pins to use for quilting. Each package had 50 pins in it, each cost package cost $1, so a total of 150 pins cost me $3 at dollar tree. Then went to Joanne's craft store where a package of 20 large quilt safety pins cost about $2.50. I would have had to buy 8 packages and spent $20 - just on the pins! i saved $17 by going to dollar tree. Love it!

New beginnings

Well my baby has graduated high school. Empty nest you say? No, she will be attending community college like her older siblings until she decides exactly which of her many interests she would like to develop into her career. Who knows where her endeavors will take her but wherever it may be, this one will enjoy life no matter.
Would that I had to do it over again I would have given it my all in order to get a full scholarship somewhere (anywhere!) and gone off to explore the world – regardless of what my parents wanted. They wanted me (and my sisters) to stay and study close to home. None of this going off into a scary world where only God knows what could happen – COULD happen. But what if nothing bad had ever happened – all those chances and experiences lost.
I gave each of my kids that chance and tried to tell them. Of course they know all and do not listen. I said get a full paid scholarship to anywhere (through grades, sports, whatever) and you can go – not one of them did. So they go to the local community college and stay close to home.
Me, I am still working towards my BS and grab a little adventure when ever and where ever I can. Tonight it’s off to sewing class to learn another new trick and ideas. Very tame for most I know but some traveling adventures are coming up on the horizon…..