Poetry Monday: Song Lyrics

"Re: Stacks"


This my excavation and today is Kumran
Everything that happens from now on
This is pouring rain
This is paralyzed

I keep throwing it down two-hundred at a time
It's hard to find it when you knew it
When your money's gone
And you're drunk as hell

On your back with your racks as the stacks are your load
In the back and the racks and the stacks of your load
In the back with your racks and you're un-stacking your load

Well I've been twisting to the sun and the moon
I needed to replace
The fountain in the front yard is rusted out
All my love was down
In a frozen ground

There's a black crow sitting across from me
His wiry legs are crossed
He is dangling my keys, he even fakes a toss
Whatever could it be
That has brought me to this loss?

On your back with your racks as the stacks are your load
In the back and the racks and the stacks of your load
In the back with your racks and you're un-stacking your load

This is not the sound of a new man or crispy realization
It's the sound of the unlocking and the lift away
Your love will be
Safe with me
 
by Justin Vernon
The above are lyrics to the song "Re:Stacks" by Bon Iver.  A favorite.

What's Going On In The Kitchen?

   Last night I had dinner with three women.  Four women.  All in our forties.  Intelligent. Independent. Interesting.  During dinner, which was tacos that my friend prepared, we began talking about cooking... how much we cook and what we do cook.  Let me tell you, there was a great deal of variation ranging from not at all to cooking meals all of the time.  This got me thinking about why we do what we do in the kitchen. 
   Now, we are less than a week away from Thanksgiving - a holiday celebrated in the United States during which many of us (if we are so lucky) gather with family or friends and eat ourselves silly.  
   I am particularly lucky because my stepmother prepares the Thanksgiving meal. She is a phenomenal cook.  She approaches cooking in a scientific and structured way.   She is super organized and meticulous.  She perfects dishes that I would not dream of taking on.  And while I greatly admire these traits, this approach actually make me quite nervous. 
   I suppose our behavior in the kitchen must in some way mimic our personalities.  I mean, if you are organized in every other facet of your life why wouldn't you be organized in the kitchen.  And if you are a disaster in your life then clearly you should be a disaster in kitchen.  Makes sense right?  Perhaps.  I can tell you that I fall somewhere in between. And I am okay with that.
   But this does not answer the question of why some of us cook and some of us do not?  What compels us to do what we do?  I know for me, cooking and baking is something I observed and sometimes participated in as a child.  My family used food from our garden, which was crazy big.  My mother went through a stage where she canned everything, made jam, made pickles and yogurt (yuck).  My parents had a subscription to Mother Earth News, shopped at the coop,  wore overalls and pretty much were half-ass hippies for a while.  When my stepmother came into the picture, we became foodies. 
   I believe my interests in the kitchen fall somewhere in between.  I love to cook for other people and myself.  I love to create.  I try to use local fare whenever I can.  I am not interested in making all of the most complicated dishes. I am a good cook.  I am a great pie maker.
   So on this Sunday, less than a week before Thanksgiving,  I ask you, my lovely blog reader, what do you do in your kitchen?   What do you like to cook or bake?  And why do you do it that way?   

Peanut Butter & Jelly: It's not just for sandwiches anymore!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Pie

 

 

 

   I believe I have created the perfect pie.  This pie represents everything that is good about pie.  This pie is decedent, yet simple.  It is serious, yet full of whimsy.  It combines protein, carbohydrates, dairy and fruit. It is truly a pie for all ages.  It is the Peanut Butter & Jelly Pie.
   I'm sorry for those of you out there who do not like peanut butter.  Or maybe you don't like berries.  Then, I am sad to say this may not be the pie for you.  Let me also say that if you are on a strict diet which does not allow dairy don't go here.  And if you have high cholesterol, you might want to prepare your doctor in advance.  That being said, this pie is perfect. 
   It happened upon me like this:  As you know, I spend a great deal of time daydreaming about pie. I know, that probably sounds crazy but it is in fact true.  A few years ago, I found I had a gift.  I could make a damn good pie.  And for a while, I followed recipes exclusively.  I worked at perfecting my pie crust.  I was happy to only go where others' had gone before.  But then something happened.  I began to have visions of pie tastiness, both savory and sweet.  I began to change things, to combine ingredients in different ways.  In fairness to those who came before me, I have stolen aspects from many different recipes, both pie and non pie, and have spun them into some pie loveliness of my very own. 
   I should also say here, that I have a host of pie tasters willing to take on for the team.  They are also willing to critique the end results.  These people in my circle know what they are talking about when it comes to food.  They know food is not something to be taking lightly.  They know good food.  And many of the pie filling ideas come wholly or in part from these awesome peeps! 
   The Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie was my creation however (at least in this version).  It's funny but generally you can find a recipe for anything you happen to dream up on the Internet.  And I did, in fact, find several recipes for PB&J pie.  But I was not happy with the the combinations that I found. So I made one up cause that's how I roll.
   I am a good pie maker.  I am also very critical about the end result.  There is always something I can do better.  There is always something that can be done differently.  So when a pie creation comes out as near to perfection as can be. This pie maker does a little happy dance in her kitchen.  And then she goes on to blab about it to all that will listen.  And even some that won't. So thanks again for all of you that read my blog posts, visit my facebook page, taste test, or talk about pie with me.  As Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

A little piece will do

A Poem For Halloween

All Souls

by Michael Collier

 

A few of us—Hillary Clinton, Vlad Dracula,   

Oprah Winfrey, and Trotsky—peer through   

the kitchen window at a raccoon perched   

outside on a picnic table where it picks

over chips, veggies, olives, and a chunk of pâte.   

Behind us others crowd the hallway, many more

dance in the living room. Trotsky fusses with the bloody   

screwdriver puttied to her forehead.

Hillary Clinton, whose voice is the rumble

of a bowling ball, whose hands are hairy

to the third knuckle, lifts his rubber chin to announce,   

“What a perfect mask it has!” While the Count

whistling through his plastic fangs says, “Oh,   

and a nose like a chef.” Then one by one   

the other masks join in: “Tail of a gambler,”   

“a swashbuckler’s hips,” “feet of a cat burglar.”

Trotsky scratches herself beneath her skirt

and Hillary, whose lederhosen are so tight they form a codpiece,   

wraps his legs around Trotsky’s leg and humps like a dog.   

Dracula and Oprah, the married hosts, hold hands

and then let go. Meanwhile the raccoon squats on   

the gherkins, extracts pimentos from olives, and sniffs   

abandoned cups of beer. A ghoul in the living room   

turns the music up and the house becomes a drum.

The windows buzz. “Who do you love? Who do you love?”   

the singer sings. Our feathered arms, our stockinged legs.   

The intricate paws, the filleting tongue.

We love what we are; we love what we’ve become.

Eye On The Pie

Just a post to let all of my many many blog followers (ha. But thanks to the few that do. I love you).  I am attempting to turn this pie making passion into a little business.  So if you are in Columbus, Ohio or near and in desperate need of a spectacular pie please let me know.  I can be reached at eyeonthepie@gmail.com.

I also now have a facebook page for Eye On The Pie at: Eye On The Pie facebook page. This page gives more details about pie options.  It also includes photos of some of the pies that I have made along the way.  Please come and check it out.  It would also be lovely if you liked the page.  And, feel free to share this page with all of your pie loving friends. 

Thank you for all of your support.  It means a great deal!!

Poetry is for Everyone

Sick
by Shel Silverstein
"I cannot go to school today," Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I'm going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, I've counted sixteen chicken pox And there's one more--that's seventeen, And don't you think my face looks green? My leg is cut--my eyes are blue-- It might be instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, I'm sure that my left leg is broke-- My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button's caving in, My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained, My 'pendix pains each time it rains. My nose is cold, my toes are numb. I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There is a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what? What's that? What's that you say? You say today is. . .Saturday? G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

I am in love with Savory Mini Pies!

 There has been a whole lot of pie experimentation going on lately in my world. I am preparing to prepare to begin my very own pie business. And while this requires some business savvy, planning and organization, it also requires that I have perfected my pie recipes. There is so much pie and so little time.
 One thing is certain, many of my people have been more than happy to be taste testers. This is awesome! For one, I need opinions. Secondly, I DO NOT need whole pies just sitting around my house. One of my pie testers suggested I offer a mid sized savory pie that can serve one or two people. So, amongst other pie making, I have been working on a few savory mini pie ideas.


 The series of pictures below depict the steps in making my third mini( first-green tomato and white cheddar, second-taco, third is chicken chorizo and sweet potato in a red pepper chipotle sauce.

I browned the chorizo.  If it happens to come in links, you will need to take it out of the casings and brown it like you would round beef or pork.  I use chicken chorizo.  I feel better about this and I am able to purchase locally at the farmer's market.

 I tossed sliced sweet potatoes in olive oil, roasted garlic, Cayenne pepper and black pepper.  Put them under the broiler for a bit until they soften and a few get crispy. 

  I used enchilada sauce as a base. Add chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, and red bell pepper and a bit of onion.  Let it simmer on the stove for a bit.  Certainly, one can adjust the level of heat.  Watch out those chipotle peppers are a wee bit spicy

  So now the prep work is done.  What I have found with mini pies is that they work best when the ingredients are layered in the mini pie plate, whatever pie plate you choose.  For this series of little pies, I used some old school Pyrex bakers.  By old school, I mean I literally grew up with them.  They are adorable and a nice size for a 1-2 person mini pie.

  Anyway, I used a cheddar cheese basic pie dough for my top and bottom crusts.  Once the bottom crust was in the pie plate, I layered in sweet potato, chorizo, pepper sauce and cheddar cheese. I repeated it one time.  Put the top crust on.  Made it look pretty.  Then popped the little gem in the oven for 25 minutes. And presto...A mini pie of my very own! Next up Lasagna Pies with Parmesan Herb Crusts. Now that's gonna be off the hook!!

 

My Week In Pie

MONDAY

   My week began with a little preparation for a pie class I was to teach on Wednesday at Williams-Sonoma.  I stopped by the grocery story to pick up a few things that I needed to make Lemon Meringue Pie.  I had never made Lemon Meringue before (believe it or not) so I felt like I should give it a go before I taught it in class.  Who knew Lemon Meringue contained so many eggs?  Watch out cholesterol, here we come!  Anyway, this pie required making the lemon curd ahead, which was a rather daunting task but turned out perfectly.  And, you must also make meringue.  Once again, making meringue was scary.  The instructions said to whip the EGG mixture to glossy peaks.  Glossy peaks... they actually were glossy peaks!  Good show!!  It was eleven o'clock on a school night when I first sat down.

TUESDAY

   Another evening, another pie.  Once again, I was preparing for the pie class at Williams-Sonoma.  This time, the pie in question was Black Bottom Banana Cream.  The most difficult part of this pie was making the vanilla cream portion of the pie.  I have always had a little problem with the creamy portion in cream pies.  Usually, I worry that I am going to overcook the cream, take it off too soon and then it never sets up properly.  This is my M.O.  I had heard from my pie class co-instructor that the cream did not set up (in the pie she had made) so I threw a little extra cornstarch in there for good measure.  It worked!  Yea me!!  What didn't work, however, was the pie dough for the crust.  It was an absolute nightmare!!  I was trying the pie dough recipe that came with the pie filling recipe, not my usual pie dough.  In the end, while I was piecing the pie dough together in the pie plate, I found myself yelling, "THIS is why people are afraid to make pie!" It turned out, although the crust kinda fell apart when sliced. Ah well, pie finished at 10:30.  Time to go to bed.

WEDNESDAY

  So I left job number one, working with pre-kindergarteners all day.  Rushed to Williams-Sonoma to help put together the pies for tasting that must be made ahead.  I prepared the Blueberry Crumble Pie.  This pie had only a bottom crust which I rolled out.  Then put together the crumble topping and the fresh blueberry filling.  I put the whole thing together before class.  We also made the Black Bottom Banana Cream (but as a tart without the whipped cream), and the lemon curd portion of the lemon meringue.  The last pie, an Apple Cherry was to be put together in class.  The class was super fun, if not slightly disorganized.  But, the three participants seemed to learn a lot.  Needless to say the Apple Cherry Pie did not get baked.  Four pies plus pie dough is a hell of a lot to cover in two hours!! Home at 10 pm.

THURSDAY

   I ate pizza pie and one slice of the blueberry crumble pie. 

FRIDAY

   A evening of rest.  No pie. Happy Hour. Gin and Tonic. Black Bean Dip. Salad.

SATURDAY

   I gave a pie lesson to my neighbors, who were excited to learn how to make pie.  And while, the conversation was great, and the beginning seemed promising.  The time came to roll out the dough which we had made.  And... disaster.  It was a bitch to roll out.  Kept falling apart.  I basically had to wish it into the pie plate.  The top crust was a little bit better but kept tearing all over the place.  It, quite possibly, was the ugliest apple pie I have ever seen (damn, forgot to take a photo).  I was mortified.

   After my struggle with pie dough earlier in the week, I felt I needed to redeem myself.  So on Saturday evening, I used the leftover dough (which I had added a little water to and chilled) to make the above mini savory green tomato and cheddar pies.  Ah....sweet success!

SUNDAY

   This week ends with a SWEET Green Tomato Pie.  A Southern pie.  And it really does taste exactly like apple pie.  Amazing.  I have not lost my touch.  And I tried five new pies this week.  All is right in my world of pie!  And that is good 

     

 

 

Poetry on Wednesday

Song for Autumn

In the deep fall
    don't you imagine the leaves think how
comfortable it will be to touch
    the earth instead of the
nothingness of air and the endless
    freshets of wind? And don't you think
the trees themselves, especially those with mossy,
    warm caves, begin to think

of the birds that will come — six, a dozen — to sleep
    inside their bodies? And don't you hear
the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
    the everlasting being crowned with the first
tuffets of snow? The pond
    vanishes, and the white field over which
the fox runs so quickly brings out
    its blue shadows. And the wind pumps its
bellows. And at evening especially,
    the piled firewood shifts a little,
longing to be on its way.

Mary Oliver

Experimental Pie Awesomeness!!

Gingered Honey Melon Mango Peach Pie

   I totally feel like a rock star!  This is my acceptance speech.  The speech where I thank all of those that helped me create this magnificent pie.  The speech where I say something about not being where I am today without the tireless efforts of others.  And while that is all true.  It's more like thanking those who listened to me go on and on about it.  Believe me when I say I talked to a lot of people about the mango melon pie!  So thanks to all of you who participated in one way or another.
   The pie above is a slight departure from the original idea of mango-melon.  Because, as was mentioned in a previous post, I had some difficulty wrapping my head around the idea of mango in a pie.  After almost a year of thinking about how to create this pie, a friend suggested reducing the melon and then adding it to other fruit.  This seemed like a good plan.  And I like a good plan.
   I had previously mentioned that I wanted to use ginger and honey in combination with the fruit.  So what I ended up doing was this; I put honey and fresh ginger in a pan with cantaloupe and reduced the hell out of it.  After letting it cool, I added it to the fruit.
   For the fresh fruit portion of the pie, I chose half mango and half peach.  I have to say that this is a brilliant combination even without the smoke and mirrors of the gingered honey melon reduction.  Along with the fresh fruit and the reduced melon, I added a bit of Saigon cinnamon and a pinch of cumin...just because.  I also had to add a generous amount of cornstarch to thicken the whole mess.  This was a little worrisome because I had to make an educated guess.  In the end, I put more than I normally would and it was perfect.
   I should also say that no other sweetener was used in the making of the pie.  I used only the honey in the reduction.  And once again, I was pleasantly surprised by the end result. For the crust, I made my standard all butter crust recipe then added 1 tsp of honey, as well.
   There are a few things that I might tweak a bit.  But, I think it's safe to say that it is the best pie that I have ever made. The lesson learned - listen to your friends.  They are pretty smart. And they tolerate your incessant ramblings about pie. That says a lot!

Poetry Sunday

Litany

You are the bread and the knife,
            The crystal goblet and the wine...
               -Jacques Crickillon

 You are the bread and the knife,
 the crystal goblet and the wine.
 You are the dew on the morning grass
 and the burning wheel of the sun.
 You are the white apron of the baker,
 and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

 However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
 the plums on the counter,
 or the house of cards.
 And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
 There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

 It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
 maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
 but you are not even close
 to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

 And a quick look in the mirror will show
 that you are neither the boots in the corner
 nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

 It might interest you to know,
 speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
 that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

 I also happen to be the shooting star,
 the evening paper blowing down an alley
 and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

 I am also the moon in the trees
 and the blind woman's tea cup.
 But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.
 You are still the bread and the knife.
 You will always be the bread and the knife,
 not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine.

Billy Collins

September Spawned a Monster?.... A Pie Considered.

   So it's September.  I totally believe that our perception of time changes as we move along in life (notice I didn't say "get older").  Because now years seem to just fly right on by even though the days continue at the same speed.  Wasn't it just yesterday, when I was up until 2am writing and listening to some Indie band?  Oh wait, that was yesterday.  But the fact of the matter is that our perceptions of everything in this life are in a constant state of flux.  And yet, a lot of the time, we trick ourselves into believing that there is a constant.  We trick ourselves into believing that there is one answer and that we have it and that it is the right answer.
    Why am I talking about this?  Not sure really, except that it is September.  I can't believe that it is September.  Time to start thinking about making seasonal pies, specifically apple pie.  This is the time of year to embrace apple pie.  Apples are at their best.  You can get almost any kind of apples from the farmer's market.  And you can spend hours and hours slicing, coring and peeling apples by hand.  Or you can invest is a little device that will do that for you without much effort.  And believe it or not, I have yet to purchase this time saver.  To be honest, I have been getting some shit for this.  Not sure exactly why I have been putting it off exactly.  Maybe because, I like the process of dealing with apples by hand.  Although, at about six apples in, I begin mentally kicking my own ass for not purchasing the peeler/corer.
   But on this particular September evening, I am contemplating a mango-melon pie.  Some time ago, a friend of mine suggested this combination.  It seemed strange then and seems rather strange now.  I can totally get behind mango.  It's the melon part that has me stumped.  I'm not really a huge fan of melon.  But I am determined to make this pie work.  In fact it has been on my mind for a while (kinda in the back hidden away, but there).  And it's been stumping me.  So now, I see it as a challenge.  There has got to be a way to make melon work in combination with mango. Here are a few thoughts:

• There will be mango.
• There will be melon.  Jury is out on what kind of melon.  Could be Honeydew. Could be Cantaloupe.  Could be both.
• There will be honey.  There will be ginger. In what combination? Heaven only knows.
• The melon may be grilled or sauteed.
• The melon may be reduced and added to another fruit.
• It may end up as a rustic tart. Or end up as a fresh fruit tart rather than a pie.
• This is a concept pie much like a concept car. And the actually pie may be entirely different.
• It's a challenge. I like a challenge.
• It could be a disaster. 
• It could be amazing.  Let's go with amazing.

   But what I need from all of you that read this crazy little post is simple.  I need you to weigh in with your thoughts and ideas about a Mango/Melon pie.  What do you think? How would you do it? I know you have thoughts as you are reading this.  So give em' to me.  Let's make it the most awesome Mango/Melon pie experiment ever!
   For some reason this song came to mind.  Thank goodness it's not November yet.  And hopefully this pie experiment doesn't spawn a monster.   But just in case....

Poetry on Thursday

The Red Wheelbarrow

William Carlos Williams

---

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

The Holy Grail Of Brownies

 

   As you have probably gathered by now, I have been on a baking odyssey of sorts.  Beginning with my interest in pie baking, then moving onto bread baking, and now I have done it... I have found the perfect brownie.  

   It happened quite by accident.  I am sometimes plagued by a sweet tooth.  And this sweet tooth commands sweets, usually sweets that are paired with chocolate.  On this particular day I am remembering, I was in urgent need of sweets.  It was late in the evening.  I dreaded going to the grocery store. I had to find a recipe that did not require sweetened chocolate as I had none in the house.  I did, however, have some fine unsweetened chocolate.  I had, by chance, purchased some E. Guittard chocolate from Williams-Sonoma the day before.  So I had chocolate. I had sugar. I had flour. I had eggs. I had butter. I had vanilla.  I needed a recipe.

   What was I to do now?  Well, I did what ever modern baker does when in need.  I consulted the internet.  And even better than that, I used the Epicurious app on my iphone to find this startlingly simple recipe.  The recipe I found required all of the ingredients that I had in my kitchen. Check. The recipe I found had great reviews. Check.  The recipe I found was super simple. Check.  The recipe I found was Katherine Hepburn's family recipe. Really??  

   Yes indeed. And the only thing to do was to mix up the brownies, in one bowl by the way, bake them and see just how awesome they really were.  Were they everything I expected.  Oh my... these brownies were thin and gooey, but with a crunchy layer on top. These are perfect brownies.  If you are looking for an easy, basic brownie recipe, this is the only one you will ever use!  Katherine Hepburn's family had it so right. 

Katherine Hepburn's Brownies

Ingredients

1 stick of butter (8 tablespoons)

1/4 unsweetened chocolate ( 2 squares)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla (although I added 1 teaspoon)

1/4 cup all purpose flour

Preparation

1. Melt together butter and chocolate.

2. Stir in 1 cup sugar, add 2 eggs and vanilla, and beat the mixture well.

3. Stir in 1/4 cup flour and salt. (If you like nuts 1 cup of chopped walnuts can be added here)

4. Bake brownies in a buttered and floured 8 inch square pan at 325 F for 40 minutes.

  These brownies are the bomb!! They surpass all others that have come before.  For a little variation try adding 1 teaspoon on cinnamon.  Yummy, yummy, yumminess!!!

   Try em' you'll love em'!

For the moment, Princess Doom and Gloom lets go

   The weather is incredible this morning.  It's 76 degrees. The sun is out. There is a little breeze.  And as I sit here writing this post, I am enjoying a berry smoothie and homemade honey-wheat toast with butter and honey on top.  I began my morning by reading in bed for a bit - the best book I have read in a while, and speaking to my mother briefly on the phone.  You know how every now and then everything just seems to be right.  This is one of those every now and thens.
   Last night, I spent the evening under a full moon, listening to some great music.  The last band, CAKE (which is one of my many favorites) was awesome. But then I have never seen them not be awesome. At one point, the lead singer John McCrea made a comment about being in the moment.  He commanded that all electronic devices be put away and that everyone be in the moment.
   And this morning, as I write and contemplate what baked good I should make for Sunday Supper Club, I consider how important it is to be in the moment. For some of us ( I don't know... me), it's a difficult assignment.  I mean, there is all of that endless amount of stuff to think and worry about.  Things that have happened.  Things that are going to happen. How it's gonna happen.  How you reacted when it happened. How you are going to react when it happens.  What it all means when it happens.
   This reminds me of an Absolutely Fabulous quote: "...so cheer up world, it may never bloody happen". 
    And on a day like today, I can do that.  A day to spend outside in the yard. A day to plan a Supper Club. A day to go listen to music under the moon.  It is a good day.

    My life is good... in the moment.

Remembering Martin's Ferry

A Blessing
by James Wright
Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota, Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass. And the eyes of those two Indian ponies Darken with kindness. They have come gladly out of the willows To welcome my friend and me. We step over the barbed wire into the pasture Where they have been grazing all day, alone. They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness That we have come. They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other. There is no loneliness like theirs. At home once more, They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness. I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms, For she has walked over to me And nuzzled my left hand. She is black and white, Her mane falls wild on her forehead, And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist. Suddenly I realize That if I stepped out of my body I would break Into blossom.

Poetry is for Everyday

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Road Trippin Picture Pages!!

        

   A little background information for you: I had a week off of work and during that time my mother and one of my best friends came to stay with me.  The week included one little road trip to Indianapolis, IN to see The Rosebuds and Bon Iver, lots of hanging out, some shopping, cooking and eating local fare, spending time in Columbus parks, and napping.  But now my staycation is drawing to a close.  Big Sigh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The road trip to Indianapolis began early afternoon on Monday July 25th.  We had decided to make stops at the quirkiest roadside attractions along the way.  And research had been done ahead of time.  In fact, what we were really looking for was the largest ball of twine.  No joy. But Marisa, the navigating genius, found us several other awesome attractions.  So westward we headed, armed with a lovely GPS lady who politely guided us from Marisa's blackberry.

The three photographs above were taken at Clara's Pizza King in Richmond, IN which was our first stop.  During Marisa's extensive research into the quirky, she found several mentions about this pizza parlor.  Apparently, this location of Pizza King is the best.  I mean, you place your order by telephone at your table, there is a double-decker bus parked in the restaurant and the breadsticks are the best I have ever eaten. 

And they have Ms Pacman in the entryway.  This kind of game totally reminds me of when I was a kid going to get pizza with my family.  I love it.  Notice the Twenty Year Reunion... Really??  This pizza place is a winner!!

Stop 2: Do I really need to say anything? I will say this.  This shoe, which is the size of a car, is located about a half an hour from Indianapolis.  It can be found in front of a travel lodge with a sports theme.  Only in the United States......

This is called a Twisted House. It is part of a twelve acre sculpture garden at the Indianapolis Art Center in Indianapolis, IN.  This place is TOTALLY cool.  Admittance is free. All sorts of classes are offered.  There are all different kinds of artwork on display in the interior portion of the center.  Marisa and I were sad because we only had a limited amount of time to check it out. 

Final Destination!! The show took place at the Murat Theatre in downtown Indianapolis, which seems like a pretty cool city actually. I have traveled through Indianapolis about a bazillion times but never been downtown.  We ate dinner at a little Mediterranean place nearby.  It was very tasty.  Our initial plan to stop and eat at The Steer In ( of Diners, Drive ins and Dives fame) was foiled.  On Mondays, Steer In closes at 3pm.  Bummer!  Anyway, The Murat Theatre is located in Old National Centre.  This place was very cool.  This is a shot of the opening band The Rosebuds, who were great by the way!! 

Bon Iver.  My favorite band. Traveling with nine  musicians: two drummers, a whole bunch of horns, a percussionist, two synthesizers, violins, and normal rock gear of guitar and bass.  Let's just say it was an explosion of sound.  Absolutely amazing live show!!  Never mind the fact that it was so hot in there with the doors shut that you felt like you were going to melt.  So if you don't know them, check them out!

A tower on top of Old National Centre.  This shot was taken after the show when walking outside in the heat of the night was a much needed because it was so damn hot in the theater.  We are thankful that neither of us passed out during the show.  It was touch and go for a bit!

On the way home, after the obligatory stop at a gas station to stock up on late night road trip junk food, we rolled into Vandalia, Oh.  During Marisa's research, she discovered that road trippers consider this donut shop a must.  Conveniently, Jim's Donut Shop is open 24 hours.  But at 1am on a Tuesday morning, all they had left were cake donuts.  But I stocked up with a unusual flavors: Oreo and red velvet just to name a few.  They were tasty. And I am not a huge fan of the donut.         

Princess Doom and Gloom Exceeds 160 Characters

   The other day during my drive home from work, I saw a woman crying in the car behind me.  I had just happened to glance in my rear view mirror while stopped at a red light.  At first I was a little alarmed and not quite sure what to do or how to react.  I mean, there was a woman sobbing not more than twenty feet away from me.  In the end, I treated this occurrence like I have been socialized to treat nose-picking or other crazy behavior I happen to inadvertently see.  I ignored it completely.
   But it's been a couple of weeks and I am still thinking about it.  In fact, it popped into my head again about a week ago when I almost began to cry in my car on my drive home.  It had been a particularly difficult week and I was struggling to keep myself together.  It made me think of this woman, driving, trying to hold herself together and not succeeding. She was me. She was everyone.
  I have been concerned for a while now about the growing disconnection that I think many of us are experiencing.  Yes, we have many, many ways to communicate with each other ie: mobile phones, texting, email, facebook, twitter, online chat etc.  Yes, we can get a hold of practically anyone at anytime. We can tell the whole world what we are feeling and why we are feeling it. But it had better be under 160 characters.  Because our brains are no longer programed to understand anything longer than that. 
   Do we even know how to just talk on the phone anymore? Or, wait for it, get together with someone and talk to that someone in person?  And when you are, or you see or hear a person in distress, what do we do? Just ignore it. Act like it never happened.  Or talk about it online or via email or text cause then we are removed from the situation. We are safe from really feeling anything.
   Now I freely admit, that I do use all of these communication devices.  And they certainly serve a purpose.  But I still talk on the phone with my family and my best friends. I still attempt to get together with people I care about just to hang out, just to spend time with real humans.  I am lucky to have such interesting people in my life.
    I do not want to become the person texting another person sitting in the same room as me.  I do not want to become the person that has no idea that his roommate is suffering distress because he chosen to ignore the signs, because he chooses not to ask. I try to be present. I try to pay attention.  I certainly think a lot. And I try to be a good listener. 
   Whether we live alone, with friends or family, or with significant others, I think many of us are suffering from this feeling of disconnection. Our lives are full (maybe too full). There is stress. We are in a hurry. We push our thoughts into the far recesses of our minds. We simplify everything and try to fit our thoughts into 160 characters. It's exhausting. It's overwhelming.  We end up crying in the car on the way home from work.  And we don't know why.
    In an attempt to counteract my own feelings of disconnection, I began hosting a Sunday Supper Club. Basically, it's just a venue for people to cook, eat and talk to one another.  Just a casual time for friends to hang out, maybe meet some new people.  Time to actually talk with one another.  It has been a good time thus far.  Even when there have only been a few it's been lovely.  Everyone eats. Might as well enjoy a meal with others. 
   No one wants to end up crying in the car while chomping on fast food fries and texting a message that will surely be misunderstood. We all need to slow down. Take some time. Experience the world around us and communicate in full sentences. 

  

More Poetry!!

This Is Just To Say
by William Carlos Williams
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold

Mixing it up - Poetry on Saturday!!

Just Walking Around
By John Ashbery

What name do I have for you?
Certainly there is no name for you
In the sense that the stars have names
That somehow fit them. Just walking around,

An object of curiosity to some,
But you are too preoccupied
By the secret smudge in the back of your soul
To say much and wander around,

Smiling to yourself and others.
It gets to be kind of lonely
But at the same time off-putting.
Counterproductive, as you realize once again

That the longest way is the most efficient way,
The one that looped among islands, and
You always seemed to be traveling in a circle.
And now that the end is near

The segments of the trip swing open like an orange.
There is light in there and mystery and food.
Come see it.
Come not for me but it.
But if I am still there, grant that we may see each other

Fourth of July, Revisted.

   Pie. Pie for a Summer meal. Pie is the perfect dessert for July 4th.  And the pies to the left were made for such a celebration.  The "monster" pie in the photograph is an apple pie. The other pie is a blackberry/red raspberry pie.  Both turned out well, although it was touch and go there for a bit.
   Some of you may be aware of this already, but I'm giving it to you anyway... The humidity effects the properties of pie dough.  On Saturday, when I was preparing the pie dough for the pies, it was very humid.  I always begin with 2 and 1/2 cups flour, two sticks of unsalted butter, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 cup of ice water.  The water always varies.  There is always some left over.  But on this particular day, I felt like I barely added any water at all.  And that was too much.  The pie dough was supremely tender and very hard to handle.  When I was maneuvering it into the pie plates all I could think about was that show "Cake Wrecks".  Here I was, put in charge of pie by the best cook I know (my stepmother) and what did I create.... PIE WRECKS.  Or at least, that I what I was envisioning as I patched the pie dough in the pie plate.  But they turned out just fine, thank goodness.  In fact, the apple pie was the prettiest one that I have ever made.  Helped along by the addition of a red Emile Henry pie plate.  So silly, but I had been coveting that pie plate for a while at Williams-Sonoma.  I finally convinced myself that I must have it for the celebration.  Not only is it beautiful, but it bakes quite nicely and the fluted edge makes it very easy to create a lovely pie. The blackberry pie oozed all over the crust. But that is the way of blackberry pies (at least in my experience) so it was all good.
   The pies finished a fantastic meal of barbecue beef sandwiches with homemade coleslaw on top (yum! and the coleslaw was made with grilled cabbage - which makes a difference), red potato salad,  and baked beans in a mole sauce.  Of course there was homemade vanilla ice cream to go with the pie, guacamole and hummus to start the meal and champagne.  Champagne throughout the afternoon which is lovely.
   Champagne also helped soften the blow of losing at bocce ball AGAIN!  Bocce ball is played at all of the outdoor celebrations at the parental home in Yellow Springs.  And somehow, I am always on the losing team.  It could be me, although in my defense I played rather well on this particular occasion.  I believe, that it has more to do with my grandmother.  She is an excellent bocce ball player.  She may be almost 90 and beginning to lose her mind but she can still kick some serious ass on the bocce ball court (which is actually a narrow portion of the yard located between the deck and the garden).  And she is never on my team for some reason.  I am going to have to look into that next time.  Just to make sure that the games aren't being rigged.  My dad is usually the official.  He could be rigging it. I wouldn't put anything past him!
   Even with the shattering bocce ball loss, it was quite a lovely long weekend.  It ended with a beautiful afternoon sailing on the lake where my father's sailboat has a home.  I was very thankful for such distraction after a difficult week.  We may have our own share of issues in this country but on a warm, breezy, sun filled afternoon on a sailboat life doesn't look to bad.

Princess Gloom and Doom Makes a List

  After a horrible week of uneasiness and general unhappiness, I vowed to make a list of random things I am thankful for.  So here goes....

• That I sleep like the dead
• For the people who accept my brand of quirkiness
• That my eleven (yes I said eleven) tomato plants are growing
• For my twenty year old fan that still lulls me to sleep every night
• That I have a table with umbrella in my tiny back yard
• For the farmer's market
• For my garden
• For interesting and hilarious friends
• That my dad has a sailboat
• That crying really does bring relief
• That I have everything I need
• That I still find people intriguing
• That everything is so green and lush right now
• For Bloody Marys in the evening
• For my new knife
• For silliness
• For coffee
• For fireflies that land in my hair
• That my dog and cat sleep on the bed
• For still being able to be surprised
• For music
• That I still have patience
• For poetry
• For Pie, For Pie, For Pie
• That writing always helps
• That I still like to question and ponder
• That I am not numb to the world
• For lemonade, sweet tea, orange, vodka and gin
• For basil and pesto
• For photography
• For Sunday 
• For my kitchen
• For Ms Martha Stewart's Pie and Tart Cookbook
• That there are flowers growing in my yard

 
   It's a self indulgent exercise.  But it did seem to help put my unhappiness into perspective.  There is a lot of greatness in my life, actually. I hope there is in yours too.

Poetry on Monday

Mad Girl's Love Song

By Sylvia Plath

 

"I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
And arbitrary blackness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade:
Exit seraphim and Satan's men:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you'd return the way you said,
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)"

A Little Bit of ComFest Love!!

   Once a year in Columbus, a community festival occurs which is the mother of all other festivals.  It is called ComFest. It takes place over a weekend. It is held in Goodale Park in the Victorian Village area of Columbus.  It is a free event. There are several stages on which local performers do their thing...whatever that may be. There is food. There is beer. There is more beer.  There are tons of people. There are tons of people who have enjoyed a whole lotta beer.  It's really to bad I don't like beer.
   ComFest is known to be a "hippie" festival. I say this loosely because actually people of all different persuasions find themselves at home at ComFest.  I am okay with the hippie thing anyway.  My parents were hippie want-a-bes back in the day.  My mother shopped at a coop. We had an ginormous garden. We made our own yogurt.  My mom bought the kind of peanut butter that separates between each use.  I hated that peanut butter as a kid, just sayin.  I also grew up a stone's throw from Yellow Springs, Oh, (the home for hippies).  And my father and stepmother currently live in this lovely little town.  So, it's all good.
   The most awesome thing about ComFest (beside the local color) is all of the local musicians/ bands that play.  The worst thing is parking.  We ended up parking way way way far away.  And I kinda forgot about the walking and wore my lovely raspberry Converse.  Converse are super comfy unless you sometimes have a little heel issue that becomes exacerbated by walking more than around the block.  Oops, I was in a tiny bit of pain in the morning.  But since I don't drink beer and I did not have the forethought to take a flask, I was not in that kind of pain.
   Back to the entertainment... For the second year in a row, a few friends and I have gone down on Friday evening to see my friend and coworker perform with his collaboration, Speakeasy.  This deal was a combination of three different bands this year: Advanced Placement, Generic Product, and Math of Trees (the lineup changes from year to year).  Although they would be considered hip hop, they have  broad appeal and are always a good time.  I am not really a hip hop gal but I do enjoy these tight ComFest performances.
  There was the Sex Kitten Purr-Lesque that followed directly after Speakeasy.  And one of the friends I was with happened to be a heterosexual man so enough said.  Not that the burlesque is the only place to see naked breasts at ComFest, believe me. After the burlesque, we watched MojoFlo who have a soul, R and B kind of vibe.  They have lots of energy and a great sound. Then we finished off the evening with Phantods.  They are an alternative band.  I have seen them before and like them very much.
   I am always amazed that ComFest remains free and open to everyone.  I am amazed that much of the work is done by volunteers.  I love that ComFest continues to celebrate all different types of everything.  I love the fact that right inside the park entrance there was a tree made entirely from plastic grocery sacks.  It truly is a good time that can be had by all.  That is if you can find a parking space!

And The Second Album Dropped...

   This is a story about how I live.  It begins several years ago.  I was reading an article in a music magazine, probably Spin, but I don't actually remember.  The article was comprised of an interview with a semi famous person, I don't remember who.  The question had something to do with a favorite album.  The answer was "For Emma, Forever Ago" by Bon Iver.  I had never heard of Bon Iver at the time but I decided to check the out.  Then I promptly forgot out it for a few months.  But one day I was in the library perusing the Cd's and stumbled upon "For Emma...".
   I few days ago I would have said that in all my years of listening to music, there has never been an entire album that has had such an affect on me.  I won't go into all of the gory sentimental details.   "For Emma.." is spare, painful and beautiful.  The album is so amazing that by the last track, Re:Stacks - when Justin Vernon sings This is not the sound of a new man /or a crispy realization / It's the sound of the unlocking and lift away / Your love will be safe with me, I am usually wiping away a few tears.  

   And then on Tuesday something amazing happened. Bon Iver's self titled sophomore album dropped.  "For Emma..." will always be "For Emma..." but "Bon Iver" is transcendent.  In "Holocene" Vernon sings, All at once I knew I was not magnificent. Oh, I understand the meaning of this, but I will argue that Justin Vernon is indeed magnificent in that he is the brain child of  Bon Iver.  And "Bon Iver" the album is truly magnificent.  It is impressionistic. It is lush. It is broader. It is happier. It is visionary.

   My story continues though.  Of course, I downloaded the album immediately, although I had heard it before the official release date.  And in a moment of complete abandon, I purchased two tickets for a show 200 miles away.  This may sound pretty basic but it is unheard of for me.  For one, I am a die hard procrastinator when it comes to purchasing concert tickets - usually waiting long enough that they sell out.  I also purchased two tickets without knowing who will go with me.  That, my friends, is crazy.  I am a hard-core planner.  The idea of purchasing tickets, kinda on a whim is extraordinary. But I did it because if I miss the chance to see Bon Iver this time, I may never forgive myself.

   The life lesson here, is to surprise yourself, to allow yourself to be someone unexpected, to explore and to transcend.  And that means, my friends, take a little listen to Bon Iver.  Even if you think it may not be your cup of tea.  Try it, I dare you. This band might just change your world. 

Poetry Sunday

The Summer Day

By Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza, PIE!!

    Not very many people prepare a meal together and then eat the meal together.  And, I think that is a problem.  In an attempt to take Sunday Supper back to what it used to be in my childhood (or at least how I remember Sunday Supper in my minds' eye), I have created an almost weekly Sunday Supper Club to be held at my home, for now, where the participants can partake in the joy of cooking, the joy of eating, and just the joy of being together.  Now, I realize that sounds kinda crazy sentimental. But I believe in this world of disconnect in which we live, the importance of actually spending time with people face-to-face (no facebook, no skype, no google chat, no texting, no email) is vital.  And since we all have to eat, why not prepare the meal together (or at least eat together) in a home.  Dining out is lovely, don't get me wrong but it's not the same thing.
   At this particular Sunday Supper, I put my guests to work.  This was the second Supper Club.  And the theme was pizza.  Everyone loves pizza, right?  So, I asked that everyone bring a topping - could be traditional, could be experimental....
   In the photograph above - Amy and Rebecca work at the beginning of the pizza pie making.  We had so many fresh vegetables to choose from - that was just fantastic! 

    In this photograph, Amy demonstrates how to correctly apply the tasty toppings.  Yes, there really is a correct way.  It is a science.  It is an art.  Oh, I am being silly but this veggie delight pizza was just beautiful!

    This pizza was AMAZING.  Not only is it gorgeous, I mean look at how those mushrooms were artfully arranged, but it was sooo tasty!  This pie had smoked provolone, three types of mushrooms, garlic scapes and fresh mozzarella (added at the very end). It was delicious!!

    This pizza was a surprise.  The sauce, as it were, was a herb cream cheese spread.  On top of which, we put shrimp, caramelized sweet onion and red onion.  It was superb.  Such a lovely combination of flavors.  I thank Rebecca for having the foresight to bring shrimp!
   There was a fourth pizza.  But apparently I do not have a visual record of it.  It was a pizza with a little bit of everything on it: pepperoni, mozzarella, Parmesan, green and black olives, red and green bell peppers, hot peppers, and mushrooms.  Need I say more. 

   The first three hot out of the oven!  From the front: Veggie Delight, Mushroom and Garlic, Shrimp and Onion.  How beautiful!
   Below: Jeff has the most important job - cutting the pizzas.  Well, maybe not the most important job, but he did a great job!
   We all had a great time, including the two year old (who has the broadest taste in food I have ever come across).  Definitely credited to Rebecca and Stephen for introducing her to all sorts of food.
   There were other delights to be had that are not pictured here: A raspberry lemonade with vodka, lemon liquor, and fresh raspberries, a green salad with tomato and smoked provolone, bake sale chocolate chip cookie bars and sugar cookies!
   Everybody eats. Everybody should eat well (most of the time). I hope you all have the chance to sit down and enjoy a meal with friends or family or both.  And if you happen to live near me, come and join us for Sunday Supper Club!
    This week, we are touring the Middle East!  Think hummus, think falafel, think kebabs.  Think yumminess!

Poetry on Wednesday

At Burt Lake
by Tom Andrews
To disappear into the right words and to be their meanings. . . October dusk. Pink scraps of clouds, a plum-colored sky. The sycamore tree spills a few leaves. The cold focuses like a lens. . . Now night falls, its hair caught in the lake's eye. Such clarity of things. Already I've said too much. . . Lord, language must happen to you the way this black pane of water, chipped and blistered with stars, happens to me.

Summertime, and the Living is Easy.

   Just a quick little post on Memorial Day to usher in the Summer season.  This year in Ohio, we seemed to go directly from early Spring (with the crazy amount of rain that we have had) to mid Summer (with 90 degree heat- My goodness, it's supposed to hit 95 tomorrow). 

   But I really know it is Summer because the follow things have happened:

• There is poison ivy in my yard.  So far, the poison ivy is NOT on me yet.  There is still plenty of time left.  And considering that my reaction to poison ivy keeps getting worse, this time might entail a fun filled trip to the emergency room.
• I broke down and turned the air conditioner on. I had to man, it was 79 degrees downstairs.  That equates to hell like temps upstairs.
• I attended my first official cookout of the year - burgers with smoked Gouda, sweet potato salad, asparagus and whoopie pies.
• I applied sunscreen.
• I managed to accidentally drench myself with a hose.  It got a little bit out of control when I was spraying off outdoor furniture.
• I watched the first small child of the year sit down in a puddle of water. On purpose, of course. Water is fun!
• I have seen an alarming number of flip flops.  
• I have been totally craving lemonade and ice tea.
• I had to water my tomato plants.
• I saw the first little person stripped down to a diaper and hosed off and changed before the car ride home.
• Edwin's yearly obsession with water from the hose has begun.
• There has not been any rain for two days.
• The sun was out!

   Here's hoping everyone has a great Summer. I plan on making mine a great one.  And I was just thinking that it's been a month since I have made pie. Better hop to that.  I see fruit pies in my future.  I am happy to say that I have found a berry hook up!  Oh yeah.  Oh hell yeah!
    I will leave you with one of my favorite Summertime songs - A Classic. Oh sing it Ella!

A Trip to the Park

    This blog post is a bit of a departure from my usual fare of food, preparing food, listening to music, or a combination of all of the above.  Although, I suppose this entry did begin with a food function.  So I guess the reality is - it's still all about the food.  But to be more specific, it's all about the functional gardens at Franklin Park that surround the AEP Education Pavilion on the new community gardens campus.  Hopefully, you can see from these photographs just how beautiful these gardens are.  And the coolest thing about them, is that the produce grown in the garden is used in their many cooking classes.

    I was privileged to attend a Filipino cooking class with a friend.  She is one of the many people who helps organize the Asian Festival each year.  As an extension of the festival, several Asian cooking classes are being offered at Franklin Park.  I had never been to a cooking class there before.  Let me just say it was lovely.  The facility is very nice.  And the class was a lot of fun.  There was a Spanish wine, a simple salad with cucumber, tomato and mango in a rice vinegar dressing, Lumpia (mini-eggroll of pork, shrimp, water chestnuts and mushrooms), Filipino Adobo with rice (pork cooked with bay leaves, garlic and peppercorns), and Pancit Bihon (rice noodles, pork, cabbage, carrots and shrimp prepared in a wok).  Let me just tell you it was yummy eating!

    The previous two photos were taken in the vegetable portion of the gardens.  The first is of some lettuce while this one is of cabbage-obviously.  Generally speaking, I am not a huge fan of cabbage.  But I find that lately I am becoming more tolerant of the taste.  I might even be beginning to enjoy the taste.  And you know, as we get older, more and more of out taste buds disappear.  Maybe that is part of the reason why I like stronger flavors now. 

    Flowers.  I am not even sure what type of flower this is but I thought they were beautiful.  White is not my favorite for flowers but it does make for a nice contrast with the foliage.

    Once again, I have no idea what these petite lovelies are.  But here they are in my blog for your viewing pleasure!

    Okay, I know what these are!  These are one of my favorite flowers which I cannot for the life of me grow in my yard.  I am sure it is because of the fact that my whole yard is shaded.  But I find it totally frustrating.  And yet every year I keep hoping my irises will do more than grow incredibly tall.

    Clematis. 

   These are my favorite flowers.  I love peonies.  I love them in all colors and styles. They remind me of my childhood.  In fact, I have an heirloom peony planted in my yard.  When an older family passed away, her children dug up one of her peony plants, divided it and shared it with many family members. Mine has grown like a house on fire for the past couple of years.  
   So in a way this blog entry, in fact my entire blog, is about things that I love.  So in a way, it is fitting that I end with a flower that I love - the peony.  The peony is big. It is magnificent. It is layered.  It can be messy.  There is sure a lot to love there.  Sounds a lot like life.