Stephanie says

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.   Ah, such a romantic tale of Medieval England; it’s right up there with Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men.   And the maid Marion, of course.   Folk lore that Arthur Pendragon successfully led Britain’s ousting of the Saxon invaders harkens back to the 6 th century, (as does my language, do you harken?)   Somewhere in the 12 th century Sir Lancelot and the Holy Grail make their appearance, just to get that Crusade connection into Arthurian lore.    Some many centuries later, author T.H. White, in the year of our Lord 1958 published “The Sword in the Stone,” a fanciful spin on the legend that caught America’s attention.      “Whoso Pulleth Out This Sword of this Stone and Anvil, is Rightwise King Born of all England.”   Masterful indeed.   Just to repeat myself.    The Wizard Merlin, is a magical and masterful character, among a cast of magical and ma...

Teresa's bulk tulip bulb purchases last fall are sending up spiky green shoots; flowers soon to appear.  To much laughter I quoted her a tulip poem written by Melissa and me in high school.  We were intrigued by a humungous variety growing at our school, to the point of surreptitiously snipping a few here and there for art projects.  We tried to capture the creamy beauty of those massive petals by dipping them in wax.  That didn't work so we picked more and coated them in plaster.  That technique held more promise but the tulip season was over for another year.  So we wrote a poem.    Raindrops fall within the hall And echo in the thunderous din Passion sweet As our lips meet While tulips bloom beneath the moon And cast a silver glow Nature's flower, with every hour Slowly drifts in its own power To the silent place where flowers tower Ah, so deep!  So we liked to think.  This was a also a bow to the imagery of Amy Lowell in...

Which is a voice recognition software feature that I discovered after using this recent purchase for approximately four weeks.  I'm maybe not so quick on the technological uptake...   So far I'm just using the alarm function, "Siri, set the alarm for three minutes," for my meditation exercises.  It's freeing to know a soft chime will alert me that the requisite time has passed.  It's counterproductive to have to peek at the clock to see if time is up. Three minutes can really drag by while stilling one's mind.  Current studies say two minutes of meditation daily is enough.  See, I went an extra minute. I'm looking forward to my next discovery!  

This catalog was in my post office box today providing great hope to this mediocre gardener.  Flipping though the pages is inspiring as I imagine potential vegetable crops ultimately served up on my table. I've got four chickens ordered, due here 3/23, the blue egg variety.  I've been considering raising chickens for a long time, but this year I'm motivated because Henry will be here soon.  And I intend to entertain him with all manner of interesting things, much as I did for his mother. Seeing life anew through the eyes of children and grandchildren gives renewed appreciation and delight to this jaded woman.  

Had a lovely phone conversation with my adult child who stated her plan to move back to Oregon - to be near me.  Redeemed again.  Initially one's child is hard wired to to adore it's parent (s) - an act of survival to my cynical mind.  Thankfully, for the perpetuity of the human race, the vast majority of said parents can't resist the goo goos and sweet smiles and we lovingly raise these doting creatures who believe we are super heroes.   Until they reach those miserable teen years, but because we've raised them so lovingly, they're assured we'll take their attitude (and they're right,) so the next five years are filled with disdain and rudeness, and poor behavior towards us.  All that time we congratulate ourselves this child is so well adjusted, she can project her anger toward us.   Then one shining day, something shifts, and they love us once again.  All is forgotten and forgiven. It's delightful being brilliant again....

Browsing my pantry for this recipe, I discovered five different varieties of lentils on the shelf:  those little green French ones; black; pale tan; red; and brown ones.   Who knew? This recipe is from the Relish Magazine 10/2012 tab section in my local newspaper.  I've made it many times and thought it was a good entree choice for Meatless Monday. Tomato Lentil Chili 1 Tablespoons oil of choice, (I use grape seed) 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium red bell pepper,chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tablespoons chili powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 cup dry lentils, red or brown 1/2 cup quick-cooking Bulgar 2 - 14-1/2 ounce cans vegetable broth (oh oh, I hate the taste of vegetable broth and always use     chicken broth, homemade though, so semi-Meatless Monday at my house...) 1-1/2 cups water 1 14-1/2 ounce can petite diced tomatoes (or 1 pint home-jarred) 1 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper Toppings:  Yogurt, cho...