Stephanie says

Scored a pound of roasted green anaheim chilis at the Eugene Saturday Market!  Their fragrance while roasting draws me in every time.  Bought a package of locally grown and smoked bacon too which got me thinking SOUP SEASON!    Ingredients:   Onions – diced – 1-1/2 lbs Potatoes – peeled & diced – 3 lbs Beef broth – 2 cups Salt, 2 tsp 3 cups milk ¼ cup wine Charred peppers peeled and chopped medium – 1 lb Corn off cob – 2 ears, about 1 cup Bacon fried and diced – 6 slices Celery tops, finely diced for garnish (or parsley) Saute onion in oil.  Add beef broth and potatoes, salt.  Cook 20 mins. Or until tender. Puree - I use an inversions blender and puree right in the pot.   Puree until smooth.  Soup will taste salty at this phase.   Add milk and stir.  Add wine and stir.  Cover pot and heat slowly while preparing the remaining ingredients.  A...

Phoned  Velma to wish her a Happy 97th Birthday. We were catching up when I said, My daughter just turned 36 Velma said, "I wish I was 36." I replied, "I was 36 two years running. 35 got lost in the mix. By the time I figured that out, I was 36." Velma chuckles at this.

One of my clients stopped by today, a devout Methodist, likely mid-seventies, she runs the local food bank in this community.   She was telling me about a conversation with her son about the social issue of this year:   Sexual harassment. A long time friend came up and gave him a big hug. Crystal and her son discussed whether that was sexual harassment.   Crystal’s point was an affectionate gesture between two people wasn’t harassment.   I’m in total agreement.   She was missing the point while dismissing the real issue.   Her son had no financial power over his friend.   They have an affectionate and fond relationship.   I was hearing some pooh-poohing of the very concept of sexual harassment.   Crystal wondered why it took so long for some women to come forward. “I hear you,” I said.   “That clouds the issue. Up until right now.” I asked her if she’d every been sexually harassed.   “Oh, no.   Of course no...

I cleaned my mother’s silver belt tonight; I’m giving it to you for Christmas.   I’d always thought it silver, but now think another metal, maybe copper or tin, is overlaid on a silver base.    This belt is so recognizable to me, and I fondly find it pretty. Mom had it forever.   She dressed like a gypsy, walnut stained face and many layers of necklaces, to read fortunes at my third grade school carnival, and wore this belt clasped at her waist over voluminous skirts and slips, hoop earrings, scarved red tresses, and striking green eyes.   She nailed it.   I was amazed by her performance – yeah, like an eight year old.   So proud!   You can thank her genetically for your waistline – apparently it skips a generation…    Helene would delight in you wearing this!

Henry bugering up my windows. 

Okay, so it's totally one-sided.  That'd be on my side.  That man has a voice that wakes me from a deep sleep into instant awareness:  Eddie Vedder singing.  His range isn't as high as Lyle Lovett, but he's got that low pitch going up and up, and pulling down on the crescendo, which is tantalizing.  I can recognize it anywhere. Whew, baby.  Thank you.

Henry dons a ZAP wristband And shapeshifts into a super hero before my very eyes Balancing on one foot, the other kicked out behind, A slight bend at the waist, arms soaring up, up, and away.   I say “Wow” and he flashes me an “oh, you get it” kind of smile.