What's for Lunch? 2/10/22 - And Bonus: a Poem!

 Hello and Good Morning!

Mabel was a little kinder this a.m., not waking me till 4:45 a.m.  And, since I usually get up by 5 or 5:30, I just decided to stifle my yawns and just get up.  It's Thursday and I've my usual reports to run and distribute this morning, plus an additional monthly one.  But first, the more pleasurable blogging experience.  The coffee is hot and I'm slowly waking.

Before I get into my usual Thursday food post, I have some exciting news!  You've heard me speak of my friend Leslie before - an amazing woman and my best friend for 56 years!!  Leslie is a poet and she had one of her poems chosen for the North Carolina Poetry in Plain Sight program.  I've known about this for a little while but was not able to share with you until her poem went up on display.  That happened!  I do love her poem "Big Ears" that was chosen.  Just makes me chuckle:

Click to enlarge.  Currently seen in the window of the indy bookstore Scuppernong Books in Greensboro, NC.  Congratulations Leslie!  Well deserved.

Let's talk food (as I often do on Thursdays).  Last weekend I wanted something different for lunch.  I hard boiled some eggs (though I used the air fryer, so no water) and made some deviled eggs.  Then I decided on this dish from Amy Traverso's "The Apple Lover's Cookbook" - Quick Bread and Butter Apple Pickles

• 1 unpeeled English Cucumber
• 1 TBS kosher salt
• 2 large firm/sweet apples
• 2 medium shallots
• 1 Cup Rice Vinegar
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 1/2 Cup Honey
• 1 TBS sugar
• 1 Cinnamon Stick
• 1 Sprig Fresh Tarragon, cut into 4 pieces

1. Cut the ends off the cucumber and slice on a mandolin.  Place in a colander and toss with the salt.  Let sit for 20 minutes
2. Cut the apples in quarters trimming out the core and seeds.  Leave the skin on and slice on a mandolin.  Peel and slice the shallots on a mandolin.  Put all in a medium bowl.
3. In a small bowl whisk together the rice vinegar, water, honey and sugar.  Mix until the sugar dissolves.  Add in the cinnamon stick and tarragon. and pour over the apples and shallots.
4. Rinse the cucumbers and lightly blot dry (still in the colander) with a paper towel or kitchen towel.  Add the cucumber slices to the apples and shallots and stir well.  Let sit for at least 30 minutes.  Will keep in the frig up to 2 weeks.

I roughly halved the recipe.  The apple I used was a Pink Lady.  I used some ground cinnamon rather than a stick and I did not have fresh tarragon, so I skipped that.

Even though it is winter, this crisp and refreshing salad tasted really good.  Next time I might just slice the cuke, apple and shallot and make the pieces a little bigger.  I can see this becoming a summer staple.

Only making half the recipe still made plenty for the two of us.  I had some with my lunch yesterday and it was still very tasty and crisp.  And, there is still some left!

Here is another wine label for you:

Wines made from organic grapes are typically not my favorite.  Nor are Spanish wines.  But, given the label you know I HAD to buy this one.  And it turned out to be quite good!  A nice red.

OK, time to get to work.  Remember, it is Friday Eve, so in my book that means that really the weekend is starting.  LOL  Make it a good one!

Tiny Needle Tuesday

 Good Morning!

The sun is out and the sky is blue.  I slept a bit later than usual...Tyg was out all night and therefore wasn't meowing to go out at 4 or 5 a.m.  And I slept well!  Halleluiah!!  Did anyone else watch the Ken Burns special on Hemingway that started on PBS last night (on for 3 consecutive nights...2 hours each night)?  We watched and thought it was well done (as all of Ken Burns' productions seem to be).

Before we get into TNT (Tiny Needle Tuesday), what with April being Poetry Month, I wanted to mention that my friend Leslie just had another poem published!  It is here: ohenry magazine and if you scroll down to Poet's Corner, her poem is "Industrial Fabric."  So happy for her and proud of her!

Now on to our standing Tuesday date with my stitching.  It is moving ever closer to the finish!  There is still much to stitch...some more creatures and more letters, a leaf and a mushroom!! (or maybe it is a toadstool).  Here is an overview:

This past week I stitched a moose, a second rabbit, a second fox and a couple of letters (R & W).  Here are close ups of the new critters:

I know I say this every week, but I do love the way this is coming together.  Also, I was so curious about whether or not the motifs at the bottom would match up that one day I basted from the bottom of the motif on the left over to the one at the right corner and YAY - they meet up perfectly!  No need for me to fudge anything.

Still to be determined is the color I will use for my own 3 initials and I will also add 2021 somewhere.  Any suggestions?  I want the letters to not be the same green as the other letters...I could use another color from the sampler or use a completely new color that is not currently in the sampler.  I'm mulling over ideas, but if you have thoughts please let me know.

Such a beautiful looking day - I'm hoping to get out for a walk and maybe do some archery.  I did go to the office yesterday so that is not on today's docket.

Here's hoping your Tuesday is sunny and pleasant - enjoy!!

Thursday Stuff

 Good Morning!

Gosh it is cold (20 this a.m. when I got up and it doesn't look like the temp has risen any yet).  But, I've managed to get all my Thursday financial reports completed and it's not even 9:30 yet!  Hopeful that I can find a bit of time to knit/stitch/read/avoid work...we will see.

The other day I mentioned that my friend Leslie has had a poem accepted for a "Poetry in Public" program in North Carolina.  Again, I cannot share that particular poem with you because it has not yet been published and sharing it would disqualify it.  But, I do have two poems of Leslie's that I can share with you.  I like them both.

And finally, a funny that my friend Carol shared with me this a.m.  I'm sure she saw it on Facebook or some social media avenue.

That's it for me!  Have a great day.

Tiny Needle Tuesday 11/17/20

 Hello and Good Morning!

Well, yesterday ended up being a longer day in the office than I've had in months!  LOL  Again a busy, busy, busy day.  But, a lot was accomplished and that's a good thing.  I may need to go in one more day this week, but if so, it will be just to print some stuff and then pull an overnight package together for Kevin.  We'll see.

I guess I spoke too soon about no damage at home from Sunday's storm.  Nothing major, but the end of an era!!  25+ years ago Fletch built a tree house in our woods for Colin.  It really was pretty and those two actually spent a night or two sleeping in the tree house.  Colin and his friends would play in it...until one time when they came inside covered (and I do mean covered) in ticks.  It wasn't used after that.  Over the years it had started to sag and tilt, but Sunday the entire tree came down!  

It's sad to see the empty spot in our woods now, but Fletch says too that it is nice not to view the tree house slowly succumbing to nature!

As I mentioned yesterday, my eyes were bothering me quite a bit last week, so not that much stitching was done, but I did manage to do a few things.

Another border section on the right and the start of an owl in a tree.  It's awfully wrinkled - sorry about that, but because I stitch in hand, the fabric gets bunched up while I stitch.

Oh, I have big news for my friend Leslie in NC.  Leslie and I have been the best of friends since we were 12...so 55 years!!!  Anyway, Leslie writes poetry and just had a poem accepted for publication/participation in a program called "Poetry in Plain Sight."  

Poetry in Plain Sight: A Statewide Poetry Initiative. Launched in Winston-Salem in 2013, Poetry in Plain Sight brings North Carolina poetry and poets to the public. Four poems are chosen monthly and displayed on posters in street-visible locations throughout arts districts and downtown areas in Winston-Salem and in our expansion cities. The goals are to bring poetry to a wider audience and to support North Carolina poets.

The displays will start next April (2021).  Unfortunately I cannot share her poem with you as that would automatically disqualify it.  Once it is displayed I'll be able to share it though.  Doesn't that sound like a neat program?

Time to pour another cup of coffee and get to work...I can see that emails have been flying in as I typed this post.  Have a wonderful day!

Friday Felines

Hello all,

 

Last night we had some very heavy downpours which have brought us some relief from the high, high temps we have been having all week.  It is still very humid, but at least it is not in the 90’s!

 

Look at these two cuties:

 

 

Marcel on the top shelf and Talbot on the bottom.  They love to get in the upper cabinets in Colin & Mailing’s kitchen.  And, Marcel loves to bask in the sunlight:

 

 

He is quite the fluffy kitty!!

 

My best friend Leslie drove up from NC yesterday for a wedding this weekend, so she and I are getting together for dinner tonight.  We are going to check out a new (to me) Mexican place that is supposed to have some very creative and delicious Margaritas as well as “true” Mexican food (as opposed to Tex-Mex).  YUM!!

 

Other than that, no plans for the weekend other than the usual chores.  I’m hoping for plenty of time to knit, read and stitch.  Hoping you all have a fabulous weekend!!