tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934976367305618462024-03-13T16:57:14.734-04:00LATELIFE MUSINGS...Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.comBlogger757125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-74581210996840973232020-06-14T07:40:00.001-04:002020-06-14T07:40:28.679-04:00A MARVELOUS DESSERT FOR TWO<br />
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After a friend tipped us off that the farm was open, last
Wednesday, Frank and I took a drive down to McBee, South Carolina, to McLeod
Farms, the home of the best peaches in the world. We bought a quarter-peck of the
crop of early cling peaches, a quart of blackberries, a quart of luscious
strawberries, several pounds of new red potatoes, tomatoes, a green pepper, and
a nice chunk of Clemson Blue cheese. We’ve been eating well for days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last night we had potato salad from the reds, a tuna salad piled
on chunks of one of the huge tomatoes, and, for dessert, the last of the
strawberries and the first of the peaches. The peaches have taken a few days to
ripen more. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This dessert is one I’ve been concocting for years. It’s
simple: <o:p></o:p></div>
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--Cut up or sliced fruit or berries enough for two. Any
fruit or berries, peaches are great, so are apples in the fall, and pineapple,
even bananas, are great - but I’ve never used melons. <o:p></o:p></div>
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--Melt about two tablespoons of butter, put in your fruit, sauté
it a bit, then add a tablespoon of brown sugar and a dollop of rum. Last night
I also added the last of the juice from the strawberries. Simmer it a while to thicken the liquids.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Speaking of those strawberries, Saturday morning, I took
some of the juice and maple syrup, thickened them a bit, and we had them over
waffles. So good! So - I keep a 750ml bottle of Meyer’s Original Dark rum just
for these deserts. It’s up there with the oils and vinegars and other staples. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We’re out of Trader Joe’s French Vanilla ice cream, the best
vanilla ever, so I served this over coffee ice cream. My mouth had a party! <o:p></o:p></div>
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And, in case you were wondering, we had some blackberries
for a dessert, then on our morning cereal, and I froze the rest - 5 cups-worth.
I plan to use them in pancakes. Fruit in pancakes is another taste treat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-20501344299455229172020-06-04T10:23:00.000-04:002020-06-04T10:23:36.316-04:00EVERYONE IS BAKING BREAD THESE DAYS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two loaves of raisin bread, set out to cool</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My order from King Arthur Flour just arrived - it took weeks. I couldn't find yeast at any of the stores I shop regularly, so I had to order from KAF's Baker's Catalog. It seems like everyone who is anyone - and anyone who is a bit handy in the kitchen - is finding it a satisfying pastime during the pandemic. Me? I've been baking bread for decades. I thought some of you might like to read the "Bread Basics" updated from something I originally posted in 2012.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These instructions, written ages ago for one of my nephews, and recently revised, assume that you have a KitchenAid or similar mixer. Originally I did this all by hand, but the machine is very handy for my arthritic hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Basically, my bread has these ingredients for two 9½x5½x2¾ pans</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 1 Tbsp. yeast</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 2 Cups warm liquid* - water </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 2 Tbsp. sugar**</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 1 Tbsp. salt***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> ¼ Cup shortening**** - oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 5½-6 Cups of flour - white***** <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notice all these stars!! Read through all of this, noting the starred item notes (way) below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I put the liquid in the bowl, sprinkle on the yeast, add the sugar, salt, shortening, and mix it all well. A whisk is handy for this. I add 5½ cups of flour and mix it in. The last half cup or so is added depending on how the dough reacts. If it is too sticky I'll add more. The dough should come away from the sides of the bowl and lump up on the dough hook. Dough will be easier to work on rainy days where the barometric pressure is low. If your dough is on the sticky side, you should flour up your hands and board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">White bread with added oatmeal - set out for first proo</span>f</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White bread is just as above. You can use milk and butter to make a silkier loaf. These are nice if making raisin bread. (add 1 T more sugar, some cinnamon, 1 tsp. or so, and about a cup of raisins before adding the flour) (substitute cardamom for cinnamon to a make Norwegian Yule Kake type bread.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">You can add 1C of old fashion oatmeal to any loaf - add about a half to a third of a cup of water to compensate. It makes for a bumpy loaf, as you will see in some of these pictures, but the baked bread inside is smooth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For wheat bread I increase the water to 2¼ cups. Instead of the sugar I use 2T molasses (for color and a different flavor) and 2T honey. The flour mix is 2C whole wheat flour, 1C quick oatmeal and 2½-3 C white flour. Always more white than wheat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a nice whole grain bread you can add 1 C Harvest Grains Blend (I get this on line from King Arthur Flour) to the wheat bread recipe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For sweet rolls you can 2T more sugar and a beaten egg to the basic white bread mix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a cheesy bread, add a cup of grated cheese to the liquid mix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Always add the flour(s) and grains last. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two loaves and two extra rolls - I extended the recipe - before going into the pans</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">MIXING, RISING AND BAKING<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After mixing and machine kneading, I knead the dough by hand for a while - very satisfying - and then I form the dough into a flattened ball on a on a floured counter, and let it sit for 20 minutes or so, until it rises a bit. Don’t worry if you let it go longer: “official” recipes tell you to let it rise until doubled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Punch it down and form it into two equal loaves (I weigh them on an electronic scale to get them about even) - or rolls - and put the dough into greased pans. I put the loaves into the oven and - this is tricky!! - turn on oven until it is just warm-- Then turn it off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (Better yet - warm the oven, then put in the loaf pans!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you can see the temperature display on your stove don’t let it get too much above 105°. The oven provides the warm, draft free place for the dough to rise. (Sometimes I have forgotten and left the oven on - a bit of a disaster some times. The loaf may look like they have risen properly, but they usually deflate in the baking. Still tastes good though. Croutons anyone?!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The dough usually takes an hour or so to rise properly. About double and a half. If you forget it and it really looks puffy, it will almost always deflate some (see above!) in the baking. If the loaves are for 'show', or if you’ve accidentally hit the side of the oven or rack and the loaf deflates, just remove them, punch them down, reform them, and let them rise again. Yeast is very forgiving. Note - the barometric pressure has a lot to do with how fast the bread rises. On a high pressure, sunny day it will take longer to rise. Just think of the high pressure as pressing more heavily on the dough. On overcast and rainy days, low pressure, the light air lets the dough rise more quickly. (pray for rain!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once the dough has risen, remove the loaves from the oven and place them on top of the stove, near the heat of the oven outlet. Heat the oven to 450º. When the oven is up to temperature, put the loaves in side by side - maybe three inches between - and time them for 10 minutes. At the 10 min. mark, turn down the oven to 350º, and time the loaves for 30 minutes. (Rolls for 15 minutes) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remove the loaves or rolls from the pans and cool them on racks. Do not slice the bread until it is completely cool. Slicing too soon will make for harder cutting and gumminess where the knife has pushed through instead of slicing cleanly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the sliced loaf or rolls won't be used up in two days, I recommend freezing them because there are no preservatives in these loaves. You can take out just what you need for the meal, and it will defrost in no time, helped along by a microwave if you're running late. With some toasters, like mine, it is possible to plunk in the slices still frozen and still have them toast properly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course, if the bread goes stale there are always French toast, croutons, stratas, etc. to be made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Voila! Oatmeal white bread.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">NOTES TO NOTE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">King Arthur Flour</span></a> has a treasure chest of bread recipes. The nice thing is that you can choose to have the ingredients listed by volume or weight in ounces or grams.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">* liquid -what have you? Over the years I have added bouillon, potato water, milk: regular, skim, buttermilk; tomato soup, orange juice, cottage cheese, sour cream, - any liquid or semi-solid I had left over and wanted to use up - with water or milk added to make the needed measure. (I use an extra ½ cup if I’m making bread with whole wheat flour because it sucks up more water than regular white flour.) Use your judgment and instinct to know what will 'go', according to how you want to use the bread. Always make sure to use warmed, not hot, liquid. Yeast slows down in the cold, that’s why I keep mine in the freezer, but too hot a liquid will kill it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">** sugar - white or brown granulated, honey, maple or pancake syrup, even molasses. Powdered sugar isn't recommended. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">***never forget salt - your bread will be blah! Sugar you could forget, never salt!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">**** These days I use olive oil for the most part. You can use vegetable oil (Usually, not nut oils because they are too flavorful, not to mention expensive) I have, in the past, used bacon fat and butter – butter, even now, especially for sweet breads and Christmas breads like Yule Kake. Oh, the cholesterol! Oh, the calories! Oh, it’s delicious!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*****Some folks measure flour by the cup, some by weight. The recipes on the website at King Arthur Flour give you the choice of either method. If you are measuring by the cup, be careful of taking your flour directly from a new bag. This flour has been tamped down and there is much more weight in that cup than if you had first transferred it to a canister and taken the loosened flour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s about all I can write down. I have been making bread for over forty years, so some of this knowledge has come to me be osmosis over that time. It isn’t easy explaining the feel of the dough, how it reacts on a rainy day – you just have to get some experience under your belt. I can say this – even my disasters have tasted O.K. – provided I didn’t forget the salt!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">P.S. Email me if you have any questions. ;-)</span></div>
Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-61829872593401339052020-05-06T09:31:00.002-04:002020-05-06T09:31:53.818-04:00SPRING FOR CLOTHES ONLINE<br />
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Spring is here and it’s time to update your wardrobe, right?
You’re tired of a few things, and others are past their sell-by date. Ah, but
the stores are closed. Take it from a gal who <s>doesn’t like</s> hates
shopping and trying on clothes - shop online. <o:p></o:p></div>
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About the only thing I must try on, rather than order online,
is a coat - The fits vary so much that I really have to try them on. For
everything else I shop online, and I’ve done that for twenty years. Before that,
I shopped the catalogs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lands' End | Public Relations | Multimedia Library" src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></o:p></div>
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Today, as I have for over thirty years, I get my basic
wardrobe from <a href="https://www.jjill.com/">Lands’ End.</a> Their clothes
are well made, true to size, last and last, and I can usually take advantage of
their discounts. I’ve never, ever been disappointed with what I get from them.
The only disappointment is when I’ve worn something for years and go online and
discover they no longer carry it. If I like a specific item - usually a top - I
buy it in several colors. Over thirteen years ago (I say thirteen because I know
I got them when we lived in upstate New York) I got three cowl turtle neck,
tunic-length sweat shirts. They were divine. I still have one. Now that I
realize I want more, are they still making it? No. Nuts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another nice thing about Lands’ End is that they’ll hem certain
slacks and jeans for you - for men and women. If you’ve got hefty but
relatively short legs as I do, this is a blessing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFCvbqo-TZI/XrK7Xup7S8I/AAAAAAAAGPM/oBQBnkI8CEAX8dKbyJpS6cB_q7CyzDidgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFCvbqo-TZI/XrK7Xup7S8I/AAAAAAAAGPM/oBQBnkI8CEAX8dKbyJpS6cB_q7CyzDidgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/logo.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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I also recommend <a href="https://www.jjill.com/">JJill</a>.
Land’s End clothes are basic, JJill’s are a bit more stylish, an a bit pricier
- but again, I watch for discounts. I’ve been buying JJill clothes, as with
Land’s End, by catalog and online for over twenty years. I go to them for
“dressier” things.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve also shopped <a href="https://www.womanwithin.com/">Woman
Within</a>. Their clothes are basic and relatively inexpensive, but they don’t
last as long and the colors aren’t as good or as brilliant in the dye. I also
found that their clothes ran large. Some would like that, but to me they’re
baggy. What I did like them for especially was their bathing suits. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve also tried Talbots (meh! And their fabrics are
relatively thin) and once or twice I tried sites like Noracora. Beautiful-looking,
very inexpensive clothes but everything’s from China and takes ages to arrive.
When items do arrive it’s often not quite what the picture showed and the
clothes run small. I learned my lesson - they’re too good to be true.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_o2mRbWcIzs/XrK7_piniSI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/hz7aIICQkhMEg8luCWslf0a3XtS-IBIHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1200px-Hanes-logo.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1200" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_o2mRbWcIzs/XrK7_piniSI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/hz7aIICQkhMEg8luCWslf0a3XtS-IBIHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/1200px-Hanes-logo.svg.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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As to the rest of my wardrobe - underwear from <a href="https://www.hanes.com/">Hanes</a> and <a href="https://www.justmysize.com/">Just My Size</a> (a Hanes company) and shoes
from<a href="https://www.zappos.com/"> Zappos</a>. A hint on the underwear -
don’t ever get it from Amazon! Don’t get any clothes, except maybe socks, from
Amazon. Amazon uses outside sellers for the underwear and other clothing items,
and it has seemed like “seconds” when I got it. Get it from Hanes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Buying shoes online? Yes, if you know the brand and always
get the same size. I know that I can get shoes from Clarks, Hush Puppies, and
Propet because their lasts fit me again and again. Dress shoes - I haven’t
needed them in years - what I have will see me out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So - that’s my online story. I do like to “window” shop
stores like Neiman Marcus and some of the other high end stores that carry the
ultra-expensive labels. One result of browsing through these websites is that
you wind up getting their ads on your freebie websites. That sure beats ads for
insurance, car repair, and way-out cosmetics and health remedies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So now - go online and shop ‘til you drop.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-61298567130388976732020-04-28T08:48:00.000-04:002020-04-28T08:49:09.507-04:00RANDOM THOUGHTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-72O6aEL3ybo/Xqgem2zAROI/AAAAAAAAGPA/a1B3wv8xoEoJUAW2eEdee38hLmKZYnHhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-72O6aEL3ybo/Xqgem2zAROI/AAAAAAAAGPA/a1B3wv8xoEoJUAW2eEdee38hLmKZYnHhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/mask.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Quite a while ago, I cleaned out random scraps of fabric I'd been saving for far too long. A friend of mine took a piece of yardage I'd bought at a local market in Saint-Martin-du-Crau in Provence in 1999. What with every scrap of usable fabric being sewn into masks, it was no surprise that this piece would wind up being so useful. As my friend wrote, "<span style="background-color: #fcfdfe; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thought you’d appreciate knowing your fabric has become lifeboats—and stylish ones at that!" </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfdfe; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfdfe;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Speaking of masks, on my few recent shopping trips - one every two weeks or so - I've noticed that not everyone is wearing a mask. That seems very inconsiderate to me, but I'd never confront a mask-less person and give them a Tsk! Tsk! One gal struck me as being odd: she didn't have a mask, but she <i>was</i> wearing gloves. I'd like to know the reasoning in her personal germ theory. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfdfe;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfdfe;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm still pondering my own germ theory as far as sanitizing goes. I have one friend who tells me she prepares a mild bleach solution and wipes down everything she brings home from the supermarket - everything - including cereal boxes and the like. To me, that's extreme. I do wonder, however, where and when, among all the various steps we take to shop and get the groceries home, do we sanitize - gloves or none.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfe;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The supermarkets have people at the door sanitizing the shopping cart handles (That's "buggy" handles if you're a Southerner.) One bright gal was using the same wipe for several carts. So, the handle is sanitized, you hope, but then you go and buy the groceries, touching an unknown number of items a you shop. You check out, you get to your car. Do you sanitize your hands before you touch the door handle? After all, you could be touching that handle again sooner than you expect. Do you then sanitize your hands before you touch the steering wheel? Do you sanitize your hands before you touch the handle of your door at home? "Etc., etc., and so forth." I don't think we'll ever have the answers.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfe;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stay busy - stay happy - stay well. </span><span style="font-size: 14.16px;">🌈 </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfe;"><span style="font-size: 14.16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-13769057827395465222020-04-12T08:20:00.000-04:002020-04-12T08:20:04.624-04:00RAINBOWS FOR EASTER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vfIL_KPS1c/XpMGd4VJhFI/AAAAAAAAGOc/t4zQBI-lspUwnAdtoNYkpn7vWu5gPLsuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/istockphoto-920111382-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="1024" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vfIL_KPS1c/XpMGd4VJhFI/AAAAAAAAGOc/t4zQBI-lspUwnAdtoNYkpn7vWu5gPLsuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/istockphoto-920111382-1024x1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yesterday morning I read an interesting article about
rainbows and the pandemic. I began an article for the community magazine, but I
knew it wouldn’t get out in the community until the June issue - the May issue
has just gone to the printers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is what I began to write:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">“Six colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Violet, make
a rainbow, the meteorological phenomenon that has probably been seen at one
time or another by everyone on earth. They are a part of the spirituality and
mythology of every culture on Earth, and have been depicted over the millennia
in everywhere from cave and rock art to today’s rainbow flag.<br />
Everyone loves rainbows – they lift our hearts and spirits. Children love
rainbows. They often draw them when they’re asked to draw what makes them
happy. In these times of pandemic, when we need a smile and all the hope we can
get, childlike, homemade rainbow signs are popping up here and there in windows
around the world. The…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And
then it dawned on me: all of us - not just the children - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>should be putting rainbows in our windows. To
see what I mean, just google “rainbows for Covid-19” – you’ll be amazed. I didn’t
color Easter eggs this year, but I got out paper and crayons and made a rainbow
for my front door window. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I hope everyone will join me and make a rainbow for their window
and spread some hope and some smiles this viral Spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-35627372963848619542020-04-02T08:40:00.000-04:002020-04-02T08:40:28.105-04:00SHORT CUTS<br />
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Ever since I wrote an article for them, I’ve subscribed to
the daily newsletter from <a href="https://primewomen.com/">Prime Women</a>. By
chance, this morning they had a timely article on <a href="https://primewomen.com/beauty-and-fashion/hair/5-tips-for-growing-out-pixie/?utm_source=PrimeWomen&utm_campaign=1857f588eb-EMAIL_thur_short_GrowShortCuts_0040220&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c45b14a1b8-1857f588eb-228066121">5
Tips for Growing Our Short Cuts</a>.</div>
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Just last night I was thinking that with the salons and barbershops closed for the duration, our hair was going to begin to look shaggy. I’ve often cut my own hair, sometimes it even looked pretty good, and once, years ago, I did cut Frank’s hair. We still laugh about that one.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Frank - trimmed and neat - 1884</span></td></tr>
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<br />The year was 1985, and we were in the process of moving. We’d
bought a home in upstate New York, and were waiting to sell our home on Long
Island until Frank was 55 and we would be able to take advantage of a capital
gains tax exclusion. We spent most of our time upstate. At that time, the
closest barber was miles away, over the Berkshires, in Pittsfield Massachusetts.
I’d cut my own hair, so I did the same for Frank. In those days of really short
cuts for men, I just trimmed it so that it wouldn’t fall over his collar. Today,
that look would be common.</div>
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<o:p></o:p>Eventually, we did get back to Long Island, and Frank got to go to his regular barber. Much to his delight, the old, Italian barber gestured to him with his hand and said, “Wattsa matter for you? Your wife she cutta your hair?” Yep - she did! So since then, when Frank needs a cut, I say “Wattsa matter for you?”</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGYTReaIjI4/XoXboRoHJdI/AAAAAAAAGN8/pFAtD4VTKhAD3BwzIs64yNQqmGLTfbbkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2003FJ-FLA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="469" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGYTReaIjI4/XoXboRoHJdI/AAAAAAAAGN8/pFAtD4VTKhAD3BwzIs64yNQqmGLTfbbkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2003FJ-FLA.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Frank - shaggy</span></td></tr>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-39996822764273676762020-03-26T08:09:00.000-04:002020-03-26T08:09:29.606-04:00KATHARINE HEPBURN'S BROWNIES<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LG0zS6tnGOw/XnyYsXV673I/AAAAAAAAGNY/EHPmhOqD4WAbgdATP-OuDhcLu4YgT7UyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Katharine%2BHepburn%2527s%2BBrownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="739" height="548" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LG0zS6tnGOw/XnyYsXV673I/AAAAAAAAGNY/EHPmhOqD4WAbgdATP-OuDhcLu4YgT7UyACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Katharine%2BHepburn%2527s%2BBrownies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> I love that the old article said that 16 brownies could be made for $2.48 (to the penny) but I've never priced it out in recent years.</span></span></td></tr>
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Sometimes it eerie when you’re thinking of something and
then along comes an unexpected reference to it. Case in point: early this
morning I was looking through my baking binder, searching for some goodies to
make for Frank. I looked at but passed by a recipe from Katharine Hepburn that I
usually make for brownies. And what came up in this morning’s <i>New York Times</i>
daily recipe? Katharine Hepburn’s Brownies. Eerie. Cue the theme from <i>The
Twilight Zone.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLh4WHEP1mE/XnyY1rDU76I/AAAAAAAAGNc/-AZzljjYS9k2N8ErSkaWwN35S6hc4suqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLh4WHEP1mE/XnyY1rDU76I/AAAAAAAAGNc/-AZzljjYS9k2N8ErSkaWwN35S6hc4suqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/brownies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The brownies in this morning's New York Times<br /></span></td></tr>
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<i>The Times</i> recipe is <a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/10782-katharine-hepburns-brownies?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_NN_p_20200326&instance_id=17074&nl=morning-briefing&regi_id=6104184&section=aBreak&segment_id=22910&te=1&user_id=e12ad87ae8a37432cd0c18132ed8baf0">here.</a> There’s quite a bit of difference in the recipes, from the type of chocolate used to the oven temperature. Seeing as how the one I use is one I clipped from an issue of <i>Woman’s Day</i> in the 1980s, I’d go with mine. But then, you might want to try both recipes - extra goodies never go to waste</div>
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Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-7756058947558639622020-03-24T13:46:00.000-04:002020-03-24T13:46:21.435-04:00SOCIAL DISTANCING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRgeMAqyNdQ/XnpGv45AsvI/AAAAAAAAGNM/7x73_3wY2FsORz5pHZ_UnrPOM8YEbk34QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/social-distance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="804" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRgeMAqyNdQ/XnpGv45AsvI/AAAAAAAAGNM/7x73_3wY2FsORz5pHZ_UnrPOM8YEbk34QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/social-distance.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lately, I’ve been re-reading several historical romances and
mysteries, both in books and on Kindle. Currently though, I’m reading a good,
new contemporary novel. It just dawned on me that as I've been reading, I've been actively wondering why these people aren’t keeping a safe distance from one
another as they should. Good grief, it’s fiction, not real life! I had to laugh at myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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O.k., I think the current practice of social distancing has
become a norm for me. I’m wondering how authors are going to handle storylines
set in these first months of 2020, and I’m thinking that they just might not
want to refer to this time at all. Are there any stories that were set in the
time of the Spanish flu?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-51583096597006153542020-03-20T07:17:00.001-04:002020-03-20T07:17:27.429-04:00KODAK MOMENTS<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-br_DBttYrBE/XnSl0km-bhI/AAAAAAAAGM8/Omd72t7aMgckPZJRTU1DeeLzTiiA6bVMACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Mask.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="512" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-br_DBttYrBE/XnSl0km-bhI/AAAAAAAAGM8/Omd72t7aMgckPZJRTU1DeeLzTiiA6bVMACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Mask.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do you have in your memory any of what my brother calls
Kodak Moments? They’re scenes that you always remember because they’re
beautiful, heart-warming, amazing, or even startling? I added a little one, a
thumbnail shot, to my own Kodak pix file this weekend.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I gassed up the car, I was on low, and because I was just
across the way from Publix, and I thought to stop in for apples. I’m pretty
well stocked up, but I’d forgotten to replenish the apple supply. I got more
bananas too. As I turned down an aisle on my way to the checkout I came face to face with a gal wearing a surgical mask. It startled me a bit - wow! I’ll
always remember that sight. I know that I'm taking this epidemic seriously, and I have evidence that others are too: empty shelves. But that was the first time I'd encountered someone with a real sense of self-protection.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Someone here in suburban Indian Land is really taking all
this COVID-19 seriously. She can’t know who might already have it, so she’s
covering herself - in more ways than one. It’s really here. The virus is here, and
masks, though the CDC an the FDA say they aren't necessary or truly effective, will soon become de rigueur. I’m thinking that those Muslim gals who wear
the niqab are way ahead of the curve. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eumMSHl2soM/XnSl7Tx-M8I/AAAAAAAAGNA/VW3oCKpy5VI75fx1GY75hkfgZ21B7bCKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Niqab-Red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="449" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eumMSHl2soM/XnSl7Tx-M8I/AAAAAAAAGNA/VW3oCKpy5VI75fx1GY75hkfgZ21B7bCKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Niqab-Red.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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I read this by a reporter for <i>The New York Times,</i> “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
sad thing is: most people — this has been true in every epidemic I’ve covered,
whether it’s Zika in Puerto Rico or AIDS in South Africa — don’t believe in the
disease until they see someone get sick and die from it, someone they know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, I know of the daughter of one of our
editors. She’s in Paris, and she has the virus. Before I see it I do believe
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stay well, everyone.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-31928355757325442020-03-18T06:55:00.000-04:002020-03-18T06:57:05.190-04:00THOUGHTS ON A VIRUS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ43WJUyRkw/XnH7Y0mkMaI/AAAAAAAAGMw/WYTqAPB44fQNataxaFXggBt_gmbfjd9bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/19%2BApril%2B6%2B14-04-2012%2B18-47-51%2B4032x3024_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="822" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ43WJUyRkw/XnH7Y0mkMaI/AAAAAAAAGMw/WYTqAPB44fQNataxaFXggBt_gmbfjd9bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/19%2BApril%2B6%2B14-04-2012%2B18-47-51%2B4032x3024_thumb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Hello to all my readers. I've not posted for about three months. Working on our community magazine - writing and editing - is taking a lot of brain time. I'm writing quite a few articles at the cost of neglecting my blog. Whereas in the past I could post articles the magazine didn't use, now I could post articles already printed in the blog. I've even gone back to my posts to get material to print.<br />
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What prompted me to post today is a post from one of my favorite blogs <a href="https://www.frenchlavie.com/tongue_cheek/" target="_blank">French la Vie</a>. Corey Amaro posts every day. Her post today is especially apt for these recent times. I had to pass it on to you, as she passed it on to her readers.<br />
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“A little different perspective someone just posted. Just a few positive thoughts to contemplate.<span style="font-size: 14.4px;">There is so much fear, and rightfully so, about COVID-19. </span><span style="font-size: 14.4px;">And, what if...”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">If we subscribe to the
philosophy that life is always working out for us, that there is an
intelligence far greater than humans at work...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">That all is interconnected.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What if… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">the virus is here to help
us? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">To reset.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">To
remember. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What is truly important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Reconnecting with family and
community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Reducing travel so that the
environment, the skies, the air, our lungs all get a break. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Parts of China are seeing
blue sky and clouds for the first time in forever with the factories being shut
down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Working from home rather
than commuting to work (less pollution, more personal time). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Reconnecting with family as
there is more time at home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">An invitation to turn
inwards -- a deep meditation -- rather than the usual extroverted going out to
self-soothe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">To reconnect with self --
what is really important to me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A reset economically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The working poor. The
lack of healthcare access for over 30 million in the US. The need for
paid sick leave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">How hard does one need to
work to be able to live, to have a life outside of work? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">And, washing our hands --
how did that become a "new" thing that we needed to remember.
But, yes, we did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The presence of Grace for
all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">There is a shift underway in
our society -- what if it is one that is favorable for us?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What if this virus is an
ally in our evolution? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In our remembrance of what
it means to be connected, humane, living a simpler life, to be less impactful/
more kind to our environment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">An offering from my heart
this morning. Offered as another perspective. Another way of
relating to this virus, this unfolding, this evolution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It was time for a change, we
all knew that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">And, change has
arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What if...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 8.25pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">-
Gutpreet Gill<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<br /></div>
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mELaura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-7661144626570869732019-12-20T09:24:00.000-05:002019-12-20T09:24:14.721-05:00CHEESE PUFF PANCAKE<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In yesterday morning's offering from the<i> New York Times</i>, there was a recipe for "Gruyère Puff." They billed it as "a giant, eggy gougère</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">." The picture was this:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAOaoMNTyAY/XfzFKUX8s5I/AAAAAAAAGMA/j8YB8yi_VlwL3vhpXbpO1HDwIgr54p6qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/NYT%2527s%2B%2BCheese%2B%2BPuff%2BPancake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAOaoMNTyAY/XfzFKUX8s5I/AAAAAAAAGMA/j8YB8yi_VlwL3vhpXbpO1HDwIgr54p6qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NYT%2527s%2B%2BCheese%2B%2BPuff%2BPancake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A thing of beauty, is it not? Not having yet decided on "what's for dinner?" I thought I'd try this one. Well, you see that cast iron skillet? I gave mine away years ago: too heavy.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The recommended 9-inch skillet became a 9-inch pie plate.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then there's the Gruyere - all I had on hand was sharp cheddar. I used that. My results don't look the same, and I certainly don't have their photographer. I'm thinking that maybe it's because the pan was not as hot as the skillet when it went into the oven, but this was the result:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bS-4Bbg6KYk/XfzHRTri9_I/AAAAAAAAGMM/2Cvbo5G6WUAuckJjU9n86HpR_2Tgd39PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/100_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bS-4Bbg6KYk/XfzHRTri9_I/AAAAAAAAGMM/2Cvbo5G6WUAuckJjU9n86HpR_2Tgd39PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/100_0032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was all puffed up, than it settled to about an inch high. It was delicious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I served it with Canadian bacon, and we really liked it. This dish will be added to the repertoire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been rethinking the recipe - they had 3 tbsp. of butter in the skillet - too much for the pie pan, and it got very dark. And, we both think it could use more cheddar. Cheddar is the stocked cheese in our house. Never mind the kosher salt, the sea salt, the fresh-ground black pepper, and the unsalted butter. We'll go gourmand rather than gourmet on nights like last night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here's the revised recipe:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 3 large eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/2 cup milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/2 cup all-purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/2 tsp. each salt & Pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 4 oz. grated cheddar [or Gruyè</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">re :-)]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 2 tbsp. butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heat the oven to 400</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">°</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a 2-cup measure, measure the milk, then whisk in the eggs. Mix in the flour, salt and pepper. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stir in the cheese.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While oven heats, melt the butter in a 9-inch pie pan over the oven exhaust. Swirl the butter to coat the pan. Pour in the batter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bake until dark and golden, 25-30 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-90503234202826862762019-12-17T08:40:00.000-05:002019-12-17T08:40:58.753-05:00IT'S ME AGAIN - I haven't posted in almost a month, and before that it was hit and miss. I find that being the community magazine editor takes a lot of my time - time to keep the records and files, time to edit articles and handle the editing staff's assignments, time to do the magazine proofs, time to write. I do enjoy it all.<br />
<br />
In the past, I've often posted here with articles of my own, usually the articles that didn't get printed.<br />
I've still got several that may never see print, but I do have some that you might enjoy. They've been in past issues this year, and I'll post one now and then. I find I am more and more interested in researching and writing essays than in any other pursuit - except reading, of course.<br />
<br />
Herewith - an article I hope you'll find interesting:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for ld days of air travel" height="480" src="https://static.insider.com/image/5b4fb85c51dfbe2b008b463b.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif;">DO YOU REMEMBER –
AIR TRAVEL?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>by
Lee Johnston</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course you
remember air travel and what it was like
many, many moons ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lately, the
airwaves abound with horror stories of business trips and vacations ruined by
the airlines. We hear stories of waiting for hours on the tarmac, lost luggage,
not to mention passengers being forcibly removed from their seats. And those seats are not too comfortable these days. We do know that what we hear are
just the most newsworthy items. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn’t always
like this. Oh yes, there might have been the time that the airline overbooked
and you got bumped, but there was usually decent compensation and even some
surprising upgrades to a better class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first step in
planning a flight was to head to the travel agent. Unless you were planning an
extensive trip like a circumnavigation of the globe with appropriate stops,
transportation, hotel bookings, and side trips, the service to book your flight
and prepare your ticket was free. Travel agents are still in business, but the
emphasis for many of them has shifted to unique group tours, and planning and
making the arrangements for lengthy, individualized itineraries. Anyone <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>today can do most <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>travel arrangements for themselves online and
print their own tickets, vouchers, and boarding passes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Air travel has
regressed from the days when flight attendants had to be registered nurses,
know the procedures backwards and forwards, and, on international flights,
speak several languages. Today, many attendants seem ill-trained and surly.
Though we do know better, sometimes it seems that they were handed a uniform, a
schedule, and told to get on the plane. To be truthful, not every airline is
guilty of this. There are those like Singapore Airlines and Southwest that
enjoy stellar reputations, but several of the others are the ones making the
news. The unsung flight crews who do a yeoman’s job are not newsworthy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The economy, the
tense state of the world, and the less formal way we live our lives have
stripped air travel down to the essentials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Years ago, ticket
in hand, dressed to go to church, you presented yourself and your bags at the
airline’s ticket counter. Unless you had packed your entire wardrobe and
encountered a fee for too many or too heavy suitcases, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>airlines took your luggage, assigned you a
seat, gave you a boarding pass, and sent you on your way to the gate: no lines,
no increasingly complicated security checks. You usually had a pleasant flight,
with a snack and a drink on a short hop, and a meal on a longer flight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As to our
clothes, it’s easier now to go through security checks in slip-ons and
flip-flops instead of lace-ups. Flying is certainly more comfortable now that
we’ve ditched the suits and ties, the panty hose, hats and gloves, and (egad!)
the girdles. Now we dress for flying as though we were going to Walmart. With regular
airplane seats getting smaller and smaller, and closer together, it’s downright
uncomfortable to dress up for anything but first class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember all the
luggage? Many of us now do with a very large tote (heaven
forbid we leave the electronics at home) and a properly-sized roll-on. And what
wouldn’t we have given for some built-in wheels back in
the days of hard-sided luggage? Savvy travelers have reduced their travel
wardrobes to the coordinated essentials, and many go online to learn just what
to pack a trip – be it a weekend in the country or a three-week jaunt to
Europe. Just search online for “travel wardrobe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When holidays are
approaching, it’s difficult to tote everything you need or want to bring on a
flight. Think about sending holiday gifts, even some of your wardrobe, on ahead
via the USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Moreover, think about making your travel
reservations sooner than later .While considering <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>holiday flying, think if it would be possible to
avoid hassles, delays, and crowds by traveling days before and
after the peak rush so you can relax and enjoy your trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a good
flight.</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-64823179994325816742019-11-24T10:12:00.000-05:002019-11-24T10:12:20.321-05:00NO DUCKS<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5BvaM-YY54/XdqccKpf28I/AAAAAAAAGLk/x5V29yyOKcUNXyq-GIJFRQoTLfaV2zZfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1991%2Bstream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1037" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5BvaM-YY54/XdqccKpf28I/AAAAAAAAGLk/x5V29yyOKcUNXyq-GIJFRQoTLfaV2zZfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1991%2Bstream.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Katie and her grandfather "Say" at the Kinderhook - 1991</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This morning, as we usually do for Sunday breakfast, we use
the Make-a-Plates I made about twenty-five years ago. At that time, I made
animal drawings on the plates for the granddaughters, and put some of my
favorite sayings on the set for us. Today, when Frank finished his French
toast, he read the saying “No ducks, es worms.” That was what Katie said,
probably in disgust, when her parents asked about the resident ducks at her preschool.
Just worms there that day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As he usually does when he reads one of her sayings, he reminisces
about the wonderful times we had with her and her sister when we lived just a
few miles away from each other in upstate New York. This morning, he asked me “How big is she now?” I had to smile. I said, “She’s thirty.” Oh. He’s
confusing her with her daughter, Adeline, who is just the same age as Katie was
then. They’re all in Texas now, and we wish we were closer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esbqb8M0TkQ/XdqcoYxJC0I/AAAAAAAAGLo/PlG7AgeClIkHj1285wqsycOKO3Ipl65YACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1993%2BkATE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="481" height="352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esbqb8M0TkQ/XdqcoYxJC0I/AAAAAAAAGLo/PlG7AgeClIkHj1285wqsycOKO3Ipl65YACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1993%2BkATE.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">KATIE - 1993</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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At age eighty-eight, and having had two mild strokes
resulting in mild senile dementia, it is understandable that he confuses the
generations. It’s also understandable that he confuses Adeline with his Katie.
Adeline is almost a Katie mini-me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-URl3wTOxO48/Xdqc-Bc6qlI/AAAAAAAAGL0/C5FZqiO1lhMN3xHHeE0mTPEUAGflKbc1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019%2B-%2BAdeline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="987" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-URl3wTOxO48/Xdqc-Bc6qlI/AAAAAAAAGL0/C5FZqiO1lhMN3xHHeE0mTPEUAGflKbc1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2019%2B-%2BAdeline.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ADELINE 2019</span></td></tr>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-78451189984200079862019-11-08T09:03:00.000-05:002019-11-08T09:03:35.955-05:00ANIMAL FARE<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">I went to the
animal fair,<br />
The birds and the beasts were there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YY96SPuGU8M/XcV0uNtpSWI/AAAAAAAAGKw/UBHgHn3xFIMjCFL1rMpF8FwXy9M3lOFVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Owls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YY96SPuGU8M/XcV0uNtpSWI/AAAAAAAAGKw/UBHgHn3xFIMjCFL1rMpF8FwXy9M3lOFVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Owls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Parliament of Owls</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Trivia buffs
know, and usually remember, an odd selection of facts. Many specialize in
fields like the history of sports, television, or popular music. Some
specialize further into individual sports and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>music genres.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then there are
generalists like me. For a few days before our monthly Trivia League game, I
quiz myself on crazy, trivial facts. Crazy is the word, ‘cause it does make me
a little crazy. One bunch of facts I’ve always loved is the names of groups of
animals. I do remember some, but most are lost to the depths of memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">You can
understand intuitively how some of the groups got their names: a tower of
giraffes, a parliament of owls, a pandemonium of parrots. Then there are
something fascinating groups: murder of crows, an unkindness of ravens, or a
zeal of zebras. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">My favorite – an
exaltation of larks.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-11005611354909186892019-11-03T06:15:00.000-05:002019-11-03T06:15:39.294-05:00UP EARLY<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for big dipper" height="640" src="https://spiritualpunx.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/d6aaf-bigdipperstarsconstellationcosmosswastikaspiritualpunxswazibigdipperstarsconstellationcosmosswastikaspiritualpunxswazi.jpg?w=1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big Dipper is in its Winter position now.</span></td></tr>
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This morning when I got up and went to close the drapes - I close them so the morning light won't disturb Frank - what did I see? The Big Dipper. What a treat to have it handing right there outside my bedroom window.<br />
I'm so glad I saw it, because it gave a happy start to my very early day. I was awake at what is now 4:30 a.m. The switch in time really bothered me this year. I don't know what powers that be decided we needed to have Daylight Savings Time in the first place, but they should have set the clocks ahead and left it at that - forever.<br />
There are movements afoot to leave time - someday - at the earlier hour. DST was supposed to save money, and it really hasn't proved to do that. There are many pros and cons. I'm all for keeping DST.<br />
So now, that I'm up early, I'll go write something.Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-74159407292498338112019-10-25T17:05:00.000-04:002019-10-25T17:05:47.784-04:00A TIMELY REPPRISE<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was noodling through the picture file Blogspot saves from my postings, and I came upon the one of that huge chandelier. I knew it was time to do a repost. Recently, I've been enjoying the daily emailed collection of artistry I get from <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/" target="_blank">Colossal</a>. Some of the art work are absolutely marvelous. So - here's the posting from May 31, 2012 - quite a while go. I've removed the links to the original articles because they're no longer valid.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> oooOooo</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two hanging creations, two
different concepts: which one would you take time to study and
admire? Which one is art?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Yesterday on the lovely
blog Plum Siena,</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Annie presented a photo essay: </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">a piece called Creative Mind: Joana Vasconcelos.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">First
up was a piece called ‘Marilyn, 2011’, a 9 ft. pair of high heels constructed
of cooking pots and their lids. They are sort of fun – like a Claes Oldenburg
sculpture with a culinary twist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The next one up, however, gave me a
case of the “Whywouldyas.” It’s a chandelier, ‘A Novia (the bride),
2001’, displayed in 2005 for the Venice Bienale.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just had to wince at
this. As a chandelier it looks like many others: the kicker lies in the
material used. When I tell you what it is will you wince too? I wonder if the
creator (for this piece I’d hardly call her an artist) lay in bed one night and
thought “Eureka! I’ll make a huge chandelier. All out of
tampons!” That’s correct: tampons! Whywouldya? It may be creative, but it surely
isn’t art.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-98-sH8jxdcQ/XbNbuOIsOrI/AAAAAAAAGKc/3VLsa99xiKEAXDSh_6CdofG625e_GuzEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-98-sH8jxdcQ/XbNbuOIsOrI/AAAAAAAAGKc/3VLsa99xiKEAXDSh_6CdofG625e_GuzEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/bbbb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Coincidently, today I was
made aware of the work of the industrial designer Thomas Heatherwick. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The
piece above was commissioned by the Wellcome Trust for their London
headquarters, and is made of 142,000 glass spheres (someone counted every one?)
suspended on tensile steel wires. I find it beautiful and very creative. I might get a crick in my neck, but I'd love to stand and look up, up, up at
it. I wonder if you can see it from the higher floors. This is art.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And that</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Said John)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: ""verdana"",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-8884592735987825302019-10-18T10:06:00.000-04:002019-10-18T10:06:24.162-04:00ASPARAGUS AND SPAGHETTI FOR TWO <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Npi-2nNhPNQ/XanFCJAIeoI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/e7tP2vq1U34gG-WS0fA534PNGQyko0BEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/100_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Npi-2nNhPNQ/XanFCJAIeoI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/e7tP2vq1U34gG-WS0fA534PNGQyko0BEACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/100_0017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This recipe is fast and easy. I made this a week or two ago, but forgot to take pictures. That was reason enough to make it again so soon. I think you'll like this one. And as to garlic - use as much as you'd like. I keep it on the conservative side.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm5ZjN6HZfs/XanFUevEPtI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/NoInY0wlh1AqP5RF0LCa5qY5YVqqI8ktQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/100_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm5ZjN6HZfs/XanFUevEPtI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/NoInY0wlh1AqP5RF0LCa5qY5YVqqI8ktQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/100_0013.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b>LJ - ASPARAGUS AND SPAGHETTI FOR TWO</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Spaghetti for two<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1 Tbsp. butter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and 1 Tbsp. olive oil<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1 tsp. minced garlic<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1 egg<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->¼ cup Parmesan<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Asparagus spears – <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(One
serving pf Trader Joe’s Frozen Asparagus - 12 spears)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdHnAMlfnJg/XanFseVlKKI/AAAAAAAAGKE/fohWpwnElEcUZoQrsjhnWObwkbyPqeM7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/100_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdHnAMlfnJg/XanFseVlKKI/AAAAAAAAGKE/fohWpwnElEcUZoQrsjhnWObwkbyPqeM7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/100_0014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Method:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> - </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Prepare the spaghetti<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> - </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In a large pan, warm the butter, oil, and
garlic, leave on low<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> -</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Beat the egg very well, then add the cheese –
set aside<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> -</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Cut the asparagus into 1” pieces, add them to
the pan<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> -</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->When spaghetti is done, reserve some of the
liquid, drain, and mix <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the spaghetti into the ingredients in the pan<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-70892781861328560232019-10-13T07:13:00.002-04:002019-10-13T07:13:54.718-04:00WHAT I LEARNED IN SCHOOL TODAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, I'm still learning. I learned this morning that I forgot to post on Friday. The last few days were first proof days for the magazine. That takes a big portion of my attention. This is the November issue, and it looks like another good one, if I do say so myself. So...</div>
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People often ask me where I come up with the wide, wild
variety of subjects for my blog and community magazine articles. My answer:
surfing the internet. I subscribe to the news briefings from the New York Times
and the Washington Post. I’ve bookmarked and check in each day with the BBC and
Politico, Houzz, and the Microsoft’s Newsfeed. I get daily emails from On This
Day, Prime Women, Atlas Obscura, Trivia Today, and Colossal. Then there are the
websites, like PBS, that email once a week. The topics they cover go beyond the
everyday news and into the realm of the truly interesting. I won’t add links to
these. If you’re really interested, you can google them. You won’t be getting
too many emails if you are truly interested in their content.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just this week, I read about an Off-Broadway actor who went
into the audience and threw some boor’s cell phone under the seats. Good for
him!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I read that the <i>average</i> allowance parents give their
kids today is $30 a week. Not to say this is excessive, but my first allowance,
at age 7, was 10 cents – and I had to save two of those cents. Ten cents is inflated
to about $1.08 today. So, if the average is $30, some kids out there get too
much money.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I checked our 50 delicious ways to serve eggs. The Tortilla <span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Española </span>looks
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And I learned that much of the world thinks we westerners
have peculiar bathroom habits. Americans are the greatest users of toilet
paper. I do plan to write a magazine article about this topic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can sometimes spend an hour or so reading, and learning,
and being truly amazed. You might think this is time wasted, but, as Bertrand
Russell said, “The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-39259781884083807792019-10-04T08:31:00.000-04:002019-10-04T08:31:06.248-04:00A DIFFERENT WEDDING CAKE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Recently, Corey Amaro featured this unique wedding cake on her blog <a href="https://www.frenchlavie.com/tongue_cheek/" target="_blank">French la Vie </a>. Wedding cakes here are almost universally tiered affairs in white. I have seen different versions, but this French cake takes the cake. The puff pastry male and female symbols are held together with pastry cream, then decorated with fresh fruit and edible flowers. Now, who wouldn't want a piece of that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-41880172496603752952019-09-27T12:02:00.002-04:002019-09-27T12:06:53.330-04:00THE MAN WITH THE MERCEDES<br />
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I remember pulling up next to his car at the town’s only
stoplight. He was going to make a left, probably heading over to the branch he
was building for the bank where I worked. I’d met him a few times when the
company he owned expanded the printout storage room for our computer
department.<br />
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I just knew him as “the man with the Mercedes.” He knew me as “that
blond girl in the basement.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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When I pulled next to him he smiled and waved, and I said to
myself, “too bad, he’s married.” Little did I know that between the time he’d
worked in our basement computer department, to that time at the light, he filed
for a divorce. When the new branch finally opened, both of us were at the
festivities. We got to talking there and, as they say, we connected. Tomorrow, forty-five
later, we’re still connected. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-89851502764753829292019-09-20T09:59:00.001-04:002019-09-20T09:59:52.942-04:00IT'S A TOUGH LIFE...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CslLgUjtlPw/XYTYnPGTnRI/AAAAAAAAGIg/QoDjXAOhRtQ1I8ix6QtOZ8E4PALpO6ScQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="639" height="308" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CslLgUjtlPw/XYTYnPGTnRI/AAAAAAAAGIg/QoDjXAOhRtQ1I8ix6QtOZ8E4PALpO6ScQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/image1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Singapore is a bustling place - notice all the ships out there.</span></td></tr>
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<br />...but someone has to do it. I keep saying that to our son. He's traveling for the Bank of America. This time, again, to Singapore. During the business week, he stays at a hotel near the office, which is near the beaches. The last weekend of the trip, he moves right into town and sets himself up in a balcony room overlooking the street route of the weekend's Formula One race. He is an avid F1 fan, and whenever and wherever he can, he'll parlay a trip with a race. He doesn't need a ticket to this particular race - he'll sit on the balcony, watch the action, and listen in on a transmission of the race action.<br />
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He really likes Singapore, it's clean, efficient, and the climate agrees with him. Above all, he enjoys the food. From the every-day to the exotic, the food choices are phenomenal. Take this morning's breakfast. Well, you can take it, I'm not so sure. He calls it the Singapore Breakfast Boo-fay.<br />
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It's a buffet, so obviously he chose the items. I don't know what that white stuff is, but I do recognize eggs, a steamed bun, probably some smoked salmon, a rice dish, a roll, perhaps some duck meat and - egad! - a duck's head. I meant to ask him if he ate that. Aw, come on! These days, restaurants no longer decorate the plate with a sprig of parsley, but, in Singapore, evidently, you can decorate your plate with a duck. I'll pass on that one. </div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-42134116489624867782019-09-17T08:15:00.000-04:002019-09-17T08:15:29.718-04:00IT'S BACK!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I subscribe to Prime Women - <a href="http://primewomen.com/">primewomen.com</a>. This morning I was pleased to see a rerun of the article I wrote for them. <a href="https://primewomen.com/health/wellness/old-wives-tales-myths/?utm_source=PrimeWomen&utm_campaign=2ffc21649b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_12_02_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c45b14a1b8-2ffc21649b-228066121" target="_blank">It's Old Wive's Tales: The Many Myths About Women Over Fifty.</a> As I am well, well over fifty, I do know a thing or two about the topic.<br />
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However, what really held my interest this morning was a very interesting article on <a href="https://primewomen.com/health/nutrition/exercising-to-lose-weight-stop-it-doesnt-work/?utm_source=PrimeWomen&utm_campaign=2ffc21649b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_12_02_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c45b14a1b8-2ffc21649b-228066121" target="_blank">Exercising to Lose Weight? </a>This one is very timely for me. As it says - "Stop. It doesn't work!" I can attest to that too. As you may have gathered from some of my recent posts, I recently found out that both my knees are bone-on-bone. I've had knee and leg problems and pains for over twenty years, so I thought it was just part of an old condition. Who knew? The surgeons at OrthoCarolina have parameter for when they'll do replacement surgery. You must be below a certain Body Mass Index. I am below that threshold, but I was advised that I'd be a lot more comfortable, and have a lot less problems, if I lost some weight first. O.K. I'm on it!<br />
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So - in just over three months, I've lost 16 pounds. Slow but sure. My BMI has come down two points. If the cortisone shots keep working for me as well as they do, I should be able to go the distance.<br />
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What am I doing? I started out again, counting the old, original Weight Watchers Points. Recording them gets tedious after a while. But I do know which foods carry the lowest points, so now I just guesstimate them, and it's working. I think my halo might be on straight, because I don't often go overboard. It just may be that instead of just deciding to lose weight, I have a specific goal: new knees, no pain. I think it can be done. I'll keep you posted.<br />
<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-8417591955710395422019-09-13T12:47:00.000-04:002019-09-13T12:47:43.499-04:00THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND<div style="text-align: center;">
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And my mind was going round and round last night. I'm fortunate in that I had cortisone shots in my bone-on-bone knees yesterday, so my time in bed was very comfortable. I'm delighted that I could be comfortable because for some strange reason, I could not get to sleep. I did try my usual trick of rehashing the story I read on Kindle just before bed - no luck. I don't suffer from insomnia, so I'm not trouble by an occasional sleepless night. I just go with the flow of ideas.<div>
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As it happens, I had a very productive night. I keep a journal and lighted pen in the bookcase beside my bed. Last night, on and off, I wrote one whole page of random ideas. Some for the house, some recipes I wanted to find, some things I want to order online, and many ideas for the community magazine. So far today, I've manged to cross quite a number of them off the list.</div>
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And, very unusual for me, no ear-worm went round and round in my mind. That would have been the pits. It was a silent night.</div>
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Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-44805496871695722352019-09-06T09:32:00.000-04:002019-09-06T09:32:10.762-04:00IF WISHES WERE HORSES...<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Just something that I wish
had come true – A week ago, on Friday, August 30, </span><a href="https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/AED_o0w_mgl3XWkRAAjVuMZkO6M"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">OnThisDay.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> sent this note of
a medieval-age date in history: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://onthisday.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e8d4a49502b912add459d0ce8&id=4a8c366249&e=4124aeba19" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #2baadf; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">1146</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"> European leaders outlaw crossbow,
intending to end war for all time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #202020; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Nice try, guys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593497636730561846.post-729066583316314022019-08-30T07:38:00.001-04:002019-08-30T07:38:17.070-04:00PIZZA-NOODLE CASSEROLE FOR TWO<br />
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I’ve been wanting to try this recipe for a few weeks now. At
first, the idea of it didn’t appeal to Frank, but last Monday night I decided
to give it a try. I saw the idea for it in a recipe that proved to come from <i>Taste of Home</i>. This is supposed to taste
like pizza. <i>Taste of Home</i> is based in
Milwaukee. What do they know about New York pizza in Milwaukee? Their recipe
had a ground beef sauce that wouldn’t have the necessary bite, and, along with
the required mozzarella, cheddar cheese. Now, that’s the Wisconsin Dairy
State’s idea of pizza – not mine. My recipe, except for the cooking time and
temperature, which experience would have told me is just about right, is
nowhere like theirs.</div>
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If I do say so myself, this dish was very good, and the
Brooklyn-born Frank gave it two thumbs up. It has all the right bite in the
sauce and pepperoni, and the proper chewiness and strings of the mozzarella. It
certainly takes a heck of a lot less time to prepare than my pizza from scratch.
Even having to make my own sauce recipe, if there’s none handy in the freezer, it
takes only minutes to prepare. No cooking necessary for this sauce.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Give it a try - you may like it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Ingredients<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->2 cups noodles, any size<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->¾ to 1 cup pizza sauce – recipe follows<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->30 or so slices of pepperoni – sliced into 1/4”
pieces<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->1 cup shredded mozzarella<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dXIuft2TGM/XWkIgjl242I/AAAAAAAAGGg/Z7CY5luN7SUG4bqNmOZEsZIudcC3XW9vwCLcBGAs/s1600/100_2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dXIuft2TGM/XWkIgjl242I/AAAAAAAAGGg/Z7CY5luN7SUG4bqNmOZEsZIudcC3XW9vwCLcBGAs/s400/100_2098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Preparation</u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Preheat the oven to 350<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">°</span><span style="font-family: "MS Shell Dlg 2",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Cook the noodles according to the package
directions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->While the noodles are cooking, get out the other
ingredients, and grease a small baking dish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Drain the noodles and return them to the pot.
Mix in the sauce and sliced pepperoni slices. Pour the mixture into the grease
baking dish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Top the mixture with the mozzarella.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Bake for 20 minutes. Serve.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Quick Pizza Sauce</u> – in a large bowl mix<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 tbsp. olive oil<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 tbsp cider vinegar<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 tsp. minced garlic<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 tsp. dried oregano<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></div>
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This recipe makes four two-person servings of just under a
cup each. This is just enough for a two-person pizza or for the pizza-noodle
casserole. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rocLXtlrdFo/XWkI0JOcsYI/AAAAAAAAGG0/9_AZ5gXb4o08KO3ISl0rILWKImI4Bij3ACLcBGAs/s1600/100_2100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1540" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rocLXtlrdFo/XWkI0JOcsYI/AAAAAAAAGG0/9_AZ5gXb4o08KO3ISl0rILWKImI4Bij3ACLcBGAs/s320/100_2100.JPG" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One quarter of the sauce in this dish, freeze the rest for three other meals.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Laura Lee Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190102983722505944noreply@blogger.com0