back in black

you knew it would come to this

its too basic to my nature to not be

Just Stuff - Maja's Banana Bread

I've been on a cookie baking binge. Do you do that? Do you ever just get a bit obsessed with a certain 'thing', whatever that 'thing' is? Well, I do, on occasion and cookies have been it lately. So, I don't have photos, 'cause well the cookies got eaten so quickly, but one of the recent successes was a variation on the Basic Oatmeal Cookie. I made the basic recipe then added some ground ginger, cinnamon and organic black strap molasses.

As a sidebar ~ I did not know the British (?) word treacle, which sounds frightening and icky, is another word for molasses! Learned something new today. So I didn't measure any of those things. Its completely a personal taste thing. I happen to LOVE ginger and molasses. I probably put less than a third cup of molasses (I'd personally use much more next time and make them even darker and richer) and a tsp +/- of each cinnamon and ginger. The cookies were great. This recipe is wonderful because its so versatile. I've made this recipe and put in sunflower seeds, raisins, coconut, walnuts, anything you can think of and all of it works well.

The other thing I made this week, out of necessity, with several very ripe bananas, was pretty good banana bread. The wife of a co-worker, Maja, is an amazing cook/baker (Miss A, I think you can vouch for this). She occassionally will send in with her husband her banana bread and it is the most amazing EVER! She gave me the recipe years ago and I've never really been able to make it turn out like hers. I have an issue with all things 'bread' related. They just don't turn out for me. Yeast breads, quick breads, muffins ~ can't make them. I keep listening to the advice of others and I keep trying. Although most of the time edible, its never been a write to your congressman success. I made it anyway with walnuts and 1/2 with chocolate chips for Mister. He eats everything with chocolate on top.

I share Maja's recipe here. Have at it and let me know how your turns out.

Banana Bread ~ by Maja

1/2 c butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3-4 overripe bananas, smashed

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

optional

chopped walnuts

chocolate chips

Bake at 325, 50+/- minutes in a greased and floured loaf pan. This recipe can make one large or two medium or 3 mini loaves. Cooking time is a bit determined on the size of your loaf pan.

** I'm writing this from memory so, you may wish to wait a day or two until I can check the recipe (I can't seem to locate it) and update this post. So, wouldn't most people just NOT post the post until they had it all correct? I'm living on the edge here, that's all I can say.

Oh, and tomorrow is May Day. Surprise someone you know, or don't know, with a beautiful bouquet of hand picked Spring flowers.

Nicknames

More nicknames for our boy the bumblebee chaser:

His Chippewa name is Squirrel Bear during the day. And at night, when he runs in front of me as I make my way in the dark to the bathroom, Running Bear.

Its also always sweet bear and bear bear. For some reason, lately its Chi Chi. Do you see how the names morph.... I've always been this way.

I admit it, I have no life.

Do you have nicknames for your loved ones? Do they morph? (Not the loved ones, the nicknames)

Just Read: Miracle in the Andes

Author: Nando Parrado

When I started reading this book, I did not know it was THIS book. The book from which the movie Alive was derived. I was amazed again and again as I read this book. The ordeal these boys went through and survived. Well, a handful of them survived. The writing captured my attention and kept it. Not necessarily an easy task of late. I pretty much knew how things turned out, I mean, we've all at the very least heard of the movie and why it was so famous. And, the guy who wrote the book was one of the survivors, so I pretty much figured at least one guy lived through it all. The story starts before the incident and then continues after telling about how they lived after such an ordeal. The nightmare they lived, was of course, the main body of the book. I just don't have lots to say about this one man's account of his existense after the crash and eventual survival. I don't know that I would have survived or that I would have been able to undertake what they had to undertake to get through the 3+ months they were stranded on a glacier in the high Andes. Would I have had the mental and spiritual strength that it took to make myself stay alive? I would like to think, of course, yes. If put to the test, would I have the strength of will when facing the fact that there is no food or water and a very slim chance that anyone is searching much less finding.

I'm trying not to give away too much just in case anyone actually wants to read the book. All I can really say is, Oy vey.

Conversation

Friend who is 35: I can’t figure out what’s going on, I mean, I’ve never had thinning hair before and what is up with my butt!?

Me who is nearly 40: Amen sister!

Friend who is 35: I’ve always just worked out for like 4 minutes and it moved back up to where its supposed to be?

Me who is nearly 40: You are preachin’ to the choir sweetheart!

Friend who is 35: I look in the mirror and I’m like, who’s butt is that?

Me who is nearly 40: I KNOW!! (ala Monica Geller)

Friend who is 35: What the H%^#$(.?

Me who is nearly 40: Well my friend, I hate to say it, but they weren’t kidding when they said turning 35 will bring changes you hadn’t counted on.

Friend who is 35: Its like it’s a hormone thing or something.

Me who is nearly 40: Seriously, wait until you are nearly (ahem) 40.

Friend who is 35: How could it get worse?

Me who is nearly 40: Oh, hunny.

Leery and doubtful. Don't embrace it.

What’s missing? Why can’t I find the beauty? What is the problem? Where is the disconnect? Why is the feeling just under the surface, lurking and waiting for the chance to rear its ugly head? How do you just “be” and feel the serenity in your cells. That intrinsic gorgeousity that always seems present in some people . I think the beauty is hidden in that ability to truly love and enjoy and embrace and relax into who you are. But I’m not sure about that because, well, its hidden. I can only guess where it may be. All I know is right now, this minute, its gone, its left no trail of bread crumbs. Its become the illusive unicorn I search for in vain. When I feel like this I want to find a spa somewhere in the southwest and disappear from it all. Go and just be and not think and let the sun soak into my core and revive and regenerate. Then I ask, would it really help? What if I came back and felt no different? Then where would I look for answers? ~~

Wednesday

Earth Day

So, its Earth Day. I knew it was coming up, but didn't know it until today when I logged on and saw the Google art. My immediate thought is, Ack! What have I done 'earthy' today? Well, I drove to work instead of biking because, well it it raining and 39 degrees outside. Lame, but real, excuse for getting the in the fossil fuel mobile. My second thought was, Well, why would today be different than any other day. They all should really be Earth day. Why should I have to even think twice about it being a day to be kind to the earth. I should be doing that every day. Yes, I do try to do what I can, but its become rote. Does that mean I'm slacking and don't know it or does that mean I'm doing all I can. My guess is I could to more. I looked back to last year's Earth Day post. We still do all the things we always have done. However, I don't ride my bike to work more, we don't have an electric car, we don't have solar panels or rain barrels. We are status quo. Better than backsliding, I guess. What do you do regularly and what would you like to incorporate into your daily lives as rote before Earth Day 2009?

Cookies to share - Basic Oatmeal Cookies

BASIC OATMEAL COOKIES

1/2 c margarine 1/2 c shortening 1 c white sugar 1 c brown sugar

2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour 1 tsp b powder 1 tsp b soda 1/2 tsp salt

2 cups oatmeal (I use either instant oats or, because I don't usually have instant in the house I put regular oats in the coffee/spice grinder and give them a spin. Don't make them too powdery, just chop them up a bit, its not an exact science and the oats don't have to be all the same size.)

Options Nearly 1 pkg choc chips or other chips of choice (butterscotch are divine); 1+/- cup coconut; nuts of choice; raisins (soaked in boiling water for 10-15 minutes then patted dry on a paper towel)

Directions

Cream, then add and mix, then add and mix, then add and mix, then add and mix.

350 for 10 - 12 minutes (I do 10 minutes)

I bake these on parchment paper (it makes a difference) and leave them on the cookie sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. They should be pretty gooey. Gooey enough that you think, no way are these done. But, trust me, let them cool (or not) and they are tasty!

I like them all ways, but my favorite is just plain oatmeal with no accoutrements. Next time I will try plain w/a touch of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe a bit of molasses………I like spice.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The photo is terrible and makes the cookies look dry, at least to me. These are/were in no way dry cookies. They were soft and chewy and super yummy.

Just Watched: Battlestar Galactica

I never watched this show in the '80's or the '90's, whenver the original version was out with Lorne Green (RIP). But, since my foray into the Red Dwarf series was a total bust, my great friend Aaron advised that he thought I'd like this series because I liked the Farscape series so much. He was right. Mister and I have only watched the first disc which was a miniseries 3 hours long!! I thought it would be four episodes that I could watch one at a time and about an hour and a half into it I figured out it was one long show. Anyway, I like it. I may actually have to go back and rent a few of the original show just for perspective. Since I haven't watched the original, I believe this version of BSG is supposed to be set 40 years after the original version ended. Its got some interesting characters and plot twists.

Weekend Outlook

Work out, dinner and a movie w/Mister, sleep (oh lovely sleep), take sister-in-law and s.o. to airport but not get to go with them when then fly away to Belize (bummer), work out, open house 11:00 - 3:00, bbq and game night with gals, more sleep... then brings Sunday. Not sure what Sunday will look like. More than likely it will be me re-organizing my home office, cleaning house, wishing I was in Belize 55 feet below the surface of the ocean being amazed at the beauty of the migrating whale sharks, and hopefully getting in some relaxing time. Could be showing property (weird!!) (but good). If that's the case, then not much of the other stuff will get done as that will take the lion's share of the middle of the day.

Whale Shark

Belize

Maybe I'll have a chance to pick up my camera. That would be fantastic. Oh, we're also expecting snow..... yes, I said is snow tonight or tomorrow. Now, I don't necessarily believe it, but, you never know.

Wonderful weekends to all.

Complexity

Life is complex and layered and full of curves past which you can not see. You have but to live each day and take the curves like you are on a roller coaster, with some trepidation but a big 'whew' and a smile as you come out the other side and head for the next.

the long haul ~ edition XVIII

who, what, when, where, why, how

have you ever had turmoil? ridiculous question, i know, who hasn't had some turmoil at one time or another. my turmoil of late, and when i say late i mean the past couple years, has been almost mid-life crisis-ish, i think. at least its what i imagine a mid-life crisis feels like even though its a bit early for me since i'm still so young. ...ahem...

right now, i feel good. i feel fortunate and happy and at peace with my world. its very nice to feel like life is a friend and not an angry pitbull (nothing against pit bulls) out to take your arm off. i'm taking the lion's share of the credit for myself though. i had some angst, whined about it quite a bit here on the old blog, then actually did something about it. i did something to make my life and my days and my future better. now, i don't mean to completely ignore or discount anyone (family and friends, etc.) who were totally there for me during the emotional upheaval. i could not have pulled myself out the other side of the dark tunnel if it weren't for their supporting and loving me. i'm just glad i found i could do something for myself that worked to make me a happier, more calm person.

i heard someone say something recently that made some sense to me. they said that when you are a child and life sucks, you don't have a choice necessarily about it. its too bad and it can be terrible in some cases, but as a child, there aren't many options. but, as an adult, its time to take control because you can. you can take control and make your life better if things suck. no one said it would be easy or that we all could be the king of siam, but just knowing and understanding in our hearts that we can make a difference is a huge step towards finding and achieving those goals, once we figure out what those goals are i mean.

i don't kid myself, i know me and i know that another dark tunnel is around a corner some day. but for now, for right now, the now that i am living, all is well in the land of nod.

so, to answer the rhetorical question posed: me, happy, now, here and now, i tried.

what are your answers to the 5w's and 1h?

Just Watched: Red Dwarf

Hmm. I've heard about this BBC series from the late '80's for quite awhile. I've heard it's fall out of your chair, slap your neighbor on the back funny. I normally really like British TV and British Comedy (who doesn't just love Tracey Ullman). I have a tendency to like the quite inane stuff like (**ahem** throat clearing pause ***) My Hero. OY!! can't believe I just admitted that. Anyway, you get my drift about liking rather inane and sometimes admittedly a tad boring comedy (see As Time Goes By, who doesn't love Judi Dench). I've also been known to guffaw often and quote just as often lines from favorites such as Airplane (... "what do you make of that?" ... "I can make a hat or a brooch or a little pterodactyl"...) I love all the great quotes from this movie. Cracks me up. Oooh, oooh and who doesn't love anything (just about) Monty Python but most especially The Holy Grail. I really could go on and on. I love that cheesy, sophomoric stuff. My point being, I'm not a complete snob about comedy. I'm up for the good stuff. That said, Red Dwarf. . . . I've only watched two episodes and Mister assures me it really is funny, I just haven't gotten into the groove of it. He says its the kind of humor that later, like the week after you watched with a buddy, your buddy can quote lines and you'll laugh remembering it as funny. Does that technically make it funny or does that make your buddy funny? Not sure. I'll try a few more episodes and do my best to find the humor. I don't know that there really is any there.

Truthiness

The truth is ~ I loved and fretted over him like I imagine any one who is fortunate enough to have children does. The truth is ~ he was my sweet little friend.

The truth is ~ he had a face only a mother could love. The truth is ~ he was very sick and in his last days.The truth is ~ he knew it was his time, and never complained. The truth is ~ even though its been over a year, these pictures still choke me up. The truth is ~ he had a good life. The truth is ~ we all return to the earth. The truth is ~ I never thought I would love again like I loved him.

The truth is ~ I have learned to love again. The truth is ~ he would have wanted it that way.

Beach Weekend

Lovely annual girls beach weekend. I feel like I was gone for a week. Great time, wonderful women, very nice break from the normal routine. Glad to be home to my husband.

So, all the buzz these days in photography is about using textures. I have the limited version of Photoshop and I don't think it allows the use of fun new downloadable textures, at least I can't figure it out. I've read recently about people using all sorts of interesting things as texturizers. So, you may note above that the photo is not in fact blurry in places, its just texturized. I used the water on the wet window that was between me and the quite cold out of doors as a texturizer. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Fun & Games - follow up

So, just for the fun of it, I check out E-Bay and they had one Wham-O Magic Window up for auction. The current bid was $51.

I passed.

Morning - Third of April

Lighting was horrible this morning and I had about 5 seconds to snap the shot. There's my excuses for the day. Happy Thursday to all.

Fun & Games

Did you ever play with this "game", the Magic Space Wheel? I did! I don't know that I knew its name, but it was so much fun back in the pre-Cabbage Patch days (oy aging happening as we speak). Its so strange to see a 'game' such as this and realize that kids these days would SO not be into it. Its far too simple, there aren't enough moving and flashing parts and where do the electronics sounds come from? It will (like all the old-timers before me) forever astound me how very different everything surrounding children and the raising of them has evolved. I don't have kids, but I have two wonderful nieces who aren't technically A.D.D. and don't get me wrong, they are amazing little creatures, but they are bundles of moving energy. Maybe its just when I see them. Maybe I don't know a hill of beans when I see it. I'm nostalgic for some reason today.

It just takes me back to the days of going to the movies at a very young age and the price of a ticket was a Wonder Bread bag filled with other Wonder Breadbags. Does anyone else have memories of things like that? You know, like the theater in our little town making it more affordable for a passel of kids to go to the movies?

I know this it totally dating me and its one of those things, like when grandpa would tell the story of how he had to trek 5 miles in the snow to school and then 6 miles home up hill (again) in the snow to get home.

I've been searching my brain and anyone who will listen to me for 5 minutes, wracking my brain to remember the name of a 'game' that was two oval, plastic plates stuck together with something like liquid mercury or some other silvery (I think) liquid inside that when you turned and twisted the oval the insides (between the two plastic plates) would make different waves or cloud shapes... Do you know what I'm talking about? If you do, please put me out of my misery and let me know what it was called so I can Google it and go on with my life.

EDIT: Thank you (Dom) for finding this Magic Window information for me. Yet one more trivial item my brain can release.

Ok, ramblings over, for now.