Just Watched: North Country

I picked up North Counrty initially because it had Charlize Theron in it. I think she's an actress/actor of monumental proportions. It also has Frances McDormand (love her!), Sean Bean of Lord of the Rings fame, Sissy Spacek, Woody Harrelson. What a cast. Anyway, Charlize Theron I just like her.

The film is from 2005 and I don't know that I heard anything about it at the time. But then again, don't remember what I had for dinner last night either. The film is based on a true story. A woman who beomes a miner in the late '70's / early '80's when women weren't supposed to do 'mens' work. Women were supposed to be secretaries and waitresses and stay home with the kids. Women were sexually abused on a daily basis and expected to take it and not complain. And those were the women who had jobs considered 'women's' jobs. It got much, much worse when we started taking 'their' jobs from them. (ahem)

This is the dramatization of the first major sexual harrasment case won by a woman against a large mining corporation. It was difficult for me to watch, I'll tell you that much. I was angry and frustrated and sad and irritated and angry again. Humans can be so aweful. So, so aweful.

I would recommend this film, it had a good outcome. I guess they would not have made it into a film if it turned out badly.

Tiny Pink Dancers

Extra flowers for you on this lovely Friday.

They make me think of little ballet dancers.

PS - I forgot to wear my wedding ring today. I feel naked without it.

Renaissance Man 2009

I sometimes really love where I work. Its a boring back story, but I came in to work the other day and this was taped to my chair.

How great is that?

Because

Do you ever want something just for the sheer sake of wanting it? Is that a girl thing or is that an American thing, a human thing or just a Lucy thing?

I have Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. I've had it for yearsssssss. I use it often, all the time in fact. It sits out on our baker's rack so I can just grab it, put it on the counter and mix, whisk, blend, cream or fold in away. Its white. White, white, white. That's how long I've had it. When I got mine, as a gift, the only option was white.

But, I saw this mixer on Pioneer Woman's website today and I want it!

Mine works just fine and dandy. Would having a new more colorful mixer make my life easier, better, more thrilling ... probably not, but definitely more colorful. Well, I guess not more colorful if I got it in imperial black.

It comes in wonderful fun colors: Imperial Black and Caviar and Tangerine! Tangerine folks!! I really do think that would make mixing up any recipe so much more fun. And, even when it wasn't being used, it would be very pretty on the baker's rack. Do you agree?!

Some questions for you. Leave your answers in the comments section.

• Do you have a stand mixer?
• What brand is it?
• More importantly, what color is it?!
• How often do you use it?

PS - Pioneer Woman is giving away one of these bad boys today. Go to her site, leave a comment, and possibly win. I did.

Hot and Spicy

Do you eat hot sauce(s)? Do you love them? Do you cast spells to keep them away from your food?

I used to be what I would consider a regular hot sauce consumer. I had the obligatory Tabasco in the fridge and maybe a specialty hot sauce purchased in a fit of money spending. One that probably would not be eaten, much, by me, but more for the random person who would come over for a meal and want something more worldy than my regular, plain, satisfying Tabasco.

Since I met Mister, I've eaten more hot sauce than I ever imagined I would eat. He's a hot sauce connoisseur. He will eat hot sauce on everything. His favorite thing to eat is salsa with hot sauce added. He'd brush his teeth with hot sauce if someone told him it had teeth and or gum promoting properties. Fortunately for me, that hasn't happened.

So, I've started eating more hot sauces by proximity. I like hot sauces with flavor, not just heat. Peppers each have unique flavors and 'burn' properties. Mister and I use many different sauces, each a little differently and each with a specific taste requirement in mind.

My love affair with pepper sauces really started when I first met Mister. I knew he loved hot sauces. I went to the Cayman islands on a vacation, w/o Mister. I bought a hot sauce sampler for him as a little gift. We opened the one sauce that had in it, scotch bonnet peppers and I was immediately in love. Its hot, but a different hot than habaneros. I can't explain it, habaneros - way too hot for me and not a flavor that I care to burn my mouth for; scotch bonnets - quite hot, but so tasty you are willing to put just a dash on your food for the very unique flavor they impart and the burn is there, but not molten lava-ish - even though its supposedly just as hot as the habanero.

This is the current collection of sauces and powders on hand. Most of them reside in the fridge, on the door. The balance are in the spice rack. Let's see:

• Frank's Red Hot
• Chili Oil
• Tabasco
• Cayenne pepper
• Cajun's choice medley
• Thai tom yum base
• Wasabi powder
• Dave's Insanity hot sauce scotch bonnet
• Sweet hot chili sauce
• Pickled jalapenos
• Chili paste of some sort
• Dave's Insanity sauce, some random variety
• Garlic Chili Basil sauce
• Tapatio
• Tortuga - Scotch Bonnet hot pepper sauce (my fav from the Caymans')
• Marie Sharps habanero pepper sauce (mild) (found originally in Belize)
• Marie Sharps habanero pepper sauce (the green one)
• Marie Sharps habanero pepper sauce (fiery)
• Red Chili flakes
• Chili powder
• Cholula
• Sriracha (Rooster Sauce)
• Black pepper corns
• Thai green curry paste

When I put these away, I also found in the pantry, salsa verde and in the fridge La Victoria green sauce. CRAPpy photos. Indoors, too lazy to get tripod, incandescent lights (at least I think that's what they are...) and I didn't feel like cleaning up the kitchen counter either. So, there you go. Our life of hot pepper sauces.

Just Watched: Enchanted April

Have you seen this? Its from 1992. I saw it way back then, or at least between then and now and remembered liking it a lot. I picked it up from Netflix and yes, I still liked it. The actors and the scenery are lovely and sweet and, dare I say it, enchanting. The premise is two women who live in the same circles, but have nevere spoken, find common ground in a newspaper advertisement for the rental of a castle in Italy. These women live in England (?). Somewhere dreary and wet. They conspire to rent this castle and escape similarly unhappy marriages. They can't quite afford the castle so reluctantly offer the experience to two more women, neither of which are in any way similar to each other. They go to the castle and find they each have something in common. Its lovely and quaint and sweet and makes me believe that all in the world can be solved with a nice vacation to an enchanged castle. I'm reco.mending it if you haven't seen it yet and also if you have seen it, see it again.

Tempt-ation

I'm sure you know by now, but Mister and I don't do dairy. Oh, I'll do a bit of goat gouda once in a while, or the random tiramisu and suffer for two days because of it, but for the most part, 99.99% of our lives, we are dairy free. In fact, Mister is completely dairy free. I'm the only one who misses it. One of the things I miss most is ice cream. There are so many flippin' flavors and types and textures and how could a person get through them all in one life time. Not to mention fresh homemade blackberry ice cream. (drool) I guess it would just be a fun thing to try to do, taste all the flavors of ice cream, that is. In that light, we have tried many a soy frozen dairy treat. Soy 'ice cream', if you will, more often than not, leaves something missing. Its like I'd rather not have the soy ice cream. It just makes me wish I could eat the real thing willy nilly like so many Americans can. A year, or so, we came across a coconut milk ice cream that is to die for! Its called Coconut Bliss and yes my friends, it is bliss-ful. At nigh on $6 per pint, its a treat for sure. Once we found this coconut milk frozen dessert, we really haven't gone back to the soy versions. There's just something about it. I think it might be a texture thing. But its also the amazing flavors... who knew?!? Anyway, in the last couple months, we came across this "new" (new to us anyway) hemp milk non-dairy frozen dessert called Tempt. (Don't you love it.) We had to check it out. Mister's first grab is always chocolate. He tried it and said it was a bit strange in the first bite, but all the bites after that were delicious. He said it tasted a bit like a Milky Way candy bar. So the next time I was at the grocery, I noticed the Tempt was on sale, 2 pints for $6! A real bargain. I picked up another chocolate for Mister and a coffee biscotti for me. (Forgive the horrible photo, low light and a photographer who was too lazy to get out the tripod.) It was perfectly flavored coffe ice cream with chunks of cookie-ish biscotti. Just the right sweetness, not too strong in the coffee and didn't leave me wishing for more biscotti chunks. My only complaint, if its even that, is that its quite hard. I left the pint on the counter then took a shower and when I came back for it some time later, it was still only slightly soft-ish around the sides. YUM!! I'm recommending it, highly.

Infused Vodka

This is the only vodka I've ever tried to infuse. Its peach. You place about 3 sliced up peaches and their pits (that seems critical) into a jar (I used a quart Mason jar), then fill it with your vodka of choice. Refrigerate until it tastes like you want it to. Could not be much easier. I've not tasted it yet, I forget its in the fridge. A friend has been making all manner of infused vodkas this summer and she gave me a taster of a nectarine/peach that she had infused. It was so delicious. Absolutely no vodka taste or after bite. I'm hoping mine turns out as nicely.

What flavor would you like to infuse?

Rogue River

Mister and I went on our, sort of, annual camping trip with my brother and his best mates. Its only sort of, because I don't go every year, but the group goes every year. Anyway, the camp ground is called Indian Mary and its just west of Merlin, which is just north of Grants Pass. Its a very scenic, warm and dry part of our state, located along the Rogue River. If you ever have some days to just hang in the out-of-doors in Oregon, this would be a place to do it. The camp ground has been around for a very long time and recently has gone through some updates. There were new restrooms and showers. Lovely! There were also new camp hosts. These host were much more stringent and rule enforcing than that camp host which had been there for years and years. They were very nice, but made sure to impress upon us that the rules would be enforced. So, the first thing I did (with much consternation from Mister) was pitch our tent here, see below. How lovely is that!?! What you probably don't notice or can't see in my expert photography, is what the sign says... see photo below. "No camping beyond this point". Ah, I love it. I wanted to pitch the tent out even further, but this was Mister and my compromise on the tent's final location. Its a good thing we did compromise, for late at nigth the sprinklers would turn on and had we been out much further, we'd have gotten soaked.

We hung out and rafted and hiked. If you don't know much about rafting, and I don't, each of the launches/takeouts has a name. This is the raft launch at Grave Creek. It is the last take out in the ... section of this river and the first launch in the Wilderness (Wild & Scenic, I think) Section, a section of the river you need a permit to raft. Totally check out some of the links, if you have time, its a beautiful place and interesting, well, to me that is. So, this is a hike we took from Grave Creek, about two miles out along the Wild section.

This is the Grave Creek launch. This is just below the launch. You can see those rafters in the red boats just taking off.

... pretty...

Two miles in to the hike, there is a falls, Rainey Falls. From what I learned, this is the first impassable falls, beyond class IV, on this section of the River. Totally check out that link. The photo of the falls is great. When rafters get to this falls, they have to maneuver around it and take a man made chute. This is some rafters positioning their raft away from Rainey Falls and into the chute. I'm not sure this is what everyone does, we got there and this is what they were doing. Some people, maybe, can just line up correctly. I really don't know, I'm just a raft rider, not a raft operator. The whole thing is just very cool to me.

I almost got brave enough to take a Tahiti, a one/two person blow up kayak, down the river (the non-permitted section), but, alas, I chickened out. Maybe next year. Oy, I am thinking definitely next year. Do you hear that Moses?!?! Remind me next year that I said that. Okay?!

Any fun places you visit annually?

Coming Soon...

so very busy lately... on the impending / upcoming blogging front:

• infused peach vodka
• camping on the Rogue River
• hot sauce(s)
• general ramblings

hope ya'll are fantastic!

Forget what you think you know

My best friend gave me the best advice

He said each day's a gift and not a given right

Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind

And try to take the path less traveled by

That first step you take is the longest stride

Against the grain should be a way of life

What's worth the price is always worth the fight

Every second counts 'cause there's no second try

So live like you're never living twice

Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day

Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?

You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars

Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes'

Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life

Let nothing stand in your way'

Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past?

Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?

Reminisce old memories?

Would you forgive your enemies?

And would you find that one you're dreaming of

Swear up and down to God above

That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day

Nickelback - Dark Horse - If today was your last day

#1 - Yes, I listen to Nickelback. I also listen to Bobby McFerrin, so, judge away.

#2 - Let's just forget for one moment that these are lyrics to a song. They really are good advice. Now, I don't suggest you go out and donate your last dollar today, because, well, let's face it, it probably isn't your last day and you may need those dollars tomorrow. But the other stuff, the other stuff is less physical but far more important. At least I think so.

I know you're not asking for advice, much less my advice. I just want to put this out there for us all to think on, ponder and act on, or not.

Love to all. And, no, I'm not a hippy, well, not really. Am I Colleen?? I don't think so. Oh well if I am.

Have a super weekend all.

Thursday Sunflowers And Fish Taco Dressing

I sort of, really kind of, definately, like this pic. That's me though.

We'll be camping this weekend. In preparation, I've made banana bread w/chocolate chips (Mister's favorite way to eat anything and everything - with chocolate chips) and Pioneer Woman's oatmeal crispies. Always a winner. More super delicious salsa verde, I'll make ~ oatmeal, choc chip, pecan, raisin, coconut, flax seed, espresso cookies. Its this recipe, twisted up and added to. Those are Mister's request. I also want to make coleslaw. I used to hate coleslaw, now that I've figured out a dressing that I like, I really like cole slaw.

Digressing: There are no measurements, its all in the feel and the taste: I take mayo, fresh lemon or lime juice (Mister prefers seasoned rice vinegar, sometimes I give in - either way is good), paprika, cayenne, pinch of sweetener of choice (I use all manner of sweeteners, sugar, agave syrup, oh, my mind is blank... anyway), a dash or nine or your favorite hot sauce, currently I've been using Cholula, it has really nice flavor without being too hot/spicy. Anyway, I whisk that all together and use that as my dressing, well, for lots of stuff. Its great on shredded cabbage and we also use it as dressing for fish tacos. When I make it for fish tacos, I'll put in onion and garlic powder. Heck, you can add whatever you want. If I ate sour cream, I'd put that in, but I don't, so I don't.

The sunflower from the other day popped its little head out. I took this in the morning and the sun was uber bright and I was sneezing my head off and couldn't really open my eyes, so I just pointed the camera toward where I thought the flower was, and these are what I came up with.

Smile, its Wednesday and that's all that's necessary

I found this this morning on Chookooloonks, a blog I follow. It made me smile, big. I share it with you and hopefully, we can share a smile.

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

This is dedicated to all of you who read this blog. Thank you. Rock on my sisters. Rock on.

Salsa Verde

A bonus post for this Tuesday, because I just could not wait until tomorrow to get this info to you. Read this, go to the grocery for the ingredients and make it. Make it now. You will not regret it. I love salsa verde. If its on the menu, I'm ordering it on my food or on the side or in a cup with a straw. Mmm, Mmmm delic! But, I've never made it. Its one of those things, for me, that if I like it SO much, it MUST be really difficult to make and how could I possibly get it right. Well, we got some tomatillos from our CSA last week and a jalapeno and cilantro so I just dove in. Oh, my yes... It will be a staple at our house from now on. It is SO SO easy to make. Like, way easy to make and way delicious. I used one entire jalapeno, seeded (I make Mister do this). You decide on how spicy you like stuff and go from there. SALSA VERDE

• 1/2 lb tomatillos, husked
• 1/2 white onion, course chop
• 1 jalapeno, seeded, course chop
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp - to taste - salt
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Boil the tomatillos for ~ 7 minutes. They will turn a darker green. When these are cool, place in food processor or blender along with all the other ingredients. Blend well. Eat it on chips or on anything else your heart desires. Oh my, its yummy. Sorry for the terrible photo.

Sunflower

... soon!

i love the little 'fingers' of burnt ochre petals.

Just Watched: Pan's Labyrinth

It won 3 Oscars. I don't understand why. But, that's just me. It was a very dark film. Very, very, dark.

Did you see it and like it? I need someone to tell me what I missed.

A poll - please

I'm working on a sort of "LUCY" logo. Below are some photos that appeal to me, but, I'm mercurial and can't quite decide.

I'd love your opinion(s). If you would let me know which 3 strike you as a photo to be used as a logo.

I would be MOST appreciative.

Thank you.

...lobby.. part 2

and here's a closeup of one of the birds... don't know why... just because...

looks kind of real, don't ya think?

My work

I had to go to the lobby of our building to take a photo of the front door so as to easier explain to the janitors what I need taken care of. While lovely people, their English could use some improvement. Anyway, while I was in the elevator, I decided you, my friends, needed a photo of the elevator floor... then my feet with the elevator floor...

... and here's the picture I took for the janitors. Its the view standing inside our lobby looking out. That's Nordstrom Rack on the other side of the street. It used to be a flat parking lot, we had a much better view then. Its now a high rise office tower. That's life.

So, when you turn around from the previous view, this is the other end of the lobby. Its Art. A painting of a beach scene in the back with birds and grass painted on the glass a foot or so in front.

I wasn't really planning on this little post so its not all that planned out. But, there you go. A snippet view of my world on a daily basis.

I like frogs...

Photo by Mister.

Mister found little froggy in the catnip pot which hangs from the fence. It hangs, you see, because Harley LOVES his catnip and will climb and scramble and paw his way to it, no matter where it is. So, it hangs from the fence, near nothing on which Harley can jump from.

Anyway, Frog in Catnip. He's a cutie!

Tesla S

TESLA - Model S

I want one. The photo is from the WEBSITE. Check them out. So very cool. Fully electric, 300 mile range, 45 minute quick charge capable, seats 7, twice as efficient as current hybrids. They are taking reservations now. I'll have to wait a bit, its out of our price range. But, they are coming folks. Once these babies are on the street, there's no stopping the revolution.

If you have not seen Who Killed the Electric Car, go watch it. It will change the way you look at, well, everything. If you are worried it is a left wing conspiracy to bash the oil companies and their administration, it isn't.

Mister wanted to go see it, I didn't really want to sit through a feature film length lecture on, well, anything. Being the good wife (this time), I went. I walked out of the theater with a new perspective. No, I wasn't brain washed, just more informed than when I walked in. It explores many of the possible culprits in the movement to suppress the electric car. Go rent it now.

Ok, I know, I know, I go on a bit about this movie, but, seriously, it was such a great movie.

Just Watched: Milk

Powerful.

I actually got Mister to sit down to watch a movie with me and some of the first scenes are Harvey Milk picking up a guy on a subway platform and taking him home. Not Mister's favorite thing to watch, two guys kissing, etc. I was afraid Mister would get up and leave, he's not much of a movie watcher to begin with and that could have easily sent him away. But, he stayed and we both ended up liking this film a lot. Its moving and inspirational. Sean Penn is, as per usual, amazing and completely believable and pretty darned cute.

Its a film based on the true life story of Harvey Milk, a gay man who runs for a political seat in San Francisco during a time, the '70's, when gay rights just didn't exist for the most part. He works to pass human rights propositions and to open up the world to the fact that gay people are just people and deserve to have jobs and to be able to walk down the street without being beaten and arrested by the police. I was young during the '70's so wasn't paying much attention to politics, but, just the fact that people did not have the right to be who they are frightens me. It still goes on today, discrimiation in many arenas and it frightens me.

As an adult, one of the most difficult things for me to learn is that it does not matter one iota what the issue at hand is, there is always a far, far left and a far, far right perspective and opinion on it and those two far, far's have a tendency to color (excuse the pun) how the entire world sees a topic. I am a Christian. I do not impose that on anyone. My husband is an atheist. I love him, and he occassionally tries to convince me to change my mind. I've not tried to change his mind on the topic. And yet, the people that are perceived to be in my 'camp' who are the right winger's create such hostility toward people like me who believe in gay rights and hug trees and still believe in God and other's rights to whatever gods they choose.

Anyway, off topic. It just painful to watch ANYONE be persecuted for their beliefs and way of life and what-have-you.

Its a movie to make you think and rethink. At least it was for me.

I'd really like to hear what you thought, if you seen it, or when you see it.