What’s on your mind?

[Mefisto]

It's been a while since I was last here, so I can only hope that you good folks here enjoyed the holidays and have gotten a good start to the new year! Here's hoping it stays that way, and I look forward to reading your posts maybe a bit more regularly.

What's on my mind? Hold on to those close to you. And should there be any doubt as to who exactly is close to whom, it (practically) never hurts to tell them. Trust me, there will come a day when that is no longer possible.

So here's to you, I've missed many of you, and a good 2019 to ya'll!

 

[Gutwrench]

It's been a while since I was last here, so I can only hope that you good folks here enjoyed the holidays and have gotten a good start to the new year! Here's hoping it stays that way, and I look forward to reading your posts maybe a bit more regularly.

What's on my mind? Hold on to those close to you. And should there be any doubt as to who exactly is close to whom, it (practically) never hurts to tell them. Trust me, there will come a day when that is no longer possible.

So here's to you, I've missed many of you, and a good 2019 to ya'll!

Nicely said.

 

[0388631]

I've forgotten my cherry sours again. I gave them a good squeeze to see if they were fresh and put them in what I thought was my basket as I was walking up and down the aisle aimlessly trying to find something else we needed. At this point I should order a 5 lb bag of them from an online retailer.

On the other hand, I found some leftover candied citrus peel from Christmas which should tide me over til the next time I go to that particular store.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It's been a while since I was last here, so I can only hope that you good folks here enjoyed the holidays and have gotten a good start to the new year! Here's hoping it stays that way, and I look forward to reading your posts maybe a bit more regularly.

What's on my mind? Hold on to those close to you. And should there be any doubt as to who exactly is close to whom, it (practically) never hurts to tell them. Trust me, there will come a day when that is no longer possible.

So here's to you, I've missed many of you, and a good 2019 to ya'll!

Well said and a very worthy and well expressed sentiment.

And it is all too true that a day comes when it is no longer possible to let them know how much they mean to you.

I've forgotten my cherry sours again. I gave them a good squeeze to see if they were fresh and put them in what I thought was my basket as I was walking up and down the aisle aimlessly trying to find something else we needed. At this point I should order a 5 lb bag of them from an online retailer.

On the other hand, I found some leftover candied citrus peel from Christmas which should tide me over til the next time I go to that particular store.

Cherry sours?

What exactly are they?

 

[0388631]

Cherry sours?

What exactly are they?

Think of a sweet cherry flavored winegum like candy covered in a layer of tart and slightly sweet sugary coating and then polished with beeswax or similar for a high gloss appearance.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Think of a sweet cherry flavored winegum like candy covered in a layer of tart and slightly sweet sugary coating and then polished with beeswax or similar for a high gloss appearance.

Aaaah.

A candy (or sweet, as we would say in my part of the world)?

I love sour cheery beers and sour cherry liquors, and sour cherry chocolates; and I love actual cherries. Real cherries - I could devour a bag of fresh cherries in one sitting, no problem.

Actually, come to think of it, I might never get to sitting; I could, and would, and have, devoured a bag of them in one standing.....

But, cherry candies....that is a new one, on me.

Until I read your post, I had no idea that they existed.

 

[The Clark]

I want to buy an iMac, but my friends will call me gay.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I want to buy an iMac, but my friends will call me gay.

Why does what your friends think - or say - matter?

None of their business, what you buy, and why let what they think (especially if it is an irrational expression of mindless prejudice) influence you?

Indeed, why refer to such individuals as your friends?

I am thinking of the many times my mother and I were helpless with laughter, in the days before her dementia kicked in.

I have been receiving letters, and phone calls, and email telling of how much her friends had laughed with her, and enjoy her company and how much she had loved to laugh.

There was a day, oh, well over a decade ago, we were washing the dishes, when she announced blandly, "Today is JJ's birthday". JJ was her father, my grandfather, long since deceased.

"Mmm. He would have been 123 today, had he lived," she added, in a voice so deadpan, that I burst out laughing and she joined me.

 

[Clix Pix]

I want to buy an iMac, but my friends will call me gay.

So? What's wrong with being gay?

Just buy what you want, a machine which will serve the purposes you need.....

 

[Lioness~]

What's on my mind? Hold on to those close to you. And should there be any doubt as to who exactly is close to whom, it (practically) never hurts to tell them. Trust me, there will come a day when that is no longer possible.

Sometimes communication are needed to express our love, what people mean to us. It's important and powerful.
But maybe communication is sometimes even more needed to make ourself vulnerable with those who matters the most. Being able to stand in a place together where it sometimes hurts, where our fears wants to make us run. Being able to communicate and sharing in that place, it's where all kinds of love can deepen profoundly.
Found myself in that place a lot lately. I am glad I'm much better at it today. That I know that the fears between people is often more important to release in a safe and loving space, than the reassurance of love, for love and trust to deepen.

 

[LizKat]

I want to buy an iMac, but my friends will call me gay.

Wow, haven't heard that one in awhile. Thought we'd all moved on.

Buy the gear you need or like. You're who has to live with it.

 

[Apple fanboy]

So? What's wrong with being gay?

Just buy what you want, a machine which will serve the purposes you need.....

And more importantly how would your choice of computer decide of sexual preference?
[doublepost=1547966689][/doublepost]What’s on my mind is as I get older why does my body wake so bloody early?

6 am on a Saturday and Sunday is not when I want to be wide awake. Especially when I’m not going anywhere.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Wow, haven't heard that one in awhile. Thought we'd all moved on.

Buy the gear you need or like. You're who has to live with it.

Very well said.

 

[Gutwrench]

Alexa says it’s -5F, but at my spot of the world it’s nicer: -3F.

According to the trees and hungry birds the air looks still. So, despite being cold it’s not knifingly bitter.

It’s a good day to stay next to the fire -where I am this moment- to watch some football. I have a hankering for more flatbread, hummus, and chowder. The only missing ingredient is clam juice. Sigh...so off to the market I go.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Alexa says it’s -5F, but at my spot of the world it’s nicer: -3F.

According to the trees and hungry birds the air looks still. So, despite being cold it’s not knifingly bitter.

It’s a good day to stay next to the fire -where I am this moment- to watch some football. I have a hankering for more flatbread, hummus, and chowder. The only missing ingredient is clam juice. Sigh...so off to the market I go.

View attachment 816590

Clam juice? Is it possible to purchase such a thing?

Can't fault hummus, flatbread and chowder.

Care to share your chowder recipe?

A story about my mum that every woman will possibly empathise with: A number of years after she had retired, my mother and I were out shopping for clothes (for her) in a reasonably upmarket store.

She had repaired to a cubicle to try on a pair of Gardeur trousers. After a silence that lasted a few minutes, I called in to her to ask how she was getting on.

The reply had me in stitches. "Salads. Pure salads. I am going to eat nothing but pure salads for the rest of my life."

 

[Gutwrench]

A story about my mum that every woman will possibly empathise with: A number of years after she had retired, my mother and I were out shopping for clothes (for her) in a reasonably upmarket store.

She had repaired to a cubicle to try on a pair of Gardeur trousers. After a silence that lasted a few minutes, I called in to her to ask how she was getting on.

The reply had me in stitches. "Salads. Pure salads. I am going to eat nothing but pure salads for the rest of my life."

Haha. Sweet story!

My mother had a razor sharp (humorous) wit too. And she was a practical joker.
[doublepost=1548002865][/doublepost]

Care to share your chowder recipe?

Chowder

I’m totally improvising today.

Sauté a handful of langostino in butter, a pinch of smoked paprika, and garlic; splash with lemon juice and set aside.
Brown bacon to soft; set aside

Sauté onion, celery, and butter in the drippings
Add cubed Yukon gold potatoes, clam juice, some water and thyme; simmer until the potatoes are tender
Add back the langostino and bacon on top of the potatoes
Pour in a few cups of Half-n-half; give a gentle stir
Cover for a few minutes to warm
Dish; season with ground pepper (and salt, if necessary)

Flatbread

I’m still playing with making flat bread...a complete novice but it’s so easy
Whole wheat and all purpose flour
Salt, baking powder, garlic and onion powder, and whole milk yogurt
Knead for a minute or two
divide in two
Roll out to 1/8th thickness
Toss in a hot iron skillet (medium high flame) for 2 minutes, flip for 1 minute
Brush with melted butter or olive oil

Today I plan to knead in some Asiago cheese and brush with butter and minced roasted garlic right before slicing.

Hummus

I cheat like a bandit using canned chickpeas
With typical ingredients like tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt and olive oil

 

[0388631]

I've been trying to find Yukon gold potatoes for weeks. Where the heck did you find them? I saw some other gold variety potatoes but when I sliced into them they didn't have that warm, buttery yellow color interior.

 

[decafjava]

Ohh I love Yukon gold potatoes. I know they are not suitable but making a combination baked potato with raclette cheese sounds sooooo good now.

Anyhow in the middle of a very busy three weeks what with my taking a part-time course on Wordpress (more on that later) and also preparing the new semester with our students who arrive this coming Monday for the Spring semester.

Today will be a very long day ... got dark chocolate and coffee to fortify me.

 

[arkitect]

What's on my mind this morning?

In a word, eyesight.

As I grew into adulthood I became myopic. Glasses while driving — going to the cinema… nothing too bad.

But close up I could thread a needle by candlelight. Pin sharp.

Now closing in on 55 I find my eyesight in some odd no man's land. Losing my ability to read and draw without spectacles, and also needing them for long distance.
But in between, looking around a room for instance, all is OK.

*sigh*

Old age, eh?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

What's on my mind this morning?

In a word, eyesight.

As I grew into adulthood I became myopic. Glasses while driving — going to the cinema… nothing too bad.

But close up I could thread a needle by candlelight. Pin sharp.

Now closing in on 55 I find my eyesight in some odd no man's land. Losing my ability to read and draw without spectacles, and also needing them for long distance.
But in between, looking around a room for instance, all is OK.

*sigh*

Old age, eh?

Mine is a similar but different issue.

Growing up, I always needed spectacles for distance, but always had excellent close up vision; once I reached 40, I found myself removing my spectacles to read something, a book, a newspaper, a magazine or periodical.

But, in recent years, it is the in between area that presents a challenge - that space between ferrying food on a fork (from plate - which is visible wearing spectacles) and mouth (perfectly visible without glasses); suffice to say, accidents occasionally happen, sometimes landing most unfortunately on what my mother (who had the same issue) used to describe as her "continental shelf".

 

[0388631]

I'm half convinced angerdanger isn't human.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I called into the doctor's surgery yesterday to collect the 'notification of death' cert, and headed over to the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry office in order to obtain my mother's death cert, which I had to sign.

Having and holding this document in my hand somehow makes it all so much more irrevocably final.

The invoice from the funeral directors arrived in the post today, which was expected, - they had been supportive and professional and respectful - and not as forceful a reminder as requesting the death cert yesterday had been.

 

[arkitect]

landing most unfortunately on what my mother (who had the same issue) used to describe as her "continental shelf".

I'm going to remember that one.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I'm going to remember that one.

As long as my mother is cited as the source; she had a terrific sense of humour, of fun, and a keen sense of (and enjoyment of) the ridiculous.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

"Damn," she'd announce, in a mutter torn between hilarity and some slight - not embarrassment as much as irked inconvenience - as something (such as a bite of steak) missed mouth and slid from fork, "I managed to hit my continental shelf again."