What a wonderful thing passion can be; it truly makes life worth living.
My son's passion is his football team to whom lots of love is given.
This same passion he extends to his parents, children, friends, and wife;
He lives his life drawing others into his aura of unbridled delight.
His children, too, are passionate about their family and their friends;
I love to be around them and am saddened when it ends.
This week-end not only had a televised Saints game;
My son's Halloween birthday was celebrated again and again.
He made chicken and sausage gumbo with a side of rice
We: carrot cake and bread pudding with bourbon sauce for each slice.
If I lived near my children, I fear my heart would explode;
All their love of life sometimes seems a heavy load.
The neighborhood thoroughly enjoyed the Sunday Saints game;
Richard and I don't watch football, but enjoyed them all the same,
Playing Rummikub with our granddaughter by the swimming pool.
And visiting with our teen grandson, who with us doesn't play it cool.
Our grandson stopped by several times with hugs and sweet words
Kind words of love from teens are some of the sweetest words heard.
After a week-end of celebration, they must return to work and school;
We will return to our routines with bodies that are over-full.
I will take the memories and tuck them into my heart,
Being ever so grateful that, in their passions, we play a part.
Next week-end we will have more offered opportunity
To take part in these celebrations of life that we love to see.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
More Memories Than Mortals Can Conceive
The sailors in windbreakers heading out to the sea
Bring back memories of our boating, my captain and me.
The cool fall breezes are a sirens' song to sailors,
Whether with vessels in the harbor or boats on trailers.
We had cushions in the v-berth that served as our bed,
And in the starboard bunks where guests laid their heads.
There were nights that we anchored in a quite river inlet
And other nights at harbors that we had only just met.
The cruises that we took with friends and family --
Feasting, swimming, fishing -- We felt worry free.
We had sleep-overs at the dock; we didn't need to leave;
There were more memories made than mortals can conceive.
Fall light is extra luminous as it dances on the waves;
The cloudless sky promises many memories to be saved.
My wish for every sailor embarking from this harbor:
Many blissful moments to share with their sons and daughters.
Bring back memories of our boating, my captain and me.
The cool fall breezes are a sirens' song to sailors,
Whether with vessels in the harbor or boats on trailers.
We had cushions in the v-berth that served as our bed,
And in the starboard bunks where guests laid their heads.
There were nights that we anchored in a quite river inlet
And other nights at harbors that we had only just met.
The cruises that we took with friends and family --
Feasting, swimming, fishing -- We felt worry free.
We had sleep-overs at the dock; we didn't need to leave;
There were more memories made than mortals can conceive.
Fall light is extra luminous as it dances on the waves;
The cloudless sky promises many memories to be saved.
My wish for every sailor embarking from this harbor:
Many blissful moments to share with their sons and daughters.
Friday, October 28, 2011
People From Our Past
People from our past keep popping up; they heard that we returned "home."
I always thought we'd keep in contact, no matter where we roamed.
But, it seems that face-to-face time is what most people feel comfortable with,
No matter how much the written word is that for which I wish.
We are being called upon to come out and catch up with our friends --
It's so much safer to communicate when I can edit before hitting "send."
I guess most people are more comfortable with the fleeting nature of life,
Where I don't trust that the good memories will be there in times of strife.
I want to take out stories of love and personal triumph that were written to me
Whenever I become overwhelmed by the unpleasant things I hear and see.
I can curl up under the covers or hide in my own house,
Savoring the kind words of friends and being quiet as a mouse.
This way misunderstandings may be fewer and farther between;
I was taught to stay out of trouble by being neither heard nor seen.
I was never good at obeying these social nicety directives;
There's something in my lady-like gene that obviously is defective.
I must remember that these folks are citizens of New Orleans
Where loud and proud women are simply part of the local scene.
I always thought we'd keep in contact, no matter where we roamed.
But, it seems that face-to-face time is what most people feel comfortable with,
No matter how much the written word is that for which I wish.
We are being called upon to come out and catch up with our friends --
It's so much safer to communicate when I can edit before hitting "send."
I guess most people are more comfortable with the fleeting nature of life,
Where I don't trust that the good memories will be there in times of strife.
I want to take out stories of love and personal triumph that were written to me
Whenever I become overwhelmed by the unpleasant things I hear and see.
I can curl up under the covers or hide in my own house,
Savoring the kind words of friends and being quiet as a mouse.
This way misunderstandings may be fewer and farther between;
I was taught to stay out of trouble by being neither heard nor seen.
I was never good at obeying these social nicety directives;
There's something in my lady-like gene that obviously is defective.
I must remember that these folks are citizens of New Orleans
Where loud and proud women are simply part of the local scene.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Rewards of Retirement
A big reward of retirement is that we are now free
To explore whatever it is that we "always wanted to be."
This can be quite daunting because, as Richard said to me,
Their is nothing quite as scary as to be completely free.
When we have jobs and children, someone else dictates what we do;
But most of us nurse fantasies that number more than a few.
One of my nieces attending college said recently
She thinks growing up is harder in the land of the free.
She said in many countries each is simply placed in a job, and
In many families it is the case, that parents are job snobs.
I know that unsolicited opinions are worth what is paid for them,
But you know that I still had to put my own two cents in.
I'd like her to consider teaching physical therapy;
It seems a natural grown up progression for a gymnast, to me.
I parlayed my love of giving parties into a catering career;
Now I spend my time writing about the memories I hold most dear.
My body can't stand the strain of long hours on my feet,
But being a writer is another goal I've always wanted to meet.
How sad it would be if on the day of our births
Our dreams wings were clipped, and we were denied the search
For what is our best use in each stage of our lives.
Dreams seem to be the only way the human spirit thrives.
To explore whatever it is that we "always wanted to be."
This can be quite daunting because, as Richard said to me,
Their is nothing quite as scary as to be completely free.
When we have jobs and children, someone else dictates what we do;
But most of us nurse fantasies that number more than a few.
One of my nieces attending college said recently
She thinks growing up is harder in the land of the free.
She said in many countries each is simply placed in a job, and
In many families it is the case, that parents are job snobs.
I know that unsolicited opinions are worth what is paid for them,
But you know that I still had to put my own two cents in.
I'd like her to consider teaching physical therapy;
It seems a natural grown up progression for a gymnast, to me.
I parlayed my love of giving parties into a catering career;
Now I spend my time writing about the memories I hold most dear.
My body can't stand the strain of long hours on my feet,
But being a writer is another goal I've always wanted to meet.
How sad it would be if on the day of our births
Our dreams wings were clipped, and we were denied the search
For what is our best use in each stage of our lives.
Dreams seem to be the only way the human spirit thrives.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Physical Therapy Is a Miracle to Me
Everything I've ever been and everything I am,
I owe to the time of teachers, and a helping set of hands.
The laying on of hands in good physical therapy
Is the stuff of miraculous healing to me.
We seek swift answers from pills and surgery --
Not learning how to keep own bodies pain free.
The teachers I follow are the ones with mastery
Of their subject before they impart knowledge to me.
I could have sought out a personal trainer instead of PT,
But the knowledge of physiology is as important as can be.
Strength building exercises on muscles knotted over nerves
Will never be productive in putting pain in reverse.
When will we honor the individual time and attention
That trains us in our own power's attainment and retention?
.
I owe to the time of teachers, and a helping set of hands.
The laying on of hands in good physical therapy
Is the stuff of miraculous healing to me.
We seek swift answers from pills and surgery --
Not learning how to keep own bodies pain free.
The teachers I follow are the ones with mastery
Of their subject before they impart knowledge to me.
I could have sought out a personal trainer instead of PT,
But the knowledge of physiology is as important as can be.
Strength building exercises on muscles knotted over nerves
Will never be productive in putting pain in reverse.
When will we honor the individual time and attention
That trains us in our own power's attainment and retention?
.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Aunt Ann's Pot Roast and Very Close to Berry Chantilly Cake
This is what we served our nieces for their birthday celebration.
My mother made some of the best pot roast I ever put in my mouth. Here's as close as I could come to her way of making it:
Aunt Ann's Pot Roast
3-4 pound of your favorite cut of beef for roasting
1 cup (approximately) all purpose flour
Salt to taste
Lots of black pepper
Lots of garlic powder
Lots of onion powder
1/2 cup canola oil (She used safflower oil)
1 cup water
1/2 pound carrots, cut in 2 inch pieces
8 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in half
1 pound mushrooms, cut in half
6 ribs celery, cut in 2 inch pieces
Sprinkle roast liberally with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Coat with flour on all sides. Oil on all sides. Place fat side up in cover roasting pan. Roast at 300 degrees for 2 hours.
Pour in water. Add carrots and potatoes. Cover and return to oven 1/2 hour. Add mushrooms and celery. Cover and return to oven 1/2 hour. Remove roast from pan. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Very Close to Berry Chantilly Cake
Cake:
1 box white cake mix, prepared according to package directions in 9-inch cake pans, using four pans to make very thin layers. Bake for approximately 15 minutes.
Berry Compote:
1/3 cup triple sec
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 teaspoon orange extract
Whisk together and pour over the following fruit:
1 cup fresh strawberries, cut in half
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup fresh blueberries
Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Filling:
6 egg yolks
¾ cup sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
4 ounces sour cream
In top of double boiler, whisk together egg yolks, sugar and milk. Whisk over boiling water in bottom of double boiler, whisking continuously, until mixture coats spoon with thick sauce like warm pudding (about 15 minutes). Remove pan from heat to a cold water bath. Whisk for 2 minutes. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on surface of custard. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Whisk cream cheese, ricotta cheese, and sour cream into custard mixture.
Whipped cream icing:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Whip cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff. Beat in softened cream cheese.
Pipe a border of whipped cream around edge of first layer to act as a “fence” for fruit. Place 1/3 fruit compote on cake layer. Top with 1/2 custard mixture, including juice. Repeat for layers 2 and 3. Top with layer 4. Ice cake with whipped cream and cream cheese mixture. Decorate with toasted almonds and fresh fruit.
My mother made some of the best pot roast I ever put in my mouth. Here's as close as I could come to her way of making it:
Aunt Ann's Pot Roast
3-4 pound of your favorite cut of beef for roasting
1 cup (approximately) all purpose flour
Salt to taste
Lots of black pepper
Lots of garlic powder
Lots of onion powder
1/2 cup canola oil (She used safflower oil)
1 cup water
1/2 pound carrots, cut in 2 inch pieces
8 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in half
1 pound mushrooms, cut in half
6 ribs celery, cut in 2 inch pieces
Sprinkle roast liberally with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Coat with flour on all sides. Oil on all sides. Place fat side up in cover roasting pan. Roast at 300 degrees for 2 hours.
Pour in water. Add carrots and potatoes. Cover and return to oven 1/2 hour. Add mushrooms and celery. Cover and return to oven 1/2 hour. Remove roast from pan. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Very Close to Berry Chantilly Cake
Cake:
1 box white cake mix, prepared according to package directions in 9-inch cake pans, using four pans to make very thin layers. Bake for approximately 15 minutes.
Berry Compote:
1/3 cup triple sec
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 teaspoon orange extract
Whisk together and pour over the following fruit:
1 cup fresh strawberries, cut in half
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup fresh blueberries
Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Filling:
6 egg yolks
¾ cup sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
4 ounces sour cream
In top of double boiler, whisk together egg yolks, sugar and milk. Whisk over boiling water in bottom of double boiler, whisking continuously, until mixture coats spoon with thick sauce like warm pudding (about 15 minutes). Remove pan from heat to a cold water bath. Whisk for 2 minutes. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on surface of custard. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Whisk cream cheese, ricotta cheese, and sour cream into custard mixture.
Whipped cream icing:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Whip cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff. Beat in softened cream cheese.
Pipe a border of whipped cream around edge of first layer to act as a “fence” for fruit. Place 1/3 fruit compote on cake layer. Top with 1/2 custard mixture, including juice. Repeat for layers 2 and 3. Top with layer 4. Ice cake with whipped cream and cream cheese mixture. Decorate with toasted almonds and fresh fruit.
Birthday Blunder
We had a birthday party for Waggy --Richard and me.
What she wanted to eat seemed simple as can be.
But I messed up with a comma where interpretation was free.
She said "I want a kitchen sink salad w/ all the
Veggies, meat, cheese, and pasta. And carb smart ice cream.
We set about creating what I thought was her dream.
One of Richard's salads that would be sure to delight,
And a pasta primavera should be just right.
I shopped for every veggie I could put in the pot
And Carb Smart spaghetti to fill the pasta slot.
Imagine her surprise when she thought pasta in salad,
And spaghetti for primavera was all that I had.
Richard's salad pleased her; she even took pictures.
She seemed to enjoy the pasta without her strictures.
Then her ice cream, we topped with fresh raspberries.
I hope she was happy with her birthday fairies.
What she wanted to eat seemed simple as can be.
But I messed up with a comma where interpretation was free.
She said "I want a kitchen sink salad w/ all the
Veggies, meat, cheese, and pasta. And carb smart ice cream.
We set about creating what I thought was her dream.
One of Richard's salads that would be sure to delight,
And a pasta primavera should be just right.
I shopped for every veggie I could put in the pot
And Carb Smart spaghetti to fill the pasta slot.
Imagine her surprise when she thought pasta in salad,
And spaghetti for primavera was all that I had.
Richard's salad pleased her; she even took pictures.
She seemed to enjoy the pasta without her strictures.
Then her ice cream, we topped with fresh raspberries.
I hope she was happy with her birthday fairies.
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