Last week I told you that Shabooh Shoobah had one of my top ten album covers. Here are the rest, in no particular order. The music ain’t bad either…
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Tags: Music
I knew, just knew I should bring my camera with me today, but I didn’t, and you know this because I wouldn’t start the post this way otherwise. Anyway, I met my ever-so-handsome hubby for a little lunch at Bridgeport Village today. He works nearby (oh how I wish he were closer – hey Amber, is your hubby’s place of employment hiring? – that would be a stellar commute) and I occasionally visit for the California Pizza Kitchen salads and a little stop into J. Crew. BIG SALE! I bought wool pants, two wool cardigans (one in Bronco Orange!) and a super cute tee for $80. That’s what I call a bargain.
Gosh, I’m turning into Virginia Woolf – should I buy the flowers? No, the pants!
Finally, getting to my point, because, seriously, there is one; we also ate at our favorite sweet spot, Pudding on the Rice. Alas, as I was saying in the beginning, I have no photo, so the bridge that is zooming by like my random thoughts is going to have to suffice.
The very modern and polished interior is run by a wonderfully kind and enthusiastic husband and wife team – though we’ve only met the wife and seen her talk to the hubby on the phone. They’ve both quit their jobs and put everything they’ve got into this place, trading shifts so one of them will always be at home with the kids, which I think is grand. Also, even more family oriented, the recipe for the heavenly pudding is her Swedish grandmother’s, and holy smokes is it good. It is the best I have ever had – creamy, not too sweet, with a perfect texture and great flavor. We’ve tried the chocolate, cinnamon, peanut butter, mint chocolate chip, cherry, and pistachio (mixed together makes Spumoni – Colleen’s favorite ice cream ever – just in case you wanted to know!). If you can’t decide on one flavor, like me, she’s happy to put two in a cup. By the way, the little cup looks rather wee, but it is plenty, unless you plan on skipping dinner.
If you are a local or plan on visiting the area, please give them a try. And, if you are like my friend Sarah, and do not care for rice pudding – no worries mate! They also have crepes and frozen yogurt. We haven’t tried either, but can attest to the heavenly aroma and the smiles on the faces of those eating a crepe.
I imagine that running for President and then actually learning you are going to be POTUS has got to be akin to writing a novel. At first, you are woozy with all the possibilities. “I could create something amazing!” Then, you realize that despite your best efforts, not everything you wanted to put on the page is as easy as it first seemed.
With that knowledge, you spend a lot of time in your head, making lists, listening to voices, remembering important tidbits that you have heard here and there. Then there are those crazy moments when you find yourself talking aloud, to yourself, while standing in front of the refrigerator, open jar of pickles in your hand. “That Fareed Zakaria, now he would make an interesting Secretary of State. So smart!”
As I think about my next chapter, I am so very grateful that America is writing a new one as well. I am grateful for the millions of people who participated in this election, regardless of the candidate they chose. I am grateful for John McCain and his gracious speech. I am grateful for Barack Obama, a man who would desire, even relish the task of being President in such a crazy time in America and the world. May he write an astoundingly wise and courageous chapter in this book of American life.
p.s. My word count is 7607
Hip hip hooray! Our bedroom is complete, well, mostly. I may make some tie backs for the curtains. Close enough anyway. Unfortunately, you cannot see what started the whole process in the photo – the windows. I don’t suppose it would matter if you could, though. They look pretty much identical to the other windows, but these aren’t seventy-seven years old, have cracks in the panes, or let in drafts when closed. My home heating bill will soon say thank you.
Additionally, adding to the warmth factor, we got rid of the cheap and not terribly attractive plastic mini-blinds that came with the house and put up the gorgeous curtains. They are heavy velvet and ever so lovely. Additionally, when closed, they make the room super dark, even when it is light out, so we sleep better too.
Oops, I forgot about the cat chair. The photo hides it pretty well, but in person, you can see the work the Little Man and Paris have done on it. Oy, great lines, but not so pretty. This will get some new upholstery in the near future. I’ve got a dark grey (like the curtains) microsuede for it. Hopefully their little paws won’t find it as appealing as the current fabric.
Something I love about decorating is filling the room with special memories. Top to bottom:
The bedside table has a little Moomin plate that we bought in Finland on our honeymoon. So very cute, it has a boy and a girl Moomin looking at a sailing ship. It’s about love and seeing the world together.
The gold-framed painting is the first we ever bought at an art gallery (Saks in Denver). By John Lencicki, it is of a Citroen Deux Chevaux (two horses), my absolute favorite French car.
Above the cat chair, the frame on the left has a neat old map of Paris in it – Jeff, do you remember giving that to us?
The neat mirrored chest was my mom’s growing up; it’s my favorite piece of furniture in the room.
Now you know where I sleep. Sweet dreams to us all…
My friend Kelli recently asked what inspires me, and I have to say, without question, it is people who love what they do. They are passionate, kind, interesting, and interested. They don’t need a lot of positive strokes telling them they are doing the right thing because they already know it. Today’s post is a perfect example of this.
Meet Ben and his beef cow Celeste (though he calls her Tank, for good reason). Gregory and I met them last week at the Oregon State Fair’s 4-H Competition (head, heart, hands, and health – being a city girl, I didn’t know this). Ben had just finished showing his lamb. Ever curious girl that I am, I asked him about her, and was so excited when I got the dollar lecture and tour. Here’s what I learned:
* Not all sheep make the same kind of wool. A meat sheep, like Ben’s, has wool that is more suitable for a carpet. It cannot be spun into the wool we like for sweaters. Also, it can be very cost prohibitive to sell the wool for carpet, unless someone nearby makes it. Bummer.
* Sheep do not have top teeth. They only have teeth on the bottom, and their adult teeth come in kind of slowly (for an animal), only two per year, starting at the middle front. Once all of the teeth are in, it is about time for slaughter because the other teeth are badly damaged from so much gnashing and tearing at grass, especially if the sheep lives in a dry climate where the soils are harder.
* Both sheep and cows have four stomachs and chew their cud.
* I also learned that a cow can gain up to a thousand pounds in a year! That’s a lot of food!
* Both sheep and cows are really soft, and so warm that petting them made my palms sweat.
I felt so privileged to learn from someone like Ben. He was easy going with a good sense of humor, yet very well spoken and already a great asset to the farming community where he lives. I have no doubt his life will be filled with success.
