Under a Red Roof ·

Swinging the Praises

June 9, 2010 in Exploring, Learning by Colleen | 2 comments

I’m feeling pretty grateful Under a Red Roof today. I received some super kind comments about yesterday’s post, was treated to an awesome early birthday lunch at Stickers, one of my favorite places, by Petra, my friend, boss, and naturopath extraordinaire. I received a super sweet card and gift subscription to Sunset Magazine from the best and most hardworking financial adviser we could ask for, Sean Stansfield (call him – he’s terrific!), and am loving our new fly through bird feeder with the help of my favorite Backyard Birdshop employee, Laura. It is clearly a day for soaking up the love and caring of the generous people in my life. Thanks everybody – your sweet ways go straight to my heart!

Add to that, the veritable cherry on the top, last night we went to our first square dance, or at least first square dance since being the age of single digits some thirty years ago, that is. As you can see from all of the smiling, it was mighty fun, too. A come, as you are affair, minutes from home, we twirled, stomped, did more than one do-si-do, held hands, laughed, whooped, and hollered more than I can ever recall. We can’t wait to put on our Western wear duds and do it again.

Many thanks to the mighty talented Rabbit Foot String Band, Paul Silveria and his fine and instructive calling, and all the friendly, happy dancers, especially Etienne and the really tall guy who kept us all on track. We’ll be seeing you!

This is It…

June 8, 2010 in Being, Inspiring, Learning, Thinking, Writing by Colleen | 5 comments

Well friends, I have what is surely the last of the peony photos this year and a broken record alert! Aren’t they pretty? Aren’t they pretty? Well they are, and these two smell quite lovely, too. Yes, yes they do. We also managed to get two dry days in a row to enjoy them, but the clouds are rolling in, and I’m pretty sure that means Mr. Rain will be up to his old tricks in no time, which is okay. The little break of sun was enough to tide me over until next time.

I have no clever segue way to what comes next. I’ve been thinking a lot about what it is that I want and how to get it. I came to a conclusion that probably should have been obvious, but wasn’t, but now that I’ve made it, I feel as though I’ve been hit over the head with a hammer in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Yet, instead of stars, I am seeing what I do with greater clarity than ever before.

I have never called myself a writer. I have always said, “I’ve written a book,” or “I’ write a blog.” In some ways, I didn’t want to pigeon-hole myself in the “I am not what I do” way because I feel I am so much more than a single word. I also didn’t think I deserved the title of Writer without being published. Yet, in this way, I believe I have been selling myself short, for who will believe I am a writer, especially one who is worthy of publication, if I don’t? It also diminished my work, made it less important. Well, dang it, it IS important, even if only to me.

So, a change. A “this is it” moment: I, Colleen Sohn, am a writer. Gosh, I got weepy typing that last sentence. I am a writer. I wrote a novel that I hope to get published one day. I write a blog. I write poems. I dream up worlds. Words dance in my mind and through my finger tips. They are alive, just like me and you.

That felt good. Thanks for reading. I love sharing my writing with you!

Peposo and Heat

June 7, 2010 in Cooking + Baking by Colleen | 2 comments

I just finished reading the book Heat by Bill Buford. It chronicles the time he spent learning everything about cooking from Mario Batali’s kitchen at Babbo to learning the art of pasta making and butchering (more than that – an appreciation for quality meat) in Italy. It is a pretty good, and not surprisingly, rather hedonistic read. These people don’t just make food, they eat it in mass quantities and wash it down with plenty of wine! Though there aren’t any actual recipes included, there are descriptions of them. The following is my best approximation of one. Five ingredients, phenomenal flavor.

You may also be pausing a moment, thinking stew? Really? In June? Well, non-Portlanders, the weather has been wet, very wet, even for us, and something that simmers in the oven all day is really not out of line but quite appropriate.

Peposo

1 1/2 pounds stew meat – mine was diced, but you could easily buy one shank and shred it at the end.

1/2 bottle Chianti

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper – or more, if you like

3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced

Combine ingredients in a covered oven proof pot. Place in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 200 and continue cooking for another 10-12 hours. The final product will be melt in your mouth tender and ever so yummy.

Serve with crusty white bread, generously spread with butter, a glass of the remaining bit of wine, and the company of a good friend.

Enjoy!

Tags: Books, Cooking and Baking, Recipes

Not Their Usual

June 4, 2010 in Inspiring, Spotlighting, Watching by Colleen | Permalink

As my cutie pie neighbor Keirnan (age five) might say, “She’s up to her old tricks.” He’d be right, too. I am up to my old tricks, loving the offbeat films where the actors are decidedly not up to theirs. It is so refreshing!

The hubster and I saw Greenberg this past weekend. Finally, finally something I was interested in seeing at the Academy. I have been waiting for ages. Seriously, I cannot remember when I was there last, and it totally bums me out. I love movies. I love sitting in movie theaters. I love watching people file in and search for the perfect seat. I love the moment the lights dim and the action starts, all the while munching on buttery popcorn and Reese’s Pieces, despite their absence of nutrition. For the film is the sustenance, the essence of life, moments in darkness that ultimately illuminate.

I digress. Greenberg, save two, um, cold(?) sex scenes, yes, cold, is one of those train wreck type films. I could not look away, yet my heart kind of ached to. It is the story of Roger Greenberg: broken man, letter writer, vest wearer. He’s come to Los Angeles to house sit for his brother’s family after suffering a mental breakdown. He’s meant to build a dog house, take care of its future occupant, Mahler, and, as he states rather explicitly, do nothing else. It doesn’t quite work out as planned, as he immediately has feelings for his brother’s assistant Florence (a pitch perfect performance from Greta Gerwig), the dog gets sick, and he generally makes an ass of himself, though he puts the blame squarely on others. It’s a great story about loss, starting off on the wrong foot, and the way we cobble our lives back together. Perfect in its imperfection.

Will Farrel is Harold Crick, a boring and friendless IRS agent who suddenly starts hearing a voice. A voice that knows him well, is never wrong, and clearly states that he is going to die. What ensues is a beautiful transformation – from a numbers man ticking away the hours to a human being truly living and loving life. So very, very good. It makes me want to be a better writer.

This is Paul Thomas Anderson’s fantastic and exhilarating art house version of Adam Sandler. As much as I like movies like 50 First Dates and Mr. Deeds (Are you surprised? Do you underestimate my sneakiness? They’re funny!), I sure wish he would make more movies like this. Sandler plays Barry Egan, intense, lonely, incessantly badgered by his annoying and domineering sisters, he is constantly on the verge of rage and violence, and utterly powerless to stop it. When a woman unexpectedly enters his life, there is instant chemistry and mystery. What will he do? Will this end badly? What about that awful guy at the phone sex place? Finding out is a great and scary ride.

This last one could actually be tied with Vampire’s Kiss. Have you seen that one? Nicholas Cage (circa 1988) plays a guy who thinks he’s been bitten by a vampire and acts accordingly, sporting fake teeth and all. Which only makes me think of Chris Cooper’s teeth in this movie, oy vay, creepy. This movie is strange, smart, and beautiful. Nicholas Cage plays the Kaufman brothers, so unlike any character I have ever seen. Fearful, weird, out of shape, paranoid, balding, and obsessed, yet likable. The kind of underdog fellas you root for. Besides that, there’s Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper. Who could ask for anything more?

Tags: Movies