Under a Red Roof ·

Feelin’ Goofy

March 3, 2010 in Cooking + Baking, Eating, Gardening + Nature by Colleen | 2 comments

It’s a funny morning I’m having. I am sleepy and half of my mouth is numb, as I am just home from the dentist after having a filling replaced. It was tiny, and fell out sometime over the past six months since my last cleaning, which is kind of weird to think about. Was it one of those times that felt like I had dirt in my salad or sand in my scallops? Maybe. Anyhoo, Dr. Dewey did me up (for free) with a bright pink topical numbing agent that reminded me of Raspberry Razzles. I was rather fond of Razzles, part sweet-tart, part gum, all goodness for about five minutes. Am I the only person around that likes to chew gum for five minutes? Seriously, any longer and it just isn’t a pleasant experience.

The Razzle talk has me thinking about Thirteen Going on Thirty, with Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo (I like him a lot), a film in which many Razzles are consumed. I’ve seen it about five times, mostly on random afternoons of couch potato-ing. It’s fun, silly, and cute except for the mean girl who played the woman with the wonky boobs on Arrested Development. I’d definitely watch it again.

So the picture above is of our compost. Well, the bits ready for the heap, at least. I couldn’t believe how pretty it looked – purple kale stems and Meyer lemon halves are quite lovely. I read somewhere that about 30% of the garbage put in landfills is food waste like this. Why aren’t more people composting? Is it a concern over the smell, because it doesn’t really, unless you put animal protein in it. If you’re worried about it, keep it far from the house, but, seriously, someone farting is a lot worse than the smell of compost, and according to Dr. Oz, it’s happening inside the house six to twenty-four times a day, per person. Think about that for a minute. Besides, composting is also super simple and requires no fancy equipment. We’ve got a giant bin into which we are constantly putting vegetable waste, leaves, and grass clippings. We rarely stir it and have amazing compost. It really couldn’t be easier.

Finally, when in doubt, roast. I bought a head of cabbage the other day and decided I would roast it rather than the usual braise. Holy smokes people, this makes awesome cabbage! I cut each half into four wedges, drizzled them with olive oil, sprinkled with salt, and baked for 25 minutes at 400 degrees. The outer layer was a little crispy, and the inner leaves were creamy – so delicious.

Oh yes, before I forget. Thank you so very much for your kind words about both the watercolor painting and my new job (which is going quite well). You are the best!

Tags: Cooking and Baking, Movies

Bucket of Goodness

March 1, 2010 in Learning by Colleen | 3 comments

Meet my new favorite moisturizer. Yes, I’m serious!

I have come to believe, no matter how crazy I may seem in saying so, that simple and natural are best. I am no longer swayed by promises or pretty packaging (nothing like a gallon bucket to prove that point!) but rather common sense. Does it make sense to slather my body in heaven knows what kind of chemicals to keep my skin from aging? With coconut oil, I don’t have to wonder. This bucket of goodness contains exactly one ingredient, grown organically to protect not only the earth, but the farmers and their families bringing it to me. There are absolutely no surprises like strange colors, potentially harmful preservatives, or perfumes, save the one Mother Nature provided. So, if I accidentally get some in my mouth, I’m not left with some awful taste or an upset tummy. What’s more, I can literally eat it (and do – it’s delicious and good for you!). I wouldn’t dare do that with any conventional lotion, no way, no how. Which is kind of crazy, really.

The best part is that it really is a terrific moisturizer. It is light, rubs in easily without feeling greasy, and, because I am not actually keen on smelling like a beach all day, the scent of coconut doesn’t linger. You can’t beat the price either, $37 for a GALLON that will last me and the hubster up to two years. Unlike other conventional moisturizers, it is quite multi-purpose, too. I use it head to toe – hair (a wonderful conditioner), face, lips, body, hands, and feet. It’s pretty terrific on the hubster’s very sensitive skin, I might add – literally the only moisturizer he’s ever tried that doesn’t irritate his skin. Now that’s saying something.

If you decide to try it, you’ll find it at the supermarket (you may have to look in the health food section) with olive oils and such. It comes in a peanut butter size jar and costs about $10. Try to buy organic and unrefined, as refining heats the oil and diminishes it’s healing properties. As well, coconut oil is solid at temperatures under 74 degrees. If your house is cold, like mine, you’ll need some sort of spreader to scrape off what you need (a little goes a long way), but also know that it will get very mushy (nearly liquid but not quite) in the summer or in warm places. If you find that you really like it and want to take the gallon plunge like we did, we bought ours from the awesome Mountain Rose Herbs. I cannot praise this company enough. They have great values, a great product selection, and great customer service.

Amy Winehouse

February 26, 2010 in Listening, Spotlighting by Colleen | 2 comments

Gosh, do I ever love this train wreck, though not the actual train wreck part. I wince whenever I hear her name in the news. Bless her heart, I sure hope she works out the myriad issues she’s got going on in her very young life because, man, oh man, can she sing! At once tender and sweet, yet old and wise, too. I guess that’s what makes it Rhythm & Blues. Sometimes I play Back to Black on a loop, singing and dancing and dreaming of bouffant hair and thick eyeliner. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll do that right now. It’s pretty fine.

Tags: Music

Possession

February 25, 2010 in Quoting by Colleen | Permalink

Believe that you have it, and you have it.

Latin Proverb

Tags: Quoting

The Same Wavelength

February 24, 2010 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Loving, Remembering by Colleen | 3 comments

Have I ever told you about how the hubster and I share a preternatural ability for wanting the same thing at the very same time? And not just once in a blue moon, either. It is a rather regular occurrence and doesn’t stem from nineteen years of being a couple – it’s happened all along. The most memorable and thrilling example occurred rather early in our relationship. We’d been dating for a few months, and I knew, deep in my heart of hearts, that this man was IT, I-T, IT, so, as we were lying in bed one morning, I asked him to marry me. Never one to lose his temper, and much to my surprise, he slammed his fist on the bedside table and said, “I was just going to ask YOU!” We laughed, kissed, and hugged, and knew we were off to a great start. The same goes for moving to Oregon. I got it in my mind that we should leave Colorado. Lo and behold, on the very afternoon I decided to tell the hubster, he came into our apartment and said, “I think we should move.” Magic.

So, it should come as no surprise that we were both itching to go for a drive in the country this past weekend, to do a little something different, decide to eat at one restaurant, hear about another equally enticing one and (without mentioning a word so as not to disappoint the other) want to eat at said establishment rather than the first, only to discover that the first restaurant was closed for a private party, and we both got what we wanted again (insert giggles and smiles here). Life really is grand, especially when you are on the same wavelength.

McMinnville, our delightful destination, is a neat town or maybe city? It has a population of 32,762 (I am trusting the sign and my memory of it are both correct), with some great architecture and restaurants. Being in Oregon wine country, there are lots and lots of places in town to sample the delicious fruits of their labor. As serendipity would have it, we just so happened to be there on the monthly art walk and wine tasting, buying a bottle of Coelho Pinot Noir and some blackberry honey, too.