V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

I am on vacation. Yea!

I was supposed to go to Provincetown. Yea!

I wasn't able to go. Boo.

Still, I'm having a pleasant time. I am enjoying my home as it was intended. Nature. Views. Sounds. Breezes. Lovely.

I have had energy. Something lacking for a long time. I have been doing projects I've been wanting to do for a long time.

Here is my favorite project so far:
For years I have been frustrated with the one bar towel rack I've had. I've always felt it an imposition to have to fold towels to hang them on a towel rack. I did it because it was "what one did." Well, it takes too much time for something so unimportant.

I realized recently that I don't like to use rods (and hangers) for hanging things. Not for my coats, not for my towels!





I replaced the closet rod for my coats and jackets with this:
A beautiful hook system. Now my stuff is almost always hung up instead of tossed on the couch or table. Same idea with the towels. Of course I never used hangers for the towels but it was the folding thing that I never did.

I love this new system! I love how it looks. I love that I made it. I love that it is far easier for me to use.

Why the heck not be as comfortable as one can be in one's own house?

Spring, Poding

It is a foggy spring morning. Slim is poding in her nest. I am sipping tea and marveling at the shining yellow the American Goldfinches on my feeder are wearing.

Poding is a word that doesn't exist in dictionaries. At least none that I've been able to find. It means that kneading thing that cats do with their front paws. Everyone says they do it cause it's what they did as kittens during nursing. OK. But. All mammals nursed and I've never seen another mammal do this. Why cats?

Chickpeas on a chilly night.

Hearty Chickpea Soup

Ingredients

1. 2 T olive oil
2. 1 rib celery
3. 1 med carrot, chopped
4. 1 med onion, chopped
5. 2 cloves garlic, minced
6. 1 t ground cinnamon
7. 1/4 t ground turmeric
8. 1/4 t ground ginger or 1 t grated fresh
9. 2 C vegetable broth
10. 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed & drained
11. 1 can (14.5 oz) diced or stewed tomatoes (no salt)
12. 2 C baby spinach leaves
13. lemon wedges (garnish)

Directions

1. Heat oil on medium heat. Sauté celery, carrot, onion and garlic 3—5 minutes. Add cinnamon. turmeric, ginger. Cook 1—2 minutes longer.
2. Add broth, chickpeas, and tomatoes (with juice). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook partially coverd 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
3. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted.
4. Garnish with lemon wedges if desired

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mi nombre Yma Sumac or Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chavarri del Castillo, a usted.

I read a few nights ago that Yma Sumac died November 1, 2008 at the age of 86.

I love her sense of drama! Her voice! Her mystery! Ah! And that nose! An utterly unique Yma Sumac.

She had a 5 octave range at the height of her career, watching her sing it was hard to figure out how the hell those sounds came out of her.

One of her most famous albums was Voice of the Xtabay (can you say: shta-bye?).
But you gotta love a gal who, in the early ’70s, after a long hiatus (and about 20 years since recording a full album) came out with an LP of “rock” with Chuck (rockabilly hall of famer) Cowan’s guitar, the bass of his brother Roger, and Skip Switzer on drums.

I read somewhere that she sounded like a cross between Big Mama Thornton (the deep growls) and Kate Bush (the high wails). But I beg to differ. She was an original. (Then again, so are Willie Mae and Kate!)

Fire, Hawks and Slim

I am sitting in front of a gorgeous fire I just built. It has started to rain. The frying sound of the rain on my rooftop plus the metallic ticking of the wood stove are two of my favorite sounds. Slim*, my pussycat is curled up in her little plush winter bed in front of the fire. We both have full bellies and are feeling quite content.

Now, if only a million dollars would drip through one of my slightly open windows (I love fresh air through each season). Ok, if not a million how 'bout 250 grand? 50? Twenty bucks? A coupon for a dollar off Boca burgers?

*Slim: You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow.

And here for your viewing pleasure is a photo of the “real” Slim:

Slim Hawks and Jimmy Stewart, ca. 1940



And the other “real” Slim: