Friday, June 27, 2008

Harvest begins...

Beets are one of my favorite vegetables - their nutritional punch makes their sweetness all the more enjoyable. The greens are also tasty prepared as one would cook swiss chard. I picked up these locally grown beets at the downtown market the other day. I sauteed garlic and onion in olive oil, adding thinly sliced beets and beet greens to the mix once the onions had carmelized. After a bit, I added sundried tomatoes and served over whole wheat pasta with a liberal dose of capers and fresh basil to offset the sweetness. Kalamata olives would also complement this dish nicely.


For a snack that satified my cravings for potato chips I thinly sliced beets and sweet potatoes roasting them in a 375 degree oven with olive oil and kosher salt. Yes, I did add four slices of Yukon Gold potato to the mix....


Now what can I do with these two huge zucchini squash?




Oh, I seem to be included in that 10-14% of the population that experience beeturia...

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

For a moment...

A friend recently commented that she wondered if I was still knitting given that I seldom post my projects here as I once did. Well, of course I am but now my life is threatened to be taken over by Ravelry. My projects (and a lot more fiber related stuff) are posted there now. This latest project is such a departure from my usual that I am compelled to post it here as well. Furthermore, my recent posts have tended to be rather dark and brooding so let's lighten up for a moment...I crochet less than I knit but I must say that this amigurami doll I made for Rebecca of Soap Deli fame came out wonderfully - and I received two pounds of fragrant home made soap in return. Besides knitting (and a little crocheting), I'm working quite a bit both at my job and in my garden...more later...

Monday, June 23, 2008

May I Be as Outspoken...

Stuff



You'll never hear this piece in a mall or mortgage office - I often think of this monologue during those rare times I find myself at the mall. George Carlin's take on consumerism and censorship will be missed.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Lists of five...

Based on the five criteria vegan ruthie listed I've been tagged for this meme.

What were you doing five years ago?
I was working as a staff nurse after my clinical research job was eliminated. I was also in a tormented relationship that I thought I could never escape...not true.

What are five things on your to-do list today?
1. Laundry
2. Fix dinner.
3. Upload more photos to my flickr account.
4. Wash hair.
5. Get a restful night's sleep in preparation for a 12 hour shift tomorrow.

What are five snacks you enjoy?
1. Chips and home made salsa with lots of cilantro
2. Crisp, tart apples
3. Licorice
4. BBQ chips
5. Lemon bars

What are five things you would do if you were a millionaire?
1. Meet with my financial advisor and determine if I could quit working - depends on the number of millions.
2. Pay off my financial obligations and invest more in retirement.
3. Donate much more to public radio.
4. Fund a program to promote reading and physical education in the school system.
5. Work with a trainer to improve my running endurance and ability.

What are your 5 bad habits?
1. Not exercising enough.
2. Having high expectations of my coworkers' job performance and dedication.
3. Over committing to charity knitting projects.
4. Holding grudges.
5. Not returning emails and phone calls in a timely manner.

Where are five places you have lived?
1. Blue Ridge, VA
2. Roanoke, VA
3. Floyd, VA
4. Charlottesville, VA
5. no fifth place

What are five jobs you have had?
1. Landscaper
2. Waitress
3. Short order cook
4. Restaurant food delivery
5. Registered nurse

A spot of loveliness



Found growing near the gravel parking lot at work...a random dropping of seeds perhaps by the wind or a bird.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Taking Off the Gloves


I snapped both these photos near the railroad tracks adjacent to the hospital parking lot. Were the gloves unintentionally misplaced or disgustingly thrown down ?

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

To Lancelot

Several cultivars of basil (but not purple ruffles) reside in my garden along with sage, thyme, rosemary, chives and curry.

Every day I scan the local newspaper and WSJ online and hope to catch at least a bit of ATC.

I often contemplate what sort of resistant bacteria may be at home in my nasal passages.

I remember long ago assisting in performing CPR on a patient who had recently received t-PA.

A robust cup of black coffee and a just ripening banana is a favorite breakfast of mine.

I strive to cook without using animal products but tend to forsake that when dining out.

I have been told I am self contained and able to always entertain myself.

I am surprised and a little embarrassed when face to face comments about my musings are verbalized.

I enjoy reading about the excesses of fine dining.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Random Photo...

Foot bridge over a tiny stream at the local golf course...

Monday, June 09, 2008

Prickly


A fair representation of my disposition as I head into the workplace...

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Longing To Escape...

In my wakefulness and slumber, images of the fragility of life haunt me...


Friday, June 06, 2008

A Long, Hot Summer

Regardless of the weather, this summer promises to be a long one for me. For the first time in twenty one years I am forced to seriously consider a midlife career change....

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Six Word Short Story Inspiration

Ernest Hemingway said that his best work was a
very short story consisting


of six words: "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn." Do any of these photos inspire a six word story?