After more than 4 years here, we finally went down to the main branch of the Greensboro Public Library and got cards yesterday.
I have a back-up of books (as usual) to finish. So, I just looked around and didn't take anything home. Curt got out 'Osama Van Halen' (which he thought was not as much fun as the title & blurb suggested) and the 'Book of Mormon' (no worries, he just is curious about books that get followers - I assume that's why he's read Mein Kampf, the Communist Manifesto, etc.)
It is a great space, but I was not super-impressed by the collection. For example, one of my little pipe-dreams is to learn French. So, we were looking to see if they had anything like Rosetta Stone Software or dvd/cd's to learn from. The only thing was a really old & worn looking VHS of 'the Joy of French.' Also, I like my trashy mysteries & while they have a large section, it seems like only a few authors I recognize are in the stacks.
Guess that we were spoiled by the Boston Public Library and the UMass Boston Library. Somehow, I thought all libraries would have authors & publishing companies donating great stuff to them.
Poor old Greensboro. I talked to them about donating some books & movies. They were very enthusiastic. So, my goal is that every time I buy a nice hardcover book & finish it - off it will go to the Library!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Recipe
Let me preface this by stating that I am not nearly as creative in the kitchen as most people we know. Really, I am happiest with toast and butter - maybe a touch of honey.
Since we have the rotating dinner club though, there is the challenge of whatever theme is being called for. This month, Chad and Corinne decided on "dirty foods" (to be taken any way you please).
Curt made dirty martinis & espresso martini's (the latter of which he called dirty toilet martini's - somehow I was able to abstain).
I made a black bean salad in a glass bowl to look like soil & stuck a bunch of spring onions in around the edges with the bulb part about an inch down. It's kind of basic, but was the first time I'd made it and it came out pretty good. So, here's the recipe...
-the juice of 2 limes
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 scallion, chopped
-3 serrano (or jalapeno) peppers, diced
-handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
-1/2 red bell pepper, diced
-1/4 red onion, diced
-1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
-1 can black beans, washed & drained
-1 can pinto beans, washed & drained
-1 small can sliced black olives, drained
Mix all the above ingredients together with whatever other seasonings you prefer (we use about a teaspoon of Stevia to sweeten & a pinch of salt)
Drizzle a few teaspoons of olive oil over the top, cover and let marinate in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
Oh yeah, I wasn't the only wuss. Only Marti & Brad really went for the gold with their penis-loaf. Tragically, I was out enjoying the sunset when they first cut into it.
Since we have the rotating dinner club though, there is the challenge of whatever theme is being called for. This month, Chad and Corinne decided on "dirty foods" (to be taken any way you please).
Curt made dirty martinis & espresso martini's (the latter of which he called dirty toilet martini's - somehow I was able to abstain).
I made a black bean salad in a glass bowl to look like soil & stuck a bunch of spring onions in around the edges with the bulb part about an inch down. It's kind of basic, but was the first time I'd made it and it came out pretty good. So, here's the recipe...
-the juice of 2 limes
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 scallion, chopped
-3 serrano (or jalapeno) peppers, diced
-handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
-1/2 red bell pepper, diced
-1/4 red onion, diced
-1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
-1 can black beans, washed & drained
-1 can pinto beans, washed & drained
-1 small can sliced black olives, drained
Mix all the above ingredients together with whatever other seasonings you prefer (we use about a teaspoon of Stevia to sweeten & a pinch of salt)
Drizzle a few teaspoons of olive oil over the top, cover and let marinate in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
Oh yeah, I wasn't the only wuss. Only Marti & Brad really went for the gold with their penis-loaf. Tragically, I was out enjoying the sunset when they first cut into it.
New projects
I've finally posted some of my recent knitting up at Ravelry (I am known there as StackDrommar) for you yarn heads. It's not all pretty, but it is improving. So far, the most complexity has been in designing a bag (to carry all my knitting crap in). One day soon I will be courageous enough to try socks. For now, it's mostly scarves though...
Preparations
I'm in purge mode. We've been gathering lots of stuff from around the house to put out at the neighborhood yard sale in October (scroll down to 'Upcoming Events' at www.lynwoodlakes.org for more details).
Some of it is junk, but a lot are things which were interesting or useful at some point. I was hardest on the book collection - there's a lot of classics, how-to's & books about why the hell we are the way we are and whether there's any hope for change (sorry Obama, the consensus seems to be no).
Curt added a few good things (for example, a digital camera that works well, but is a few years old & we've since upgraded) & there are old vases, candlesticks, Christmas knick-knacks and such (hey, whatever floats your boat). So, come buy it all at the yard sale or look for it later in October at Goodwill. Ah, to have space in our home again - yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
By the way, thanks for the boxes Annelise! They seem to take the weight of all that paper and glass better than the used liquor store boxes.
Some of it is junk, but a lot are things which were interesting or useful at some point. I was hardest on the book collection - there's a lot of classics, how-to's & books about why the hell we are the way we are and whether there's any hope for change (sorry Obama, the consensus seems to be no).
Curt added a few good things (for example, a digital camera that works well, but is a few years old & we've since upgraded) & there are old vases, candlesticks, Christmas knick-knacks and such (hey, whatever floats your boat). So, come buy it all at the yard sale or look for it later in October at Goodwill. Ah, to have space in our home again - yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
By the way, thanks for the boxes Annelise! They seem to take the weight of all that paper and glass better than the used liquor store boxes.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Wild chihuahuas
Ernie was not quite so spectacular as we had to dice his steak up for him. Clovis doesn't have his front teeth anymore. But, he did eventually manage to show this piece of meat who the boss was...
Friday, September 4, 2009
Harvest moon
It was really remarkable when I first took Clovis out. By the time we got back and I grabbed the camera though, the moon was just disappearing. Managed to get this shot, but it doesn't really give you a great idea just how enormous and orange that sucker looked...
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Spore-ific
A whole new type of gardening opportunity made itself apparent when I was walking thru the garden the other day. After looking up online, these appear to me most like the images of oyster mushrooms. Sadly, I'm not much of an adventurous spirit. So, rather than give in to potential culinary delights, I can only imagine someone finding our poisoned bodies on the kitchen floor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
