Dying Palm Trees of Sicily

The palms have always been such a striking feature of the landscape. However, an African beetle made its way over here. The pest burrows in from the top of the tree, and starts eating away. Before long the fronds die and the trunks fall. Most that are infected are being cut down to prevent their falling onto someone or something. Current link about the situation that is affecting all of Italy is here. I will post more pictures later where the fronds are dying or dead. Sad.



Before/after



Mardi Gras King Cake...A First!

I was ready to tackle this project Monday, but lacked cinnamon. Yesterday, I bought the cinnamon.  Flint located the gold, purple and green icings for the decorations several days ago, but I found the colored sugars that the recipe calls for in the NEX.  I spent most of the day creating two Mardi Gras King Cakes. (The inspiration came as we are invited to a Mardi Gras party. The hostess's eyes sparkled when I mentioned the words, so this is a trial run.)

The recipe is in Celebrations on the Bayou-one of the best Junior League cookbooks around, and it has nothing to do with the fact that dear friend Posey spent time as chairman of that endeavor. The recipes we've tried from that book, can't be beat. Flint has asked me to make the Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Dip for their Black History Month celebration next week. When we hosted a New Years Day open house, I would make this DIP; however, people ate it with a fork.  I don't remember how many times I would multiply that recipe!

I really haven't fooled with yeast that much except when I make bread at our nephew's in a breadmaker. A rather dreary and dismal day, my first thought, "Didn't I hear someone say long ago that yeast doesn't rise on rainy days?" But, I forged on having to turn the oven on and off for the rising of the dough. Sicilian weather seeps into the house whatever the outdoor conditions may be, and I figured that would be the best place for it to rise. And it rose beautifully! I knew the yeast wouldn't be a problem when I went upstairs and the fragrance was with me.

One of the things that I should have paid closer attention to is that this recipe makes two King Cakes. After dividing the dough in two, each piece is to be rolled out to 30 x 15 inches. We use a game table in the kitchen - a yard squared. Using an aunt's old rolling pin that must be 70+ years old, there wasn't much area. Then you have to make three strips, filling each with a mixture of brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Seal them, and braid it before you make the braid into a 'wreath.' Then it rises some more before baking.



The cakes aren't very symmetrical, but as they rose and baked, each became a round loaf. The oven only held one at a time for baking, and the first one out has a brown side and a browner side. The second one is too brown, but it's an even brown. The sugar crystals described as "bright" barely show so it's good that I have the colored icings, too. The taste: Fit for a king!

The lightly browned side highlights the colors of the sugar crystals.

Band of Birds

A couple of years ago as a group of us walked to school from the Food Court, thousands and thousands of migratory birds flew overhead. The line stretched as far as we could see. They almost looked like they were in an invisible tube. Today I drove and watched the same phenomena for about two miles. Warmer weather must be on its way as they were heading south.

Cats Staying Warm

We've experienced some chilly weather the past few days. These two were outside the window in "their" yard this morning.

When this one heard me open the window.....

Olivia (or the one I believe to be Olivia) rolled over.

Both paid close attention but did not participate in the conversation. They stretched and resumed the pose of the first picture when I stopped talking to them.

Introducing Acitrezza

The out-of-towners



One of my favorites....cozze (mussels)




Fish




The guys




The obligatory waiter shot of us all



Boats of Acitrezza



Although it was a chilly Saturday evening and the streets were fairly deserted, we always have a good feeling in this town. It never loses its charm.  What a pleasure it is to introduce it to appreciative ones who want to return during the light of day and warmer weather!

The Yarn Bowl

While sorting and inventorying our household goods, I came across a very heavy Czech crystal bowl that was part of Flint's collection when we married. A friend graciously shopped for Flint on one of her first trips to the new Czech Republic.  This bowl weighs a ton! I can't remember it ever being on display; it has been stored in cabinets, in the scary room, wherever. It has become The Yarn Bowl.

The Yarn Bowl now resides in the living room near other knitting supplies. As I enjoy the changing colors of the yarn as skeins are added and remnants are used up, I think of life, its changes, the colorful, the dull, the short and the long; the ease of somethings, the challenges of others; the mixes and the separations; rights and wrongs; the functional and the elegant; beginnings and endings......

I must thank my friend, D'Juana, for introducing me to the knit stitch. She started me out with bamboo needles and a dishcloth pattern. When I needed a purl stitch, I looked in a book followed by internet video clarification. Another mentor is Hilary who now resides in England. I met her when I started the baby afghan for Navy Marine Corps Relief Society. (NMCRS gives each newborn a baby seabag containing an afghan along with an assortment of baby supplies.) Hilary designs and knits beautifully. She graciously continues to coach me via Ravelry. Friend Sandra taught me to 'tink' which is 'knit' backwards, a way of undoing mistakes. Very useful! 

Considering myself to be a knitter did not happen immediately. It took several small projects, the baby afghan, and Skyping with our dear friends in Florida. When she held up the worn dishcloth -one of my first- renamed "Moose Hiding Behind the Fence,"  that confirmed my status as a knitter. (The moose 'hid' as I was off a row and that changed the pattern.) Nothing makes a knitter feel as good as to know their time and stitches are appreciated and used.

November, December....where did the time go?



Pike Place Market



Our first experience in the Seatlle area began with our discussing Daylight Donuts of Ruston with the rental car girl. She had visited her grandfather during the hot summers and enjoyed the tasty donuts. 

We enjoyed a wonderful visit with a former colleague in Seattle after taking the Bremerton ferry across. Surprises on the rides included a brief visit with one of Flint's former colleagues, and a pod of Orcas swimming alongside.




Pike Place Market - Better pics of the fish throwing exist, but this is ours!



Hiram M. Chittenden Locks; Lake Washington Ship channel



Sylvia among the 'Salmon Waves'



Tacoma Museum of Glass-Bridge of Glass on a very rainy day



Dear friend Posey and I prior to our alma mater's game




Now to Death Valley where Sandra's tiger eyes don't miss a thing!




Interesting can drive idea.....





Cute that the Golden Girls are dressed in the yellow labels




Pre-game ritual













How can one NOT enjoy this?!







REUNION!!!!! The four of us met at LA TECH and have remained in touch, at least through each other, all these years. What a happy day! In some ways those college days were days of oblivion. Two of us did not realize that one of us had not graduated. When we cut through the Ruston Library parking lot, "I didn't know Ruston had a library. I can't remember  Tech having a library!" In all fairness, this was spoken by an art major. One we considered so worldly as she was from Texas, attended Tech-Rome, and worked for a summer in Colorado. State Fair stories, roommate stories, boyfriend stories, an Iron Butterfly story....  We laughed the entire day - thankful that we survived to enjoy the memories so much!

 I wish for everyone the joys of long-lasting friendship and laughter to go with it.



Geocaching on Thanksgiving afternoon with K. and E.
E. is the only person I have met who shares my exact birthdate.



Read The Poet of Tolstoy Park. This is the house.



Thanksgiving afternoon drinks at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear. Cheers for the Iron Bowl surrounded us as we admired Mobile Bay.

Vera relocated her Rat's Nest since Katrina destroyed the original on Lake Ponchatrain. Outstanding food in a no-frills, yet locally fascinating atmosphere.

Excellent concert by Tony Melendez
Born without arms, he plays guitar with his feet. His daddy told him not to think about what was missing. Use what you have.





Outside of Natchez, MS



Now to our Christmas adventure: We spent time with Little Sisters of the Poor.. A few other people joined us, and I had prepared a Christmas dinner. However, dear Pina said that Christmas Day was the day to eat out. She contacted the restaurant near her house who received the three of us graciously into their full house. Families ate happily and visited loudly. The traditional bagpiper came through as did two flat-bearded Santas. I really needed my camera for them....