Half done

Chandelier Necklace/Earrings

Collar-length Necklace

This is the first time I tried working with a beading needle and string. And it worked! I have to work on attaching the necklace catches, though. All in all, I'm very happy with it!

Baseball Humor

"I'm going to get myself a corked bat and blast one out of here. What's the suspension for Old Timers games, ten years?"

- Vada Pinson quoted from my Baseball 2010 calendar.

What Do You Want - Jerrod Niemann

I love this song. Which means there are at least two songs on this CD that I will play repeatedly. Looks like I'm buying it!

Culture Clash

I have been conversing at length with an American man born in Lebanon. He has been in this country for over 30 years. His divorce was final in June, and he has since often said he doesn't know what he wants to do now. After 29 years spent in two committed relationships, he would like to explore his own interests, take time to heal, and get back on his feet physically, emotionally, and financially. Who can blame him?

Unfortunately, his family 'back home' does not agree. His mother, now the matriarch of the family since his father has passed, firmly believes that he needs a woman to take care of him. He's been divorced since June, why is he not remarried yet? So, as their traditions dictate, she is taking steps to arrange his next marriage. Never mind that he is 53 and quite capable of making his own decisions, or that he has been married twice (the second of which lasted for over 20 years) and doesn't want to do it again, or that he has five American children who will not be so accepting of the sudden appearance of a perfect stranger in the form of step-mom.

As I understand it, his mother and her brother (his uncle) can enter into a contract with the bride and her family, and my friend doesn't even have to be in attendance for it to be valid. The government will give her the appropriate papers to prove she is his wife, and when she arrives here, she can lay claim to all that is his.

My friend is very upset by this. One of his daughters and one of his sons absolutely refuse to speak with him about it; his other daughter refuses to speak with him period. His youngest son, who is 9, doesn't understand it at all. He will lose the respect of his children and friends. He will lose me, that's a given, because there isn't a wife in the world who is going to put up with her husband being on the phone every night for an hour or two with another woman. And he will lose his poker night, football Sundays, and all the freedoms he has taken for granted the past few months. He is not happy about this.

Add the fact that he's never met this woman. She may not speak English, which will make her completely dependent on him and cause further communication problems in his family. She may not be educated, which will make her completely dependent on him for food, shelter and clothing. Who knows? She may be a 3 foot tall, 900 pound lunatic. Oh, he is not happy about this at all.

Personally, I thought arranged marriages went out with the dark ages, but apparently not. A little research on the topic produced the following link: http://www.ghazi.de/society.html.

So now every time I talk to him, I first ask, "Are you married yet?" Yeah. In any other context, it'd be funny. But we both know, in less than a year, his mom-order bride could show up on his doorstep.

Crustless Cheese and Spinach Quiche

1T Olive Oil
1 onion, diced
8 - 10 oz spinach, washed
3 -4 eggs
6 - 8 oz. Gouda cheese, shredded
1/8 t salt
Dash of pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large frying pan, saute the diced onion in the olive oil until the onion is tender. Add the spinach and cook until it wilts. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Add the shredded cheese, salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Add the spinach and onions to the eggs and cheese, and stir to combine. Pour into a greased pie plate. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top starts to brown. Serve alone or with a tossed salad.

Prep: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min

Merry Christmas!

A watch

This one didn't turn out like I planned. It would have to be worn by someone with a small wrist, but on a small wrist, it looks bulky. Ah, well. Win some, lose some. :)

Tiramisu

We had our firm Holiday Party today at Siena’s Restaurant . It was wonderful. I had the Spinach, Scallops and Filet Mignon salad with a horseradish Dijon dressing. Very, very tasty. And then, we had dessert.

Dessert.

Just the sound of the word makes me happy. And let me tell you, it was heaven in a dish.

I know that if I die tomorrow and am reincarnated as a dandelion on a putting green, somewhere in the deep recesses of my ancient memories I will know I experienced Tiramisu.

It just doesn't get any better than this.

Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet

One of my latest projects...

My Little Cello Player

As much as he hates to practice, he's actually pretty good at it. These were taken at the winter concert at his school.

What Stupid Looks Like

Sooooooo...... how does he use his rearview mirror? And, do you think he bothered to clean off his headlights? Nah.

Shoulder Surgery Update

Anesthesia and I get along quite well, apparently. My poor friend, Mo...

The nurse, Bill, took me in, gave me privacy to get into a gown, and began going over the forms with me. The privacy forms, the permission forms, the release forms, yada, yada, yada, and the form giving them permission to discuss me and my care with my friend, Mo. My poor friend, Mo. About 15 minutes, in, I started to cry and was trying desperately not to panic, and Bill said, "Let's get your friend Mo in here." Poor Mo. I have to hand it to him, he stayed with me the entire time I was awake. I kept getting cold, just laying there doing nothing, and the nurses kept taking blankets out of the oven and covering me up. At one point, I had six blankets on me and Mo started kidding me about using their entire blanket supply.

Sometime shortly after 8 a.m., the doctor came in and began discussing with me what he was going to do, and I began to cry again, so he talked to Mo, looked at the anesthesia nurse and said something like, we can put her under now. The nurse told Mo to kiss me goodnight, he did, and that is the last thing I remember until I woke up at 3:05 in the afternoon, all tucked in on my living room couch.

I have no memory of waking after the surgery, getting dressed, or getting home. Mo, however, has memories to last a lifetime. He says if I ever have to have anesthesia again, he is going to make sure he has his camcorder with him so I can make him a rich man.

Apparently, while under the effects of all the drugs, I just looooooove everybody and everything. The nurses, the doctors, my friends, the ceiling, the blankets, my job, my boss, my car, you name it. At one point, I was reportedly proclaiming my love for something, and Mo and the nurse could not figure out who or what I was talking to. On the way home, I didn't want Mo to get out of the truck, but he needed to get gas or we wouldn't have made it home. He picked up my prescriptions and bags of peas so I could ice my shoulder, and I have no idea when he did that. I also was complaining I was hot and at one point, removed my coat and began to remove my shirt. Poor Mo. It's a wonder he's still speaking to me.

Anyway, tomorrow I have my first PT session, which I expect to hurt like crazy. I'm taking Lortabs and Motrin, so hopefully I won't feel much pain.

And I've arranged for a friend to drive me to and from work for a few days. I don't want to be driving 'under the influence'.

Cream of Asparagus Soup (Creme D'Asperges)

This soup is wonderful - Even Ian liked it!!! We substituted half and half for the heavy cream and completely forgot about the lemon juice, and it was perfect. Enjoy!

2 pounds green asparagus
1 large onion, chopped
3 T unsalted butter
6 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. creme fraiche or heavy cream
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice, or to taste

1. Cut tips from 12 asparagus 1 1/2" from top and halve tips lengthwise if thick. Reserve for garnish.
2. Cut stalks and all remaining asparagus into 1/2" pieces.
3. Cook onion in 2T butter in a 4-qt heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add asparagus pieces and salt and pepper to taste, then cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add 5 cups broth and simmer, covered, until asparagus is very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. While soup simmers, cook reserved asparagus tips in boiling salted water until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain.
5. Puree soup in batches in a blender until smooth, transferring to a bowl (use caution when blending hot liquids), and return to pan. Stir in creme fraiche, then add more broth to thin soup to desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil and whisk in remaining tablespoon butter.
6. Add lemon juice and garnish with asparagus tips.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition Info per serving:
Calories 294/Carbs 17g/Fibr 5g/Fat 23g/Protein 9g/Sugars 8g

The Fambly

Standing in back are my cousin Bill, Easton held by Amanda (who is Marlene's daughter), Amanda's husband Jeff, my son Ian, my cousin Burnet, my cousin Jodi, Jodi's son Joshua, my cousin Dan, my cousin Laureen, and me. I have no idea what I was looking at. Seated from left to right are my cousin Dorinda (married to Bill), Marlene (married to Burnet) holding Nolan (son of Amanda and Jeff), Elianna (daughter of Amanda and Jeff), Mike (Aunt Mary's boyfriend), Natalie (Dan and Laura's baby) being held by Aunt Mary, Laura (Dan's wife) holding Mckenna (their oldest daughter), and my cousin Karen.

Thanksgiving Saturday Dinner

Josh-full and sleepy. I think we all felt like this after we ate. Dorinda and Bill are GREAT cooks!

Bill and Ian

My cousin, Dan

My aunt Mary. I swear, when I took this picture, her eyes were open.

My cousin, Burnet.

I took a ton of pictures, but only a few came out. I just do NOT have my brother's talent for it.

Max

Pony Dog.

Woof!

This is Jasmine. Her head is almost as big as a dinner plate.

Over the Hills and thru the Woods to Dorinda's House We Go...

I hate driving in stuff like this. The food is totally worth it, though. :D