Beautiful Old Broads love treats

Hello Dear Ones,

October brings a special treat to the Hill Country.  When the wind shifts to the north and the sun shines, we may be able to watch the migration of monarchs; some years are better than other of course.  It is a magical experience to observe this annual journey of the butterflies.  And I've written a poem about it.

                                                Silence is Golden

                                                                        By Patti Ross

They come by the dozens and dozens

Drifting down like falling snow

Coruscating the horizon, filling the sky

Gossamer amber wings flitting by

Snugging down on the south side

Of the house.

  

They know what they’re about; these fragile frittaries

Brushing by like angel’s breath

To glide into the oaks and sumacs on the hillside

Sheltered from the chill, they hang in prayer

Wings pressed thinner than leaves

Only the birds know they are there

  

The sun sets in a glowing hush of color

The monarchs soundlessly hang on the limbs

Waiting for dawn and sunshine

The miracle is that it all happens in silence

Golden silence

Beautiful Old Broads Take on Projects

Hello Dear Ones,

There’s a plastic sign nailed up over my desk  that reads:

 

                                                6 Phases Of A Project

            1.  Enthusiasm

            2.  Disillusionment                 

            3.  Panic

            4.  Search for the guilty party

            5.  Punishment of the innocent

            6.  Praise and honors for the non participants

This is all so true.  Take the time I made a maternity dress.

1.  Enthusiasm.

 I was excited and enthused as I picked out the 10 yards of material. Trust me-- maternity tents take a ton of material.

2.  Disillusionment.

Rolling all that material out over the dining room table was rather intimidating.  Where to start?  What does bias mean?

3.  Panic.

Oh my God.  The pattern has a million little pieces.  The tissue is floating everywhere. I think I’ve sewn the wrong sides together.  I need this dress for Friday.  I’m expanding like a balloon these days.

4.  Search for the guilty party.

I’m in tears. Whose idea was this anyway.  I think my husband said it would be a good project for me.  Ha!  What does he know.  Yes, it was definitely his idea.  I’m sure of it.

5.  Punishment of the innocent.

Campbell’s tomato soup for supper.  No way can I both cook and SEW.  I am not Martha Stewart.

6.  Praise and Honors for the Non Participants.

There’s the phone.  It’s my sister.  Wait till I tell her what a mess I’ve made of this sewing project.  She’s a life saver.  She has a black maternity dress I can borrow. 

Maybe I can use the material to recover the couch.  What do you think?  Well, never mind.  That’s another project for another day.

Haven’t we all been there.    

 

 “A woman is like a teabag; you never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water”                          Nancy Reagan

  

   

  

Beautiful Old Broads Savor Fall Days

                                                      FALL     FLOWERS                                                 

Dear Ones,

Finally fall is here .  Cooler temps, clear night skies, and pumpkin pies.  Heavenly.   Right from the beginning, I affirmed that this was not a cooking blog BUT that doesn’t mean I won’t slip in a recipe or some foodie talk, especially when fall brings so many yummy dishes to make.  Take that pumpkin pie.  Well, here’s my take on it.

I use the usual Libby pumpkin pie recipe on the side of can.  It’s stood the test of time.  However, I’d often find myself  without the can of evaporated milk called for so I improvised.  Always having yogurt around, I substituted a 6 oz. carton of vanilla yogurt.  Or 1 cup of buttermilk also works.  Makes a creamy pie. Try it.  I forego the cool whip too.  Worth the extra couple of minutes (and calories) to whip up the real thing.  Whipped cream.  I make enough whipped cream for two nights for the two of us.  

When I drive into San Antonio for food shopping, my favorite haunts are Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Central Market, and no trip to San Antonio goes by without a stop at Costco.  Trader Joes is a fairly recent addition to San Antonio and hands down my favorite place.  There’s  always something new to try.  This past week it was the spiced apple cider.  Other must haves are Jalapeño tartar sauce  (no it’s not spicy hot) and pepper jelly for lamb chops and rack of lamb.(In my opinion, Costco has scrumptious lamb)

Have I mentioned cocoa in past posts?  If I did, it bears repeating.  Had my first cup of the fall season last night and it is sublime.  Really.  Called Sipping Chocolate, the dark rich taste floods the hot milk with  flavor.  Trader Joes only carries this in cold weather so stock up.   Golly, I sound like a Trader Joes add!

Gotta leave my computer and head back to the kitchen.  Anxious to try a recipe for spinach, mushroom feta cheese quiche I came across on allrecipes.com.  Will let you know how it turns out. 

            “Cooking is like love.  It should be entered into with abandon or not at all”

                                                                                              H. Van Horne

    

Beautiful Old Broads make decisions

Hello Dear Ones,

This past week in the WSJ, there was a piece about making decisions.  The author divided folks into two groups and posed this question.  Are you a Maximizer meaning you demand the very best and will go to extremes to get it or are you a Satisficer; that’s a person who just wants good enough.  A person who settles. 

Yes, yes, they had a test you could take to discover which category you fell into.  And no, I didn’t take it because I know where I stand…sorta of.  It seems to me that people don’t necessarily fit neatly into some of these categories that researchers dream up.  I can be absolutely picky, demanding, and fussy about certain issues.  Other times,  ho hum…whatever is fine with me.  Depends on what we are deciding on.  For instance let’s take cars.  As long as I can drive safely and comfortably and get where I’m going, I’m happy.  Therefore within reason my husband makes car decisions.  On the other hand take kitchens.  Don’t move a pot.  I know exactly what I want and where I want it put in my kitchen.  So on one issue I’m a satisficer. On another I’m the direct opposite.  I feel there are many of us cross-overs like that. 

Another thing the article said was the older you are, the less likely you are to be a maximizer and that’s why people get happier as they age.  Really?   From my little perch I feel I am more demanding about many things now.  Medicine for one thing.  Years ago I simply accepted what the doctor said as gospel.   Now I research and double check and watch my health records and yes I demand the best.

 Most of you beautiful old broads have made many decisions over the years.   So what do you think?  Do you demand the best or do you settle for just well enough?      

                                    “Not to decide is to decide”

                         

Beautiful old broads look inner and outer.

Hello Dear Ones,

Do you remember as a child examining your belly button?  Is it an inner or an outer?   Gosh…I need to check mine right now. (short  pause)   Onward, what I really want to talk about are introverts and extroverts.  And all those humans in between which is the bulk of us, though such emphasis is placed on being extroverted and outgoing in our society today that there’s a stigma about being described as an introvert.  Ever noticed, when someone commits a crime, the media often describe the person as a “loner”?  Heaven forbid that we be classified as that type!  No sir, we all aim to be considered jolly, well adjusted, outgoing souls.  But the fact is many of us are introverts.  And what is wrong with that, I ask? Just because someone talks a lot and holds forth on center stage; that doesn’t  mean he or she is smarter or better informed.  It just means they are pushier and like being in the spotlight.  Look around.  Our society adores mega personalities. Yet many of them make absolutely no solid contribution to mankind.  Nada! The fields of art and music and medicine are filled with introverts.   

Most of us though straddle some middle ground on the personality curve. And I think by the time you are a beautiful old broad, you are pretty sure where you hang out on the curve. Still, everyone likes to take quizzes especially about ourselves.  If asked to describe yourself right now what would you say?  Are you introverted or extroverted?   Here are a few questions to help you decide.

Do you look forward to hanging out by yourself for a day?

Do big parties with lots of people give you hives?

Do you like working in teams?

Do you send emails rather than call or talk in person?

Do you like to celebrate special birthdays etc. with a few close friends rather than a big crowd?

Do you thrive when you are in the spotlight?

Are you uncomfortable with small talk and chatter?

Of course you can see the more yes answers, the more introverted you are.  Me.  I know I lean towards introvert.   

                        Love many…trust few…and paddle your own canoe