Barn visit

Now that Karis is back at college, I wanted to go out and see her horse this weekend. I was trying to decide when I should go. It's too hot in the middle of the day, and I didn't really want to have to go to the far end of the field to catch him, because it's a LARGE field. So I decided my best bet would be to get there close to dusk, since I was sure they'd have to come in by then - you wouldn't want to go get them in the dark.

Therefore, I set out this evening right after dinner, about 7 pm. When I got to the barn, I saw one of the mares being led in, so I thought, great, I'm right on time. Lark wasn't in his stall, so I got his grooming box and lead rope and walked out towards the fields, figuring they'd be at the gate because they'd all be coming in soon. The stable owner was out there. She told me she'd just LET THEM OUT because it was such a nice night, so I could go TRY and catch him, but she didn't think it would be easy. Oh yay, I thought. But I'd come all the way out, so I figured I'd go get him. He was in approximately the same place as in the picture below from about this time last year (though earlier in the day, obviously):


As I walked out, I whistled. The other two chestnut horses looked up and moved toward me a little. But not Lark. He stayed there grazing. I called and called. He didn't look up. Finally when I was just a few yards away, he did come to me - probably knew I had a peppermint. So it wasn't really hard to catch him, I just had to walk a long way.

That decided what I would do with him, though. Since I didn't want to find my way back in the dark to let him out, I didn't have time for more than grooming. I did a pretty thorough job, though. Picked his feet, brushed out his tail, put Cowboy Magic in both the mane and the tail. I love the fact that his tail is shorter now - it's really staying in great shape. When I was done, I gave him the apple I'd brought. He totally slobbered ALL over my hands. What a messy eater!

So then I took him back out. When I brought him through the gate, I thought for a minute I had made a really bad mistake, because he made a movement as if to run off and I hadn't yet taken the lead off. It would NOT have been fun to try to find him out there in the dark, to remove the lead before he tripped on it. Fortunately, he did wait for me - a little impatiently - and I got to see him run back down the hill to his friends.

All in all, it was a satisfactory visit, even if it didn't go as planned. Of course, I forgot to take out the fly spray and horse treats I'd bought at Fleet Farm on the way home last weekend. Maybe next time I'll remember...

Farmers Market

Today, Russ and I decided to go to the Lyndale Farmers Market. We'd been to the Bloomington one, and I'd been to the one in Beloit, but we were totally unprepared for the scope of this one. The first clue was how hard it was to park. We got lucky, and only circled one and a half parking lots before we were in the right place at the right time. And only a block and a half away.

The first section surprised us a little, because it was mostly clothes, sunglasses, jewelry and decorative items. Almost the first thing we saw was a gorgeous iron bench that I really wanted to take home. If we ever get around to extending our porch, it would look lovely there. And it was quite comfortable and reasonably priced, too. But we didn't succumb to temptation. Not this time.

After that section, there was row after row of gorgeous fruit, vegetables and flowers. The smells were wonderful as well. Made me wish I could cook. Though a lot of it came in quantities that were too large for just the two of us. We bought: Raspberry Blues jam, local honey (from Jordan Minnesota - hope that's local enough), eggplant so Russ can make eggplant parmesan, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries because Russ wanted to make blueberry soda, corn, and garlic. Oh, and a banana chocolate chip muffin that I ate right there.

We didn't stay quite as long as I would have liked, and a bit longer than Russ would have liked, so it all worked out pretty well. I was surprised to find that it is open every day during the season (until mid-November!). May have to go back...

It does remind me of the first time we went to the Bloomington Farmers Market. It is really small in comparison, and doesn't offer a ton of variety. The most memorable thing to me was the watercolor exhibit. You see, the market is on the east side of the City Hall building, and parking is on the west side, so the easiest route is through the building. After we bought a few things at the market, we wandered into the exhibit from the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. There were some nice pieces, but to my surprise, my favorite was a still life. Which is NOT usually my favorite art form. But this one just spoke to me. It was of silver bowls and luscious red cherries. In fact, you can see it here. Isn't it gorgeous? It's the first still life I can recall wanting to own.

As I write this, I am listening to the classical music I have downloaded into iTunes. And wondering why I haven't been playing this music - or other music - in the hours and hours I've been spending on the computer lately...

On a final note, I had to laugh at this quote that I ran across on Robin McKinley's blog (speaking of the hours and hours I spend at the computer - much of which is reading back entries on her blog):

Ever notice that 'what the hell' is always the right decision?
-- Marilyn Monroe

Olympics and other games

I've been sucked into watching a LOT of Olympics. Again. Every time - both summer and winter - I think there isn't going to be much I want to watch. And every time, I end up spending hours watching stuff like track. Of course, I admit I do fast forward through quite a bit (what's Tivo for, after all?). And sometimes I have it on in the family room while I read my email, etc. in the kitchen. But I also watch more of it than I thought I would.

I do wish prime time would show just a little more variety. I'd rather watch highlights of the shooting, or just a couple of minutes of the open water swim, or the kayaking, than endless preliminaries of track events. I saw just a glimpse of the archery early on, and thought that was quite interesting. I do realize there's a lot more than prime time. I've recorded a lot of the Oxygen shows (largely equestrian and gymnastics so far) and I have watched a little of the online coverage (mostly dressage and a little fencing). But even though the commentary often annoys me, without any commentary at all, you have to know a lot about the sport to enjoy the online coverage.

Anyway, yesterday I let the Tivo run and went out with Bravo. After we picked up library books, we went to a park and wandered through. Past the playground (lots of kids calling "doggie", but no petting), past the tiny kids in huge helmets at football practice, up to the frisbee golf field. Decided that was too dangerous to walk through, so we turned around.

Then we paused on a hill overlooking several courts for a sport I did not recognize. Long narrow dirt courts - 6 of them. Several had games going on. They threw a little white ball out in the middle, and then seemed to be trying to get close to it with larger colored balls. Is this bocce? I had no idea, but we watched for a while. Bravo was interested, looking very regal with his ears up and following the movements.

But what really interested him was the tennis court. Two men were playing. And they had left dozens of balls all over their court. (I don't think Bravo noticed the bucket of balls at the back.) At first he continued walking, but every time the closest guy hit the ball, he'd turn and start toward it. Finally he stopped and just stared. He stayed that way for several minutes. I guess he thought the fence MIGHT dissolve so he could go get those balls. Or one of them might somehow get past the fence. It COULD happen. Finally, I asked him if he was ready to go, and he immediately turned and came away. I could just see him shaking his head and thinking "what a waste". I mean, he's not a REAL tennis ball nut. (Our first dog Jenny was, and he's NOTHING like that. She would chase tennis balls until she dropped from heat exhaustion. Literally. He reserves that sort of intensity for squirrels.) But he LOVES to hold them in his mouth. (And chomp on them. Or tear the covers off.) Two balls in the mouth are even better. He's tried for three, but that goal still eludes him. And there were ALL those beautiful, bright green, quite new tennis balls. Just sitting there! And no one had put a mouth on them to feel that luscious give of a fresh springy ball in strong jaws. You could see, he thought human games were weird.

Here's another gull picture. I like the reflection in the wet sand.

Life's a beach

I had a great weekend in Philly when Karis and I went to visit my sister and her husband. We shopped a little, drove around a lot, watched a lot of movies (mostly on DVD). And for the finale, we spent the last day on the beach. I took tons of seagull pictures, and I thought this one turned out quite well. It's not retouched at all, honest.

Card-carrying or not?

The other day, I was flipping through the junk mail and realized that one of the envelopes was from the ACLU. So I opened it and was reading through it and suddenly realized - I am not a member of the ACLU. WHY???

I mean, one of my favorite quotes is from The American President where Andrew Shepherd says, "For the record: yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU. But the more important question is why aren't you, Bob? Now, this is an organization whose sole purpose is to defend the Bill of Rights, so it naturally begs the question: Why would a senator, his party's most powerful spokesman and a candidate for President, choose to reject upholding the Constitution? If you can answer that question, folks, then you're smarter than I am".

What's wrong with me that I did not join this organization? Sometimes, I feel that I have failed the version of my self that grew up in the 60's and went to college in the 70's. Though I suppose I have not betrayed that self as much as some others of my age group. At least, I'm not a Republican (shudder!).

So, now I am a member of the ACLU. Not card-carrying - but only because I have not yet gotten a membership card.

Yes, Russ, you are a member, too.

Why aren't you, Bob?


I thought this was an appropriate photo: the interior of the dome in Thomas Jefferson's Rotunda at UVA.

Airline Chicken (by Guest Blogger Russ)

Russ is in Houston for a convention. He emailed me these notes and I offered him a guest blogging gig. So here it is:

7-26-2008

The Restaurant here in the Crowne Plaze Houston Downtown is the Brazos Restaurant and Bar. They have a nice business as a stand-alone restaurant in Houston. I just ordered a chicken dish from room service. It looked very tasty to me. I’m sure you’ll agree that it looks like something I would like. It was chicken, stuffed with prosciutto, leeks and smoked provolone cheese topped with a light sage butter. The very strange thing is that it is called “ Airline Chicken Roulade”………. Why would any restaurant name a dish Airline anything? Will they give me only plastic utensils to eat it? Do they send someone who will sit next to me and spill some on me? Exactly how is this dish “Airline Chicken”? I will investigate.

7-28-2008

I had lunch in the hotel restaurant and one of the waiters was very knowledgeable. Airline chicken refers to the cut. It is a breast with some wing attached. Here is an explanation from a really interesting website I found, foodtimeline.com. It has all kinds of historical stuff about food. Ever wonder what the Vikings ate? I bookmarked it and I don’t bookmark very many sites. Here is the quote:

According to the National Chicken Council "The term "airline chicken breast" first became popular in the 1960s when major commercial airlines included full service meals on air flights that were of sufficient length/time to serve such meals. Airlines required a relatively small breast portion for a number of reasons and kept part of the wing on to give a presentation that made the serving portion appear to be bigger than it actually was and also to give it a certain differentiation from the non-airline breast. It was and still is a relatively costly product. My guess is a chef on PanAm or similar top airline developed the concept and other airlines quickly followed. Few, if any, domestic airlines still have "meals" that include "airline chicken breasts." Some caterers have this type of product for special occasion events. The Council adds: "The term "airline chicken" goes back a long way. It used to be called a "hotel cut.""

Now aren’t you glad you found out that there is a National Chicken Council?



Julie again. Today Russ attended the largest sit-down banquet the Hilton ever held. 2500 people. And they served ..... Airline Chicken.

I guess it's a Texas thing? Or a Hilton thing?



My photo today is from our trip to Washington DC. I saw this girl in the National Gallery, admiring a banner for an exhibit of artists' representations of the Bois de Boulogne.

Books, books and more books

My book-buying is getting seriously out of control. Earlier this year, I got a Barnes and Noble gift card and used it to buy several books, just as the whim took me, without knowing anything about them other than what I read on the jacket, the first few sentences, and a sample page from the middle. (That's my standard technique for evaluating a book. I'm usually not disappointed when I use this method. However, sometimes I am seduced by a title or concept, and then it's a coin toss whether I will actually like the book or loathe it.)

Since then, I've made a few more forays into book stores - while waiting at the airport, when browsing at the Train Station in DC, when in Denver because I HAD to visit the Tattered Cover when I had the chance.

(Digression -- I LOVE this book store. The comfy couches, all the hand-written notes recommending books... I would seriously spend a lot more money on books if I still lived in Denver. And I really like supporting independent bookstores. I've made a vow that I need to spend more time - and money - in independent bookstores. It's been just to easy to visit the local Barnes & Noble or order online. There aren't that many independents around any more, and the closest one - I think - is Magers & Quinn in Uptown, where the parking is a bit problematic. End digression.)

Then earlier this week, our washing machine was broken, so I went to visit Jason to use his machine, and we walked to Uncle Hugo's to buy books and get insulted. Seriously. The guy behind the cash register was obviously a geek (well, it is a science fiction / fantasy bookstore) with very few people skills. I tried to make conversation, but was treated to condescension and mockery. Jason says he insults everyone, so it's not just middle-aged women. It is almost a setback in my determination to patronize independents. Or at least, that independent. Though he did a great Schwarzenegger impression (I'll be back). And I got several more Robin McKinley books, which makes me very happy.

Anyway, today I went to the library to pick up a book on hold. I love to find books through LibraryThing or friend's recommendations, or just browsing in bookstores, and then reserve them at the library from my computer and wait for them to be ready for me. I've been using the library to trim down the amount I spend on books. Though lately, it doesn't seem to have worked very well.

And today the Friends of the Library were holding a book sale. $1 for hardbacks, 50 cents for paperback. And I came home with 10 books, several of which are very thick, and most of which I would not have bought if they hadn't been so inexpensive. I only spent $6.50. (You math geeks can figure out how many were hardback and how many were paperback on your own.)

But the thing is, the stack of books I own but have not yet read is now about 2 1/2 feet tall. And I may be missing a couple that are tucked away in my bedroom, or in the luggage from my last trip. Oops, I forgot the McKinley books from Uncle Hugo's, so that makes it nearly 3 feet tall, or over 30 unread books. Plus I've been re-reading all my Heyers, and have only gotten through about 10 of the 30 or so I own. Besides those I own, I still have two books out from the library, and 10 on my requested list.

Edit: I just scanned finished scanning the newly purchased books into LibraryThing, and went to put them on my shelves. There was room for only 1 or 2. I NEED MORE BOOKSHELVES!!!

Well, I just think of it as an excuse to read instead of wasting my time doing housework. After all, I've already PAID for those books. And if I DID do the housework, it would just need to be done again in no time at all. Isn't rationalization wonderful?

Here's another photo from yesterday's foray to the lake at sunset.