Rediscovery

I was planning on doing a craft show this past weekend, but pulled out at the last minute, due to the fact that I didn't have much inventory or supplies to make new things. I decided I should be properly representing myself or not doing it at all. I did manage to complete one painting of my horse, Dancer-its acrylic on canvas, 18x 18. I am so pleased with it I think I am going to frame it and keep it for myself.
Last week, when I visited my parents, my mom reminded me of some paintings I had given her-(One of my mom and me as a baby) and this one of eggs in buckets that I can't get to rotate-so please forgive the side view. :0)
I also had forgotten I had done this one: I went through a period where I was fascinated with figures and forms. Most of all, I love color and while I am self taught, I would love to attend classes somewhere and study theory and concepts. I consider myself to be very "primitive" in my work, but have always been warmly recieved when I've decided to sell some of it. I'm proud to say I have a few painting in private collections in Europe and across the United States. While I know I will never be a Picasso, I enjoy making people smile when they look at my pieces.

Frank's Potato Pancakes

In my life, God often shows His grace and beauty when I least expect it. While I am thankful for the income and the incredible opportunity to work at wonderful places with wonderful people, sometimes it can get a little hairy with the schedules during the peak season. I maintain a few part time positions; when needed I prepare and serve breakfast at a beautiful bed and breakfast; then a few afternoons a week I work for a lovely lady doing administrative work at a cattle registry , and most evenings I go help my dear friend with barn work at her farm. It was one of those weeks where all three positions required my assistance. Lo and behold, in the midst of all the hub-bub, I was able to share in some special moments with two of the nicest guests I have ever had the pleasure of taking care of at the B&B. They stayed for four nights and on the morning of their departure, the gentleman, (Frank) was gracious enough to not only share his recipe, but also make his fabulous potato pancakes for us!
It all started one morning last week when I met the couple for the first time. AJ (Her full name is Andrea-just like me!) came down for a cup of coffee-she has the most gorgeous red hair and a matching smile and personality to go with it! Frank was not long behind her, and he was sporting a t shirt that made me think twice about saying anything..... He and AJ immediately made me feel at ease with their warm smiles and handshakes; I realized Frank is very much like my husband-they are just not that into socializing unless they feel like it. (I think I am going to look for a similar shirt for Rick.) On the other hand, my friend teased me and said I should have a shirt that was missing one of those words. It should say: "I'm here to talk."
I discovered they were down for bike week-I guess I figured that out when I arrived for work and found this beauty parked out front: I am all about my horse, but I suspect if I were to ever get a bike in my lifetime, it would look something like that. Come to find out, Frank is quite a chef. He loves to cook. His wife admits she is really spoiled with all his great recipes. AJ shared with me how everyone especially loves Frank's potato pancakes. They sounded so good, I of course had to have the recipe. And, much to my surprise and delight, Frank offered to be "guest chef" in the kitchen on Sunday. (I thought about making him wear one of our aprons for the event, but then I figured I wouldn't push it.) They were indeed worth waiting for-I can't wait to make these for my family; I brought some leftovers home to the girls and they were fighting over who would get the last one. I really wished I'd had a video camera to follow along with him as he was explaining everything to me-or written it down-unfortunately I was trying to multi-task at the same time Frank was doing this, so forgive me Frank if I don't get it quite right. (I am hoping he will jump in and help me with amounts if they aren't correct.)

So here it is:

Frank's Famous Potato Pancakes

Ingredients:

3 cups of Bisquick

approximately one cup of half and half

4 eggs

1/2 cup chopped scallions (green onions)

a pinch of salt

a pinch of pepper

a dash of garlic powder

3-4 tablespoons of vegetable oil

One bag of shredded potatoes, (found in the produce section of most grocery stores-except for Gettysburg where we called three different stores and found they didn't carry them. I ended up getting unseasoned hash browns in the frozen section)


Mix all ingredients together in the order listed above. Heat skillet, coating with Pam or comparable vegetable oil spray. Frank likes to use a rectangular skillet. Pour batter into approximatley 6" rounds using a ladle or measuring cup for ease. Flip when bubbles appear; cakes should be golden brown when done. Serve with syrup, sour cream or jam. (Fresh fruit and eggs make great accompaniments,too.) Enjoy!

Sidenote: This recipe would serve about 6-8 people, so adjust accordingly

Thanks to Frank and AJ for visiting-we shared a great time and some good food .......
I told Frank I fully expect to see his face on the cooking channel or in the bookstore very soon. I think "The Biker Chef" would be a great title for his show. We're looking forward to more recipes soon, Frank! Until next time.......


Genesis 33:10
"what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!"

Juliette from Honeysuckle Faire presented me with this award; each recipient must disclose ten things about his or herself that their followers might not know-then, pass it on to 10 others including the thoughtful chap who awarded it in the first place.

While I am completely enthralled with this whole concept, it also requires some thought, and this week, it has been a challenge to even figure out what cereal to eat for breakfast, let alone think of things to share that might offer some insight into the window of my soul. Once again, thank you, Honeysuckle Faire, for all your inspiration that pushes me to step out of the limitations I create in my head to visit unexpectedly wonderful places that I never knew I could reach. In the short time we've known each other, Juliette has helped me to jump start the creativity I had set on the back burner for a while in the midst of dealing with "life".

So here goes:

1) I am incredibly proud of the fact that I am a first generation American; my mother is from Scotland and my dad is from Burma, which I hope to visit someday. (I realize this is next to impossible, but I still think about going to see where my dad's childhood home was.) I am very fortunate to have visited Great Britian twice and did get to see where my mother grew up.

2) I yearn to play a musical intrument really well-like maybe the guitar or the drums and perform in a really great jam session or a concert. And, in the spirit of concerts-I wish I had a good voice so I could break out into song spontaneously and be really good; right now, my dog gets up and moves to the next room.

3) Its my dream to own a farm someday; just a litte one, a "farmette" where I can keep my menagerie. I so enjoy my time with my girl, Dancer.


4) I would like to ride really well in at least one race at a race track and live out my fantasy of being a jockey.

5) I would like to learn how to skeet shoot or use a pistol. Why? I just think its a great skill and I would look really cool doing it.


6) One of my favorite things to do on a rainy afternoon is listening to vintage jazz-i.e. Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, etc. and working on my paintings. or a craft project. I also love rearranging the furniture, curtains, decor in my home-I think its the only place I have a little control in my life-my poor husband never knows what he is walking into when he comes home from work.

8) Like Juliette, I too, have a photographic memory, but only for phone numbers. I never have to write one down.

9) I am constantly thinking about death and all the things I need to do before I leave this place; I always feel like God is trying to speak to me through daily experiences and share the meaning of life with me-but I rarely understand. (I think the reason I am always involved in so many things is, I am always asking myself the question "What if? What if this was the one thing I was supposed to do that would help in discovering a solution to world peace/ ending hunger/ curing a disease, etc? I realize this can make a person crazy-so I have been trying to make a huge effort to just focus on things like spending time with my kids, husband and family-after all, taking care of them definitely goes under the headings of "world peace" and "ending hunger"-so maybe I am making strides after all.


10)I want to take my family across the United States in a big RV and visit as many small towns as we can-just taking in the beauty and charm everywhere-meeting people and and having loads of fun!!!!!

Wow, I guess that's it. And now my brain needs a rest, so I will pass this award on to:

Juliette at Honeysuckle Faire
HerMajestyMargo
Holly of Highbridge Farm
Jo Diebel of Angel Acres
My brother Ian
My sister Jenni
Carmen from Life At Star's Rest
Minda from "The Buzz" Bakery and Coffeehouse
My sister in law Michele
My friend Sandy
My Uncle Gordon

On a sidenote I did have one more wish that I would like to achieve in my lifetime; and that's being able to wear a beautiful designer evening gown and wellingtons at the same time!

A Little Magic Hat #9, Maggie and Italian Sausage

We went to my brother's for our Fourth of July Celebration; we can always count on interesting beverages as part of the menu. This time it was Magic Hat #9-(I am going to use the commercial description for this this beer:)
"A Beer Cloaked in Secrecy; An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers. A beer brewed clandestinely and given a name whose meaning is never revealed. Why #9? Why, indeed. A sort of dry, crisp, fruity, refreshing, not-quite pale ale. #9 is really impossible to describe because there's never been anything else quite like it. Fermented with our 150 year old strain of top-fermenting English yeast."
Need I say more?
The menu consisted of out-of-this-world grilled turkey burgers, pasta salad and spicy italian sausage cooked in beer.
One of the highlights of the evening was playing with their sweet Westie, Maggie. While the fireworks were the big attraction for the evening, it was nice to kick back and enjoy watching the kids play, and spend time with our family. This is how a Fourth of Celebration is meant to be!

A Very Brief Photo Essay

A quintessential summary of what I believe most people do when they finally arrive at their vacation destination. Especially when the Bay Bridge traffic had slowed to a crawl and added an extra hour and a half to the expedition.

Of course, before even unpacking the car, it is mandatory to check out the beach.
And what a beautiful beach it was. We stumbled upon this little known place about three years ago; I was looking for pet friendly accommodations somewhere in or around the Ocean City, Bethany or Rehoboth Beach area. Lucky for us, we discovered a jewel, called "Broadkill Beach". It is one of the few beaches around that seems to be unspoiled by crowds-each day we seemed to be the only ones there. I was spellbound by the beautiful sky and the cloud formations......
Someone eloquently described Broadkill Beach like this: "a quiet beach that's reminiscent of the movie classic 'Summer of '42'. The beach is reached by a charming wooden walkway over the dunes. Sheltered by Cape Henlopen on the south and Cape May on the north, its waters are relatively calm. And best of all, the beach is rarely, if ever, crowded. Families build campfires on the beach; and well-behaved pets are welcome. While Broadkill Beach is 'away from the madding crowd', it is far from being totally isolated. Broadkill's general store is just a short walk from the house, and carries a little bit of everything including wonderful homemade donuts on weekend mornings. And if you have a desire for first-class shopping or a taste for the variety and excitement of the larger resorts at any time during your stay, Lewes, Rehoboth, and Dewey can be reached within 15 minutes or less."
I brought my parents, uncle and aunt here for their first visit this year. They immediately fell in love with it just as the kids, Rick and I had the first time we arrived.

GREETINGS FROM HILTON HEAD, SC!

So my sister is on "vaca" this week with her family, my Mom and Dad, Nana and Aunt and Uncle. She emailed me last week to see if I wouldn’t mind posting as a guest blogger. I am her younger sister and live in SC. As I have been thinking about what to write, the appropriate thought of the "quintessential" family vacation came to mind since this is why my sister is absent in posting this week. I couldn’t help but be nostalgic about vacations past.

In our family we were fortunate enough to have parents that took us for the week at the beach every year. Most years I think we were lucky enough to have 2 weeks at the beach! Usually we went to northern Ocean City, MD - 136th street to be exact.
We always stayed in the same condo every year and it was always oceanfront. Now we didn’t have a lot of money growing up - but our father worked long hours and saved all year long so that we could all look forward to going to the beach each year. And while we were there we lived it up! Ironically though - my dad didn’t and doesn’t even really like the beach. He would only come for long weekends to get us settled in or to help us pack up because he didn’t want to take too much time off of work and he didn’t care for baking in the sun on the beach all day long. The days he was there with us he made huge country breakfasts. In the afternoons he and my grandfather would make an assortment of snacks and a cooler of bloody marys for the adults and bring it down to the beach.

After a long day of sun and sand we’d all come back to the condo and get ready for the night’s festivities. Traditionally we rotated throughout the same things each year: Jolly Roger on 28th street (where one time they had to stop the apple turnover ride and get me off because I was screaming my head off in fear), 45th street village shopping, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, the all-you-can-eat Phillips Seafood buffet and always, of course the infamous "boardwalk" in OC -- perhaps my favorite of all of the vacation evenings each year. We’d start out with Thrashers french fries loaded with salt and vinegar - always in the tall paper cup. Then we’d hit Fisher’s popcorn for the buttery caramel delight a little later on. Somewhere during the evening we’d stop at the Candy Kitchen for a box of salt water taffy or mints. Then we’d get some tokens and head to the end of the boardwalk for rides and games. We’d always hit the Kite Loft and get a new rainbow colored windsock or kite to fly on the beach the following day. Walking up to the Kite Loft I always remembered the wooden swirly things twirling in the evening breeze outside the store. Later we’d stroll along the rest of the boardwalk and take in the sights and sounds: the smell of Ban De Soleil and Coppertone sunburn spray; the religious sandman carving his sand creations adorned with colorful lights; The train going up and down and the "clink clink clink" of it going over the boards; the hoards of people talking about what bathing suit they just found in what store, or what they planned on doing the next day; the gossiping old folks out on the rockers in the old hotels fronting the boardwalk; the delicious smells of various restaurants and pubs along the walk; the seagulls; the waves breaking on the sand - the warm breeze blowing through our hair. I also remember the big sand crawler machines with headlights that drove the length of the beach raking the sand and picking up trash from the day. Inevitably we’d always end up losing my grandfather somewhere along the walk. And each time we’d always find him an hour later in the same place - The Ocean Gallery - as he was a self-made artist and always wanted to see what treasures he could find.

As I got older and my family moved towards the quieter Outer Banks, I was a teenager and didn’t want the quiet. I ventured off family schedule for a few years to go with my best to her grandfather’s home on Monroe Bay in Colonial Beach, VA. For those of you unfamiliar with this beach it is an old sleepy town right where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay. It was truly a fabulous adventure for a couple of high school girls wanting a little summer adventure. My friend’s grandfather was a generous guy - he bought a jet-ski for us to use before either of us had our driver’s licenses! He also had long dock off the back of his house along with a pontoon boat. My friend’s Uncle would take us out in the evening for midnight boat rides where we’d gaze at the stars and be amazed at all the glittering phosphorescence in the dark water. There was also a private beach within walking distance of the house. We’d often go there in the day and try our best to upgrade our tans. At night we’d meet friends and have bonfires on that same beach and drink Boonsfarm Strawberry Hill wine. Once we had a good tan going we’d take the jet-ski or drive into town (once my friend got her license and a shiny new red convertible - also from her grandfather). One summer we met some "locals" - - handsome tanned lifeguards that were close in age to us. We ended up befriending these guys and ended up making some long lasting friendships. They came up to our homecoming dances, colleges and even visited us after we moved away from home. We all still keep in touch now. I was so enamored with this little town that I even wrote a high school essay about it which I will share with you now. When I found the essay - it was a little worn around the edges - the corners are folded and the ink is bleeding a bit. But it’s a nice treasure after all these years and it seems like only yesterday. It’s perhaps because of these great memories that I made the decision to be on a permanent vacation and move to Hilton Head Island, SC 11 and ½ years ago.

Enjoy your summer everyone!

Essay from English Class, 1993

Our truck smoothly drove down the route at a quickening pace. The desolate road contained no sign of what lay a few miles away. The sun beamed down on the dark red interior and was radiated throughout the cab of the truck. The radio was playing a variety of classic rock songs. Different country produce stands made a break in the endless empty scenery. A little bridge brought a stagnant smell of the marsh grasses that fluttered in the warm summer breeze.

As we turned down the main street of the mysterious river town, signs dotted the telephone polls and street lights. The signs were made largely of luminous yellow and orange colored strips of fabric which reflected the sunlight onto different antique shop windows. A tarnished silver diner on the corner welcomed the tourists and the townsfolk with a florescent flashing "open sign".

The boardwalk was overgrown with grasses and weeds hiding the ruins of a century-old motel. Broken glass and bottle caps filled in the crevices of the cement sidewalk. The air smelled of salt and of a food stand that was at the end of the walk. Various beach novelty shops waited for customers to buy any of the cheap ugly items that were of no use.

Suddenly, a child’s scream caught my attention. I turned to picture a big, yellow water slide that looked as if it may have been there since the beginning of time. The miniature golf course which lay on the opposite end of the boardwalk revealed splintered, weathered wood, cracked plastic figures and statues, and faded signs advertising the price of a game.

Sounds of water lapping a the rocks and sand surrounded the air as I stepped onto the dock. The floorboards and railings and engravings of people who had strolled down the dock years before. Seagulls flew above the rocks searching for the perfect place to land. I approached the edge of the creaky wooden structure and looked below at the less-than-inviting water. Thousands of jelly fish with mile long tentacles painted the surface. A smell of motor oil and gasoline encircled me as an old fishing boat took off from below carrying a large red dog. The dog ran back and forth on the edge of the boat snapping at the waves as they crashed upon the side. In the distance, I could see the lifeguards sitting in their big white chairs and children romping around in the shore in brightly colored bathing suits and towels. Music and splashing were apparent as some children went down the yellow waterslide. A pink and blue jetski zoomed by at full throttle spraying water. A huge man was driving the ski and he periodically screamed to an orange pontoon boat edging close behind him. As I breathed in deeply to taste the salt air, I thought that this would be the beginning of a wonderful week at Colonial Beach.

Remembering the details

When my sister asked me if I wanted to be a guest blogger for a day or two while she was on her vacation, I hesitated. I read the invitation again, and asked a few questions. Would it be the whole week? One day? What would the subject matter be? Andi quickly answered and said it could be one day, two days, whatever. She told me I could write about anything. I accepted, but had to think about what I would say, to make everything seem, you know, interesting and thought provoking. After all, I am a guest, and want to do this blog justice. My sister does a wonderful job at blogging, and keeps your attention with the smallest details that seem to be swept away in today’s rat race, unless you really focus and pay attention. Stick with me for a moment…

I have very little time to devote to things of this nature, and often find things like facebook and myspace to be huge time wasters. I continue to be poked by people I know: “What? You’re not on Facebook?!? Why not?” Come on - who needs to know that I am headed to the store to buy a gallon of milk? My wife knows when I have gone to the store or my neighbors might see me drive away, but now as a tweeter or someone on facebook, it is standard practice to report such things to the world. I remember the days when such pieces of information weren’t a secret, but surely nobody needed to know.

I think with the speed of life at this stage in the developing world, we crave these details about our friends and other people because our real ‘contact’ with them on a daily basis consists of some strokes on a keyboard, buttons punched on a blackberry or messages left on a voicemail system. We savor such tiny personal details (think gallon of milk example), like the song someone is listening to at the moment. It’s pretty crazy. Try and think back to when you last received a real, hand-written letter, sent through the USPS, and it was one that was written days before the mailman dropped it off at your house.

So this, in a sense was what I decided my subject was to be today. The details of a life that is going by, and getting run over by technology. The little things in life are what a lot of us miss out on, if our schedules are too busy. My sister is very good at reporting these things, and reminds us with almost every post she makes. This is also what my sister is doing as I write this. She’s at the beach with her family, the dogs, our grandmother, our Mom & Dad. They are probably enjoying a glass of wine and at dinner, enoyed a grilled steak that my brother in law marinated, they are likely watching an old classic movie, sitting around and talking on the sand, and listening to the waves cycle along on the shore, through their screen door. Vacations are what we look forward to for a reason: They allow us to slow down and catch our breath, recharge our batteries, and to have the time to focus on and appreciate the details of what life really has to offer. My sister, and the rest of the family that are there deserve to be on vacation. It is hard earned, and is long overdue.

Today, I ran with my 10 year old daughter, A. Now when I say run, you may think, ‘fast’, but when I say run, I mean 9.5 minute miles, and only TWO of them. Real runners go about 6 or 7 minutes per mile, and they go forever. My speed (to anyone who regularly runs) would say I am walking, and basically, I am. The point is that I was delighted that she would and could join me, and this is the kind of detail I will remember forever. We walked (I mean ran) along quietly, on the sidewalks in our block, and watched as the neighborhood settled into a lazy summer evening. Afterwards, we walked over to the nearby college pool and splashed a bit with my wife, M and son, S. We had dinner, and walked our dog Maggie, and we read a chapter in a story to the kids before bed. This is the kind of detail I want to tell people about. Not that I went to the store to get a gallon of milk…