Beautiful Azores

One place I have lived before I would like to go back to is Terceira Island, Azores. The island is one of 9 in a chain about 900 miles west of Portugal. The climate is mild--it rarely gets above 80 degrees and rarely drops below 50 degrees. There is some humidity, but the ocean breezes and mild climate made it comfortable most of the time. Terceira is about 10 miles by 20 miles, a rocky, volcanic island with beautiful flowers, lots of cows, and miles of ocean.

On the left is a picture taken from our front yard. The ocean was about 100 yards away. Rainbows were a common sight after rain. Can you see why I miss this place?

We lived there for 2 years (2000-2002) when my husband was stationed at Lajes Field, a Portuguese air base that had an American presence too. We lived in base housing, which was a small 3-bedroom unit of a quadplex. That was the only down side to living there. The house could have been a little bigger.

Some of our favorite activities were finding new cafes and restaurants, exploring the island, golfing (beautiful course, inexpensive to play), and enjoying the view from our front porch.

What brought back some of these memories is I made Steve a birthday dinner Sat. night. The theme was Portuguese food, and we had some friends over. I made Caldo Verde (green soup), Alcatra (pot roast cooked in wine and seasonings), and bought Portuguese rolls (from the commissary) as well as Vinho Verde (green grape wine from Portugal) at Trader Joe's. Everything tasted good and we had a super time with our friends. After dinner, before the traditional cake and ice cream, I made Portuguese style coffee drinks. My favorite is the Galao, steamed and foamed milk with a shot of espresso poured over. The coffee and milk form layers that are pretty. It is topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Holidays & Birthdays & finals

We have passed the mid-point of October and the mid-point of the semester. We are quickly picking up steam toward December. In my family, this is the start of the holiday/birthday/final projects season.

My family consists of my husband, 2 boys, my mom, my sister, her husband and their 7 kids, then my mother-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law, 2 brothers-in-law, their spouses, and their kids (totalling 7 nephews and 5 nieces). Among all of us, there are 4 October birthdays, 4 November birthdays (plus our anniversary), and 2 December birthdays. Of course, we also celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (along w/ a couple Holy Days thrown in). Needless to say, it's busy and lots of cards and gifts are exchanged.

What is difficult is doing Christmas cards. Here it is, the busiest time of year for me (all that wonderful grading), so I often don't get cards sent out before Christmas. I've been known to do New Year's cards or the holiday season cards. I don't like being late with anything, but I do not want to start Christmas cards in August to get them done on time.

I wish we had a 14-week semester instead of a 16-week one. I could use the extra time to better prepare for the winter holidays. Thanksgiving is not too bad (except my birthday falls around that time too) because it is only one day and we don't do gifts, just food. This year I'll be cooking dinner, so we do not have to travel. I'm relieved at that but I miss being with family (even though they can drive me crazy). It's weird to cook a huge meal for only 4 people. Maybe there will be some friends who need a place to go.

That's my perspective on this whole time of year.

Food Glorious Food

The last few days I had plenty of school work to do. I made progress reading papers and doing some prep. However, as a reprieve from work and a reward for my efforts, I spent time in the kitchen. Everything I made was fairly easy but very yummy.

Friday afternoon my husband and I went to the commissary (on base grocery store) to stock up on a few essentials and buy items needed to cook over the weekend. Luckily, everything on the "must have" list were available. When we got home, we put the food away, then opened a bottle of wine and started dinner. I made Harvest Creamy Corn Choup (a Rachael Ray recipe--a choup is a cross between a chowder and a soup). With bacon and corn and cream, it warmed the bellies. I did substitute carrots for the zucchini. I thought they would hold up better. It turned out very well. I could have eaten half the pot, but I got too full. Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=612

For Saturday I had planned a seafood dinner. Luckily, my younger son Eric decided to come home from college--we really needed his help eating the pan of Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni. Wow, was that rich and tasty. The recipe called for a pound of crab plus two kinds of cheese and made 12 stuffed (and I mean stuffed) pasta shells. Then a creamy white sauce was pored over them and more Parmesan was sprinkled on top. For an appetizer I made prosciutto wrapped scallops. They were good, but not as good as the main dish. These are recipes from Giada De Laurentis. Here are the links: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/crab-and-ricotta-cannelloni-recipe/index.html and http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/prosciutto-wrapped-scallops-recipe/index.html

Sunday Eric wanted pizza before he returned to Carbondale, so I used Pillsbury pizza dough (I can make it myself but didn't this time), and we topped it with Trader Joe's pizza sauce, lots of cheese (mozzarella and a a cheese blend) as well as pepperoni and spinach. It was cheesy and yummy too. Sorry, no real recipe, just roll the dough out (I put on a large cookie sheet--I like a thinner crust), then top as desired and bake around 12 min. on 425 degrees.

Monday (technically it was a holiday, so I'll include it) I decided to use the boneless chicken thighs from the freezer. I had watched Rachael Ray's 30 minute meals on Saturday morning, and she had made orange-balsamic glazed chicken. I had all the ingredients to make it, and it looked good, something different too. Wow--what flavor, a little tangy, a little sweet, and the sauce kept the chicken moist. The recipe is here: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=2965
Along with chicken we made rice (with sauteed onions, cooked in chicken stock, not water) and oven-roasted grape tomatoes (from the garden) and zucchini. The dinner was balanced, nutritious and delicious as well as quick cooking.

Now it's back to the work-week routine. What's for dinner tonight? I don't know yet, but it has to be good. I can't eat take-out or drive thru much anymore. Freshly cooked is where it's at.

I need an 8-day week

Either my time management skills are way off or I am overcommitted. I can't seem to find that "happy place" very often where I am rested, relaxed and fully enjoying myself. Even on the weekends, I am doing schoolwork or housework in between trying to get some "down time." What I need is another day in the week.

I would spend that day doing all the fun activities I don't get to do. I would read (for fun) for at least an hour straight, maybe two. I would watch a couple shows I have on my DVR, and I would relax--not go anywhere except Starbucks or Barnes and Noble. (I know, I live on the edge!)

I would not do any grading or prep for classes. I wouldn't check WebCT or my work e-mail. I might look at Facebook, but not much more (there's too much work I end up doing on the computer).

Then I would make time for a short nap--30-45 min. is all I need. And my husband and I would prepare dinner (I do enjoy cooking if I am not rushed) and have a glass of wine with it. Then we could settle in for a relaxing evening (again no computer work).

It's nice to dream. But now I must return to reality.

The Nearly Empty Nest

Our two boys have been off at their colleges for over a month now. At first the house was just so quiet. No running up and down the stair. No constant opening the pantry and refrigerator doors, calling out "There's nothing to eat." No TV blaring when we were trying to sleep. No coming in late after work or out with friends.

Last year, our older son Andrew was away at SIUE and Eric was attending SWIC, living at home. We would see Andrew occasionally between breaks; he was only a half hour away. Now with Eric at Carbondale, we see them infrequently. If one comes home for a weekend or part of a weekend, the other may not.

Even though I miss seeing them day to day, I am glad they are becoming more independent and pursuing their education. Some of the positives with fewer people in the house: our food seems to last longer. I don't worry about meal components disappearing before I can use them. I buy very little junk food (or what the boys would call "essentials"). And we can cook whatever WE want for dinner, not worrying the picky eater won't like it or the other is not "in the mood" for chicken or fish. We can eat when it's convenient for us, not trying to work around class and work schedules for 4 people.

Their rooms are clean now. After they moved into their residence halls (don't call them dorms!), I gave their bedrooms and bathroom a heavy cleaning. When they come home "to visit," their beds are made and floors freshly vacuumed. It's nice not to have to close their doors to avoid looking at the mess they liked to live in.

Another perk is laundry. I have less to wash, dry and fold. When they come home, if they bring laundry, they do it themselves (or at least most of it--it's tough not to mother them a little). I enjoy seeing them; it's special to share time with them and catch up on their daily lives. I am so glad they are growing up--but when they leave the house for good (which they will), it will be strange. But we'll then be able to downsize and live wherever we want--no need to worry about school districts and family-friendly neighborhoods.

Every once in awhile we still here the pitter patter of feet on the stairs or in the hallway, but they belong to our feline boys, not the human ones. At least we still have them around to feed and spoil.

Quote Response

"You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world. . . . The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it." -- James Baldwin (24)

This quote makes sense to me. When we write, we write for a reason. Maybe we "have" to (it's assigned or a grade or a task at work). Maybe we want to share our day with friends on Facebook or in an email or text. Maybe we are inspired to write a song or a poem. With most writing, someone will read it, think about it, be affected by it. Will that change the reader? Will it change the writer?

In some small way, it usually does. It could be a temporary change (wow, nice wording. Cool. Interesting.) It could influence someone to visit the place you wrote about or avoid a restaurant with bad service.

I like that I could affect someone, my writing could change someone, even for the brief moment he or she is reading my work. It matters. My time and energy were not wasted. I have thoughts, feelings, and experiences others care to read about.

My writing does not have to be "literature" meant to be read for the next 50-100 or more years by academics. It will not be made into a movie or book. Those are not my expectations. And that's okay. Considering the number of poorly written books and scripts, I would not want my blogging especially to be turned into something like that.

What have you read lately that has changed you in some way?

Ready for Fall TV

Summer was busy with work and activities and favorite TV. I like that cable has new programming in the summer. I am not a TV addict, but I have a few favorite shows as well as trying out a new show or two.

My favorite summer shows were The Closer, Burn Notice, The Next Food Network Star, Warehouse 13, and Mental. We usually DVR some of the shows and watch at our convenience. That is one of the greatest inventions, isn't it? Warehouse 13 is a SyFy show, with a mix of comedy and drama, a little mystery. I thought it would be more like X-Files, but it's not really. I like the history element and the solve the problem nature of the show. They are still showing new episodes, so look for it (Tuesday nights).

Both Burn Notice (USA network) and The Closer (TNT) have mini-seasons in the summer and winter. I think that's interesting to break the season up like that. It frees up time between the new episodes. Both are good shows. I've been a fan of Burn Notice since it first aired a couple years ago. Filmed in Miami area, it has lots of action, a little comedy, and great storylines.

This fall I am looking forward to a number of shows returning. The Big Bang Theory is a favorite. The only problem with Monday night is there is so much competition. I also like House (and last year Chuck was on at the same time--now Chuck will start in March). I watch How I Met Your Mother and Rules of Engagement too. Give me a funny sitcom at the end of a busy day and I am happy. Last spring we tried out Parks & Recreation and found it good. When I want a crime drama, I'll watch Criminal Minds, any of the CSI shows, and Numbers. I have a Wed. night class, so I will have to DVR Glee. I watched the special premiere after Idol in May. It was funny.

I don't watch a lot of TV during the day, but if I am home I'll watch Rachael Ray's talk show or 30-minute Meals or a few other Food Network or HGTV shows. I can multi-task when they are on. What you won't see me intentionally watching is much sports, depressing news shows, nature shows (where animals get eaten by other animals), or stupid movies (won't go into my criteria at this point).

TV--not the vast wasteland some profess, but there is good and bad, junk and quality. I try to pick and choose, so I can get my work done, do things outside the house, but still have quiet time in front of the TV. We all deserve that.