I wish I had a picture ...

... but we devoured it so quickly that there was no time:

Shrimp and polenta (for two or three servings)

Ingredients:
polenta (one roll of the prepared polenta)
1 vidalia or other sweet onion (large), sliced thin
Raw shrimp (enough for three people), shells removed
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1/4-1/3 cup sherry or white wine
2 wedges of Laughing Cow french onion flavor cheese
3/4 cup half and half
2 TBS chopped fresh parsley

Method:
1. prepare polenta according to package directions so that it is heated through when the shrimp is ready to serve.
2. sautee the onion slices in a little olive oil until well cooked and browned (caramelized)
3. in the meantime, sautee the sliced mushrooms until well cooked and browned.
4. add the shrimp to the mushrooms and cook over medium until just done.
5. remove shrimp and mushrooms to a plate.
6. in the same pan, pour in the wine and deglaze the pan over medium high heat.
7. reduce heat to low.
8. add the wedges of cheese and the half and half to the wine in the pan.
9. stir and cook over low until the cheese melts and the mixture has the consistency of a light sauce (if too thick, cut with a little water).
10. add the shrimp and mushrooms to the sauce, and toss to coat.
11. Individually plate: two or three slices of polenta, top with caramelized onion, then pour a portion of the shrimp/mushroom/sauce mixture over all. Garnish each serving with chopped parsley.

Dig in and say ahhhhh ...

- Catherine
PS:  Thanks to Number 4 for helping me cook and to Hubby and Number 4.5 for cleaning up!

FedEx

On Friday they delivered a package that was so banged up the end had burst wide open.

Miraculously, none of the contents had slid out.

I am not amused.

- Catherine

I caved

I am blogging today from my Android tablet. This is something I never thought I would own, believe me. I couldn't see the point of it. I didn't need my email that close to me. I didn't need it for entertainment. I didn't need it.

I hereby eat crow.

(Gross.)

The 10" Acer Iconia won me over. Why? Because it works. And by that I mean it accomplishes real work - this tablet can create and edit documents and spreadsheets, and it seamlessly integrates with my Google account and calendar. 

And that's why I bought it.

And love it.

And will nevermore (quoth the raven) be without it.

- Catherine
PS - the tablet doubles as an e-reader too - now that's entertainment!

I finally have pictures!

Wanna see??

I thought you would!

These aren't the professional photographs yet, but they're pretty good candid shots.

Abbi's Dad and I walked our daughter down the aisle.

The groom's parents, Larry and Linda, walking down the aisle:

Abbi's stepfather (my Tim) escorted her stepmother, Robin, down the aisle:

Here's Abbi getting ready in the bride room:

Detail of the dress, with Great-Great-Great Aunt Florrie's brooch fastened to the middle of the flower:

Abbi has been a dancer since she was little, so there was plenty of dancing at this wedding, including the recessional and the entrance into the reception:

The family shot:

The food and decorations:

My personal favorite of all the pics so far because it perfectly expresses the carefree enthusiasm of the day:

I sang (and made it through without tears!). Tim and Robin read the Scripture readings. Bob (Abbi's dad) gave the blessing for the reception meal. Larry and Linda spoke about their son at the reception. And we finished the night by dancing our feet off. A great day! And one of the most fun weddings I've ever attended!

- Catherine

It's Wednesday and I am lame

I didn't get to the weekly Hodgepodge today -- my apologies to Joyce, who always has such great questions for us!

Yesterday was my 53rd birthday and everyone has been asking me if I did anything fun.

I worked all morning.

Then my aunt took me out for lunch at Ruby Tuesday's. THAT was fun.

Then I worked some more.

Then I went to the salon to have my hair colored. I had a little nap while I was under the dryer (fun). I'm told my mouth was hanging open but I wasn't snoring.

Glad to hear it.

Then I did some yard work (fun), shared a glass of wine with my next door neighbor (fun), and took over the digging of dirt (un-fun) so that Tim could attend Tuesday night prayer group at church (good for him).

It was the digging that did it. I couldn't move when I got done.

But it took care of my weight training for a while, that's for sure!

No, I don't do weight training, but that's a mere technicality, right?

- Catherine

Taking one for the team

I got to play my favorite position of catcher at today's church softball game.

Unfortunately, the bat got thrown one too many times and I couldn't jump away fast enough.

So I've got a knot the size of a tennis ball on my right thigh muscle. It's already turning a lovely shade of purple too.

I'm ready for another dose of ibuprofen and some analgesic muscle cream. And then to bed. With a good book.

I already had the chocolate cupcake that I felt I'd earned. Maybe I'll deserve another one when I try to get out of bed tomorrow morning.

- Catherine

Wednesday Hodgepodge -- the start of summer!

1. Do you and your family enjoy camping? What do you enjoy most/like the least when it comes to family camping? When was the last time you camped? We love camping, especially if we are at our favorite Wade Lake, where clocks and cell phones are put away and time is measured strictly by the sun and our own hunger pangs. The pictures below are from our last camping trip -- August of 2010. Can't wait for this year!!

2. Did you attend a summer camp when you were a kid? Is that a happy or not so happy memory? I attended a week of church camp each year at a place called ... no joke ... Mt. Misery. Overall I enjoyed it, although I recall the food being practically inedible.

3. Over the course of your life, what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else? Injustice. It is something that really, really bothers me and that I find impossible to accept -- both for myself and for others. 

4. Which of the seven natural wonders of the world would you most like to see? There are many lists of 'wonders' but this is the standard natural wonder list-Mount Everest, The Great Barrier Reef, The Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls, The Harbor of Rio de Janerio, Paricutan Volcano and The Northern Lights. I don't have a preference. Is that bad? If I ever had the opportunity to see any of them, I'd be happy.

5. What was your first real job? Working the counter at a local flight training school. Happily I was there for only six months or so -- longest six months of my life. The pilots/instructors were arrogant creeps who sexually harassed all the female employees. Unfortunately, those were the days when sexual harassment was something you either had to put up with or you changed jobs. I changed jobs.

6. Lemonade or Sweet tea...which do you prefer on a hot summer day? Lemonade, especially if it's fresh!

7. What is something that always brings a smile to your face? These days, it's our back yard. I could sit there for hours, enjoying the warm weather and the sunshine. And the gnomes.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  Randomly speaking, life is sweet, sweet, sweet!  

I can't even figure out how to start this blog post. It's meant to be a weekend update but I'm afraid my brain is still not willing to switch from weekend to Monday.

So I can't think very well.

Where was I?  Oh yes -- we had two days of absolutely glorious weather. I hit the Farmers Market early Saturday morning and then spent the rest of the day working around our yard.

Plants were purchased.

Plants were potted.

There can be no real garden until next year because we have too many other urgent tasks around the farm this year.  But the garden-to-be was roto-tilled, and Tim will work the soil well before we start gardening in earnest next summer. The plan is to till the soil twice this summer and mix in some good fertilizer so that we are up and running next summer.

But this Jersey girl couldn't resist just a few tomatoes. Thus, this year's garden comprises the following:

Exactly three tomato plants in big 5-gallon pots.

To put it in better context:

Behind the tomato plants is the vast expanse of what will be next summer's garden.

I also have fresh herbs growing in pots on a sunny bench at the edge of the woodland:

I cleared a  bit more of the thorn thicket that has been taking over the side of this property for the last umpteen years. I can't bear to take a picture of it because hours and hours and HOURS of effort thus far have resulted in a clearing of perhaps five feet by five feet. There are many, many more feet of densely tangled thorn branches yet to be cleared. This promises to be a years-long job, by my calculation. God only knows what I will unearth as I slowly clear it all away.

Yesterday we played softball and I actually hit the ball. I fouled out, but I did hit the ball. Major accomplishment, believe me!

And now, Monday awaits!

- Catherine

And we danced!

Pocatello summers are full of outdoor community activities, and a big favorite on Wednesday evenings is known as "Revive@Five." This is a free, open air concert held in Old Town, hosted by one particular (rotating) restaurant each week, and incorporating the Wednesday version of our semi-weekly Farmer's Market. Tons of people attend and the atmosphere is light and fun.

This past Wednesday, I took my 88 year-old aunt to Revive@Five. I am trying to make sure that she is involved in the greater Pocatello community as well as the more insulated community of her assisted living residence. Revive@Five features both music and food -- two of my aunt's favorite things -- so it seemed a natural fit.

We arrived shortly after five o'clock and set up our lawn chairs. The band was good -- very good, as a matter of fact. Their repertoire of new country as well as classic pop/rock songs was well-executed and full of crowd-pleasers. As they swung into "My Brown-Eyed Girl" my aunt turned to me and said, "let's dance!"

I laughed because I thought she was kidding.

She wasn't.

We made our way to the cement pad that serves as the dance floor on Wednesday nights. To my utter surprise, she began to move her feet in time with the music. Then followed a little shoulder action. Then a saucy little wag of the head. No wild movements, but she danced.

And danced.

And danced.

The only time she didn't dance was while she was eating her Greek Gyro (her first).

Two hours later, I took her home.

She beamed the whole way.

If I live to be 100, I will never forget the night I danced with Aunt Muriel in Old Town at Revive@Five.

And that saucy little wag of the head.

Who says you can't live a little in your twilight years?

- Catherine

And now she's married!

...and I'm still sorting out pictures.

But I do have a few candid snapshots to share:



Big sister Erin zips up the dress.

The bride and her college friends, who traveled from the States to be part of the big day.

The white gold filigree brooch pinned in the center of the flower is an heirloom from my great-great Aunt Florrie. My mother would have been very happy to see it on Abbi's wedding dress.

Mama and Dad walking Abbi down the aisle:

The couple's first dance as man and wife:

Abbi and her beloved sister Erin relaxing at the head table.

It was a lovely ceremony.

I managed to sing "The Blessing."

And I didn't cry.

The food and dancing at the reception were wonderful, and my little girl is now a missus!

Welcome to the family, Rich!!

- Catherine

The big day approaches and we are all still sane ...

Four days to go!

Pedicures and manicures are scheduled. Dresses are in their final alterations. Shoes have been purchased (both for the ceremony and for the dancing afterward). Fake tans are coming out of their bottles.

I'm forbidden to post a picture of the bride's gown until after the wedding day. But I promise pics as soon as I get home again to the States.

As of Sunday, my girl will be a missus.

Where did the time go?

- Catherine

Yes, I know it's Wednesday

It's Wednesday and I didn't get the weekly Hodgepodge completed -- or even started for that matter. It's been an entire week since I last blogged, as you can see. And that's not because the week was full of drama, it's just that it was so busy with everyday life!

Yard work has begun!  Tim and I have been outside on as many lovely evenings as possible. A special delight for me is the little bit of woodland area that is located between our lawn and our side fence (it runs nearly the entire length of our front and back yards). Old tree trunks, purple wildflowers, red tulips, yellow daffodils and as yet unidentified bushes all reside together in that area, and it reminds me a great deal of where I grew up in NJ.

There IS a section of this woodland that needs major clearing because it has developed into nothing more than a dense thicket of thorns -- and I have the deep scratches to show for my efforts so far!  I hope to have that cleared by the middle of June, with an eye to planting some graceful bushes in that section (no thorns allowed!). 

I have a thing for garden gnomes, and there are now four of them situated at random in the woodland area. To my eyes, they fit right in. Indeed, you need to walk along the border to spot them in their little hiding places.

My aunt continues to adjust to her life here, and I have taken to running up the hill to see her during my lunch break. Yesterday I took her with me to do some errands and she enjoyed the outing. I know there are times that she misses her old home and her old ways, but I also know that she loves having us nearby and that she is much less lonely than she was before. The pain in her knees has decreased significantly with her daily exercise class and she can walk much more easily than she could before. Best of all is that she is safe, with people monitoring her medications and making sure that she eats properly. I'm thankful to have these last years with her so close by, I must say. We talk about the old times as well as what is new.  Although the conversation sometimes goes in an endless loop due to my aunt's impaired short-term memory, I enjoy it. And I know it does her good.

So that's it in a nutshell -- garden gnomes and all.

- Catherine

Hodgepodge Wednesday

The Gang of Seven staged another prison break this morning and this time they headed for the road. Thankfully there was a cop coming in the opposite direction so he turned on his flashing lights -- whereupon the Gang of Seven turned tail and thundered back toward our place. By standing in the middle of the street I was able to herd them into our driveway.

We need to replace a couple of gates it seems. Soon.


Now, on to the Wednesday Hodgepodge, hosted by Joyce!

1. How many times in your life have you moved house? I'd never thought of that before, but the total is nine. Wow!  This last move was truly the last move, though. We're here in this house to stay - we leave either feet first or by Rapture.

2. What subject would you study if you had a year to devote to it?  British history. I'm part Brit by birth and I've always had something of an affinity for their culture. Love to read the history, and if I had the time, I'd delve into the period of World War I and how the aftermath affected England.

3. What in this world breaks your heart?  Too many things, that's for sure. Some are personal to our family, others are broader. One broad thing that breaks my heart is the political climate in our country. The loudest mouths are at one extreme or the other, vilifying each other with every petty thing they can think of. Too much time and money is spent digging up dirt on the opponent. And the voice of the center is nowhere to be found.

4. What is one item that symbolizes the times in which we live? Why?  The cell phone. It rules us all, and I must admit that I am as much a willing subject as anyone else. The vacation that my family and I take at Wade Lake every year -- with no cell phone service or internet service -- proves it. Only in that time do we relax fully and deeply without the constant intrusion of the world.

5. Share a favorite bumper sticker or t-shirt slogan. Of all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most.

6. How do you like your spaghetti? With meat sauce or meat balls -- preferably with my homemade sauce, thank you very much.

7. What is one piece of advice you would give a recent, or soon to be recent, graduate?  Assume that life is long and that seasons of life will come and go.  Don't make impulsive choices when it comes to the direction of your life. And do NOT get into any kind of substance abuse. EVER. Your abilities as an employee, as a functioning adult, as a parent, will be significantly diminished, and your quality of life will suffer.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  Randomly speaking, I really like the assisted living place where my aunt now lives, and I am consciously making an effort to connect with more of the residents each time I visit.

Happy Wednesday all! If you wish to join in the Hodgepodge, you can click on the "hosted by Joyce" link above and link your post with those of everyone else!

- Catherine
 

Rainy Days and Mondays

Yes, I know today it is Tuesday.  But we had both a rainy day and A Monday yesterday.

I was driving down the street toward my house around 1:00-ish. In the last couple of blocks, I noticed the police cars. As I neared my driveway, I noticed the Sheriff's car. As I started to turn into my driveway, I noticed the cop with an assault weapon, strolling out the front of the drive, followed by a cop in a car who was turning around near my garage.

Let me also note that I had the Charley-Monster in the back seat and my aunt in the passenger front seat.

Because unexpectedly, I was taking my aunt to the Emergency Room.

But first I had to stop at our house to drop off the dog and pick up my hubby.

Back to the assault weapons.

Seems a mountain lion was spotted resting in the window well of one of the houses in my neighborhood.  See the story here in the Idaho State Journal. Be sure to click on the little thumbnail pictures underneath the big photo -- so that you can see the living breathing mountain lion who was more than a little irritated by the flash of the homeowner's camera. That is a face I would not want to encounter up close and personal.

So, there we were, having to take my aunt to the ER because her blood pressure was doing crazy, scary things and she was very unwell. Not a good situation at all.  And we also were worried about the Equine Gang of Seven out in the pasture. It's unlikely that a mountain lion would attack horses in a neighborhood, but it isn't completely unheard of.

On the way to the ER, I suddenly remembered that Charley was out on his chain in the back yard. I panicked. We couldn't turn back so I started praying.

Five minutes later our next door neighbor called Tim to ask if we'd heard the news and to see if she could return Charley to the safety of indoors. Bless her!!

Assault weapons done.


Three and a half hours later, it was determined that my aunt had a severe potassium deficiency.

Two mega-sized "horse pills" of potassium later her heartbeat and blood pressure were back under control, and she was feeling much better.

Thank you God, I breathed.  (We will go to the family doctor this morning for the follow-up and some instructions about her diet and potassium needs.)

Tim came to pick us up at the hospital and reported that the mountain lion in question is an old tom who wanders through this outlying part of his range once every couple of years. He's more than likely already back in the hills by now, but we'll all be careful for the next little while.

And it's still raining!

- Catherine

The rivers are rising and the horses are wet

It's raining again -- the third straight day.

The Portneuf River, which runs through our town, continues to rise from the Spring runoff, with less than a foot to go to the official flood stage.  In fact, it has already overspilled its banks in one or two of the city parks.

Rain, of course, breeds mud, and my kitchen floor is a lost cause. The sweeper never gets put away, nor does the mop. 

Only it looks like they have been left out just for show because the floor stays clean for only, oh, 15 seconds or so after I get done with it.

Watching out the kitchen window this gray morning, I could see a few of the horses standing disconsolately under the overhang of the loafing shed (a.k.a. The Barn, but really, it's a glorified loafing shed). I observed two of the sorrels, Rusty and Ritzy, move out from under the overhang and make their way slowly and gently into the alcove of the shed.

Only to come rushing out into the rain milliseconds later, ears pinned.

Stretch, barrel-racer non pareil, is in the alcove and doesn't want to share it with anyone else in the Equine Gang of Seven. The dominant male of the Gang, Stretch always has the last word. If he doesn't want to share the shelter, it ain't gonna be shared, folks. Even in the rain. Even with the mares whom he "protects."

There is no gallantry in the equine world.

May you stay dry today.

We won't.

- Catherine

Rainy Randomness

It's a rainy Saturday morning here -- the kind that makes you want to stay in bed. Alas, we have two dogs and so there is no staying in bed.

Tim is recovering from having his gall bladder out on Thursday. He's had more pain than we had anticipated, but all seems well in general. And he is MOST thankful that the nonstop nausea he experienced for the last several months is now at an end.  Yay for that!

Today's to-do list includes vacuuming and tidying up, just in case we end up having a Mothers Day lunch/picnic at our house tomorrow. For some reason we are doing things on the fly this year, which is fine with me.

Our local Farmers Market has resumed its seasonal business now that we are in the month of May, and I intend to make a trip there this morning.  Although there aren't many vendors this time of year, it's a fun 30 minutes or so to see what's available. Probably I can pick up some organic root vegetables (last season) and see what the crafts vendors are offering.

In 22 days, Number 4 will be a married woman. There are several festivities planned during the two days before the wedding, including a bachelorette party, a bachelor party, and a BBQ dinner. Should be great fun! I'll be singing at the wedding, which means that a part of today and every day until then will be spent practicing. The choice is a song performed by Celtic Woman:






- Catherine

Transitions and jungles

A jumble of thoughts for today:

My aunt is still transitioning to her new life out here, and I continue to pray that she grows to love it more and more. She thoroughly enjoyed going to church with us on Sunday, even though our services are pretty far from the traditional church that she is used to. She greeted my friends, enjoyed the pastor's sermon, enjoyed the music(!), and ate a very healthy plate of our potluck lunch. A good day.

My hubby and I are reclaiming our back yard little by little from the years of semi-neglect.  It has been fun to figure out what is growing and to start making decisions about where there should be bulbs planted next Fall. A goodly number of the bushes and trees that line the side of the property are dead (or more than half dead anyway), so a clearing operation is underway there. I've made it to the halfway point, measuring in linear yards -- however the worst of the jungle is nearer to the front of the property, which means that I still have more than halfway to go in terms of sheer volume.

Hank and Charley have been outdoors a lot more, which makes for healthy appetites and good sleepers.

Comes to that, the same applies to hubby and me!

My muscles are sore from yard work -- apparently racquetball is not a suitable substitute for squatting on your haunches, trying to clean out debris from inside the cluster of stems that form a bush. My "glutes" have been protesting.

I can't decide which is sweeter here at our new place -- mornings or evenings. The kitchen is completely flooded with beautiful sunlight in the morning, which makes me want to get up and going. But then the evenings spent outside with my hubby are incredible. And the lawn just glows in the long evening sunshine (darkness doesn't fall until about 8:30 this time of year).

All in all, it's sweet and serene here and I am drinking it in.

And now, although the sunny kitchen beckons, it's time for the kind of work that brings in the paycheck.

- Catherine

A Week

My husband and I flew East last Monday in order to bring my aunt back to live near us in Idaho, which we did on Thursday.

In between those two seemingly simply events there were four days of tears, persuasive arguments, bewilderment, accusations, laughter, acquiescence, loving memories, and memory loss.

That we succeeded is nothing short of a gift from God.

I'm still emotionally processing all that has occurred.  In some ways, this was far worse than my mother's death.

I'm thankful my aunt is here. And I continue to fervently pray that the transition for her, as it progresses, is an awakening to a life no less full than that which she remembers.

Thank you, all, for your prayers and support this week!

- Catherine

Easter Sunday

Christ is risen!

A happy and blessed Easter to all!

- Catherine

Good Friday

Good Friday.

The darkness before the dawn of the Resurrection.

Explore the darkness, and have a blessed and holy day.

- Catherine