What I've Been Up To...

Whatever have I been doing with myself?
I work at home for my husband's business.
We are self-employed. I am the paper-work
queen.  Office goddess, if you prefer.  I do.  Hee hee.

That means I type all the invoices on the computer and

send out statements to customers.  I pay all bills for the

business and payroll for employees.  I do payroll reports

and any other nasty little report that comes along.  I have

a good program called "Quick Books" that I really like and

have been familar with for several years.  This keeps me

semi-occupied.  Now three children in college these 

past few years has kept me otherwise occupied.  All good.

As I have mentioned before, the oldest daughter has graduated

college and got her RN license and is working and living

in the nearest big city to me. (About 45 minutes away.)

My latest project which I have been enjoying is to sew

my daughter's some curtains for their new apartment

bedroom windows.  I started on my youngest daughter's

first and it turns out that she didn't like the green material

at all.  So guess where these beauties are now?  In my office/

extra bedroom.  I don't mind, I enjoyed the sewing.  I know

you're going to think that the brown/green kind of clashes

with those hot pink walls but hey! what the hay?  I enjoy

anything that I create, no matter what!  Those walls will

be transformed someday, just not yet.  I guess I can see

why she didn't like the green, but I'll try again.  This time

she is picking out the material, duh?  I should have known

better!  

Now for those of you discriminating minds that were 

absolutely fascinated with that picture of me on the wall,

here is a closer shot.  This is a artist drawing of me.  When

we went to Paris in 2000, we were in the Montmarte 

area and artists on the street everywhere want to draw

your picture for a fee of course.  They practically insist.

As you might notice, I am not smiling in this picture, 

because another artist was drawing my daughter and I

was watching and waiting while another persistant artist

kept insisting that he draw me.  One artist started drawing

my eye (and he did a very good job) but I kept saying,"no,

thank you."  He finally got mad and walked a short distance

away watching.  Another artist came up and started drawing

me and I decided to let him.  But I was not smiling at the

time 'cause I could see the other artist staring daggers at

me.  If looks could kill.  So I paid for my drawing to him

and for my daughter's to another artist.  He did capture

me pretty well even though I was not smiling.  I look very

serious.  But after all I am glad I bought it.  Also, if you look

at the above photo, on the left of it you will see a photo

that I took of my flower and I framed it.  I just happened

to have a frame already that it fit into.  Now notice that

it matches my brown and green curtains.  There!  Makes

it all coorindinate, doesn't it?  I'm sharp like that!  hee hee

This is another project that took a bit of our time last

week.  We purchased a 2008 Toyota Tundra Crew Max

for my husband to drive for his business.  We feel like

we got a really good deal.  He is taking it tomorrow to get

the front windows tinted.  He has ordered running boards

and a tonto cover for the bed.  We are getting the bed spray-

lined too.  He has to haul parts for his business in it.  We

plan on taking this jewel on vacation to Yellowstone Park

next year.  The four door crew cab has tons of seating room.

It's much bigger than a car.  We will be taking all three kids

with us too.  Our luggage can go in the bed of the pickup

under the tonto cover.  Last year we rented a SUV for

our trip to Colorado.  This time we can save that expense.

Wordless Wednesday

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Magnanimous

Magnanimous:

Very generous or forgiving, esp. toward a rival or someone

less powerful than oneself.

Now in this case I am the less powerful one but I also have

to be the forgiving one.  She always wins!  We play tag and

she wins.  We play hide and seek.  She wins.  I was looking

at her laying on a quilt yesterday and I thought, "What a life

of luxury.  She follows me from room to room and finds a 

suitable, comfortable place to sit and watch or sleep.  She

has every comfort and food that she could hope for.  But I

love her.  It is also very nice to be able to give such a small

creature pleasure.  I can massage her neck and rub her head

and it takes me very little effort.  I wish someone could do that

for me with little effort.  Her fur is so soft and pleasing to me

that is my pleasure.  Ah, the life of the indoor cat!  

Ten Years After

Do you remember this?
Ten Years After
I'd Love to Change the World

Whole Foods Market-Wordless Wednesday

We now have a Whole Foods Market. I visited it yesterday.
Here is a video of one in Dallas. Ours looks the same.
I am looking forward to going back and shopping even though
I have to drive about 45 minutes to get there. I will be taking
my ice chest for cold foods.

For more Wordless Wednesday go here.

China's Stolen Children

I watched a documentary tonight on China's Stolen Children.  It seems that the One Child Policy has opened a market for boys and now even girls as the boys will have no wives available in the future.  The women who have more than one child are forced to either abort or pay a fine to keep the child (a hefty fine).  The poor can't afford to pay and some have their children and have to sell them to survive.  The rich buy the children.  The poor also buy children at a higher price than the rich have to pay.  It's madness.  China does not foresee changing this policy before 2010.  They see that they have created a society without enough women.  If you watch the documentary, you will see that the traffiker used to sell young girls as sex slaves but now has turned to selling children for profit.  He even sold his own son after his wife died.

 

There are nine parts to this story. It is being shown on HBO now if you can catch it. 90 minutes.

Anniversary

A little late with the anniversary post but it was our 33rd wedding anniversary today.

We're celebrating this Tuesday night.  I like to "Call it Love."  

Off the Wall

I have been so out of it lately.  So many things to do, so little time.  This week I am helping my youngest daughter move to an apartment.  We trotted up and down two flights of stairs today carrying multiple items.  It was hot and humid.  I feel like I need to sleep for a long summer's night.  Or something.  In the near future I am going to do a movie review and give a dvd away and a book contest also.  Just as soon as I get caught up and also sleep!

Our Fireworks

Here's a very short clip of our awesome 

fireworks.  We did have some nice ones but

I'm not great with the photos.

Happy Fourth of July

Have a safe and Happy Fourrth of July!

News, news, and more news!

My oldest daughter just received the news that she passed her State Board of Nursing License exam.  Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa!   She is certainly one happy person at work today!  

My youngest daughter was accepted to OU College of Health and Science, but....she got a call yesterday that one of her credits didn't get transferred and she would have to take one more summer class in Gen. Ed upper level.  She just got back from Italy having taken an art class that qualified!  Yeaaaaaaaaaaa!  She was so happy about that and me too.  She found an apartment and a roommate yesterday too.  She moves next week.  :(  Third floor.  

My son smashed his hand at work yesterday.  But this morning it looks much better even though it hurts considerably.  Nothing broken.  Thank God!  He will be moving back to an apartment in August.  Continuing college.  

Viva la Vida
I get to see Coldplay in concert in November. They cancelled their July 10 concert. I can't wait.

For my birthday my daughters and I are going to see John Mayer in Dallas.  We'll stay all night and do some shopping too.  I also can't wait for this!  

Ziggy

Wordless Wednesday

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Italy

I will be posting some pictures soon from my daughter's trip to Italy.

But in the meantime I was looking at Lake Garda and how beautiful

it is.  Gattina is  there on holiday.  Here's to Gattina:

Doesn't that make you want to go there? It does me.

P.F. Chang's and a top

Here's my new top.  We went out

to eat with our two daughters at

PF Chang's.  Of course, I had to

have the Citrus Soy Salmon again.

I have found the recipe for it now.

FOOD & WINE
Restaurant-quality food right in your own home
Friday, June 20, 2008 | 9:01 PM
Instead of going out to dinner this weekend, why not cook an amazing dish at home and impress your friends and family! The executive chef at P.F. Chang's, Gregg Piazzi, share his recipe for citrus salmon.

Chang's Citrus Soy Wild Alaskan Salmon

8 oz. piece of skinless Salmon Filet
½ tsp of Salt
½ tsp Cornstarch
1 ½ tsp Water
1 tsp Ginger (Finely Minced)
3 fl. Oz Soy Sauce
1.5 fl. Oz Mirin
1 ½ tsp Orange Juice
1 tbs plus 1 tsp Lemon Juice
2 tbs Unsalted Butter
5 oz. of cooked Brown Rice (Follow directions on package)
1 ½ tsp of Lemon Olive Oil
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Citrus sauce for Salmon
PROCEDURE:
1. Season the Salmon Filet with the Salt (set aside)
2. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water (set aside)
3. In a warm saucepot (low flame) add Ginger & cook for 10 sec.
4. Add Soy Sauce, Mirin and Cornstarch mixture and mix well
5. Bring to a boil and then turn off heat (Do Not Over Boil)
Over Boiling may cause the sauce to turn out to Salty!
6. Let the sauce cool to 40° F
7. When sauce is cooled, add Orange and Lemon Juice (set aside)

Plating of the Citrus Soy Wild Salmon
FINAL PROCEDURE:
1. Brush pre-heated grill clean (Med. High Flame)
2. Place Salmon Filet on hot grill (presentation side down). Cook for 2 to 2.5 Minutes, flip and cook 2 to 2.5 minutes (approx. 5 minutes or until medium)
3. Meanwhile, place 2 fluid oz of the Citrus Soy sauce and 2 TB of butter in a Small saucepan on medium heat. Swirl until butter dissolves.(set aside)
4. Mound the cooked rice on the middle of the plate
5. Gently place the grilled Salmon on the rice
6. Drizzle the sauce over the grilled Salmon
7. Mound the Micro Greens on Salmon
8. Drizzle Lemon Olive Oil over the greens and Salmon

Beverage Pairing: We love this dish with Paul Dolan Chardonnay or P.F. Chang's Chinese 88 our twist on the classic French 75.

Website: www.pfchangs.com

Wordless Wednesday-Bark bark!

Do you see the dog? or his bark?

For more Wordless Wednesday, check these out.

Drummond Home

Amazing Grace (Scottish Bagpipes)

Drummond Scottish Heritage

 Play the music while you look at the photos below:

Welcome back!  Natasha welcomes your visit.

Pretty table setting.  My mother-in-law had a set of

Royal Doulton brought back from Germany after WWII 

by her brother.  They were the Old Country Roses pattern.

Addie Drummond's bedroom

A secretary desk

German brass bed

Modern conveniences

Cooking with gas

Natasha visits the Dummond Home

Natasha had a lovely visit at the Drummond Home.

She enjoyed riding in the car.

You may have to look closely to find Natasha.

Here she is posing on the steps.

The ladies at the Home were more than glad to visit with

us.  We were very much welcomed.

They were quite delighted with Natasha.  

Let's come inside.  This is the first room off of the entry.

Probably used as a parlor.  Notice the portraits of Fred

and Addie Drummond.  This is a beautifully restored

room.  The wallpapers were so colorful in the Victorian

era.  There is Natasha on the table.

Of course, this was Natasha's favorite room, the children's

playroom on the third floor.

We have more photos to post sometime later.  We enjoyed

our visit immensely.

The French

Notre Dame  (click to embiggen)  

Marilyn at Simmer Till Done got me thinking about

Paris since she has visited there recently.  Not a thing I 

like better to think about and dream about.  I have so

many books about France and French in general.  I have

only visited there once and would love to return soon.

Here are some bits of information that might prove 

useful to you when you travel to France.

"The French are different from you and me.  Theirs

is not a puritan country.  We speak with an air of detachment,

even distrust, of the pursuit of happiness.  The French just

go ahead with it--and they've organized a country and a 

great city to make sure they catch what they're chasing...

What I mean is that the French have developed the arts of

leisure to a higher degree than we have.  Eating, drinking,

gossiping, just enjoying--the French do it with unique style...

An American has more of a chance to become the person he

or she aspires to be.  A Frenchman is more locked in by where

he was born, what his father did, how he speaks the language.  

But, God, the French know how to live.  And thank God the 

rest of us can share life with them for a while..."  

~Richard Reeves-"An American in Paris"

According to Polly Platt in her book, "French of Foe?", there

are certain codes one must adhere to when visiting or living

in France.  

Code 1:  Don't smile.  "French people don't smile blandly

as they walk down the street.  They don't smile without a 

reason."  De-smile your public face.

Code 2:  Flirt.  It can come in handy when it comes to

receiving help.  You do it with your eyes.  

Code 3:  Use the ten magic words!  The first five are:

"Excusez-moi de vous deranger, monsieur (or madame)..."

"Excuse me for disturbing you, Sir, or Madam.."

"This is the charm that warms the hearts of impatient 

Parisians on the street.  The five magic words click with

Frenchmen like the responding smile with Americans."

The five magic words work wonders and if you add five

more:  "J'ai un probleme" ("I have a problem"), you 

qualify as a person to be respected and helped to the

very limit of the Frenchman's possibilities.  

Code 4:  Add "Monsieur" or "Madame" to "Hello."

You must always say hello and goodbye to all of the

strangers that you have an exchange with in the stores.

"Bonjour, monsieur (or madame) and au revoir, monsieur

(or madame).

Code 5:  Shake hands!  You shake hello and goodbye.

This is more for people living there and working.

Code 6:  Watch out at the door!  Just because you

got to a door first does not mean that you should go 

through it first.  It's called the bataille de la porte (the

battle of the doorway) and also takes place at the elevator.

Rank and sex are key here.  

Benjamin Franklin said:  "Everyman has two countries,

his own and France."  

Wordless Wednesday-Like a Bird on a Wire

Crop duster-bird on a wire

Be sure and watch this little ditty.

Very interesting.

For more Wordless Wednesday go here.