Simbahhhh ...

The weather has been unseasonably warm all this winter and spring, giving us all access to the outdoors without having to bundle up like polar bears first. It's very unusual to have no snow cover at all at this time of year. There have even been days recently when I've been able to leave the back door open for Simba to go in and out, although now the flies are onto us so we have to keep the screen door closed. Often, I look outside to see him relaxing at the edge of the yard, on patrol ... sort of. More like on drugs. 'Ludes. Valium. Not that I would know anything about those.

If a rodent came by (our fond name for squirrels, chipmunks, and more rodentious rodents like mice and voles), make no mistake about it. He'd be in instant fifth gear, churning up the deck to get to the little guys. We definitely have a lower population since he's taken up permanent residence. He never catches 'em, but he causes 'em to consider other options for their meals for sure!

This is my entry in Sweetnick's Weekend Dog Blogging. Check out all the fun pups who make regular appearances on the page of a Sunday night!

caption recap

This is probably the longest my blog has ever "gone dark." The murder mystery dinner Saturday took all my time up till then and even the day after. Since then, I've been catching up on all the things that were put on hold in the runup to the play ... which was a complete hoot, by the way!

I've been waiting to post about it until I could get the pictures from the photographer. I was dying to post one for you all so you could see me in my disguise. Imagine my disappointment, then, to discover that there was NOT ONE PICTURE of my bewhiskered face! Most of the pictures that he took were of the audience during the clue hunt, not very many of the play. I must admit, I was crushed ... but I got over it. I'll post some musings about "the theatuh" experience and a couple of photos in a later post.

What is Simba saying?

Meantime, look at the fun captions everyone came up with for Simba's photo of uplifted arms. His previous owner called this his "Praise The Lord" posture; in fact, that's the command he knows. The command is nearly always followed by a treat, so he's very "faithful" in obeying it! He can usually stay up in that posture and wait until he can take very gently take the treat in his little teeth. This is a very fun dog, if you will allow me a little bragga-doggio!

Ok, enough bad wordplay, let's see what the clever folk had to say!

Eva Alice over at Running Home said...

"I totally love the new Denise Austin workout video. I've got to get these abs and thighs toned before swimsuit season."

Lynne at Lynne to Lean carried on the healthy body theme with ...

"This doggie yoga is doing wonders for my flexibility! I can hold the 'downward dog reverse position' for hours while I contemplate the meaning of life!"

Barbara (Biscuit Girl) was the essence of brevity...

Peek-a boo!

And the ever-charming Mike said...

Ok, ok, they're covered. I wonder if anyone can see me. Yooo whooo. Anybody there?

Margaret of the itchy back chimed in with ...

Oh, its that itch right in the middle of the shoulder blades that is SO hard to get.

I just couldn't resist adding my own two cents worth ...

"Yes, please, a treat, please, but please, no pictures! My hair's a mess today!"

And we welcome a new contributor, My (Mike? Is that you?) who mistook my fluffy little guy for a girl (happens all the time) and said ...

In doggy language (or is it "doggie"? I'm never quite sure!) she's saying I'm in my happy place here at home so I trust things enough to lie on my back, but also my mommy raised me right that a lady keeps her dignity at all times!

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Even during the countdown to the play, I took a few moments to enjoy the comments as they came in. You gave me some normalcy in the midst of all the craziness! And now, I sign off, to return soon with some Easter pictures and the promised theatuh musings. Till then ...

caption recap

This is probably the longest my blog has ever "gone dark." The murder mystery dinner Saturday took all my time up till then and even the day after. Since then, I've been catching up on all the things that were put on hold in the runup to the play ... which was a complete hoot, by the way!

I've been waiting to post about it until I could get the pictures from the photographer. I was dying to post one for you all so you could see me in my disguise. Imagine my disappointment, then, to discover that there was NOT ONE PICTURE of my bewhiskered face! Most of the pictures that he took were of the audience during the clue hunt, not very many of the play. I must admit, I was crushed ... but I got over it. I'll post some musings about "the theatuh" experience and a couple of photos in a later post.

Meantime, look at the fun captions everyone came up with for Simba's photo of uplifted arms. His previous owner called this his "Praise The Lord" posture; in fact, that's the command he knows. The command is nearly always followed by a treat, so he's very "faithful" in obeying it! He can usually stay up in that posture and wait until he can very gently take the treat in his little teeth. This is a very fun dog, if you will allow me a little bragga-doggio!

Ok, enough bad wordplay, let's see what the clever folk had to say!

Eva Alice over at Running Home said...

"I totally love the new Denise Austin workout video. I've got to get these abs and thighs toned before swimsuit season."

Lynne at From Lynne to Lean carried on the healthy body theme with ...

"This doggie yoga is doing wonders for my flexibility! I can hold the 'downward dog reverse position' for hours while I contemplate the meaning of life!"

Barbara (Biscuit Girl) was the essence of brevity...

Peek-a boo!

And the ever-charming Mike said...

Ok, ok, they're covered. I wonder if anyone can see me. Yooo whooo. Anybody there?

Margaret of the itchy back chimed in with ...

Oh, its that itch right in the middle of the shoulder blades that is SO hard to get.

I just couldn't resist adding my own two cents worth ...

"Yes, please, a treat, please, but please, no pictures! My hair's a mess today!"

And we welcome a new contributor, My (Mike? Is that you?) who mistook my fluffy little guy for a girl (happens all the time) and said ...

In doggy language (or is it "doggie"? I'm never quite sure!) she's saying I'm in my happy place here at home so I trust things enough to lie on my back, but also my mommy raised me right that a lady keeps her dignity at all times!

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Even during the countdown to the play, I took a few moments to enjoy the comments as they came in. You gave me some normalcy in the midst of all the craziness! And now, I sign off, to return soon with some Easter pictures and the promised theatuh musings. Till then ...

in the countdown!

The banquet and murder mystery play are tomorrow night. This week, our two male actors both fell ill with the flu. One has been unable to rehearse for most of the week, barely able to get out of bed. The other just fell ill last night; I haven't heard how serious his illness is. They're both troopers, though; if they can be there, they will. Friend R hurt her back gardening this week. Friend M just began having a sore throat last night. I'm fighting a UTI and significant arm pain. I haven't seen a doctor, but I'm fearing it might be carpal tunnel.

Only one of our little troupe is physically whole going into this little adventure. So far.

But never fear! The show will go on, even if we have to hand scripts to audience members! We've promised a murder mystery dinner, and a murder mystery dinner it shall be.

P.S. If you're a praying person, you know what to do! (Please?)

caption contest #2

What is Simba saying?

Who knows? This could turn into a weekly event. There certainly are many enigmatic Simba pictures around.

But this time, I won't put myself through the trauma of judging whose entry is the best. It's just for fun! But I'm thinking of picking one or two and creating those balloon things ... what are those called? like in a cartoon? ... as well as listing all the comments in a post next week.

I am dying to see what you come up with this time. Last time was loads o' laughs!

Leave your caption in the comments, please. I'll do a roundup next Wednesday.

watching

When you hear the first geese of the season, you just have to sit down and watch them fly by

something out of nothing

... so I heads down to get me some brekkie, reaches for me bowl, me spoon, me cereal, me ... what?? No milk??

Two cups of dry cereal later, I know I'm going to be in a world o' hurtin' for lunch, when the time comes. I'm wanting to eat something good and good for me, but the larder is mighty bare. There's ice cream ... but nuh-uh. Can't do that. Brownies baked for the Huz. Nope.

Gotta think about this.

Four hours later, I'm back to rummaging. And then I see it. In the very back of the top shelf of the fridge. In a mason jar 5 times too large for its contents. A jar with some olive oil with sun dried tomatoes and fresh thyme. Put together, you guessed it, at the end of last summer, trying a Martha Stewart recipe that she assured me would be just wonderful, tossed on some warm pasta. But it looks so doggone weird, I haven't been moved to try it.

Haven't been desperate enough to try it.

Till now.

20 minutes later ...

My whole wheat pasta's been tossed with this olive oil, which I've nuked to get into liquid form. A small, trepidatious portion has gone into a bowl. Taste. Sprinkle with de kosher. Taste. Mmmmm! How about a sprinkle of parmesan? MMMMM!

Peoples, no more world o' hurtin'. This stuff is mighty darn good, especially when you stop to think of its vintage. Summer '05. The leathery, powerful flavor of the tomatoes has permeated the oil, but the thyme is surprisingly able to stand up to it. The salt adds a hint of indefinable warmth to it all, and adding cheese made it just right in my book.

I could never have imagined it would be so yummy.

So, here's the recipe (although that seems a little grandiose a word for what follows) as near as I can reconstruct it. And reconstruct it I shall. I still have more of those sun-dried tomatoes from last summer! Which reminds me ... is it cheating to call them sun-dried when you dried them in your dehydrator?

Cover the bottom of your container with a layer of sundried tomato slices and a bit of fresh thyme. Gently cover them with olive oil, enough so they are completely covered and a tiny bit more. Repeat. Cover tightly, store in the refrigerator.

When ready to use, cook up some pasta (I used whole wheat, delicious!), scoop out an appropriate amount of olive oil mixture, thaw it a bit in the microwave or on the counter if you've thought ahead, and toss the two. Add a sprinkling of kosher salt and, if you like, some shredded parmesan.

And would you believe, having just had this experience, I discover that Lindy over at Toast is hosting a one-time Something Out of Nothing event. It's all good. Go check her out Monday, when she will do a roundup of the ingenious, low-cost, delicious dishes we've all put together by scrounging the bottoms of our veggie bins and the frosted corners of our freezers. You never know when you, too, will be desperate, and in need of inspiration.

murder and simba, a harmonious blend

We're in the runup to the murder mystery dinner, which will be next Saturday, the 8th. Which means we're heading into Hell Week: 3-hour rehearsals every night starting tomorrow. I'm surprised and delighted to find that my spirits are still pretty good! Despite constant rehearsals, negotiations, suggestions for improvements in performances, changes this way, changes back, all my co-thespians apparently still like each other! or at least, I still like them ... and my stress levels aren't doing too badly.

The latter situation has been greatly aided by being able to complete a few projects and get them off the list; and also by having a fabulous co-laborer in the banquet arena. She's so calm, so competent, and so experienced, that I just feel as if I have nothing to worry about, nothing that comes up will faze her, the show will go on!

So far we have a little over 70 folks signed up for the banquet, and there is usually a last-minute rush of signups, so hurray! We should have a full house for the benefit. Any my acting debut. Ahem.

Anyway, all this lightening of the load (and consequently of my spirits) left me feeling as if I had time to enjoy watching Simba as he wandered up our hill this morning. The sun was peeking over the hill behind him, and he is a wonder to behold with sunlight coming through that red-blond fur. I got lots of fun shots for him, which I will edit and post later, but for now I just had to share this beauty with you!

And this will be my entry for Sweetnick's Weekend Dog Blogging. For a riotously funny, touchingly poignant, loving look at canine friends, check it out this Sunday night.

the abdul rahman case

I previously posted a link on this subject that I discovered, to my chagrin, went to an article that was basically a rant against other bloggers. Not my intention! I meant to post an interview with Rahman himself, where he explained his courageous stand. This is the posting I had intended to link to.

Now, you know I don't normally do posts on political issues. But this whole story is so incredibly fascinating to me, for so many reasons. Foremost among them, of course, is concern for this man's life.

It strikes me as so odd that people think they can force belief on others. Surely they must understand that they cannot. At most, you can force another to pretend he believes. But if that is the case, then what are they hoping to accomplish with a law that says you must die for leaving "the faith?" They want to force an appearance of faithfulness; in effect, they are forcing hypocrisy, the very thing that Jesus chastised the Pharisees for. I have heard Muslims claim to have a reverence for the teaching of Jesus. But perhaps those are different Muslims from the ones who enforce Shariya law, because those people clearly have no problem with hypocrisy.

And now they're saying he will be excused from punishment because he's mentally incompetent. That requires "forgiveness," not punishment. You have to wonder if that's just a desperate excuse to get them out of the very negative limelight they now occupy. In fact, an editorial at the Washington Times suggests just such a thing. The editorial also muses on the inherent conflict between a constitution that protects religious freedom while enshrining Shariya law as the law of the land. You can't have both, and it was only a matter of time before this issue came to a head.

Another thread of my reaction, though, says, What's so special about this one man, when literally thousands of Christians are persecuted or martyred annually? In India, Indonesia, Sudan, and many other countries all around the world, saying you're a Christian draws a big bulls-eye target on you. You risk your life just by being Christian in such countries and more. It's an act of courage to tell the truth. And if you dare to talk about Jesus to others, the ante goes up dramatically.

You may be aware that most Christians believe if they don't tell others about Jesus and his offer of salvation through belief in him, they are withholding from them the key to eternal life; in fact, to be blunt, they are withholding from them the information that will save them from eternal agony. Imagine the dilemma, to look at your neighbor and friend and ask yourself, "Do I love her enough to tell her about Jesus, knowing it could get me killed? Knowing she might not choose to believe in him anyway, and perhaps I will be killed without even having helped save her?"

It's a choice nobody should have to make. And it points out the importance of freedom of religion. Sso we're back to Ahmed Rahman. I'm glad he's had a stay of execution. But I wish the world would pay attention to all the other Ahmeds out there.

so i'm a drama queen ...

Yep, we're approaching what theater insiders call "Hell Week," but as far as I can tell they might as well call it "Hell Half-Month." There are only two nights without rehearsals this week. Next week, it's every night.

But if I weren't also involved getting the food on the tables(and thus fulfilling one of my 5 cooking challenges for 2006!), I suppose I wouldn't be finding this such an incredibly busy time.

So, you know what this means, we've been here before ... probably very little posting between now and next Sunday (4/9). Please take a few deep breaths for me, send prayers or happy thoughts my way, and I'll see you when I surface, hopefully with some fun shots of the play to share!

and we have a winner!

Ok, my friends, this is Simba speaking. The moment of truth has arrived. She Who Feeds Me needed to pick a winner for her caption contest, and what a dither she was in. The truth is, she couldn't do it. You should have seen her, pacing the floor and muttering to herself, "Every one of these captions is so much better than anything I would have added! How can I pick one? It's impossible!

"Lynne with her clever homage to Simba's love of rodents, MLL with early inspiration (he does look like he's praying!) and then a later hilarious burst of inspiration about flies on our food."

I sure hope She Who Feeds Me didn't tell her how scared I am of big buzzy flies!

"Elizabeth playing beautifully off my involvement in a play, Mike harkening back to the old Tootsie Roll Pop commercials, Eva tying in my cooking classes. Stew with his "where's the love" evokes a laugh every time I read it. Mary H coming up with four entries all at once, each one funnier than the last! Rick going all canine Hamlet on us ... yikes! How can I choose? These guys all deserve prizes!"

She was fretting, and fussing. Fussing and fretting. Wearing my persian carpet thin with the pacing.

I had to step in.

So, what's the soft warm fuzzy handsome dog of a computer geek to do? "I know, I know, I'll write a program!" But I came to my senses. Not that I couldn't master programming if I tried, mind you, but there's the thing with those little keys. My paws are too big, and my nose leaves wet marks on them. She Who Feeds Me hates it when I do that.

But, see, being the dog of a computer geek, I knew there had to be lots of websites that will generate a random number or two for you. So, I googled "simple random number generator" (Ok, so a few keys got a little damp) and found this site. I assigned each entry a number, ran the number generator, and came up with number 6: Eva Alice! Congratulations, Eva! She Who Feeds Me will be delighted to contact you (after all, that's the EASY part!) to see which book you'd like for your prize.

And now she can get back to the most blood-pressure-lowering activity of all, stroking my belly fur. Ahhhhhh. I've earned it.

P.S. Now that I've got things under control, I've also decided that this should be "our" entry in Weekend Dog Blogging. She Who Feeds Me needs a break from decision-making for a while.

wanted: leg o' lamb recipes

A dear friend who just became dearer gave me a 5-lb organic leg of lamb! The Huz & I love lamb, it's been a tradition at his family's Easter table for years, and Easter is at my house this year! I would love to hear from you if you have a good, basic roast leg of lamb recipe, or if you can point me to one that you think sounds divine! I trust and turn for help to my fellow bloggers and blog-readers ... here's hopin' you can help me out!

brilliant green chinese broccoli

The Huz and I love broccoli. I've always tended to steam it, but one day when my friend Jun decided to make me lunch, I learned this simple, delicious technique. This is a really simple dish. Almost too simple to blog, but for the fact that I'd never made it this way before and it tastes so good. I figure if I'd never learned it, maybe there's someone else out there who hasn't, either.

Jun is native-born Chinese, but has traveled in Europe and the U.S. and is a wonderful cook. No recipes for her, no sirree. Chop, cook, eat, and she let me watch her from start to finish. Everything she made was yum, but the two dishes I've replicated at home are scrambled eggs made with tomatoes, and this broccoli dish. It makes broccoli that's brilliant green, firm without being crunchy, and with a smooth, almost nutty broccoli flavor. Try it and see for yourself!

Cut the broccoli with short stems, and slice through the center of the broccoli at least once, more if it's a wide florette. You're shooting for a size that will cook through relatively quickly without being so thin it will break apart from stirring.

Heat your frying pan over medium-high heat. While it's heating, get a cup or so of water ready, right next to the stove. When you need it, you won't have time to go get it.

When the pan is hot, add your oil, more than you would think ... for this two-serving batch I added a little less than ¼ cup (see picture 1). Hey, did you read "low fat" anywhere in the title? At least I used EVOO*!

The oil should get hot fairly quickly. When you see it ripple, toss in the broccoli pieces. Quickly stir them with a wooden spoon or large chopsticks, trying to get each surface rapidly hot. The heat will cause the broccs to turn a brilliant green (see picture 2). That's when you toss in some water, maybe 1/4 or 1/3 cup. Steam! (see picture 3)

Continue cooking over medium-high heat while the water evaporates. Stick a fork in the broccoli just before the water's all gone to see if it's the doneness you like. If not, throw in a bit more water and keep cooking.

Add salt to taste. I used kosher salt, and lots of it. --- Hey! did you see "low salt" anywhere in the title? Eat immediately, on rice or in a bowl by itself or with chopsticks straight from the pan standing over the sink. Anything goes, when you make brilliant green chinese broccoli.

*Rachel Ray-speak for extra-virgin olive oil
*This is my entry for ARF/5-a-day over at Sweetnick's. Check it out Tuesday, when she will post a roundup of an immense variety of anti-oxidant rich foods for us all to try. It's a public health service. And fun, besides!

weekend fun and drama

Yesterday I did the last entertaining that I will do until Easter weekend. GASP! Did you hear me say that? My heart flutters at the thought. But it's true. I have a really good reason, but even the reason makes me gasp: I'm going to be in a play. A fact I alluded to in a previous post, casually, as if it were something that occurs on a routine basis, blasé little thespian am I.

Not! I haven't been in a play since grade school ... and I didn't have the lead role in that one. No, I was Mrs. Smith. I had one line. "Really, Jimmy!" pronounced very huffily after having sat in a chair to find little Jimmy suddenly there. Yep, I remember it vividly for a couple of reasons. One: in every rehearsal, I very casually sat in that chair without once looking back to make sure my fellow actor had gotten scooted into the chair behind me. Because, of course, I needed to be surprised. But for the play? You guessed it. Nerves. I looked. Kind of blew the surprise bit.

The other reason is that after the play, my big sister (a/k/a "Seester") helped me take my makeup off. You might have noticed from my photo that I have a rather prominent mole on my right cheek. My sister kept scrubbing and scrubbing at it, and I thought she was having trouble getting the makeup off it. Come to find out, my sister had seen that mole so much she forgot it was there, and she was trying to scrub it off! LOL!

Anyway, this play is a short one, only about twenty minutes total. But! I have a lead role. And! I have to play a man! A **British** man! So in addition to learning lots of lines, and where to move when, and what sort of reaction to have while others are talking, I have to learn a British accent, and I have to refrain from letting my hips swing or my wrists flop or my eyelashes flutter (which I evidently do more than I realized, because people keep having to remind me!) I have a feeling the audience will be expecting that part of the mystery is that my character is, in fact, a woman. But, no, it's just that we couldn't find a guy who would commit to doing the part, and I'm the tallest woman. Really. It's the only thing I've got going for me.

Can you spell S-T-R-E-T-C-H?

So, every spare minute between now and then will be spent practicing this play, which I suspect I will be calling "this wretched play" before it's all over. I'll post some pics of me in drag when I have some. Should be good for a laugh. Hopefully not a snicker. :o)

Editor's note: See the wrapup on the murder mystery.

Anyway, yesterday we had some old friends, Jim and Debbie, over for brunch after church. I didn't have time to get creative, so I served a brunch menu that I blogged before because, with some prep the day before, it is so amazingly easy to pull together the day of the brunch. We had a lovely time, sitting over coffee long after the food was all eaten, nibbling on extra fruit and scones when the spirit (I'll let you guess which one) moved us. It was great to touch bases with these guys. Way too much time had gone under the bridge or over the dam or wherever time goes when you're busy.

So, I guess the social me will have to draw nourishment from fellow cast members, or memories of yesterday's lovely brunch, to tide me over till this play thing is done. And then watch out! Much pent-up entertaining energy will be released. You might want to stay clear of the area for a while.

caption contest

As I considered this picture and how I wanted to caption it, I came up with so many silly captions that I just couldn't pick one. And I'm not even particularly creative, but I know some of you are!

So, let's have a caption contest! I'll offer a prize for the best caption: your choice of Dr Phil's The Ultimate Weight Solution or Douglas Adams' The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (sequel to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy").

Leave your suggestions in the comments for us all to enjoy. Judging to be done by yours truly, my decision final, my entries not eligible, etc, etc. I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

P.S. This post was inspired by Lynne, who requested more Simba photos. <3