Squash Soup. Danish. A patchwork something.

Yesterday I made three things.

1. Apple - cheese danish. In my quest to find apple recipes (apple-picking season= lots of apples), I am branching out. I made some apple cheese danish from a recipe in Better Homes & Gardens. I won't bother linking to it because I wouldn't recommend it. Sort of greasy. Better without the cheesy bits. Did you know that the danish cheese is farmer cheese + egg + sugar? You just put some of that on puff pastry, top with sugared apple slices & lemon and bake at 400. Oh, I guess that's the recipe. Not many people seem to make their own danish, but maybe that's because danish really aren't that fabulous. I'd rather have a chocolate croissant or a brioche.

2. Butternut Squash soup. Easy and delish. Recipe from Joy of Cooking. Roast 1 pkg. of butternut squash in 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile saute the white part of two leeks and with some fresh ginger. Add the roasted squash (they say any kind of squash will work), 4 c. of chicken broth. Simmer for 20 minutes. Puree (hello, hand-held blender). Add 2 more cups of chicken broth and simmer a bit longer. Lovely topped with pumpkin seeds or croutons.

3. A mini-quilt-like object. I quilted a log cabin square for no good reason. Just practicing. I think it will become an apron pocket.

Why no pics? Can't find the camera charger and my substitute charger isn't working. A new Nikon one en-route, but never the same as that flat little original. What's the deal with that? Have to get that charger before Halloween, now don't I? Wouldn't pay for the express shipping though, just hoping it will get here from NYC in a day. Life on the edge. That's me.

What did you make today?

Haiku Friday

Big bosomed lady
Dowdy shoes, time-capsule hair
Cheeky pink handbag

Pink patchwork
Originally uploaded by Grey Cottage Studio

bright, juicy smoothie
you will lose your sparkle
sitting out all day

Cigarette smoker
You ruined my lunch
Beware of karma

Pictured :: Not Pictured

Pictured:

- Stillness.  Sometimes I think I take pictures of my kids rather than videos because it's the only time they are quiet.  (in the picture that is, certainly not while being photographed).

-Industry.  October seems to mean - get busy.  Just ask the fleet of squirrels zooming around our yard and the flocks of birds pccking at the grass.  The freight train that is September has left the station;  the holidays are on the horizon, but not in a menacing way;  the yarn calls from the bin;  the apples are hardier than the tomatoes.  More forgiving if you don't make them into something right away.  That suits me.



Not Pictured:
- Grins. The inordinate joy I felt when tooling around with my iLife upgrade. It has a face recognition feature which can result in some interesting questions. It asked if I was Max, which I thought was funny, because I don't think he looks like me, but my computer does.  So there.
- Intrepidation.  Starting a new painting class with a new teacher.  It's daunting. I feel vulnerable.  I love it.

Magical Thinking

I remember when the twins were two-ish and once in a blue moon we'd have a jackpot day. Everyone would nap in sync, wake up cheerfully, eat all the healthy foods I'd prepared, actually play with some of their toys or get engrossed in something wonderful outside. You know the day. You had one too. Anyway, when that day ended, I'd re-hash every detail trying to figure out how to re-create that magic. What time did that nap start? When was meal time? What was the soundtrack? In other words, what could I do to make it happen again.

It seems funny to remember that person now, but I did it again today. Everything fell into place with little guy's napping and our mini-adventure, with the big guys' homework and football practice (not the eating though - nothing's perfect). And already I'm asking myself what I did differently to make this all happen.

As if my actions control all of their moods, wishes, motivations so perfectly.


I think the psychological term is "magical thinking."

If only it were so easy.

Oh well, at least it was a good one. Hope you had one too.

Pictured/Not Pictured

I got mono my senior year in high school right around the time yearbook photos of all clubs/teams etc. So, for the last time in my life that I would be a part of so many things, I was not pictured.

Pictured:
Football on Sunday. One kid ready to run onto the field, the other one really not so into it anymore. Hard to find the right tone for both.

Fall. Indeed, I love you.

Batman. The return of the costume. When Alex was two, he wore a cheetah costume nearly every day and night for six weeks. Jack seems to be following suit with his new Batman costume, already approaching 48 hours. A bit of a battle just to wash it. I love kids in costumes though, so I indulge him.

Not pictured:
Snake under the refrigerator. I don't know why I'm not more freaked out about it.
Mom visit. A great one. The two of us for lunch. It's been a long time since we've done that.
Sibling rivalry. Lots of it.
Weirdly sweet but undeniably yummy meatballs with sauteed chard.
My utter silly joy at having my camera back.