on friday i watched the live feed of the ceremony in dallas honoring the anniversary of JFK's assassination. NPR told me that david mccullough's speech was not to be missed; they were spot on. i thought it was incredibly moving. JFK's words so powerful, so relevant, even 50 years later.
(i am VERY annoyed that i can't link to a video of the whole speech - i can't find one! but this is the transcript, and this is part of mccullough's reading. i also can't find a good link to the navy glee club singing the battle hymn of the republic, which was fantastic. the internet is really failing me.)
Monday, November 25, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
cookbooks
when my grandma died last year, among her belongings that were passed down were a bunch of cookbooks. i love to cook, as this blog can attest, and i have a lot of food memories of my grandma: being forced to eat this gross ground beef/potato/apple (is this memory even correct?) casserole as a child, making cookies with her in the kitchen on many occasions, being taught to make the fruit cake recipe for my dad.
both before and after she passed away i got some of her cookbooks. today you get a tour of them.
cookbook 1: the new york times cookbook from 1961
for about the last 10 years of her life, my grandma kept trying to give away some of her belongings. "look through the bookshelf and take some books!" "would you have any use for…?" her belongings had already been condensed to fit into a tiny apartment and were being reduced even more to fit into her room when she moved into the skilled nursing facility. this is a book that i took during my last visit to see her before she died, when it was clear that, yes, there wasn't room for all her books anymore.
cookbook 2: staples' treasure of personal recipes from 1952
grandma grew up in staples, minnesota, and this is a cookbook that the women in her parents' church put together. she gave me this book even earlier - maybe 7 or 8 years ago when i went to visit. inside - and shown below - is mrs. kenneth kingsley's recipe for fruit cake, which must be made around the holidays. grandma showed my sister and i how to make it - measuring crisco from a can into a measuring cup because that's what the recipe said - and then gave me the book. (don't worry, when i remember to make this for dad, who loves it, we use margarine instead of crisco.) i love that this recipe says to cook the fruit cake "in lower oven in 3 coffee cans." below my grandma has translated this: 325 degrees.
cookbook 3: betty crocker's picture cookbook from 1950
this is a book i was incredibly touched to receive. after my grandma died, we held a memorial service for her at my parents' farm. we set up a little exhibition of her things in one of the rooms of our house, and family members took things as the weekend ended. this cookbook was left behind, i thought accidentally, but my aunt monica wanted me to have it. this was grandma's daily cookbook, and it is so well-loved...stained from years of cooking with it open on the counter...with handwritten notes...duct-taped back together...extra recipes shoved between pages.
ruby likes the illustrations.
the cookies page was definitely the most well-used.
cookbook 4: gold medal flour cookbook from 1910
this little paper cookbook was my great-grandmother's and is 103 years old. i was baking this morning (peach muffins to bring to a meeting that i'm leading tomorrow), and thought this was a fitting picture. i should be in an ad. gold medal flour people: call me.
i think this cookbook must have been one you sent away for after buying so many bags of flour; it's personalized with my great-grandmother's name (lilah poore) on the cover. this cookbook, too, is well-loved: stained and taped together and a little crumbly at the corners from its age.
it's one big advertisement for the flour, but has tons of recipes, too. gold medal people: i will even stand in this pose for our TV ad if you want me to.
this thanksgiving we'll have my grandma's green bean casserole and blueberry cobbler on the table. we'll keep eating the same things that have been eaten in our family for years and years…and years and years to come.
both before and after she passed away i got some of her cookbooks. today you get a tour of them.
cookbook 1: the new york times cookbook from 1961
for about the last 10 years of her life, my grandma kept trying to give away some of her belongings. "look through the bookshelf and take some books!" "would you have any use for…?" her belongings had already been condensed to fit into a tiny apartment and were being reduced even more to fit into her room when she moved into the skilled nursing facility. this is a book that i took during my last visit to see her before she died, when it was clear that, yes, there wasn't room for all her books anymore.
cookbook 2: staples' treasure of personal recipes from 1952
cookbook 3: betty crocker's picture cookbook from 1950
this is a book i was incredibly touched to receive. after my grandma died, we held a memorial service for her at my parents' farm. we set up a little exhibition of her things in one of the rooms of our house, and family members took things as the weekend ended. this cookbook was left behind, i thought accidentally, but my aunt monica wanted me to have it. this was grandma's daily cookbook, and it is so well-loved...stained from years of cooking with it open on the counter...with handwritten notes...duct-taped back together...extra recipes shoved between pages.
ruby likes the illustrations.
the cookies page was definitely the most well-used.
cookbook 4: gold medal flour cookbook from 1910
this little paper cookbook was my great-grandmother's and is 103 years old. i was baking this morning (peach muffins to bring to a meeting that i'm leading tomorrow), and thought this was a fitting picture. i should be in an ad. gold medal flour people: call me.
i think this cookbook must have been one you sent away for after buying so many bags of flour; it's personalized with my great-grandmother's name (lilah poore) on the cover. this cookbook, too, is well-loved: stained and taped together and a little crumbly at the corners from its age.
it's one big advertisement for the flour, but has tons of recipes, too. gold medal people: i will even stand in this pose for our TV ad if you want me to.
this thanksgiving we'll have my grandma's green bean casserole and blueberry cobbler on the table. we'll keep eating the same things that have been eaten in our family for years and years…and years and years to come.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
texas is sort of its own country, part 1
since i've moved to texas i've observed many things that i've never seen before. thus i begin an ongoing series where i will chronicle the things i observe in texas that, pieced together, give you a picture of what life is like in my corner of this state.
1. armadillo road kill. enough said.
2. spicy food. i am a person who likes a little spice - i will order thai or indian food with medium spice, not mild. but here the options to make your food spicier are everywhere, and people make use of them. my coworkers put jalapeños on MANY things. at the burrito place across the street from my apartment you have TWO jalapeño options: fresh or pickled. two jalapeño options. i will let that soak in.
3. people drive big trucks and big SUVs. like, a noticeably larger number of people than anywhere else i've lived.
4. breakfast burritos everywhere. whole restaurants devoted to breakfast burritos. my school serves breakfast, and breakfast burritos are an option every day.
5. it is hot here. until a cold front came through (highs this week: in the 50s - woo!), it was still getting into the 80s a couple times a week. yes, in november. the thing is: i kind of don't mind. i might be getting used to it.
1. armadillo road kill. enough said.
2. spicy food. i am a person who likes a little spice - i will order thai or indian food with medium spice, not mild. but here the options to make your food spicier are everywhere, and people make use of them. my coworkers put jalapeños on MANY things. at the burrito place across the street from my apartment you have TWO jalapeño options: fresh or pickled. two jalapeño options. i will let that soak in.
3. people drive big trucks and big SUVs. like, a noticeably larger number of people than anywhere else i've lived.
4. breakfast burritos everywhere. whole restaurants devoted to breakfast burritos. my school serves breakfast, and breakfast burritos are an option every day.
5. it is hot here. until a cold front came through (highs this week: in the 50s - woo!), it was still getting into the 80s a couple times a week. yes, in november. the thing is: i kind of don't mind. i might be getting used to it.
Friday, November 22, 2013
a kitten a day
Someone "helping" me with my knitting...
And yes, I am aware that I knit and I have a cat, both arguably old lady things. If I promise not to knit my cat anything, do I retain my young person status? And by "young person," I obviously mean 31 year old.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
a kitten a day
ruby is six months old today! (or, approximately six months old…i'm going by the birth date the SPCA gave me, which perhaps they made up.)
two month old, newly adopted ruby:
six month old ruby:
someone gained some weight. and a big old spot in my heart.
two month old, newly adopted ruby:
six month old ruby:
someone gained some weight. and a big old spot in my heart.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
songs i've shazamed recently
"let her go," by passenger (i love this guy's voice):
"unconditionally," by katy perry (try NOT to belt this out when you hear it in the car):
"unconditionally," by katy perry (try NOT to belt this out when you hear it in the car):
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
i'm not going to lie: i was a little nervous about my first birthday in a new city. would new friends want to take the time to celebrate with me? i debated not planning a dinner because i worried everyone would say no and then i would be REALLY SAD.
and then i woke up today and it was fall - 50 degrees when i went to my car, high of 70 - the perfect fall day. one of my coworkers found my sister's email address online (she knew where becky worked) and asked her what my favorite dessert is, then made cheesecake swirl brownies for me. six people from work joined me for happy hour drinks. the three non-work friends that i texted about dinner all could come, and ALL brought me cards or little presents while we ate some delish indian food. i talked to my family. i got texts and facebook posts from so many people. i came home to a sweet purring cat.
i choke up thinking about the love in my life because of my friends and family spread far and wide. i hope each of you know how much you mean to me.
additionally: sing it, joni. happy birthday to you, too!
"love is touching souls. surely you touched mine."
and then i woke up today and it was fall - 50 degrees when i went to my car, high of 70 - the perfect fall day. one of my coworkers found my sister's email address online (she knew where becky worked) and asked her what my favorite dessert is, then made cheesecake swirl brownies for me. six people from work joined me for happy hour drinks. the three non-work friends that i texted about dinner all could come, and ALL brought me cards or little presents while we ate some delish indian food. i talked to my family. i got texts and facebook posts from so many people. i came home to a sweet purring cat.
i choke up thinking about the love in my life because of my friends and family spread far and wide. i hope each of you know how much you mean to me.
additionally: sing it, joni. happy birthday to you, too!
"love is touching souls. surely you touched mine."
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
a photo a day
more pictures from our time in DC for my cousin sara's wedding!
the washington monument is undergoing restoration, but that did not stop us from taking a mini group picture in front of it.
sisters at the wedding!
family picture before the wedding - loving the fall colors in the background! it was a gorgeous weekend in DC and it was so fun to spend time with all 28 members of my dad's side of the family who made the trip - everyone was there!
the washington monument is undergoing restoration, but that did not stop us from taking a mini group picture in front of it.
sisters at the wedding!
family picture before the wedding - loving the fall colors in the background! it was a gorgeous weekend in DC and it was so fun to spend time with all 28 members of my dad's side of the family who made the trip - everyone was there!
An introvert's worst nightmare? I was just the only person in a yoga class. The. Only. Person. This means the instructor's entire attention was focused on me the whole time. Eeeeeek.
My yoga studio has added a second location half a mile from where I work - awesome! Buuuut apparently the first week since it opened has been very slow. So I was the only person in this class, but the instructor was great, and I got a lot of personalized attention - in what turned out to be a good way. However, when you are the only person in a class your instructor knows when you can hold a pose longer. Damn it. I will be sore tomorrow.
Bonus: he told me I have "one of the nicest chairs poses I've seen in a while." People, I will take any compliments you would like to aim my direction.
Now: a muggy 80 degree commute home.
Monday, November 4, 2013
a photo a day
halloween: the deans were the seven dwarfs! at our school the pre-K and kindergarten kids go on a parade around school in their costumes. we found a mini snow white to complete our look!!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
a photo a day
from my cousin sara's wedding on friday night - my dad and uncle loved on baby molly for much of the night while molly's parents danced. this may have been from the portion of the night where my dad covered one of molly's ears because he decided the music was too loud for her. love it!
me: there is nothing my dad and uncle matt love more than a baby to hang out with.
my cousin laura: they are also eating cake!
me: okay, this could not be more perfect.
me: there is nothing my dad and uncle matt love more than a baby to hang out with.
my cousin laura: they are also eating cake!
me: okay, this could not be more perfect.
Friday, November 1, 2013
october: 30 & 31
this month i read these two books at the same time - one night, a couple chapters of one…the next night, a couple chapters of the other. somehow it worked out like that…maybe because some nights the idea of reading columbine was too sad, while other nights i pored over it and didn't mind that i occasionally got teary-eyed.
all creatures great and small, by james herriot (though my parents own all of james herriot's books [this is what happens when you grow up on a farm], i had only read occasional stories, and it was so fun to pick up this book from the library and read it front to back. he is an amazing storyteller, and having miss ruby around made me appreciate some of these stories more than i might have otherwise. sprinkled throughout the book is the story of meeting his wife, which was so sweet and so funny. i had thought of herriot as a writer of animal stories, but this book is really a memoir of his first years of being a vet - much more than a collection of stories. i would highly recommend this book! short chapters, too - perfect reading while you're traveling.)
columbine, by dave cullen (i cannot recommend this book highly enough…i found it FASCINATING. it's the story of the shooting at columbine high school, and it's not the story you remember from watching the news. the story i remember: two misfit boys who played first-person violent video games and wore black trench coats all the time decided to kill the popular kids at their high school. that's what the media reported…and most of that is not true. the reality is a lot more complex. cullen also tells the story of how the police and FBI responded, and they made some crucial mistakes; post-columbine, "active shooter" protocols have been developed in response to the critique that the police didn't move in fast enough, costing some people their lives. fact: the shooters killed themselves 20 minutes after entering the school. the police didn't enter for 4 more hours. woah. read this book.)
all creatures great and small, by james herriot (though my parents own all of james herriot's books [this is what happens when you grow up on a farm], i had only read occasional stories, and it was so fun to pick up this book from the library and read it front to back. he is an amazing storyteller, and having miss ruby around made me appreciate some of these stories more than i might have otherwise. sprinkled throughout the book is the story of meeting his wife, which was so sweet and so funny. i had thought of herriot as a writer of animal stories, but this book is really a memoir of his first years of being a vet - much more than a collection of stories. i would highly recommend this book! short chapters, too - perfect reading while you're traveling.)
columbine, by dave cullen (i cannot recommend this book highly enough…i found it FASCINATING. it's the story of the shooting at columbine high school, and it's not the story you remember from watching the news. the story i remember: two misfit boys who played first-person violent video games and wore black trench coats all the time decided to kill the popular kids at their high school. that's what the media reported…and most of that is not true. the reality is a lot more complex. cullen also tells the story of how the police and FBI responded, and they made some crucial mistakes; post-columbine, "active shooter" protocols have been developed in response to the critique that the police didn't move in fast enough, costing some people their lives. fact: the shooters killed themselves 20 minutes after entering the school. the police didn't enter for 4 more hours. woah. read this book.)
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