Phriday Phood Philosophy...ode to the perennial vegetable

I adore perennials!  Plant them once and let them go.  I especially enjoy perennial vegetables, since they feed us year after year after year: plants like asparagus, onions, horseradish, and the omnipresent rhubarb.  I truly believe that in some cases, rhubarb has become the new zucchini!  At this time of the year, you want to be sure your car doors are locked or you will find a bunch of rhubarb waiting for you.  If it's a true friend, it will be cleaned and bagged.  If it is a true rhubarb marauder, it will be sitting on your front seat in all its glory, waiting, nay, daring you to do something with it.  Perplexed?  Then I have the answer for you.  Try rhubarb muffins, or rhubarb cookies.  They're a little different than the ordinary pie or crisp, and have amazing flavor.  The recipe links appear below, and as a word of warning...I have rhubarb and can discern where you park!  Have an amazing, bountiful day and know you are loved!

Rhubarb muffins
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/rhubarb-streusel-muffins
BE SURE TO DICE THE RHUBARB INTO SMALL PIECES!

Rhubarb cookies
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/rhubarb-cookies
TRY ADDING A COUPLE DICED STRAWBERRIES TO THE FROSTING!

80

Today, we celebrate with the neighbor next door.  Some time around midnight this morning, 80 years ago, her mother gave birth to an amazing woman.  Okay, that's not quite true.  She gave birth to a bouncing baby girl who has turned into an amazing woman.  For 38 years we have been neighbors, and what a hoot it has been.  To celebrate tonight, we will sneak into the ball game where her grandson is playing baseball and sing to her, toting chocolate chips cookies for those in attendance.  They're fresh out of the oven, and they are good!  I can't wait to see the expression on her face.  It'll be pretty clear, since she will probably kill me!  Ah, well.  At least I will go with memories of a fantastic warm chocolate chip cookie.  Celebrate whenever you can, and know you are loved!

A little bit of fur

That's all she was 16+ years ago when she adopted us from her temporary home at the shelter.  In the next years she was companion, friend, and at times, a singer of duets with her sister...who comcommitently adopted us all those many years ago!  During the last year, she soldiered onward, with a bad wheel, a loss of sight, and a loss of balance.  Today, however, it was clear that she was losing the fight.  In what I truly believe to be the last act of love a human can share with a pet, we made the decision to end her suffering.  While I knew it was coming, I also knew the hole she would leave in our lives.  I was right!  And her duet partner for over sixteen years is looking for her harmony.  We will laugh again.  We will joke about all the fun times with her.  Just not right now!  Now, we miss the fur!  Having friends to help us through is amazing!  Thank you and always remember you are loved!

Why we work...

In case you haven't discerned it, I loved my life as a teacher/ coach.  It was hard work, at times both physically and mentally, but I truly believe there is no more rewarding profession.  It allowed me independence to practice my trade.  It introduced me to an amazing group of youngsters and their families.  It cemented in me a phenomenal group of friends/colleagues.  In short, it was amazing.  These would seem to answer the question why I did what I did.  There is, however, a much less esoteric and philosophical reason.  It stems not from the question, "Why did you choose to teach?" To the far more mundane and core question, "why did you choose to work?"  The answer to that lies in the great philosopher and stateswoman, Little Ruth Marie.  She so succinctly verbalized that answer.  "We work to pay people to do the things we can't/don't want to do!"  Right now, someone is on our roof, removing the chimney and patching the hole.  Couldn't do it.  Death does not become me!  There is a gentleman replacing two pieces of "permanent siding" on the south side of the house.  Could, but option would look like sin!  There are two gentlemen "facing" the trim around the front door.  Not a chance!  And then there's the matter of the shed out back...demolish and rebuild at twice the size.  By me?  It ain't gonna happen.  So I worked that they may work!  I think it's a symbiotic relationship!  And the teacher in me continues.  If it makes sense and you can...let someone else do it!  That's what the money's for!  Enjoy the day and know you are loved!

Here's to the ladies that lunch

We took Edith out for lunch today.  Perfect weather for a roll down to Charley's.  While there, Donna drove up in her cherry red convertible and met three of our friends there for lunch.  In walks Jean and her niece, and I am introduced as her naughty friend!  Then it was off to Watertown Confectionary for a bite of chocolate for dessert.  Edith had a peanut cluster.  On our way back to Jenkens, she mentioned that her nuts were dropping because of the bumps I was hitting.  I told her I wasn't having that problem.  We giggled all the way back.  Fourteen-year-old humor aside, the entire episode reminded me of how phenomenally lucky I am to have the XX's I have in my life.  They bring an interesting perspective to the world, and make it a more pleasant place to be.  They are witty, clever, and above all else, compassionate!  Understand, they weren't all lunching today, but they should have been.  It would have made for an amazing experience.  They, like you, are loved!

The sky's the limit

Sometimes in the dead of winter (and there was a lot of dead winter this year!) I question the intelligence of living in South Dakota.  Okay.  Sometimes in the heat and humidity of summer, I question living in South Dakota.  But there are those absolutely perfect times in South Dakota.  They may be fleeting.  They may be few and far between.  But they are there.  Today, enjoying our morning coffee on the deck, we experienced one of those times.  The sky was the most beautiful shade of blue.  The clouds were popcorn floating through.  There was no wind to speak of.  You didn't notice the temperature.  Ideal.  And I realized that indeed, South Dakota was just the place for me.  I can turn around and not run in to someone.  I can sit idly on my deck and watch the world go by.  And I can try anything I want with little fear of recrimination...as long as it is moral and legal.  The sky's the limit, and this morning, it was absolutely perfect!  All it took was a little time to notice! Revel in all that is good in your life, and know you are loved!

Storm reactor

Ever since I was little (and that is eras ago), storms have intrigued me!  Whether it's the uncertainty, the pure power, or the total helplessness we have to control, a thunder storm yanks my chain!  The obvious precipitor of today's post has something to do with the deluge we just incurred!  There was wind.  There was rain.  There was lightning, and there was thunder!  Thankfully, there was no hail and no apparent cyclonic activity.  Ergo, a smile on little Billy's face! And the forecast is for more happiness throughout the day!  (Side note...stormy weather kind of precludes running...another smile inducer!).  Stay safe!  Realize there are things over which you have no control.  And know you are loved!