Wow, I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted …
So, things are kicking into high gear for the event (this Thursday) and I’m swamped. I guess though I’ve been swamped for the past few months, which I enjoy - even though it doesn’t leave much room for making things .. heck, for making anything. i can’t remember the last time I made a meal that wasn’t a sandwich of some sort.
Well, things will be back to normal soon. Until then I leave you with this ..
If you read my blog, you’ll see that earlier this year, I signed up for the gocco swap offered by Sarah at cloth.paper.string. My mom and I first came across the Gocco too many years ago to remember. We took at class offered at our local Paper Source and instantly fell in love. And by instantly, I do mean instantly. So much so that immediately after the class we purchased said Gocco and then proceeded to Gocco almost everything we could think of. Bags for my mom’s business - check. Christmas Cards - check. Just because cards - check. We even almost did my wedding invitations on it - until I realized that I needed to use fairly small print and it wouldn’t print that well.
Eventually, it found its way up to the craft-storage-of-the-long-forgotten, which is otherwise known as the guest room. Like the velveteen rabbit, it languished there and if not forgotten at least not always remembered.
Skip to 1/13/2008. I had resolved just 13 days earlier to do more creative things. You see, I have a tendency to just think of creative things. I admire people who find time to create - people who move the thinking into action. That has been one of my biggest sticking points - how to find time to move from the idea stage to the action stage. Sure, I get to do some creative things at work. But really, let’s be honest - it’s work - no matter how fun it can be. Then I saw Sarah’s blog.
Oh, the plans that ran through my head. Let’s do something representing the budding trees that seemed at that point just around the corner. Then a cold snap came back and I thought I would add a bird looking up at the trees - waiting for spring and the foliage to arrive. Then while at work, parked under a tree … well, I think you can imagine what happened. And so I wasn’t so in love with birds any more and since every morning when I walked outside, I got to revisit the presents several had left (remember, it was a cold spell - so no car washes were running) and I didn’t think I would love birds for a while. Plus the original thought for the print wasn’t turning out well - splotchy lines, weird fading print.
Maybe my ink was old. No problem, I’d just buy some more.
While I was waiting for my new ink to arrive (Really, I would still be on time to mail them at this point.) I came across some of my pictures and my journal from Morocco. As I read this passage, an idea came:
“When I first found out that I was headed for Morocco in Africa, I had dreams of heat - deep, sweltering, dessert heat. I thought that I would miss the seasons of Colorado - the fall, the winter, the spring. Surely, I thought, I will be lucky if we go below 50 degrees. How can I, the person who hates summer solely because it’s so hot, possibly live in Morocco?
Well, let me tell you, I doubt I will long for winter ever again. Ait Hoediggen {edited to add: where I lived} in February is cold - bitingly cold. And by cold, I mean, here, you get to wake up to see that water you so carefully prepared the night before is frozen solid. Sitting in the house is unbearable, so you try to find tasks you can do outside in the sun, but really the only thing keeping you warm as you trundle through snow past your knees is the fact that you are carrying 40 litres of water up the hill from hell. Where else can you see your breath - in your house? The tiles that line your walls, in the summer offering such solace from the heat, suddenly become your enemy, radiating that cold throughout your room. I swear today I woke up to find the tiles with frozen with ice crystals. I crave central heat and warm showers…”
Oh, the tiles of Morocco - they were beautiful.
I know that the colors do not have much to do with mid-winter, but for me they are reminiscent of some of the colors of Morocco. Whenever I see that combination (this one is from Paper Source’s fantastic collection), I think of the Djemâa el Fna - the fresh squeezed orange juice, the colorful spices, and djellabah’s.
They’re not perfect. I’ve thought of things I would change on the design. But I like them. And only a week past the deadline, I finally got them in the mail. To all of my swap-mates, I apologize for being so late.
Now, I get to open all the one’s I received so far. Whoo Hoo! I just opened one (’cause I couldn’t resist after writing that!) and I have to say I’m more than a little intimidated. I hope everyone likes mine as much as I’m liking their’s.
Pictures coming soon …
6:15a
I took my ballot, mumbled thank you, walked 10 steps and then … paused.
Deep down, I missed the beauty of my first election. I missed the feeling that comes from being so excited about a candidate that I couldn’t wait to get to the polls. I missed my heart palpating a little bit faster because I knew that I got to vote. I wanted to feel that way again. I did. I paid attention. I read/debated/wrote about politics. But it just wasn’t there.
So I watched West Wing and dreamed of the day when Josiah Bartlet would become our president.
On Tuesday, in that moment, outside that booth, I felt the momentous of it - deep in my bones.
The truth is that I am exhausted by the partisan rancor that is raging around us. I long for this country to be healed. I long for us to heal our relationships with other countries. I long for us to stop judging people based on their religion and whether someone might or might not be Muslim. I long for us to bring back with honor and glory the people who have chosen to put their lives at risk for a meaningless war.
I stared at the two names on my ballot. Drew a deep breath and marked it. Ultimately, I voted with my heart.
I voted for Hillary.
Tagged democracy, hillary, obama, voteI love today.
I just plain love it.
Today, we’re getting the excitement of what democracy is all about. Today is the day to vote without thinking about parties. Today, you get to vote your heart.
And if the political analysts are right - there will be no clear winner after tonight’s voting. To me, that is absolutely fantastic. That means those poor souls whose states hold their primaries towards the end will still feel the same excitement that I do. Your vote will count!
So Happy Super Tuesday everyone!
This week I have been all about simple, fast + clean food - and, well, beans. Really, I don’t know what’s gotten into me; I am much more the type to throw in some frozen meal (gasp, I know) for dinner than to figure out what to create to eat. I am all about food that can be eaten quickly and that doesn’t taste too gross. (Hmm… maybe I shouldn’t announce that in a public forum?)
But this week, I have been all about creating something - about pulling together food that not only looks good but tastes great. First, I was inspired by her to try to return to my vegetarian phase. (For those of you who don’t recognize her, she was my sitemate while in the Peace Corps and he was, well, if not a sitemate, an adopted one anyway.) Reading her entry brought back memories. I mean I used to love pulling together fresh ingredients and coming up with something totally amazing that I couldn’t wait to make again. After reading her entry, I thought I probably just needed some inspiration, so I was off to epicurious to see what I could find. I had really only 2 rules - that it be simple and quick. I just wanted to see what would inspire me… just to get my feet wet, you know?
I started with the lentil salad with tomato and dill. Let me tell you, freakin’ amazing. Then I found a recipe for lentils, butternut squash and walnuts. And because I simply could not just use a recipe as written, I kept the spirit of it, but ended up with something totally different, I’m sure. And let me tell you, I was a little bit concerned, but it ended up utterly amazing - if you like lentils and butternut squash, try it - I promise you’ll love it. Then I ran across this recipe for a Chickpea Salad from Orangette. Again, because well, I like to use what I have on hand, I ended up just using it as a jumping off point (although, I’m sure that this recipe as it stands is utterly amazing). And let me tell you, she’s right, there is something about the lemon juice that just brings out the flavor of the garbanzo beans and the tomatoes. (Orangette says it much better than I do.) I really wanted to lick the bowl out when I was done with it - I mean, I didn’t, but I really wanted to. I know that I am slightly biased, but seriously go out and buy yourself some lentils and chickpeas and make these two recipes.
Moroccan Lentils + Butternut Squash
1 small squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 c. raw lentils
although if I ever found canned lentils, I would certainly give them a go!
1 small red onion, diced
1 tbsp ras el hanout
I got mine from my sister for Christmas and I believe she got it from here. The smell brings back Morocco for me. Thanks C!
1/4 - 1/2 c. dried cranberries or sour cherries
Preheat your over to 450. In a shallow baking pan toss about 2 tsp olive oil with the squash until combined well. Bake squash in middle of oven until almost tender, 20 minutes. Then remove pan and add in your diced onion. Cook another 5-10 minutes until the mixture is tender (or in my case, caramelized).
While squash is baking, in a saucepan of boiling water cook lentils until just tender but not falling apart, about 20 minutes. Drain lentils in a sieve and transfer to a bowl.
When the squash is done, add mixture to bowl. Add your ras el hanoot, cranberries and salt and pepper to taste.
That’s it. The cinnamon and cumin of the ras el hanout makes this dish simultaneously savory and sweet.
Garbanzo’s Salad
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 c cherry tomatoes
1/8 c feta cheese
olive oil, lemon juice, garlic salt + pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients - except the feta - into a bowl, stir to combine. Add feta and gently mix.
Then grab yourself some crusty, rustic bread and a spoon. It’s got the feel of a winter meal, but it also tastes like spring - probably the cherry tomatoes, huh?
Really, they’re good. I even think my husband might like them.
Give them a whirl and let me know what you think!
One of my resolutions for 2008 is to spend more time being creative and less time working. It’s going to be a challenge for me for a lot of reasons, but the biggest one is that I doubt there is a workaholic anonymous group that can help. So, I thought this might do the trick:
I’ve emailed the organizer to see if it’s okay if I’m an amateur and I participate. I’ve got a couple of ideas swimming around, so we’ll see. if not, y’all might get a few surprises in the mail from me….