I'm Done!!!!

 Oh, how they danced, under a stark balcony of leafy, green plants and some strange yellow panel. We still can't see that he will end up with anything other than the oddest lips on record.

OK, so he still has funny lips, but do you notice how the flowers have bloomed? And there is a flower and scribbling that you can't read even in person on that strange yellow panel? Not to mention the oddly positioned French Knots that represent - ? - fairy lights?
Anyway, it's all done. All done. All done. I told Adrian I am going to wait a bit to start the next one. He said, "enh." I don't think my needlepointing has much impact on his life. It has a huge impact on my fingers. For the next few weeks, I'm going to work hard to mount the 345 other needlepoints I have in my armoir. (btw, google does not know what the word is. It is NOT amour.)  


Sunday we had a brunch to put together the PALAC programs for this Fall and Winter. It's going to be a lot of fun. So many good ideas. And such bright people. What saddens me is that my friend Norri decided that we are not ready for a group on String Theory. Damn. I'd love to have a real scientist leading a discussion on a topic that fascinates me. Damn. But not a bad idea in the bunch. In fact, it was suggested in the past that we should look at a classic Mexican piece of literature so we could know more about people from Mexico. One woman who I had discounted as flighty said that is a stupid idea. She is planning a group around the perspective of many different ethnic groups growing up in Pasadena. Find out how the other 85% live. Cool. No longer flighty. Outspoken enough to stop the idea that we can learn about other cultures by merely reading literature. What a great group.

It All Comes Down To This

There it is, the top right corner. All I have left of the stitching is a little square of black cross stitches. And then the top stitching begins.


We are having a Greek potluck at a friends house tonight. The homeowner, Joyce, is making a Greek Salad as the main. Fran is making dessert. I am bringing appetizers or Meze. Unfortunately these women know me. "Don't bring too much." Sigh. It's so hard. I'm making taramasalta at Joyce's because she has tarama at her house from a previous attempt. Mine is different, made with blanched almonds instead of bread. And I'm making spanikopita because I like those and I'm not afraid of filo. Oh, and I decided to make a little eggplant appetizer. 
I know, too much. But there will be 6 of us, 2 men. Surely we don't want them to go away hungry!


If I would like to change any part of my brain, it would be that. Less can be more. No, really. I think. Maybe I should ask Adrian to make hummus. OK, just joking.

Why Start Recipe Testing A Month Ahead?

Because.


Next. 


We are "camping" with the Campbells and Campbell-Kaswells at the beginning of August. I saw mini-corndog muffins somewhere and knew that I had to make them for the corn dog queen my nephew married. Had to make them when we are all together.
However, great (and I do mean great) nephew is gluten intolerant. Hummmm. On Monday I found a gluten free cornbread. The test was on. 
And this is why we test. Taste was OK, but the ratio and visual affect was wrong. I reviewed the original recipe and realized that I had doubled the amount of batter and used mini-dogs when I should have used 1" slice of regular beef dog.
And that's why we practice.  

Practice has made nearly perfect on the needlepoint. There is just a bit left in the upper right corner. And then I begin top stitching. Someone really wants to see the cat in the upper left window. He will appear, with tail, when the top switching is done.


Reading Alas Babylon. In fact, I was listening while walking through the market. Written in '59, it is about what happens when them damn Russkies and us brave 'Mericans shoot nuclear weapons at each other. It is so very good. I was in a strange mood as I walked the aisles. No electricity, no gas, barter, scrounge. I'm surprised I didn't stock up on bottled water and energy bars.

Found the Top!

So exciting! Do you see the two red columns at the top? That is the top. I am now working around that column to fill it in more. Reaching a corner would be grand. Maybe by the time this weekend is history. I've miscounted at some points. This will not be a perfect recreation. Perfect enough. 


Had lunch today with people from PALAC.  It was really fun. The organizer, Jacqui, invited several people because she likes people. We were waiting for The Audacity of Hope to be delivered. Lots of miscommunication because that happens with old people. It was all worked out and we all lived. The fun part was when we were talking about group leaders (those who lead the discussions about books and stuff.) One guy said that all leaders have followers. I said I am not a leader, but I have followers. Oh, what a joker I am. One of the women there said, "Yes, you do." and did not look all that pleased. 


Too many Hitler books. 


Yes, PALAC is filled with 70 and 80 year-old folks. This is the key. When you are young, hang with people who are older than you. They will appreciate your abilities. Of course, if you are really young, hanging with older people will only give you a leg up on experience and wisdom. Can't lose. Come, sit by me, my fine young friends. The tricks I can teach you.


As for reading, I'm working through Warmth of Other Suns about black emigration to the north in the years before now. (80's? 60's? not sure yet.) Sooo depressing if you know how thing were in The South during the 30's - 60's. But I have fall backs because Audible is selling some percentage off to all members. Lots of mysteries. Old ones from my library and new ones. They are good to have while stitching.


So, as my Gmail message says - happy in So Pas.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Son

He never reads this. I should write all kinds of personal and icky stuff that he will hate me for. But I can't think of any icky stuff. For his BD I went to the Farmer's market this morning and bought all kinds of stone fruit. Then I went to Nicole's in South Pas and bought Pain au Chocolat. OK, so here's a very tiny personal thing. When we drove through France together, he would run into bakeries to get pain au chocolat every now and then. Hum, not very revealing is it. Or maybe it is. 

So I woke him up with the croissants and strawberries and stone fruit from the market. Such love. Of course, I was on my early morning Farmer's Market schedule and he was on his Saturday sleep in until noon schedule. He was not mindful of my sleeping all those years ago, so . . .  We never forget.

I had fish in the fridge that I had to cook. Adrian is going back on his diet on Monday, so I made potato wrapped fish for dinner. Doesn't it look like it's wrapped with bacon? The salad is the Bistro salad from Trader Joe's. Kale, almonds, cranberries, edamame and tomatoes. Num. But the fish is amazing. And pretty easy to make. Potatoes will be off the diet come Monday. Until then, we have several more pieces of fish that look just this good. Lucky us.

Time to Roll it Up

Sick of my stories about famous authors I've met? Too bad. Before we had big award ceremonies for winners of The Times Book Prizes, we had smaller affairs in our executive offices and auditorium. That's where I met Carl Sagan's son. The dad was up for an award, but he had died. The son and his wife or girlfriend were under my wing. I got to introduce them to people I didn't know and sort of hang with them. They weren't old hands at this sort of thing like the dad would have been. So we made a perfect trio.

Then one year, Ray Bradbury won the award for career performance. He walked in the door and I sidled over to say, "I loved Dandelion Wine." There were so many more of his books that I loved, but I had just read that one. He was very old, very kind. I didn't keep him long. Then our new VP of Human Resources came in. I worked for her. She was suspicious of how I kept turning up at all these great events. I don't think she stayed around long enough to find out. She walked in that day and saw Mr. Bradbury and breathed those same words, "I loved Dandelion Wine." I was still close enough for Ray and I to look at each other and smile. Just one more thing for her to wonder about.

The bottom is done!! When I've completed everything up to his shoulder, the bottom half will be done. Such good news.


Bad news, Scott Walker is still governor of Wisconsin. That must be why I'm stitching so much. Listening to books, not watching the news.

Balance in Life

There should be balance in life. I don't do it right. If I did, I'd walk around the block more. But here's my attempts to balance.

I have two wonderful Tom's in my life. One is the dear Tom who I had breakfast with last Saturday. He, Donna and I met again in Northridge to eat breakfast in front of fasting John. Poor John. But he is diminishing slowly in size and that is a good thing. The other Tom lives in New York and will be out to visit in late September/early October. I asked him if he makes grown women squeal with delight very often. That was my reaction when I read that he was coming out here. This Tom was responsible for putting the Times Book Awards together for years. When life at The Times was really good (two years in a row) I would go to NYNY to help him with one aspect of the awards and then Karen would come down and we would help him with another part. What a joy to have two Toms in my life to balance  - what? The squeals?

 The balance of summer fruit. OMG, Adrian made this total decadence. Buttermilk biscuits and bourbon whipped cream. I have a big container of fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in the fridge. They loved mingling with this dessert. But wait, there is balance. I also got some little peaches that were early for peaches, but heaven in my oatmeal. Balance, right? Oatmeal must balance out whipped cream and biscuits, right? Even if you don't agree, nod your head. OK, so I bought a little maple sugar from TJs to sweeten my Irish oatmeal; but I added almonds and sunflower seeds to make it even more well rounded. And non-fat milk? Have I hit balance yet?

Where is the balance in this picture? I have touched (and finished) the lower right corner of the picture and touched the lower left corner as well. Left hand looks a little scant, but it is much more filled in this evening. I still haven't gone all the way across the bottom. There is a bunch of yellow/orange that must be stitched to the bottom of the left side reflection. But I alternate quick and easy half cross stitches (all that reflection) with the full cross stitches of black, brown and red. It really amazes me that those silhouettes are finally filled in, as are their shadows. But hold out your arms, straight out to your sides. Pretend you are touching the right side of the picture and pretend that you are touching the left side of the picture. Close to balancing, right?