Horizons- the unpeopled versions
All new horizons in Alaska this September.
My sister and I ‘d never been there before.
Month: December 2016
Henry the Airedale Took a Photo with my iPhone
Saturday morning I photographed the pancakes and put the iPhone on the table. Maura said, “what’s that camera noise?” Henry nuzzled the open camera app and captured the red tablecloth. Maybe a smudge of butter on it that drew him to the circle at the bottom of the screen.
Shades of Rothko? Definitely abstract.
And here he is taking up most of the bed while I’m visiting for the weekend.
New Horizon -Weekly Photo Challenge
Had to consider do I post a photo “peopled or unpeopled”?
Aunt Mary, Michael, Maura and Jack look across the Hudson River to New Jersey. Documenting the Thanksgiving vacation, saving memories of a childhood experience for reference.
Slow Cooker’s Opposite? Instant Pot
My DIL introduced me to her Instant Pot last night. Says they’re really the latest trend.
I’d never heard of it.
An extreme pressure cooker which lets off lots of steam when finished.
She threw 3 ingredients in the pot and six minutes later it was complete. Even the dried penne and FROZEN meatballs.
They returned from swim practice and I’ve been here when the family is eating really late cause they get home and have to make dinner. Not last night. We were dining at 7:30 which was like a magic trick!
There’s a porridge setting and you can make yogurt or a cheesecake
or homemade ricotta. Thousands of people have joined an Instant pot group
Check out Elizabeth’s blog for more recipes and information Pressure Cooker Pros
and her homepage
Cranberries, Granny Smiths and Navel Oranges
I made fresh cranberry relish for Thanksgiving in New York City then realized I wanted to eat it again. This recipe makes about 6 cups.
A pound of cranberries,rinsed and drained
two Granny Smiths, quartered and cored
two navel oranges cut up
1 cup of sugar
pulse ingredients, one at a time not to mush or purée -chopped up, coarsely
mix together in large bowl. Add sugar
chill
Learning to Knit Mittens
Five hours in. Knitting a mitten. A Baby Alpaca yarn mitten. I looked at the clock. I knew what time I turned on the TV and what time I turned it off .Time to stop knitting and get to bed.
The Weekly Photo Challenge is relax but I remember some people found learning to knit stressful. Have to get past the possibly awkward part of learning the basics before you get to the Zen. Holding the needles. Finding the right place to stick the point.
My friend Ann texted (after a volley of texts about the miserable weather and whether we really NEEDED yarn) that she’d pick me up and we’d go to Oakmont to the Yarns by Design store. She brought a fingerless mitt and a matching cowl she’d completed and since I had the same pattern at home –Susan B. Anderson Waiting for Winter Mittens pattern– I felt inspired to knit mittens Thanks, Ann.
Now I Thought I’d start the new effort in the morning .. but the new yarn spoke to me and I started.
Ann said they worked up faster than socks. She’s right about that!
M
The Schlumbergera Bloomed
Last night I was knitting the sleeves of Laura’s sweater, watching television and Steve came upstairs carrying the Schlumbergera-the species name of Christmas Cactus. He bought it a couple of weeks ago at Whole Foods. Christmas Cactus. It had bloomed. It had buds when he bought it. Flowering plants in winter appealed to him.
My mother kept a giant Sclumbergera, cascading out of a huge planter. She had a green thumb but that gene skipped me
(What a name for this pretty plant-Is a single one a Schlumberger?)
When he brought it to show me the pink blossoms, I was flooded with memories of my mother and how thrilled she was when hers bloomed. I “get it” now. I’m sure I barely paid attention to her enthusiasm then. Pang.
It’s beginning to look a lot like…
Christmas.
Decking the halls. Preparing for the Christmas season. I haven’t done any decorating, yet. On the recent trip to New York, the effort was in full swing. A couple of Pittsburgh shots, too.
Hambone’s, Saturday Night
Hambone’s Saturday Night-Lawrenceville neighborhood on Butler Street.
Steve said, come on let’s go -so I put my book down and layered up in warm clothes and we headed down. Ordered a draft. Settled into a booth and listened to some great musicians take the chill off the almost winter night.
Christopher Mark Jones and the Roots Ensemble
Vince Camut on pedal steel
Mark Perna on Bass
Eric Kurtzrock on drums and vocals
And joined by Mr. Marc Reisman on harps in the third and final set
We ran into Mr. And Mrs. Claus on the sidewalk in front of Hambone’s as we went to our cars 
At the Movies
There were a handful of us in the theater Friday night. When Steve and I walked in theater 7 we made four. Two more couples arrived before the show started. We saw the Amy Adams film Arrival which had a 94% positive rating in Tomatometers. I hadn’t been to the movies in awhile. Guess it’s the same for others. Home on the couch in front of the TV or out listening to music? They weren’t at the theater(s) lined up to buy tickets. Friday night used to be a big night out at the Movies.
Two people arriving on the right, reading the board. GThis week’s challenge is Relax. Show how you unwind. We went to the 6:30 show. It was desolate.
there were boxes and boxes of new chairs to be installed
