SEASONED

We shall not grow wiser before we learn that much that we have done was very foolish. 

Friedrich August von Hayek 

Poolside Reader ~ Chandler

Friends

Roasted Chicken on the Traeger Grill and Hot Quinoa Salad

http://cookitallergyfree.com/blog/2012/11/the-easiest-roasted-chicken-or-turkey-ever-i-promise/#.UQLURb9EEuE

http://www.shape.com/blogs/weight-loss-diary/nutrient-packed-crisp-quinoa-salad

Oh, Deer.

 A claim for equality of material position can be met only by a government with totalitarian powers. 

Friedrich August von Hayek 

Political commentary is not really my choice of venue.  Some of the "new" and current ideas tossed around right now by thinking people at every level, that are being presented as a better way of doing things are sufficiently addressed in a book I am currently reading called the Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek.  I have also been working my way through The 5,000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen, one stunningly beautiful founding principle at a time.  Hayek puts it right out there, outlining the purposes, the hopes and dreams of men, the step by step processes, the unwanted, unforeseen results and the inevitable, horrible end.  I can only read a few paragraphs at times because there is so much information that is presented, so much blunt language, like you would really have to be stupid not to understand this, that it is a bit overwhelming and takes time to process in my mind. At the end of the day, what seems very clear to me is:

1. Equal rights does not mean equal things. 

           A. Equal opportunities does not mean equal intelligence, ambition, effort, or talent.

2. Television has given people the mistaken idea that reality is living in a mansion.

           A.  Human nature fools itself into believing we are just as worthy as the next Desperate Housewife.        

                  a) Values matter and are individual.  Our values are not the same as our neighbors, worthy or

                      not.  

3.  Liberal has an old meaning, but a new usage.  

          A.  Conservatives need to look it up and stop using it incorrectly.

4. The Little Red Hen had it right all along. 

Mango Coconut Milk Smoothie

“Strictly enforce the scale of "fixed responsibility." The first and foremost level of responsibility is with the individual himself; the second level is the family; then the church; next the community, finally the county, and, in a disaster or emergency, the state. Under no circumstances is the federal government to become involved in public welfare. The Founders felt it would corrupt the government and also the poor. No Constitutional authority exists for the federal government to participate in charity or welfare.” 

― W. Cleon Skousen, The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World

Sole Mate

for my Husband

Made for each other

Like the pea and the pod,

Like trees and a forest

Or the fly and the frog.

Like tires and cars,

Like stones in a river,

The moon and the stars

Are made for each other.

Like left goes with right,

And fly goes with kite,

As wood takes to flame,

We are the same.

The yin and the yang,

Cinnamon and tang,

Like fresh sheets on a bed,

Like pillow and head.

Made for each other

Like words in a rhyme,

Or a great recipe

With basil and thyme,

Like feet go with shoes,

We are a pair.

Wherever I go

You’re sure to be there.

Like a drum with a beat

Like singer and song

You para- to my keet

And I ping to your pong.

You’re the laugh to my cry

I’m the pace to your gait,

When I’m not there

I’ve noticed you wait.

You’re the push to my buttons,

The author I’ve read.

How did you get

So deep in my head?

Like a cold with a sneeze,

Like the birds and the bees

If I am the car,

You are the keys.

If I am the food,

You are the plate

But please don't get mad

If supper is late.

You’re the think of my thought

I’m the prisoner you’ve caught

And when we must part

You’re the beat of my heart.

Sage Creek Road

Home Again ,Home Again

Jiggety Jog

Collecting My Thoughts

Morning posed on yon horizon,

Rest' on distant waiting breast,

Entranced, I thought I saw

The crowning of my quest;

For with daybreak's Robin

I witnessed eye to eye,

But ’twas an unseen worm

He paused to hear, not I.

Fleeting moments cherished

Arrest' on frequency unseen

May charm us to the core,

May seem possessed of wings,

Woven by multitudes of thought,

We see a reality which is,

And also one which

We might say, is not.

Words are powered to beguile

By silent witness matched,

How long the traitor's tongue

Has resonance attached?

Will the message in the darkness

Languish, fail to be defined,

When response betrays the thought,

By silent speech refined?

Though in stillness could be hid,

With practice, veiled emotion,

When the softest breath is stayed;

We’d capture animation.

If stillness undetected

Plied by advanced device,

Like mysterious ether

Bears silent waves of light,

If through suppression we suspect

Meaning was ensnared

How is essence of nothingness

Or Obsolete declared?

More surely heard than motion

Fractal existence is betrayed,

Bears record that a touch alone

 Our deepest fears allayed.

Jingle Bell Rock

To Begin Again

A Leftover Holiday Kiss

Cauliflower Pizza - Success

Rosy Glow

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. 

                                                          Thomas Jefferson 

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

To Reflect

Happy New Year

January 1

A Collection of Santa Claus's in Glorious Rotundity

We said goodbye to the last three minutes of 2012, lingering at our door with the last two of our guests.  Aloha; hello and goodbye.  It had been a nice evening, we enjoyed a hilarious game of Farkle, wrapped up a busy day of cooking, cleaning, decorating, and it was a little hard to settle down when it was over.  A good year.

Waking up to a new number at the end of the date inspired great thoughts, things to do better, a twitch of excitement somewhere in the vicinity of my solar plexus, and I sat basking in hopeful anticipation with a brand new daily planner.  January 1, 2013. Yet in some ways, I reminded myself, it's just another day that followed the day before.  The power to change is the same as it was on the last day of the year and every other day before that, with the very helpful addition of a tide of rising energy from kindred spirits. 

 I want something a little more out of myself, some progress in the effort department, a little less fear, that indispensable spark that makes the difference, the crucial five second response.  The difference between what I do and what I don't do has been said to be in these moments:  to procrastinate, or not to procrastinate.  I've been doing some serious thinking about the declarations we sometimes hear, particularly the one which states, "I create my life", because I think there is some element of truth in it.  All the while, I realize that I have the same "me" to work with, that nothing has changed except the calendar: not my circumstances, not my way of thinking.  The very same struggles are going to be faced that throughout my efforts to change, have stopped me before.  Change is not easy.  In fact, change is hard.  At least, that is my perception of change, although that perception may need some work.  

  My grandmother helped me understand that starting with the absolute truth is the biggest factor for me to learn, and to make changes.   Having raised six children of her own, she was one smart lady by the time I came along, and seemed to be able to see right through the mildly exotic stories I concocted.  I learned the story of Pinocchio, the fanciful tale of a hand-carved wooden puppet that realized his dream to become a real boy by learning not to stretch the truth.  Grandma had a way of saying things that provoked thoughtful, heart-searching moments as I walked the quarter mile back home, occasionally accompanied by my little sister with whom I had been unable to compromise.  The result of our shameful and temporary banishment to our own house was a mother who had been enjoying the peace and quiet of our absence and would not necessarily be overjoyed to see us arrive, and in disgrace besides.

Grandma's 70 some years of experience examined my honesty and found it wanting, but I learned more than that from listening to her.  Through her pain, I learned something of the history of heartache; that friends sometimes brought disappointment, lessons that were not easily forgotten, that selfishness or laziness caused problems; that friendships could be damaged when someone didn't keep their word or didn't think it was important do their part in some way when they could have, when someone leaned too hard on their friends, when they expected more from others than they were willing to give.  I heard the disappointment in her voice, the warning to not be the friend that left someone wiser but wounded and sad.  

After making some goals of my own a few days ago, I shared them with my own group of supportive confidants, and they shared theirs with me.  Some of the goals have really touched me, partly because of the heartfelt sincerity, the confidential sharing that shows their trust, but also because some of their resolutions were't on my list and should have been.  That gave me pause.  How about digging a little deeper, was the message. And I was reminded that I have some treasures in life that some people close to me would love to have.  I'm especially inspired, in no particular order, to :

1.   Rather than expect my friends to handle life's challenges well, 

to be sensitive to ways that I can show that I truly care.

2. Work harder on getting my taxes done in a timely manner for 2012.

3. Be both supportive and also non-judgmental of the goals of my friends.

4. To be more thankful for my life, even the parts of it that have caused me to be most challenged.

5. To get done that which I intend to do.

Split Pea Soup with Ham

1 pound dried split peas
1 ham hock
3 T butter
1 chopped yellow onion
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrots
2 t. minced garlic
1 pound chopped ham
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes
8 cups water
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, or 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Place the peas in a large pot or bowl and cover with water by 2 inches, soak overnight.  Drain peas and set aside.  Score the ham hock, place in a pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour.  Drain and set aside.

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium high heat.  Add the onions and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.  Add the celery and carrots, and cook, stirring, until just soft, about three minutes.  Add the garlic and cook, stirring for about 30 seconds.

Add the ham hock and ham, stirring until beginning to brown.  Add the drained peas, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes.  Cook, stirring for about 2 minutes.  Add 8 cups of water, bay leaf and thyme, and cook until the peas are tender about 1 hour.    Add more water as needed if the soup becomes too thick or dry.

Remove the bay leaf and discard.  Adjust the seasonings to taste and serve.  I made a cheese ball that I served on New Year's Eve.  We had some left over, so I shaped it into individual balls and served it with slices of fresh red pepper and fresh spinach and basil leaves.  Be creative with whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand.  Cheese balls, I learned this year, do not have to be served with crackers.

Cheese Ball:

Two packages cream cheese
One small bag of herb seasoning mix, I have some http://www.demarleusa.com/ mixed herbs on hand, but I think it would be easy enough to put together something from the spice cabinet.
Walnuts

Allow cream cheese to soften and mix with herbs, shape more or less into a ball and chill three hours.
If you have a melon ball scoop, it's a good time to use it for individual serving sized balls.  Roll balls in chopped nuts and serve.

A Silver Spoon

Water with Lemon, Please