Twas Christmas Day

Twas Christmas Day, And all through the Harbor
Not a creature was stirring, ‘Cept the heron for fodder
As most of you know, we’ve moved to the water
Who needs a goose
When you can have Christmas on the Neuse (as in Neuse River)?
So me in my kayak and DJ too
Set out like two paddling fools
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Kingfisher who drew quite near
“Ho, Ho, Ho and Merry Christmas,” said the spiky little fellow.
“Come back to my house, where we all can be mellow.”
When we arrived, Oh what a treat!
With guests like ducks, gulls, ospreys and more
We had quite a feast of crab and sushi galore
Crabcakes for us, bread for the turtles
Don’t worry about the deer, they had our crepe myrtles
After lots of laughs, we came back home
And wrote down this poem
From us, our feathered friends and fishes
We wish all of you blessings and holiday wishes

December Yak Attacks

Let's see . . . . . .

According to the calendar, Monday was December 15th. That means that today is Wednesday, December 17th. What is amazing about these two dates? They both possessed GREAT kayaking weather (as is evident by the picture below).



Want to know something else? If I tell you, do you promise not to hate me? I went kayaking both days in a tank top and capris! Yeah. That's the usual 'yak attack attire when it is partly sunny and 70 degrees out.

Let's see if you can top that in the middle of December.

Spirit of Christmas

Oriental, North Carolina has got to be one of the most Christmas spirited towns in the US. Even in today's economic times, this town decks the halls, yards, boats, stores, streets and bridge in holiday spirit. After being sick for three weeks, our visit to Oriental and their Spirit of Christmas festival and parade gave me plenty of 'Holiday spirit.'

How do you get your dose of the 'Holiday spirit'?

Early Christmas present

My husband and I are so romantic. While other couples may pine for jewelry (the women) or electronics (for the men) for Christmas, my husband and I decided to get ourselves a joint gift. One that we will enjoy for many, many years to come.

Yup, we bought ourselves 53.71 feet of bulkhead. Ain't it pretty?

I've been a sickie

Oh boy! It has been nothing but one sickness after the other since Thanksgiving. Here's the short version: Caught a cold; sick for one week; thought I was feeling better the Monday after Thanksgiving; got worse two days later and by Friday, I had been tentatively diagnosed with mycoplasma infection (more commonly known as community-acquired, or walking, pneumonia). As of this Monday, I was feeling better and working on a freelance project that is due before Christmas. However, after six days of antibiotics, my gut was in full rebellion and decided to let me know just how much it didn't like doxycycline. And, now we are up to present day. I've still got four more days of antibiotics, but I now feel as if I'm OK if I step more than 10 paces away from a toilet. That wasn't the case this morning.

It has been frustrating to me (being the sick one), my husband (whose wife doesn't want to do anything-not even bake or make bread-yeah, you know how sick I was now), but the cat has certainly enjoyed the plethora of naps I have been taking. Mostly, I've been napping on the couch so that, during my lucid moments, I can enjoy our lovely Christmas tree.



Even the kitty has been enjoying the tree, as is evident by little green pieces of artificial tree that have been showing up in hairballs and in the litter box.

In a Pickle

Christmas tends to bring out a little mischief in some of us (even during a time of recession). The mischief in our household comes out in the old German tradition of hiding the pickle. Now, this is a PG rated blog (most of the time), so get your mind out of the gutter. I'm talking about the Christmas pickle ornament.

Here's a brief rundown of the old German tradition: The whole family gathers to decorate the Christmas tree. Once done, the parents shoo the children out of the room, hide the pickle ornament on the tree and then bring the children back in the room to search for the pickle. The child that finds the ornament first gets an extra gift.

DJ and I have modified the tradition. I hide the pickle, he looks for it; he then hides the pickle and I look for it. At the end of this fun game, we do have a small gift exchange. Some of my best memories involve this game. There have been years past where I have laid down, head underneath the tree, flashlight in hand trying to find a damn green pickle ornament on a green tree. You think it wouldn't be that hard, right? Yeah. You try it. One year, it took me 24 hours to find the pickle. It was stuffed into the pants of a cloth Santa ornament. Yes, that still qualified as 'on the tree.'

Two years ago found the girls of my poker group crowded around our tree searching high and low for the ornament that had been hidden by our husbands. One of the girls was 8 and 1/2 months pregnant and determined to find that pickle. With DJ's little flashlight that straps to his head firmly on her head, she moved our presents out of the way and wiggled her pregnant self underneath the tree. My fear was that she would start laughing so hard her water would break and she would be forced to deliver with her head underneath our tree. (Alas, that did not come to pass. She gave birth to a baby girl two weeks after our party.) She eventually found the pickle, but only after her husband got some great pictures that he still cherishes to this day. In fact, they loved the tradition so much, they now share it with their two girls.

You never know . . . . If you come to our house this holiday season, you might find yourself on a pickle search!

Deck the halls . . . .

Sing it with me now, good blog readers . . . .

Deck the halls
While coughing up your left lung.
Fa, la, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la

What? That isn't how the song goes? Well, that's how it goes in our house. Yes, yours truly has been sick with New Bern's finest, longest lasting sinus/chest/sore-throat with an annoying-most-lingering-won't-go-away cough. Started Sunday. As in, Sunday, November 23rd.

Not to fear. In between bouts of croup-like coughing, we have managed to decorate the house and put up six Christmas trees (so far). I say 'we' because even Ginger has gotten in on the activities as our official furry supervisor.

Happy Birthday

He's my husband. He's my best friend. And today is his birthday.

I'm at a loss of words. I struggle every year with what to say. What do you say to a man who evokes so many intense emotions in you? Someone who personifies unconditional love. One who is a rock (all be it, cute rock) when you feel uncertain. Although there are times where I might give thought to wringing his cute little neck, most of the time I want to hug it tight and let him know how proud I am of all he has accomplished in his short time on Earth.

Most of all, I want to thank him for choosing me as his partner in this adventure we call life.

I love you DJ.

And for you curious bloggers who want to know (and you know who you are!) what I got this great man . . . . . . A pair of floating binoculars (to replace the pair I dropped a few weeks ago kayaking).

It all started with this . . . . .

Before I begin, I must caution my readers that if you are squeamish, skip this entry. I think we all understand that nature has a way of working, though some of its 'workings' aren't exactly for the faint of heart.


It all started with DJ noticing the pile of feathers near the bird feeder at the screened porch. He pointed this out to me as we were headed down to the dock (to take pictures of the bulkhead-in-progress). (I was just excited to get outside and see a very bright yellow circle in the sky that caused me to squint when looked at directly.) Well, we start snapping pictures of the bulkhead (which I promise to post soon), when I noticed what appeared to be a branch on the communal dock (two docks over). What was funny is that although the wind was strong, the 'branch' wasn't moving. I squinted and exclaimed, "DJ! Is that a predatory bird over there?" Sure enough, it was and it didn't want to move. DJ walked closer and closer, yet the only thing the bird did was turn to face his direction.

Then, we saw it. This broad winged hawk was trying to enjoy lunch a la waterfront. There, in its grasp, was the remnants of a larger bird (probably pigeon or mourning dove). Mr. Hawk was not going to give up his seat at the Hidden Harbor Cafe, so we grabbed the binoculars and just observed. Yes, I spied on a bird trying to eat his lunch.

After about 20 minutes (and some pictures), we went inside to watch football. Two hours later, we get a call from our neighbor across the harbor who asked if the bird might be injured. The hawk was still at his table. We went to investigate and found him in the final stages of defeathering and feasting. Ugh. It would be another hour and a half before Mr. Hawk finally vacated his table at Hidden Harbor Cafe.

It was a fascinating experience. I never thought I'd be the person who would, for the better half of an afternoon, marvel at Mother Nature, her creatures and her lessons. I am honored to have been given this time to view nature up close and hope it is the first of many such opportunities here in coastal Carolina. However, I do feel a tinge of guilt over the fact that it all started at our feeder. Does that make me an accomplice to murder or survival?

Let's Talk Turkey

With less than two weeks til Thanksgiving, I know a handful of cooks/hostesses who are giving much thought to what will be the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal. Well, thanks to that wonderful book I've been reading, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (by Barbara Kingsolver), let me enlighten you about your bird. Why is a non-meat eater fascinated with turkey? Read on, kind blog reader . . . read on.

Ninety-nine percent of the 400 million turkeys consumed in the US each year are the Broad-Breasted White. Yes, that is the name of the breed and it was specifically bred for our American fascination with all things 'chesty' and 'well endowed' (turkey boobs, included). I'd be OK with this if it wasn't for one thing. These turkeys would not survive in the wild. Should a bird escape the 'block,' it would collapse. Literally. When full grown, their legs collapse, unable to carry their feathered buxom burden. Can they fly? No. Can they forage for food? Nope. They have to be fed from a trough; necks don't reach the ground. Can they knock feathered boots in the hopes of producing the next generation of buxom birds? NO! These poor birds are wing to wing in floor-to-ceiling stacked cages where there is no hope for fresh air or natural sunlight or sex (had they the capability to indulge in the act)! It takes a special (I'll say) turkey sperm-wrangler to harvest sperm so the females can be artificially inseminated for next year's turkeys.

Now, how natural is that? Do you think that is what the Native Americans had to do to produce birds for the first Thanksgiving? Can't ladle the cold hard truth with any amount of gravy. Your bird on the table in not natural. Go organic, go free-range, go heirloom bred (try Slow Food USA or Local Harvest for information). Me? I'm sticking with something from the sea for Thanksgiving.

Author's note: Don't even ask about the weather or my mood. It is not that I have a ton of things to do outside, I'm just irritable that I don't have outdoor activity as an option should I choose to exercise it. Oh! And up top? Not my picture. Got it from the web to show y'all broad-breasted whites.

Hope

It rained most of the day today. Hard rain. Driving rain. Icky, freaking, I-swear-I-just-saw-the-animals-going-by-two-by-two-to-the-ark type of rain.

Ugh. Nothing to do on a day like today but curl up with a mug of hope (for better weather tomorrow), a cat and a book ('cause things are a little slow on the freelancing front). Can't even bake bread on a day like today. Bread doesn't appreciate the humidity (just like your hair). The book I'm reading, Three Cups of Tea, is OK. The writing leaves a lot to be desired, but the (true) story of a man who is building schools in very rural, forgotten areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan pre- and post- 9/11 is eye-opening. Can you win a war through education? Books not bombs? Just a thought to ponder.



Another thing getting me through days like today is the though of kayaking. These photos were taken almost three weeks ago (10/26) on a day filled with sunshine and blue sky. Sigh . . . I know we won't get blue sky tomorrow . . . Maybe Saturday . . . . . .

I Got Crabs for my Birthday!

One of the many ongoing jokes in this household has been how poor I thought we'd be after the move. I even joked (repeatedly) that I'd have to take up fishing and crabbing off our dock to put a protein source on the table. My husband thought this kind of funny and kept saying, "You just wait. I'm gonna get you a crab pot for your birthday."

Well, we all know that I didn't have to rely on my fishing skills to put food on our table this summer and fall. I've got WalMart to thank for their never-ending halogen haloed bounty. But, turns out that my husband was serious . . . .

I did get a crab pot for my birthday! Truth be told, I was tickled pink about it! I can't wait til crabbing season next year. I'm gonna take my crab pot, bait it (that's what the black cylinder in the middle is for) with chicken necks, throw it out in the river where our secret creek meets the Trent River and cook me up a whole mess o' crabs!

If we're being literal, I didn't get crabs for my birthday (y'all were just waiting to spread all sorts of nasty rumors weren't you?!?), but the 'potential' for crabs. Good enough for me.

Want to know what makes me feel even better about my gift? By buying this crab pot, we are supporting the Autism Society of North Carolina. These crab pots, and other flotsam and jetsam (hee, hee) in the shop, are all made by individuals with autism. The Autism Society found that crab pot making, with its multiple steps and skill levels, could employ the whole spectrum of autistic folks. What a wonderful way to show these autistic folks (and others) their talents, independence and self-sufficiency. I'm not the only one who feels this way. Many of the local 'professional' crabbers buy their pots from this store.

I would like to thank the autistic folks who, with this crab pot, are bringing me one step closer to crabs on the dinner table!



What do you think of Ginger checking out her 'catch'?

Because we pay too much taxes to buy bread

I'm having to revert to making it myself. Well, this is the way I prefer my bread. I have to say, I can make some pretty darn good bread. So, to lift my spirits after a very disappointing Election Day 2008, I decided to try a new recipe from The Bread Bible (a book I checked out at our local library).

This is my first time making a bread that requires a sponge. Now, for all y'all non-bread baking folks, a sponge is just a fancy American term for fermenting flour, yeast, some form of sugar and water. This combination is allowed to sit and, yes, ferment into a bubbly, frothy science experiment. In all honesty, this concoction does begin to look like a beige sponge. A biga and poolish are the same thing. Just the Italian and French way, respectively, of saying 'sponge.' Makes it sound more high class, doesn't it?

After an allotted amount of fermenting time, the remaining flour and yeast are added right over top of the sponge. What is neat, even to the non-baking enthusiast (like my husband), is the chemical reaction that occurs in the layer where sponge meets fresh yeast. You can see it bubble, gurgle and pop. Even DJ was impressed.

After more fermentation time (overnight in the confines of the refrigerator), it was time to get down to kneading business. Lots of kneading business. Then waiting. (Note to readers: bread baking is not for those who want instant gratification. This is one of those exercises that enforces the fact that life is a zero-sum equation.)



After all is said and done, what you end up with are two very nice loaves of bread that has a fermenty, yeasty quality with great crust and crumb texture. More complex tasting than some of my more 'immediate gratification' (i.e. same day) breads.

Want to know how I mastered the pretty little slashes on top? Here's your tip: Use a clean straight razor. Works like a hot knife through butter (which is what topped my third piece of bread at lunch).

Post-election update

This just in: It is with heavy heart that DJ and I announce that, due to an unavoidable future of higher taxes (so lazy, unemployed 'Americans' -and I use the term loosely- can buy more 40 oz malt liquor), Christmas will be cancelled. Yup. No presents, no college fund contributions, nuttin'.

Hell. I'll be lucky if I can still afford to buy flour to make bread.

I know what you're expecting . . .

Probably some political tirade. How America is gonna get screwed if the guy who's Aunt has been living in the US illegally (as in illegal immigrant) for the past four years gets elected tomorrow. Right? Well, not so. Not what I'm feeling today. My frustration today is geared towards another way we humans are just destroying our country.

I am reading this book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Amazing nonfiction book. Yes! I said nonfiction!

This book details the life/lessons/hardships of this talented author and her family as they set about on an experiment to eat local for a year. Barbara and her family, who live in the Appalachia region of Virginia, either grew themselves or bought from local farmers. Thus, no 'fresh fruit' in January/February, no 'tomatoes' in December (unless they were ones they canned or dried during the growing season), no Pop-Tarts, no frozen turkey that was bred to produce a bird who's legs will not support its grown adult body, no . . . . Well, you get the picture.

Now, I'll admit, I'm not ready to give up diet soda, chocolate or Boca Burgers, but I am beginning to see the world-saving benefit of trying to think/eat like a 'locavore.'

Fact: We put almost as much fossil fuel into our refrigerators as we do our cars. How? Well, 17% of our annual oil use is in agriculture. This runs a close second behind (yup, you guessed it) oil for vehicular use. You might be thinking the bulk of this 17% is used in tractors, irrigation, sprayers, etc. All those things that get seed to harvest. NOT SO!!! 80% of the oil used in agriculture is 'spent' getting the product from farm to consumer.

Look at dinner tonight and chew on this: On average, what is on your plate traveled 1,500 miles. MILES!!!! My God! This makes my food more worldly and well traveled than myself.

Our food has more need for a passport than myself. Now that folks, is disgusting.

Civic-minded Kitty

Yes, Ginger's parents did their civic duty today. We voted.

Who did we vote for? Well, that's quite a personal question, but I'll give you a few hints . . . . .

Hint #1: We voted for the patriotic, proud-to-be-an-American guy who can produce a copy of his US birth certificate (without being prompted by a lawsuit) and does not 'socialize' with freaking terrorists.

Hint #2: A man who's wife is proud of her country (all the time, not just recently) and who realizes that her shit stinks just like everyone else in the 50 states. Can you say that about the wife of the 'other' candidate?

Hint #3: A man who thinks I'm mature enough to make decisions about my money. Who doesn't believe in 'rewarding' some lazy ass with my hard-earned money.

You know, when you think about it "Change" is a six letter word . . . . . but so is "fucked."

How was your commute?

Since DJ and I both work from home (the majority of the time), we find ourselves with free time that usually coincides with 'rush hour' for all those office workin' folks. What to do with this time?



I know. Let's go kayaking. So, we set off a little before 5 PM on Tuesday for a short 'yak attack. As we're paddling along, I looked left and saw the Neuse River bridge filled with commuters on their way home. I turned right and saw my husband's bright orange kayak and his cute little self wearing his favorite John Deere baseball hat.

"DJ, since we work from home, is this (our 'yak attack) our version of the end of the day commute?"

"Yeah. I guess so."

I love my life.

North Carolina State Fair

Most of y'all know that the first year DJ and I were married, we lived in Chapel Hill. That year, 1998, was my first year attending the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. Ten years later, the NC State Fair is just as fun.

Although it was cold (high 50's most of the day) yesterday, we still had a great time wandering through the blacksmith exhibit, a dozen garden displays (where we fell in love with the look of Mexican petunia and pineapple sage), the tractor exhibit, the children's barnyard, watching a belted Galloway class and gawking at lots and lots of produce that could have made guest appearances in the X Files. We saw a 146 pound watermelon and a 700 pound pumpkin. Now that would make a lot of pumpkin bread.

Forget the rides, concerts or food vendors. Although it appears that this part of state fairs get bigger and bigger, I don't want it. How could you be interested in a turkey leg when you just saw the majestic bird, in its fine feathered regalia, it came from? I am fearful of the day when the state fair no longer has representation from the farming and livestock community. How can we appreciate our food if we don't understand where it came from? Who grew it? What hard work it takes to get that nourishment to your table?

Sweet potatoes, honey, corn. These are examples of the astounding produce that comes from the farm. But, do you look at your plate and think of them as miracles? Tomorrow, remember to give thanks to the farmers and effort it took to provide that bounty on your table.

2008 Trick or Treat

An early 'Trick or Treat' gift to my wonderful blog readers. I hope this; and the possibility that the 'wrong' president elected could significantly increase your taxes, reward the lazy with your hard earned money and lead us down the path to a socialist government; inspires you to get off your bum and vote. Remember, early voting is available in many areas.

Author's note: I could list 27 million ways to November 4th about who you should vote for and why, but I'll pass. You are all adults and I have faith that you will do your research, look at the issues, the character of the candidates, their patriotism, tax plans, etc and make an informed, educated decision.

'Yak Attack

Sunday was Another Gorgeous (yet breezy) Coastal Carolina day! The pictures say a thousand words. Which is good considering that I don't have that much to add.

Check

Rainy weather? Check

Cold temperatures? Check (didn't get out of the mid-50's today)

Clean, warm polartec blankie? Check

Lack of initiative to do anything in this weather? Oh, yeah. In spades.

That's OK. I think our three member family needed the rest after a very busy (but highly productive) week.

And what did you do on World Bread Day?

Yeast, flour, salt and water. Basic pantry staples, right? But, put 'em together and what do you get?

Ahhhhhhh! Bread!

There is nothing like the smell of a kitchen while bread is being baked (or proofing). And that was the smell that permeated our kitchen, and entire house, today in honor of World Bread Day. It is heavenly, unworldly, a sensation that can not be described with any of Webster's words.

However, the smell of fresh baking bread leads one to eat bread. And, that is exactly what I've done. Eat bread (and cheerios) all darn day long.

Since I couldn't devote all day to bread making, I stuck to two of my rarely-fail, crowd pleasers; rustic white and simply honey wheat. Different, yet divine in their own way.

Oh, and for those of you who wanted an update on the status of my freelance project: It is going very, very well. I sent what I've done to date to the woman who contracted me and she was very complimentary. Can someone please tell me why I doubted myself in the beginning?

Water and a beefy tidbit . . . .

I wanted to share two things with y'all this evening.

1. I love living on the water. I love being back down south. I get giddy when I look up from working and see the our resident duck couple (the most recent additions to the menagerie) heading to our dock for their mid-afternoon feeding.

2. Water begets water. Living on the water has stimulated my interest in this precious, under appreciated, life-giving commodity. Did you know that if 10,000 people replaced one beef meal with a vegetarian option just once a week for a year, we'd save enough water to fill roughly 605 Olympic-sized swimming pools? And that is for just 10,000 people! Imagine what would happen if a million people substituted just one beef meal a week with a veggie meal? The results could be staggering (in Mother Earth's favor)! Man, The act of growing cows sucks a huge amount of precious resources.

Chew on that tidbit.

Quote for the day

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."

--Lao Tzu

Sounds like a principle that could be practiced in other areas besides nature.

Quote for the day

"Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."

---Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

I got a freelance job on Friday. The 'final product' is due October 22nd. I'm excited and nervous as hell. Since accepting this opportunity, all my old insecurities have festered to the surface like splinters working out of skin. I think that is why the quote above struck a chord when I found it earlier today. These are words that I'm mentally repeating to (1) stay present and (2) remind myself that I have kicked ass in the past and I'll do it again. This week.

Krafty Kitty

As if my days weren't filled by searching for a job, starting my fall bread-baking season, trying to make new friends and enjoying AGCC days, I've got a few crafty projects going on. I'll show finished projects in the coming weeks, but wanted you to know that I have some scrupulous supervision.

Ah, Grasshoppa!

In this household, it is all about the kitty. Kitty's comfort, kitty's emotional state, kitty's education, kitty's entertainment, etc, etc. Keeping such a fickle, scholarly, brilliant kitty engaged is very challenging to her bi-ped parents. So, when DJ found this HUGE grasshopper on Sunday, his first thought was 'sharing' his find with the kitty. Did y'all know grasshoppers can spit? Ask DJ.

Considering that Ginger has never seen a grasshopper that could eat small children, it was quite the experience for her. She found his antics amusing, but soon grew weary when she realized all he could do was chirp and jump. Ugh. Now how do we broaden our 'furry' child's horizons? Any suggestions?

PS No animals or insects were harmed in the process of taking these photos. Mr. Grasshoppa was released into the wild shortly after these pictures. This time, without the addition of bodily fluids.

Fish Tales - - Meet OP

Both Saturday and Sunday were AGCC days. Which was a good thing considering that the second largest festival in the state, the NC Seafood Festival, took place in Morehead City. In years past, over 120,000 folks pack downtown Morehead City to look at crafts, listen to live music and try just about every variation of fried seafood known to mankind. Unfortunately, there weren't very many heart-healthy seafood options. Guess the vendors were hoping that the omega-3s from the seafood would temper the effects of deep frying the crap out of a fillet or shrimp.

That's OK. As most of y'all know, we love to look at the culinary offerings, but are most interested in people watching, the arts and crafts and the music. So, the money that other people would spend on artery clogging, deep fried shrimp basket and funnel cakes, we spent on purchasing our newest 'family member.'

Please meet O.P. Mark Cunningham, of Gloucester, VA, hand-crafts a variety of coastal fishes and fowl. Once you pick out your wildlife of choice, Mark will then customize it with your name, a saying, address, etc. Since red drum are quite the popular (and tasty) fish of the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound, we selected a red drum.

Now, what to put on it . . . . . . We wanted something representative of us, but not necessarily our names. Out of the blue, my creative-minded husband said, "What about One Particular Harbor? This would give homage to one of your favorite Buffett songs and the fact that we live on a harbor."

And such is the story behind OP (who now greets people on our front porch).

'Yak Attack

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS COASTAL CAROLINA day. I have a gut feeling that this wording will appear in this blog to the point of distraction (or annoyance, your choice). So, I've come up with a solution. AGCC. Yes, folks, the newest word (or in this case, acronym) for the Do you anjuu? blog is AGCC.

Guess what? Yes, today was an AGCC! So much so that the husband and I were 'driven' to be outside and on the water. I am amazed that we have the good fortune to enjoy a 'yak outing before most people show up to work. We are in the boats by 7 AM-ish and back on the porch eating breakfast by 9.

Although our beloved ospreys have migrated, we are not at loss for wildlife. Three blue herons were sighted within the first 10 minutes of our trip. (Can you spot one in the first picture? Look closely for a darker lump in the sky.) Then, we 'yakked (literally) right into a huge flock of mighty chatty song birds, who then lead us to a deer taking an early morning drink out of the river. Although the wildlife is amazing, the flora puts on a pretty good show too.

Another truly amazing day!

Preparation

First, let me make a comment about the weather. IT IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!! A perfectly painted, coastal Carolina early fall day. Oh my gosh. It was one of those days that gives you a feeling of hope and all is right with the world. That miracles do happen. And, you would totally be hating yourself if you didn't get outside and stay outside all day.

So, I took God's hint and spent most of the day outside doing nothing but enjoying the sensory overload that comes with a perfectly painted, coastal Carolina early fall day.

Then, I remembered that World Bread Day is in two weeks! (And, no, I do not make this shit up. How dare you suggest that!) Oh my goodness. What sort of yeasty delights will I bake? What neat, new, exciting ways can I play with flour, water, yeast and a few other select ingredients? So, I got off my sand-stained butt and went to the library where I picked up The Bread Bible. Figured that should be full of possibilities.

To Do List

October 1, 2008

'To Do' list

1. Get up (after removing cat from husband's chest)
2. Update CV/resume and craft a 'summary statement' that would make any employer salivate over the prospect of hiring me as a new employee (regardless of the 1 year plus lack of employment)
3. Go to gym-short workout day
4. Eat lunch and review CV/resume changes with husband (curb desire to eat a 55 gallon barrel of candy corn-my Halloween season weakness)
6. Remember that this is Breast Cancer Awareness month and make mental note to do self-breast exam in shower this week
7. Feel need to take some sort of action today in honor of breast cancer awareness month and go to http://www.armyofwomen.org/
8. Post blog entry encouraging all women to go to http://www.armyofwomen.org/ and join the 'army'

Fall 2008 'Harvest'

Beautiful picture, huh? I love roaming the farmers' market, viewing all the wonderful and gorgeous products that people coax out of their backyards. In years past, I wouldn't think twice before spending $30 on 'designer' pumpkins and fall decorations. Unfortunately, economic times have structured me into a more callous consumer.

Thoughts I have before a purchase include: 'Do I really need this? Is this purchase a necessity or a nice-to-have? What are other more productive ways to spend this money?'

In my household, $30 could pay for a month's supply of breakfast (yogurt, cereal and fruit) for DJ and myself. And so, I walk away from the farmers' market empty handed, but more confident that I will not be one of the millions of American consumers who can not make a mortgage payment, incur credit card debit that goes unpaid or mar an otherwise great credit record.

Am I upset that hardship has lead us (DJ and I) to a 'Hawaii-less' 2008? At times, yes. However, our move, my (continued) good health and our ability to weather economic downturn dissipate my frustrations.

I was going to use this entry to caution everyone to really think before making a purchase. But, I'm learning I can't control everything and everyone (damn!). I'm fearful of the upcoming holiday season. I'm afraid what family will think if I say I don't have the budget for gifts. Will you, kind reader, interpret that as me loving you less? Why do I feel that I need to spend money in order to prove my love and devotion? Will you think this act selfish or will you recognize it for what it is; me (and DJ) making smart financial decisions so you don't have to bail us out in the future?

I'm not trying to open up a shitstorm. I'm just having a frank blog entry.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse . . . and a little point to ponder

Back in August, we were lucky enough to get an invitation to visit the Outer Banks. During that visit, we took a day trip all the way down to Cape Hatteras. Why? Because it was the only lighthouse in the area that we had not seen in person.

At 208 feet, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest in the nation. Still in use, the lighthouse flashes a short beam every 7.5 seconds. The beam is said to be seen over 20 nautical miles in clear conditions and almost 51 miles in exceptional conditions. (Sorry, the Park Service did not define “exceptional conditions” for me.) Constructed of 1.25 million bricks (fired in kilns along the James River in Virginia), this oversized barber shop pole can be hiked by the intrepid visitor. Don’t worry, there are only 268 steps and 8 landings where you can stop and rest (if that’s your thing). Of note though, you can only scale the lighthouse April to mid-October. I highly recommend the hike to the top. The view is superb. From that vantage point, the flatness, and fragility, of Hatteras is quite obvious.

It is a fact that the barrier islands of North Carolina are very, very environmentally fragile. There is a fine balance between allowing Mother Nature to ‘do her thing’ and allowing development to occur. When our lives end and we meet our Maker, will we have to account for our treatment of Mother Earth along with our other mortal (and moral) sins? Nine years ago, the lighthouse was moved over 2800 feet inland due to erosion. That’s not the scary part. The information that makes me most fearful is that, if this rate of erosion continues, it is predicted that the lighthouse will have to be moved again in 100 years. If that is to be the fate of the lighthouse, what will be the fate of the barrier islands in North Carolina?

The Visitor that Sticks

We love the abundance of nature that inhabits our new surroundings; a myriad of birds, insects (OK, don't love them so much), turtles, fish, deer (saw 4 while eating dinner last week) and tree frogs.

Evidently, the 'love' is mutual. For example, we've had two tree frogs come visit (inside the house) over the past two weeks. The first one decided to cling to DJ, didn't like that and did a back flip and onto the front door. This little guy showed up about 10 minutes ago on the crown molding over the door to the garage. Lucky for us the animals realize that, although larger, DJ isn't the threatening type (unless you are a snake, then all docile-acting bets are off). He very gently chases them (if necessary), scoops them up and deposits them to a more habitable environment . . . . outside.

September 24th Sky

Change is in the air. There is some sort of weather system off the NC coast which is causing us to have Nor'easter like conditions without the rain. The blustery north winds have caused the water level to rise higher than it was after Tropical Storm Hanna. The lower kayak dock and one of the steps is totally underwater. However, this weather system is making for some spectacular sky shots!

Quote of the Day (and a Daily Dose of Cute)

"To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness."

--Bertrand Russell

OMG (!) Apple-Pear Scones/Muffins

As you know, pears are in season and are multiplying like bunnies (or in our area, deer) in the aisles of Sam's Club. So, I'm looking at the cooler size box of pears thinking, 'Yeah. DJ and I could easily eat all these before they go bad.'

Famous last thought before I found myself drowning in a sea of pears.

It would have been a doable task had they ripened at different rates. Not my fate. They all ripened within a 36 hour window and I thought I was screwed. I race to the internet and start checking some of my trusty recipe websites. Nothing was really catching my eye (except for a Spiced Pear Butter) and I was getting desperate knowing I needed to use these pears . . . . NOW!

Then, I remembered my stepmother talking about these sweet apple-pear scones that were a hit with her crew at work. Hmmmmm. I jumped over to email and shot her a pleading note for her to share her recipe with a fellow baker who was overwhelmed with soo ripe, they-might-bruise-if-you-look-at-them-wrong, pears. The woman came through. After reviewing the recipe, I found some ways to improve the nutritional status without sacrificing the taste. The picture above is the fruition (pun intended) of the recipe below.

Now, before you ask, of course I modified from the original recipe. Just trying to improve their nutritional value. I will say that this dough is really, really sticky. It will stick to you, your clothes, your walls and pretty much every surface that is available in your kitchen. You'll lose about one scone's worth of dough probably. As such, I started to experiment with ways to make these without spending 20 minutes trying to cut them into scones (while still making the end product look beautiful). So, at the end of this recipe, you'll also see instructions on how to make them as 'drop' scones and muffins. The picture above was using the 'drop' scone method.

Christa's Oh My God (OMG!) Apple-Pear Scones/Muffins

1 cup flour
1 and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 cup Splenda
1/2 cup light margarine (place in freezer for about 15 minutes before use)
1/2 cup diced apple (peeled)
3/4 cup diced, ripe pear (peeled)
2 T sugar free maple syrup
1/2 cup fat free vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup fat free milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In bowl, stir together first 5 ingredients (flour thru Splenda). With a pastry blender, cut in semi-frozen light margarine until coarse crumbs form (will have the consistency of a coarse cornmeal). Stir in fruit. Stir in last three ingredients until dough is mixed. Be sure not to over mix.

For scones: Spray a cookie sheet with Pam. Shape into two seven inch rounds. Using a greased pizza cutter, or sharp knife, cut each round into six pie shaped wedges. Pull wedges apart, leaving about an inch between them. Bake for about 22 to 25 minutes (my oven took 23 minutes).

For 'drop' scones: Spray a cookie sheet with Pam. Using a 1/4 measuring cup, fill with dough and scrape out onto the cookie sheet, placing about 2 inches apart. Use your hands, quickly shape into rounds and flatten the top. Again, don't over handle the dough or they won't bake up fluffy. Bake for about 15 to 17 minutes. Makes 15 drop scones.

For muffins: Spray muffin pan with Pam. Drop approximately 1/4 cup dough into each tin. Smooth tops. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes. Makes 15 muffins.

By the way, if you are going to serve these immediately, you can sprinkle the tops with large, raw sugar crystals (see picture above). However, be forewarned, if you do this and then wait until the next day to eat them, the tops will be super soft. Turns out that the sugar crystals will absorb the moisture from the air thus losing their crystaline appearance and making a scone/muffin thingy top that is way too wet. Still eats well, just doesn't look as nice.

And before you ask the next expected question, yes, they do freeze. Without the sugar topping, of course.

'Yak Attack

No, no, no. We don't have pissed off water buffalo in New Bern. When I say, 'yakin, I mean kayaking!

We woke up this morning and started to go about our usual morning routine, when DJ said, "Hey. Did you see the temperature gauge? It's only 60 degrees out."

I'm thinking, '60? I haven't seen that since Pennsylvania . . . in June.' Needless to say, I was impressed by our moderate climate this morning. So much so that I said, "Let's go kayaking?"

In a flash (OK, really 10 minutes), we changed, grabbed breakfast, got the kayaks down, life vests on and were hitting the water.

What a gorgeous morning. Early on in the trip, we had the sun rising on our left (picture #1) and the moon setting on our right (picture #2). The only tainting to a beautiful morning was the realization that the osprey have already left the area for the winter. Anyone know where osprey migrate to?

You lookin' for me?

Yes, yes . . . . I have been MIA . . . . again. But, I'm back and have a ton of things to share with all you interested readers!

I've got vacation stories, Tropical Storm Hanna pictures and a handful of wonderfully good recipes to share. Even some funny cooking stories about getting used to a 'new' oven and a location with high humidity. (Can you say 'runny bread dough that turns into coiling snakes instead of loaves,' boys and girls?)

Like a house of cards

Looks kind of like a house of cards, huh? If you removed one stick, they would all fall down.

We are deep into the 'dog days of summer' here in eastern NC. This week, the highs have ranged from 91 to 97 degrees. And don't even ask about the humidity. Even I have decided to take shelter in the middle of the day. In fact, I was so freaking lazy, wiped out from the heat, that I read in the house yesterday afternoon (instead of going to the beach, reading on the screened porch, etc, etc). So, during dinner last night, the husband suggested going kayaking (also referred to in our house as 'yakking') today. He wanted to make sure our 'neighbors' (i.e. the osprey pair) were still shacking up down the canal. I looked at him for a few beats and said, "You are talking about doing this before the sun comes up, right?" Because, even without the sun, the 'low' temperature has hovered in the upper 70's. He responded in the affirmative. Fine with me. I can't sleep late anyway . . . something about getting older.

This morning: Alarm at 6:30 AM, bed made by 6:40 AM and on the water by 7:10 AM. By 7:20 AM, we'd already seen a beaver, our 'neighbors' and three deer! By 7:35 AM, we'd run across what I thought was a HUGE dead turtle floating in the water. Kid you not, damn thing had a head the size of my fist and a tail almost as long as Ginger's. DJ tapped at it with his paddle and the monstrosity moved! Holy cow! That thing was sleeping. By 8:00 AM, we'd run across a second osprey nest and barely missed getting pelted with bird shit from a very aggressive, territorial Daddy osprey. I guess it was male. Momma osprey was still in the nest serving as the second line of defense against us curious 'yakkers.' Shortly thereafter, a beautiful blue heron idled by on his majestic wings.

While leisurely paddling home, I thought about all the beauty we had observed. The coastal environment is like an onion. There are so many layers to observe and appreciate. And, although we weren't in a traditional house of worship this Sunday morning, we were certainly in the presence of God. And I gave thanks.