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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Rage Against the...?

This post is likely to lose me some blog readers, and some friends on Facebook, so if you're willing to take that risk with me, read on.

I have been wrestling with some really hard thoughts lately, like down on my knees, crying to God to help here. Sunday, in our small group, a question that really crystalized the thoughts that I've been struggling with was asked:

"What is the 'Christian brand?' How do others see us?"

Saturday, March 22, 2014

The "Rest of the Story?"

I've gotten a number of questions about blog post I've written lately, so I thought I would check in with some follow-ups. In no particular order, and with no particular connections, here you go!

We are still pet-less, or "pet-free" as I like to think of it. Sorry, honey...

Yep, really did eat all that stuff, and this stuff too. This was the menu one night:

Note that "Ox Balls" is NOT an exotic meat... go figure!

Friday, March 21, 2014

St. Patrick's Extended

We did an Irish themed dinner tonight with friends (thanks Danielle and Tim!) Since I don't eat cows, I was looking to bring something I could eat, since the menu called for corned beef (and generally the cabbage and potatoes are boiled with the meat, which makes them taste gross if you don't eat beef.)

I came across this recipe for something called Colcannon.

http://food52.com/recipes/11988-how-we-survived-colcannon

Colcannon, according to Slate.com, where they had referenced this recipe, is "Irish peasant food." Essentially mashed potatoes with cabbage, it was actually really good. Infusing the milk with peppercorns and garlic really worked (I had my doubts), and imparted a good garlic flavor to the dish. I substitute olive oil for the butter they call for in the recipe, and did not serve it in bowls with additional butter. I probably added a little more salt than the recipe calls for.

Overall, simple, easy to make, hearty and cheap. Peasant food, indeed.

Friday, March 14, 2014

No Love for Chiro

So, because I am apparently trapped in the body of a 90-year-old woman, I started going to a chiropractor because I am having low back pain, combined with the joy of shooting sciatic nerve pain. Add that to the PT I'm going to for the knee, and I'm seeing almost as many medical professionals as my grandmother, who actually IS going to be 90 on Tuesday.

Today marked the 5th appointment with the chiropractor. The first appointment was a consultation with x-rays. I met the chiropractor and his associate. From there, my next three appointments, I was with just the chiropractor. The associate, whose name I am not sure of, was "around," but I didn't have any contact with him, although he waved at me once when I was in the office.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Guacamole

I didn't really eat guacamole until we moved out here, and most certainly never MADE guacamole until we lived in Colorado.

Yet somehow, I have discovered that I really, really like guacamole. Maybe its the making it fresh that makes the difference, or that I started adding poblano pepper to the mix, but its good. And other people seem to like it, so I thought I would share the recipe. Here is the "party" version, but halving the recipe works too (although you end up with leftover ends of vegetables.)

Monday, March 10, 2014

Snow and Sun

Here's a Colorado first for me:

Yesterday, I worked up a sweat shoveling snow off the deck and onto the grass so when it melted, the grass could have the water.

I did this while wearing shorts and a t-shirt. In 70 degree weather.

We got 6 inches of heavy, wet snow Friday night. Saturday was sunny, but cool. Sunday, different story. Upper 60's, sunny. Snow in direct line of the sight with the sun melted, but that in shadier areas stayed put.

We had the windows open all day. It was glorious!

Colorado weather is crazy. I love it!

Snow predicted later in the week...

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Chicken for Chicken

I stopped eating beef in 1999. I was living in France during the mad cow scare, and the French engaged in an embargo on British beef, since the Brits were feeding the cows... other cows. The British responded by staging an embargo against French chocolate. Guess who got the raw deal on that one (hint: it wasn't the French, I've had Cadbury chocolate!)? When I got back to the US, I just didn't see the point in eating beef, since there really wasn't much done to improve beef standards except let it fall out of the news cycle, so I didn't go back to it, have haven't since.

Now, I think I'm off chicken.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Oh Oscar!

We are going to our first Oscar's party tonight. We've never been to an Oscar's party (read: going in jeans, eating snacks, hanging out kind of party. Joan Rivers, this ain't.)

We haven't seen many of the movies nominated (read, Captain Phillips, and that's it), so this week, our group has been working on catching up. We saw American Hustle (in a real theatre), they saw Nebraska (we missed that one,) 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, and today, Dallas Buyer's Club.

12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, and Dallas Buyer's Club were in a league of their own. There's quite a bit of vulgarity in each, but each with a purpose that moves the story along. The easily offended should not see these movies. Dallas Buyer's Club in particular, the first 10 minutes is really over the top.

But I'm calling Dallas Buyer's Club for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. I don't know that I have seen a movie that powerfully made, with such exquisite acting, in a long time.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Home Depot vs. ReStore

We live in a small town. Granted, it's right next to a big town, but we live in a small town. If you want to shop for DIY supplies (and we do, often) your options are:

Home Depot.

Home Depot is 1.6 miles away from our house. Which is super nice, because our average project means approximately 4 visits to Home Depot, usually in doses of 2 or 3 in a day.

Needless to say, we are there a lot.