After the rain on an autumn morning in New England

After a few weeks of glorious weather here in New England, we have had a few days of rain and my poor garden has been beaten down.

My tall perennial aster attemps to add some color.

And one late blooming rose adds its beauty.

Even on this gloomy fall morning these beautiful mums make us happy to see them.

Valencian Paella

This is a description of my first attempt at making the Spanish dish, paella. This is a variation of the classic Valencian paella. I say a variation because I did not have any rabbit or snails which are called for in the classic recipe. I have substituted chorizo sausage.

This is what Anya von Bremzen says about Valencian Paella in her book, The New Spanish Table. "Once the Valencian paella police recite to you the recipe for the one and only true paella valenciana with rabbit and snails, they usually relent and admit that there are as many paellas as there are cooks and that the definition, ingredients, and technique vary every five miles in Valencia province alone."

This is my new paella pan.

First I assembled the ingredients;

Chicken, sausage, chicken stock, rice, garlic, salt, saffron, spanish paprika, green beans, tomatoes, and artichoke hearts.

I grate two large ripe tomatoes.

I crush eight cloves of garlic.

I pulverize a few threads of saffron.

I set a pot of chicken stock to simmer and add the saffron.

I cook the chicken and sausage in olive oil

Add artichoke hearts and green beans and cook.

Push the vegetables and meat to the side and briefly cook garlic in center of pan. Add the grated tomatoes and cook until reduced and thickened.
Blend the sauce with the meat and vegetables, add the rice and chicken stock. Cook 5-7 minutes.

Finish in the oven.

Serve to good friends, in this instance to Mary and Ed.

For background music we listened to Antonio De Lucena's disc, titled Guitarra Classica Espanola, sent to me from Spain by my good friend Miguel.

I have to practice this dish a few more times before it is totally satisfactory to me.

My mother's needlework

In reviewing the photograph in my blog entry of "All things Spanish" I noticed the corner of this doily. It was crocheted by my mother, Stella Ricker, more than 50 years ago and is one of my treasured possessions.

Mom loved needlework (oh so that is where my little talent comes from) and her handiwork was all around our home in Maine.

End tables had doilies, all of our pillowcases were embroidered, and in Mom's pocketbook there would always be a freshly ironed handkerchief with the delicate lace she had tatted around the edges. She also knitted our sweaters and mittens which were so essential for the cold Maine winters.

Flashback - All things Spanish

I have been corresponding with my friend Miguel from Andalusia, Spain for about a year on the internet. We enjoy frequent video calls where we have been sharing different aspects of our respective cultures and households.

I have immersered my self in "all things Spanish". I am reading novels, history, travel essays, and poetry all related to Spain. I listen to Spanish music and have been studying the history of the flamenco and of bull fighting. I have even been trying to learn to speak Spanish, although unsucessful thus far.

Miguel lives on a finca (farm) in the mountains not far from Malaga on the Costa del Sol and he owns and operates two supermarkets. He is also involved in local politics serving on a city council. As you can imagine, we have many fascinating conversations.

A few months ago, with Miguel's encouragement I attempted to serve an "authentic" Spanish meal to Mary and Ed. The menu consisted of chicken cooked in a spicy red pepper sauce, yellow Spanish rice, fried cauliflower with garlic and a bottle of red Spanish wine.

I think it went quite well as evidenced by the pictures below.

Marshfield Flea Market

Cissy and I spent a few hours on this beautiful fall day at the Marshfield flea market.

There was a small field filled with open air stalls selling all kinds of merchandise.

Plastic cows.

An assortment of walking sticks.

Me, Vernon, eating fried dough.

I bought this little clay bowl as a gift for my friend Moira who lives in Massachusetts but has previously lived and often vists Sedona, Arizona.

Notice the depiction on the bowl of the magnificent red sandstone formations and the ocotilla cactus. This is the work of a true artist and craftsperson.

An unlikely hobby

When I returned from California and was living in retirement in Abington Massachusetts, I remarked to my friend Cissy that I wished I had a hobby. After some thought, she suggested needlepoint, which I thought was hilarious. I had no aptitude for sewing (couldnt sew a button on), no artistic talent, and for heavens sake I am a man. She reminded me that the great football player Rosie Grier was a needlepoint stitcher, so I agreed to try.

I bought a small kit, sorted all the yarns by color, measured them, cut them, and try as I might I could not thread the needle. Oh well, so much for that hobby.

The next time Cissy visited me she brought with her a small gadget called a needle threader.

I proceeded to stitch the small portraight of a duck. The finished product was horrible with stitches going in all directions, but I had learned some basic techniques.

For my birthday Cissy and Gerry bought me a kit with a painted canvas. This is the finished product.







Next, I found an old book with needlepoint patterns of wild animals. I scanned three of the patterns, enlarged them and stitched the inages onto blank canvas. I was very pleased with the results which are pictured below and now considered myself a needlework craftsman.

I will show you more of my creations in future blogs. I have been stitching them for several years for close friends and family to serve as my legacy.

Butternut Squash

It is the fall season and the winter squash called Butternut is now in the markets. It can be difficult to cut up and peel but it stores well because the peel is so thick and hard. I buy the ones that are already peeled and cut by the market if I am going to cook it that same day.

This is my favorite butternut squash recipe. I am not sure where I found it but I have been using it for a year, so to whoever developed it, "its easy to cook and so delicious".

Sauteed Butternut Squash

with lemon, walnuts, and parsley

2 tablespoons extra=virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 cups 1/2 inch-diced peeled butternut squash

(about a 2-pound squash)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest

Heat the oil and butter in a 10-inch straight-sided saute pan over medium-high heat.

When the oil is hot and the butter has melted, add the squash, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is slighly browned and tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

Transfer the squash to a serving bowl.

Add the parsley, walnuts, and lemon zest, and toss to combine.

Serve immediately. Serves two to three people.

My Working Career - Sneakers and a brief case

My working career!

thus far

Insurance Executive

First Retirement

Controller for Engineering and Construction Company

2008

After a couple more years of retirement

Part-time Bookkeeper for Masonry Company

Work again ar age 72!

September 18, 2008



My first posting. One of the things I will be talking about is the status of my garden. Look at the lovely color of this sedum plant.

Koi Fish

I have moved my koi fish from the garden pond to a 14 gallon tank inside.
My pond does not have a proper filtration system, therefore the water was so murky I could not see the fish. I was surprised at how pretty they are and how healthy they look.
I hope the tank is not too small but it will have to suffise until spring. I will be shopping for a better quality filter system this winter. I do want Dante and Sophie, Ed & Mary's grandchildren to be able to see, enjoy, and feed the koi next season.

Peek-a-boo!

Flashback August 2008 cruise on the Codzilla

I was invited to go for a cruise with Jim, Erin, and Morgan on the Codzilla.

This is how the boat ride is described on its web site: "Get ready for more thrills, more laughs and more speed than you ever imagined as you zip across the ocean at up to 40 miles per hour. Don't worry, though; a ride on Codzilla is as entertaining as it is thrilling. The wind roars. The music blares. And the waves will splash during a wet and wild 40-minute ride of full blast, sensational fun."

I chose a rail side seat at the rear of the boat expecting that I would get splashed in the face and perhaps get my shirt wet. I had chosen the wettest spot on the boat. It was as if a barrel of seawater were dumped directly on my head. I was thoroughly soaked all the way through to my underwear. It took two days for my wallet contents to dry out. Jim still bursts out in laughter whenever I tell anyone about it in his presence.

Here we are in calm waters.

Take a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BrGehfhgsg&NR=1