Dorie’s Different Reality

that we don’t?

It’s a weird Winter. We had a BIG snow on December 19- before the official first day of Winter. We have had a fair number of bitterly cold days. Thankfully, the last week or so, it’s been warmer and okay as winters go.

Earlier this week, I saw three big flocks of geese flying North and West. Honking away like “Winter’s Over- let’s head for the breeding grounds!” Today at the bird feeders, I had grackles hanging out. Usually we get flocks of them in February. They’re early. Biggest surprise of all was one lone Mockingbird today. They don’t usually drop in here until May.

I think I’ve figured it out…..there’s bad weather South of Maryland.I heard something on the news about tornadoes in Texas and Tennessee. Well, I’d expect such things in March, so they’re early too. Maybe these visitors are Southerners trying to get warm(er) and dry? I wonder if they’ll hang around, or head back South when it’s all over?

Along with the News and the gossip bloggers, I check the USGS Maps of earthquake activity fairly often. For the last few years, I’ve had a feeling that ol’ Mother Earth is going through massive changes. It’s not very scientific, just a feeling I have.

When I heard about the earthquake in Haiti last week my first thought was, ‘those people are really poor….they’re going to need help” Poor in ways average Americans have never experienced. Haiti is like one of the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, just a cruise ship’s ride away from the US Mainland.

Today the magnitude of the loss of life, hit me. They’re estimating 200,000 dead now, and likely to go higher. That’s loss of life on a par with the Asian earthquake-tsunami, which was huge and affected 14 countries.
So this earthquake in the nation comprising one-third of the island of Hispaniola, population around 10 million, is going to go down in history in the top ten of planetary natural disasters.
In places like Japan and California, knowing that earthquakes happen, there are building codes in place….nothing like that existed in Haiti. I think most of this loss of life is being caused by poverty- not the earthquake.

Makes my heart lighter somehow….

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
-Maltbie Babcock

I have to tell ya: after MUCH ado, Chez Dorie now has a KitchenAid! I’ve been wanting one, but shopping around for the best deal. As kitchen equipment goes, it’s a major purchase. Finally in exasperation with me, Mr. Pyrate said, “Dorie we’ve bought CARS in less time- just get the *&^%! mixer” Well, he had a point. But then, which model? Again, he said, “when has anybody ever said they wanted a smaller one with less power? Get the big one.” He’s smart that way (makes me hopeful he’ll get me my Cadillac one of these days too!) So here’s a picture of the Super Duper new mixer I also had a terrible time picking a color. Since this model comes with a metallic finish I decided to approach the choice as I would picking a color of a car. I liked the copper pearl color best; reminds me of my cousin’s ‘64 Pontiac come to think of it!

So here at the Ridge, I’ve been baking up a storm. Pyrate got me a Taste of Home Baking Book from the library. From that, I made “Golden Raisin Oatmeal” cookies- delicious, chewy with a hint of orange. Then, with those lovely limes, I made the recipe for “Lime Triangles” which was in the December issue of “Good Housekeeping” I added some chopped almonds which were part of the lime triangle recipe in the Taste of Home cookbook!

Today I made bread. I’m not ready to give up on my faithful bread machine just yet, so I made the dough in it. It’s my basic country white recipe and I made some buns for sandwiches. I found a new ingredient, which is why I brought it up. Bob’s Red Mill makes this multi-grain hot cereal mix, with all kinds of whole grain, even triticale! So I replaced 2/3 c. of flour with this mix. Much healthier than plain old white bread!

In the mixer, I made cookies! Todays are a variation on a chocolate cherry thumbprint cookie I make from time to time. I was searching the web and saw this cookie at Cafe Fernando Looks delicious, but I decided to deviate a bit from Fernando’s basic recipe. I added an egg to the sugar and butter. And instead of chopped chocolate, I used Nestle’s mini morsels (2/3 c) and 1/2 c. chopped walnuts. I rolled the cookies about 1″ in diameter and pressed one maraschino cherry in each one. They came out like little brownies with a cherry on top- wonderful!

Memo for next week: find the Cooking Light book of baking!

Topic Drift! Did you watch the finale of Doctor Who? What did you think?

Look how pretty:

I bought these on impulse at the grocer’s yesterday. Now I realize my cooking expertise with limes has been limited to green Jello and Seven-Up! What to make? Cookies, Pie and Cheesecake? I need it like a moose needs a hatrack. I see a lot of recipes call for a lime mayonaise or cilantro sauce- yummy! Or, packed in the “emergency, disaster, snowstorm” supplies, there’s a bottle of Vodka….doesn’t one of the Collins boys (Tom and John) call for lime juice?

Meanwhile, the loverly limes sit on the table reminding me that somewhere South of here, it’s ain’t Winter. Very reassuring!

Want to know how cold it is?

I just read a news report regarding turtle rescues going on in coastal waters of the normally warmer Southern US. The ocean temperature is in the 40s in some places, and the sea turtles float to the surface, stressed and lethargic from the cold.
The rescuers bring them in, float them in warmer water, and administer IVs of warm fluids if that’s what it takes to bring them around.

Oy, what a year. Put on your Cuddle-Duds and turn the thermostat down- we’ve got two more months of this to go!

Our dog Tesla doesn’t have a reputation as a smart dog. It seems I’ve done him an injustice. Just because he’s a happy boy doesn’t mean he’s a complete doofus. Yesterday, the dogs were having a tug of war over a stuffed mitten- a squeaky dog toy. I said to Tes, “go get your Tortuga” We keep the dog toys in a laundry basket in the corner of the living room- there’s a LOT of them in there.
Tes went right over to the basket, nosed around and came back with the stuffed turtle! He knew ‘zactly what I meant. Good dog! I bet he’d pull Timmy out of the well too.

SPOILER ALERT!” If you have missed a few shows and don’t want to find out what’s been going on here, come back later and we’ll talk about something else.

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Anyhow, Dr. Chase killed a guy. More like let him die. He was an African dictator like an Idi Amin. A thoroughly rotten, evil excuse for a human being. Chase broke his oath as a doctor, and sent the bad guy off the planet. Chase is consumed by guilt and looks like his marriage has broken up.

If he’d been a soldier, they’d give him a medal. Chase’s torment seems to be due to his violation of an abstract idea, “I didn’t help my patient….in fact I helped kill him” Where the reality (on a tv drama anyhow) is Chase probably saved thousands of people marked for death by the dictator.

Really interesting plot line. And phoo, there won’t be a new episode until 1/11!

I washed my husband’s wallet. I didn’t mean to, but I washed some jeans yesterday and guess what was still in a pocket. Nice to know that US Currency comes through a wash and dry cycle looking all crisp and fresh. The credit cards look fine, though a mag strip or two might be damaged. But wow- you should see the confetti! All the little notes with phone #’s etc. which get tucked into a wallet- poof, gone forever!

I got him a canvas tote some time back, but I guess it’s too small. Time to shop around for organizer bags. (hey, I’ve been wanting one anyhow! )

LOL caption aside,  darned if I understand what message is being sent to the West here!