Topaz Moments

Gout Toe vs Gaucho

2011-06-08T23:03:00.001-05:00

When the good fairy grants you one wish, make sure you enunciate well and specify gauchos, NOT gout toes. Painful lesson learned. Silly me.

Sharing the Bar

2011-05-28T12:20:00.000-05:00

It’s a beautiful sunny spring day and the great outdoors are calling my name. However, before I go there, there are two recipes which I tried out this week which will give me just enough energy for the busy summer ahead. Fruit and nut bars from the food coop are favorites of our fam but are just darn expensive. Even though the ingredients are spendy, it’s still cheaper to make my own. Mmmm.

Fruit & Nut Bars - makes 16 bars

These bars contain no oil and no sugar; they get their sweetness from dried fruit. They are also chock full of walnuts, which contain lots of those fabulous omega-3 fatty acids. These bars are wheat and soy-free -- great for those with allergy concerns.

1 cup whole spelt flour
1 cup rolled oats
¼ cup prune purée or one 2.5 oz container prunes
½ cup currants or finely chopped raisins
½ cup dried apricots, chopped fine
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Water as needed by the tablespoon

Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Lightly coat an 8-inch x 8-inch pan with nonstick spray and set aside.

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and knead with your hands until a good, stiff dough forms. Add a tablespoon of water if the mixture is too dry. Press dough firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Cut into squares with a sharp knife before placing in the oven.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until baked through but still soft (don’t overbake them or the bars will be tough). Store leftover bars in the refrigerator.

Fruit-and-Nut Breakfast Bars - makes 8 bars

¼ cup orange juice
½ cup whole Medjool dates (about 5), halved and pitted
½ cup whole raw almonds with skins
½ cup dried apricots
¼ cup dried plums (prunes)
¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
¼ cup raw sunflower seeds

Preheat oven to 300°. Pour orange juice over dates and let soak 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, place almonds, dried apricots, and dried plums in a food processor and pulse a few times until coarsely chopped. Add salt and dates with orange juice and pulse until mixture starts to stick together. Add pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, pulsing a few times just to incorporate.

Using wet hands, scoop mixture onto a work surface and form into a log about 1 3/4 in. wide and 1/2 in. thick. Use your palms to flatten into a bar, and cut bar into 8 equal pieces.

Arrange pieces about 1 in. apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes. Using a heatproof spatula, turn bars over and bake another 8 minutes, or until nuts are toasted (but before fruit begins to burn). Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

IT'S FLOAT TIME

2011-05-24T15:27:00.000-05:00

Solitude by Frederic Leighton

Wikipedia says Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, i.e., lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, neurological disorders or circumstances of employment or situation (see castaway).

Heaven forbid! That’s not exactly what I had in mind, out of all those possibilities; I choose deliberate choice with a positive outcome.

Today I experienced five glorious minutes of solitude, while surrounded by a group of others, also in some sort of solitude. My companions were fellow muscle stretchers in the pool. After the routine of exercises to strengthen and stretch my knotted up spine, we are informed that “It’s Float Time!” Grab a noodle and float. No swimming or talking (but a few were whispering so in my point of view, that doesn’t count as solitude).

One of my favorite authors, Richard J. Foster quotes: “In contemporary society our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds.” That’s me.

Today I choose solitude for pleasure, to hear direction, and for strengthening my resolve in an ever-busier life. It’s not an emptying of self but instead a quieting of self so that I can be refilled with truth and things that matter.

What an unexpected gift in a busy day. I know I could award myself “float time” anytime, but today the instructor takes me by surprise; sort of like an unexpected present. And so…….I float. Eyes closed. Pool door open so I can hear birds sing and my neighbor’s little sigh of heaven.

A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening. -Soren Kierkegaard

Happy 80th Rog!

2011-02-17T22:14:00.000-06:00

I am a delinquent friend. Weeks ago I purchased a birthday card for a special friend who is celebrating 80 years of life and then tonight I found out it was last week! You see, my birthday friend, Rog has Lou Gehrig's disease, and it is progressing rapidly. Each day it is getting more difficult for him to talk and soon that voice will be silent.

And so I was holding onto the card because I wanted it to say just the right thing or for me to write the perfect greeting, but every time I sat down it sounded shallow.

Tonight as I finished rereading The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, the words from the book jumped off the page at me and became exactly the right encouragement for him, better than anything I could have composed. The words made me weep for the joy to come for all of us who are Christ followers and I knew it was meant to be shared with him. Happy birthday Rog!

"And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

Who's dwelling in your life?

2011-02-15T22:59:00.035-06:00

It's 1.30 am and I can't sleep so decided to check emails instead. I went to bed before 10 tonight because it was a busy day but now woke up with a million things running through my head. My day started at the Health Center where Tim and I now have gym membership. There are always friends there so I can start with a short cup of coffee, then work out, shower, and get on with the day. It's been a good fitness routine this winter.

The morning crisscrossed with short trips to the grocery store and other errands, forgotten packages, and essential appointments. Today's temperature was warm and sunny so I enjoyed the sunshine outside. After a long winter, today was a pre-cursor to spring celebrations.

As I drove home and turned the corner, I saw an older gentleman crawling on his hands and knees on the sidewalk, an upset dog in tow on a leash, who was barking and trying to get help for his owner. I immediately pulled over and heard the man's cry for help. He had slipped on the ice, hurting his hip and couldn't get up. Today's temperature was in the high 30's so much of our snow melted into puddles, covering the ice beneath. The man was more shaken than anything so after checking for broken bones, I helped him up and very gingerly walked him home. His dog Teddy Bear was traumatized and wouldn't budge so I also had to calm an extremely hairy, filthy animal who turned out to be gentle, but terribly dirty. Long story short, I deposited a very grateful 88-year old man back home, but I was the one truly blessed by him. I'll stop in tomorrow again to check on my new friend Jack.

By 1:30 I drove to the County Jail where I've been shadowing my chaplain friend, learning the ropes of jail ministry. It's a newer facility with many corridors and doors so finding my way around is always an adventure. Today we had 9 women in our 12-step program, some proud and haughty, some so broken they can barely speak. This new adventure is stretching my little world and once again opening my eyes to care more for hurting people.

Home at 4 pm, hustling to be ready for friends who were coming over in one hour for our Valentine's Day lobster dinner. Opened a bottle of wine by 5, sent Tim back to the grocery store to replace 1 of the 4 live lobsters who wasn't kicking, and started cooking. Oh the running around we do! Dinner comprised of appetizers of fresh veggies and smoked fish (from recent Duluth trip), peppery arugula salad, wild rice, and the tasty lobster. Dinner was relaxing and a huge success, finishing with homemade blackberry sherbet, chocolates, and coffee.

My day was full of good friends, new friends, hurting friends…and then there is me, saved only by grace. It got me to thinking of my circle of acquaintances and people I am in community with. I leave you with a great truth that some friends shared with me the day they moved to Florida, when we had to part company:

psalm 84:5-7 The Message

and how blessed all those in whom you live,

whose lives become roads you travel;

they wind through lonesome valleys,

come upon brooks,

discover cool springs, and

pools brimming with rain!

God traveled,

these roads curve up the mountain,

and at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!

This is personal

2010-10-31T17:20:00.000-06:00

Come to me!

It is happening again in my life...a time for new direction. I believe we all sense that from time to time. It's more than the usual enticement of chocolate, donuts, or mom's apple pie; this time I'm hearing a new call to step out of my comfort zone and trust God's promptings with what I am to do with my life, where I am called to work and where I need to focus.

In the book The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond, Bill Hybels points out we all have whispers, it's just that sometimes we aren't listening or we chose to ignore those whispers. Understand it's not something audible but more of an awareness that gnaws at our thoughts, pops up when we do small tasks and presents itself in the middle of the night.

In my head, this book combines with two classes I am taking. One about the social-revolution to reorder our priorities and to live life completely available to God and the other, Faith Matters which crystallizes what I believe and why I believe it. Both have been walloping me like a sledge hammer. I'd call those big God-size whispers, but for now, I'm not sure what to do with those punches. My passions point me to women who are hurting and abused, kids who are hungry, people who are lost and don't even know it, and the cry for truth. Life is so jumbled and we all need answers.

And so I've dipped a toe in the water. Through ongoing soul-searching and intense listening, I have freshened up my resume. Both the one on paper and the one in my head of how I can better connect with people that makes a difference for eternity. I have sent out emails , made inquiries and asked for input from trusted friends, searched the web, and am anxiously awaiting. I have no idea where this adventure will lead but I am thankful for this new road and am keeping my eyes focused on the One who always directs my steps.

What are you throwing into the pot?

2010-10-27T18:48:00.000-05:00

Soup. Pea soup, Ham and Bean, tomato, chicken gumbo. It's a basic need of mine. Always a comfort food, especially when combined with a hearty slice of artisan bread with a thick slab of real butter. Then there are some of the new-to-me soups emerging from my kitchen with names like African Peanut, Moroccan lentil, Kurdish Dowjic soup (an indescribably sumptuous lemon chicken soup which I mimicked from Babini's Kurdish Restaurant downtown Saint Paul, MN), or my favorite soup, Vietnamese Pho Bo.

As the wind kicked up today and temperatures dropped to freezing, my soup taste buds began crying for the usual soup treat. (I also toyed with the idea of moving somewhere south like Tucson or Costa Rica!) While my creative juices were hungering for something exotic, something spicy, my no-nonsense, thrifty Dutch upbringing was telling me to use the weathered vegetables taking up space in the refrigerator.

Now to those of you who know refrigerators, they come equipped with a crisper drawer or two, designed to keep humidity high which keeps your vegetables from drying out and getting flabby. At our house, yes, it's a drawer to store food... but since it's out of sight, most of my family knows it simply as "the rotter". Enough said.

So being a good little Dutch girl, I scrounged around and found some not-so-perfect-anymore vegetables, added some frozen tomatoes and a half bag of spinach which were dumped into the freezer right before our last trip to see the kids, as well as a partially used box of beef stock. Oh, and I also found a small Baggie of roasted Hatch chilies a friend had given me last week. All went into my grandma's old soup pot.

It's amazing what wonderful smells are coming out of my kitchen tonight, a makeshift soup requiring a small amount of time. By adding whatever the kitchen rendered, tasting as I went along, and then letting it simmer, a sumptuous soup is before me. I'm setting the table for 7 o'clock dinner. If you'd like to enjoy the small things in life with me, bring a bottle of wine and we'll feast together.

Oh, did I mention what I whipped up for dessert?

Working on my image

2010-10-25T17:47:00.003-05:00

What am I doing and who am I?

Do I follow the club?

Make a difference in the club?

Lead the club?

Not associate with the club?

Join the gathered club-or- start my own club?

Given a choice, I don't think I like static clubs. Whether it is the coffee crowd, neighborhood circle, work environment, or even church, being part of a club makes people feel liked and accepted. If you act and speak and think like everyone else in "the club" you will be accepted.

Recently a new socialite joined my club whose views are radically different from mine. Nice person and all, very influential, but dead wrong...in my humblest of opinions. And so the political conversation began and soon everyone in the club was nodding their heads and wagging their tongues, regardless that the conversations I've had with individuals in the past are completely 180 from today's topic. It's the members in agreement so we don't make each other uncomfortable. Heaven forbid if you make a disagreeing comment and the crowd starts frowning. You will soon stand alone.

Some club people retreat into silence, unwilling to cause waves or make a stand... all in the name of making others like us. Shame on us. Just because one loud mouth decides he knows the proper side to butter toast, doesn't make it right.

Life is too short to not take chances or to step out of the comfort zone. Be an adventurous club member and you might find out you can make a difference. There will always be safe topics of idle conversation and many fun times when you are part of a group. However, there are multitudes of times when club members should be challenged on their thought process or what they are basing their opinions on.

Step out, turn up the heat, dip your toe of individuality in the club water, and stand up for what is right!

A few crazy beautiful people live in this world

2008-03-14T23:35:00.032-06:00

Dress Code for Bob's

2008-03-14T13:17:00.023-06:00

My stomach was full and my mind beginning to overflow from the prattle and bantering as I sat around finishing a two-egg English Muffin breakfast at Bob’s on this sunny spring morning. Eleven people (thirteen including the cook and backroom helper) had been engaged in multiple snippets of conversations and I was anxious to get on with my day. Despite my desire for a productive day, I couldn’t help but marvel at the uniqueness of this old café.

The 1950’s style lighted sign, supposedly a portrait of Ima, Bob’s wife has led many to the café as well as to Sioux Falls in general. Rumor has it that back then “the sign was a lighted fixed point for planes coming into town. They’d line up on the Bob’s sign which was on the outskirts of town and they’d know they’d be coming into the airport to make their landing.” True or not, it reflects the exceptional legacy of Bob and Ima’s restaurant.

The café probably looks much like it did when it opened 64 years ago. It boasts eleven stools for counter-only seating, putting you shoulder to shoulder with your bacon-munching neighbor. This is intimate-dining in every sense of the word intimate.

Over the years of eating at Bob’s, I have been more intrigued by the people than the actual conversations because, frankly, they’re just idle conversations…or are they? It’s not so much the dialogue as it is in the relationships and bonds that are formed. On a whole different level of understanding, very soon, my unsuspecting gourmonds will become acquainted friends and I will be theirs.

Everyone at the counter today is my friend. I have seen all of them before, knowing most of them by first name plus particulars about each of them; but apart from the café, well, I simply don’t know them. Our only connection is Bob’s.

Today I sit between Larry and some other guy, listening to Lowell telling us a truism that if you are ever caught in an avalanche, instead of running away from it, you run up into it. It will propel you over the top and away from danger. One guy followed his advice and was saved by riding the avalanche all the way from the Rockies down to St. Louis!

Bud came alone this morning without his wife, Barb who was just too busy. Amanda, the sweet young cook has her back to us as she focuses on the open grill, a zillion cakes and bacon frying all at once, but she adds to our conversation. Originally from Florida, she misses it terribly but is hoping to save enough money to move herself and two dogs back to where it’s warm.

The 9:00AM groupie, Al isn’t there this morning. He has been building wooden coffins and his help was needed, loading them up for the trip out to the Black Hills National Cemetary. Another regular, Keith should be on his way back from Texas after he and his wife spent the winter there. Word has it that he put a pile of money into his 5th wheel this year and will probably sell it when he comes home since he he had a dickens of a time convincing his wife to travel the 2,000 miles south yet another winter.

Louie, sitting two seats over, describes new found relatives in northern Wales. How excited he is to find formerly unknown family members and I watch him understand more of who he is in that line of progression. He runs out to his car and brings in a scrapbook of letters from Wales, maps, old shiplogs of long forgotten sea voyages, pictures of great grandparents as well as new emails and pictures of relatives’ children who are now just coming into Louie’s life.

It’s also his birthday today. Larry launches the too-high-to-sing-key version of happy birthday and we lustily join in. Who wouldn’t want to wish him a wonderful birthday greeting? He smiles and retrieves a large pan of Rice-Krispie treats he made at home and has brought in to share with everyone at the counter.

Each smile and bite translates into friendship and conversation. With each word, I pray I would reflect the Jesus I know. Somehow, wrapped up in today’s banter, there is an exchange about God’s love for us and how our pea brains try to understand the magnitude of his thoughts.

Happy birthday Louie, my friend and may God bless you richly!

Blind males or Male blinders

2007-11-17T22:17:00.001-06:00

So last night as the man of the house was stretched out on the sofa in front of the new flat screen, I asked him if he would like something from the kitchen (implying food that might interest him). He responded a simple "yeah" and was immediately sucked back into the incredibly boring Titanic movie. The second time I asked about a late night snack, his response was exactly the same. Hmmm, must be a gripping storyline which so intrigues him -or- I wonder if he has his male blinders on.

As most women know, men like to focus on one thing at a time, no spaghetti thinking, only one box of thought at a time. You take down your "TV watching box" and do that. When you move to another thought, you put the "TV box" back on the shelf and take down the box labeled "Focus on the Wife". You smile, make small talk, and say, "Why yes, I'd love a bowl of ice cream or whatever you are having". When the woman responds with "Ok, I'll get it” and "Love you, Hun", the man quickly puts that box away and goes back into TV mode.

Well, with the only response being that of Og the Caveman, I knew I was being drawn into the kitchen to get his attention. I pulled out a big bag of fresh bean sprouts and the new box of vanilla bean ice cream. I loaded them into two dishes and walked back into the lazy boy room, handed him the bean sprouts and kept the ice cream for myself.

He took the bowl as I handed it to him, responded "hmmmm, bean sprouts, I guess they're healthy" and began munching on them while being totally engrossed with the scenes of rushing water. Now get this; I know he's seen it before, has read the book, understands history, but such total engagement in a movie and being oblivious to the surroundings was just plain silly.

As I purposely smacked and made loud yummy noises, clinking the spoon on the bowl, it suddenly occurred to me that not only was he in his "TV watching box", he had also put on his blinders. These blinders kept him from seeing anything to his right or left, plus these were the new variety which wrap around the sides of the head, covering even the ears. Sucker! Serves you right to eat bean sprouts!

Ah yes, the Symphony

2007-10-16T20:27:00.001-05:00

Being the music patrons we are, we found ourselves with front row Symphony tickets last Saturday evening. (A friend won them and gifted us with them! Thank you Lord!) It was a piano concerto just premiering with 18 other orchestras throughout America composed by a gentleman, Lowell Liebermann. And so the night turned into a real date with the spouse. Clean up, dress up, see friends, hob-nob, enjoy the concert, and finish off the evening with a glass of Reisling. Oh yes, it was quite fine.

What an amazing talent to see the pianist who has memorized a boatload of notes, turning each one into something so grand. The entire piece was at least a half hour or more. I don't think my feeble brain could ever memorize something that intricate, let alone try to remember my SS number, home phone, cell, cash card, computer sign-on, security code to my brother's house, mother's maiden name, blog sign ons, and more. It would take an act of God......oh wait, that's what my whole life is!

Too hot in the kitchen

2007-08-07T20:48:00.003-05:00

It's time, don't you think, to put a little effort into this thing? Since one of the things I love to do is cook, how about adding a little pizzazz with a new recipe or two. I don't like "cream of anything" so you won't see that. However, I do love tasting new, culturally different foods or searching for variations on old themes. Being we are in the heat & mugginess of summer, follow me to the grill and we'll cook up a tasty morsel or two. As a lifetime Weight Watcher, I balance my meals to be healthy, and yet...I love cookies, real creamery butter, ice cream. Everything in moderation.

Tonight's dinner included shrimp and a big fat salad. I wanted an easy marinade for the shrimp which turned into a tasty zinger, and well worth making again.

Napalm Grilled Shrimp (Serves 4)
2 pounds shrimp (20-26 count size)
1 large jalepeno (seeds removed)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon cayenne
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin seed
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons paprika, sprinkled on after grilling
12 bamboo skewers, approximately

Directions:
Grab about a dozen or so wooden skewers and soak them in water to keep them from burning on the grill. Wash and devein the shrimp. Set these aside while you mix the marinade.

Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add the shrimp and let it marinate for a half hour or more. Thread the marinated shrimp onto the skewers, 5-6 per skewer. Start grill and cook until opaque and slightly crispy. Dust with paprika and serve.

The dressing on tonight's salad wasn't too slouchy either, with each zingy bite my tastebuds kept coming back for more!

Spicy Wasabi Dressed Salad
1 1/2 tablespoons wasabi powder
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon Tabasco sauce (or to taste)
1 green onion, white and part of green, finely minced
salt and pepper
Salad greens of choice (note: this family is against anything resembling iceburg lettuce)

Directions:
Mix the wasabi with warm water in the bottom of a mixing bowl and let it stand for 5 minutes. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and sparingly toss your salad with it. It will believe it's the best dressed salad on anyone's table. Just spicy enough to perk up any greens.

Running in the Snow

2007-04-10T14:48:00.002-05:00

As a women's coordinator at a church that follows Christ, I compile my thoughts and experiences from those I meet along the way, which turn into stories. I believe everyone has individual stories that should be shared in order to make sense out of life. Every morning we are given a new day, a new story; sometimes good, sometimes not so. It's how we handle it that makes a difference.

Surprisingly today we are in the midst of a spring storm and my newly emerging tulips have endured more than they have ever been hybridized for. After freezing last week, their tiny emerging cells collapsed and the green leaves sit forlornly on the ground. It will be a wonder if my favorite 'Angélique' tulips will ever recoup. Today they sit idle yet again under a blanket of heavy, cold, wet snow; but who knows, this snow might just serve as their saving grace, keeping them warm and protected from the falling temps. If all flowering fails, we pray that all of their energy will be diverted back into each bulb and next year's season, spring '08 will be lovlier than ever!

This spring, my Scrabble-playing mother decided to learn and explore email options. Now you have to know my mom and understand she is very frugal and doesn't want to spend an arm & a leg for email services. A free service with dial up is good enough. My brother tried explaining the lag time, ads popping up, etc. but a good Dutchwoman is not to be persuaded, and so she goes forward with the slow boat. I am watching a passing era, when life moved slower and not as many coffee shops abounded. Maybe I'm the one who needs lessons on time management.

Speaking of which, it's time for a break, a cup of coffee, and a good book. Last month I read When Life and Beliefs Collide which helped me compare my theology with the things that happen in my life. It will put some substance into what you believe.

You know, now that I think about it, maybe it's late enough in the day for the coffee cup to be replaced by a small glass of Merlot. Join me for a sip and conversation?