Driving Miss Daisy

My good friend Maureen asked me to go to see Driving Miss Daisy on Broadway.

She had asked me several weeks ago and I said yes.

When I woke up yesterday morning I started crying. TBHITW was my New York guy. He knew all the trains and subways and the best places to eat. I almost called Maureen to cancel.

But I didn't. I showered, took some deep breaths and told myself I could do this.

We navigated the trains like pro's. We arrived early enough to have a cocktail before the show.

I had not done any research on the play (of course I had seen the movie years ago) so imagine my delight and surprise when we arrived at the theater and the marquee read:

Driving Miss Daisy
Starring: 

Vanessa Redgrave

and 

James Earl Jones

Be still my pounding heart! What a thrill to see living legends perform. Ms. Redgrave's grace and poise, Mr. Jones silken voice... Heaven.

After the show Maureen had made reservations at a beautiful Italian Restaurant close to the theater. We enjoyed a lovely meal with a shared bottle of wine. There were a few tears, but also some laughter. More laughter than tears. 

Last night when I laid down in bed I realized that for the first time in many, many weeks I had a smile on my face. It was a good day.

Thank you Maureen, my dear Irish friend. 

Fork and Cork Weekend and Olive Tapenade

My annual Women's Wine Weekend (notice, there is no H in wine) was this past weekend. I didn't know if I could go. I knew that I COULD go - I didn't know if I would be able to handle going. But I went. And this year the 16 year old kidadult came along.

My friend Michele's farm offers many things a young man can occupy his time with.
He went target shooting with a bow and arrow.
He drove a tractor.
He went out deer hunting with Andy and Andy (Michele's husband and son).
He took a lot of good hearted ribbing from nine women.
And he got to spend time with Jenna.

Jenna is six months younger than Zach. They have known each other all their lives.

I decided that they should get married one day.

Don't they make a cute couple? I think arranged marriages are making a comeback.

Here a few pictures of the other "players" of the weekend:

Got Apples?

Michele told me this turkey is a pet. I named him Thanksgiving

Duck anyone?

The Fork and Cork was fun. There were about 60 local wineries and restaurants in a big pavilion. All of the food was paired with a local wine. MMMM... the cheese, the bread, the wine! There was even homemade wine ice cream. 

I did pretty good until I realized that all the women, either in the morning, or the evening would call home to chat with their husbands for a few minutes. Last year I did the same thing. This year I turned my cell phone off. I had no one to call. It's the little things.

Olives are a great accompaniment to wine and cheese. Here's a simple, earthy, olive tapinade. Serve it with some rustic bread and a hearty red or big, oaky Chardonnay.

Olive Tapenade

1 cup Nicoise or Kalamata olives, pitted

1 cup small green olives

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes

1 tablespoon capers

2 cloves garlic

1 anchovy fillet

1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

1/2 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Combine all the ingredients except the olive oil in a food processor. Using on/off pulse button, process until coarsely chopped and blended. Stir in the olive oil or process in one quick whirl. 

Serve on lightly toasted baguette slices with a smear of goat cheese or simply top a rustic type cracker and eat. The tapenade will keep for a week tightly covered in your refrigerator. 

How To Be Alone

I had discovered Andrea Dorfman many months ago but with different eyes watched this video on Aloneness today. It spoke to me.



What is speaking to you today?

A Boy Becomes A Man and Apple Eggrolls

I have a garden shed. TBHITW built it for me years ago. I wrote about it here.

I love that shed. I keep all my gardening supplies it it. Pots, soil, a small rototiller, spades and shovels and tomato cages.

Last winter some very clever squirrels ate through the roof in the back corner (where we couldn't see the damage) and made a lovely winter nest. Oh how warm they must have been all winter long. They had hauled in all manner of comfy leaves and twigs and had even cached a nice supply of acorns and bird seed. Imagine my surprise (and theirs) when I opened the shed in the spring and found them all nestled in warm and dry in the back corner. A whole little family. Hmmm...

They moved out as soon as the babies went off to college (or wherever squirrel babies go in the spring). All summer long TBHITW would say, "I've got to fix that roof".. well, he never got around to it.

This past weekend the 16 year old kidadult decided to tear off the old roof and put on a new one. He measured and thought and measured some more. On Saturday morning he asked me to drive him to The Home Depot. He had a list of roofing supplies he needed.

We bought plywood and tar paper and shingles and nails. He even bought some chicken wire to lay down so those clever squirrels couldn't eat through the roof again. I don't know how he knew how to do all this. Maybe he is more clever than a squirrel?

He worked all day Saturday and into Sunday. He tore off the old roof and nailed down new wood.

He got out the saw horses and the circular saw and measured and cut (I couldn't watch that part)

Then he shingled the entire thing.

Who is this child?

Yesterday he never made his bed or picked up his dirty clothes or wet towels from the floor. Today, he is rebuilding a shed roof. Hmmm... I think my little is growing into a man.

Apple Eggrolls: (makes 4)

It is high apple season around here. I have canned 12 quarts of spiced apples and 6 quarts of apple sauce. We eat an apple a day and I still have apples in bowls, in the refrigerator and on the counter. Since it is just the two of us a pie is too much. I think these rolls are the perfect substitute when a pie is too big.

1 large apple (your choice) peeled and chopped into small pieces
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Generous pinch cinnamon
1 teaspoon flour
4 egg roll wrappers
Oil for frying
powdered sugar for sprinkling

Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir to combine. Add the apples and saute until just a bit soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the apples and cook for about 30 more seconds to thicken sauce. Cover and chill.
When apples have cooled, spoon a generous amount onto each egg roll wrapper, wrap up like an envelope.
Fry each egg roll until golden. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar and serve warm. Preferably to a boy about to become a man.

The NYC Marathon and Cancer

Some of my longtime readers may remember that our nephew, Shane, just 10 years old was struck by cancer in April, 2009.

That little boy traveled a very long, hard road in his subsequent battle and ultimate recovery.

I wrote of Shane's battle here and here and here.

His parents, Mark and Dee ran an emotional NYC Marathon last year, raising over $16,000 dollars for pediatric cancer research. TBHITW and I had the honor of taking all the children into the city to watch the inspiring runners.

This year's marathon was to be a run of celebration. I will let Dee (Shane's mom) take it from here:

Hi Linda,

"Shane has passed the one year cancer free mark!  We are all very excited about this.  Our doctor visits and scans have gone from once a month to every 3 months now.  

To look at Shane you would never know what he has gone through and sometimes I have to stop and think about it as well.  He is doing fabulous in school and runs on the cross country team.  When I look at him running I compare him to the other runners and even though it is hard for him (mainly because his body is not used to doing this hard exercise yet) he is getting through it.  Each week he gets stronger and faster and more confident. 

We have so much to be thankful for in life. 


To The Good Cook Readers:

This is our second year on Fred's Team and running the New York City Marathon.  Last year Mark raised so much money that I signed on as well.  We went to stay with Jim and Linda for marathon weekend.  Jim was our official transport all over the city!  Linda prepared wonderful meals for us!  And the Michigan cousins got to trick or treat with their Jersey cousins!  In short, a mini family vacation and we had a very memorable and enjoyable experience. 


The marathon itself was emotionally difficult as we remembered what had led us to this destination - Shane's cancer.  We wanted to come back and really be able to enjoy it.  However, without warning tragedy struck our family once more with the death of Jim, Mark's older brother.  For several weeks, Mark wasn't sure that he could continue on the journey of running the NYC marathon let alone fundraising for it.  Now we are decidedly in however our fundraising efforts fall far short.  We need to raise the remainder in the next week.  A very tall order.  But we are going to try, for if we don't we forfeit monies already raised as well as our entry fee already paid for the race.

Donations, big or small would be greatly apprecieated in reaching our goal.  Donations can be made online by going to mskcc.convio.net.  Select Fred's Team, then select Support a member.  You can enter Skelcy and select Mark or Deanna.

Thanks Linda!  Talk to ya soon.  And remember, from a tree a seed drops and scatters in the wind.  Then that little seed takes hold and begins to grow...and life begins again.   Look for that little seed.

Dee"

I am logging on and making a donation in TBHITW's name. If any of you can find it in your heart could you make a small donation for an incredible cause? If you are unable to afford a donation, may I ask just one favor? Keep Mark and Dee and Shane in your prayers as they continue to race for a cure for cancer.

Blessings,

The Good Cook 

Shane in Times Square with TBHITW

Angels and Answers

I have a set of Angel Oracle Cards.

Don't get crazy.

The deck of cards is used as a daily meditation. You shuffle the cards with your intention in mind and randomly select one. It is very much like praying. Or saying the rosary (if you are a Catholic).

I select a card everyday with my intention and question to the universe, "what do I need today".

Today has been a very emotional day for me. Full of tears and lonliness and sadness for my loss. I am missing TBHITW with all my heart and soul. My meditation today was not so much a question as a cry out to the universe to help me. To guide me. To heal me. To please give me strength and guidance and some peace.

The card I pulled today is the Heart Chakra card, its meaning:

"Love is the heart of the matter. Your heart is the center within your physical being attuned most to love. It's safe for you to love and be loved with an open heart, as we stand by with perfect protection and guidance."

Further reading of this card:

"The angels gave you this card because the answer to your question rests within your heart. The more you open your heart, the more love, joy, and peace you'll feel. You can open your heart chakra by asking the angels to end their healing energy, by visualizing your heart surrounded by pink light, by inhaling the fragrance of pink roses, by holding or wearing rose quartz crystal, and by focusing on love."

Additional meanings for this card:
Send light and love to your heart chakra. Take very good care of your cardiovascular health through exercise and healthy eating.

Here's the kicker:

"A departed loved one who passed on from a heart condition is saying "Hello, I love you". Have a heart to heart conversation" 


Sometimes the universe listens and answers when we need it most. I had a very long conversation with TBHITW and feel like I can face the rest of today.

And today is all anyone really needs to get through isn't it?

Tell Me A Love Story

Sometimes, at night, if I could not sleep I would ask TBHITW to tell me a story.

He was a very good story teller.

He would recount the days when he worked offshore on an oil rig in the Gulf Coast.

Or sometimes he would tell me about long, lonely drives back to Michigan for the holidays and how he would listen over and over again to classic holiday songs. "I'll Be Home For Christmas, White Christmas, Joy To The World".

Other stories would be about training for a race or a marathon. Or how he learned how to cook.

Or the jobs he held in high school.

Some of my favorite stories were about him in high school and college and dating.

You see, TBHITW, was a world class, how do you say it? Nerd. Yes, nerd.

Hey, don't get mad at me. I happen to think "nerds" make the best husbands. They don't know they are handsome and they are devoted to their profession, their families and their communities. Nerds also happen to be very smart and humble and honest and well, you get my drift. I always tell my daughter, marry a nerd and you'll be happy for the rest of your life.

Anyway, he would tell me stories of failed dates, awkward moments, and perceived shortcomings. He once told me how he had asked the most popular girl (of course she was a cheerleader) in high school to the drive in movies. He said she never even took her seat belt off through the entire movie. LOL..

My very favorite story of his was how he fell in love with me.

It is late and I can't sleep.

Will you tell me your love story?

If you don't want to post it here, you can email me at thegoodcook@verizon.net

There is nothing I love more than a good love story and I promise to hold your story in my heart until I fall asleep.