A Beautiful Place to See during COVID and beyond

 

My daughter has been visiting from Southwest Virginia.  Actually this is her vacation.  Originally we had planned a mother daughter trip to France but life and COVID changed our plans. We are trying to remain optimistic in our hopes to go sometime in 2021 but you never know what is going to happen.

It was another beautiful day on Monday and we didn't feel like being stuck in the house. We hoped in the car and drove to Brookside gardens.  Honestly, I did not expect to enjoy the gardens as much as I did but there was so much beauty and a nice balance between fall foliage and the flowers still in bloom that it was a pleasure to walk around.

If you are in the DC area add Brookside Gardens to your list of must sees.  It is worth it. 

Check out this video of Brookside Gardens.

Autumn Beauty especially in this time of COVID

The Autumn is my favorite time of year.  The air is so crisp and clear.  It is sleeping weather for me.  I have this amazing weighted comforter and when I slip under the covers the weight and the warmth just lull me into a deep sleep.  

My daughter came home for a visit.  She works in television so it is hard for her to get away especially in this time of COVID.  Sunday was a gorgeous day so we decided to get out of the house.  We ended up driving on this beautiful winding back road and saw a sign for Butler's Orchard.  We thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to take some Fall pictures so we turned onto the road and at the end was this beautiful place. Surprisingly, I had never been there before. 

In addition to some stills my daughter shot some video and this is the link montage from the Orchard. Please check it out.

 

Coca Cola

 

I can't lie, I am a coca cola fanatic.  I love the drink.  I love it so much I have stock in the company.

My Mom, known to everyone as Flo, was a wise woman.  We had very few items in our medicine cabinet because my Mom didn't believe in them but we did have three standard things that were always well stocked. 

These items were alka seltzer for my Dad because he had horrible stomach issues.  Aspirin because both my Mom and I suffered from migraines and flat coca cola syrup which as my Mom would say would either settle your stomach or make you vomit.  It is funny how something that tastes so great as a carbonated beverages has such power when it is just the syrup.  I can tell you that 95% of the time it made me vomit but afterwards I sure felt better.   The syrup was purchased at our local pharmacy. To this day a coke will make me feel better or the other alternative.  I don't use the syrup because I learned that whether it is carbonated or not makes no difference in its medicinal effectiveness.

Coke is good for other things too or so they say I have never used as anything other than a drink. Apparently it can add volume to your hair or you can use it to clean toilets and to think we are drinking the beverage and loving it.  Check out this link for other uses of Coca cola   

I Miss Bookstores

 

I t wasn't really that long ago, when I use to spend a couple of hours wondering around a bookstore.  Many of the stores had these cozy nooks with comfy chairs and I would buy a book and hideaway enjoying the ambiance.

Sadly those days are all but gone.  When Borders closed its doors I thought to myself, I guess Amazon has won the war.  Still there are some bookstores that  are surviving like Barnes and Nobles and some independent book stores.

I came across this article which spotlights some really nice bookstores and I thought I would share it with you.

The Art of Her Deal

When this book was first announced I said I really wanted to read it.  Well I did.  It certainly gave me new insights into the First Lady of the United States.  FLOTUS definitely wants to emphasize that she has a mind of her own.

I am glad that was cleared up so I don't have to feel sorry for her. Not that I felt sorry for her before.  She certainly knew what she was signing up for when she married "The Donald". Apparently her marriage suits her and far be it for anyone to say what makes a good or bad marriage.  I certainly wouldn't pass judgement, marriage is way to hard.  If you find something that works go with it.

The only problem I have is she has not had a mission, no goal, no cause.  Up until now the first ladies had something they were passionate about and carried out that passion while their spouse was in the White House.  Not Sure Mrs Trump has done that.  

The position of first lady has always been for me inspirational.  Look who has  recently held the position:  Laura and Barbara Bush, Literacy, Hilary Clinton, women's advocacy and countless other issues, Michelle Obama Let's Move.  Melania had something going by her Be Best movement but she did nothing with it.

The book is very interesting and worthy of reading.  

Goodbye to the Summer during the Time of COVID

 

September is here.  Labor Day is looming (September 7th).  We are still wearing mask and social distancing but I admit to hosting a few small functions this summer where chairs were placed far apart.  We served some wine  and beer, maybe a few cocktails and a lot of munchies. I have blogged about cocktails before.

I have dabbled in cocktail making but alas, I am not really that great at alcohol mixology.  For the fourth of July I made a drink with coconut vodka, coconut water and curacao (because it was blue).  I found the recipe in a magazine.  The evening was very hot and the drink was very sweet and it wasn't as good a mix as I had hoped.

My friend Martini Marge is a whiz with the cocktail shaker and I usually give her full access to my bar.  But I was perusing  the internet for some interesting things to read and I found this blurb on Summer Cocktails so I thought I would share it with you. Hope you find a cocktail or two to enjoy.

One To Watch

 This book turned out to be a much better read than I expected.

I have struggled with my weight pretty much all my life.  For many years I won the battle but after having a baby, having back surgery, having a hysterectomy and now possible thyroid issues, it seems my battle has become increasingly difficult.

This book focuses on Bea a very successful blogger who is a "plus size design specialist. She works hard to try to keep body image in perspective and has a very large following.

One night she is watching Main Squeeze (the equivalent of the reality show The Bachelorette) she makes some very honest comments on her blog.  So honest in fact, that the producer of the show asks her to be the star of the next Main Squeeze. She weighs the Pros and Cons and finally agrees.  From that day forward her life changes forever.

Speaking about The Bachelorette, a bachelorette who thought she had found true love broke up with the guy she chose. They were together two years.  I say who cares I am not a big Bachelor or Bachelorette fan but my 93 year old Dad is, go figure.

I think the author has done a great job capturing Bea's journey on and off the show her heartache and her joy.  I laughed and cried a little and couldn't put the book down. 

For More Info on this book, click on the image of the book cover above.

The Last Flight

 

Two woman who do not know each other meet in an airport.  This was not an accidental meeting.  Eva targeted Claire. They have one thing in common, they do not want to be living the life they are living and need to make some changes.  Each of them have made plans to make the change but sometimes you may have the best laid plans and then something goes wrong.

They swap airline tickets and from that minute on both their lives change.  It's a good read.

Spidey in the Time of COVID

 

Seems like spiderman is looking for ways to keep himself amused. He can be found dancing but it seems he keeping social distancing in mind even 2 years ago.  Get down Spidey.

Cocktails in the Time of COVID

 

I enjoy my cocktails like many people during this time of COVID. Total Wine and Liquors is one of my favorite places to spend an hour or two so that I can stock up on my wine and spirits. So when I was down to my last bottle of my favorite Red blend and enough Jose Cuevos to make one more batch of Margaritas I got in my car, mask and all and drove to Total Wines.  In case you didn't know it is considered an essential business.  

  My friends are much better at mixology then I so I was very interested when this live stream event hit my inbox.  No coincidence, it was Total Wine.  I signed up and put it on my calendar.  I am sharing the link with you in case you are interested, it is called Up Your Cocktail Game. 

I know nothing about it and do not endorse it but I think it may be informative so see how it goes.  Since it is sponsored by Total Wine and liquor I thought it would at least be interesting.  I have been to wine and vodka tastings there and have picked up some nice bottles of each.  

Ghosting

I have been ghosted by someone who I thought I knew but it turns out I didn't.  No big deal.  It use to happen all the time when you were growing up.  Some one was your best friend or your boyfriend and they stop talking to you.  But it wasn't the same as what ghosting is now.  They just stopped talking to you period.  There was no facebook unfriending or refusing to return a text. They just physically shut you out.

Previously I read the book Ghosted which was about two people who meet, fall in love and then life gets in the way. He Ghosts her. Radio silence.  No explanation.

This book is nothing like that except for the fact that it does end up be a love story.  Turns out there are two writers who make  money working for companies that help people find love online by writing their texts for them. The book is very humorous and two couples actually end up together but the Ghost writers end up in a very interesting situation.

Smiles in the time of Covid

Every time I see videos of babies dancing to music or as part of a commercial it just makes me smile.  Feeling happy and smiling are two things that are highly sought after during this time of COVID, so I wanted to share. 

Check out this video of babies Dancing to Sugar Sugar a oldie from the 70's Babies Dancing to an Oldie but Goodie. It is cute.

For those of you who have never seen the EVIAN Commercial please Check this video out as well.  It is one of my favorites.

The Girl From Widow Hills

It is the twentieth anniversary of an event that had happened in Olivia's past.  She thought she had put it behind her by changing her name and moving. But then strange things start happening like the man waiting outside the convenience store telling her he knows her. Then there was a call from an unknown number telling her that her Mother was dead.

But the thing that set everything into motion was the dead body found between her and her neighbor's property.  Turns out her neighbor has a past as well.

This is a fast moving who done it story with a few twists and turns that kept me up at night because I couldn't put the book down.

Read The Girl From Widow Hills. 

Music during the Time of COVID

 I am a big Lindsey Stirling fan so I wanted to share this you tube video with you.

Blueberry Season During the time of COVID

Blueberries are plentiful.  I was shopping this morning and when I walked through the produce department they called out to me to take them home. I love blueberries so I willingly obliged.  In fact I bought three pints.

I am going to make the zucchini and blueberry bread I blogged about earlier. I had to eat some plain.  I just popped them in my mouth and savored their sweetness. Then, since I have always wanted to make scones I decided to make blueberry scones.  They came out pretty good so I am sharing the recipe I found on allrecipes.com.  Hope you enjoy them.  

2 cups Flour                                                    1/4 c chilled butter

1/4 cup packed brown sugar                            1 cup blueberries               

1 tablespoon baking powder                             3/4 cup half and half

1/4 tsp salt                                                     1 egg

• Mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Cut butter int the dry mix.  I actually grated frozen butter.
• Add blueberries.
• In a separate bowl beat  egg and add half and half
• Slowly pour egg mix into dry ingredients
• Divide dough into half
• Shape each half int a 6 inch round.
• Cut each round into 6 pieces
• Place dough on sheet pan lined with parchment paper
• Bake in 375 degree oven until dne.

Peach Pie in the time of COVID

Peaches were on sale so a bought a lot and we ate a lot.  They were very delicious but there were 5 left and we didn't feel like eating peaches anymore so I made this free form pie also known as a galette.  

If you are a good baker which I am not, you can make the crust from scratch.  I did not.  I used a prepared crust from the grocery store which I happened to have in my fridge.

I cut the peaches in thin slices, dropped them in water mixed with lime juice and then mixed them with sugar and flour.

I think it was a success.

Here is a more formal recipe and tips.

Summer Hours at the Robbers Library

She was a young girl who walked into a book store to buy a dictionary because she loved words and wanted to be able to look up new ones.  She didn't have enough money, took the book and got caught.

She appeared before the judge in children's court and was sentenced to community service in the town library.  There she meets a variety of folks that become her world.  Specifically she meets Kit the librarian who has come to Riverton barely holding on to her sanity and as far away from her old life as possible and Rusty a once successful trader until he wasn't.

They form an interesting unit and go done a path that they probably didn't expect to find in this town.  It's a nice read.

Weddings in the Time of COVID - The Guest List

To me Weddings are extremely stressful.  I know mine was.  My husband and I were all about having the wedding in front of the Justice of the Peace but my Dad was not having it.

When I met my husband and we decided to get married he was in the military stationed at Walter Reed but in the middle of the planning he was sent to a base in Virginia about an hour from Richmond,  He then got his orders to go overseas so there were a lot of moving parts.  I had a job that I loved that required me to be on the road 4 days a week.

The wedding was in New York so I would end up flying to New York 2 times a month from where ever I was.  It was exhausting.  Plus we still wanted a simple wedding which was a little too simple for my family so it turned out somewhere in the middle.  I had also only met my husband's family once before all of this and planning a wedding is not a good time to be getting to know your in-laws.

This book is all about the wedding of a magazine publisher Jules and her handsome reality show fiancee.  Jules wants everything to be perfect and it does start out that way until the guests arrive.  The main characters all have a lot of baggage and I don't mean the kind you pack your clothes in, I mean emotional baggage.  Top that off with the remote location of the wedding venue and the fact that a dead body turns up and you have a real page turning novel.

I loved how the author wove all the character story lines together.  This is a great summer read.

Deep Dish Pizza in the time of COVID

This is deep dish pizza made with King Arthur Flour.

I got the recipe From the King Arthur Website.  The secret is the flour and using  a cast iron skillet to bake the pizza in.  The skillet gets really hot and makes the crust crispy.  There is nothing better than crispy crust.

Ingredients

Crust

• 2 cups (240g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast or active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup (170g) lukewarm water
• 1 tablespoon (13g) olive oil + 1 1/2 tablespoons (18g) olive oil for the pan

Topping

• 6 ounces (170g) mozzarella, grated (about 1 1/4 cups, loosely packed)*
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup (74g to 113g) tomato sauce or pizza sauce, homemade or store-bought
• freshly grated hard cheese and fresh herbs for sprinkling on top after baking, optional*

Instructions

1. 
   
   Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess.  
2. Place the flour, salt, yeast, water, and 1 tablespoon (13g) of the olive oil in the bowl of a stand mixer or other medium-large mixing bowl.
3. Stir everything together to make a shaggy, sticky mass of dough with no dry patches of flour. This should take 30 to 45 seconds in a mixer using the beater paddle; or about 1 minute by hand, using a spoon or spatula. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to gather the dough into a rough ball; cover the bowl.
4. After 5 minutes, uncover the bowl and reach a bowl scraper or your wet hand down between the side of the bowl and the dough, as though you were going to lift the dough out. Instead of lifting, stretch the bottom of the dough up and over its top. Repeat three more times, turning the bowl 90° each time. This process of four stretches, which takes the place of kneading, is called a fold. 
5. Re-cover the bowl, and after 5 minutes do another fold. Wait 5 minutes and repeat; then another 5 minutes, and do a fourth and final fold. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest, undisturbed, for 40 minutes. Then refrigerate it for a minimum of 12 hours, or up to 72 hours. It'll rise slowly as it chills, developing flavor; this long rise will also add flexibility to your schedule.
6. About 3 hours before you want to serve your pizza, prepare your pan. Pour 1 1/2 tablespoons (18g) olive oil into a well-seasoned cast iron skillet that’s 10” to 11” diameter across the top, and about 9” across the bottom. Heavy, dark cast iron will give you a superb crust; but if you don’t have it, use another oven-safe heavy-bottomed skillet of similar size, or a 10” round cake pan or 9” square pan. Tilt the pan to spread the oil across the bottom, and use your fingers or a paper towel to spread some oil up the edges, as well.  
7. Transfer the dough to the pan and turn it once to coat both sides with the oil. After coating the dough in oil, press the dough to the edges of the pan, dimpling it using the tips of your fingers in the process. The dough may start to resist and shrink back; that’s OK, just cover it and let it rest for about 15 minutes, then repeat the dimpling/pressing. At this point the dough should reach the edges of the pan; if it doesn’t, give it one more 15-minute rest before dimpling/pressing a third and final time. 
8. Cover the crust and let it rise for 2 hours at room temperature. The fully risen dough will look soft and pillowy and will jiggle when you gently shake the pan.
9. About 30 minutes before baking, place one rack at the bottom of the oven and one toward the top (about 4" to 5" from the top heating element). Preheat the oven to 450°F.
10. When you’re ready to bake the pizza, sprinkle about three-quarters of the mozzarella (a scant 1 cup) evenly over the crust. Cover the entire crust, no bare dough showing; this will yield caramelized edges. Dollop small spoonfuls of the sauce over the cheese; laying the cheese down first like this will prevent the sauce from seeping into the crust and making it soggy. Sprinkle on the remaining mozzarella.
11. Bake the pizza on the bottom rack of the oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and the bottom and edges of the crust are a rich golden brown (use a spatula to check the bottom). If the bottom is brown but the top still seems pale, transfer the pizza to the top rack and bake for 2 to 4 minutes longer. On the other hand, if the top seems fine but the bottom's not browned to your liking, leave the pizza on the bottom rack for another 2 to 4 minutes. Home ovens can vary a lot, so use the visual cues and your own preferences to gauge when you’ve achieved the perfect bake.
12. Remove the pizza from the oven and place the pan on a heatproof surface. Carefully run a table knife or spatula between the edge of the pizza and side of the pan to prevent the cheese from sticking as it cools. Let the pizza cool very briefly; as soon as you feel comfortable doing so, carefully transfer it from the pan to a cooling rack or cutting surface. This will prevent the crust from becoming soggy.
    
13. Serve the pizza anywhere from medium-hot to warm. Kitchen shears or a large pair of household scissors are both good tools for cutting this thick pizza into wedges. 

French Fries not Fried in the Time of COVID

I really enjoy french fries, most people do.  I try to stay away from them because of all the fat and calories.  I found this video from the American Test Kitchen that uses your oven instead of a deep fat fryer.  The secret is covering the potatoes with a minimum amount of oil and cornstarch.  

I followed the video and my fries came out pretty crispy. I was pleasantly suprised.  I am going to use my air fryer next time.  Here is the video.  Enjoy!

An Exercise Companion in the time of COViD

Our last picture of Josh

I have a fit bit.  It was a gift from my husband.  I love it because it tracks the things I want information on or should I say confirmation on.  It tracks how much I move, how many calories I burn and how much I sleep. 

My job has me sitting at a desk all day.  When you work in IT you tend to be glued to a screen and not move as much as you should.  So I am glad that my Fit Bit reminds me to get up and walk.

Counting calories during this time of COVID is more important to me now than before.  Working for a healthcare organization where IT needs literally change every fifteen minutes is stressful.  I try not to snack but sometimes it is difficult to avoid. I try to make healthy choices but sometimes a handful of blueberries is not as good as potato chips. 

That is why the calorie counter on the Fit Bit is so great.  I try to stay within 1200 calories but when I don't make it, I then try to up my exercise and calorie burn.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

As for sleep, that's a joke.  I use to be an 8 hour a day sleeper but lately if I get four hours I am not necessarily happy but I can deal with it.

We had a dog named Josh.  He was more of a child that never grew up than a dog.  But  just like the dog in this video, he felt like he had to be down on the floor with me when I did sit ups and push ups.  Notice the dog is exercising side by side.  Josh was usually in my face or laying on me because usually when I was on the floor I was playing with him or relaxing with him, his head in my lap. Sometimes working out was a struggle around him.  I miss that dog, he passed away from cancer.  We haven't had the heart to get a new dog yet but we are working towards it. 

Gotta go, my Fit Bit sent me a warning that I need 50 steps more this hour.  Love it!

How To Stop Time

Would you want to live for hundreds of years?  Your cells aging at such a slow rate that on the outside you barely look like you have aged at all.  You fall in love and your partner ages and you watch him or her die before your eyes.  Yes this happens to all of us but not over and over again.  You watch your children grow up and then die of old age.  

But think of all the things you experience and people you meet.  Innovations you experience.  But ultimately you become a loner and just go through the motions of living.  This is what happens to the main character, Tom until one day he has a revelation.

I don't even remember how I  found How To Stop Time.  It certainly is not what I expected, but it was fun to read.  Once I started I couldn't put it down.

Holiday tree made with Cookie dough

It is July.  For some reason many places are advertising Christmas in July events.  Take for example the Hallmark channel.  They are having a whole Christmas in July movie marathon.  If you didn't get your fix in October, November and December 2019 than this is the event for you.  

After all, in this time of the COVID virus everyone could use a little Christmas right this very minute and if you want to do a little Christmas shopping early, there is always QVC.  They are rolling out their Christmas in July Holiday shows this month.  I confess, I have already picked up a few choice items.

I am not a big cookie baker but I found this idea that I thought I would share with you.  I am thinking if I want to take a supermarket short cut I can just buy the Pillsbury sugar cookie dough and make these adorable trees.  But that is just me.  Here is the recipe I found.

Competitive Eating Update in the Time of COVID

It is the 4th of July which means the Competitive Eating contest at Nathans in Brooklyn.  I blogged about this earlier (June 24, 2020).  Joey Chestnut won last year eating 71 hot dogs.  This year he was set to break his record from last year and he did it.  In fact the person in second place only ate 42 to Joey's 75.  Amazing that someone can eat that many hot dogs and not vomit on TV.

He said the only thing missing was the crowd cheering him on. COVID strikes again.

A Week At the Shore

I know many of you are planning a beach vacation.  Lots of people have had a rental at the beach on their calendar forever.  Sadly, with the COVID virus once again causing a large uptick in cases being diagnosed, many of us will have to make the decision not to go.  Working in the health care industry I am a believer of wearing masks and social distancing and would not put my family in a situation that would increase their chances of falling ill.

Whether you go to a beach or sit out on you deck, balcony or a socially distant outdoor space, this book has all the requirements of a good beach read. It is an interesting story mixed with a little romance.

It starts with a call received by Mallory from the love of her life Jack who she last saw twenty years ago.  An event happened in their life that ripped them apart.  Of course it all had to do with family and a death.  I liked the book.  It had enough of a story to keep me reading.

Flash Mob Pre COVID

Instrumentally, Stairway to Heaven has got to be one of  my favorites.  There has been much controversy surrounding this song.  A lawsuit was filed against the band by a  Journalist on behalf of the Randi Wolfe Trust who claimed the opening chords were written by him and sung by the band Spirit.

Recently the lawsuit was finally settled with the verdict for the band.  Here is a lovely rendition that comes all the way from Mainz Germany.  It is a lovely rendition and I thought I would share it with you.  Stairway to Heaven

The Death of a Cake during the time of COVID

I am devastated to find out that Costco (sob) is no longer  carrying its amazing half sheet cake.  The cake I have bought for high school and college graduations.  The cake I have bought for a colleague who was leaving.  The cake I have bought for friends birthdays. The cake I have bought for baby showers and engagement parties.  That beautiful cake with the delicious frosting and devastating cream center that could be personalized for any occasion.

The reasoning behind not baking this cake anymore is,  according to Costco  " is to limit personal contact and create more space for personal distancing and reduce services in certain departments"  Another particularly lame reason, to discourage crowds.  I order it when I have 8 to 10 people over and send cake home with whoever wants it. Last I heard we are in phase 2 and 3 so a gathering that small with social distancing is still ok.

Not only did they stop carrying it, they might not bring it back. (sob). I don't think it has anything to do with social distancing.  I think it has more to do with mathematics.  Lets see, the sheet cake serves 50 people and costs 20 dollars. The 10 inch round serves 12 and costs almost the same.  How many rounds would it take to feed 50 people and how much more would the consumer have to pay?

It is so sad that in this time of COVID not only do we have to wear masks, not hug dear ones, have no sporting events and have to social distance, we now have to face life with out the Costco half sheet cake.  I am not sure how this is going to work for me. Imight have to sell our Costco stock.

Competitive Eating

I have always viewed competitive eating competitions with a mixture of awe and disgust.  It is amazing that one person can eat that much food in a small period of time and not vomit.  It's also disgusting to think that one person can eat that much, not enjoy any of it because they are eating so fast their taste buds don't even get a chance to experience the food and eat that many calories.  

The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating competition is actually televised on ESPN.  I even watched it last year when Joey Chestnut won his 12th title for eating 71 dogs and buns. He won 12 times!!!!!!  It was the first and last time I will ever watch something like that.  

Since I was already on You Tube, I decided to see what else was out there relating to overeating, I mean competitive eating.  I found this guy eating a 16 piece Popeye's Family meal in 25 minutes. That is 16 pieces of fried chicken, 3 large sides and biscuits.  Here is what is really wrong with this whole competitive eating thing.

1. The fried chicken eating guy is so thin.  It just isn't fair to be able to eat that much and be that thin.  If I would walk into a Popeye's now and just breath in the air there I would gain 10 pounds that would go directly to my hips.
2. He ate over 8,000 calories in 25 minutes.  I will say that again.  He ate over 8,000 calories in 25 minutes. I generally try to keep my caloric intake to 1,200 calories a day.  That means he ate as many calories in 25 minutes as I eat in 6 and 1/2 days.
3. Lastly, can you really taste any part of chicken or the hot dogs? And how do you not vomit? I am pretty sure that to these folks taste is of little consequence. It's all about the amount and the speed. I rather eat less and enjoy more.

It makes me wonder if in this time of the COVID virus  ESPN is going to have more of this "sport"  since the Baseball season is shortened and who knows what the football and hockey season will look like. 

Travel In the Time of COVID

My husband and I went looking for property to build a house in Lancaster county.  I have always loved the Amish country.  I feel so at peace when I am there.  On the way home we stopped at the Lancaster Central market. It is the oldest continuously running farmers market in the country, opening in 1889.  All I can say is foodie alert.

Lots of people were buying their fresh veggies, meat and bread for the week.  Most people there were locals, so you know that it must be good.

We had a decent drive ahead of us so we didn't buy any meat or produce BUT we did go to several of the bakeries in the market and picked up some amazingly delicious carb laden goodies. 

I included a picture of the sweet potato bread and the cinnamon muffin but the picture does not in any way, shape or form do the bread and muffin justice.   

I will start with the muffin.  It was huge actually ginormous. Sometimes bigger isn't better but with this muffin bigger was definitely better.  I think the secret was with the crumb topping.  You could taste the butter in brown sugar in every bite.  In addition there were big chunks of crumbs that held together well until you put it into you mouth where it melted on your tongue.  The cake part of the muffin had cinnamon and sugar running through it with just the right amount of sweetness so that the crumbs were not overwhelmed. There were tears of joy running down my face with the first bite.

 I usually don't care about muffins but this one was outstanding. I bet you all are laughing at me because of how much I loved this muffin.  That's ok, I can take it.  The muffin is so big that I took several bites and saved it.  I figure if I take two bites a day I can make it last a week.

The sweet potato bread was good as well.  Its a very dense bread with a hint of cinnamon.  It is different than any other yeast bread I have tried.  But to tell you how popular it was, we went to get a cup of coffee and there were five sweet potato breads on the table when we cam back, there was one left.  We were gone for only five minutes.

On the down side during this COVID pandemic, we stayed over night.  The hotel, a Hilton property screwed up our reservation.  I guess going several months with so few guests has them completely out of practice.  We found a place where we could order take out for dinner but it was hard eating it back at the hotel.  By the time we opened the take out container the meat, potatoes and vegetables looked like baby food.  Everything mixed together.  Not really the restaurants fault.

I think the moral of the story is if you can avoid it do not stay overnight.  Drive for the day and come home. If you are ever in Lancaster go to the central market.  You will absolutely not be disappointed. 

Satellite Imagery in the time of COVID

I have written before about my fascination with space and space ships.  Recently SpaceX launched a ship carrying two astronauts to the International Space Station and then after that several satellites to provide better internet service.  Their plan is to launch thousands.  Even though space appears to be vast, I often wonder if its getting crowded and cluttered with space junk.

None the less, now satellites are tracking countries to determine if they are recovering as fast as they say they are from the current COVID pandemic.  Hearing about that should not have been a surprise to me but it was.  Satellites have recorded images of iconic landmarks before the pandemic started and then recent images.  You can definitely see more people out and about before, less recently which shows people were most likely sheltering in place.

Homeland security and the CDC  and anyone else who has access, can use the images to track new structures that appear. In August a site in Wuhan China was an empty parking lot but by January it was a large facility. This was an indication that the virus was spreading and affecting a mass number of people.

When the pandemic spread to the Middle East, Iran played down the number of deaths in the country, however, satellite images showed mass graves being dug that indicated something completely different.

The saying use to be You Can't Fool Mother Nature, but in this day and age you Can't Fool a Satellite. Countries should not think just because they say that the virus is under control that this will be taken as the truth. Not with SpaceX and  Satellite images available that tell a different story.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

Unfortunately, many of us have lost love ones too soon, especially our significant others.  That is why the story lines in this book caught my interest immediately.

It is Lydia's birthday.  She is having dinner with her fiancee and some friends when he calls to tell her their friend's car broke down and he is on his way to pick him up.  She is a little annoyed and tells him not to be late, their dinner reservation was hard to get.

He promises and the next hing she knows there is a knock on the door.  Instead of being the love of her life, it is the police telling her there has been an accident.  When she arrives at the hospital, her fiancee Freddie is dead.  Their friend who was in the car has some scratches but he is fine.

Lydia can't sleep can't eat, can't cope.  The doctor prescribes little pink pills to help her sleep, but when she takes them her sleep state becomes an alternative universe. In her "asleep" life Freddie is alive.  But that life is very different from her real life and she has difficulty reconciling the two lives.  

Many people have very vivid dreams.  I know I do.  To tell the truth often my dreams are much much better than real life.  I have discussed dreams with friends, family members and colleagues and some of the dreams or nightmares they talk about can be turned into a novel.  So dreams have always been something I have been interested in.  I should keep a note pad next to my bed to write things down, but I keep forgetting.

I think the author did a great job writing about Lydia's "awake" and "asleep" life.  I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to find out how each life played out.  It is a very clever premise.  Try the book, you may enjoy it.

Precariously placed buildings

I have a fear of heights. Many people do.  But building places on a precipice to me is fascinating and just a little bit crazy.  

Take for example The Hanging Temple in China.  It has been hanging around for more than 1,500 years.  The structure is kept in place with oak crossbeams fitted into holes chiseled int the cliffs.  The body of the building hangs from the middle of the cliff.  To think that people built this structure with basic tools and none of the technology we have today is sheer genius. The fact that it is just amazing. It is almost 100 feet in the air.

If I had the opportunity to visit would I?  I think I would.  But as with some of the other examples in this link I don't think I would stay very long.

Baking Ingredient Substitutions in the time of COVID

As a rule I do not stock buttermilk in my fridge.  I don't even like to buy it since I only use a cup or so in a recipe. Lately I steer clear of recipes with buttermilk because I don't want to waste it.

Same thing with cake flour.  I have so many types of flour in my pantry.  I have all purpose, self rising, wheat, so that the thought of one more flour does not make me happy nor does it make my pantry happy.

Cream of tartar is another ingredient that is annoying.  You usually use 1/4 tsp in a recipe and I usually don't make a lot of recipes calling for cream of tartar. I know it has a purpose in a recipe but I don't want to take up space on my spice rack with something I may use once a year, which by that time it probably has lost its pizzazz.

That is why I loved these kitchen hacks that suggest substitutions for items that you don't use as often when you bake.  Since we are doing so much more cooking and baking in this time of COVID, I thought you might like the substitutions as much as me.  Check out this link.

As my Nana would say waste not want not!

I Will Always Write Back

I don't know how I decided to read this book.  It was on a suggested young reader book list.  I guess it was the title and the fact that it made me think about how, as a kid,  I loved to write and receive letters. In fact over the years I had pen pals just like Martin and Caitlin.

The book is about contrast and the fact that one action can unknowingly change lives forever. Caitlin is from Pennsylvania.  She lives in a nice neighborhood and is a typical American teenager.  Martin lives in a slum in Zimbabwe.  Their lives couldn't been more different.  

One day their assignment is to write to a pen pal.  For Caitlin it sounds like fun to write to someone in another country.  To Martin it is an honor.  They make a connection by talking about their lives.  Something clicks.  At first Caitlin thinks Martin is from a well off family since he goes to a school that you must pay tuition and wears a uniform.  But soon she reads between the lines and starts realizing what his life is really like.

They start sending each other little gifts.  For Martin it is a sacrifice.  Even buying stamps to send the letters is a significant strain on the family budget.  But this connection is so important to him that he and his family are willing to do it. In one letter Caitlin encloses a twenty dollar bill.  Little did she know how important this gift would be to him and his family. Every time she sent even a small amount of cash it literally saved he and his family from disaster.  At the time Zimbabwe was going through a crisis.

Little did she know the gifts she and her family sent would change the lives of  two families.  

This is a great read for teens and adults alike.

Pizza a Family affair especially n the time of COVID

Chicken Pesto Pizza

Pizza is a sacred food.  I had my first experience with pizza when I began teething.  My parents would take me on family night to this wonderful Italian restaurant not too far from Gimbel's  NY where my Dad worked. In order to keep me busy, they would let me teeth on pizza crust and from that day forward I was totally and blissfully hooked.

Do I remember this?  Certainly not.  I was a year or two.  But they told me and I had it confirmed by the waiter several years later who apparently was the guy who served us.  It seems my parents were regulars and he would often wait on their table.  

Pizza is a great way to use up leftover veggies and meats from your fridge. If you are willing to let your imagination go crazy you can come up with the greatest combinations

My wine club meets at least once a year at this amazing cabin in the Mountains of by God West Virginia.  It is usually for three days and one of the nights is designated as pizza night.  Did I mention that Pizza goes incredibly well with wine. Since we tend to drink a lot of wine on that weekend, pizza does help soak up some of the alcohol.  It softens the hangover the next day. The mozzarella used on many of our pizzas seems to pair welll with many wines.

Some of the greatest combinations have been the crab dip and grilled steak  combo, the chicken pesto pizza, the rueben and the pear and brie pizza. Hopefully there will be many more weekends and many more creations..

Making pizza dinner can be a family affair and great activity in the time of COVID.  I found this Youtube video that is a good how to on making pizza.  One tip from our wine club resident pizza chef is to use King Arthur flour.  Take the tip, her pizza is amazing!