Black Cat

So last night as my little black kitten sat curled between my husband and I with her motor purring. I wondered why black cats and witches were associated with one an other I found all kinds of interesting information mostly from about.com and http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/folklore.htm.
I thought about it this way:

I imagine, I am a single woman living in France in the middle ages. In the black of morning I have just made my tea. Off in the distance, I see two bright yellow eyes. They seem to float right out of the dark.  Just as I pick up the cream my fear turns to wonder as this visitor dances around my feet. Instead of in my tea, I pour my precious cream in a bowl and set it down for my company (it is the only polite thing to do). For days and weeks after I get up for my chores this small companion comes for my cream. This cat does not mind my rotting teeth, or my sour smell and it lessens the feelings of loneliness, of difference.
I would imagine that no one at that time would understand why a woman would choose to live alone. Maybe I love other women, or maybe I am uncomfortable with the rules of the church, or maybe I just want to be alone (except for the cat). Next thing I know I am talking about the cat that visits me and meeting other women that like they way cats keep company and rid their garden of pests.  But that is all way before we are burned at the stake for being witches.

As for me, Ms. Dawn here in the modern world, I think... as my cat scratches my leg leaping up to steal my cereal after I just got done cleaning kitty litter, I think... I am a dog person. At least I won't be burned at the stake.

Halloween Foods.

A good friend of mine text me asking about some Halloween foods. My mother has a great one called the kitty litter cake. 

Ingredients:
One box of spice or german chocolate cake.
One box of white cake mix
One package of white sandwhich cookies
One package of vanilla instant pudding
few drops of green food coloring
12 small tootsie rolls
a NEW kitty litter box
a NEW kat box liner
New pooper skooper
bake cakes and make pudding as directed.
crumble cookies in the blender. Take out one cup of the cookies and mix with food coloring. Set aside.
When cakes are at room temperature crumble the cakes in a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining cookies and enough pudding to make the mixture moist but not soggy.  Place linner in the kitty pan.
Make poop by heating tootsies roll just a few seconds then molding them to have a point at the end.  bury the rolls decoratively put the rest of the ingredients in the box and sprinkle green cookies on top.
place the box on a sheet of news paper serve with NEW kitty litter scooper.

Some other ideas are:
Sandwiches shaped like hands made with toast and served with tomato sauce.

Hard boiled eggs with green olives with pimentos for eyes placed in a dip topped with crumbled rye bread to look like soil-instant underground monster

Soup cooked in a pumpkin

Meatballs with pretzels stuck in them for legs-instant spider 

Pointy sugar cone dipped in chocolate placed on a large cookie then dip the hole thing in chocolate- witches hat.

please post any ideas you come up with and photos please.

The Present Moment

Today I looked back at when I began this blog and I am aware that I have word by word wandered my way off the original goal of this blog.
I have a similar story. My family has big annual camping trips. I was about seven that year, our family camp was set up in a clearing at the edge of an inviting thick forest.  My cousins and I were preparing to roast marshmallows. I had a goal, I would get a willow branch and bring it back to my Pop. When looking at the edge of the woods I saw the white tail of a deer bouncing off into the woods. I followed the bounce, bounce, pause, bounce of deer for some time. Then I saw a small bit of blue in the distance, indicating a pond. At the pond I saw a beaver. I sat quietly and watched the beaver building his damn.

Next thing I remember was sitting inside the camper and watching my cousins roasting their sweet, soft cornered squares of sugar. I can imagine my parents did not appreciate the worry I provided by wandering off by myself and I did not appreciate not getting to share in the marshmallow roasting. 

I think it is a blessing to be in the present moment. However, it is a challenge to live in the present moment and to set clear intentions.
Does anyone know how to do that?

Lion Lessons

So I have begun substitute teaching for the school district. Today was my first day and I was lucky to get to be a side kick for a senior sub. The senior sub had a large pendant of a lion on her chest and the very same energy. She told the kids what the expectations were and did not get to involved above that. I so admired her ability to not become so involved thus maintaining her own energy. She was a true role model for natural consequences. I have always been the one hovering above the kids, asking questions, trying to motivate and inspire and quite frankly, I am pooped.

Maybe there is something to be learned from the sleek and powerful lion, says the hare, after loosing his race to the tortoise. 

Ansonia Church with Cannon

Cannon/Church

Another Church

Potatoes and fingers

Mr. Potato could not help but stop by.

Stuffed baby bells/Monster fingers

Today, I made baby bells stuffed with lime, mint and cilantro potatoes adapted from Indian Home Cooking by Suvir. I will tell you that as soon as I smelled the mint and potatoes, I was suddenly 17 and I was transported to a mint field in Nampa, Idaho, not far from where I grew up. I could feel the warm July breeze and the sound of crikets in the grass. I could imagine that I was sun burnt, from a day of playing in the water and I am in flip flops with dirty toes and I love it. 
Back her in my tiny kitchen in west haven, it is warm from the preheating oven and the cat is asleep on the couch. I chose the baby bells instead of the big ones because of Halloween. Don't you think they look like a giants finger tips?
What can I say I find beauty in the little things.
Big hug to all who read this blog. Now you can go chop off some giant's fingers or just stuff some baby bells.

Poetry

Last night, I volunteered at a poetry event to raise money for, W.H.E.A.T. (West Haven Emergency Assistance Task force). The event was put on by the Connecticut Poetry Society. The fund raiser was held in an art gallery.
Of all the poems read there were some poetry styles that I would like to try: hint poetry and list poems. The poet reading the hint poem said that hint poetry is defined as a poem that is less than 25 words with a moving title. The title is not included in the word count and the title is very important in the discovery of the poem. The list poems performed were both fun and witty, one was just a list of movie titles. However, when read together, it told a story. There was another list poem about nicknames. Entwined with the list of nicknames, were short humors leads to the rest of the poem.

Poems to come :) 

Meditaion Star

Meditaion Star

A Ride in the Country

The kitten is doing a great job not leaping up on the chef in the morning, which has improved both of our moods. I got to enjoy my poached eggs, organic whole wheat toast and Mom's delicious strawberry rhubarb jam, with no kitty claws to the knees. The kitten got to enjoy her string on the kitchen floor and no water in her face.
After breakfast, I had time to just lie on the bed and watch the leaves outside dancing in the morning breeze; then I spent time reading poetry and petting the kitty. As for my own work, I am still working on my children's story and I have been thinking a lot about some new drawings of naked dancing people, of all shapes and sizes. I think it is great I am drawing couples. All my previous drawings were of single women or groups of women with animals.
On the topic of couples, the hubby and I went for a drive today. We were trying to find an apple orchard, which was not successful as our left turn eluded us. So we deemed the trip; "A ride in the country." (plus, the day was all blue sky's, changing leaves and sunshine.) On our drive in the country we went through the towns of Derby and Ansonia Ct. The town of Derby which was settled in 1642 has four large churches all on the same block, all of subtly different Christian traditions. Between the churches on the *green is a civil war memorial for Gettysburg. Under a sculpture of a soldier are four cannons. The four cannons were pointed at each church. Made me chuckle thinking, hopefully everyone in this town gets along.
Ansonia had a very old industrial feel to it: upon driving into the town you see a curved road a head of you. Next to the road are tall brick buildings that have large, faded, wooden advertisements. In between the large brick buildings you can see the river and an old rusty bridge. I will go back to Ansonia, I have read they have a nice wine bar and coffee shop in there historic district.
The hubby and I have decided that the name Ansonia sounds like an old world place, "Sire I will go hence forth to Ansonia and pillage the people." One thing I have to say about the east coast is with age come beauty. 

It is evening now and the tree lined horizon is covered with deep orange light that fades up to yellow, then blue and in the sky sits an orange fingernail moon. I feel peaceful and grateful for not finding an orchard and living a love filled life.

*East coast lingo for a square park in the center of town.

Christina from Rachael Ray-please read

The Rachael Ray show is doing this piece about a teenage girl named Christina, who has set a goal to loose 70 lbs by prom. This weight loss will be essential for her health (important) and in her mind the development of friendships. I want to yell at my TV and tell the girl, "friends are not made by the size of you butt, but the size of your heart." I have loved many an obese person and not thought one second about their weight. It appears that this girl is motivated to be pretty and to have power. I have never seen her do anything for anyone else other than whine about not being pretty. REALLY this is inspiring people, for God sake I don't feel inspired I feel annoyed, this kind of television is continuing to perpetuate the idea that what gives a person value is there exterior. Christina, joy will never last if it is based on you external needs. What makes joy last is being motivated by love, both for self and others. That will mean weight loss. Love is first, then, butt size, not the other way, it never works.

speeding up

Today I noticed that life is speeding back up. I no longer wonder what to do with the hours that fill my day instead seem to run out of steam at the end of the day, because my life is so full. Perhaps, it is partly due to our kitten, where there is never a dull moment. This afternoon she came out of her litter box with a dingle berry and a trail of ick behind her from her stepping in it, Yuck! Thus what followed was mopping all rooms in the house and sponging the kittens bottom.  I did not know where she had been.
Also at my volunteer working I am creating, which takes so much energy that it feels like a full days work when I leave. I finished all I need to do to begin Substitute teaching next week, which will work quite well with graduate school. In January I will be taking statistics. I hear it sucks. Maybe I will like it if I keep those kind of expectations.
Big hug reader. 
Cheers.
P.S. I made a yummy shrimp dish last night if anyone is interested in the recipe.

Another improve meal

Need a Use for Little Eggplant, with Orzo
1 can Garbanzo beans
1 Small eggplant
3 mini bell pepers
1/3 small onion
2 Cups orzo
olive oil
handful cilantro  leaves
sea salt
black pepper
2 tsb butter
herbed goat cheese

Grill eggplant and mini bells Then chop them up.
Saute mushroom in the butter
Saute onion in olive oil 

Veggies waiting for orzo

Boil orzo in water with sea salt

Toss all ingredients together with a little bit of the starchy cooking water. Let sit while you drive to husbands lab. Serve in beautiful bowls with sprinkled goat cheese.
Cheers.

Cheers to Apples

What a great day I have had today. The weather has been divine, and the Greater New Haven area is smothered in art and artists. I began the day making, poached eggs and toast. I used a little of the left over sauce from last nights eggplant curry with my eggs and it was delicious. I did ask the hubby if he wanted some and he said, "No, I prefer my breakfast to be bland." funny thing, he, is the Indian. hehehe. After breakfast we drove to an outdoors area called Racebrook. The hubby and I  went on a cuddly walk. The shade was quite cold, large Birch and Oak trees hid the sun along the path.  On ground of the path there were fallen leaves, wild roses,wild ginger plants yellow wild flowers, and what looked like tiny Daisy's everywhere. Before we left we walked quickly enough to feel warm in the cool October shade. Then I brought my hubby to his office so he could work. We had our yummy left overs from dinner for lunch, a coffee and some coffee cake and then I kissed him goodbye and headed to the Apple Festival.

Notice the horses have shoes

It was a short walk from our house to the Apple Festival so, while walking from our house I spoke to a good friend on the phone and the company was nice. When I got off the phone I went around the festival taking photos. Funny thing about the Apple Festival there were few apples. However, there was nice art work completed by children and I took a few photos of the kids art (with permission of course). A nice man a the booth gave me a connection to an art studio in town and even called the woman and sent me over to meet her. I know have a working gig on the 15th of October at the studio, serving wine and smoozing with poets.
I then went to open art studios with art, live music, shrimp, wine, cheese, and humus. I looked at art, made some new friends and found a place that runs an art co-op in my blue collar town, who knew.

Learning

I always seem to come back to food. Last night me and the hubby went out to dinner at a South Indian restaurant: Coromandel in Orange CT. We walked into the building and in front of us was a red framed glass door. The glass had been brushed to give it a cloudy look and colorful raindrop shapes were stained onto the glass. Once inside the red door there was a red carpet leading up to the host stand. A handsome Indian man with a thick mustache welcomed us and found us a table. All of the lights in the room were made from blown glass. At our table all of the napkins on the table were folded to look like hats. I went to try mine on, to amuse my husband and saw a few of the with staff smile broadly at me behind him. Thanks to my friend Nora, my Indian Home Cooking cook book, and my husband, it was fun to look at the menu for the restaurant and know exactly what I was ordering. Overall we had a nice time and the food was very good. I have a favorite place in town for Indian food called Tali II and they still are the best for Samosas and Eggplant and ambiance. However they are only vegetarian and this place gets my gold star for meat, we had a delicious Tandoori Chicken not to dry and very flavorful.

Going Back

I went back to the writing group and had a lovely time. However, I was armed with new insight, provided by a three year New England implant: people in the Yale community are all goal orientated. Additionally, to meet these goals many sacrifices have been made along the way, making them sacred.
It is a frighting to me, to be goal drone. (I hope it is a little bit contagious.) I am experience driven in contrast to goal driven. And I thought I just had an East coast, West coast cultural conflict, now it is my behavioral orientation, sheesh.
I was not even goal orientated when I went to college, I found easy schools to enroll in and then I enjoyed doing the work. I went to Advertising Art school- then I worked in crisis shelter. I became a certified teacher-I went to work in behavioral health.
I am planning on taking a few needed courses in January at the community college so I can enroll and get my MSW next year. Then maybe I will become an accountant. :)