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. :)