the Blethering Spot

Despite my promise-to-self regarding not posting until I had next month’s Sunday school lessons planned, I MUST make an exception and comment on this outrageous weather.

Last night, work was downright awful. That is, work itself was fine (always a pleasure to deal with cancelled flights) but the drive to the airport was a white-knuckled, sweaty, adrenaline-spiked affair. Vehicles were off the roads all over the place; in one, particularly harrowing case, a semi was stuck across the right and half of the left lanes, so I had to swerve into the oncoming lane, on a completely unplowed highway, next to the Drop Off Of Certain Death And Dismemberment, to pass him. I am still amazed that I am alive. I am further amazed that I actually thought it worth risking life and limb to get to work. I just don’t understand it.

Today, although the airport was (unbelievably) open, despite closed roads and cancelled flights, I didn’t go in to work. My primary reason was fear. The plows didn’t come up to our street until after 5:00 tonight, so leaving the house was impossible. I wouldn’t have made it past the edge of our lot! Instead, we snuggled down, read books in front of the fire, and had chili and buns for dinner. I even made some yummy banana bread, which I burned to a crisp while I yakked on the phone with Michelle. (But the conversation was so nice it was worth it.) The power came back on by about 11:30 this morning, and the phones were up shortly after that. Whew! It’s always fun to boil water on the woodstove, but I was glad it didn’t last all day.

For the sake of posterity, here are views from my home this morning:

I suffered a keen disappointment this afternoon when I began to make banana bread and discovered we had no eggs. There they sat, four lovely organic bananas (slightly spotty, so considered inedible by the Blethering Family), 2 teaspoons of the most divine organic vanilla, 3/4 cup butter, all blended nicely and waiting to be mixed into a fragrant loaf of banana bread. What a disappointment. (I put the whole shebang in the fridge, and will of course make it after picking up some organic, free range eggs from a farmish friend tomorrow.)

note: I know all the above “organic” makes me sound intolerably snotty, but… I’m trying to make the switch to organic for as many things as possible.

My First Culinary Meme

1. Most used gadget: garlic press
2. Most used item in the whole kitchen: chef’s knife
3. Last time I cooked for a crowd: lasagne for a home group progressive dinner
4. Who had the most influence on my cooking: my Mom (no contest there)
5. Most used spice: basil
6. Favourite ice cream: Peppermint Candy
7. Coffee… ground or whole beans? Whole beans
8. Peanut Butter… crunchy or smooth? Crunchy
9. Pet peeve in someone else’s kitchen: Dull knives
10. Too many in the freezer: bananas (every time they get a single spot, they go in the freezer. It drives me nuts.)
11. Wine… white or red: depends on the entree, but otherwise – white in summer, red in winter
12. Evian water? yuck. I’m avoiding bottled water, anyway, to cut down on packaging waste. (I buy it in giant containers at Save On.)
13. Favourite fruit: strawberries / cherries / mango (can’t decide)
14. Vegetable I hate: Brussels sprouts
15. Food mispronunciation that grinds my gears: Espresso (not expresso, ladies and gentlemen)
16. Favourite sandwich: toasted tomato (toasted bread, mayo, tomato, s&p)
17. Indispensable condiment: olive oil
18. Seafood? Emphatically, no.
19. Salsa… with or without cilantro? Cilantro is the devil’s weed. Without.
20. Carbs: as many as possible, baby.

Please somebody do this meme, since I’m almost obsessively interested in your answers.

I’m not entirely sure I like this template. I am ALL OVER the background picture, and I like the translucent post background. But all in all, I was awfully fond of my blue-with-retro-stars template. I’ll give this a chance, but I’m not sure it will last…

Have ALMOST selected paint colours for my living room. I hear Rona has a great sale on paint and trim just now, so may convince spouse to go tonight.

Note: I did it, I reverted back to my old template. The new one just made me feel insecure, plus I didn’t want to spend the time trying to fit in my Harry ticker. As well, I didn’t want to sacrifice all the work I had done to get those little retro stars on each link, and down by the “post a comment” place. I had been rather keen on those. Sorry to disappoint.

This morning I had an emotional breakdown and stayed home from church. For the first half hour I drifted about the house, wringing my hands and crying over the crumbs on the counter, the toothpaste smears in the sink and the fact that I had to go to work at 1:00.

But then…

I took some B-complex vitamins and some Rescue Remedy. I turned on Arabic Groove, tied on a coin belt, and belly danced around the house, doing laundry and my newly discovered (though imperfect) 3/4 shimmies. Afterwards, I felt wonderfully exhilarated and full of life. Nothing like some snake arms and hip bumps to make a girl feel rejuvenated.

You should try it.

Coming soon…. exciting (to me) paint colour conundrum posts. It’s time to change my living room!

Warning: unbridled, unrestrained Harry Potter and Christian-behaviour opinion ahead. Stop reading now if you feel you may be offended!!!

I’ve been scoping out HP and the Deathly Hallows on Amazon. (only 119 days, horray!) One click led to another, and I ended up reading customer reviews about my favourite Gryffindor.

All right, I am seriously tearing my hair out in frustration. I consider myself as “Christian” as anyone – baptized, redeemed, sanctified – but I just get so SICK AND TIRED of Christians and their sanctimonious witch hunting. Honestly, I’m embarrassed to be lumped together in the same group as some of these people. The hatred and viciousness pouring out of their mouths (pens) is about as unChrist-like as you can get.

And (since I may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb) I’m not just talking about Harry Potter. I’m talking about “the DaVinci Code,” music with a beat, and Yoga. Get with it! If Christians had spent the last 2000 years putting as much effort, time and money into LOVING people, I’d bet world hunger would be a thing of the past by now. They spew vitriolic hatred out of one side of their mouths, and Christ’s love and mercy out the other side.

Here’s what I think. (Since this is my blog.) If you don’t want to read the Harry Potter books, be my guest. If you don’t want your kids to read them, fine! As a parent, that’s completely within your rights. I don’t let my own kids read Harry Potter, because in my opinion, they’re too violent and scary. (I mean, when You-Know-Who comes at Harry and yells “Avada Kedavra!” it scares the bejeebers out of me, and I’m 31.) But I do wish Christians wouldn’t start getting all bent out of shape, burning books and accusing JK of being into Wicca. My guess is that half these people haven’t even read the Harry Potter books.

I have respect for those people who choose not to read HP. That’s the whole point here, isn’t it? You go right ahead and read, or not read, Harry Potter. But please, please, let’s not get on the old Salem bandwagon and start burning people. Let’s exercise our right to not read the books. But, I beg you, let’s show the world some love and compassion. I think they’ve seen enough hatred from us already.

Jenna is in labour! Keep her in your prayers today!

Now, I suspect that some people don’t know how to eat falafel. Listen and learn, Grasshopper. This falafel will bring tears of bliss to your eyes, and a sassy shimmy to your hips:

1 can chick peas, drained
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon dried chili peppers
4 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons flour
Vegetable oil (for frying)

Process the chick peas in a food processor. (Note: I don’t have a food processor with a blade, so I just stick them in a bowl and mash them a bit with the back of a wooden spoon.) Mix in onions, parsley, salt, chili peppers, garlic and cumin. Process until blended, but not pureed.

Sprinkle in the baking powder and the flour, and pulse. You’ll want to add enough flour so that the dough no longer sticks to your hands. If possible, cover and refrigerate for a few hours.

Form this divine mixture into balls about the size of walnuts, or use a falafel scoop. I use my daughter’s cookie scoop from her cousins, and they turn out into giant, larger than life, Canadian falafel.

Heat 2 inches of oil to 375 degrees in a deep pot or wok and fry 1 ball to test. If it falls apart, add a little more flour. Then fry about 6 balls at once for a few minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Stuff half a pita with falafel balls, chopped tomatoes, green onions, bell peppers, cucumber and tsatziki or tahini sauce. Wow!

Mix together all ingredients:
Fry the falafel until they’re so beautiful you can hardly stand it, then drain on paper towels:

Tra la la, I have GOT IT!!! You won’t believe it, but my lovely, selfless, generous and wonderful brother and sister in law have actually funded the purchase of this fabulous bag:
Isn’t that something?! I had put the “I’ll buy it for you” option on the poll to make you all laugh, but my lovely brother just got right on it! I’m so pleased and feel so loved. Thank you, thank you, Mark and Amy!!!

I actually didn’t get the bag in the above colour, much as I wanted to. In fact, I purchased the olive one, so as to be able to use it for work. True, it’s not black, but when it came right down to it, I just couldn’t, couldn’t buy a black bag. I went to Sidewalkers to get the bag featured in the original Handbaggedly Conflicted post, but when I tried it out, I felt as if I was carrying an art portfolio around. I did buy it, and took it away with me on my shoulder. 30 minutes later I was back, and exchanged it for this little darlin’.

Here was the other option I had:

I really, really liked this bag. But I had my uniform coat on, as well as high heeled black shoes, and I resembled this:

…so I went with the first one. Horray! Horrah! Three cheers for Mark and Amy. I feel so loved and indulged. You are wonderfully generous. Thank you!

Cannot get enough of “A Room With A View” these days. In fact, I was nearly late for work yesterday because I just had to watch the kissing scene again. Here are my favourite bits:

Mr Emerson: “I don’t care what I see outside! My vision is within! Here is where the birds sing! Here is where the sky is blue!”

Charlotte Bartlett: “We all have our little foibles, and mine is the prompt settling of accounts.”

the Reverend Mr Eager: “Remember the facts about this church of Santa Croce; how it was built by faith in the full fervour of medievalism.”

Mr Emerson: “Built by faith indeed! That simply means the workers weren’t paid properly.”

And becoming a favourite scene: after Lucy breaks off the engagement, Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance is brilliant. The camera lingers on him for a long moment as he sits down on the stairs and puts on his shoes. This scene catches me off guard, and I find myself feeling such pain for him, arrogant buffoon though he is. It’s a surprisingly poignant moment.

Gwen’s Favourite Cinema Kisses:

• Somewhere in Time: the doorway scene…. need I say more?
• A Room with a View: in the barley field
• Love Actually: arrivals at Heathrow
• Gone With the Wind: “Scarlett, kiss me. Kiss me, once.”
• Casablanca: “Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.”

What are your picks?