Good day in Texas

It's a good day in Texas when you wake up and head for the Alamo. After remembering the Alamo with due respect, you stroll the river walk as slowly as possible since the temperature is 105. After agreeing with your friends that it's something you definitely won't do, it's so hot you end up going to Walmart for cheap water clothes to stuff yourself into a tube at the water park and get pushed down the river by 9-year-old boys.

You head up the road to the Grist Mill for a great Texas meal noting that only in this state can you find a restaurant that makes their own salsa and their own mashed potatoes. You stay for live music thinking-- where else besides Austin can you see such amazingly, heartbreakingly, great music for free with an audience of 18? Drive home singing Dixie Chicks at the top of your lungs. I was always told that in spite of not liking Texas since I had to move to Dallas a senior in high school that I would love Austin. So true. How can you not love a city where everyone flaunts stickers saying Keep Austin Weird.

storms brewing

I wrote a controversial post. Then I went outside and saw that storms were brewing. Came in to hit "delete." Hot weather makes me cagey. No storming necessary here.

I went garage sale-ing (I'd rather making it sailing) in the Old North End today. I found some antique windows that will become art objects and a vintage white Swiss dot 30's era dress. I was very tempted by a fur shawl that my friends claimed I had no occasions to wear. I may be having Great Gatsby delusions.

Sticky Mango Rice

This week is about having a wide range of experiences-- power tools to pedicure, flea market to driving range. Southern cooking to Thai dessert. I had a good night of wonderful conversation and great food with Tea & Metro. Here is the recipe for Mango Sticky Rice in my own imprecise words:

Locate Rice. Unable to find sticky varieties at King Soopers, I opt for sushi rice. Soak enough of this to make 4 cups in water overnight. Drain out water and reserve. Steam rice as directed on package. I use that leftover soaking water again to steam the rice.

Sauce:
1 can coconut milk
8 T. sugar
2 t. salt

Bring this to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Simmer until slightly thick. Pour some of this over rice to let liquid absorb for 30 minutes.

Heap rice on plates. Top with additional sauce and sesame seeds. Serve with mango. You will have leftover sauce unless you make 1/2 the quantity listed above. What else are you going to do with a whole can of coconut milk? Cheers!

Southern Comfort

Yesterday I found myself in need of comfort and wanting to avoid the usual choices- frantic activity, Greg, or ice cream. I was fortunate to turn on the TV and find Our Lady of American Comfort, Paula Deen. I've always wished to have an aunt just like this woman. Just hearing her sweet southern drawl calms me. I think it's the mixture of her cooking, her kindness, and her acceptance of herself.

Wanting to wrap myself in her like a blanket, I went to the library to pick up her biography. She has a pretty rough story- told with lots of humor, love, a little cussing, and some great southern recipes. I get convinced that if I could make a really great banana pudding, all would be better.

This is fitting with a general southern theme since I've decided to dub my neighborhood Little Appalachia. Both my next door and my accross the street neighbors have pierced nipples, and I've spoken to 2 gentleman in the last 24 hours who are missing several teeth.

I am a walking tornado

I had never owned a power tool until today. Never used one really. I took junior high home ec instead of shop. When I moved into my house I was dating a man who drilled holes for me. The closest I've ever come is probably owning a mini-food processor. It's dangerous. After seeing what it does to carrots, I'm sure I should use safety goggles to operate it.

But with a yard comes the necessity of tools. I thought I would skirt the issue entirely by mowing my modest lawn with a push mower. The mower, while adorable, left big ugly edges of tall grass. So today I bought a trimmer and extenion cord to use for the leaf blower I picked up the other week.

The first roar of the trimmer was a little intimidating. I underestimated and created a few bald spots on the lawn. I was just getting the hang of it when I accidently caught the cord in the trimmer. Oops! Then I tried the leaf blower. The sense of power was amazing. The machine roared and pine needles and ant hills scattered. I felt like a walking tornado. I'm sure I will resort to using this tool again on days of feeling powerless. It's tempting to set up little village scenes with plastic figurines and demolish them. I maybe understand men and their fasination with power tools a little bit better now.

father's day...

...has me thinking about inheritance. I've studied the inheritance of the 12 tribes of Israel. I've read East of Eden. I can't square of the beliefs my crazy fundamentalist parents have of legacy with those stories. My parents have been fairly successful. Their suburban Chicago home is paid off. They each own a used Lexus and spend free time travelling. Nothing flashy, but they're in good shape.

Last summer my brother told me they're not leaving us anything in their will. Their estate will be divided into 4 parts. Each child will then designate a charity to donate that money to that falls within the guidelines my parents have pre-determined. They've only announced this to my brother. Aside from that, they've asked me several times if there are objects I want. Ask now, or it's gone. The only item I wanted turned out to be the first gift my dad gave my mom- a jade bracelet. She lost it. I wish that instead of asking me to ask my parents would choose something special for me just like God chose something special for each of his tribes.

This stream of thought has spilled over into prayer ideas. Should I keep asking for things I want, or should I just hope and expect that God has a special inheritance for me that he's carved out in his will for me? Better than what I would ask for. No conclusions on this yet.

garden

When you have your own garden you can cut whatever flowers you want to. These are some I cut today. Unmerited bounty for me.

I've been listening to country music a lot. I always thought of it as wholesome family fare. But the recent hits tend to feature 2 themes-- how excited the men are to have sex with their woman and red neck pride and swagger over trucks, cheap beer, and fried foods. I do admire that optimism.

western slope

I'm back from an amazing tour of the Colorado Western Slope. It was a beautiful trip. I'm more grateful than I can say to live here and have a reason to tour colleges in resorts towns. What if I lived in Indiana and had to tour their Western slope? Yuck. Highlights were definitely Gunnison and Durango. I want to go back. Soon. CO counselors also make excellent road trip companions. In spite of having to decide group norms, everyone was positive and easy-going. The men suffered through our Mama Mia sing-along, and everyone cheerfully lugged their bags into shared dorm rooms. In my next life I may go to college at Ft. Lewis.

Returned to my garden and my monster yarrow have grown up to my shoulders. Tried to golf again and am ready to renounce my Scottish heritage.

unspiritual

It's Sunday and I'm feeling particularly non-spiritual today. Church was boring and long. I wanted to throw paper airplanes. Maybe I should figure out what's eating at me, but I would rather watch old episodes of America's Next Top Model and take a nap.

On Friday when I turned on my TV, I discovered that converter boxes are a big fat lie and do nothing. After some guidance from Lucky, I made several calls to comcast in search of cheap cable and internet. It took a couple of calls and a lot of negotiating to different salepeople to get someone to confess to having a basic plan with no frills. My cable and internet install guy came yesterday and said I have the cheapest plan he's ever seen. Wonderful small victory for me!

growing stuff

I thought I would be bored this summer, but I'm discovering I'm good at filling the time. I got brave enough to turn over a section of dirt and wildflowers in the back to start my own little experimental patch. Nothing too brave to begin with- hostas, lupine and red fox. The rest of the yard is all CO practical with grasses and little water required, but this patch aspires to be Washington. I also planted some herbs.

Do you have a favorite quote from a friend? My friend Meg once said that when she was little she had the biggest crush on Almanzo from Little House on the Praire. That tickles me. She asked if I shared her affection, but my admiration is all for Charles Wilder who knew how to do just about everything. It makes me wish current day survival skills required more than being a good shopper. I was making lemonade this morning from frozen concentrate and brewing iced tea. It occurred to me that it's rare to be served those beverages in other than a powdered form.

misc thoughts

Even though the guy at the iphone store promised the device would make all my dreams come true, I've found it won't blog and I'm tired of those darned tiny buttons. Thoughts round-up:

There's nothing more boring than being trapped in mingling where everyone is travel bragging-- dropping names of countries they've stepped foot in like it's a hint of a relationship with a celebrity. The art of storytelling is a gift I hugely admire. I was amazed to hear my friend Dan could tell way better stories about a client's crazy, cluttered house (think huge amounts of art and half-dresed child) than anything I've heard of Costa Rica. I confess to not always being a great conversationalist. Sometimes I just want to work with people-- create something from our hands side-by-side instead of trying to think of another clever thing to say or ask. I loved that aspect of L'Abri since my school work is so solitary.

I had a dream last night where I was the Queen of Acorns. That's all on that topic.

Back to conversation. I got together with 3 teacher friends this morning to walk and eat and pray. This prayer was so sweet and deep and long-needed. The whole year of small group gatherings meant less than this hour of no-hurry and listening and hearing. I'm so blessed to know these women who really hear God. Hoping you hear today too!