February 2007

I've only been at this Photo-A-Day since February 18th, but have enjoyed it immensely already. Looking back over just these few shots here, I can see how it is making a scrapbook of sorts. Wouldn't something like this have been grand to have as far back as our BHS days?

In any case, here's looking forward. I'll do my very best to keep this up. So far, it's mostly manageable.

Again, I'd like to invite any of you out there reading (is anyone out there?) to do the same.

Another windy West Texas kind of day

My mechanic makes house calls

Coming home after a hard day's work

Laughing Dog

My laughing girl, Dixie.

Little Bird

A sweet little bird made of chrysocolla, opal, and quartz that I bought at an estate sale yesterday.

Gabbeh

Every week I receive a film rental or two through Netflix. Since joining up with them I've enjoyed access to foreign films that I would never have had the opportunity to see out here. It's yet another reason I say, God Bless the Internet.

Oh, I adored this film! I've never seen anything quite like it, such innovative eye-candy, and a story that had my heart aching and singing at the same time.

It's not going to be like anything you've seen before. And if you feel you've seen enough shoot-em-ups to last a lifetime, then this will be quite the breath of fresh air.

Visiting Mrs. S.

Kitten and I went to visit my neighbor across the street. Kitten liked Mrs. S.'s pink room with all the stuffed bears on the bed.

What is it?

I saw this on eBay where the seller identified it as a "Lebanese steamer." I've never seen one before. Can anyone tell me if it is indeed a Lebanese steamer? How does it work?

It's a start

Mailed books from my library today, on their way to new owners.

Dinner at Jorge's

For the Birds

Katlynn and I made several of these together. It's a pine cone stuffed with suet and bird seed, hung in my trees to help the birds this winter.

Organizing Books (Part 1)

This is part of one bookshelf. I have six bookshelves that all look like this, and worse. It's not my only addiction, but it's my most, er, voluminous.

It is my (Chinese) New Year's Resolution to cull my book collection. Here are destinations for those that don't make the final cut:

www.half.com

www.bookmooch.com

www.ebay.com

Through the Pages used bookstore in Monahans, Texas

No Knead Bread (aka Lazy Bread)

For the last few weeks, I've been making this loaf a couple of times a week. It can't be beat for sandwiches, croutons, toast, or hot out of the oven with butter and jam. The crust is exactly what I have dreamt yeast bread should be. And the incredible thing is that it is so simple, with just 4 ingredients (and two of them are water and salt), and without any kneading. It does take patience -- it must rise once for at least 12 hours. As long as I have flour and yeast in the house I can't see myself ever buying bland store-bought sliced bread again. Even if it means waiting half a day.

I found the recipe here. (My adjustment: I cook for 50 minutes at 450 degrees, and 5-10 more with the lid removed.)

Star Light's first return home

I'm trying not to be sad today. Star light, my youngest daughter, who now lives in New York state, came back home to Texas for a week's visit. She's back on a plane to NY as I write.

This is sort of a cheat picture because it wasn't taken today. But I think it represents well my world today -- a day of thinking of and remembering her visit. Just a week ago, Star Light, Star Bright (my other and oldest daughter), Kitten (my 2 year old granddaughter) and I went to Comanche Trails Park. It was a warm, sunny day and we intended to go geocaching there. We ended up merely taking a nice walk through the park, and then the girls horsed around on the monkey bars, acting like, well, like monkeys.

Yay! S.L. just called me from the airport and has announced she'll come home again in August. That news is the perfect antidote for feeling blue today.

P.S. We did go geogcaching another day and successfully found the cache.

Photo A Day, or PAD for short

• I have been very busy.
• I haven't done much BHS'ing.
• I want to change that.

If the last couple of months are any indication, I have been a very bad friend to my BHS buddies. But you guys are very important to me, so I vow to make a better effort.

Beginning today, I'll make time to take a single picture for this blog. If I have time, I'll write more. At the very least, though, I'll post a picture of something from my little life.

And wouldn't it be amazing if we started a whole group of BHS bloggers who did the same?

Filed: Previous Tidbits

The tree I most associate with Lebanon is not the Cedar. For me it's the Umbrella Pine.

Read about at Al Mashriq
I recently rented this beautiful, wholesome film from 1997. It made me think of another runner, named Ali also.

More about Children of Heaven on Wikipedia
I collect Lebanese cookbooks and this is my most treasured one, a gift.

From the back of the book: "Mary Elizabeth Sabieh was born and raised in Summit, New Jersey, USA.
After graduating from New York University, she married and moved, first to Syria in 1955, and then to Lebanon in 1965.


She has two daughters. Christine has a PhD in Psychology, and Caroline has a MBA degree and is currrently working toward a PhD in Education. She also
has a 2 year old granddaughter, Rpaphaelle Maria.


Mary Elizabeth has written food articles for many international newspapers and magazines."