beaner’s blog

If you knit or crochet, or have any of the items on this websites needs list, please consider contributing.  I worked in a NICU and know how much our little caps meant to the parents who wouldn't get to bring home a baby, just a bag of mementos.  thanks.  www.freewebs.com/carepackage/index.htm  

Have you all seen the "Young At Heart" Choir?   They were on the Tonight Show tonight, and I saw them on some other show earlier this week.  Just goes to show you're as young as you feel.  Rock on. Young At Heart Chorus

What's the worst thing that could happen to you today? Bonus question: How would that thing potentially benefit you?

I could hit a deer on my way home from picking up my daughter for spring break; and if we lived through it (not the deer)  it would be venison in the freezer.

Oh, man, the Synthroid has me wired, which helped a lot with my first evening back at work.  It's a busy shift that includes bath, supper, and bedtime meds/respiratory treatment so I am on my feet for 6 of the 8 hours I'm there.  I was getting used to living in the sweats and nightgown. During my time off I planned to clean out a couple of shelves and put together scrapbooks for Christopher and Patrick of their trips to France, but none of that got done.  Here's where my mother would say, "Christine, you had surgery," in that tone that means I should have planned to do what I ended up doing, which was sleep and read and watch all the courtroom shows on T.V.   Moms usually know best.  Even when you're 50.

Woke up early this morning and made scones, then off to Liz's to watch "Becoming Jane".  Nice start to the day, spent the rest of it doing laundry since I'll be going back to work on Thursday and have been living in my sweats and jammies.

Cream Scones

2 c flour
1/3 c butter, cold, cut in pieces
1/4 c sugar
1 tbl baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 c heavy cream
optional: dried fruit, nuts, grated orange or lemon peel(1tbl), liquid flavorings(1tsp, add with cream)

Mix dry ingredients together, cut in butter--I just zap it all in my food processor, easier--add dried fruit, etc if desired and toss.  Add cream, mix as well as you can, turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead LIGHTLY until smooth.  Roll or pat out into 1/2 inch thick circle, cut with round cutter--I use 3 inch size. Re-roll the scraps once, then make what's left into what we call 'the cook's extra'.  Place on parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown.  Serve with your choice of toppings!  Don't think about the calories, that's why they call it a treat....

Having been told by many people in my life to SIT STILL AND BEHAVE so I can recover from the surgery, I have read the following in the last 2 weeks.  So there.

Mr. Darcy Takes A Wife (don't remember the author), and Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken; both borrowed from Liz who is a Jane Austinophile, there's a whole genre of Austen inspired novels out there, who knew?

Bangkok Tattoo, sequel to Bangkok 8, (author ?), thanks to Viki, murder and mayhem and Buddhism in Thailand.  I need a bigger calculator to figure out my karma equation....

Wizard's Daughter, Catherine Coulter:  Usually one of my favorite authors, funny and sassy, but this one was work to get through, too simple, although perfect when you are on Darvocet and have no brain.

Hearts in Atlantis, Wolves of the Calla, and Susannah's Song, all by Stephen King:  I just like the way the man uses language, but still prefer something that will scare my socks off rather than explore a character's psyche....or his own.

The Female Brain, LouAnn Brizendine, MD:  It's true, babies do suck out our brains.  A great book for anyone not particularly medical who wonders how and why women feel and think and act as they do vs. men, and how that changes as we grow older.  Because we ARE different, regardless of socialization.  Because I am a medical person, I want to find a professional critique of this book.

Photography Speaks:  A book by the Chrysler Museum here in Norfolk to commemorate the revision of their photo gallery; photos, photographer's bio's, and statements from the photographers re: their approach/philosophy of their art.

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, Patience, and Pearl; translated from Middle English by Marie Borroff:  here's a secret, I can read Middle English; but in a translation you get all the jokes.  I think this was one of Rob's textbooks from his Authurian Legend class.

A Wedding In December, Anita Shreve:  psycho-social trauma drama; I usually avoid these.

White Lies, Jayne Anne Krentz:  one of the Arcane Society series, murder and mayhem and psychics.

Saving the World, James Patterson:  3rd in a series, genetic mutants and the havoc they raise.  Well, naturally, because they are a bunch of teenagers.....with wings.

Whitethorn Woods, Maeve Binchy:  I love Maeve's books, they're like sinking into a comfy couch, and I recognize all the people.

Mystics and Miracles, Bert Ghezzi:  I was looking for something to share with my 8th grade rel. ed. kids, but this reminded me of those sappy saint stories I read as a little girl, and that would never fly with this group;  they're looking for proof, not kumbaya Catholicism.

And there you have it.  I'm looking for the next one.  Maybe a good historic novel.  Or biography.  We'll see....

Still alive, that was my first thought as I drifted out of the anesthesia fog.  Back home, minus a thyroid, with an impressive line of stitches across my neck (I'm in total denial as to how this operation was actually done), and in the good care of the boys and best of friends.  Darvocet is a good thing....

I must admit to being a little nervous, here.  Having woken up with a re-run of the never ending cold on Thursday hasn't helped since I am now not only sniffling but coughing, too.  Fourteen hours to go, the surgeon says as long as my lungs are clear, no problem.  I had myself anointed at church this morning, talked to my mom this afternoon; Rob and I are making a trial run to the hospital and back so he knows where he's going--"Mom," he said,"you backed the wrong pony on who should drive you."  He gets lost.  A lot.

So, what are you giving up for Lent? I was asked.  With a straight face, I said, 'My thyroid.'   heeheeheee.  Catholic humor.

Apropos of the previous post, introducing The House That Tried To Kill Me, and The Garden I Fell For...

336 garden 1,2,3

336 Main St

336 Main snow

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