I am utterly unprepared for blogging today. I had no picture ready, so I took one showing the view of the living room from where I'm sitting at the moment. As you can see, the indoor jungle is about as out-of-control as the outdoor one.
Again, bravo for digital photography! From phone to publication on the web in minutes! A lot different from the weeks it used to take to get developed film back from the drugstore, with publication not even a possibility. Social media may be rending the fabric of our society, but at least I can blog.
As you can see, I have nothing much to say. I woke up with the Marine Corps Hymn playing in my brain: "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli..." I have absolutely no idea why. (I also wasn't singing it right; for some reason I was thinking, "the shores of New Orleans.")
Did you know that "the halls of Montezuma" refers to Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, which the Marines captured in the Mexican-American war in 1847? And "the shores of Tripoli" refers to the First Barbary War, fought in North Africa in 1805?
Don't say you never learned anything from this blog. (And thank Google.)
I spent yesterday cleaning the house and reading more of Barbra's autobiography. (You can see it in the photo above -- that gigantic tome sitting on the table by the couch.) The weather is cool and very humid. My bare feet feel like they're sticking to the hardwood floors. It's not pleasant.
Last night we had our friends Chris and Colin over for dinner. Dave made a seafood pie with a mashed potato crust, because one friend is pescatarian and the other is gluten intolerant. This presented menu planning challenges, but Dave prevailed, and was then disappointed when the sauce broke in his fish pie. It tasted great, though, and no one but Chef Dave noticed. (I certainly didn't; I'd had a martini.)
We served peas in the covered Chinese bowl that I found on the street (see previous post). And then Dave told Chris and Colin I'd found it on the street. I made clear we'd cleaned the heck out of it but I still wish he hadn't done that. Some people might find it an appetite killer! Chris and Colin rolled with it, though, brave souls.
Again, bravo for digital photography! From phone to publication on the web in minutes! A lot different from the weeks it used to take to get developed film back from the drugstore, with publication not even a possibility. Social media may be rending the fabric of our society, but at least I can blog.
As you can see, I have nothing much to say. I woke up with the Marine Corps Hymn playing in my brain: "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli..." I have absolutely no idea why. (I also wasn't singing it right; for some reason I was thinking, "the shores of New Orleans.")
Did you know that "the halls of Montezuma" refers to Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, which the Marines captured in the Mexican-American war in 1847? And "the shores of Tripoli" refers to the First Barbary War, fought in North Africa in 1805?
Don't say you never learned anything from this blog. (And thank Google.)
I spent yesterday cleaning the house and reading more of Barbra's autobiography. (You can see it in the photo above -- that gigantic tome sitting on the table by the couch.) The weather is cool and very humid. My bare feet feel like they're sticking to the hardwood floors. It's not pleasant.
Last night we had our friends Chris and Colin over for dinner. Dave made a seafood pie with a mashed potato crust, because one friend is pescatarian and the other is gluten intolerant. This presented menu planning challenges, but Dave prevailed, and was then disappointed when the sauce broke in his fish pie. It tasted great, though, and no one but Chef Dave noticed. (I certainly didn't; I'd had a martini.)
We served peas in the covered Chinese bowl that I found on the street (see previous post). And then Dave told Chris and Colin I'd found it on the street. I made clear we'd cleaned the heck out of it but I still wish he hadn't done that. Some people might find it an appetite killer! Chris and Colin rolled with it, though, brave souls.
I probably would have been a bit concerned (for no good reason) about the fact that that was the cheese bowl from the street. Your backdrop is so beautiful and so surprising for a city apartment. Olga looks like she’s thinking, “What is he photographing NOW?!?” By the way, I always learn something new from this blog! (Like the fact that the shores of New Orleans aren’t the actual words.)
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I was thinking New Orleans. I certainly learned it correctly as a kid. (And isn't it funny that I learned it at all, considering no one in my family was a Marine?!)
DeleteIf the Chinese bowl had been through the dishwasher on a normal cycle, I would be fine with it.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I've seen a reference to Montezuma, I think the African one, was Montezuma belly?, that is an upset stomach and what follows.
"Montezuma's Revenge" is also from Mexico, actually! It's a gringo nickname for gastrointestinal illness that travelers to Mexico pick up.
DeleteYou deserve a medal for tackling Barbra Streisand's enormous autobiography. Nearly a thousand pages. Hell, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Mind you, I have no interest whatsoever in Barbra Streisand. The title, "My Name Is Barbra" appears unappealingly vain from the get go. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteYeah, if you have no interest in the subject I can see how you wouldn't want to attempt the book!
DeleteI'd have been like Dave and told the guests the bowl was street salvaged just to see the reactions!
ReplyDeleteMischief-makers, both of you!
DeleteI see you got your revenge on Dave by telling us his sauce broke!! This is a long established couple, clearly! Too funny. That's probably what Olga's rolling her eyes about.
ReplyDeleteHa! Actually, Dave was the one who made the stink about the sauce (after the guests had left). I wouldn't have even noticed!
DeleteThat room is so beautiful, Steve, with those lovely windows and all of the wonderful plants, inside and out! Olga relaxing there is perfect! When you pointed out the size of that book on the table there, I thought - yikes! I would never read a book that big!! Glad I don't have to! ;)
ReplyDeleteWe DO love that room. We spend pretty much all our time there.
DeleteMy take on Olga's picture is that she's suddenly quite worried that one of those plants is going to grow out of its pot and attack her in the night.
ReplyDeleteFor two days I woke up with Perry Como's "Magic Moments" playing in my brain. God, what a ridiculous song. Ma...JICK, Mo...MENTS, and so forth.
Your living room really is beautiful. I do love it. For a second, I wondered why you had a family Bible on your coffee table and then I realized- BARBRA!
Ha! Isn't it weird how these songs come to us in the night?! I actually have "Magic Moments" on my iTunes, but yes, it is a ridiculous song.
DeleteNot a boring blog this morning at all ... A couple good chuckles and a couple learning points!
ReplyDeleteI think your plant room looks fantastic with the good light from the windows, the lovely Olga on the couch (her bed on the floor), and that ridiculously large Barbra book on the end table! Good grief, what font and print size did they use on that thing? Bodini Bold in 18 pt. type?
Enjoy your Sunday!!
I'm glad you chuckled -- always my goal! Believe it or not, the Barbra print is actually quite small. But it reads quickly and easily.
DeleteThat book- REALLY? That is a lot of presumptive ego right there - a fair share of conjunctions! Enough to dissuade less ambitious readers. An editors nightmare. I love your photo so much- Olga and her pink blanket- all of the light in your flat and of course the healthy plants that always look so much better in your care!
ReplyDeleteI am sure that what ever Dave cooks is far better than anything anyone has ever eaten, serve it on a hub cap- still the best!
Your china finds are splendid! I have always loved the blue fishes pattern. Glad they did clean up well!
Yeah, I wonder how many Streisand fans looked at that book and said, "Oh, HELL no." I can't imagine being her editor.
Delete"Breaking sauces" has always been a mystery to me, but then I don't actually cook. I heat things. We were watching Bourdain last night, he was making a beurre blanc and was concerned about it breaking. Looked like two pounds of butter being added to a liquid of indeterminate origin.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that I grew up with so many broken sauces that they seem totally normal to me!
DeleteI love your last minute photo! Everything looks so lush and green and healthy. The size of that book is a bit daunting.
ReplyDeleteHow you found that bowl would not have bothered me so hopefully it didn't bother your friends.
On top of it all, I learned something new!
Glad I brought you some new info! Yeah, the bowl went through the dishwasher so I'm sure it's fine. (Which is the point I made to them!)
DeleteI meant to comment on the bowls last post. they were definitely worth picking up. and why would anyone be concerned about where you got them, how is it any different that someone's garage sale sitting out in the open on a table?
ReplyDeletewhat does that even mean, the sauce 'breaking'? I would love to have your living room. all those windows looking out at your garden.
Well, I agree there's no difference, but mention pulling something out of a trash can and some people get queasy. A "broken" sauce means that it separates, rather than the ingredients being smoothly integrated.
DeleteYour final paragraph made me laugh, as did Boud's comment. I'm also laughing that Olga is on the couch with you rather than on her nice dog bed under the plants.
ReplyDeleteShe spends most of her time on the couch! But she does use the dog bed sometimes, particularly if it's hot out.
DeleteI don't understand sauce breaking either - explainer please! (Yes, I could Google, but why do that?). Also I wouldn't care a whit about where the bowl came from - and would actually get a kick out of it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you were getting that song mixed up with the Battle of New Orleans song which is a whole other situation. :)
It basically just means the sauce separates. And yeah, you might be right about the Battle of New Orleans!
DeleteWho says you had nothing to say? I always wondered about Montezuma and Tripoli in the song.
ReplyDeleteSometimes if I just start writing, a post emerges!
DeleteYour living room is filled with beautiful light and your plants are fantastic. The large windows make in door and out-door living perfect.
ReplyDeleteOlga looks very comfy snuggled up with her pink blanket.
Dave's fish pie sounds delicious. He really is a gourmet cook!
It's a great room to be in in a rainstorm. Dave actually did train for a year at the French Culinary Institute in New York.
DeleteWhenever I hear the marine hymn, I think "Oh the gang's all here so give a cheer, give a cheer for Sexton high." Poor Marines. Coming in second best to a high school. Dinner sounds just fabulous. The chef always knows but when its someone who cooks as well as Dave (at least, as you say!) then all are thrilled and wonder what the heck he's talking about!
ReplyDeleteHa! So the tune was adopted for your high school fight song! Funny.
DeleteThat book is gigantic! I'm always happy to learn things and my dad was a Marine. Semper Fi.
ReplyDeleteHE probably knew it wasn't "New Orleans" in the song.
DeleteThat gigantic book is the autobiography? I probably couldn't even lift that let alone hold it for any length of time to read it. Olga looks peaceful. Your indoor jungle looks fine to me, not at all out of control.
ReplyDeleteIt actually is physically hard to hold. It's the second book I've read like that this summer, Robert Galbraith's "The Running Grave" being the first. I don't know why writers churn out such big books. They must realize they're a turn-off for some people.
DeleteMany years ago, I read a book about the first American hostages, held in Tripoli and the resulting battle to free them. Up until that book, I never really thought about the lyrics to the Battle Hymn.
ReplyDeleteI think I would have to up my exercise regime to be able to read a book that size!