Shake and Bake

Shake: If you keep your eyes open for creativity, it jumps out to greet you! I was at an offsite meeting last week - strategic business planning. As if to balance the powerpoint information overload, there hanging in the hotel stairway on our way out were abstract paintings by VT artist Donna Stafford. This one called "Let's Shake" was vibrant with color, energy and 3-D ribbons wriggling throughout.

"Let's Shake" by Donna Stafford $450

Bake - At Shaw's a weekend ago I bought salmon & grabbed one of those recipe cards near the Seafood case. A few nights later at 8pm, I realized I had to cook it -- now or never. Too dark outside for grilling, so out came the card. To my surprise, we had every ingredient! (ok I subbed in kale for the spinach, and had to stretch one little lemon into grated lemon peel and juice and wedges). It turned out perfectly, and at 9:30 on a week-night, we dined fashionably late  on Spice-Crusted Salmon and Lemon Spinach/Kale.

Shaw's recipe card

Voila!

Comfort - or lack thereof

I just finished an amazing, searing and thought-provoking novel: The Road by Cormac McCarthy. nytimes book review 2006  It's a post-apocalyptic tale, not bedtime reading, but beautifully wrought. There is so much discomfort for the characters, it's got me thinking about our comfortable American lives. Mine anyway. Seems we're often in pursuit of greater physical comfort -- plush mattresses, heated leather seats in our cars, 2000 thread Egyptian cotton sheets, monthly pedicures or massages, winter vacations on tropical islands. On the flip side, the Patagonia catalog came in the mail today, with photos of (mostly) guys doing extreme mountain climbing in Peru, Patagonia, Mt. Everest, etc. One photo shows a tiny tent,  aka "bivy" set into a snow bowl on the side of a 12,000' peak. With our mostly sedentary jobs, and a good measure of comfort at home and work, we then need to challenge our bodies with physical tests. How many people do you know training for a half or full marathon? I'm not complaining. Just observing. For most educated Westerners, survival no longer depends on physical strength, hunting skills, orienteering through deep woods, or sailing the high seas. But if it did, how well would we do? As a personal experiment, I'm going toughen myself up a bit by consciously seeking out discomfort. Rainy and cold outside? I'll go for a walk. Heck, I might even do a mid-October penguin plunge in Lake Champlain tomorrow.  The water and air temp should both be a slightly uncomfortable 58F. I'll let you know how it goes. Ciao.

Patagonia mountain climber

Bloom Where You Smell the Roses

This week is a mash-up of two sayings: "Bloom Where You're Planted," and "Stop and Smell the Roses." I spend many hours at my office in Waterbury VT. Work is  rewarding, but as the weather turns toward away from summer, I start to complain more about the commute, small town lunch options, and uninspired office design. So in an effort to find beauty in the everyday, here are a few recent sights and sounds that brighten my world:

1. Hobbes the Parking Lot Cat - Last month we spied a collar-wearing, orange and white cat hanging around our office parking lot. His tags say "Hobbes" and it turns out he lives near GMCR with a family who loves him. But he's a people-kitty, who comes around at different times during our workday looking for attention. Recently I saw Hobbes curled up next to the front wheel of a silver sedan, sleeping. Add car-savvy to Hobbes' list of talents. (Here's a photo of Hobbes stuck out in the rain last week -- he just needs an employee badge so he can swipe in.)
2. Tina Fey's "Bossypants" on CD - laugh out loud funny, and perfect for driving 60-miles/day in cloudy October. Her tale of "Hiking Old Rag (at night)" is priceless.  I actually hiked Old Rag in Virginia back in my twenties, but in the daylight with spectacular views. The only nighttime drama being some random bear noises in the campground.
3. Fall flowers - When the girls were little, they gave me a wonderful little Tea Rose bush for Mother's Day. It thrived on neglect, so 12 yrs later we transplanted it when we moved to Burlington in 2010. This week it's covered in aromatic blooms, perfect for a little Japanese zen bowl arrangement. Then the hydrangeas in our Lakeside yard are turning dusky rose and purple, and will not fade all winter in a bouquet.

Tea Roses

Hydrangea Flower- Power