Apropos of nothing . . . XYZ Riddle solved!

A few years ago, I came across a short little poem that has stuck in my head and bedeviled me ever since.  Here it is again:

The cross the fork the zigzag—a few straight lines
For pain, quandary and evasion, the last of signs.
—Robert Pinsky

I wrote about it on this blog on April 24, 2009.  Click here for the post.

And here is the comment I wrote:

O.K., I get that X is the cross (pain), Y is the fork (quandary) and Z is the zigzag (evasion). What does the author mean by "the last of signs?" Such short lines and they are giving me a headache!

Ever since, when I least expect it, the poem worms itself into my consciousness and I revisit it over and over, until, with a Gallic shrug (I pretend I'm French) I once again set it aside.  Yes, I know that X, Y and Z are the last three letters of the alphabet, but what is the metaphor? 

Then today, the skies opened up, the sun came out and I'm pretty sure I heard angels sing!  I found this analysis by Erin Yorke online.  And here are the two beautiful sentences that jumped out at me from that essay:

“At the end of the alphabet, they are closing the end of communication, of signals, of individual lives and life itself, ‘the last of signs’.  It is almost as if the speaker has one, last brief image to leave with loved ones and strangers on the planet.”

It's so simple - now that it's been explained to me! 

Release, Maria . . . you can let this one go now . . .  Life is good.

Halloween Beets!

Orange beets?  I've never seen the like!  Aren't they gorgeous?  Actually, they are called Golden Beets.  I spotted them at Whole Foods on Sunday morning while browsing in the produce aisles.  Every time I do that I get in trouble.  There's always a new veggie that wants to jump into my cart!  I showed them to my husband who immediately proclaimed:  Halloween Beets!  We had to bring some home, of course!

Slice up a red onion, for even more Halloween color!  And, why do they call it a red onion when anybody with a decent set of eyes can see that it's really purple?

I layered the salad on a beet leave.  It's so pretty - and completely edible, too!

We love this salad!  I shared the recipe here,  but this time I used Montrachet Goat Cheese with Garlic and Herbs for a change of pace.  It was so light and creamy!  I'm going to have to use that cheese again soon!  Isn't it fun to change up a recipe now and then?  It's such an adventure!

Doesn't it look good?  Lately, I find that I prefer dotting salads with a Balsamic vinegar reduction, instead of dousing them with salad dressing.  A little restraint really allows for the flavors to come through.

I toss it with my hands, so as not to break the slices.  Sure, broken pieces would be just as tasty, but where is the art?  The tossed beets, with onions, olive oil, salt and pepper are stored in the refrigerator in a covered dish, then the remaining ingredients are added when I'm ready to serve.

With some chicken roasting in the oven, and the salad ready to serve, we turned our attention to the main event for the night - answering the doorbell!

A Shakespearean Halloween

A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder.

                Enter the three Witches.

  1 WITCH.  Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.
  2 WITCH.  Thrice and once, the hedge-pig whin'd.
  3 WITCH.  Harpier cries:—'tis time! 'tis time!

 

   

 1 WITCH.  Round about the caldron go;

  In the poison'd entrails throw.—

    Toad, that under cold stone,
    Days and nights has thirty-one;
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!

       ALL.  Double, double toil and trouble; 
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

      
2 WITCH.  Fillet of a fenny snake,
    In the caldron boil and bake; 

    Eye of newt,

 

and toe of frog,

 

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

 

    Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
    Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,—

    For a charm of powerful trouble,
    Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. 

       ALL.  Double, double toil and trouble;
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

    3 WITCH.  Scale of dragon; tooth of wolf;
    Witches' mummy; maw and gulf 

 

  Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;
    Root of hemlock digg'd i the dark;



    Liver of blaspheming Jew;
    Gall of goat, and slips of yew
    Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;

   Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;

 
Finger of birth-strangled babe
    Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,—
Make the gruel thick and slab: 

Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingrediants of our caldron.      

ALL.  Double, double toil and trouble;
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

       2 WITCH.  Cool it with a baboon's blood,

Then the charm is firm and good.

—Act IV, Scene 1, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

The cast:

Witches Brew Linens and Salad Plates:  Pottery Barn Online
Black dinner plates:  The Dollar Tree
Water and wine glasses:  The Dollar Tree
Short candlesticks:  The Dollar Tree
Tall candlesticks:  Wedding gift from Marshall Field's, 30 years ago
Flatware:  Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings
Dessert glassware, candles:  Bed, Bath and Beyond
Black tablecloths:  Bed, Bath and Beyond
Mercury glass pumpkin and crow:  Pottery Barn
Mini salt and pepper shakers:  Crate and Barrel
Slate servers:  Crate and Barrel

I'm linking to the following parties:

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen
 

Quinoa Recipe from AARP

It's a telling sign of my age that I actually find myself browsing through the AARP magazine.  This recipe came from an article in the August/September 2013 issue about former President Bill Clinton's new vegan diet.  I've been experimenting with quinoa lately as part of my on-going search for foods with a lower glycemic index, so I gave it a try . . . It.  Was.  Fantastic!!!  You MUST try this!  My husband gave it his very persnickety stamp of approval.  What else could you possibly need to know?

SPICED AND HERBED QUINOA WITH GREEN ONIONS
This recipe is adapted from Rhys Rosenblum, executive chef, Restaurant Associates.
Serves 4

1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable stock or water (I used chicken stock)
½ cup hothouse cucumber, diced
½ cup tomato, diced
2 tablespoons, red onion, diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon chopped jalapeño
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1.  Cook the quinoa according to package directions, using stock or water.  Let cool completely.

2.  In a large bowl, combine the quinoa with the remaining ingredients.  Toss to mix thoroughly.  Serve chilled.

Nutrients per serving:  268 calories, 6g protein, 34g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 13g fat (2g saturated fat). 0mg cholesterol, 483mg sodium.

Enjoy!

Summer's Glory

Start with a glorious sunflower for inspiration . . .
 

 

Gather a bunch for unapologetic delight . . .

Add a rich, blue plate for contrast . . .

Make it a calico plate, smothered with wild flowers . . .

 

Simple burlap bows to tie the napkins . . .  

And the napkins must be yellow, the color of ripe corn . . .

Flatware that evokes unfurling flowers . . .

 

A pretty glass, as blue as the summer sky . . .

 

A wheelbarrow to hold the salt . . . 

The days may be getting shorter . . .

 

But summer is still alive with possibilities . . .
 

 

We may as well enjoy it . . .

Featuring:

Dinner plates - Blue Calico by Burleigh
Water goblet - The Dollar Tree
Flatware - Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings
Napkins - Sferra, Mustard color
Placemats - Pottery Barn
White pitcher - Pottery Barn
Wheelbarrow Salt Cellars - Pottery Barn, from several years ago
Burlap ribbon - Joann's

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.  Stop by for some delightful inspiration.

My first 5K!

It's so true that when we declare an intention, a true, deep desire to do anything, the universe opens up the flood gates and sends us the resources with which to accomplish them. 

The moment I made a commitment to change my lifestyle into one that focuses on health, I have been the recipient of tremendous love and support.  My family has astounded me the most!  They have been there for me every step of the way.  They have changed their eating habits, embraced exercise, learned about diabetes and educated themselves on what makes my glucose spike and how I can avoid it.  Gone are the cookies, and the candy, and the bad carbs.  Everyone has lost weight . . .

At work, suddenly, I find myself surrounded by co-workers who are committed to health!  They have shared their enthusiasm, tips on eating and exercising, and given me their understanding and encouragement.

And that is how I found myself in this photo surrounded by friends, co-workers and family:  My wonderful husband, Leo, and son, David; my friend and boss, Leo and his wife, Angela, and the guy who challenged me to try this, my friend and co-worker, Justin.  This entire group joined me on my biggest challenge to date - a 5K walk.  As a bonus, we also helped raise a little money to help find a cure for Lupus.

When the walk ended and I walked into the finish line, I stopped for a moment and thanked God:  “Thank you for sticking with me.  Thank you for sending me angels to help keep me on the right path.  Thank you for all the grace and love that you have bestowed on me.”  I'm glad I remembered to do that.

I'm joining The Tablescaper for her Seasonal Sundays blog party.  Please stop by.

L'après midi dans le jardin

Summers are so short!  Time to enjoy a little respite in our backyard!

I fell in love with the heart-shaped wrought iron chairs last year . . . the fact that they also swing and that they are red just put me over the edge.  I had to have this set! And then, it went on sale!  Who could resist?

  

For my college graduation, a dear friend gave me a picnic basket that included these charming napkins.  She understood, even before I did, that I always seemed drawn to cute little garden bugs.  When she found this fabric, she made me some napkins.  Aren't they wonderful?

The little herb patch in the backyard has really done well this summer.  Right now it's exploding with thriving plants.  So, I picked a little of this, and a little of that . . . and in no time ended up with a bundle of “herbes fines” in my hand.  And then, the little voice in my head started chanting:  “Cucumber sandwiches . . . cucumber sandwiches . . . ”

I used tarragon, parsley, lemon thyme and chives in the cream cheese spread.  Oh, my . . . this is marvelous . . . I adore cucumber sandwiches!  My idea of heaven includes cucumber sandwiches and a cup of oolong tea every afternoon . . .

I also made some ham tea sandwiches on marbled rye pumpernickel bread for my husband . . . He is not a fan of cucumber sandwiches . . . Alas, nobody is perfect . . . 

I'll be busy pretty soon drying herbs and making pesto, but for now . . .

I'll just sit in my backyard and enjoy a quiet summer tea . . .