Sleepy

Saturday - slept until almost 10 a.m.! (Went to bed at Midnight.)  Netflix will be the downfall of me.  I have a new series: Wallander.  It's in Swedish, so I have to read subtitles (my friend, Frank, would understand the Swedish).  I always wonder if they are translating it correctly.  

In case you're wondering, here are some of my favorites:

House of Cards with Kevin Spacey
The Killing  (I think it's done and I'm sad for that)
Lilyhammer (set in Norway, but in English)
Longmier (Craig Johnson, the author of the books, will be guest at the New England CrimeBake this year.)
Sherlock Holmes (newest TV show)
Luther (a British detective show -- loved it!)
I've gone brain dead ... the one with Helen Mirren and she's a chief detective inspector.  Oh, of course: Prime Suspect
An Appropriate Adult -- this was a big surprise to me.  The Brits have the volunteer job title of "Appropriate Adult" for an accused suspect when they feel there might be a mental health component involved.  Such as, the accused might be developmentally delayed and not understand what the police are saying.
Cedar Cove
Foley's War -- I haven't really gotten into it yet, but I have seen a couple on "live" TV.
Inspector Morse -- again, I haven't gotten it that yet, having seen many on TV.

Could not stand Breaking Bad.  Everyone else likes it, but I couldn't even finish the first one.

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11:00 a.m. Got the laundry in, went out to the garden.

Somebody couldn't wait for the parmesan! At least they left me some of my first eggplant.  Ah, nature is so grand.

While they are Japanese eggplant and a strange size, I cannot explain the round one.  I think it's conflicted but I don't have the money to bring it to a shrink.

I'm off to make sauce.  Most of the tomatoes are Phyllis'.  Honest, she told me to pick them!

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Please buy my friend Kate Flora's new book:

http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-of-true-crime-story-death-dealer.html

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Piggy Painting Party

First of all, do you know how hard it is to get very busy people together in one spot?  Here was the plan: Relax on Friday, get take out so I don't have to cook, paint pigs.  I decided to make Cosmopolitans because Sharon likes those and we had decided to call in an order to El Comalito, which is a new Salvadoran restaurant around the corner from my house.

Meanwhile, Sharon had to cancel due to a family thing, but I decided to forge on with the Cosmos.  Not having a clue what goes into a Cosmopolitan, I Googled it! I came up with a recipe which called for cranberry juice (Naomi brought that), Triple Sec and limes (I bought that), Vodka (Lisa brought that), and an orange peel garnish.  

Ann, Lisa, Naomi, and I loved the food from El Comalito!  We tried a lot, including, quesadillas, enchilladas, fried yucca (like a potato -- I loved it), fried plantains (very sweet), beef empanadas.  A couple of the dishes came with rice and beans, some with salad.  It was a feast.  Therese showed up as we were finishing.

Oh -- the Cosmos.  Ann was surprised I was using the pitcher and glasses from my glass collection.

I was using the recipe for four drinks and it called for one Cup of vodka.  So we all took a sip at the same time and, as one, we said, "Kaff, kaff, it's good!"  I guess there was a bit too much vodka ... I really did measure it.  But we had a good time!

Tomi hadn't shown up or called and I didn't know if I should worry because her elderly parents are living with her.  She had already told me that she was babysitting her 75 pound "grand puppy" and she couldn't stay long because her parents are afraid of the dog.  It was the one year anniversary of Tomi's son's wedding and they asked if she would take the puppy while they had a second honeymoon.

Halfway through the painting, Tomi called.  She had fed her parents and was about to come over when the dog got his tags caught in the bottom of the dishwasher.  So, of course, he ran away -- dragging the bottom basket with dishes -- all over the house.  I'm thinking it was pandemonium followed by one big mess.  

But on to the pigs!

I often leaf through the Oriental Trading Company's catalog to buy stuff for work -- such as children's craft items.  Anyway, I have been seeking something I could make and donate for sale to the Sleighbell Fair at church.  And I came up with:

What the heck is that?  Above is a detail of the package

Isn't he cute? I got 12 ceramic pigs!  I figured a decorated piggy bank would be a great thing for a Grandma to buy!  This guy (and the 11 others) is painted white which I did one night while watching "Lillyhammer."

Here I am mixing Pig Pink

Below is Therese just beginning her gorgeous pig.  She brought puff paints which were amazing.

Therese is the creative genius who creates and produces the plays at the Eric Carle Museum.  She is the only one authorized to reproduce his artwork in costumes, sets, and props.  She includes puppets, dance students, and lots of creativity.

And here is what Lisa, Naomi, Ann, Therese, and I came up with!

I don't know if you can tell whose is whose, but we had a great time!  I had so much fun just relaxing, eating, talking, and painting.  Naomi is passionate about having the next pig painting party.  After all, there are still five more to go!

Some Time Last Week

One of the best things about living alone is that you can do (and eat) whatever you want!  I couldn't let Phyllis' yummy tomato be unappreciated.  I don't remember what day this was (who cares?), but here was breakfast.

That's fontinella cheese, which tasted like Italian cheddar cheese to me.  The blueberries are from next door and I grew the sweet pepper!  You'll notice the tip of the pepper is gone and that's because I was testing to see if it was a jalapeno.  Nope.  I used it later in the chicken cacciatore that I made in the crockpot.  Boy, is that great to come home from work and smell supper!

Here are some garden updates.  (I know you're sick of these pictures, but it keeps me out of bars.)

The eggplant is doing nicely

Here are my Brown Eyed Susans -- they all showed up OUT of the raised beds and in the walkway.

Some people think Queen Anne's Lace (above) is just a weed.  I think it's pretty.