WordStorm Casserole

The Hot Pot of One Life

Grief and Tom Petty

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Last week was miserable for so many reasons. There was general busy-ness and pressure at work. I work in the tech industry and we have to learn and adapt continuously. I wasn’t feeling my best, so everything at work seemed twice as hard as normal.

But you know that’s not why it was a miserable week, right?

It started with Las Vegas, of course, which caused a heavy energy blanket to descend over the world – or at least over the American part of the world. My extra sensory antenna immediately felt that something was off with the whole situation in Vegas, but I couldn’t say what it was exactly.

Chris at The Secret Sun has been doing deep analysis of the symbols surrounding the Las Vegas event. You may not want to visit the site unless you’re ready for a rabbit hole of epic proportions; he’s good, and goes straight into the weirdness. The comments are just as interesting as the article. I love it; you may not.

Tom Petty

And then we lost Tom Petty.

Combining work, Vegas, and Petty in one week almost wiped me out. It would have been so easy to fall into a deep depression, the kind where you hunker under blankets. The kind of depression where you watch the same tv shows over and over and over just because they’re comforting.

Both Las Vegas and Petty engendered a widespread grief in society, too. It was a disparate grief, the kind you have when you don’t know quite what to say or to whom the grief in directed. It was unspecific and haunting.

I started listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in high school…back in the 70s. I distinctly remember looking at the cover of both the eponymous debut album and it’s follow-up You’re Gonna Get It in record bins at a local store and knowing I had to listen to that music.

For me, Petty’s death has caused a great deal of soul searching: why is this celebrity death hitting so hard? What meaning did I attach to this man and his music?

As I write this on Saturday night, I still don’t have answers to those questions. It’s still too soon. Heck, it’s still hard to listen to much music from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers right now. I did find R.E.M.’s “Automatic For The People” helpful, but then it’s filled with joy and wonder – like much of Petty’s writing.

I am finding comfort at my favorite Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers community – Mudcrutch Farm. The outpouring of love and sadness from online friends helps so very much. Thank you to Ryan for running the Farm all these years, and to all who frequent the community.

One of those Farm friends asked people to list those songs that, in Tom’s long and fruitful career, are often underrated or overlooked. Here are some of my favorites that you might have not heard.

Straight Into Darkness

This song is a longtime favorite. I was in the 18th row of this 2008 show, and about screamed my lungs out when I heard the opening chords.

Casa Dega

Luna

Tom shouts, “shut up” at someone in the audience at the start of the video.  And then it’s all heartbreak.

Crawling Back To You

Down South

1978 Old Grey Whistle Test

The band starts playing around the two minute mark, and keeps rolling for 45 minutes. Songs include Anything That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, Fooled Again (I Don’t Like It,) I Need to Know, Breakdown, Listen to Her Heart, You’re Gonna Get It, American Girl, Strangered in the Night, and Shout

Change of Heart

It’ll All Work Out

Fortunately, the energy in the world lifted a little on Friday. I was thankful because I had yet another busy work day with clients visiting the office – a rarity. The heaviness of the week began to dissipate, and and the shock of losing Tom Petty started to change.

The weekend has been better. I hit up the local library’s annual $2 a bag book sale and brought home some treasures for reading over the winter. No doubt you’ll be seeing them in Let’s Read Books one of these days. And (if you haven’t noticed) I added a logo and changed the site navigation around just a tad.

I’m still sad. Still not listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – other than to put this post together. But life goes on, and I am moving forward slowly. One step at a time. How about you?

Cookbooks and the Beginning of a Paint-Splattered Blue-Sky October

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paint splattered wood floor

This photo shows where I’m at right now.

The hardwood floor is two different colors. There are blobs of paint here and there as if major projects are underway. Looking closer, there are indentations, scuffs, and scrapes. One color is light, the other dark. The mood is somber, hopeful, reminiscent, and regretful all at the same time.

It is the paint-splattered floor of an artist’s studio. It is the middle of a renovation when you pull up the carpet and realize there’s a lot more here than you thought there was. It has great scope. It has infinitesimal movement.

It is the sadness of autumn, the brilliant blue sky, and the promise that next summer will come, but not soon enough. I’d prefer to skip winter entirely, and am thankful I made it to October without turning on the heat.

I’m working on a book, finishing up life coaching certification requirements, plotting the future of this blog, and slowly completing the patio project. But with me, all of these things take two, three, or five times as long as projected because I work in spirals.

That means non-linear.  It means I start at step 6 of a project, and proceed to steps 1, 2, and then 4. Or I drop the project all together and return to it ten years later – that’s how the whole “working on a book” thing appeared. Then there’s a completely different recipe-based website I’m contemplating, and the fact that, when the patio itself is completed, somebody has to also sculpt and mulch in the surrounding area…before winter strikes.

Which is all to say that I went to a great Estate Sale yesterday, and got a Marley Hodgson Ghurka No. 16 Bag for $15. If it was in perfect condition, it might resale at more than $100. This one is not  in perfect condition, so I’ll spend time cleaning it up. Another non-linear project to accomplish.

And cookbooks.

In an effort to declutter, I got rid of some cookbooks. And then, in the frenzy of searching at three estate sales on Saturday, I got some more.

Of course the yellow background and black polka dot cover caught my eye. And then what caught my eye was this: Culinary Arts Institute Encyclopedic Cookbook, 1950.  And then the heft of the book meant I had to bring it home.

It’s 975 pages long and covers just about everything you’ve ever wanted to know about food preparation and storage up to and including how to build an underground cellar. Best of all, it’s in excellent condition.

Culinary Arts Institute Encyclopedic Cookbook

Likewise, the 1949 edition of The Good Housekeeping Cook Book comes in at 937 pages. No underground cellar instructions here.

The Good Housekeeping Cook Book 1949 edition

The spiral-bound Kauai Cookbook from the Kekaha Parent-Teachers’ Assocation is an intriguing find, especially because this is the second edition from 1959. It includes foods from the peoples who populated the Hawaiian Islands, plus a brief introduction to their various cultures.

The chapter on Japanese food, for example, begins by explaining that many of the Japanese people who came to Hawaii arrived from Niigata, Kumamoto, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima ken or prefectures and that many came from Ryuku or Okinawa. The introduction also discusses typical foods and terms used in food preparation.

kauai cookbook wordstormcasserole

Finally, my sentimental favorite: The Queen’s Book from Queen of Angels Women’s Retreat League, Saginaw, Michigan. This is the 1968 third printing. Pages are dog-eared, and the cover is starting to pull off the binding. The cookbook is 522 pages long and there is no index. Mom has a copy of this cookbook, and I can remember making some of the cookies. I’m happy to have my own copy.

The Queen's Book cookbook

So there you have cookbooks, paint-splattering, and the blue skies of October. How is your life going these days?

Garden Update (August 2017)

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The garden has been disappointing this year. That’s mostly because of me using life coaching class as an excuse for not getting out there and working. I planted a slew of seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds on Memorial Day weekend. Some of them failed to grow, while others were planted in a super-shady area (that I thought was more partial shade/partial sun) and have come up, though begrudgingly here towards the end of the summer.

Sigh. The end of summer means autumn’s almost here. I love autumn, but summer’s almost over: Central Michigan University Students are coming back to campus, and I even saw one tree starting to turn colors. I guess it’s a circular sigh.

Still, the perennials came up.  I’m letting most of the (what used to be garden) grow over this year. If you remember, in the past years I’ve tried growing tomoatoes, but they failed miserably. I had the soil tested, threw down some amendments, planted clover, and am hoping for the best in the coming years.

Tomatoes are growing in a planter. And, they look promising; at least I have little yellow flowers and teeny tiny tomatoes  Maybe by September there will be a handful of actual tomatoes and tomatillos to eat.

In my June garden update, I said that I was looking at the intersection of English country garden and permaculture. Once you remove the ‘fancy’ aspect of the English country garden, the two are remarkably similiar approaches. English country gardens have many perennials, and traditionally would have contained all manner of herbs and useful plants. That’s exactly what permaculture is, though it goes further and mimics the growing habits found in a forest.

Can’t say I’ll be growing a forest here on my tiny plot, but I’ll certainly be layering and planting things close together. Have you had any experience with companion planting? How’d that go?

Enough words, let’s look at plants, starting with this plum tree. It’s had a tough summer because Japanese beetles chomped on the leaves. I keep telling the tree that it’s doing fine, and that it’s only job this summer is to grow strong roots and hang in there. It seems to be doing that because there is new growth around the base of the trunk. This picture was taken before the beetles, and the leaves are healthy.

Plum tree

The sage comes back year after year, and always looks beautiful.

sage in the garden

The purpley-blue baloon flower is tucked between the peony and hydrangea, and -if you weren’t looking closely – you’d miss it. You might miss the white spider, too.

blue baloon flower and white spider

The front of the house was a riot of orange in July.

orange day lily row in the front of the house

They’re beautiful and have ruffly petals.

orange lily afer rain

I’m sneaking in a picture from my sister’s garden. This is echinacea and one little bee.

echinacea and one little bee

The black-eyed susan is finally blooming, too. It will do so until the first frost hits.

black-eyed susans

These coreopsis are doing well, and have been blooming continuously all summer.

coreposis marron and white with yellow center

I don’t know the name of this daylily, but boy – is it a firehouse of color!

daylily fire red, orange, yellow

A very green picture of my backyard. This is in the far northeast corner, looking southwest. The flowers are mostly along the house and west fence. This corner is shady, cool, and (this year) full of mosquitos.

backyard panoramic photo

A climbing/rambling rose from June. These finish blooming in late July, but keep growing.

closeup of a climbing red rose

An unknown little yellow flower that grows along the east fence line. I didn’t mow along this fence and these showed up. I like them so much, I think I won’t mow along there again. They bloomed in June/early July.

yellow flower along east fence line

Outside for the summer, the peace lily shot up three or four white sail-like flowers.

peace lily shooting up white 'flag' flowers

And the lacecap hydrangea. Multiple colors, blooms most of the summer, changes color in the fall. A favorite.

lacecap hydrangea pink and purple flowers

These little daisy’s smile every year. They only bloom in June and early July.

small daisy blooms in june and july

The peach tree is thriving. It’s sent out so many new leaves. And yes, it’s main job this year is to make good roots, too, just like the plum tree. In future years I hope it makes peaches, and a little bit of shade for my new patio…which I’ll post about at some point.

newly planted peach tree is thriving

This daylily has maroon and gold petals, and blooms in June and July.

daylily with marron and gold petals

And now for the phlox show.

Phlox and hydrangea are two of my favorites. These phlox buds only hint at the color to come.

phlox buds just about opening

See? Look at that color!

phlox with pale pink outside, bright pink inside

This variety of phlox is about 5′ tall. After a rain, it always bows down, even with stakes or supports.

phlox 5 foot tall bowing after rain

And, just like the phlox, I’ll bow out for now. What’s growing in your garden these days?

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Let’s Read Books (August 2017)

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Here’s a quick look at the books I’ve been curling up on the couch with. Well, curling up with these, a big grey cat, and a hot mug of Earl Grey tea.

lets read books wordstormcasserolecom

The Awesome


Fast Tract Digestion (Heartburn) by Norman Robillard. Not that long ago, I was experiencing so much heartburn at night that I’d frequently sleep in a sitting position. This book tells you why what you eat contributes to repetitive heartburn, and what you can do about it. By just implementing a few simple suggestions, my nights are spent snoozing in a reclining position. Hallelujah!


A Toxic Trousseau by Juliet Blackwell. This cozy mystery features witch and vintage boutique owner Lily Ivory trying to figure out how a rival shop owner died. The title gives you a hint, and the story weaves the details in with aplomb. Recommended.

Dreams of the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn. Not that long ago I reviewed “After The Golden Age” by the same author and found the quirky story delightful. I feel the same way about this novel. Nice to know those superhero genes carry on saving the day.


Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. This is a delicate book of female friendship in two rural Chinese villages. They are bound together both as “laotong” or emotional friends, and endure many things together, including foot binding. Their lives diverge is dramatic directions, but their friendship is forever.

Twenties Girl: A Novel by Sophia Kinsella. Just imagine that you’re pretending that you know how to do your job, and your recently dead (and feisty) great aunt shows up to give you fashion advice. Sounds normal, right? The whole concept is preposterous, and the story made me laugh out loud. Fun, fashion, London, and love – I loved it!

The Lost Treerunner by Brandt Legg. My friend Amber and I have been exchanging boxes of books by mail for about twenty years. About this book she wrote, “Remember the Lost Librarian? Now I think this author is too smart.” I have to agree. The Lost Librarian was a fabulous thriller, and this carries on with thrills and chills right to the very last page. The blurb on the back says it all, “In a world of lies, how do you know if you’ve found the truth?” In The Lost Treerunner, you know the truth, then you don’t, then you think you do. A must read.

The Enjoyable


Dirt by Denise Gosliner Orenstein. This novel for ages 8-12 celebrates the love between a forlorn girl and a stubborn Shetland pony named Dirt.  The young girl, Yonder, doesn’t speak, and the pony is grumpy, but together they face the heavy subjects of alcoholism, school bullies, and animal welfare with a never-give-up attitude that is heartwarming.


Cats On The Job: 50 Fabulous Felines Who Purr, Mouse, and Even Sing For Their Supper by Lisa Rogak. At first I thought this was a humorous collection of cats in cute costumes. It’s not. This is a book about fifty cats that actually work. There’s a cat that works as a dog trainer, circus cats, a firehouse cat, musician cats, a model cat, a diabetic alert cat, a crossing guard cat, and even a security guard cat. Great Christmas gift idea for anyone who loves cats.

A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li. This collection of short stories is haunting, delicate, disturbing, remarkable. We get brief glimpses at a life, and then move into another life. There’s Granny Lin honorably retired from a garment factory moving on to a boarding school, followed quickly by BeiBei screaming, a boy who resembles a dictator, and then the complex relationship between Sasha, Boshen, and Yang.

The Whistler by John Grisham. Love a complicated, twisty-turny plot with complete closure? This is for you, as are many of Grisham’s other novels; this one’s set in steamy Florida and involves organized crime and casinos. Well-written, fast-paced, The Whistler is a great summer read.

Link-O-Rama (August 2017)

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I’m surprised the last time I shared a list of interesting links was in February. Really? Where has the time gone?

This year is rolling along, steaming ahead, moving so quickly it’s impossible to keep track of it all. And by all, I mean both the energetic maneuvers and the ongoing political nonsense.

My year of life coaching classes have ended, and I’m taking a much needed vacation from work. I’m catching up here in blog-land, and starting to work on the business aspects of life coaching. Vacation has also brought in good quality sleep, work on a paver patio in the back yard, and the attempt to squeeze in as much as possible to one week, yet never leave town. I think I’m up to the task(s)!

Link-O-Rama is a list of links that have caught my eye. Many of these appear in my Twitter feed, but that moves so quickly, they’re easy to miss. Happy Reading!

Why women of 40 and 50 are the new ‘ageless generation.’ (Well, Doh! Of course we are.)

And along the same lines, how baby boomer women remain invisible to marketers.

Literal Bohemian Rhapsody isn’t heartwarming, but at least it’s well produced and you probably know the story.

I love the “This is not normal” twitter bot. Every so often it simply tweets out “This is not normal.” It does this so often, it’s now normal to think this is not normal, and to continue on as if it is, in fact normal. What is normal, anyway? What was it before this? What is this? What is now?

Corporate Chemical Crap is a protest song. A cool school protest song by Connie Lee Marie Fisher.

Also good with nuts in the summer, not just at holidays: Oven-Baked Chex Mix Recipe

The world is a kind of spiritual kindergarten where millions of bewildered infants are trying to… Click To Tweet

Zero Waste Isn’t Just For Hippies Anymore

I don’t think so, but a darned good read about the decline of the guitar industry: Slow Secret Death of the Electric Guitar

The History of Baking Powder, because you were probably wondering, “Gosh, I wonder what baking powder actually is…”

Ask the Sabian Symbol oracle a question, then share your result in the comments below.  My August 6th reading feels right, although I’m not waiting for a prince to rescue me. I do feel like I’ve swum across a vast sea, dreaming of new ways of being me in this often chaotic world.  My card was, “A mermaid has climbed to the rocky shore of a bleak coast, she awaits the prince who will bring her immortality,” and this is what it means:

This Symbol shows the desire to find a partner or a place in the world where you feel you belong and can contribute; finding a place to ‘come ashore’ in life, establish a career and a life that feels worthwhile. You will be able to make sense of your intuitive or creative thoughts as you grow and find both your feet and your voice. In finally being able to verbalize things into rational expression, you will be creating from your intuitive wisdom. However, there needs to be a caution against expecting others to verify your existence through your relationship with them. Being self reliant whilst inviting others into your life is the balance here. Coming into conscious form. New ways of being. Transformation. Emerging evolution. Finding love in difficult times. Waiting for one’s “prince” or “princess” to come. Soul mates. The Caution: Focusing on social or rational aspects before being ready. Naivety. Being thrown in the deep end. Relying on relationships too much. Looking to the other for validation of one’s existence. Co-dependent behavior. Keywords: Coming into conscious form. New ways of being. Transformation. New forms emerging out of the past. Needing, and probably expecting, recognition. Feeling different from the crowd. Learning to stand on your own two feet. Problems with feet and legs. Longing to make an impression.

Not that I need any, but if you’re curious, here are 10 Reasons I’m Not Married. Not me, specifically, but in general, yes.

For the esoteric of you, these free e-books from Bernhard Guenther are something to sink your teeth into. You’re welcome.

I’m continuing my exploration of permaculture and English Cottage Gardens. The Plants For A Future database is particularly helpful. Here’s there writing on cottage gardens.

All you need to know about comfrey.

This tweet from comedian Jeremy McLellan that expresses just how fragile our sense of self can be:
Thousands of people: You’re great
One person: You suck
Me: I guess I suck

I tweeted this article with the words, “Ahem, this is so true.” Single Workers Aren’t There To Pick Up The Slack For Married Bosses & Colleagues. Not that I’ve had to pick up the slack, but most of the other stuff: spot on.

I deliberately left out links to political stuff because you’re probably as overwhelmed as everyone else. If you’re looking for an excellent, ongoing commentary, I recommend Amy Siskind’s weekly list. It’s a heartwrenching read, but read it anyway. Her weekly #37 dated July 29. You can also follow her on Facebook, where she posts regular updates through the week.

In a similar vein, WTF Just Happened Today is doing the same kind of thing one day at a time on Facebook, or on their website.

For some reason, after reading a little of Siskind’s list, WTF, or otherwise contemplating the current state of the world, you may find London Calling appropriate. I certainly do. The Clash is almost always spot on with political rants.

Lyrics:
London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling, now don’t look to us
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain’t got no swing
‘Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing
The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growin’ thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
Cause London is drowning, and I, I live by the river
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out and draw another breath
London calling and I don’t want to shout
But when we were talking I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain’t got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eye
Now get this
London calling, yes, I was there, too
An’ you know what they said? Well, some of it was true!
London calling at the top of the dial
And after all this, won’t you give me a smile?

And after all that, let me give you something relaxing.  There is no movement in this video, only nine hours of waves on the beach. Just close your eyes and breathe for a minute or two.

Garden Update (June 2017)

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As I write this, we’re going into our first heatwave of the summer. The temperatures are expected to be in the 80s and above with overnight temps not below 60 for the next week. I’m delighted.

It’s finally warm enough that I can wear shorts and sleeveless tops. It’s finally warm enough that I can wear (age appropriate) skimpy dresses and leggings, and be warm. I spend a good six months of the year in Michigan fighting off cold. Then another two or three floundering in heat, which leaves maybe three or four where the weather is just right.

Maybe I should move to San Diego.

Ivan, the big grey cat, is very happy it’s warm. It means the windows are open most every day and through the night, so there are adventures afoot. He spends a lot of time on the window ledges paying attention to every little sound and smell. He moves from window to window, from bed to chair to couch. And if I move, he moves to be near me.

Ivan the grey cat perches in the window peering out at the world

The indoor plants moved outside over Memorial Day weekend, and while they suffered with the initial shock of being outside, they have adapted and dance with glee in any rains.

The nasturium seeds I bought from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds are starting to appear.  The violets, tulips, and daffodils have long since come and gone.

One pentunia thrives in a discarded boot. I also planted up two rainboots with petunias, but they made their way over to a friend’s new home.

Garden Master Plan Ideas

I’ve been fiddling with a master plan that incorporates elements of permaculture, foodscaping, and English country gardens. My idea is that there will be many pretty flowers from spring to winter, plus some declicious food to eat. It’s not that I want to provide every bit of nourishment for myself, but more than I want to have *some* things. And have enough to share, too.

You can see I have highly sophisticated design skills. There is a dwarf plum tree in place, but the rest is mostly grass and weeds.

And then there are the patio pavers.

Sometime in April? May? I came home from work, and spotted a landscape crew removing patio pavers from the neighbor’s yard. They stacked the pavers by the tree…just across the property line from my garage. This is in town, so the distance from my garage to the pile of patio pavers (say that three times fast) was about three steps.

Hmm, patio pavers that no one wants? I’ll take them!

I talked with the landscaper in charge, and he agreed that if I could move them, they were mine.

I moved all twenty of those very heavy 17″ square pavers…mostly by rolling them towards the garage. And the pavers inspired this masterwork:

The peach tree is already in place. The future patio is covered in tarp to kill the grass and weeds. The lettuce and flowers are currently weeds, overgrown weeds mostly. And randomly placed patio pavers, of course, because where else would you stack them than on the ground?

Pretty Flowers

The autumn rush to plant allium really paid off this spring. I planted maybe twenty of various heights and colors, and they’ve all popped up. I love this kind, which reminds me of stars.

And regarding house plants, I’m not sure there’s anything so satisfying as seeing a succulent bloom.

For years, there’s nothing, and then on a long, slender stem, these delicate, pale salmon and green flowers appear. Beautiful.

Because I’ve had trouble with tomatoes planted in ground over the last couple of years, I decided to plant only in a pot this year.

I bought two cherry tomato plants, and one tomatillo plant, and yep – the tomatoes already have blooms.

I still don’t know what this plant is…maybe a hosta? Or delphinium? It’s 4 feet tall!

I’m not mowing quite as much as I have in the past, so these delicate flowers appeared. What the heck are they?

These climbing roses are in three different places in the yard. They bloom every spring around Memorial Day, and stay until July.

The chives are also blooming this time of the year as are the peonies.

I bought some hens and chicks recently. They’re incredibly popular with bloggers and crafters, and pretty easy to grow in the garden, too.

I split the package in two, so some will stay outside while others (below) will come inside for the winter.

That’s what’s growing in my garden in early June 2017. By the time you read this it will be two weeks on, and I imagine I’ll be seeing the first of the Phlox – hurrah!

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This Magical World: The Tale of Singing Bowls and Sandals

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We’re accustomed to hearing sad stories about our world: terrorist attacked, accidental deaths, car crashes, explosions, and more permeate our lives through the media. And perhaps because of the profusion of ‘bad’ news, we forget that the world is magical, mysterious, and often humorous. I was reminded of this on a simple Sunday evening.

I’d wanted to see Mark Handler performing with singing bowls and Tibetan overtone chanting for years, but the dates and times had never quite lined up correctly, so I was excited when Red Bloom Yoga Community Center announced his June appearance.

The day was the warmest we’d had yet this summer, so I worked in the garden a bit, read books, watched old episodes of the BBC’s Escape to the Country on YouTube (it’s a far more entertaining version of HGTV’s House Hunters,) spent too much time on social media, and otherwise lounged around the house. And, shortly before the appointed concert start time, I changed my clothes and walked to the yoga center.

Though they’d sold advance tickets, I hadn’t bothered to purchase one, and was hoping I’d get in the door. I was greeted as I came into the entrance hall, and was in luck. I nabbed one of the last available spots. One of the owners gave me a quick tour, and invited me to remove my shoes before entering the performance space. I slipped my Dansko sandals off just at the door to that space, walked to an awaiting yoga mat, sat down, and entered meditation.

Mark Handler was already in the room, seated in the center of a collection of singing bowls. He chatted, rearranged, drank water, chatted, and rearranged. The room filled and the performance commenced. The participants laid down on yoga mats, some covered with the wool blankets, and relaxed. The sound of the singing bowls permeated everything.

The music ended and slowly the audience returned to sitting positions. Some shared stories of their experience during the music. In fact, the tones of singing bowls create an energy conducive to sleep, deep meditation, and out of body experiences. As a result, after these experiences you’re often not quite all there. Based on my experiences, it’s not the same ‘out of control’ that you have when drunk, it’s more spacey or even “airy fairy.” Fortunately, with more exposure to the various states produced by meditation, you learn how to bring yourself into the present moment and location.

Anyway, the discussions continued, and a few people left. No doubt they needed to get home and prepare for the new work week. I lingered as the energy in the room subsided and felt grounded and complete. Eventually though, I walked out to the entry hall and looked for my sandals.

They were gone.

My favorite Dansko sandals were gone. Kaput. Missing in action. Disappeared.

I looked around the small entry hall a few times. Nope.

Maybe in the cubbies in the performance space? Nope.

At that point, one of the yoga center owners approached me and together, we hunted for my sandals. We didn’t find them.

Through this hunting for my missing sandals not once did I give in to the desire to rant and rave. It would have been easy to get mad, to raise my voice, to complain, to insist that the center refund my concert entrance price or drive me home. Instead, I laughed.

I knew that, in the place of clarity and compassion and love and trust engendered by the experience of the singing bowls, my sandals would return to me. I knew they would do everything they could to ensure that this was put right, and they didn’t disappoint.

They shared stories of how others had had shoes or coats taken by mistake, and how it always worked out fine. I kept laughing, as I was confident this mystery would be solved in the most gracious and mysterious way.

They quickly reached out to the people who had left the singing bowl concert before me and – sure enough – someone had walked out wearing my sandals. Unfortunately she lived an hour away from the center, so couldn’t return immediately. She agreed that we would simply exchange sandals for the time being, and return each other’s to the yoga center.

Her NAOT brand sandals fit my feet perfectly, and I wore them home. I’d always wondered how they would feel, and I did like them. I missed my Dansko’s and their arch support, but made it home with no problem. The next day, I returned her sandals to the yoga center.

A couple of days later, they called me to say that mine had returned. So once again, I walked to the yoga center.

“Are you here for a class or for the other event?” asked the receptionist.

“I’m here for shoes,” I replied. She laughed, and knew exactly what I was talking about. I slipped my shoes into a bag, and headed home.

This is how the world is supposed to work: a little mischiveness, a little sadness, a little magic. Yes, I was sad (and sure, a little mad) that my sandals had disappeared. But I hold a strong belief that -most of the time- the world is friendly and that your things come back to you.

For example, in my last year of college, I went to see a band play at a party on a bitter cold winter’s night. I dropped my coat on a pile of other coats and danced the winter’s night away. When it was time to go home, the coat was gone. I dashed home, shivering all the way.  The next day, I learned that someone had taken all of the coats at the party. My coat, and all of the other coats, were recovered in a nearby town.

Of course, life doesn’t always work out that way. No matter how much you trust in the universe, bad things happen. How you respond at these times, and when the ‘simple bad’ things like missing sandals happen, say a lot about your sense of the world.

I believe in magic.

I trust in the power of love to transform fear.

I know the universe is kind, generous, and has a wicked sense of humor.

And I believe I’ll return to Red Bloom Yoga Center in the future.

And if I ever happen to meet the person who purloined my sandals, I believe I’ll have found a new friend.

Collage: Collating My Future via Vision Boards

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There have been one or two key points in life when I’ve been working on something so deep that words cannot express or even begin to access the greater implications or meaning. I am going through another one of those phases these days, and have been for perhaps a year.

It’s not a disease. If anything, it’s closer to the inner transformation I’ve read about from women who ‘hibernate’ at the start of perimenopause only to re-emerge several years later at the dawn of true menopause with their ‘true selves’ fully engaged. Whatever that means, or whatever that may be. Because while I take all of those words seriously, I also find them pretentiously hilarious.

That’s my viewpoint of the juxtaposition within life: always the fool, never the fool, never fooled, often fooled. I know what I know when I know it, and until then I know nothing. And often when I do know, I mostly know I know nothing.

I don’t know, for example, what those sentences mean. But I do know, that when I work deep, diving into art helps shed light. Guided by intuition, I wield a mean pair of scissors and create vision boards. And – total non-sequitur – the Grammarly plugin keeps trying to get me to change collage to college.

Collage (aka the #visionboard #actionboard #dreamboard of the #lawofattraction approach to life) at it’s very basic is rummaging through magazines, cutting or tearing out cool things, and slapping them onto a poster board.

Some people set clear goals for their boards: I want to own a big house and have a fancy car.

Not me.

I rarely have a specific goal in mind when creating a vision board, and am more looking to give voice to or express a deep feeling or desire.

Of course, I had to buy all of the supplies because who subscribes to magazines anymore? It’s like writing a check or reading the newspaper – I rarely, if ever do these things that used to be normal.

In the end, I have five total vision boards to share. Perhaps you’ll find clues to where WordStorm Casserole and I are heading, perhaps not. I’m still not sure, so any insight you have should prove interesting at least.

That’s the thing about my vision boards; they touch something deep, and words and actions come later, if at all. Often times, it’s enough to have expressed the desire.

First up is “There’s More Day.”

Collage: There's More Day

Number two in line is “Perfectly Imperfect.”

Perfectly Imperfect

Third in the series is “Leaping Into”

Collage - Leaping Into

Next is “Come Alive.”

Collage: Come Alive

These four were created about two weeks ago over the span of two hours. And then this Sunday, the final collage is “Boundless Potential.”

Boundless Potential Collage

So, what do you think?

Do you see any themes?

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Let’s Read Books (May 2017)

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Here’s a quick look at the books I’ve been curling up on the couch with. Well, curling up with these, a big grey cat, and a hot mug of Earl Grey tea.

lets read books wordstormcasserolecom

I am in the mire of Life Coaching class number three, taking a class on Feminine Power, working full-time, planting all sorts of seeds, have already mowed the lawn twice, and life keeps hurtling forward into summer. It’s been a challenge to even think about hitting the keyboard to write. Still, I’ve been able to squeeze a few books in here and there. How about you?

The Awesome


The Empath’s Survival Guide by Judith Orloff, MD. There’s a twenty-question self-assessment on page 14, and I said yes to eighteen which Orloff designates that as a full-blown empath. I like Orloff’s casual writing style, and down-to-earth advice. Are you an empath? Some of the questions:

    • “Do crowds drain me, and do I need alone time to revive myself?” Check.
    • “Do I prefer one-to-one interactions and small groups to large gatherings?” Check.
    • “Do arguments and yelling make me ill?” Check.
    • “Do I react strongly to caffeine or medications?” Yes, why do you think I like caffeine so much and stay away from medications?
    • “Do I prefer taking my own care to places to that I can leave early if I need to?” Oh, definitely, always have a book and/or an escape plan.
    • “Do I absorb other people’s stress, emotions, or symptoms?” Yep.


Transformational Life Coaching by Cherie Carter-Scott and Lynn U. Stewart.  I wrote a 3 1/2 page book report on this for class, and recommend this for any up-and-coming life coach. Good stuff. If you’re not a life coach, you probably aren’t interested.

The Enjoyable


Banana Creme Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke. Yep, it’s yet another in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series with tasty recipes included. This is the Hannah Swensen I enjoy. It’s fluffy, it’s friendly, and I really want to make some of the Orange Marmalade Bar Cookies, or the Peach Muffins, or maybe the Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Chocolate Peanut Butter Sauce. No matter, it’s a delicious series, with fun characters, and the writing is back on form. Yum!

The Aztec Heresy by Paul Christopher. On one hand, this was a predictable treasure-hunters-do-good-deeds thriller. On the other hand, it was an exciting romp in the Central American jungle hunting for the mysterious lost treasure of Cortez. Throw in deep sea diving, sailing in the Caribean, Vatican and billionaire tycoon vengeance, plus a former Russian submarine captain, Cuban involvement, and a crazy rebel dictator, and it’s a fun read and even has a misplaced nuclear bomb. What more could you want? Bonus points for the Star Trek reference on page 257 comparing mutated jungle ants to The Borg.

The Mapmaker’s Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon by Robert Whitaker. Painstakingly researched, this is the very true story of an upper-class Peruvian woman who travels along the Amazon river to meet her husband in 1769. Sounds simple, except it isn’t, and she has 3000 miles and an untamed Amazonian wilderness to traverse. We learn what leads to her decision to travel, along with the tragedy and triumph of the journey.

The Why Did I Bother


The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg. I really wanted to like this book. A couple of friends enjoyed the small novel and passed it along to me. I read it and wondered why I’d bothered. It’s all very convenient and contrived: rich lady decides she’s had enough of her life and goes on a road trip to discover herself. She writes letters home to her husband every day and tells him things she can’t say. While the descriptions of reaching middle age and menopause ring somewhat true, the premise leaves me lonely.

Note: Yes, if you click a link and buy something, I will be paid a few cents. In my five years of blogging I’ve made only $5…most of that because I also use my links to buy on Amazon.

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Chicken Broth with Ricotta-Parmesan Cubes aka “Minestrina di Cubetti”

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Minestrina di Cubetti comes from a divine cookbook called A Private Collection published by the Junior League of Palo Alto, California in 1980. Essentially, it’s a chicken broth with cubes of ricotta-parmesan cheese.  And it’s hard to get a good picture of the stuff. A picture of the cookbook, however, is much easier to get.

private collection cookbook vol 1

The recipe for Minestrina di Cubetti is from the first Private Collection cookbooks which was originally published in 1980. My copy is the 7th edition from 1986. It is a hardback book with dustjacket in good condition; the dustjacket is showing signs of normal wear especially at the corners.

Search for these cookbooks online and you’ll run into rave reviews. I’ve tried a handful of recipes and have to say that I’m not blown away. And despite this recipe having an interesting ricotta-parmesan combination, it still let me down.

This tries to be an elegant soup. In fact, the cookbook says “It may be served at a formal dinner of many courses or at the beginning of an elegant luncheon.” I have never hosted an elegant luncheon. Ever.  Frankly, there is nothing ‘elegant’ about this – it’s a standard chicken broth with a little something interesting added.

Now, don’t let that dissuade you.

These little cubes are a fabulous way to use up leftover ricotta cheese. Say, for example, if you make lasagna that’s a total success (or failure, as was my case.) Mix the half pound of ricotta with an egg, an egg yolk, salt, nutmeg, and Parmesan cheese. Pour it into a prepared pan.

Then treat it like a cheesecake and bake it in a water bath.

Cool, cut, and you’ve got your ricotta-parmesan cubes, err, cubetti.

RICOTTA PARMESAN CUBES WWWWORDSTORMCASSEROLE

The recipe called for serving these in a chicken broth. It was interesting, let’s say. Not gonna make it again.

RICOTTA PARMESAN CUBES IN BROTH WORDSTORMCASSEROLE

But, why let that stop you?

These little cubes might be fabulous in a salad. Replace your boring and traditional croutons with ricotta-parmesan cubes.

Oh, and they little babies freeze well, too. Just let them come to room temperature before adding to your salad or soup.

While the little cubes were intriguing in a bowl of clear broth, I think they’d be a better additional to a hearty minestrone.

Cheese squares, hearty soup. Could be good, right?

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Chicken Broth with Ricotta-Parmesan Cubes aka "Minestrina di Cubetti"
Recipe type: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8-10 servings
 
From the cookbook "A Private Collection" by the Junior League of Palo Alto, page 13.
Ingredients
  • ½ pound ricotta cheese, room temperature
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • grating of nutmeg
  • ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 2-3 quarts chicken broth
  • parsley, minced
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300.
  2. Beat the ricotta for several minutes for a more refined texture. Add the egg, egg yolk, salt, nutmeg, and Parmesan cheese. Blend well with a rubber spatula and spread in a buttered, 8x8 inch glass baking dish.
  3. Place the baking dish, uncovered, in a larger pan filled with 1" hot water. Bake until firm, about 45 minutes.
  4. Cool the ricotta completely, then cut into very small cubes; the smaller the cubes, the more elegant the soup. This may be prepared several days in advance, keeping the cubes covered and refrigerated. When ready to use, the cubes should be at room temperature.
  5. To serve, fill a warmed tureen with piping-hot chicken broth and add the cheese cubes. Sprinkle with a little minced parsley on top.
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