OK GO and the Muppets…. It’s wonderful!
Paula’s Picks
12
May 11
In honor of the rain
It’s a good day in Houston. We have rain on the horizon!!! My garden will be so happy!
So in honor of the rain, I’m pulling out a happy song about rain.
And even though it’s not April any more I think everyone in Houston would agree that rain is a “beautiful” sound today!
26
Dec 10
Soul Food
Today’s Reverb10 Prompt
December 26 – Soul Food -What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? (Author: Elise Marie Collins)
I try not to think of food as anything other something that sustains me. I believe that the ideas of “soul food” or “comfort food” are misplaced. Food is not something that feeds my soul. My soul is fed through exploring the world, reading the Bible, writing letters to God in my prayer journal and relationships with people whom I love and respect, and sharing my thoughts with others. Food does not provide me with comfort. Comfort is something I receive from being held by R in a tight hug, being held while I cry, or talking with my Grandma Pauline when I’m blue.
So with that being said, I’ll share my favorite recipe with you for Tandoori Chicken. It’s quick. It’s easy. And it’s full of flavor whether you grill it or bake bit in the oven. And it’s one of my go-to recipes that I make on a regular basis.
4 Chicken quarters skinned
3/4 cup Plain Yogurt
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp ginger pulp
1 tsp garlic pulp
1.5 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp tumeric
1 tsp ground corriander
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp oil
(you can add a few drops of red food coloring if you want to have the red color you get in Indian Restuarants).
Rinse and pat dry chicken quarters. Make two deep slits in the flesh of each piece. Place in dish and set aside.
Mix together the yogurt, garam masala, ginger, garlic, chili powder, tumeric, corriander, lemon juice, salt and oil. Beat until well combined.
Pour the yogurt spice mixture over the chicken and marinate for at least 3 hours (I did mine over night and had no problems)
Preheat the oven to 475 and bake until chicken is cooked through and evenly browned on top.
Garnish with salad leaves and lime wedges.
NOTE: I did mine on the grill and it was nummy. I did about 15 minutes on one side and then 10 minutes on the other.
19
Dec 10
Another Reverbish Type Prompt from French Christmas
I started thumbing through Noël’s, a.k.a. French Christmas, old blog posts when I came across another little nugget of a prompt (apparently God and the Universe thinks I need to ponder a few things). Noël wrote this:
taking stock. What dust bunnies are still hiding in the closet? What uneccesary burdens are you breaking under? What leftovers from 2008 (and beyond) are you carrying in your baggage?
Tidying up is never fun, but what better time to clean house than just before the New Year?
I’m changing this up so I can look at those burdens and the baggage I am carrying for 2010. I’ll post my answer later this week.
16
Dec 10
A Poem to Share
I heard this poem on NPR this morning and thought it was fabulous. Its Maya Angelou’s “The Health-Food Diner.” At the time she was a smoker and Angelou said the waitress got in her face for pulling out a package of unopened cigarettes from her purse. I love the irreverance in this poem.
The Health-Food Diner
No sprouted wheat and soya shoots
And Brussels in a cake,
Carrot straw and spinach raw,
(Today, I need a steak).
Not thick brown rice and rice pilaw
Or mushrooms creamed on toast,
Turnips mashed and parsnips hashed,
(I’m dreaming of a roast).
Health-food folks around the world
Are thinned by anxious zeal,
They look for help in seafood kelp
(I count on breaded veal).
No smoking signs, raw mustard greens,
Zucchini by the ton,
Uncooked kale and bodies frail
Are sure to make me run
to
Loins of pork and chicken thighs
And standing rib, so prime,
Pork chops brown and fresh ground round
(I crave them all the time).
Irish stews and boiled corned beef
and hot dogs by the scores,
or any place that saves a space
For smoking carnivores.
13
Dec 10
Taking action
I laughed last night when today’s Reverb10 prompt popped up:
December 13 – Action When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)
I’ve been priming the pump for this year’s action. This past week and weekend, I’ve spent time cleaning and getting rid of the clutter I have. There’s more of that to do because I’ve made myself promise it would be done before my vacation. I’ve also started thinking about my budget so I can meet my financial goals. I need to do some web host consolidation so that I’m not spending quite so much moola on that (not to mention that the one web host isn’t exactly in line with my personal values in the way that they talk about business). I’m also thinking ahead to my garden because I really want to get things to the point that I’m using my garden year around. That’s a great advantage to being in Houston.
Last night I put the plan in motion for a photography project that I want to do by ordering the film (yes in the age of digital – I’m gonna shoot film for this one). Evidently there was a snafu last night though and something went a little awire with the shopping cart. However, I’ll call them in the morning and see if I can get it straightened out, if the package has already shipped, then well I’ll live with it and I’ll have film for the first half of the year instead of just the first quarter.
I’ve also started laying the foundation for a mixed media extravaganza that I want to do over the next year. While I’ve taken a class in Artist’s Trading cards and Altered books, I want to add more techniques and I’ve found four books that I’m going to use.
Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric
Collage Lab: Experiments, Investigations, and Exploratory Projects (Lab Series)
Artist Trading Card Workshop: Create, Collect, Swap
I really am looking forward to the yearI have planned and I’m excited that I have the wheels in motion already. I think it’s going to be an excellent year for making, doing and being.
1
Sep 10
Something Utterly Frivolous
My cousin Kris posted the link to this on facebook this morning. I thought video was pretty awesome. Iowa State University’s Carillonuer plays “Bad Romance” on the Campanile.
31
Aug 10
Ready for Round 2
Starting tomorrow, I’ll be working my way through The Artist’s Way
My creativity and my willingness to try new things has blossomed and I finally feel like ME again. I spent much of the first round clearing the decks for this round. There’s still a lot of clearing to do. But this time I think I can put some of the “stuff” behind me and really delve into some of the questions raised by the exercises in the book. I’m hoping that not only will my photography continue to grow, but my writing skills expand. I’m looking foward to seeing what happens by the end of the year.
6
Aug 10
Increasing Creativity
For the last ten weeks, I’ve been working on my creativity. Most every morning at Oh Dark 30, you’ll find me on my couch, coffee cup in one hand, pen in the other, and cat leaning against my leg while I write three pages of stream of consciousness. It doesn’t matter what I write as long as I do this daily says author Julia Cameron, author and creator of The Artist’s Way
My creativity is through the roof. I’m writing more. I am working with my camera more. I’ve made some investments in software and equipment. I’m bolder and asking people if I can take photographs. I’m trying new types of projects.
I still have a lot to accomplish, but I’m looking at it as more of a creative endeavour instead of work. If doing the laundry tonight means means that I have more time to do something creative tomorrow, then I’m doing the laundry tonight. If eating healthful foods and exercising means that I have more energy, mobility and stamina for photography, I’m all over it. Plus cooking is a creative outlet in-and-of-itself and as I become more of a locavore, I’m becoming more picky about how things are prepared. If spending a little money means that my supplies are at my fingertips and I’ve got a great space to work in, then it’s money well spent.
For the first time in a while, I’m in a place that is creative and good. I’m loving it!
Facebook
Twitter