Ixodes scapularis seeks lizard for long term (up to 72 hr) partnership. Lyme and Ehrlichia negative, currently small but hoping to get bigger with your help. Can offer witty banter and companionship to the right lizard. Dogs also considered
I went running one morning this week and I saw- no, beheld- what has to be the single most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen. I was running along the river, which was wide and flat and quiet in the early morning air. There was a layer of fog blanketing the river, obscuring the trunks of the skeletal trees on the far bank. The trees are tall and old, and their branches reached up out of the fog, higher and higher, above the tops of the mountains in the distance. A few leaves were clinging to the tallest branches, making little clusters of black dots against the blue-to-peach sky. A few trees had no leaves at all, only large, crooked arterial branches. Beyond the trees, the mountains hid the rising sun, but the sky above them was soft pink and orange, with a few horizontal clouds catching the early morning light. Far above my head was a bright crescent moon against the fading night sky. It was spectacular.
I am always astonished to hear people say they don’t like British food. Somehow, British food has acquired a reputation it most certainly does not deserve. One of the things I miss the most about the UK is the food- hearty winter vegetables, sausages, potatoes, onions. Last night I made one of my all-time favorite British dishes, Cottage Pie, for some friends.
Cottage Pie is the same thing as Shephard’s pie, only it uses beef instead of lamb or mutton. It’s sort of like a cassarole- it’s meat and veggies and sauce/gravy on the bottom, and mashed potatoes on the top, all baked in the oven until the potatoes are crispy and brown. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and a perfect dish for the cold season. I threw in some pumpkin (of course) and topped it with Worcestershire sauce and black pepper, and I was happily satisfied with the result. I love food.
By far my FAVORITE part of autumn is squash (even above favorite my second autumn item: red and yellow leaves on the trees!).
On Sunday morning I went running at 7. I ran through our little down town, which isn’t much more than a few streets lined with little shops. I ran past the coffee shop, and looked in the bright windows as I passed, catching a glimpse of the other early birds. I ran past the bakery, which always smells like sweet bread, and has up-turned chairs on all the tables. I ran north along the river, under the bridge, to the edge of town- it was misty over the water, and the sun was just starting to shine through the dense clouds. There were shafts of light coming over the roof of the boat house, highlighting the masts of the boats and the tops of the trees. It was a beautiful sight to behold, made more beautiful by the knowledge that I alone was bearing witness. I turned back towards town, my lungs full of fresh, clean air, and I was content.
Tonight has been a good night. I feel calm and content and happy- let me explain why:
I went to spin class, and it was great. The gym here is the GYM OF THE GODS- epic in proportions, shiney and new, and utterly imposing.
I came home, and my extremely kind and helpful roomate did something extremely kind and helpful- he helped me customize (read: cut up with a hacksaw and fix back together) these mudgaurds (aka fenders) for my new bike. He did a remarkable job- the back fender had to be mounted over the top of the back break, because it wouldn’t fit under it, and the back wheel had to be aligned. The front fender had to be sawed in half and tied in place with zip ties. This process involved power tools, patience, and a few ‘old Indian tricks’. I’m so lucky to have such a philanthropic roomate!
After the bike clinic I came inside and worked on my Systems Pathology stuff for tomorrow, and discovered that it’s neither as difficult nor as time-consuming as I’d imagined. What a relief!
To top it all off, I made a pleasent summer squash and tempeh stir fry with my favorite peanut sauce, with extras left over for lunch tomorrow. Yipee!
I’ve been working on this book of crossword puzzles that is much too hard for me. I am a realist, especially regarding my intellectual abilities, so after filling in the one or two clues that I can actually answer myself, I resport to Wikipedia and Merriam-Webster to help me out with the rest. Here is the fruit of my most recent puzzle:
‘The kid’ was a Charlie Chaplin film starring a child actor named COOGAN.
Majorca’s chief city is PALMA.
An Egyptian sacred bull is APIS.
‘Auspices’ has three meanings: 1) under the benevolent patronage and guidance (I operated under the auspices of Dr. X); 2) a (usually positive) prophetic sign (the sun was shining auspiciously); and 3) observation by an augur (a prophet in ancient Rome) especially of the flight and feeding of birds to discover omens. In this puzzle, ‘auspices’ took the first meaning, and the answer was another word I didn’t know, AEGIS, which basically means auspices or sponsorship.
Pirogue is a kind of boat, like a CANOE, used by day fishermen off the coast of West Africa and Louisiana.
