waste not, want not omelet

This morning was a rare occasion in that I was home alone.  I looked forward to fixing myself a yummy omelet.  I took out a jar of cut plums.  My husband and I cut up fruit and leave at our children's place settings in bowls.  Whatever doesn't get eaten gets put away in a jar and is folded into the next day's recipes. Chicken with grapes, pork with apples, or today, plums into an omelet. 

I melted a lump of butter in a large, heavy skillet, poured in chopped plums, sprinkled with a generous spoonful of brown sugar, let caramelize while I beat 2 eggs with a little bit of vanilla.  If I remembered I would have added a bit of heavy cream. I poured in the egg mixture and let it cook til the top was just soft, folded it over, and enjoyed the hot, sweet, caramelized omelet.

I truly enjoy eating food when it is hot.  I had the experience of eating soup when my son was a toddler and wondering what is it that is so wonderful and tasty about it. In a moment I realized the special feature was the sizzling temperature.  As an often frantic, busy, new mother my food often went stone cold before it crossed my lips.

My skillet came from the Village Thrift Store at Milwaukee and Armitage in 1983 or so.  I've never found another I liked as well. I would like to find a cast iron soup pot someday. 

I crushed and saved the calcium-rich egg shells in a jar of water to be used for watering our outdoor plants in containers.  Maybe I'll transfer into a pitcher or watering can like my mom keeps in her yard.

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Gratitude

I remember a line from some 20 years ago. In a yoga program, the teacher,  Pricilla Patrick, said be grateful for what you have. Paraphrasing: if you look around you'll always find someone who has more or better things, and it would be all too easy to be perpetually dissatisfied.

Today I'm grateful for stumbling onto church plant sale, eating ice cream, hearing a concert dedicated to the memory of someone dear,  hearing post mastectomy, the margins were clear of cancer for another dear person, and one more thing, the falling rain moistening seeds planted out in the dry soil. 

Colored windows

I love the playfulness of random colored window, presumably installed in the 1950s or 1960s.

Vinyl replacements show up dull and blurry.

Clear panes, blue sky.

alley finds, sidewalk sights

Toile pillow with cheerful pom pom fringe.

Blue speckled metal plate.

Under a viaduct along future Bloomingdale Trail.

Jacka-irresistible clematis. 

Plastic glads.

Blurriness from taxi window on the way to airport

Fast/slow ride leaving Cozumel.

Dreamy creatures.

Lining parade path.

Setting the mood.

Flying fish.

Will there be an all Michael Jackson float this year?

Goodbye.

Blue skies.

Iguanas.

All iguanas.

Red shirt, red helmet.

Goodbye armadillo.

Blue horizon.

Blue nose.

Blue wings.

Blue beak.

Goodbye Carnaval.

patchwork quilts and other alley finds

Today is May 1, May Day, day of protests all over the world, and locally, a big moving day with people shedding their unloved possesions into alleys across the city.

On my way to work, I found 2 small patchwork lap quilts backed with flannel in a nearby alley.  I was so happy, the piecework in front seens to be vibrant shades in polyester.  I am in love with the colors and patterns of 1970s polyester without loving the feel of polyester itself. Love/hate kinda like movie stars that might attract and repel and marry and divorce each other repeatedly.  Oh polyester, you are so cool and mod and styling, just don't brush against my bare skin, no don't touch me, stop it!  Gah!  The good thing about quilts of course is they can be hung on wall as art to be enjoyed without touching.  No temptation there.

Yesterday, in another alley, I got a wood and plastic drying rack excellent for socks and such, slightly broken, nothing some string can't fix.  Also found a rectangular basket with 12 partitions.  Boxes within boxes. Irresistable.  Love any kind of box, a subdivided enclosure makes it all the more appealing. 

Question for you, how did you happen upon here?  No need for the person who googled panties, azz, and nylon to chime in.  Other question, what did you find today?

Overhead, underfoot

Coconut, shelter.

Crow sentry at sunset.

Blue, white, green.

Up above.

What is the difference between teal

And aqua?

Sun lover.

In the shade.