LA MONJA RESTORED

 Good morning.

It's Judy again sitting in at the keyboard with the latest on our backyard icon.

Back in the late 1980's and early 1990's, when we lived in Mexico, we accumulated many objects to which we became attached.

This was after disposing of a houseful of things in the U.S. before moving to Mexico.

We swore we would not attach ourselves to "stuff" ever again.

Right!

The Monja (a stylized figure of a nun) was a birthday gift to me from Bruce one year.

When it was time to return to the states we couldn't leave her behind.

She has spent three decades in the outdoors of Arizona, winter and summer.

This year she was near disintegration and something had to be done.

She came into the corner of our kitchen and lay across a card table and waited for rehab to begin.

The very rough spots were worked over with a wire brush and an emery board.

Then a thin layer of "patio paint" was applied to her face and thick layers of the paint to the large cracks in the body.

This was repeated again and again.

Yesterday she was ready to leave the house.

She's back on her base in the sun.

For another three decades?

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 It's Friday once again and Happy Lunar New Year!

Now if you're feeling properly looney, let us venture once again into that land of silliness and crack open the compendium of humor. 

Okay I can tell you're groaning so I'll quit.

Now just take my advice: enjoy yourselves on this auspicious weekend and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(ohhhhhhhhh . . .)

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

 I cooked last night.

Kraft macaroni and cheese, seasoned with a bit of paprika and cayenne, topped (in a small baking dish) with Panko and Parmesan and heated at 350 in our toaster oven.

Spicy and delicious though a little dry.

That was actually a side to my pan-seared pork chops seasoned with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

That's where the smoke comes in.

I mistakenly tossed them in the skillet with the heat on high, not medium high as the recipe stated.

Before I knew it and realized my error the house was filled with smoke.

The oven exhaust fan wasn't doing the job but fortunately SWMBO got our ceiling fans fired up and windows and doors opened and eventually the smoke cleared.

And the smoke detectors didn't start screaming.

Amazingly the chops were not burned to a crisp and were quite tasty.

The main chef in the house was furious but settled down and enjoyed the meal (more or less).

Now, as to the mirrors.

Blogger friend Steve in London wrote the other day about acquiring a bean bag chair.

I commented that we had had a sort of bean bag back in the day and I would post a photo if I could find it.

Actually ours was a huge pillow-like cushion that I had to strap to the top of our Ford Pinto to get it home from the store.

(That car came to an untimely end but that's another story.)

I don't know what happened to the cushion and I couldn't find the photo.

But to atone, I have this picture of your scribe from back in those hippy-dippy days.

Yes, the hair is down over the ears and those are mutton chop sideburns.

And yes, those are love beads.

And yes, that is a Marlboro smoking in my mouth.

So sue me!

It was a long time ago!

Oh and yes, while it may look like it was taken in a mirror, it really wasn't.

My shame is complete.

I'm outta here. 

REFLECTING ON THE NEWS

 

SUPER SUNDAY

Well, there you have it, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won yesterday's Super Bowl.

I emailed a few friends midway through the game, asking if it should just be re-named the Brady Bowl.

One of them, my longtime friend Steve, answered back "Old guys rule!"

As for the commercials, I thought it was mostly an enjoyable experience but this 75% Norwegian would have to say he enjoyed this one the most.

How about you?

Did you watch the game and did your team win or lose?

And what was your favorite commercial?

SAMEFOLKETS DAG

 Recently I succumbed to the lure of Ancestry.com and gave them up fifty bucks or so to find out what they knew about my origins.

I expected it would be heavily English or Scottish.

I was surprised to find it was 75% Norwegian!

Now I knew my mother's family was pure Norwegian, having come over from the old country only a few generations back but to learn that I was three-quarters Norsk took me back.

So today I wish you fellow Scandinavians a Happy Saami People's Day.

The Saami or Sami People are the indigenous folk who originate in the northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

And February 6th is celebrated as the official day although it is not recognized as a national holiday.

But reindeer races take place and attention is paid to the cultural heritage of hunting and fishing, and recognition of the crafts.

The Sami Flag is flown proudly alongside the Norwegian Flag on this day.

So here's the closest I get to the Sami Flag.

And adjacent to it flies the Norwegian flag.

Now I don't know about reindeer meat but I do know I love my Norwegian lefse, when I can get my hands on some.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Judy and I got our first Covid vaccine shots yesterday.

She had a headache last night but we don't know if that was a reaction or not.

I had no reaction.

So it's a Friday for celebrating.

Well, not quite.

Our second shots are four weeks away.

I asked one of the ladies if, when I've received the second one, I could then go out and play in the traffic again.

She looked concerned and said, "Just be careful."

I think perhaps she needs a dose of my weekly humor injection.

How about you folks?

And with that, I just want, once again, to thank all of the contributors to these Friday potpourris of prescriptive provocation.

You know who you are.

Now without dancing in the streets, partying in groups, or otherwise pandering to your pent-up impulses, have yourselves a "Super" weekend and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

CAREFUL, FELLA!

 

THEREIN LIES A TAIL

 

WINTER WILL CONTINUE

 

It's Groundhog Day

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 It's been a week of wild and wooly weather here in the United States of America.

But it's 38 degrees this morning and, though we may get some rain or even snow today, it's time to put TGIF smiles on our faces.

So let's get started.

And on that note, let me speed away, ending this silly season of sappy superciliousness, but successful in a spectacular, self-satisfied, splendorous, spirited way of looking toward Saturday.

And offering this advice: have a great weekend, stay safe and sane and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(oh, dear)

WOOLY BULLY

 Not to be outdone, I got back in the harness this morning and baked a Crusty Wheat Boule, from a recipe in Eating Well Magazine.

Small, rustic, tasty.

A QUICKY

 Judy took over the reins of the self-quarantine bakery yesterday inspired by a Dorie Greenspan recipe for a fig and goat cheese quick bread.

She made some alterations, based on what we had in the refrigerator.

She subbed feta for the goat cheese, green onions and celery leaves for the fresh rosemary and thyme.

It came out great!

It might have been a little crumblier with the goat cheese but it was still delicious.

You can find the recipe on-line by Googling "Goat Cheese and Fig Quick Bread".

SNOWFLAKES

 

Today the sky is clear and Mother Sun has returned.

The snow we've accumulated will begin to melt.

These images on my window formed a couple of days ago as snow struck it, froze, melted and froze again.

It was a constantly changing panorama as the flakes slid down the window, colliding and coalescing with others.

Most of the area was shut down yesterday except for plows and emergency vehicles.

I was surprised in mid-afternoon to find my driveway thoroughly shoveled and learned that it was my Young Marine angel from across the street that had done it.

Even in a nasty storm there are some who feel a call of duty.

Thank you, C.