tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185431792024-03-13T12:46:50.794-05:00Coffee and a MiracleFreelancing, gardening, heart healthy cooking, and random thoughts. All enjoyed while drinking lots of coffee.
—Laura McGowanLaura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-78350245441852120112019-07-23T19:56:00.000-05:002019-07-23T19:57:25.994-05:00Dog is God<span id="goog_990162051"></span><span id="goog_990162052"></span>OK, it has been over a year since I have posted to this blog, but last night I had the most interesting dream, so have to decided to write about it here--if anyone is interested.<br />
<br />
I often dream about being back in school, struggling to finish some business left undone--this dream was no different. I was in a HS/College situation, taking classes with a group of friends. I noticed that some of us seemed to be doing really well, while others were not succeeding at all.<br />
<br />
We were all sitting around discussing this. Suddenly a "breeder," some sort of archangel, appeared before us. She asked if anyone had any idea why some students did well, while others did not.<br />
<br />
We stared at her blankly. She asked Finn, a yellow Lab, to walk out. Everyone recognized him as the dog who was always in our classroom giving everyone love and support. She asked for a show of hands: "who loves this dog?"<br />
<br />
The raised hands, were, not surprisingly, the students who were doing well.<br />
<br />
"You see," she said, "if you are spiritually aware enough to know that you should love this dog, you will do well. He will love you, care for you, and support you."<br />
<br />
She left.<br />
<br />
I had a yellow Lab named Butter sitting at my side. I knew I loved him as much as I loved the yellow dog Finn.<br />
<br />
The angel came back and asked: "do you know that Butter is Finn's son?"<br />
<br />
I said I did not.<br />
<br />
This information surprised and awed me--and gave me a lot of hope for the future.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Although I have fun describing dreams, I am not sure if they make much sense!</i><br />
<br />
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<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-55483442404468505212018-05-24T20:53:00.000-05:002019-07-23T19:56:16.214-05:00Finn Cardio Health Check<span id="goog_43298485"></span><span id="goog_43298486"></span><br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-83595527352094351162018-04-04T22:20:00.000-05:002019-07-23T19:56:16.409-05:00Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-16439475582995933022018-04-03T22:09:00.001-05:002019-07-23T19:56:15.806-05:00Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-46290018410933168602018-03-24T18:21:00.000-05:002018-03-24T20:35:37.573-05:00Driving DangerousI was first rear-ended when I was 16. I was driving my old VW Bug in the grocery store parking lot when the girl behind me, also 16, ran into me. A 1969 Bug has a very simple metal bumper and the impact shmooshed it pretty good. I couldn't open the back to check the engine oil. My dad hooked a chain onto the bug and onto his Ford Econoline van. He only had to drive the van a few inches to pull the bumper away from trunk.<br />
<br />
Fast forward 25 years and I am driving home from my job at Bradley University in a fall dusk. One of those huge lurking pickups is sitting behind me at the stoplight. The dude behind the wheel lets his foot slide off of the brake pedal and the truck lurches forward, striking the back of my VW Golf.<br />
<br />
I called the police and, as luck would have it, the truck driver was cited for driving without insurance. Not a good sign.<br />
<br />
The next morning I woke up with my neck and shoulders in extreme pain. I went to an orthopedic doctor and he diagnosed me with a herniated disk and other cervical spine issues. Eventually the pain in my neck and left arm got so bad that I sought a surgical remedy at Rush Hospital in Chicago. The recovery process was horrible, and I ended up having to quit my job at Bradley. Stupidly, I was in such pain that I didn't have the presence of mind to claim disability (my years of staring at a computer screen certainly contributed to my problems).<br />
<br />
Last Wednesday Andy was rear-ended in our brand new Subaru Outback. It has 5,000 miles on the odometer. My question is whether a body shop is equipped to evaluate the AWD system and the rear-view camera. Not sure.<br />
<br />
This accident shook Andy up pretty bad. He was disoriented, confused, and experienced some amnesia of recent events.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-87069524029706767482018-03-20T18:15:00.000-05:002018-03-22T20:36:05.929-05:00Prayer Booth on the Miracle HighwayI grew up on the outskirts of a small farming community in central Illinois. The soil was about the most fecund that you could ever imagine. I would bet it was about the best in the world. Long ago, the glaciers moved into Illinois and brought with them and then deposited rich loam that could grow about anything you wished to plant.<br />
<br />
Our yard had this wonderful soil, plus a deep well of mineral water. Dad would tap into this well with an old gas engine to water our yard and garden. We had beautiful flowers, deeply colored green beans, fresh potatoes, full stalks of corn, rhubarb, and many other fruits and vegetables.<br />
<br />
But in my youth, I didn't always appreciate the garden. To me it meant work (weeding and harvesting), which didn't seem like fun. I was fascinated, however, by the blacktop that ran past our house. If you look it up on Google Maps today, it is called "Gilmore Road." I never heard that name when I lived there.<br />
<br />
When I was a teen I had a Newfoundland mix dog and a spunky pony. We would often head out together down this rural blacktop. Sometimes we would meet neighbors who lived along this road in more dire circumstances than I lived in. I remember meeting a young boy about my age who also had a pony. We raced them down the road. A few months later I learned that this young man was driving a car along a rural road and collided with a farm implement. He was decapitated.<br />
<br />
All of these memories seem to collide in my dreams even to this day.<br />
<br />
I dream about riding a horse down this road and coming upon something miraculous.<br />
<br />
In one dream there is a structure I call a "prayer booth."<br />
<br />
It was a place you could enter and feel something magical. The boy with the pony was there. My Dad watering the garden with well water was there. The beautiful beloved dogs were there.<br />
<br />
You could pray there and feel very special and happy. But then you had to exit the prayer booth. And walk home.Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-66593915592501841892018-03-19T17:18:00.002-05:002018-03-19T17:18:54.888-05:00Blog test--Arlo showing in TopekaOK, updating the blog so you can all "subscribe." This is one of my favorite photos of Arlo. Paul Catterson's assistant, Michelle, showed him beautifully in Topeka last August. She seemed to give him so much love. He is a lean youth, but showing potential. <br />
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<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-47755199143108737802016-11-21T19:36:00.000-06:002016-11-21T19:37:05.468-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-34161369062539827672016-11-18T21:40:00.004-06:002016-11-18T21:40:38.086-06:00Trump<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_30d">
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_582fc7d5cd3205b17087148">
Does anyone remember this headline from the Republican primaries?<br />
<br />
Donald Trump: 'I could shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.'
He was right. His supporters believe in their anointed billionaire god.<br />
<br />
He told us he was going to do all of these things: take away
DACA and threaten the lives of many wonderful people, the "dreamers" who
are now working hard in college and in jobs. He told us he was going to
create a registry for Muslims. He told us that we were going to<span class="text_exposed_show"> have "law and order," which is code for I pick the laws that get enforced and I pick the order. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
His picks of Steve Bannon, Gen. Flynn, Sen. Sessions, and Rep. Pompeo,
confirm that he plans to do what he has promised. These are all white
men whose views on race issues, immigration, and the Muslim religion
make them way outside of the American mainstream, even outside of the
Republican party, on these issues.<br />
<br />
The problem is: he can do any
of this and his supporters will still support him. They will cheer him.
He just might whip out some heat and shoot someone. He might grab a
reporter "by the pussy." Everything else he has done and said has been
so ridiculous, and the outrage has not happened. If he now murders or
molests someone, will anyone care?<br />
<br />
When he has conflicts of
interest with his businesses in foreign countries, will anyone care?
When he encourages Putin to continue cyber-attacks in our country, will
anyone care? When he designates himself the supreme ruler will anyone
care?</div>
</div>
</div>
<span></span>Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-35813372383377972412014-08-06T18:59:00.000-05:002014-08-07T20:38:46.322-05:00Awesome Summer Soup: Tomato Basil<span id="goog_1370205648"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1370205649"></span>This morning I was thinking about tomatoes and lunch. We have a huge Roma tomato plant that has given us more fruit than we can eat in salads and sandwiches. We have tomatoes on the vine, on the kitchen counter, and ripening on the deck.<br />
<br />
I opened Bernard Clayton Jr.'s <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/Complete-Book-of-Soups-and-Stews-Updated/Bernard-Clayton/9780743277150">The Complete Book of Soups and Stews</a> (a present from my sister Sara) and turned to "tomato" in the index. When I saw Iced Tomato and Basil soup I knew I had a starting point. Of course my current diet eschews the oil and mozzarella crostinos recommended in the recipes, but I adapted quite nicely. The result was delicious. When Andy came home for lunch and we ladled up the soup, we felt like we were dining in a multi-starred NY restaurant. <br />
<br />
Ingredients: 5 pounds of tomatoes, which equals about 20 Roma tomatoes<br />
5 garlic cloves<br />
1 cup shredded fresh basil (or one Tbs dried)<br />
One box vegetable broth (or chicken if you are so inclined).<br />
Salt, pepper, to taste; dash of sugar <br />
Optional toppings: 1/2 cup soy milk; cream; pesto <br />
<br />
<br />
Clayton's recipe called for 5 pounds of fresh garden tomatoes. I rounded up about 20 small Romas.<br />
<br />
He suggested dipping them in boiling water and, after a minute and a half, dunking them in cold water. This allows the skins to slip off easily. He also advised slicing them down the middle and removing the seed cores, which I did. I also trimmed off any tough stem ends.<br />
<br />
I then followed his directions to dice the tomatoes into small pieces and cook them in a pan for 5 minutes. He uses oil; I used a nonstick pan with a little water. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I sauteed his suggested 5 cloves of minced fresh garlic in a non-stick skillet. Since I didn't add oil, I deglazed with a few tablespoons of vegetable broth.<br />
<br />
After the tomatoes had cooked down for 5 minutes, I added the garlic and 1 cup of shredded basil and simmered for 5 more minutes.<br />
<br />
Then I added a box of vegetable low-sodium vegetable broth (Clayton uses chicken) and let these all meld together for several more minutes.<br />
<br />
I sprinkled in salt, black pepper, and a dash of sugar.<br />
<br />
I departed from Clayton's recipe by dumping this all in my food processor and churning it to remove any tomato pulp and chunks of garlic and basil.<br />
<br />
When I returned it to the pan, I added about 1/2 cup of soy milk. If you are into cream, that would do nicely too.<br />
<br />
I had plucked extra basil from the garden and, before churning the soup, had made a pesto using fresh basil, one garlic clove, nutritional yeast, and about one cup of walnuts.<br />
<br />
A spoonful of this pesto added to the soup was just … hmm … je ne sais quoi <br />
<br />
Oh, yes, Clayton recommends eating this chilled ("iced") but admits it is delicious hot also. That's how we enjoyed it, due to timing issues. By the end of lunch hour the pan was empty so we'll have to try the chilled version another time.<br />
<br />
<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-85204230628983601612014-07-23T21:15:00.001-05:002014-07-24T05:25:20.287-05:00My friend asked for my ratatouille recipe. Here goesOn Jul 23, 2014, at 5:03 PM, Cheryl Richards wrote:<br />
<i><br />I got a
couple of eggplants from my Amish connection today. You and your Mom had
a good recipe for them, ratatouille? can you email this to me? </i><br />
<br />
My friend, Cheri, doesn't love fresh garlic, but I assure her and any others with the same feelings that sauteed garlic adds depth. Once it is cooked it loses its intensity.<b> </b><br />
<br />
1 large onion<br />
3 cloves fresh garlic (when it's cooked you won't really taste it so much), but use powder if you prefer.<br />
1 eggplant (or 2 if small) sliced thin<br />
several zucchini and yellow squash - sliced thin - and cut in half if they are larger<br />
Optional: thinly sliced or shredded carrots<br />
Depending on the quantity of vegetables, 1-2 cans diced tomatoes with juice <br />
Lotsa Italian seasoning - fresh basil if you have it<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
Grated Parmesan cheese (if you dare) for serving - sprinkle on top. I use nutritional yeast.<br />
<br />
Use a large pot.<br />
<br />
Saute onion and garlic in a little oil -- or not if the pot is nonstick. Let it brown a little.<br />
Add sliced veggies. Let them brown a little also.<br />
Add diced tomatoes -- if it doesn't seem moist enough add some tomato sauce or veggie broth - as the veggies simmer they will release more water so keep that in mind<br />
Let the tomatoes and veggies simmer for at least 45 minutes til everything is tender<br />
Add seasoning - let simmer a few more minutes.<br />
<br />
Serve over couscous (preferred) or rice or pasta.<br />
<br />
Just made some the other day (sans eggplant) and this is basically what I did.<br />
<br />
ratatouille is one of those dishes that is better the next day<br />
<br />
Good luck.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Tips for Preparing Eggplant</b></i><br /><br />When cutting an eggplant, use a stainless steel knife as carbon steel will react with its phytonutrients and cause it to turn black. Wash the eggplant first and then cut off the ends.<br /><br />Most eggplants can be eaten either with or without their skin. However, the larger ones and those that are white in color generally have tough skins that may not be palatable. To remove skin, you can peel it before cutting or if you are baking it, you can scoop out the flesh once it is cooked.<br /><br />To tenderize the flesh's texture and reduce some of its naturally occurring bitter taste, you can sweat the eggplant by salting it. After cutting the eggplant into the desired size and shape, sprinkle it with salt and allow it to rest for about 30 minutes. This process will pull out some of its water content and make it less permeable to absorbing any oil used in cooking.<br /><br />Rinsing the eggplant after "sweating" will remove most of the salt.<br /><br />http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=22&tname=foodspice<br /><br />
<br />
<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-46180552143302024672014-01-16T22:12:00.000-06:002014-01-17T15:43:11.465-06:00Small milestones<br />
My dad was a good carpenter, extraordinary Mr. Fixit, roofer, mechanic etc.<br />
<br />
I am now wondering how I grew up with him and never insisted that he teach me these skills. Maybe some of them can't be taught. He could figure out how to fix Mrs. Smith's sewing machine and how to get Mr. Jones's lawnmower started. He had the touch.<br />
<br />
We did wallpaper our living room together when I was in high school and I remember that time very fondly. Since then I have done papering with some success (and some failure!). But I have always been passionate about color so painting has been important to me. (Dad was, of course, also a good painter.)<br />
<br />
In my last house I practiced painting with a good brush that allows you to move along edges without the annoyance of blue or green tape. You just need to get a good stubby beveled brush, such as ones made by Wooster or Purdy. These brushes fit nicely into your hand and you can then feather the paint, in a floating motion, up against the ceiling, trim, and door edges. <br />
<br />
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I have worked on this skill. In our new house in Topeka, I have just completed painting the walls of Bedroom # 1. I can't believe I was able to finish all of the wall surface with no tape and successfully cover all of the old paint. Next, I need to tackle the trim. By the way, I am using Valspar's historical house colors, Lyndhurst beige for the walls and Lyndhurst mahogany for the windows and trim.<br />
<br />
Kudos to Lowes for marketing historical colors in their wonderful Valspar paint, which combines paint and primer. <br />
<br />
Still need to work on spackling techniques and how to cover previous bad repairs.<br />
<br />
Researching… skim coating. Dad would have had a good solution, I am sure. I will figure it out, somehow. <br />
<br />
<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-3166111349842725122013-10-03T19:26:00.000-05:002013-10-03T19:30:45.454-05:00Letter to Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R) Kansas<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">October
3, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Representative Lynn Jenkins<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1027 Longworth HOB<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Washington, D.C. 20515</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 2pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Representative Jenkins:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We moved to Kansas late last year.
Apparently you “represent” us. So far, we don’t believe you have done one thing
that has represented what we believe is in the best interest of Kansas or of
the United States. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your support of the government
shutdown is the latest insult. We implore you to urge Speaker Boehner to bring
a clean funding bill to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.
This will immediately end the shutdown, which is harming the livelihoods of almost
two million federal workers, leaving preschool children at home rather than in
vital Head Start programs, and, most importantly, jeopardizing the security of
our nation and its citizens. Many other programs have been shut down, and we
know you are well aware of the harm this is doing to your constituents. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seventy-two percent of Americans
and 49 percent of Republicans believe the shutdown is wrong for this country,
according to a new </span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57605822/poll-americans-not-happy-about-shutdown-more-blame-gop/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">CBS
News poll</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Clearly, reasonable Americans want Republicans to end the
shutdown now.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We support the Affordable Care
Act. Understanding that you have always opposed Obamacare, we ask you to please
accept the fact that Republicans have lost on this issue. The ACA was voted
into law through regular order, signed by the president, deemed constitutional
by the Supreme Court, and affirmed by the American citizens, who overwhelmingly
reelected President Obama. Enthusiasm for Obamacare, since people have been
able to sign up for it, has been very high. We are thrilled at its successes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rather than believing that
Obamacare is a government takeover of healthcare and puts big government
between doctors and patients, a large number of citizens, including us, believe
that Obamacare will give wider access to healthcare and ultimately lower medical
costs by bringing young, healthy people into the system. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ACA is the law of the land.
You and conservative Republicans cannot alter that fact. You cannot will it to
be defunded. You need the votes to do that and you do not have them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have heard you claim to be a “<a href="http://www.nolabels.org/problem-solvers">No-Labels Problem Solver</a>.” However, all we have seen is that you have been front and
center among representatives who cause problems, rather than solve them. The
problems include the sequester and the government shutdown. You also appear to
be among those who believe that the United States doesn’t have to pay its
bills, at least if a minority of representatives’ demands are not met. All of
this amounts to more than just a problem; it amounts to anarchy. If you are a
problem solver, you have the responsibility to fund the government and pay the
debts of the United States. To further at least one of these goals, we encourage
you to help convince Speaker Boehner to bring a clean funding bill to a vote. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for your time,</span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Laura and Andrew McGowan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-29497780839938779312013-10-03T19:19:00.002-05:002019-07-23T19:56:16.001-05:00
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">October
3, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Representative Lynn Jenkins<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1027 Longworth HOB<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Washington, D.C. 20515</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Representative Jenkins:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We moved to Kansas late last year.
Apparently you “represent” us. So far, we don’t believe you have done one thing
that has represented what we believe is in the best interest of Kansas or of
the United States. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your support of the government
shutdown is the latest insult. We implore you to urge Speaker Boehner to bring
a clean funding bill to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.
This will immediately end the shutdown, which is harming the livelihoods of almost
two million federal workers, leaving preschool children at home rather than in
vital Head Start programs, and, most importantly, jeopardizing the security of
our nation and its citizens. Many other programs have been shut down, and we
know you are well aware of the harm this is doing to your constituents.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seventy-two percent of Americans
and 49 percent of Republicans believe the shutdown is wrong for this country,
according to a new </span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57605822/poll-americans-not-happy-about-shutdown-more-blame-gop/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">CBS
News poll</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Clearly, reasonable Americans want Republicans to end the
shutdown now.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We support the Affordable Care
Act. Understanding that you have always opposed Obamacare, we ask you to please
accept the fact that Republicans have lost on this issue. The ACA was voted
into law through regular order, signed by the President, deemed constitutional
by the Supreme Court, and affirmed by the American citizens, who overwhelmingly
reelected President Obama. Enthusiasm for Obamacare, since people have been
able to sign up for it, has been very high. We are thrilled at its successes.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rather than believing that
Obamacare is a government takeover of healthcare and puts big government
between doctors and patients, a large number of citizens, including us, believe
that Obamacare will give wider access to healthcare and ultimately lower medical
costs by bringing young, healthy people into the system. </span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ACA is the law of the land.
You and conservative Republicans cannot alter that fact. You cannot will it to
be defunded. You need the votes to do that and you do not have them.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have heard you claim to be a “No-Labels
Problem Solver.” However, all we have seen is that you have been front and
center among representatives who are causing problems, not solving them. The
problems include the sequester and the government shutdown. You also appear to
be among those who believe that the United States doesn’t have to pay its
bills, at least if a minority of representatives’ demands are not met. All of
this amounts to more than just a problem; it amounts to anarchy. If you are a
problem solver, you have the responsibility to fund the government and pay the
debts of the United States. To further at least one of these goals, we encourage
you to help convince Speaker Boehner to bring a clean funding bill to a vote. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for your time,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Laura and Andrew McGowan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-15811016527446946242013-09-26T22:14:00.000-05:002013-11-21T18:38:02.094-06:00Rah Rah Rah College Hill<a href="http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20728180_30008099,00.html"><img alt="https://9dcaf5ba-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/collegehilltopeka/Home/homes-of-college-hill/architectural-styles-of-college-hill/victorian.jpg?attachauth=ANoY7crzDcrpG_vuQdRGW8e53UacXj7Hzsmfamf4ca_rT1KL6HiI0SzezWsrj3zV9XUYVuhHEw4BxiAEnIZfiwjQK3ftfMs0Xw48cDEhCgr5TAZspo62soHJUegGhu9mp178wKoK9anvuMlluIkPm53d02STer6EpAxIP4SMqGwbNqW_2C3ghG7H7pQUSpwREePulURIX-hMKEbDvF0_5gkNXvqiqlamlvOEwYGS2yUo1lzvb4hbDQXlD3fVihTf1kf5euz0-BEP1NAfjKI3xh1RzJIF-1WaZIgPioDNfDGNcF0oSqkIHn0O2rgoGeewdL1uoS2B0yzm&attredirects=0" class="decoded" height="240" src="https://9dcaf5ba-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/collegehilltopeka/Home/homes-of-college-hill/architectural-styles-of-college-hill/victorian.jpg?attachauth=ANoY7crzDcrpG_vuQdRGW8e53UacXj7Hzsmfamf4ca_rT1KL6HiI0SzezWsrj3zV9XUYVuhHEw4BxiAEnIZfiwjQK3ftfMs0Xw48cDEhCgr5TAZspo62soHJUegGhu9mp178wKoK9anvuMlluIkPm53d02STer6EpAxIP4SMqGwbNqW_2C3ghG7H7pQUSpwREePulURIX-hMKEbDvF0_5gkNXvqiqlamlvOEwYGS2yUo1lzvb4hbDQXlD3fVihTf1kf5euz0-BEP1NAfjKI3xh1RzJIF-1WaZIgPioDNfDGNcF0oSqkIHn0O2rgoGeewdL1uoS2B0yzm&attredirects=0" width="320" />This </a><a href="http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20728180_30008099,00.html">Old House Magazine</a> online has designated my little neighborhood in Topeka, Kansas, adjacent to <a href="http://www.washburn.edu/">Washburn University</a>, one of the <span style="font-weight: normal;">"Best Old House Neighborhoods 2013" for the midwest region. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Quite an honor for this humble place in a humble city in a state that is often misunderstood.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The magazine's write-up mentions that the standard joke about Topeka is "how boring is it"?</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Well that's just silly. How boring is any midwestern city? Topeka ranks right in the middle, I'd say. We have live theater, a good <a href="http://www.washburn.edu/">university </a>with a wonderful <a href="http://www.washburn.edu/about/community/mulvane-art-museum/index.html">art museum </a>and amazing classical music festival, a <a href="http://kansastravel.org/kansasstatecapitol.htm">state capitol </a>with all sorts of interesting protests and events, a large farmers market, rainbow-colored <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Equality-House/427599210663452">Equality House</a> across the street from Fred Phelps' anti-gay compound, and, in the heart of the city, an <a href="http://ksexpo.com/">Expo Center</a> that hosts dog shows, horse shows, garden shows, and a fabulous annual library book sale. We have our random violence and our random wonderfulness. We have amazing architecture, <a href="http://ths.topekapublicschools.net/">Topeka High School</a> or the State Capitol, for example.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">In all, it turns out to be a pretty interesting place. If you live here you should definitely subscribe to the print version of the <a href="http://cjonline.com/">Topeka Capital Journal</a>. It isn't comprehensive but it does open up views into the city. And the carriers throw the paper near the sidewalk, so you (or your dog) get some exercise retrieving it each morning. The paper highlights what a "small town" Topeka really is. Four days ago a family with special needs lost their house in a fire. For the past three days the paper has highlighted things that they need to help get their life back together. The community seems to be pitching in. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">As for the the <a href="http://www.collegehilltopeka.org/">College Hill neighborhood</a>, the article mentions that professors, law students, and young families taking advantage of the affordable housing prices, populate the neighborhood. True. But many other people live here. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I live next door to a retired widower who lives alone with his cute little dog. On the other side is a grandmother who balances taking care of her grandchildren with her job as remedial education teacher. Across the street is a family with lots of active children. Next door to them a retired couple. Across the street from them is a woman who is caring for an extended family.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Down the street, a law student who has stayed and is now a lawyer. Across the street from him, a family who attended the university and had children in the meantime. They are moving out and the house (a rental) will soon be up for sale. Next door to them a similar house, an American Four Square, was recently purchased by a young family. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">People in this neighborhood love dogs. I estimate that one dog lives in College Hill for about every two people.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">At Boswell Park, across the street from my house, dogs rule. They love its big open field. "Frisbee Dog" comes every afternoon and amazes the children on the adjacent swings with his acrobatic catches. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Throughout the day, many dogs, small and large, get to run in the big field, which unfortunately is not completely fenced in. The well-mannered dog owners generally heed the signs to "pick up after your dog" and never interfere with baseball or soccer practice or a karate dojo. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I estimate that for every five or six well-maintained College Hill properties, a blighted house exists. I define a blighted house as one with seriously overgrown weeds or trees (such as trees of heaven or mulberry seedlings sprouting up in the yard and next to the foundation), inoperable, unlicensed vehicles sinking into the ground on the property, or trash and other inappropriate items, such as an old sink or deteriorated upholstered furniture in the yard or on the porch. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Kansas is not quite the boring place that postcards and cliches might lead you to believe.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">If you like to observe migrating birds and butterflies Kansas lies right in a major avenue. Also, many wonderful birds make Kansas their year-round home.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Washburn University all make their home here, and their influence reverberates far beyond the state's boundaries.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Just as Kansas is more interesting than most people realize, the architecture of College Hill is also more diverse than the This Old House write-up mentions. Yes, we have our share of lovely bungalows and airplane bungalows, but stately American Four Squares are numerous, as are Georgians, cottages, and other structures of quite unique character. For more information about the architecture of College Hill, visit the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/collegehilltopeka/Home/homes-of-college-hill/architectural-styles-of-college-hill">College Hill Topeka Historical Site</a>.<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/collegehilltopeka/Home/homes-of-college-hill/architectural-styles-of-college-hill"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-1762086120040240622013-08-18T11:48:00.001-05:002013-08-18T11:49:39.011-05:00taco salad <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gEteOdUfHQ/UhD2pPyQpUI/AAAAAAAAAPU/B-HRs6Fv8Ak/s1600/plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gEteOdUfHQ/UhD2pPyQpUI/AAAAAAAAAPU/B-HRs6Fv8Ak/s400/plate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
One of my favorite lunches is a healthy taco salad that goes together quickly.<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<ul>
<li>White corn tortilla chips (I make my own)</li>
<li>No-fat refried beans, seasoned to taste (I like chili powder, cumin, and taco seasoning)</li>
<li>1 100-calorie package guacamole</li>
<li>2 cups of greens (lettuce, kale, or spinach)</li>
<li>1 small ripe tomato</li>
</ul>
I have a tray designed to make potato chips in the microwave. (It allows you to enjoy oil free chips that are just as crispy as the grocery store ones.) I use this to crisp up white corn tortillas. I have a tiny microwave so each one takes about 2 minutes.<br />
<br />
While the chips are crisping up, I mix up some spicy refried beans. After reading all the labels in the Mexican food aisle, I can usually find refried beans with no added oil. I love the texture of the La Preferida black beans.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-aKb0ImL74/UhD2pftjAtI/AAAAAAAAAPY/a69i1CxSrBE/s1600/seasoning-beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-aKb0ImL74/UhD2pftjAtI/AAAAAAAAAPY/a69i1CxSrBE/s200/seasoning-beans.jpg" width="133" /></a>I scoop out enough for my salad -- about 1/2 cup -- and stir in chili powder, cumin and packaged taco seasoning. This gets microwaved for about 30 seconds. While cooking more chips, I chop up a couple handfuls of greens -- Romaine, kale, and spinach -- with a nice juicy tomato.<br />
<br />
Guacamole comes in handy individual serving packs -- so I can always have some of this delicious stuff fresh and ready for my salad.<br />
<br />
To construct the salad, I put the greens and tomato on a plate and surround them with crispy tortilla chips. I add the beans and guacamole and enjoy a delicious lunch.<br />
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<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-67946778101351269802013-06-10T19:39:00.001-05:002013-06-30T20:56:59.462-05:00my sayingsI'm an optimist. I always keep a bottle of champagne in the fridge.<br />
<br />
Just because the phone rings doesn't mean you have to answer it.<br />
<br />
"Just remember there'll be days like this." — from Van Morrison's song "Days Like This."Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-70578986133995680582013-05-25T21:14:00.001-05:002013-06-04T09:37:29.113-05:00Porch curtains in windy Kansas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MZrRAQG5pkg/UaFv33c8weI/AAAAAAAAAO0/uALWYTr5TuE/s1600/house-with-curtains-and-flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MZrRAQG5pkg/UaFv33c8weI/AAAAAAAAAO0/uALWYTr5TuE/s320/house-with-curtains-and-flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Well every week I try to do several things around the house to make it more to my liking. Our upstairs sunroom is yellow and had some heavy cotton green-striped curtains in it. Not a look I am partial to. But, I realized the green in the curtains would look nice against the house green, so I followed an idea I had found online and hung the curtains around the front porch. I realize the picture I saw, however, was probably not from a house in always-windy Kansas, so we'll see how these hold up. We even added a flag for Memorial Day! Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-24811991102678505142013-05-10T22:16:00.004-05:002013-05-10T22:25:56.011-05:00Let's create a national "Write-a-Letter Day."<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEMfVySCbOY/UY25dBPjXII/AAAAAAAAAOc/f07AMoV-f6U/s1600/applestamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEMfVySCbOY/UY25dBPjXII/AAAAAAAAAOc/f07AMoV-f6U/s320/applestamps.jpg" width="247" /></a>I recently posted a petition on whitehouse.gov encouraging the administration to establish a national "Write-a-Letter Day."<br />
<br />
I hope you'll consider signing it and passing this on.<br />
<br />
I am shocked that so many young people no longer know how to create and mail a handwritten correspondence. I believe the Post Office is a great institution that should be preserved. "Write-a-Letter Day" is meant to promote personal connections through handwritten correspondence and help the P.O. by increasing the number of first-class mailings.<br />
<br />
You can view and sign the petition here:
<a href="http://wh.gov/JPAD">http://wh.gov/JPAD</a><br />
<br />
Here's some more information about this petition:
Create "Write a Letter Day." Teach youngsters to write
and address a letter. Promote stamps and save the Post Office.
The Post Office, one of our national treasures, is losing money due to
declining first-class letter mailings. Many young people today have never
written a letter by hand and do not know how to properly address an envelope.
Our Post Office designs and prints many beautiful and meaningful stamps each
year. Postal employees often offer amazing customer service. For these
reasons, we should declare a national "Write-a-Letter Day." It
should be sometime during the school year so teachers could incorporate it
into their curriculum when appropriate. The tradition of handwritten cards
and letters is quickly fading. This day would support the P.O. and this great
tradition. It would encourage people to buy stamps and visit their local P.O.
And it would promote connections with friends or relatives.
Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-59204983194246491622013-05-01T21:32:00.002-05:002013-11-21T18:43:29.304-06:00Concealed Carry in Kansas and US Gun Laws - DisturbingI'm a recent Kansas transplant and admit to a bit of culture shock.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I went to one of Topeka's prominent greenhouses. The place was overflowing with beautiful perennials, annuals, and veggies. Too many to choose from really. Out front you can get a bale of straw or a whimsical garden ornament made out of old tools and scrap metals. I browsed the plants for a long time and found some beautiful specimens. I then found the lush racks of seeds and picked out several packets. I was enjoying my experience but when I stepped up to the counter to pay I was confronted. Behind the counter they displayed several large metal yard ornaments. One was about 5 feet in length, with pistols jauntily adorning each end. The letters connecting these emblems spelled a chilling message: "We don't call 911."<br />
<br />
I had reason today to visit the Shawnee County Sheriff's website. I noticed a pdf download of a no-gun sign. (It's an image of pistol with the familiar circular red strike-through placed over it.) Instinctively, I printed it out. I thought, I'll make one for my car, post it on my front door, and maybe even get a t-shirt made. Then, I thought, "Wait, this is Kansas. That might not be a good idea."<br />
<br />
Kelly Ayotte, seemingly mild-mannered Republican senator from New Hampshire, recently held a town hall. A daughter of one of the teachers massacred at Sandy Hook Elementary School confronted her about her recent vote against the bill that would create universal background checks for gun purchases. Ayotte had a stumbling response. The daughter defiantly walked out and deliberately turned her back on the senator.<br />
<br />
Ayotte should have just said: "I need NRA support to win reelection. I would be primaried by Tea Party candidates if I voted against this bill. I had no choice. Surely you understand."<br />
<br />
No, Senator Ayotte and all you other weak-kneed senators. We do not understand. Strengthen your spines. Stand up straight for what is right. <br />
<br />
Not only do we need universal background checks, and you know it, we also need to confiscate all military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. These instruments of massacre have no place in civil society and are not needed for self defense. Police officers don't even carry them.<br />
<br />
Elected officials need to grow up and stand up for what is right. If the NRA abandons you the American people will be there to prop you up. <br />
Video of the Ayotte town hall: <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/kelly-ayotte-gun-vote-90784.html">http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/kelly-ayotte-gun-vote-90784.html</a>
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<br />Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-62188202683700454822013-04-24T22:29:00.000-05:002013-06-04T12:45:34.446-05:00"Salt Sugar Fat" by Michael Moss is the first stepMichael Moss, in his book <i>Salt Sugar Fat</i>, exposes how the food industry has sucked us in with these three "bliss" ingredients. They have extensive scientific data that lets them manipulate us in unbelievable ways.<br />
<br />
I haven't yet to read the book, but the interviews I have heard are very convincing. We all need to be better consumers. We need to read labels. We need to enter our supermarkets ready to do battle. We can look for the more nutritious products at the top and bottom shelves and not be sucked in by the salt-, sugar-, and fat-laden products at eye level.<br />
<br />
But in these interviews Moss doesn't address a point I feel strongly about: we must also realize that the meat and dairy industries are also doing us in. They have convinced us that 1) if we don't eat meat we won't get enough protein and 2) if we don't eat dairy we will lack calcium. The truth is that these products are unhealthy and contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and, probably, cancer. They contain much more fat than is healthy for any human being. Cost-effective production means torturing the animals by keeping them in confined spaces and pumping them full of antibiotics and hormones that we then ingest. <br />
<br />
What happens to them once they are transported to and reach the slaughterhouse is beyond civil discussion. The accounts I have read describe hideous, sadistic torture. I can't imagine that most workers in these slaughterhouses would abuse animals, but apparently some do and their actions have drawn attention to a crisis. If we continue to consume chicken, beef, and pork, we are condoning torture.<br />
<br />
I have recently tried to eat a diet that is meat and dairy free, and I try to avoid any added oils. Proponents of this type of diet prefer the term "plant based." <br />
<br />
This makes eating out rather difficult, so we prepare many home-made meals of beans and rice, with added veggies.<br />
<br />
I have learned to love kale, collard greens, chard, and rapini. I came to love broccoli and spinach years ago. Potatoes are one of my favorite foods. <br />
<br />
We usually just chop the greens up and eat them in salad. Husband Andy can just douse them in vinegar and be happy. I am still loving ranch dressing, which is an aberration for this diet, I know. Oh well! I figure if I eat lots of vitamin- and mineral-rich greens in the process I am doing good things. Potatoes can be cooked a thousand different ways. One of my favorites is to take cooked whole potatoes and slice them into "steak fry" sized pieces. I heat the oven and my baking stone to about 450, while I sprinkle the potatoes with seasoning. My favorite is garlic pepper. Chilli powder is also good. Once the stone is good and hot I put the fries on and cook till they are crispy brown. Delicious with a nice black bean burger!<br />
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We have also purchased Calphalon non-stick pans that let us sautee veggies without adding any oil. It works. Every chef will tell you to add oil but they are wrong. You can make delicious dishes without adding oil. Follow the recipe, use a non-stick pan, and skip the oil. If things get "sticky" keep some water or vegetable broth on stand by. Add as needed. You'll be fine. Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-35622236201655528432012-04-15T20:23:00.002-05:002012-04-15T20:29:43.383-05:00crispy chips with no oil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kGSzBzDikjI/T4t0f0ads5I/AAAAAAAAALo/Eeh-RmiIEfU/s1600/round_ceramic_baking_stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kGSzBzDikjI/T4t0f0ads5I/AAAAAAAAALo/Eeh-RmiIEfU/s1600/round_ceramic_baking_stone.jpg" /></a></div>I often buy those large packages of corn tortilla circles with no oil. I heat up the oven to 400–450 and put in my baking stone. You could also use a cookie sheet I believe or put them right on the racks. If using a baking stone (your best bet) make sure it gets really hot—leave at the high temp for 10 minutes.<br />
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I rinse the tortillas under water, sprinkle with salt, and slice into fourths. I put the slices on the stone and bake until crisp. Watch that they don't burn, cause they'll taste nasty. <br />
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Nicely toasted, they are yummy to eat with chili or dip in salsa.<br />
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I also use a similar method to make potato chips/crisps.<br />
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I slice Russet potatoes thin in my Cuisinart or by hand with a long sharp knife. Put them in a bowl and slather in sea salt and maybe some Mrs. Dash or garlic pepper. <br />
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Place them on the baking stone (thoroughly heated to 400–450) in a single layer and cook until they are crispy with a few brown spots. With potatoes, heating the stone is especially important, because otherwise they will stick like glue. I have never tried these on a baking sheet and don't know that they'd do well.<br />
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They are a delicious accompaniment to a tempeh sloppy joe or bean burger.Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-81177981360022793542012-04-10T23:47:00.001-05:002013-06-10T19:31:03.448-05:00Cat up a TreeOur kitty Blaze got out. <br />
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More accurately, I let him out. He has escaped a few times in recent months and since I was staying out anyway and he was staying close, all was well.<br />
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So, with beautiful weather Sunday, I let him out and vowed to keep an eye on him, while I played ball with the dogs.<br />
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But, Blaze gave me the slip.<br />
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Blazer used to go out every day, but, in the process, acquired Feline AIDS. So, the vet advised keeping him inside to avoid exposure to germs and spreading the virus to other cats.<br />
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In the meantime, our neighbors have acquired a dog.<br />
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Blaze escaped next door and confronted the little terrier. Blaze ran up a tree. And went high. And then higher.<br />
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Oh Blaze. A whole community of cat lovers looked up, prayed, and hoped for the best.<br />
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Blaze was steadfast in his position, refusing to budge. So it was clear we would have to climb up to retrieve him.<br />
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Our neighbors have an industrial-strength extension ladder, but it takes a strong person to lift it into place.<br />
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Their son, Brett, was busy caring for a woman he feeds and puts to bed each night. He is the only one among us who could wrangle the ladder into place. He was running late. It was getting dark.<br />
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He finally got home and positioned the ladder into place. I am not afraid of heights and was ready to climb up and rescue the cat. Andy, who does hate heights, decided he should be the one to climb up. Blaze is a big cat, after all.<br />
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Blaze was rescued. Once inside, he ate a huge meal of cat food and turkey and fell sound asleep.<br />
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Life is good.Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-2289264829467046632012-04-08T22:25:00.000-05:002013-06-04T12:47:40.371-05:00Plant StrongYears ago, I read an article written by a doctor who believed that we needed to abandon all meat in our diet. I remember him saying that "even low-fat turkey had way too much fat for the human body to deal with."<br />
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Unfortunately I ignored him.<br />
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Since then, a friend has died of clogged arteries and another has been hospitalized and had a stent implanted because of them.<br />
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Eating a plant-based diet can be hard in this culture. No meat, no dairy, and no oil. Eliminating meat is the easy part. No kidding. Cheese, not so easy. But do you know you can make fake cheese out of cashews, garlic, miso, nutritional yeast, etc.?<br />
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Soy milk is a wonderful substitute for dairy in soups, breads, and on cereal.<br />
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Vanilla almond milk, which has some sugar, is like a milkshake.<br />
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Our friend who had the stent turned us on to this diet, sorta by accident. He visited for a weekend and I was challenged to cook for him. After reading every label in the store to find food I could serve him, the challenge turned into a mission.<br />
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Now, several other friends and family members, after hearing me talk at length about its benefits, have adopted a plant-strong diet.<br />
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Keep it up. Grow a garden. Do the best you can every day.Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18543179.post-51262676243704434352012-02-20T21:32:00.007-06:002012-02-20T22:13:41.800-06:00Creamy Asparagus Soup (vegan)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BiKwyHFtGk/T0MRUBlCwHI/AAAAAAAAALg/quhJGXrjZv8/s1600/41GC2zm5WRL._SS400_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BiKwyHFtGk/T0MRUBlCwHI/AAAAAAAAALg/quhJGXrjZv8/s200/41GC2zm5WRL._SS400_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Does anything shout "spring" like bright green, skinny asparagus stalks? They grew wild (or were a holdover from an old kitchen garden) in the ditch across the street from our house. We would harvest them in spring, and, as the weeks wore on, I enjoyed watching the plants sprout into bouquets of dainty fronds.<br />
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Any more, asparagus is available year round, but in early spring it becomes less expensive and has wonderful flavor. This weekend I made a creamy soup from a bundle I purchased at the supermarket. I left out milk and cheese, so we thoroughly enjoyed the grassy, earthy flavor of the stalks. In <i>Vegetable Heaven</i>, Mollie Katzen describes tarragon's affinity for asparagus. So, I added lots of this herb to the soup, to wonderful effect.<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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1 1/2 to 2 pounds asparagus<br />
1 medium onion<br />
2 cloves garlic<br />
1 medium Russet potato <br />
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth (I like Pacific or Wolfgang Puck brands if I don't have homemade)<br />
1/2 to 3/4 cup soy milk*<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
generous sprinkling of dried tarragon<br />
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Chop the onion and garlic. The size of the pieces isn't important as they will be pureed. Saute them in a medium-sized pan with a pinch salt. Once they start to brown, deglaze the pan with a little of the broth. Then, add the remaining broth. <br />
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Rinse the asparagus. Chop off the woody stems. Remove the tips and set aside. Cut the stalks into 2–3 inch pieces and add them to the pan. Keep on medium heat.<br />
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Use a grater to shred the potato into the pan. (The potato will add flavor and give the soup a creamy texture.)<br />
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Once the asparagus is tender (about 10 minutes), puree the entire mixture with the soy milk. I use either a food processor or a stick blender.<br />
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Steam the asparagus tips. I usually do this in a cup, with a small amount of water, in the microwave for a couple of minutes. They are done when they turn bright green.<br />
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If you've pureed in a processor or blender, return the mixture to the pan. Add the steamed tips. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the generous sprinkling of tarragon.<br />
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Serve immediately. This soup makes a great first course before a meal of a heartier fare. <br />
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I've given approximations for the amounts of asparagus and milk, since bundles of asparagus in the supermarket can vary in weight. If you are unsure about how much milk to add, just add it slowly until the texture seems somewhat thick and pleasing.<br />
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*If you avoid soy, use dairy, almond, or hemp milk.Laura McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531138092500189570noreply@blogger.com3