Shroomin (and Rice Fried Vegetables)

My latest vegetable dishes: All-Purpose Mushrooms (pg 76) to be alongside the yummy soup made by Jen, Steve and Ella.

Sue joined me for Rice-Fried Vegetables (pg 122). Though, I've been eating it almost every day since.
Tonight I made a quarter portion of Creamed Spinach w/ Mushrooms (page 102).

The Weather Outside is Frightful

I'm feeling a little bit pensive. There are a few people on the street that we have a relationship with who either won't accept any more help or who we didn't connect with in order to give them more help.

It was below 0 for the second night in a row. Two nights ago we put one of our homeless women up in a motel room. I'm not sure what she did last night.

I talked Wed night with two of our campers who were all bravado about the cold and their tent and how they stay warm. They were laughing and macho - but....it's still cold.

One of our guys recently lost his apartment and has been living in his car. He's selling his plasma for money for gas for his car. I suppose that's the heating bill for him right there. I tried to give him some extra blankets, but he wouldn't accept them and said that he was okay.

Others have told me that "there is a plan" and "they'll be ok" without going into details. I know that certain options come out of the woodwork, but, I still worry.

During a 10pm news weather report in December, the newscaster highlighted how cold it was by interviewing a homeless man who had been kicked out of the mission. In my opinion it was actually done quite well - neither demonizing the man nor the mission - but calling attention to the fact that there are people who on the streets in this cold.

As a child I know I was ignorant. In Tacoma - it never got this cold. In Chicago, I was able to ignore it. Here and now, I have to admit that I am no savior...and there are limits to how I can help. I have to recognize that it's not up to me to force people to accept help or to behave in the way I would say is socially acceptable. I have to recognize it and lead others in continuing to care for people where they are.

Caught on Tape

As the last two January's have been, this is once again a chaotic time. I'm not always sure I'm going to get everything done that I need to. In fact, today...on my day off...I need to do some work. One of the things is for something I leading tomorrow morning, the other is my sermon - because of other things going on (including a fantastic concert experience in the evening) I'm not going to have time to work on it much tomorrow.

Even with all the busyness, it's still been a good month. Last year at this time a number of my folk were falling apart in different and serious ways. This year, not so much. Thank God.

But yesterday I received what may very well be the highlight of my month (it even tops the upcoming fantastic concert experience). My great-aunt sent me tapes that my family had sent to my great-grandma from 1979 until 1990. I've only gotten through 1983 so far, but it is fascinating and fun to hear us at those times/ages (including my parents - in the tapes they're just a tiny bit older than I am now).

By listening I have gained some insights - I talked fast even at a young age. I often yelled (in tune) as my singing. My parents really loved us (still do) - you could hear it in their voices as they talk to us, coaxing us to talk to "Grandma Dede" in the microphone. I guess I saw the news about President Reagan getting shot (and I think I said something about "I love him, I don't like him, but I love him" into the microphone at that....was I a Christian liberal even then??? Loving my neighbor, but not liking the president?). And, even then, I loved to make up stories (there was one about Santa Claus getting bitten by a fox).

As we're getting older it's getting to be more music performing than talking, but I do hope that those interactions continue.

Coconut-Ginger Carrots

This is "Coconut-Ginger Carrots." Page 37 of "The Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without."

Turned out well - I could have cooked it a little longer - but it's carrots - you can eat them either raw or cooked.

Next up - Bitter Greens with Sweet Onions and Tart Cheese.

2008 New Year's Resolution

For the last few years I have taken my New Year's resolutions seriously. Not that they've been serious resolutions, but that I've followed through - or at least made an effort throughout the year.

2006 was the year of visiting all of the bars in my neighborhood. I didn't come close, but it was a valiant effort. In 2007 I went to at least one show per month (I missed March, but more than made up for it in the rest of the year).

2008 will be the year of cooking vegetables. I received this book:That is - "The Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without" by Mollie Katzen. (Like my arty arrangement? Too bad I wiggled the camera.) My resolution is to make all of the recipes in the book - except for the ones with brussel sprouts (maybe I would like them if prepared in the fashion suggested in the book, but I always like to leave some wiggle room).

I have already made three of the dishes, and have the ingredients for 2 more.

Brave friends Sara and Gail joined me for the inaugural meal on January 4th in which we had "Eggplant, Green Beans, Pumpkin, and Basil in Coconut-Tomato Curry" (pg 47) and "1-Minute Spinach" (pg 106). Here are pictures from that meal:Sara and Gail before the meal...we didn't take an after picture.

The beautiful presentation (it did taste really good too).

Earlier this week I made "Roasted Beets with Tart Pink Grapefruit Glaze" (pg 15). I had never made beets before, and it was relatively easy - although, they are very red/pink and do seem to stain. Here is a pic of the beets:
So, one of the notes I should make is that I also (somewhat obviously) have now purchased a digital camera (and I love it). I was able to because of some very generous Christmas gifts - so yay!

Hope in the Land of Blog

Not only is this my first post of 2008, but it is also the 200th post of this blog.

So, what better way to celebrate it than talking about hope.

I'm feeling hopeful in so many areas of life right now. I'm hopeful at work because of some plans of actions that we will be putting into place that will provide vision and focus and hopefully continue to more solidly bring this gathered group into transformed life. It feels like we've got most of the pieces already, we just need to put them together.

I'm feeling hopeful because of the large number of people who showed up to caucus last night - and from the reports I've heard (both from people I know and those I don't) about the atmosphere. I'm feeling hopeful because of the new caucusers...and that it seems that people are getting involved....and that my generation is getting it and making a difference. It also helps that many of the younger participants are excited about Obama. The last time I remember my generation making an electoral difference was when Jesse Ventura was elected in MN....I did not vote for him and I was frustrated with his election.

I'm feeling hopeful because, although I've got a busy month ahead of me, some of the busyness includes concerts and dinners and fun. It's not all work. And it's always fun to have people around that you want to spend time with.

I'm feeling hopeful for some of my friends who have some pretty big things going on in life right now. Changes in job/family/location/outlook on life. I'm hopeful because I hear the realistic excitement and nervousness and fear - and then excitement about where this new change/event will lead. I'm hopeful because I'm getting to somewhat be along on the journey.

And, I'm feeling hopeful because I've found a way to escape the January gym - (with all the New Year's Resolutioners) - in Cross Country Skiing. Now I'm off, to go live into my hope.