Daily Murray: Who can resist those eyes?!

By Elizabeth Prata

Summertime. Windows up. At night, drifting off to sleep, all is quiet in this rural county. No trucks, cars, sirens, trains, ambulances...just a distant dog bark and an occasional moo.

Awakened at 3:30 am by a vigorous mighty mockingbird. he was full of the joy! He sang for two hours straight. I listened as the cool humid breeze wafted over me. I enjoy the nature sounds and I know I'm blessed in living in a place where there are lots.

I enjoy the city and have traveled to many of the world's great cities. I especially like New York City with its soaring granite skyscrapers, lofty bridges, and museums of history and art. but I could never live there. The cacophony of noises would over-sensitize me in minutes flat! No, laying comfy in bed in the wee hours listening to the variety of mockingbird sounds is more my speed.

Mockingbirds mock, and can and do imitate a variety of other birds, and even gods an frogs! They can vocalize up to 63 different sounds although other sites say up to 200. Do they sing their own sings? Some say yes, others no. What everyone does agree on is that mockingbirds like to sing, and they sing a lot!

I was serenaded last night by a particularly vigorous one and I'm happy about that.

I got up late, very late for me, but I went to bed at midnight so that is to be expected. Though, I don't like it. I enjoy sleeping 9-4 or 10-5. I don't like midnight to 8. But it seems that as the summer progresses and I'm home from work, the bedtime slips later and later. I want to tighten that up starting tonight. If I can do it I'll skip the nap and go to bed early in hopes of retraining my body on the schedule I prefer. I wake up sharper and happier when it's early.

And look who likes to join me as I drink my coffee in the morning!

I ordered a tea sampler. I'd heard on the tv show Elementary of a Japanese tea made from twigs and leaves. LOL, I'm weird. It sounded good to me.

Kukicha is a Japanese tea made from the twigs and stems of the same plant that black tea and green tea come from. It is also known as twig tea or 3 year tea, and it's aged after harvest and roasted. Kukicha tea has a unique flavor-  sweet, creamy and slightly nutty. I didn't find it bitter. Since the base of it is green tea I can drink it as a Low FODMAP item. The Hojicha was a bonus surprise included in the packet. Apparently it is also made from roasted twigs and leaves from the green tea bush, but is reddish in color. From Wikipedia

It is distinctive from other Japanese green teas because it is roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal, whereas most Japanese teas are steamed. The tea is fired at a high temperature, altering the leaf color tints from green to reddish brown.

I dunno. I just know that due to my FODMAP issues I can no longer drink most of the teas I used to drink (including chamomile, wah!) so I search for other kinds I can drink. The sample size is convenient because I can do just that, sample without investing a lot into the tea before I know if I'm going to like it.

I also have honeybush tea on my list, which is a close cousin of roobois except sweeter, hence the honey in the name. They are both South African teas, and are good for FODMAP diets.

Here are a couple of shots of the mockingbirds that live in the yard.

Have a wonderful day!

The tea samples: I got them thru Amazon

Daily Murray: We had a little spat

By Elizabeth Prata

Me and Murray had a little spat. He likes to be near me. Since I spend a lot of time at the table writing on the laptop, he jumps on the table and lays down next to me. I bought a little covered bed for him because he was uncomfortable laying on the hard Formica table and wriggled around a lot. He likes to tuck his head under things. It’s so cute. He tucks his head under the rim of the bed.

Lately he’s decided he’d rather not curl up in the bed as often, but spread out on the table and tuck his head under my elbow. This makes it hard to write. I like the contact and it’s really cute, but after a few minutes, I need to move my arm. I’ve been lifting him and putting him in his little bed. Since it’s not his idea at that moment to get in his little bed, he resists being put into the bed, and he jumps off the table.

This went on successively, me lifting him and putting him in the bed (or trying), him jumping down. Repeat. Yesterday he was sitting upright on the table and I moved my hand to pet his head and he got scared and jumped down. Oh no. I do not want him to see my hand coming and be scared of me. I want him to know that every time I touch him it’s for love.

So I quit stuffing him in the little bed and let him decide when to get in it. When he splays out all over the table, to give myself room, I move the laptop over. This is proof that cats rule the house.

Here he is in his little bed, snuffing and snoring contentedly. The little crossed paws are so endearing!

I gotten some books lately. I’m excited at the Nathaniel Philbrick one. After Bill Bryson, I think he is the best non-fiction narrative writer. He makes his stories come alive. I bought this one is called Mayflower and it recounts the Pilgrims’ journey and first few decades of colonizing America. I also received as a gift the Paul Washer book on Fasting. I fast and I want to know more about the discipline and Paul Washer is just the man to teach me!

The Write Better book was recommended by Reagan Rose and Tim Challies. I have accumulated several books on Christian Art. I am interested to know, as a Christian, when I make art or write an essay, how to do it better as a Christian. There are a lot of books giving advice on how to write better or do art better but not from a Christian perspective, giving glory to God.

I’ve accumulated have several books on art in a little section of my book library, but none specifically on Christian writing. Since the Write Better book was recommended by two guys I trust when recommending things, I looked up the book and after skimming it online at Amazon, I got it. I am hoping it fills the bill. The Art books I have are Philip Ryken’s "Art for God’s Sake" and Francis Schaeffer’s "Art and the Bible."

Two requests for inter-library loan books have come in. So now I’m enjoying an embarrassment of riches. I’d requested a library loan for Eric Ripert’s biography (a chef) and the bio of Phyllis Schlafly. Apparently Schlafly’s biographer was a feminist mainly against Schlafly but after spending time with Phyllis and her family, the biographer wrote a gentle and warm bio. I am interested in Phyllis after having watched the Hulu show “Mrs. America”. The 9-episode TV series focused on Schlafly’s influence in stalling and eventually defeating the feminist Equal Rights Amendment. I’m old enough to remember the battle the first time around, and the TV show revived my interest in this woman and deepened it. She is fascinating.

I had decided that since I wrote three essays yesterday on The End Time blog that today I’d re-post an older essay and spend the day reading and crafting. In a providential turn of events, not only is it raining today (reading on a rainy day is so cozy!) but the internet is out this morning. I have spent some time in my Bible, I started Daniel as the next book in the Reading Plan. I read today’s devotional from "Piercing Heaven", prayers of Puritans (different from the Valley of Vision by Bennett). I’ll head to the Library at 10:00 to do the curbside pickup time for the books I’d ordered, and come home and read. I’ll also make a collage, and probably do some word searches, word puzzles, and coloring/painting.

I hope your day goes well. I hope my internet does come back eventually!

(and it did)

Sunshine, Daily Murray, Mail, and other thoughts

By Elizabeth Prata

Good morning! It's late May and we are coming into the home stretch of school. The Governor suspended at-school learning in Mid-March due to Coronavirus but that doesn't mean we haven't been working. In fact, a few days ago we staff were told to return from working at home to the actual school building for 4 hours a day in staggered shifts (social distancing). We will do the same next week.

This Tuesday at noon would have been the last day with kids, and it is sad we won't be able to hug them goodbye. Then we staff finish out the week in what would have been post-planning, and I guess it still will be. It's hard to now how to plan, since things are very much up in the air regarding next year, but we can still finish report cards, clean, sort kids into grade levels for next year, and do other paperwork.

Meanwhile, it is a gorgeous Saturday morning. I've been out already, wandering the yard as the sun rose above the tips of the tall trees in the yard. The birds were absolutely bonkers with cacophonous clamor in birdsong, and it cracked me up. Walking into the driveway, the cardinal was especially offended at the sudden human presence and flew from one tree to another. But he exposed himself when he did that. I caught his glorious red against the sun-splashed leafy backdrop before he flew off.

The magnolias are blooming! Such large flowers!

Since this lockdown, social distancing, shelter in place, coronavirus time has emerged, we have learned to adapt and show our love in different ways. I have been the happy recipient of some postal outpourings outpourings. The US Postal Service is still clicking along since it was established in 1775 by Benjamin Franklin. It seemed that it was becoming redundant when the internet and electronic mail came to the fore, but no. I've received some precious cards in the mail. They bring delight and surprise and happiness when I open the mailbox and see a handwritten addressed card sized envelope in there. Here are some I've received, others I've already put away. Thank you one and all, you make my day! Especially the one given by a student, and the one signed by an actual toddler, lol! I miss seeing children so much!

Also since COVID-19, there have been some TERRIFIC book sales! Always looking to expand my library, I take advantage when they are 50% off. Also, some kind friends found my Amazon wish list and sent me surprise books! I like the series the McGraw book is in. It is a small and short book, they all are, addressing one pointed question. It's the Cultivating Biblical Godliness series from Reformation Heritage Books. Paperbacks are usually around $3. When there's a sale, well, of course I grab them. They are handy to have to give away when a fellow church member asks a question. Here is the link to the series.

The grocery store where I shop puts ready or ripe produce aside in a red net bag and marks it 99 cents. No matter what is in the bag it's 99 cents. It is always a good deal. Yesterday there were three pomegranates and 4 pepino melons. Seven pieces of fruit for 99 cents meant that each piece would cost .14 cents! Pomegranates are usually $2 or $3 per each. I was unfamiliar with pepino melons but at 14 cents apiece I would take a chance. And I love learning about a new fruit!

Apparently when ripe they are supposed to have those purplish stripes. I am hoping they won't react with my FODMAP issues, so I'll try one pepino and wait a while. They are apparently like a cross between a cuke and a tomato and less like a melon. I can eat cukes and tomatoes. They are supposed to have a gentle flavor. And I love pomegranates, but haven't had one in a while, not only due to expense but I'm unsure if I can eat them due to IBS/FODMAP etc. But even if I can't have any of the produce I've only lost 99 cents. Anything more than that is gravy. Winning!

I like Seltzer. I buy a case at a time. When I finished one the other day I tossed the box to the floor before I was ready to take it out to the trash can. Murray, being a cat, and cats love boxes, immediately became interested. He sniffed it at first-

Then he tried for the longest time to get in it. It was so funny!

Of course it didn't work out and he heard me laughing. I swear he knows I was laughing at him. He retired to the bureau and tried to look dignified-

But sneaked a longing look every now and then, deliberating if he should try again...

It's a gorgeous day, predicted to get even nicer. I hope where you are you can enjoy some family time, outside time, private time, or whatever time you need to restore your equilibrium and peace. Have a nice day!

Food Prep: Week of Feb 10-15, & Daily Murray

By Elizabeth Prata

I didn't do food prep last week. That is, making food ahead for lunches, snacks, and dinners. I paid for that decision. By Friday lunch I was eating radishes and carrots, and I bought a sushi combo plate (on sale, of course) for Friday night's dinner so I didn't have to cook. I won't do that again!

I just didn't plan well, I didn't shop well, and I was out of ideas.

A week off helped, I survived, and I am now in the throes of making the following:

Meals:

Chicken and rice soup with a tomato base, turkey sausage, and corn. This is lunches.
2 Salmon fillets (marked down). This is 4 dinners.
Baked tofu and green beans. Add peanuts to final cook, rice or quinoa if I'm in the mood. 2 Dinners.

Sides:

Roasted mushrooms (marked down & on sale)
Roasted pepper and carrots
Potatoes in the crock pot when the squash is done

I have a spaghetti squash but I'll save it for next week. It'll keep.

In the fridge is a large container of greens for salads.

Fruit this week:

Strawberries were on sale. I like to cut off the green leafy tops and chip them into a container, and let the juices meld. This helps the sometimes dry mid-winter hard strawberries you sometimes get If you add a pinch of sugar this also draws out the juices. If still hard or not too sweet you can quickly stir them in warm balsamic vinegar and a pinch of sugar. It's a fantastic way to serve them. If hosting, a nice dessert is to top it with a small dollop of whipped cream or a small dollop of vanilla ice cream and a basil leaf. Here is a recipe for strawberries and balsamic vinegar.

Mandarin oranges (on sale)
Red grapes (on sale)

The best way I've found to prepare tofu is to buy the extra firm. Then cut the brick in half. I use half at a time. It keeps a long while, just replace the unused half brick in a container with fresh water, cover, and put back in the fridge. I wrap the half brick in paper towels, put on a cookie sheet, and lay something medium heavy on it, to squeeze out the moisture. I say medium heavy because you want to get the water out but not so heavy you crush the tofu.

When dried out a bit, I cut into cubes. At this point you can toss lightly with cornmeal, Parmesan cheese, or bread crumbs. It makes a nice coated crunch when you bake the tofu.

When I'm ready to eat the tofu with green beans. I toss it all with soy sauce, or lemon juice, salt and pepper, and eat cold as a salad or hot.

Having to be lactose free and gluten free, it's sometimes a struggle to make sure I have enough protein and healthy food. It's a struggle because food prices are going up and up. I really search out the coupons from my grocery store they send me, the online weekly sale sheet, and the in-store sales. The peppers were on sale for 69 cents and carrots are always a good buy. Tofu goes a long way.

Proteins this week:

-chicken (already cooked and picked, $3.50).
-turkey sausage (on sale for $2.50),
-salmon fillets, marked down $3.50 each, (I split them so it's 4 meals for $1.75 each).
-tofu, $1.75

Just the protein alone was $15.

Gluten free bread is $5, and a half gallon of lactose free milk is $3. Produce is off the charts expensive. You see how things add up quickly. I've had to raise my weekly budget goal from $40 to $60.

I rarely shop anything from the middle of the store but some things are necessary, like the diced tomatoes I put into the soup, chicken broth, and of course hard goods like paper products and soaps, which I buy at the Dollar Store. This week on the marked down section of the health food shelves was a box of Kashi cereal that usually goes for $3.50 but was marked down to $1.29. It is gluten free cereal so I bought it.

I just be diligent with the coupons, try to resist most temptations, and see where else I can cut back. There's not a lot of places but there's always somewhere I can save a buck or two.

Enjoy the day and the week ahead. We have a three-day weekend coming, our "winter break" is next weekend. Saturday our church is hosting a movie in the morning and lunch afterwards: Brandon Kimber's American Gospel. Should be fun. Then Sunday Services and next Monday while off school I plan to write a lot.

Here are some photos from my week:

Daily Murray. Where is he? Oh, there he is, with his head in the lamp. Oy what a cat.

I didn't take this picture through a window and it isn't raining. I stood on the step and aimed the camera toward the spotlight illuminating the driveway. It's the freezing fog in the air that the lens captured. The NWS has a freezing fog advisory in effect. You might not see the freezing droplets hanging in the air, but the lens does.

That's OK, the kitchen's warm & cozy!

It got warmer during food prep. That's OK, it's below freezing outside. Top left, carrots & peppers, tofu cubes and green beans under that. Middle is the salon filets and the pot of soup. Bottom is mushrooms.

Have a great week!