Memories of Halloweens past

 October 1991

I was never very fond of Halloween, all this fuss...buying all this candy, dress the kids in silly costumes and rush after supper to go around the neighborhood houses to say " trick or treat " and beg for candy....But unlike how I felt, my kids loved that night. We would have supper early, they would dress up and they would fly out of door. Back then, we lived in a small town of 4,200 people and we knew almost all our neighbors up and down the street, they were our friends, our kids elementary teacher...people we knew and knew us.
After they would go to the end of the street and the Halloween bag would be almost full, they would return home, remove the costumes and wash their faces and then the joy oh the joy. Both of them they would sit on the carpet and start dividing the candy in little mountains....here the hard candy, there all the little chocolates, here the lollipops...there the pencils (yes they were happy for these too) and the pop...and eat a few treats and feel oh so...so happy... And the next day they would start again...start the same game...dividing and eating some candy...and the next and the next...It is funny I don't ever remember them getting sick...and they were oh so...so happy!!!

Mixed media, cards

Eye Candy Friday

Does anyone know what is the name of this plant with these white berries ?

photo:Ziniania

Green bean stew or (fasolakia prasina me saltsa in greek )

Photo:Ziniania

The rainy and cool weather has left me without a lot of creativity . I don't feel like taking pictures in the rain, I don't have any ideas for art .....but we do have to eat every day and because I tend to favor the vegetarian cuisine and as the Greek cuisine has plenty of vegetarian fair.....here you go.... a very simple but delicious way to eat green beans.

1 1/2 pounds green beans washed, trimmed, and cut in half
1 large onion diced
1 clove of garlic minced or 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
1 large tomato diced
3 small red potatoes peeled and cut in slices
3-4 Tbsp tomato paste
1 cup of water to dilute the tomato paste
4 springs of parsley chopped
1/2- 3/4 of a cup olive oil (we from the Mediterranean regions love our olive oil)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large sauce pan you add the olive oil and you sauté the onion, the garlic or  powder for 1-2 minutes until nice and fragrant, then you add the green beans and you turn them with your spatula so they mix with the onion and the garlic. You add the potatoes the parley, the diced tomato the water with the tomato paste, the pepper and you cook in a medium heat for 10-15 minutes and then you turn the heat to low and you let cook slowly for 30-45 minutes until the sauce thickens and the beans are fork tender. I add the salt at the end.

Again you can always accompany this dish with fresh bread, feta cheese , olives and some hard boiled eggs if you want.

Do we need to disguise ourselves to get closer?

Maya Angelou's quotes

My good prairie friend send me an e-mail with M. Angelou's quotes from an interview with Oprah, that took place in April of 2000 and I thought that It would be a good idea to share them with you.

'In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.
And, there on television, she said it was 'exciting...'
Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day.....like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist first.

The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:
  
'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back...'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug or just a friendly pat on the back...'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but  people will never forget how you made them feel.'

 

Vegetarian bean soup

photo: Ziniania

2 cups white navy beans
1 large onion chopped
1 clove of garlic minced or 1 tsp garlic powder
2 carrots diced
2 pieces of celery diced
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Rinse the beans and soak them overnight in enough cold water to cover. The next day
place the beans with their water in a large saucepan and boil until tender adding a little water if necessary . Empty beans in a sieve and throw the water. In the same saucepan add the
olive oil and sauté, the carrots, the celery, the onion, and the garlic until fragrant and translucent.
Add the beans, the bay leaves, the paprika, the parsley, the tomato sauce with enough hot water to cover them and simmer over low heat for 1:30 hours until creamy.
You can accompany the soup with, fresh bread, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, tomato slices and some sardines or any other canned fish of your preference.

Eye Candy Friday

photo:Ziniania

http://www.downtownalmonte.ca/


Almonte is a quaint little town of 4,611 people, 20 minutes by car from where I live and I love to visit it!
These beautiful houses with their meticulous gardens were an invitation for a photograph. A nice photo to transport me away, from the rainy and gray day we are having today.

Auto portrait Ziniania

Pencil , 9x6 inches

Ten on Tuesday

Ten things I did this Weekend:

1. Had a nice breakfast.
2. Went for a beautiful walk around my neighborhood.
3. Talked with my Kids on the phone.
4. Did an art project that didn't turn out so good.
5. Worked in the garden and enjoyed the sun.
6. Read the papers.
7. Went for a bike ride to look at the beautiful colors.
8. Cooked Thanksgiving dinner for two.
9. Enjoyed some pie.
10. Watched my favorites shows on TV.

Good morning, with dancing around the world !

Pumpkin

soft pastels, 11x11 inches

Autumn colors

At the beaver pond life is calm, the sky and the water are this beautiful blue that you can see on autumn days, the leaves crunch under your feet, the trees are turning orange, red and yellow and the geese are happily swimming around, diving and being noisy.Lovely October days!!!

photos: Ziniania

Hummingbird

charcoal, 8X6 inches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird