The Grasshoppers

Yesterday, in a cold miserable rain, was the Houston, Texas Marathon, which is always on our calendar. Over the last twenty years a running group from my husband's Rotary Club has participated.(my husband Tom in the yellow coat). I am afraid that the passage of time has lessened their numbers. Rich, in the green shirt was the only one that ran this year. It was always easy to spot our guys, because they wear grasshopper hats. Some of our grasshoppers (we had at one time almost triple this number)  have  run marathons around the world. Boston, Mass. and Dublin Ireland come to mind.
Phil in the black coat, along with his wife Jenna, always host a well attended after marathon party, where there is lots of good food and sore feet! Good job Rich!

Glazed Carrots

Once a month we have dinner with a group of close friends. Whoever is hosting that month furnishes the entree and we bring either an appetizer, salad, vegetable or dessert. This month I chose to bring a vegetable. I found this easy recipe in my Southern Living Cookbook.

You cook, over a high flame, two pounds of baby carrots in chicken broth (14 oz can) until the broth is reduced to about a fourth of a cup. (approx. 8 mins.)

Stir in two tablespoons of butter and a 10 oz jar of pepper jelly (I used cranberry, jalapeno). Cook over low heat and additional five minutes.

and you have Pepper Glazed Carrots. How easy it that?

They were sweet, with a little bit of a kick to them. I thought they were a nice addition to Jean's Pork Tenderloin.  Have a wonderful Sunday.!

The Park

While in Chicago recently we found the perfect place for Tom to walk our daughter's dog. We were wondering if they checked I.D's? We also had to chuckle, thinking that maybe this was the only park that they were allowed to go to in the neighborhood? :) Have a wonderful Saturday!

On The List

We had the most beautiful weather yesterday, so I went out to lunch with one of my dearest friends. Along the way, we passed a new hospital on the west freeway that has the dubious distinction of making the list of one of Houston's ugliest buildings. I wouldn't go that far in describing it, but it certainly is unusual. It's the "thing" on top that has people talking. It's bad enough that it looks like it doesn't belong there, but it is not even centered. I felt sure that the first time I saw it, that the building wasn't finished, but apparently it is.....So maybe that is the air conditioning equipment on top (after all it's Houston here)? No, I understand it houses the executive offices.

Will We Know When It's Time?

I have pictured a clock today, because it's time I want to discuss. I wonder if we will know when it is time to no longer live on our own? Or, does it creep up on us? Do we think we are functioning okay, when actually we are not? I am not talking about myself...I am worried about our 92yr. old neighbor, Dan, who lives alone. His wife Janet died ten years ago of lung cancer.....don't get me started of the tragedy of cigarette smoking.

Dan's car is being repaired, because he backed out of the driveway, and over our next door neighbor's curbside mailbox...that has always been there.. So, he takes a taxi to a car rental agency, and rents a car. Yes, no questions were asked. Guess if you are allowed to have drivers license you can rent a car ? He parked it in his garage. Locked it, and went to bed. Problem is he left it running. Thankfully it is a detached garage and the carbon monoxide did not drift into the house. He came knocking on our door to ask my husband to drive him the the rental car agency, because he had locked the keys inside the running car....which he didn't discover until this morning. He had also misplaced his wallet. His children all live a thousand miles away...they have begged him to move there. But NO he wants to be independent...and continues to live alone.

Sorry, I am just venting....I hope I know when it is time...Suggestions welcome.

Just Waiting

 For the sun that is...Another blogger published a picture of her patio chairs up in Minnesota the other day. They of course were covered with snow. Mine are just sitting out in the rain...but rain is good . I keep trying to tell myself that, although the minute the sun disappears I start to groan.

The flu is everywhere at the moment, so to stay healthy and if you see the sun...send it down my way.

Eloise

Hanging on the wall of our home is a watercolor painting that is very dear to me. It was painted my  cousin . Eloise was my Mother's first cousin, making her my second cousin or is it my first cousin once removed? I never can get that straight!

What ever that makes her....she was very special to me. Eloise never married , and had the same job all of her life...to my memory. She worked at the Electric Company, secretary to the president is the position I remember. She also lived with, and cared for both of her parents until their deaths.  Eloise had many talents. She was a wonderful photographer and a talented artist. Gosh, she was even good with a sharp pair of scissors. I can remember Mother lining us up for Eloise to trim our hair. 

They had a huge pecan tree in their front yard and I have memories of helping her gather them.  I am sure there is a more proper name, but we called them paper shell pecans. They were large, meaty and easy to crack. The real masterpiece she painted for us is a large bluebonnet scene. It hangs in our cabin in Colorado (in the Texas Room). I will feature it this summer when we move to the mountains.

Eloise
1927-2007