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Monday, May 18, 2020

Rained all day

I have an appointment Thursday for a haircut. I feel like I've seen their board and haircuts are up a dollar. But how could I see it? Ann told me she raised every price a dollar.

Getting back to business is so weird.  Wisconsin has no guidelines she knows of. Ann has every other kennel empty, and she has staggered arrival times to not overlap. But, Memorial Day approaches, and she has only received twenty reservations. In the past all forty kennels have been reserved, with a waiting list.

Two books I've finished lately deserve a mention. Tonight I finished Scribbling the Cat, by Alexandra Fuller. It is, I think, her third book I've read. Another compelling read; she is a fine writer. 

The first book, Don't let's go to the dogs tonight, is obviously shaped by Africa's many recent wars and long standing oppression.  But very much from a child's perspective. Scribbling is how the participants fill in the hollows of their lives, if they can. She goes on an odyssey with two or three soldiers of the war; four if you count her as one, too. Another good and frequently compelling read.

Before that I read Officer Clemmons, Francois Clemmons, only just released. I put myself on a waiting list to buy it. This is a book that makes me want to rage, or cry hopelessly. Clemmons was mentored throughout his career by Fred Rogers. I would have read it in one sitting, except I started it in the afternoon. I overstayed my bedtime as it was.

I had a good dinner tonight (and a quarter of my blueberry crostata). Last night's from scratch dinner was not too appealing, except for a quarter of the blueberry crostata. It was noodles, asparagus and mushrooms and onions and garlic in a buttermilk rue. I only made it because of the buttermilk I continue to have left from making cornbread.

The remainder did not go in the freezer because I knew full well I would not work on resuscitating it. So tonight I brought the skillet up to sizzle and turned all those noodles brown and crispy. I sliced a cucumber in another dish and called it supper.

I keep getting happy notes about the crostata. I've made three, to date. I also bought a little jug of clotted cream, but have not yet picked a worthy crostata. I have a couple of apples to turn into a crostata. I cut them into four pieces and make them last four nights. Otherwise......

The last of my mother's day flowers, plus an allium from outdoors. It suffered a tragic accident.



35 comments:

  1. Beautiful flowers.
    The crostata...I bought phyllo dough. I made a mess of it with some blueberries in the middle. I ate it, but I wouldn't put it on the table at a dinner party. lol

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    1. I don't know what phyllo is for, except maybe baklava.

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    2. I don't know what phyllo is for, except maybe baklava.

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    3. Phyllo dough has no butter, no fat, flaky when baked vs puff pastry, that I forgot to buy, has lots of butter, airy when baked

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    4. Try spanokopita if you like spinach.

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  2. I'll check out the newly read books of yours. I like the end of your flowers. They still look lovely. Hair salons here have been closed for a couple of months. I think they'll be getting back to business soon but they need to reopen with social distancing in place. I don't know quite how that will look.

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  3. I am so lucky that Jim and I can cut my hair. It's a straight line across the bottom, so no talent required there. His hair is easy, it's a number three clipper guard, shear him like a sheep!

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  4. Now that more shops are opening up I imagine we will see many prices going up. Most businesses are opening around here now but I almost feel like you should call before going to any just to check the rules. I would always carry my mask but now there are many places that let people in by appointment only. It's a different world we have to learn for now but I guess we should be grateful they are doing anything to be cautious! Officer Clemmons sounds like a good book but also a tearjerker.

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  5. Hair salons here where I live in California are still closed, we tell each other on Zoom we are all looking like hippies, long and shaggy hair. Since I can't go out to socialize who cares, ha ha. Officer Clemmons sounds interesting.

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  6. Hari OM
    Our lockdown (Scotland) continues another couple of weeks or so before some easing. Just some... I discovered I have some ready-made pastry in the freezer compartment. No fruit though... may have to do a savoury crostata... &*> YAM xx

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  7. Your flowers have lasted well, sorry to hear the allium had an accident.
    I'm not bothering with haircuts anymore, let it grow long and blow free. It's past my collar now.

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  8. I will check out your book reviews. People are getting out here, more people so far to get a haircut with 120 minute waits than to sit down for a meal. I would imagine people are waiting to see what happens next but they want to make sure their hair looks good for it.

    Betty

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  9. I've made several blueberry crostatas...wonderful !! My husband wants me to try an apple version next... so I came home with three Granny Smith apples from the grocery store. As for the raise in hair salon's prices... can't be as bad as the rise on grocery store items!!

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  10. Your crostatas sound excellent.
    Yay for a haircut. I felt totally rejuvenated after mine - and could see again.
    And a big yay for reading.

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  11. Glad to hear that you were able to get an appointment with a hairdresser. I suspect that many business will have to raise prices a little as they try to recover from weeks of closure,

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  12. Alexandra Fuller is an amazing writer. That's what I think.
    Your crostatas inspired me a few weeks ago. I didn't make a crostata but a fruit pie with a sort of crumble top. It had blackberries, cherries, and apples in it and it was one of the best desserts I've ever made. I had made a quiche and with the leftover dough I simply rolled it out and put it in a pie plate to keep for a day or two and so that's what I used. So thank you for that.

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  13. They have not opened hair salons yet in PA. Even it it was opened, I think I would wait awhile to see how things go and when I feel comfortable about being close to a person. Nobody sees me anyway and if my family comes by for a social distance visit in the yard, I’ll wear my hat.

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  14. We seem to be missing much of the rain that you have been getting down thataway. I read that Chicago has already surpassed their average May total.

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  15. I need a haircut so badly, it’s shameful! I expect a price increase here too.

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  16. getting back to business is weird. I went to yoga last night and was very nervous about doing so which I attributed to the new habit of going nowhere for 9 weeks straight. I still have the remnants of my mother's day flowers too, a little clutch of hot pink carnations.

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  17. My hair is long and shaggy but I'm waiting to get a haircut until the numbers are better.

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  18. Thank you for the reminder of Scribbling the cat- "dogs" has always been an absolute fave!! We have adapted rather well to the stay at home and take precautions going out, I like the trend.

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  19. Thanks for the recommendation about "Office Clemmons". I have placed a hold on it at my local library, altho, it is not available yet. Sounds like a wonderful book. I will have to try Alexandra Fuller also. I love to get book suggestions! Thanks so much!

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    1. I am hooked on Fuller. Somehow I've read them in something like chronological order.

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  20. When I finally get a haircut, I shall be quite happy to pay double the usual price to make up for all their lost trade - and my extra long hair. My last haircut was on January 17.

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    1. So was mine, January 7th (I looked back to see!) Mel definitely gets twice the tip, minimum.

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  21. Into San Jose for a hospital appointment for Leo on Friday...I shall make a bolt to the wholesale market to see if my hairdresser is back at work yet. Three pounds - equivalent - for a super haircut. I am beginning to look like Struwwelpeter.

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  22. -sweet, little flowers left over from Mother's Day. -good to read you're still enjoying the crostatas. I can't imagine ever going to a hair salon again. Things are getting shaggy around these parts.

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  23. I'm going to try your crostata with blueberries and peaches.

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  24. Hope the haircut goes well. Everyone but Mrs. Shife was able to get their hair cut today. She is jealous because she has to wait until Friday. Take care.

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  25. So I decided to Google Officer Clemmons due to your intriguing remark about the book, and have come away from the wikipedia article with my high regard for Fred Rogers somewhat tarnished. I expected better from him, but I suspect it was his religious side that caused him to give the Officer such dubious advice about marriage "fixing" his homosexuality. Humph and bah.

    I laughed at your comment about not putting bad leftovers in the freezer. It's a good piece of advice. Freezing them just postpones their trip to the compost.

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  26. Those Mother's Day flowers were so pretty (just viewing them in your previous post). Nice to see that some of them have lasted so long. I have blueberries in the freezer. I think I am going to have to try this crostata.

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  27. Wish we were getting some of that rain. It's getting too hot and dry around here. The forest fires have started already.

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  28. Pardon my lack of attendance in this forum. Feels good to check in with you. I think of you often, when I'm drying my hands. Appreciative every time. Love seeing your book choices. Are you on Goodreads? So very different than mine, but I'm always looking for new authors and new titles. It has been hard for me these past few months to read novels. Reading poetry and short stories. Essays, but something about the unknown long-term of things seemed to coincide with the long term of a novel. Hmmmm. Will look back to catch up with you. And, let me say this --- totally weird that I was thinking yesterday that I should learn how to make a crostata. Another hmmmm.

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    1. It's great to have you drop by. Try Officer Clemmons. It's like a poem.

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