curds & whey

I made ricotta for the first time yesterday.

  It won't be the last time...

Well, she is a southern belle..

Jodi & Cezanne

Size Matters (?)

Over the years, I have been a bit bemused by people who seem to have a competitive attitude about the size of a dog. They either have/have had/know someone who has the largest (or smallest) dog. Sweet Acey is, has consistently been, 92- 97 lbs. throughout his 14 yrs. Some people see him as "what a BIG dog!"  Others have a story:  "Yeah, but so-and-so's Akita is HUGE! Twice as big as this dog!"  And, perchance you later meet "so-and-so's" dog and the dog is 75 lbs.

Regarding the Akita, those who know the breed know the Japanese, from whence the breed hails, didn't like the American "bigger-is-better" perspective and bred back their Akita, keeping a little smaller, more Spitz-like Akita...and giving the label Great Japanese Dog to the American Akita.  I had a 132 lb. Akita, Beloved Yukiko, who was amazing...agile as a mountain goat..and whom I'll miss all the days of my life.  In the sense that I prefer "big dogs" as my personal companions, I guess size matters.  But, that I have the BIGGEST?  Who could possibly care?? As for Ace:  I see him as a work of art; absolutely beautiful of spirit, mind and body.

Which brings to mind a funny little exchange a couple days ago while Ace and I were walking.  There was, across the street, a middle-aged couple walking a mouse on a lead...oh! Excuse me: I do believe it was a chiquaqua.  In common dog-walking etiquette, we acknowledged each other and, offered in the spirit of  a compliment, I called out, "I'm not sure why you have that lead...I think all you need is some thread!"  To my surprise, they seemed not one bit amused; looked at each other...gave me a sideways glance and no response...no smile...heads down, walked on.

Which, I must say, amused me even more.

..in the garden

pesto, anyone?

Good Day, Sunshine!

Amish paste tomato

yellow pear

Suspended perfection in process..

When I am an Old Woman, I Shall Wear Purple...(and, I now am; and, I do!)

~ jacaranda

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other peoples' gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickles for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

by Jenny Joseph

How do we find our way back to working together for the common cause...?

http://cdn.nolabels.org/facebook/01NoLabels.mp3

Little JJ