Monthly Archives: September 2009

Cereus Update

30 September 2009

cereusOne or two bloomed throughout last week but the biggest party happened Monday night. I think these flowers bloom based on daylight hours. In the Summer, they bloom closer to midnight. Now that the days are shorter, they bloom earlier in the evenings at around 10 or 11pm.

Playing Therapist

29 September 2009

These past few weeks, I’ve been counseling a friend about her on-again off-again relationship. I often have to temper what I really want to tell her with what I think might be more helpful. Usually, the first version of the email reads something like, “Yikes, head for the nearest exit!” Then I delete, and send this, “What is the outcome you’re looking for? Given, what you know, is it realistic?”

Sometimes, it seems clear to me what she should do given the circumstances but then I think, only the two people know the ins and outs of what’s going on so what do I know?? Basically, nix therapist from my list of “what I want to be when I grow up” because I haven’t the foggiest. By the way, they reunited and are happy again so I’m glad I didn’t tell her to give up!

Equinox

22 September 2009

Mayorga CoffeeAs mornings have gotten darker and chillier, resisting caffeine has gotten harder and harder, particularly when it comes in the form of aromatic-belly-warming deliciousness.

The coffee cravings are definitely stirring. Not to worry, I’m 6 pounds of beans prepared.

Sheesh now look what happened. All that talk of coffee and before I knew it, a pot was brewing. I don’t know how it happened!!

Cereus Blooms

21 September 2009

Our Cereus is riddled with blooms again.
Cereus BloomsI counted 18, maybe 19. It started out with over 20 but many of the buds didn’t finish forming before they dried out.
Dried Cereus Blooms

Thirsty

20 September 2009

TobascoAside from wine, I consider bloody mary’s a sort of health food of alcoholic beverages. There’s V8!

I just made one but it didn’t turn out as tasty as the last one I had last Christmas. Maybe I missed some key ingredient since I was limited to what I had around the house. V8, vodka, cayenne, and hot sauce. What’d I miss??

I just made a second one, this time with a bit of Worcestershire sauce. Thank you Internet, it’s better!

Disappearing Sun

18 September 2009

It’s not Fall yet but it’s feeling like it already. Yesterday, when the bus picked me up in the morning, it was dark and when it dropped me off in the evening, it was dark. Puts a damper in my mood.

Making naan… I mean phulka (?)

13 September 2009

I went to a classmate’s house for a group project this morning. This lady has a spoiled, grumpy-old-man sorta bichon frise. I’m leery of him and give him his space. Incidentally, he decided I was his friend today and tried to play fetch.

Meeting at her place with her mom and nanny around, we kept eating. First was a spiced rice with onion, scallion, cumin, tumeric, and mustard seeds. Tasty! Then we had Indian tea, which was probably the same as British, with sugar and milk. It was so rich almost like hot cocoa. On our way out, her nanny was making naan phulka (Indian friend corrected) for lunch and we got a little demo.

First, take a piece of dough and roll it into a ball and flatten it with your palms. Then roll it out into a flat round circle.
roll it out

Second, on a flat pan, roast the flattened dough.
roast

Third, and this is the fun part, you roast it right over the gas stove flame and it puffs up! I guess you have to have a gas stove for this.
Step 4: Toast and puff

And repeat!

First day of Autumn?

1 September 2009

This morning, I woke up because it was so chilly! Plus I had this horrible dream about trying to escape someone. He was holding a plate of salad to entice me and look like a kind person to the passersby. I had to recruit strangers to escape but they thought I was the nutty one since the salad-holder looked nice. Probably me internalizing the news about the girl kidnapped from Tahoe maybe. Crazy.

Last week, highs were in the upper 90s. This week, we’re looking at something closer to the upper 70s. It’s definitely turned Fall on us almost overnight. I wouldn’t be surprised if temperatures went back up but I’m enjoying this Fall weather teaser. That’s one of the good things about this area, the Autumn season.