learn from the masters
So many people believe they have no talent. They will say to me,”I’m not an artist.”
To which I respond. “You don’t have to be an artist to draw. You just have to learn the tricks”
Mary Beth, the high school art teacher reveals some things in her own bag of tricks.
I love red pears. They are hard to get when really ripe and don’t keep well. I got a few the other day and used one of them for dessert tonight. It was SO good and nice to have a warm dessert. Obviously quite ok to double etc as needed:
1/2 cup water
1/4-1/2 cup sugar
Bring water to boil and add sugar. Stir til dissolved. Reduce heat to simmer. Add, to taste, but don’t overdo:
cinnamon
ginger (I used fresh, I think I’d used dry ginger next time)1 pear peeled, and cut. I quartered the pear, removed the core bits and then cut each piece in half.
Simmer for 20 or so minutes until just tender. serve warm or cool.
I think even people who aren’t big pear fans would be thrilled with this, especially on a cool rainy day like today. Not overly sweet, not heavy, easy to make.
From the New York Times (requires free registration.)
Ferals have formed a little outlaw civilization in Riverside Park, just south of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. Every morning before dawn, while most humans in the neighborhood are still asleep, the dozen animals that comprise this pack emerge from the park and line up on the stone wall along Riverside Drive in anticipation of the arrival of their prime benefactor, a local doorman who feeds them wet food before his morning shift.
Don’t miss the slideshow
Today, Bill the Cat was outside for a few minutes to enjoy some air and a little grass, while I harvested a little more catnip. For a 19 year old he does pretty darn good. He’s seriously into head-butting and he’s not shy about demanding food or slapping around other catnip-imbibing cohorts.
And in other news, I just finished the top for my challenge piece. I’m liking it. I just can’t show you pictures or talk about it until later this month. Sorry.
The ever delightful, and turns out healthy, Suzette has words of wisdom for staying healthy this winter. She’s a wise woman and, like I said, she’s sniffle free at the moment while all around her sneeze.
I love it when a great quote pops up in the box at right:
Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon, everything’s different. — Calvin and Hobbes
If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.
