Noury's Creative World…

And you thought that only little boys liked trains.  Well…I better like them a lot, because I have six of them going almost next to my building on a daily basis.

This morning during my forced-to-walk there it was… one of them.  This time a cargo or freight train.  I cannot help it, but I get so excited that I run just to see them go by.  There’s something about a train.  Only thing that I am not so crazy about is when at 2:30 a.m., there goes one of them and the conductor probably wants to get even with the people who are sleeping, that he/she blows that whistle so hard and often, that one of these days I am going to come out and invite them to come right in and run the train through my apartment.  It might as well.  It is so funny, that I am laughing by myself at that time of the morning and  saying, “time to bless all the people who I know, let’s see who do I start with…” until all the noise and commotion leave the area.

So…it was today…March 15, 2012…a day to remember that yes, I do like trains…

Your Happy Contessa

“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.”  Anonymous

What do you do with old apples, totally ignored for over four months, because I am on a kick for cantaloupes right now; and a box of old dried raisins.

Well…if you are like me, I do not like to waste anything, and like to repurpose almost everything…do not like to throw things out…you become creative on a rainy day such as today.

You peel them, slice them, put them on a pan with nothing in it, add the raisins, some cinnamon, some sugar, a pinch of salt, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, little, little salt, and if you have crystallized ginger, just a bit.  Put all the concoction to simmer very low, because it has to create a steam, no fat whatsoever.  I do not have margarine, butter or even other regular oil.  Only extra virgin olive oil, and I did not think that was proper.  I put olive oil on everything I cook, except sweets.

After steering for a few times, whenever you see the apples are al-dente, just remove them from the pan and into a dish.  Sooo delicious.  I am planning to have some with my dinner.  That will be salmon, tabouleh and steamed apples.  So good for me also.

So…it was today…11th March, a day to have old apples repurposed.

Your Happy Contessa

“Can we ever have too much of a good thing?” Miguel De Cervantes, Spanish novelist, poet and playwright.  1547 – 23 April, 1616.

This is my bounty from a trip with my 90-year-old girlfriend to our Community Garden.  First, I couldn’t open the lock, even though the combination was in place.  Then a city employee was passing by and I asked him if the combination had been changed, so he called the city and the combination was correct.  Then…he did something magical…he pushed the top of the lock and voila…”open sesame”…we went into the garden.  The way I was doing it, probably I would have been 80+ still trying to open the gates.

There were lettuces, collard greens, peppers, flowers, cabbage, and lots of other eatables.  My girlfriend’s plot was kind of skimpy, but looked good.  I have my tomatoes, pepper and mint leaves for my tabouleh.  Can’t wait to prepare it.

Beautiful red leave lettuce.  Eating fresh in our neighborhood.  Sounds like a commercial, but love fresh.  I am signing in for next season!

So…it was today…8th March…a day of fresh surprises.

Your Happy Contessa

“Buy fresh, eat fresh,  be healthy and happy.”  Your Contessa.

Sometimes we take so much for granted.  The beauty of a flower, a rock, a scenery, and sometimes we even take friends, family and so many other things for…granted.

This morning during my whenever-I feel-like-it-walks, there was this scent in the air.  I kept my rapid pace, but stopped by some orange trees along my walk, to smell the blossoms on the trees.  What a miracle of nature.  That such a tree could be the origin of such a sweet aroma.  Went back home and got my ccc (cheap, chic camera) and got some pictures of the tiny flowers.  The one I chose is the one with another miracle of nature, the ever busy ants.  They are even mentioned on the Bible.  We should be a bit more like them, minding our business and storing for the leaner times.  How proper for these times.

Just wanted to share with you a moment of nature wonder during my walkabout.

So…it was today…March 7th…another beautiful day in paradise, as Ron used to say.

Your Happy Contessa

“Paint the walls of your mind with many beautiful pictures.”  William Lyon Phelps, American author, critic and scholar.  2 January, 1865 – 21 August, 1943.

Sometimes you don’t realize how much you miss people or places, until you have the opportunity to see them again.  This happened to me for the past two weeks, but yesterday was my wake up call.

Raylene and Richard, graceful North Carolinians, hope this is the way you call people from that beautiful state, came to visit for the afternoon and evening.  We had a few hiccups, like the police patrol to welcome them officially.  Let me explain.  Some moron threw an empty beer bottle into my car, making a very small dent, but I called the police because I do not want a repeat performance.  Needless to say, when the police car came that’s when Raylene and Richard arrived.  Took care of that business, and then later on, at their hotel there was a fire.  Some palm trees caught fire, probably from who knows what, so they had another ounce of drama there.

After all that excitement, there we went out to dinner and had a very pleasant evening.  Except that my favorite college basketball team was the loser for the day.  I still have my mouth wide open.

Let’s forget about all the unwelcome actions into our day.  Look at the yummy gifts they showed up with.  North Carolina on my mind.  My personal party started this morning with the peanut brittle.  Sooo good!!

I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit with them yesterday.  Also had the opportunity to have the pleasure of one of my good friends visiting with me from the Virgin Islands two weeks ago.  Friends are very, very special to me.  I am grateful for all and each one of them.  They are my angels on this earth.

Great week also because I reconnected with family I had not visited with for the last three years.  My grandchildren are so awesome and so loving.  Piano playing, sacking quarterbacks, dating, and so much more were the themes of discussion at dinner last Friday.  Great spaghetti also.

My life is full of blessings, and great people.  A toast to that!

So…it was today…4 March, 2012…a day to reminisce about the goodness around in my life.

Your Happy Contessa

“The older I get, the more I savor and treasure every present I receive.”  Eleanor McMillen Brown, American pioneer interior designer.  1891 – 1991.

While one of my dear friends was visiting with me this past week, I decided to go out and eat a French dejeuner, lunch, as we say here in America.

Garzon did not speak le Francais, so I had to teach him a few words.  When in the world am I going to practice my French?  Cannot go to Paris right now, or anywhere in France at the moment.  French class is too intense, and sometimes my senior neurons go flying with the absent muses.  All in combination to make me feel like I am in limbo.

Well…had grilled fish…you could taste the butter, the lemon and, surprise…the fish.  In some restaurants I have been to, not necessarily inexpensive, all you can taste is the freezer burn.  I have become a very picky eater.  The rice was crusty at the bottom, from the butter and oh, so flavorful.  The snow peas tasted like snow peas, very fresh along with the carrots.

One thing I must warn you, this is not for the “buffet crowd.”  Petit portions, very flavorful, but petit.  So for my already americanized senior stomach, there was space for le dessert.

Le tarte de pomme vert was delicieux!!!  Did not even want to share any of it, but after not seeing my good friend for over 25 years, I felt a bit generous.  One very small piece, though.

I highly recommend trying a good French restaurant, but remember, get some protein before you go, because portions are just right.  We are not used to that.  We like to eat with our hands, our eyes and with our mouths.  Not so with French cuisine.  You have been warned.

So…it was today…26 February…a day to reminisce about eating and speaking French.

Your Happy Contessa

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”  Julia Childs, an American chef, author and tv personality.  15 August, 1912 – 13 August, 2004.

Ronald Franklin Buttry

March 5, 1938 – February 25, 2009

“Ship off the coast,

of a faraway land,

holds thousands of turtles,

and a pirate who is grand.

He loves all his people,

and he brings them good cheer,

with a parrot on his back, a tune in his ear.

Ron Buttry is his name,

and a dream is what he’s got,

and he will keep on dreaming,

Never to stop.”

This was written by Milagros when she was in middle school for Ron on a Father’s Day, to honor his belief that in a previous life he was a pirate.

Ron, I am sure you are having a grand time in this stage of your journey, and at the same time taking care of your grand-daughter, Alice Riley, the littlest angel in heaven.

May this finds you all well and happy, as Ron used to say.

Your Happy Contessa

Needed to change the posting, because it will date the blog more obviously if I leave it with the St. Valentine’s Day message.  Hope you had a happy one.  I surely did.

The weather here is just beautiful…even though was in the high 20’s just the other night.  Yep, it gets chilly here sometimes.  We had a share of an Arctic blast.  Most of the time around this time of the year it is pretty perfect.   For my hair I may say.  By the way, thinking about changing the color of my hair.  Someone told me that maybe my face will look somewhat softer.  Boy, do I need to see what’s going on with my face.  I thought it was pretty good, but it seems I could use some softener.  Do you think dryer softener may help?  Now I have something new to worry about, but knowing the way I am, the features of my face (a/k/a wrinkles) will just go on as they are.  Have bigger and better priorities in my life right now.

Thinking about the precious gift of life.  We sometimes don’t realize how precious it is until there is some kind of a threat to our well being.  Have to take everything as it comes, because the cup of crapola for tomorrow is already being brewed somewhere in space.  Ready or not, here it will come.

Don’t sound too chipper you probably are thinking…the reality of the matter is that I am very tired right now and I am making things as I go…344 words…not that bad.  Been looking for my muses.  They were supposed to be somewhere here in Florida, but they must be further south…the Keys.  Have to do it on my own.

I will be keeping you updated with the saga of the new color of my hair.  Maybe a new do too.

So…it was today…14 February evening, 2012…a day to remember…it was a very good day.

Your Happy Contessa

“There is an essence of the divine in all living things, and each person is literally a microcosm of the universe.”  Gloria Steinem, American feminist, journalist and political activist.  25 March, 1934 -.

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud,  it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Loves does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

We should always have faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is LOVE.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

Your Happy Contessa

The above is from 1 Corinthians 13.4-8

I am trying to get distracted between now and the time that I have set to myself to have my salad, etc., for lunch.  Having a glass of water as a self-prescribed luxury before I send stuff to my aging stomach.

Did my walk, took some pictures, encountered some squirrels, Pepe and Pepita.  They send their greetings to their counterparts in North Carolina.

It is not the same here.  Of course things are never the same anywhere.  Thanks God for that, but sometimes we wish things would be the same in some instances.

Hair is having a bit of a fit.  Slight humidity in the air.  High yesterday was around 83 degrees.  Is someone or something trying to tell me something?  I am getting it!!!!

French classes are going tres bien, merci beaucoup!  It is getting very intense.  Guess the word for bacon…le lard.  How fitting!  Because that’s what we eat when we bacon for breakfast.  Yes, bacon is being used as a verb in this instance.  Studying passe compose.  That’s when my neurons take a leave of absence and I am left with only the gray matter, without the trimmings.

I will make it, ça va bien.

Just staying in touch for a short moment.  Hope all of you are doing well and are happy.

So…it was today…5 February, 2012.

Your Happy Contessa

“We have what we seek.  It is there all the time, and if we give it time, it will make itself known to us.”  Thomas Merton, 20th Century American writer and mystic.  31 January, 1915 – 10 December, 1968.