Guacamole Salad

Ingredients:

3 medium avocados, peeled and seeded
1 small onion (red, yellow, or white—may use spring onions or shallots)
1 ½ tspn soy sauce or similar flavoring
2 or 3 tblspns balsamic vinegar
freshly ground pepper, black or white (to taste)
lime juice from ½ lime

ripe tomatoes, sliced or diced
fresh alfalfa sprouts

Method:

Put first six ingredients in a blender or VitaMix and puree to desired smoothness. (You may want to leave it somewhat chunky, or completely smooth.) Place tomato on a plate and arrange alfalfa sprouts on top of tomatoes. Drop a large dollop or two of the avocado mixture on top of the sprouts.

Makes a nice complement to grilled shrimp, fish, or chicken. It's nice all by itself with fresh, crusty bread, too, for a very light lunch.

The Lizard in our Basement

When the outside temperatures get below 50 degrees F, my husband brings his citrus trees into the basement and places them under some full-spectrum lights in front of a sunny window to live all winter. This little lizard came in with the trees this year. He's the cutest thing. I disturbed his sleep to take this photo. I had hoped to catch him sleeping, but he opened his little eyes just the merest bit to see what was going on. He lives in the trees down there, and catches who knows what. Spiders and flies, I guess. He seems happy, and my husband, softie that he is, calls him "my lizard." Awww. I've become rather attached to the little thing, myself.

URGENT NEED

I have a very dear friend who has an urgent need right now. Her name is Elizabeth Riggs, and she has suffered decades of constant pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromalgia. She currently is disabled to the point that even standing is difficult. Recently she acquired an assistant dog, Emmy, from PAALS on the condition that she raise $7,000, which amounts to about one third of Emmy's training, vet care, and upkeep. Emmy came home with Elizabeth this past September, after an intensive two-week training for both Elizabeth and Emmy--at further cost to Elizabeth. Now that Emmy is home with Elizabeth, she helps by picking up Elizabeth's cane, keys, cell phone when she drops them. Emmy helps steady Elizabeth when she gets out of bed or up from a chair. Emmy helps by pulling the laundry basket for Elizabeth, taking clothes out of the dryer, and by turning on lights when they go into a room. Before Emmy came, Elizabeth couldn't even walk down her driveway to get the mail; now she can do that! Recently Emmy literally saved Elizabeth's life by steadying her when Elizabeth suffered an episode of vertigo at the top of a long flight of stairs! Emmy is also learning how to call 911 on a special phone in case of that need. I cannot stress strongly enough that Elizabeth needs Emmy in her life--for her physical well-being and safety, and for her spirit. You can read all about this on Elizabeth "Living With the Woof" blog. If Elizabeth is not able to come up with her full $7,000 obligation to PAALS by the end of January, 2009, she will lose Emmy. Emmy will have to go to another person. This will be devastating to Elizabeth on so many levels, and Emmy will also be traumatized because Emmy and Elizabeth have bonded with each other and have become a true team. I know times are tough for everyone these days, and especially in this economy. However, if you can at all, please, please consider making a donation in Elizabeth's name to PAALS. You can donate from the website, and please make sure that you note on your donation that it is "for Elizabeth Windy Riggs' dog Emmy."

Elizabeth has been and is such a help to everyone who knows her. She has been a particular help to me over the past couple of years when I was going through a most difficult time, and she helps everyone she meets without discrimination, and she helps when she needs help herself. She encourages and supports daily when she herself could use the same encouragement and support. She constantly gives of herself to so many people. Now it's time for us, her friends the recipients of her love and support, to do what we can to help her. Please send a donation of whatever you can in her name.

The Wisdom of Age

Today is my 60th birthday, and already some friends are commenting on all that "wisdom" I've gained over the years. Of course, these friends are as much as 15 - 20 years younger than I am. Well, I surely don't feel like I've gained any wisdom--a lot of experience, yes, but wisdom? I'm not so sure. The only things I can say are:

1. If you have to ask yourself if what you are about to do is right, then it's not.
2. If you wonder if someone will be hurt by something you're about to say, don't say it.
3. People don't want to hear about your problems; they want to tell you theirs. Try to listen--with empathy even if it kills you, then go find your friend who's your own age and let'er rip.
4. Keep your advice to yourself. People won't believe you, and they're going to do what they want anyway. You did the same thing at their age. Be there to pick up the pieces without saying, "I told you so."
5. Try to find a friend or two who is your age or even a few years older so you can have a real conversation.
6. Don't wear large flower print dresses. For that matter, don't wear small flower print dresses. Dress all in one color, or at least at the same end of the spectrum! (Unless you're going to a Red Hat event.)
7. Wear sensible shoes and to yeck with the "fashion conscious" snobs. They don't have to worry about broken bones--yet.
8. Take long, slow walks in the sunshine and wind and be happy that you don't have to worry about a toddler running off from you.
9. Listen to music from the 1940's, 50's, and maybe some from the 60's if you want. If people leave the room in disgust, you can turn up the volume and actually hear it.
10. When someone complains, always start your response with, "In MY day....." ;)

That's about it, folks. Maybe I'll think of more stuff later, but I wouldn't bet the grocery money on it.

"Biggest" Moon in Fifteen Years

Last night the moon's orbit came to its closest point to the earth in fifteen years.  This, according to this article, is called its perigee.  Since the moon was full last night, it made it look something like 14% larger than usual, as well as brighter.  I suppose this event holds many allures for the scientist and astronomer; but, being neither, I just think looking at a full moon when it looks even fuller than usual is a beautiful event.  Actually, I had no idea this was happening until my husband called while he was driving from one office to another (yes, after dark--he works long hours) and told me to look outside.  The moon was hanging very low in the sky and shining for all it was worth.  I grabbed my camera hoping that I could capture something to show this once in over a decade happening.  It was still just light enough to be able to see trees as trees and not as black silhouettes (although they came out that way in the picture).  I'm quite happy with my picture even though it doesn't do justice to the size of the moon I saw.   I stood out there as long as I could stand the cold and just looked at it.  I'm glad my husband called me.  He knows I love beauty and nature.

Winter Storm

Last night the thunder crashed, the lightning flashed, the wind roared, and the weather radio pierced our sleep every 20 minutes or so with another severe weather warning. There were even a couple of tornado warnings in our county. For three hours this went on disturbing our much needed rest. This morning we found the earth swimming. Water is everywhere, even in the chickens' feeding station, which is covered and stays dry during most storms, and the piney forest is in tatters from the wind and rain. The woods has been quiet out here for the past several days--quieter than usual with a brooding silence that got on my nerves, but was a welcome relief to my dear husband, whose ears are daily assaulted with the incessant noise pollution of the city. This morning the quiet feels like the relief after an exhausting struggle. Not a breeze blows the dripping and tattered leaves left dangling on the trees. It's warm out, warm enough to bring out the critters and creepy crawlies that will keep my chickens happily scratching all day. But this will soon change to freezing temperatures and bring "snow flurries" after midnight tonight and possibly tomorrow, too. I expect to see a flake or two floating in the air. The water in the ground and on the streets will freeze early tomorrow morning and tomorrow night, and "winter" will be back again. We'll have a cozy fire in our heating stove, and snuggle and bask in its warmth. Such is "winter" down here in the deep South--never really winter for long, because Spring can never wait her turn, but comes in snatches, loosening winter's icy grip and stealing the earth's rest as the storm steals ours.