The Sun Sets on Another Year

Good Bye, '09... and thank you to all the various fellow artists, photographers and general outdoor lovers who stopped by to look in or leave comments in the past year. I have discovered many interesting people from all over the world and seen a lot of great work that I would otherwise never have experienced, if not for starting up this blog just over one year ago.

Sometimes when I sense a nice sunset and I have nothing else pressing to do, I drive over to the beach that is a few minutes from where we live, just to see what might happen. I usually don't bother to take my camera because I see this all the time (especially in the winter months) and there's no real "subject" per se, just the ocean and the sky in their simplicity. I did happen to have a camera a few days ago when I shot this exceptionally nice one, just for fun. It seemed like an appropriate fade out for my last post of the year. Here's hoping for good things to come in 2010.

Check out the fantastic scenes from SkyWatchers all over the world here, and see you all next year!

Why?

I thought that you were suppose to talk to your flowers, not the other way around. . .

Catfish Classique!

When you are married to a Southern man, catfish is one of those things that are inevitable in life. Personally I was a little afraid of catfish. I had this visual image in my head of a giant fish with whiskers, and for all I know, that is actually what catfish DO look like before they make it to the seafood counter at the supermarket. Or maybe they look like this.

Only with fins. One way or the other, I procrastinated as long as possible. And then one day I ran across this recipe, which involved both shrimp and vermouth cream sauce, along with some deep-frying, and I figured it was now or never. So off I went to Fairway, where catfish was on sale (yes!!) and picked some up. It looked like, well, fish. This recipe calls for coating the catfish in a milk/egg/flour batter and frying it until it is golden and beautiful. Then you quickly saute some nice big shrimp in garlic and butter, and finish up by whisking some vermouth, lemon juice and cream into the shrimp drippings until you have a gorgeous thick sauce. A little red pepper for some zing, and then you are ready to assemble. Catfish, topped with shrimp, topped with sauce, topped with some chopped scallions. I put some roasted string beans on the side, invited the grandparents for dinner and it was catfish time.

Guess what?

Here is how I felt after taking just one bite.

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Or an old cat. Or something. Or maybe the moral of the story is, cream sauce and deep-frying making everything right with the world. One way or the other, I'll be making this one again...give it a try. In the meantime, Happy New Year to all of you, and I'll be back next year. See you then!

CATFISH CLASSIQUE, from Southern Living Homestyle Cooking

• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground red pepper
• 4 6 ounce catfish filets
• Vegetable oil
• 12 large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
• 1/4 cup vermouth
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• Lemon wedges

1. Combine egg and milk in shallow dish until blended.

2. Combine flour, one teaspoon salt and one teaspoon red pepper in another shallow dish.

3. Dredge catfish in flour, then milk mixture, then flour again.

4. Pour two inches of oil into dutch oven or deep frying pan and heat to 375. Fry filets, two at a time, for six minutes or until golden. Drain on paper towels and keep warm.

5. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp and garlic and cook for 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Remove shrimp and keep warm.

6. Add vermouth to skillet, bring to a boil and cook one minute. Add cream, half of scallions, lemon juice, remaining salt and pepper and cook sauce 15 minutes or until thickened a little, stirring often.

7. Place catfish on plates, drizzle with sauce. Top with shrimp and sprinkle with remaining scallions. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve. Meow.

Click here for printable recipe.

Colleen Atwood designed costumes from the musical movie Nine...

Director Rob Marshall's movie Nine based on the seven time Tony Award-Winning Broadway Musical stars a whole host of Hollywood's finest female stars including Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotilard, Sophia Loren, Judi Dench and Fergie. It also features beautiful costumes for the actresses and cast to wear.

Actual costumes from Nine on display at ArcLight Sherman Oaks

These three dazzling outfits were on display at ArcLight Sherman Oaks cinema in L.A. on December 27, 2009.

Nine movie poster

In the movie Daniel Day-Lewis plays a famous Italian film director, 'Guido Contini', who is facing a midlife crisis in both his personal and professional life.

He struggles to find the inspiration and creativity to create his latest movie through his relationships with the women in his life, his wife, Luisa (Marion Cotillard), his mistress, Carla (Penelope Cruz), his film star muse, Claudia (Nicole Kidman), his mother (Sophia Loren), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), a prostitute from his youth, Saraghina (Fergie) and an American fashion journalist from Vogue, Stephanie (Kate Hudson).

Two of the costumes from the exhibit were worn by Kate Hudson's character in the movie.

Kate Hudson's black sequined dress from Nine

The sequined black dress on display was worn by Kate Hudson in the 'Overture Delle Donne', which is the female ensemble at the beginning of the movie, and also features prominently in one of the film posters for Nine (along with a pair of thigh-high back boots that complete the outfit).

Nine film poster

Nine's costumes are designed by Colleen Atwood, who was also responsible for the wardrobe design in Public Enemies and director Rob Marshall's cinematic version of Chicago.

The other fabulous dress that Kate Hudson wore was this shimmering outfit for the film's ensemble finale, which she also wore with white thigh-high boots.

Actual movie costume worn by Kate Hudson in Nine

Nine movie poster

The third outfit on display in the middle of the costume exhibit is a Folies Bergere inspired piece.

Original Folies Bergere dancer costume for the movie Nine

In the movie you see Dame Judi Dench, who plays costume designer, 'Lili la Fleur', working on a similar sequined and feathered number on a mannequin. Then multiple dancers can be seen wearing similar beautifully detailed costumes during the 'Folies Bergere' song performed by Judi Dench.

Colleen Atwood designed costume from Nine

Buy the movie in the USA: Nine [Blu-ray]

Buy the original movie soundtrack in the USA: Nine

Santa Was Very Very Good to Me

Okay, this post may be a little late, but whatever it's still true. Santa was very good to me this year.

Thanks to Santa I am no longer a computerless blogger!! I am a proud owner of a HP laptop. . . that I have yet to take out of the box. . . yeah, it has joined my new t.v. in my mother's closet until I get over my technophobia. . .

A technophobe blogger, who would have thunk it!

2009 Resolution Recap

Back in January I made some resolutions for the year. With the year coming to a close it's time to go back and see just how well I did. . .

Resolution #1 - Be healthier

Sorta - I am paying attention to my health more, and the actual desire to be healthy is there, but I am no where near where I should be at this point.

Resolution #2 - Organize. . . EVERYTHING

Sorta - a little here, a little there

Resolution #3 - Take a class

FAIL - I did look into it pottery class and a glass fusing class, but never got around to signing up

Resolution #4 - put (build??) a brick or paver patio in the back yard

Completed and then some!

Resolution #5 - read a book

FAIL

Resolution #6 - Get crafty

Yeppers - most of my Christmas gifts this year were homemade

Resolution #7 - Make a Plan

Oh, I so got this one - I made more plans than I know what to do with - I just can't share them at the moment (remember the first rule of Fight Club)

so if you're keeping score that's 2 Fails, 2 Sortas, & 3 Completions - not to bad if I do say so myself.

So how did you all do with your resolutions? Were you a champ? Or were a bit wishy washy like me?

Treasure Box Wednesday: 40s Finds and Push-Button Magic

While shopping malls bustle with holiday-goers looking to return that itchy Christmas sweater for something they're really going to use, I usually end up hitting the long and winding road of Route 30 for a thrifting extravaganza.

Not only do I manage to avoid the hustle and bustle, but quite often I find the fortune of vintage goodies.

At the L&L Fleatique in Adamsburg-- one of my favorite haunts-- I came across this small and nifty McCoy vase from the 40s...
I particularly like McCoy from this era, as many of the vases have an organic, art nouveau art pottery feel, with fruit, nuts, berries and leaves incorporated into the designs.

At the same indoor flea market, I uncovered this Depression era ceiling fixture, which is very similar in color and general style to my downstairs chandeliers...

I'd like to use it at the end of my entryway hall, before my bookcase, where it gets a bit dark. It should showcase the ol' leatherbound classics nicely. And at just $5, how could I go wrong? It cost more than that during the Depression!

At the Red, White and Blue thrift store on Route 51, I snagged this pink fringed lampshade...
Amusingly, an elderly male customer there stopped me to tell me he highly approved. It's true, folks, that when you see decent fringed shades second-hand like this, it's not a bad idea to pick them up. They don't come cheaply if you have to special-order them. In fact, they can cost far more than your lamp!

And then there's another Fleatique find... This large, satin 1940s Valentine, still in its original box...
Yep, you know a Valentine has to have been a big deal when it comes in a decorative box and not an envelope. And as we look in the inside, as well as out, we see there's a lot of "Darling"-ing going on here...
We just don't do it like that anymore, do we?

Lastly, I'd wanted to just share a little home improvement success with you all-- and maybe spread the empowerment your way. For a long time, I'd had a very bent, almost unusable dimmer switch in my livingroom. First the dimmer knob broke, and a bad incident with the replacement caused the switch itself to bend.

I'd noticed that VanDyke Restorers had reproduction push-button switches with dimmers built into them. So since I have some of these original switches, I thought I'd order one of the repros and have it installed.

But-- with a hands-on tutorial from my dad over Christmas (because who doesn't do electrical work on the holidays, right? :) ) I was able to actually install the thing myself...
I need to fill in some paint where the old switchplate was now, but the whole thing works like a charm. So for my female readers who weren't sure whether they could do this sort of thing, I can tell you, it is possible. (Make sure you turn off the power to the switch first, so it's perfectly safe, and the rest is pretty darned easy!)

Three cheers for girl power!

Anyway, that's it for the Treasure Box this week. I hope you all had an excellent Christmas, if you celebrate, and to everybody, I wish you a fan-tab-u-lous New Year! Be safe, and I'll see you in 2010!

Treasure Box Wednesday: 40s Finds and Push-Button Magic

While shopping malls bustle with holiday-goers looking to return that itchy Christmas sweater for something they're really going to use, I usually end up hitting the long and winding road of Route 30 for a thrifting extravaganza.

Not only do I manage to avoid the hustle and bustle, but quite often I find the fortune of vintage goodies.

At the L&L Fleatique in Adamsburg-- one of my favorite haunts-- I came across this small and nifty McCoy vase from the 40s...
I particularly like McCoy from this era, as many of the vases have an organic, art nouveau art pottery feel, with fruit, nuts, berries and leaves incorporated into the designs.

At the same indoor flea market, I uncovered this Depression era ceiling fixture, which is very similar in color and general style to my downstairs chandeliers...

I'd like to use it at the end of my entryway hall, before my bookcase, where it gets a bit dark. It should showcase the ol' leatherbound classics nicely. And at just $5, how could I go wrong? It cost more than that during the Depression!

At the Red, White and Blue thrift store on Route 51, I snagged this pink fringed lampshade...
Amusingly, an elderly male customer there stopped me to tell me he highly approved. It's true, folks, that when you see decent fringed shades second-hand like this, it's not a bad idea to pick them up. They don't come cheaply if you have to special-order them. In fact, they can cost far more than your lamp!

And then there's another Fleatique find... This large, satin 1940s Valentine, still in its original box...
Yep, you know a Valentine has to have been a big deal when it comes in a decorative box and not an envelope. And as we look in the inside, as well as out, we see there's a lot of "Darling"-ing going on here...
We just don't do it like that anymore, do we?

Lastly, I'd wanted to just share a little home improvement success with you all-- and maybe spread the empowerment your way. For a long time, I'd had a very bent, almost unusable dimmer switch in my livingroom. First the dimmer knob broke, and a bad incident with the replacement caused the switch itself to bend.

I'd noticed that VanDyke Restorers had reproduction push-button switches with dimmers built into them. So since I have some of these original switches, I thought I'd order one of the repros and have it installed.

But-- with a hands-on tutorial from my dad over Christmas (because who doesn't do electrical work on the holidays, right? :) ) I was able to actually install the thing myself...
I need to fill in some paint where the old switchplate was now, but the whole thing works like a charm. So for my female readers who weren't sure whether they could do this sort of thing, I can tell you, it is possible. (Make sure you turn off the power to the switch first, so it's perfectly safe, and the rest is pretty darned easy!)

Three cheers for girl power!

Anyway, that's it for the Treasure Box this week. I hope you all had an excellent Christmas, if you celebrate, and to everybody, I wish you a fan-tab-u-lous New Year! Be safe, and I'll see you in 2010!

Happy Holidays and all that bollocks

Tis a few days after Christmas now and I hope those that celebrate this time of year did indeed have a nice time? Or at least managed to get through it without killing anyone....

Read more »

Scrambled Eggs with Salmon and Herbs

There they are. My adorable little La Crueset individual crocks. Get used to them because I have about one million upcoming ideas of things to make in them. Portion control and loveliness, all in one serving piece -- I can hardly stand it.

Tonight our little red crocks are featuring eggs that are scrambled with milk, cream cheese, some chopped herbs and ribbons of smoked salmon, with toasted brioche circles. (I feel like the maitre d at a posh Upper West Side of Manhattan brunch place!). You'd never know that this swanky comfort food came together in about 15 minutes, but oh yes it did. Here's my favorite trick to this recipe -- put the little crocks in the oven while you are making the eggs, and they will be all nice and toasty warm when the eggs are ready to be popped into them. And okay, if you haven't yet gotten your own set, you can use any oven-safe plate or bowl. I'm pretty sure they will taste ALMOST as good.

Last but not least, I know the picture looks like this can not possibly be enough to keep the Southern husband from getting hungry an hour after he eats, but this recipe is rich enough that a crock-full is actually the perfect amount. Yum, yum. Give it a try and see what you think.

SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH SALMON AND HERBS, from La Crueset

• 8 large eggs
• 8 slices challah or brioche bread
• 4 pieces smoked salmon, cut into ribbons
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (chives, tarragon, parsley)
• 1/2 stick butter
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• Salt and pepper

1. Heat 4 serving dishes in 300 degree oven while preparing eggs

2. Cut circles out of bread slices with cookie cutter or top of glass. Toast until golden.

3. Whisk eggs with milk and half of the herbs.

4. Melt butter in frying pan over low flame. Add eggs and cream cheese and cook for 4 minutes, stirring from time to time. Add salmon and cook without stirring for one more minute. Salt and pepper to taste.

5. Put one toast circle on each plate or in each bowl. Divide eggs among plates. Scatter remaining herbs on eggs and top with remaining toast circle. Serve immediately.

Click here for printable recipe

No More Pink Door?

It has been less than 18 months since I painted my house chartreuse and my front door flamingo pink, colors I had fallen in love with and picked out long before I had even had a house.

As much as I loved my color choices, my dad has hated them, but because it was my house he didn't complain. Now there is some work being done to the house that will cause the repainted of part of the exterior. So now I have options - should I stick with my super bright house and pink door, or should I throw my dad a bone and go with something new that would be more to his liking. Before you go and say "hey, it's your house not his" I will point out that 1) he is the one doing all the work to my house, and covering some on my supplies, 2) my house is wicked small so repainting the entire thing would only take a few hours (that includes multiple coats), and 3) I wouldn't repaint with a color I didn't like as well.

Right now I am thinking about these colors from Glidden for the walls:

Amethyst Haze


Grey Heather


Lavender Cloud


Polished Pewter


Warm Grey Flannel


Smokey Mauve


And maybe Black Mahogany for the front door


I would keep the trim white.

What do you all think? Am I completely nuts for even thinking about it?