A Pinch Of This, And OH HELL NO TO THAT

"A recipe has no soul. 

You, as the cook, must bring soul to your recipe."

~Thomas Keller

As you know, I like to cook. But things are getting way to expensive to make the recipes I want to make. But here's the thing, it's just as expensive, if not more, to eat out! So, what's the solution? Well, eat at home, but it doesn't have to be boring! There are so many fantastic recipes available, why am I paying $8.79 for a Garden Salad, with Crispy Chicken, from, Jack In The Box? A Big Mac Meal is now $11.00! I refuse! But Like everyone else, I loved my fast food.

 A Big Mac, once in a while, was really enjoyable, but in the last few years I have watched big corporations take advantage of everything from the Covid-19 Virus, to Trump's idiotic tariffs. Prices have inched up to a noticeable degree since 2021, sigh, what can I do? If I just have to eat out, Olive Garden, and B.J.'s Brewhouse, both offer reasonable lunch menu specials, which tastes better, and dining in the restaurant, is so much more comfortable. Anyway, in favor of eating at home, here is a yummy menu I put together from recipes from the New York Times cooking section. I think it sounds delicious, and the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen!

Enjoy!

Roasted Chicken Provencal

Garlicky Mashed Potatoes

Chocolate Souffles

She's A Rainbow

"Life throws challenges, 

and every challenge comes with rainbows,

 and lights to conquer it."

~Amit Ray

World Peace: The Voice Of A Mountain Bird

The rainbow is from early this month, and it sure was fun to photograph. It had been a stormy day, and I was out in nature, trying to find some beauty. I didn't have much luck with the birds that day, and I was getting rained on, so we decided to head back home. While we were driving down HWY 5, the rainbow appeared across the highway. We pulled into In-N-Out Burger, to grab dinner, and that gave me time to snap a few photos of it. That's a pretty good time with nature I think. It's hard to feel down in the dumps when a rainbow crosses your path!

The Rolling Stones

She's A Rainbow

He's Sorry

 

"I justified my wrongs, Apology has lost it's song."

~Amogh Swamy

On my way to infinity: A Seekers Poetic Pilgrimage

Tucker Carlson is on an apology tour, having suddenly seen the light about Donald Trump, the way Marjorie Taylor Greene did! And he seems to think that by saying he's sorry,  it's going to make up for the pain he's caused in the last decade! The pain of all the lies he's told. January 6th, brought to light what Carlson truly thought about Trump, and the world was shocked about the lie's he told, but even more surprised about how he reunited with, and then campaigned for, Trump yet again in 2024! No, it wasn't just Tucker's campaigning for Trump that got him elected, he's simply one of the political opportunists that decided that it was all about ratings, and for that reason, I need to hear more about his how sorry he is about all the other lies he's told.

His lies go well beyond his endorsement of Donald Trump. Here are just a few of his bold faced lies, that have hurt many, many people. And he wants to apologize for misleading his audience about, Donald Trump? Weak willed people believe podcasters and influencers, and he knew that. I'm sorry? No, I expect he sees the writing on the wall. Trump will either be impeached, be removed by way of the 25th Amendment, or resign due to his health, and Tucker wants to keep his audience, so he sways along with whichever political wind blows past him. Afterall, he makes around 20 million per year to lie to his gullible nation. For the love of money.

Nicolle Wallace, and her guests say, it best.

He's sorry

The Kindest Of All Birds

 

"Be like the bluebird who is never blue,

 for he knows from his upbringing what singing can do."

~Cole Porter

We did a little birding the other day, just the usual places, and while we didn't find a lot new in the way of birds, we did find out two pieces of information that made us smile. First, the small bridge on Franklin Blvd has now been fully repaired and is now open for traffic! It has been closed since, January 1st, 2023, and was supposed to reopen in October of 23, but for whatever reason, repairs got pushed back! It's a fairly short bridge, but quite necessary. It provides traffic with a straight shot, to Thornton road, as opposed to having to travel through the middle of the Cosumnes River Preserve! The additional traffic Desmond road had on it, always seemed dangerous to me. Bruceville/Desmond is a fairly narrow road, with a dangerous elbow turn. The speed limit is only 35 mph, but I have seen folks traveling the road at over 50 mph. It's safer for the birds, and it's safer for the birders! So, YAY! 

The second piece of information involves that pretty little Western Bluebird. I spotted it, just inside the entrance to the Cosumnes River Preserve. It stunned me. It was sitting on a very thin branch, not making a sound. I was lucky I spotted it! They are such tiny birds, that sometimes you have to seek them out. It's a quiet little bird too. I have always got the impression that it was the kindest of all birds. It just give out that vibe to me. According to Google AI, the Western Bluebird symbolizes, joy, hope and the arrival of spring. And hey, it's not just me who finds them so ethereal, Neltje Blanchan described their disposition as, particularly angelic! So, Spring is here, finely, and I got a few photos, so it's a happy start of things to come! Last Sunday was a very good day!

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... Into The Night

 

Diana: If he's still with you, you better let him go... if you ever want to see those stones alive...

 ( corrects herself ) 

... again

( corrects herself yet again )

... ever!

~Diana

Played by, Michelle Pfeiffer

Into The Night

Ed, has insomnia. He is depressed. His wife is cheating on him. He's screwing up at work. Probably because he has insomnia, due to his depression and his wife cheating on him. Or any combination of the three dynamics, but one night everything changes, and it all gets worse! Or maybe better. You see the sudden encounter with a stranger named, Diana, rocks Ed's life. Is she just what Ed needed? Or is she the worse thing that could have happened to him. You get the drift... Ed leads a dull life... but life can change on a dime, with twists and turns you never see coming, and suddenly life isn't a boring and depressing routine! With a great cast and an amazing, title song by, B.B. King, Into The Night, is a fun little mystery that will keep you guessing, what can possibly happen next?

WTF?

'Never put a sock in a toaster."

~Eddy Izzard

Wouldn't you just love to know what those gulls are thinking? That side eye from the gull on the right is everything! Oh well, it's just the randomness of the universe I guess. But isn't it fun? I'm mean do they know what the humans are doing?

Life in the Trump era

Monday... Hmmm... wtf?

Tuesday... HOLY HELL, who knew the Pope was soft on crime?

Wednesday... Will someone hide his tv?

Thursday... HE"S GOING TO GET US ALL KILLED

Friday... Oh well, we all had a good ride.

Saturday... Okay, he's golfing today. Everything will be fine... or not.

Is it already Monday again? Please hide his phone.

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?

Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Kakistocracy

 

"If dogs are governing the county,

 what can you hear every day other than but horrible barking noises?"

I would say that's just about right, wouldn't you? I was introduced to this word by, Robert Di Nero, when he appeared on, Nicolle Wallace's podcast, The Best People, With Nicole Wallace. I shared about this episode a while back, but it bears repeating, it was one of the best, timeliest, and relevant podcasts episodes I have seen this year! Watch it! Take it in! We have to demand better from the elected leaders, who have a paycheck because of us!

 From the top on down, they work for us!