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Nevada Museum of Art – Dave Eggers
The Nevada Museum of Art is my first stop whenever I visit Reno. Last week I saw the Dave Eggers Insufferable Throne of God exhibit. Eggers is a San Francisco-based writer with many talents in his quiver. In describing his show which ends on July 26, Eggers said, “I think of what that animal might be thinking . . . “
Canyon de Chelly, near Chinle, AZ
Open Space
Golden Light
Desert Varnish
Navajo Child
A Place of Peace
Canyon Refuge
Antelope House
Antelope House
My Bumper Sticker
My bumper sticker reads Don’t Believe Everything You Think. The internet attributes the words to lyrics in a Lee Brice song. Anyway, an old car in Bozeman, MT had those words stickered on the rear bumper. I was on my way to Yellowstone, and those words rang true for me. Let go of negative thoughts. Stop being judgmental and stop second-guessing. A woman in a Sam’s Club parking lot read the sticker and commented to her friend, “Jimmy should read that. It’s one frickin’ good sticker.” If only those words had reached George Bush before he attacked Iraq.
Maggie and Laila
Old dogs are still good dogs. They deserve love, care, and respect until life ends. I wrote the the story of Maggie and Laila with as few words as possible. I trust your imagination will fill any gaps.
Although her hearing has collapsed,
Maggie reads lips and responds to gestures,
Twice a day she chows down chicken and kibble,
And takes a daily walk to sniff the rocks.
She damns the day a rescued dog came to the house.
By retreating to distant spaces,
Maggie shunned her eventual replacement.
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Laila, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, has special needs,
Insulin injections twice a day, 12 hours apart.
One cup of kibble and a piece of cheese,
Injection in the nape and a rub,
Another piece of cheese, please.
Her brown eyes flash the “I’m Still Hungry” sign.
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The adoption agent said Laila was trained,
Not so said I when she stayed for a week,
Peeing on the carpets and using the dog door
Only when she pleased, surely
Competition for food and affection upset her balance.
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Maggie deserves stress-free senior years,
No matter how short the leash on life.
Sadly, Laila needed another home,
The girls were not meant to be friends to the end.
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Simple Salad Dressing
Salad Dressing
Someone said when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I say when a friend gives you lemons, squeeze and freeze the juice. Make a simple salad dressing and, maybe, a lemon meringue pie. Today I did both and want to share a simple salad dressing made with fresh lemon juice. (By the way, for reasons too numerous to tick off, I never buy supermarket salad dressing.) For the ingredient ratio in my recipe, remember one part lemon juice to two parts oil. I add split garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and sometimes herbs. Play around with flavors you like, including Dijon mustard and honey. For a perfect tart, crisp dressing simplicity wins.
Salad Dressing
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup canola oil (or similar)
1/3 cup olive oil
salt & pepper
peeled, split garlic cloves
Wisk and pour into a clean glass bottle. Refrigerate.
Lemon, Oils, Garlic, & Dill
Ready to Wisk
Flatware That Shines
Flatware That Shines
Here’s a simple method for removing tarnish from silver and silver plate. If flatware has tarnished, the sparkle is easily restored without using polish or elbow grease. Yes, I still have a jar of Wright’s Silver Cream under the kitchen sink. (Incidentally, toothpaste will brighten silver jewelry.) Back to the flatware. Soaked in a salty, hot water bath flatware takes minutes to shed tarnish, and I’m all about getting dull jobs done quickly.
- Line a metal skillet with foil – press down to flatten.
- Add water and heat until hot – water needs to cover the flatware.
- Stir in 2 teaspoons baking soda & 1 teaspoon salt or,
- 2 Tablespoons of each.
- Add forks, spoons, knives, a few pieces at a time. Do not crowd.
- Remove and rinse in cool water.
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Spoons The Shine
Salty Hot Water Bath
Tarnished Spoons
Consider Writing 