I had kettle corn recently and it was so delicious but warning I think it might be habit forming. It would be wonderful to make for a birthday party or special event. I would love to hear from someone who tries this recipe. Yum!
It’s Monday, friends. And it really feels like a Monday around here – busy, busy, and still feels like I didn’t quite get to everything I needed to. At the end of the day, I came home and was happy to be reminded that I had something fun for the blog. Mondays are too serious. They need something light…and sweet. Something like kettle corn studded with caramelized cashews.
And since work ran late and there is something that smells warm and delicious coming from the stove, I’m going to make this a quick one.
First though, a quick reality check. This is a great recipe, and I highly recommend it. However, Frank had to come to the rescue of the popcorn. It turns out that in my impatient, distractible hands, something as time-sensitive as popcorn is in trouble. I burned one batch and produced one batch that was oddly soggy…
I do this, and many people do this. We have an idea, a vision, and we begin towards a goal. Then we stop, and never make it.
Imagine the climber, maybe that’s you. The night before the climb, the climber packs supplies he will need, snacks, warm clothes, matches, flashlight, maybe gloves, and toque, and a waterproof tarp, just in case.
The climber goes to bed early, he wants to rise early, he will need a good rest, and he will begin his climb in the dark. The summit looks so much more beautiful in the early blue light of sunrise.
He awakes in the dark, has a filling breakfast, hot oatmeal, and packs apples, sandwiches, and water, and packs it tight into a backpack so he can carry it easily and have his hands free. Oh yeah, nearly forget the camera. Better, you might want to record the view.
I wonder what it is that makes a memory “lock in” so that you can always recall it?
I am glad that I have quite a few of those types of moments. When I was in high school I had two great best friends who I walked to school with, John & Blaine. I lived in East Vancouver, right close to 4th Avenue & Nootka at the top of a hill.
My best friends would meet me at the top of hill (one house up) and we would walk to school together (Vancouver Tech). Rain or shine! I clearly remember a spring morning, it was warm and we were walking a usual route over to 5th avenue and over the rise and down the hill to Renfrew Street. The sun was shining and Paul Simon‘s song “Kodachrome” had just played on CKLG radio. The three of us sang it unabashedly, that’s good friends ~ when you can sing songs together!
Funny the things you remember and cherish from high school. I cherish looking back and remembering those walks back and forth, I didn’t realize it then fully but those were the little moments in life’s journey that are important, and that you treasure.
I grew up with cats. Rusty was the first cat we had. Rusty was aloof. You hardly noticed he was around and he caused no fuss. He was there to be petted when he felt like it and that was it. Rusty disappeared one day and my Mom looked all around for days or weeks and discovered another cat which she said was Rusty or an exact twin. Yeah, except they looked barely alike to me and the personalities was opposite.
This twin was named Tawny and she slept all day and then when the house was quiet she galloped and slid around the house. Just when you almost asleep Tawny would gallop by like a miniature pony and slide into a wall. Pausing suddenly she would look around as if to say “No, I didn’t hear anything”.
now for my close up
Home sweet home
For years we had a black and white beauty – this cat was called Errol Flynn. Smart, and medium friendly; he was a class act. We enjoyed Errol Flynn for many years and he didn’t even bother our dwarf bunny when the bunny would hop over and “invade” Errol’s privacy bubble. Errol really enjoyed being petted and he would hop up so you would pet him. He also was very adventuresome and would make very brave leaps from the second floor or up to the second floor when he was so inclined.
This last weekend my daughter’s cat, Africa, visited. Africa is different from all these other cats. Africa is like a movie star. She wants to be noticed on her terms, she wants to be in the room because she is secretly social but at the same time she demands her privacy. Africa has an amazing quality that teases you into loving her because she has a wonderful smile, and looks so cute when she lies down and her feet seem to be swallowed up and gone.
Here is to the little furry animals that steal our hearts!
A wonderful old movie that I have watched twice and will gladly watch a third time is called ” The Bishop’s Wife”. The movie stars Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. Cary Grant’s character is “Dudley” an angel. David Niven is the Bishop, and Loretta Young is, of course, the Bishop’s Wife.
This movie contains many examples of whimsy, humor, magic and as I watch it I feel like Cary Grant is going to look right into the camera and wink at me.
Interestingly, David Niven was originally cast to play the part of the angel but Cary Grant felt the casting was wrong and insisted on playing the angel character instead of the bishop. David Niven played the Bishop character which was originally cast for Cary Grant.
Cary Grant was clearly correct because the movie was a huge success, winning an Academy Award. The film won the Academy Award for Best Sound (Gordon Sawyer), and was nominated for Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture and Best Picture.
Plot for The Bishop’s Wife
Bishop Henry Brougham (Niven) prays for divine guidance with the troubled building of a new cathedral. His plea is seemingly answered by a suave angel named Dudley (Grant), who reveals his identity initially only to the clergyman.
However, Dudley’s mission is not to help with the construction of the cathedral. He is there to guide Henry and the people around him. Henry has become obsessed with the building to the detriment of his duties and marriage to his neglected, unhappy wife, Julia (Young). Everyone, except for Henry, is charmed by the newcomer, even the non-religious Professor Wutheridge (Monty Woolley). Dudley persuades the wealthy parishioners, particularly Mrs. Hamilton (Gladys Cooper), to contribute the needed funds, but not to build the cathedral. He helps Mrs. Hamilton decide to give her money to feed and clothe the needy—much to Henry’s chagrin. He also redecorates the Broghams’ Christmas tree in two seconds, saves an old church by restoring interest in the boys’ choir, and arranges for the typewriter to automatically type Henry’s new sermon – which Dudley dictates without Henry’s knowledge.
When Dudley spends time cheering up Julia, there is an unexpected development: Dudley finds himself strongly attracted to her. Sensing this, Henry becomes jealous and anxious for his unwelcome guest to finish and depart. Eventually, he stands up to the angel. With his mission completed and knowing that Julia loves her husband, Dudley leaves, promising never to return. All memory of him is erased, and on Christmas Eve at midnight, Henry delivers the sermon that he believes he has written.
Here are a few wonderful quotes from the movie:
Dudley: The only people who grow old were born old to begin with.
Julia Brougham: Oh Dudley, I never know when you are joking. Dudley: Ah, I am at my most serious when I’m joking
If you want to watch the entire movie – click here. but first a teaser OR TWO (grin).
This little clip (BELOW) can’t show the whole series of little jokes that Dudley keeps having, at the expense of the professor. The professor can’t empty his wine glass because Dudley keeps filling it, and the professor fills everyone’s wine glasses but the bottle is magically still full (thanks to Dudley aka Cary Grant). Very cute and biblical!
Too much Stress is unhealthy. Everyone nods their head when they hear this statement. We know some stress is alright but better if we don’t live that way and keep everything in perspective.
This is so true for me also. I am reminded everyday of how blessed I am. I can go through my phone directory and as I look through the names I am reminded that these wonderful people care about me.
Counting your blessings makes you smile. Count them often, and smile.
Q. How are rabbits like calculators?
A. They both multiply really fast.
I clearly remember a spring morning, it was warm and we were walking a usual route over to 5th avenue and over the rise and down the hill to Renfrew Street. The sun was shining and 
