Kate Collins's Blog, page 205

Chili Cookoff!

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

Doesn't everybody think they made the best chili in the world? I always did, but now Mr. L makes the chili and it's so close to mine (and best of all, I don't have to do the work) that I don't (and won't) complain.

At my last day job, they held a chili cook off as a winter team-building exercise.  What fun! It was one of the (very) few such events that actually worked. But the company that had the food-service contract caught wind of it and our boss got in trouble.  But she was resourceful and the next year she rented a pavilion at a local park and the competition had a second chance.  That was even better than the first year of competition (because a bunch of us brought desserts).

Sadly, corporate got even MORE corporate and that was the end of the chili competition.   : (

Cold weather is the best time of the year for chili.  We really don't follow a recipe.  Beans, ground beef, lots of cumin, chili powder, onions, tomatoes, and green peppers and toss them in the slow cooker.  We either have Italian bread or rolls with it.  Can you say mmm-mmm GOOD!?  We're thinking of having it on Super Bowl Sunday.

Care to share your recipe?  And what do you have with your chili, too?  And if you're not having chili on Sunday, what will you be having?

My not so secret addiction

 By Mary Jane Maffini  aka Victoria Abbott

    It’s happening again! My knitting addiction is taking over. I believed I was over all that. I thought I could handle it in small doses. You know:  Hats. Scarves. Social knitting. Take it or leave it. That kind of thing.  But I am only fooling myself. Soon I will be as bad as I’ve ever been.  

 












It’s just a matter of time before I’m getting up in the middle of the night to do just a few stitches.  Being disappointed that I don’t have to wait at the doctor’s office because I have brought ‘a little project’. Inserting knitting comments and pix into unrelated blog posts. Reaching out of the shower to pick up a conveniently located skein of yarn and needles (coincidentally resting on a towel) to ‘just finish this row’. But wait, with the right techniques you can knit in the bathtub, without reaching out and getting the floor all wet. No problem at all.


Then there's the secret side of things, common to many addictions. Hiding the evidence in a sofa where someone could be impaled.  Buying ‘turbo’ needles, just in case. Making sure that bills from yarn stores never reach the house.
Where will it end? Knitting and driving?  Hanging out with other addicted knitters in furtive ‘stitch ‘n bitch’ groups?  Blowing the retirement savings on Peruvian yarn?
That’s what I fear about my knitting:  it’s the hobby where one stitch is too many and a thousand not enough.

My DH appears to be an enabler.  “Oh were you knitting? That’s nice. Didn’t notice.” 
Okay, that’s me with my embarrassing revelation. What’s your secret addiction?   I'm hoping it's knitting, but even if it's not, let's hear it!

Winter Madness

by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed

Here in Wisconsin we are really suffering from cabin fever. I spend most of my shut-in time writing, but just can't do that all day and all evening. So I'm trying to stay occupied.

Yesterday, I planned summer vacation routes using my trusty Rand McNally road atlas.

Today, I'm on the subject of coffee. You see, since I moved into my own place last April, coffee hasn't tasted quite as good as it used to. So I'm doing online research.

Is it the way I brew it? I've been a cheap-o drip coffeemaker kind of girl since way back. But should I use a moka stovetop perculator instead. I didn't even know what that was until I found this picture. It looks complicated.

Or should I invest in a French press.

Is it the temperature, cuz I learned that is so important. Avid coffee enthusiasts say the water has to be brought to exactly 195 degrees, so I need an electric kettle for that. Most drips don't heat that high. Who knew?

And what about the beans? Light, dark, espresso. I think I'll do some experimenting, going darker. And what brand is best? Have to research that further.

Did you know you can buy green coffee beans and roast them yourself? I didn't. Until the wind chill whipped down to 45 below. It's driving me mad! I can tell.

Roasters are pricey though. But I could convert my gas grill. Only I'm not very handy. Then I found out I could roast them in a popcorn popper.

In that case, I need a grinder.

Think I'll let my fingers do the shopping:)

But first, I'd like your opinion. What works for you? Have you tried one of those moka things?

It better warm up soon. I need to get out of this place!!

Let It Snow? Let It Stop!

by Maggie Sefton


Boy, the Weather Experts were right when they predicted that this Winter was going to be really, really, really bad.  Winter started early, sneaking in during November in some areas, and going full bore by December,   Cold, bitter cold swept in during January in most parts of the country.  Some weeks the West would be hit, the next few weeks the East would be slammed.  Even areas of the country that are used to cold Winters like the Dakotas, Michigan, Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest were subjected to brutal, bitter, harsh bone-chilling below zero temperatures.  Brrrrrrr!  

Our own Cozy Chick Deb Baker lives in Wisconsin, and I have often looked at the Weather Channel's updates and shuddered.  Here in the Front Range of Colorado---Fort Collins, Denver---we've had our share of bitter cold during the first two weeks of January when the jet stream dipped way low and sent our temps plummenting.  Then---we spent the next two weeks in January with mild temps and our regular sunny days with temps in 40s then high 50s and low 60s.  Sunday, our temps dropped and Monday we got 5 inches of fluffy new snow and cold temps.   Go figure.

Today, Tuesday. . .areas of our country are experiencing unprecedented  Cold.  This weekend I spoke with daughter Christine who lives in Northern VA where they're having below zero temps and snow.  Even southern VA in areas near Norfolk, which is right on the Atlantic Ocean and usually warmer, temps on Saturday at late morning were one degree!  Ack!   That is insane.

Daughter Serena lives near  Houston, TX in the south of Texas, and they're having a second round of ice storms that have turned their maze of highways and interstates into ice skating rinks.  But instead of skaters, all those cars are slamming into each other on those ice-slick roads.  500 auto accidents in one morning.  Yikes!

How are you folks handling this Cold?  Where are you located and what's happening there?

Bieber Buzz Be Gone!

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by Kate Collins


The other day, the morning show I was watching was interrupted for breaking news. BREAKING NEWS! My heart began to race. Was it another horrific mall shooting? A plane hitting a tower? A financial meltdown? Nope. Justin Bieber was arrested after drag racing through a neighborhood.



If that wasn't bad enough, the "breaking news" report continued for over an hour. It might have gone on longer but I turned off the TV in disgust.

An hour coverage for a spoiled young man's antics? An hour of showing the same clip of three cars racing, the same shots of Justin being brought out of his house -- for an hour?

I think that breaking news should be reserved for real news -- crises that impact the populace. Were you impacted?

Granted, Justin is in trouble, and not just from the police. I'm sure he will bond out, a lawyer will appear for him, and he'll get a slap on the wrist. I mean trouble as in having too much money, power, and fame. He's headed down a rocky road, and unless someone can give him a good kick in the pants, he could end up like Lindsey Lohan, poor thing.

Breaking news!  Even as I write this, Justin is on the news. Apparently he was released on bail and is in Panama. Usher has been to see him -- some kind of intervention -- and for Justin's sake, I hope it works.

Let's all send him positive thoughts that he rights his path. He's a talented young man. I wish him the best. But let's keep Breaking News for the important stuff.

Are You Listening?

by Leann

Did I ever mention what a talented family I have? My son plays multiple instruments, writes songs and has a talent for art. My daughter is an accomplished performance artist with a masters degree in choreography. My sister is an amazing water color and pen and ink artist. It's about time I mentioned my son-in-law. (Well, mention him again, because big things have happened!)

He (Jeffrey Cranor) and his co-writer Joseph Fink developed a podcast called Welcome to Night Vale about a year and a half ago. It's funny, it's mysterious and at times horrifying. Most of all it is completely unique. It went viral months ago and has even topped This American Life on the iTunes podcast top ten at times. It's a twice monthly show narrated like old time radio with the news announcer Cecil even making the weather in Night Vale seem bizarre. I cannot explain what is unexplainable. Just listen and you'll understand. The episodes are downloadable free from iTunes and you can visit the Welcome to Night Vale Facebook page to learn more.

Other fabulous things have happened with "Night Vale." They developed "live shows" to please their ever-growing audience. They started small, appearing in bookstores and small theaters but now they are on a major tour with the live show. Currently they are on the west coast. They will be touring all over the place, though--going to DC, Philly, Atlanta--well just about everywhere. Such fun! Such excitement! Their
shows seem to sell out immediately. This picture is my son-in-law with Molly Quinn, whom you may recognize from Castle, taken backstage in L.A.

And to prove that even more great things can happen if you pursue your dreams, Jeffrey and Joseph recently signed with HarperCollins and there will be a Night Vale novel in 2015. I am so proud of you guys! So very happy for your success!

Don't Put Your Friends On The Back Burner

by Mary Kennedy
    New research from UCLA has proven something we've always known. Friendships--especially friendships between women--are special. (Yes, I know I featured a dog and cat in the photo, but I just couldn't resist! Animals form strong bonds, too.) Friendships between women are deep and long-lasting and are vitally important for mental health. They help us deal with the day to day stress of our complicated lives, fill the emotional gaps in our marriage and relationships and help us develop a fuller understanding of who we really are.

A close female friend can understand you at a "gut level" and help you maintain emotional stability. The sense of being needed, being understood (and not judged) is crucial to our sense of well-being. A recent study showed that spending 45 minutes a week chatting with a close female friend can be as helpful as psychotherapy in easing depressive symptoms.

It's easy to put friendships on the back burner when we're overwhelmed with responsibilities, but that's a mistake. Friendships are a gift to treasure. Do you have a close female friend, a confidante, someone who is always there for you? I hope so, because she can make you feel happier, healthier and more resilient.

by Mary Kennedy

We're puzzled!

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

Years ago, Mr. L and I used to do jigsaw puzzles down at my family's summer cottage.  We got out of the habit, but this past summer, I bought a number of them at yard sales and the game was on (to sort of quote Sherlock Holmes--Cumberbatch style)!

As rather a workaholic, I often delve into writing or networking or other WORK activities, leaving Mr. L, a lover of puzzles (be it Jumble, Crossword, or Suduku) on his own for hours on end.  That is ... until we set up a puzzle.  Oops.  Suddenly, there we'd both be, standing over the table until our backs (and everything else) ached, working on it.

I bought a number of puzzles for us to complete over the winter, but oops!, left them at the cottage.
So, we had nothing to do until the holidays.  Last year, I bought a box of Christmas puzzles--ten of them in all. We only did three of them last year, and so in December, I brought out the box and before Christmas Day we'd done five of them.  What fun!  (Except for the Santa and penguin puzzle.  That one was just plain HARD! )

Just before Christmas, I had lunch with my friend Robin and mentioned we were doing a puzzle.  She said her sister did a LOT of puzzles and didn't know what to do with them after she'd completed them and would be glad to pass them on to us if we would pass them on to someone else.  Robin mentioned she had two puzzles she was going to bring over.  That seemed fine.  But--oops!--what she meant was two BOXES of puzzles.  Two VERY BIG BOXES of puzzles.  WOW--sixteen puzzles in all!!!

We did this one, called "Rooftop Garden"OMG!  Can you say time suck?

Can you also say -- challenging and fun???

So, for the past two weeks, we've been doing puzzles like crazy.  Cats. Seashore. Old barn. Rooftop garden--and there are more cats and birds, and wolves, and castles, and boats and ... just about everything you can think of left for us to put together.

It'll be hard to part with a couple of these puzzles, they're just so pretty. (And where did Robin's sister find them???) I know a couple of them were so much fun we'll probably do them more than once.

They say that keeping your mind sharp by reading and doing puzzles (of any kind) will keep dementia away.  Sounds good to me.

What kind of puzzles to you like to do?

The closet shopping challenge

A little challenge from  Mary Jane Maffini

We’re well into January and for those of you in Canada and the northern part of the USA, we have to watch out for the creeping winter blues. They’re as much a danger as storms, black ice, frostbite and all the other surprises that winter has for us.  
This week I remembered an idea from a friend: it’s easy, takes no time and costs nothing. Every day try to find a forgotten item in your closet or cupboard and wear it. 
I may have rolled my eyes at the time (not in front of her, of course). How could something so simple make any kind of difference? And yet …
Charlotte Adams "taught" me that we wear 20 percent of the clothing in our closet. Twenty!!!  And we probably wear only twenty percent of our accessories and jewelry.
So how much effort could it be to dip into the furthest reaches of your closet/dresser/jewelry box and find one item every day that you like but have not worn for some reason?I decided to give this a try.  So far, it’s been fun.  
If you know me, you know I like a bargain.  Sometimes that means you buy that bargain and never wear it (so it’s not such a bargain). But yesterday in my own shoe rack, I found these red loafers, bought at a deep discount, comfortable as slippers, but rarely on my feet. Now I feel like I have a new pair. 
 





This little pin has brightened my Monday. It was five dollars many years ago and was lingering, forgotten. I had have fun with it and the price is right. I don’t intend to let it get ‘lost’ again.








The ten dollar scarf is a bargain souvenir of a trip to Florida some time back. It had slipped to the far end of the closet and was never seen again. The lovely soft color reminds me of Florida, but it sure perked up my winter coat.













 So: three items so far this week and $0.00 spent.        
I’m looking forward to the “archaeological” digs for the rest of the month.  And yes, I remember that I am the one who was celebrating the 18-year-old sweater just last week.                     Anyone want to accept a challenge for closet shopping? Let me know if you find something fun in your own closet, cupboard or dresser.  Or anywhere else!
I’ll draw from the comments for a copy of Organize Your Corpses, the first Charlotte Adams book.  If you’ve already read it, we can find another to substitute.  I'll shop on my bookshelf!

Growing Up Sensitive

by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed

I was overly sensitive as a child. Especially when it came to animals. I wound up with someone else's dose of compassion right along with my own. I cried watching Lassie.  I sobbed during Black Beauty. Call of the Wild (book and movie) practically killed me. Even Flipper could produce tears.

And as I grew up, that aspect of my personality remained the same. Seabiscuit, Fly Away Home, Babe, the list goes on. Whether shedding tears of terror or tears of joy, I can hardly stand all that extra emotion.

And it's embarrassing to be crying during an animated film with my granddaughter next to me.

I take a little comfort from something Anne Lamott wrote in her wonderful book Stitches. "...almost everybody worth his or her salt..had been an overly sensitive child."

I like that. Although...maybe I wasn't "overly" after all. Maybe I was the perfect amount.

And I'm convinced that I'm in good company here at this blog. Am I right?