Stay Safe…

This last year has brought about a variety of extremes when it comes to the subject of weather.  It seems that this is a pattern that will not be soon to slow.  Hurricane Irene has made herself known in the last couple days as she churns her way through the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and other tropical paradises in the Caribbean.  Now she sets her eye on the eastern coast of the US.  At this time it appears that the Carolinas are her first stop and then a leisurely stroll up the coast visiting Virginia, DC, and so on.  She then plans to make her last stop (or so it seems at this time) at no other than the Big Apple itself. 

 

Hurricanes are not something that comes to mind when I think of New York City. Yet none the less it seems at this time that one may be visiting them in the next few days.  For all my friends in the path of Irene I send my thoughts and blessings.  I know that such thoughts bring little help in the anticipation of what may or will come yet the thought is there.  I hope that (as the weather men say) one of those tiny spaghetti strings which is located further east, away from the coast is the true trek Irene plans and her desires turn towards a more ocean voyage rather than one that comes inland. 

The Aftermath–Good and Bad

It seems like just the other day that we went to Chicago for Lollapalooza.  Yet it has already been two weeks.  It was wonderful to get away for a few days and even better to be able to go somewhere where the weather was considerably cooler.  We did have to tend with a bit of humidity but that was just fine.  I truly think it was the first time this summer that we actually spent three entire days outside all day long.  For me that alone was the best thing of the whole long weekend. 

The whole event was a blast.  I will say though since we were there a few years back that the number of people attending seemed to grow considerably.  It was the 20th anniversary so that could have had something to do with it all.  It was sold out all weekend which meant that 300,000 total were present each day, not to count the few that managed to sneak in one way or another.  Despite the crowdedness it was still fun.  The first day was the best as many had not gotten off of work yet and it did not seem to be as hard to find a good spot to just relax and listen to music.  Also of course Muse played Friday evening.  I was bummed as they put Muse and Coldplay up against one another.  Yet in the end my loyalties won out and I was smack in the middle for the Muse concert.  As always they were great and I was not disappointed with my choice at all. 

The rest of the weekend was filled with acts like Flogging Molly, Foo Fighters, Manchester Orchestra, Celo Green, Foster the People, and so many more.  We stayed at the Hard Rock which was nice yet it was also where many of the bands stayed.  Needless to say it was much like grand central station there at times, especially in the evenings.  If I had been a mere 20 years younger I probably would have enjoyed it much more. 

The only downfall of the whole weekend was the morning we came home.  In our drive to the airport of course we were stuck in morning traffic.  I managed to leave my camera in the cabbie when we got out at the airport.  I realized it immediately and we called the Cabbie Co first thing.  Although we made valiant efforts, we did not retrieve it.  I was depressed for days as my camera had become a bit of an appendage for me.  I lost all my photos from the weekend as well as some family photos I had shot before we left.  I will say that I was a bit upset about the honesty of people after it was all over.  We called immediately after we exited.  The cabbie had told us that because of the traffic he would just go down to arrivals at the airport and get his next fare there.  It would have been so easy to retrieve the camera then.  And even if he decided otherwise reporting it found would have likewise been as easy.

Sometimes I feel like I give too much credit to others that I just assume they will do the right thing.  Although also I do not want to become so cynical that I don’t trust anyone and look suspiciously at any who may give me a funny feeling.  I know that we live in rough times these days. Because of that it can lend some to do things that in other situations they may not even consider doing.  I also know that I have to accept that there are some who will do such things despite right or wrong.  I just tell myself that for some reason of which I will never know that maybe he needed it more than I.  Maybe in some way the possession of my Nikon D80 will aid him in a way that it did not not aid me.  I miss the rabbit charm that hung from the handle of my camera case almost as much as the camera.  I had received it from a friend in Ireland.  It was hand made with green stones and a pewter bunny at the end.  It was my good luck charm or at least it was suppose to be.  Yet no use crying over spilt milk.  It is what it is…

 

Mother Moon

A Thought To Ponder

Look well into thyself;

  There is a source of strength

which will always spring up

if thou will always look there.

Marcus Aurelius

Blessed Lammas

With the heat that Summer brought to so many of us this year, I am happy to celebrate Lammas today.  It is with Lammas that we start to usher in the Autumn or harvest time of the year and slowly say our goodbyes to Summer. 

Slowly we will begin to see our days grow shorter which in turn will allow us to cool a bit more in the dark hours. Flowers and some garden plants will get a bit of a reprieve from the heat and possibly produce a bit of a second harvest if some are lucky.

To many today will be a day when they are in their kitchen baking a fresh loaf of bread to help them celebrate Lammas.  Any bread recipe can be altered to suit, simply by adding cornmeal.   Below is a recipe I often use.

Lammas Bread

1 cup cornmeal

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tarter

4 Tablespoons Butter

2 cups Buttermilk

Sift together the dry ingredients. Make a hole in the center of the dry mix and dice in the butter.  Pour in the buttermilk.  Mix together until a soft dough is achieved.  Turn onto a floured board and knead gently until combined.  Place on a floured bake sheet and score the top if desired.  Bake at 425 for 30 minutes.  Turn off the oven and leave in the oven for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.  Enjoy…

Here is wishing all of you a blessed and joyous Lammas.  May each of you begin to enjoy a bountiful harvest as well as the cooling that Autumn brings.

 

Blessings

Mother Moon