Thanks, Everyone

(This picture is of Hawthorne courtesy of http://www.portlandground.com/archives/2006/08/)

Thanks, everyone, for your words of advice. You had some great ideas. I know I am not the only parent worried about this subject. I wish we didn't have to worry about such things. 

I am hoping whoever walked in last week is long gone...

My daughter has a dog (lab) that was absolutely no help at all. Either she is hard of hearing, having aged some over the last couple of years, or felt it wasn't her responsibility to get rid of the scary man! Her roommate cannot be changed as they have a lease together that is up in June, at which point they will be going their separate ways. My youngest will probably be moving in with her sister and brother-in-law, at least until another roommate can be found. I feel better about that. (Her roommate is a very sweet girl, but as Hillary put it - they are too young to see around that corner...) But in the meantime, she is scheduled for a self-defense class next term. What I am toying with is either a pepper spray or a taser. Neither is lethal. I do worry about it being used against her, but if it was protection when she needed it most, it would be worth the risk. Anyway, still looking at options.

In the meantime, Portland is warming up and we enjoyed a great day today. I am seeing daffodils, and all the trees are budding. By next month the city will be in bloom. I may have to visit again, just to feast my eyes. The shops on Hawthorne were fun and full of artwork. We headed up to "23rd" and continued our little shopping and eating tour. It was great to be with my daughters and grandson. Are we ever completely happy being too far away from our family?

What would you do?

I faced my worst nightmare last week. In fact, now that I am in Portland, and staying in my youngest daughter's home, do I even feel like talking about it. 

My daughter, home sick, had just gone to bed. She had been in bed about twenty minutes when she heard someone enter the house. She called out to her roommate, no answer. She called her roommate's name again. No answer, but she heard footsteps coming down the hall. She entered the hall and there was a man. A tall, gangly man standing in her hall. She screamed out at him something to the effect: "What the hell are you doing in my house?" He turned around and walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Since then, her roommate said she thought she had noticed a man in their backyard a while back, but "thought he was talking to my daughter through her window." (In the middle of the night.) These are college girls. So I am not going to go into what I thought about that statement, or the fact my daughter wasn't quite sure the door was locked before she went to bed. I am beyond amazed. Have I not taught them anything? Have I not emphasized safety, above all else?? Have I not told the story over and over of the peeping tom/stalker I dealt with for months when I was single and living alone? What exactly do I have to do to get them to take living alone seriously in this day and age? (I came home today and opened the unlocked door, walking right in on my daughter's young roommate. She said she thought it was such a pretty day, that it couldn't possibly include an intruder.)

So now what? The locks have been changed, additional door locks added, windows checked, but should I get her something to carry in her purse? Pepper spray, a taser? If anything happened to her, I know I would wish I had done that. So what would you do?

Thank You!

Big thank you to Butternut Squash for the Lemonade Award. If you have a chance, stop by and visit her website. It is inspirational and her stories are wonderful! Please feel free to pass this award on to deserving blogs, if you'd like.

Serendipity

Have you ever met someone, had an immediate connection, and promised to get together at some later date and then didn't follow through? If so, then you and I are much alike. I have had that happen more than once, and because follow-through is not my strong point, I have passed up many times the possibility of making new friends. But last night we had a great evening of talk and dinner with a new couple that we will definitely make time to see again. The woman did my blinds during our remodel and from our very first meeting, I felt as though we had known each other for years. Both married about the same length of time, both with two children, one still in college, both not much into drinking, but love a glass of Grand Marnier, in a warmed glass no-less, after dinner on occasion. I don't think I have ever had a friend that liked that! She thought having one of those, on my deck with the stream as a background, on a summer evening would be heaven. My thoughts exactly! Where did this woman come from? Anyway, she called a couple of days ago, said she and her husband, who is her installer, and as nice as she is, were going to be up this way and would we like to get together? I said yes, lets have dinner at a new Mexican place we found to be really good. After three hours, some ta-kill-ya, wonderful food, we felt like old friends. So next time that happens, I'm going to take the initiative and make the first call. After all, what do we have to lose? And the gain could be serendipity.

Sherried Artichoke Chicken

Here is the recipe for my husband's chicken and artichokes, which is his only signature dish.(Except for turkey, which he cooks every Thanksgiving.) He cooks a mean breakfast, but dinner is usually something too fattening, or doesn't have enough of the requisite veggies. Anyway, feel free to play with the ingredients, as it is one of those dishes that could be improved with new ideas. Feel free to share if you happen to do that!

4 whole boned chicken breasts

6 Tbl butter

1 pound can artichoke hearts (frozen might be good, too)

1/4 pound fresh mushroom caps

3 Tbl chopped onions

2 Tbl flour

2/3 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup sherry

1/2 tsp rosemary (we actually use much more - and fresh rosemary is best)

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp  kosher salt

Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, paprika. Dust chicken with flour and brown in (1) Tbl butter, transfer chicken to casserole. Add rest of butter to skillet; add mushrooms and onions; stir in chicken broth, sherry and rosemary. Cook for a few minutes. Add to chicken along with artichokes. Cover and bake at 375 for a minimum of 40 minutes.

Note: Some additional sherry may be added while baking.

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think!

Love those Labs

Three of the couples from last night's dinner have labs. One couple always have two black labs at any one time. One couple always have chocolate labs, and currently has a very young one. And of course, there is our Lucy.

P.S. Will post the artichokes and chicken recipe when my husband sends me the pic he took. I think you might like to try it if you like artichokes and/or chicken.

Dinner for Eight

We are planning a wonderful evenings with guests. Six, old and comfy friends are coming for dinner and I'm having a great time cooking. Here's the menu:

• Cream cheese w/ "Texas Longhorn Jalapeno Dip Mix"/Crackers (Seriously folks, if you can find this "nectar of the gods", buy a couple of jars - we found it at a little kitchen shop in Truckee, Ca. - it is wonderful on sandwiches or anything you like. It is sort of sweet - almost bread & butter pickle-like but with a bite. Good stuff.)
  
• Pomegranate Cosmos - Ina G style - i.e. by the pitcher
  
• Red Wine
  
• White Wine

• Roasted Caprese Salad - Ina G style - ubiquitous, I know
  
• Artichokes & Chicken - Hubby style  - This is his "signature dish" and he used it to woo me all so long ago. Served over some special pasta.
  
• Pan-Roasted Root Vegetables - Ina G style -This is wonderful as it includes turnips, carrots, parsnips, celery root, brussel sprouts, celery and fresh thyme. Perfect winter-time fare.
  
• Garlic Ciabatta Bread - Ina G style - warm bread with lots of garlic, parsley, fresh oregano and butter....can you say "breath mint?"

• Fresh Banana Cake & Fudge Frosting - followed with decaf & tea.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Saturday, as well!