The ABC Life Blog

No New Year’s Resolutions for me. From now on, it’s my DO IT list. (Doesn’t that even sound more motivating?)

Laura’s 2011 DO IT’s:
1. Lose 20 pounds and embrace a nutritious and fit lifestyle. (Boring and predictible but this year I will DO IT.)
2. Spend more time on things important to me and my family than on needless distractions or unwarranted obligations. Huh? Expressed more clearly: Make better choices where I spend my time.
3. Get better organized. (I’m way too random.)

What are your DO IT’s? Please share.

Finished 2010 with the flu – but that’s so last year. To all my blog friends: a very Happy New Year. May you have wonderful new experiences this year and lots of fun discovering new things to do, cook, read and study.

Made my first CHOWDER (2 points)!  I’ve tasted my share of chowders but never attempted to make my own. Took the plunge – it was delicious and easy to do. For vegetarians, just substitute mushrooms for the sausage.

Potato Sausage CHOWDER
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
3/4 small green pepper, chopped
3 cups peeled and diced red potato
1 Earl Campbell hot link, sliced (or another brand)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon Italian herbs (or thyme)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 cup milk, divided
3 tablespoons flour

Melt butter in large Dutch Oven; add onion, celery and green pepper. Cook until tender, stirring frequently. Add potatoes, sausage, chicken broth, herbs, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir in 1-1/2 cups milk and stir. Then combine remaining 1/2 cup milk and flour, stirring until smooth and add to chowder. Simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened. Simmer longer for more thickness, if preferred. Makes 1-1/2 quarts.

Any chowders or soup recipes to share?

Traveled the back roads to CELINA (2 points), a small town with mainly farm and ranch land. The more obscure routes are the most fun because you never know what you’ll see. In this case, rambling ranches with long-horn cattle and wild turkeys. The downtown is quaint and home to Lucy’s Cafe, where I immediately celebrated life by having chicken fried chicken, mac and cheese, cut green beans and coconut creme pie. A definite salute to all C foods. To walk it off, paced myself the few yards to CHERRY’S ANTIQUIBLES (2 points), where I found an adorable antique green bookcase. Also bought a signed and framed Pauline Elbe CAMPANELLI print (1 point).

What “C” things are happening in your life?

2 points (learning something new)

CAHOOTS. What a great word. Who can dislike it, when the largest part is “hoot.” Laughter, a riot, a lot of ha ha’s. But no, it doesn’t have anything to do with gaity. The dictionary definition is “questionable collaboration; secret partnership.” Most people use the expression “in cahoots” to imply something underhanded but I think that’s a crime for such a fun word. I wanted to know its origin and found that “cahoots” might have come from two possible roots, both French. One from “cohorte,” meaning company and the other “cahute,” meaning cabin (and “in cahoots” implying being as close as two people sharing a cabin.) But there’s a bonus to this search.  I discovered a great online magazine: Cahootsmagazine.com, an alternative Canadian online magazine for women, which in their words is: “a place for diverse, original, strong,  humorous, fearless writing about things – such as work, health, home, life, the world – that really matter to women.” What a great little discovery.  Strange…do you think maybe serendipity and the abc life are in cahoots?

1 point x 2

Read 2 “C” books so far this month, one by a new author: J. California Cooper. The author of 17 plays, she was named Black Playwright of the Year in 1978. Encouraged by author Alice Walker to try her hand at fiction, she has since wrote several collections of short stories and novels. I read Some Love, Some Pain, Some Time: Stories and enjoyed her trademark style of sympathetic yet often troubled characters who offer inspiration and insight into the common themes of love and life. The stories are all very similar so it’s a book that’s best read over time unless you’re in desperate need of the company of women who are discovering life’s lessons the hard way. The other C book was 700 Sundays by Billy Crystal. This is a short memoir by the famous comic about the 700 Sundays he spent with his father, who died when Billy was 15.  Found out a whole lot about his early years and the music and comedy that influenced his life. Didn’t hurt that I can totally relate to his background – even his Long Island routes.

Started another C book for one of my book clubs, but did not finish it: Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin. Everyone I talk to loves this book, but I wasn’t compelled to keep reading. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood…maybe I had no patience to read of hardships because this is often the time of year when I feel just a wee bit down. However, when I told a friend I wasn’t enjoying the book, she told me a few reasons why she loved it, so I went back to it with a more open mind. The funny thing was that I began to enjoy the book more, which made me think of how many times our mood or circumstances close us off to new people or experiences. That person you met yesterday who annoyed you (because you were in a lousy mood) – would you perhaps like her better had you met her another day? The online Friday Morning Bookclub post today was: do you give up on books? My answer was  yes – most of the time I do it without a second thought. But every now and then, that lingering doubt remains.

2 points

Attended an evening performance of CHRISTMAS Belles at the Greater Lewisville Community Theatre. What a hoot! My friend Janye was in the play – and that made it so much fun. Local theatres are little gems and I never would have known about this small theater if it weren’t for spreading my abc wings a little. (How’s that for ringing my own bell?)

December, my “C” month has started. And, baby, it’s cold outside. Better heat things up with new experiences.

2 points

A new activity this month is starting a CLUB – a book club. Hadn’t done this intentionally to match up with my “c” month. Just started planning with my sister and then realized it worked out. Already firmly entrenched in one book club and get my feet wet every now and then in another. The members of the new club, Reading Between the Wines, with the exception of two, are all new to the book club experience, so it should be quite an interesting adventure for all. Our first meeting is in January and, alas, not with a “D” book. We’re reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova – a rather risky undertaking for the first book out.

2 points

This month was all about BRIDES. Earlier this month I went to my friend’s daughter’s wedding and this past Saturday, I went to my daughter’s BRIDAL SHOWER. Nothing brings a mother more joy than sharing in her children’s happy moments. Sometimes it’s all about me, but I’m happiest when it’s all about them.

The pressure is mounting. Just today and tomorrow to catch up with my entries for my B month. Here they are, in no particular order time-wise:

2 points
Went to BISHOP Arts District, five minutes from downtown Dallas. This is an artsy, quirky composite of roughly 50 local merchants, restaurants and boutiques all within a few blocks.  My favorite place: the Artisans Collective, full of fascinating sculptures, jewelry, paintings – all by local artists and craftspeople. Worth several followup visits, preferably with a bit of money to spend. My favorite restaurant: Hatties. Hands-down the best Southern comfort food place around. Made me long for a leisurely lunch with Pat Conroy. Ya think that might happen?

2 points
A total new discovery: Indian food. Tried so many new tastes…new spices. My favorites: BUTTERED Chicken and BIRYANI. Went with several friends and was personally escorted through the buffet by one of the ladies who is very familiar with all the dishes. I totally loved the new experience and the company!

1 point
The guest speaker for my woman’s club this month was Richard BARRY, “The Man of Many Voices.” How very accommodating that for the second month in a row the club has been faithful to my abc life.

2 points
Studied BONOBOS this month. Unbelievable!  Sharing more than 98% of our DNA, they are humankind’s closest relative, along with chimpanzees. Have you ever heard of a bonobo? Many people haven’t, yet they are complex beings with profound intelligence and a wide range of emotions and sensitivities. They’re capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships and can be taught sign language to communicate with humans. Read Sara Gruen’s novel, Ape House, for an appreciation of this great animal. It will shock you on how little we know about our friends in the wild.

More “B’s” yet to come.