Life on Clay

2 years since the last post - I am living in Texas on a big pile of clay. Potter's clay - no sand here.  No strand - but lots of nature.  This squirrel is making me crazy - driving away the cardinals.  Ugh.

Kayaking on Clam Bayou

I spent the afternoon on Clam Bayou near Gulfport - should have checked the tide charts though. In less than 3 minutes the water disappeared from this area - truly incredible.

Egret fishing in the back trails

Osprey

Fiesty little Egret gorging himself on fish

Blue Heron

Polo for Puppies

Had a great weekend - worked mostly ... it's annual review time! But I did step away to go to the Sarasota Polo Club for a charity polo event with some of my new colleagues - too much fun.

Tail gating with the latest UTC Fellow and a lovely Catalan wine :)

Horses getting a little close??

What's Cookin'?: CAPTION CONTEST

I can't wait until Easter - it won't get here soon enough. I so miss my Virginia peeps: What's Cookin'?: CAPTION CONTEST: "You've seen the artwork. Here's your chance to get a 10% cut of its future sale. Leave in the comment section of this post a caption to Fran..."

Hola!

Been a busy few months at work - so not much to blog. I spent 2.5 weeks in Barcelona at the office in Llobrogat Espluges neighborhood, but lived at a hotel in La Eixample area. Really quite beautiful. The Catalonians are friendly and the language is a mix of Spanish, French and ... Catalan?? :)

Ponderings

This summer I decided to read the classics - I got through quite a few plus the history of England Vols 1 & 2. I re-read "Emma" and wondered - how did she miss Mr.Knightley ... right in front of her. I guess it happens. Some people can only see to the end of their nose and others ponder way out there. Anyway - a classic scene ...

Recipes from my childhood ...

Tonight I was cleaning out a drawer and much to my amazement I found an envelope full of hand written recipes - in my mother's handwriting. Her mantra was, "I eat to live, I do not live to eat". She certainly did not live to cook. And yet she took the time to write down her recipes - wonder of all wonders.
This is what my mother loved most - family and the beach.

However, for someone who hated to cook she made some meals that were to die for. Here is her Pot Roast Recipe:

4 lbs beef rump roast (don't use any other type - she was right this is the best cut for this meal)
2 Tbs flour
1 Tbs salt
2 Tbs fat (I use oil as I don't keep laird on the stove like they did back in the day :)
about 3/4 to 1 cup water
2 diced carrots
1 diced stalk of celery
1 onion, sliced
4 large potatoes , cubed

1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
Wine to taste


Wipe the meat, then dredge with flour mixed with salt. Heat fat in heavy deep pan, brown meat, turning frequently to brown all sides. Add carrots, onion, and just enough water to cover the bottom of the kettle about 1/2 inch. Add Worcestershire. Cover lightly and simmer gently about 3 hours, or until meat is very tender. Turn meat frequently during cooking and add more water carefully to keep met from sticking to the bottoms of the pan.

About 30 to 45 minutes before finish add potatoes.

Lift meat out, strain gravy in pan and let heat through before serving. Gravy may be thickened if desired before reheating with meat by blending flour and fat in the proportions of 1 tablespoon melted butter or other fat blended with 1 tablespoon flour to each cup of gravy. (Add Worcestershire may be added to gravy if desired)

Bon Apetite!