On My Nightstand

They say that to be a good writer, you should write a lot and read a lot. This summer has been a time for reading. So far, I've read the following:

• The Life of Pi by
• The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
• The First Family by David Baldacci
• completed the first read of The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
  (I'll need to reread more carefully later to facilitate the book study)
• The Art and Science of Teaching by Robert Marzano
• the Gospels of Luke and John

Now, if I could be so prolific in the writing department, I'd be doing good!

The second day of Spring!

I love Spring! Yesterday, I sat in the hammock under dappled sunlight, watching the squirrels play chase in the trees and listening to birdsong. I tried to read, but my mind kept wandering. Does life get any better than this?

I've finished the pencil illustrations for the poetry book, and just in time. Substituting has picked up a lot. I try to take every offer I can since I know it will slack off in April when the dreaded TAKS tests take place. I'm practically a regular there.

So, I don't feel too guilty when I say I'm looking forward to a week away. Brendan just turned 13, so we decided to take probably our last trip to DisneyWorld. I can't imagine he'll want to go again... at least with his parents. Hopefully our week is late enough that the crowds have dispersed and we won't have to wait the 2.5 hours in line that Bill has been reading about on the message boards. It will be near 80 degrees every day. My white skin will get some much-needed sun. And, we finally get to ride all the big rollercoasters Brendan couldn't ride before, much to Bill's chagrin.

When I get back, I have a new opportunity to do some contract graphics work for a woman my parents introduced me to. Thanks, Mom and Dad! I'm looking forward to a new(old) creative outlet and the challenge. It's exciting and a little scary to resurrect long-sleeping skills that I never thought I'd use again professionally.

My family is healthy! We're going on vacation! Spring is here! Life is good! God is good!

Soup's on!

I'm moving along nicely with most of my resolutions, thank you very much. The one that has taken the back seat, of course, is the dieting. I'm finally getting some good teacher substitution work and can't be bothered to exercise when I come home in the afternoons -- I'm too hungry. To try to help in that area, I've been eating mostly salads and soups for lunch. Today, I have a dilemma. I can't decide which soup recipe to make. Which looks best to you?

Williamsburg Pumpkin Soup

¼ C chopped onions
4 T butter
1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup
1 C pureed pumpkin
½ t nutmeg
½ t salt
Pepper to taste
1 can water

Directions
Sautee onion in butter. Add remaining ingredients and heat thoroughly.

OR

Soba Soup with Spinach (from Everyday Food Jan/Feb 2009)

2T Vegetable oil
12 oz shiitake mushrooms (stems removed) caps thinly sliced
4 scallions, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T peeled and minced fresh ginger
Coarse salt
2 cans reduced-sodium chicken broth (14.5 oz each)
½ package (4.4 oz) soba noodles
1 bunch flat leaf spinach, torn
2 T fresh lime juice
1 T soy sauce

Directions
In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms, scallion whites, garlic and ginger; season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until mushroom are tender, 6 minutes.

Add broth and 3 C water; bring to a boil. Add soba; reduce to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Add spinach; cook just until tender, about 1 minute. Add lime juice and soy sauce. Serve topped with scallion greens.

I love trying new food. Though, I can't find true buckwheat soba noodles anywhere, so I'm substituting whole-wheat pasta. Wagamamas has the BEST soba dishes, but, alas, there are none in Texas. So I'll try to do my own.

Remember, it's okay to tip the bowl to your mouth to slurp up every last yummy drop!