Pink Preppy - Northwest Style

A new trend?

2009-01-21T06:28:00.001-08:00

Absinthe

Obama's Speech

2009-01-20T09:41:00.001-08:00

Our New First Family!

2009-01-20T09:30:00.001-08:00

Finally, a president we can be proud of.

Who Eats This?

2008-12-11T22:03:00.000-08:00

Yikes!

What I like About the Prez....he's so...COOL!

2008-12-11T21:51:00.000-08:00

Our New First Family

2008-11-16T00:20:00.001-08:00

How nice it will be to have a young, vibrant family in the White House. The Obamas are such good role models to all Americans. Gotta love those cute kids, too!

I especially like that Mr. Obama uses technology in getting his message out. His "Saturday Message" was filmed and put on his transition website Change.gov. Now this is a President that knows what's going on, knows how people get their information and is up-to-date. How refreshing!

President Obama!

2008-11-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

What a historic night...! I am so looking forward to having a president that isn't embarrassing, someone who knows how to speak, who has fresh ideas and goals for America. What an interesting journey we are on in this country.

I am also looking forward to having a young family in the White House. I remember how the Kennedy children brought such a interesting facet to the White House.

It's time to leave our history of racism and inequality behind, to go forward with renewed hope for this country.

I'm so proud to be an American.

My First Pumpkin! Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

This experiment in baking happened by chance. My dear husband and I went to a local grocery store to pick up a few things and they were giving away pumpkins. I selected a medium sized one.

I have never baked a pumpkin and wasn't too sure what I was doing. I baked the pumpkin whole after piercing the skin (peel?) in a few places. I baked the pumpkin for 90 minutes. The house was infused with a lovely sweet-potato smell. I cut the pumpkin in half, scooped out the stringy innards and seeds, removed the peel and chopped the meat. I baked the pumpkin cubes for another half-hour. While still warm, I placed the cubes in my blender and whirled until smooth. I drained the pumpkin through a couple of paper towels. It was really "wet"!

Then, I proceeded with the following recipe:

CINNAMON-PUMPKIN EMPANADAS
Source: A Mexican Breakfast recipe from Esperanza’s Cafe (Joe T. Garcia’s Bakery), Fort Worth, Texas. From: Texas Monthly

15 ounce fresh baked and pureed pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix ingredients together and set aside.

Empanada Dough:
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 packages (1/4-ounce each) dry yeast (41/2 teaspoons)
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
2 generous pinches cinnamon
3 cups flour, divided in half
generous 3/4 cup vegetable shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine water, sugar, salt, yeast, baking powder, and cinnamon. Using an electric mixer, gradually blend in half of the flour. Add shortening and thoroughly mix, then gradually blend in remaining flour.

Divide dough into 4 equal parts, then shape each of those parts into 4 dough balls. Slap the dough balls between the palms of your well-floured hands until somewhat flattened, then roll on a floured surface into circles approximately 4 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick. Put about 1 1/2 tablespoons of pumpkin filling in the center of each circle, fold over, and seal edges by pressing lightly with a fork on both sides.

Bake on a greased cookie sheet until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes (watch carefully; they can burn quickly). Makes 16 empanadas.

Here is the finished product. Not exactly bakery quality, but they are really yummy! Thanks to my wonderful son, Joe, for giving me the idea to bake my own empanadas.

First Day of Fall Apple Pie

2008-09-22T20:20:00.001-07:00

Fall Caramel Apple Pie

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie or ready-made pie crusts.
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup water less 1 teaspoon
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
8 Fresh fall apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer. Let cool a bit.

Toss apples in caramel mixture.

Place the bottom crust in your pan.

Place apples in pan, cover with top crust. But vent holes in crust, brush with beaten egg, sprinkle with white sugar.

Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

Bonnano Emma Sandals Finally Arrive!

2008-09-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

The box finally arrives!

I have the ugliest feet in the world, but I have some gorgeous sandals!

The First Day of Fall

2008-09-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

My husband and I made a trip to Anderson Island today and we picked a few apples. So nice to smell the fragrant apples, feel the crisp air, and see the trees change color. Fall is officially here tomorrow.

Between the apples and blackberries available, I will have plenty of pie fruit this fall. Yum. Photos of pie to follow this week sometime!

My Latest Find - A Great How-To Website

2008-09-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

Yummy Mac & Cheese! Enjoy!

Who is Sarah Palin and Why Does she Insult Me?

2008-09-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

As hard as I try to "relate" to Sarah Palin, I find myself a bit insulted at McCain's choice of running mate. It is as if he is parading Ms. Palin around, saying "look at me, I'm so with it".

I found a great column in the New York Times today, which pretty much summed up how I've been feeling about Palin. Read Judith Warner's piece HERE. Also, I found this amusing "blog"parody: Sarah Palin's Blog

New Orleans, Then and Now

2008-09-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

Poor New Orleans. So battered and bruised. I visited there before Katrina, and took this photo:

And with yet another hurricane, new visitors to the Quarter:

Of course, being with the Corps of Engineers, I wish I were there, battling Mother Nature and desperately trying to protect the city and monitoring the levees. I would love to deploy, for the sake of the city, I hope I don't have to.

Hopefully Gustav won't be another Katrina, and the levees won't breach again.

OBAMA - BIDEN!

2008-08-28T22:59:00.000-07:00

After being a local delegate for Obama, I was especially moved by his speech tonight. What an extraordinary speech, one that cut through the superficial, got down to what is important. I am so hopeful and inspired right now. I am prayerful that this intense, gentle man can change the direction of this county. It is time we looked past race, upbringing, status, power and old-school failures and embraced change. We MUST elect Mr. Obama. I truly feel I witnessed history tonight.

Anderson Island Photos

2008-08-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

My husband and I like to go to the "island" - Anderson Island - almost every weekend. Here are some photos of our trip this weekend:

The Pierce County Ferry is located in Steilacoom, Washington, a historic area of Puget Sound.

Residents of this quaint village have a great view of the Olympic Mountains:

Our first stop is usually the General Store:

A visit always includes a swing by the local marina - Mount Rainier in the distance:

On the ferry back to the mainland, great view of Mount Rainier:

Another Berry Good Weekend

2008-08-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

We returned to the island to pick more berries. We picked about 20 pounds. Here are some photos:

Our favorite blackberry patch:

Vines loaded with juicy, ripe blackberries:

The best berries are just slightly out of my reach:

Time for a manicure:

What a busy weekend!

2008-08-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

My husband and I had a great weekend. On Saturday we saw the latest Woody Allen movie Vicky Christina Barcelona at the Grand Cinema Theater here in Tacoma. What a great movie! I will use any excuse to spend two hours admiring Javier Bardeim. He is such a versatile actor.

Today we went to Anderson Island, Washington. We have property on the island at the Rivera Club, and will build there in the next couple of years. There is a very nice golf course, restaurant, marina, a co-op garden pea-patch, and a quaint general store. That's it. Very simple, very laid-back resort type location. Click here to read a nice article about Anderson Island published in Sunset Magazine.

There are lots of blackberry bushes in the unincorporated areas of the island. The bushes were just loaded with fat, sweet blackberries! My handsome husband and I spent an hour or so picking them. We wound up with enough for three pies. Two fat bags of berries are in the freezer, and here is the pie I made for my sweetie tonight. Before and after baking. He loves my pies!

It turned out pretty nice!

FRESH WILD BLACKBERRY PIE
INGREDIENTS
• 4 cups fresh blackberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1- 9 inch double crust pie
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup white sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. Combine 3 1/2 cups berries with the sugar and flour. Spoon the mixture into an unbaked pie shell. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup berries on top of the sweetened berries, and cover with the top crust. Seal and crimp the edges. Brush the top crust with milk, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar.
2. Bake at 425 degree F for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 375 degrees F, and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes.

Apparently the pie was good, as my sweet husband had his fill of it. He is in his favorite chair, watching tv. He will be asleep soon!

Another pair of sandals!

2008-08-10T18:31:00.001-07:00

As if I thought summer would last forever, I purchased yet another pair of Navajo sandals. These are Jack Rogers. They are just so incredibly comfortable. I was getting impatient waiting for my Bonanno monograms, so I bought these lovely handmade leather sandals in bronze and silver:

There is quite a rivalry between Bonanno, Rogers and Solario. I like them all equally.

My Latest Purchase - Stephen Bonanno Sandals

2008-08-02T22:33:00.001-07:00

Yes, I did it, I retired my old pair of Stephen Bonanno sandals and ordered a pair of sandals in the Emma style, which will have my monogram. I ordered Black with Winter Camel whip-stitch. I hope I get them before summer disappears here in Washington. This is the Emma style:

It was only about 70 today, too cool to ride the Vespa.

Butch Hancock & Jimmie Dale Gilmore

2008-01-19T18:58:00.001-08:00

One thing I really miss about Texas is a great music. Here is a favorite of mine,
Jimmie Dale Gilmore along with Butch Hancock (both of Austin, Texas)

I took a raft trip hosted by Far Flung Adventures a few years back and Butch Hancock was the oarsman on my raft. Here is a photo of me getting soaked - Butch Hancock is the guy with a hand one one of the oars:

Trip to Los Angeles

2008-01-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

Took a trip with my husband to visit my youngest step-daughter and her sweet daughter, Sydney. Here are some photos from the trip:

Hooray for Hollywood!

Where else can you see Superman strolling down the street?

Of course I had to shop a bit. Bought a cute Hermès scarf!

After some serious shopping, Sydney took a gelato break with Grandpa.

At the Pier at Santa Monica for some super-fun rides and excellent people-watching.

The best set of shoulders in Santa Monica!

Back in Simi Valley, after a very long day.

It's been a very long time....

2007-12-23T22:17:00.001-08:00

Since I posted on this blog. I've been busy. Working, taking care of my husband and mother. I get up at 4:15 and rarely get to bed before 11:00pm. I have the one hour commute, work until 3:00, one-hour commute back home. Two hours at Bally's Gym, a quick stop by the grocery store, then home. Clean up after the dog and the husband(who works nights), cook some food for him. I usually have leftovers or a bowl of cereal, mess around on the computer then bed. Then I do it again.

So blogging isn't on the top of my list. I will try to do better in 2008. Really.

Visit with my 76 year old mother

2006-11-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

My husband and I recently traveled to Texas to visit my mom. I made a couple of videos of her. She is somthing else!I love her so much, but her love of smoking has dominated her life for so long. I feel like it is killing her.

Here is a photo of my mother. She is 77 years old.

I love my job

2006-03-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

I love my job. I really like the folks I work with.

I left the U.S. Attorney’s Office to take my mother home to Texas, as she said “…I want to go home to die…” this was two years ago.

I worked briefly with the Department of Labor in Dallas, as an administrative legal assistant. I absolutely disliked the commute, the building and the “work”…what a waste of my time. I suppose I should be thankful they afforded me the opportunity for a job and to continue my federal career, but it was just awful.

I returned to Washington to marry my husband, leaving my mother and son in Texas. I bear quite a bit of guilt about that, but one must live one’s own life. I applied for and was selected for the job I currently hold at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

I work for eight attorneys. I say work, but I mainly do the payroll, purchase a variety of office-related items and services, monitor a million and a half dollar budget, scan documents, organize files, make coffee, take care of the mail, etc. Compared to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the job is relatively stress-free and pleasant. I wonder how I survived with the USAO for almost 18 years, dealing with high-strung, sometimes mean and nasty prosecutors and equally hateful support staffers. I can’t see myself returning to such a toxic environment.

I have a one-hour commute each way, but I take a van pool and can sleep or cat-nap the entire way. So it isn’t so bad. I’ve been here almost a year, and still enjoy coming in each day and feeling comfortable with my surroundings.

THINGS I MISS ABOUT TEXAS

2006-02-15T12:46:00.000-08:00

THINGS I MISS ABOUT TEXAS:
my seeing my son’s blue eyes
seeing my mother’s fragility in her old age
the car wash on University Drive
Sonic Drive-in
Berry Street
the bricks on Camp Bowie Blvd.
Hulen
Hulen Mall
the Pizza Guys at Ridgmar Mall
Dillards
having lunch with my friend Colleen
Wednesdays at the Flying Saucer downtown
sitting at the coffee shop on Houston Street in summertime
the AMC Sundance
walking home
Burnett Plaza
the sausage biscuits at the deli at Burnett Plaza
having my son drop by and clean out my fridge
seeing storms coming in from the west
the sounds of Spanish speaking people
$1.25 dry cleaners
Hurricane Harbor
really good Mexican food
the smell of the Federal Courthouse in summer
David Finfrock
Tammy Dombeck
the Dallas Cowboys, and I don’t even really like them
the heat rising up from the cement in July
the call of Grackle birds in summer
Starplex Ampitheater
the wide blue skies
seeing cowboy boots with business suits
the going into an air-conditioned house in summer
bagels from Einsteins on University
fireworks on the 4th of July by downtown
Town Talk Food Store
Hillside Apartments
Main Street Arts Festival
Trinity Park
movies at the Modern
Hemphill Street,

Monday Recruits are here.

2006-01-09T08:24:00.000-08:00

I walk into the building at 6:15 a.m. and there they are. Lined up in the hallway. They are young, male and female. Some have a vacant look in their eyes, some look scared, some arrogant. I pass by them and wonder how many will be here next year. Some are my son’s age and I wonder how many have mothers at home who are crying their eyes out, knowing they precious child will be in danger soon. You give them life and it is theirs to live. After a point you have no control of their actions. All you can do is pray and hope they they will follow a safe path. It is a very sad way to start the day, seeing these young people, the only true assets we have as Americans, going away to face the unknown, the awful truth of war.

I do understand their need to volunteer. I volunteered to support the Katrina relief effort. I put in long days in miserable conditions to help my fellow Americans. But I wonder, if these children were directed in another way, would they be here, volunteering to put their life on the line for people who probably couldn’t care less about democracy, for a people who are apathetic about fighting their own war? Would these people be willing to come to our aid?

I can honestly say I am proud that my son, perhaps from the direction I sent him, did not elect to perform military service. He is my only child and I truly don’t think I could survive the uncertainty involved in military service during war-time. I’m sure some would say that these thoughts are selfish.

As a child during the Vietnam era, I remember with a crystal clarity sitting at the dinner table, when families used to do that, and watching the CBS News with Walter Chronkite. “This is Dan Rather reporting from Vietnam (or Cambodia)”. He would be giving the daily body count, presenting video of young people almost my age in fire-fights with phantom assailants, soldiers screaming in agony after being shot or having their limbs ripped away by shrapnel. These images were burned in my brain. Every night. Like it was our patriotic duty to watch the carnage, to be a witness to it.

Several years later, as an employee of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I had the chance to attend a class in Washington, D.C. While there, I went to the Vietnam Memorial. I saw family members sobbing at the sight of the name of their dead loved one. I wondered, did this mother or father have a say in their child’s action? Did they approve of their son going to a foreign land to participate in a war? Were they proud of their child, all dressed up in his Class-A uniform? Surely they couldn’t be so naïve to believe all the bullets would miss their special child? That he could possibly not return in one piece. Not my child, he would never be in a wheelchair, or missing a eye, or brain damaged.

I’m sure all of this makes no sense to most people, but I just think of all this when I see those young people all lined up, so early in the morning, eager to get away, to have a new adventure. It really hurts me to see it.

Happy New Year!

2006-01-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

Things have improved since my last post. My mom continues to recover from her heart attack. She has many worries, fears and obsesses about many things. She is old, fearful of the death that is coming, knows she can't do much at this point to improve her health, so she continues to sneak food she shouldn't eat, smoke, create family dramas, etc.

Had a great visit over Christmas. Spent time with my extraordinary son, Joe Ortiz, Jr., who continues to create ways to improve himself and his life. I am totally supportive of him and his efforts. He is so far past me mentally. What did I do to create this outstanding person? Sure, he has his faults, has a temper mainly, but his intelligence and maturity continue to impress me. He is returning to college which I truly hope he enjoys going back to school, after all, learning can be enjoyable.

Christmas day we went to see the Producers, and the day after we had breakfast together. Oh, how I miss him!

Still getting stuff out of the Graham house. Husband elected to sell the house in the country to accomodate me...otherwise I would have a 110 a day drive, minimum time was two hours each way. We are buying a 2/2 condo at Pacific Tower in Tacoma. I look foward to actually living in the same place and being married. Will post again after close.

Hurricane Deployment

2005-10-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

It's been more than a month since I made a post. I was on my 28th day of deployment when my mother had a massive heart attack.

I had quite a time getting out of Mississppi, but I managed. My mom is home at her apartment now, shaky but alive. She had a stint implanted into an artery and hopefully that will keep her alive. She has a 70% blockage in a carotid artery but she is unsure if she wants surgery to correct it.

So this has been quite a month for me. I've had no internet access at my duty station. If I get home, as I'm schedule to do on November 2, 2005, I will make another post and fill you in on my travels to Hurricane Katrina relief areas.

Here I am in my hardhat at a debris it.

Pretty roadside display that survived the hurricane.

Perfect Summer Day

2005-05-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day this turned out to be. Talked my husband into coming to Seattle for the day/evening. He is a country person, I think he is intimidated, or perhaps bored, by the city.

Went to the NWFolklife Festival...caught a bit of bluegrass music but decided against waiting in the long lines for festfood. Took the monorail back to town and ate at the food court. Actually had a fairly tasty falafel sandwich. I didn't know the mall-like court existed. Not special but handy in that it is a couple blocks from my apartment.

Took a drive to the Alkai Beach area...which is apparently the place for kids to cruise and hang out. Pretty views tho. I couldn't imagine living there, too far from the city.

Here a nice photo of sunset at Alkai Beach near Seattle, Washington: