ChickPea Risotto

What Shall We Cook - Been Stew ?

2011-06-25T08:21:00.000+01:00

Down

In a deep dark dell

Sat an old cow

Munching a beanstalk……..

(recollection from ‘O’ Level Latin)

Is it a bird? - is it a plane? - no, it's a 5 month old standard poodle pup flying over the snow.............

2010-12-08T21:25:00.000Z

with a million thanks to Gordon RASmith for the photograph

Check out this Babe - Bramble, 11 weeks old, visiting Ardnamurchan Lighthouse

2010-09-27T21:52:00.000+01:00

Sauntering in Sunshine

2010-07-26T22:47:00.000+01:00

Memorial lines to Tim Edwards a friend who died suddenly, 4 July 2010, aged 51

2010-07-18T22:26:00.003+01:00

I Kind

Encouraging

Intuitive

All embracing

Musical

Whimsical

Artistic

Articulate

Loving

Vigorous

Admired

Inspired

Beloved

Friend.

A man for all reasons.

II Another

Bright

Befriending

Guiding

Star

Has entered Heaven.

Saints rejoice.

While

Our

Deep

Dark night

Enfolds

And holds

New Inspiration

Illumination

For our faltering footsteps.

III Farewell, dear friend

Today we laid you to rest.

All your fire and light;

And love that lit up your face at each meeting;

Your kindness, concern, insight and advice;

Hugs that shared both joy and sadness;

Quiet moments of prayer;

Thoughtful moments of gentle reflection.

Weeks would pass

But

Knowing you were there

Made Life the richer.

You loved life.

Extracting more from a moment

Than many

Find

In a lifetime.

Not that it was easy.

You shared enough of yourself

To reveal

Something

Of your own rocky road.

You were familiar with

Shadow

And personal doubts

And sorrow.

And yet

Always

When faced with another’s dilemma

You found

And pointed out some hope

Some small way forward

A corner unexplored.

Somehow

You gave nurture

And Love.

Dear Friend;

Mediator Extraordinaire;

Lover of Life;

Master of Ceremony.

We Love you. We miss you. We will never forget you.

Rest in Peace.

15.07.2010 gjps

Running now in Elysian fields...........

2010-07-10T19:19:00.000+01:00

Things that go 'BUMP' in the night..............

2010-04-11T22:36:00.002+01:00

Things often go 'BUMP' in the night here..........

Something downstairs............ Something coming up the stairs.......... Something opening the wardrobe........ Something IN the wardrobe.......... SOMETHING landing on the bed !!!!!! ......

...................................................So that'll be THATCAT then !

a wednesday in springtime

2010-04-09T00:05:00.002+01:00

green buds

creeping

along bare twigs

unfurl

new leaves like butterflies

gently

into the silent

Presence

of this moment

skimming stones

skip

across this sheltered tributary

bounding

fluent grace and motion – skipping -

skipping

- skipping onwards - reaching forwards

then

slipping gently out of sight

bright

silver sunshine

glinting

reflection from the calm

surface

silver ripples

nuzzle

through the tension

sprinkling

bright diamonds into the harsh city.

Easter Greetings (photo courtesy of Gordon Smith)

2010-04-05T14:49:00.002+01:00

Good Friday

2010-04-02T23:02:00.000+01:00

"Faith, Hope and Love are in the waiting.........."

An NO messin' wiv ME either !

2010-03-26T21:23:00.000Z

A WARNING..........

2010-03-26T21:20:00.000Z

"Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will pee on your computer" - Bruce Graham

Who sez cats is good........?

2010-03-26T21:13:00.001Z

With all best wishes...... (Yesterday was not a good day. Today it is raining).

2010-03-26T11:25:00.000Z

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.

- Albert Schweitzer

Perthshire: March 3rd, 2010

2010-03-16T21:06:00.000Z

A Thought For The Day

2010-02-05T22:46:00.002Z

Don’t be yourself - be someone a little nicer.
Mignon McLaughlin

In a Quandry

2010-01-24T15:36:00.001Z

Where
Is the answer
To
The Question ?

What
Answer
Is there
To
The question ?

What
Answer
Could
There be
To
The question ?

And
While seeking

What
Is
The Question ? 24.10.10

01:01:10

2010-01-01T21:40:00.002Z

Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy,
Happy New Year, everybody!

-Phyllis Mcginley

2009-12-26T12:54:00.003Z

Monster Master Moglet Explores...........just his second time out.....

2009-12-26T12:49:00.002Z

The chooks peruse the white world outside.....

2009-12-26T12:40:00.001Z

Nearly Christmas !

2009-12-21T22:36:00.000Z

All Hallows' E'en

2009-11-13T21:52:00.004Z

Which ChickPea wields the shaving brush while Th Lord Of Darkness nurses a cut throat razor............ (But just LOOK at that panelling and the fireplace.......and they really are REAL !!!!)

Like butter wouldn't melt ...............

2009-09-30T22:39:00.002+01:00

Meet Bart holo MEW. Now 12 weeks old and bigger by the day - I swear you'd see him growing if he just sat still long enough. Much too busy flying around the room with his skateboard - you know how boys are.......... Mr Mutt retreats to the kitchen. Then the batteries need a re-charge, so young Master Bart snuggles on a lap to help out with the computing.
Not a replacement for our beloved Ms Mog Poppycat, but a most welcome addition to the family.

A Very Fine Cat Indeed - now gone. Aged 20. Much missed.

2009-08-12T22:54:00.000+01:00

GOOD FRIDAY........ The Coming......A poem by RS Thomas

2009-04-10T20:20:00.004+01:00

And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look, he said.
The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour. The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows; a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
On a bare
Hill a bare tree saddened
The sky. Many people
Held out their thin arms
To it, as though waiting
For a vanished April
To return to its crossed
Boughs. The son watched
Them. Let me go there, he said.

Waiting.............. (ChickPea'll be back one of these days..........)

2009-04-07T20:50:00.001+01:00

The Broth of God

2009-01-27T11:43:00.002Z

Ingredients: As available
Basic recipe includes: Acceptance, Commitment, Discernment, Frustration, Honesty, Humility, Kindness, Patience, Pepper, Perseverence, Persistence, Sage Advice, Salt (several pinches), Self-Acceptance, Solitude, Support, Tears, Understanding; add to this any other available mulling spices, emotions, difficulties, irritations or vexations.

Method: Take panfuls of Patience, Perseverance and Persistence, and soak overnight in honest tears with several sprigs of Humility. When present, Frustration should be included at this stage. Ferment, then chill. Add Commitment, Acceptance and Honesty, and simmer gently within the Welcome Warmth of Perpetual Providence. Include kilos of Kindness. Solitude may add depth and flavour. Find Self-Acceptance and add with as much Support and Understanding as available. Continue to simmer gently for as long as possible - this may prove to be most of a Lifetime. Although the Subtleties of Kindness and Friendship will take time to both develop and infuse, these are highly recommended to further enhance both flavour and digestibilty. Stir in Self-Acceptance, gently, and in generous measure. Add Sage Advice, experienced Discernment, with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve: Best served hot – may lie heavy on the stomach and feel indigestible if served cold.
Garnish generously with Love and Laughter.
Garlic bread and chilli peppers may provide distraction.

(This can be a challenging dish, and requires significant amounts of time for both preparation and cooking. Makes enough to feed a multitude. Small portions may feel easiest on the palate, but sometimes a full plateful is advisable. Advice may be required when assessing overall success of this dish. Full of fibre and good for the bowels).

Epiphany

2009-01-04T21:52:00.000Z

The Cake of Comfort (ideal for the current season)

2009-01-01T20:14:00.003Z

Ingredients: Life and Living
Reflection (in generous measure)
Kilos of Kindness
Endurance, Determination and Commitment
Patience, Perseverance and Persistence
Any Necessary Additives
Empathy
Yeast of Yuletide
Acceptance
Lots of Love and Laughter.

Method: Sift Life and Living through gentle fingers into a very large deep bowl, allowing bitter additives such as Pain to be thoroughly dispersed throughout the mixture. Add as much sweet Kindness as you can. Weigh Endurance, Determination and Commitment on the scales, mix in. Add any other Necessary Additives such as Grief, Frustration, or Irritation carefully, and in measured moderation. Bind the ingredients together with Empathy and more Kindness. Add the yeast of Yuletide. Knead thoroughly. Allow to prove, then knead again before baking with Discernment and Reflection in the glow of Providence.

The mixture may be assessed as cooked once able to stand alone, springing up again when pressed gently.

Dust generously whilst still warm with Patience, Acceptance, Love and Laughter (when available).

Serve: in considered slices with the Custard of Consolation, to build up your strength for the next year.

I love this time of the year..........

2008-12-28T21:34:00.000Z

Merry Christmas ! (Coutesy of TH)

2008-12-26T00:17:00.002Z

Here's Something For Advent............

2008-12-10T11:44:00.001Z

On Advent He Speaks by Don Iannone 2007

God speaks to us, always
Even when we think He’s not there
He speaks through everything
and nothing
Not always words
Other signs and wonders

His, a voice inside, coaxing us:
Be true to ourselves
Be true to Him
Honor the Essence, He says
That which comes before
Honor the Creator, the Holy One

Sometimes we want our words
to be His words
Sometimes there are no words
Just silence stilling our souls
Sometimes we forget He’s there
Just His presence, watching over us

Christmas nearing
He reminds us to commune
and shine in Christ’s love
In each breath, Advent
An eternal coming
Within His words and silence

A Local Visit from The Neighbours

2008-11-28T13:11:00.002Z

BTW - Mr Tabby from next door asked me to reassure you that his 9 lives remain intact !

This email reached me..........

2008-11-13T11:46:00.004Z

"Bobby S. Briggs, MSgt, USAF 823 ESFS/SFOC Flight Sergeant BAGHDAD AB, IRAQ
Tough times don't last... Tough people do.
My name is Gary Hogman. Some of you receiving this know me, some do not. My wife, Cindy, is 32 years old and has just been diagnosed 3 days ago with stage 4 cervical cancer and her chances for survival are very slim. She was pregnant with our second child and had miscarried recently at 3 months, and now we know why.
This is a request for you ........asking for prayer. The more people that pray for her to be healed, the better. ....... Please pray and ask everyone you know to pray for the HEALING of Cindy and the removal of all cancer in her body, so she may enjoy all that life has to offer, and to continue to be the wonderful mother to our 5-year-old son Michael. The power of Prayer is unsurpassed. I want the whole world to have her in their prayers the next few weeks. God will hear our cry. Please do not be offended by my plea.. This is only a request for your help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this and helping with our request for healing! No words can express the power we have when we each do a little to come together.
Regards, Cindy's husband - Gary
Thank you, and please send it to the far reaches of our world."

Autumn...letting go.....

2008-11-05T20:55:00.002Z

Out in the park this morning. There have been several of the largest, leafiest trees holding onto their leaves this last week. Yesterday, Autumn was still with us, and the colours were glorious. Today, the leaves are down. The branches stand stark against the sky. It is cold. Winter is moving in.

An' I thought this wuz a good 'un..........

2008-10-25T20:40:00.001+01:00

Next Quiz - What is't ?

2008-10-16T23:07:00.000+01:00

National Poetry Day 2008

2008-10-09T14:36:00.001+01:00

inexplicable

I am.
A breath on the wind
Rain on the windowpane
Sunlight filtering across a dusty road
Waves breaking upon the shore.

Flesh and blood
Flood
The senses and the spirit.

I am.

I breathe
Feel, Think , Enjoy
Move My Being.

I
Am

An Enigma

.....and thru the window today, at about 4pm........

2008-10-03T21:20:00.008+01:00

Stewart Memorial Fountain

2008-09-30T22:10:00.002+01:00

So here we have it - Mr Heron's roost = on the Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow. This fountain was erected to celebrate the huge water project undertaken in the 1850's, bringing fresh water from Loch Katrine to the city - the basis of our continuing water supply here in Glasgow. Well - wha'd'ya know, eh !

(Tends to be difficult getting a photo of this without a seagull on 'er 'ead !!)

You'll recognize it now !!

2008-09-30T22:08:00.000+01:00

Cousin Heron in Dowanhill Park, Glasgow

2008-09-26T17:41:00.004+01:00

Here's A Fine Red Herring for you - tho I've never before seen a herring with legs, wings and feathers !

This is the photo of the heron in Dowanhill Park I was sent and told you about yesterday - he is rather fine, isn't he - but he's NOT the one seeking identification in the current quiz !

Any other suggestions ?

OK - here's another clue............. (!)

2008-09-25T22:17:00.002+01:00

Warm.......

2008-09-25T22:02:00.007+01:00

Close - I don't know the Mr Heron of Peoples' Palace, so I shall look more thoroughly next time I'm there.

There was another suggestion by An Observer that our Mr Heron in question is in Dowanhill Park - (a picture was supplied, but I need to check if we may view him here) - and tho he looks like a very very close relative, 'tis not he of the Quiz.....

Any other suggestions ?

Quiz Time: Where's Mr Heron ? (Clue: Glasgow)

2008-09-24T10:22:00.004+01:00

Where's this then ?

(With apologies to people who don't know Glasgow.....who are at something of a disadvantage......)

Hmmmmnnnnn......

2008-09-17T10:22:00.002+01:00

Woops........Sorry about that. 'Edit post' doesn't appear to want to this morning. I guess the gremlins from the souffle kitchen have now snuck over here..............

Glasgow (1)

2008-09-17T10:10:00.005+01:00

Mr Mutt likes walking here.

It is a calm place.

But it does drip rather when it is raining.

Mr Mutt Lounges Around Leith

2008-09-09T21:49:00.007+01:00

.......... ChickPea thought this was a most impressive roofline..............
..........but Mr Mutt was getting a bit bored by now.........sun or no sun...........

.............and was very glad of a lie down......

musings on singing

2008-08-30T10:43:00.001+01:00

Special
Inspiring
Nerve-tingling
Gregarious
Infinite
Numinous
Godgiven 22.2.08 WWWURDSMIFFF

2008-08-26T23:26:00.002+01:00

"now what's to find here, then, hen ?"

Howdy !

2008-08-24T22:46:00.000+01:00

Wurdz-Won

2008-08-13T15:15:00.002+01:00

Words
Won.
Fun.
Now
Done. WwwurdSmifff
31.8.07 / 1.9.07

ChickPea found this somewhere along the way. Should she have left it where it was?

Ripples

2008-08-12T20:59:00.003+01:00

August 2008

Tay Bridge 2007

2008-08-10T23:39:00.000+01:00

Guardhouse, formerly of Maryhill Barracks

2008-08-09T21:19:00.003+01:00

2007

My Uncle, from Surrey, was here at Maryhill Barracks for part of his National Service (which wasn't yesterday).

His grandson, my nephew, visited us last year, and here's the old guardhouse, still standing, and in use as the Housing Associations site office
(sans guards.....)

Reflection

2008-08-09T15:40:00.000+01:00

An early River Festival........ 2006 (?)

I remember taking ages to frame this, one of my first digital photographs.

I am now blowing the dust off my camera (or wrestling it off my husband....), and exploring a new blog.

We shall see what happens........