Saturday, June 29, 2013

Letting Go, Inspiration Liebster

Yesterday Father Dragon was talking about Emptying the Cup before you Filled it. Or letting go of the old before you adopted the new. Later in the day I started thinking about computer systems. In the 80’s we had DOS and then Microsoft introduced Windows which I hated and hung on to as long as I could. It occurred to me that this is something like he was talking about. One is reluctant to get rid of the things with which we are familiar and to venture into something new without the support of the old.


Inspired liebster-blog-award

I was reminded, today, also by Father Dragon, that as yet I hadn’t responded to the Inspiration Liebster Award which was given to me by Yolanda Renèe of Defending the Pen. I was asked to answer some questions and to refer to and thank the person who sent me the award as well as tell a few things about me and pass on to some other blogger. Thank you so much Yolanda.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Cheshire, England
WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
Ontario, Canada
IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Blue
LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Three Coins in a Fountain on TV the other night
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Strands of Pattern – JEff Hargett
The Tollgate – Georgette Heyer
Fable (The Lorn Prophecy) – Lisa Fender
THE POWER GOES OUT.  IT WILL BE OUT FOR SEVERAL HOURS. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOURSELF?
Listen to music on a battery powered radio and if it was daylight and warm enough, I would go outside to read. In the evening we would probably go out to eat.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Albatross by Fleetwood Mac
GREATEST STRUGGLE AS A WRITER?
Blogger, not writer.
WHAT IS THE ONE BOOK YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD READ?
Shogun by James Clavell
IF YOU COULD BE ONE OF THE GREEK GODS WHO WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?
Hera, the power behind the throne
WEIRDEST THING YOU'VE EVER BEEN TOLD BY A FORTUNE COOKIE?
Can’t remember anything weird. Can’t remember what they said anyway.

SEVEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:
I have just lost 18 lbs but can’t move any better.
I used to write poetry
I went to 10 different schools
I lived on a boat for a large part of my life
I’ve been blogging for 6 years and married for 41.
My favourite dogs are German Shepherds
I speak rusty French, a smattering of Spanish and a very little Greek and would love to be able to afford Rosetta Stone language courses.

My nominees are
Loverofwords at Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax
Tina at Life is Good
Elise Fallson at Elise Fallson
Baked Beans is a perennial favourite at picnics, and as July 1 (Canada Day) and July 4 (Independence day) are coming up, I thought this twist on the old favourite might be acceptable.

Spicy Baked Beans

Source: bestdressedmeals.com
Yields 8 servingsSpicy Baked Beans
 
Here's a spicy version of a North American classic for your next picnic.
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 tablespoon molasses
1 clove garlic, finely chopped or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Crosse & Blackwell Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 slices bacon (about 8 oz.)
1 small onion, chopped
1 large stalk celery, chopped
2 cans (16 oz.) pork and beans

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Combine sugar, ketchup, mustard, molasses, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper in small bowl.
Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Remove bacon; drain, reserving 3 tablespoons bacon fat. Cook onion and celery in reserved bacon fat for 4 to 6 minutes or until tender. Crumble bacon in 2-quart casserole; stir in pork and beans, onion mixture and sauce mixture.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Have a great weekend, happy Canada Day to all Canadian readers.
Jo_thumb[2]

14 comments:

  1. Interesting thoughts (letting go). David always complains that I don't like to visit new restaurants when we visit our Canarian home. Its true .. I have 4 or 5 favourites which have stood the test of time and I'm so reluctant to go to different ones as I'm convinced they won't be as good - and our meals out are limited to a couple a week.

    That recipe comes within what David would categorise as 'Farty Food' I think LOL

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    Replies
    1. You gotta go Sue, they may be marvellous.

      Definitely Farty Food

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  2. Hi Jo .. letting go is always difficult - thankfully I do change things up a great deal, though like supporting business whom I've come to trust over time ..

    Losing 18lbs is good news .. and you must feel healthier ... and I'm sure over time things will improve, or at least not get worse ..

    Yes Independence Day and Canada Day hold memories for me ..

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose emigrating is the classic letting go, we did that 38 years ago.

      Trouble is I have a lot more weight I need to lose.

      Delete
  3. My son was married in Victoria last year on June 30 and we spent Canada Day at Buschart Gardens. Wonderful fireworks in the evening on the waterfront.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We get lots of fireworks round here, they are all around us so we don't need to leave our balcony.

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  4. Thank you Jo, for participating.

    Love learning more about you. Change while sometimes difficult has always excited me. Maybe too much, as I have let go of the past, too easily sometimes.
    And as a writer of poetry, and as a blogger - yesterday or today - you are a writer!

    Love German Shepard's too, just don't tell Patches! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. OK bribery time, what will you pay me not to tell Patches LOL.

    I somehow don't think of myself as a write as I don't write books. Hubby was talking about someone the other day and said "he's a writer" I said "so am I" his response "he's a professional". Hmm. When do you become a professional?

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  6. Good I reminded you about your award, hahaha. That way I could learn more about you. I can only imagine how can life be inside a boat. I love the sea but I would NEVER live in a boat. Fire dragons don't live in the sea. Sea dragons can get nasty.
    I would say a writer becomes professional when she makes a life out of it, or that's my best guess of the common belief. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually Al, living on a boat is pretty good, if the boat is large enough of course. We never had a problem with sea dragons I am pleased to say.

      I guess I kind of make a life out of it, after all I do blog nearly every day.

      Delete
  7. You liked DOS? I thought I was the only soul still living that misses DOS. The letting go of the familiar does seem to be getting more difficult with each year.

    Hey, I've heard that Strands of Pattern is a great read. You obviously have impeccable taste in reading material! :::ducking:::

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    Replies
    1. Didn't know you were old enough to have used DOS anyway LOL.

      I can recommend Strands of Pattern, I have read it twice now, and enjoyed it both times. No need to duck.

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    2. Definitely old enough. I taught DOS at the local community college, among other subjects like Visual Basic programming, the Microsoft Office suite, Windows, Lotus 1-2-3, dBase, etc. I taught for both curriculum and continuing education. Loved it!

      Delete
    3. Well, well, I learned Basic too, self taught though. My first computer was a reel to reel made by Matel, I think, same as those ugly dolls. Next one was a Commodore. So if you loved it, why did you stop?

      Delete