Who is John Galt?

I finished Atlas Shrugged on Friday--all 1168 pages of it, and loved it. It is so relevant today, more so than in 1957 when it was first released. Anyone who can read, and values freedom, prosperity, and free enterprise should read it just to help solidify their ideas. The story has it all, especially characters that you just love to despise, and good guys that win. So, get the book and find out-- "Who is John Galt?"

I finished another drawer while I watched the Tech v. Texas game. There were enough adveritsements woven in to give me time to paint, and relieve stress. I am sorry Tech didn't win, but playing in Sin City is very hard, especially when too many have been wounded, and had to sit on the side line. I have got to go check the pumpkin bread! Have a blessed Sunday.

Homecoming Week Festivities

The day ended with a red sky, and one heck of a bonfire. Cheerleaders, a community band, football players, and lots of fans all gathered together on Knob Hill to see it burn, and get fired up for Friday night.

Kids gather all sorts of wood for the fire, and the county boys helped out by piling dead trees on the stack. The boys stay up at night to guard the wood just in case a neighboring rival decides to slip in to town and burn it before Wednesday night. The volunteer fire department is always on hand when the fire is lit, and they stay until it burns down.

The cheerleaders always plan "theme" days during homecoming week, and this is "my hero"day. Bible Girl runs track and plays basketball, and

this is one of the senior football players, and
there were several supermen and supergirls running around school. This one is a cheerleader and basketball player. Each class has part of the school to decorate. Tomorrow kids have signed up to beat the drum continuously until time for the game. Lots of tradition--that's what makes homecoming special. We play 6 man football now, because our population has dwindled since Roberto was in school. It is a fast and exciting game, and we have won all our games this year.
Today was "your favorite team" day, and I just had to get a shot of this jersey. This is one junior that knows how to pick a team. Of course, her dad and mom graduated from Tech, so naturally she is a Raider fan. The weather is just beautiful now--perfect for football. We have two exchange students enrolled for the year. One girl from Germany and one girl from Sweden, both juniors. They don't have all this football, and bonfire stuff at their school, but they like it. Man, what a culture shock to come to the West Texas desert. Won't they have some stories to tell when they get back!

Red orange, and aqua on hot red violet..

Progress is slow!!!!!!! I have put more coats of paint on this drawer than I care to remember, just to cover up ideas that didn't work. Tonight I decided to do bubbles as a last resort, hoping to cover up purple leopard spots that showed through that hot pink paint. When I got done it looked so....unfinished. In desperation I got out the black paint, and did the little curls inside the bubbles. Actually, I am OK with it, and that is a good feeling. Now, on to the next one! This is the end of the first three weeks of school, grades go out to parents next week, and the principal is going to start his informal walk throughs! We have had about 2 1/2 inches of rain, and it has started to cool off. Today, I thought about what I was doing eight years ago, and have been praying it never happens again. Have a good weekend.

My Drawers....

Remember the dresser I bought at the church rummage sale? Progress is slow, so I am going to show you one drawer at a time as I finish. It has taken lots of sanding, priming, and several top coats for this one drawer--black background with flowers and aqua dots! It is getting fun.

PESTO FRENCH BREAD

This weekend I just felt like trying out some recipes that have been on my list. Everything else will just have to wait.

This is the basil, garlic and parsley in the chopping process. That's my dad's French knife that he got when he worked in the Gem Cafe in Lewistown, Montana in the 40's. I used a real course grater for the Parmesan, and then put it in the blender to get it finer.

The pesto is ready. Refrigerate until the dough has risen.

I actually misread the recipe and put 1/3 C of olive oil in the dough. The crust is sort of crisp, but the inside is tender. Not a bad mistake. This is ready to rise.

Here is the finished product. I think it will be good for sandwiches. If you like pesto, try it. This recipe is from Fleischmann's Best-Ever Breads booklet.

PESTO FRENCH BREAD

2 C warm water

1 pkg. dry yeast

2 t. salt

1/3 C olive oil plus 2 T.

6 to 6 1/2 C flour

1 C finely chopped fresh parsley (mine was flat leaf)

2/3 C grated Parmesan cheese

2 T dried sweet basil (I used a handful of fresh)

1 to 2 cloves of minced garlic

cornmeal

1 egg white, beaten with 1 T water

1. Put the water, salt, and yeast in the mixing bowl, and let the yeast dissolve.

2. Add the 2 T oil (I accidentally put the 1/3 C in), and 3 C flour. Mix.

3. Add more flour and continue mixing until the dough is soft.

4. Turn out on a floured board, knead for about 5 minutes , add flour to keep the dough from sticking.

5. Put dough in a covered bowl and let rise until double.

Pesto--Mix 1/3 C olive oil, chopped parsley, basil and garlic, and refrigerate until ready to use.

6. Divide the dough in half. Roll each piece into a rectangle, spread half of pesto on it and roll up just like a cinnamon roll or jelly roll. Pinch to seal the edges.

7. Place each loaf on a greased cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal.

8. Let rise until double, brush with egg white mixture (optional).

9. Bake at 400 until browned.

Cooking is relaxing to me, and after a second week of school I am already looking for a diversion. We are having pep rallies every Friday afternoon, and the football team has won all two of their games. One of the team members is following a tradition from way back of eating a grasshopper during the pep rally. He nearly gagged this last time, in fact I am surprised he kept it down. I think I will offer to chocolate coat the thing for him. Someone found a small rattlesnake in the auditorium, and killed it. We have had a full moon, but other than that things have been quiet, and school is going right along.

Pep Rally--cheerleaders, football boys, lots of proud parents, fans, and of course, faculty and student body get together every Friday afternoon in the gym to get fired up for the action at 7:30 pm.

I have got to get off this computer and go mop the kitchen!

Pizza

I finally got around to trying this new pizza crust recipe. To me, baking the crust a little at first keeps it from being "doughy" after adding the toppings.

I used a little rosemary, along with fresh onions, chopped garlic and sliced tomatoes. Next time, I am leaving the rosemary off.

Brush the crust with some olive oil, then add the sauce, chopped veggies, cheese, and last the pepperoni. Next time I'll put the veggies on top of the pepperoni.

The crust was crisp, and yet tender. Add lots of chipped pepper, and enjoy! So this is my new pizza crust for a while--not my invention, but Williams-Sonoma's.

1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

1 tsp. sugar

3/4 C warm water

1 C cake flour

1 C or more all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

2 T olive oil

1. Mix the yeast, sugar, and salt in the water, and let stand until the yeast is dissolved.

2. Add the oil, and cake flour, and mix with the dough hook.

3. Gradually add the all purpose flour, and continue mixing and adding flour until a soft dough is formed.

4. Turn out on a floured board and knead thoroughly.

5. I put the dough in a Tupperware covered bowl to rise; the bowl acts like a proofing oven.

6. After it has doubled, put the ball of dough in a greased pizza pan, and press it to cover the bottom and form "sideboard." Bake at 425 until lightly browned.

7. Add your favorite sauce, and toppings. Bake again until done.

I like it!

Zebra Stripes and Leopard Print.......Not!

My husband has turned interior decorator! He has gone on a tear, and is fixing up his Mother's house, but don't get your hopes up. I don't think he will go this far with the new "do" (probably a good thing). He doesn't know about zebra, and leopard print. I can say this with confidence, because I told him I wanted to reupholster some chairs I bought at the school auction in zebra. He was incredulous, like I was asking him to go hunting for one, tan the hide and let me have it! No, this overhaul is not going to be radical, but it will be nice. All this started when he came back from Illinois, and he sat down in the recliner (a man essential), and was settling in to his favorite John Wayne movie, when, all of a sudden he felt a board sticking him in the back, and that was it! He went to the nearest furniture store and started picking out what he liked--recliner, couch, refrigerator, dishwasher......next, is the paint, and then who knows. After 38 years I have learned to just turn the boy loose, and let him do his thing. More about the re-vamp later.