Amish heaters and Toast

Last Sunday, there was another ad in the Sunday “Parade” magazine about the HEAT SURGE Roll-n-Glow Fireplace Amish heaters. When the ad was in before, Cindy ordered one, and she loves it. She can roll it from room to room and it sends out heat while looking like a fireplace, which it isn’t. It supposedly uses about the same energy as a coffee maker which appealed to me. My electric bill is extremely high now, and next year my electric company is trying for another rate increase. They do this every year which really pisses me off. I don’t know the reason for it even though I’ve called many times and complained. They’re always very nice and say . . . blah, blah, blah . . . after which they thank me for paying my bill so promptly. If I didn’t pay my bill, they’d cut me off, so that’s why I pay it. Do they think I’m stupid? I guess so. Anyway, I’m hoping my Amish heater will help in one of my rooms so I can turn the heat down. Cindy told me I might have to wait when I call as she waited a long time for an answer. But when I called, they answered immediately and I made the transaction. I told Cindy, and she said, “Maybe I ordered when the Amish were just learning how to operate a telephone.” That makes sense. In the ad, there’s a picture of two people in a horse and buggy which is carrying Amish heaters. I’m wondering if mine is coming that way. This should be very interesting. I hope the horse doesn’t poop on the sidewalk in front of my condo. And how will he navigate in all the traffic? Not my problem.

After my Amish heater transaction, I went to Toast which is a favorite, neighborhood bistro to many in southeast Portland. I met my friend, Jeanie, there and we settled in for a wonderful meal. I had been there before, but it was Jeanie’s first time. I ordered the Marty’s All Day Burger which is self-explanatory. It was delicious and rare, just like I like it, and I brought half home for dinner that night. Jeanie studied the menu carefully and finally decided on Take The Leap which is seared pork belly, two eggs over easy with a potato rosti and a roasted garlic emulsion with crispy shallots! I’d never heard of seared pork belly before or potato rosti and garlic emulsion. I cook very simply since I’m the only one eating what I cook which is good for those who don’t have to eat my cooking. I love potatoes and garlic, but that’s what I call them – no fancy names. Anyway, I could hardly wait to see what the seared pork belly was. When it arrived, it looked like a huge piece of bacon, but a very, very thick piece. I tried a little of it and thought it was about the best thing I’d ever tasted! It was so soft you could cut it with a fork. I absolutely loved it, but it wasn’t mine, so Jeanie ate it and everything else on her plate. In fact, she cleaned the plate up so well that there wasn’t a trace of anything left. It wasn’t even worth licking it. When she was all through, she said “I think I may throw up!” Now that was a real compliment. I say almost the same thing when I’m full and really like what I’ve just eaten – I say “I’m sick.” Same thing. So we both rolled out of there feeling very full and satisfied. I just love Toast.

Seen any turkey vultures lately?

I have always loved animals and have had many throughout the years. I also enjoy reading and watching documentaries or programs about them. The other day in “The Oregonian” newspaper, there was an article about a turkey vulture that interested me. I’ve seen vultures in Mexico and in Louisiana. In Louisiana they were close to where I saw the little A-frame houses where the fighting cocks live. Louisiana is such a great place – they even have alligators by the side of the road in little patches of water.

But this turkey vulture was brought to the Audubon Society of Portland by a woman who found the 11-month-old vulture in her yard. It followed her around and was quite tame. The woman managed to get it into a crate for delivery to the Audubon Society where they determined the vulture was imprinted on humans. This meant the vulture would probably not have survived if left to her own devices in the wild. And who is equipped to own his/her very own turkey vulture? So Ruby, her new name, will be the Audubon’s newest education bird. She’ll be a big attraction as she’s the only one in residence there. But this is not the way it should have been. Ruby should not have been tamed by people her first 11 months of life. Her captors apparently discarded her when she became too much for them to handle. People often make mistakes when they try to help animals they think are in distress. Usually these animals are young and just finding their own way in the world and should be left alone. If they’re injured, that’s an entirely different story.

A pigeon appeared in my yard a couple of years ago and stayed for several months. I named him Larry. He’d come in the morning and then fly away in late afternoon. He was banded, but I could never get close enough to read the numbers, so I could never contact his owner. I bought him pigeon food at the bird/pigeon feed store and fed him every day. But he never became imprinted on me as he brought a female pigeon one day and did the mating thing right in front of me! This lasted for about 30 minutes – 29 of which were foreplay. After that was done, they both flew off together and never came back. I miss him.

This article calls turkey vultures nature’s recyclers. They scavenge on dead animals, and because of the acid in their stomachs, they can eat dead meat that would be poisonous to other animals. They see well and smell well – that is, they can track down food better than most. They are gentle and not at all aggressive. I find the most interesting thing about turkey vultures is the fact that they fight off predators, of which there are very few, by vomiting! The stuff stinks so badly that most creatures, who are thinking of raiding a turkey vulture’s nest, just don’t do it. And it stings if it gets in their faces. It’s too bad humans can’t do that when it might help. What if you were being attacked by someone and you could make yourself vomit in his face? Wouldn’t that be something? There would probably have to be a prescription medication called “Vomit on Demand” that everyone could take. I can just see Pfizer and Merck jumping all over that. It’s just a thought.

I’m glad Ruby is now safe at the Audubon Society, but I wish her life could have been lived as it should have been – free and in the wild.

Last Sunday my friend, Diane, and I went to lunch at Toast, a restaurant where we’ve been before which has the most delicious food ever. Since it was Sunday, there was a crowd, so we had to wait a while. We finally got two seats at the bar, directly in front of the two male chefs – cooks – what do you call them anyway? They looked like they were about 12 years old, but the owner told me they were in their twenties. No matter how old they were, they were fantastic. It was exciting just watching how quickly they moved and seemed to work in unison. So that was really good and everything was moving along smoothly, when all of a sudden, the music station with background music began playing Gladys Knight and the Pips singing “The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me.” As soon as the music began, tears started running down my face! I was horrified and embarrassed and afraid the cooks – chefs – whatever – would notice and have me removed from the premises. I managed to hold it together until the song was over, and I don’t think Diane even knew what was going on . . . or if she did, she probably just thought I was acting crazy again.

So I’ve been wondering why I’ve developed this emotional response to certain music over the years. Christmas music makes me cry, some classical music makes me cry and obviously Gladys Knight makes me cry. I could go on and on, but I thought I’d have a little experiment right here in my computer room where my carrots and tomato plants are growing – they’ll comfort me during my experiment. I planted carrots several weeks ago in a big pot and they’re about 6 inches tall now. I also ordered another tomato tree – Audrey IIII - and have several sprouts coming up already. But back to the music . . . . . I went to YouTube and found music videos of music that really gets to me. First I listened to Pavarotti singing the aria Nessun Dorma from the opera Turandot. Right away I started crying – not sobbing, just many tears. So after that I moved on to Robert Goulet singing “If Ever I Would Leave You” and the tears really flowed on that one. I ended with Gladys Knight and two of her songs that affect me the same way – “Neither One of Us” and “The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me.” When I was all done, I was a mess! But I still don’t know why I react that way. One of my friends asked me if I were thinking of a man when I listened to Gladys Knight’s songs. Would that be one man, some men, many men? Who’s to say? And The Pips? Does anyone else cry when they hear The Pips? Probably not.

I guess this will just remain a mystery to me as many things do already. But the PIPS??

Alice

No, this wasn’t a case of made cow disease. This was just Alice, our mad cow. I was young and still at home on the farm when this picture was taken. Alice never liked being told where to go, and this time she needed some persuasion . . . like dragging her. It was probably milking time.

Alice didn’t like me, and I couldn’t understand why. I thought everyone liked me . . . what was there not to like? But at least that way, I never had to milk her. But I drank plenty of fresh, warm milk every morning. These days I imagine that’s against the law, but I was young and foolish and drank the unpasteurized milk. I also ate the butter my mom made from the cream, and it was wonderful! But then someone discovered cholesterol and spoiled things for everyone. Sometimes progress is a real bummer.

I remember standing in the kitchen, watching my mom skim the cream off of the milk after it had risen to the top. She’d put it in a big bowl and then make butter. I don’t remember the entire process, but it fascinated me. I especially liked eating the butter out of the bowl. My mom also made homemade ice cream that tasted better than anything you could find in a store. We made our own root beer that was delicious – I don’t think “store bought” root beer could compare to ours – and we’d have root beer floats with the homemade ice cream. Heavenly! My mom hung all of our washing out on the clothesline in the backyard which made the sheets smell so fresh and good. The towels were a little stiff, but that’s just the way it was. I participated in all of that to some extent, and I’m thankful I had the opportunity to witness those “old times.” My girls have never seen me make butter, root beer or hang clothes on a clothesline. That’s because I never have. Were they scarred by not having those experiences? They seem to be capable young women, but could they have been better if they had lived as I did? Maybe I should get a clothesline, and the next time they visit the compound, we can hang up the wash as a family and then maybe come in and make root beer if I can find out how to do it. But I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.

I don’t know what set me off on this track . . . I think it’s the picture of Alice that brought back old memories. Not a bad thing at all.