old dogs, new tricks

I recently signed up at one of those popular-with-the-kids online communities. Not so much to see what my kids were up to as to communicate with them, more often, on their terms. My fifteen year old needs to think about whether or not we can be friends online. That’s acceptable of course: he is fifteen, after all. My older kids are fine with it though, and really, it’s pretty cool. Do you know how much art you can find there, for example?  And photos I’ve never seen of what the children are doing at say, 10pm. Enlightening in a variety of ways.  I do find myself a bit confused though: someone sent me a fire? What the heck? Is that a good thing or not? I have no clue…Old dog, new tricks. Life is interesting.  

archi-funk

 digital photo - manipulated - copyright K. Smith - all rights reserved 

quick, easy and it tastes wonderful! pretty healthy too…

This is so easy. And delicious. Lamb. A butterflied leg. Marinate overnight (or a few hours, if that works better for you today) in (1) diced onion, (3) cloves diced garlic, tarragon (2 tbsp dried or more fresh), 2 tsp basil (dried - or more if it’s fresh), olive oil to coat, a healthy dose of balsamic vinegar and enough juice (orange is good, cherry is excellent) to coat it all. Refrigerate until an hour before grilling. Toss a salad while grilling meat to medium rare. Takes ten minutes to prepare marinade and maybe twenty to cook. Please note: I measure nothing. Do what looks/feels and most importantly smells right to you. Enjoy! I should have a photo to tempt the taste buds, eh? Sorry - should have thought of that before dinner!

Better than the six o’clock news - 1st post at a new blog…

People always tell me they’re not creative. I don’t believe them. I think they simply have very limited ideas of what creativity is. It takes a good deal of creativity to raise children for instance. How does a person work eight hours, drive one, get the kids off to and home from their day, cook dinner, shop, cook, clean, participate (in church or the boy scouts or softball or art classes - whatever) - day after day after day - without at least being creative enough to keep coming up with the ambition to get out of bed again the next morning?  I bet you’re much more creative than you give yourself credit for. This blog is my next step in a personal pursuit of creative expression.  Of course I hope you’ll visit often. We’re all a bit creative. But we can and should strive to be more so. We just might make the world a better, more peaceful place. You have to admit, artists seem to be good-hearted people. For the most part, we are. Appreciating the beauty of life, even or especially the often overlooked tidbits, not only puts a smile on your face, it warms your heart. Beats the heck out of the six o’clock news, imho. Peace.