It was cold, and it was windy, but it
was wonderful all the same.
Saw friends, went shopping (social
event more that buying thing) cooked (ate!), busy all the time.
Knitting? Oh yeah, knitting. Well I did
get some 4 or 5 rounds knit. But who cares. I still have 3 days!
I didn't get the the leafy sweater vest
blocked either. But, I will, I will.
This morning brought a wonderful
sound—dull banging and bumping—The work stoppage is over, and
once again progress is being made on the terraces. I still don't have
glass panels, (and some levels don't have vertical dividers making
the space into 2 terraces), but something is being done. Before the
break, the schedule had them finishing up my line by the end of
January. So some time in the next few weeks, I should once again
have open space—more than a month late, but finally!
My next shopping trip will be to buy
some plants, and some seeds, and get started with planters. I try to
have one planter at the kitchen window, with chives and basil and
other herbs (so handy!) The terrace planters are pretty stuff.
Always geraniums, usually nasturtium, and what ever else catches my
fancy (or is cheap, or germinates and survives!)
I have some hanging planters (they hang
from the divider, and one (a small one) hangs on the railing (the
inside side of the railing, so if they fall, they fall onto the
terrace, and not below!)and I have some half round planters that hang
on the wall, too. Plus a baker rack for more plants--3 resin chairs
and 2 small end tables and that is the terrace—FULL.
Well, there is also a clock and
thermometer, and a small set of wind chimes too. But again, these
are wall mounted (and don't take up floor space). There are always
some outside lights, too (but these too are hanging, and not table
lamps) The lights are really mood/atmospheres lights rather than
useful. The terrace has a step (a very high threshold) and it's just
enough light to see the step. The bakers rack usually hold a candle
or two as well (you'd think being 14 stories up would be enough, but
no, bugs find their way, and citronella candles are still needed. )
During the day, I like to sit outside to read, or have a cup of
coffee, but in the evening, I just enjoy the view.
Like last night—did you see the moon- flanked by Jupiter and Venus?--Forget the red carpet, the real
show is in the sky! Mercury had already set by the time I was looking--and I didn't even look for Mars. Beside, I don't have nearly as good a view east as I do west.
Speaking of germinating, tonight will
be Chinese (style) food—with fresh grown bean sprouts—Nothing really
special, just shredded cabbage, (a lot) bean sprouts (a bunch), a
thin sliced onion, a small carrot shredded, too, and 1/4th
of a red pepper slivered (the carrot and pepper are there as color,
more than as flavor) a bit of ginger, and minced garlic too.
First, a bit (2oz) of slivered pork
will be stir fried, and put aside. Then all the vegetable go in the
pan, (onions and seasoning first, then cabbage, carrots and pepper,
last, the sprouts)and get stir fried, too. Finally I add a “gravy”
of soy, broth, vinegar, and (spicy) black bean sauce, along with the
pork, to the HOT pan—The liquids steam and further wilt the
cabbage, and 3 minutes later, the gravy is reduced by half, and
everything is cooked. The prep time is about 20 minutes (I shred my
cabbage, but it does go faster if you buy shredded cabbage(cole slaw
mix))--and the cooking time about 10.
I sometime serve with noodles-(thin/lo
mein)and sometimes just eat it with out any starch. It's simple and
flavorsome. The gravy varies, too. Some times, sweet hoisin sauce
goes in, sometimes chili oil goes in, (for more heat) sometimes it's
just a bit of soy sauce, broth and vinegar-with a little sugar or
honey—for a simple sauce. I've subbed chicken for the pork, too,
and ground pork for the slivered. I suppose if you like it, you
could sub tofu for meat.
