Sunday, October 3, 2010

Beans


A big Sunday afternoon hello to YOU! Laurel's Kitchen got me thinking about beans. They are an easy food, you know. I bought beans yesterday, soaked them all night and now I am cooking them and they smell beanie. The white Great Northern beans are going to be a ham soup. Onion, salt, turkey ham, water = soup.
The pinto beans below are going to be a big pot of hamburger beans. Bacon, onion, salt, beans, tomatoes, ground beef = dinner.




Reading cookbooks made me long for a pancake. One pancake is easy to make and delicious to eat.


Cheesy potato soup with chicken? It was tasty.

I miss my kitchen when I'm at school. It's like a stranger to me on Friday evening, but by Saturday morning, we're friends again.

I'm embarrassed to say that I had only used ONE of my SIX massages that Bill gave me for Mother's Day, long ago in May. Yesterday I made an appointment to use number two. I have to use FOUR before the end of the month. Well, yesterday the massage therapist seemed really, really, tired and really, really hungry. He said, "Where does it hurt?" I replied, "Nowhere. I'm good." He said, "That never happens. I don't know what I can do for you." What a grouch. I said, "Oh! Well, I don't know . . . we'll talk and it will be great." (I wasn't picking up on his lack of enthusiasm) Finally, he decided to be a little nicer and a little less burnt out and started his "deep tissue" massage. It took me twelve hours to recover. Ouch! When I left (after giving him a very generous tip for a meanie) he said, "You need to stretch more." I guess massage therapists have long, hard, boring, "I'm tired of massaging" days, too. I didn't ask for him and I certainly won't ask for him next time. He's safe from THAT! We paid for this "treat" and I intend to arrange for a nice, squishy, gentle, WEAK massage therapist next time. Yikes.

Can we HOPE that the cool weather is on its way? I think so! I am wearing my slippers in the morning and I am going to make sure I take care of my feet this winter. I'll keep them warmer (I prefer to go without socks) and I will try to adjust to covering them up and protecting them from the dry Colorado air. And because I'm in the mood to whine, I must tell you that my classroom is SO hot again. Sigh. I bought summery knit shirts to wear up on the second floor. I can't bear it all winter long. It's been too hot for three years so I guess it's going to have to be summer inside, winter outside for quite a few months. Drat.



Anyway, fall is lovely and pumpkins and squash are the stars of the show. Bran muffins and ginger bread make wonderful love gifts. And guess what? In three weeks, I'll be in Hawaii floating in the salty sea and gazing at palm trees.

Back to the computer grade book now. Three more weeks of school until fall break. I can do this because October is a very hospitable month. What's your October hold? Beans?


16 comments:

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

I know my visiting your blog goes in fits and starts (you've got used to me right?) ... you know I pop in when I can ... well I just wanted to tell you that I would REALLY miss it if ever your blog wasn't there hanging in cyberspace for me to come visit. That's all for now. I have been giving this a lot of thought today xoxo

magsmcc said...

Oh no- no beans! Well, actually we did have beans on toast for tea this evening- Heinz reduced salt and sugar, no soaking or recipe books involved! I'm laughing at your heat crisis- it's cold out there tonight, although Autumn hads been mild so far- raincoats in the morning and not winter coats just yet! Love the pumpkin bag- October will hold lots of pumpkin preparations for our annual party over Hallowe'en weekend- but swimming in the Pacific is also an attractive thought! Have a great squashy week!

Leslie said...

You've inspired me with all of your cooking! We love beans and you have encouraged me to cook more of them.

It has finally gotten cooler here in texas, but it is the sort of cool that makes it hard to regulate temps in the house...it is either too hot or too cold. I will think of you as I try to get comfy. (I won't even go into the misery of allergies.)

I did buy our first pumpkin and it is quite beautiful.

Have a blessed new week!

Vicki said...

Hi, Pompom,
Your bean recipes sound delicious. I grew up eating pinto beans and still love them today. My mom would cook pintos, cornbread and soft fried potatoes, yummy!! Soup is perfect for autumn days I think. We actually had very cool autumn like weather this weekend in hot, humid Central Texas, yipeee! I am sorry your massage therapist did not make your visit the relaxing one it should have been. I can also sympathize with you about your classroom. It seemed my rooms were either freezing cold or hot, no happy medium there. Well, just keep looking forward to that wonderful time in Hawaii, lucky girl. Love and blessings always~ Vicki

debbie bailey said...

Hawaii, huh? You lucky girl! Are you taking your pink bikini? If you're like me, the last time I wore a bikini was on my honeymoon in '76.

One of our favorite meals around here is pinto beans, collard greens, and corn bread. Are we Southern, or what?

Bradley W. Maston said...

Wow! You have been so very busy making tasty treats! So wonderful. Yes, cooler days are welcome and cold days will be all the rage. I love you!
~brad

Elizabethd said...

We dont use a lot of beans, but do like to use lentils in soup making.

Hawaii...how marvellous, I have such happy memories of a holiday there.

melanie said...

Cheesey tattie soup sounds good, though I would have to omit the chicken with me been vege :) xxxx

Left-Handed Housewife said...

I love beans and the Man loves beans. The boys? Hmmm ... they could give or take beans. So I don't cook them as much as I'd like.

October holds cooler weather (finally!) and Will's 8th birthday (my Halloween baby!). And lots of travel, I'm afraid. Sigh.

Hang in there at school, Pom Pom!

xofrances

Gigi said...

Mmmmm, we love beans here too - all kinds ;).
Love your red cosy shoes! Fall is here -- at long last - yay!
Blessings,
G

libbyquilter said...

i think it's soup season again~!
:-))))))

what does October hold for me . . .?

i'm thinking of dedicating this months allotment of photoshop time to scarey and edgey stuff . . .
not my usual style but what better time to experiment with these themes?

think of the "weather" in your classroom as a prelude to your upcoming tropical paradise vacation. maybe enjoy a cool fruit slushy or two during lunch . . . don't forget the little umbrellas~!

;-)
libbyQ

Anonymous said...

I just made bean soup the other day too! Beans are nutritious so I'm happy that my family loves them. I found a recipe for making refried beans in the crockpot and we love that ~ and it's so easy for me ~ just cooks all day and I don't have to do anything! :)

Oh, Hawaii sounds wonderful ~ you are blessed!

Have a lovely, smiley day, Pom Pom!
Sharon

Elderberry-Rob said...

hope you get to enjoy the other four massages - I only get one if we go on holiday somewhere nice where it is affordable but so love an aromatherapy massage which is so good for detoxing - nice music helps too. xxx

Angela said...

Here in England the weather conditions have meant a bumper apple crop this autumn, so my october is fullof chutneys and pies and crumbles made from the windfall apples so many kind friends are giving me.
I must do more stuff with beans [you have different names for them in the USA - I need to research this a bit more!!] but they do have an unfortunate side effect on my digestive system!!

blessings x [oh, just spotted word verification is BLEST - how cool is that!]

Kari of Writing Up A Storm said...

Hi Pom Pom! Just checking in with you to say I am still here. I don't know why I thought we'd be through with all of this renovation by now, but I'm glad the workmen are going to be working in cooler weather at least. There's always a silver lining, isn't there? I have a "stitch" in my side from lugging boxes out to our new shed, and today I am bent over like a 100 year old lady! Just want to tell you how much I love the love that you give to one and all, making the world a more loving place to be every where you go. xoxo Kari

Gumbo Lily said...

I just love bean soups! I even bought a ham to roast and will use the bone and ham bits to make a good bean soup when I'm at the end of it.

Jody

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