MONDAY MORNING RECIPE POST - POACHED EGGS ON NAAN BREAD AND THOUGHTS OF GREAT-AUNT GERTRUDE

I have not thought about my Great-Aunt Gertrude in a long time. The last I ever saw her I was about seven, maybe eight. Funny how finding an old recipe will do that (this is another from my old blog). Naan bread of all things (in both bread and aunty, there was the connection). Her face popped into my head when at the store and on a whim and I picked up a packet of the bread. Story on Aunt Gertrude later, which will be written for our son as I don't think I have told him about her before. If I did it was a long time ago. And maybe you will find it interesting too. If you don't you can skip through of course.

I published this originally in 2008 and this is what I wrote:

So, here's brunch with my companion Great-Aunt Gertrude, at least in retelling the story to Gregg as we ate our lunch and repeating what my mother told me when I was young.  

But first, no recipe link. I had seen enough of this type of thing online and tweaked it a bit to suit our own tastes. 

I covered the bread with grated Cheddar cheese, and on top of the cheese, next came sautéed onions. These I had done in a little olive oil until transparent. I sliced tomatoes, which I didn't precook, and those went over the onions. (Next time I will add additional grated cheese over everything.) It went under the broiler until the cheese had melted and was golden, and the bread toasty. 

At the same time, I cooked the poached eggs, placing them carefully into low-simmering water. The last step was to place them on the loaded naan bread. I timed everything so that they were ready at the same time.

Our naan breads were large enough for two people. I cut one in half and it made a very satisfying breakfast for both of us.

I am also adding the following since publishing my post, as I have a keen interest on the history of food. I looked it up on Google and this is what popped up.

“The term “naan” comes from Persia, and ancient bread-making on hot pebbles (sangak) in Persia likely influenced its development.

It arrived in the Indian subcontinent with the Delhi Sultans and Mughals, who introduced the tandoor door oven method.

During the Mughal era (1520s onwards), naan was a special breakfast for the elite, served with keema or kebabs.

The first recorded mention in India is from 1300 AD by Indo-Persian poet Amir Khusrau, who described light (naan-e-tunuk) and heavy (naan-e-tanuri) versions cooked in tandoors.

Through trade, conquest and migration, naan spread from Central Asia and Iran to Afghanistan, Myanmar and eventually the West, becoming a universal favorite.”

If you have a question about this, let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to answer.

Now for the story of my Great Aunt. I asked AI to put together a watercolor of a photograph I remember my mother showing me many times. The photo was very old even back then. It has long since been lost. I have no idea where it went but it gave me some comfort and another connection to recompose it in a watercolor-style. The likenesses were off obviously, but it is darned near close to what I could remember of the setting.

So, this is a story to honor my Great-Aunt Gertude and two little boys whom she grew to love as if they were her own sons. 

She was my mother's aunt, her mother's sister. She passed away when I was in my early teens, and my memories of her are of a very nice lady who always had a ready smile for my sister and me, and always a kind word for my mother. Mother in fact loved her. Great-Aunt was a widow, husband long gone, who had no children of her own.

She and her husband spent many years in India. His work was something to do with the railroads. I vividly remember this fabulous old photograph of my mother's aunt. Mum pulled it out of a large box quite often when looking through old photos. Her aunt was sitting in one of those wickerwork peacock chairs, tropical palms in the background and two young Indian boys on each side of her. There was the most contented smile on her face and lovely smiles on those handsome young children. This I noticed when I was a little girl, and the thought stays with me still. The photo is long gone, and I have always wondered where it disappeared to as I would love to have it now, but my memory will be my photo. The idea for this 'watercolor' came to me as a curiosity to see what could be created more than anything.

My Mother told me a little of Great-Aunt Gertrude's story, and it was that she loved these little boys dearly, as if they were her own sons. She wanted to adopt them and bring them back to England when it was time for them to leave, but this was never meant to be and she was broken-hearted when she left them behind. I know nothing more about their time in India.

Years later, when Mum thought me old enough to know of such things, she told me that Great-Aunt Gertrude's husband, before I was born, had been murdered. I remember being very shocked and there are a few details I won't go into here, but I remember feeling sad for her all over again. They never did find the culprit. 

On our visits to see my nanny (mother's mother), nanny's sister would invariably be there, ready with a piece of toffee to give me. She had a gentle touch, a quiet voice and a sweet smile. That's all I can remember about my Great Aunt Gertrude.

Thanks for 'listening' and for visiting. I hope your week is an excellent one.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - I HAVE NO SPECIAL TALENTS EINSTEIN SAID...

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”

~Albert Einstein~

(Picture from pixabay.com)

A few memories about Albert, and this is a bit of a ramble heads-up! The following is from an old blog post I wrote when we visited his statue in Washington DC. It is word for word from one dated in March 2009, and I had one of those 'good grief' moments when I read it. I am beginning to wonder if my earlier mishaps are revisiting me later in life. We went into the city a lot more often than we do now.

"When I was browsing through old photo folders, I found these. I haven't visited Albert's statue in several years but often see the top of his head over the hedge on our drive out of Washington DC on our way home. I told Gregg I think I am ready to go back. 

Remember my other persona, Clara Clutz? Last time I visited Albert I tripped up one of those steps and hit my shin bone so hard I can still feel the dent to this day. I hobbled around for months, and it took over a year before I could kneel down without wincing. It literally has been years since we've visited Albert. There have been other places I have not suggested going back to, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that I can be a complete nervous nelly remembering places and incidents that have caused me great pain. Anyhow, I've just told Gregg we should visit as it is truly a marvelous statue.”

Present day now but I am still looking back as another memory was when we watched two rollerbladers swoop in to see the statue, but they were coming in way too fast. In that slow motion effect about 20 feet away - I couldn't believe what was happening, especially as I hadn't long had my mishap and was still gaining my equilibrium - one of the rollerbladers caught a foot on a crack in the concrete and did a somersault landing several feet away. They were young and fortunately for him, it seemed he was none the worse for his mishap, a lot of bruises that night no doubt. Fortunately they were wearing helmet, elbow and knee pads. I was happy about that and also very happy to get out of there! 

This post started yet another conversation with my dear other half as the story doesn't stop there. We crossed the street and were walking back to our car, I was hobbling and going a lot slower than normal, staring down at my feet as I didn't want to trip over anything else. A young man on a bicycle rode by us and as I looked up, a few feet ahead of us, his tire slid on some dust and gravel, and down he went. He had a bloody knee. We asked him if he was okay, did he need any help? He was okay he said and grabbed something out of his backpack to dab on his knee, looked at his bike which was still ridable, and off he went. Gregg and I looked at each other and even he rolled his eyes that day.

And what a day it was! We had warm weather and a beautiful blue sky and mishaps galore, or at least three of them.  I remember putting a bag of ice on my sore spot that night and a slow recovery process followed.

Well, it was worth it to see Albert. I suppose I can say this all these years later. It is such a beautiful statue sculpted by Robert Berks and is on the grounds of the National Academy of Science. You will often see a line of people waiting their turn to sit on his lap for their photograph. We were lucky, I wouldn't sit on the statue itself but had been trying to sit on the step after the last couple left and that's when it happened. But, if you ever get the chance go visit him, do - but be careful of those steps! I think he must still be there, though I haven't been into DC for a very long time, or even traveled up the road where we could see the top of his head. These photos were before digital and were taken with a little point and shoot camera.

The following I read online: “In his left hand, he holds a paper with mathematical equations summarizing three of Einstein's most important scientific contributions: the photoelectric effect, the theory of general relativity, and the equivalence of energy and matter. If you follow his gaze, you will see he is looking down at the ground at a star map which is at the statue's base. It is a 28-foot field of emerald pearl granite from Larvik, Norway, and is embedded with more than 2,700 metal studs representing the planets, sun, moon, stars, and other celestial objects accurately positioned by astronomers from the U.S. Naval Observatory as they were on the dedication date.”

Here are some Einstein quotes.

"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

"Look deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

"I am content in my later years. I have kept my good humor and take neither myself nor the next person seriously."

My photos don’t do the statue justice, but there are great ones to look at if you go to this link. 

When I reread my post, I can say I am still retaining my good humor, though perhaps once again rolling my eyes. I wonder if the rollerblader remembers how he came a cropper that day, or the man on the bike?

(picture from pixabay.com)

Thanks for looking, have a great Sunday and week ahead.

 

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - A VISITOR

And that’s how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

KINDESS...

For blogging friends overseas, I also added the words from above. This is why I have a translation gadget on my sidebar, and I will try to remember to type out the words in any of my picture quotes from now on.

"Kindness is spreading sunshine into people's lives regardless of the weather.

~Author Unknown~

An interpretation of kindness. I have always believed that kindness is a source of our strength, not our weakness. I found the following online from AI. It has been popping up on Google. I leave a question in the search box, and this is what it said.

 If you have any thoughts on what I added below, I would love to read them. It helps me understand the thoughts of others and if I am, or not, totally off my rocker in my beliefs. That's not to say I believe I am perfect, who is? I have learned from mistakes, and I read quite a lot, so hopefully I have learned from that too. I also learn from you. Thank you in advance of your wonderful comments that I love to read.

"The statement 'kindness is not a weakness, it is our strength' means that being kind is not a sign of being weak, but rather a demonstration of inner strength and character, as it often requires courage, empathy and the ability to put others' needs before our own, making kindness a powerful positive attribute rather than a flaw.

Key points about this statement:

Requires effort: choosing kindness, especially in challenging situations, can take conscious effort and emotional resilience, indicating strength.

Positive impact: acts of kindness can uplift others, improve relationships and create a more positive environment, making it a valuable asset.

Misconception about weakness: sometimes, people mistakenly associate kindness with being passive or easily manipulated, but true kindness involves setting boundaries and acting with integrity."

The following was written by Fadel Othman. 

"Kindness is Strength, Not Weakness"

"One of the hardest lessons we learn is that not everyone will value the kindness we offer. Sometimes, the people we care about the most misinterpret our love, patience and compassion as something to be taken advantage of. It's painful when your open heart - something you hold sacred - feels like a vulnerability others exploit. That betrayal stings deeply making you question not only others but your own worth.

But let me remind you: kindness is not a weakness, it is your greatest strength.

As Brené Brown teaches, vulnerability is the birthplace of courage. To offer kindness in a world that can be cold and dismissive is an act of bravery. It takes guts to remain compassionate when you've been hurt, to keep loving when trust has been broken, and to stay soft in a world that can be so hard. But here's the key: kindness cannot exist without boundaries.

Boundaries are a way of saying, "I can love you and me at the same time." They're not walls to shut people out - they're fences that protect your energy, your values, and your worth. Without boundaries, we risk letting our kindness turn into self-sacrifice, leaving us depleted and resentful. Boundaries allow us to stay true to ourselves while continuing to show up for others.

True kindness is not about being a martyr. It's about living authentically and giving intentionally. It's about being brave enough to say:

"This is what I can offer without losing myself."

"This is where I draw the line because I deserve respect too."

"I can still love you but I won't allow disrespect or exploitation."

When you live with this kind of clarity, you protect your heart without closing it off. You learn to give with courage and vulnerability, but also with discernment. And over time you realize that kindness rooted in boundaries is the strongest, most resilient form of love."

Gregg and I talked about this last section by Mr. Othman. Gregg said when kindness is at its most powerful, it is not conditional. He had a grandmother who lived her life with no conditions. We both had grandmothers like that, kindness without boundaries.

So, what do you think? I don't and will not go so deeply as I have in this post, but rarely. It's just a topic I have been thinking a lot of lately and I am very interested in your thoughts. No problem if you don't care to give any either I want to add. I am just genuinely curious.

Thanks for looking my friends, and I hope your day is a great one.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - HE SAID…A POEM BY MARK TWAIN

“Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.”

~Mark Twain~

I didn't know he wrote poems. Here's one I found at this link.

His advice and a "Poem to Margaret". 

This is his daughter.

"Be good, be good, be always good,

And now and then be clever,

But don't you ever be too good,

Nor ever be too clever;

For such as be too awful good

They awful lonely are,

And such as often clever be

Get cut and stung and trodden by persons of lesser mental capacity,

For this kind do by a law of their construction regard exhibitions of

Superior intellectuality as an offensive impertinence leveled at

Their lack of this high gift, and are prompt to resent such-like

Exhibitions in the manner above indicated - and are they justifiable?

Alas, alas they"

and he continues...

"(It is not best to go on; I think the line is already longer than it ought to be for real true poetry.)"

I found more here and the above poem is in public domain.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain (1835-1910), was an American novelist and humorist. Born in Missouri, he suffered ill health as a child and lost his father at the age of 12. A year later, to help keep his family fed, Samuel left school to become a printer's apprentice. He eventually went to work at his brother's newspaper and discovered that he enjoyed, and had a gift, for writing. At 21, Samuel embarked on a career as a steamboat pilot, but the Civil War forced him to head west and, after an unsuccessful attempt at a prospecting career, he went to work as a newspaper reporter and soon carved out a reputation as one of the most entertaining storytellers - in print and in person - around. In the course of his life, Samuel wrote 28 books and innumerable letters, essays and short stories, and is considered one of America's greatest literary icons.

WEEKLY HAPPENINGS FROM MONDAY, 12-23-24 TO SUNDAY, 12-29-24

Hello Everyone, here are our weekly goings on, with thanks to all family and friends who once again let me know how much they enjoy them, and to keep going, though it's a shorter one this week!

Monday, 12-23-24: I didn't get much done today. I woke up feeling very grotty and spent the rest of the day quietly. I had a bad headache and it was a PJ Day. I think I may have picked up a bug but Gregg was okay thankfully. I blogged a little and slept a lot (and I was fine by the next day).

I can’t believe it is going to be Christmas in a couple of days.

Gregg went out and picked up a big bag of ice-melt. It will be another chilly one tomorrow and promises to be icy.

Tuesday, 12-23-24: Cards arrived in our mailbox again. I am far behind. Invariably the card list gets smaller by the year, for obvious reasons at this age.  For me it is more of a challenge to get them written as my fingers don’t cooperate as well. I decided to only send out to people who send to us, unless they are at an age where it is very difficult for them and they still enjoy getting a card through the mail. Also, the price of stamps gets expensive by the year and again difficult when on a budget. There are electronic cards of course, which are very pretty and always welcome. I do need to update my card list. A few will be getting New Year cards. Next year, starting earlier!  

The day will be spent getting ready for tomorrow. 

It is icy out! Gregg put ice-melt on the drive and the path leading up to front door.  

Tomorrow the meal is relatively straightforward, so not a whole lot of pre-preparation. 

Can’t remember what we ate today.  I am writing this on the 26th. Playing catchup again.

We had son's company for several hours. Our daughter-in-law is a Cantor at her church and she sings her second mass at midnight. For her it is her job but it is also a labor of love. She has an incredible voice and her range is powerful. She can really reach those high notes. I always get emotional when I hear her. Music, especially the kind she sings, has that effect on me. She sounds like an angel!

Wednesday, 12-25-24 and Merry Christmas to all. 

I have already shared here what we did today and won't repeat.

Thursday, Boxing Day, 12-26-24: spent the whole day relaxing and eating leftovers, pottering and reading and generally being rather lazy.  

Friday, 12-27-24: a break from leftovers and around 2:00 p.m. we were ready to get out and decided to treat ourselves to a meal at The Silver Diner. Our waiter was delightful. It has been three years since my last visit, but father and son enjoy going every now and again. We both ordered the chicken pot pie and a cup of soup, the soup not needed but waiter asked if we would like to try, and we said yes please as we love soup and didn't realize how big that pot pie would be. I'm glad we tried it as we both enjoyed and said we would order this on its own next time. The pot pie was delicious but far too much. We didn't need anything for the rest of the day. Our first and last meal. 

I am still not that steady on my feet but held on to Gregg’s arm all the way. He managed to get a parking spot close to the entrance. Ten more days and I will have my first physiotherapy session. I am doing light exercises shown on several sheets of paper the orthopedic doctor gave me but would prefer being shown the proper way by a professional. How far I can stretch, that kind of thing, and I have a list of questions to ask.

It is our dear daughter-in-law’s birthday. Son took her out for a meal in Washington DC, and then on to The Kennedy Center for one of their performances. I will find out more when we see him on Sunday.  Here is a photo they took from inside the auditorium. There are several theaters in the building.

When we first got married we saw a performance of Swan Lake, an incredible memory. I saw Madame Butterfly and the Mikado with friends, different occasions. Gregg and I went to a Randy Newman performance. We haven’t been there in years, but I am very happy our son and daughter-in-law are enjoying it now. The next photo is somewhere in Washington DC. They love going to old bookstores and I love the look of that old building.  

Saturday, 12-28-24: It is already 5:11 p.m. and the last light is in the sky. No breakfast but we had a very nice leftover beef sandwich a short while ago. Neither of us are very hungry. Grazing will be the way to go for the rest of the day. Nothing exciting but a pleasant day nonetheless. Reading, pottering, more reading and more pottering, and talking in between, and away the goes the day.

Sunday, 12-29-24: Our son wasn’t able to visit this morning as he is nursing a sore throat at home. He sounded very poorly on the phone. 'Tis the season for coughs, colds, etc. Feel better soon son!

Gregg went to the supermarket and for breakfast he bought doughnuts, and a coffee for me. It was a lovely treat.

A late lunch. He surprised me with a very simple meal. Usually, he enjoys a little more pizzazz but today he said he fancied boiled potatoes, cabbage, and heated up a dish of baked beans. The only condiments were salt and pepper, and vinegar for the cabbage. Very plain! So nice to have such a simple meal after all the bells and whistles this past week. 

It is 63 degrees right now and no birds. We put the seed down they like too. What's going on birdies? Must be a spa day for them!  (One dove turned up later.)

This is where I end my week and my thanks to everyone who reads it. Have a great week!

(As blogging friends have asked in the past how I do these signatures and such, the art I used at the beginning and end of my post today, was requested from CoPilot. I also used Paint Shop Pro to put our Christmas photo in the frame on the top right of the photo. It is always fun to do. Besides saying my hobbies are blogging, photography and cooking, I also like tinkering on Paint Shop Pro, a program I was introduced years ago when I joined a stationery group online. This is going back to my first days on the Internet.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS - HAPPY HOLIDAYS - 2024

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.

To my blogging friends of different faiths, Happy Holidays!

I wish everyone here and around the world, a Peaceful and Happy 2025,

from our Family to Yours.

With love and hugs from Denise and Gregg

(Comments are off for today. 

Have a wonderful time with your families and friends.)

WORDS CAN BE SO...

 

I wish I knew who wrote this. It is sad to read at first but when you get to the bottom line, read from that bottom line up. It takes on a more positive spin, very cleverly done. It is powerful! I will continue to search for its author.

I’m very ugly

So don’t try to convince me that

I am a very beautiful person

Because at the end of the day

I hate myself in every single way

And I am not going to lie to myself by saying 

There is beauty inside of me that matters.

So rest assured I will remind myself

That I am a worthless, terrible person

And nothing you say will make me believe

I still deserve love

Because no matter what 

I am not good enough to be loved

And I am in no position to believe that

Beauty does exist within me

Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think

Am I as ugly as people say? 

Don’t forget to read this again from the bottom up. Its meaning changes for the better.

Any thoughts? Mine are that I think we should all do our very best to read from the bottom line up in life. I remember people saying negative things to me when I was young, to make me feel bad about myself, and not just when I was young. I wish I could have told the young me and even the older younger me, to read from the bottom line up.

Thanks for taking the time to comment with any of your thoughts. 

ONE MUST ASK…

“One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.”

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - JULIUS CAESAR?

 

There are new guests at the birdfeeder this week. Camera Lady has no idea where this is going to go right now.

Side story: Caesar Salad is often believed to have been created by Julius Caesar, but it was another Caesar in the 1920s that came up with it. His name was Caesar Cardini, an Italian chef who owned a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. He moved to Tijuana from California to avoid Prohibition, and it was here on July 4th, 1924, where Caesar is believed to have invented the Caesar Salad. 

According to his daughter, Rose Cardini, the restaurant was overrun with American customers. Short on ingredients in the kitchen, her father assembled what was left: lettuce stalks, olive oil, raw egg, croutons, parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce. Originally intended as finger food, the original Caesar salad recipe called for whole lettuce leaves, which were to be dipped in the dressing and then eaten with the fingers. It was a hit! Cardini's salad became so popular that it was soon being served in restaurants all over the world. Today it is one of the most popular salads in America.

And that's how it goes on a Saturday morning at the bird feeder, where Camera Lady never really knows what kind of groaner she is going to write about until it's written.

Thanks for groaning along with me my friends,

and have a great weekend.

LATEST ODDS AND BODS - 9/17/24

This one doesn’t look quite ready to get up yet. I know that feeling!

My latest cozy dream cottage.

I would definitely like this in there.

Or a crackling fire would be great on an extra cold morning.

Definitely this!

And maybe at the other end of the bedroom, or a cozy corner in a quiet part of the house.

And this in the garden.

And this, long considered to be a symbol of good luck. If you have a flight to fancy, if one lands on you it means better times are ahead, a positive experience is on its way. The dragonfly is also associated with change and rebirth, much like butterflies.

 

And talking of butterflies, how about some fun with food?

This is so cute!  I am not sure I would have the patience to put it together though. 

These look simpler, maybe not the lotus..

Does this sound good? This is the main part of our Christmas meal. I have never cooked it this way before. 

And for dessert? Once again, I have not made any of these recipes.

Or something healthier.  I am like the cartoon character who has the angel sitting on one shoulder, and the little devil on the on the other. Should I, shouldn’t I? 

Snacking for later, maybe! 

Pretty Fall art.

No rabbits this time, the bear wanted to say hello today.

How about some wildlife, the real kind this time?

Has she gone yet?  Not yet Baby, soon though, very soon but first, here are a few chuckles for you.

My dentist told me I needed a crown. I was like, I KNOW, RIGHT?”

The likelihood is that you have heard these before.

The following you have to know Marie Kondo to get it, and I believe she is known worldwide.  Her actual quote is, “Take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy? If it does, keep it. If it does not, dispose of it.’” I need Marie’s advice for getting into the closets this week. Otherwise I am tossing everything. 

Or I could always throw them back into the closet and wait until springtime, tsk!  I can hear distant laughter😆maybe, from those who know me are smiling or rolling their eyes up to the ceiling. 49 years of sentimentality in these bones. The man in the house has made his start, I will be following soon. Does this spark joy? I have 49 years of things that spark joy in this house, that's my problem.

A few wise words.

Ah yes, this is me.

It is time to tell the kitty that…

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone, 

And thanks for stopping by.