Tuesday Ramble

A cloudless plain blue sky is like a flowerless garden.

Terri Guillemets

Good morning all.  Today is looking to be a hot one.  Well, not maybe summer like hot, but 70 is hot for October.  Today I'm off to the new center for some exercise so to get a good spot, I'll have to leave the house a little earlier.  I try to get out as much as possible.  I get depressed when I stay home too long.  It doesn't take much.  I'm so used to getting out and about.  50 years working.  And now that I finally let that part of my life go, sometimes I just feel lost because I cannot do all the things I planned on in retirement.  But, I'm not going to whine. I'm just going to knuckle down all the harder and get myself back into shape.

Took this picture while I waited for the bus yesterday.  Forgive the wires.  This is what you get when you live in the city. The sky was absolutely cloudless and oh, so blue.  I couldn't help but think what a miracle it was and how blessed I am to be alive to witness the beauty of our universe.

Remember American Bandstand?  When I look back over the years, and all the television I have watched, I have to say this was my all-time favorite show.  I remember racing home from school so I wouldn't miss anything.  I knew all the dancers by name, who was a couple, and who was breaking up.  I guess part of it was that my teenage years were spent pretty much confined.  My mom and dad grounded me for just about everything.  I realize now that that was their way of keeping track of me so they could go about their own lives.  So, I guess you can say I lived vicariously through the American Bandstand Dancers. 

Which is why I was more than thrilled to find a FB site devoted to them. All the familiar names popped up and stirred my memories--Justine Carelli, Billy Cook, Arlene Sullivan, Pat Molittieri, Ivette and Carmen Jimenez, Mike Balara.  They were superstars to us teens back then.  But, the fact is, as someone said, they just happened to be at the right place at the right time.  Anyone of us could have danced on that show. But, I loved them, and they gave me such joy.  Finding this site also allowed me to see how they look today, how they are handling the aging process, and, the fact is, they have aged just like me.  A few extra pounds, greying hair, wrinkles. And sadly, I learned that Pat Molittieri passed away in the 70's of a heart attack.  I also understand that Carmen's health is failing. Time marches on, and we are all subject to change.

I had planned on making a pork stew on Sunday so I bought some parsnips on Saturday.  Then, hubby's oldest sister took ill on Sunday, and I didn't get a chance to make it.  (She's okay now).  My stew takes a lot of time, and I knew I would be busy all week so I knew I had to use up the parsnips somehow so I used some of the things I had on hand and  came up with the following: 

 It was all very simple.   I peeled and sliced the parsnips and placed in a baking pan with baby carrots.  Added some olive oil and mixed so that everything was covered.  Sprinkled with black pepper for a spicy taste since I cannot have salt, and baked in the oven for about 25 minutes.  They were so good that I plan on making it again.

Well, that's about it today.  I'll be off to exercise this morning.  First time back since the dreaded palpitations.  Don't want to go through that again.  Have a good one.