Don't even try to tell me you haven't wondered about it. There's the vague sense of anticipation in conversations, the emails. It's the elephant in the room. Every day, I ask myself, "is this the day I write about our favorite breakfast cereal?
Such a rich topic: the Quest, the Scare, the nutritional analysis, the major and minor variations.
Here it is. We eat muesli. Not just any muesli, however. Eating Right Muesli Cereal distributed by Lucerne Foods, Inc. Here's a photo of where we keep it. I can cram 10 boxes in there, and often do. I hate to run out (plus, it's one of those permanently-"on sale" products, for some reason--even though I would gladly pay full price!).
There isn't enough room on this page (or, perhaps, in the whole blog) to give a proper historical context. So picking up the story from a point about 5 or 6 years ago (or longer), I was on a Quest for breakfast cereal. We had been eating perfectly good products, like Raisin Bran, or Shredded Wheat, but we would tire of them after awhile. I searched the supermarkets and healthy-food stores. We tried dozens of boxes. I must say, while I totally support and patronize (in a good way) stores that stock the healthier sort of foods, it's not because of the tasty cereals. How can it be so difficult?
Finally, in the good ol' local Von's, we tried their house brand ("Select") muesli (cue angelic choral "a-a-ahs" with sunbeams streaming from the box). Who would guess? It was a revelation! I mean it! We love this stuff!
Here are the ingredients (in order): raisins, whole barley, whole wheat and wheat bran, corn oats, dates, sugar, almonds, rice, corn syrup, salt, malt flavoring. Yeah, I see that it has sugar and some corn syrup. But, just in the right amounts. 
About a year ago, the whole line of "Select" cereals disappeared from the shelves of our local Safeway. Scary! A store employee told me that it was gone forever. Yikes! But a few weeks later, "Eating Right" cereals appeared, and Muesli was one of them. I bought one. Yippee! The very same! Whew!
So, yes, we eat it every day. Even weekends (I used to bake on weekends). Tom eats it with milk and maybe sliced fruit (see how happy he is?), I use milk, soy milk or yogurt.
There. At last, now you know. You're welcome!
Tom got serious about Fair Food straight from the entrance gate: a deep-fried White Castle burger and corn dog lunch. I missed the photo op for the burger, since it was GONE by the time I returned with my fish taco/fried zucchini (comparative) health feast. Got the corn dog going in, though. Don't try this if you're inexperienced. It could ruin the rest of your fun at the fair! As it was, we went directly from that to soft-serve chocolate dipped confections and, thusly fortified, stomped off to the lesser attractions.
Sacramento in the summertime! We got lucky, and it was only in the mid-eighties, yesterday, compared to the 100 or so last year. The Expo grounds are huge (references: Nevada and San Diego County venues) and the different areas are far flung. It also makes it feel rather uncrowded, in most places. Of course, it was mid-week and school has started for most kids.
Highlights: a passel of piglets just hours old, twin baby goats (one day old), Chinese acrobats (seems like everywhere you look, these days, Chinese Acrobats!), some impressive art, actual movie props (among other things, the "Back to the Future" DeLorean and Zoltar booth from "Big"),interesting 3-D (with glasses) medical imaging software on a large screen (did we almost get hit with that cheekbone?), a demonstration of the sport of vaulting--that is, gymnastics on real horses that are galloping around--and fudge!
What did we buy? Not so much, this year, since we have most of it, already. But we bought these cool rope-and-pulley hang-up tie-down things for when we get our kayaks and need to hang them from the rafters in the garage. I think they'll work great!
On the whole, even with the fancy lagoon/stage area, fountains, monorail, we think that San Diego still has more cool stuff at its fair. Where are the gems and minerals, and fancy wood work? SD has several times the huckster booths and garden displays. Where are the bonsai and non-bo? The orchid people? (sigh)
But, we'll go every year, all the same. The combo of Nevada County and State Fair is a pretty good one. I just love looking at all the fascinating projects people are into. You've got your worm-castings people, and your bat experts (complete with live bat). There are folks that make art from straw and those that work in the medium of rusty farm equipment. Hypnotists and fancy-chicken raisers. Still fun and interesting.
And so nutritious!
If by "she", we mean "me", Tom wonders that all the time. Up there in his little tower, busily herding his cats, he doesn't see what kind of trouble I'm getting myself into every day. So, here's a little update for everyone...
Several months ago, I designed t-shirts for The Pittsburgh Project. Several weeks ago, they asked if I would recreate one of them in watercolor form, which I was glad to do.
It will be one of the parting gifts as the founder/director, Saleem Ghubril, a dear friend and all-around amazing human, moves on to a position with the City of Pittsburgh (which must have a very fine sense of judgment). Here are shots of one of the designs (could NOT crop that image any better, for some goofy reason I'll never understand), and then the watercolor from it. I have no idea why the photo of the watercolor is so blue, since I painted it on white paper (sigh). Try to imagine something a bit less, um, blue, if you can (too lazy to work on it in Elements).
Meanwhile, out in the shop, I'm in the early stages of building three glass panels for CCC. Don't have running water out there, yet, so I'm using a plastic trash can almost filled up. It's working fine, for now. 
As I'm getting into it, there are other little things that still need some refinement, so progress on the panels is pretty slow, at this stage. I finally ordered the glass for the light box (that broke in the move), for example, which should be here this next week, yada yada and so on...
So, yeah, I'm doin' some stuff. And squeezing in a bit of Scrabulous with Kyle. She cleaned my clock, this last game (may I please whine a little about too many vowels?).
Finally, two things: This FUNNY video sent in by Ruth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUCwo2dpffg
and don't forget to check out Dylan's fundraising page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/pactri08/dgold
Here's a cool thing! I've mentioned, recently, that Dylan is working out with the organization "Team in Training", this summer. He's regularly been getting up early (not part of his natural biorhythms) to run/bike many miles in the City or swim in the Bay to prepare for a triathlon coming up next month near Monterey.
Team in Training is an arm of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and serves to raise funds for research into these kinds of cancers and for better treatment for the patients. One of the reasons that this organization appeals to Dylan is that a good friend of his lost a brother (also a friend) to a type of lymphoma recently, and he wants to contribute in some way to the effort to defeat these diseases.
Meanwhile, he's getting into pretty good shape. He ran a half-marathon (about 13 miles) in San Francisco on Sunday and finished in an hour and 33 minutes. A great run for a newbie!
So, if you want to read Dylan's own words about this commitment and might be interested in contributing to this very worthy cause through Dylan's efforts (of course, you do!), here's the website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/pactri08/dgold
You can also look at the organization's website: http://20th.teamintraining.org/
Meanwhile, a few things are moving along with respect to his furniture business. Several online catalogs want to carry his pieces. Here's one called "The Artful Home", and here's his page in it: https://www.artfulhome.com/artist/7773.html
He's also designing and building various custom pieces (a desk, some beds) for several clients, currently. It hasn't quite gelled in the way he's planned, yet, but it's gradually picking up some steam. Looking good, we think!
Check it out and see what YOU think!
If there were a Police Blotter Olympics (and I think there should be!), Nevada County would be the dark horse from, say, Suriname that unexpectedly nearly medals. There would be the touching back story about triumph over difficult circumstances (some sort of mining accident in the family) and amazing strength of character to seek out quirky behavior in the midst of a seemingly sleepy, inherently law-abiding culture (...soft focus amongst pine trees...)
"6:21 p.m.--A man with a beard and no clothes was reported walking down Pleasant Valley Road. Deputies were unable to locate the man. [Let's hope it was a very long beard]
"2:48 a.m.--Loud music with a bass drum was reported from the 100 block of Berryhill Drive. Responding officers found a toddler making the disturbance. [I want a pair of the kind of earplugs those parents must have been using..]
"3:00 p.m.--A man in the lobby from the 100 block of Murphy Street reported finding several vegetables in his yard, possibly fired from a potato gun. The man said he filed a report because he was afraid his dogs could be injured by future flying produce." [one of the neighbors just trying to cope with the extra zucchini--I've been there]
"At 9:56 a.m.--Tuesday, a caller from the 300 block of Sutton Way called Grass Valley Police to report his vehicle had been vandalized with barbecue sauce. The day before, another resident reported suspicious vegetables to police." [Classic escalation, veggies to bbq sauce...they'd better catch these guys before they--oh, no! Too late! See next entry...]
"5:56 a.m.--A caller from the 100 block of Alta Street reported her house had been toilet-papered, egged and tomatoed." [An all-out, city-wide food fight has broken out! Only the SWAT unit of the American Chef's Association can save us, now...]
"10:39 p.m.--A caller from the 1000 block of Sutton Way reported two girls dressed as livestock pushing each other around the parking lot in shopping carts." [a sure sign of the Apocalypse...]
"2:44 p.m.--A woman from the 13000 block of Greenhorn reported her neighbors were breaking into her house and stealing her clothes and hair ties." [How many times do we have to repeat, "lock up your hair ties, people!"]
"11:10 p.m.--A man was seen in downtown Nevada City wearing green boxer shorts with his pants up around his head." [I can't even quite imagine...does it sound like a Super-Wedgy, to you?...]
"1:47 a.m.--A caller from the 200 block of Willow Valley Road reported hearing a strange cat in her yard." [it better have been an endangered Clouded Leopard, or some such...]
Amazing! Awesome! Magical! I'm not an Olympics junkie. But, I AM an Olympics-opening-ceremonies junkie--of the highest order. I was blown away by last night's program--every phase of it! I don't "plan" to watch much of the Games, but I will see some of it, since it will just be "on", around here. And that's OK. I don't particularly care who wins what. I think it's just as cool if a woman from Belarus gets the gold as anyone else. But some of the stories will grab me, and, since I haven't been to China, yet, it's another opportunity to learn just a little bit more about that place and it's people.
It is such an interesting, if limited, panorama of the nation states, starting with the colorful costumes. There are countless layers to the Drama and one can choose which ones to care about (if any). I do care about China's shortcomings, both domestically and internationally. I care about our own. And, as I've said, I'm also interested in the individual stories, to the extent that they're possible to know, in the scope of such an enormous production.
Olympics happen. And opening ceremonies are the host country's Big Moment Artsy Techno Show-Off Moment (it was reported that up to 4 billion folks watched!). That's inherently fascinating to me. But also thrilling to see! China gets the gold in that game!
We attended the opening day of the Nevada County Fair, yesterday--an anxiously-awaited occasion (We love fairs!). Well, actually, I got there at 1pm, and Tom joined me around 6:30 (this kind of timing allows me to wallow in the minutiae that I love--i.e. Animals and Stuff That People Make--before he even hits the parking lot).
If you read the most recent post, you know that I entered a piece of calligraphy and a basket. Here's the formula for collecting a ribbon or two: Step One- move to a rural, sparsely-populated county; Step Two- choose categories no one else wants to enter. And, voila!, blue ribbons practically fall from the sky! Yep, only one piece of calligraphy was entered, so Yours Truly wins big! And I could only find two other baskets. Cha-ching! Another big blue! And I also saw the maidenhair fern that won in the Maidenhair Fern category, and my maidenhair fern could totally kick that maidenhair fern's butt! Next year, I'm rackin' up another blue, for sure (barring a possible watering failure)!
Other categories with glory potential--Tallest Weed, Clothing Made Entirely From Duct Tape, and Popsicle Stick Furniture Made By Somewhat Introverted Women With Green Eyes. Categories to stay away from include, painting (any age), photography (any type) and all food. There was an enormous array of Ugliest Dang Cake in the County entries. I've included a photo of a cake that didn't quite win, but that I'm pretty sure you wouldn't eat unless blindfolded, if you had to.
I'm sure you can't wait for me to list some of the other competitions. Lucky you! Sometime in the next four days, there'll be Squashmobile Races (put wheels on your butternut or zucchini), Text-Messaging Speed Contests (Rachel would totally CREAM the competition) and the obvious Confound the Local Judge (got a farm tool with a not-so-obvious purpose?). 
I spent the day ogling at gigantic Shire horses and teeny miniature ones, alpacas (required), bees, chickens whose heads look like Koosh balls, perpetual-motion 4-day-old piglets (seriously, there were 11 of them, and they were like wind-up toys set on "high"--very funny), and pygmy goats. People are really into quilting around here; also weaving and knitting--beautiful stuff! I watched equestrian demos, a jujitsu exhibition, gold panning and handled silkworms. So cool! 
Tom likes the commercial exhibits (paltry collection, compared to San Diego), the food and the music. We did, however, just keep on walking past the karaoke tent and Nevada County Idol competition. We have our limits.
The fun ends on Sunday. But, this is High Fair Season. The Cal-ee-for-nee-ya State fair starts next Friday!
ICBIF--to me it means, "I can't believe it's Friday (already)!". That's how I feel about how productive I've been this week! Seems like I've been busy, but, well, never mind. It'll help me to post some evidence that I haven't been sitting around reading Sunset and playing Spider, the whole time.
I picked up materials for some stained glass panels that I'll start next week. But I also finished a couple of things.
For some reason, which seems utterly without merit, anymore, I decided, a few weeks ago, to enter a couple of pieces in the Nevada County Fair, which runs for 5 whole days, next week. I did this not having anything to submit, at the time. But I was thinking, "Hey, start to get your silly head in the game!", or something of that sort. It's symbolic, really, nothing more. I was giving myself a bit of a deadline to do something non-commissioned.
So, I found a John Muir quote. Perhaps I haven't read enough of his words, yet, but for all his other major accomplishments, a wordsmith, he wasn't. Still, I found one that I liked well enough, and set to put it into some calligraphic form. A lot of this I did last week, actually, to be honest. 
I'm rarely satisfied with a final result, and this was no exception, but I saw in the paper that the submissions were down quite a bit, this year, and I felt I had to hand in something (like someone was going to hunt me down and wag a finger in my face). Here's the work table just after I finished, and a photo of the piece after I threw it into a frame (I had forgotten that part until the last minute). 
I also had committed to a pine needle basket. I generally only work on those at night, in front of the TV, for an hour or two. Each one takes weeks, at that pace, and I needed to seriously step it up. So, Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning were spent working on a basket in broad daylight. That probably accounts for the sense that I didn't get too much done, this week (it's like throwing a pot in very s-l-o-w motion). But, I did finish (with some seeds that Dylan had brought from Costa Rica) and then rushed both pieces over the fairgrounds yesterday afternoon. Here's a picture of the basket.
So, that's it. I don't much care for juried exhibitions. I would much rather just have exhibits of people's work without judgment--just because it's interesting. Especially at an event like this. But, there it is. If women ruled the world...Fair starts Wednesday.
