Logic puzles have long been my favorite type of brainteaser.  I saw this one a few weeks ago and spent more time than I would like to admit determining who wore what.  Check the comment box for the answer.

At the local nursery school, I was chatting to my daughter’s friends and noticed a number of things. Abby has mousey colored hair and the girl with black hair was wearing a green dress. Maura is not blonde and Riley does not have brown hair.  Kelly was wearing a blue dress. The blonde girl was not wearing red and Riley was not wearing green. I can’t remember which girl was wearing a yellow dress. Can you determine the colors of the girl’s dresses and their hair?

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat.  Cut 1 (one) 8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.  Add chicken, 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms, 1 1/4 cups chopped onion and 2 cloves minced garlic.  Cook for 5-8 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and chicken is no longer pink.

Prepare 1 (one) 6-oz box long-grain and wild rice mix according to package directions.  Add prepared rice, 2 (two) 14 1/2-ounce cans chicken broth, 2 tablespoons dry white wine, 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon and 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme.  Bring to a boil.  Combine a small amount of 1 (one) 12-ounce can of low-fat evaporated milk and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a small bowl.  Stir into soup mixture with remaining evaporated milk. 

Reduce heat to low.  Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, or until soup is thickened.  Garnish with sliced green onions and green peppers.  Serves 6.  20 minutes cooking, approximately 15 minutes preparation.

For the record, this is the not quite finished sweater that was first mentioned several months ago in a previous post:  http://coco724.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/then-and-now.  The neckline still needs the finishing crochet work; the straggly ends need to be woven into the seams.   

My friend had graciously forwarded the pattern to me after I had admired her beautiful soft green version.  The knitting went very fast, the crocheting became a huge stumbling block.  After twisting my Mother’s arm, she agreed to take over the crocheting, if, I would then take charge of sewing it together.  The perseverence gene is still functioning, just very, very slowly.    

  Shot 1

  Shot 2

      Shot 3

Something as simple as taking a picture of the wildflower bouquet I picked today evolved into an artistic experiment.  What would the best picture I could take without moving the vase, any accuturements, or, without photoshopping anything out of the frame?  My initial impulse was to have the funky bird lawn sculpture in the background, adding some whimsy to the shot.  Unfortunately, the electric wires and a less than flattering shot of the near-by road were unavoidable.  Scratch shot one.

Shot two was better than the first, but the arm of the wicker porch chair edged into the shot.  The shot was tightened, but any more zoon would have totally eliminated the branch on the left, part of what was pretty about the bouquet.  Scratch shot two.

As far as Goldilocks the Photographer is concerned, shot number three turned out “just right.”

The July apple tree has taken a rest this year.  Usually drooping with yellow orbs that fall to the ground, covering a circle about as wide as the canopy of branches, this year, there are less than 20 apples on the whole tree.  The deer who come down out of the woods to eat the fallen fruit are disappointed.  It is a ritual that has been going on for years.  The cute twin fawns who scampered across the yard last summer have grown and are very hungry. 

No apples has left them looking for other food.  That, in turn, has led to a collision between my enjoyment at seeing such beautiful animals up close and personal, and my chagrin at seeing plants disappear daily.  Plants that have never been bothered in 20 years have suddenly become gourmet deer food.  Hosta, Impatiens, Pole Beans, even my beautiful blue Hydrangeas–gone. 

Bambi, you’ve lost your charm.

For the past two days, the robins in front of the house have been fussing to the point that it has become downright distracting.  Robins have a sharp chirp when danger or a perceived threat is in range of their nests.  Typically when I hear that chirp it means the cat has walked around to the front, setting off a chorus of warnings.  The easy fix is to swoop her up and put her in the house. 

Constantly distressed, the poor birds have been in quite a dither, which has transmitted itself to me.  Sorry to see them so out of sorts, but I am also tired of hearing them fuss.  At first I thought there might be a stray cat stalking their babies, but it has turned out to be something that I can’t do anything about.  Late today I finally spotted the culprit.  The robins were chasing and scolding a hawk that has been circling the area, looking for dinner.  The hawk is beautiful.  The robins are upset.  I know it is nature, but I hate to see either side suffer.

Similiar color schemes, similiar formal interpretations, different presentation.  I always tell people who are obviously in angst over making a final glass texture or color choice that there are two things to keep in mind:  1.)  Under no circumstances would I remain silent and let something slide through that I think would ultimately be disappointing.  My reputation and integrity are at stake.  People trust my advice.  2.)  When the choices narrow and either one would be attractive, then I suggest to them that these panels are like snowflakes.  Slightly different, but each would be beautiful in its own way.     

Maybe it’s folk art, maybe it’s a creative stonemason.  Whatever the definition, one has to admire the time and effort involved to craft this lifesize warrior using fieldstones and cement. 

Summer officially arrived last weekend.  Today’s hot and muggy weather bears testament to why a chilled soup that requires almost no cooking is a perfect summer meal.  Little additional heat is generated to produce this light and filling soup.  Prepared in minutes, other fresh herbs such as parsley or mint can be substituted for the fresh dill.

Toss 2 large cucumbers with 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon salt.  Let stand for 30 minutes.  Rinse, peel and devein 1-pound raw shrimp, the smallest you can find.  Pat dry.  Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet.  Add shrimp, raise the heat, and toss until they turn pink, 2 to 3 minutes.  Remove them with a slotted spoon and reserve.

Add 1/4 cup dry white vermouth to the skillet and boil until it is reduced to a few spoonfuls.  Pour over the shrimp and season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.  Drain the prepared cucumbers, transferring them to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.  Process briefly, then add 1 1/2-cups chilled buttermilk.  Continue processing until smooth.  Add 3/4-cup chopped fresh dill (or more if to your taste) and process in a spurt, about 2 seconds to disperse the dill in soup.  

Pour soup into a bowl, add the reserved shrimp and their liquid.  Refrigerate, covered, until very cold.  Garnish with additinal chopped dill.  Serve in chilled bowls.  4-6 servings. 

Today on Michael Feldman’s “What’Ya Know” radio show on NPR, a guest was describing an incident in her life that she found to be incredibly shameful.  At a low point in her life, she was forced to sell everything she owned.  At the yard sale, a man offered her $7.00 for her children’s pet dog, and she agreed.  The dog was leashed and placed in the back of the man’s pick-up truck, and as the truck pulled out “that old hound looked me in the eye and I knew he knew what I had done.”

Just as this story was being told, I glanced to my left and noticed a pick-up truck was passing my car.  In the back of the truck was a large black dog tied to a leash standing in the bed of the truck!  If you listen carefully, you can hear the spooky Twilight Zone music playing.