Ohio

http://picasaweb.google.com/BanjoJenny/Ohio2007Summer

Who's on First?

Thank you John Muir!

A week of magic in beautiful Yosemite - we toured by bike and discovered jewels of the valley; Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, vast meadows of Purple Lupin.....rushing mountain rivers.

Then over the pass to Strawberry Music Festival to commune with special friends and enjoy rich melodious encounters.

John Muir surveyed, charted, sketched and wrote (see below) of Yosemite most of his life. Thanks to him, Lincoln designated these 12,000 square miles a national protected wilderness.

"The storm tones died away, and turning toward the east, I beheld the countless hosts of the forest hushed and tranquil, towering above one another on the slopes of the hills like a devout audience. The setting sun filled them with amber light, and seemed to say, while they listened, "My peace I give unto you." -J.M.

http://picasaweb.google.com/BanjoJenny/Yosemite2007

take five minutes to shift your mind here.....

www.glumbert.com/media/shift

The Embarcadero

We enjoyed a remarkably clear day for lunch at the Monte Cristo in San Francisco yesterday. This is the restaurant where Xia's dad works (across from the Ferry Building) and then we went up the mod glass elevators (not for the acrophobically inclined, of which I am one, so I'm glad to be down here on solid ground again) of the neighboring Hyatt to enjoy the view from above.

It's Chic to be a Girl in Washington!

Jeff and Rosa in Kauai sent these great photos.

Name that Spice

Can you guess what it is? Fennugreek! Tisha and I have been taking careful notes as we watch the girls in the kitchen. We've graduated to Indian Cooking 201 having successfully learned how to make "Rasam", "Fried Rice with Vegetables" and "Sambar". Oh, and "Curried Dahl" (I think that's what it's called - it was good, whatever it was).

The spices in the picture, clockwise, are; Fennugreek, Mustard seed, Garam Masala (empty) Chile Powder, Tumeric, Coriander Powder and in the middle - Cumin. Together with ginger, garlic and "ghee" you've got what you need. (The trick is in the timing with the spices.)

Nuff said. You'll just have to try it.