Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Been meaning to post this, but waited for pics, so here goes! Despite being a cook and loving to cook, it has been over a month since I moved into my little cabin in the woods and I hadn't cooked in my little kitchen until this past Sunday night. I'm not entirely sure why, other than the fact that I don't like eating alone, so I jumped at the chance to try out my new kitchen when Ian, a fellow Farmer, suggested we hang out...and maybe even make dinner...and maybe even make dinner at my house. Ian showed up with arms full of food and headed back to the Farm's kitchen for more ingredients (perk of working at the Farm is that we shop in the Kitchen's pantry, fridge and freezer). I'd chosen to try my hand at making galumpkis (stuffed cabbage) to see if I liked it enough to make it for the Farm; Ian decided on gorgonzola cheese mashed potatoes and maple rosemary roasted carrots. And so we stood side by side, me mixing galumpkis filling and boiling ...

A couple months back my friend and former Farmer, Ian ,  mentioned that he'd be leaving his job in NY State and heading back home to Minnesota for the winter and might be able to stop by en route. So, I was pleased as punch to get a message that he'd be stopping by Monday night, and in true Farm fashion I offered to put him up in my house overnight. I love that we were all so close at the Farm, and that even though time passes, we can reconnect as if no time has passed at all! My Farm friends will all be like family to me; we saw each other through too much. In no time Ian was walking through the front door to Sticks Library, grinning as I frantically waved, smiling like an idiot--I'm not going anywhere for Christmas this year, deciding to do my own thing for the first time, and since I have no visitors coming this visit felt particularly special. We headed out for dinner, Ian humoring me as I bombarded him with 100 questions about the Farm, about his job in NY State, a...

Part of what makes the best summer dinners is the food, but the other equally important part is the company. This past Wednesday Ian and Sascha (his gf and my Kitchen coworker), Jay and Pico came over for a grill out at my cabin; what came together was a Farm meal of cosmic proportions: marinated Farm ribeye (beef) steaks; potatoes, (white, red and fingerlings), garlic and onions from Jay's garden; lettuce greens from Sascha's garden; turnips from the Farm's gardens; cranberry lemonades with vodka from my refrigerator.  Ian oversaw the grilling, so the rest of us kicked back and chatted, enjoying the summer early evening. Everything was amazing! Here's how we made everything: Steak: Marinated for 5 hours in olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, maple syrup, oregano, rosemary, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. We didn't put anything on the steak after it was cooked (medium rare), the marinade left the MOST AMAZING flavor. Potatoes, onions...

I was supposed to sit in bed all day and read, but nagging at me were the three flats of tomatillos, the pounds of tomatoes, the 4 (LAME!) squash and the bag of beets. Don't even get me started on the buckets upon buckets of Farm apples in our walk-in fridge (that is Sunday's project). So I: hunched over the sink and scrubbed tomatoes in cold water for what seemed like hours; roasted tomatoes with garlic, chipotle, chili pepper, green peppers, cumin and chili powder; cooled; blended with red onions, lemon juice, salt and red wine vinegar; canned salsa peeled and scrubbed tomatillos; pureed and drained off excess juices; mixed with garlic, chipotle, chili  cumin and chili powder, tons of red onions, lemon juice, salt and red wine vinegar; canned salsa washed, halved, oiled, salted, roasted, gutted seeds and salvaged stringy strands of spaghetti squash, bagged and froze boiled, cooled, skinned, sliced and pickled beets Then I pondered the one green tomato I left on the count...

Poetry followed me to work yesterday. Actually Ian , a fellow Farmer, asked for a recommendation on which W.S. Merwin book he should buy. I was unsure, so I checked out three for perusal from the library; looking forward to swapping good Merwin poems with him soon. So, since Merwin's on the brain: "Separation" Your absence has gone through me    Like thread through a needle. Everything I do is stitched with its color.   --W.S. Merwin

Life feels so busy right now. I am almost there. I see the finish line. In just a few days I will be looking at the ocean, hanging with my family, drinking rum, and BE IN JAMAICA! I can't wait. So excited I can only wheeze out short sentences! Only a few more days of work. SO much weeding in my gardens to do before I leave. I need to pack! I have to clean my cabin for Ian , who will be staying there and using the space re-retreatishly while I am gone. Agh. I am so in vacation mode already that I don't feel like blogging. Hmm... Garden: Cosmos are up and fern-looking, no flowers, not even indicators that they are flowers yet. I am sad that the thought that the flowers may have their first blooms while I am away. Sunflowers (multiple varieties) are up and getting big! Tomato plants are behind where I thought they would be--due to weird cool, hot/humid, tons of rain, cool, repeat weather we've had lately? Praying the tomatoes and tomatillos don't fruit until I ...

J.D. Salinger, recluse, author of much--most notably The   Catcher in the Rye-- died this week at age 91. All I keep thinking is that I wish I would have read Salinger in high school and maybe I would have appreciated it more/differently than I did when I read it in my early/mid twenties. Here are some links to interesting articles post and pre Salinger's death. New York Times, Salinger's NY S.J. Gilman's reflection on NPR A funny reflection on Salinger, which a friend, Bill Shein wrote back in 2004 here . This is the dialogue in the book which I most remember. Funny how some things stay with us for a long time. Holden: "You know that song, 'If a body catch a body comin' through the rye'?..." Phoebe: "It's 'If a body meet a body coming through the rye'!... It's a poem. By Robert Burns." Holden: "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of littl...

Sighing with relief this morning, for many reasons: My friend Ian , from back in my Farm days, stopped by last night en route to Minnesota. It was wonderful to share a meal and introduce him to the TV show, Arrow, my new love. I love love love seeing Farm friends and am always so glad when anyone is able to pop in. I am ALMOST to vacation! I work 8a.m.-8p.m. tomorrow, then get in the car and head to Massachusetts and the Farm for a week with my dear friends there! I've offered our open position to someone. And I gotta say I loved her response when I called her, "I will take 24 hours to meditate on this and will give you my answer tomorrow." Like how badass is that? I'm more the spazzy, "YES!!" shouter when offered jobs. Glad the decision is made, bummed I didn't have 3 positions, as there are two other folks I think would do great too. Maybe next year! And since I was working on hiring, etc., found this nice rejection letter from the Society of Huma...

Book recommendations for FOURS and FIVES : All Aboard ABC, by Doug Magee Annie and the Wild Animals, by Jan Brett Bear Snores On, by Karma Wilson Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum, by Lisa Wheeler Can’t You Sleep Little Bear, by Martin Waddell Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr. Farmer Duck, by Martin Waddell Feathers for Lunch, by Lois Ehlert Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance, by Keith Graves Froggy Gets Dressed, by Jonathan London Gingerbread Man, by Jim Aylesworth Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs, by Ian Whybrow How I Became a Pirate, by Melinda Long I Stink, by Kate McMullan Leonardo, the Terrible Monster, by Mo Willems Little Beaver and the Echo, by Amy MacDonald Louella Mae, She’s Run Away, by Karen Beaumont Alarcon Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey, also Blueberries for Sal Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, by J. Slate Mister Seahorse, by Eric Carle The Mitten, by Jan Brett Move Over, Rover, by...

I start my new job today! So excited and nervous! Praying for a good day and Olivia-esque spunk! More on the new library soon! Ian Falconer’s done it again with his latest Olivia tale, Olivia and the Fairy Princesses ! Another story that made me laugh out loud and reminded of why I like Olivia so much. She’s spunky, she’s got pizazz, and she’s got moxy.    I LOVE Falconer's artwork, Olivia and the Fairy Princesses More of Falconer's artwork from Olivia and the Fairy Princesses In this story Olivia complains to her mom, “Why is it always a pink princess? Why not an Indian princess or princess from Thailand or an African princess or a princess from China? There are alternatives.   (I particularly love the drawings of Olivia dressed as said princesses).   Maybe why I loved this particular story is because I was always the tomboy with the wild adventures and I never understood the other girls. This story is a great reminder that it’s ok to be diffe...