Wednesday, July 4

Beginner's Luck and Wishes for the Fourth




Remember the "shark-catcher + handsome pin-up" from last week? This was his first fishing trip, in 1999. Beginner's luck describes it fairly well, don't you think?

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I made up a recipe last night and it turned out to be good! (Surprise, surprise!) Someone gave me 3 summer squash and 2 shallots this week. I washed and sliced the squash and put them in a medium saucepan with 1 tablespoon butter and a splash of water, on medium heat. Meanwhile, I sliced the shallots, about 1/4 of an onion and 2 ribs of celery, and put them in a small skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter and a sprinkling of Mrs. Dash. My plan was to serve the onions and celery over our steak, which was grilling outside.

As the squash softened, I threw in a handful of dried cranberries and a little more water. As each dish reached the end of cooking, I decided to combine them; dumping the onion mixture into the squash and mixing well, then I added 1 tablespoon of dark brown sugar. I have to say it turned out very well. That was my beginner's luck!

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I missed a perfect photo opportunity this afternoon. I went to a drugstore to buy a birthday card, looking toward the fancy gift shop next door. They keep a wrought iron bench outside, which sometimes holds sale merchandise. It was empty. As I got back into the car later, I looked back toward the gift shop again. There was a nicely dressed, portly older gentleman sitting on the bench fast asleep, his head inclined toward the silk-flowered grapevine wreath on the bench beside him. I could just kick myself for not having my camera. That was no luck at all!

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Have a Happy Independence Day everyone!

23 comments:

Janet said...

Happy 4th of July, kenju! Love the stories, and the imagery of the older man on the bench. Hi, Michele sent me!

Bernie said...

Beginners luck, sure was!!! Congratulations to him!!
I always enjoy experimenting with cooking. Often I go to the pantry and look... pick... and cook with what I have!
Like tonight, to flavour up mashed potatoes, I fried off some onions, and mashed them through, it was yumm!!
Happy 4th July from across the Pacific!!!
Bernie

AC said...

I wish i could give you some cucumbers - despite the drought here they are making like crazy.

Happy 4th!

Bobkat said...

Happy Independance Day! I hope you have a good one :)

Your recipe sounds very interesting. I've never really eaten squah - they are not as common place here in the UK. I might try it sometime.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

Enjoy your holiday! I never remember to take my camera *anywhere*! I'm so bad.

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th to you, Judy! I'm intrigued by this recipe- it sounds wonderfully aromatic and flavorful. Did you serve it sort of like mashed sweet potatoes? Anyway, the brown sugar was certainly the turning point. ;-)

Fishing is as good a 4th activity as any- nice lineup! Who got to clean them?

I do ALWAYS behold the lilies and koalas captivate me, too. Australia would be some place to visit!

Eddie said...

Judy,
Those were the ones that didn't get away.
Happy 4th!

BreadBox said...

Happy "y", Kenju! Michele sent me, though I might well have come on over anyway!

N.

Jennifer said...

What an adorable little fisherman!!
I hope you have an awesome 4th. Michele sent me today! :)

Beverly said...

Happy 4th to you, Judy. I love the photo of your little fisherman. I sometimes kick myself for not having my camera with me too.

Carolyn said...

Looks like some good eatin' there!

Happy 4th!

Just a trumpet player said...

Now I'm hungry. And it's all your fault.

Happy 4th of July !!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like some great recipe! Happy fourth of July to you!

Anonymous said...

I adore this photo! And the one I can see in my mind of the man asleep on the bench.

Michele said...

Hello Dear Kenju,

I hope you are having a glorious day. I am celebrating Wednesday (yes, poor Canadian me).

Your recipe sounds yummy. I might even borrow it and make Mrs. Kenju's Squash Surprise. Yes, I named it, is that okay?

Much like Janet I love the imagery of the older man on the bench. At least you will always have a memory snapshot of it.

Please, enjoy the rest of your day....

Hugs!

Anonymous said...

Hi Michele sent me! :)

I understand completely - I NEVER have my camera around when I really see something worth photographing. The other day I was out and about and saw a kid of about 12 with his hair styled the funkiest way I've ever seen hair styled and in all colors of the rainbow. I would have loved to have my camera with me.

Your recipe sounds delish - I wish I could cook like that!!

Happy 4th of July!!

Granny Annie said...

I have absolutely no ability to wing it on cooking and admire your guts to try what instinct will allow!

Pat said...

Happy 4th of July Judy, to you and all my American friends. Is your camera of a size that you could leave it in your hand-bag?

Jennie said...

What an awesome picture of the fisherman. So cute.

Margaret said...

I adore the picture of the cutie pie with the fish! Made me smile out loud. Happy 4th! Michele sent me.

Babette said...

I feel lucky to know you, Judy!

Nothin' beats good fishin'!

shoeaddict said...

Thanks for coming to read my story. It means so much to me to have people read my works and like it. I love to write and have all my life. My friends and family are pushing me to "go for it" for real. That's why I started the blog in the first place.

Happy 4th!

sage said...

Congratulate him on a great catch!