Google Walking Directions - Works in Chicago!

I just tried out the new Google Walking Directions. Supposedly, Chicago is a walker's paradise - pretty flat, pretty safe in the daytime in most areas, lots to see and do by foot, etc. So, I just went to Google Maps and asked for directions from Union Station to Water Tower Place (doesn't matter at this point whether you want driving or walking directions). After you verify the two end points of the directions, you get the choice for driving or walking. The end results give you the directions, a map with the path plotted for you, and an estimated time - 42 minutes for this walk. Pretty nice!

Popcorn - after 10 months!

This is the lone ear of popcorn that I got from an organic farm coop late in the summer of 2007. Somehow I let it sit around on a kitchen windowsill all year until last week. I ate the end result on Friday night. It was still good! Here's what I did.

Shucking the ear was the easy part. The corn kernels were dry as a bone and really tough to get off.

First I tried using a dinner knife to scrape the kernels off, but it was very hard. The kernels flew all over the kitchen and I banged my knuckles on the sides of the bowl with disappointing regularity. Pioneers must have had some sort of special scraper for this!

Next I tried using a dishtowel to keep them (well, most of them) in the bowl.

I'm missing the picture of sifting the kernels to remove all the wispy chaff particles. Finally, the popcorn measured just about 1/2 cup. Perfect for one serving.

A little oil for the microwave popper.

In goes the popcorn....

and into the microwave for about 5 minutes.

Ta-da! Excellent popcorn for my movie night!
(but I don't plan to do it the hard way again)

Day of Rest

Today was a good day to stop and think about how good my world can be. Today the heat and humidity took the day off, the air and sky were clean, little rabbits came out in the middle of the day (!) to munch on clover blossoms in the backyard, daughters and grandchild stopped in for lunch, had a brief but happy phone conversation with my parents, we ate green beans and cucumbers from the garden for dinner. A blessed day.

Addictive reading!

Just finished Cut and Run by Ridley Pearson. The guy is some kind of suspense genius! I just can't read this kind of book any more - it takes too much out of me. When you have to put it aside with your heart pounding and thoughts racing until you can get finished in the bathroom and pick it up again - too much. Just realized that maybe I like to be in control of my reading instead of feeling it control me!