So Many Dishes

When I wrote my Sunshine Blogger Award post a few days ago, I mentioned that I had been nominated by not one, but two of my favorite bloggers, and each gave me a set of questions. I answered the set from Darryl, who writes My little corner of the world, but I didn’t include the questions that Victoria Kenanda, the author of victoriaseries, put to me. I’m correcting that omission now.

1. What is something you’ve outgrown but still think about? I’m going to say ice skating. I know that there’s nothing that says I can’t, but I have a history. The last two times I was on skates, I ended up with injuries—first a concussion from falling hard on my butt, and then tearing the ligament between my thumb and index finger when I put my hand down to break a fall. Ben maintains a list, “places Mom is not allowed.” A skating rink tops the list.

2. When do you feel most like yourself? When I’m cooking and when I’m singing.

3. What does “home” mean to you? I’m passing on this, since Darryl asked essentially the same question. Check my earlier post.

4. What’s a random fact about you? I’m a certified youth soccer referee. Really!

5. What scares you about the future? Again, I refer you back to my previous post.

6. Why did you start blogging? I’ve actually blogged about this, but it probably bears repeating. During Covid lockdown, a good friend (and reader of this blog) started an online dining group that he called “flash mob dining.” He’d set a weekly theme, like a specific cuisine or some particular ingredient, and we’d cook or get takeout to meet that theme, and then report on what we ate. Frank would compile the answers and write a weekly newsletter, detailing the answers and setting the next week’s theme. I started helping, and he asked me to include recipes. As things started opening up, Frank turned the enterprise over to me. As we had less and less participation, I’d think about shutting down the newsletter, but then someone would say, “but I love your recipes!” This blog was the answer. It started as a way to continue to share recipes. Now I share a lot more 😄

7. What is a piece you’ve written that means a lot to you? Probably The Gift of Being There. It is the only thing I’ve ever written about losing our first child, and what my dear friend Jonna did for me that night. I view it as an important remembrance of her, because she was going through her own major health crisis and still was able to be there for me. It’s 45 years since she died, wi still miss her. And I’m getting all teary, just typing this.

8. What’s a small thing that instantly makes your day better? Walking out the door. I love being outdoors. I’m sitting on our patio to write this. The frangipani is sprouting new leaves, and there’s been a blue jay flying back and forth. The yellow flowers of our desert senna tree attracts sulphur butterflies, and I’ve seen a couple flitting about. Birds are singing. “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

9. Who is your favorite author? Yikes! It depends on my mood. Today I’ll say Deanna Raybourn. Ask me tomorrow, and you’ll probably get a different answer.

10. What’s your favorite genre? Since it’s not specified genre of what, I’m going with music. But this is worse than naming a favorite author! Anything but disco? My degree is in music history, and I love classical music, but I also love Jimmy Buffet and the Beatles and Five for Fighting and Duke Ellington and…

11. What’s your homes staple food? Probably pasta in its many, many forms: couscous, spaghetti, gnocchi, ravioli, rice noodles, etc. Rice is definitely a close second. I still need to write a post about all the different rice varieties in our house.

Victoria, thanks for the great questions.