Enjoying the week off. A couple weeks ago, having no time or preparation to deal with the unexpected hatching, I discovered a dark tiny speck about the size of a comma on our white cupboards. When I went to brush it away, it hopped. It was a baby grasshopper. Then, in other parts of the house, about thirty more. Apparently, eggs had been laid in the rosemary plant I had taken in and placed on top of the radiator. The heat caused the nearly mature eggs to end their stasis in the cold and hopping things were everywhere! After two failed attempts to create a place to hold them, where they either escaped to get stepped on or eaten by spiders, or stuck to the duct tape, or possibly suffocated, I got the survivors into a large plastic bin with a lid I cut slits rather than holes into. I also cut a large window I stretched nylon over and taped in place to allow more air through. In the bottom of the container is a small tupperware bottom with compost and bird seed that has started sprouting, topped with twigs and a pine cone for perching. The grasshoppers have grown about 30% every week. They are lighter now and have striped legs. No wings yet. I've watched them eating leaves and carrot peelings, grooming themselves, crawling up leaves and twigs, and eliminating waste. They sometimes hang out together. In the beginning, they were mostly on the ceiling. Now they chill from various perches. The seeds seem t be growing faster than the guys chew them, but we'll see if any adjustments need to be made. So far, with habitat #3, everything is chill.
Christmas day a hawk landed in the tree just beyond my parents' deck. I got some blurry pictures through the screen before it took off. Tuesday we went to the Audubon with the kids. Lots of finches. I found some milkweed seeds. Then it was the movies and mini golf. I'm still fighting off cold #2 this month. The sage/thyme tea helps, but the cough suppressant is key to getting any sleep at night. I ran out, but we restocked this morning. Managed to survive drive to and from NYC to take the fam to the Met. Glad the kids enjoyed the sensory-overload of thousands-of-years old art in a museum the size of Newport. Caricatures from DaVinci and Daumier, among others. Seeing old favorites, like Chuck Close and Dali. Visits from O'Keeffe. Very exquisite Africa exhibit. Saw lots of mythical beasts from my daughter's new board game, which I pointed out. It was her who found the centaur figure in the glass case, however. Lots of sphinx. Even a siren. It's a bird kind of week.
Hanging out today. Made curry with buttercup squash and green apple. It's a bright, orange touch to a wintery day. For New Year's, I'll be making "Money Bags', or steamed dumplings with spinach, feta, and pine nuts. I've made them many times, but I'm adding a new local twist. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Gluten-Free/Vegetarian Option
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A Very Sunny Curry
Taste of India
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Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 30 minutes Makes six servings
2 cups peeled, cubed buttercup squash
2 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 tsp. curry
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4-1/2 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 green apple, peeled and diced*
olive oil for cooking
yogurt for garnish (optional)
A different kind of stir-fry, this combines the spices of Asia with with sweetness of squash and bite of tart apple. Cook rice. Boil squash until tender, about 10 minutes, reserving liquid. Sauté onion in 1 tbs. olive oil until translucent, stirring frequently to prevent browning. Add squash, spices, raisins, and apple, stirring after each addition. Add cooked rice and mix well over med/low heat. If necessary, add reserved liquid to keep mixture from sticking to pan. Serve with broiled chicken or lamb or as a dish in itself. Top with plain yogurt, if desired.
* Wait to cut apple until last moment, or place pieces in cold water with a teaspoon of lemon juice to prevent browning.
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