The reason that I said that the Matiz cake is not for Kelly (previous blog) is that it is chuck full of Walnuts and Kelly has a real problem with her mouth swelling when she eats pistachios or especially walnuts.
One Christmas party I came into a real deal. A member of our church was selling walnuts from her grove for 50 cents a pound.. already shelled in perfect shape. I got a a bunch of these for the Christmas party. Along with the handy dandy Blue Diamond walnut recipe guide, I made mountains of three different kinds. One of them was chocolate, another, caramel and the third white chocolate. I put them on a tray and we headed to the party in San Francisco. Kelly drew the walnuts. No one traded her away. She ended up with walnuts that she could not use. I saw the publication as a warning that this cake was full of walnuts and dates. The walnut part was the worrisome part. Sorry Kelly for not clarifying the caveat that this cake would not be for you.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Matiz
What the heck is Matiz? Our Raley's has a shipment of this stuff.. and I bit. It is not for Kelly : (. But for the rest of us it could represent the ultimate natural sweet. It is very very dense Date Bread. It comes from a particular part of Spain called extremedura.. right there it got me. All place named Extremadura cannot be half bad. It is made of dates and walnuts. It is very sweet. It sweetness comes from dates not sugar.. wow. once you get into this you will eat the whole thing. The drawback.. and why it will be in Merced for the entire holiday season, A six by four inch half round is 5.99.
Here is a little history of this area:
Extremadura is far removed from Spain’s crowded costas – both in terms of kilometres and character. It’s one of the country’s most sparsely populated regions, roughly the size of Belgium, and its distance from the coast has kept mass tourism at bay.
Relatively few tourists, Spanish or foreign, venture to this western region of the Iberian Peninsula sandwiched between Portugal and the central plains of La Mancha. It has little appeal for the package holidaymaker but for anyone seeking a real “Spanish experience” off the beaten track Extremadura offers an unforgettable journey of discovery.
The landscapes and richness of Extremadura
It’s an unspoilt land of lush forests, majestic mountains and vast agricultural plains peppered with towns and hamlets seemingly frozen in time. With its wealth of World Heritage sites and protected nature reserves teeming with wildlife, Extremadura is a place which beckons history buffs, explorers and the curious wanderer determined to dig deeper into Spain beyond the golden sands of the Costa del Sol.
The region is divided into the two provinces of Caceres in the north and Badajoz in the south. The fascinating Roman city of Merida is the regional capital though Badajoz is the biggest city in terms of inhabitants. A visit to both is a must for those interested in the rich history and culture of a region once regarded as a great prize by the Roman empire as well as by Moorish sultans and Christian conquistadors. Evidence of Extremadura’s turbulent past oozes out of the walls of countless castles, palaces, medieval monuments and awesome aqueducts which have weathered the many man-made and heaven sent storms of centuries.
Extremadura, a place full of history
Merida is home to some of the world’s most important Roman remains including a magnificent bridge with 64 granite arches (the longest bridge ever built in Spain by the Romans). Other must-see sights include the five-mile aqueduct, the amphitheatre and the theatre where summer plays are still staged, more than 2,000 years after it was constructed under the orders of the Roman general Agrippa.
The beautiful walled city of Badajoz, near the Portuguese border, is also well worth a visit with its mighty Arab citadel and wealth of museums and historic sites. Extremadura’s many other historic treasures include the walled city of Caceres, founded by the Romans in 34 BC, and nearby Trujillo with its Moorish castle, glorious central square and monument to its famous son Francisco Pizarro, who conquered Peru.
Extremadura´s natural environment
Beyond the fortified walls of these historic cities you’ll find vast tracts of unspoilt countryside which attracts flocks of bird lovers from all over Europe and beyond. One of the most extraordinary sights in the whole of Spain is that of the region’s large population of storks which build their huge nests on top of everything from palaces and telegraph poles to church spires and convent roofs. The region is believed to be home to more than 11,000 storks along with many rare and protected bird species which flourish in Extremadura’s nature reserves.
Monfrague National Park is one of the important raptor reserves in Europe and is the best place in Spain to go for a glimpse of black vultures and the rare Spanish Imperial eagle. The park is a hikers’ paradise and has been declared a protected zone by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) because of its rare flora and fauna, including the endangered Iberian lynx.
Here is a little history of this area:
Extremadura is far removed from Spain’s crowded costas – both in terms of kilometres and character. It’s one of the country’s most sparsely populated regions, roughly the size of Belgium, and its distance from the coast has kept mass tourism at bay.
Relatively few tourists, Spanish or foreign, venture to this western region of the Iberian Peninsula sandwiched between Portugal and the central plains of La Mancha. It has little appeal for the package holidaymaker but for anyone seeking a real “Spanish experience” off the beaten track Extremadura offers an unforgettable journey of discovery.
The landscapes and richness of Extremadura
It’s an unspoilt land of lush forests, majestic mountains and vast agricultural plains peppered with towns and hamlets seemingly frozen in time. With its wealth of World Heritage sites and protected nature reserves teeming with wildlife, Extremadura is a place which beckons history buffs, explorers and the curious wanderer determined to dig deeper into Spain beyond the golden sands of the Costa del Sol.
The region is divided into the two provinces of Caceres in the north and Badajoz in the south. The fascinating Roman city of Merida is the regional capital though Badajoz is the biggest city in terms of inhabitants. A visit to both is a must for those interested in the rich history and culture of a region once regarded as a great prize by the Roman empire as well as by Moorish sultans and Christian conquistadors. Evidence of Extremadura’s turbulent past oozes out of the walls of countless castles, palaces, medieval monuments and awesome aqueducts which have weathered the many man-made and heaven sent storms of centuries.
Extremadura, a place full of history
Merida is home to some of the world’s most important Roman remains including a magnificent bridge with 64 granite arches (the longest bridge ever built in Spain by the Romans). Other must-see sights include the five-mile aqueduct, the amphitheatre and the theatre where summer plays are still staged, more than 2,000 years after it was constructed under the orders of the Roman general Agrippa.
The beautiful walled city of Badajoz, near the Portuguese border, is also well worth a visit with its mighty Arab citadel and wealth of museums and historic sites. Extremadura’s many other historic treasures include the walled city of Caceres, founded by the Romans in 34 BC, and nearby Trujillo with its Moorish castle, glorious central square and monument to its famous son Francisco Pizarro, who conquered Peru.
Extremadura´s natural environment
Beyond the fortified walls of these historic cities you’ll find vast tracts of unspoilt countryside which attracts flocks of bird lovers from all over Europe and beyond. One of the most extraordinary sights in the whole of Spain is that of the region’s large population of storks which build their huge nests on top of everything from palaces and telegraph poles to church spires and convent roofs. The region is believed to be home to more than 11,000 storks along with many rare and protected bird species which flourish in Extremadura’s nature reserves.
Monfrague National Park is one of the important raptor reserves in Europe and is the best place in Spain to go for a glimpse of black vultures and the rare Spanish Imperial eagle. The park is a hikers’ paradise and has been declared a protected zone by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) because of its rare flora and fauna, including the endangered Iberian lynx.
A Sense of Entitlement
Every generation has complaints about the previous generation. It was so bad when I was growing up they even coined a term for it, It was called it the generation gap. We boomers were definitely different from our parents. We challenged our institutions to be relevant and worthy.
What my lunch group was discussing today was the change in students today in their attitude of entitlement. My students feel no compunction to taking facial tissue from the teacher's desk without request. The school district does not pay for tissue. This comes our of our pockets, even though this is a small expense it is assumed that it comes with the classroom. I am concerned about this since every room that I am in I am borrowing from a teacher who teaches more classes in it than I do. They are taking tissues from from a teacher they do not even know.
Ron, the phototgraphy teacher at one of the high school has noted this too. I student came up to his desk and demanded some tape. As all of us do, he asked how the student planned to use it. She replied, to close my m and m bag. He said no, not a proper use. She immediately reached down and grabbed a piece of thinly cut duct tape that he uses for his film cassettes. He told her that he had to write her up. Her friends said give him back his tape, She did and he did not write her up. Granted this was really not a good hill to die on (*see my previous posts.) It does represent this new sense of entitlement that students are now exhibiting.
Another teacher, told me that she goes through a little routine every time a tissue is desired off her desk. The student comes up and asks, "Do you have tissue?" Her answer is yes. Then there is a period of pause. She then asks, "Do you need tissue?
The student answers,"yes." Another long pause. She then asks," You need to ask for some." Another long pause. Student says, "oh, may I have some tissue." This still doesn't get down to the issue that students expect you to have tape and tissue for their uss because you are teaching them.
I was appalled at an adult since of entitlement too. I was shopping at my local Raley's and as I approached the check stand, a lady who was another shopper just like me pulled up to the check stand and used the phone to call home without permission. I wouldn't have dreamed of doing this.
Have we reached a point in our civilization where what is yours is mine and what is mine is yours and you can have anything of mine because it is exposed or assumed? Is this a fight we should be having with our students?
Love
Pat
What my lunch group was discussing today was the change in students today in their attitude of entitlement. My students feel no compunction to taking facial tissue from the teacher's desk without request. The school district does not pay for tissue. This comes our of our pockets, even though this is a small expense it is assumed that it comes with the classroom. I am concerned about this since every room that I am in I am borrowing from a teacher who teaches more classes in it than I do. They are taking tissues from from a teacher they do not even know.
Ron, the phototgraphy teacher at one of the high school has noted this too. I student came up to his desk and demanded some tape. As all of us do, he asked how the student planned to use it. She replied, to close my m and m bag. He said no, not a proper use. She immediately reached down and grabbed a piece of thinly cut duct tape that he uses for his film cassettes. He told her that he had to write her up. Her friends said give him back his tape, She did and he did not write her up. Granted this was really not a good hill to die on (*see my previous posts.) It does represent this new sense of entitlement that students are now exhibiting.
Another teacher, told me that she goes through a little routine every time a tissue is desired off her desk. The student comes up and asks, "Do you have tissue?" Her answer is yes. Then there is a period of pause. She then asks, "Do you need tissue?
The student answers,"yes." Another long pause. She then asks," You need to ask for some." Another long pause. Student says, "oh, may I have some tissue." This still doesn't get down to the issue that students expect you to have tape and tissue for their uss because you are teaching them.
I was appalled at an adult since of entitlement too. I was shopping at my local Raley's and as I approached the check stand, a lady who was another shopper just like me pulled up to the check stand and used the phone to call home without permission. I wouldn't have dreamed of doing this.
Have we reached a point in our civilization where what is yours is mine and what is mine is yours and you can have anything of mine because it is exposed or assumed? Is this a fight we should be having with our students?
Love
Pat
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Movies and the Holiday Tradition
When I was growing up we often went to the movies as part of the holiday tradition. Football as promoted did not have such a presence in our lives.. especially considering that we grew up. Our favorite was Babes in Toyland. We used to go to the outdoor movies sometimes when the fog didn't roll in. The advantage to those shows was the multiple film opertunity. We had fun playing on the swing set in front of the outdoor screen and then we would promptly fall asleep in the car all bundled up.
My favorite childhood star sweetheart was Haley Mills. She was blonde and very spunky, sometimes a tom boy (as in Polyanna) and sometimes just the sweet girl that you would like to go out with (as in Summer Magic).
This holiday weekend we saw American Gangster. Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe. Many times in the movie you had to pause and say why am I rooting for the gangster? (Danzel). It is based on a true story. The participants became friends in real life and the gangster that was the drug dealer helped the police track down all the crooked cops that were taking bribes to keep the empire in place. The acting and the writing is very creditable and overall movie is great. We missed the first 10 minutes of the movie however, and I understand that it was a dozy. Niece Cammie has seen the movie too and does not recommend it for her parents because I suppose the first 10 minutes of the movie.
I always wondered how the heroin drug explosion occurred. I also wondered how it could be maintained. Both of these question are answered in this movie.
I am interested in how the rest of the world that has seen this movie liked or disliked it. Please weigh in with your comments.
Thanks
pat
My favorite childhood star sweetheart was Haley Mills. She was blonde and very spunky, sometimes a tom boy (as in Polyanna) and sometimes just the sweet girl that you would like to go out with (as in Summer Magic).
This holiday weekend we saw American Gangster. Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe. Many times in the movie you had to pause and say why am I rooting for the gangster? (Danzel). It is based on a true story. The participants became friends in real life and the gangster that was the drug dealer helped the police track down all the crooked cops that were taking bribes to keep the empire in place. The acting and the writing is very creditable and overall movie is great. We missed the first 10 minutes of the movie however, and I understand that it was a dozy. Niece Cammie has seen the movie too and does not recommend it for her parents because I suppose the first 10 minutes of the movie.
I always wondered how the heroin drug explosion occurred. I also wondered how it could be maintained. Both of these question are answered in this movie.
I am interested in how the rest of the world that has seen this movie liked or disliked it. Please weigh in with your comments.
Thanks
pat
A New Blogging Member of the Family
Check out the links at the bottom of the page. A new one for the family is Ken Brown's. He has always been an advocate of sharing life stories. We all learn from them. He now has a forum for his. If you would be so kind to add him to your bookmarks.. he would love it. Also a comment or two is what we bloggers live for... ha ha.. so do that too.
Dad just found out that he is going to need some catarack surgery in order to keep driving. You might want to reassure him to do this also.
love
Pat
Dad just found out that he is going to need some catarack surgery in order to keep driving. You might want to reassure him to do this also.
love
Pat
9th Grade Miracle of Post Thanksgiving
Every post Thanksgiving a miracle occurs. The 9th graders calm down and suddenly "grow up." This happens across the board with all kinds of students. There is little horseplay that occurs after Thanksgiving. The Mexican shadow boxing guys seem more interested in football than play boxing with each other. The females are looking at which friends are friends and made it through the vacations with out getting too upset at each other. On top of all of this, the weather is cooler.. much cooler and more clothes are worn.. Maybe that is the key.
We are looking at under 4 weeks to finals for my students. Some of the freshmen are going to get leveled when the hour and half tests in each subject start the last two days of school before vacation. I hope that most of them will still be there and not off chasing to where we all want to be.. sunny Mexico.. where the breeze checks in at 82 degrees.. wow
Love
Pat
We are looking at under 4 weeks to finals for my students. Some of the freshmen are going to get leveled when the hour and half tests in each subject start the last two days of school before vacation. I hope that most of them will still be there and not off chasing to where we all want to be.. sunny Mexico.. where the breeze checks in at 82 degrees.. wow
Love
Pat
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Contrails Sky
In recent days the morning sky when clear has been streaked by contrails from jets. The ice crystals from the jets condensation streak the sky. Almost all of them are headed south. Its easy to understand that LA and south is a bigger draw then SF and San Jose. It may be because the jets stay higher as they pass over going south than West.
Some mornings like today there are no contrails. There is a layer of high clouds above us. This layer of high clouds allows the temperatures to be a little higher.
No rain is sight. The Fall has been a dry one for us in the Central Valley. More importantly the snow has not been coming to the high country. We are worrying about a drought once again. This is not the case the Rockies. Last week brought them some serious snow. Just ask Heather. Her extended weekend in New Mexico was very cold with snow on the ground everywhere she went.
Best to you this Tues Am.
: ) Pat
Some mornings like today there are no contrails. There is a layer of high clouds above us. This layer of high clouds allows the temperatures to be a little higher.
No rain is sight. The Fall has been a dry one for us in the Central Valley. More importantly the snow has not been coming to the high country. We are worrying about a drought once again. This is not the case the Rockies. Last week brought them some serious snow. Just ask Heather. Her extended weekend in New Mexico was very cold with snow on the ground everywhere she went.
Best to you this Tues Am.
: ) Pat
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