Widow's Endorphins: Wishing You an Extraordinary New Year

Widow's Endorphins: Wishing You an Extraordinary New Year: A new year - especially after a difficult one - can be a little daunting.  What's behind the curtain of time, between you and 2018...

Wishing You an Extraordinary New Year

A new year - especially after a difficult one - can be a little daunting.  What's behind the curtain of time, between you and 2018?  It doesn't have to be more of the same.  Many people write New Year's Resolutions, often without thinking about the life they wish to live.  

Give yourself permission to create new possibilities in your life.  Whether you whisper the words in a prayer, or call up your Besties, make your intentions and desires clear.  Open your heart.  Throw open the metaphoric curtains, and open the window to an extraordinary new year.


Photograph Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Dr. Seuss in the Garden

Widow's Endorphins: Dr. Seuss in the Garden: This trio of moss-covered Christmas trees in Toronto's Allan Gardens, reminds me of the surreal plants growing from the pages of D...

Dr. Seuss in the Garden

This trio of moss-covered Christmas trees in Toronto's Allan Gardens, reminds me of the surreal plants growing from the pages of Dr. Seuss books - found under many a Christmas tree!

Plants and animals were a big part of Theodor Seuss Geisel's childhood.  If you're picturing a red barn and green pastures, think again.  His Grandfather, Theodore, and Dad, Robert were well to do Springfield, Massachussetts German-American beer barons.  When Ted was about five years old, Robert Geisel was given an honourary place on the Springfield parks board.  The park had a zoo.

Little Ted spent many a weekend walking through the zoo with his parents.  Back at home, he was encouraged to draw animals on his bedroom walls.  It was the beginning of a wonderful life as an artist.

In January of 1920, just a month after the death of Ted's grandfather, prohibition forced the closure of what had been one of the largest breweries in New England.  Ted's father ventured into realestate, and a few years later, became Springfields's Superintendent of Parks.  He used to send Ted bones and tusks, which the young illustrator and sculptor would use to create hilarious taxidermy pieces.

Dr. Seuss would appreciate the whimsy of this enormous peacock.  The individually painted shingles of giant Sugar Pine cones, the copper and olive coloured Magnolia leaves, the pink, yellow and orange Coleus plants, the grey and green Succulents, and Ivy, all combine to create something resembling a Seuss creation. 

  

Even this little Christmas tree, covered in rubbery-leafed succulents and Coleus, gives a nod to the garden of Dr. Seuss' imagination.  There's a cast of characters behind it, too!  Each plant looks animated.

You're probably wondering about Ted's name.  When he was Editor of the Dartmouth College campus newspaper, The Jack O'Lantern, he and his buddies were caught sharing a pint of gin in his room.  It was prohibition, and as punishment, he was removed as Editor of the paper.  Ted Geisel continued drawing editorial cartoons, using his middle name, Seuss, which was his Bavarian mother's maiden name.  He added the title, "Dr." years later.

As a German-American living through World War I, Ted encountered hatred and bullying.  At college, he encountered anti-semitism.  He was Lutheran.  Everyone assumed he was Jewish.  He never forgot what anti-semitism felt like.

He fought facism and racism through his editorial cartoons, which were published in national magazines.  In 1942, he joined Frank Capras' documentary film unit, as a script writer and director, and went overseas to Luxembourg.  There, US Army Captain Ted Geisel was sent with a military police escort across the border to Bastogne, Belgium, in the hopes that he would see "some fighting".

That night, 250-thousand German soldiers attacked the American positions, and Ted was caught behind enemy lines.  "Nobody came along and put up a sign saying 'this is the Battle of the Bulge'.  How was I supposed to know?"  He said that, the fact there were no friendly troops in any direction, seemed to be normal in a war.  Three days later, British troops rescued him, and his police escort. 

The man whose rythmic, and funny verse revolutionized the world of childrens' books, with 44 childrens' books to his credit, almost didn't get published.  After a multitude of rejection letters, he was ready to burn the manuscript for his first book.  Walking down New York's Madison Avenue, he ran into a former college classmate, who had just been made the Juvenile Editor at Vanguard Press.  Within hours, they signed the contract for And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, which became a classic.  Dr. Seuss would later say, "that's one of the reasons I believe in luck.  If I'd been going down the other side of Madison Avenue, I would be in the drycleaning business today!"

Dr. Seuss was a master of nonsensical logic.  " If I start with a two-headed animal, I must never waiver from that concept."  He explained, "there must be two hats in the closet, two toothbrushes in the bathroom, and two sets of spectacles on the night table."

Albizia Julibrissen (above) not only sounds like the name of a Dr. Seuss character, its blossoms look like one too!  The spiky, hot pink tufted flower, is best known as the blossom of the Persian Silk Tree, or Mimosa.  Vibrantly coloured, softly bristled spikes of Celosia (below) and tall, bizarre twists of Ligularia (further below), look very Seuss-like.

Dillweed (below), a simple plant which grows in many Summer gardens (and would have been enjoyed in many of the German dishes of his youth), shares that bizarre Seuss-like plant structure.  

...and my personal favourite, chickens nesting in a Coral Peony!  Dr. Seuss would have loved this!  

Every Christmas, Dr. Seuss books are given to children, whose parents and grandparents read them as children.  Many families have made watching, Seuss' animated movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, an annual tradition, which reminds us all of the true spirit of Christmas.

And the Grinch with his Grinch feet
ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling,
how could it be so?

It came without ribbons.
It came without tags.
It came without packages,
boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled,
'til his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something
he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought,
doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps,
Means a little bit more.


May all of our hearts grow three sizes this day!

This made me laugh:  Grinch green and raspberry red Poinsettias!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Thank You 25-Thousand Times!

Widow's Endorphins: Thank You 25-Thousand Times!: Another milestone in the brief history of my little blog, Widow's Endorphins:  WE has just reached 25-thousand views!  This re...

Thank You 25-Thousand Times!

Another milestone in the brief history of my little blog, Widow's Endorphins:  WE has just reached 25-thousand views!  This really should read:  WE have.  This is something that we have done together, dear readers.  I am grateful.

 Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Hanukkah and White Flowers

Widow's Endorphins: Hanukkah and White Flowers:   As the sun sets across land and sea, around the world tonight, candles are lit to mark the beginning of eight days of Hanukkah.  H...

Hanukkah and White Flowers

 

As the sun sets across land and sea, around the world tonight, candles are lit to mark the beginning of eight days of Hanukkah.  Hanukkah is Hebrew for "dedication", and the Jewish festival of light, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem.

In 168 BC, the new king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes ordered all Jews to convert to worshipping Greek gods, or die.  His army marched into Jerusalem, and massacred thousands.  The temple became an altar to the Greek god, Zeus, and pigs were slaughtered within its walls. 

Jews turned to guerrilla warfare, to retake the desecrated temple.  When it came time to rededicate the temple, they only had enough oil to burn for a day.  It is called a miracle, that the oil burned for eight days, giving them time to get another supply of oil.  Hanukkah.  Dedication.  The burning of candles for eight days.  The festival of light.  

In warmer climates, white and blue flowers are often found in Jewish homes at Hanukkah.  The floral arrangements may include tall stems of bright white lilies and blue delphiniums, or an arrangement of white freesia with blue iris.  Summer's delphiniums and Spring irises are not readily available in Toronto at this time of year.  White lilies and white orchids, which are grown in greenhouses, are more easily found!

"They tried to kill us.  We won.  Let's eat!"  Food is a big part of Hanukkah, and foods fried in oil (are you picking up on the theme here?) are festive delicacies.  Potato latkes are found on most family tables - crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.  What everyone looks forward to, are the sweet jellied donuts!  Delicious enough to have converted Zeus!

Happy Hanukkah!  

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

(That's my handpainted living room floor!)

Widow's Endorphins: Scottish Shortbread!

Widow's Endorphins: Scottish Shortbread!: Gibson House in North York, Toronto, is one of the city's living museums.  It's filled with sights, sounds, smells and tastes ...

Scottish Shortbread!

Gibson House in North York, Toronto, is one of the city's living museums.  It's filled with sights, sounds, smells and tastes of rural life in the 19th Century.  Throughout the year, you'll find costumed historical interpretors baking and serving scones for tea, making jam, baked apples, gingerbread men, even ice cream.  At Christmas time, they bake delicious Scottish shortbread, in honour of Scottish-born land surveyor, farmer, two time elected provincial politician, and rebel, David Gibson. 

The original Gibson House was burned to the ground, as punishment for Gibson's part in the rebellion of 1837.  Gibson and about 400 rebels, who supported William Lyon MacKenzie's call for democratic reforms, marched down Yonge Street all the way into Toronto, where, on December 7th, they fought the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern.  Armed with only pikes, and duck hunting rifles, they were up against 1,000 soldiers (and one cannon), and the battle was over in less than an hour.

When Sir Francis Bond Head gave the order to burn the house down, Mrs. Gibson managed to save a very large, and heavy grandfather clock.  Almost everything else was destroyed.  

She was lucky.  Many other wives' husbands were hanged for their part in the rebellion.  David Gibson fled (or was banished, depending on what your read), across the border to Lockport, New York, where he worked as an engineer on the Erie Canal.  Mrs. Gibson was able to freely come and go between New York,  and North York, to collect the rent on the land which her husband still owned.  When Queen Victoria learned the facts about the uprising, she pardoned the rebels, including David Gibson, who returned to North York in 1848.  

The present-day red brick Georgian Revival farmhouse was built in 1851, and is steps from the subway line, and Yonge Street (the world's longest street).  Step inside the house, and you will be transported 166 years back in time...    

It's been a mild beginning to Winter, here in Toronto.  Nevertheless, it is December, and the old farmhouse fireplace is warm and inviting.  The smell of wood smoke wafts through the house.  Although some food is prepared on the hearth, today's shortbread will be baked in ovens in the modern kitchen downstairs, so that the wood smoke doesn't overpower the buttery, sweet taste of the shortbread.    

I have the not-so-secret recipe for delicious Gibson House Shortbread.  It's been modified for our modern ovens, and measuring cups.  The Gibson household would likely have used teacups and teaspoons to measure all of the ingredients.  Our precise measuring spoons and pyrex measuring glass (in standard and metric) came about much later.  As in nearly all shortbread recipes, much of the final blending is done with your hands, including pressing the dough into a deep dish.

 

I love living museums for the way they bring history to life.  While Christmas at Gibson House is a simple affair, the big event is Hogmanay, the traditional ringing in of the New Year!  There'll be plenty of food, and great live music!  Leave room for shortbread.

Whether you explore a museum alone, or with the family, it's a great way to create memories, and perhaps start a tradition.  This holiday season, head out to a museum in your town or city, and make a little history of your own!  

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Adding Soul to the Chicken Soup

Widow's Endorphins: Adding Soul to the Chicken Soup: Divas of the flower world, Coral Peonies are loved for their large, showy, vivid coral pink coloured blossoms.  They're found in...

Adding Soul to the Chicken Soup

Divas of the flower world, Coral Peonies are loved for their large, showy, vivid coral pink coloured blossoms.  They're found in elegant, sophisticated bridal bouquets, and sweeping hotel centre pieces.  In the true diva spirit, these peonies are fine dramatic performers, playing leading roles in Asian, Californian or French inspired floral arrangements.  So powerful, so show stopping, you often need only one in an arrangement.

You'd think they'd be arrogrant.  On the contrary, Coral Peonies don't take themselves seriously at all!  They laugh at themselves.  They're comedians!

At the centre of each bowl shaped blossom of peony petals, are hot pink tipped stigmas, surrounded by golden stamens, heavy with pollen.  They look like five chickens in a nest!  Once you've seen it, you can't unsee it.  It's the private joke between you, and the diva...the lowering of the sunglasses, to give you a secret wink!  I love this flower for that alone!

I made my own chicken stock the other night.  It's something I've done for decades.  As I boiled the bones of what had been a roast chicken, the heady fragrance of what would soon be chicken soup, filled my home.  That night, I drained the flavourful stock, chilled it, and the next morning, I skimmed off the fat.  Then, I put it back in the fridge, where it sat for a week.  I ditched it on Saturday.

This ridiculous ritual has gone on many times over the past three years.  Widowhood seems to have claimed my joy of cooking - and I don't mean my dog eared and smudged cookbook.  I've lost my mojo.  I need to add soul to my chicken soup.

There was a time when I would have made my Christmas cakes by now, and had them doused in rum or brandy, wrapped in cheesecloth, and stored away in a cupboard.   Late November and December nights would see me baking shortbread cookies, gingersnaps, double chocolate cookies, and desert moons (cream cheese pastry filled with a date, orange and walnut mixture).  This year, I haven't even started.

"Whatsamatta?  You chicken, or somethin'?", my inner voice asks.

I'm not chicken!  It takes a lot of pluck to go back into the kitchen after a culinary disaster.  This year, there've been plenty.  I baked a superb cheesecake for twenty-five guests at one event, and when I tried to replicate it for a special birthday a few months later, it was overbaked and grainy.  It left me with egg on my face!

With Christmas just weeks away, I've promised myself that my home will once again be filled with the sweet scent of cinnamon, oranges and chocolate.  It will be filled with the sound of Christmas music, and the laughter of friends.  My kitchen is getting its soul back!

I've been channeling the vibrant, powerful, and joyful Coral Peony, and my heart shouts, "this chick can bake"!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Golden November

Widow's Endorphins: Golden November: November's honey coloured afternoon light falls softly, and lingers for a short time.  For a few days more, the Toronto skyline ...

Golden November

November's honey coloured afternoon light falls softly, and lingers for a short time.  For a few days more, the Toronto skyline is bejeweled with leaves of topaz, amber and gold.  The air is different.  You can smell the snow in the air, and there's a scent of wood smoke rising from stately brick homes of the city.   

Darkness comes early.  With it, the city fills with glowing lights.  Strings of Christmas lights begin to appear in trees, along fences, and over archways.  Shop windows take on a warm, glow;  and candle light shimmers from restaurant tables, as couples lean in closer, to listen to stories of the day.

In kitchens around the city, the lights are on, while dinner is being prepared - fresh pasta boiling on the stove in one house, big bowls of chicken soup next door, and curried vegetables being heaped on dinner plates across the street. 

November.  Curling up inside on a rainy night, reading under the warm glow of candescent lamplight.  Golden moments.

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.