The Maltz Museum Gift Shop

I am thrilled to announce that PSPendants is now in the Maltz Museum Gift Shop!! If you have never been to this wonderful museum, be sure to check it out. I got a private guided tour (thanks Jeff!) of the Violins of Hope exhibit last night and it is so moving. http://www.maltzmuseum.org/

MARRIED ON OCTOBER 22, 1983

Thirty-two years ago, I stood under a chuppah and exchanged lifetime vows with a man I had known for only 13 months. I had no idea what those words really meant. I was 25 years old.

A lot has changed in the past 3 decades. I’ve lost my parents and grandparents. I’ve lost my breasts to cancer and several dear friends to it as well, many of them my contemporaries. But there has been one constant. He is my staunchest supporter, biggest cheerleader and ready sounding board. He has indulged me much and denied me little. A lesser man would have left a long time ago.

The word “love” has been so over-and-misused as to render it almost meaningless. Therefore, I will borrow the word of the great sage, Woody Allen, and simply say “I lurve him”.

We have both changed quite a bit during these years, and through hard work, a sense of humor, and sometimes just dumb luck, have managed to grow closer rather than apart. Keeping the big picture in mind helps. The days can be long but the years are short. I am a very lucky woman and eternally grateful to him. I tell him this often, and today I just wanted to tell everyone else too.

Sketches from 1955

In the 1950s, my Dad was a Lucas County Sheriff’s Deputy. We grew up in Toledo. At that time, the jail would hold prisoners for various lengths of time, but usually no more than a few weeks. In 1955, a man named Arthur McClellan was held there. My Dad told the story that he was generally an easy going guy, but could become very agitated and out of control at times. Dad also knew he was a very talented artist, and would draw and sketch with anything he could get. Once when he was in a bad state, my Dad ran down to the dime store and brought back a sketch pad and colored pencils. He gave them to Mr. McClellan, who proceeded to draw several sketches that he gave to my Dad. I remember seeing them as a kid, and was fascinated by them. I was recently cleaning out an old dresser and found them again. On the envelope the sketches were stored in, was written: Inmate, Arthur McClellan, Lucas County Jail, 1955. That’s all I know about him. 

While on a walk this morning, I had to stop and take a picture of this front door. It's so beautiful!!!

Very cute and clever animation!

http://blog.ninapaley.com/2015/03/22/the-ten-plagues-of-egypt/

And be sure to check out Sita Sings the Blues too!!! http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/watch.html

A fascinating piece of forgotten history

 A true history story, not known by many ...................smuggled in from Czech Republic. They were German Messerschmitt BF-109's.   They were assembled overnight in Tel Aviv and were never flight tested.This is a short video about their pilots most of whom were former United States fighter pilots who volunteered. Twelve young men formed an air force. 

https://vimeo.com/54400569

February is Love the Library Month

Happy Love the Library Month! I would have reminded you sooner, but I just discovered it myself. Before the internet, I thought a library card was a passport to the world. When I was a kid (shortly after the discovery of fire) it was my favorite place.

I was a nerdy, bookish, smartass girl in school. Imagine a Jewish Hermonie Granger, with thick glasses and crooked teeth. I was always raising my hand in class, thought myself the smartest person in any room and was totally insufferable. Surprisingly, I did not hang with the popular crowd.

I usually had my nose in a book. And the library was where all the books lived and you could even take them home with you. For awhile at least. 

Many years ago, my sister took me on a whirlwind trip to NYC. We raced around Manhattan, seeing everything we could and collapsing, exhausted in our hotel that night. My first job out of high school was at the Toledo Public Library as a clerk. I loved that job! So I had to have my picture taken in front of the New York Public Library, aka Mecca for Library Nerds.

One Pot Tomato Bacon Pasta

I have seen several "one pot" pasta recipes online but have never tried one. I took several ideas and came up with this. It's really easy and delicious! The starch in the pasta makes it thick and creamy without using any cream.


One Pot Tomato Bacon Pasta

1 pound sliced bacon, medium thickness
1 large onion, peeled and finely diced
3-4 large or 5-6 small cloves of garlic, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cups canned tomato puree
5 cups chicken stock
1 pound uncooked dry spaghetti
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Do not separate the bacon into slices; keep them stacked together (or if they are fanned out in the package, stack them on top of each other into a slab). Cut the bacon crosswise into 1/2 inch strips (if it is difficult to cut, put it into the freezer for a few minutes until very cold).

Cook the bacon in a large stockpot over medium-high heat, stirring to separate the bacon bits. Cook, stirring frequently, until bacon is crisp. Remove the bacon with a wire skimmer to a paper towel lined plate.

Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings from the pan and return the pan to the heat, lowering the temperature to medium. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until the onions are golden and soft. Stir in the chili powder and Italian seasoning and continue cooking until spices are fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Pour in the chicken stock and tomatoes and then raise heat to high, bringing the mixture to a boil. When it has come to a full boil, stir and then add in the spaghetti (you can break them into thirds for easier stirring).

Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the spaghetti is cooked al dente. Stir in the cooked bacon and Parmesan cheese, toss well, and serve hot. Serve with more cheese on the side.

A place for happy tea drinkers

Finally, a place that understands and caters to tea drinkers! Had brunch at Sweet Melissa's http://www.melissa-univhts.com/ today and ordered hot tea, as usual. I got a full size mug, full size teapot and a delicious oolong tea!! So many places give you that stupid little metal teapot that barely holds a cup and the water is usually not even boiled fully. Then you have to beg for another pot of hot water and another tea bag. The food is really, really good too.