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Dear
friends and family,
We're soldiering
on here in Connecticut, affected by the hard times in many ways,
not to mention the inevitable challenges of aging. On the plus
side, proud of our children's accomplishments.
And, Christmas
came early this year - on November 4th - with a message of hope,
confirmed with many brilliant cabinet appointments: Imagine
a Nobel Prize winner for Secretary of Energy; environmentalists
caring for the environment, physicists and biologists filling
science posts focused on global warming, and competence across
the board.
For some
months now, Jill has been working for the Family Nutrition and
Massage center here in town. She enjoys her clients and they
apppreciate what she's able to do for them. Recently, I told
her that the expense of her education was worth it when she
applied pressure to the back of my neck and instantly cured
a case of hiccups. Jill has been taking "driving lessons"
under horsepower. (And sharing the cart seat with her, I can
attest that emissions are a significant issue in this transportation
mode. I think the horse was jet propelled.)
Julie taking
a driving lesson.
Hazel has
started school and is quite the little lady. She and her parents,
David and my daughter Elizabeth, had a remarkable trip to Malaysia
earlier in the year. Photos of the trip, and Hazel's year generally,
are here: http://www.performance-vision.com/hazel/index.htm
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Hazel
beside her Christmas tree.
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Julie continued
a full schedule as a Vet Tech this year; especially important
as my consulting business has dropped off and there seems to
be fewer customers with the means for discretionary spending
on photography. Gardening and time with her folks fills what
little free time she has. I've tried to take on more responsibility
for cooking, laundry, and such. On the cooking front, I've tried
to broaden our menu options and make more healthy choices. Here's
a recipe I really enjoy:
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LOW-SODIUM
ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP
1 lb. Italian sweet sausage links
1 tsp minced garlic
½ tsp dried basil
½ tsp Italian seasoning
¼ tsp black pepper
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (no salt added kind)
2 32 oz boxes beef broth (reduced sodium)
1 cup chopped celery
½ cup chopped onion
½ package chopped spinach or escarole
pasta or small cheese ravioli
grated Parmesan cheese
Cook
sausage links until brown, then cut into ¼" slices and
add chopped onion.
Continue
cooking until sausage is cooked through and onions are
softened. Drain.
In
a large soup kettle, add seasonings, tomatoes, beef broth,
celery, and sausage onion mixture. Heat to boiling and
simmer until celery is softened. (About 45 minutes.)
Add
pasta and spinach and cook until pasta is done. (About
10 minutes.)
Serve
with grated cheese on top and Italian bread on the side.
Note:
For even lower sodium, substitute no-salt beef bouillon
(e.g., Herb-Ox packets).
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We vacationed
in New Hampshire again this year, at the lakeside cottage of
Julie's folks. A lot of rain this year, though enough breaks
to get out and enjoy ourselves.
Mountain
Lakes at dawn on a rainy day.
Swiftwater
Covered Bridge just before a storm.
Ian
is a High School senior now. College plans still undecided.
(Update! Yesterday he got an acceptance letter from Johnson
& Wales in Providence for a computer science major. Now
we just have to figure out how to pay for it.)
Ian
played Varsity soccer for RHAM High School again this fall.
Thankfully, no broken bones marred the season. Once again, I
volunteered as team photographer. (Season photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanmalcolm/collections/72157606977402794/)
Last
spring's season with Northeast United was a big success, culminating
with a tournament championship in Burlington, Vermont. (Season
photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanmalcolm/collections/72157604522699988/)
After
just a couple of weeks rest, he has started the winter indoor
season with the Northeast United Premier Soccer Club.
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Ian.
My how he has grown.
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He's
intense on the soccer field.
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My
main photographic subject remains the Air Line Trail (http://www.performance-vision.com/airline/index.htm).
In November, I marked seven years since I took my first pictures
there. My web site has grown to nearly 4,000 photos taken in
all seasons. A few photos and a write up about my nature photography
made the Hartford Courant this fall and I took several awards
in a local judged photography contest. News, and links to photos
taken elsewhere here: http://www.performance-vision.com/airline/index.htm#news
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Flooding
in early December left a beaver family huddled on the
roof of their lodge until the waters receded.
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Luna
Moths are a rare but welcome sight on my walks.
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Here's wishing
you and yours a warm and loving holiday season, and hoping that
we'll stay in touch this coming year.
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