DoveSoup Art

Early in the morning we took a photo of one of the last of the roses in bloom. It's covered with beautiful ice crystals. Floribunda - Calliope

You know the saying "If life gives you lemons...."? Well the other day life gave me three pounds of unripe Fuji Apples. I let the dog out and he ran off barking like a crazy fool, probably chasing after a squirrel he will never catch. Being the dork dog that he is, he ran into the support stakes that are holding up our young apple tree, that was loaded with soon to be, but not yet ripe apples. We were so disappointed when we found our lovely baby apples scattered about the garden. I picked then up thinking they would at least look pretty in a bowl on the kitchen table. Then a stroke of genius, which I humbly admit I often have, I figured crab apples are tiny, tart, (make that sour) and they make great jelly. So, yes indeed, I made lemonade. I cooked down the unripe apples, strained them and made totally fabulous "Organic Green Fuji Apple Jelly" Select firm (normally crab) apples. Wash and remove blossom ends. Cut into quarters without peeling. Cover with water and...

Mom is bugging the shit outta me Mom got her check Mom needs to go to the bank Mom is tossing her paper trash into shipping boxes in the library - what's up with that? Mom organized her insurance crap, and had to ask me for our zip code, phone number and address while I was trying to ignore her and read the morning paper - did they really say Russia was going to point missiles at us? Mom just finished throwing a bag of trash down the stairs Mom wants her check copied, before we go to the bank. Mom needs her nails done, today, tomorrow or the next - No rush Mom doesn't realize her life could be in danger © Dove

The world can be divided into two groups of people; Those who _______, and those who _______. I'll start it off with this. The world can be divided into two groups of people; Those who pee in the shower, and those who don't. or... The world can be divided into two groups of people; Those who think trees have feelings, and those who take their meds. Personally I think trees have feelings until they die, then they make great homes for wildlife.

Recently a guy standing in queue at the grocers blamed drinking from Styrofoam cups provided by his work for making him sick. He went on to say it had to be chemicals leached from the Styrofoam (or the dandelion greens salad he had for dinner the night before). I was privy to detailed description of the symptoms, a horrible stomach ache with "terrible lower abdominal cramping" and "gas or diarrhea cramps without the gas or the diarrhea". He was sure something had poisoned him, either E. coli on the greens or Styrofoam chemicals. What is wrong with people now days? Why would Joe Schmo in the grocery store tell me about his bowels? Why is it that after 20 years, once we find that Styrofoam is not so great a choice for food storage do we suddenly become sick? Why didn't he suffer for years with "gas or diarrhea cramps without the gas or the diarrhea" from Styrofoam without ever knowing why? Furthermore Joe Schmo, why do you think that just because the ...

While sitting on the patio watching the squirrels scurry about and playing tag, I had a conversation with my mother (she's 80) and asked if she ever ate squirrel as a child. She said yes, squirrel, rabbit and once they had opossum for Thanksgiving. She doesn't remember much about the rabbit or squirrel, I guess it was more ordinary fare for them. But the opossum for Thanksgiving... that she remembers. She was old enough to turn up her nose at the idea until she tasted it, said it was very good. Mother said it tasted... no, not like chicken , but like a pork roast. According to my mother, grandmother was a horrible cook, so she may have had better memories if it weren't for Grandmother Bristow's horrific kitchen abilities. (between you and me, mother takes after grandmother) Mother said she thought it was called Brunswick Stew. I Googled it and sure enough she was right, they also call it "Virginia ambrosia" Here's one story: The original Brunswick Stew ,...

Me in the bath, eyes closed, He lounging on the floor, pillow under his head reading Kierkegaard. Happy to introduce us, He didn't know Kierkegaard's melancholy winked at me or how horribly sad it made me feel. © Dove Cochrane