Matters Great and Small in Everyday Ramblings

I am sad to say that none of the pictures I took on our hike in the gorge last week were standouts but this gives you a feel for part of the trail and the footing. The air in there was just wonderful and it was unusually calm in terms of the wind. Because we had so much elevation gain during the hike the types of trees changed dramatically as did the smells and the glimpsed vistas.

Most Honorable is out riding his bike today with a doctor friend. He is still a little sore from pulling a few things out of whack in his fall.

Me, I am having a wonderful drifty lazy end of summer day. I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can. I did go for a short run on the track.

I heard this answer to a question about cooking times in the microwave for oatmeal on America’s Test Kitchen Radio podcast a few weeks back and the experts that answer the questions suggested a simple alternative to cooking oatmeal in the microwave that intrigued me.

I only have a big slow cooker and really don’t want to buy yet another appliance but I know a few of you make cereal or oatmeal in yours overnight. This recipe was so simple…before you go to bed, you put one part steel cut oats and three parts water in a saucepan with a little bit of salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and take it off the heat.

And go to bed. :)

In the morning you add back about one part water and cook it (stirring occasionally) for eight to ten minutes. I set up my bird feeders and birdbath for the day while doing it.

That’s it. Ta da. Perfect oatmeal. No added sugar. I have been fine tuning the amounts and after talking to Most Honorable have been toasting the oats just until they are fragrant in the saucepan in a little butter at night before I bring them to a boil.

I have to add an extra Weight Watcher’s point for the butter but the yum factor is worth it. I crumble up four pecan halves, add a little cinnamon and less than a teaspoon of local wildflower honey and am good to go. Nice as the weather cools here and fall is coming on.

I am listening to 30 hours of The Great Courses lectures on the history of philosophy. (Yeah, yeah, I am a bit weird)…

Yesterday walking across the river to go to Weight Watcher’s meeting and the bird supply store I listened to most of a lecture on Herodotus that was just fascinating to me because in a way he explains why men start wars and helped me understand how ISIS could behead James Foley and have that make any sense at all.

Miss E. is turning 14 in a few weeks. How can that be???

Anyway, I am a bit flummoxed about a birthday gift. Any suggestions? She is into self-adornment as any gorgeous bright charming worldly 14-year-old would be. (Not that I have an opinion about her, no.) She is continuing on with ballet this year and is on pointe. But is also interested in forensics as well as anything French.

Last updated August 25, 2014