I invented a recipe and loved it. We have a plum tree in our back yard, all the fruits are ripe NOW. We have red cabbage, red onion, beets. I had three pork chops. It all went into the crock pot with rosemary, allspice, cardamom, black-pepper and fennel, some cooking sherry and a splace of balsamic vinegar. Simmer on low from the time I left the house for work until I returned (11 hours - probably too long by 3hours). Savory tangy delight, making it easy to eat properly when I arrived home.

I love my crockpot. (I wish we had a love word for things, a love word for relationships to friends, a love word for work, a love word for passionate love. I think Greek may have such things, but in English, there seems to be a paucity.)

* * *

Had my first counseling visit today. This is counseling for me, to help me feel my own sense of worth, to help me find my direction, to help me follow through. And it did all those things. So I felt less angry with hubby, more clear about the possibilities for my life.

* * *

Only two days in and already a HARD week at work. Our usual complement of six members in my department averaged 2 members both mornings (me and the hardware guy). Haven't been able to do anything that I'd Tasked for myself, nothing that I'd Calendared except the new-hire training. <Sigh> I hope tomorrow we turn the corner and things feel better somehow. A work week with no sense of accomplishment is most frustrating.

* * *

Hot again today, after a refreshing week of cool weather. I'm not ready to let the summer go. In that light I appreciate today's 90+ high temperature. However, I'm polar-ish by nature, and miss my cool afternoon walks on my break from the office.

Are we human types most often looking over the fence and seeing how green it is elsewhere? Silly.

* * *

PURPLE PORK for three (or 4-5 if you have a salad and starch)

Small crock pot (2 qt)
-15 small very ripe plums, pitted and mashed so that fruit and juice are a layer at bottom of pot.
-3 hearty sized pork chops, extra fat trimmed
-seasonings: 1 tsp rosemary, 2 tsp fennel seed (crushed), 1 tsp allspice (not ground, crushed in mortar & pestle), 3 cardamom pods, 1 tsp black pepper added on top of pork
-1 small red onion, circle sliced and layered in pot on top of pork
-2 small beets, scrubbed well and circle sliced, layered on top of onion
-1/2 head small red cabbage, circle sliced and layered on top of beets
-3/4 cup cooking sherry
-1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Cook on low until done, at least 5 hours.

* * *

If you've read this far, thank you for coming to visit! Peace be with you, light before you, comfort beside you. love to guide you. -Otter