Simple Camping Fare - Oysters On The Half-Shell

When George and I were canoeing on Sunday, I noticed a few large white shells on the beach along our route. I told George that I'd like to take some of them home.

Sunshine was just about ready to break through the clouds, and it was a gorgeous morning. We strolled along the water's edge, picking up empty clam shells. We picked up about 20 pairs, with most of the pieces perfectly attached, to form an entire empty shell. I had been reading a Turkish Cookbook earlier in the week, looking for ways to use shellfish and pilaf. Many of the recipes featured mussels and clams - which we have in abundance here in Puget Sound. (Once we went on a camping trip with our daughter Laurel and her husband Mehran, and we dug clams and a few oysters in the evening, rinsed and soaked them throughout the night, and cooked them for breakfast the following morning. They were fantastic.) I wanted the same kind of regional taste-thrill for an upcoming camping trip that we are planning for May.

We plan to camp in the dry, desert scablands of Washington state, so digging for shellfish is not part of the plan...but, I thought I might improvise. I could use canned (smoked)oysters and clams! All I would need to do is collect large butter clam shells, and fill them with pilaf. Then, make assorted kebabs, Turkish flatbread, and some stuffed peppers as main-dishes. All of this could be prepared ahead of time, put under the broiler or baked at home, and packed for an instant meal once the campfire had been set up. All that would be necessary would be to warm the food over the fire.

I made the kebabs from ground buffalo, adding crumbled flaxseed bread crumbs, egg and seasonings to the meat mixture, then rolled the meatballs in wheat bran. This provides a crunchy exterior. I prefer a tender meat for a kebab and also prefer the vegetables and fruit just barely cooked, so that there is a bit of crispness and a lot of color.

I pushed chunks of red, orange and yellow pepper onto the skewer, then a chunk of fresh pineapple and 'barely ripe' pear (firm, not too sweet). Mushrooms were sauteed with some onion, and these were put onto the skewers holding the meatballs.

I drizzled a Thai peanut marinade sauce and some Teriyaki Sauce over everything, then sprinkled a bit of slivered almonds as an embellishment. A touch of minced garlic dotted here and there, a bit of sprinkled pepper, and the kebabs were ready for broiling in my oven. These took only 15 minutes for the peppers and fruit, and for the peanut sauce to glaze-over the meat.

Then I made the stuffed peppers. In went some left-over brown rice and black beans, tomato sauce, chopped carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and leeks. I mixed in generous portions of shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and Swiss cheese. The stuffed peppers were baked for about 20 minutes, just long enough to gently soften them.

When my daughter Ruhiyyih called, as she usually does on her lunchbreak, I told her I was just sitting down to my lunch - this experiment with shells, kebabs, pilaf and stuffed peppers. It was a total success, easy to prepare, and I told her it will be our first meal on the camping trip in May. While everyone is setting up tents, laying out sleeping bags, and building up the fire, I'll pull out my Turkish fare, replete with canned oysters on the half-shell, buffalo kebabs with fresh-fruit, and stuffed peppers. Within 30 minutes, I'll have a meal ready for hungry campers!

I also experimented with Turkish Flatbread, called Yufka, which can be served with hummus or a spicy salsa. Flatbread is simply a tortilla, rolled very thin, then fried in olive oil. I used a combination of spelt flour and whole wheat flour, and used corn meal to prevent them from sticking together when I was rolling them out. The spelt flour gives these a real nutty taste, like walnuts. They are chewy and filling, like pita bread. In traditional households in Turkey, bread is treated with great respect. It is broken into pieces by the hand, as the act of cutting it with a knife or chewing a piece off would be like raising a sword or showing disrespect against God's blessing.

Latte Art

It is our gift-giving time, Ayyam-i-Ha, and I would like to give all of my readers a gift....if they are coffee drinkers. There is an art to this, latte art. I can just imagine everyone with a frothy milk mustache. I can hear the steam creating the froth, smell the rich aroma of a cup of coffee, and watch the patterns tell a story. Life just feels better with a cup of coffee!

On another note, there is a little guy hiding in these coffee beans. If you can find him in less than 3 seconds there is a chance that the right side of your brain is working efficiently. That's always a relief...

Afterthought And Veggies

This was the ceramic serving dish I got at the White Elephant Party at the Olsens....an ornate ear of corn. On the bottom of the dish was carved: Davis Nursing Home. NOW, I understand why this was such a funny gift...I filled it with cauliflower, broccoli, leeks, fresh soybeans, and a sprinkling of peas. I think it would make a perfect centerpiece for an afternoon lunch.

Winter Paddle At Gig Harbor

We spent Sunday morning canoeing along the waterfront at Gig Harbor. It was our first canoe paddle in months, as we've gotten more interested in hiking during cold weather. But, the clouds were starting to thin, and by mid-day warm temperatures and sunshine flooded our part of the world.

We portaged the canoe down to the public dock, and then paddled throughout the marina. It is really enjoyable exploring under all the dock pilings.

The water is quite clear in this little bay, and the water was moving toward toward high tide with just a gentle current.

It is always enjoyable to look at everything under the water (shellfish, starfish, and fish), and to explore what is around the bend, whether it be another marina or a sandspit. As we paddled through the marina, one of the deck-hands saw us and said, "Ah, a stealth-canoe", and greeted us.

Fishing vessels arrive and depart throughout the year.

These floats were carefully loaded up, ready for the next trip.

We paddled for about an hour, and I brought along a thermos of camomile tea - sure felt great having a hot beverage, and also getting out on the water. We stopped on a sandy beach, pulled the canoe up, and collected large shells for a Turkish meal that I want to cook sometime when we are camping out. I'll boil the shells,sterilizing them, then fill them with a brown rice pilaf with onions, garlic, pine nuts, currants, cinnamon and allspice, and a blend of finely chopped carrots, celery and parsley. After the shells are filled, I'll close them up and secure them with a string. They'll roast in tin-foil near the campfire. Kebabs, a salad, and home-made flatbread will round out the meal. As I told George what I planned to do with the shells, he groaned and said he was hungry....time to go home for lunch.

Spending An Afternoon With Taraz

We spent Saturday afternoon visiting with our son Taraz. He took us to several of his favorite espresso shops in Olympia, where he and Megan now live while Megan works on her Masters Degree in Education.

Taraz loves coffee - in fact all of us do. Espresso, Cappachino, Americano with hot milk, or just a regular cup of coffee brewed over the campfire using a Melitta filter, its one of life's little pleasures. Taraz and George are holding Macchiatos here, Taraz's favorite. In a glass, it is a gorgeous beverage.

Taraz has worked as a barista for the last eight months here in Tacoma, at the One Heart Cafe. He loves making the coffees, and visiting with customers. He still visits his old employer, and occasionally helps him out in a pinch. They've become friends. Taraz has even set up exhibits and artwork at One Heart to provide ambience to the little coffee shop - using some of my fabric arts, and little collectables from my den. He loves driftwood, rocks, moss and shells, just as I do, and enjoys arranging them for display.

We visited a number of Taraz's favorite shops in Olympia, espresso places, a few antique shops, and a shop that sold hand-carved wooden walking sticks. Taraz has a special interest in beautiful sticks. When he worked at the Baha'i public radio station in Hemingway, South Carolina (WLGI), he collected them when he went canoeing. They were beaver chewed, had whirls and burls, and became his 'power sticks'. He gives them to friends.

After Taraz showed us his favorite haunts downtown, we drove to Priest Point Park, which is not too far from their apartment. It was a gorgeous sunny day, perfect for a hike.
A portion of the trail was damaged during a recent storm, and we decided to explore through all the debris. It covered the contour of the trail and totally damaged one of the little foot-bridges. Here, Taraz is encouraging me to walk along a slippery log through the boggy undergrowth, saying that if 'Dad could do it, you can'....yes, but Dad wasn't carrying a camera! We had fun working our way through shards of trees, and George pulled me up onto a platform where we could survey 'the damage'. I noticed that once we did this detour, a few other foolish people followed us, seeing the challenges...'well, if they made it, maybe we can'. I'm not sure we were good examples, but we did have fun.

We walked along the beach, as the tide was out. Taraz found this little shelter interesting, as people had climbed up to it, and carved initials and images in the crumbly clay. He carried an unusual Madrona branch home that he found washed up on the beach, and it is now in his livingroom.

I packed some home-made lentil soup', hummus and pita bread, and fruit for an afternoon snack. We found a picnic table at the park and enjoyed the hot soup, grateful for the sunshine and fresh air.

When we were exploring downtown, Taraz told me that some of the alleys are actually set aside for grafitti art. Local youth come here with their spraycans, and splatter paint into swirls and patterns. One man was spraying from his wheelchair, another had a whole bag full of paint. As we wandered from alley to alley, I was quite impressed with the brilliant fresh color. It was a reasonable compromise from the gang slogans, the tagging, that is often seen in large cities. The only drawback was the intense fumes. In the alleyways, the air seemed trapped, and the odor of paint was everywhere.

Afternoon Snack - Tea and Pears

Shallots, Dried-Over Pear with Coriander Seeds

I grow the coriander seeds in my garden. Oftentimes I've used them for planting the next crop the following year. But, they are excellent crushed, and have a lemony aroma. Powdered, they make one of my favorite spices. The leaves of the plant are called cilantro, and I use it in so many of my Mediterranean recipes and as a garnish. I finely chop the stems of the plant into tiny pieces, and sprinkle them at the last minute over stir-fries.

Even the root can be used, although I usually composted them. The most wonderful memory I have of cilantro in the garden was when I watered the plants in the morning. New light, fresh air, the gentle spray from the hose, and then the sudden burst of the aroma of cilantro. So fragrant, so citrissy, so strong.

Spaghetti With Greek Olive Chibatti Bread

I made a special tomato sauce for this whole-wheat spaghetti, which is a 'basic' for many of my tomato-based soups and casseroles. I stir-fried cauliflower, kale, broccoli and carrots, onion and garlic in a very hot braiser for just a few seconds, to release the color and seal the outer fibers. Then I added seasonings - rosemary, sage, thyme, cumin, and oregano. Depending on the salsa, tomato paste, or tomato sauce that I have on hand, I boost the flavors with a little Kitchen bouquet, a dash of dried beef bullion, and pureed Mandarin orange zest. This simmered for about 15 minutes. When the spaghetti is drained, I drizzle a bit of olive oil over all the strands, to keep them from sticking and then pour the meat sauce over the top. I prefer the sauce spooned over the top, rather than mixed into the pasta. The chibatti bread warms in the microwave for about 5 seconds when the meal is ready to serve. If I know I'm going to be busy all day, I'll make this meal in the morning, put it into a serving dish, and cover it in plastic wrap. When I come home from all my errands, a wholesome meal is ready in seconds.

This oatmeal is 'Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats, a pinhead oat, also known as Irish oats. Bob's oats are grown in the northwest, and cut into neat little pieces on a steel buhr mill. They make a hearty cereal with a rustic texture. I add ground flaxseed and raisens or prunes, and just a tad of brown sugar and cinnamon. Portion sizes should be small, because this fiber cereal is very filling. When I make a big pot, I box-up several small servings for George, to take to work for a morning and mid-day snack.

I had these red anjou pears with blueberries for breakfast also, with Greek yogurt. There is nothing like a fresh juicy pear and the sudden burst of blueberry juice when the berries are chewed. Just simply.....bliss.

Companions In Winter

Both of my daughters-in-law visited me last week, and we chatted awhile. These little gals are super-busy, so I'm always delighted when there is an opportunity for them to drop by. They are in their 20's, and when the extended family gets together it is amusing to see all of the 'kids' and their spouses with their incredible energy. That's eight young adults, all seeming to talk at once, joking and teasing, and standing in my kitchen eating food. They are there because that is where I am, cooking.

Our tiny kitchen table currently holds a rock collection given to me by my friend Kathy, innumerable cookbooks with pages marked with yellow post-it notes, and my sewing machine which is surrounded by seam shreaders, scissors, a box of straight pins, and the fabric, two different layers, one of which is a sheer floral print that is exceedingly hard to sew. I'm trying to sew a two layer tank-top, something 'appropriate' for an old lady, without spaghetti straps and that severe body-clinging look that is so popular in our culture today. I've decided that hand-sewing it is easier, so I've pressed all the seams with the iron, and I'm starting my fourth attempt at redoing the seams. You'd think, 'all that work for something you just plan to wear around the house?' Well, since I created the pattern, outlining the shirt from one of my old favorites, this is going to be an experiment. I don't care if it takes me all winter to get it finished!

But, back to my story, with all the kids standing around the stove. It was at Thanksgiving that I realized that my life had indeed rounded a corner when George was diagnosed with diabetes. After the initial shock, I realized that WE had to have major life-style changes, that it just wasn't a matter of careful nutritional choices, but that our habits had to be scrutinized (this was part of the conversation I had with Annie and Megan). When you are young and life is going in a very fast pace, one just gets sidetracked by other stuff - the demands of jobs and school, the parties and get-togethers with friends, and all the stuff that 'packs it in', which I call "Irons In The Fire".

George is notorious for his 'Irons In The Fire', projects and activities that consume his energy and attention, that cause the art of multi-tasking, late-night finishing last touches, and more energy to burn because everything he's doing excites every nerve and fiber of his being. He's like a fire-cracker that never stops fizzling and popping. Even while sleeping he can twitch. Early in the evening or on weekends I try to pull him away from the computer, to go for a jog, a walk, anything that will burn the extra energy that his body wants to release. It helps him sleep better.

I've become focused on this issue of exercise. When I was younger I thought people who jogged just looked silly and were setting themselves up for joint issues when they were older. I couldn't imagine anyone running in the rain, or when it began to hail. I felt they could better use their energy by being productive - vaccum the house, do the dishes and floors, mow the yard. Yet, the older I get, and with the prompting of my doctor, exercise is now a major factor in my life. He indicated that aerobics is essential, but that strength training is absolutely necessary at this stage of my life. It builds muscle, strengthens ligaments and tendons, and helps build stronger bones. It just may prevent me from having to take Fosamax for osteoporosis, which I have.

I've managed to work out a routine, a 55 minute workout three times a week for aerobics - I hike up 3 hills that are six blocks upwards, then jog down them to level ground, where I continue jogging for about six more blocks just to cool down. It may sound puny, but I never thought I could even run a block until I started. Now, I can do this workout without any great strain. On the other days, I do strength training with weights and flexable bands, while I listen to Oprah. I manage about an hour of exercise a day. I'm not ready to join a gym, or Curves, where the equipment is better, although my doctor recommends this. I just do not want to be looked at...and I know I'd do everything so slow that I'd hold other people up who want to use the machines. I need slow, strong movements at my own pace, with low impact.

The "Power of Ten" by Adam Zickerman is a book that I've used to enhance my workout at home. It is an exercise book that advocates a slow-motion workout--a more intense but time-saving method that takes only 2O minutes a week. It's basic idea is to 'hold the burn' for about ten seconds longer after the burn, that time when the muscle is being used. By gently holding the burn, as in isometric exercises or yoga, it is strength training in a more gentle, yet powerful focus. You can sit in front of the TV and work leg and arm muscles until you have to catch your breath due to the exertion! This is something one can do even lying down. I like the basic premise because it forces you to pay attention to every moment of your exercise. One caution, though. If you do this type of workout, it is important to get plenty of sleep, a good 8 to 9 hours, because that is when the body builds and repairs the cells that have been stressed.

The one point I was mentioning to Megan was that it is important to sweat during exercise, so the body can release toxins stored in fat tissue and in muscles. Toxins contribute to inflamation and disease, so a daily routine of exercise, sauna or hot showers, and plenty of water help to excrete them through the skin, the lungs, and the kidneys. You'll always experience an invigoration that comes after a good walk, hike, or jog, and that is partly due to the removal of these toxins. I've heard about 'detox teas', and although I use them moderately, diluted, there is no strong clinical research indicating that they are miracle cures. They refresh the palate and stimulate the liver to work more efficiently.

The hardest part of winter is getting out to exercise. There is just an inertia to overcome. I'll say to myself, "just drive over to the hills and walk up one of them. Then come home." Well, after I've done that I say to myself, "there's no point driving here if I don't try to do a little more." Then I start walking interspersed with jogging, and the momentum carries me along. I'll look for certain houses and landmarks along the way, and pretty soon the pace is like a song, and I want to see it to the finish. I listen to birds and the sounds of children playing in the school's courtyard, the banter of carpenters putting on a new roof, and even someone's smoke alarm. All contribute to the soundtrack. One afternoon it rained, one day it lightly hailed, one day snowflakes swirled down and melted before they hit the sidewalk. Weather is your jogging partner, and it shouts "Isn't it GREAT to be alive!"
(photo of Annie, above, was recently sent to me by her mother, Kathy.)

There is nothing like a hot cup of freshly brewed tea on a cold winter day. We'd gone up to Seattle to see my daughter Laurel and her husband Mehran on the weekend, and we took Taraz and Rahmat along. George was lamenting here, explaining to Mehran that he jimmied up his iPod somehow, and now must reprogram all the songs he spent countless hours preparing for it. That means going to the library, finding the CD's and reprograming his iPod. Mehran had a few suggestions how to speed up the process. I was sure glad, cause since last May I've become an iPod Widow, a new term that must be put into the dictionary, to indicate the absense of the husband from normal evening pursuits. He's up in his study, programing his iPod. Once that was done, he was able to present many musical selections at family gatherings and at Baha'i festivities. With his little white 'dock', it meant carrying around a small speaker and the iPod. What a change from lugging around 4 huge speakers, his amplifier and sound systems, and all the CD's. The iPod simplified his life.

Rahmat brought out his Wii, and all of us took turns bowling. I never got a strike, but I did get a spare. Frankly, I like real bowling alleys, with the bowling teams all around, and the sounds of people shouting. However, I haven't been to one of these in decades. (We used to have Saturday morning breakfasts at the local bowling alley on Saturday mornings. George and I enjoyed getting a cheap breakfast there before we'd head out canoeing.)
Laurel prepared some late lunch for herself and the boys. She is the most knowledgable of my kids when it comes to good nutrition, living 'green', and shopping wisely. She has filtered water, all organic food, and even knows the 'good plastic from the bad', namely, the lower the recycle number on the bottom of the container the safer it is. She doesn't use her microwave, and won't store food in any plastic containers. She uses glass.

This organic coffee was a gift from Laurel to me - she says to go only organic, as coffee is one of those food products that can contain too many chemicals, sprayed on the crop. (Our friend Cornelia, a naturapathic doctor, says the same. Too many pesticides, fungicides, herbacides, ect.)

Taraz, Laurel and Rahmat.

Taraz and Buddy, Laurel's lab.
I should have taken the time to ask Mehran what this Arabic writing meant. His family lives in Iran. He went to boarding school in India when he was around 14, just as the Ayatollah came into power. Many of the Baha'is left the country due to religious persecution. Once here they all do extremely well, excelling in the professions that are of greatest benefit to humanity. This persecution is still happening today. Haleh Rouhi Jahromi, Raha Sabet Sarvestani and Sasan Taqva, all Baha’is, have been detained by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz since 19 November 2007. It is not clear why they are held. They may be prisoners of conscience, detained solely because of their religious beliefs, or their peaceful activities teaching underprivileged children.

( I've posted more family photos of our visit in our Flickr Account.)

And, how did we end the visit? Looking at THIS!, courtesy of TheTrailerTrash. My caption: "They never told us THAT in premarital counseling!

Let's See, Did She Want Organic ?

Whenever I cook for my family (Thanksgiving photo here, courtesy of Ruhiyyih's Flickr account) , I have a multitude of issues that have to be considered, all of which require that I stop what I'm doing, and ask "will he, or she, EAT this?"

Of the various and sundry members of our family, it seems like just about everyone has a specific requirement. Some are restricted by diabetes, some eat only organic. Some of the guys eat very little meat, and others require heavy protein diets because they expend a lot of calories in their work.

One of my daughters had a raw food diet for awhile, and has vegetables delivered to her door so that they are farm fresh. My other daughter shops at the Whole Foods Store, and loves to use coupons and shop the bargains.Not only must it be organic, super wholesome and fresh, but she must feel like she shopped wisely. I can appreciate that. But, to be honest, I find coupons and those sales featured in the local paper to be a huge waste of my time. I'd have to find the scissors to cut out the coupons, and I'd never be patient doling them out at the check-out counter. There are always shoppers behind me wishing I'd just hurry up.

When I shop, I have a list, and it is never for foods for a meal. It is to replenish what has been taken out of our pantry. You see, people come and go around here - they drop in, and raid the pantry. One day I'll have a can of sardines, and the next moment it is gone, pilfered, with half the contents still in the can, drying out in the refrigerator. I figure if my pantry is well-stocked, I can cook any meal, for any particular person, in short order. So, I even stock my shelves in a certain order, so that I'll know if something is missing. That way, if I make a mistake or need to build-up a recipe, I'll have what I need, and not need to go to the grocery store. I also post notes: Don't take! This is for the pizza. I also hide trail-mix in my closet. Otherwise, I see tell-tale signs from the crumbs in between the sofa cushions, and I'm 'up the creek' with nothing to pack.

So, this leads to the real subject of this post - I splurged the other day, and brought home $200.00 worth of cookbooks. When I told George, he said, "You did what?"

I laid them out on the sofa and chuckled, "The Library had a book sale, and I got all of them for $7.50! When I put them in my bag, the librarian said, "Thanks for supporting your library." None of the books were part of the stacks, but rather donated by people in the community. So, all of them were barely used.

These now line my bookshelf:
"The Frugal Gourmet Cooks Italian" by Jeff Smith
"Monet's Table - The Cooking Journals of Claude Monet" by Claire Joyes
"The International Breakfast Book - Greet the Day with 100 Recipes from Around the World" by Martha Hollis
"Tamasin's Kitchen Classics" by Tamasin Day-Lewis
Clare Connery and Christopher Hill's "The Salad Book" - fantastic pictures
"The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices" - an illustrated guide to growing and using aromatic, cosmetic, culinary, and medicinal plants by Sarah Garland
"The Encyclopedia of Herbs Spices and Flavorings" by Elizabeth Lambert Ortiz
"Christopher Idone's Salad Days" is filled with beautiful photographs
"Prescription for Nutritional Healing - a reference book for drug-free remedies using vitamins, minerals, herbs and food supplements

I've already started "Monet's Table", which features his kitchen and garden, and photos of his journal. The pages in his journal are frayed and show an exacting detail for procedures and orderliness. The main meal of the day would be served at 11:30. Guests toured his greenhouse and studio, and stayed for lunch. Then he was left alone for the rest of the day.

The photographs in Tamasin Day-Lewis's book show a woman who loves to cook. She vows to bring fresh tastes and scents to 'jaded palates' and offers a no-nonsense approach to cooking, with New World dishes and Old World ones, like wild boar stew.....hmmmmm, now, where would I find wild boar. (On the other hand, would anyone in my family EAT wild boar. Lets see, who is vegetarian, and who insists on organic and grass-fed, and...)

I wonder, will wild boar ever go on sale? Only one boar per customer?

Not Keeping Score

Everyone has their own particular way of shutting down at the end of the day, and of falling asleep. For many years I had a hot soaking bath followed by a cup of cocoa. Then, I'd read for an hour before bedtime. (Sometimes, the kids or George would read to me!) But, the habit of reading for an hour has always been what I use to prepare for sleep.

I've traveled all over the world at bedtime, through the written narratives of people who explore and travel. They book the passage, pack their bags, and let me know just what surprises occurred along the way.

In one of the recent books I just finished, "Seasons in Basilicata", by David Yeadon, he describes going down into a little Greek village to purchase vegetables at the market. He was the typical jovial tourist, eager to try out the fresh tomatoes, zucchini and onions that an old woman sold from her garden. But as he negotiated the price, as is done there, she got more and more forlorn about relinguishing her precious tomatoes to a stranger. She told him not to purchase them, and clutched her hands together. It was like loosing a child to loose her tomatoes. Of course, I was delighted to hear this story, as oftentimes a gardener gets so caught up in promoting the growth of their crops that they despair of having to cook them. They want to look at them just awhile longer.

I can get so caught up in a good book, that I hate to see it end. That is what has recently happened with "Greek Style" by Suzanne Slesin, a wonderful picture-book of interiors.
For a month I studied every image, researching the stone floors, the lime-washing on exteriors, and generally determining why they had to live the way they did, with the utmost simplicity. Every evening before I went to bed, I'd review many of the photographs, and grew so attached to this book, that I told my sister Bonnie that I was going to try to find a copy in a used-book store. When I mentioned how much I loved the book, she ordered a copy online. It didn't have the same effect on her as it did on me. Pebble floors and harsh white-wash didn't appeal to her. The sparse interiors didn't reflect the comforts she prefers - like electricity and running water. Many of the homes had only two-burner propane stoves, and kerosene lamps for light. We exchanged a few e-mails, and she said she would send me her copy of the book!

I wrote to her: "I've come to understand why their dwellings look as they do. Although you don't care for them, I do enjoy the sparseness, the 'make-do' quality, perhaps for the same reasons I like to 'rough it' when we camp, having to find substitutions for getting by, and actually experiencing privation. Where did they get fresh water for bathing? Did they bathe? How did they remove bathroom contents from their homes - no septic tanks or plumbing? Electric lines are forbidden in many of these little villages, as they are considered an eyesore! That's why there are kerosene lamps on every windowsill."

"The walls of the houses had to be very thick, and window- shutters were kept closed during the day to shut out the heat. Wind was an ever- present condition (thus windmills for energy to grind grain). Mold and mildew, scorpions and snakes, are the bane in this area. If buildings are not whitewashed yearly, the rocks become encrusted with the most wretched black mold - you can see it in some of the street corners in cities where there are no regulations about its removal. I recall, when we were in Europe, how this encrusted stuff ultimately ruined the appearance of many of the buildings in Venice, and how they had a massive cleaning- up program to restore the statues back to their original pristine image. In some sites in Greece it is the law to whitewash, and yes it can have the effect of a brutal glare. I don't especially care for it. However when I saw the mold in some of those photos, I sure did want to get out my bleach!"

So, our e-mail conversation went back and forth, and yesterday I received the book, with the note, "Here's something for bedtime, love Bonnie!"