Shh …. Joe’s In The Studio

Wow. Exciting news that after months … no, make that years of compiling new music the guys new CD is nearing completion. Joe is in the studio so I cannot go about banging my pots and pans making loud noises. He is also working on his own CD and it should be ready by this summer. 2012 will be a very good year for our creative efforts. HooRay!

PCH Where Are You!

I’m here waiting for you to deliver the prize. How many times have I fallen into the time-warp of clicking and wishing and hoping for the Publisher’s House Clearing House Sweepstakes Van to drive up to where I live and hand deliver a huge check? Well, I decided to let the universe know I really could use the multi-millions. Ask and you shall receive. I am deserving.

Helping My Friend Tonight

Going to be helping my friend Santa get the ball rolling.

You’d better be good, jolly and nice!

Hot Shoppes Returning To D.C.

I like the little news snippets I get in my email from The Washington Post Newspaper. This afternoon Mike DeBonis, a blogger for the publication reported some rather wonderful news. Hot Shoppes Restaurant is returning to Washington, D.C., and this is exciting news!

J.W. Marriott, Jr, will be stepping down from running his family empire (maybe best known worldwide for their hotels), and has made the unforeseen announcement that the beloved restaurant chain will open its first Hot Shoppes (since the closing of their food chains and outlets in 1999), which will be located downtown, in their newest hotel The Marriott Marquis, located next to the Washington Convention Center.

The very first time I went to a Hot Shoppes Restaurant, complete with drive-in service, was after a Saturday morning Summit Hill (located in Silver Spring, MD) swim meet.

Strolling Saturday Away

"Holding Hands by Denis Egan"

Strolling Saturday Away

~~~~~

They meet ~ they talk

They walk for a while

Strolling their Saturday away

They come ~ as friends

Drawing consolation

They’re strolling Saturday away

~~~~~

Oh their yearning ~ for more than

Just a few hours of freedom

They’ll never share ~ pretending they have

Nothing to hide ~ from the world

Just strolling their Saturday away

Horrifying Murder In Brooklyn

"Tragedy & Comedy by Anthony Dawson"

Seventy-three year old Deloris Gillespie of Brooklyn, New York, was found burned to death in the elevator of her apartment building late Saturday afternoon. She had been brutally attacked by forty-seven year old Jerome Issac, also of Brooklyn. He had been taped on the surveillance cameras at the time of the crime, and later walked into the police department, wreaking of gasoline and confessed to setting a fire. A fire is terrible enough, but he had killed someone! Elderly Deloris Gillespie was despicably cornered by strong Jerome Issac in the elevator. She was helpless to defend herself … her arms full of groceries, she was doused repeatedly with accelerates before being set on fire and left to burn to death.

You can read the entire story here for more maddening details.

For the life of me I do not understand the evil lurking in the minds of others, or the lack of self-control of bestial instincts allowed to surface and run rampant.

Happy Birthday Ernie!

There are people who come and people who go in our lifetime. There are some who remain in our hearts even after we lose touch or if they have been taken from us … much too soon. Tomorrow is a day I remember to celebrate my friend Ernesto Tono, who sadly lost his long-time battle with pancreatic cancer back in the spring of 2010. Tomorrow is his birthday.

We used to work together for a few years and I found him to be one of the finest individuals I had the pleasure of knowing. He was good from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. He was married to a lovely woman and they had exceptionally bright and beautiful daughters.

Ernesto, Peter, Pete and I,

Been Discovering New Things

I’ve been discovering new things over the past two days and I have been reading a lot. See you very soon. Take a look through the Archives, on the sidebar. There’s lots to read.

I’ve Finally Decided

I’ve finally decided on the title for my first book I am working on. Stay tuned …

Charlotte Royal

Take the time to read through recipes to better comprehend what you will be doing. Figure out the order in which you will begin preparing the recipes. Like most French desserts, many times they are complicated in that they take time, and there are usually many steps to take, in order to bring about results such as this specialty cake. If you want to impress them this is a great place to begin. Consider making three or four and freeze them. This way you can pull them out of your freezer, allow them to come to refrigerator temperature, and them finish them just prior to serving to your family or guests. You can also make mini royal cakes. Either way you’ll be applauded and the flavors are ooh-la-la tres bon!

Bavarian // Charlotte Royal

Use a traditional Charlotte Mold for this cake if possible, or a large dome-shaped bowl. Any cake lined with a roulade, jaconde or lady finger siding is called a royal. 

Grease mold and line with sheet of plastic wrap allowing it to extend past the edges.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bake the cake, spritz, fill and roll up, the day before you assemble the cake!

Reasonings Within

Part One: Discerning My Social Proclivities

Part Two: Sometimes I Do And Sometimes I Do Not

Part Three: Continued …

I have been posting pictures of some of my favorite things lately because I sometimes forget to be thankful enough. Yes, I am guilty of believing I do not have enough, when in reality I do have what I need. Through the years, I have purchased things that end up on a shelf, in a drawer, inside a cupboard or on a bookshelf. I have failed to value my possessions as I should. I should not want things just because another has something similar. I should not be mesmerized by commercialism to acquire things I do not understand how to appreciate, or even remember that I have until I rediscover them. I stand guilty. I say this because although the world is beautiful and magnificent, there are so many people who have absolutely nothing but themselves. Who am I to want more things! I am humbled by this word greed, because I would not consider myself a greedy person (I live a modest life) … yet here I am tormented by what I have and tempted by what I do not have. Am I unworthy? Have I failed myself … or my beliefs?

The sleeping kitten was given to me by a lovely woman I used to work with as she knew how much I love cats. This tiny creature inspired me to name my blog, “Sleeping Kitten-Dancing Dog!” not only because I have a family of felines, but because at the time I thought up the name, Peter and his brother Bobby, had been tearing around the house, up the stairs and back down, then to the basement and back again, were finally asleep. Their little bodies moved in unison, their soft intermittent snores filled the air. Peace reigned again for a few hours at least. I had always wanted a dog and I thought to myself, “Oh how the dog would dance to see these two fast asleep. That dog would dance for sheer joy!”  And so it began … this eclectic collection of my works.

Photo Picks

 

Sauteing, baking and kitties with an hour-glass figure.

Moon Lover

I love sculptures, vases, ceramics, plaques, and these are a few of my favorite things.

Little Tree Horse

Little tree horse

Never runs or plays

Never utters a sound

Once placed he stays

His big yellow head

Is hung each year

By blue satin ribbon

He brings such cheer

He knows he is handsome

Against deep evergreen

He’s poised at a standstill

A holiday dream

Theresa H Hall

Freelance Writer / Independent Contractor

Tree Santa

It’s the little things in life that end up being the most meaningful to me. The wonder of a tree that has been decorated lovingly by hands old and young. The scent of an extinguished candle. The wafting aroma of burned incense on special occasions. The colorful glow of twinkling lights strung across branches of green. Ornaments kept through the years, sentimental memories of holidays past.

This little santa has been on every tree each year and the smile he gives to me reaches a place in my heart that I keep secret. May your upcoming holidays be spent with those you cherish and may you feel the warmth of the spirit and give of yourself. I believe when we give something no matter how small, the reward is in knowing we have the ability to share and that we choose to do so without expectation.