Lofty Perches

Winter Solstice

2006-12-21T13:30:00.000-08:00

The return of the light begins today at 4 pm my time which is Pacific time. It is the shortest day of the year. If you are interested in the history of solstice, check here. If, on the other hand you are interested in the science of solstice, go here. It's really very interesting to even try and fathom this "pale blue dot" that Carl Sagan called the planet Earth, with it's tilt, seasons, equator, ice caps and vast geography. The fact that I exist on it is even harder to digest.

I love this photo of DS sitting on a rock overlooking a lovely winter lake. What I love the most is the fact that he is looking towards the light. I find myself looking towards any light when I am outside because it is so dark this time of year and the days so short. But here it is mid-December and though winter has a few more months before it wears itself out, the days will be getting longer. There will more than likely be a lot of gray days ahead but they will by gray longer rather than giving up early to the dark. For me, it is a contemplative time...a time to write journals, take walks and watch nature...it amazes me that each plant, each animal, knows exactly what to do. I rarely do...I am prone to guessing...and hoping it all works out. I am optomistic.

The solstice is an optomistic time for the Earth. I never feel closer to the Earth than I do at this time of the year. I am more likely to celebrate this "return of the light" than the celebrations of Christmas or New Year's which I grew up with. For me, it is personal...I will build a small bonfire and throw in wishes for the future; I will place a smooth stone near the fire...one for each person who is missed and not with me any longer. I will go out to the garden and pick some greens for dinner and light candles...and pray for peace.

me... Person of the Year?

2006-12-17T16:07:00.000-08:00

Hummm...radical thought, this. Now I don't get too political here, but if you read this cover article from the current issue of Time magazine you might consider being political as an art form.

I am a very political person...I read everything I can about what's going on in the world. I look at it as my responsibility. If I am to partake in what the world offers then I need to be informed as to what the correct choices are. I'm not asking that everyone be like me...you have to decide for yourself. But first you have to educate yourself. Then decide.

This article points out what a "force" we are as individuals if we gather ourselves, reveal ourselves...stand together to make changes. We don't have to be famous, discover unkown viruses, write important books. In fact, we don't even have to know that we are changing the course of history, we who are humble...

A radical thought and yes, political.

German Star and Apron Pattern

2006-12-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

The photo below is for Craftydabbler who asked what pattern I used for Heather's apron.

The star ornament at left is a version of the German Star folded ornament that I originally saw on Carol Duval's craft show on HGTV many years ago. I made lots of these stars for a couple of years; gave them as gifts and decorated just about everything with them in my house for the holidays.

As many crafters know, we get side tracked and go on to other ideas and I am no exception. When I was putting together Heather's package I pulled out my stars and put one in her box. Spread the joy of stars kinda thing. So when Heidi asked me for the instructions on how to make these, I found a great tutorial on the internet. To make sure the pattern was correct I made one from a piece of scrapbook paper that I had. Here is the result after a bit of time and some frustration. I do have some suggestions if you want to make some of these.

1. You can see what happens when you use one-sided paper. If you want them to look uniform, use double sided paper or plain like the instructions suggest. I think this is a bummer because I love all the beautifully patterned paper out there, but oh well.

2. The pattern calls for strips of paper 5/8" wide by 20" long. Actually, the tutorial has the measurements in cm but the above is very close. So, unless you want to paste paper together, you will have to find 20" paper. I pasted the above paper together with double sided tape. The 5/8" strip should be cut VERY precisely so do your measuring carefully or have a copy center do this for you. They may even have the 20" paper in at least white. The better the cut, the easier it will be to do one of these.

3. The directions can be a bit tricky but after a few mistakes, I caught on. After you have completed one you will want to do more...I think children maybe 8 and above could do these with supervision and maybe even younger if they are particularly agile with their fingers.

An Apron for Heather

2006-12-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

Here is the apron that I made for Heather for the holiday apron swap over on What's Cookin'. She mentioned that she liked Michael Miller fabrics and I was only too happy to find some MM coordinating prints for her. The tree on the left is a a pocket which might come in handy for an odd piece of chocolate to keep one going while cooking. I liked the feminine ruffle at the bottom of this apron.

I included in the package a few of my favorite recipes that I have used during the holidays including gingerbread, peppermint chocolate cookies, Italian meatballs and my favorite granola recipe that I have given for gifts more times than I can count. I may post the recipe over on Tie One On for the holiday apron entry. Go check it out!

My Beautiful Apron!

2006-11-30T18:31:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to the very talented Ann for my fabulous apron! I ADORE this apron...the colors are perfect and the workmanship is just exquisite...right down to the felt flower embellishment! There are even some sparkly rhinestones for a festive flair. Could a girl ask for anything more? Not me...

She also sent very yummy recipes on the cutest cards that match the apron! Plus the nicest soaps...one is wrapped like a chocolate bar and smells like yummy chocolate chip mint ice cream...2 bars that look EXACTLY like lemon bars (which I got a recipe for the real cookie bar)...and a magic bar of beautifully scented soap that I am using regularly...plus a coupon book and a handmade can of magic that also smells divine.

Was I lucky to get Ann for my swap partner? YOU BET. Thanks so much, Ann...you are truly the best.

Freedom from Want

2006-11-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

Nothing says Thanksgiving like this painting by Norman Rockwell, "Freedom from Want". I can't speak for everyone but I think most folks would like to be able to have a Thanksgiving here in America like the one portrayed here...lots of food, smiling faces and multi-generational.

Of course it is completely idealistic and unrealistic to think that this represents us as a nation, we are, after all, not all caucasian and certainly there are more of us than ever not able to afford this lavish a table.

So, I will give thanks for what I do have and be grateful for the family that I love, the friends who have stood by me and those that are new that I am just beginning to nourish. I am still amazed at the bounty of food that we have to choose from and how people can always find something to give no matter what abundance they do or do not come from.

I have only to look into the eyes of a person passing by to know that each and everyone of us has the capacity to choose love over hate.

I leave you with this..."When the power of love overcomes the love of power, there WILL be world peace". Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Leg Warmers

2006-11-18T14:23:00.000-08:00

I was attracted to this yarn for a couple of reasons. One, I loved the color verigation and two, it is acrylic yarn. I am making two pairs of these leg warmers for Christmas gifts and they MUST be easy care.

These are easy to knit and go pretty quickly even for my slow fingers. I was able to get one leg warmer out of one skein of yarn with just a few inches to spare. Whew.

Pattern:

Size 4 US double points (mine are bamboo and the acrylic yarn likes them)

Gauge: 22 st in st. st. =4" (but this is not real critical)

Cast on 68 st. Put 17 stitches on 4 needles. Work in the round for 2 and 3/4" in 2 x 2 rib. Change to stockinette(knit all rows) for 9" then go back to the 2 x 2 rib for another 2 and 3/4". Bind off.

I got this yarn on the Elann site but I don't know if they still have the yarn.

K & K Friday

2006-11-17T16:54:00.000-08:00

Yummeee...Liam Neeson as Rob Roy MacGregor...what else can I say?

...and this, courtesy of Cute Overload .

Flowers!

2006-11-15T17:05:00.000-08:00

I was already to post some knitting when this basket of flowers arrived at my front door! Aren't they incredible? And if you could only smell them...fabulous. Nothing like the scent of fresh flowers in my opinion. I have a flower heart so these brought a huge smile to my face and reached inside to where the empty places live just waiting to be filled.

Now it was my anniversary yesterday and the DH and I had a wonderful dinner out so when these arrived, I thought maybe he had sent them. I was happily surprised to find out that my lovely and generous friend Deborah ...my ITE pal extraordinaire...sent them! Isn't she the BEST? I am convinced that I was first in line to be the honorary knitter of her tote!

Thank you, Deborah for your beautiful generous heart. I love them!

Happy 36 Years

2006-11-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

On a cloudy damp November day in 1970, this man and I were married. We had been dating on and off for two years, had taken trips together and basically spent every waking hour with eachother. We decided to make it official and a kind Unitarian minister on Linclon Avenue in Philadelphia gave us a sweet little ceremony. Our best friends Mark and Holly were there along with the golden yellow and red leaves of the season. No fancy wedding dress, no tuxedos, no reception line or gourmet food...I wore my favorite jeans and velvet top, he wore his favorite corduroy sport jacket. There's not a lot to remember about that day, just that it happened and marked the beginning of these past 36 years of our journey. I can't imagine having lived my life any other way, with anyone but him.

Here's to the next 36...

Someone's in the kitchen...

2006-11-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

Election Day metaphor: who's gonna get cooked? If you haven't voted...don't complain about the "food".

In the kitchen today there is soup being made...roasted cauliflower and garlic soup from this wonderful man
who is not only a fabulous massage therapist and an accomplished musician but he COOKS! So, when he said he had made Roasted Cauilflower and Garlic soup this weekend, I jumped at the chance to make a pot.

And look what I found at the Co-op...a head of purple cauliflower. YumEEE. And see that garlic? Homegrown from the fabulous Jan E. I am putting in some garlic myself this year, along with red onions which my whole family cannot get enough of.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND GARLIC SOUP

One lovely cauliflower
One head of garlic
Chicken or vegetable stock
Assorted veggies (we like kale, carrots and potatoes)
Herbs of choice
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Cut the cauliflower into little "trees" or florettes. Chop just the top off the garlic bulb. Coat the florettes and the top of the garlic bulb with some nice olive oil. Put all of this on a sheet pan and set the oven to about 350 degrees. After the oven has warmed up, put the pan of goodies in for about a half hour and then check the veggies and garlic to see if they have started to brown up. You want them to roast and bring out their natural sugars. Don't let them burn, yegads. When they have roasted until just slightly brown (the garlic may need to come out first, but watch to see) bring them out of the oven while you heat up the stock (or broth). Remove the cloves of garlic and plop them into the broth along with the cauliflower. Let this simmer for about 15 minutes then you can do one of two things. You could blend all this up with an immersion blender or keep the veggies and garlic as they are. Your choice. Add your other vegetables cut up into soup size pieces along with your herbs at this point. If you are using fresh herbs, wait until the end to add these. Dried herbs can be added now. If you like the soup a bit thicker, slice the potatoes thinly and they will break down and thicken the soup.
Let the soup simmer for as long as it takes to soften the veggies.

Add salt and pepper to taste...enjoy with some great dark bread and cheese. I like cheddar but goat cheese on the dark bread would be almost orgasmic.

Thank you to that wonderful musician/massage therapist/cook for the inspiration for this post.

Post Script to this recipe: Don't use the immersion blender. The cauliflower is better left as whole roasted pieces. I also would add some chopped onions to the roasting tray.

Another K & K Friday...

2006-11-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

If you are offended by this first photo, please see next photo...

If not, how many of you would like to join me under that grate?

Have a nice weekend.
If you haven't visited Cute Overload, now would be a good time.

Black Cat Friday followed by Men in Kilts

2006-10-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

I realize that this is an odd post, but then, I am feeling odd today. The fall air is quite intoxicating and I am finding life's responsibilites getting in the way of my desire to play. Hence, kitties and kilts.

This is Chaco. He is neither a girl nor is he from New Jersey. He is polydactyl on both front paws which gives him an edge in escaping whatever he wishes to escape from. One time he went after a wild turkey that turned on him. He was able to get away and has never attempted to play with those birds since. He watches from afar. Smart kitty. He's a good mouser and rater which he proudly brings in to add to his family's food storage. Such a good kitty. He gets unending love for his efforts. My life would be much emptier without him.

Now these boys don't bring me food or curl up beside me. They just bring me pleasure. There is nothing on this earth quite so wonderful to watch than men in kilts. I try to go wherever there might be a man in a kilt as often as possible. I think the very best circumstance for seeing a man in a kilt is anywhere that you would not expect them to be. I remember seeing a handsome young fella about to disembark from a boat ramp onto a boat...in his kilt. It was a site to behold.

Thank you to all the brave men out there willing to bare their lovely calves and knees and....

So...this is kitties and kilts Friday from now on...I can sure use the break from "all things serious"...which we can return to the rest of the week.

Swap Tote

2006-10-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

I knitted this bag for the International Tote Swap. I bought some 100% lopi type wool that I have used before for felting so that I would be sure that it felted well. I used a Manos del Uruguay pattern. I came up with some fun embellishment for the front which included chain stitching some lengths of wool in different colors then sewing them to the bag. After it was felted, I added beads and buttons and a tiny jewelry piece that says "love".

It is difficult in these swaps when you will be making something for someone else, to not add a bit of your own taste. Much of the time spent is a direct result of something that you like yourself. I don't think I could knit something that I didn't like.

I will be receiving a tote bag made by someone else...I expect it to be more "them" than "me". I think that this is the most interesting and fun part of such an exchange. If someone isn't willing to accept this aspect of the game, they shouldn't play.

So, off this goes to Deborah in Ridgewood, New Jersey, which just happens to be not too far away from a town I spent my highschool years in, West Orange.

To Donna...

2006-10-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

Yes...I jumped ahead to Solstice with little acknowledgement to the upcoming celebration known to us as Halloween...but around 2000 years ago, it was called SAMHAIM....

Samhaim was a pagan holiday to mark the end of the harvest and honor those who died during the year. Because the Celts believed the power of the sun was fading during the Samhaim, it was the perfect time to commune with the spirits.
According to legend, spirits wandered the world of the living on October 31. This was a good news, bad news situation: the dead souls could torment the living and be called upon to foretell the future. Celts also would leave out food for the visiting spirits, hoping that a “treat” would prevent a “trick.”
When Christianity swept through Europe, pagan temples were demolished, but pagans still honored the Samhain festival.
The church decided to counter the anti-Christian holiday in the sixth century with All Saints Day or All Hallows’ Evening. Halloween came to America when the Irish immigrated due to the Potato Famine.
The Reformation got tangled up in Halloween because Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the Wittenburg door on October 31, 1517.
To recap, Halloween started as anything but Christian, however, the Church countered the celebration with terms like Reformation Day and All Saints Day, although, needless to say, there are more witches trick-or-treating than Martin Luthers.
Jack-o-lanterns originated from an Irish legend about a stingy drunk named Jack. Apparently, Jack upset Satan because he tried to trick Satan into throwing him an apple. After Jack died, he was locked out of heaven and Satan didn’t want him in hell.
Satan threw a hot coal at Jack, which he put in a half eaten turnip. He used a torch to wander about for the rest of eternity. When the Irish came to the U.S., they replaced the turnip carving ritual with a pumpkin.

...and a good Samhaim to all of ye pumpkin carvers out there...

Solstice meme...

2006-10-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

In preparation for an upcoming swap we have been asked to answer some questions, aka meme. I love the holiday season, but what I most relate to is the Solstice celebration which I have heard refered to as "the return of the light". If you are a gardener, this means more than Santa or even the chosen birthday of Jesus. I am a gardener. I like when the days start getting longer and I like celebrating this aspect of the holiday season.

With due respect to all other forms of celebration, here are my answers...

1. what kind of holiday party food do you like best? finger food buffet or sit down multi-course style?
I love sitting down to a homemade meal and being waited on. If I am the hostess, I like finger foods and buffets.
2. do you make/use those little name cards for your table seating or is that just another little something that magazines are trying to add to our already long holiday to-do list?
Yes, I do!
3. do you miss sitting at the "kid's table"?No way...
4. any particular holiday party traditions that you like to do every year?
We all make Christmas cookies
5. Which is your favorite winter holiday?
I like to celebrate the solstice
6. do you make or have you tasted any good egg nog recipes...whether using it in a dish or as a drink?
I buy some really good organic egg nog
7. fruit cake .... do you love it or think it should be used as a door stop?
Fruit cake is sadly maligned. I love it and make some really good ones in November so that they can marinate. I have tasted some that SHOULD be used as a doorstop, however.
8. What do you like to do to get yourself in the holiday spirit (ie. certain music, visiting certain seasonal sites, enjoying winter weather, etc.
I love Christmas music but mainly I start making holiday gifts in the summer and that stretches out the season. I also pick greens from the evergreens and berry bushes and fill containers with bouquets that I use inside and out. I try to bake early and freeze so I have more time to myself when the holiday rush is on. I also love the holiday craft fairs.
9. What is your favorite holiday song and who sings it best?
I love "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by John Gorka, the Ronettes version of "Sleighride", the Roches version of "We Three Kings" and John McCutcheon's song/tale of WW 1 soldiers on Christmas eve brings me to tears. I play all the Windham Hill holiday recordings throughout the day...they are wonderful recordings.
10. Any ideas for interesting holiday themed parties? (Even if it's really out there -- like renting a snow machine and having everyone build snowmen if you live in a no-snow areas!)
"return of the light"...building a bonfire and throwing into the fire written wishes for the next year. "winter sky"...celebrate the winter sky by finding the winter planets and
signs of the zodiac; use star motif in decorating. " garden party"...trade seeds with friends and send everyone home with a seedling plant that you started a few weeks before; celebrate the winter garden by making greens and roots soup.

I will be posting more about the upcoming swap and solstice in the weeks to come. No harm in getting the party started a little early. eh?

A Friend in the Garden

2006-09-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

I was out watering this morning; picking tomatoes and checking to see if there is any chance for a pumpkin this fall. My DSIL is refinishing the deck so I took the potted plants from the deck and put them in the vegetable garden. This lantana had a visitor and I took a picture. Now this has not been a great year for my garden. The weather was very uncooperative and what wasn't affected by our strange weather was attacked by various creatures...gophers just about got everything but some other creature did manage to get into the garden despite the fencing. Arrrggghhh.

But the plants themselves have been pretty darned bug free and I think it is due in part to these fascinating friends that I have seen many of this summer. I use no chemicals and only good organic fertilizers, but a good balance of life and growing means you have to attract the "good guys".

Thanks to these and other "helpers" who oversee the health of the garden I am once again reminded of the delicate balance nature so beautifully expresses to us. We have only to look...and listen.

Friends...

2006-09-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

There is always room for a friend...

... and always room for love.

...Rest in Peace

2006-09-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

The world has lost Steve Irwin, better known as "The Crocodile Hunter". I have lost one of my favorite all time people. It is a sad day. He was a hero to so many of us, especially to those who love animals.

It is a truly emptier, sadder world without his loving, adventurous spirit.

You will be missed.

Summer Knitting Project

2006-09-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

I've been working on this shawl in between other projects. It's knitted in a moss stitch which I love but it tends to get rather repititious(boring). That's why there are other projects. I found this linen/cotton yarn on Elann. It's a joy to knit and I like the way it looks knitted up. Plus it's so so soft.

Now all I have to do is finish it. I may add a nice long fringe just to get some more easy length.

Burning Woman Coat

2006-08-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

I created this coat for my DD who is now enjoying the Burning Man event in Nevada. This is her second year so she knows what to wear. She found this fabric On Haight Street in San Francisco and with a bit of engineering, we turned it into a coat. Yes, it gets pretty cold in the high desert at night. Fake fur is all the rage...the wilder the better. This fabric is a very low pile with a fascinating "wiggle" pattern where the nap changes direction to form this pattern. You can just about see it in the photo. I couldn't use a straight easy coat pattern...my DD is a curvy girl so I found a Vogue pattern for a jacket and refashioned it into a coat...with a hood, mind you...no easy feat. We were stuck on what to line it with until DD found some wild tropical rayon I had in the stash. I had to really be careful so that it stretched to fit all the pattern pieces. It is an engineering miracle, when I think about it.

The front just fit at the chest line so I found some ribbon to close it up with. This should keep her warm and show off the artist that she is. It really tested my limits as a seamstress and I will be glad to get back to my small quilts and easy sewing projects. Oh, there are some knitting projects in the works as well. Stay tuned.

Look! It's a Fairy Sitting on a Pincushion!

2006-08-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

I had the idea for this pincushion one night before I went to sleep. I woke up thinking it would not be too difficult to make from felt. I have made some other pincushions but never anything with a three dimensional figure. She didn't turn out too bad for my first attempt, so I entered her in our local county fair and she won first prize! The pincushion itself is also felt, her dress is a piece of ribbon and her hair a piece of yarn. My inspiration for pincushions in general comes from the talented Bella Dia who makes the most charming pincushions and sells them too! But there are many examples of pincushions all over blogland. I have a few pincushions that I use all the time. I don't think one can ever have too many. So, I welcome the "Pin Fairy" to my collection. If anyone is interested, I will do a tutorial.

Quilting

2006-08-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

I am working on this baby quilt for a friend's daughter who had a baby boy in May. I chose some soft blue quilter's quarters and with the white, a yard of a print called "Animal Alphabet" which I loved. this will be the binding as well. A close up photo is just below.

I planned on machine quilting this for time's sake but I don't have any experience machine quilting. Even with all the basting that I did, the fabric shifted while I was trying to quilt the inside of the patterned squares. I had to rip out a lot of work. I went to a local store where I was convinced to buy a "walking foot". Best $20 I've ever spent. The quilting progressed with no problems. I was then stuck not knowing how to quilt the rest of the project. I was rescued by my sister who was here for a visit all the way from New Jersey. She has made some beautiful quilts and has a great sense of design. She suggested doing the quilting on the diagonal. Banner idea! She's the best.
So, now I have only the binding to do and a little bit of embroidery on the back with his name and birth date.

I like these little quilts. I have two more lined up to do...one is a nifty pattern and the other will be one of my own designs. They both will be machine quilted now that I have the right tool!

By the way, the inspiration for this quilt, using a lot of white is from Small Hands. Her quilts are beautiful and I would recommend a visit to her blog. Plus she has some really cute kids. Thanks Soul Sister!

Saving the Best for Last...

2006-08-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

Here are my lovely Cinnamon Rolls...as good tasting as they are to look at. You really can't go wrong with sugar, butter, flour, cinnamon and yeast...did I mention sugar? There is so much of it that it should be mentioned twice. The recipe actually calls for frosting...I left it off. Just looking at the end result would have put me in diabetic shock. If I ever make these again I will put in some walnuts...almost everything is better with nuts.

These went to the neighbors, my daughter and her husband and a few in the freezer for Jon and Gwyn.

Goodies

2006-08-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here they are, the fair entries that I didn't enter. I sampled each one and fell asleep on the couch. My body is just not used to eating so much sugar. I have packaged them up in seperate boxes to give to neighbors who have helped me with the garden this year. If I keep them in the house, one of us will be tempted.

The top photo is chocolate chip macaroons. These were quite easy, very few ingredients and if you like coconut, they're divine.

The next photo is a plate of Amaretto Crisps.
Great with tea or coffee, these are soft with a crisp edge. They are "refrigerator style" cookies which means that you chill the dough first, roll it out and cut into shape. Also quite easy.

This is a Bourbon Pecan Chew. Chewy and delicious. Made with lots of butter, molasses and bourbon...and pecans. They are a drop cookie and spread in the oven.

This is Raw Apple Bread. I've been making this for years. The recipe is from James Beard's Bread book. I gave my first copy away when I thought I had exhausted its use but later found a used copy because I missed it so much. It remains one of my favorite cook books.

I thought that I would put a list of my favorite cookbooks in this post just in case anyone may be interested. I know that I have found books that other bloggers have listed to add to my collection, whether it's cookbooks, fiction, health, knitting, sewing...a couple of quilting books too. So, here goes.

1. The Self-Healing Cookbook by Kristina Turner (I've learned more about food in this book...my all-time favorite)

2. The Natural Gourmet by Annemarie Colbin (Each delicious recipe is an education...I always turn to this book first when I want to prepare something special)

3. A Taste of Heaven and Earth by Bettina Vitell (Many of the recipes in this book have become staples in my house. Fabulous)

4. Beard on Bread by James Beard (I learned everything I know about making bread from this little book. Great, delicious recipes for all kinds of breads)

5. Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen (I started with this cookbook and go back to it often. I never get tired of it)

6. Crazy Plates by Janet and Greta Podleski (This is such a fun book that I coudn't help putting it on the list. The recipes are lo-fat and I've liked everyone that I have made)

As I look at this list, I am noticing that except for the last book, the others are mainly vegetarian and ALL written by women. A coincidence? Who knows. I have lots of other cookbooks, including a Joy of Cooking, a couple of Andrew Weil cookbooks, a fancy book or two and some others that I occassionally use. I also own both of the Vegetarian Epicure books. But the 6 above I would take with me if the house was burning down. Nuff said.