Goodbye, Meemaw

My grandmother died yesterday. She’s the one I wrote about here, here, here, here, here and here, as well as a few other places. She would have been 79 in a couple of weeks. There’s so much I need to say and do, but I’m not sure where to start. Her funeral is tomorrow morning, so until that’s over, I think I’ll just be sad.

I want to thank everyone who has called, texted, emailed, and sent their condolences on Facebook and Twitter. I appreciate it so much. I loved this grandmother more than I can say. I wasn’t ready to let go of her yet, but I’m glad her decline was swift.

I’ll be back soon to let you all know I’m OK.

Salad Challenge

My eating has been weird lately. I’ll eat one incredibly healthy, balanced meal and follow it up with an emergency chocolate milkshake or half a jar of French onion dip. As a result, I’ve been a bit sluggish lately, and I’ve been more headache-prone, so it’s time to remedy the situation. In two weeks, I’m going to enter into a salad challenge. The idea was inspired by last night’s dinner, when I sautéed some sugar snap peas in garlic and a little olive oil and added them to spinach and radishes, topping it all with jalapeno hummus and lime juice. The result was delicious, healthy, local produce eaten in a way that is totally different from anything else I’ve made before.

Here are the rules for my salad challenge:

• Must eat at least one salad each day for seven days. Imaginary brownie broccoli points go for two salads in any given day.
• Salads can be of any healthy variety: veggies, fruits, grains and beans.
• Pasta can be one component, but it must be overwhelmed by produce.
• Only one cooked vegetable is allowed per salad (i.e. stir fry is not a salad).
• Salads must be somewhat different each day, but they can incorporate several of the same elements.
• No eggs, dairy or meat (duh) allowed.

This is me throwing down the gauntlet. I am waiting two weeks to start because I won’t be in town this weekend for the farmers market, and I’d much, much prefer to incorporate as much local stuff as possible.

So now I turn to my friends and readers for help: What is your favorite salad? What adventurous component should I try? I’m a picky eater, but I’d love to get some new ideas. Also, if you’d like to take part with me, let me know! Feel free to make up your own rules according to your dietary needs and preferences. The challenge starts Monday, June 7!

Blue Dome recap

It's been a week now, but I thought I could finally say a word or two about Blue Dome. As you locals know, the weather did not cooperate -- and neither did the "organizers." I'm sad to say this might be my last Blue Dome ever, thanks to the new folks in charge. They were disorganized and did not communicate or give out consistent information. All the same, for the time I was there, I had a great time with the Tulsa Craft Mafia gals, as always! Here are a few pictures totally, shamefully jacked from Tara.

Me and Holly. She is so silly and so adorable!

Shopper with my rings in the foreground.

Booth shot! This year's layout was probably my favorite ever.

Thanks to everyone who came out to see us! We will be selling at the Alliday show on June 26, so come out to the fairgrounds then.

Random Dozen

I'm at it again!

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch?
When I’m in a hurry, I like to make whole-wheat spaghetti with sautéed zucchini, garlic, olive oil, black pepper and nutritional yeast. If I can wait 30 minutes, I like to whip up farinata (only without the rosemary, cheese and tomato -- I put Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper instead).

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.)
Chapstick! My lips crave it.

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting?
Italy.

4. Share one factoid of your family's history.
My middle name, Kimery, is my mom’s maiden name. There are also Kimreys in the country. The story is that twin brothers named Kimery had farms next door to each other and got into a fight over fence lines or something. One of the brothers changed his name to Kimrey, and the two never spoke again.

5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...."
…wanted to be a ballerina. (I still do.)

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be?
Endangered Species deep forest mint bars.

7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...."
I cool my muffins and cupcakes upside down so the bottoms don’t get soggy.

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy?
A small bag of Lay’s regular potato chips.

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...."
The Apartment. I love that movie. “Premium-wise and billing-wise, we are eighteen percent ahead of last year, October-wise.”

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal?
Go to the gym, but we’ll see if it happens.

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else?
I’m going to visit my grandmother in the hospital. She’s back again and feeling down.

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon?
Planning a trip to Italy!

Random Dozen

I’m playing along again!

1. Please share one memory of your high school graduation. Pics would be great!
At my high-school graduation, I was sick as a dog. I had a migraine with all the works: churning stomach, throbbing head, burning eyes, and the intense desire to lie down. Unfortunately, I was the valedictorian, so I had a speech to make. (I guess “unfortunately” isn’t a great choice of words.) I was also one of the students who had to sit on the stage, and because I was first in my class, I was between the principal and the superintendent of the district. Gulp. I also have a really small head, so my durn cap kept falling off my head. The whole ceremony was a blur of discomfort, awkwardness, and a major desire to get the crap out of there. That will be eight years ago on Saturday. Here’s a long-distance shot of me giving my valedictory address:
And here’s me four years later (and, fittingly, four years ago on Friday) at my college graduation (with my alphabetical-order buddy). I'm on the right, waving to my adoring public:

2. What is one "emergency use" item you keep in your vehicle at all times?
I try to keep a five-dollar bill in my car, but really, in an emergency, I’d be screwed unless CDs and trash could save me.

3. In your region, do you celebrate graduation open houses? Addendum: (If so,) how many open houses/bridal showers/weddings are on your upcoming events calendar?
I read that as “religion,” not “region” at first. Oy. We didn’t have open houses, but there was a party. I was sick, though, so I didn’t go to one. I have nothing on my calendar either since most of my friends aren’t in school, and I have no children.

4. Tell me one truth you believe about motherhood.
It will require me to gain more patience and operate on less sleep.

5. What was the last thing you broke?
I honestly don’t remember. It can’t have been that long ago, though. I’m clumsy. I broke the skin on my finger on Saturday getting something big into my car. Does that count?

6. On average, how many pieces of junk mail do you receive daily?
One or two.

7. Do you like to shop by catalog?
I like to look at catalogs, but it’s been years since I ordered from one.

8. Is lawn maintenance at your house a "his job," a "her job" or "his/her job" or "that's why we have teenagers" job?
It’s an “I live in an apartment complex, so it’s their” job. :)

9. Which room would you like to redecorate in your home?
Provided I was allowed to do things such as paint, I guess I’d choose the guest room/computer room/glorified storage closet.

10. Do you read a newspaper regularly, or do you read most of your news on line?
No, I quit reading the print version of the Tulsa World when they laid me and all my friends off. I rarely read it online either because their suckage has increased exponentially in recent years. I don’t really know how I stay informed.

11. Do you believe everything happens for a reason?
No, I think sometimes bad things happen to good people and vice versa. We control how we respond to such events.

12. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
I’m a perfectionist, but doing the right thing is definitely most important to me. That’s part of why I work for a nonprofit.

Get your art on

Downtown Tulsa is getting its art on this weekend with three festivals! You could always go to Mayfest to eat a giant cinnamon roll, but high-tail it out of there afterward for the funkier fun and handmade goodness of the Blue Dome Arts Festival. While the bigger festival boasts vendors from pretty much everywhere but T-Town, Blue Dome embraces truly local artists in a carefree, un-homogenized atmosphere. There will also be fun local performers such as Wheat Penny taking the stage. Need another reason to head over to the coolest part of downtown? I’ll be there with the Tulsa Craft Mafia! Come look for us on Elgin, somewhere between 1st and 2nd streets. We’ll be the foxy young gals with the awesome goodies for sale.

Also on offer in Tulsa’s art-deco-filled downtown is the Brady Arts Festival, which is new this year. It will feature Living Arts’ fabulous Art Car parade. I look forward to stealing a few moments to check it out.

Here are Blue Dome’s festival hours:

• Friday, May 14th from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, May 15th from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, May 16th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Make sure to come see us!