Small Things
Asher and Lucas are slowly getting better. Lucas is back at school. Grandma is staying away because she doesn’t want to get sick—or maybe because she preferred going to Tahoe for the day—so no babysitting of Asher for me today.
My parents’ neighbors have given me a bag of ripe persimmons, so I’m investigating what to do with them. Anybody ever have persimmon jam? Is it yummy? Or perhaps I should stick to cookies … The foodie in me is excited to try something new. I have an irrepressible urge to cook during the Autumn, more so than at any other time of the year. I’ve recently made pumpkin curry, Thai green curry chicken, carrot raisin muffins, and pumpkin scones. Tonight I’m making a chicken stew called "Provençal chicken with fennel, leeks, and olives," and possibly fresh cranberry sauce, although I might push that to another day. Our CSA is challenging us to use veggies that we aren’t accustomed to, and I must say, I’m now a huge fan of dino kale! Question of the day, though, is, what the hell do I do with fennel tops—the leafy, ferny part?
Dad is doing pretty well. He was having trouble breathing, with shortness of breath—the opposite of asthma, which is inability to push all the used air out of one’s lungs. After a week or so of this continuing, even after he got the OK to resume taking all his normal asthma medications, he called the doctor. He has edema; his body tissues are swollen with extra fluid, which is apparently normal. Well, that extra fluid was causing the shortness of breath. Now he’s on a diuretic medication and his breathing is easier. While I was there visiting today, his cousin Bob came by to visit him. I know Dad is bored and not looking forward to more slow weeks of recovery, but he does seem to be taking it easy.
Normally at this time of year I’m running around my yard taking photos of every fiery leaf and pretty flower. Not so much this year. I kept meaning to take pictures of my dogwood tree because its leaves glowed red as if lit by a fire within them. Today I woke up and realized the magical fire in that tree is now out; the leaves are curled up and brown. They are rapidly dropping from the branches. Around my neighborhood, however, many trees are ablaze with their autumn colors: crepe myrtles, birches, and pistachios, especially. Seeing them light up my suburb makes me feel optimistic and happy.
November 18, 2008 at 8:08 pm
You might consider using the fennel tops in the same ways that you would use dill.
November 18, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I was about to say the same. I’m under the impression they are very similar. Fennel is a good digestive kind of herb, isn’t it?
Or, give them to so he can make his yummy absinthe with them.
(Nice to read the news. Love you, glad all is reasonably well.)