Blood Orange Cranberry sauce with Pomegranate

28. November 2009 by Gennyfer.

Seed the pomegranate in a bowl of water. Pick through carefully to remove all the bitter white membrane. If the pomegranate is particularly sour you may want to add extra sugar to the recipe.

 

 

 

1 bag of cranberries

2 blood oranges

Zest of one blood orange

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 TBS butter

2 tsp corn starch

1 large Pomegranate seeded

 

 

 

Juice the oranges.

In a small bowl whisk corn starch & 3 TBS orange juice.

Heat remaining juice & butter on medium heat in a saucepan.

When butter is melted whisk in cornstarch mixture.

Stir in brown sugar until blended.

Add cranberries & zest stirring frequently until cranberries pop.

Pour in to serving bowl. Let cool for 10 minutes. Stir in pomegranate seeds.

Serve warm or chilled.

Posted in recipes | 4 Comments »

Untitled Poem

10. November 2009 by Gennyfer.

Sacred space, my sacred place.

Sacred love, my saving grace.

 

The beat of your heart, against my ear,

used to be where I felt safe.

 

Sacred space, my sacred place.

Sacred love, my saving grace.

 

Sorrow rises like a flood.

let it drown in lust and love.

 

 Written by Gennyfer Hanvey in response to this writing prompt. http://wifeofbath.net/?p=349

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Who am I?

7. August 2009 by Gennyfer.

People I know and respect periodically bring up their Myers-Briggs type indicators in casual conversation. “I’m an INTJ” they’ll say, as if that explains some hidden mystery about them. My brother can rattle off his type too because he gets the same results every time he takes the test. Not me. I have different results every time I take the test. Often the questions are so frustrating to me because I don’t agree with how they are phrased or I can see reasons for choosing answers on both sides of the spectrum. Taking the same test twice, in quick succession, answering with thought and absolute honesty has yielded different results. I could forget about the test, call it silly, and go about being me as inimitably as I have these past forty years. Except, like I mentioned, people whose opinion I find valuable seem to think the theory has some weight.

The past few months have been some of the most emotionally arduous of my life. I’ve been told I need to find my sense of joy as it is noticeably missing. I’ve been told I need to start doing things to take care of myself, especially things that are fun. I’ve been told I’ve lost myself and need to find me again. With all these suggestions in mind I, once again, overheard friends discussing their types. “Ha!” I thought to myself. “What better place to find me than to figure this personality type thing out once and for all”. I took the test again. This was a version I had not taken previously. For the first time I took the test and didn’t have an internal debate about the questions. None of the questions on this particular test made me think the test would be inaccurate because I really couldn’t settle on a “right” answer for me. I took the test, very clear on who I was in relation to this particular set of questions. While waiting for the results to generate I had the passing thought that this answer would finally be the correct one.

My results? 50%… in each indicator. [insert big sigh here]

A few days later, I saw the counselor who advised me to “find myself”. I hadn’t mentioned the test results but as the universe often works this way for me I was not surprised when she asked if I had ever taken the Myers-Briggs test. “Why yes, in fact, I took it a few days ago,” I said. I told her my results, which she seemed to think backed up her theory that I needed to find myself, kind of desperately, in fact. Never one to blindly accept the most obvious answer, or, truthfully, anyone else’s answer about pretty much anything I came home and read more about this process of personality typing.

I could find very little on the type which would either be written as XXXX or  EINSTFJ. Some discussions had people wondering if it was even possible for the type to exist. There was some discussion that the type would either be boring and lacking in any personality or perhaps even very mentally ill. Other hits my search found theorized that it was the ideal personality, the balance personality everyone should strive to be. A few places were theorizing that the XXXX type would be found in Jesus or God and no-one else. Not feeling very Messianic, mentally unstable, or perfect I had to let these theories, as appealing as they are, go. 

I am left with no real clarity on my type. No recommendations for work or relationship compatibility. Once again, no use for this type of test. At least I know I can lay it aside and not take the test again. Honestly, I’m very content to remain type-less. I tend to get along with all types of people. Because I am able to see multiple sides and variations of most issues I make an excellent mediator. Sometimes seeing all sides is a lonely place to be, and I often relate to the mythological figure Cassandra, but, I have never wished to be anyone but who I am.

Though I’ve worked through my thoughts on this particular issue I welcome further knowledge and different viewpoints. Please share your thoughts on the XXXX type and on how knowing your type has effected or not effected your life.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Buy Local or Buy Creative

9. July 2009 by Gennyfer.

I love the idea of supporting local businesses, thereby more directly filling the pockets of my friends and neighbors. Portland, Maine has an impressive group that encourages this kind of shopping Portland Independent Business & Community Alliance. It’s hard to miss one of their Buy Local signs around this small city. The benefit your community receives from your local purchases is impossible to deny. Whenever I can I purchase locally.

What I’d like to see happen is a spin-off of this idea. Many artists are starving. It’s sad, really. There is so much freely obtained art available to us these days even if you’re following the law you could probably keep yourself completely educated and entertained without spending any money. Is it right to read your favorite writer, listen to “the best” band, or view countless pictures from your favorite artists without ever spending our hard earned cash, to show them, that we value their creative work?

Before the Internet, back even before motion pictures, art was much more directly supported by individuals. Traveling minstrels, street buskers, live theater: without technology we had to pay to be entertained. Now we spend our entertainment dollars in a less thoughtful way. I can’t count how many times I’ve wasted time and money on a movie I figured would not be good just because I thought I needed to do something and that was the venue with the least effort. Hollywood puts out so much pointless drivel and mindless fluff. Movies like Transformers II garner the worst reviews imaginable yet rake in ticket prices hand over fist. I’m as guilty as the next person of feeding this orgy of bad taste, but I wish I wasn’t.

What can we do to change this? Buy local for entertainment and if you can’t find local performances that  fit your personality let’s at least start to Buy Creative online. So many creative types are promoting and marketing their work all on their own. This is not because they aren’t worthy of wider distribution. So many of them are. Publishing companies, and other traditional venues for creative types to make a living from their artistic endeavors, are hard to break in to and once an artist does become attached to a large company they often have to compromise their work.

One particular niche that has many gifted artists entertaining us, gifting us with their time and the fruit of their imaginations are cartoonists.  Becoming a syndicated cartoonist is nearly impossible. Staying syndicated and making a living as a cartoonist is not easy. Newspapers are closing and cutting back. The dream of making it big like Snoopy is farther out of reach than ever before. Yet go online, on any day, and you will find amazing comics. Some are so well written readers are drawn back over and over, even if the drawings are only stick figures. Some are masterpieces worthy of the Sunday pages whose writers struggle to fulfill their dreams while honoring their muse that calls them to draw whether they are starving or not. One such comic artist is Corey Pandolph, the Fake Rock Star genius behind Green with Envy , Toby Robot Satan , and the more widely known, Barkeater Lake.

If you read these, or any other comic strips, all the time then why not Buy Creative and order a copy of a book, or a T-shirt (or socks even) and tell your friends. If your favorite artist disappears because they had to get a cubicle job, don’t let it be because you didn’t care enough to keep them around. Let’s all make where we choose to spend our money mean something about what we’d really like to see stick around. Buy Local. Buy Creative.

Posted in Thoughts | 2 Comments »

Happy Father’s Day to the man I love.

21. June 2009 by Gennyfer.

The Father You’ve Become

 

 

The father you’ve become,

a man I’d longed to meet.

The strength in your hands,

have given such joy,

takes my breath, again,

at the sight of you holding our child.

 

 

We are meant to be together.

These precious souls, our love in bloom,

manifest for their own miracles.

Still, had we no other reason,

knowing the father you’ve become

fills my heart, with joyous celebration.

 

 

 

Happy Father’s Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Poetry | 1 Comment »

The thing about George Clinton

17. May 2009 by Gennyfer.

My music taste is varied. I think I can find something I’d be willing to listen to in almost any genre. I’m not refined or cool when it comes to what I like but I am enthusiastic. My early memories are filled with musicians jamming in our house. While there were many things that were off in my childhood this is one of the happier memories. The creation of music, whether it evolves in to something good or never quite gets there is fascinating to me. Beyond a few childhood attempts at learning to play I haven’t followed this fascination in to making music of my own but I love listening.

I’m not much in to funk really. There are funk songs I like but I can’t name many. It would be strange for me to have had this long standing wish to see George Clinton & the Parliament-Funkadelic or to even know who they are. Unless you know the connection to one of my earliest music obsessions. One of the things I loved about the concert I saw last night reminded me of why I ended up there. George Clinton is a giving artist. He lifts up young artists and gives them a start in what can be such a cut throat industry. The whole group takes turn stepping back and allowing each other to shine. Years ago they did this for Prince. Whatever he learned from them musically, it seems,  Prince also learned how to share the stage and promote other artists. Listening to Prince when I was in high school and beyond has broadened my musical tastes. He’s turned me on to many other musicians and he created this longstanding wish to see George Clinton & the Parliament Funkadelic in me.

I loved the show. I loved knowing I had made it there after years of wishful thinking. Most of all I loved these two artists:

Kendra Foster who sang lead vocals on Bounce to This

Sativa, the granddaughter of the great George Clinton himself. She really smoked it in the song Otherside

They are both artists worth watching.

Posted in Thoughts | 1 Comment »

Kielbasa Frittata & Rosemary Roasted Potatoes.

10. May 2009 by Gennyfer.

Start with the potatoes.

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

6 red potatoes cubed

2 Tbs Olive Oil

2 tsps Crushed Rosemary
2 tsps Paul Prudhomme’s Meat Magic (this is the most perfect seasoning ever IMO)

Salt & Pepper to taste.

Pre-Heat oven to 375

Mix ingredients in a large bowl to coat the potatoes. Spread potatoes on a baking sheet. Set aside bowl.

Bake potatoes 30 - 45 minute turning every 15 minutes until fork tender. Broil the potatoes for 3 - 5 minutes turning once to get them browned & crispy.

Kielbasa Frittata

1 lb Keilbasa cut in to bite sized pieces

8 oz frozen peppers & onions.

8 eggs

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Parmesan Cheese

Salt & pepper to taste.

Cook kielbasa on high in a pan with a 1/4 cup of water. Stir frequently. After about 3 minutes add onions and peppers. Stir frequently. Cook until most of the liquid is gone before adding the eggs.

Meanwhile, beat eggs in the bowl saved from the potatoes. Add cheddar cheese to the eggs. Pour egg mixture in to kielbasa pan, turn the heat down to low. Stir to evenly mix. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese, salt, and pepper. Broil for 2 - 3 minutes.

Posted in recipes | 1 Comment »

Dear Governor Baldacci: Text of the email I just sent supporting same-sex marriage.

6. May 2009 by Gennyfer.

I heard that you were having research done on this issue and had not yet made a decision. One of the reasons for this according to the news report was that you wanted to be sure that the rhetoric about rights not being equal was true, that civil unions are really not providing enough protections for same-sex couples.

I say it does not matter if all the rhetoric is true. It does not matter if every right is available in a civil union that is afforded to a married couple. What matters is the perception to my children, who are growing up right now viewing all of our societies romantic visions of marriage, that some couples do not get to achieve this dream. It is never easy to be in a minority. Singling out a minority and forcing them to use a different term for so momentous an event and such a vital dynamic part of our societal structure would make life more difficult. Corralling and marginalizing any part of our society weakens the fiber of the vision for democracy woven by our founding fathers.

I do not know if any of my five children or the nephew that lives with me is homosexual. I do know that they are the greatest pieces of my heart and the vision for the future that I will leave on this planet when I am gone. I do not know if they will ever directly benefit from this bill you will have before you soon, perhaps today, but I do know that my greatest desire for my children is that no doors are closed for them or any one else’s child before they have a chance to choose whether or not they want to walk through it.

Please Governor Baldacci open that door so that no one I love, no one at all, has to choose a second class version of marriage.

Posted in Political | 1 Comment »

Tattoo my heart.

6. May 2009 by Gennyfer.

      The kind of mother I am? One who says go for it despite the inner voice that shouts clean up will be awful. Confession time: Some of Suzanne’s are still on. We scrub with oil at bath time but her skin gets so red I don’t push it too far. By summer I suspect her tummy will be clean.

Love, as ever,

Gennyfer

Posted in Pictured | 2 Comments »

Why another blog?

5. May 2009 by Gennyfer.

     Feeling sort of boxed in thematically by my blogs at Crazymom.com and Raising Maine has led me to do some writing over here. I enjoy writing on a parenting theme at RM and Crazymom is a strange labor of love but it can get very intense at times. Deliberate Living is a place for me to reflect on broader aspects of my life. Deep thoughts, fun fluff. Whatever I’m writing inside my head that I have time to extract to written word, that does not fit in my other two blogs, will pop up here.

 

    I set up the domain Deliberate Living a few years ago with some intention to do something more with it than I’ve done. My mother passed away, I started graduate school, we moved a family of 9 from Maryland and Pennsylvania to Maine. Life got more complex for a time, my focus was scattered. Now, here I sit “pen in hand” as it would have been said before computers, ready to make something of this Deliberate Living thing.

 

 Love, as ever,

 

Gennyfer

Posted in About Deliberate Living | 2 Comments »