Earthquake

Even as I type we enjoyed a long, slow roller of a quake.

No bouncing (and a good thing, as the snake racks have yet to be bolted to the wall), just a decided sense of up and down... like a huge waterbed.

And it was long... perhaps as much as 15 seconds... with a very slow tailing off... the nausea holding sway of an moribund ship on an oily swell... just barely above the threshold of kinesthetic perception.

Now to see the news, and find out where it was (and how deep) how strong, and what damage. The bookshelf excursion may have to wait.

Cooking

Having a kitchen means I can cook again.

So I've been doing just that... roasted a chicken, so I could make stock.

Dug out the mortars and pestles, so I could grind cinnamon for my coffee.

Went to the farmer's market so I'd have fresh veggies.

Which means in the past week I've made soup (with long beans, fresh corn, rosemary and onions)

And pasta with golden tomatoes, basil (I have a potted plant) and mizythra

And I made curried lentils and rice, with corn, and chicken stock.

And Santa Maria Strawberries with cream, whipped until it was just solid.

Last night was leftovers, and tonight I made brown rice, with some of the chicken breast, a garlic sauce (with a hint of ginger... and powdered white pepper, thickened with cornstarch), some more long beans, snow peas and the last ear of corn.

Sunday morning was scrambled eggs with salsa and cheese for Maia; basil, tomatoes and cheese for me.

When I get back from the conference in Sacramento, I'll start making breads again. And I'll promise to be energetic enough to use the pasta mill.

It's good to be settled.