The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 02: A Comma (is a Restful Pause)

[NotWise]

Sausage and biscuits with gravy for breakfast. New biscuit recipe, and everything came out perfectly. The wife even got up in time to share it.

Winter? I need to go mow the lawn, then hide from the wind this afternoon. Maybe that will give me time to work on my dialogue on love in the post-modern world (maybe), to be delivered by a dead flapper in her underwear before a confused audience.

 

[Handley_Page]

There are real advantages to living AT the beach...

Ah, yes,
I remember the summer of '59, before I joined the RAF.
The Bournemouth beech was full of bikini-clad females.

Sausage and biscuits with gravy for breakfast. New biscuit recipe, and everything came out perfectly. The wife even got up in time to share it.

Winter? I need to go mow the lawn, then hide from the wind this afternoon. Maybe that will give me time to work on my dialogue on love in the post-modern world (maybe), to be delivered by a dead flapper in her underwear before a confused audience.

How do you do your gravy ?

How can one tell a flapper if she's only in her underwear - and dead ?

Time for a decent coffee, I think

 

[NotWise]

How do you do your gravy ?

In an iron skillet, fry sausage patties with a little olive oil, drain the sausage and set aside. If there's a little sausage left in the pan, then leave it there. Turn off the heat and let the skillet cool a little. Sprinkle flour into the hot oil with a tablespoon and stir. Repeat until the oil is adsorbed. Cool to the desired shade of brown (usually very light). Add milk a little at a time and stir to smooth out the gravy. Repeat until the gravy has the desired consistency. You may want to turn the heat back on if it gets too cool. Add salt and fresh-ground pepper to taste.

At least, that's how I do it.

How can one tell a flapper if she's only in her underwear - and dead ?

The hair styles are pretty distinctive. The actress (Gabby) is one of two dead flappers in the story; she's the brunette and she might look something like:

(the picture is of the actress Louise Brooks)

Their underwear was also fairly distinctive and looked quite a bit like their dresses. Here are three styles:

Gabby would be wearing a camisole over loose knickers.

She's a ghost. She'll materialize on stage to deliver her lines, then disappear when she's done.

 

[clistenovena]

Good Sunday, all. Chilly here yet again. Need! Summer!

There are real advantages to living AT the beach...

So, so, so many. One day...

Happy Sunday, folks.

I promised a sick munchkin blueberry muffins so I better go find a recipe.

Hope your sick munchkin is sick no longer, or at least is feeling much better.

I had to give a bride away yesterday. This is the second time I've gave this particular one away.

Congratuations. Twice!

Hi, all.

4 inches of fluffy white yesterday. Damn but I'm getting sick of winter.

Okay, I can't complain about it being chilly.

Sausage and biscuits with gravy for breakfast. New biscuit recipe, and everything came out perfectly. The wife even got up in time to share it.

Must be an amazing recipe. Secret ingredient(s)?

...to be delivered by a dead flapper in her underwear before a confused audience.

There's something you don't see everyday.

I disagree with Norton; most of those files were programs developed by myself, but I can't argue with it. I'm not allowed to keep my own files on my own computer, I can't put them back; who is in charge here?...

Artificial intelligence is in charge. My computer just told me so when it made me confirm that I wasn't a bot.

 

[NotWise]

Must be an amazing recipe. Secret ingredient(s)?

Nothing real secret. It's the New York Times recipe. Compared to the most basic recipes it has more baking soda, a little more milk, and a bit of sugar (to offset the flavor of the baking soda, I expect). It never sees a rolling pin. You fold the dough a couple times then it rests for 30 minutes. After that it's worked gently and entirely by hand. It was also cut thicker than the 1/2 inch the basic recipes call for.

 

[NotWise]

There's something you don't see everyday.

Yeah. I hope it works. I'm getting concerned over where to post it.

How would NonHuman react to an uber-Romantic ghost story?

How would Romance react to ghosts as characters (okay, I suspect), and to LOTS of sex?

 

[clistenovena]

Nothing real secret. It's the New York Times recipe. Compared to the most basic recipes it has more baking soda, a little more milk, and a bit of sugar (to offset the flavor of the baking soda, I expect). It never sees a rolling pin. You fold the dough a couple times then it rests for 30 minutes. After that it's worked gently and entirely by hand. It was also cut thicker than the 1/2 inch the basic recipes call for.

Hmm. I might have to try that recipe out. But it'll have to be in secret, 'cause milk instead of buttermilk?!? In the South, that's tantamount to sacrilegious!

And I have never used sugar in my biscuits. That's another hmm...

Now, I do work them by hand. Always. And thicker. Mmm. Definitely.

The biscuits. I'm talking about the biscuits.

 

[clistenovena]

Yeah. I hope it works. I'm getting concerned over where to post it.

How would NonHuman react to an uber-Romantic ghost story?

How would Romance react to ghosts as characters (okay, I suspect), and to LOTS of sex?

I think the latter would mesh better together, only because, well, non-human romance?? Is romance even a thing in that part of Litville? Maybe in small enclaves?

But sex, though. And LOTS of sex. That will go over well in most *any* section. To my thinking anyway. Which is a bit warped. Fair warning.

 

[Handley_Page]

Yesterday I've bought a new laptop, the old one is about to crash, and I've been busy installing programs and transferring files and folders today.

For some reason, Norton Antivirus was already installed and working, and I just received the message that the Antivirus program deemed certain files unsafe and cleaned them up for me; not just carantained them, but completely removed them. I disagree with Norton; most of those files were programs developed by myself, but I can't argue with it. I'm not allowed to keep my own files on my own computer, I can't put them back; who is in charge here?...

I guess the easiest option is to figure out how to turn Norton off. It probably is a trial version anyway, and after thirty days it will keep annoying me by telling I have to pay or else I will be doomed. Problem with anti-virus programs is, however, that they don't like to be turned off.
.

You have my sympathy, but AVG has a similar problem. I discovered how to make 'removal' an option.
However, I commend a useful bit of software called "Recuva" (see here)
if it's not too late.
You might also move the absent files from the Recycle bin - manually !

I use AVG free. It seems to work. . . .

Now, if anyone actually KNOWS how to set a Restore Point in Windows 7 Pro, I'll be a happier bunny (the googled enquiries or even YouTube don't seem to feature the same stuff as is on my PC.).

Time for a cup of Tea, I reckon.

 

[NotWise]

The biscuits. I'm talking about the biscuits.

Sure you are

You might check the comments on the recipe. Someone may have adapted it to buttermilk. OTOH, one of the comments I saw was (paraphrasing) "I'm from the south and I'm 78 years old. This recipe gave the best biscuits I ever made, and it's from a Yankee!"

 

[NotWise]

I think the latter would mesh better together, only because, well, non-human romance?? Is romance even a thing in that part of Litville? Maybe in small enclaves?

I haven't posted to NonHuman before, but I've seen series (plural) on other authors bio's that appeared to be romantic ghost stories in NonHuman.

I'm leaning toward Romance, but it's easy to get burned there. I think what I'll do is wait until I'm done then go to the editors forum and look for someone with a lot of familiarity in Romance and get their opinion. Hopefully I'll be able to rope in LadyVer or others who have experience I trust. Or maybe I'll just PM likely candidates.

I did my first spring planting today: a quarter of my gladiola bulbs and a couple spare lilies.

Now back to contemplating love in a post-modern world (in ~500 words).

 

[clistenovena]

Sure you are

You might check the comments on the recipe. Someone may have adapted it to buttermilk. OTOH, one of the comments I saw was (paraphrasing) "I'm from the south and I'm 78 years old. This recipe gave the best biscuits I ever made, and it's from a Yankee!"

In the South, some things never die.

I'm going to try the recipe. If for nothing else than the rebel factor.

 

[clistenovena]

I haven't posted to NonHuman before, but I've seen series (plural) on other authors bio's that appeared to be romantic ghost stories in NonHuman.

I'm leaning toward Romance, but it's easy to get burned there. I think what I'll do is wait until I'm done then go to the editors forum and look for someone with a lot of familiarity in Romance and get their opinion. Hopefully I'll be able to rope in LadyVer or others who have experience I trust. Or maybe I'll just PM likely candidates.

I did my first spring planting today: a quarter of my gladiola bulbs and a couple spare lilies.

Now back to contemplating love in a post-modern world (in ~500 words).

Good luck with all of that.

And can't wait to read the uber-romantic, non-human, ghost flapper story.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Re Biscuits

We poor Yankees! Replace the buttermilk with regular milk, and then add sugar to hide (no, it won't counteract) the taste of the baking soda. Baking soda is alkaline; its opposite is acid, not sweet. Sugar would balance bitter; it only masks the alkaline, similar to using sugar to hide the acidity of tomato sauce. Buttermilk is acidic; it balances alkaline. Sour milk can make a good substitute for buttermilk, and some cooks add a bit of vinegar to sour the milk when they're using baking soda.

Of course, if you like it with the sugar, go for it. But there is a logic and a chemistry to the traditional Southern recipe for biscuits.

(Btw, the salt on the rim of a Margarita is there to balance the sour of the lime, not just as decoration or custom.)

 

[Handley_Page]

Re Biscuits

We poor Yankees! Replace the buttermilk with regular milk, and then add sugar to hide (no, it won't counteract) the taste of the baking soda. Baking soda is alkaline; its opposite is acid, not sweet. Sugar would balance bitter; it only masks the alkaline, similar to using sugar to hide the acidity of tomato sauce. Buttermilk is acidic; it balances alkaline. Sour milk can make a good substitute for buttermilk, and some cooks add a bit of vinegar to sour the milk when they're using baking soda.

Of course, if you like it with the sugar, go for it. But there is a logic and a chemistry to the traditional Southern recipe for biscuits.

(Btw, the salt on the rim of a Margarita is there to balance the sour of the lime, not just as decoration or custom.)

What you guys call "biscuits" is pretty near the recipe for what we'd call a 'scone' but we have them sweet, or with thick cream & Raspberry jam.
I think that gravy with the cream could be a touch tricky. . . .

Anyone want some FOG ?
We have quite a bit at present.
Gimme the coffee . . . .

 

[Tio_Narratore]

What you guys call "biscuits" is pretty near the recipe for what we'd call a 'scone' but we have them sweet, or with thick cream & Raspberry jam.
I think that gravy with the cream could be a touch tricky. . . .

Anyone want some FOG ?
We have quite a bit at present.
Gimme the coffee . . . .

They have their similarities, HP, but scones are denser and more crumbly than Southern biscuits. i haven't thought of cream with Southern biscuits but it might make an interesting substitute for milk in the gravy. Would Devon Cream liquify in heat and emulsify with sausage grease? Hmmm...

Here in Canada we have the combined benefits of a British background and a North American location, so we have both scones and biscuits. In fact, even a lumberjack can have buttered scones for tea.

 

[NotWise]

I went to bed early and got up on time, but I'm really, really tired.

Something kicked my brain into weird gear about the time I went to bed. First it was Love in a Post-modern World, then it was flapper problems. At some time in the wee mornings I got solidly asleep just to have a dream in which I was at a wild party in a very large home. That kept me busy until the alarm went off.

And soon, oh so soon, I'm off to work.

 

[TxRad]

Morning all,

Fresh coffee for the late morning crew.

I haven't heard from my editor yet. I'm not sure if that is good or bad.

 

[Handley_Page]

Good Evening.
This morning's 'mist' (fog?) slowly cleared, but now it's turned to rain.

Time for a nice hot coffee.

 

[oggbashan]

Good Evening.
This morning's 'mist' (fog?) slowly cleared, but now it's turned to rain.

Time for a nice hot coffee.

Visibility out to sea for most of the day was less than 100 yards.

Sometimes it is nearly forty miles.

Coffee needed before I go shopping.

 

[TxRad]

Foggy this morning, cloudy most of the day.

Fresh coffee for the evening crew. Fresh kettle for HP's evening tea.

Still no news on the editing front. I'd call but why poke the bear.

 

[MagicaPractica]

I honestly can't tell if she's getting better or worse. The cough sounds awful. I'm exhausted.

 

[NotWise]

I honestly can't tell if she's getting better or worse. The cough sounds awful. I'm exhausted.

Maybe you should take her on a trip west to see if her problems clear up. The dry air and lack of familiar allergens can do wonders, and it used to be a fairly common thing for sensitive people.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Maybe you should take her on a trip west to see if her problems clear up. The dry air and lack of familiar allergens can do wonders, and it used to be a fairly common thing for sensitive people.

Sounds good to me but, ya know, school . . . work. She's been sick very little this year really. Daycare over Easter vacation did it. All the little imps who don't know how to wash their hands properly running around. Allergies may well play a part though.

 

[NotWise]

Sounds good to me but, ya know, school . . . work. She's been sick very little this year really. Daycare over Easter vacation did it. All the little imps who don't know how to wash their hands properly running around. Allergies may well play a part though.

Ya have to plan ahead.

If it is allergies, then you can get that tested, and knowing could help a lot.

We've known all along that my son-in-law had a lot of allergies. He can't spend much more that twenty minutes in our house because of the cats. But he'd never been tested until a month or so ago. His reaction to the test was so spectacular that my daughter messaged photos of his back -- covered with welts from the tests -- to the family message list.

She may really have been bragging on his back. He's a competitive weight lifter. His shoulders' were broad and his back made a muscular V. Take that, sisters!