"Who's" Having A Birthday? ~ STMUSS

My honey, that's "who"!

Morning everyone! Today, I'm making my Songs That Make Us Sing Saturday post a special tribute to the man who means the most to me in this world, because this is a special weekend and tomorrow is a very special day. It's his birthday!!

Source

Since The Who is his favorite. band. of. all. time. I figured that I'd give him his own personal "Who-a-palooza" as a little musical gift.

It's almost always a Who CD that first gets popped into the car player, when we're heading out on a road trip. I chose this first song, (The Song Is Over) because I love the way he sings along with it when he's driving.

 


This next video is of somewhat rare footage of the first night of The Who's two night show at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, on December 6 & 7, 1982. It's rare, in that they only ever intended to show footage filmed on the second night of this leg, but because they wanted to have back-up footage in case something went wrong on the second night, they filmed the first night as well. There are many music insiders and rock fans alike that have long considered this song (Eminence Front) to be one of the greatest rock compositions of all time.




Next, I had to include one of The Who's most popular songs ever... Baba O'Reilly. Funny thing is... not many people actually know that's the name of the song.




Last, but certainly not least, is the Who classic that most makes me think of my hubby when I hear it. This version is a slightly different one, in that it's not the entire band, but legendary lead singer Roger Daltry singing with a group that's near and dear to my heart, The Chieftains.



Happy Birthday, honey!



Here's the link to this really great party. Come on... join us this week, as a birthday present to my hubby. ;~)

Click HERE or HERE to link up

Mainly Maine

I chose #5 from Mama Kat's prompts this week: What was the occasion? Write about the last time you stayed in a hotel.

The last time we stayed in a hotel was this past Fall. September to be exact. We stayed at The Beachmere Inn, in Ogunquit Maine. As a matter of fact, we stay at this hotel every year in September, because my Hubbs is a darling, dear, sweet man who loves me more than anything in the world. Even more than golf. Or so he says. ;~)

Ya see, I have this thing about the Northeast coast. Especially the Southern Maine coast. Most specifically, Ogunquit and the surrounding areas of York and Kennebunkport. I don't know why. Maybe I was a bawdy bar wench salty old sea captain in a former life. Whatever it is, when we hit that stretch of highway right around Portsmouth NH and I roll my window down and take my first breath of that sea air, my mood changes completely. It's as if all of the cares and woes of the world, just melt away.

September is my "birthday month" and our anniversary is in October, so our annual trip is a kind of shared celebration of both. The family that owns and runs The Beachmere Inn are some of the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful people I know and they are the consummate "innkeepers". Because they found out about our little joint celebration each September, they have a special little treat waiting for us in our room when we check in. Every year.

I was drawn to it when I vacationed there with my family growing up. I rented summer cottages there with friends in the years following high school and through college. We loved and laughed and played there both as a young family and sometimes, just as a couple. The day after we said our last goodbyes to our youngest daughter, my little family needed to be in a place where we could begin to grieve and to heal, so we we packed a bag and headed to Maine.

It is my place of solace and peace. It is my place of renewal and reflection. It is the one place, other than my home here in NY, where my soul feels most at home. The brilliant blue skies, the golden sunrises and the sweet salt air of Maine, co-exist equally and interchangeably along the spectrum of my memories. The joyful, the reflective, the silly and the sorrowful.

Ogunquit is a Native American word that means Beautiful Place By The Sea. They must have read my heart when they named it, because that is indeed, what it is.

Linking up with:




  

Time To Spill It ~ A Rant

I usually refrain from posting about or discussing what might generally be considered controversial subjects or topics on my blogs, but (and there's always a "but" isn't there?) at some point we all have something that gets under our skin enough to induce even a temporary change in policy. Well, I've reached that point.

I'm not posting this little rant in an effort to invite any heated debates, but I'm open to a civilized, lively discussion, if that should happen to occur. What follows is just my opinion and as the saying goes, everyone is entitled to have one. Please just keep it friendly and respectful of each other's feelings.

In the slightly over 50 years that I've been on this earth, I believe that I have gained a reasonable amount of wisdom. I've experienced both incredible joy and profound sorrow. I care about my fellow human beings and the planet that we inhabit and I try to give genuine consideration and respect to the opinions and the feelings of others. I am not always 100% successful in the pursuit of my best self and I am certainly not perfect. I do try to rectify any insult or injury that I have caused and offer my most sincere apologies to anyone I might have offended.

Along those lines, I purposely choose to refrain from discussing political and/or religious views with people outside of my close circle of family and friends and due to the deeply personal and often controversial nature of many social and moral issues, I don't necessarily share my opinions about those topics with anyone other than my husband or my daughter.

That being said... I would like to inform the multitude of so-called "women's organizations", on both sides of the aisle, that I am insulted and frankly, outraged by your assumption that you know how I feel or what I think about political, social or moral issues. In the spirit of clarity and so that there is no question about what I am asking, please allow me state my intention and explain my request as briefly and politely as I can....

Understand this. You do not speak for me. You are mistaken and I would appreciate it if you would stop insulting my intelligence and undermining my individuality, by proclaiming to the world that you do. I have my own opinions about what is right and what is important to me and I will vote in accordance with what I believe.

Ready To Dance A Little Jig? ~ STMUSS

Top O' The Mornin' !!  La Fheile Paidrig Shona Daoibh!  Tis finally the day! The one day of the year when everyone is Irish.  St. Patrick's Day!  Lucky for me, it also happens to be Songs That Make Us Sing Saturday!

I goofed a wee bit last Saturday, thinking it was the closest STMUSS to the holiday and I did a Paddy's Day post. But the way I see it, when you're a daft middle-aged menopausal woman like me, those little lapses in memory can and should be forgiven. Besides,this just gives me the chance to post more Irish music and that's perfectly fine in my book.

So, without any further blarney from me, please enjoy a little more music that makes us want to sing. And maybe at least for today, even dance a wee jig!

Happy Feet - Lord Of The Dance from Riverdance




Mary Black - Mo Ghile Mear (My Gallant Darling)




And here's one for the gents... ;~)
Feet of Flames from Riverdance



Now, what would St. Patrick's Day be, without a little musical tribute to my family name?

The Chieftans - O'Sullivan's March



Come on along and join us for this lovely day!

Click HERE or HERE to join in!

Erin Go Bark

My "grandkids" would like to wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Little Irish Ditty (or two) ~ STMUSS

OK... I'm totally dense. I had my days all goofed up and didn't realize that there will be a St. Paddy's Day STMUSS. ON St. Paddy's Day! DUH, Me! I'm gonna leave this as it is though. I'm sure I can come up with a few more Irish songs for next weekend. ;~)

Grace Gifford Plunkett
Via

Erin Go Bragh! and Top O' The Mornin' to ye! It's time for Songs That Make Us Drin... eh, Sing Saturday!

Now, if you know me at all, you're most likely aware that I'm an Irish lass. (I'm actually an American Irish lass, for the sake of keeping it real) Being as such, I have a particular fondness for all things Irish and of course, that includes whiskey and beer a good old fashioned Irish ditty. What's a ditty? Well, it depends on who you ask, but for most of us it's a jaunty little song that you drink sing along to.  Seeing as this is the closest STMUSS to St. Paddy's Day, I thought I'd share an old drink... erm, sing-along song from my misspent youth....




...and since I used to do a lot of drin... ehm, singing back in those days, I'll throw in a couple more of my favorites, just for good luck.

I hope you enjoy these little ditty's and even if you don't...

May you be in Heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (Please try to listen to the last song, if you have a moment. It's one of the best Irish ballads ever written)







Here's one that's a wee bit less bawdy. It's a song that generally gets played early in the mornin' toward the end of the night when everyone's getting ready to head home.  I've sobbed into a few pints over this one....





Here's the link to the party. Come on along and join us. If not for me, at least do it for Grace...

Clich HERE or HERE to join!

Mother, Mother, Mother Pin a Rose On Me

Via

Time for Mama Kat's (pretty much world famous) Writer's Workshop! This week, I've chosen prompt #4 ~ "On the bachelor, a rose is given to the women he could really see himself living the rest of his life with. What six things in your life would you like to give a rose to and why?"

1. My parents - For setting a quiet, honest example of strength and faith and teaching me the importance of empathy, respect and a belief in the impossible.

2. My husband - For choosing to know and accept me for who I am and for loving me, for better or for worse. Every. Single. Day.

3. My children - For showing me that love does not recognize time, presence or imperfection and for making me work harder every day to be a better person.

4. My extended family and my friends - For seeing me as someone who is worthy of their time, trust and support, without ever expecting anything in return.

5. My medical "team" - For having the genuine desire to help me live the best life that I can ( Lupus and Raynaud's) and for treating me like a human being and not just an insurance ID number.

6. Blogging - For giving me a an outlet at a time when my life was changing in a very profound way and a platform where I can express myself creatively and meet  some truly amazing people.


Here's the link, peeps. You know what to do. :~)

The Real Housewives of Disney?

If you're a fan of any (or all) of the Real Housewives franchises, then this video from Saturday Night Live will give you a serious chuckle. I laughed out loud. I might have even snorted a little. Please Note: There are a few little cuss words, so this is definitely NOT child or work appropriate.

A Recipe, An Explanation and A (closed) Giveaway!

**The Giveaway mentioned in this post is closed

OK. So, this blog isn't a food blog. After all, the reason I started it in the first place, was so that I'd have one place to share my recipes (my other blog) and a separate place to ramble on about my life and share some of the non-food related stuff that I enjoy.

That's why this will probably be the only time you'll ever see a recipe post here at Spilled On The Kitchen Table. Why is it here, instead of at my food blog? Well, technically it is at my food blog. BUT, I've just found out about an amazing linky party/giveaway called SoupaPalooza (At the eleventh hour, no less. The giveaway closes at 11:59 PM tonight!) that's being hosted by Kristen at Dine and Dish and Cheryl at Tidy Mom and I wanted to get in on the fun.

Hmmmm, that still doesn't explain why I'm posting this recipe here, does it? Well, my original post of this recipe was already full of links to other parties and other blog posts etc., etc. and for some reason, it also didn't want to play nice with the linkbacks needed to enter the giveaway. So... In order to keep my entry for said SoupaPalooza simple and to the point, I'm re-posting it here.

Now that I've given the explanation, here's the recipe and some of the photos from the other post. If you want to see more pics and/or read more of my jibber-jabber, just click HERE for the original. Or... Given my tendency to ramble on incessantly sometimes, you might just prefer this less verbose version. ;~)

Oh, and don't forget. Come and join SoupaPalooza at Tidy Mom and Dine and Dish, sponsored by Kitchen Aid, Red Star Yeast and Le Cruset. (and hurry because time is running out!)

Tex-Mex Chicken Chili Soup

• 2 - 3 Cups Chicken, cooked and shredded
• 1 28oz Can Petite Diced Tomatoes
• 1 - 2 Qts Chicken Stock or Broth
• 1-2 Tbls Light Olive Oil or Canola Oil
• 1 Red or Green Bell Pepper, chopped
• 3 Carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 Lg Onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 - 2 Large Cloves Garlic, finely minced or pressed
• 1 Can Niblets Corn
• 1 Can Mild Chopped Green Chillies
• 1 Can Pinto Beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 Can Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 Tbls Chili Powder
• 1 Tbls Ground Cumin
• 1 Tbls Adobo Seasoning
• 2 Tsp Onion Powder
• 2 Tsp Garlic Powder
• 2 Tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 Tsp Fresh Ground Pepper

This is one of our favorite soups and it's "souper" easy to make. (sorry, I know that was lame, but I couldn't help myself)

It may look like a lot of ingredients, but there really isn't a lot of cooking involved, because most of the ingredients have already done the work for you. Just saute the bell peppers, onions and carrots and "dump in" the rest!

A rotisserie chicken and some prepared broth or stock give it that "simmered on the stove all day" flavor, in a fraction of the time.

I usually garnish mine with sour cream or you can sprinkle on a little shredded Cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese. You can also add chopped green onions or sliced jalapeno peppersas a garnish, if you want a fresh kick of flavor. Hubby kicks his up with a shot (or 10) of his favorite hot sauce. (I swear that man has an asbestos tongue!)

God Only Knows.... ~ STMUSS

Howdy kids!

It's time for Songs That Make Us Sing Saturday!

I've been a huge fan of the Beach Boys for the better part of my life. I've probably seen them perform live a minimum of 10 times. On one of those occasions, not five minutes into the performance, the skies opened up and the rain came down in buckets. Nobody cared, though. We just grabbed whatever we could find to cover our heads, huddled together under flannel shirts, old picnic blankets and the occasional umbrella brought by someone who'd had enough brains to watch the weather report. And we sang our hearts out and our voices raw.

The Brothers Wilson and their band mates didn't seem to care either, because they belted out the same perfect harmonies and addictive melodies that they are still famous for today. It would have taken more than a little rain to stop this talented group of California musicians from giving their fans what they came for. Whether in the studio recording an album, or on stage on a hot, rainy night in August of 1976, the Beach Boys always delivered. That's why their music is still being played on radio stations around the world and downloaded onto the iPods of fans who range from 16 to 60. (and beyond)

Now, you know I can rarely stop at just one video on STMUS Saturdays. So, here are three versions of one of my very favorite Beach Boys classics, "God Only Knows".  All three are great, so if you have an extra couple of minutes, please try to give them all a listen.


Best known version from their 1966 album "Pet Sounds":




An a Capella version from the "Master Tape" for the album:




Brian Wilson from a concert in London in 2002:



Some of the very best things in life just keep getting better. Thank God for that.

Now it's time for YOU to link up and join the par-tay!

Just click HERE or HERE to join  in on the fun!

Summer Is Just Around Th... What?

This is my first foray into the "(Pretty Much) World Famous Mama Kat's Writing Workshop", so I hope I'm doing this the right way. The prompt that I chose for today's post is #5 ~ Share a photo from last summer that brings you back.

Although I chose this prompt on Tuesday, when the sun was shining and we were enjoying an almost "snowless" winter here in the Northeast, it turns out that it couldn't have been a more appropriate choice or come at a better time.

This is what's going on outside my window as I type this post:

While I sit here trying to recall the warmth of the summer sun and the sweet smelling flowers in the baskets and boxes on my porch and deck, tears are dripping steadily into my Nantucket Blend and I'm debating whether to shoot myself or just run out in front of the next truck that comes rumbling down the street with a load of *snirt in it's plow blade. *snow + dirt = snirt 

OK. Not really. I'm much too vain to have a closed casket and after the bullet or the snowplow did their messy best to put me out of this misery, I wouldn't have a choice, now would I? Besides... I knew this was coming. I told my hubby that he wouldn't be out on the golf course quite as soon as he'd hoped to be. (is it wrong that I took a little bit of joy in the tellin'?) This is Murphy's Law at it's nastiest and it happens every. freakin'. time. that we've had a "mild winter" here in the Northeast.

So, I guess I'm going to have to keep looking longingly at those photos from last summer and reminding myself that March 1st snowfalls never stick around for long.  Who knows, maybe the temperature will suddenly shoot up to 70 degrees and it'll all be gone by tomorrow morning and the sun will come out and... Oh, who the he!! am I kidding? The weather man said that it's supposed to keep coming down until the wee hours of tomorrow morning, with further accumulations of up to 2-3 inches of this cold, wet crap.

I guess I'd better keep those summer photos handy...