the gift of marketing

A couple weeks ago, I trudged through snow to the office in the morning and discovered a journalist for a national news service had left a message for me to return his call.  Of course I did so promptly.  Within 2 hours, he and his cameraman presented themselves at my office wanting to interview me on issues respecting access enforcement and father's parenting rights.  Fully aware of the marketing potential (which is very important to private bar counsel), I cooperated (and carefully worded my phrases knowing they would be edited anyway and designed my replies with the intent of making them gender-neutral).  I had been told it would be on the news that evening.  It wasn't so I stopped thinking about it and went on my merry way.

Today I reached the office to discover an email from my dh that someone had heard the interview on the local segment of the national service's radio show at 7:40 a.m. ( ~ prime time for those preparing or commuting to work).  The journalist left a voice message yesterday alerting me that the interview would be on the news at 6 p.m. last evening and web-based archives as well as today on the morning show (and available on podcast and possibly also in archives).

I'm aware that it is asserted that there is no such thing as "bad publicity".  It will be intriguing to observe the effects of this gift of marketing.

And what is so absolutely amazing about it is that the journalist didn't know me personally.  It was completely random that I was chosen for the interview aside from the fact that he did a search on the internet and then read my biography, likely on my firm's website.

It was all about luck.

going uphill without gluten

I've been trying really hard to eliminate gluten from my diet (even though I'm not celiac and don't have  a food allergy that I'm aware of) and have been trying recipes with different flours to see whether they can substitute for wheat-based flour.  So far?  Not so good.  I've discovered that my tolerated Spelt bread has low amounts of glutten in it.

Spelt flour pancakes are tolerable and have a bit of a cinnamon flavour to them; the girls complained of their brown flour colour but agreed to eat them under threat of not being permitted to watch Saddle Club.

I managed to sneak spelt flour into the gravy with no one noticing.

My latest baking effort was to make an apple crisp with spelt flour and maple syrup (substituting brown sugar).  The crisp had a cake-like finish to it which was unappealing to me (but my dh still thought it was tastey).  I've concluded that any future apple crisps will need to have an oatmeal topping.

My family will not eat my quinoa pasta and aren't keen on eating quinoa at all (although I have managed to convince N of its nutritional benefits which she'll crow about yet generally refuse to eat quinoa).

quilting fabrics in the kitchen

I neglected to mention that I finally finished making the cafe curtains for the kitchen in July.  They were a bit of a nuisance to make as I had to piece together the curtain fabric because it wasn't wide enough to fit the window.

As Christmas is coming way to soon, I finally finished making the double-sided placemats for the kitchen.  The reverse side of the mats are the same yellow cupcake pattern found on the curtains.  The actual mats were easy enough to pull together.  It was the binding that was a nuisance to create and sew!  Next time(??!), I'll use a wider binding!

The pink, yellow and turquoise patterns are all Robert Kaufman Fabric from the Sweet Tooth Collection and named Camellia Cupcakes.  N loves the fabric and keeps commenting that she could just eat our curtains!  Considering I ad libbed the curtains and the placemats, I am pleased enough with their outcomes!

we have not forgotten

Just as I decorate seasonally, I tend to read children's books seasonally too to K and N.  As they are getting older, I try to read books with more depth so that they understand the contexts and history of our holidays.

Today is no exception.  Although the children have participated in Remembrance Day activities through school, for the last week or so at home, we've been reading Hana's Suitcase.

I recall reading Anne Frank's Diary as well as other Holocaust books starting when I was in Grade 3.  World War II history has been of significant influence within my childhood and, in fact, my adult life as it paved the foundation for my interest in the area of human rights.

I guessed correctly that K (in Grade 2) was ready to explore this historic period with me.  Hana's Suitcase has presented an opportunity to discuss discrimination and the role of individual and collective freedoms in society.  We have discussed how fortunate we are to live where and when we are.  We have discussed the importance of reading books such as these so that those who have gone through such traumatic events are not forgotten.

Meanwhile, Remembrance Day is observed in our home. Due to poor weather and roads, we observed the ceremony on television.  We spoke of my dh's grandfathers and father's involvement in World War I and World War II.

We have not forgotten.

can you pronounce Quinoa?

I will admit to having difficulties pronouncing Quinoa when I read or try to spell it.  It is pronounced "keen-wah" or "kee-NO-wah" and I am trying to make it one of my newest friends.  It is supposed to be a "super-grain" as described here.

On my naturopathic diet, I am not permitted glutten and dairy and am discouraged from eating corn-based products and sugar amongst other foods.  Although I have not really paid much attention to the concept, I live to eat.  I have discovered the "foodie" world is much bleaker without glutten and corn.  I have tried some of the pre-packaged cereals, granola bars, "cookies" and the taste and textures aren't right.  I even tried a spelt fruit pie on the weekend but the crust was so "not flakey" that it didn't qualify for crust (although I give the baker "E" for effort).

I am already tired of eating hard-boiled eggs or plain salmon (with no mayo permitted because it is dairy) for lunch at work.  I have claimed all the bison sausage in our freezer for myself and prepare extra cooked sausage once per week so that I can take leftover sausage for work (because I have troubles locating proteins that are within the dietary restrictions, especially for work purposes unless I roast bison or chicken).

I started searching out recipe books last week. If the prepackaged stuff doesn't meet my palate and/or is not within my dietary restrictions, I'll prepare food for myself. When at Costco last week, I discovered this recipe book for $17.95 (instead of close to $30 retail):

Quinoa 365 has pictures (plus a website ~ see above)!  The recipes read appetizing!  Many of the ingredients are within my dietary restrictions!  Can you tell I'm excited?  I clutched the recipe book and goat cheese encircled by a blueberry/vanilla mixture close to me as I headed to the check-out!

I have already tested 2 recipes, both for breakfast.  I have discovered that Quinoa (grain) with cranberries and raisins (with a dash of maple syrup) as a hot cereal is too chewy for my liking in the morning but certainly more tolerable flavor-wise than the prepackaged Rice-O's (to replace Cheerios) cereal as a quick morning breakfast.  Although I have been focussing on this hot cereal first, N specifically requested the Quinoa granola I made (which is less time-consuming and labour-intensive than my usual granola recipe).  I am well-stocked with Quinoa flour, flakes and grain and with a determination to find tasty foods to keep me on track.