151 replies to this topic

[suzilightning]

Good morning, all! Welcome back to New Jersey.

The 34B in the description is not my bra size but the exit off of Rt. 80 where I live in the northern part of the state.

Now for a very sad,sad sight













empty toast dope containers

Edited by suzilightning, 25 August 2007 - 05:38 AM.

[suzilightning]

Saturday morning and I am trying to hold the crowds back at work but first I really needed breakfast after waking up at 3am so it was off to my favorite place. I have to limit myself to once a week here. I like the fact that they use organic products and fair trade coffee.






Breakfast





Iced mocha with a blueberry pocket

[suzilightning]

I was going to stop on my way to work this morning to take some pictures but we are currently experiencing our seventh day of drizzle/rain/clouds.

Work for me is here


I am entering my 28th year as a professional librarian and have worked in such diverse places as Hudson, NY and Texarkana, TX/AK. I have been a director, worked as an audio-visual librarian, worked in a psychiatric hospital and now have found my metier - reference librarian.

One thing about librarians that is almost universal - we love food. Not everyone likes making it but we do love eating it. As I type the boss is downstairs frothing up her morning cappachino. We also regularly have "Soup"er Wednesdays in the fall and winter when staff memebers take turns bringing in soup and bread. Our staff is also diverse with people from France, Vietnam and China rounding out our culinary background.

Well, things are beginning to hop around here so I'm off. Please ask about anything you might be interested in...now that I've stopped shaking I think I can get my fingers to type straight.

[llc45]

Saturday morning and I am trying to hold the crowds back at work but first I really needed breakfast after waking up at 3am so it was off to my favorite place.  I have to limit myself to once a week here.  I like the fact that they use organic products and fair trade coffee.

OMG - I live somewhat in your neck of the woods (central Sussex County near Rt 206). Have passed this coffee place on the way down to Route 80 numerous times and have always wanted to go in. Now I will. Really looking forward to reading this. So glad I recently signed on to egullet.

[Carrot Top]

I hope you'll show us a photo of the interior of your library, suzi. Most particularly the cookbook section.

I've often thought that it would be a nice topic to have photos posted (like the thread on refrigerator and cupboard contents) of our various libraries' cookbook sections.

[racheld]

Good Morning, Suzi!!


I, too, have been prowling in search of caffeine since about three, so we coulda had a little chat. I'm so glad it's you!!! The view from your window is one I could LIVE with forever---my little garden has been neglected all this hot, dry month, but these last few days of rain have given it and me a new lease on life. If it would work, I'd take this picture outside and flash it around.

"Now, see---THAT'S what we've been working for!!!" Just beautiful.

More, please.

[MarketStEl]

You could always get the ball rolling in Cookbooks & References, Karen. (Which reminds me: Should I post a photo of my condiments?)

Greetings, kinda-sorta-neighbor! Though you're in the "New York" part of the state rather than the "Philadelphia" part, I trust that we will see some tomatoes during this blog? After all, they're in season. And speaking of Jersey tomatoes, have you all heard that Rutgers is atoning for the sins of the past?

So you've only posted twice, and I already have a couple of questions:

What town's library is that? Is it the town you live in? If not, where do you live? (BTW, cute play on the old joke: "You live in New Jersey? What exit?")

And what is toast dope? What goes into it? Do you need to butter the bread before applying it?

Blog on!

[ghostrider]

Howdy neighbor! Exlt 59 here.

I too am curious as to where you work & why you have to get up at 3 am to get there.

[Abra]

I'm curious about why you say that librarians especially enjoy food, as that's an association I wouldn't have made.

[StInGeR]

Good Morning SUZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII,
I've been waiting for this day to happen. V and I will be reading this with bated breathe.
Is that he Smart World Coffe on Rte 15? I haven't tried it yet, as living in Morristown is one more reason to avoid 15

Tom

[suzilightning]

OMG - I live somewhat in your neck of the woods (central Sussex County near Rt 206). Have passed this coffee place on the way down to Route 80 numerous times and have always wanted to go in. Now I will. Really looking forward to reading this. So glad I recently signed on to egullet.

[/quote]


The only problem would be getting BACK ON 15!!

I hope you'll show us a photo of the interior of your library, suzi. Most particularly the cookbook section.

I've often thought that it would be a nice topic to have photos posted (like the thread on refrigerator and cupboard contents) of our various libraries' cookbook sections.

When the insanity ends I'll get some snaps - including our full service kitchen. Right now I'm on a five minute break.

I, too, have been prowling in search of caffeine since about three, so we coulda had a little chat. I'm so glad it's you!!! The view from your window is one I could LIVE with forever---my little garden has been neglected all this hot, dry month, but these last few days of rain have given it and me a new lease on life. If it would work, I'd take this picture outside and flash it around.

Oh, Rachel. Thank you. The back "rooms" are still a work in progress. We kinda got set back when the entire front yard had to be dug up when the 47 year old septic system gave up the ghost.

What town's library is that? Is it the town you live in? If not, where do you live? (BTW, cute play on the old joke: "You live in New Jersey? What exit?")

Sparta Public Library is where I work. I live 4 miles away in Jefferson on Lake Hopatcong.

And what is toast dope? What goes into it? Do you need to butter the bread before applying it?

Thisis a thread on it and you do need to butter the bread first - and preferably toast it.

Sandy, I have some special pictures for you I'll get tomorrow.

Edited by suzilightning, 25 August 2007 - 08:43 AM.

[suzilightning]

Howdy neighbor! Exlt 59 here.

I too am curious as to where you work & why you have to get up at 3 am to get there.

I'm curious about why you say that librarians especially enjoy food, as that's an association I wouldn't have made.

Interesting but everywhere I have worked food and books - and wine- have always been important. In fact when I was hired the director's first question for me was "What is your specialty?" not meaning what did I do best in my professional life but what food was I known for. We regularly have luncheon here with various staff contributing dishes. We are thinking about doing a series of cooking demos and tie them in with both nonfiction and fiction. As it is we have staff members from France, Vietnam, China and Texas on staff. Our next book talk is Celia Rivenbark's "We're Just Like You Only Prettier". I'm making the pimento cheese for part of the refreshments. As I'm standing here the director and children's person are drooling over the menu at AIX Brasserie.

Is that he Smart World Coffe on Rte 15? I haven't tried it yet, as living in Morristown is one more reason to avoid 15

Tom, he has a second store in Morristown.

[srhcb]

Q:  I'm curious about why you say that librarians especially enjoy food, as that's an association I wouldn't have made.

A:  Interesting but everywhere I have worked food and books - and wine- have always been important.  In fact when I was hired the director's first question for me was "What is your specialty?" not meaning what did I do best in my professional life but what food was I known for.  We regularly have luncheon here with various staff contributing dishes.  We are thinking about doing a series of cooking demos and tie them in with both nonfiction and fiction.  As it is we have staff members from France, Vietnam, China and Texas on staff.  Our next book talk is Celia Rivenbark's "We're Just Like You Only Prettier".  I'm making the pimento cheese for part of the refreshments.  As I'm standing here the director and children's person are drooling over the menu at AIX Brasserie.[/b]

When you think about it, the acts of reading and eating have a lot in common.

The word, "digest", for instance ....

[Carrot Top]

Any time I move to a new place the first place I go to is the public library. Then I check out some cookbooks and while they are being checked out I say "This is such a good cookbook. Its recipe for so-and-so is the best I've ever seen."

And the librarian's face lights up and I've made my first friend in town.

[judiu]

Good Morning SUZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII,
I've been waiting for this day to happen. V and I will be reading this with bated breathe.
Is that he Smart World Coffe on Rte 15? I haven't tried it yet, as living in Morristown is one more reason to avoid 15 

Tom

Um, baited breath? Isn't that the results of eating sushi? (Runs away, very fast...)

[C. sapidus]

I have always enjoyed your posts, so I am looking forward to this foodblog. I hope you don’t mind my asking a food-related library question. While checking out our library’s cookbook section, I noted a comprehensive mixture of new and classic European and American regional cookbooks, a fair number of Japanese, Mexican, and Indian cookbooks, and a large section aimed at special diets. In contrast, the coverage of China and “elsewhere in Asia/Pacific” was paltry and outdated.

It appears that the library bought a bunch of Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean cookbooks 15 years ago. Presumably, no one could find suitable ingredients locally so few borrowed the books. We now have an Asian grocery in town, so I would like to gently suggest that interest in Chinese and SE Asian cookbooks may have increased.

To whom would one make such a suggestion most effectively?

Oh, and I do hope we will see a tutorial on toast dope preparation.

Blog on!

[StInGeR]

Good Morning SUZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII,
I've been waiting for this day to happen. V and I will be reading this with bated breathe.
Is that he Smart World Coffe on Rte 15? I haven't tried it yet, as living in Morristown is one more reason to avoid 15 

Tom

Um, baited breath? Isn't that the results of eating sushi? (Runs away, very fast...)

I'm guessing you're right coz sushi was fro dinner last night

[suzilightning]

I hope you'll show us a photo of the interior of your library, suzi. Most particularly the cookbook section. 

I've often thought that it would be a nice topic to have photos posted (like the thread on refrigerator  and cupboard contents) of our various libraries' cookbook sections. 

Here you go, Karen.

I counted. 35 shelves of cookbooks.

The main rooms: children's and the reading room


In the winter we turn the chairs towards the fireplace, remove the flag and have a cheerful gas fire going.

My area - reference


Our full service kitchen and fridge photos for Sandy.

[suzilightning]

I have always enjoyed your posts, so I am looking forward to this foodblog. I hope you don’t mind my asking a food-related library question. While checking out our library’s cookbook section, I noted a comprehensive mixture of new and classic European and American regional cookbooks, a fair number of Japanese, Mexican, and Indian cookbooks, and a large section aimed at special diets. In contrast, the coverage of China and “elsewhere in Asia/Pacific” was paltry and outdated.

It appears that the library bought a bunch of Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean cookbooks 15 years ago. Presumably, no one could find suitable ingredients locally so few borrowed the books. We now have an Asian grocery in town, so I would like to gently suggest that interest in Chinese and SE Asian cookbooks may have increased.

To whom would one make such a suggestion most effectively?

Oh, and I do hope we will see a tutorial on toast dope preparation.

Blog on!

Thank you for the kind words. I was so worried that after Kathleen's blog no one would really want to hear about an older middle aged librarian from North Jersey.

When you are at the circulation desk ask if they have request forms. We have them at all manned desks. Most libraries you can make a subject request or request an individual title. Usually there are people who purchase in the major areas: Reference(me), Adult Fiction(Deanna), Adult Non-Fiction(Diane, our Assistant Director), Chidren's(the redhead in the picture of the Children's Room, Lyn) and Young Adult(Peggy). You might also ask to speak to that person. It will also depend on the collection policy your library has but at least here we try to shape the collection for our users.

As for the Toast Dope demo...that will be done by my spouse of 25 years. Yes, the one, the only Johnnybird of Toast Dope Fame. And he will have to do it soon. I used the last of the dope making Peach Blueberry Kucken for his breakfasts.

[suzilightning]

Snowangel mentioned that I had asked for these days though they aren't falling in the regular blogging days. I had my reasons.
#1 was so I could take you to the Farmer's Market in Lafayette, NJ tomorrow morning. I have been going there for the last 4 years or so and it is bringing me back to how I ate growing up on eastern Long Island. We hunted and fished, foraged and grew. Now up here in northern New Jersey I no longer hunt or fish and I have a black - not brown the color of earth - thumb so my foraging is now done here. I'm lucky enough to have the money to support these local farmers with my purchasing power and have made some good friends. But tomorrow will be my last day till next June - unless it rains like crazy.

That is because of #2. Beginning 1 September and until 30 November I spend any time I am not at work counting migrating raptors at the Picatinny Peak Hawkwatch that John founded. We are now in our 14th year of full time migration counts and report our data to various organizations such as Hawk Migration Association of North America, The Department of Defense, Partners in Flight andThe Raptor Population Index. From some of the analysis we are noticing a trend of declining populations among species such as kestral. Why? We aren't sure yet but the major conference this fall will include some research.

#3 fits in with the teaser photo. I'm surprised no one recognized the Birthday Tiara. The bottle of champagne - or one just like it- will be busted open when I get back from work Thursday night. We will be going out to dinner to celebrate, though, at a little restaurant close to our house calledZoe's by the Lake. We like it because John can have two drinks and still be able to drive home.

Thank you all for your questions and kind words. When I started typing this morning I was actually shaking... now it's off to the gym. Then I need to figure out what to make in the heat we are now experiencing.

[Carrot Top]

Niiiiiice selection of cookbooks, suzi. I'll take photos of our library's cookbook section and start a thread soon, probably after I get a new camera, for my own digital camera has been hijacked by my fifteen year old daughter and it takes a minor coup with much strategic planning involved to try to get it back when I want it.

I'll also find out what our population here is for comparison of cookbook-to-person ratio.

Bruce, we had a minimal Asian cookbook section in our library also but over the last few years I've requested purchase of some of my favorite Asian cookbooks, particularly new releases, and have been quite pleased to see that generally within three months the book appears on the shelves. Which doesn't help me much, for by that time I've usually not been able to stand it and have already bought the thing but it's good to know that other people will have access.

[hjshorter]

I am a eternally grateful to you for the "toast dope" formula. It's one of my favorite eGullet recipes. Looking forward to your blog this week.

[insomniac]

suzi, the location of your home is beautiful, as is your library.........I raced to join ours when new to England, *shock*, no cookbooks, well actually very few books at all,......and each time someone posts about asking their library for a cookbook I get depressed.....can you believe that Hong Kong has a much better library system than England!!(hope that doesn't upset anyone).... we also live right on a bird migration/wetlands area but not many birds of prey( the odd buzzard and owl). Nonetheless a remote and lovely spot. Looking forward very much to sharing a bit of your life. (am immediately going to try to convert from vegemite to toast dope )

[Kouign Aman]

Two months of raptor rapture. Oh my!
Your yard is beautiful.

What kind of lunches do you take with you when counting birds?

[suzilightning]

suzi, the location of your home is beautiful, as is your library.........I raced to join ours when new to England, *shock*, no cookbooks, well actually very few books at all,......and each time someone posts about asking their library for a cookbook I get depressed.....can you believe that Hong Kong has a much better library system than England!!(hope that doesn't upset anyone).... we also live right on a bird migration/wetlands area but not many birds of prey( the odd buzzard and owl). Nonetheless a remote and lovely spot. Looking forward very much to sharing a bit of your life. (am immediately going to try to convert from vegemite to toast dope )

unfortunately, England has been less than kind with supporting their public libraries and it is well documented in the professional media. The director and I were having a discussion of the future of libraries in our state this morning. she feels that within the next 20-30 the tax base (1/3 of a millage - a set amount based on population and budget) will be gone and we may have gone the way of California after Propostion 13. Prop 13 froze property taxes and immediately impacted libraries there.

Actually where you are you are on a good migration path for cranes that winter a bit further south of you .

Edited by suzilightning, 25 August 2007 - 03:44 PM.

[suzilightning]

Two months of raptor rapture. Oh my!
Your yard is beautiful.

What kind of lunches do you take with you when counting birds?

DANG!! I'm working from home now and my ancient and cranky cow(Gateway) and less than high-speed dial up are not letting me do this the way I want to.

It's actually 3 months but by the time that third month rolls around you are really ready to hang it up. Standing outside in 35mph NW winds and snow squalls because you MIGHT get a Golden Eagle and you are in 5 layers on the top, two layers on your hands, 4 layers on the bottom and 3 on your feet for 6 to 8 hours a day can be a bit much - but iI love it. As I explain it to people I was destined to be a hawk counter though I didn't realize my destiny until I was 39. I was very sick as a child(asthma) and my grandmother believed in the fresh air cure. If it wasn't raining cats and dogs or snowing I was bundled up in hat, coat and blankets and set out in the side garden. What else did I have but to observe. Of course I am also a Red Sox fan so we are used to not seeing somethin(happen) but ecstatic when it does (102 migrating Bald Eagles for a record last year).

Food... during the peak of the Broadwing Hawk migration we may be on the site for 8-12 hours and we have to totally self sustained. WATER!!! I freeze half filled pint containers then each morning fill the other half with water. On a hot day I will go through close to a gallon. Both John and I have insulated carriers and ice packs. For me a typical days ration is: cottage cheese with fruit for breakfast, 3 slices of bread toasted, a container of my beloved Miracle Whip, a container of sliced tomatoes at this time of year, crackers, Laughing Cow cheese thingys or a few Bon Bel, maybe a container of chicken Waldorf salad to munch on for dinner. John prefers and egg sandwich for breakfast, plain chicken salad or a wrap or pita for lunch as well as his highly watered tea or vitamin water. He will tolerate fruit but the one thing we have is CHOCOLATE. Following the example of the crew at Hazel Bazemore State Park in Corpus Christi there is chocolate at our hawkwatch always. If it is hot it is kept cold; if it is cold it warms us up. For some reason the chocolate draws the birds. One year we put this to the test. John made a large poster showing NJ in the uppper right hand corner. He drew an arrow pointing to a map of Texas with Corpus starred in the lower left hand corner and wrote in bold letters CHOCOLATE . Within 30 minutes we started a counting barrage that lasted 2 hours and produced some 5000+ Broadwing Hawks, Osprey and Bald Eagles. And we didn't have to break out our supplies! Our chocolate of choice is the Fudgy Bourbon Brownies that I have posted in Recipe Gullet.

As the seasons change so do our foods but all must NOT be messy and MUST be easily eaten with fork or held in one hand since the other hand is busily engaged with your bins.

[suzilightning]

As you may have noticed there was no mention of lunch. That's becaue there was no lunch for me. It was very hot here with high humidity and, though it isn't healthy for me, when it is this hot I just can't eat. When I got back from the gym I steamed some shrimp, took a shower, started a load of laundry and went next door to take care of our neighbor's kitties while they are on vaca. When I got back home made a light salad dinner for both John and I (shrimp and avacado with a lime mayo for him; chicken breast with avacado and Jersey tomatoes for me). I have pictures but will up load them when I stop by the library to empty the bookdrop. We are closed on Sundays until after American Labor Day and the drop gets bollocksed up if it isn't emptied.

Now it's downstairs to finish drying my workout gear so I will have it tomorrow.

[Carrot Top]

I seem to remember some hot drink recipe you provided, suzi, with applejack or apple brandy?

Can one drink these sorts of things while hawkwatching?

(The library bookdrop thing I really understand. Once I got my arm stuck in one of those things while trying to return books to one that was overfull that got jammed. I thought I was going to be there forever till someone would come rescue me by calling the fire department to cut the thing open. Scary. Ten minutes of terror and pain. Finally I wedged my arm out somehow, bruised but still there. A hot applejack drink -or even a few quick hot applejack drinks- would definitely have been useful in that moment. )

[suzilightning]

I seem to remember some hot drink recipe you provided, suzi, with applejack or apple brandy?

Can one drink these sorts of things while hawkwatching?

(The library bookdrop thing I really understand. Once I got my arm stuck in one of those things while trying to return books to one that was overfull that got jammed. I thought I was going to be there forever till someone would come rescue me by calling the fire department to cut the thing open. Scary. Ten minutes of terror and pain.  Finally I wedged my arm out somehow, bruised but still there. A hot applejack drink -or even a few quick hot applejack drinks- would definitely have been useful in that moment.  )

sorry, darlin' after 30 August I am on the wagon for 3 months. Especially as you age if you drink (especially to excess) you lose your "eyes" or the ability to see raptors - especially in blue skies. Sooooo many think that hawkgawkers are negative since we may have bumper stickers that say "Blue Skies S*%K" and really mean it. We can lose a freakin bird that has a 6-7' wingspan in blue skies for lack of contrast. Course we check every white puffy for birds.

You are thinking of Buttershots, a butterscotch liquer that you add apple cider mulled with some cloves and a cinnamon stick to. Succulent and dangerous....

Funny you said that about the jammed drop. The boss got called 3 weeks ago by the local police. Seems the drop was jammed and people weren't happy. I was on vaca in northern Vt and no one thought to make arrangements for pick ups.....

[suzilightning]

For those of you wondering about what we are talking about check out the teaser photos. I will elaborate about the clues in photo #2.

Please be patient with me. I have only been doing photos for the last 2 weeks. Before that we were dealing with the hordes of the Summer Reading Program. Now, since my specialties(profesionally that is)are teachers and children I swung over to the Circulation side and dealing with the multitudes of bored teenagers and adults trying to find jobs.

John has informed me that while I was trying to cool off downstairs( we are an old fashioned household with no air but with fans and a below grade basement with dehumidifiers) he partook of the last of his shrimp and avacado salad, baked Lays potato chips, several cookies and something else...he doesn't remember. I always try to have snacks available for John since it is important he eats on a regular basis. We will deal with this concern during the week....

I have just finished a glass of iced Cointreau.

Tomorrow brings the gym, Farmers Market and maybe some better pictures of the area.

"night all.