Thursday, July 30, 2009

Having a Ball

Ok, so I went to another concert in the park yesterday. It was a glorious evening, not too hot, not chilly. There was no rain to soak the grass (and therefor my blanket). Since it was just me, I only took the blanket and some food. And a bottle of wine. I made a salad of roasted corn and grape tomatoes, this time with chives. And of course, pesto. I brought a book so I could relax and read while enjoying the music. Not too far from me was a couple with a few kids. About 30 minutes before the music started the kids (boys) were running around giving themselves noogies while shouting "NOOGIES!". I think perhaps they were unclear on the concept. Shortly after that a small group of people set up camp behind that family. That family was joined by a couple more adults and a couple more kids as well. Then four more adults and a kid. Then one more adult and about three kids. The people who had sat behind them moved so the family could have more room. That family kept growing. And someone brought hula-hoops. By this time there were sooo many people they were standing right next to my blanket. So close in fact, that in order to get past the standing adults, the kids were running on my blanket. Then the music started. And. They. Did. Not. Shut. Up. The adults in the group all moved to one area and chatted away while the kids started to hula-hoop. Right next to my head. Those folks that moved earlier suggested I might want to do the same. I very much agreed and they helped me do so! It was so kind of them! I offered them some of my pesto and salad, but they had brought their own feast and declined. Not five minutes after I moved, the guy in the kind group got whacked in the head by a hula-hoop. Twice.
I wish I could tell you about the music, what little I heard sounded like the score to a really good movie. The kind with sweeping scenes of fantastic vistas. But so much of the music was drowned out by yelling kids and yammering adults. Once again it bothers me that what is most memorable about last nights experience (other than the fantastically helpful, thoughtful group) is the sheer inconsiderateness of the family group. A concert is not the place to hold a family reunion. There are other people there who have come to hear the music. I don't think I'll go alone again. I'll go with someone or a group and let them pick the spot since I seem to have rotten luck at it.

In other news, my ice cream ball came in today!!! And yes, it has been christened. I made Strawberry-Orange sorbet. And it was great! It only takes about 30 minutes plus whatever time blending your ingredients before putting them in the ball's canister. I'm gonna make real ice cream this weekend.
Also planned for the weekend, pizzelles. To be formed into little cups to hold the ice cream. I also plan on making french fries (finally gonna use that fry daddy) and then spraying those with truffle oil. I figure I'll use every gadget I own this weekend.
One of these days I plan on making a meal where nearly every aspect is made from scratch. Veggies with an onion dip, the dip being made from sour cream and onions and parmesan. Pasta (by hand) with a pesto cream sauce (no surprise). And either sorbet or ice cream. If I got really adventurous (and planned ahead, waaaaay ahead) I could make bacon vodka and make bloody marys with it. No, the morph into Martha is as yet incomplete. But I'll keep you posted.

--Little Bird can't picnic alone anymore

8 comments:

coyote said...

Careful Avis. You could end up going all Sandra Lee in the kitchen and change the decor to match your outfit on a daily basis.

How do you think your ball would handle the making of a frozen margarita sort of thing?

Little Bird said...

Quite well! The booklet has roughly 25 recipes and then other suggestions for the ball. Margaritas are one of those suggestions.
And my kitchen is all orange (appliances and gadgets) and grey (counter tops) and white (walls, stove fridge and cabinets). My outfits are along those color schemes already. Sorta. Lots of orange anyway. If I could have it, I would get an orange fridge (retro looking), but I have no choice in the matter. :(

coyote said...

Concerning your fridge. Have you considered spray paint?

Little Bird said...

It's a rental unit. And I have to share the kitchen with my step-father. I might have been able to talk him into a black fridge (if we were allowed to replace the current one) but orange? Only in my wildest dreams.

Anonymous said...

Re: the concert. At least this time you didn't have to block a ball to the head!

Anonymous said...

That sounds like normal kids to me!

Little Bird said...

I don't blame the kids. I blame the parents. One does NOT bring hula-hoops to a freaking symphony!

coyote said...

Re: Bringing a Hula Hoop.

Perhaps they thought that it was going to have selections from Wagners Ring cycle.