The little book “Chicken Soup With Rice” By Maurice Sendak is one of a set of four books collectively titled “Nutshell Library” published in 1962. I am going to scan my copy, that I received as a child, and publish a page a month. Why? Because the world needs more Maurice Sendak…and chicken soup with rice.
Last summer I bought a stack of old magazines from a local tag sale. I decided to scan the contents of whatever interested me and share. I will also include scans of some other stuff I have sitting around.
The second image in this series is of a brand new 1965 GMC truck.
Encounters: While sitting in a waiting room recently Shelly and I encountered a delightful lady who informed us she had multiple great, great-grandchildren. After visiting with her Shelly and I wondered how old the lady was to be able to enjoy great, greats and still get around as good as she did, as she also talked about still traveling around the country with her husband to visit all of those kids.
Read: I have been rereading my copy of The Tightwad Gazette By Amy Dacyczyn. If anyone is serious about living frugally, this book is a must-read. Click here for more information about Amy and her book.
Observed: We have seen more hawks and eagles around our general area lately. I think it is because, again this winter, the rivers and streams are frozen and the birds have taken to hunting the surrounding fields.
Website: I have been sorting through artwork lately and using the free TinEye site, which searches “80.8 billion images and find(s) where images appear online.” It has been somewhat useful, as has Google Images, but I am considering just paying for a more art-specific app to use for a few months. Any suggestions?
Recipe: My wife Shelly has been a representative for Tastefully Simple for enough years now that I have a few favorite meals using the company products. Marry Me Chicken, on Shellys TS website, is one of them. This slow cooked, one pot meal is juicy and creamy, the combination of garlic, pepper, Alfredo sauce, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese melting in your mouth. Check it out.
When his album “The Next Hundred Years” came out I listened to it every night for several months. Ted Hawkins had a pretty serious hold on me, and to this day when I come across any of his albums in my collection I have to listen to them. After reading these lyrics look up the song online for the music. He died not long after this album, and song, was released. He was 58.
Big Things By Ted Hawkins
[Verse 1]
I’ve got big things to do
Too soon my life will be through
Got no time to stop and pick up your flowers
I’ve got catchin’ up to do
Yes, I’ve got big things to do
[Verse 2]
Now I’ve got a song here to write
I stay up most every night
Creatin’ with hope they will live on forever
I’ve got big things to do
Yes, I’ve got so much to do
[Bridge]
Got no schoolin’, I been foolin’
This is why I can’t find no job
Now it’s over, no time left
That’s why I’m runnin’ so hard
[Verse 3]
Now, I’ve got a story to tell
Gotta hurry, just ain’t no time left
But the sun will shine bright someday
I’ve got mountains to cross
I’m searchin’ for time that I’ve lost
Yes, I’ve got big things to do
Once a month I highlight a piece of art I have created and posted on my Fine Art America site. This one is titled “Rulers” from the Scanner Still Life Collection.
I watched the (still creepy) movie The Birds last year, and was struck (again) by how ominous the Potter School looked in the film.
The little book “Chicken Soup With Rice” By Maurice Sendak is one of a set of four books collectively titled “Nutshell Library” published in 1962. I am going to scan my copy, that I received as a child, and publish a page a month. Why? Because the world needs more Maurice Sendak…and chicken soup with rice.
Once in a while I watch an old TV series, and currently I’m watching Gunsmoke on Peacock. There is a friendly back and forth between characters Doc and Chester, ala Spock and McCoy, and Marshal Dillon and Miss Kitty lend moral authority to some of the stories as needed.
“Kinda reminds ya of a grasshopper on locoweed.” Chester to Marshall Dillon while watching Doc dance.
Unlike my skimpy reading list for 2025, my viewing list for last year grew to over 4 handwritten pages. I distilled it down to 20 some movies and shows I watched, excluding sports. Here is my annual list.
The Last Of Us – series (it should have ended with the first season)
American Primeval – series (riveting, could watch again)
The Bikeriders – movie (we almost always enjoy Tom Hardy)
Gladiator 2 – movie (I know! But we both enjoyed it)
The Madness – series (Colman Domingo)
Grave of the Fireflies – movie (haunting, will stick with you)
Knox Goes Away – movie (Michael Keaton)
Wednesday – series (I watched reruns of the original Addams Family series as a kid and thought it was clever, then tiresome. Tim Burton lent his special touch to what I thought was worn out material, and made it enjoyable)
Lost In Space – series (same as above, minus Burton)
Manchester By The Sea – movie (reminds one of what good acting and storytelling can be)
Jane Mansfield’s Car – movie (directed by Billy Bob Thornton, it’s a quirky little film with some great actors involved)
Love, Death and Robots – series (I will continue watching this anthology series as long as they keep putting out new seasons.)
Black Mirror – series (same as above)
Black Rabbit – series (what has Jason Bateman become? Pretty much a must-watch actor, after this and his previous series Ozark)
Three Thousand Years Of Longing – movie (a fun fable staring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton)
X, Pearl and Maxxxine – movies (I started this trilogy by Ti West while watching Wednesday, curious about what else Jenna Ortega had acted in. That led me to the amazing Mia Goth.)
The UnXplained – series (hosted by the great William Shatner)
Adolescence – series (could be retitled “Seriously Messed Up Kid”)
Frankenstein – movie (most films by Guillermo del Toro are worth watching)
Into The Inferno – documentary (I will watch anything by Werner Herzog)
Pig – movie (Shelly and I are Nick Cage fans. We enjoy trying to figure out in which scene he will go crazy during his newest movie.)
How To With John Wilson – series/documentary (Uber nerd Wilson has presented a funny and astute view of the human condition, set in New York City)
Porco Rosso – movie (one of the few Hayao Miyazaki films I had not seen. Fun and funny.)
Hereditary – movie (creepy!)
One of my favorite search engines to find movies and shows is Just Watch, which seems to cover almost every streamer out there.
Last summer I bought a stack of old magazines from a local tag sale. I decided to scan the contents of whatever interested me and share. I will also include scans of some other stuff I have sitting around.
The first image in this series is the cover of an instruction booklet for a strap on massager. Using the hand grenade size machine, one could give full body massages to others.
Off The Back Porch 