17-year Locusts of the Apocalypse.......
May. 23rd, 2004 10:50 pmWell, it's happened. Brood X has emerged from the ground and has begun its so-called serenade.
This afternoon, while giving R some much-needed Mommy Time Alone, I took M to one of the local parks. After stopping at Jersey Mike's for a sub for a picnic lunch, I headed toward a local park. On the way there, I could hear the chirping and buzzing of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cicadas. When we got to the park, it was quite noisy. There were some flying through the air. On the ground were plenty of discarded cicada skins (yes, they molt), and some live cicadas. One was on M's shoe, which I getnly brushed off. I let one walk across my arm. (As far as I know, they're not poisonous. And if they're in nature, they have to serve some purpose. Food for praying mantises, perhaps?) I pretty much left them alone, and they left us alone. But it was hard trying to avoid stepping on them. And there were several that were flat on their backs, struggling to right themselves. (I gave them a little help.)
And then for dinner....Copper River Salmon. This Alaskan wild salmon is only fished one week a year. So it's a rare treat to have in May. It's become a tradition in our family. And so I grilled it, using only olive oil, freshly ground sea salt, and dill weed to season it. I undercooked it at first, so it went back on the grill. I don't eat a lot of salmon during the year, but this salmon is so tasty that I willingly make an exception for it, and pay a premium price. (In the deli case, it's a deeper reddish color than most salmon -- almost as red as raw beef.)
I also had side dishes of green beans amandine, marinated mushrooms, and taboule salad. Yum yum!
And no, the cicadas aren't near my home. I don't know if it's because the lawns are well-maintained or fertilized, or because the entire condo complex I live in wasn't around 17 years ago, when the eggs would have been laid. In any event, I was able to enjoy the time outside in front of the grill.
I really should go back to buying, grilling, and eating more fish steaks this year. It's rare that I'll have a beef steak, mostly because I tend to overcook it on the grill. But if fish steaks are healthier for me then beef steaks, then I should certainly eat more fish steaks.
This afternoon, while giving R some much-needed Mommy Time Alone, I took M to one of the local parks. After stopping at Jersey Mike's for a sub for a picnic lunch, I headed toward a local park. On the way there, I could hear the chirping and buzzing of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cicadas. When we got to the park, it was quite noisy. There were some flying through the air. On the ground were plenty of discarded cicada skins (yes, they molt), and some live cicadas. One was on M's shoe, which I getnly brushed off. I let one walk across my arm. (As far as I know, they're not poisonous. And if they're in nature, they have to serve some purpose. Food for praying mantises, perhaps?) I pretty much left them alone, and they left us alone. But it was hard trying to avoid stepping on them. And there were several that were flat on their backs, struggling to right themselves. (I gave them a little help.)
And then for dinner....Copper River Salmon. This Alaskan wild salmon is only fished one week a year. So it's a rare treat to have in May. It's become a tradition in our family. And so I grilled it, using only olive oil, freshly ground sea salt, and dill weed to season it. I undercooked it at first, so it went back on the grill. I don't eat a lot of salmon during the year, but this salmon is so tasty that I willingly make an exception for it, and pay a premium price. (In the deli case, it's a deeper reddish color than most salmon -- almost as red as raw beef.)
I also had side dishes of green beans amandine, marinated mushrooms, and taboule salad. Yum yum!
And no, the cicadas aren't near my home. I don't know if it's because the lawns are well-maintained or fertilized, or because the entire condo complex I live in wasn't around 17 years ago, when the eggs would have been laid. In any event, I was able to enjoy the time outside in front of the grill.
I really should go back to buying, grilling, and eating more fish steaks this year. It's rare that I'll have a beef steak, mostly because I tend to overcook it on the grill. But if fish steaks are healthier for me then beef steaks, then I should certainly eat more fish steaks.
Re: Cicadas!
Date: 2004-05-25 06:52 pm (UTC)The park that I went to was Miami Ridge Park, off of Munger Rd. in Miami Township, just south of Dayton.
As for the dinner, you should stop in at the Dorothy Lane Market the next time you make it to Dayton. That's where I bought the salmon and other goodies.
Dorothy Lane Market
Date: 2004-05-28 08:10 pm (UTC)Re: Dorothy Lane Market
Date: 2004-05-31 09:51 am (UTC)Re: Dorothy Lane Market
Date: 2004-06-01 11:35 am (UTC)::chuckle:: Now, how did you know that my husband is a beer geek and makes a point of finding microbreweries and brewpubs wherever we go?
Re: Dorothy Lane Market
Date: 2004-06-01 02:57 pm (UTC)It was a lucky guess. Or I know the profile very well.