Pruitt-Igoe

    Last night I dragged Robin to a showing and panel discussion of the film "The Pruitt-Igoe Myth".  Pruitt-Igoe was a housing project in North St. Louis that went from being touted as the solution to public housing to destruction in 20 years. All in all, I thought it was a very interesting film. They talked to several different residents of the buildings with very different perspectives, and filled in with history and commentary.
    Urban planners thought St. Louis would reach 1 million residents by the 1970s, and Pruitt-Igoe was built with that in mind. When white flight happened to the suburbs, it meant the move of jobs out to the suburbs as well, and no people to fill the large buildings. In St. Louis there is consistently discussion of the problems with decreasing population and a decimated tax base.
     Pruitt-Igoe was an interesting example of political discord contributing to destruction as well. Business interests wanted the slums destroyed, so they supported the building of Pruitt-Igoe as well. However, conservatives would not support the provision of federal funding for maintenance on the buildings. This meant the buildings had to rely on rent income for upkeep - fine when the residences are filled and the tenants can find jobs, not so fine when jobs have moved to the suburbs along with half of the anticipated residents.
    Okay I don't actually mean for this to be a history lesson, I just thought it was fascinating how we face many of the same issues with population concerns, demonization of public housing, racism and classism today.  Pruitt-Igoe is not an isolated case, and it's not really behind us. Systems and policies contribute to or combat social problems, and it sure seems we haven't done a great job of combatting. One of my favorite quotes of the night was one of the panelists, a resident of Pruitt-Igoe, who stated: "the only time you should look down on someone is when you are pulling them up". Not a new thought, but I love that idea.

Dining Room Chairs

From this:

 

 To this: 

 To this!

Okay, so my photography skills are pretty terrible, but a new coat of stain took care of the dog damage done during my childhood, and the new fabric is pretty fun!

Random thoughts for Thursday:

-It is fall in St. Louis this week. And boy could I get used to fall.
-Our pup is over 9 months old.
-She might calm down when she's over 9 years old.

-Enchiladas are the new favorite household food.
-Have you ever watched the TV show "In Plain Sight"? Because you should.
-There are few things more glorious than sleeping puppies.

-I think I might be a fan of Cardinals games.

-I miss the mountains.

Zucchini-Crusted Pizza

The Moosewood Cookbook might be my favorite.

I made the zucchini-crusted pizza, and it was so easy and delicious.

 Someday I will learn how to take good pictures. But that day is not today.

So easy, and so non-fussy. 2 eggs, 1/4 cup of flour, two grated zucchini, cheese and spices. Baked, topped with marinara, cheese, kale and red pepper and baked again until the cheese melted.

Any recipe that involves cheese and vegetables, and for which I can use the lovely green pie plate Robin bought me is good by me.

Summer Cooking

While I can't update a blog, I can cook in the summer. First up, a curry cous cous salad:

Modified from a Moosewood cook book recipe, courtesy of my aunt Kathy and aunt Maryalice, two of the best cooks I know. Who knew rice vinegar, curry and honey could complete my life (or at least my cous cous salad)? Peas, carrots, toasted almonds - yum.

Next up, crock pot chili. I know, not typically summer, but so. fabulous. I modified this recipe, with less meat and different beans. Also, we ate it with avocado, fresh cilantro, and plain yogurt. Avocado is officially my new favorite chili topping.

We've made a few more exciting things, but I have yet to take exciting photos. However, I have learned:
-I like non-green salads that work for a number of meals.
-Anything cooked in a crock pot rocks in the summer because the house smells fabulous but there is very little heat given off.
- Dessert is still my fave.

Vacation!

Summer is my favorite. We took (what I hope will become an annual) summer vacation the beginning of August.

First up, a stop in Denver to visit my aunt and uncle. I have no good photos, but I snapped this of us at the Botanical Garden.

Next, Bozeman for a FABULOUS wedding:

And finally, we headed to Grand Teton National Park to camp for a few days. Took some great hikes, and life might just be a little better in the mountains.

All in all, it was just fabulous. And coming home to a happy puppy and our anniversary wasn't half bad either!

Baking

More later, but for now my most recent baking: