The President Sang Amazing Grace

Michelle and Barak Obama resurfaced this week in all their glory as their official presidential portraits were unveiled at the White House. It got me thinking how much I miss them! I don't think we ever had a cooler president....Which lead me to revisit this stunning Joan Baez video about the horrific 2015 Charleston church shooting The President Sang Amazing Grace (written by English folksinger Zoe Mulford, art by Jeff Scher). I shared this once before but it is definitely worth seeing again.

Lyrics
A young man came to a house of prayer
They did not ask what brought him there
He was not friend, he was not kin
But they opened the door and let him in
And for an hour the stranger stayed
He sat with them and seemed to pray
But then the young man drew a gun
And killed nine people, old and young
In Charleston in the month of June
The mourners gathered in a room
The President came to speak some words
And the cameras rolled and the nation heard
But no words could say what must be said
For all the living and the dead
So on that day and in that place
The President sang Amazing Grace
The President sang Amazing Grace
We argued where to lay the blame
On one man's hate or our nation's shame
Some sickness of the mind or soul
And how the wounds might be made whole
But no words could say what must be said
For all the living and the dead
So on that day and in that place
The President sang Amazing Grace
My President sang Amazing Grace

Serena Williams

Serena’s goodbye speech after her loss last week at the US Open

Click image to hear Serena talk about being black and different

Hear Alexis Ohanian talk about his marriage to Serena Williams

I am kind of a fair weather sports person--most of the time I don't pay much attention but when I do, I always enjoy it...Once a year I tune in to the U.S. Open because I have memories of going to it when it was still Forest Hills with my dad and I have gone a few times more recently... Happened to watch Serena the other night and was very moved...Has there ever been a more spectacular athlete? Thought I would share the New York Times piece on her--What Serena Williams Means to You in which they asked people about their personal memories of watching her play.

Let's not forget that Arthur Ashe paved the way...

Indian Spicy Baked Chicken Recipe

This recipe is delicious!

Recipe by Madhur Jaffrey

Ingredients (serves 6)
1 tbsp. ground cumin seeds
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tbsp. ground turmeric
1-1 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
2 1/2-3 tsp. salt
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and mashed to a pulp
6 tbsp. lemon juice
3 1/2 lb. chicken pieces, skins removed
3 tbsp vegetable oil

Combine the cumin, paprika, cayenne, turmeric, black pepper, salt, garlic and lemon juice in a bowl. Mix well. Rub this mixture over the chicken pieces, pushing the paste inside any flaps and openings that you can find. Stuff some paste along the bone of the drumsticks. Spread the chicken pieces in a shallow baking tray and set aside in a cool place for three hours covered with plastic wrap (or longer).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush chicken with oil. Place in oven and cook for 20 minutes, then turn the pieces over and cook another 25 minutes. Basting the chicken pieces 3 or 4 times. If there is a lot of liquid, remove extra fat with a spoon and pour remaining liquid into a smaller pot and boil until reduced a bit. Place cooked chicken on platter and pour reduced sauce over the pieces and serve with basmati rice.

Painting of the Week

Charity of the Week:

Save The Children

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.