The Chambermaid

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-09T15:09:00.003-04:00

Harry & Cooper made me these beautiful flowers and cards at their craft class yesterday.

I love them, and they mean more to me than words can say.
Inside the cards, it is written:

Let me tell you a story about the perfect mom...
"Once upon a time, there was you! The End."
Happy Mother's Day!

These flowers are the best, because they are everlasting, like the love between a mother and a child.

Fairy strange behavior

2009-04-30T12:08:00.004-04:00

A certain family with four boys is going to break the Tooth Fairy if the boys keep losing teeth at the rate they have been.
These children seem to be on a roll, losing one tooth after another. A couple weeks ago, there were two teeth from two boys on the same night. There was another one Tuesday night. That's a lot of commerce and outlay for a fairy who doesn't seem altogether organized.
There was one night last year when the Tooth Fairy missed her transaction, presumably due to sleeping through the night. It's almost as if she took fairy ambien or something. Another time, I heard she showed up, but couldn't see anything because it was so dark in the bedroom, and I guess she couldn't see what money she was leaving under the pillow, so instead of two dollars, she left Wyatt two $10-dollar bills for his tooth.
That was exciting! For him.
Come to think of it, there doesn't seem to be great consistency regarding what the Tooth Fairy leaves for a tooth. Sometimes the boys will get a couple dollars, sometimes a fiver for a molar; there's no telling what to expect. Does she not carry cash?
I wouldn't be surprised if one time she left a check under the pillow.
It's not entirely her fault, I theorize, because these four boys play musical beds. They'll start out in a particular bed, and put the tooth under the pillow, but then sometime in the middle of the night, they move to another bed, and then the Tooth Fairy has trouble tracking the tooth. It's like a soft shell game played in the dark, and she needs a GPS tracker, or LoJack.
Her reliability may be questionable, but when she does fly through, she always leaves a trail of sparkly, fine pixie dust in her wake. Whichever boy loses a tooth, when he finally gets his money from her, also wakes up with sparkles in his hair and on his pillow. I think it falls off her wings, or is a sort of fairy contrail. The boys once expressed wonder at what she does with all those teeth, why she takes them.
They must mean something to her.

Full steam ahead

2009-04-24T14:34:00.007-04:00

How to make this long story short...
Well, starting at the sort-of beginning, I'll just give the background and say that we moved into this house the night before Christmas Eve, and it was four months after my mom had died unexpectedly. Cooper was, therefore, seven months old, and I was a virtual zombie. Depressed, totally overwhelmed, and having trouble getting out of bed let alone keeping up with cleaning the house. Alright, so you get the picture.
This went on for several more months, and then we got a pretty little flier in the mail that was nicely typed and laid out, bordered with colorful leaves, and advertising the help of a lady I'll call Julie, who offered cleaning and organizing solutions for people like me.
"Everybody Needs a Julie," it said.
Troy suggested that we give her a call, and I agreed. Reading the flier also revealed that Julie was religious and had done a little missionary work. Being a non-religious type, when I met her for the first time, I asked if "that" would be a problem for her. The fact that we had very different beliefs. I told her I was overwhelmed and that I just couldn't get my shit together since my mom died, and Julie looked at me blankly, like she didn't understand, and this was, of course, because she believed that my mom was in heaven & okay -- though her death had been the work of The Devil, because nobody should die at that age (63).
I won't get into the ensuing conversation, because that's a lot, but we ended up agreeing to give each other a try, and I actually liked the fact that Julie was so black and white about things. At least she and I knew where we were both coming from.
That was two years ago, and over time, I guess if you're reading this you have a general idea of what I've been doing. Julie and her partner (and I use that word ambiguously but again, that's another story for another time), Jennifer, helped me keep the house clean, they helped me go through my mom's house when it sold, and they helped me keep my head above water.
In the beginning, I was too numb to care when Julie talked to me about her beliefs and how I could maybe benefit from her knowledge of the Bible. I asked her sincere questions and thought about her answers. And then I started making sure I was out of the house when she and Jennifer came to clean, because they were getting on my nerves.
They objected to some of the stuff I had around the house, like this picture of a bunch of witches having tea. But they would never come right out and say that they objected to certain things, rather, they would hint around about how I might be letting in The Devil, and insinuate that the bastard might make things a little rough for me if I didn't shape up.

As much as I grew to dislike Julie and Jennifer, I still was reluctant to fire them because I really wanted someone to clean my floors. I know that's so lazy and shallow, but it's true. I'm not proud.
But like a bad relationship that is spiraling downward, the crack grew larger until the day when Julie called and told me she and Jennifer were dumping us in order to focus more on their ministering.
I knew she was lying.
It was really because I had gotten better and was not so seemingly pliable and agreeable. I wasn't giving her as much stuff, and I had cut her hours. It had been just a matter of time, really, and that was fine. I was actually relieved. I wished her well in her future endeavors ministering to the poor people of the International Shopping Plaza in Tampa, where she liked to ambush people and tell them they didn't need their Vicodin. When I hung up the phone and announced to Troy and the boys that we'd been dumped, they cheered, because they'd all grown to dislike Julie and Jennifer, too, for trying to pray over them if they had fevers and interrupting their xbox time with the vacuum.
My mixed emotions were all a-jumble because, as glad as I was that we had broken up, I was also a bit sad that it was time to move on, and go it alone. As annoying and manipulative as Julie could be, she had helped me through a very dark and hard time, and I really couldn't have done it without her --especially boxing up my mom's things.
When I let everything sink in, it wasn't long before I started to mentally freak about about how I was going to clean the house by myself, and I was also just slightly annoyed that Julie had broken up with me before I'd gotten to her first.

So that was three weeks ago, and we're doin' alright.
Yesterday I got a steam mop and this morning I used it for the first time with great success. Fueled by Cafe Bustelo, the little Cuban coffee that could launch a shuttle to the moon, I cranked up the soundtrack to "Mamma Mia!" and some Dandy Warhols, and I steamed. And it was good.

Checking out

2009-04-23T10:40:00.005-04:00

Here are some of the things I bought yesterday. I am trying lately to buy healthy stuff...but the boys love Kraft macaroni and cheese (they do have an organic version now, but sometimes I still get the original).
I don't care what Marcella Hazan says -- I love Barilla pasta, and the boys love these new miniature wheels and bowties.
Rhubarb -- I think I'll make the crumble I just saw on Tamra Davis' website.
I'm still addicted to San Pellegrino, and lately am into this Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay. I never used to drink much white wine, let alone Chardonnay, which for a while was over-oaked, but the California vintners corrected this a while ago and now it's a crisp & cool choice.
Not pictured: mahi-mahi, feta cheese, rice milk, chocolate milk, whole milk, Kozy Shack chocolate pudding, and Rachel Ray's "Nutrish" dog food.

Little moves

2009-04-22T13:26:00.006-04:00

Today is Earth Day, and I needed to go grocery shopping. It was one of those trips where we were out of EVERYTHING, and so I bought a lot of food. Now, I do have a few green bags, but of course have yet to truly organize myself to have them 1.) together; and 2.) in the car. Publix had these special Earth Day bags on promotion so that they cost $ .80 a bag. Eighty cents -- that's nothing! Since I'd been meaning to do this long ago, of course I bought some.
I was amazed and thrilled at the amount of stuff you can fit into the bags! Look at this!

Normally, this haul would take a ton of plastic bags and even the paper bags are not very strong (and whenever I ask for paper, the cashiers and baggers look at me like I'm a pain in the ass). These re-useable bags are super-strong and durable, and can be washed in cold water on the delicate cycle and air dried when necessary. Perfect. I just emptied them, folded them flat, and put them back into the car trunk.
I also bought some pretty Spring tulips, and the cashier gave me some special paper pads with wildflower seeds in them, for the boys to plant. Very nice!

"Vita Bella"

2009-04-17T10:03:00.016-04:00

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore."
-Dean Martin

Yesterday was our 15th wedding anniversary. Throughout the day, I spent some time thinking about our marriage and the time we've been together; how much has changed, what's remained the same, and about our actual wedding. It was neat to be able to know exactly what I was doing 15 years ago, because I remember it so clearly.
After consulting my gastronomical advisor, Mannix, about what to make for dinner, and getting lots of great advice, I went on to do absolutely nothing he told me to do. This kind of behavior, incidentally, is something Troy has tolerated with great patience over the years -- he claims that I will ask his opinion and then do the exact opposite, but of course that's not the case. All discussions leading up to my decisions are helpful & meaningful to me. The bottom line was that I wanted to make a nice meal to celebrate our anniversary, but didn't have a lot of time and did not have much energy to boot.
Of course I got Champagne. I also threw in a little root beer for the boys, since they were celebrating with us. That's something different; when we started out together, we had one cat.

When we were at the grocery store, the boys begged me to buy them TV dinners, and I caved. TV dinners always seem a little festive to me because of the colorful packaging and the fact that my sister and I rarely got to eat them when we were kids.
For Troy and myself, I grilled swordfish and asparagus, made a fresh herb salsa verde, and mushroom risotto. Really good.

One sweet surprise, was that I'd bought a bottle of Frog's Leap wine, which we served at our wedding, to have with dinner. Troy was thinking along the same lines, and came home bearing a bottle, too. Another nice thing was that our divergent musical paths crossed during dinner prep, when we decided on The Police as our evening's soundtrack. Hm..."Don't Stand So Close to Me," and "I Can't Stand Losing You." "Murder by Numbers."
We had a chocolate wedding cake, and I always get fanatical about homemade cakes on special occasions, but a valuable lesson Mannix has taught me is to never feel silly about buying one, either. That's good advice. So I got this Pepperidge Farms chocolate layer cake from the Frozen Foods section. Hey, it was pretty good! (I didn't make our wedding cake either, after all.)

Lucky and the other animals enjoyed the feast along with us.

Those vows were no joke -- our marriage really has been for better or worse, for richer or poorer, and in sickness and in health. The dress code last night was pretty relaxed, with the boys showing up in their underwear. I was once again inexplicably wearing white. Cheers!

Teddy Bear

2009-04-14T13:01:00.003-04:00

I never get tired of reading the boys the poems in "When We Were Very Young," by A.A. Milne, it's so wonderful.
Coming from a mother who loved bears (her name was Baerbel, and her sisters sometimes called her "Baerchen"), it so happened that I grew up with a number of bears my whole life. They reside with me still.
Now Cooper has a favorite bear of his own, who is very, very soft. His name is Beary. I'm not sure if it's Beary or Barry, or maybe Barrie, because Cooper doesn't spell, nor does he care (but I still wonder all the time). I often find Beary lounging around, and my understanding of his personality comes largely from the first section of Milne's poem "Teddy Bear."

A bear, however hard he tries,
Grows tubby without exercise.
Our Teddy Bear is short and fat
Which is not to be wondered at;
He gets what exercise he can
By falling off the ottoman,
But generally seems to lack
The energy to clamber back.

My love for him grows greater with each passing day.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T11:59:00.012-04:00

I just got done setting the table and the boys are in the pool burning off some of their Easter sugar, which was their breakfast.

I lit a candle for my Mom, thinking of her because today is/was her birthday, and I miss her, of course.

Also, I'm using her china, which is a beautiful basketweave pattern.

And a little dish with a painted picture of rosemary on it, I'm using to hold salt. "Rosemary for remembrance."

The boys and I colored eggs last night, which was really fun.

And here is an Easter card Harry made. I think it's adorable.

We'll be having ham, mushroom risotto, asparagus, and maple-roasted sweet potatoes, so I've got to get cracking, and will try to keep any sugary-teary breakdowns at bay with some Prosecco.
These coconut cupcakes are for dessert, later.

Here's to family & friends, near and far, at our table or in our hearts.

Daffodowndilly

2009-04-10T12:25:00.002-04:00

She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
"Winter is dead."

-A.A. Milne

Messy Sunday

2009-03-29T10:56:00.008-04:00

I've got mountains of laundry awaiting my attention, but for the time-being, I'm enjoying a rainy Sunday morning, and some of the messiness only seems like evidence of happiness.
Bed head...

Wet, muddy dogs...

Empty cappuccino bowl...

Along with a perfect spiced pumpkin bread...

...and a cuddly cat.

Slow speed

2009-03-25T10:51:00.000-04:00

Trying to be a locavore!

2009-03-24T10:06:00.002-04:00

For some time now I've been meaning to sign up for a local produce box, and reading Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle spurred me to seek out an organic source and get started.
This is my first pick-up, and I am really impressed with the quality.
The arugula has a fantastic flavor, and the basil is lush and green -- no black spots like you're sometimes stuck with when buying the plastic-wrapped herbs from the supermarket.
I also got radicchio, eggs, Boston lettuce, gorgeous fennel, Italian parsley, strawberries, and a giant onion.

All of this was presented in the cute basket for a grand total of $27, which seems like a great price to me. I think I would have paid a lot more at Whole Foods, and it would not have all been so fresh and locally grown. There's no need to compare it with the stuff from the supermarket b/c that shit's been travelling around the globe in dark boxes. So, I feel good about what I'm getting for the price I'm paying, while giving support to local farmers.

Foolish Charlotte

2009-03-23T10:19:00.007-04:00

Strawberries are in season here and we've been eating a ton of them. I finally found some rhubarb at the grocery store, and stewed it down with some sugar and then combined it with whipped cream, the berries, and some ladyfingers to make a combination fool/Charlotte. Very light and delicious!

I regret not getting the Charlotte pan I was contemplating when Julie and I shopped at E. Dehillerin a few years ago -- it would have been much more elegant than my aluminum foil contraption. But it works.

Oh, and I used Siesta Key rum hot off the still, mixed w/water, to dip the biscuits in before placing them into the mould.

Now that I've learned the formula, I find Charlottes so easy to make and they're very pretty. It's just a matter of assembling and then letting the form sit for an hour or more to allow all the components to meld together.

Try one!

The Birds

2009-03-11T00:00:00.008-04:00

One of my favorite places in Sarasota is Jungle Gardens. It's a laid-back, old-school FL attraction, with magnificent tropical birds and reptiles, primarily. Visitors are able to observe the creatures up close. The grounds are lush, dotted with ponds filled with turtles. Flamingos roam freely...which sort of freaks me out...

...but, still, I like this environment so much more than any slick park.
This is Roxanne the Macaw. She weighs about 5 lbs. Isn't she beautiful?

We have rum!

2009-03-06T16:51:00.008-05:00

The big cardboard container is filled with molasses.

Rum!

Today's the day!

2009-03-06T12:36:00.004-05:00

To make the rum!
Here's the pristine set-up, ready to go.

For the past few days, the molasses mixture has been fermenting, and today Troy will run the first distillation of white rum. Alex & Nick are here for support and to make sure everything works as it should.
We'll get to taste it tonight! I'm ready with my "[Fill in your city] Sunset" cocktail recipe.

2 drops of grenadine syrup in the bottom of an ice-filled glass
1 jigger white rum
splash of Amaretto
Top off with pineapple juice, don't stir.

A moment in time

2009-03-04T10:30:00.003-05:00

Yesterday there was the most striking sunset, it stopped me in my tracks. I stood outside for a while. You can see Venus in the sky.
It was so beautiful, but also sad because I knew that at sundown, the search for three poor young men lost in the Gulf would be called off by the Coast Guard. It never fails to amaze me how life can be simultaneously so awesome and tragic.

A Boundless Moment by Robert Frost
He halted in the wind, and--what was that
Far in the maples, pale, but not a ghost?
He stood there bringing March against his thought,
And yet too ready to believe the most.

'Oh, that's the Paradise-in-bloom,' I said;
And truly it was fair enough for flowers
had we but in us to assume in march
Such white luxuriance of May for ours.

We stood a moment so in a strange world,
Myself as one his own pretense deceives;
And then I said the truth (and we moved on).
A young beech clinging to its last year's leaves.

Our Favorite Books III - Nancy's Fancies

2009-03-01T14:51:00.006-05:00

Please forgive me for that header, cringe cringe, but I couldn't help myself, since I'd rhymed the previous "Our Favorite Books" lists.
My friend Nancy is a naturalized Texan-->Californian, which says a lot and represents many of the best traits a person can possess. She studied Faulkner and is a real live-wire, so much so, that I see she doesn't stop for caps and other superfluous punctuation that can slow down the reader -- just like our Texan favorite, Cormac McCarthy.
After recently finding myself up clenching my teeth reading "All the Pretty Horses," I fired off an email to Nancy to try to feel out whether or not the main character was doomed or not. She didn't get my hopes up nor spoil the ending for me, which was just right. She also occasionally reassures me that my son will grow up to be a civilized and contributing member of society.
Here then, are some of her favorite books, and I'd like to say thank you and wish her a very Happy Birthday today!
Or rather happybirthdaygirl!

"east of eden" is one of my favorites also - likewise "the grapes of wrath" - i like so many books, hard to choose - "lonesome dove", more recently "the kite runner" and "water for elephants", anything by annie proulx, "the historian" (so much so that i may reread it sometime soon, "seabiscuit", "flyboys", and "no country for old men".

add to list bel canto, poisonwood bible, perfume, and don't let's go to the dogs tonight - as for cormac, never hope for a happy ending - his most recent novel i couldn't even attempt to read, and i am a huge fan.

Who would argue?

2009-02-28T12:05:00.000-05:00

Big Bird

2009-02-27T09:03:00.007-05:00

A Grey Heron strolling around the neighborhood.

I am pretty sure he is saying, "Stay away from me." (We did.)

Quiet time

2009-02-23T15:48:00.004-05:00

“Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.” -Catherine Donzel

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T11:57:00.007-05:00

Wishing you love & happiness!

Friday Friday the 13th

2009-02-13T08:49:00.009-05:00

Scary!

"Winter" is over

2009-02-07T16:30:00.004-05:00

The cold spell is like a distant dream, and it's all over now.

Now we're getting lots of sunshine and fresh air.

(Friday spotted a pelican.)

Weather here

2009-02-04T09:19:00.005-05:00

While those of you in the North are making snowmen, and Australia is scorching, here in Florida we're somewhere in between. We've had a good amount of rain, it's windy, and cold enough for us to have to blanket some of the trees & shrubs.

Normally, we don't need a mudroom, but definitely could have used one this morning.

Silly me, I let him in.

Best in Category, "All-American"

2009-02-03T08:53:00.004-05:00

Griffin and I were watching the Eukanuba Dog Show this weekend and he got all excited and said, "We should enter Friday!"
I thought it was funny and cute, but it kind of makes me sad, too!!

Our Favorite Books II - Kate's greats

2009-02-01T11:09:00.001-05:00

My friend Kate is a super-reader, and she's very much like an English heroine from a favorite novel come to life. She likes to write; takes long walks along windswept landscapes; travels the world on adventures; and is surrounded by adorable animal characters, like "Uncle Bob" the Jack Russell, and "Chippy" the chipmunk. Add to this her dashing husband, and the fact that she is a teacher beloved by children, and, well, it almost seems as if I'm making her up!
Take a look at her beautiful photographs on her blog, It's the Norm, but first, check out her booklist.

Kate's Favorites
OK, here goes...
This has been quite a challenge! Rob and I discussed this late into the night, pondering how one could/should define the important books in one's life. I'm not sure that the list I have eventually settled on is an accurate representation of the books that I generally read, but after much deliberation I think that these are the books that have somehow changed me, be it in my outlook, my opinions or my lifestyle.

'The Twits' by Roald Dahl (illustrated by Quentin Blake)
I'm starting with a book that has been with me for the majority of my life. I must have read it first when I was about 7, and I am reading it at the moment to my current class of 6,7 and 8 year olds. There's something very special about watching the captivated faces and riotous laughter of small children and being able to recall feeling the exact same way about the exact same book 25 years earlier. Timeless comic genius from the Dahl/Blake partnership.

'I Capture the Castle' by Dodie Smith
I consider myself fortunate to come from a family of keen readers, and this is a book that I consider to be almost part of the family. It was a firm favourite of both my Grandmother and my Mother, and I remember the delight I felt when first reading it and realising that I loved it too; it seemed so right that I would. I was probably a similar age to Cassandra, the charming narrator, when I first read it, but I have read it again as an adult and been charmed anew. This book also spawned that rare thing, a film that lived up to the novel.

'Lady Chatterley's Lover' by DH Lawrence
As a teen I went through rather a Lawrence-phase, something I recall my English A-level teacher rolling his eyes over (rather rudely, I now think!), but this novel remained my favourite. I think it is probably a rather sweet way for a teenager to read about relationships and sex nowadays...

'Neither Here nor There' by Bill Bryson
Perhaps it's wrong that this is one of my choices from my University years... I mean, I studied English Literature and Classical Civilisation for heaven's sake! But this is one of the books which holds the strongest memories for me. I am naturally quite a 'home bird' but this book made me want to explore Europe and helped me to view the world with a certain sense of humour. Laugh out loud funny.

The Complete Short Fiction of Oscar Wilde
I wrote my University dissertation on this collection of Wilde's works. Many are little-known, overshadowed by his humorous plays, but these short stories move me every time I read them. Some are ostensibly for children, but are so multi-layered that they can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. I can never read The Selfish Giant without crying just a little at the ending. (Which baffles the children to whom I am reading! One day I hope they'll read it again and understand).

'How to Be a Domestic Goddess' by Nigella Lawson
I have been interested in food for as long as I can remember, but was a bit of a late-starter when it came to cooking. I spent many years feeding myself by cooking through instinct, and I remember when I first met my husband he was quite shocked that I rarely ever used a recipe. I love that I had that intuitive experience of cookery, but it was Nigella that opened my eyes to the joy of a good recipe, and a good recipe book. The rest, as they say, is history!

'Rough Music' by Patrick Gale
This was the first Gale novel that I ever read, and I have been trying - and failing - ever since to find one that lives up to it. I find it amazing that one man can write something that I find so sublime, and some things that I find so crassly awful. He is often labelled simply as a 'gay author', but this novel is such a beautiful weaving together of human relationships, gay and straight, and all set in a beautifully evoked English coastal setting.

'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' by Barbara Kingsolver
This book changed the way I think about food. I remember this book every time I step into a supermarket or a greengrocer, and I think about where that food has come from and what is in season. I don't follow these ideals slavishly, but I think it's important to be aware of it.

'The Post-Birthday World' by Lionel Shriver
Shriver is one of my favourite novelists, a fairly recent discovery for me. This is one of the most perfectly-crafted novels that I have ever read, and kept me pondering for weeks, months, afterwards on the far-reaching consequences of our actions. Brilliant.

That's nine. And I can't do a tenth. In the running were 'By the Shore' by Galaxy Craze, 'The Red Tent' by Anita Diamant, 'The Way I Found Her' by Rose Tremain, 'The Time Traveller's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger, 'An Equal Music' by Vikram Seth, 'The Odyssey' by Homer, 'The Nation's Favourite Poems' (a BBC publication). All special to me in one way or another, but I find myself utterly paralysed by the choice. But that's what I love about thinking about this kind of question - there's no 'right' answer, and I'm sure my answers will change as I discover more life-changing books!

Conversation at the lunch counter

2009-01-29T15:56:00.002-05:00

Lady Sitting Next to Me: Are you humming?

Me: [pausing, thinks] Yes, I guess I am. I'm sorry, is it bothering you?

Lady: Well, sort of.

Me: Oh, sorry. I do that lately, I don't really know why.

Lady: Probably Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Me: Yeah, probably.

Our Favorite Books I ~ Ben 10

2009-01-26T10:29:00.005-05:00

Last week, I read an interview with the writer Larry McMurtry, author of 29 novels, including the awesome 19th Century Western, Lonesome Dove (for which he won the Pulitzer prize). McMurtry, who owns a large bookstore in Texas, stated that he doesn't see a great generation of readers coming in nor coming up. He is, therefore, pessimistic about the future of our society's book culture.
His observations really bothered me, and I contemplated the interview all evening. I'm afraid he might be right.
The next day, I felt compelled to start asking my friends about their favorite books, and I wanted to share them here as inspiration. These are the people who (as much as they may love their iPhones and MP3s) are never without a book in hand, and with whom I love to discuss: "What are you reading?" The subject borders on the obsessive for me. I love to surf amazon, browse bookstores, and spy on fellow customers. I love looking at people's bookshelves, for the unspoken insights provided. When I first met Troy, I was impressed to find a worn copy of Les Miserables in his possession (especially as I'd only managed to see the musical) and discover that he was an ardent fan of Victor Hugo. Long live romantic heroism!
In an attempt at literary scattershot, prompted by Mr. McMurtry, and with hope for the future of book culture, I thought it a good idea to present book lists from the avid readers in my life. If you'd like to share your favorites, please email me!
We begin with the selections of my friend Ben, the creative genius behind The Love Bite. While he has traveled the world and lived far and away (now in Los Angeles), Benedict Mannix Johnson is an Australian through and through. As funny and wise as he is talented, he never ceases to make me laugh...or cry.

Ben's Favorites
I sat next to a pickled old journalist at a dinner once. Upon hearing that I was in retail, he more or less wrote me off. About halfway through the meal, he looked over, sneered, and asked, "Do you read?"
I replied that I could in fact read, the consequence of having a mother who had an artificial leg. She had been told by the nuns at school: "Read; it will take you places that your leg can't."
She passed this onto her four kids.
The pickled old bloke looked surprised, and then asked, "What are the 10 books that have changed your life? Not just the ones you like, but the ones that shifted your outlook or perspective."

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Because Atticus Finch is the perfect role model, and because, in moments of conflict, it helps to 'walk a mile in someone's shoes.'

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
I picked this book up half a dozen times and put it back down. I could never connect with it. The journalist brought this book up in his list and the next day he gave me his copy, notes in margins and all, and I read it straight through and to this day I get tears in my eyes just reading the last page.

When We Were Very Young / Now We are Six by A.A. Milne
To be introduced to poetry as a child is a gift. to learn the rhythm, humour, and pattern of your language is like being taught to dance; it makes you nimble and graceful and a much better listener.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
I had to put this book down 3, 4 times. It took me a year to read it. His writing is too brutal, but punctuated with moments of sheer beauty. There are passages that I would read. Stop. Read again and sigh. And in the end, I was overwhelmed by the sheer force of justice in it.

The Poems of Alfred, Lord Tennyson
In particular, "The Lotus Eaters" ('There is sweet music here which softer falls...'). I try to imagine this place when I need a refuge.

The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea by Randolph Stow
This is the first Australian writer that I loved reading and his story is so set in its place that it made me consider "how can anyone who wasn't born here appreciate this?" It's like looking at a snapshot and not being able to see what must continue beyond the four sides of the image. This changed the way that I read, or at least how I try and imagine the world beyond the page.

The Maffra Cookbook
This is the first cookbook that I ever read. It is the go-to book for any cook in my family. This is where I learnt that words could create food. And food has always been a motive for me!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Can there be a better instructor in the art of creative mischief?

The Odyssey by Homer
This book inspired me all the way through to an Arts Degree in Classical Studies.

The Pumpkin Eater by Penelope Mortimer
There is just something about this book, and by those other British women writers of this era. You read the books in a grainy black and white David Bailey vision. L. Reid Banks, Edna O'Brien. Their characters are trying so hard to find shape, form, permission and direction. That resonates beyond gender or generation.

Friday Friday

2009-01-23T11:18:00.001-05:00

It's been a cold week. Good for snuggling with your favorite people and animals.

Valentine's Day is the new Christmas

2009-01-18T16:58:00.025-05:00

Christmas was sort of a blur this year. Maybe because Thanksgiving was late, maybe because I was preoccupied, but I enter January feeling as if I've been steamrolled and left with amnesia.
Valentine's Day is coming up, and I think it's the perfect holiday to get into.

Venus & Cupid, Lorenzo Lotto

There's enough cushion-space that it's not going to take me by surprise -- I recognize that it is 26 days away, which is half the battle of any event. There's no religion involved, no real pressure to decorate or gift a thousand fringe people like the UPS driver (who, in my case, is so efficiently speedy I still have his Christmas card sitting by the door).
While it's true that some people will lament the lack of a lover, I maintain that we all have someone to love. I appreciate a holiday, symbolized by the heart, that exists solely to encourage the expression of love; the eating of chocolate; and the wearing of red, which happens to be my favorite color.

My mom had a dear friend with whom she exchanged valentines every year, and I have taken over the tradition with her. She's a great fan of all things vintage, so I'm looking for the perfect valentine to send her.
My other VD plans include making red velvet cupcakes, and participating in a romantic novel chain with some friends -- I can't wait to find out who "my person" is.
I'm eyeing this Blondie album for a certain special someone...

...and this book on all things Italian for someone else (me, ha).

But like JLo says, my love don't cost a thing, so while a small token of affection is lovely, the gift of love is priceless & perfect, and my Cupid's bow will be taking aim.
If you remain unconvinced, or are tempted to utter a pessimistic grumbling about a commercial/Hallmark holiday, your assignment is to go watch one or all of these films, stat, with a bowl of M&Ms nearby.

"Houseboat" with Cary Grant & Sophia Loren.

Cappuccino art XI

2009-01-13T08:04:00.003-05:00

Great White Heron

Action!

2009-01-05T13:50:00.009-05:00

Santa gave Wyatt a Flip camcorder for Christmas, and it's turned out to be one of the best gifts ever. The Flip is digital, simple, and straightforward, and it costs less than a Nintendo DS, which is what Wyatt was really lobbying for, but leaves certain parents feeling like they've just plugged their kid into The Matrix. Tempting, but hard to do w/a clear conscience.
Watching the boys make movies is endlessly entertaining to me on several levels. The recurring themes are SWAT, alien/monster attacks, mysterious disappearances, and government conspiracies. Lots of guns and some choreographed fight scenes.
As writer/director/actor, Wyatt has been given a natural focus for his inherent bossiness. At first, I thought Griffin would be the DeNiro to Wyatt's Scorsese, but I'm starting to see a little more Herzog-Kinski volatility between them.
The whole house is a giant set, and we've got lots of wardrobe, & even an animal wrangler (me).
Speaking of The Matrix...

A break in the action.

With a name like Harry and that navy blazer, I'm guessing he's producing this one.

F/X...

The Werewolf awaits his cue...

"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

The charlotte finally graces our table

2009-01-01T10:32:00.005-05:00

When I was in Montreal, Rachel tutored me in how to make a charlotte, and I was supposed to make this a month or so ago to prove I'd been paying attention. Finally, I got it done, and we ate it after fondue last night.

Rachel's recipe is from her friend's mother and is vrai French. There is no gelatin used, like in most of the recipes in our Madame Charlotte cookbook, and yet it sets up beautifully simply from chilling for a few hours.
The ladyfingers were soaked in a mixture of rum & water, and then the filling is a chocolate mousse made w/over 200 g. of bittersweet chocolate and four separated eggs -- whites whipped. It was very delicious and intensely chocolatey!
I think my teacher will be quite proud.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T11:07:00.003-05:00

"If every time it came to the New Year, you had to change everything, like buy new dogs, buy new cats, buy new clothes, buy new everything, that would be very annoying. I would hate to change everything, I like things this way, we have some very rare stuff."-Griffin

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T09:24:00.006-05:00

Christmas Eve is here, and it's getting very festive at our house!

Yesterday I was in the kitchen w/a million eggs. Bûche de Fug...

Pav...

Now I'm off to the market to get everything for our supper.
Love to my friends around the world, and sleep well tonight, knowing the world is being protected from aliens by this band of brothers.

Merry Christmas!

So happy!

2008-12-21T19:10:00.009-05:00

Just looking at these pictures calms me down.

Lucky loves so much to swim and romp around on the beach. Troy took him for a boat ride and then they combed the little island in the bay. I should have gone! But I was at home stressing about stupid stuff -- such a waste of time!
Lucky came home so content, and when I saw these pictures, I realized I'd made the wrong choice today (and so many days!). When will I learn?
It makes me happy to see my beautiful, loving dog -- who does nothing but give me happiness -- so happy!
Pure pleasure.

Haute water

2008-12-17T08:15:00.002-05:00

The repair of our fridge coincided with the discovery of this beautiful Christian Lacroix-designed Evian bottle at Target.

Isn't it pretty? And so cold & delicious.
I remain committed to San Pellegrino (bit of an addict), but do have a weak spot for French luxury goods.

Friday Friday

2008-12-12T08:27:00.003-05:00

The nutcracker.

Here's Friday frozen in an "Uh-oh" moment (that's similar to an Oprah "Ah-ha" moment) after frolicking with a hazelnut from the holiday nut bowl. He's not really sure about its legitimacy as a chew toy -- is he going to get a lecture?
Nah.
What he should be pondering is whether or not it's a great idea to wake me up at 3:16 a.m. to go outside on a Sniffabout.

Distillery update

2008-12-11T09:00:00.005-05:00

Troy & his Dad have been working like madmen this month! Here's Jim working on the platform & stairs that they're building behind the tanks.

Lucky & Grif guarding the lumber.

Yesterday, Troy had his final interview w/the Feds in the process of being granted a license. If all goes well, we may have rum by January.

My hero!!

2008-12-10T18:44:00.002-05:00

The fridge is fixed!!!!
I am SO happy.

Bad haircuts

2008-12-09T23:36:00.002-05:00

Poor Bert & Ernie!
They got haircuts this morning. Bad haircuts.
Look at Bert's face: slightly traumatized. I think we've all been there.
The sad part is, I couldn't say, "Don't worry! It'll grow back!"
Ernie looks like the Marc Jacobs of Sesame Street.

Here we go!

2008-12-08T20:49:00.013-05:00

Packages are arriving and departing. Bubble wrap turns out to be one of those very simple pleasures we've been discussing. I should just fill everyone's stocking with reams of it!

Baking biscotti.

Pretty plants & shiny ornaments.

Lights shimmering & reflecting.

Palms bedecked.

The nutcracker.

Arches strewn with lights.

Books we're putting on hold until after the 25th.

It's getting exciting!

Lucky says

2008-12-07T16:52:00.001-05:00

What's with all the Friday bullshit?

Day 18, no fridge

2008-12-06T10:03:00.007-05:00

Continuing on the theme of a simple life, we're now on the 18th day of having no refrigerator. I'm not handling it as well as Ma Ingalls would.

Troy has taken it upon himself to order the Mother Board, which cost $100 -- not $700 as the Scary Repairman reported when he advised me to authorize his $1,000 repair job. Scary Repairman was the second "professional" to check out the fridge. I was just glad when he left that he didn't kill me and hide my body in the empty side-by-side.
The first repairman, Sheldon, seemed definitely more trustworthy, but he was just in way over his head. He looked at the compressor for an hour and just kept shaking his head. Towards the end of his visit, he asked Troy if we were church-goers. At the time, I couldn't figure out what he was getting at -- was he wondering why we have so many kids? Now I'm starting to think it was his subtle way of suggesting that we pray for a miracle.
The third repairman arrived when I was just pulling out of the driveway. Troy was home, and when I saw that repairman's truck pull up, I burned rubber down the road because I couldn't handle being involved in another clusterfuck. When I returned, he was gone and Troy said that I hadn't missed anything; #3 was clueless, too.
I know it's probably hard to muster sympathy, b/c you're probably thinking: why don't you just go buy a new refrigerator?
But you see, the one we have is built in, and so it's a strange size, and it's significantly cheaper to fix it rather than replace it. I'm constantly trying to pare down, and can't bring myself to buy a second refrigerator (assuming this main one can be saved).
So every day, we buy a bag of ice for $1.79 and I've pretty much thrown out all the condiments, as time has ticked by, save for the Tabasco sauce. Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. I buy frozen items that the boys like in small packages (like blueberries) so they can eat them right away. No storing!

Troy confessed the other night that he kind of likes the simplicity of living out of the cooler. Any charm has worn off for me. Tonight we're going to a party and I know there's going to be some good food passed around, like crabcakes, but I am most excited about the prospect of drinking a cold drink with fresh ice cubes that don't come out of a dubious plastic bag. I just want to shovel clean ice down my gullet. (You know how we Americans are about our icy cold drinks -- if I'm going to quaff a room-temperature beverage, I want it to be because I'm sitting on a tuffet in Morocco.)
The mother board is supposed to arrive Wednesday, and the hope is that it is the one & only board that needs replacing, not it + any of the other four boards in the compressor.

Friday Friday Pt. II

2008-12-05T14:31:00.005-05:00

After experiencing my shopping paralysis, I was telling my friend that I wish we could just give everyone we liked a pretty pencil. And a book & an orange. Just a nice way to to say, "Merry Christmas."
When my Mom was a little girl, one Christmas, during WWII, all she and her three sisters got was an orange each!
I love reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's, "Christmas in the Big Woods," to my boys, b/c everything is so beautiful and simple. For Christmas, the girls get red mittens & peppermint sticks -- and Laura gets a doll. And they're all so happy!

Friday thinks pencils are fun & tasty.

Friday Friday

2008-12-05T08:25:00.005-05:00

Friday and I are overwhelmed by Christmas shopping. Last night I got stuck in a loop online, and somehow ended up going through a string of preppy blogs, where lots of things are monogrammed...and clipboards seem to be popular. What do they do with those clipboards? Make lists? I need to get organized!
I don't know why this vid comes up black, but press play for commentary.

Cardmember since last week

2008-12-02T20:06:00.008-05:00

Today, I took the boys out to lunch and to see Santa. We went to the Nordstrom cafe -- where nothing bad can ever happen! -- and had a very pleasant meal together. Everyone ate their food, nobody spazzed out, and it was all good. Well, I did have to threaten them through clenched teeth several times to "stop it!" And I ordered a Chardonnay alongside my peach iced tea. But other than that, everything went smoothly.
At Nordstrom cafes, you order at the outset and pay, then you're seated, and at the end of the meal, your server, with whom you have minimal contact, gives you a copy of the bill as a friendly little reminder, and you leave a tip.
I only had three dollars on me, but I knew that my 5-year-old had a pocket full of dollar bills, so I asked him if I could have two. He said no.
So I asked again.
He said no.
So I pleaded, and promised that I'd pay him back when we got home. "Just two dollars!" I whined.
I could've gotten a billion-dollar bail-out easier from some people. We stared each other down, me furrowing my brow.
In a sort of exasperated manner, he reached into his trouser pocket and said, "Hang on, let me get my credit card."
He had one of those fake American Express cards that they send you when they solicit your business in the mail! And it was platinum. I wonder if he can get us fake concert tickets to a fake Streisand show.

Just to clarify: the goal of the day was to shop for Christmas presents, so his money was from his birthday stash -- all $1 dollar bills + the AmEx Platinum. Yet the boys deemed Nordstrom and the entire International Plaza, save for RadioShack, unsuitable and boring. "There's only clothes here. Aren't we going to Target?"

Pre-Thanksgiving preparations

2008-11-26T12:06:00.016-05:00

Our refrigerator died on Saturday, and no one knows how to fix it, so for the past few days, we've been living out of coolers on the veranda, and that doesn't look likely to change anytime soon. The ever-vigilant Friday has been on duty, and woke me up several times last night, beginning at 2:45.

There's no chance any critters will get near our coolers with Friday on patrol. But it means I didn't get much quality sleep, either.
Knowing that I was going to be challenged this Thanksgiving, I decided to make life easier on myself and order our Thanksgiving pies from Yoder's, which is a restaurant run by Mennonites. The Mennonites make awesome pies. I have always made my own pies, and am very picky, but Yoder's pies are so delicious, I feel fine about relying on them.
Today is pie pick-up day, and Yoder's is a madhouse all day long, so Wyatt & I decided that our strategy would be to hit the ground early and arrive when the restaurant opened at 8:00 a.m. Having made numerous trips outside w/Friday, I woke up late, so of course needed a good cappuccino before leaving, and Wyatt needed breakfast.
And then I noticed I needed to fill up the car -- 8:18 running late!

Once we arrived at Yoder's, we saw that everything was under control. There were three pick-up windows open -- one for cash-only.

The girls were so sweet & friendly, and organized.

We had a laugh at the massive amounts of whipped cream they go through! The women have been baking for days, obviously.

Check out that mixing bowl!

We then made our way over to Fresh Market to get everything for tommorrow's feast. Wyatt & I loved the little cranberry bog.

Lots of gorgeous displays.

Pretty glacé fruit...but we'll save that for Christmas.

Since I had to hold off until today to buy my turkey, I ended up w/a massive 19-pounder, the "smallest" one they had left. Oh well. I'll give some to the guard dog, maybe the tryptophan will kick in and he'll conk out and let me get some sleep over the next few days.

I'm excited about Thanksgiving, I think it'll be really nice. If you're celebrating, I wish you & your family & friends a very Happy Day!

Gingerbread boys & Labradors

2008-11-15T17:04:00.017-05:00

We've lived in this house almost three years, and I should probably be embarrassed that I'm still unpacking boxes, but...what can I say? I'm slow. The other day I found a box that contained my cookie cutters, and was thrilled. Good timing!
I actually don't really like baking, and am not very good at it, but I woke up determined to make gingerbread boys for the boys -- they love them.
I used the recipe from the Martha Stewart's Cookies book, which is really fantastic, and would make a great gift for people who...like to bake cookies. Wyatt gave it to me for Mother's Day, as a present/hint.
We usually have a stern rule about not playing Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving, but have bagged it this year (something I'll probably be regretting by December 5th), and listened to it for hours. I would like to note that this is the first year since my Mom died that I can listen to songs from Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong" cd and not want to jump off a cliff.

Cut-out cookies are the most laborious, aren't they? Maybe my "baking problem" stems from my impatience. I dropped an entire baked tray during a poorly executed transfer from counter to counter. Merde!
I made gingerbread boys, Labradors, stars, and one gingerbread woman (the queen). It looks like some of the "boys" morphed into gingerbread aliens.

Alas, I had no Mutt cutter to make a "Friday." Look at his intense expression! "Drop it! Drop it!" And Lucky is so polite.

The smell of gingerbread cookies baking was sublime, and after eating a couple cookies each, the boys ran off. All except for Cooper, who sat next to me in a chair, and fell asleep while I was reading and waiting for the oven timer to ding. Then it started to rain outside, and it was just a perfect moment in time -- and I was sooo appreciative.

For Pistachio

2008-11-13T19:15:00.004-05:00

A rose that likes the sun.

Today I found this hybrid tea rose to plant in my garden in memory of Pi.

All around the world, she is thought of and missed, and will be remembered.

A Charleston ghost story

2008-10-29T15:20:00.029-04:00

"All Southern tales are like intricate recipes -- part myth, part truth, and part lies."-Michael Lee West

This is a Lettered Olive (Oliva Sayana), a symbol and the official shell of the state of South Carolina. Prolific along the South Carolina coast, it was found and named in 1834 by Dr. Edmund Ravenel, who was an early pioneer in conchology. The "lettered" part of the name stems from the appearance of fine markings, resembling hieroglyphics, on the shell's surface.
Ravenel is a prominent family name in Charleston, and the doctor had a house and small practice out on Sullivan's Island, a tiny barrier island at the mouth of Charleston Harbor.

Legend has it that Dr. Ravenel's young daughter, Anna, met a U.S. army soldier named Edgar Perry, who was stationed out at Ft. Moultrie on the island, and the two fell in love.
Perry, who was born in Boston, had enlisted under a false name due to his young age, a common practice amongst young men throughout history.
While Perry progressed rapidly through the ranks, advancing from private to sergeant major, his position as a soldier -- and a Yankee -- deemed him an entirely unacceptable as a suitor for Anna. Dr. Ravenel forbid his daughter to see Perry, but she ignored her father's orders and continued to spend time with the Perry.
The discovery of the couple's ongoing relationship incensed Dr. Ravenel, who reacted by secreting Anna away, some say locking her in her room for an extended period.

Perry, who had achieved the highest rank possible for a non-commissioned officer, sought an early end to his enlistment, and in doing so, confessed his real name to his commanding officer. His true name was Edgar Allen Poe.
Poe was discharged from service, and returned to his family up North, while the forlorn Anna, still sequestered, weakened, contracted yellow fever and died. When Poe heard the tragic news about Anna, he immediately travelled back down to Charleston, hoping to pay respects to the girl he had loved, but a bitter Dr. Ravenel refused him the opportunity, vowing that there would never be a grave for Poe to visit.

The Ravenels have a family plot in the cemetery of the Charleston Unitarian Church, and were said to have buried Anna there in an unmarked grave as a final familial rebuke of Poe. Although they always denied this act, they never would reveal where Anna was buried, and to this day she is renown as one of the famous ghosts of Charleston, who occasionally haunts the churchyard.

Poe would go on to become much more famous than any Ravenel, and in 1843 published a short story called, "The Gold Bug," a tale involving code deciphering and buried treasure, set on Sullivan's Island. One of his final pieces of writing, before his death at the age of 40, was the sad poem about -- possibly -- Anna Ravenel, titled, "Annabel Lee."

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love -
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulcher
In this kingdom by the sea.
The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me
Yes! that was the reason
(as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.
But our love was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we
Of many far wiser than we
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,
In the sepulcher there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Road trip

2008-10-25T10:49:00.023-04:00

Right before we left on our road trip to Charleston, we made the mistake of watching, "Deliverance." Wow. I'd never seen the film before, and it was pretty disturbing. Needless to say, my enthusiasm about stopping off at little roadside places along our route was slightly dampened.
We drove through some of Florida's horse country, which consists of lots of land, and tiny towns that generate a lot of revenue through speed traps. Along the way, we spotted some firsts, like these purple peppers...

...and a school bus with monster tires...

The following place was not a "first," but rather a scary sight that we've all seen somewhere else before: a little motel with an owner who happens to be interested in taxidermy.

Shower anyone?

"Visit our FREE museum!" Um, no thanks.

Then, as if that weren't frightening enough...we came upon this little church. The Deliverance Tabernacle.

A little free p.r. advice: change your name!!

I was happy when we started seeing signs of the changing landscape, getting into the low country.

And very pleased to see the civilized entrance to the state of South Carolina. There are stiff penalties for littering here, so the roadsides are pristine.

I really started to relax when I spotted Big Mama, as we were entering Charleston.

Whew, we made it!

Ahh, winding down with a cold drink and a game of chess in our bastion of overpriced civilization; I'll take it!

Cappuccino & water

2008-10-08T14:41:00.013-04:00

I like how cops who are part of K-9 units always refer to their dogs as their "partner," because it shows the respect within their relationship.
Lucky is often my partner on outings -- he loves riding shotgun. Look at that smile.

Catching the breeze. Lots of good stuff to sniff.

We recently enjoyed a visit to our favorite cafe, for cappuccino and water. Lucky likes this place b/c he's always welcome, and sometimes he gets a plate of ham! Sarasota is a pretty dog-friendly town.

The boys and I met up with our friend, Ms. Barbara, or, as I like to call her, "Ms. Bahbwa." She is my son's former speech therapist, and, I guess ever since he graduated, we have developed this twisted sense of humor wherein we think it's funny to mispronounce words. I know it's terrible, but we do things like tell Cooper that we're going to "cwy" if he doesn't give us a kiss.
Here she is arriving, with her Obama hat in hand. She's fired up.

I think we all appreciate days like this!

Friday Friday

2008-10-03T08:44:00.003-04:00

"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you're my only hope."

J'adore Tim Gunn

2008-10-01T15:21:00.011-04:00

I just finished reading Tim Gunn's wonderful book, A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style, which I really enjoyed.
I'm not a big watcher of "Project Runway," but do think the charming and dashing Mr. Gunn is the highlight of that show. His book is an interesting & fun read, with gems of advice that had me chuckling throughout.

One of the features he includes in his book is a list of "films of style." Gunn recommends the following films not "solely for their wardrobes -- even though many of them are exemplary." A great list, very much appreciated, and definitely worth sharing:

Blow-Up
Doctor Zhivago
The Women
Auntie Mame
Dark Victory
Persona
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
The Palm Beach Story
The Fountainhead
Funny Face
Dinner at Eight
The Philadelphia Story
All About Eve
Austin Powers
Sleeper
L'Avventura
Valley of the Dolls
The Devil Wears Prada
Infamous
Metropolitan
The Draughtsman's Contract
The Go-Between
Prospero's Books
Grey Gardens
Mildren Pierce
Last Year at Marienbad
Masculin Feminin
Funny Girl
Shampoo
Desk Set
A Place in the Sun
Cleopatra

Some of these, like "Auntie Mame" are all-time favorites of mine, and others -- I've never even heard of, so I'm thrilled. I hope you find something you like on this list, too.

Madame Charlotte!

2008-09-27T15:46:00.007-04:00

Among the divine desserts ("puddings?") Rachel made during our visit, was a charlotte. A chocolate-raspberry charlotte.
It was so delicious!
I've been meaning to learn how to make one of these for some time, and have procrastinated, so it was great to see Rachel demonstrate how it's done. Like having a front seat at a cooking show.
The recipe comes from Rachel's friend's mother (who is French, so I consider this methode authoritative), and calls for soaking the Ladyfingers in rum & water. With no rum on hand (can you imagine?), we used brandy instead. The charlotte mould is lined with the biscuits, and then filled with a chocolate mousse. Some fresh raspberries were also sunk into the mix.

So pretty! It tasted as good as it looks!

Cooper loved it so much, he was giddy. Or tipsy from the brandy. Or hyper from the chocolate.

Whatever the case, he would've married Rachel if she weren't already taken.
I've been given the assignment, by my instructor, to make a charlotte within one month. I'm looking forward to it!

These shoes rule. These shoes suck.

2008-09-26T08:14:00.022-04:00

Cooper and I got back from Montreal Sunday night. We had a great time, and received royal treatment from our friends.
Travelling w/Cooper proved to be slightly less civilized, at times, than travelling with his older brothers, but he was well-behaved most of the time.

A Canadian Customs official lectured me about travelling alone with my son without a note of permission from his father. I've never run into this before, and was shocked! First of all, if I were going to kidnap one of my sons, it probably wouldn't be the three-year-old. I mean, he's still in diapers, and is susceptible to meltdowns. Secondly, I wouldn't hide out in Canada; way too cold.
After admonishing me for my carelessness, the woman asked me what I did for a living, and who paid for my trip. She asked where "the father" was, and if we could reach him. I told her she could call him if she wanted, and stood there wondering why nobody had alerted me to the need to bring a permission slip. I was also glad I didn't have any heroin in my pants. I wondered if I was going to be escorted to a room for questioning, but apparently, I just needed to stand there and be good & quiet while the woman asked me personal questions. Then she let me into her country.
It's good that people are on the look-out for illegal activity, but I think that if the concern over kidnappings, parental and otherwise, has reached this point, then perhaps governments should lay down a law and inform people about what legal documents they might need. Otherwise it feels a little like random harassment. Or at least it did to me, because of her tone.
On Wednesday, I went to this new chiropractor who was recommended to me. This is the second time I've seen her, and the last, because I've decided I can't stand her. She is one of those seemingly conceited-yet-insecure types, who asks all these questions about your life and then compares her life to your life, like it's a competition.
I had wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but now the jury is in, and she's way too annoying. This week, she asked me if I worked, and then went off on a tangent about how, being a mom is such hard work...but unlike her, I don't get paid and I can't leave my job at 5:00 and just be free! Gawd. I've heard all this before. It's like she's waiting for me to say, "Oh yeah, it really sucks -- but your life sounds so great!" so that she can feel better about herself. At first, I didn't say anything, because -- really, where do you begin? But then she announced, "It's really a thankless job!"
Eh?!
I said, "Uh, no, not really!" and went on to say that there are a lot of choices in life, and that there are pros and cons to every scenario, and that it always comes down to priorities. She doesn't have kids, and I don't even know (or care) if she wants kids, but I guess she'll have a huge learning curve if she ever becomes a mother, if she wants to be any good at it. Being smug and judgmental never benefits anyone.
Questions about your lifestyle never end. It's always something. I don't mind the questions so much as the feeling I get when they're asked by people who have their claws out and are ready to pounce on me.
One of the things I consistently tell my children is that they can do anything they want in life. They can be anything, and do anything they dream of. Or at least try. And whatever kind of life they build for themselves, I'll be really proud of them, because they're good people. They're smart, kind, funny, and unique -- these are the things that matter, and most importantly, that they're happy!
Last night, we went to see comedians Margaret Cho and Liam Sullivan, who were both hilarious. Margaret Cho is so cool & funny & sweet; she had a lot to say about women and men, sex, differences, and self-acceptance.
Liam Sullivan had everyone in the audience howling as he performed as "aunt Susan," the lesbian musician, and also as the awesome "teenager" Kelly, whom I adore. She sang her "Shoes" song, which is about more than shoes.
Poor Kelly is often surrounded by idiots...people slagging her. I can relate.

Before the show, "the father" of my children and I went out for tapas and sangria. We had a really nice time,

and I was happy with the choices I made.

Dolphins before coffee!

2008-09-18T00:28:00.006-04:00

This morning, Wyatt & I were out w/the dogs, and dolphins came by! There were three of them that we could see. What a thrill!

It's hard to capture the excitement in a picture, but it was a wonderful sight.

The Fine Art of Travel

2008-09-18T00:21:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow, Cooper & I are off to Montreal. We're both very excited. He's psyched about the plane ride (I, on the other hand, will take Ativan), and we both are excited to see our friends and the beautiful city of Montreal -- which everyone tells us we'll love.
Bad news: our hotel staff is on strike. So, according to my email advisory, there will be "No restaurant or bar service, and limited housekeeping."
Yeah, yeah, The Chambermaid can make her own bed, that's no concern. I am, however, spooked about the prospect of a sort of Anderson Cooper-in-Beirut scenario -- or worse -- "The Shining" with ghost twins in the hallway.
One thing is for sure: there will be no club sandwiches, damn it.
The last several trips I've taken have required suitcase check-in, but this trip is up for carry on -- of which I am a BIG fan. I like to breeze through.
Therefore, I have gone to great pains to check the size of my duffle bag, as well as the parameters of my airline's carry-on luggage. The federal security guidelines, however, present a bit of a freak-out fest for me.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), there are a lot of guidelines for those wishing to carry on their baggage.
First of all, there's the 3-1-1 rule. You can take THREE ounces of liquids & gels -- no more! -- and you get ONE quart-size zip-lock bag. Period. So, I need to get mini versions of saline solution, etc., and I guess I will ditch my liquid foundation and any perfume bottles for "sample" or "travel" sizes.
I was not shocked to read that I cannot take boxcutters or sabers in my carry-on bag. Nor are guns, liquid bleach, or dynamite acceptable. One cannot take swords -- antique, gift, or otherwise, or sabers. Nor are Chinese throwing stars (a.k.a. Ninja stars), or nunchucks allowed.

Ice picks, hockey sticks, spear guns, and meat cleavers are also prohibited.
I am most curious to see what the security personnel say about the cookie cutter I will be packing. I guess travel is still an adventure, even if certain aspects have become monotonous and bizarre.

License to ill

2008-09-15T12:07:00.009-04:00

Driving alone today, I had the windows down and was listening to one of my son's playlists, when the Beastie Boys came on. "No Sleep till Brooklyn"! When I hear that song, which must be played loud, I'm mentally transported back to my teens, to a time when my sister and I were into driving and blasting music. We were carefree.

Whenever we went to visit our cousins, who lived on the other side of the state, it was our tradition, on the last leg of the journey, to crank up "No Sleep till Brooklyn," and fire up. It was funny, and it was fun!
Someone once advised me that, as an adult, you should never forget what it's like to be a teenager -- it's good for your creativity. Stay up too late, she urged. Play your music too loud. Carpe diem!
Kindergartners are always getting credit for teaching us "everything we ever needed to know" in life, while the oft-maligned teens are blacklisted as annoying and troublesome.
But what about their good points?
They care about their friends, they have intense feelings, they're fashionable, and most of them don't think too far into the future. Also, they don't drone on about golf.
I like the age I'm at now, and probably the only teen attribute I have these days is that I'm easily irritated, but I remember my teen days pretty well, and think that there's a pretty good point to the inherent self-absorption. Some adults...grown-ups, if you will...get a little too wrapped up in what it is they think they're supposed to be. I don't think it makes anyone happy. There's a certain balance to be found, with responsibility on the other end of the teeter-totter.
So, remember that: crank it up, but get to work on time.
The key teen goal I re-aspire to -- and I hope it happens soon -- is to be able to sleep in until noon.
Or Brooklyn.

Mail from "The Girl"

2008-09-10T13:06:00.004-04:00

Cooper received a postcard yesterday from Sacha, whom he calls "The Girl" (such a rarity in his life!). He was so happy and excited to get his very own mail, and to see a picture of beautiful Montreal.

The two of us will be travelling there next week, and we're looking forward to a fun adventure!

Lisa Lisa

2008-09-08T10:26:00.007-04:00

My friend Sarah mentioned that when she thinks of pearls, she thinks of Lisa...Simpson.
Of course!
Lisa always wears her sizeable pearl choker.

When I Simpsonized myself last year during a Burger King promo, I chose pearls, too.

Pearls steal the spotlight

2008-09-04T10:21:00.018-04:00

As a pearl aficionado, I've been thrilled to spot my favorite gem appearing in a major way on some of the most influential women in the U.S., from fashion and popular culture to politics.
Stylist Patricia Field chose a classic beauty for Carrie Bradshaw to wear as her signature staple in the Sex and the City movie: an opera-length Mikimoto 8-8.5mm Akoya strand.

It's perfection -- a strand that can be worn with virtually everything in a woman's wardrobe.
In some scenes, like the one pictured above, Carrie pairs her pearls with rhinestones, a Fall trend that includes the bold vintage looks which can be viewed in full force on the ladies of "Mad Men."

In other early 1960's style channeling, presidential candidates' wives Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain can be seen in dresses & pearls reminiscent of Jackie Kennedy. Good call!
Jackie's famous Kenneth Jay Lane faux three-strand became such a part of her iconic image as First Lady, it inspired precise replicas by the Franklin Mint and Carolee. QVC also offers a version, as well as a selection of necklaces from Kenneth Jay Lane.

Barbara Bush, though no longer in the spotlight, is rarely seen without her signature pearls...

...and Hillary Clinton has been wearing the same 16-inch strand for the past several years, which indicates to me that it's probably made of genuine South Sea pearls.

South Sea pearls are prized for their large size, however, they never achieve the mirror-like luster of the Japanese akoyas, like Carrie's Mikimotos. Conversely, the akoyas rarely grow past 10 mm in size, so there is an exponential price jump reflecting the scarcity starting at the 9mm size.
I may not share the same political ideology as U.S. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, but I must say I applaud her stylish strand of 11-14mm multi-colored Tahitian pearls (as well as her Hermes scarf-as-hijab worn during a visit to Syria).

Pelosi's necklace made such an impression on American women last year, it drove up pearl sales and prompted Los Angeles pearl dealer Leon Rebibo, of The Pearl Source, to offer a "Nancy Pelosi necklace."
Last night, when Sarah Palin spoke at the Republican National Convention as the party's vice presidential nominee, she donned a golden South Sea pearl necklace for the occasion. Very pretty.

Yet, while all eyes were on Palin, mine were on the gorgeous, massive strand of Tahitian pearls draped around the neck of Rudy Giuliani's wife, Judi. No wonder she was smiling.
As the election season promises to drive me nuts in the weeks to come, I'll be looking at the various pearls on display to serve as a beautiful distraction from all the hot air.

The week in review

2008-08-28T22:17:00.010-04:00

I've been a bit scattered lately and so thought I'd just encapsulate the week here.
First of all, the happiest news came. We learned that our best friend's sister was MISDIAGNOSED with a terrible disease. Several months ago, she was told she had leukemia, and now, it turns out, she really doesn't!
It doesn't get any better than that, and what a profound reminder that life can turn on a dime. We are so happy for Tom and his whole family, who deserve a return to happiness!
In far less pivotal news, the food highlights of the week were the Greek village salad, inspired by Anna...

...and the potatoes, which accompanied marinated steak & some awesome onion & mushroom soup. Best meal of the week there.

I completed watching the entire Season 1 of AMC's "Mad Men," and got caught up on Season 2. I was inspired to flip my hair, kitty-cat my eyeliner, and don (no pun intended, hehe) a Kenneth Jay Lane neckace. Be thankful for the dark/no-flash photo, as it could otherwise be scary, I'm so unphotogenic. The necklace, a faux (glass) grey baroque pearl three-strand, is probably up for grabs, by the way, b/c I never end up wearing it for more than 15 minutes.
"Mad Men" is fantastic! I can't wait until Sunday now to see the new episode.

In "Friday Friday" news, poor Friday is just exhausted, as you can see, from waiting by the phone to hear whether or not he's going to be called upon to be Vice President or not. After a long day, he finally collapsed alongside his advisors, Glow-Worm, Peter Rabbit, and Lambo, who were equally tired from the week's events. It's true that Friday can't tell you how many houses he owns, but I think we all agree he could sniff out Osama Bin Laden. Definitely!
Whatever happens, happens -- and we're behind him all the way.

When the stress hits, I head for the pool, and tonight I asked Troy to stand guard against any pre-schooler interlopers.
Lucky and I had a relaxing swim together, and as I floated on my back and looked up at the sky, I thought, "That is so beautiful!" Nature is a true tonic for the soul.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Friday

2008-08-22T13:21:00.003-04:00

2008-08-20T08:24:00.001-04:00

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of birds in the sunny weather.
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.

- Author Unknown

Motor city madhouse

2008-08-16T13:19:00.011-04:00

But, lucky me, my work is play. -Terrible Ted

Last night we had a birthday party for my friend, Sally, and we had so much fun it refueled my flagging desire to host parties.
While planning, I asked Sally about some of her specific likes/dislikes in tastes, and then planned accordingly. Two inspiring details were that she likes the color red, and loves chocolate. I therefore set out a red tablecloth & red votives; got red balloons, red napkins, and concocted a drink using raspberry puree. I also bought flowers, and put them in a vase but kept the bag for them so that, at the end of the night, Sally could take them home.
One time we went to this birthday party, held at a Ritz-Carlton, for a very spoiled girl I'll call Sydney, and they had a drink named "The Sydney," which I thought was so funny. I reminded Troy of this, and we knew we had to make up a drink for the occasion. After a thorough discussion, I decided on Champagne, raspberry sorbet, and a maraschino cherry, and Troy christened it "The Sally-Bo-Bally."
I couldn't find any raspberry puree or syrup whilst shopping, and was pressed for time, so I bought raspberry fruit sorbet, and thought "this is the same thing w/out the cooking down & straining." Theoretically, the idea seemed sound, but in actuality, I think the sorbet made the Champagne bubble up more than a puree would have -- certainly more than a syrup would have. So, a lot overflowed and there was spillage mess. But the Sally-Bo-Bally was still a tasty cocktail, despite the volcano effect.

The cake had to be chocolate, Sally's favorite. Furthermore, she and I both grew up in Detroit, where there were these ice cream parlors called Sanders. One of the specialties of Sanders was "bumpy cake," which is chocolate cake covered with buttercream bumps and then a chocolate ganache icing. I found the recipe for the cake, and decided to forego the bumps b/c I didn't want to experiment w/a new recipe. I used a ganache recipe I knew worked, and luckily the cake turned out perfect. It was delicious.

Here's the recipe.

Chocolate cake
1/2 c. hot black coffee or water
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. oil
1 c. buttermilk
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 t. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour

In large bowl, combine coffee and cocoa; beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add oil; beat for 30 seconds; add buttermilk; beat for 30 seconds; add baking soda; beat for 30 seconds; add salt; beat for 30 seconds; add vanilla; beat for 30 seconds; add eggs; beat for 30 seconds; add sugar; beat for 30 seconds. Add flour; beat for 5 minutes. Batter will be very bubbly. Pour batter into greased round tins and bake at 375F for 25-30 minutes.

Ganache frosting
1/2 pound fine-quality semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 stick (1/8 cup) unsalted butter
Spread a layer of ganach between the cooled cake layers, and then pour the remainder over the whole cake.

Before everyone arrived, I put together a party playlist w/a Detroit theme, with music ranging from Aretha Franklin to Iggy Pop to the White Stripes. Oh -- and don't forget Madonna (who celebrates her birthday today)! We made Sally guess what the thread was tying all the tunes together, and it took her a little while, but the lightbulb went off when "Workin' Hard, Playin' Hard" by Ted Nugent came on. The inspiration for this idea comes from Rachel, who makes me a great CD every year for my bday. I always love it, and -- as our man Colin Cowe says -- these thoughtful details make all the difference in life! Sally said she had so much fun & felt very special, which made me, in turn, very happy.

Table escape

2008-08-12T22:00:00.019-04:00

As I impatiently wait out the end of summer here, I must mentally travel to more appealing destinations to put my mind at ease. I find the month of August monotonous; like a long good-bye.
And so, for a little perk this weekend it was a Scandinavian-inspired dinner of fish, potatoes, and cucumber salad, with lots of fresh dill.

The swordfish was delicious, grilled with lots of olive oil and lemon, which is actually culinarily leaning towards Sicily, but I cannot stand cooked salmon, so could not have it on the menu despite it being the more traditional choice.

This weekend I also made, for the first time, a gooseberry fool, following a recipe given to me by Snowy. I was excited to find green gooseberries at Whole Foods, because I'd never tasted them. As per instructions, I cooked the berries down and sweetened them with sugar, and then strained them to achieve a seedless puree (not a very appetizing sight).

When it comes to whipped cream, Nigella always stresses that it should be floppy, but I can never comply, as something about a wimpy whipped cream annoys me. I prefer it heavily beaten.

A splash of elderberry flower juice completed the taste, which was all at once tart and rich.

Very nice!

As I write these descriptions, I can imagine a Freudian analyst gathering fodder for the patient file. Nevertheless, I guess a mental journey is better than no journey at all.

Costumes & confusion

2008-08-09T09:49:00.011-04:00

Things have been just a little "off" around here.
It's August, but the boys had their own personal Halloween celebration yesterday. Here's Scooby Doo trying to get upstairs.

Meanwhile, Harry has been wearing this outfit all week.

It strikes me as very John Galliano-ish, so who knows, maybe he's onto something and will make a splash in Paris in the future.
I was happy to finally get into the kitchen and make something -- Bill Granger's yogurt panna cotta, a favorite. If you've never tried this, from the excellent Bill's Open Kitchen, you must, it's so delicious.

Bill's Yogurt Pannacotta
375 ml (1 1/2 ups) cream
115 g (1/2 cup) caster (superfine) sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthways
10 g (1/4 oz) sachet of gelatine powder
500 g (2 cups) skim milk yogurt
*

The problem was that I did not have a vanilla bean. Well, I actually did, but forgot I did. So I used vanilla extract instead. That is, I thought I did. When we tasted the pannacotta after impatiently waiting for the little portions to chill, they tasted a little...strange. Good, but strange. That's when I realized I'd grabbed the almond extract instead of the vanilla. Oops.
I guess this week has been a reflection of life in our house this summer: a little offbeat, a little confused, but still nice.

*Place the cream & sugar in a saucepan over a medium heat. Using the point of a knife, scrape the vanilla bean seeds into the saucepan before adding the entire bean. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then just bring to the boil before removing from the heat. Discard the vanilla bean. Pour 125 ml (1/2 cup) of the cream mixture into a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatine powder over the top and whisk with a fork until smooth. Pour back into the saucepan and stir until the gelatine has completely dissolved. Add the yogurt and whisk until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine seive and divide between eight 125 ml moulds, cover w/plastic wrap and chill for 3 hours or until just set.
To serve, dip each mould into hot water for a few seconds, making sure the water only comes halfway up the sides. Place a plate on top and invert the pannacotta. Serve immediately.

Friday Friday

2008-08-08T11:09:00.003-04:00

With a nod to Melissa Morris' "Monty Mondays", I thought I'd have a "Friday Friday."
Friday has been slowly trying to rehab his urge to eat the cats. He's so good now, he only chases them a little bit, and, as you can see, lets them sit on him for warmth and affection.

Well, certainly warmth.

Gott Sei Dank for the Germans!

2008-08-01T13:28:00.017-04:00

Thank goodness for the Germans!
As you may recall, we last left Troy in the distillery building with a lot of loose still parts.
Eek!

The classic copper pot still is handmade in Germany by a family-run company. On Wednesday, Alexander and Nick flew in to help us put together the still.
Alexander arrived at our house from Germany, after a long day of travel, since Lufthansa is currently on strike. He was routed from Munich to London to somewhere to Tampa, rented a car, and drove to our house -- in the dark. I'm surprised he didn't collapse on our front porch after his journey.
Nick flew straight in from his home in Philadelphia, and joined us for dinner. We all had a really nice evening together, with a lot of laughs. I wish my mom could have been with us.
In the morning, everyone was up at the crack of dawn for a quick breakfast, and then off to assemble the still.

Alexander even brought his own work gloves. Sehr impressive.

Talk about efficient!

Many thanks to Alexander & Nick!!

They took off early that afternoon to catch a flight to a distilling workshop, leaving us very excited about being one step closer to making rum!

A Room of One's Own

2008-07-28T17:58:00.005-04:00

The nursery here has been up for grabs for some time, and while I had planned on taking it over as "my" room, for writing and sewing, Griffin has broken out with other ideas.
The other night, we watched My Family and Other Animals, in which a young Gerald Durrell has his own room filled with various critters in their nests and cages. It made quite an impression on Griffin, and the next morning he asked if he could have the nursery as his own room. He also wants a bird.
That night, I heard thumping sounds coming from above, and asked Troy if he knew what was going on. He said that Griffin keeps going into the room and rearranging the existing furniture, which includes a crib that needs to be dismantled, and a chaise, which was for me. He set up picnic blankets on the floor with stuffed animals, and has lined up his little Lego people on the nightstand.
"He's going for Squatter's Rights," I thought. Still, I had to admit I was getting caught up in his enthusiasm.
Then, today, I found this charming Marimekko Metsanvaki ("Forest Dwellers") print bedding, which I thought would be perfect for Griffin's room, and had to concede my claim on the space.

We are not getting a bird, though.
Well, certainly not an owl.

Stingray spotting

2008-07-22T09:36:00.007-04:00

This morning we were sitting outside, chatting, and spotted some stingrays swimming around.

They're very graceful, and mesmerizing to watch. Or maybe that was just my take, having not had my morning cappuccino yet.

Nevertheless, it was a nice surprise, and a pleasant start to the day.

Very cool.

Saved from a watery death

2008-07-20T12:49:00.004-04:00

Have you ever seen such a tiny frog?

Troy went swimming and saw this teeny thing floating, legs out. Lifeguard Troy saved him.

He is now safely on land, living in the trees, presumably.

Friday Wonder

2008-07-18T09:21:00.006-04:00

I stumbled upon a near-miracle the other night.

Friday is doing really well at suppressing his urges to chase the cats. But I didn't expect such closeness as this! Here he is sleeping with Monster -- he must have been pretty tuckered out.
Meanwhile, Winter, our other cat, wants nothing to do with those bonding sessions, thank you very much.

The still! C'est arrive!

2008-07-08T22:33:00.007-04:00

The pot still arrived from Germany!
Well, technically, half of it arrived. Here is the truck and the guys unloading the container.
You can see why I adore my f-i-l. Isn't he cute?!

Huge pot still. Fork lift. Ergh! Stuff! Masculine!

Enormous copper still and parts.

Pipes! Wtf are we supposed to do with these? They did not come with instructions.

Wow, I don't know what we've gotten ourselves into, but I'm really glad that the Germans -- the makers of the still -- and some friends (engineers!) have volunteered to assist. People have been really cool about lending a hand. For example, the guy running the forklift works in a nearby boat builder, but just offered to pitch in. This is really appreciated. He and all helpers will be given rum, for sure, from the first batches.
Wish us luck!

Tasty seafood in Indian Rocks Beach

2008-07-06T10:16:00.016-04:00

We recently paid a visit to Troy's grandpa, and afterwards, decided to check out a seafood place I'd heard about in Indian Rocks Beach, a little town on the Gulf of Mexico, South of Clearwater.
Keegan's Seafood Grill was recently featured on a FoodTV special about the U.S.'s best seafood restaurants, and I'm happy to say it deserves the honor. What a great place!
The owners, Linda & Cesar, are very warm & welcoming, and the restaurant is clean, cute, and has an unpretentious atmosphere. Cesar is a Spaniard, and reportedly excels at grilling octopus, so that's what I had to try.
My mom used to make octopus, and it's very popular in the Mediterranean, but not so much here in America. I think it makes people slightly nervous, but if you have never tried it, please give it a chance. It's very tasty when done right -- in fact, it's much better than calamari, which everyone seems to eat despite it being served up rubbery and soggy 90% of the time.
Octopus is a little tough, and needs to be tenderized before being cooked. Traditionally, people beat it repeatedly against a rock to achieve this, and I remember my mom whacking it against the kitchen sink (I think she enjoyed this). But it also can, and should, be tenderized with a marinade, and this is part of Cesar's secret -- a flavorful marinade of red wine, herbs, and spices. The other crucial element to a good octopus preparation is to char it on a flaming hot grill.
Still, as right as it was, having this delivered to the table freaked out the boys, and no one wanted to try it.

Looks a little too much like a Jules Verne monster.
Thinking about it now, though, it's probably good for them to see their mom eat an octopus with a big knife -- it might give me a slight edge in future battles with them. You can see that Cesar adds little fresh chili bits to his marinade; it lent just the right degree of spicy heat -- delicious.
I also ate a Greek salad, which, in the Tampa Bay area always includes a small portion of potato salad tucked in. I don't know why that is, but it's a quirky local custom and it tastes really good! You get used to it.

Troy got a pita sandwich stuffed with crab salad, and the boys had linguine with butter, and a hamburger. All excellent and high-quality. Also, our waitress was very nice and friendly to the boys, which I appreciate.
For dessert, we all split two pieces of Key lime pie, a perfect prototype! This is exactly how a Key lime pie should look and taste.

A fine balance between tart & sweet, with a graham-cracker crust.
I look forward to returning to try some of their other dishes, like the gumbo & a fresh fish special.

Keegan's Seafood Grille 1519 Gulf Blvd (Mile Marker 17.5)
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida 33785
(727) 596-2477

Everybody's All-American

2008-07-02T20:33:00.001-04:00

This is the Hob Nob, my favorite place in Sarasota to get a hamburger & fries.

The entire restaurant is outdoors, under cover, but with no walls. You can sit at the bar; at a high table-for-two; or at one of the long picnic tables, which you share with other diners...perhaps to hobnob.

The place has been around for 50 years, an American classic serving every echalon of society -- you might sit next to a sheriff, or you might sit next to someone who's been on "Cops!" you never know.
^Clearly from the latter group.^
There's a pretty extensive menu, as well as a blackboard of Daily Specials, and yet I've actually never had anything here but a hamburger and fries! The chili dogs are reportedly excellent.
Once you place your order, your waitress (and they're all waitresses) prints out a chit and sets it in front of you with a clothespin so it doesn't blow away in the wind.

And apparently the Hob Nob is open seven days a week. As Johnnie Carson used to say: I did not know that.
Here's Cooper with a tasty chocolate milkshake.

The regular hamburger, not to be confused with the Hob Nob Burger, which I believe is a double-decker. Troy and I immediately placed a bet that I would not make it through lunch without getting some of this on my white dress.

The fries. They're crinkle fries. Everything is served in the waxed paper it comes wrapped up in, or in a basket with a waxed paper liner.

Troy had a blackened Tilapia sandwich, one of the day's specials.

All done. All clear. All good.

Cappuccino Art X

2008-07-02T07:34:00.002-04:00

"Platform Pump with Ankle Strap."

Thinking & schmoozing

2008-07-01T07:00:00.005-04:00

Recently, Kelly-Jane of the very impressive Cooking the Books, awarded me these two blogger awards:

and

The timing was funny, because I'd been feeling like I had nothing to say, and what was the point in my having a blog...I was thinking of packing it in because I really didn't feel like I was contributing anything worthwhile. This is why my "Sum Sum Summertime" post was up for so long.
My blog serves as a modern diary for me, and I like being able to share a moment with pictures included. Some friends who are very busy and on-the-go can pop in and catch up a little bit, and a lot of the time, I do like to try to share funny or happy or silly moments because my view of life is that there's enough hardship going around, so why not talk about cakes and cats and things that can bring a little levity to our lives?
When I first saw that K-J listed me in her meme, I thought, "What does this mean?" I guess the fact that I've been thinking about the meaning and managed to concoct a post about it tells me she was right, haha.
I just wish more people would leave more comments on my blog to schmooze along with me :).
Thank you, K-J, you are very thoughtful yourself, and I appreciate these two awards. AND your blog is fabulous and always inspires me. It's like pressing my nose up against a bakery window!
~Lisa

Hard to resist

2008-06-29T09:49:00.003-04:00

Q. What's more interesting than an empty bag to a cat?

A. A cat-in-a-bag to a dog.

A Moroccan-South African-Venetian Ghetto-Quick B'stilla

2008-06-26T20:01:00.023-04:00

Remember in the movie Evita when Madonna sings, "You Must Love Me," tears streaming down her cheeks (or were those mine?) as she looks heavenward?
After tasting my dinner this evening, I wanted to cry tears of joy and plead to everyone, "You must make this," because it is so utterly delicious. I feel just as impassioned as Madonna/Eva Perone looked.
You must. Make. This.
Bear with me, because I didn't expect anything spectacular to occur tonight, and as usual, wasn't paying much attention or measuring.
But we can deconstruct together. You would need:
-Phyllo dough & requisite melted butter or olive oil or combination thereof for brushing
-Onion
-Garlic
-Chicken breasts cooked in fiery spices
-Chopped parsley
-Beaten eggs (I used two.)
-Sliced almonds
-Golden raisins
-The jewel in the crown: Belazu Rose Harissa. Or harissa.

Starting out, I wanted to make a simplified version of a B'stilla, which is an amazing Moroccan dish made of phyllo stuffed with all sorts of flavorful ingredients, including (sometimes) squab and saffron. The first time I made it, I basically followed Diana Henry's recipe from Crazy Water Pickled Lemons, substituting ground beef for her guinea fowl (I realize that may sound like a strange substitute, but it seemed fine to me because I'm used to Greek dishes using allspice). Everything within the traditional phyllo pie is delicately infused with cinnamon, which makes for a great sweet-savory taste sensation.
This evening, I set out to make a chicken version for Troy, but really didn't feel like having the cinnamon aspect.
For my spice choice, I used an Elements of Spice mix called Mama Africa from the S. African Cape Herb company.

The mix is described as Southern African in flavor, and is a blend of piri piri chilies, sugar, sea salt, coriander seeds, onion flakes, red bell peppers, black peppercorns, garlic, cumin, lemon, ginger, paprika.
[On another side note, if you decide to buy a tin of Mama Africa, definitely also get a tin of their Bed of Roses spice mix while you're at it -- I'm throwing around a lot of superlatives here, but trust me, it's fantastic -- the best! These spice blends will elevate any BBQ or brai.]
Let's get back on track.
-Sautee the chopped onions until soft; add the garlic and cook but don't let it burn!
-Add the chicken, which you've trimmed, rinsed, patted dry, and sprinkled liberally with spicy spices like the Mama Africa mix.
-Let cool, shred the chicken, and put it in a bowl with chopped parsley, beaten eggs, sliced almonds, golden raisins (a.k.a. sultanas) and a spoonful of harissa.

If you can get a jar of Belazu Rose Harissa, use that. Goooood stuff.

If not, then you need to either fly to the U.K., or ask a friend to send you a jar. Or, I suppose, as an alternative for all you maniacs out there, you can be like the intrepid Sarah and make your own harissa. Still, I don't think even Sarah makes rose harissa. Harissa lends a beautiful depth of heat (although this is by no means a fiery hot pie despite all of these spices).
Moving onward, I'm sure there's no authentic b'stilla that calls for golden raisins, but I added them to the mix because I so love Nigella's recipe for Tagliatelle with Chicken from the Venetian Ghetto, and had a blast of inspiration as I surveyed my chicken mixture. They added just the right sweet note.
When I made this previously, I used a springform pan, but I only have one, which today was held hostage by an apple cake, so I used a baking sheet for this instead. Working reasonably quickly (as one must with phyllo!) I layered sheet upon sheet, brushing in between with butter.
Then added the filling. I could have used twice as much.

Folded it all in, topped with a few more phyllo sheets, and gave it a final brushing of butter before baking it in a 400F-degree oven for 20 minutes.

Mm. Nothing better than a crispy phyllo concoction!

Traditionally, a b'stilla is dusted with confectioner's sugar, which I've not yet been up for, but to each his own.
A little North African, a little South African, & with a touch of the Venetian ghetto thrown in, this pie is so delicious, you will want to sing about it from a balcony.

In the U.S., you can find Elements of Spice rubs at Chelsea Market Baskets

Lake Garda apple cake

2008-06-25T16:33:00.007-04:00

My love of apples & Italy shines with appreciation for this delicious cake from Patricia Well's Trattoria: the Lake Garda apple cake, or, Torta di Mele.
I was given the idea by Mary...Apple, who recently launched a discussion of Wells' other fabulous apple cake, from The Paris Cookbook. I was going to make that cake, but took a detour and ended up in Northern Italy, instead, where the cakes are so perfectly not too sweet. Just right.
Wells calls this "a montage of all the apple cakes eaten late one summer on Lake Garda." It is a lovely tribute to a simple treat, and what must have been a beautiful time.

Unsalted butter & all-purpose flour for preparing the baking pan
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup (200 g) vanilla sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons whole milk
Grated zest of 1 lemon
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (200 g) all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 Golden Delicious apples, (about 1 1/2 lbs.; 750 g)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (175 C; gas mark 4/5)
2. Generously butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan, tapping out any excess flour. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, cream the butter, 3/4 cup of the vanilla sugar, the vanilla, milk, and lemon zest until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one by one, beating thoroughly after each addition.
4. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Spoon the mixture into the batter and mix until thoroughly belnded. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix once more. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the flour to absorb the liquids.
5. In a large bowl, toss together 2 tablespoons of the vanilla sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Peel and core the apples, and cut each lengthwise into 16 even wedges. Transfer the apples to the bowl, tossing with the cinnamon sugar. Set aside.
6. Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing out the top with a spatula. Starting just inside the edge of thepan, neatly overlap the wedges of apples-thicker curved outer side against the side of the pan-in 2 or 3 concentric circles, working toward the center.* Fill in the center with the remaining apples. Toss together the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and sprinkle over the apples.
7. Place the pan in the center of the oven. Bake until the apples are a deep golden brown and the cake feels quite firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 1 hour. Remove to a baking rack to cool. After 10 minutes, run a knife along the sides of the pan. Release and remove the side of the springform pan, leaving the cake on the pan base. Serve at room temperature, cutting into thin wedges.

*Impatient as I am, I could not do this & just threw the apples on top of the batter.

Midsummer

2008-06-23T21:05:00.006-04:00

Winter Windows
Snowflakes, feathers, flying geese on frosted window panes;
Trees and skis on misty slopes, and, yes, some candy canes;
See white-filmed stars and crescent moons painted on the glass.
Jack frost, of winter, gives his best with surrealistic class.

Just planning my ski vacation, and thinking of how many days until school starts.
Meanwhile, there was a beautiful sunset and the sky had a blue color to it that was most unusual.

Nevertheless, I've had enough already.

Update on Friday

2008-06-20T08:54:00.013-04:00

Friday has settled in nicely, and the cats have decided he can stay.

Here he is, hiding from me, because he does not want to go swimming.

You can see he's gained a little weight in his behind! He needs a new collar already, but I haven't been able to find the right one yet.
I must say, he's a mellow personality for the most part. Definitely a homedog. He's very good at flopping.

Inside, he tries to blend, I think because he's not sure he is supposed to be on the beds. Outside, he tries to blend in the hopes that I won't notice him and take him for a dip.

Sum sum summertime

2008-05-31T21:40:00.014-04:00

Summer is here. It's now in the 90's every day, and June 1st marks the official start of Hurricane Season.
Normally, I'm not a summertime person, but I have to say I'm kind of in a groove right now.
I'm eating lots of ripe watermelon...

Swimming all the time. And I just got this all-natural sunscreen from L'Occitane that I recommend. Supposedly from Brazil, it's got a pretty good scent, and works well.

Lucky loves to swim,

but our new dog, Friday, dreads it.

He's really not an outdoorsy dog. He likes the A/C. (Kind of like me.)
I'm slowly trying to get him swimming, and hope he eventually changes his mind. At this point, I have to track him down to "invite" him for a swim.
Friday says, "Noooooooo!"

Yesterday, I got the new Saveur issue, which features various road trips and road-trip food, including a string of Texas margarita hits. Upon the mag's advice, I made a margarita following this recipe:

4 ounces Herradura Silver tequila
1.5 ounces fresh lime juice
1 ounce Cointreau

Whoa!

That is one smooth margarita.
I was floating on the blue water, looking up at the blue sky, and thinking good thoughts about humanity after a few sips of this.
Meanwhile, I've got one heck of a stack on my To-Read shelf, and it's my goal to crack into these.

So wish me luck, and I wish you a very nice summer!

Now We Are Three

2008-05-12T09:10:00.013-04:00

On Saturday we celebrated Cooper turning three. It was a busy but chilled-out day, and he seemed to really enjoy himself.
We went to Wyatt's soccer game in the morning, and hung out afterwards with everyone, eating pizza. There was so much pizza that we were sent home with a box.
Cooper is getting so big. Lucky is hovering in the background, hoping some pizza will be dropped.

Cooper requested a chocolate birthday cake, so I made the Chocolate Fudge cake (a.k.a. If-You've-Been-Chucked cake) from Nigella Bites. I tweaked the frosting, deciding to use only one stick of butter in the frosting instead of the two suggested, and I added some heavy whipping cream. I think it was a good call, as the frosting was buttery enough with just one stick. Then I wasn't sure I had enough frosting, so I spread Nutella between the two cake layers and used the frosting to cover the cake.

Here's my f-i-l -- isn't he cute?

He was diggin' the appetizers, which I had to place high on the countertop so that the little dog wouldn't eat them -- he takes it as a free-for-all if there's food within striking distance. So, we had jumbo shrimp & cocktail sauce; Giada's Italian hummus and toasted pita wedges; and hot crab dip & Triscuits. The crab dip recipe is from Michelle's m-i-l, and I liked it so much it's going in the ol' party repertoire.
And then there was Frito Pie. This is great party food.

Cooper got some great presents, including this sword, which he loved. Here he is practicing some Jedi moves on Troy.

The new pup may not have a name, but he got a party hat...

...and struck up a love affair with my m-i-l, Gina.

The boys liked the cake a lot.

And Cooper wound up the day as a swashbuckling super-hero. As it should be.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Bloom Where You're Planted

2008-05-08T12:18:00.014-04:00

Oliver Douglas: Fresh air!
Lisa Douglas: Times Sqvare!

While I often feel like Lisa Douglas here in Hooterville, donning Ferragamo pumps to the local postal shack where there may or may not be a pig on the side of the road, I do try to find all things special & unique in my environment.
For a long time I have noted a hand-painted sign advertising STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKES on the side of the main road. I love strawberry ice cream, and recently finally pulled over to fuel up the boys on our way home from school. They are always so hungry after school, and I thought, "Why not." Take the edge off.

Driving over a set of railroad tracks, we were smack on the front section of a farm. I pulled right up to the tiny shack and ordered strawberry shakes -- the only menu item besides strawberry shortcake -- and chatted with the gal making them. She and her family ran the farm, and apparently the strawberry season was just wrapping up. She was quite sweet and charming, and we talked about her little sister, a budding musician and scholarship student. Then I noticed the flowers behind the shack.
"Are those snapdragons?" I inquired.
They were! she confirmed, and added that they often sell them to local florists, who jack up the price x 4. I adore snapdragons and they remind me of my childhood, because I remember a kind neighbor showing me how you could pinch the flowerheads on their sides to make them look like they're talking. I never miss an opportunity to make the boys giggle by making a snapdragon say something to them like, "Hello! What's your name?"
Although it's not exactly a scene from the Luxembourg Gardens, I thought the flowers were pretty.

I got the shakes and passed them up, then got back into the car, buckled up, said thanks, and drove off. We were on our merry way, and the strawberry shakes were deeeeelicious.

Farther down the road, there were little black pigs milling about and rooting through the grass. I thought of Arnold Ziffle, adjusted my crystal-bedecked sunglasses, and smiled.

Green Acres fans click here.

Giving thanks for Annaboo

2008-05-06T21:31:00.007-04:00

I've never met Anna in person, and yet I feel like I've known her forever. Back in the happy days of Nigella.com, she popped in like a breath of fresh air, full of life and love, and she's been in my life ever since.
The first thing Anna did was introduce herself and say she was a wife & mother of four, and she was about the same age as me. We had things in common right off the bat. I'd just had my fourth baby, and had turned 40. I remember Anna posted a picture, and there were four people in the picture: an older woman and man, and a girl in pigtails, and a guy. She said something like, "Here we are with our winning fish & chips." I thought she was the older woman, and I immediately said, "Oh no! She's my age! I am getting old! I wonder if I look that old?" I didn't realize until later that Anna was the one in pigtails, with the smile, and the old lady was one of the fish & chips judges, who indeed was past 40!
Everybody loves Anna. She is pure of heart; full of love, full of life, and full of light. She's incapable of lying or pretense, and I find her so refreshing because I always know where I stand with her. I love reading her blog because she truly speaks from the heart, and I keep encouraging her to write, write, write -- she's good at it.
It's like awards season in blogland, and to see that Anna gave me a "You Make My Day" award, I was extremely touched! This, coming from one of the most kind & generous souls I know, means a great deal.
Thank you, Anna.
Since we've been friends, Anna and I have exchanged emails, swap boxes (in fact, I think, the original! Who could forget the Teacle?), gifts, thoughts, and stories. She's very far away, but I have seen pictures of her view from her kitchen window, sometimes framing a beautiful cake, and I picture myself one day sitting at her table, looking out that window and having a nice cup of tea. A cuppa. In my kitchen, I have a Greek icon of Saint Anna, Mother of the Theotokos. In the enclosed note, Anna told me that she hoped that it would serve as a reminder of the beautiful and special bond between a mother and daughter, and it has. During the very difficult first months of my grief, I kept the icon by my bedside, and although I am not religious, my mother was Greek Orthodox and the image gave me strength when I desperately needed it.

When I moved house, the icon found a natural spot in my kitchen, and there it sits to this day. I look at it every day, and think of Anna, and of my mother, and of the importance of my former Greek life, which is instilled in me, and of the power of love and friendship.
I consider myself very fortunate to have met Anna, she is a beautiful person, inside & out. I hope she knows how much she is loved.

New & old books from the Dahl family

2008-05-05T13:06:00.009-04:00

All right, all right, all right, what's it going to be? A Triple Cream Cup for Christopher. A Sizzler for June Marie. And listen! Wonka's got a new one today.

What is it?

This is called a Scrumpdiddleumptious Bar.

When I was a child, of course I saw the movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," but I don't think I read any Roald Dahl books until my son Wyatt was old enough to listen. Now I consider myself a big fan.
While I haven't read everything Dahl's ever written, I have read most of his childrens books, and an assortment of his stories for grown-ups. Those can be quite disturbing...I am not certain Dahl was the nicest man in the world, and sometimes I think he might have been a bit of a scary personality! I remember my mom telling me that he was quite tough with his wife Patricia Neal after she suffered a stroke, and really harassed her into recovery. I don't know if that's true, but it has always bothered me in the back of my head, since she seemed like such a cool lady. If you happen to know, please educate me.
Most of the time, however, I do align myself with his kind & down-to-earth perspective in the many adventures portraying a fight against evil adults and wicked people -- who are sometimes supernatural. "The Witches" is one of my favorite books, with the endearing relationship between a boy and his grandmother battling creepy & crafty purple-eyed witches. The movie is fantastic, too, with Anjelica Huston as the spooky Grand High Witch.
Last week I stumbled upon what I consider to be a real find: a book written by Dahl and his second wife, Felicity, titled, "Memories with Food: At Gipsy House." I ordered it in a click. I love off-beat "cookbooks," and this one provides a double thrill, as it must be packed with Dahl genius.
Gipsy House is the home of Roald & Felicity, in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, and apparently, this book is about the life and food they enjoyed while living there during the last decades of Dahl's life (I think Felicity is still there). I can't wait to see it!

Reading about Dahl's appreciation for candy and chocolate in his excellent memoir, "Boy: Tales of Childhood" has held me rapt more than once; and I attribute part of my Scandi-obsession to his beautifully conveyed memories of his idyllic childhood summers spent in Norway.
Not coincidentally, his grand-daughter, the beautiful Sophie Dahl, has recently published a fiction novel called "Playing with the Grown-Ups."

The protagonist dwells in Hay House, presumably modeled after Gipsy House. Perhaps a riskier proposition than buying one of her grandfather's books, but I'll probably end up getting it, too. I'll be very happy if it's turned out that Sophie has inherited the gift of storytelling.

Rays of sunshine

2008-05-03T13:35:00.010-04:00

Oh, I am so tired. I always say my personal life motto is "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" (that should really be in Latin), and this week provided further evidence of my particular brand of folly.
Um, what was I thinking, getting a puppy?
Puppy-training is exhausting! You're constantly monitoring them to see if they're peeing or pooping or chewing or choking. I take the dog out a thousand times a day and encouragingly (somewhat hysterically) say, "Go potty! Good boy! Good boy!"
Nevertheless, the pup is here and I'm dealing with it, and right when I was ready to collapse and break down into a weeping pile, I clicked over to Ilana's blog and read this:

...Because, on my other blog, is where I have the literary freedom to rhyme or to philosophize or talk about shoes, and I take my inspiration from Lisa, because her talent for putting certain words together is marvelous - she makes everything beautiful.

What sweetness. Thank you, Ilana.

This means a lot to me, because, as you know, being a chambermaid is often a wearing job, and I appreciate the kind compliment! It's nice to think that my brain is still utilizing the ol' synapses.
Coincidentally, it was Ilana who inspired me to start a blog. When she visited here and I was perched at the kitchen counter, watching her make dishes for her Cupboard Love project blog, and the computer was right there beside us. The night Ilana went home, I had nothing to do, and thought I'd mess around on blogger, and voila! Another blog was born, whether needed or not.
The other aspect of why this makes me happy is because it seems like there's been a lot of bad juju going around in the world lately. A lot of people I know are having a hard time, and it has a worrying effect that shakes us up. Receiving a little love is something a lot of people could do with right now, and a kind word or deed really boosts the spirit.

Dog Day Afternoon

2008-04-29T21:47:00.007-04:00

If you can picture Ted Nugent with shortish, Krusty-the-Clown hair, you've got a vision of the guy I was seated across at a worn picnic table in the middle of Florida farm land.
Let's call him Ted, and say we're at his Own Private Idaho animal sanctuary. I'm not sure how accurate it is for him to call his flea-infested place a sanctuary, since the animals are probably looking around scratching themselves and wondering "what fresh Hell is this?" but nevermind.
The puppy I was there to meet was as cute as his picture, which I'd found on Petfinder. A real mutt, with leanings toward Beagle and either Terrier or Springer Spaniel. He seemed a pretty mellow dog for being 14 weeks old, but I guess that's understandable, considering he'd been picked up from the pound and brought here. Cast off.
I'd arrived with a check made out to the (cough) sanctuary, and upon seeing the dog and determining that he was not a Pit Bull, I was ready to take him home.
Two of the boys were with me: Wyatt and Cooper, and boy was I glad to have Wyatt along, because I really trust his judgment. Wyatt had not cared for Boo Bear the Pit Bull, and he was right: Boo Bear wasn't a wise choice for us.
But he liked this dog, and so we all agreed on the go-ahead. "Do you like him?" I asked the boys.
Unanimous yes vote.
Ted was telling me that his wife had given the pup a flea bath that morning.
"Does he have fleas?" I asked.
He picked up the dog and looked at its belly.
"Yep," he announced. "He's got a couple."
After having me sign some papers that the dog would always be returned to him if for any reason in the future we could not keep it, and lecturing me on some of the finer points of dog care, Ted gave the dog a tablet that is supposed to kill fleas. And soon we were all on our way home.
Home.
This little dog surely seemed to have gotten off to a rough start in life. The story -- and there's always a story with a rescue dog, whether it's bullshit or not -- is that he was an "owner surrender" because the owner, a breeder (riiight) did not want him because he was not a purebred. The breeder's dog had escaped and gotten impregnated by who-knows-what (Terrier, Springer Spaniel, not Pit Bull). Alright, I guess that's possible if the mother was a Beagle, because they do tend to wander, but we'll never know. Ted said this puppy was picked up from a high-kill pound inland, and that's about all I knew yesterday.
When I got home, I took him directly into the shower. He was so stinky, there's no way I would have not given him a bath. I lathered him up, and quickly discovered that he was covered with fleas. They looked like brown sesame seeds, and it was like they just kept appearing. I went through at least three lather-rinse-repeat cycles, and just kept cleaning the poor dog and watching the fleas go down the drain. He was such a good sport. I mean, it's not really pleasant for any dog to get a shower, but he didn't complain or fight me. He's got a nice, gentle disposition. It occurred to me that maybe the showering-bonding with me scared the crap out of him and he was afraid to move, but no, no, he continued to be nice to me and all the family members & neighbors he met later that afternoon.
This morning, I would also learn that he had hookworms and tapeworms. Let me tell you that this is something you never want to see, ever. The horror! The horror! Had I thought of it, I should have pounded a big glass of Scotch after picking up that poop.
I took him to the vet and got him a serious dose of de-worming medication; flea medication (go Frontline!); and had his nails trimmed. The flea pill Ted had given him was, according to the vet, more like a preventative, and we needed the hard chemicals.
After our OCD sanitation program, we went home, went for a walk, ate, and played outside by the pool. He didn't swim with us, and that's fine -- I think he had enough to absorb (both physically and mentally).

He's a good little dog, and everybody likes him. He follows me around and is learning how to "sit" for a treat.
We don't have a name for him yet, but we're all working on it. I look at his fuzzy face and think, "How could anyone not want you?" but I guess that his misfortune was my good fortune, because I really think he's going to be one of those dogs that you never forget.

A very nice honor

2008-04-26T15:14:00.006-04:00

This blog was started on a lark one night, because I was looking for something to do, and I thought it would be fun.
It has been fun. It's also been a great outlet for me to rant, rave, drone, and post pics of things that are often pretty random. I like the format a lot, and it's been a journal for me, oftentimes the only right place for me to voice my feelings on topics that are important to me, as well as simple things that are funny to me.
I'm not the best cook or baker, nor consistent in those arenas, and I appreciate all the love and support I get from my friends who are food bloggers. If the Food Blogging world were an Upstairs/Downstairs saga, I guess I'd be the character continually traipsing up and down the back stairs, from the nursery to the wine cellar.
Therefore, I was really touched and honored when Eva, of Tea for One, a blog I adore, passed on to me an "Excellent" blog award. I would like to thank Eva for her thoughtfulness, which I very much appreciate. It made me feel really good to hear that someone appreciates The Chambermaid!
Eva, who is naturally a cool person but also gets bonus points for her Transylvanian and Swedish links, has earned another star in my book. Unfortunately, I was too tired to find out the exact details of the award, and couldn't figure out how to post the bold, black EXCELLENT! stamp signifying that I'd been awarded. In my pursuit of the "good enough" in life, I stumbled upon this image of Mr. Burns, who likes to rub his hands together and say "Excellent!" -- sometimes followed by "Smithers, release the hounds!" but we'll leave that part out here.

If I were to pass this award on to another blogger, it would be to the amazing Sarah, who never fails to entertain, educate, and amuse me with her Excellent! blog, Sarah Cooks, and also deserves a special place in food blogging history for her impressive project Sarah Discovers How to Eat. Keep an eye on her, she is doing great things.
Thank you very much, Eva, for your kindness!

A saboteur in our midst

2008-04-21T19:02:00.016-04:00

Wyatt's Science class held a bake sale at school in honor of Earth Day, with the proceeds to be donated to a Florida state park. Wyatt and I decided to make cupcakes for the event. I eschewed the red velvet cake (which I thought might be popular with the kids) for a golden sponge cake mix, so as not to taint the little bodies of hopeful children with too much red dye.

I made cream cheese icing, as usual (it is my favorite), and got out all my pretty sprinkles and decorations. Leaning toward a Spring-like theme, I topped the cupcakes with pastel-colored flowers & butterflies, pink & blue sparkly sugars, and silver and gold hearts.

They were so attractive that the boys were begging to eat them, and so I decided to hold a Pre-Sale, like Nordstrom. The boys lined up in the kitchen and handed over money from their piggy banks.

I wasn't quite sure what the going rate was, or what the school was going to charge for the cupcakes, but ended up with $9.50, which was completely arbitrary, but I thought pretty good for four.

My work finished, I retired to my bedroom with a book, and soon fell asleep. My jarring awakening came in the form of Cooper, his face popping up at the side of my bed. Focusing my eyes, I slowly realized that his mouth & cheeks were covered with cream cheese frosting.
Merde!
I raced downstairs to the kitchen and my fears were confirmed: Cooper had sullied almost all of the cupcakes.
My beauties! My beauties!
He'd plucked off all of the silver and gold hearts, licked the icing away, and nibbled the tops off of almost all the cupcakes.
Austalians, did you hear my scream?

There were five untouched -- only because they were on a plate located high out of his reach.
The little perp knew he was going to have to deal with the Wrath of Mom, so he hid. Not very well. Weasel.

I broke the news to Wyatt, and we briefly toyed with the idea of selling the cupcakes at half-price, but in the end, he just took in the five good ones. In the end, they sold for 25 cents each.
Me: Twenty-five cents??
Wyatt: Or maybe 50 cents.
Me: That's all?
I guess I was charging Manhattan prices, while his Science class was charging Dust Bowl prices. I'm glad they made some money, even though it may not be quite enough to contribute a wee sapling to a state park. But at those prices, I couldn't feel too bad about Cooper eating the lion's share of our product. I won't let him know that, however. Penance will be extracted from his widdle college fund, at NY pre-sale prices.
Momma needs a new pair of shoes. (Earth shoes, of course.)

Anna's tag: top 10 food pics

2008-04-21T13:44:00.019-04:00

Anna tagged me to post 10 food pics, and whatever Anna wants, Anna gets! I went through my archives and selected my favorites. Thanks, Anna, for thinking of me.

1. Lasagne. I feel like I can always rely on my lasagne to turn out, taste good, and be overall satisfying.

2. Chocolate cake. This was Cooper's cake for his first birthday. I love how massive it looks, and I decorated it with the precious gold buttons. There's nothing better than chocolate cake.

3. Italian hummus & pita wedges. One of my favorite appetizers. It's Giada's recipe from Everyday Italian, and the dip is made from cannellini beans instead of the traditional garbanzos. The pita wedges are sprinkled with dried oregano. Altogether delicious, and pretty healthy.

4. Ice cream bombe! Mmm. My mom used to make Baked Alaska on special occasions, and this ice cream bombe is similar, but without the golden sponge cake base. I used strawberry ice cream and mango sorbet, topped with meringue (this step pictured) and then bronzed the meringue in the oven. It's fantastic.

5. A perfect meal. This was not made by me, but it qualifies as one of my best meals for a few reasons, and therefore deserves mention. I love staying in nice hotels, I love room service, and I love it when I eat a meal -- wherever -- that is perfect, no matter how simple it may be. This is a club sandwich & French fries, served up on a tray with an icy diet cola alongside. And little ketchup bottles. Bliss. From the Ambassador East in Chicago.

6. My Christmas morning cappuccino. Here is a picture that is worth a thousand words. Troy and I just celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary, and for nearly every morning of our years together, we've started each day with a cappuccino. Sometimes I make them, sometimes he makes them. He's much better at frothing the milk. This is what he delivered to me on Christmas morning, and it speaks volumes about his sense of humor, which is one of the things I adore about him. I love my cappuccino, and I love my husband more, and definitely consider myself very lucky to wake up to both every day.

7. B'stilla. I can't remember if I blogged about this creation or not, but it's worth waxing over. It's a Moroccan savory pie made with ground beef, fresh chopped herbs, spices, beaten eggs, and slivered almonds all baked up in a flaky phyllo dough. A real jewel. I followed Diana Henry's recipe from Crazy Water Pickled Lemons.

8. A perfect apple. Crisp, crunchy, sweet, tart. One of my favorite things to eat. I grew up near an apple orchard, and I feel a strong connection to the apple in any form. I will always go for the apple dessert on a menu over any chocolate concoction or creme brulee or other temptation.

9. Stinky, gooey cheese. I like to stop at my local cheese counter and chat with the women who work there, who are as enthusiastic about ripe cheeses as I am. Usually I select one like this, as well as a Roquefort. The ladies turned me on to these crackers, which are almost like communion wafers, very thin and delicate.

10. Frittata with potatoes & fresh herbs, and cucumber salad. This was a meal I made when I a.) couldn't think of what to make for dinner; and b.) didn't have much in the house. Rachel gave me the idea of the potato frittata, and I happened to have fresh dill & feta in the fridge, so it wound up tasting very Greek. The cucumber salad is something I grew up eating, having a German mother. But, again, the dill tweaks it a bit for a nod towards Greece (or Scandinavia, another of my obsessions). So here we have a plateful of food that reflects the people and tastes I love, and that is a large part of what cooking is all about for me.

Toby Tyler Day

2008-04-19T13:36:00.016-04:00

One of the things I love about having children is that I get to relive some of the best parts of childhood (you're kind of forced to). This week, we went to the circus, which I seriously doubt I would do if I didn't have kids, which is not good. Every time I do something like this for or because of the kids, I leave with a heart uplifted.
It was great! Everyone was so happy and psyched to be there. There was a palpable excitement in the air and I couldn't stop thinking about the cliché of children wanting to run away and join the circus. Maybe that feeling never really goes away.
There were elephants, tigers, horses, dogs, and all of the costumes were sparkly and colorful. The performers definitely looked more interesting than most of my neighbors.
Now, it was a bit stinky because of the animals (presumably...although it could have been Cooper), and I'm sure that living out of a trailer and moving from town to town has it's disadvantages. However, it's hard to focus on that when you're watching a woman hanging from her hair a hundred feet off the ground, twirling like a top and releasing glitter into the air. Wow!
We ate popcorn and drank Sprite, which was a lot more fun than being in school.
The ringmaster was a woman, and she had very cool costumes.
Here she is with some high-kickin' ladies.

Has Cooper seen a scary clown?

Yes.

The tigers. I was sort of hoping they would attack their fat tamer.

This man, whose name was Johnny, had a great array of dogs that he had rescued, over time, from local shelters. These dogs seemed to be having more fun than anyone, human or animal.

The family of acrobats who rode horses standing up. The horses pooped an awful lot, so the family had to do a lot of shoveling in between standing on the horses' backs, but they didn't seem to mind, it's just part of the job.

Griffin was a big fan of this hula-hoop girl.

The popcorn was excellent.

In the end, we did go home, but I know I spent a lot of time wondering about what it must be like to live under the big top. I'm glad I live in a town where circuses are still very much alive and part of the local culture. It's probably better than actually running away.

In a nutshell

2008-04-16T18:24:00.010-04:00

La Georgina tagged me to describe myself in six words.
Okay, let me see...

1. Curious.
2. Impatient.
3. Loving.*
4. Obsessive.
5. Assertive
6. Thoughtful.

* "As long as it doesn't involve back-scratching," claims Troy.
(Perhaps because I'm impatient...)

I now tag Anna, Pistachio, Ilana, Sandy, Julie, and Mara.

The Pink Menace

2008-04-05T19:22:00.006-04:00

"I'm going to go kill them," he stated.
He turned and looked me square in the face.
"Stay there," he ordered, "because you don't have a weapon." I stared back at my four-year-old and said nothing. I was too tired to move.
"I'll handle them up!" he shouted, and bolted out of the bedroom.
'Handle them up?' I thought. Where does he get this stuff?
Moments later, he ran back into the room again at lightning speed, panting, "I got away. I wasn't powerful enough. I better climb up here." He shimmied up the bed post like a monkey up a tree.
We'd all just watched Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, and my sons had divided into teams of good vs. evil.
We were, however, under seige by a different menace: conjunctivitis, a.k.a. "pink-eye," and I was weary after three days of battling, wiping down surfaces with disinfectant and constant hand-washing. As the scourge spread through our house, Harry and I were now out-numbered, four against two, the only healthy hold-outs. The main weapon at my disposal was a small bottle of prescription eye-drops, to be administered two drops per pink eye, three times a day, for 10 days.
Friends from the outside had buoyed me with messages of encouragement, but I was feeling more and more germaphobic as the hours ticked by.
"Hope this doesn't freak you out too much, but apparently Pink Eye is contracted from fecal matter touching the eyes," said Sarah.
Oh, it did freak me out, so I immediately Googled that bit of info, gleaned from "Knocked Up," in an attempt to reassure myself that there are lots of ways to get this highly contagious infection. I told myself that we had the viral type.
It was only 8:00 p.m., but I was on my bed, ready to tuck under the comforter for the night. Dosing four children with eye-drops is a challenge fit for a nimble Jedi. I sat on the bed and distracted myself from the situation by letting my thoughts drift to musings on how Darth Maul had managed to kill Qui-Gon Jinn, perhaps the greatest Jedi alive, even stronger than Master Yoda. It just didn't seem right.
My thoughts were interrupted by the clashing sound of three siths busting into the room with light sabers. Their eyes were pink.
I centered myself, calling upon The Force.
I'm gonna handle them up, I vowed.

All hail Ellie Krieger!

2008-04-02T13:39:00.009-04:00

I bought Ellie Krieger's cookbook, The Food You Crave, with interest. I'd tried and loved her green bean salad recipe. It's fantastic!
Krieger is a registered dietitian and nutritionist who takes a very healthy approach to cooking without sacrificing flavor and satisfaction. I've really come to admire her.
I like working in more super foods whenever I can, and want to eat healthfully, but can't abide by some of the more draconian cookbooks that suggest vegetarianisn and all whole foods; they just don't interest me. Nor do I happen to have a great sweet tooth, so I am not one to look for rich desserts or recipes that contain a lot of sugar.
Krieger's book strikes the perfect balance.
The Food You Crave contains recipes stocked with powerful nutrients from high-quality, fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat protein sources. The dishes are flavor-packed through the use of spices and vinegars, and other ingredients like yogurt and buttermilk. It makes me feel good to know I'm getting a lot of nutritional bang for my buck, eating food that is loaded with anti-oxidants and yet tastes really good, not dull.

Every recipe includes nutritional values and what the foods are good for, like if something is an excellent source of calcium or vitamin A, for example.
In addition to the green bean salad, I've made the mustard-maple chicken, Asian-style three-bean salad, chocolate cherry-almond biscotti, triple chocolate cookies, and everything tastes delicious!
Beyond that, which is actually enough in and of itself, I really am pleased to read Krieger's philosophy that no foods should be forbidden, or off-limits; that such thinking only leads to feelings of deprivation and ensuant backlash. I heartily agree that it's better to have a smaller amount of a good-quality, real ingredient rather than more of its fake substitute, which usually tastes sub-par and may contain chemicals.
I'm looking forward to cooking more recipes from this book, and highly recommend it, if this sort of style appeals to you.
Krieger has a show called Healthy Appetite, on the Food Network. More information on her, her books, and access to recipes and videos can be found at the Food TV site.