dandelion garden

name that wood

2012-01-31T13:48:00.000-05:00

Often I have to take a look at my iPhone camera roll to remember what I've been up to. A little sad that my memory needs visual reminders (be they photographs or notes in my planner/Google calendar), but it's also nice to have a sort of diary to look back on (the idea behind Instagram). But I did have to laugh at one series of photos that I caught on my phone when stopped at a traffic light on my evening commute late last week. Views of the cut ends of tree trunks heading for the mill. I played a little game of "name that wood" and was pretty pleased with myself, except that the red ones puzzled me. Some sort of oak? Sometimes I amuse myself. And really that's what this blog (and life in general) is about - having fun.

Speaking of fun, we attempted homemade gnocchi the other night using a recipe for pumpkin gnocchi (don't recall where I got the recipe). One pound of potatoes, one cup of pureed pumpkin, 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat pastry flour, fresh sage from the garden (yes, we've had that nice of weather that my sage survives), salt and pepper. I need to practice my sauteing technique, though, because the gnocchi stuck to the cast iron pan and I kept adding oil until the gnocchi became donuts. Or at least tasted like them. A second batch went directly in the freezer and we'll probably just boil those and not saute them. A little culinary experimentation.

Tonight I take one of the cats (Gracie) to the vet for an overnight stay. Bright and early tomorrow she gets her teeth cleaned. I know she's going to hate it (not that I let on that we were doing that tonight, otherwise I'd come home to find her crammed under the guest room bed). Think good thoughts for my sweet (albeit bossy) little girl.

totally into

2012-01-26T11:35:00.002-05:00

Things I'm totally into right now:

~ Wearing my hot pink quilted vest over everything. Even when inside the office. Or at home. Normally I wear it just for running (since it has an iPod holder and key pocket), but I've been really cold lately and find that keeping my core warm makes all the difference. Plus, I look good in pink.

~ True Blood. We've just started season two and although I have to roll my eyes at some of the "romance," it really is a fun and exciting show. Just enough blood. Maybe not enough sex. But that's just me.

~ The new gallon-sized zipper bags that just arrived from Love for Earth (see Kara's etsy store). I got a small snack size as a free gift when I ordered napkins and produce bags last year and loved it for using in my lunchbag to pack carrot sticks or cookies or crackers. Now, two gallon-sized in lime green (with turquoise zipper) and bright yellow (with hot pink zipper). No more buying plastic zip bags for me - I had just used the last in the box, and although I do wash and reuse, I knew the last couple in circulation wouldn't last forever. These are easy to clean and they're cute to boot.

~Knee socks. Not just for boots, I wear these to work as often as I can (see keeping warm, above). I need more. I'd like a funky polka dot pair to add to the stripes and argyle already in circulation.

Work has been a bit crazed this week with meetings for a new building project and filmings in some of our historic structures and answering all sorts of public inquiries and working on a major talk I have coming up in mid-February. This weekend, normally when I look forward to a little calm, promises to be just as busy with a special tour at the museum and the biweekly visit to my grandmother's. I think a trip to Trader Joe's might be in order though, and perhaps a stop at Ikea. I've pinned a rug (the Millinge square black & white checked rug) that I'd love to see in person and maybe use in the office (which is still much in need of some attention)...

cheerful

2012-01-23T10:09:00.001-05:00

The smell of hyacinth has invaded the house due to a cheerful springtime bulb mix the beau brought the other night. Although it is chilly and icy outside, I can pretend that springtime has arrived inside the house. We did have a dusting of snow over the weekend that bathed the trees in a sprinkling of ice that hung around for most of the weekend, making for a misty, magical appearance as you drove down the street under their branches.

I've been eating and drinking a lot lately, having dinners and lunches with girlfriends and coworkers. Margaritas, beers, wine, and more margaritas. Paired with some warm and gooey food and the lack of running (brrr...so cold) and I'm afraid to hop on the scale. I did buy a pair of cold-weather running tights, though, which does help quite a lot. It's just the motivation to actually get up and out that does me in. But, tomorrow is another day.

This week I need to cook and maybe bake (and grocery shop!). The oven repair guy comes on Wednesday afternoon and I'm hoping that means I'll have a functioning oven by Wednesday night. Sweet potato muffins and roasted butternut squash and all sorts of goodies are on the wishlist. Fingers crossed. Otherwise, this chickpea and artichoke masala recipe from Aarti Party is on the to-cook list this week for an easy weeknight stovetop dinner.

Update: Shortly after posting I scanned The Kitchn and see that they have chickpeas on the brain as well.

out from under the covers

2012-01-18T16:50:00.000-05:00

I've been pressing the snooze button like a demon this week. I think because I got off to a rocky sleeping start on Sunday night due to the Golden Globes and me staying up past my bedtime (normally around 10:30pm). Once I get on a bad sleep cycle, it's hard to get off. I like sleep. And yet I'm totally a morning person and also like to be up and about for a good bit (sipping coffee, checking e-mail, etc.) before I head off to work. How to balance those two impulses is sometimes a challenge.

This morning I finally got up at a reasonable hour and went for a run (in the dark) and made it to work just a little late. I call that a major success. Of course likely Colette disagrees, as she often will disdainfully move aside for me to get out from under the covers only to head back to bed, settling directly on the warm spot I've just vacated. Smart girl. When I got back from my run this morning she allowed me to make the bed, but you can tell from this snap that she could not quite understand why I'd want to be out from under the covers on such a chilly morning.

I've made the switch to the wintertime duvet on the bed, which certain makes me want to burrow in the covers at nighttime. Crazy colors on my bed right now: blue/multicolor stripe duvet, small flowered quilt across the foot of the bed, and crazy floral and patchwork crocheted pillows at the head. Not shabby chic florals, mind you, but a little bit bright and wacky. I'm itching to redecorate a room right now, although don't think it'll be the bedroom. Pinterest has become a haven for me and my big ideas. Come and find me there if you're on Pinterest too. Me and my chevron accent walls and tiled floors and painted sisal rugs.

tucked away

2012-01-16T12:05:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday was a beautiful day weather-wise, and luckily it was also the day we picked to wander around Richmond (enjoying both being off work on a random weekday). Tucked away in Byrd Park, the beau stopped the car amidst construction vehicles at the entrance to the Byrd Park Pump House and we tromped through the mud to explore the outside of the building, the canal, and surrounding pathways. The area is well interpreted by wayside signage that details the history of the building, the use of the canal, and quarrying efforts in the vicinity.

The pump house itself, a glorious example of Gothic Revival architecture, is currently undergoing restoration, but they've uncovered the open-arched upper level on one side of the structure to illustrate how the building looked when the second floor hosted a dance hall in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. It must have been amazing to float along the canal in your party dress and dance the night away overlooking the woods and water. How I wish they would hurry up and complete the restoration so the tradition can start up again.

fuzzy

2012-01-11T13:53:00.004-05:00

Honestly, the return to work was less than pleasant, topped off by the fact that I had to work as duty officer the first weekend back. Now I find myself wondering what day it actually is, and in fact my friend Meghan and I disagreed on it last night over dinner when she stated that yesterday (Tuesday) was Monday and I insisted it was Wednesday. Guess I'm not the only one a bit fuzzy with going back to full-time work after the holidays.

The Christmas decorations are still up in the house, and the office is still a bit untidy, but the hellebores in the front garden are starting to bud, so all seems like it'll be okay.

last day

2012-01-03T06:21:00.002-05:00

Up early today, coffee made, and the dread of heading back to work hangs over me. I wish I could stay home just a few days more. Get in more lazing about; get more cleaning and organizing completed; just not have to be at work checking e-mails and answering phone calls and actually doing my job. Le sigh.

For my last day of freedom we drank. Horton Vineyards and Barboursville Vineyards wine tastings, to be exact. I had made a vegan couscous and butternut squash salad and gathered together a picnic in one of my cute vintage tin picnic baskets, but the 30-degree weather meant a picnic was a lost cause. Not that we didn't attempt it. The beau was actually the voice of reason. I had plans to shiver through my pain. 60-degree weather all last week or so, and now this?! But small little snowflakes fell on us as we left the last winery, which made the cold seem a little magical at least.

danced like crazy

2012-01-02T08:25:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!

Needless to say, we had a great time at the 80s prom, where we danced like crazy, drank some beers, sang along to great songs, and watched all the dressed-up drunks toddle about. I spent a total of $6.99 (well, plus tax) on aqua/black fishnets to go with my leftover bridesmaids outfit: a hot pink strapless cocktail dress from my friend Cathy's wedding and long black gloves from my friend Kristin's wedding. Pictures? Sadly no (too dark in the venue), but here's the dress hanging at the ready. Oh, and I also wore two long strands of blue and pearl beads from Mardi Gras back in college. That's a whole 'nother story (right Krissy and Einat?).

In addition to dancing our butts off, we also hosted a brunch for friends on NYE day, had amazing pizza with mushrooms, olives, and capers from 8 1/2, watched the first few episodes of True Blood, and took a nice long walk around Belle Isle (so pretty - here you see the view from the footbridge crossing over the James River onto the island).

Hope you all had fun this weekend too!

glitter

2011-12-29T09:04:00.002-05:00

I woke up this morning to a frosty glitter covering the ground, crunching under my flip-flops as I moved the recycling bin to the curb. (Yes, flip-flops; I wasn't outside more than one minute.) And although we haven't had snow like I see in so many friends' pictures from the Midwest or West, a little frost is enough Winter for me (for now at least).

Yesterday I enjoyed the sunshine by getting out for a run/walk for the first time since the holidays set in. My lungs ached a bit from the cold weather (and getting over a little bit of a sniffle), but being outside felt so good. Otherwise I've been holed up listening to Duffy and She & Him and catching up on magazines and the second season of Downton Abbey (the Christmas special was oh so good!).

This weekend we plan on getting outside for some park time, enjoying brunch with friends, and dancing at a New Years Eve prom. So, happy early New Year to all. Stay safe and have fun!

light of the tree

2011-12-27T07:58:00.000-05:00

I am always a little sad when December 26 arrives. Should I take the tree down or wait until New Years? Can I still play Christmas music in the car? How long before I have to put away my presents and get back to normal life? Because I am on vacation this entire week, I plan on keeping the Christmas decorations up so that I can bask in the light of the tree while I laze about on the couch watching movies and eating praline chex mix.

Another thing that I must do this week is clean up the home office. I work out of the space once a week, but it has gotten to such an embarrassing point that I can't even take a picture that I'm willing to publish. No matter how cropped or Instagram-ish I make it. Must purge papers and magazine tearsheets and reorganize before the new year begins. Plus, I have a new desk chair to introduce to the room, so I must admit that is part of the push as well.

The holiday celebration with was lovely, albeit a bit hectic - trying to see both our families in the span of a day was a little tiring, but successful. While up with my family, I had dinner in Frederick (Maryland) and got to see the solar-powered Christmas tree outside of City Hall. It was a pretty night - a chill in the air and the lights all shimmery in the city. And although my grandmother ended up not making it up to Maryland for the holiday, we had a lovely time - hanging out with my parents and brother and sister-in-law, eating good food, and drinking lots of wine. Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas too.

to-do lists

2011-12-23T09:52:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was my last day at work until the new year and I cannot express to you how excited I was for the day to end. I pushed through the day, kicking butt getting stuff done off my to-do list (that I had outlined with little check boxes, of course, in colorful Sharpie inks). And then 4:30 hit. And then 4:32. And then... It was so painful - that click, click, click of the clock before 5:00 arrived. I was pulling out of the parking lot at 5:01 and was at happy hour by 5:57. Let the holidays begin!

When my friend Elizabeth hosted our latest crafting party this fall/winter, we concentrated on felt crafts. I had high hopes for this particular ornament and made two versions in lime green (surprise, Mom, guess what you're getting tied to your Christmas package?). And then I succumbed to my penchant for faux food and made bacon. The gateway meat. The beau received one; Elizabeth another. One of my friends had the idea that I should make an egg to go with my bacon. I'm sensing a whole series of foodie felt ornaments on my to-do list for next Christmas.

Today I head to see my family and the beau will join me when he gets off work. This is our first Christmas balancing our two loving families (hi Mom!), which I know can be difficult (especially when we both actually like our families). My grandmother (mother's mother) is actually joining us for Christmas Eve this year and spending the night at my parents' house, which is a first for her in a long time. Fingers crossed we all have a great time together. And I wish all of you, my dear friends, a very merry Christmas too!

crafting: felt star tree topper

2011-12-20T21:11:00.003-05:00

Pinterest has been great for giving me ideas for decorating, cooking, or crafting projects. But type in "tree topper" and not much inspiration pops up. Sadly. In years past I've just tied a big ribbon bow on the tip of the little faux tree and called it a day. But tonight I just bit the bullet and made a felt star tree topper for the heck of it. Because I own pinking shears and a needle & thread, and by gosh, I know how to use them.

Cutting a star (two layers at one time to make a front and back) luckily wasn't as difficult as a circle. Man, I am SO bad at cutting circles (right, L.?). My star ain't pretty, but I like the "homemade" crooked look. I then took an almost-square of felt (with two pinked edges) and rolled it into cone, running a quick stitch up the seam.

I then sandwiched the two star layers over the cone and stitched away - making sure to attach the star to the cone at the beginning and end. Just a simple running stitch in the same off-white color as the felt (but it could be done in a contrasting color for a cute effect).

The little faux tree before (left) and after (right): not a huge difference, but a little more festive (until the perfect tree topper comes my way).

burnt snack mix, a cheese ball, and orchid legs

2011-12-18T18:40:00.001-05:00

Every year I make a whole bunch of chex mix for the tour guides at work, other coworkers, and the postman. This year is no exception, although I got a little ambitious and graduated from an official Chex brand recipe to one that my friend Martha recommends. With an oven that only half works, I'm feeling a little shaky, but how much could I ruin the snack mix? Aside from burning it I suppose. Which I've already partly done. We'll call it Cajun-Chesapeake Bay snack mix this year.

Speaking of my friend Martha, I also made a super-simple cheese ball (also known as Martha's Cheddar Cheese Ball) for a retro-themed holiday party we went to this weekend. Success. But I disregarded Martha's instructions to form the mixture into two nut-rolled balls. Instead: massive nut-covered ball that was a whole lot more than the guests could eat. So the next morning we had cheese toast (with cheese ball mix) for breakfast; now the beau has taken it home to do with as he will. Wish him luck that he makes his way through it before Christmas.

In other news, when working in my home office this past week I examined the orchid that was a takeaway from my friend Cathy's wedding brunch two Mays ago. It lost its tall stalks a while back and I'd been wondering what would happen, having never grown an orchid before. I'm guessing all these new little legs are a good thing. But I'm not sure and so I've got my eye on it - hoping the legs grow up and start blooming, and not creep over and grab me when I'm sitting at my desk diligently working...

festive

2011-12-13T11:44:00.005-05:00

A work Christmas party (complete with potluck and bingo) was one of the highlights of the weekend. And that's pretty sad. Otherwise, the weekend involved work and work. This is especially hard during the holiday season when you want to be festive and friendly and all I ended up doing was wanting to take a nap! But the weekend is over and the week is underway and that gets me closer and closer to Christmas.

I adore Christmas. Must have been instilled in me by my mother, who always had special decorations and special music and special foods this time of year. And my great-grandmother, Mom-Mom, who invariably had a big punchbowl of eggnog to sip while she methodically opened wrapped gifts with a letter opener. In keeping with Mom-Mom's tradition, the grocery store tempted me with Rice Dream rice nog, which we enjoyed with a shot of Maker's Mark and sprinkling of nutmeg on Wednesday night. Friday night was a hot buttered rum made with Earth Balance and light rum, warming us up as we watched a movie (Up in the Air, by the way).

In addition to getting the tree up and decorated, I also set about putting my growing collection of inherited cut and pressed glass to work. Holding vintage ornaments (also inherited) and candy canes (not inherited, but definitely old and not for consumption). Last year's holiday craft - a ribbon-wrapped wreath decorated with cutouts - went up on the living room mirror. The living room is definitely the most festive room of the little house, although I did try to include touches in the kitchen and bathroom (yes, bathroom!) for good measure. I have just enough decorations for the house and its four little rooms. Whenever I move into a new (bigger!) house, I just know I'm going to have a blast decorating for the holidays. Staircase? Mantelpiece? Yes, please!

Here's hoping you all had a nice, warm weekend and are all decorated for the holidays!

eating: cooking in

2011-12-09T07:32:00.003-05:00

Eating out is expensive. And not super-healthy, although we tend to skip fast food and those sorts of meals for things like tofu subs or paella. But in the end, we need to cook in and and eat in much more than we currently do. The beau was the first one to say that out loud, but I'd been thinking it myself. And so I've been trying to pull new recipes into my repertoire. You know - the kind of things that become second nature to you and can be thrown together relatively quickly on a week day. And is filling enough that you don't feel badly that you've just fed your boyfriend a salad or a bowl of soup or cold cereal.

Vegan Yum Yum: Creamy Sweet Potato Bake from the Vegan Yum Yum cookbook. Whole wheat pasta, cubes of sweet potato, and chopped kale, all baked up in a yummy alfredo sauce. Definite comfort food.

Vegan Cooking for One: Creamy Pasta with Mushrooms and Walnuts. Okay, I used wild (not button) mushrooms and pecans, but the concept was the same as the cookbook - sauteed nuts, mushrooms, onions, and garlic in a white sauce made of cornstarch and almond milk. Over whole wheat spaghetti. Quick and easy and adaptable to whatever veggies reside in the fridge.

The Vegan Table: Tofu Filet with Cornmeal Crust and Tartar Sauce. This got mixed reviews from our panel of judges. We were less than impressed with the cornmeal crust; the beau suggested panko breading next time. Definitely need to perfect this because I've not done breaded tofu before and it seems like a pretty versatile skill to have in my cooking armory. The tartar sauce was pretty good (Vegenaise, chopped pickles and capers, parsley) but the cocktail sauce was even better. Served with 'roasted' (aka almost burnt) broccoli florets and a slice of sourdough toast.

More cooking to come...and more successes (and failures) to share.

the little tree

2011-12-05T20:04:00.002-05:00

I feel like I am constantly running around this time of year - with work programs and family events and holiday parties and shopping to do. The little (faux) tree finally went up last evening after I arrived home from a visit to my grandmother's. A little A Very She & Him Christmas blaring and up went the foodie-related ornaments. The newest addition: a butternut squash. Guess I'm a girl of limited interests.

Speaking of limited interests, I feel like every picture I now take must be filtered through Instagram. Everything looks better with a funky border, fuzzy lighting, and some focal point play. So my apologies as I post yet another Instagram photograph. I promise to post some "normal" pictures again at some point. Maybe.

We did a little museum visiting this weekend - to the VMFA to see the new MUMMY exhibit, complete with introductory 3-D movie narrated by Patrick Stewart. Yup. Oh, and Egyptian themed 3-D glasses, of course. Nah, we didn't look silly at all.

coming home

2011-11-28T09:24:00.000-05:00

While we didn't have the best Thanksgiving this year, it was nice to be together for the holiday. A viewing, a funeral, going through my grandmother's clothes, and finally getting back on the plane to come home. The sun was brilliant on Saturday morning when I flew home. For the leg from Dallas to Richmond, I was bumped up to first class (I think because I was classified as bereavement) and I must say it was a nice gesture. Roomy seat, cloth napkin, and a real glass glass for my ice water. Made the journey a little better.

When I finally arrived home, the beau greeted me at the airport and proceeded to surprise me with an after-Thanksgiving feast (complete with tablecloth, Tofurkey, and homemade sweet potato pudding). So sweet. And now it is back to normal - trying to catch back up at work and looking forward to Christmas. Need to make my shopping list and get the decorations out of the attic. Hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend!

growing: autumn garden

2011-11-21T21:09:00.000-05:00

The autumn garden is full of soft colors and decay. With splashes of bright yellow thrown in (those hostas!). Along with the first bright bursts at spring, this slow descent of greens into browns and yellows is enchanting. You see the garden settling down for winter. Sowing its seeds for a new year and new life ahead.

My father's mother passed away this weekend and I head to be with family this week. We will be sad, but we'll be together. And for that I am thankful. Here's hoping everyone is surrounded by loved ones this Thanksgiving week.

roasting and decluttering (or man, my life is exciting)

2011-11-16T07:20:00.002-05:00

Roasting. I've been doing a lot of that lately. The lower coil of my oven busted a while ago and I've not yet told my landlord (lazy). So when I turn the oven on it takes a while to heat up and even then isn't great for precise baking. But roasting is no problem. On Monday I roasted a large can of chickpeas until toasty (with salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast) for snacks; half of a sweet potato cut into "fries" to go with dinner; a tortilla torn into bits to go with my lunchtime soup; and pumpkin seeds that had been languishing in the fridge from pumpkin carving.

I've also been on a decluttering kick. At least a decluttering of the closet. In the name of switching over my seasonal clothing, I took the opportunity to purge a huge bag of clothes that I know I'll never wear. Things that either a) no longer fit; b) never fit right; or c) are incredibly out of style - or at least my style - now. I've lost a little weight over the past few months and am in a dilemma regarding some of my nicer pants that are now too big. Donate? Consign? Alter? So those go in a separate pile until I can make up my mind. I'd love to get to a point where all of my clothes actually fit in my bedroom instead of spilling over into the attic or guest room closet. We're making progress...slowly.

And that concludes what has to be the most boring post I feel that I've ever written. Guess mid-November just isn't an exciting time of year. Although I do have a fun weekend ahead of me, this week is just work, work, work. Oh, with a trip to the grocery store thrown in there. I know. Riveting.

crossing the finish line

2011-11-14T12:11:00.005-05:00

I must admit that I love waking up in the mornings to actual light in the sky as opposed to the darkness before the time change. But the driving home in the pitch dark certainly stinks. Makes me want to hunker down and do nothing in the evenings. To that end, the chores that I normally get done and the errands I normally run after work have fallen by the wayside and I am seriously behind. I find that music motivates me during chore time, so have been blasting Duffy (via Spotify) the past couple times to get in a better mood. I now know what album is going on the Christmas wish-list.

This weekend I actually did run/walk that 8K that I was talking about a while back. The beau ran it too and then we spent the rest of the morning taking naps. It was crazy to feel so incredibly productive so early in the morning (the race started at 7am). ~~Haven't gotten my official time yet, but I think I made my goal and am really happy with myself.~~ Crossed the finish line in 58:53, which meets my personal goal of finishing within an hour. Think this might be the first of more races...all because I did my normal run/walk without feeling guilty about the walk part. Ended up having tons of energy at the end of the course!

While down in Richmond this weekend, we also ate. We do that very well. I am really enjoying getting to know Richmond's food scene and enjoy trying new places (well, new to me at least). Kuba Kuba on Friday night before the race for some vegetarian paella (me), tostones (us), and pork & rice/beans (him). Sunday we hit up The Black Sheep for brunch and it made me so happy. I had read about the restaurant in various articles but had never been. I had minty (spiked) hot chocolate (coffee for the beau) at their outside patio while we were waiting for our table, which was glorious since the weather must have been in the mid-60s! Then onto a mimosa and a sub of scrambled egg, marinated tofu, daikon and carrot, all with an eggplant "mayonnaise." The beau got a greyhound and a smoked trout and egg dish. Oh and we split a serving of corn pudding. So, so great. Definitely need a return visit for cocktails and dinner. And would be perfect for taking out-of-town visitors (warning!).

those little kitties

2011-11-06T07:40:00.003-05:00

This morning we set our clocks back an hour and I thought I'd be all productive and get up at my normal time and clean the kitchen, do a load of laundry, etc. Instead I slept. And it felt great. Today I'm heading to visit my 89-year old grandmother and do a little shopping and a little lunch. Our normal girls-day-out thing.

I did get the couch slipcover washed this week (which is always a bit of a chore). Of course the minute (no, second) my back was turned after the cover was on, wouldn't you know that one certain black cat was crawling all over it. She must share my affinity for the smell of freshly-washed linens. Is there anything better than crawling into clean sheets and coverlets on a bed, for instance? The simple joys of life, I suppose.

As an extension of our 6-month dating anniversary the beau sent flowers. Bright, cheerful sunflowers and other fluffy blossoms. Makes me smile during this dreary time of year. During the time when I'm not around to see them they get stored in the fridge, though. Little cat teeth marks started appearing when they stayed out on the table. (Luckily he knew not to include lilies in the arrangement just for that reason). I swear, those little kitties drive me crazy! Wouldn't trade them for the world.

that time of year

2011-11-02T21:08:00.002-04:00

We are slipping into that time of year where solitude settles over me like a low-lying cloud. I feel cocooned in the house when I get home from work - kept in by the darkness outside and by the need to snuggle under blankets to stay toasty. This means earlier bedtimes, lots of hot baths, and finally getting through months of magazines that seem to have collected and multiplied like rabbits during the warmer months.

Food cooked in the kitchen also tends toward the warm and comforting. Tonight it was baked tofu fries. Two nights before, leftover sweet potato gnocchi (oh so good). On tap for the rest of the week and weekend - vegan green bean and mushroom casserole (trial run for Thanksgiving) and a pumpkin pasta (to take to game night on Friday).

My running has definitely become less frequent, although I did get out on Tuesday morning with my new flashing light strapped to my arm (to make me visible at intersections and what-not). I had a warm vest on that was so great at the beginning of the run, but I had to end up unzipping by the end. And gloves. I need to locate the bag that contains my running hat and gloves. A project for tomorrow. When I get out from under this blanket.

a walk in the cemetery

2011-10-31T11:16:00.001-04:00

I had to scrape ice off the car windows this morning. But there was a lovely frost on the grass and a hanging fog in the air that made the cold worthwhile. At least for the short amount of time before my heated car seat warmed up.

This weekend we celebrated our six-month dating anniversary with a lovely dinner out and a walk in the cemetery. That's what every couple does, right? Hollywood Cemetery was appropriately gothic and gloomy and the weather just added to the mood.

After a pumpkin-carving party hosted by a friend, I now have a spider-adorned pumpkin for the trick-or-treaters. I also have a good amount of pumpkin seeds and the serious desire to make this recipe for pumpkin pasta again. Mmm...warm comfort food.

Eeek!

2011-10-28T16:02:00.001-04:00

Brrrrr...chilly weather is settling in for the weekend and I am wishing that I actually took the time on my day off to unpack my winter clothing and put away my summer. Yes, I have too many clothes if they have to hang in seasonal shifts. I am well aware of that. But that doesn't change the fact that my tank tops and cute summer skirts won't keep me warm this weekend. So I'm layering scarfs and hoping for the best.

Met up with a girlfriend last night for dinner in downtown Fredericksburg and was really pleased to see that Halloween decorations were on display in more than one storefront. Wittingham always has the best (most creative and well-executed) decorations at Christmas, but must admit that I'd never noticed Halloween before. Props to them and some of their neighbors for getting into the spirit. Now I just need to carve that pumpkin that my mother brought me as a gift this week. Then I'll be one step closer to having actually decorated/prepared for the holiday myself. Candy purchasing might also be a good step. If I don't want my house egged, that is.

And in other (obsessive) news, I have succumbed to Pinterest. Took the plunge. Haven't started pinning yet, but we'll see how it goes...eeek! Now that's scary.

sighs of relief (and a lemon verbena pedicure)

2011-10-27T06:55:00.002-04:00

Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement during my latest work stress. It is over and I'm breathing sighs of relief. These past few days I've been enjoying getting back to normal by spending time with friends and loved ones. Happy hour with Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (thanks for converting me Theresa!); Friday night movie night at the Byrd Theatre with the original 1925 silent Phantom accompanied by a Wurlitzer organ; visiting baby Esther and her mom; Oktoberfest potluck; hanging with Grandma; and finally a spa trip with my mother (seaweed wrap, pumpkin facial, and lemon verbena pedicure).

It is good to be back in my happy place. I spent yesterday after my mother left doing a lot of cleaning, finally mowing the lawn (sorry it took me so long, backyard-neighbor Steve), going for a run in the BEAUTIFUL weather, and making tortilla soup. Oh, and catching up on the latest Downton Abbey Season 2 episodes online. Maggie Smith is a riot.

like a peacock

2011-10-13T13:41:00.002-04:00

I'm having a difficult day. Well, I'm having a day that is the first of many that I anticipate to stress me out a bit and make me want to drink vast quantities of red wine. It is all work related, and while I can say it is 'just a job,' those in the non-profit world know that it is never just a job in our world. You do it because you love it and because you believe it matters. But I'm trying to keep my head above water and not let it get me down and realize that I don't need to take it personally. Keep it in perspective, you know? Be like a duck and let things just roll off me (or a peacock if you are a bit more dramatic).

So I'm thinking of all the good things I have in my life: A loving family that is relatively (knock wood) healthy. A wonderful set of friends that make me laugh and allow me to crash in and out of their lives. A relationship with a boy who makes me happy. A pair of cats that are always getting in trouble. A roof over my head. Oh, and a box of red wine in the fridge (that my grandmother, bless her heart, passed along to me) and some Tofutti Cutie sandwiches in the freezer.

I've been going through my England/Wales pictures today. Trying to piece together a 20-minute presentation for our board meeting. Hard to edit down such an incredible trip, and I'm discovering some really great pictures that make me so happy. So beware, gentle readers, you have been warned. More pictures to come...today from the incredible gardens at Powis Castle, Wales.

tales of a reluctant runner

2011-10-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

The evenings are getting darker more quickly and the mornings are slow to get going. I'm finding it difficult to find time for a daylit run before (preferred) or after work. While the area of the city that I live and run in is not at all what I'd call dangerous, it is a little deserted during those early morning hours when I like getting out there, and I feel a little nervous venturing out without some visibility. Not that I'll start carrying mace or anything, but aside from wearing bright/reflective clothing, I have been considering getting a runner ID band just so I'll have my name and emergency contact information on me. You know, in case. Probably a good idea anyway.

I am definitely a reluctant runner, as I've expressed before, but I'm finding it easier and easier to do more running on my run/walk route. I used to alternate run and walk between each city block, but now I'll go for longer and longer stretches between my walking spurts. Today I used MapMyRUN to, well, map my normal morning run/walk route. 1.55 miles. Nothing too crazy, but provides a good quick sweat and wake-up session. And something I can now finish in 15 minutes or so. Not a record-setting pace, but not bad for a reluctant runner, right? And the key for me is that I still LOVE it! The beau is more of a runner than I am and is encouraging me to participate in an upcoming race. He'll be doing a half marathon, but there is an 8k option (about 5 miles) that might be a possibility for me. If I can get my courage up...

the decline of mashed potatoes

2011-10-10T14:06:00.005-04:00

The windows are open, the washing machine is churning, and I have the new Design Sponge at Home book to page through. I'm enjoying a personal holiday - a day off from work that I didn't actually officially get - after a long weekend away. I've already taken a bubble bath and it's not even 2:00pm.

The beau and I took a road trip over the weekend; about 20 hours in the car (him driving except for a short two hours where I provided a nap break) through seven states. Crazy? A little. But definitely worth it to see college girlfriends Theresa and Mommy Esq. and their husbands and children. Given our foodie interests (and my WPA academic ties), we devoured The Food of a Younger Land on cd during the drive. Amusing and fascinating, especially one particular Federal Writers Project author's obsession with the decline of mashed potatoes. Hmmm. Guess you had to be there.

So today I alternately lounge and tidy the house and just enjoy the day. The couch is a perfect perch for the above-mentioned lounging and a view of the newly-blooming peace lily. If I can gather the motivation, perhaps a run this afternoon. Or perhaps a nap.

lunches and bleating goats

2011-10-05T07:41:00.005-04:00

If you are like me, you have a difficult time coming up with creative, easy, and tasty lunch packables. I normally rely on hummus with carrots and pita or a frozen entree or some sort of leftover from the night before. But wouldn't you know that if you plan and do a little research you can find other things to pack?! Amazing. Like a wrap of apple, arugula, and chickpeas in a balsamic vinaigrette inspired by this recipe.

In my continual flirtation with vegan eating, I omitted the cheese and hard-boiled egg. Of course I forgot to also scan the ingredients of the whole wheat flour tortillas that I bought from Wegman's until the very last lunch. Wouldn't you know that fish oil (anchovy & sardine) and fish gelatin (tilapia) were the secret ingredients? Total bummer (and a little stomach-churning for this veggie girl). Now I know.

We have been enjoying some decidedly autumnal weather the past few days. A little chilly, but nothing that can't be handled by some layers and actually turning the heat on in the house. We went to the Virginia State Fair over the weekend and enjoyed some old fashioned rodeo escapades and funnel cakes and people-watching. Plus, we caught the middleweight meat goat show, which was decidedly like Best in Show but with bleating goats and teenage handlers.

eating: mushroom ragout and polenta

2011-09-26T06:50:00.002-04:00

Although the past few days have been warm and muggy, I've been thinking about fall and all its deliciousness - butternut squash and apples, to be specific. For a leisurely dinner the other night, we made this mushroom ragout with spinach-parmesan polenta. It was warm and 'meaty,' although I sadly didn't buy enough spinach and we didn't have time to thaw some frozen I had stocked away. So, I can imagine it would be even better with more greens. But paired with some rosemary bread and a glass of red wine, it was a warm and comforting meal.

Recipe collecting is an addiction of mine. Sometimes I feel like there should be a Pinterest for online recipes. Although I guess you could use it for that. Hmmm...(I need another internet-based addiction like I need a hole in the head, though!).

Sadly the mountain cabin idea is falling through due to lack of interest from a large group. Perhaps we need to plan better next year. But the beau and I may try to still do a fallish getaway. Some leaf-peeping and apple-picking, perhaps. Now if only the weather would cooperate and actually turn to autumn, we'd be on our way.

growing (and eating & drinking): rosemary

2011-09-10T11:14:00.001-04:00

The garden includes a rosemary plant that can be best described as a bush at this point. I've taken to cutting sprigs of rosemary to bring into the house for impromptu bouquets every so often. I love the smell of rosemary and like that I'm able to have greenery from the garden year-round. This weekend we had gin and tonic cocktails with muddled rosemary - very herbal and refreshing for the end of summer. Breakfast this morning was scrambled eggs with rosemary and capers - so savory and flavorful - served over toasted slices of rosemary olive oil bread.

The rain has finally stopped and today is sunny, breezy, and absolutely beautiful. The windows are thrown wide open and the fresh air is a welcome change. An afternoon nap may be in order...

whatnot

2011-09-06T07:05:00.003-04:00

The past week has been hot and humid, but teetering on the brink of not being hot and humid. You know? The canal near the house is green with algae, even with the amount of rain and wind we've gotten with our various tropical storms and whatnot. Hard to tell the difference between the green of the trees and the green of the water. A little surreal.

The Labor Day weekend has come to a close and heading back into work today seems daunting and depressing. The weather this morning is equally depressing - rainy and cold. No morning run (I cannot make myself run in the rain) and instead a little extra time with the coffee and catching up on friends' blogs, etc.

Although I did have to work one day this weekend, a little fun was squeezed into the equation as well - a little tango, a little art, some good food and cocktails (southsides and martinis), hanging out, reading. A bit of a lazy weekend. A bit perfect.

quinoa salad and fall plans

2011-08-31T08:41:00.003-04:00

Well, I was lucky and never lost power during the hurricane. The lights flickered and I could hear transformers surging, but power stayed on and I felt very fortunate. My big shade tree also held her own (with a few more branches down). Other people in the area were not as fortunate and have been enjoying cold showers and major cleanup. My friend Cathy kept power as well and hosted a 'Perishables Party' where those without power could bring food in danger of thawing to cook and share. It was a lot of fun - pizza, burgers, random dips, and lots of wine - and much needed stress relief after our week of natural disasters.

Although I didn't end up needing it, I did prepare food I could eat without heating: black bean, corn, tomato, and quinoa salad based on this basic recipe (but with a little tweaking - no cilantro, scallions, or sugar; lime juice/zest instead of lemon; and adding red pepper flakes, cumin, and fresh corn cut from the cob). Served last night for dinner on a bed of organic baby arugula. Perfect.

Although I was lucky, my museum was not as fortunate. No one was hurt but there was major tree damage and loss of power. This means no climate control, which for museum people is a pretty bad thing - humidity control is key. So I've put a ~~nasty~~ note on the museum entrance insisting that doors stay closed unless necessary to maintain the climate; and am keeping fingers crossed that power is restored sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I am working from home on projects I've been putting off - like sorting pictures from my England trip!

This morning on my run I was a little chilly. The air is still humid, but has a decidedly 'crisp' feel. Can't wait to pull out cozy throws and the fluffy duvet for the bed. Working on a plan with some local friends to rent a mountain cabin later this fall. Definitely looking forward to that - warm sweater, big glass of red wine, fireplace.

the big shade tree

2011-08-27T07:05:00.002-04:00

I am in awe of Mother Nature and all she can do. A strong earthquake earlier this week and on Thursday night a massive storm that swept through Fredericksburg with a vengance, taking down two limbs off the big shade tree in front of my house. With branches and chunks scattered across the yard, I could see a series of woodpecker holes throughout the debris. Little did I know that big shade tree was home not only to squirrels and songbirds, but also insect-snacking woodpeckers.

Well, I'm afraid the tree's end is near. I came home yesterday to a big white X painted across the trunk by the city. I will miss that big tree. Watching the squirrels play in its branches. The shade it gives to the front garden and stoop. Always having a bit of green towering over me, almost protective of the little house.

I don't know when she'll be taken away. We have Hurricane Irene coming sometime today and I'm hoping that the big shade tree holds her own. I'll be hunkering down the best I can. Up early this morning to do a little cooking just in case we lose power (likely). On the menu for the storm: black bean and tomato quinoa with lemon dressing (well, I'll be using lime). And this afternoon just might have to start on all that SoCo slushy in the freezer. I mean, can't let it go to waste...

in the middle

2011-08-23T15:12:00.000-04:00

I am that random person that stops in the middle of a morning run/walk to take pictures. Of the moon, of a rabbit nibbling grass (a little more difficult, as rabbits are want to run away), or local landmarks. This morning: the Mary Washington monument along my favored running path.

The air this morning had a decidedly autumnal feel to it. Something that excites and saddens me at the same time. Summertime is one for lounging, and sipping icy drinks, and enjoying road trips and other adventures. Autumn, on the other hand, reminds me of back to school, which although I do enjoy new organization supplies, I also feel like I really need to get back to work and buckle down. But autumn also brings walks through crunchy fallen leaves. Crunching leaves really are one of my favorite sounds. So hmmm...maybe I can be convinced that the change of seasons is a good thing.

oyster ice cream and rickeys

2011-08-22T10:09:00.003-04:00

Lovely weekend in Washington, D.C. with the beau. We are both foodies in some ways, so took a trip to see the exhibit What's Cooking, Uncle Sam? at the National Archives on Saturday afternoon. Hot, hot walk from the hotel and long, long security line, but the exhibit was entertaining and informative and just a lot of fun. You could really tell that the curators enjoyed themselves with the topic of governmental food regulation. Sounds strange to say, but it's true. Where else could you write/read a label with the phrase: "...crimes against butter?"

We had reservations for dinner at America Eats Tavern that evening - the pop-up restaurant (in the former Cafe Atlantico space) linked to the Archives exhibit and with all proceeds benefiting the National Archives Foundation. Good food for a good cause. The menu reads like a history lesson of early cookery receipts and the food that resulted was a modern take on the historic dish. For the beau (the meat eater), it was the spoonbread with oyster ice cream and caviar, the pickled sturgeon with caviar (good old Virginia-inspired recipe from Mary Randolph), and the mutton shoulder with oysters and catsups. For me (the vegetarian), the vermicelli prepared like pudding, the Harvard beet salad, and the cobb salad (made veg).

For dessert we shared the Vermont Sugar on Snow, which was a pile of shaved ice with citrus zest and flowers that was embedded with maple candy and served tableside with pours of hot maple syrup that crystalized as you were eating. Pretty crazy. And made me think of that scene on the train in Holiday Inn where they are singing about snow...

The food was delightful and fun, but I was really impressed with the array of historic cocktails also being offered. The traditional D.C. rickey was a fun start (pictured above), and my martini post-dinner was to die for. Orange bitters = amazing.

just peachy

2011-08-19T11:40:00.005-04:00

My father has the habit of answering "just ducky" when asked how he's doing. This morning a coworker asked me the same question and I replied "just peachy." I have peaches on my mind. I also had a handful of soft peaches that I needed to do something with ASAP before they were lost for good. So last night, waiting for my friend Suzy to arrive to spend the night, I whipped up a random batch of peach muffins. Loosely based on Mark Bittman's flexible muffin/quick bread recipe in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, but veganized (with egg replacer) and using what I had.

Thrown Together 'Just Peachy' Muffins

Yields 12 regular muffins

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup sugar (I'd use less next time - too sweet!)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons vegan butter

1 'egg' using Enger-G egg replacer

1 cup chopped fresh peaches (peeled, but not drained)

Vanilla almond milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Throw together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix up the 'egg' in a cup and set aside. Chop peaches. Add the cold butter to the dry ingredients and cut in with a knife until butter is about pea-sized. Add the 'egg' and peaches. Mix with a spoon. Add almond milk as needed until mixture holds together. Fill muffin tins and bake for about 25 minutes or until tops are lightly brown and tester comes out clean.

Besides a lovely house guest, I have a really fun weekend ahead of me. Museum exhibit, good food, and perhaps a moonlit walk. We'll see... Happy Friday to all!

sluggish

2011-08-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, I know it's a snail, but I've been feeling a bit sluggish lately and this little guy seemed to understand. Found him crawling down the side of my house the other morning when I got back from my run/walk.

Motivation is definitely a challenge right now. The weather is nice and sunny and I'd rather be anywhere (ahem, like the beach) than sitting in my office. Yesterday was a welcome opportunity to take a research field trip to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, where I enjoyed an alfresco lunch with the beau and then spent hours pawing through books on Chinese export porcelain in search of a certain family coat of arms and crest. Tedious? You bet, but a nice change of pace.

tending to

2011-08-15T07:16:00.000-04:00

Thick, tall grass. A sad little Ikea garden bench that has lost a majority of its back slats. A tree that is growing way too tall and wide for its spot by the back door.

My garden needs tending to. Almost two months of neglect (aside from the hired lawn guy). And the sad thing is that I feel like I've lost my gardening mojo for the year. I have no itch to plant and weed and harvest. I want to start over again. Plan out the garden from scratch. With raised beds and pea gravel paths and a fence to block my view of cardboard boxes and discarded vacuums and a pickup truck that I can see in various neighbors' yards.

Don't know what to do about it. So I do nothing. It rained throughout the weekend, off and on with those gentle summer rains. It made the grass sparkle and I felt a little itch to get back out there. This evening after work perhaps. Fingers crossed that I can get back in the groove and find a little happiness in my garden again...

settling back in

2011-08-14T07:39:00.000-04:00

Settling back into home life this week has been a little difficult. I went pretty directly from the UK trip to the family beach trip and have just now gotten through laundry and am mostly unpacked. The refrigerator was a sad case - so empty - until yesterday when I picked up the latest Cub Creek Farms bag at the market. Figs, corn, tomatoes, okra, and all sorts of other goodies. I've been rationing the fresh figs so that I don't eat them all in one sitting. Oh, sweet, juicy figs. I've become a bit of an addict over the years.

This weekend has been pretty mellow. Had our work BBQ on Friday night, which was a lot of fun. And other than a trip to the coffee shop and the farmers' market on Saturday, it was a pretty chill day (aside from a surprise visit from the lawn guy I hired while I was away, who just couldn't stop himself from dropping by to edge my sidewalk). And today I go to visit Grandma for the first time since I've been back in the country. Oh, weekends, you fly by way too quickly...

crashing waves

2011-08-01T06:46:00.002-04:00

The month I spent in England and Wales was fun and exciting but certainly not what I would call a vacation. I was go, go, go from early in the morning until at least 10 o'clock at night, thinking and learning and just being 'on.'

Vacation, on the other hand, provides an opportunity to just relax and turn the mind off and do whatever you want, whenever you want. Yesterday afternoon I arrived at my family's rented beach house and am already feeling more relaxed. I slept last night with the bedroom windows wide open and the sound of waves lulling me to sleep. Better than any sleep machine "crashing waves" sound effect.

Today we have big plans: sit on the beach; eat; drink; chat. I can't wait...

Btw, my good friend L. has designed a new, fantastic blog header for me, which you see in a cut-off manner. Guess I'm going to need her mad skillz to help me understand how to resize, etc. Please be patient with me - I'm on vacation!

2011-07-23T17:10:00.003-04:00

I've been lucky enough to have an extra week after the Attingham program to spend in London doing more museum site visits. It is a bit whirlwindy, but I've been enjoying myself immensely - settling into the neighborhood and picking my way about the city on the tube. The John Soane Museum, Wallace Collection, Tate Modern, Hunterian Museum, and Dr. Johnson's House have filled the last few days and more are yet to come.

That's not to say I'm not ready to be home. See my loved ones and wear some new/different clothes. But in the meantime I'll continue enjoying my British adventure.

adventures

2011-07-20T04:22:00.003-04:00

As many of you know if you've been following my adventures on Facebook (sorry Mom), I have been attending the Attingham Summer School these past three weeks. We've been touring the English/Wales countryside (Sussex, Derbyshire, Shropshire, North Wales), visiting country houses of all sorts to view their unique architecture and collections.

Since I am armed only with my iPhone, I've not really been able to blog during our adventures (tad too time consuming). But be assured I had a wonderful time and may try to share some of the better pictures once I'm home and settled. But here is at least one little post to say hello and assure you I'm still here!

(image: Attingham Park in Shropshire - visited on our very last day)

enchanted

2011-06-30T06:27:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day in London - the sun was shining and the weather warm but with a breeze. Dressed in layers, I welcomed the opportunity to take off my cardigan and soak in some sun as I walked through Kensington Gardens. Stopping every so often to skip through fields of daisies (okay, not really, but I did wander through the fields a bit).

I took the afternoon to make my way to Kensington Palace for the Enchanted Palace tour. A turn on the traditional historic house tour (look at this pretty room full of old things, yawn), each of the open rooms provided a themed look at a person or idea found in the royal history of the palace. Given a map and a quest to find seven princesses, you wander through the spaces - listening, watching, reading, talking. I must admit I stepped into many of the rooms and just stood absorbed in the mood.

Unfortunately the orangery at Kensington Palace closed early for an event, so no tea for me. Instead, another fascinating veggie sandwich - Brie, grapes, cranberry chutney, lettuce, and mayo. A little heavy, but I'm determined to give them all a try!

veggie sandwich and Hyde Park

2011-06-29T05:54:00.007-04:00

The past few weeks I've been getting ready for my adventures in England. First a few days in London and then three weeks of the Attingham Summer School (summer camp for historic house curators).

My arrival in London included getting a little lost on the tube (but was pointed in the right direction by a lovely gentleman who had visited Cinninati, Ohio before, and so we talked a bit about being stateside).

Finding the rental flat wasn't too bad, but dragging a 45lb suitcase up five sets of rickety stairs was quite a workout! Rainy afternoon, but I walked a bit, found a few shops, and bought myself a humous, carrot, and salad greens sandwich on wholemeal bread (just one of MANY veggie options) for dinner.

Today I was up at my normal time, went for a beautiful run/walk in Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens, and then got a croissant and iced cafe americano (very appropriate) to enjoy in the little square by the flat.

details

2011-06-15T12:08:00.000-04:00

Missed the farmers' market CSA bag this weekend, but still have some fresh veggies on hand (and more that I picked up) to tide me over until Saturday. Arugula salad with over easy eggs and balsamic vinegar dressing fit the bill one night. A quick dinner of whole wheat pasta, fresh peas, lemon-flavored olive oil another evening. Nothing fancy. Nothing with a recipe.

We had a little bit of rain recently and the grass shot up in response. Mowing the lawn brings such a sense of satisfaction, doesn't it? To look out over a freshly-shorn lawn is much like looking at a newly-vacuumed carpet. Makes me happy. Don't judge.

However, the lack of rain has also meant that the snap peas I planted a while back have withered and died. I have hopes for the herbs and lettuce, but we'll see. I'm trying to not get too invested in the edible garden this summer since I will be gone for over one month and won't be able to tend to it. Makes me a little sad.

Slowly making my way through Jane Eyre (the Penguin hardcover with Coralie Bickford-Smith cover, of course). Reading it for the first time since college (gasp!), I am finding myself enjoying the details of the story and language. Finding little quotes that I read aloud just for the pleasure of their imagery. Next up on the purchase list: either Tess of the D'Urbervilles (love!) or Wuthering Heights. Can't decide...

crush

2011-06-08T07:16:00.001-04:00

Slowly but surely I am eating my way through this week's CSA bag. My friend L. is handily coming over for dinner tonight to assist in this endeavor. I'm part way through the red pepper sauce and spinach noodles and have a distinct feeling that they will be completely gone after tonight's meal. I did cheat and give away the cucumbers to my coworker Abby. Not a cucumber fan, and this way they don't go to waste (or to compost!). Next up: fava beans.

Possibly inspired by my upcoming trip to England, I've been really getting into Brit girls, music-wise. Kate Nash is my newest crush. She and I spend a good 30 minutes together every morning as I run/walk to her kooky, catchy songs. The one about a crazy crush is my favorite.

armful

2011-06-06T12:47:00.002-04:00

Hydrangeas have got to be one of my favorite blooms. When they bloom blue, that is. Pink hydrangeas just don't do it for me. Luckily the big armful we received in the CSA bag this week was just the right shade.

This was the first week of our farm share bag and I am now debating how to best utilize all the goodies - squash and fava beans and lettuces and all sorts of other things. Need to sit down and plot the plan for this week. Always a challenge to work from ingredients to the dish rather than the other way around, and so often I just saute or grill the veggies for a simple supper. Simple just seems right sometimes. Especially in the summertime.

A lovely weekend behind me full of good food, good wine, and good times.

really, truly

2011-06-02T14:13:00.000-04:00

I'm not a runner by any stretch of the imagination. My head gets in the way. But recently I've been doing it a bit more and walking a bit less. And I hate to admit it, but I'm actually enjoying it. And am understanding that running gets easier the more you do it. I am being careful to not push myself, though, because I still want to really, truly enjoy my morning routine. A little Kate Nash on the iPod, an early morning jaunt, and getting to enjoy nature a bit before my day begins. Especially views of the canal that runs near my house. This morning with a pair of ducks swimming about.

The farmers' market in town has been in pretty full swing for weeks now, but my CSA farm share doesn't get rolling until this Saturday. I have paid my deposit and picked up my bag (a cute canvas one this year) and am getting excited. Inspired by this article in the kitchn recently. Get ready for some major veggie/fruit overload in the next few posts. Or maybe not. We'll see what comes in the bag this first go-round.

We have our summertime batch of interns arriving now at work. Four ladies for the next ten weeks or so. I always enjoy having young people around - they are always full of verve (yes, verve) and remind me why I love my job so much.

Poplar Forest and slushy

2011-05-31T08:39:00.004-04:00

May has flown by - filled with busy days at work and busy days with friends and family. This holiday weekend I had a blast at a friend's barbeque and enjoyed a visit with my parents. Made Southern Comfort slushy for the party and sent some home with my mother. She used to make the slushy for neighborhood cookouts when I was growing up and for her regular "Gone with the Wind" parties (which I naively assumed as a child was centered around movie-watching, but as an adult I can now imagine was more for the slushy and just hanging out with friends).

Southern Comfort Slushy

(Source: my mother who got it from who-knows-where)

4 tea bags

2 cups boiling water

2 cups sugar

7 cups cold water

1 1/2 cups Southern Comfort (or bourbon)

1 12 ounce can frozen orange juice

1 6 ounce can frozen lemonade

Steep tea bags in boiling water for three minutes. Remove bags and add sugar. Add cold water, bourbon, orange juice, and lemonade. Mix until combined. Freeze until firm. Spoon into cups and enjoy as it melts in this 90+ degree weather...

The parents and I trekked out to Lynchburg, Virginia to visit Poplar Forest, taking the house tour and also enjoying the GPS landscape tour that adds a little extra information to what you can see and read. It seems like I should be sick of house museums on my days off, but I'm not. I cannot, however, turn off my 'curator mode' and just enjoy the experience as a regular person. Need to work on that a bit before my England house marathon....

deep breaths

2011-05-24T18:03:00.000-04:00

The warmth of summer is closing in. The past few days have been hot and humid and I am basking in the change. Perfect excuse for sipping something over clinking ice cubes and lazing about in tank tops, yoga pants, and flip-flops.

I've also gotten back into an exercise routine that had fallen by the wayside over the cold winter months. It is so rewarding to look forward to the alarm, get up and out and break a sweat, all before 7am. The honeysuckle growing along the canal path near my house is part of the joy. Deep breaths.

fleeting

2011-05-14T09:16:00.002-04:00

In lieu of baby pictures, I tend to take flower and food pictures. I apologize to all who will invariably sigh and say, oh another picture of squash. Or in this case poppies. But I must admit that growing things in my garden seems still like such dumb luck that I feel the need to document my good fortune. And the garden is ever-changing this time of year - the poppies budding in the beginning of the month bloomed and have since fallen just two weeks later. Fleeting moments. So you'll just have to keep sighing and put up with it. Thank you in advance.

I cannot recall for the life of me much of what has been occupying my time over the last couple of weeks except for an especially busy (and emotionally-draining) time at work and a bit of a family emergency with my 89-year-old grandmother. But with things settling back down a bit, I've been enjoying the sense of calm that comes after such a storm.

On Thursday I was off from work and enjoyed the beautiful! weather with Elizabeth and L. and their beautiful children. A picnic in the park and then some antiquing with L. in downtown Fredericksburg. For our main picnic fare I made a version of this particular pasta salad recipe (using edamame instead of peas), which I really thought called for WAY too much feta cheese, but L. and Elizabeth insisted it was balanced by the acid/lemon. So a somewhat success.

Chilly and rainy weekend ahead. The grass needs a good mowing (with my new electric lawn mower!) but will have to hold off until it dries out a bit. I DO need to get the snap peas into the garden, though. The seedlings are going hog-wild on the kitchen table and I'm afraid they'll link up with the ceiling fan if I don't get them outside and on a trellis asap.

destined

2011-05-02T07:29:00.001-04:00

l to r: lily of the valley; sage bud; English daisy; Oriental poppy bud

I've decided that I am destined to be one of those old ladies with baggy dirt-stained pants who putters in her garden, tending to her plants like children. Was in Richmond yesterday and saw some beautiful front-yard gardens and some older women dressed up for a neighborhood garden tour. Last week was Historic Garden Week in Virginia and I'm seriously contemplating checking into joining the Garden Club of Virginia (although feel I may be a tad too young and too non-profit). But in the meantime, am continuing to take photos of my garden like nobody's business.

Lettuce and iPhones

2011-04-30T07:38:00.000-04:00

I've finally started some summertime seeds. Woefully behind. So behind in fact, that the lettuce that I left to bolt and self seed last year has actually appeared and made some real progress already. Hopefully my little seedlings of beets, lettuce (more of the red spotted), snap peas, basil, and poppies (not to eat, but to look pretty) will catch up soon. I just used an inexpensive Burpee bamboo/natural seed tray kit that I picked up at Tar-jay. Convenience is key when you are a procrastinator like me.

My father and I were just having a discussion the other day about how I am such a procrastinator and have always been. I explained that this trait continues into my adult life because I've never failed to make something happen at the last minute, so what is the point of not doing what comes natural? Now that I've sent that thought out into the universe I know it will come back to bite me.

Yesterday I took a half day off work and took care of two projects that I kept putting off (after my father threatened and then followed through on calling me at 7AM to remind me). First, I got my passport application turned in for my England trip this summer. The post office lady assured me I had plenty of time. Whew. Then I took my car to get an oil change (okay, a third thing on my list there), and took the hour appointment time to walk over to the phone store to get myself into the 21st century. I've now upgraded my cell phone to an *gasp* iPhone. Really. When I turned in my cute pink bar phone to the girl for donation she actually laughed. And then tried to make me feel better by commenting on how good a condition it was in. Oh, and wouldn't you know that I got the last $49 iPhone they had in the store. Score. Another Whew.

Of course when the numbers were transferred between phones I lost all numbers except JKL in my address book. So, if I like you and you like me and you want me to call you (and your name isn't Janet, Krissy, Laura, etc.), please send me a text, etc. with your number. Otherwise, the phone store girl and I decided that it was fate and that this was a good clean break - out with old numbers that mean nothing to modern me. A fresh start.

Today is a little chilly and I'm headed into work today, so will need to search out my cute Boden pink linen coat to throw on. I'm thinking black pants, white shirt, pink coat, and some funky earrings.

Have become addicted (and I mean addicted) to Friday Night Lights via Netflix streaming. Oh my. Started Season 2 last night and have a feeling a marathon will be happening this evening. Friday Night Lights on a Saturday - I know - I live on the edge.

garden, a trip to the library, and more asparagus

2011-04-23T19:15:00.002-04:00

It is hard to believe that Easter is here already - seems to have snuck up on me. Next thing you know, it will be Mother's Day (a very important holiday - hi Mom!) and then summertime right around the corner. Spring has sprung in the garden. The columbine and pentas have been putting on a show for a couple of weeks now, but I've been remiss in tending to them. Today was a great day for weeding and generally tidying about the garden. And then having a big glass of organic white wine and reading a magazine while I lounged and listened to the birds in the backyard. Oh, and talked a bit with Steve-the-backyard-neighbor.

Many of my real-life friends know this already, but I am heading to England this summer for about a month for a summer study trip of the English country house. So today I went to the library to try to find travel guides for my days in England before/after the actual program. Sadly lacking, I must say. So must search out books to reserve or actually *gasp* buy something. Or maybe just troll the internet for lots of handy advice, maps, etc. for the upcoming jaunt.

More asparagus at the farmers' market this morning. Along with baby lettuce heads (seems a little odd sounding), spinach, green onions, potatoes, and a mint plant. My go-to meal of late has been the following: saute chopped and peeled potatoes in lemon olive oil until crisp and tender (helps if you cover a little to steam them in the pan). Then add chopped asparagus and saute for about three more minutes until bright green and slightly tender. Season with sea salt and pepper. Serve. Eat while making yummy noises.

Oh, and a current obsession: Mrs. Meyer's basil hand soap. Considering stocking up, but that would be just silly (must fight the urge) since it isn't a 'seasonal' scent or anything. Guess I'm just late to the party in realizing how great this is for kitchen sink hand-washing.

eating: asparagus

2011-04-16T10:47:00.003-04:00

Rainy Saturday. Quick trip to the farmers' market in hopes that asparagus was finally being harvested around these parts. Three dollars per pound and worth every penny for the happiness factor. Primarily thin, tender stalks that will be delightful lightly sauteed in lemon olive oil and dusted with sea salt. Lunchtime can't come soon enough.

Asparagus season 2009 favorite recipe: here
Asparagus season 2010 favorite "recipe:" here
Asparagus season 2011 favorite recipe: TBD
Perhaps Asparagus Risotto with Mint?

spotted

2011-04-15T06:43:00.005-04:00

~ My wonderful coworker Abby surprised me with a do-it-yourself terrarium kit from Warm Country Meadows (on etsy). Since I work in a museum environment, I cannot have live plants in my work space. Hopefully greenery encased in glass will pass muster. But for now it sits on my kitchen counter, making me smile. Love the little red and white spotted mushroom. The process of putting it together was simple - stones, charcoal, soil, moss, decorate, and spritz with water. It's a little misty inside there right now, making it look like a magical little world. Thanks Abby!

~ We're installing a new exhibit at work, which is always my more stressful time. It is sometimes so hard to envision layouts of objects, but I've been using Google SketchUp, which certainly helps with seeing the three-dimensional vision. I spent four hours a few days ago just covering platforms with fabric. Thank goodness for an electric staple gun.

~ The farmers' market has started up again in the city and I've meandered through the past two Saturdays to see what's what. Just a handful of vendors, but I'm very excited for the start of fresh vegetables again. In my own garden, I still need to get my seeds planted, but have high hopes for this weekend - I am actually in town and without major plans, which will be a nice change of pace. I did have a chance to make a trip to the dump to pick up free mulch though, so I'm all ready to get cracking on garden work.

~ I am absolutely, utterly in love with Adele. Have been playing her music nonstop during my long commute. Generally belting out the songs as we go along.

bluebird

2011-04-04T09:46:00.003-04:00

This weekend was a fun one. Capped with a lovely dinner and movie with one of my girlfriends. The newest version of Jane Eyre. We were chilled by the English gloom of the film, but such a beautiful (although bittersweet) story and period costume/set eye-candy to boot. Sigh.

Also attended the Sustainable Family Dinner Table event in Beaverdam, Virginia on Saturday - great talks including one by Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms and workshops like one run by Southern Seed Exposure on seed saving. I purchased some seed packets - basil, beets, and sugarsnaps - that I plan on direct-sowing as soon as I can get the garden ready.

I'm home with the sniffles today. Nothing major, but enough that I want to keep my germs from my coworkers. I was going to do some work remotely, but the server won't connect on my work laptop and so I am resigned to actually taking a sick day. The backyard neighbor (Steve) just started up the lawnmower and the windows are wide open with a cool breeze blowing in the scent of fresh-cut grass. One of my favorite smells. The weather reports call for low 80s today and so I am thinking I may be sick and sniffly as I weed the veggie garden and ready it for planting.

This little bluebird needlework was a flea market find a while back. I picked it up for $4 already framed and it definitely makes me happy - such a cute little bird sitting on branches of berry/flower clusters. It just reeks of spring. And with the birds singing outside the window, it seemed like an appropriate image to share today.

blue, part two

2011-03-31T11:19:00.002-04:00

The bedroom is actually making me pretty happy now with its bright blue accent wall that coordinates nicely with the random assortment of pillows and throws as well as the painting of the Grand Tetons I have hanging on the wall. (Disclaimer: I've never been, but my father lived for some time in Wyoming growing up and this was painted by his uncle decades ago. But owning this makes me want to fill a wall with retro paintings of mountains...).

Because the room is so small, the bed really dominates, and now the blue wall draws your eye away from the wall of cabinets/dresser/shoes on the opposite side of the room behind the door. Which is a good thing. The nightstand is one from my childhood bedroom; the bed from Ikea; and the lamp (one of a pair) from my mother's room growing up. On the bed - large pillow covers: Ikea; crocheted pillow cover: HomeGoods; coverlet and shams: handmedown (but originally old-school-JCPenney); quilt: L.L.Bean (reverse side of pieced quilt face); cat: Colette.

Invasion

2011-03-30T08:41:00.000-04:00

Ants have invaded the kitchen. Not just on the floor (as has been the case in years past), but now in the cabinets (honey!) and countertops (yes, crumbs). I've been researching eco-friendly (a.k.a. cheap, on-hand) solutions and have broken out the cinnamon sprinkling and now spray down my counters and cabinets with a mixture of white vinegar and water. But I feel like I'm losing the battle and commercial ant traps may not be far behind. Although on the bright side, each spot the ants discover makes it necessary to take up the contents and clean like nobody's business. Spring cleaning spot-by-spot! Today I've taken the day off from work to get errands and other tasks done and I'm going to try to investigate outside and see if I can spot the nest or point of entry (somewhere behind the stove) from the exterior. What an exciting day-off activity, right?

You are all jealous, I know.

blue

2011-03-25T07:59:00.001-04:00

I have a slight addiction to home DIY blogs and magazines. Decorating, but not 'decorator' decorating. Nothing too coordinated or polished. Shabby chic with splashes of random color. I've been dogearring and ripping out inspiration pages for fun bedrooms for years, but haven't been able to commit to a look/color scheme/etc. I have that problem - I plan, plan, plan, and in the end just end up doing impulsive things because I cannot decide. So when I woke up on Sunday morning, I bit the bullet, used paint I had on hand (Grandma's Sweater leftover from my parents' latest painting campaign), and went for it. No test patches. Figured I could just paint over it if I hated it.

I think I'm loving it.

Yesterday was my birthday. Now that I'm sort of in the "mid" 30s, I'm stopping. Just saying.

this and that

2011-03-16T07:33:00.000-04:00

- The visit to the parents was fun and included a nice day in Frederick in belated celebration of my mother's birthday. Mom and I had pedicures and then headed to lunch, stumbling upon the luck that is Restaurant Week. $10.11 for a lovely 2-course lunch at Acacia - which sources local producers for their food (like the bakery down the street for the bread basket). My mother and I both had the same thing - a lovely tomato soup for starter and then the harvest plate with cauliflower gratin, asparagus (one spear), carrots, beets, swiss chard, broccolini, and a pureed squash with red quinoa. Delish. We then stopped next door to Zoe's for a decadent piece of candy. Whoever thought of sprinkling sea salt on top of dark chocolate should be given an award. I always love that combo of sweet & salty.

- I had to return one of the many cookbooks (500 Vegan Recipes) that I've been paging through to the library last night after receiving my first polite hey-you-need-to-return-this-now! e-mail. Guess someone else has been wanting this one. For a while. So on to the next cookbook, which doesn't have as many good recipes, so will be returned post haste. Oh, and in related vegan news - at My Organic Market in Frederick I finally found a bottle of liquid smoke. Seems I'm always seeing recipes with this in it and could never find it around town. So one more addition to my growing vegan pantry.

- This springing forward with time has thrown me for a loop. I've been setting my alarm extra-early so I can get some exercise in before work now that the weather is nicer. But instead I've just been snoozing the alarm until my normal time. Very, very bad.

- My newest Netflix streaming addiction has been Hotel Babylon. British. Soap opera. Delightful. Although I spend much of my viewing time wondering how the women wear such bright red lipstick without getting any on their teeth.

- The mailman sent me a thank you note for the bags of chex mix I left him over the holidays. It was cute because he and I bond a little over gardening (he is a major tropical gardener - palms and the like) and his card said that the real holiday was coming soon - Spring. He is so right.

growing: hellebores

2011-03-11T08:15:00.000-05:00

This past week has been a bit of a whirlwind with work stuff and personal stuff. We've had a lot of rain, which I'd normally loathe, but when rain = promise of pretty springtime flowers, well you've won me over. Plus, it is the springtime type of rain. Not the cold, bitter winter rain. And that makes all the difference.

The hellebores are putting on a show in the front flower beds. A mixture of a dusty pink variety and this bright white one with touches of blush (or is that bashful?). Not as many as I expected, but I think some more may have popped up after the rainy days (this picture from before the rain when a few brave blooms had appeared).

This weekend promises to be fun. Spending time with the family, pedicures and flip-flops (yes, I know we may be pushing things here, but you can't get a pedicure and then cram your toes back into shoes), and I'm sure lots of food and wine. Happy weekend!

growing: springtime bulbs

2011-03-06T08:34:00.003-05:00

Today is supposed to be rainy, which I'm kind of excited about for the sake of the garden. Yesterday during the warm afternoon I ventured out to clear out some of the beds, stir the compost, and survey the springtime arrivals. The news is somewhat promising - the forsythia bush is budding, the irises are pushing out of the ground, and two or three hyacinths are starting their slow arrival.

Sadly, the little lilac bush that my neighbor mowed down and I tried to nurse back to health is showing zero signs of life. Not a good sign. Top that with the fact that my next-door neighbor recently chopped down her big, beautiful lilac bush and I'm a bit sad. I'll miss that sweet smell wafting across the backyard fence.

But I'm trying to concentrate on the happy parts and the slow but steady arrival of springtime.

cooking: quinoa & squash soup

2011-03-05T07:45:00.005-05:00

I'm feeling a little bit of pressure. To cook my way through a stockpile of winter squash. Normally I roast squash and enjoy its sweetened caramelized finish in salads or pastas, but with a half-functioning oven, I'm trying to get a little more creative. Not that soup is very creative, but it is at least a start.

First on the chopping block was the large neck pumpkin that I hauled home from the farmer's market last fall for the whopping price of $5. According to Cindy, the farmer who grew this impressive pumpkin, these neck varieties are ideal for pumpkin pie (and the kind often found in canned grocery store pumpkin). But one thing I've learned as I've been eating from the farmer's market these last few years is that pretty much all winter squash are the same as far as using in recipes. So, one large lump lopped off for this one from Student's Go Vegan Cookbook (borrowed from the library, but available via Google books): Quinoa and Butternut Squash Soup.

The inside of the neck of the neck pumpkin is not unlike butternut squash, but a little stringy. After chopping, I peeled the skin off with a vegetable peeler and split lengthwise. I made the choice to scrape out some of the strings before chopping, but I'm sure they wouldn't hurt to stay in (just a texture issue). Into the pot with quinoa, stock (made from the vegetable stock box), sauteed garlic and onion, and spices. Very simple.

Once cooled, into serving containers in the freezer. And after eating my first portion yesterday for lunch, I can assure you, very filling (although I didn't follow the 4 serving thing - I split this into two generous servings and left out the recommended cornbread accompaniment).

Next up, we'll see...

happy, part 1

2011-03-03T08:28:00.003-05:00

When I arrived home from my recent trip, I was so excited to find that the forsythia that I stuck in the new vase had blossomed while I was gone. What a pleasant homecoming. I am a springtime baby and forsythia has always been a favorite of mine. Such cheery yellow flowers to greet you when you walk in the door.

I have a quote from Edith Wharton (torn out of an issue of Real Simple) posted on the bedroom mirror and I've been reading it every morning to put me in the right mindset for the day:

"In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways."

crock pot banana nut bread

2011-02-26T11:38:00.002-05:00

I've been away for about a week for work - at a conference enjoying great lectures and house tours (as well as afternoon teatime). Before leaving last weekend I was able to pull out the crock pot and bake some banana nut bread. The crock pot I use is my mother's old 1970s version. In avocado green. Stylish. But I also have a Rival crock pot bread pan that makes making banana nut bread a cinch (and prevents more in-depth cleanup of a crock pot without a removable insert).

The freezer is chock full of frozen bananas that get a little too ripe and never get eaten. But instead of composting or trashing them, I just throw them (peel and all) into the freezer. So I pulled out three frozen bananas and set them on a plate to thaw while I researched a new recipe to try. Here's the one I used (using pecans instead of walnuts), but there are plenty of versions out there. I liked that this included the use of dark corn syrup - an ingredient I have in the cupboard but never seem to need. In order to veganize it, I also used Ener-G egg replacer and Earth Balance vegan buttery sticks.

The bread is not too soft and works well for slicing and topping with peanut butter for a quick breakfast. The rest can be wrapped in foil and thrown into the freezer. Along with all those bananas.

little sprig

2011-02-19T09:23:00.006-05:00

Mother Nature has been teasing us a bit here in the Chesapeake. Sunny, warm days in the middle of February? I know the cold weather cannot be over with already. At least I'm trying to not get my hopes up. A little sprig of forsythia in the bathroom has blossomed, satiating my need for spring (at least for now).

In order to prepare my freezer for the upcoming growing (and eating) season, I started a big pot of vegetable stock this morning. Asparagus ends, broccoli stalks, carrots, and chives from the stock box. The smell is so heartening as the wind gusts blow around the little house.

This weekend will be a good one for cooking. Butternut squash and quinoa soup out of one of the vegan cookbooks borrowed from the library. And perhaps some crock pot banana nut bread using some of the many frozen bananas that seem to have multiplied like rabbits in the freezer.

saturday morning

2011-02-12T09:47:00.005-05:00

I was up early this morning to pick up my car from the repair shop. Normally I would laze around on a Saturday morning - no husband, kids, or dogs to get me up and out. But Jason at the repair shop was pretty adamant about the 8am pick-up, so there you go. So now the house is clean, coffee has been drunk, and I'm ready for a crafting day with some of my girlfriends. Only I have two hours until they arrive.

So I went out in the garden and cut some forsythia branches. Put them in the new beautiful, frosty glass vase from anthropologie that I treated myself to around the new year. Looking forward to the little yellow buds to burst forth.

This shot of the living room gives you a good sense for how the place has developed, even though I've never really done a 'decorating' sort of post. [Forgive the empty coffee table - ready for crafting.] Pink walls (that are almost neutral in the morning light), striped rug, colorful throw pillows. I've developed a bit of a color palette that has really covered the whole house (the tiny four-room house). Based on a painting, a rug, and a pair of throw pillows. Not sure it's a long-term palette, but I'm having fun living in a colorful, girlie house for now.

biding my time

2011-02-07T20:50:00.006-05:00

Things I'm currently loving:
1. Arugula
2. Mushrooms
3. Any combination thereof.

The lower coil in my oven is broken and I cannot gather the energy to talk to my landlords about it (due to a recent series of plumbing events that I'd rather forget). So instead, I've been finding other satisfying dinners that do not require the use of an oven. Enter my grill pan and meyer lemon olive oil. Hot pan + fragrant oil and mushrooms = heaven. Sliced and served on fresh organic arugula with a sprinkle of feta (still eating through my stockpile of cheeses) and homemade vinaigrette.

I think I've mentioned my arugula obsession before. And other times too. Recently bought a bag of organic arugula from Trader Joe's and have been woefully disappointed. The Wegman's clamshell-packaged version is far superior as far as flavor and freshness. Of course I didn't look at either to verify where they were grown, etc., so should not get too high and mighty. Just biding my time until the ground warms up and I can plant a fresh crop of seeds and harvest my own.

Speaking of seeds, a couple of coworkers are heading to Monticello this week and it got me thinking about the garden. Vegetables and herbs to be specific. Must make some time to get through catalogs and sketch out something new for this year. Looking to Southern Exposure and Monticello for some inspiration for Virginia-lovin' goodies.

mumbojumbo

2011-02-04T17:40:00.005-05:00

I recently donated blood for the first time since high school (where I actually didn't give blood because of low iron levels). Anywho, I hope to make it a regular event - especially since work gives us time off to do so - and have my next appointment for early March. Today when I got home from work I found my donor card in the mail. Until today I didn't actually know my blood type. Having never (knock wood) had major surgery, it really hasn't come up. But now I finally know - I'm type A negative. So there you go.

Curious about this new information, I of course 'googled' it (I think 'google' is now an official verb) and it led me to, among other things, eating for your blood type. Type A blood = avoiding animal products (including dairy). Really? Not sure I believe the whole eating for your blood type mumbojumbo as I'm not a scientist and don't actually know about that sort of thing, but you know this makes sense. It was like a lightbulb went off. All of my life I have felt some sort of natural aversion to meat. When we went out for fancy steak dinners, I would be the one asking for mine well-done and proceed to drown it in A-1 sauce. Shrimp? Only if fried beyond recognition. And never mind any sort of 'exotic' animal. Duck? Venison? Lamb? Never. I'd fail miserably on Survivor or The Amazing Race.

Earlier this week I checked out some new vegan cookbooks from the library and am working on new recipes and menu ideas to try. (I always try to check out the books first before committing to buying - taught that lesson by the poor purchase of a certain awful veggie cookbook years back.) Current browsing list:
- Vegan with a Vengeance
- Short-cut Vegan
- Vegan Lunch Box
- 500 Vegan Recipes

So there you have it. I finally feel vindicated in my natural pull toward vegetarianism and my more recent pull toward veganism. It may be fake science, but I embrace my A-negativity as an excuse to eat tofu until the cows come home. Or something like that.

bright spot

2011-02-02T12:52:00.003-05:00

The sun is shining today. Which is a lovely change from that last week or so, with gray gloomy days stretching into frigid nights. I feel chilled to the bone and can't seem to warm up despite hot baths and cozy blankets. After my lunch break today, I plan on walking over to another building to meet with a coworker. I'll enjoy soaking in some sun.

In the meantime, I've been trying to get some things done around the house - tidying up and whatnot. I even got around to installing a little reading lamp above the corner of the couch; a perfect spot for reading or crafting in the evening hours (a previously lost corner light-wise). Nothing fancy, and its presence does accentuate my need for more wall art, but it will do.

And the orchid, oh the orchid, has bloomed up a storm. I've been spending a lot of time working at the desk in the office/guest room (instead of randomly using my laptop in bed or the couch), so I've been enjoying her company and the spot of bright color on the long gray days.

Here's hoping our groundhog friend was right and that spring is on its way...

Snow, soup, and Marmion

2011-01-27T19:57:00.008-05:00

My recent trip to New York seems like a semi-distant memory, fading slowly away like my Wicked manicure. A few years ago I spent almost two weeks working at my museum's loan exhibit at the Winter Antiques Show, so returning to the show also meant I could revisit at least one of my favorite foodie haunts. With limited time, I sadly skipped Alice's Tea Cup and instead ran to Hale and Hearty for a steamy bowl of curried cauliflower and chickpea soup. Perfect for warming me after a trek in the snow.

The last evening in the city caught me roaming the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art into the night, running through a snowstorm from the subway to lose myself in the period rooms for hours. Aside from playing with the iPad exhibit labeling, I also stood quietly for a few minutes, soaking in the painted paneling of the Marmion parlor from King George County, Virginia (just down the road from Fredericksburg). Paneled circa 1756 and painted circa 1770-1780, the room comes alive with urns and swags of flowers that skip across doorways and frame beautiful pastoral scenes. Sigh.

And then back on the train for the trip home. Swathed in my bamboo wrap, watching the snow-covered world go by, and losing myself in the gardens of Versailles.

big city

2011-01-21T21:16:00.003-05:00

I'm lucky enough to have a job where I get to look at pretty things. Anytime I want. And this week I traveled to New York to look at other people's pretty things. Ceramics fair and antiques show and museum visits. Good food. Cold feet. More soon...but here, a view from my hotel window to Rockefeller Center's skating rink. And a new book for the train ride home.

growing: orchid

2011-01-15T14:33:00.005-05:00

A cold, but sunny, winter's day. Perfect for catching up on magazines and watching the first episode of Downton Abbey for the third time. I'm working during the day, but plan on having a nice lazy evening bundled up on the couch.

I brought an orchid home as a table favor from my friend Cathy's after-wedding-brunch last May. Knowing that orchids are temperamental and exotic, I didn't expect it to live past its summertime bloom. I placed it on a cabinet in front of the window in the office/guest room (indirect, bright light) and watered about once a week. And around the holidays I started to notice something. Some green budding. And then this discovery this morning.

Tonight for dinner, a take on this recipe but with arugula, my current winter obsession...

lunch: guacamole, carrots, and bubbly water

2011-01-12T13:09:00.007-05:00

I work from home one day a week. During the 2010 fall semester, this was also the day I taught class and had office hours, which really changed my work-from-home dynamic. Now I am back to normal which includes starting my work day in my slippers around 7am, lunching mid-day, and then chugging through until early evening. I generally get more done at home (mainly reading and writing) than I ever hope to get through when actually in the office, which I know is the key reason so many companies now allow telecommuting - productivity is higher.

Besides the productivity and the ability to work in my slippers, I mostly enjoy the fact that I get to fix lunch in a real kitchen. Today it was carrots and tortilla chips and homemade guacamole. Add a big glass of bubbly water and part of a Top Chef rerun during the lunch break and I was in heaven.

Wish all days could be like this, but alas, can't move the entire museum collection to my living room. It just wouldn't fit.

my own spot

2011-01-09T09:25:00.006-05:00

A cold Sunday morning. Sun shining. I'd rather be curled up in bed napping or reading, but instead I am on for work today. Good thing my office has a big window and I can find my own spot in the sun and watch the squirrels.

Had a lovely weekend so far - movie night with the girls on Friday to see Black Swan. Creepy but eerily beautiful. Then a lovely baby shower full of oohing and aahing for dear friend E.

I have a table piled with winter squashes at home calling my name. The last of my farmers' market finds. Need to do a little research for some new recipes to flex my culinary muscles a bit in 2011...

new year

2011-01-03T22:58:00.006-05:00

Happy new year everyone. We enjoyed a lovely, warm (well, 50 degrees or so) new year's weekend, but now the weather is back to cold and blustery. Brrr...

The house is still a mess, but the Christmas decorations are slowly getting packed away and order is returning. Things I'm loving in the new year:

1. The anticipation of an orchid about to bloom. I've hardly paid attention to it and hate to jinx it, but had to share my excitement.
2. Lip Junkie lip gloss in jilted. Pop of color and tingle of peppermint. Plus, cruelty-free/vegan.
3. Arugula.
4. Organizational supplies at Target. This time of year is second only to back-to-school for eye candy at Target - bins and binders and organizing supplies galore. I partook of the festivities by purchasing small flat boxes (for my overwhelming supply of ribbon rolls) and one large bin (for excess Christmas decor). In lime green, of course.
5. Seventh Generation fabric softener sheets that you can add to the compost pile.
6. The first seed catalogue to arrive in the mail. Making me dream of English peas and warm dirt.

Simple joys. But those are the best kind sometimes. Off to snuggle under the duvet...

lounging

2010-12-31T09:41:00.006-05:00

I've been enjoying a mini holiday at home. A staycation, if you will. It involves some pretty serious lounging. In bed. Until lunchtime. Catching up on blogs, drinking coffee, cuddling with a certain black cat named Colette, and reading. Oh, and maybe watching my latest netflix (Twilight for the hundredth time - I should really just buy it).

Key to this scheme is my current assortment of bed pillows. I have my normal sleeping pillows (two stacked are necessary) and my cute colorful crocheted throw pillows (which you can catch a glimpse of behind the cat), but the addition of some big puffy square pillows to prop behind me has been the linchpin. Truly.

I need to drag myself out of bed at some point this morning to run some errands and get ready for a new year's eve outing. I'll do that in a little while...

bright blue

2010-12-29T10:52:00.004-05:00

We had a white Christmas around these parts, but the snow is largely melted away and I'm longing already for springtime. I seem to be a bit impatient when it comes to winter. Definitely not meant for cold climes. I treated myself to a little shopping spree online and finally purchased the bright blue egg crate that just screams springtime from Anthropologie that I've been wanting for months. Perfect way to control my ever-growing collection of rings on my dresser top.

warmth

2010-12-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone. Hoping you are surrounded by friends, family, and the warmth of home today.

little treat

2010-12-24T11:27:00.005-05:00

For the past few years, I've been making chex mixes for the tour guides at work and my mailman at Christmas. Random, I know, but it is easy (when you pick the microwavable recipes) and I think people like to have something to snack on. At least my mailman sends me a thank you note saying as much. He also says that I'm the only one on the street that actually does something for him for the holidays, which is just sad, but another story.

So this year was back to the barbecue snack mix. Bundled into little treat bags for the mailman and a big Christmas tin for the tour guides. Plus a little extra for taking to my parents' house. I mean, if you are going to get all the ingredients out and the kitchen all messy, then you might as well go for gold.

Lesson learned this time around: drying the snack mix on paper towels is not a good idea. I use Seventh Generation paper towels and they ended up sticking to much of the mix. And my first round came out a little chewy. Second time around I used aluminum foil to dry the mix and it turned out much better.

strewn

2010-12-22T20:48:00.005-05:00

This evening I have the candles lit, Christmas music playing, and gift wrap, boxes, and ribbon strewn everywhere. One of my coworkers stopped by and I was hesitant to invite her in for the mess that would face her. But from chaos comes creativity, right? I like to have all of my ingredients spread about (I'm the same way with cooking), but this may be taking it a bit too far. I now understand why Martha is so adamant about having a gift wrapping station.

winter solstice & snow angels

2010-12-21T13:27:00.008-05:00

Last night I set the alarm for 3:15am. The peak of the lunar eclipse was hitting at 3:17am and I wasn't about to miss out on seeing a total lunar eclipse on the winter solstice. Trudging out in the backyard in my pjs, I hoped that I might be able to find the moon and its bright orange glow amidst the street light glare. Unfortunately my next-door neighbor decided to leave his back porch light on, which diminished the drama of it all, but I did see the moon and it was pretty neat. Floating in the cloudy night sky like a big ball of glowing embers.

Winter has arrived with a vengance here in coastal Virginia and we are anticipating a white Christmas this year (possibly with 20 inches of snow if you listen to our farm manager at the museum). I'm not a huge fan of snow - driving it in; shoveling it; trudging through it after it is dirty and slippery. But I am a huge fan of snow angels. Looking back through last December's photographs, I came across this one - taken at work during a romp in the snow with a coworker (to take pictures for our work Facebook page, so totally work-related). It made me smile and remember why winter is pretty wonderful sometimes.

tidbits

2010-12-14T07:02:00.006-05:00

When my grandmother moved from her house into a condo a few years ago, she began to give away tidbits of family goodies to her children and grandchildren. Now, my family doesn't have 'heirlooms' per se, but we do have some things that are sentimental and quirky. My brother got the frosted glass martini set (although one glass was broken due to my grandmother's very careful packing of it in paper towels) and I got things like a carnival glass vase and old ornaments. I think they may have been my great-grandmother's (my mother can confirm?), but they are all beat up and I'm surprised they passed the editing of my grandmother, who either throws away or spray paints anything with a little bit of age.

I don't trust them on the tree, but instead have them piled in a bowl on the coffee table (just next to the pine cone elf). I love the colors - pinks and teals and mustard yellows. I especially like the ones with little frosted sleigh-riding scenes.

rosy

2010-12-11T12:37:00.005-05:00

A group of us gals got our craft on again last night and made pine cone elves just like Martha (or close enough). I'm getting ready to head into the museum this afternoon for our big Christmas program and plan on bundling up. Not a cold weather fan (unless I'm inside, looking out the window and snuggled up with a blanket), I have my hat, gloves, and warm socks all planned. Here's hoping my cheeks don't get as rosy as this little elf.

glitter

2010-12-05T08:49:00.005-05:00

We had our first official snowfall of the season last night - it was the magical, sparkly nighttime snow where you felt like you were in a snowglobe of glitter. I went to our annual Christmas parade downtown, dinner and a holiday blues concert, and then walked home in the snow. What a wonderful start to the holiday season.

The house is beginning to look a little like Christmas. The little faux tree is up, but the ornaments are still in their boxes. But my new holiday wreath is firmly attached to the front door. The result of a fun crafting day with some girlfriends (using this as a guide). Finally found a use for that silver glitter paint my mother had given me.

going nuts

2010-11-24T09:54:00.004-05:00

This past month has been a bit of a whirlwind. Teaching class this semester along with my full-time job has really made it so that the last thing I want to do is something productive when I find some downtime. And that includes cooking, cleaning, or putting the laundry away. But the semester is coming to a close and I foresee some nice quiet evenings ahead of me. Perfect for teaching myself crochet and getting back into homekeeping.

I was up early this morning to bake a pie. Not too pretty this year, but I decorated it with a sugar squirrel. I was feeling a little nuts.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

acorn caps

2010-10-29T11:25:00.003-04:00

Today is the first day in a while that has felt like fall here in coastal Virginia. For a while the sugar maple in front of the house has been turning to bright yellow and orange and shedding its leaves. Big piles are forming in the front yard and the leaves dance in the wind, terrorizing Colette (my black cat - definitely a Halloween spirit). Every once in a while I'll bring in a fresh maple leaf and she goes crazy, tossing and chasing it.

In the spirit of the season, I collected some acorns and gathered them in a glass bowl on the coffee table beside a grouping of small gourds and such. My mind is now churning with recipes for butternut squash and sweet potatoes. Oh how I love the arrival of fall...

vegan alfredo happiness

2010-09-20T19:23:00.003-04:00

The mum on the front porch is starting to open its little buds - the start of Fall, perhaps? Maybe that's why yesterday I was craving warm, gooey mac 'n' cheese. But with this whole vegan experiment going so well, I knew that real mac 'n' cheese wasn't a wise move (especially given the fact that I ate cheese pizza with some girlfriends the night before and I'm only so brave/stupid). Enter this recipe for alfredo sauce (substituting almond milk for soy); add some broccoli florets and the last few episodes of Veronica Mars (season 3, sniff), and I was one happy girl.

And the sauce made so much that I'm set for leftovers (yay!).

seeing red

2010-09-08T08:42:00.003-04:00

I spent much of the Labor Day holiday in the yard - weeding, trimming, scheming. Also enjoyed some vegan pancakes and many episodes of Veronica Mars. Gotta love a day off without big plans.

A trip home to celebrate my parents' anniversary resulted in shopping (not a surprise). New garden clogs, gardening gloves, plant markers, and a purple mum to be exact. Thanks for the treats Mom & Dad! I've been wearing my new red garden clogs pretty much constantly when I'm puttering about the house and yard. So comfy and waterproof and a fun color to boot. I even went to Borders with them on my feet. That might be taking it a bit too far.

Next up? A little tweaking in the bedroom. A trip to Home Goods resulted in some cute new pillows for the bed. I'm just catching up on my summer magazines and spotted this on the cover of the July/August House Beautiful. Hoping a one-day bedroom makeover might be in my future.

green beans, green toes

2010-08-28T08:11:00.009-04:00

My neighbor's car alarm has been going off every five minutes since 6:45am. Good thing I was awake already. The windows are thrown open to let in this delicious cool morning air. Damp and humid, but with a chill that holds just the smallest promise of fall weather.

I've been obsessed with green lately. And I'm not just talking about veggies (although those are pretty fantastic right now). On a recent road trip to visit friends Theresa and Mommy, Esq. we got our nails done. My pedicure choice was this one: a bright kelly green that incidentally matches two pairs of flip-flops and a cardigan sweater that I purchased recently. I told you, I'm obsessed with green.

Although it's not green, I'm also pretty excited about the artichoke tealight holder that I picked up at Anthropologie last month.

my edible garden

2010-08-17T07:13:00.006-04:00

I have squash beetles and am mourning the loss of my zucchini plant because of them. When I can get a moment (hopefully tomorrow), I'm going to pull out the carcass of the plant, figure out a way to 'get rid' of the beetles, and rework the soil. Time to plan for the fall and winter crops in my "edible" section of the garden. Which I think is part of my downfall. Crop rotation and new locations are one way to keep pests at bay.

For the past two summers I've been using the center section of my garden plot to grow the edibles - eggplant, snap peas, zucchini, broccoli - with strawberries on the far side and herbs on the other. And then there's the far end section which includes things like pentas and salvia and other sun-loving perennials. I'm thinking they could use some edible neighbors as well. My mind is churning and the wheels are turning.

This summer I grew some of my vegetables and herbs from seeds raised at Monticello's Center for Historic Plants. Parsley (above) and sweet basil in particular, as well as some spotted lettuce that was so delicate and sweet (while it lasted). I have some seeds of this lettuce in reserve and I'm thinking that this is coming on the 'late summer' sowing time recommended for a fall/winter crop. Fresh lettuce - can't wait!

eating: throw-it-all-in sauce

2010-08-15T08:25:00.006-04:00

One of the 'problems' with having a CSA subscription is that you have vegetables to eat. And as a single girl, that can sometimes be a challenge. I was good about freezing fresh veggies until I ran out of freezer space.

The other night I realized I needed to use some zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes that were reaching their ends. So I made sauce.

Throw-it-all-in sauce

Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet. Throw in chopped onion (from three small onions) and saute until the onion is translucent. Add in chopped vegetables as desired - 3 japanese eggplants, 1 large zucchini, 2 tomatoes, a handful of small carrots. Season and thin with vegetable broth and the leftover tomato paste you had languishing in the fridge. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Once the sauce has cooked and the ingredients are soft, blend in a blender until smooth and consistent. Serve as a topping for whole wheat pasta.

I'm also thinking this could be served cold as a bruschetta topping. Next time - I'll be adding in some mushrooms for a bit more meaty heft (and because I have them hanging around). Any other use-it-up ideas?

eating: pancakes

2010-08-12T07:10:00.005-04:00

Since the 'vegan experiment' began, I've been tweaking my habits in that I generally avoid making foods that should have dairy and egg products. Like pancakes. Plus, who has time to really make pancakes very often?

I stopped by the local library the other day to pick up some books on CD for the commute and took a turn about their new arrivals section. Two cookbooks jumped out into my arms and I took them home in addition to my CDs. I find myself checking out cookbooks this way instead of splurging and buying them at the bookstore. Gotta control myself just a tad. Anyway, one of the cookbooks is Vegan Yum Yum. I'm sold on it. Add it to my Borders wish list and just wait for that 40% off coupon.

Since I worked all weekend, I took a comp day on Monday and enjoyed a little laundry, a little yard work, a little reading, and a little cooking. My morning treat? The Vegan Yum Yum recipe for Easy Weekend Pancakes, which you can find on the Vegan Yum Yum blog right here. I used vanilla almond milk instead of soy milk, and used a mixture of organic all purpose and whole wheat flours instead of spelt. But the idea is the same. The use of the blender for mixing and pouring was genius. And the result was definitely yum-yum.

the figs and the flowers

2010-08-08T13:42:00.002-04:00

I'm actually at work today but took some time this morning to take a turn about one of the gardens at my museum (calling it 'work' because I later posted some of the pics on our museum's Facebook page).

The figs and the flowers. How glorious. The bees were very, very busy.

obsession: dish towels

2010-08-07T10:37:00.006-04:00

There are a few things that I'm a little obsessed with. One of them, I've come to realize, is dish towels. Interesting, colorful dishtowels to be precise. Like this great mushroom towel from Crate & Barrel which came in a set with lettuce and tomato versions too. No plain white flour sack towels for me.

I have a whole cupboard of them. Taking up precious storage space in my tiny kitchen.

The method to my madness is to roll dish rags up in them, so they are ready to go whenever I switch out a set. Of course I never have more than one set at work at a time and I do laundry pretty frequently. Why then do I have close to two dozen sets (and more in storage)?

eating: crouton salad

2010-08-04T08:02:00.008-04:00

Due to popular demand (okay, due to L. asking for the recipe), below is a simple new recipe I recently tried. It uses glorious summer tomatoes, french bread, and basil. Simple. Straightforward. Delicious. Perfect for a picnic.

Crouton Salad
(just slightly adapted from Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian)

about 8 ounces crusty french bread (mine was homemade, if you count a breadmaker as "homemade")
1/4 cup olive oil
2 T. red wine vinegar
3 ripe tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced (the recipe calls for onion instead of so much garlic, but I like garlic)
salt and pepper
1/4 cup roughly chopped basil

Chop bread into bite-sized cubes and toast in a 400 degree oven until golden (about 15-20 minutes), turning once. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

Toss together the tomatoes, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper (to taste), and garlic in a large serving bowl. Add the croutons and basil and toss to coat. Taste, adding more salt and pepper as needed. Serve.

I found that the longer the salad sat, the mushier the croutons became (surprise, surprise), so reserve the croutons to add about 30 minutes before you serve for the full joy of semi-crunchy croutons in the salad (you want them to have absorbed the juices, but not be mushy - a delicate line).

On another note, if you have any interest at all in vegetarian cooking, I cannot recommend this cookbook enough. It's a tome, really (996 pages). Recipes are separated out by type (this is in the "salads" section), but Bittman also reviews basics like how to cut an artichoke, or types of grains, or variations of bean dips. I turn to it again and again for simple recipes that taste good in an unpretentious way. Plus, his humorous voice comes through in many of the recipe intros, so it is an enjoyable read as well. If you like to read cookbooks. Which I do.

growing: a mystery

2010-07-31T06:29:00.004-04:00

Volunteers. I guess that's what you call plants that sprout up where you least expect them. Like my little grape hyacinths. Something strange is growing in the garden. I at first assumed it was a weed, but let it grow just to see. Now? It is vining and flowering and doing all sorts of interesting things. I don't know what it exactly is, but my mother and I determined through careful and scientific observation (guessing and Googling) that I have some sort of melon plant in my garden.

Man, I'm hoping its a watermelon, but I think it most likely is a cantaloupe. Or it could be some weird variety brought to my yard by some well-traveled bird. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

eating: tomatoes

2010-07-29T07:01:00.004-04:00

Tomatoes. I have a love-hate relationship with them. Summertime heirloom tomatoes with veined flesh and a sweet flavor: love. Bland any-other-time tomatoes with uniform red skin and mealy texture: hate. So this time of year I am trying to eat a year's worth of tomatoes and at times run out of new ways to eat them (I'm not a just 'bite into a tomato like an apple' kind of girl).

I have a few recipes that I've gathered recently and have either given or plan to give a whirl. The latest was a summertime pasta salad (Fresh Tomato Farfalle) perfect for taking to work for lunches. It was also a good opportunity to incorporate some of the lime olive oil my mother had treated me to at Potomac Point Winery's olive oil tasting bar. Plus some fresh lemon basil from the garden and sweet corn from the week's CSA bag.

Any other tomato recipes I should try?