Callum and I officially launched our cook-fest last night, using a recipe from Rick and Lanie's Excellent Kitchen Adventures. I am really loving that cookbook.
Callum did way more than mash the guacamole, although I think that was his favorite part.
He chopped the potatoes, cooked the onions and filled the tortillas.
Chorizo, potato and onion soft tacos with guacamole, prepared a deux.
We worked on still life in class this week. I was really looking forward to it. I feel like I take still life photos all the time, and I really wanted to learn how to actually do it.
We built a light box, well, it was already built, but we learned how to do it. I so want one now. Neel, got any boxes floating around at work?
So we moved things to different places and took pictures of them. The hand up top was in the light box, but this jar was on a black piece of cloth.
This is one of my favorites.
And this too. Cluck, cluck little chicken.
This weekend was the annual wine tasting at my friend Catherine's church. We look forward to this get-together every year, a glimmer of fun in deepest, darkest February. They always feature Virginia wineries, and this year's guest was Rosemont Vineyard. Of all the years we've been, this is my favorite vineyard. The owner told a wonderful story about how he was jogging along on the treadmill of life, not feeling inspired and with his health showing the effects of his hard work. He woke one day, knowing that he didn't want to live like this anymore, so he came home to his family's estate. He walked the land, and slept in late, and one day decided that he needed to come home permanently and open a vineyard. That was only three years ago. His son now works with them as the vintner and they're winning awards all over the place. Cool story, huh? Makes me think we need a 15 year plan. That's gonna be a tricky one for Neel, I think.
We were a table of twelve and everyone brought munchies and delectable treats to nibble on. In fact, I think we were nibbling on nibbles, right Catherine?
And then the wine! Pretty good stuff too. We had generous pourers, and by the time we got to tasting number 12, everyone was chatty and happy and much warmer than the cold air outside.
Take something ordinary.
And make it extraordinary.
My friend Debbie, who's taking the class with me, told me I was overthinking it. She was right. It took me forever to figure out what to take a picture of, and I only did this on the day before class. Gulp.
This week we worked on portraiture and lighting. I was dreading the "take pictures of each other" part of class, but it actually turned out to be the most fun. Our homework for this week is to take a self portrait, a portrait of someone else that exhibits their personality, and a third portrait using a shallow depth of field. Excited and scared all at the same time.
Loved the snow...
Did not.
Loved the snow...
Time to go!
On Sunday we woke to a full moon shining down on our land of white. You can see it peeking behind the trees.
Even with the temperatures still bitterly cold, the sun was shining, and Callum couldn't wait to get outside. First he tried out a neighbor's cross-country skis. Then we all decided to go sledding.
The Tidewater of Virginia is a flat land. The best hills we could find were at the golf course down the street.
We made the trek on foot, a gaggle of adults and giddy kids. All the grownups speculated about the prospect of school the next day. I think we were thinking about it more than the kids. Our neighbor Paul, who's stationed here with the Australian Navy laughed, saying he's been in the Navy for nineteen years and never missed a day for weather. He's been here six months and missed five. Virginia will do that to you.
As soon as we got there, the bigger boys and one dad went off exploring. Those lone figures in the distance.
The rest of us and the little kids were ready to hit the hills.
The Tidewater of Virginia is a warm land. Most came equipped with boogie boards.
We have the real deal though. Neel couldn't wait to break out the Flexible Flier.
Not the best snow for the Flexible Flier. He moved on.
This was extreme sledding at its best. With a fast run and a creek at the bottom of the hill, the grownups had to stay at the bottom to "catch."
The kids caught air.
And sometimes couldn't catch a break.
But mostly what we all caught was delight.
Oh, hearts beating with unadulterated joy. This is what we woke up to Saturday morning. What a dream! A dream snow fall. The excitement started on Friday as the predictions rolled in. Everywhere there was a sense of anticipation and giddiness. Neel and I went to dinner at our favorite, pre-storm restaurant, just to keep the momentum going. By the time we all tucked into bed, nothing.
I woke up around 1-2 a.m. and still nothing.
At four, when I looked out again, the rooftops were covered. We managed to stay in bed until seven, but after that I couldn't wait for Callum to finally see it. This poor Southern Californian boy yearns for snow and doesn't get enough of it here.
The view out the windows was stunning.
Even with the snow beating down, everyone came outside.
There were sleds to be pulled and snowballs to be thrown. (Although the real snowball fight came Sunday until someone -no names mentioned- threw a snowball at his dad and cut his eyelid. The dad had to be taken to the ER for five stitches, and even though it was a total accident and didn't happen to my family, all the moms were probably thinking, "It's all fun and games until someone gets an eye poked out.")
It snowed all day. A real event around these parts. Neel brought in so much firewood that we had to pile it on the floor.
I snuggled up in a cozy spot, while Callum was out, out, out. Only coming in to change out his three layers of socks. Weekend wonderland.
Well, this photography class is kicking my butt. Switching my camera to "M" has made my brain go fuzzy and panicky. And I don't even care how ridiculous we all look out there, taking pictures of the grass.
This was the very first picture I took after making the switch. Not reassuring, huh?
But, oh so slowly, I might be figuring things out... just a little. This photo was on our first day too. When we focused (ha! get it?!) on shutter speed and aperture.
I feel a little like I'm back in algebra, where I need to master one skill before moving on to the next...and I still haven't mastered multiplication! For the next class, we worked on Depth of Field...and she made us break out the telephoto! Yikes. So here's an example of a deep (?) Depth of Field. The object up front is blurry, while the branches in back come into focus. Not a successful picture, necessarily, but a successful experiment.
And the way it should be...sharp in front, blurry in back. Now, I'm getting somewhere. Maybe.
We had a bit of a Christmas Miracle with the hallway. On Christmas Eve, after Graham finished putting in the lights, Neel moved the cabinets back into the pantry.
On Christmas Day, after presents and before dinner, we cleared the shelves that had been sitting in the living room and loaded the cabinets. We still have a long-ish way to go. Shelves, counter, floors, doors and some new piece for the bar. But it's a working pantry now. I love it. Like a weight off.
This picture is especially for Mark. It was his original idea to put in the doorway, and I'm so glad we did. A whole new room, but the house feels more open and intimate. I need to thank him, and we should probably do it in person.
Callum and I are right in the swing of things with our shared New Year's Resolution. (Number 9 on my list, if you're keeping track at home.)
I ordered a cookbook for us, Rick and Lanie's Excellent Cooking Adventure and we've been perusing it to pick out yummy recipes. Callum loves Rick Bayless, well heck who doesn't? Already I can see some great possibilities for us. And I defy anyone from Top Chef to come and cook in a kitchen in which a ten year old also lives. We were dodging sticks and wands and nerf guns the whole time.
Rick Bayless recipes come next week. This week, we cooked my neighbor Sara's recipe for Artichoke, Bacon and Grit casserole.
It was delish. Anything with bacon, really.
My sous chef agreed. I think he's already learning the delight of eating a meal that you had a hand in creating. The casserole was yummy, but for me it's always process over product. I think I'm going to like cooking together.
We traveled south to spend the New Year with some old friends.
We ate seafood, fresh from the boat, for the whole visit.
If the kids are complaining, "Shrimp for dinner again?" try some crab.
Paper towel holder an optional, yet necessary addition to the table.
There are few places like the Lowcountry of South Carolina, I think, for soaking up the local color.
Men cooking!
All of us cooking, really. That was my favorite part. Cooking meals together. That says "family" like little else.
We had a little wine too.
A gracious home with gracious hosts...
and winter's windswept beaches. What a way to welcome a new year. Not too shabby.
1. cook lamb (still)
2. write more
3. less tv
4. more music
5. read more with Callum
6. fit by 40
7. be less absolute in my judgments
8. spend less money
9. cook with Callum
10. do SOMETHING big
I love the look of a taped-up room, ready for paint.
We went with the same gray of the kitchen, trying to tie the spaces together. When we get some sunshine, I'll try to get some photos.
As soon as I finished painting, Graham came and hung the lights.
The place is transformed, and we're in the homestretch baby!
We couldn't get through the holidays without a little celebrating, could we? Our neighborly dinner shifted a bit to add some new friends and accommodate my inability to host this year. The table at Rebecca's was groaning with our assembled dishes.
This year I made figs wrapped in prosciutto and filo shells filled with curried chicken salad. Tyler was heartily disappointed that we didn't bring in the Greek cheese... next time, I promise.
Jean's table looked so beautiful.
And of course there was a fight for the hot wing dip!
Aaahhh, trifle.
Aaahhh, champagne punch.
Aaahhh, friends.
I couldn't take it anymore. I had to put some decorations up. My mom was here for a week and she cleaned and swept...we're getting a handle on the plaster dust. At least some of the house feels like Christmas. I'll probably leave the wreath over the mantle and garland up until Twelfth Night, even if we take down the tree. The house is changing daily, and some of my decorations don't fit in as well as they used to. I'll have to spend some time thinking about that. And maybe hit Pier One after Christmas to see what's on sale.
We have a stack of Christmas books, didn't get those out either. One of my favorites is called Kipper's Christmas Eve. Kipper was a childhood companion of Callum's and I miss the days of watching Kipper videos together. In this book, Kipper asks, "Which is best, Christmas Day or Christmas Eve? Presents or expecting presents?" For me, it's always expecting presents. For Callum, it's always been Christmas Day: presents. And really, find me a kid who wouldn't agree. Until this year. This year, he says, expecting presents. This year, he's learned the appeal of expectation and anticipation. It's a nice shift. He might be growing up.
I hope you're enjoying the anticipation with you and yours.
We've hit a new phase of the hallway renovation... the part I don't get to be around for.
While we've been at work and school, the drywall went up and the doorway was framed out.
It's definitely starting to feel more like a room. I have mixed feeling about this part of the process, because I've enjoyed the being there for it all. I've enjoyed meeting the people who have worked on the little gray house and seeing the work as it happened. Still, there's no denying the special thrill of coming home to such a transformation.
Especially when this is the transformation! Hello Violet.
The plasterers were in and out on Monday and I walked in that evening, speechless with delight. We're coming home late every evening and it's been cloudy, so there's no way that my camera can capture the artistry of the work they did in the hallway. I was simply stunned. I don't even want to paint!
Now we really do have a room!
I think I've enjoyed no one more in this process than our electrician, Graham. He was lovely. He probably wouldn't like it that I've called him lovely, but I quite like him. At one point I said to Neel, "He's my kind of guy," and Callum took great umbrage at that. "So's Papa," he said hotly. Well, duh. But Neel knew what I meant.
The place is in a midden again, but not due to him. He powered through the electrical rough in of the new hallway, and it was fascinating to watch him figure things out. He spent his evenings here and most of a rainy Sunday where I kept the Redskins game on so he could listen (poor sap) while he worked.
He went
under
the house. Where little dogs fear to tread.
And he even let Callum help.
I don't know what part Callum enjoyed more: pulling up the wires through the hole in the floor or talking to the man under the house through that same hole. Whatever. We have boxes for outlets and switches and dimmers and I'm looking around for more for him to do.
I think I have simply accepted that this year I won't be able to savor the holiday season in the way I normally do. I think I have. The tree is up, the tree in the front yard is lit, we have some random reindeer floating around the place and Christmas music on the iPod. That's it.
The hallway is progressing apace. I'll show you that tomorrow. But there are tools about the place, the pantry and microwave has moved into the living room, and that powder-sugar fine film of dust is over everything again. I'm trying to take the long view, that my present this year is the completion (good grief, finally) of this project. My Christmas is the kitchen, but the little kid in me feels unsettled and cranky about it all.