Friday, October 31, 2008

This Could Happen To You


This is what happens when you spend a Friday night alone with an eleven-year-old girl with too much time on her hands. I have one hand painted with ladybugs and the other painted neon yellow with black tic-tac-toe designs. I think I'll shake things up a bit and go to church tomorrow morning like this.
Sorry for the blurry pics. It was hard to hold the camera with one hand and get close enough to see the details.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

If It's Thanksgiving It's At Mom and Dad's


Thanksgiving >
The word instantly puts a chill down the spine of my side of the family. Yes, there will be turkey, great food, and a swell party - especially for the blissfully unaware fifteen kids running amok in my parents' basement, but with the joy comes the quiet dread of getting ready. It starts in August when my mother pulls her notes from last year, and starts worrying. It ends about five minutes before five, when the first guest arrives and my Dad is harnessed to his leaf blower diligently chasing that last leaf off the premises. When car lights sweep up the driveway, the leaves will NOT be seen. (Never mind that the house is sitting on almost three wooded acres, and it'’s pitch dark by party time.)
You will find my mother sighing in the Kitchen- she has been up since dawn cooking, completely dressed and ready since mid afternoon, but there is always something- like Dad killing himself outside, buzzing around the patio, or the little incident last year when there was no hot water at zero hour because Dad forgot to over ride the timer. (He keeps Mom on a very strict schedule water wise.) My mother, the model of self control, grits her teeth and accepts that she has done all that she can do. She and my sister set the tables the Sunday before, strategizing over the one in the family room which could block the football game, and how many kids will actually sit in a chair. She started cooking in September and finishes just before six- dinner time.
Thanksgiving is one of three major family gatherings. My poor mother is down to one rather distant first cousin on her side, but my father's side is up to about thirty, not even counting our branch which is almost thirty by itself. Back in the dawn of time, like the early sixties, my grandparents had the whole family over to their house on Upton Street. When they got older, their three children took over. My Aunt Catherine got Greek Easter, my Uncle Nick took Christmas and my dad ended up with Thanksgiving. Back then the clan topped out at around twenty five; now we are approaching sixty. New babies and people keep coming. Last year we had twins, and this year my niece is getting married.
At this point, my mother would give her eyeteeth, her turkey collection and all her VCRS NOT to do this. (OK- maybe not the VCRS) But my Dad has laid down the law- if he's still breathing, we're still doing it. My cousin, John brings the cheesecake that his mother used to bring. My cousin, Anne, who is from Louisiana, brings a pecan pie. My brother, Peter arrives from Michigan and bartends. Uncle Nick brings the rum cake. My sister and I mash the potatoes. My brother, Roger started making Greek chicken soup one year, and now he can't stop. That's only a few of the many hands that get it done. It's over when my sister corrals her sons to take all the chairs and tables back downstairs until next year. It's usually around 8:00, but it feels like midnight.
So we go on, and despite all the holiday angst, I know we have a lot to be thankful for: our ever expanding family and my parents who keep us glued together-a basement full of children-all excited that they are cousins, turkey on the table, and hopefully -plenty of hot water. I know we are lucky, and at least this year, it's raining...no leaf blower.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Tooth rot and the Elephant

I opened one eye, peered down, and found that I had lost the five pounds which I had gained over the holiday season - and I didn't even have to slightly move to one side (a cheat, but it gives an instant weight loss) to achieve it!





Modern thinking is that if we lose weight quickly we are more likely to regain it. So surely five pounds in a couple of days must be too much, too quickly?





Perfect excuse to make something I haven't had for probably more than forty-five years. A lovely suet pudding, with golden syrup!

I blame it onDom at Belleau Kitchenhe set the ball rolling before Christmas when he posted his brilliant Layered Mushroom and Caramelised Onion Suet Pudding. It was totally delicious, simple, yet spectacular. So it is his fault.





I set to and made this golden syrup (vegetarian) suet pudding...

...it may look vile, but it smelt fabulous, instantly transporting us both back to our childhood days and stick to the rib puddings. However, this version was light as a feather and totally yummy.





I had a very small slice and some custard. Heavenly.

Okay, so I now have to go and jog for an extra half an hour - but oh my goodness was it worth it. I don't even object to having to clean my teeth straight away, lest tooth rot set in.





George had two big helpings, with lashings of custard. I think he liked it.





Thank youDominic - you may make a cook out of me yet.





* * *





Notes from home for Jonny, and thanks for the message





Swimming with elephants eh? Lucky you! (The only elephant you are likely to find around here is your old Ma, especially after that suet pudding.) Please tell me that someone took photographs of your swim - and that you'll send me one.





The bridge over the river Kwai, plus a visit to Cambodia - no, can't compete with that either! Again, photographs please!





When will you be returning to Shanghai? Enjoy the rest of your holiday and let me know if there is anything we can send you.





Still no baby news.





Everyone keeps asking after you - we had lunch (I had soup and half a roll - in anticipation of the syrup pudding this evening) at the pub with Davina and Harry today; what a shame we hadn't heard all these exciting things before we went. Never mind, it will be a great excuse to pop in again!





Your bed has become Bennie's bed, she spends a couple of hours on it every afternoon, doing what cats do best, snooooozing. As you can see the Christmas decorations are on there too, waiting to be put back into the loft.





Thinking of you,

Lots of love,

Mum

xxx

Saturday, October 11, 2008

McKinney Falls State Park

Easy peasy two-hour drive was accomplished this morning from San Antonio to Austin, Texas. When we reached McKinney Falls State Park at 11:45 a.m., a sign informed us the campground is sold out. Good thing I made reservations four weeks ago!! We will be here for four nights.

Back-in site #27 was assigned to us, but the ranger told us if we didn't like it we could drive around and find a site we do like, then call to find out if it's available. Site 27 had no appeal for us whatsoever. We drove around and found a pull-through site we liked, called the office and were approved for the pull-through site, no extra charge. So nice here; but hot and sunny. Here we are, all set up.




Our home for four nights!




Nice and spacious.




We have a fire ring and no fire restrictions!

Did I ever tell you all how much I love nature? Just a few minutes ago, a deer ran by our 5th wheel and a squirrel is hanging around outside our door.

In our 18 months of full-timing we have never had a campfire. Either we were in RV resorts where there were no fire rings, or there were fire restrictions. Tonight will be our first campfire with s'mores while on the road!! Can't wait. We used to do s'mores all the time when we took the kids camping years ago.

More blog and photos to follow later this evening. We're so happy to be on the road, if only for a short while.

This afternoon we plan to check out the visitor center and see the
waterfalls in the park. Grocery shopping is high on our list for marshmallows, Hershey bars, and campfire sticks to cook marshmallows. We may have to get some turkey dogs to cook too.

Downtown Austin is our destination this evening
to watch Mexican free-tailed bats fly out from under the Ann
Richards Bridge.

Life is good on the road.

Travel Bug out.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Farewell A.V. Ristorante

(photo by bethhowe1 @ flickr)
Augosto Vasaio opened his landmark Italian restaurant in July 1949 on New York Avenue, and it became magnet for everyone from stars to well, just everyone. My cousin, Peter adored it for the large portions of comfort food, Italian style. He was in heaven when we had our cousin parties there. I remember him ordering platters and plates until we all left groaning. Plus they were a customer. Uncle Mimi and Dad's business, Modern Linen, kept them supplied with tablecloths and napkins for years.
Dad remembers that Augusto used to fill a station wagon full of stockings, toothpaste, cigarettes- whatever he thought would sell. He and the car would get on a boat to Italy every year, and then back he'd come with a new load of olive oil and pasta and cheeses. Not to mention that Italian yard marble A.V.'s is famous for in the courtyard.
Another piece of Washington history is slipping away. The doors close July 28.
Hurry.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Enjoying the Unexpected

This post, "Enjoying the Unexpected", was written for my blogspot blog called The Transplantable Rose by Annie in Austin.
Sometimes the things you plant surprise you in good ways - that's what happened here a few times this week. The temperatures are now in the high 80's, even the late iris are almost done and the phlox foliage is about 8" tall, so the season should be early summer in this part of the long fence bed. Look who just showed up-
This is a 'Pink Pride' daffodil, one of a dozen bulbs planted last fall. The bulbs made foliage but I'd given up hope of seeing a bloom.



My daughter and son-in-law had a mini-rose sent to me last year for Mothers Day - they didn't get a choice of color but knew it would be pretty. The shipment had a rough ride from the organic grower in California but the rose recovered enough to make a couple of buds, in a pale peach color.

Because of last summers flooding rain I kept the mini-rose in a container so it wouldn't drown. It didn't bloom again but branched out and then when cold weather came it lost all its leaves. I kept it in the pot, bringing it in the garage whenever we dipped below freezing.


The rose leafed out e
arly this spring and I planted it near the blue scabiosa and the coppery orange ranunculus. Here's the first rose - not a pale peach, but a color like the inside of a melon, which blends perfectly in this border!
I wonder if the more intense color is a response to more heat and sunlight? I don't see any other buds but the whole plant seems to have more substance and vigor since it left the container. Maybe it will take a little longer for this little rose to settle in and display its true color.

You've already seen the true color of the Schlumbergera/Thanksgiving cactuses - they all bloomed in the breakfast window last winter. Once the chance of frost was low, I moved three of them out to the veranda for the summer. All three plants made another set of buds which are now opening. Very unexpected!

Larkspur is one of my favorite annuals - one reason I love the meadow at Zant
han Gardens. I bought double lilac larkspur seeds in fall .. after we had the long fence bed started, and threw them around. For three springs they've sprouted and grown, and usually bloomed, but the flowers in Central Austin usually bloom a few weeks earlier than mine here in NW Austin. Larkspur like air and sun so last year's wet spring made their flowering season very short. The double lilac larkspur are blooming now and have reached new heights - I'm 5'6" on a good day and my larkspur are taller than I am. Having larkspur the size of delphiniums was a good surprise for me!
The next unexpected thing was what I ate for lunch today...a radish sandwich. I pulled a few radishes and washed them, then cut them up. I tasted a couple of slices and found them crisp with a good bite.
Next I buttered whole wheat toast, adding layers of thinly sliced radish and a little romaine lettuce. The sandwich was delicious, crunchy but mellow - not hot. The unexpected part isn't that the sandwich tasted good. The unexpected part is that I might never have tried this if another garden blogger, Yolanda Elizabet in Holland, hadn't described her lunch a few weeks ago. Thank you, Yolanda!

Have you ever planted a seed from an apple or orange or the pit from a cherry or peach? Garden experts will tell you not to bother doing this when starting the home orchard - to always buy a named tree instead.
But my nephew and his parents weren't planning a home orchard a few years ago - they just wanted to find out if something special could happen. Grandma had ordered a box of luscious Harry & David peaches for the whole family and
after enjoying the fruit Jake and his mom & dad ceremoniously planted the peach pit in the back yard. The peach seed sprouted and grew and was watched over. Last year it was swaddled in net to protect it from the Seventeen Year cicadas.
Now in its 3rd Spring, the peach is taller than Jake's Dad, and it has chosen to bless my sister's family with a cloud of pink blossoms.
My nephew is justly proud of starting the tree and I'm impressed that my family believed in the power of a seed. Thanks for letting me use your photos, Jake! Whether or not this particular family tree ever bears edible peaches, it's a fine thing to see after a long hard Chicago winter.
This post, "Enjoying the Unexpected", was written for my blogspot blog called The Transplantable Rose by Annie in Austin.

Friday, October 3, 2008

A moment of relief...


Martin and I decided on an early morning ride to Springbrook. We actually had quite an enjoyable time on the climb, trying out do each other, before I clinched the KOM points with a late attack right at the summit (of course, I'd already had to stop and wait at Salmon's Saddle, but that's another issue). Springbrook, on the morning of Christmas Eve was delightfully quiet, green and cool.

Purlingbrook Falls:






About the only company we had all morning:


Anyone for a dive into the pool?






Ahh, bliss. Actually, it was a day of redemption. It was here I had a calamity some months ago (http://life-cycle.blogspot.com/2004/09/glad-that-ones-over.html). It really felt good to be back to a place that always feels like home, so many times have I been here.

It's just a shame we had to come home to all the other crap. Let me tell you, last minute shopping for Christmas supplies in the heat of a Gold Coast Summer, next time I go to Springbrook, I'm spending the day up there.