Duvet Fascination

We've had this duvet for 23 years. It used to be white. We got it from Conran and have loved it so much it's become very tattered. It holds memories from being (extremely poor) newlyweds to my children's birth to my mother's death. I started patching it she got sick. My mom was an expert seamstress, a fantastic cook and an accomplished knitter (amongst many other things).

The patching kept my hands busy, gave my mom something to comment and help me with and kept me warm when everything around me was cold and gray.

The patches started out from her patch-bag of fabrics and has grown to now encompass some of my own patches, some made from well loved clothes and others from "crafty" projects. I'm not an expert and I've been winging it without her around; sometimes adding a patch on top of a patch where a new hole has started to develop -- but I love it. I take it out on cold winter days or when I'm feeling sad or industrious and I add another patch or two. I heart it molto-mucho.

Tomay-toe, Tomah-toe Any Way You Say it I heart Tomatoes

During this time of almost-Spring my thoughts turn to vegetable gardens, flowers and TOMATOES -- big ones, small ones, red ones, yellow ones, purple ones even striped ones.Lately I've been bombarded via mail and email with images of plants and vegetables, and I WANT THEM ALL. Unfortunately all the choicest plants (especially vegetables) require something I don't have.... sun.

Our backyard has four enormous trees and a plethora of very hungry bunny rabbits and squirrels. This makes for a very traumatic environment for most vegetable plants. But I dream... and every year we try -- we take out our mini seed greenhouse and with much patience and love plant the seeds. We make sure they get enough sun and that each flat remains moist and is turned regularly. We cheer on our little seedlings and celebrate each new petal and leaf. But it really it is all for naught. We know that once they are outside, most will succumb to the shade and those that survive are a shadow of what they should be. Still a few trips to the local nursery invariably leads to the purchase of one or more tomato plants (including the annual try at Mr. Stripey).

Our spidery tomato plants will desperately seek the sun and with their last breath will probably be able to squeeze out two or three tomatoes. Lydia seems to enjoy them as much as the squirrels and we do. I know I should just focus on shade plants, but hope springs eternal and this summer you'll like as not find me outside talking to the tomatoes.

Puppy Fascination

I've got the smartest puppy in the world and I will brook no argument. We got her at the pound seven years ago and I'm still in love. Yes I know she has food issues and she's never passed up a rug she couldn't help but "mark" in one way or the other, but I love her nonetheless. Anywhere I go, my little shadow goes. She's at my side and scorns those who would try to claim her as their own.... except for anyone who has any trace of food or boy-boy's girl or man-man or... -- I never mind since I know that her heart belongs to me. Click on the picture to see more picture of this woman's best friend.

Secret Corner Fascination - Big Leather Chair

Do you have a place that makes you feel warm all over? I've got several of those hidey-holes within my home (and some outside) that make me smile inside and out. For your consumption... my favorite seat in the house.



Don't you love the creamy yellow on the walls?

About ten years ago He bought it for me as a surprise. He heard me say I loved it then went back and got if for me. A beautiful gesture (if a bit on the expensive side...) however, do you know when you say you love something but aren't sure if you love it in your own home? This was one of those situations. I wasn't sure if it was me.... it turns out it was and He knew. Don't tell him, but I think I love him.

Eighth Sunday and Number 13

Thirteen years ago, at 8:00 in the morning, my number 2 baby was born, bawling and wailing. Beautiful baby with ocean green eyes, long as a beanpole and sweet as honeysuckle.Fast forward thirteen years and he still has the most gorgeous green eyes, he's still as tall as a beanpole (almost taller than his dad) and still sweet as honeysuckle. He's an incredible writer, a fantastic artist, a so-so mathematician and the funniest guy you could ever want to meet. Oh... and he's known since he's was three he wants to be an architect/designer/ruler of the world. I think he and his brother are practically perfect and I'll keep them both. He has taken us under his designer wing and taught us more about architecture and furniture and design periods than I thought possible. What can I say... I guess we're lucky.

On Sunday then, a very important birthday was celebrated with yet another lovely Sunday dinner. All the usual suspects, plus the loving grandparents attended, cooked and ate. The birthday meal ordered up was: loads of mussels in white wine broth, linguine with parsley al'olio (he doesn't like pasta, but the others do), baby green salad with avocado (he can't quite love the avocado or the salad... but I have hope), and lots and lots of No Knead bread to sop up the juices. For dessert - something he tried out in Kansas with his favorite Aunt - Red Velvet cake with white vanilla bean frostings (like the Sixth Sunday chocolate cupcakes).

Hardly any pictures to post since we were too busy devouring the meal to take the time and take pictures. Just some of the Red Velvet cake and the birthday candles. Click on the picture to see the insides of this gooey cake. Yum....

Seventh Sunday Dinner

Well we did it... not too well but we had ourselves another lovely Sunday dinner. At one point during the night, I peeked outside and saw the grill was on fire and Himself doing a little flame dance around the ribeye. So what if the ribeyes were accidentally flambéd and the oxtail and white bean soup was a bit "al dente" -- the salad with goat cheese medallions and the happy/hungry crew were divine. We dove in and little was said until dessert. Nothing could top the dessert, homemade double chocolate- chocolate brownies -- Huzzah!

Click on the picture of our little gathering to see more pictures in my Flickr set of the meal we had!


After eating and eating and eating, we had to forgo the cards and watch the premiere of the one and only, amazingly thrilling, Amazing Race... what a night! I'm signed up on Ravelry for a random team assignment in The Amazing Race contest, so far so good.

Pssstt... my team is still in it... go Tammy and Victor!

Baking Fascination Part 2 -- Croissants

Last night at about 6:30 my little croissant warriors were baked off. The results were delicious. There a couple of changes I would make -- mainly in the ingredients and at the baking temperature. But, as you can see the overall consensus was positive.

We had a delicious supper of hot chocolate, apricot preserves and croissants. To see the shaping and egg washing process click on the photo below.

Valentine Fascination

Today is 22 on the hit parade. We've been married for 22 years and known each other for at least 30 years. He was the long-haired guy at the front of the class banging away at his desk. I was the new transfer kid with the impossible name and the long braids. Ahhh true love... now what's for dinner?

We're celebrating family-style on Sunday. In keeping with our new Sunday Gourmet tradition we need to find good recipes. So far, we found dessert -- Magnolia Bakery's Red Velvet cupcakes or maybe these Brownies from King Arthur Flour. Ric found a recipe for a Rib Eye Steak with Garlic Parsley Butter, and we'll round out the meal with a warm white bean ox-tail soup, nice Baby Green salad with warm Goat Cheese Medallions, Walnut Rice and a delicious Almost No-Knead Bread.

Baking Fascination -- Croissants

We've been working since January on getting through the whole issue of Fine Cooking recipes Jan/Feb 2009. It's been delicious work... but I've gotten to the recipe that has been causing me some second thoughts -- the croissant. According to the recipe it takes three whole days of work. I've done days one and two and tomorrow is the shaping day. Take a look at some of the work that has gone into these butter babies. Click on the picture below to see my flickr set.

Foot Fascination -- Socks

Look at my feet -- they're soo in love. That's right -- they're in love with the socks I made. I took a class this winter at Knitche in Downers Grove and I really finished them... both of them. I've become a fascinated and I've got another pair on the needles for my beloved. He picked out the pattern and I've been going great guns until that damn short-row heel. The pattern is called Sailor's Ribbing from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch and it's considered to be an easy pattern (it is pretty easy). The instructions are pretty clear once you learn how to read the book, however, I'm having fits trying to get the short row heel right. I've done it once and have frogged it and now I'm trying it again. Keep your fingers (and toes) crossed that I can get it right this time.

Musical Fascination of the Moment - Oren Lavie

A friend of mine turned me on to this beautiful video with the haunting music. I've been thinking of it ever since. On a side note... I envy her hair.

Sixth Sunday

This Sunday was a family affair; I made the asparagus and the green (spinach) rice, He made the pork chop and he and she made the enormous chocolate cupcakes with spectacular... (I'll say it again... spectacular) cream cheese vanilla bean frosting. Can you see the vanilla specks? Yum!

Afterwards, in keeping with our theme of dinner and sophisticated game-play, we played a rousing game of Apples to Apples. Ultimately I lost, but I present to you my winning cards, (not my personality).