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i said, "you know what i want right now?!"

Jess and i looked at each other and grinned and at the same time exclaimed "a hot toddy!"

yes, wet, grey days like today are made for hot toddies.

i just so happened to have everything we needed to concoct them immediately.

(the following is from The Art of the Bar, 

by Absinthe bartenders Jeff Hollinger and Rob Schwartz)

 

For One Hot Toddy:

4 to 5 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
1 teaspoon honey
½ cup boiling water
1 ½ ounces brandy
lemon wedge

Combine the cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise, and honey in a heat-proof snifter. Top with the boiling water and stir to melt the honey. Top with brandy (i used bourbon instead). Squeeze the lemon wedge and drop into the snifter. (If this doesn't hit the spot, i don't know what does.)

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festivities soon await

 

spent the entire day

(with the exception of buying stamps at the post office & an evening yoga session) 

at home,

making things.

heater on, music on, slippers on, & raindrops pitter-pattering.

days like this are made for crafting, singing, cooking, & dancing in the bedroom.

(photos here)

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spontaneous squash soup for dinner.

1 Tbsp thyme

2 Tbsp nutmeg

1 Tbsp coriander

1 tsp cumin

6 dried sage leaves

1/4 c butter

1 yellow onion, chopped

4 leeks, chopped

4 cloves garlic, smashed

1-2 Tbsp salt

1 buttercup squash, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch slices

1 delicata squash, peeled & chooped into 1/2 inch slices

4 small potatoes

4 c chicken stock

water

bacon, apple, pomegranate, parmigiano for garnish

toast spices for a few minutes in large pot till fragrant.  add butter and onions, leeks, garlic & salt.  cook for about 5 minutes.  add chopped squash and potatoes.  stir and cook for a few minutes.  add chicken stock.  add enough water to reach the level of vegetables.  bring to a boil, then turn heat down and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes, or until squash & potatoes are tender.  transfer, in batches, to blender and puree.  i added no extra butter or cream because it was so creamy and flavorful without it.  garnish with chopped bacon, julienned green apple, fresh pomegranate seeds, and shaved parmigiano.

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Jess asks what the best part of my day was.

The Bath.

my long lost companion.  ritual.

fire, scent, dim shadows, water, warmth, exhales, & faith.

plus my Hypemachine playlist, a compilation reflecting the past 1 1/2 years.  

gradually, i am transported.

put this on loud, and know that change is pending.

all kinds of good, big change.

2011 arrives shortly--and Rick, brownie mix is in the works.

ps. don't forget about mashed potatoes with their skins and carmelized onions and garlic and oregano and thyme and butter and nutmeg and pieces of kale and maybe some chanterelles--with a fried egg on top.

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go get this now.

(( haven't felt this way about a soap in a long time ))

also available at Afterlife in SF

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a few things from up north:

1. new favorite place

2. hot out of the oven

3. he won us over

4. we are everything

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1. do not ever forget

2. my favorite

3. necessary

4. feathery down blanket

 

(( and ))

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(on a cloudy day)

sometimes one must bake a cake.

and eat it.

(on no particular occasion)

with whipped cream and walnuts and maple syrup.

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2011:

taking creative action in the presence of fear

{ growth over fear }

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one thing:

the gratitude i feel is exponential

for the dear friends that are in my life.

thank you

(thank you)

((thank you))

 

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these days seem to blend into one another.
waking/dreaming/sleeping/living...

the lines become blurred.
it is all continuous.


in love with Hellen Van Meene's work:

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sometimes

you think you're okay.  and then you realize you're not.

 

but then someone reminds you:

you think you're not okay, but you are.

{  f u l l  c i r c l e s  }

ps. savory tart with delicata squash, shitakes, carmelized onions, chevre, & kale

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crocheted necklace for Margaret's birthday

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i can hardly believe

2010 is coming to a close

2nd annual New Year's Eve pin-making session pending

ps. listen to this now.

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(( love this ))

 

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danced

danced

danced

1. dance more often

2. dance more often

3. dance more often

4. go to los angeles more often

5. dance more often

6. i love these people

7. dance more often

8. eat more custardy persimmons

9. sit by the fire for longer

10. watch the sunrise

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loving this.

 

ps. so much gratitude.

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put on my heart-pocket jeans this morning.

(hadn't worn them in awhile...)

& pulled this out of the front pocket.

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my breath gets caught in my chest

when i look at certain spaces

...

 

thoughtful interiors

make me SO HAPPY


look here now:

{
http://insideinside.tumblr.com/ 
http://theselby.com/
}
 

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everything is better with a suitcase of costume accessories.

ps. write letters. just for yourself.

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happy birthday dad.

&

ode to cardamom

(i adore thee)

2-3 Tbsp sugar (for pan)

4 large eggs

1 1/3 c sugar

1 1/3 c unsalted butter

1 tsp cardamom seeds

1 1/3 c flour

pinch salt

preheat oven to 350.  coat 9" springform pan, or bundt pan with butter and sugar.  in mixer, cream eggs and sugar until tripled (about 5 minutes).  melt butter.  mortar cardamom seeds.  quickly fold flour and salt into egg/sugar mixture, then butter and cardamom.  stir thoroughly.  pour into pan & thump pan.  bake 30-35 minutes.  top should feel dry and spring back.  i like to dust top with powdered sugar and serve with freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

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birthday gifts for Dad.

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today: back to the art table.

 loving the mysterious ways of the universe... 

  

"to live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with an open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up, grow up through the common"

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after endless obsession

 i decided to attempt the creation of

c h i c k e n  l i v e r  m o u s s e

if i am allowed to give you any advice,

MAKE THIS NOW.

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as we say,
let's make party.

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a long afternoon stroll on the beach

a perfectly grey sky
 

leftover carrot cake (with cream cheese frosting)

dancing my way back through the sand with this in my headphones

episodes of My So-Called Life (for the first time)

even when it's bad, it's still good.

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first things first:

(no questions asked)

c a l l  t h i s  n u m b e r

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and call it often, whenever you think of it. it's always a good idea. i promise.

(birthday gift from Dad, his first idea for my parents' wedding ring designs.)

today is:

a l l o w a n c e

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bits and pieces drift in and out.

they keep drifting,

IN

&

OUT.

 but it is sunday. and it's fall. and the sun is shining.

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new batch of vermouth

(turned out much better second time around)

star anise

vanilla bean

allspice

cardamom

chinese long spice

clove

(( the perfect manhattan ))