Just a few more.

Have you ever gone on vacation or visited someone, come home, unpacked, done the requisite 18 loads of laundry, but still feel like you never left? Your head is still back there, stuck in that visited place days or weeks after the rest of you called it quits. I've been back from visiting the homestead for well over two weeks, but here I sit, still perusing the pictures I took, yapping incessantly about this mundane detail or that. I don't know what's come over me. I'm not worried mind you, it will pass soon enough. But you? You, my lovelies are now going to have to slog through one last post involving the trip home. The worst kind of torture, the blog equivalent of a vacation slide show. Muwahahahahaha (queue menacing music).

Actually, it's not all that bad. No really, I promise, just a few pictures I took walking around the yard. Like this one. This little fellow is a baby osprey (he's not really that little, nor do I know if he is actually a fellow, but just run with it), his parentals were busy all week trying to teach him to fish for himself.

He was not happy about the prospects of self sufficiency, you could hear him crying from his perch most of the day. Much like I was when my parents cut the financial apron strings. "What do you mean you're not going to pay for my fifth year of college? So what if I'm still a sophomore."

Moving on. Here's one I surreptitiously shot of my brother and his "mini-me". The Niblit may have blond hair ,and eyes like his mother; but this whirling dervish,from his endless energy and mischievous curiosity, down to his infectious cookie monster laugh, is my brother all over again.

Hang in there guys, you're half way through.

Here's a shot of the dock my dad had built, and the boat lift he insisted on installing for the boat he swore he was getting ten years ago. Where's the boat you ask? Good question. I think the money the Old Man of the Sea would have to shell out for a boat has left him on dry ground. Of course, now that the Niblit has visited and talked about his other grandpa's boat, my father has finally started shopping around for his own. Ahh the joys of grandparental one-upmanship.

More importantly, however, is what comes from out at the end of the dock (boat-shmoat). One of the all time best perks to coming home in the warmer months are these; what I like to call Tidewater comfort food.

Blue Crabs; the quintessential "session food". My brother pulled the pots that evening, cleaned all the gross stuff out of the crabs before he boiled them in water, a little beer, a little Malt Vinegar, and a lot of Old Bay. From river to table in less than an hour. It does not get any better that this. We sat for hours picking crab, drinking beer, and talking. It's better than General Foods International Coffee for celebrating the moments of your life!

There! You made it! The blurb at the end of the post. The final phrase that tells you there are no more boring vacation pictures to wade through. We are now moving on. Give yourselves a pat on the back, you deserve it.

Yay! That's the end!

A Shameless Plug

I thought, for a change, rather than blathering on and on about me me me, that I would toot someone Else's horn today. I want to take some time to introduce you to an incredibly talented woman, who, lucky me, is a wonderful friend as well. She is a doll maker, not that you could consider these amazing cloth sculptures merely dolls. These fey creations each have their own personality, and over the years I have collected as many of them as possible, both as gifts (like I said, lucky me) and as purchases when I just couldn't bare to leave one of them behind. You can check out more of Cindy's creations on her Etsy site - Here.

So, this past birthday not only was I treated to a fabulous surprise birthday party thrown by Ms B, the antics of which you can read about here, but was also the recipient of a new fairy to add to my collection.

This is Jory- You can tell by the look on her face she's a bit of a smart ass. I like that in a fairy.

So does Bella. Evidently they hang out a lot together while I'm at work.

And contemplate ways to bust out of the place.

She also likes to hang out on the mantel and gossip with the girls.
That gorgeous painting up there was done by none other than She who Tap Dances. I got it as a Christmas present one year after many many attempts to "winkle it away" from her. She and Cindy are sisters, evidently creative talent runs in that family.

As it turns out, once I got my camera out and started the Fairies Nest photo shoot, all the other's wanted their 15 minutes of fame. Let's meet The girls on the mantel(sounds like a rock band)
This one doesn't have a name, really, though she does make an appearance in December as the tree topper. Perhaps Noel?
Oh, by the way, this one's Punk. I can't tell you how long I've wanted to say that. Anyhoo, this little creature never quite looked happy until I perched her on the top of my cd stand. Evidently she's really into music, but she also seems happy enough to hang out on a piece of pottery and chat.


These miniatures are some of Cindy's first creations, and also two of my favorites. The Saucy Sorceress and her Consort were the first two dolls I ever got as gifts. Aren't they fabulous!?

Here are a few more miniatures, and they certainly enjoyed mugging for the camera.


Next is Annie, she's a bit shy, and like to hang out in the bathroom.


Last, but certainly not least, are the two that hang out with me in the den. They perch upon the book case vex the cats every moment they can.
Here is Green(Named after the Joni Mitchell song)

And finally "Spring". She's a particular favorite of mine, Don't you just love her outfit?


Okay, I'm done wandering around my house taking pictures, I hope you liked them, and if you are ever looking for a bit of magic, don't forget to check out The Fairies Nest.

Culinary Adventures

While this weekend was not the productivity fest I had hoped (such is the case with all my weekends, Hmmm, I'm sensing a pattern), I did get a chance to play in the kitchen tonight. This evening's attempt at vegetarian cooking was this little dish.

Zucchini fritters with Pasta Portobello
(... and I don't think it came out half bad, if I do say so myself..)


For the Fritters.
Grate 2 medium zucchinis and 1/2 sweet onion onto a clean dishtowel. Wrap tightly and squeeze all the moister out with your hands.

My original attempt with this was a paper towel. Kids, don't try that at home. My paper towel got soggy and ripped at the bottom and I had to then transfer my zucchini to the dishtowel I should have used in the first place.

Once drained, transfer to mixing bowl.
Add:
Two beaten eggs
4 tbs flour
2/3 cup really good pecorino Romano cheese. (grated)
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Mix it all up into a consistent "batter" and spoon into your hot skillet.

Heat enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan over medium to medium high heat. I suppose you could use any kind of cooking oil like sunflower or canola, but I'm half Italian, I use olive oil on instinct. Besides, I think it adds a great flavor, and it's really good for you.

Spoon a healthy plop of zucchini mixture into the pan and gently work it into a relatively round patty. Cook about 3-4 min on each side or until golden brown. Cook fritters 3-4 at a time depending on the size of your pan. Remove to paper towel (those guys again) or a cooling rack placed on a cookie sheet. Salt immediately and keep warm in oven as you prepare the rest of the fritters, and your pasta. (I used a 250* oven).

For the pasta
1/2 lb of pasta. ( I used Pene, but you could use whatever floats your boat)
1 pkg sliced Portobollo Mushrooms
1/2 coarsely chopped Sweet Onion
1 good handful (about a 1/2 cup)of Romano Cheese.
1-2 tsp Dried parsley. If you have it you could use fresh, just be sure to up your amounts, fresh herbs aren't as strong as dried.

Once your fritters are going, you can start your water for the pasta and cook using the specifications on the box. Now would also be a good time to coarsely chop your mushrooms and onions.
I used portobello mushrooms because, to me, they have the taste and heartiness of steak, but you could probably use any other type you wanted (or even a mixture of mushrooms. Go crazy!).

OK, your fritters are done, they have been salted and are in a warm oven staying happy. Now drain the oil out of your pan (leave all the tasty bits, and the residual oil), and place back on heat, reduce heat to medium. Throw in your mushrooms and onions. Do not salt your veggies at this point, this will cause your mushrooms to release all their moisture and it will make them kind of soggy and tasteless. Saute in the residual olive oil (you can add more if you need to) until onions have started to brown.

Add a pat of butter to the mixture and stir it in right before you add your pasta. *this is optional, but it does add a richness in flavor*.

By this time your pasta should be done. Drain your pasta, but reserve a little of the water, ohh say about 1/4 c. Throw the pasta and reserved water into your skillet with he mushrooms and onions. Mix well and add a hand full of Romano cheese. Sprinkle with parsley.

Serve with one or two of the fritters.

How's it look?

What I did instead of cleaning out my closet

Oh yes, this weekend was going to be a study in productive domesticity. I was going to clean out all three of my closets (yep, you heard, I have three whole closets!), make some fabulous vegetarian gourmet delight to dine upon, and basque in my overblown feelings of superiority. And then Satan called, also know as "She Who Tap Dances" tempting me away from my chores with the siren song of fresh coffee and scones. Dammit.

Well, one thing lead to another, as these things often do, and Coffee gave way to rum drinks. Now I will confess that I might have had something to do wit the rum drinks.... maybe. So I ran back up to my house ( I live a few doors down, and we like to consider the street just a long hallway connecting different wings of the mansion. Delusional much?) and grabbed provisions for a day of blatant laziness.

It goes without saying that where there is lounging around and drinking, there will be random picture taking as well.

This is an up close and personal shot of the giant assed Camilla bush/tree in my front yard. It's way too big, and is currently eyeing my mailbox as a possible meal, but it has gorgeous flowers on it. Besides, it's one of the few things that bloom this early.

Daffodils also bloom this time of year, but I feel so bad for them most of the time. We get a few really warm days and they pop their little heads up thinking it's spring. Then BAM! It dips below freezing and they freeze their happy yellow butts off. It just ain't fair.

Ms. B has a great little creek running through her yard, and the sun was hitting it just right on Saturday, so I got jiggy with my zoom and took a few shots. Cool huh? I like to pretend I'm an "artiste".


Whew! After all of that hard work we needed sustenance. So, we retired to the back yard to relax.

Rum Drinks - magically delicious and good for you too! (it's got vitamin C in it. So there!)

Fear not! We had healthy snacks as well. Don't they look Delicious?


Word on the street is that a camera in your face is the new spring accessory. It's all the rage! Here's Ms. B modeling her new Fuji camera her lovely hubby got her for Christmas.


OK, so my closets are still a mess, but who really cares? In the grand scheme of things the total recharge I got from Saturday's escape from reality is far better than clean closets. I highly recommend it.

One Last Look

At the risk of becoming one of those tiresome people who make you look at endless pictures of their vacation, Im doing one more post dedicated to my trip to Anguilla. Between the lounging around on the beach and the drinking of much rum, I did manage to do a fair amount of site seeing. We had a few cloudy days, so I spent them driving around the island with my head hanging out the back seat window taking pictures, periodically yelling "Stop!" at my father and making him pull over on some back road so I could jump out and take a shot (of the photographic varity).

Animal Life
Goats, they're everywhere, you notice them the moment you start looking around. They are a main food source for the locals, and they let them run wild. Im not sure how anyone tells which goat belongs to whom, but they are a big part this island's charm. Although you have to be careful when you're driving around, they tend to wander out into the street.

Drive by Goats

A stroll by the ocean.

There were other types of animal life popping up to pose for their close up. Some were beautiful.
Others? Well,let's just say they had character.


Eewwww!
Big Ass Hermit Crab

Flora and Fauna



Around the Island

The rest of the pictures are just shots taken around the island throughout the week. These below are the ones I hope capture the flavor of Anguilla. It is beautiful in that Carribean island way everyone expects it to be, but there is also beauty in the daily lives of the people who live there.











Okay, okay, Im hearing the desperate cries of Uncle from the aether so I will stop torturing you with vacation photos. Well, maybe one more. This was the sunset on the last night we were there, and seemed a fitting end to a beautiful vacation. Thanks for letting me share it with you (Like you had a choice).

Roots and Leaves

Anguilla is not like any of the other Caribbean islands you picture when thinking of the Caribbean. Unlike Aruba or St Maarten, Anguilla is, for the most part, still undeveloped and very untourist like. This, unfortunately is changing, but for now you can still wander down a random dirt road and come across a secret little hide away spot you never knew was there.

This is exactly what happened the second afternoon we were there, and what we found was this little bar called KoKo's. It was at the end of a long and twisty dirt road speckled with the most bizzar alien cacti I had ever seen. They looked otherworldly



The bar seemed unassuming enough, very picturesque, with happy little coconut fishies bobbing lazily in the breeze. But looks can be deceiving.

Upon closer inspection my friend Katie discovered these large glass bottles of "infused rum". The girl at the bar placed her hand over each one as she described them. Lemon and Ginger, Orange and Cinnamon, Roots and Leaves 'mon.
Huh? Did she just say roots and leaves? Roots and leaves. What kind of roots and leaves?
She just smiled and started pouring shots.


If this doesn't look like trouble, I don't know what does.

So we all bellied up to the bar, totally willing to throw down whatever potent potable was placed in front of us. We were on vacation after all, and who needs brain cells on vacation?


They were all surprisingly tasty! The roots and leaves in particular - kind of like licorice, but not quite, and the rum left a warm spicy heat as it traveled down your throat. Needless to say there were many rounds of roots and leaves with a few umbrella drinks thrown in for good measure, and we all managed to get our island on. Here's my partner in crime, Jay, up to no good. Later in the week he would inadvertently try to give me away to a local for a shot of vodka, but that's a story for another post.


Once I peeled myself off the bar I stumbled around taking pictures. They came out fairly well considering.

I wanted to lay down here, but thought better of it once I realized Id have to get up again.


This is a shot of Scilly Quay (pronounced silly key), in the middle of Island Harbor (thus the name). Supposedly if you wave from the dock they will come in a boat to bring you over to snorkel and swim. We waved but no one showed - I can't imagine why.

I have no idea what this is, other than rock and water, but I thought it was really pretty at the time.


The next day we were all basking(recuperating)in the sun, describing our find to another longtime resident of the island who said he was very familiar with KoKo's. In fact he claimed to know the secret to the roots and leaves infusion, and wondered out loud if any of us had come down with a case of the munchies after we left the bar. Hmmmm.