Sunday, March 13, 2011

Haiku for Sunday

second honeymoon

My upgrade to Dallas hasn't cleared. It won't, hipsters are thronging to Austin for sxsw. Have at it.

Clunky boots
Musky patchouli
Twitter haikus in short
bursts

My evening will be spent in a casino in Bay St.Louis, MS. Don't feel sorry for me, because hopefully on Saturday, I'll be spending my lunch time on the Ile st. Louis in Paris.

I still can't write about Japan.

Sorry.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Tuesday

Baby bassets, crocii, catching up with new/old friends, pancakes, beagles, did I mention baby bassets?

Sunday, March 06, 2011

now we are five
Ernest and Phracey turned five today. Geez, where has the time gone? I have had this blog longer than we have had Ernest. Everyday with him is different. Maybe we treat our animals as children, sainted objects of our affection and dote on them too much. Honestly, this dog is the love of my life. Everyday with Ernest is a new day - things to do, smells to smell and people to meet. His life becomes our life and this is not a bad thing.

I never intended to fall in love with a fifty pound basset hound with buns of steel. Nor, did I ever think we would be blessed to have built up a friendship with his breeder and her husband. Having them in our lives has also been a joy.

Ernest, may your curiosity, stubbornness, good nature and boyish good humor bring us all joy for the next year.
love,
nmom

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Saturday

A day that made me glad that I was not hurtling through the air @ 500 mph. We need more of those.

Friday, March 04, 2011

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

in a word

SPQR

Where I have been? In a word, everywhere. I have been stuck in a snowstorm in London, lounged in Rome, shopped for salt in Paris, ate pinxtos in Barcelona along with other comings and goings.

Never fear, my family still remembers what I look like and so does my dog.



I am participating in NaBloPoMo this month, partially to get myself back on track, but mostly because I need the outlet.

Bear with me.

Friday, December 03, 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

11.29.2010

Going down is a lot harder than coming back up. Where's my advil?

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Saturday, November 20, 2010

11.20.2010



We spent the day putting square pegs into round holes. That's how we roll in these parts.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Friday, November 12, 2010

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

11.10.2010

Harvest

Yes, it is November, no we have not had frost.

The leaf shredder is here, but apparently 530 pm is not an appropriate time to shred. I guess I will wait until 10 am tomorrow, JUST TO BE NICE.

Other than that, life is good and is getting better by the second.

Monday, November 08, 2010

11.08.2010

threeHello Monday!

I have realized that what happens Monday really sets up my week - especially this past year. Can you believe that 14% of my week affects the remaining 86%? It does - trust me.

This week, so far, so good.

My week in bullet points!

* I shot a bunch of unappetizing pictures today of a dish my mom made. Guess what, I'm not the only one shooting yummy but unappetizing food.

* I made a bunch of delicious and beautiful food to go with the ugly, but very delicious food.

* I am realizing that there is no way on this earth that we can eat all I cook.

* My friends and colleagues either love or hate me.

* I have a pile of leaves larger than a minke whale waiting be shredded.

* I pray my shredder shows up tomorrow.

* I realize that life is too short to care about what you look like in a tankini.

* I am beginning to recognize that good enough is a proxy for finished.

* That you don't have to finish every book you start or remember everything in a book you read 10 months ago.

* and that 10 pm is a reasonable bed time for basset hounds and their apes

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Friday, November 05, 2010

Thursday, November 04, 2010

11.04.2010

Roaching in the fall
Every November 4, the weather should be such that a basset can roach in the sun.

Fantastic.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

11.02.2010

Election returns are making me sad. Change takes time. Who do you think got us where we are?

Think.Before.You.Vote

Now think how much longer it is going to make changes mid stream.

We live in a want it now world, guess what the gov't doesn't work that way and privatizing, streamlining and thinking you can make things better usually inflates and reinvents the wheel.

Been there, done that.

Nm / head aching and heart sobbing

Monday, November 01, 2010

where I've been

What it is November already?

Where does time go?

Last month, I went to two of my favorite places in the world and a new place that I want to visit again and again...

shadow

Storm King Art center is outside of West Point, NY. I believe I could go there everyday of the year and be surprised by what I see in different light and different seasons.

The leaves on the Palisades Parkway were magnificent.


We went to Maine, via Montreal.

I got to meet Sophie and her mom. Meeting someone you have been interacting with on line for four years is a daunting thing. What happens if you don't click? Do you just walk away? Do you feign illness to get out of dinner you've planned a month in advance? What if the dog bites you? Montreal, I am enchanted by your city, your bagels and your dogs. Thank you.

Hi Sophie!

and then Maine....

What can I say about Maine?

I'm sorry we couldn't spend a lot of time together this trip. Next time, we'll be running your parks and kayaking in your kettle bogs.

mwah.

Lunch

(This picture was taken in New Hampshire, but shh don't tell anyone).

I'm participating in NaBloPoMo. You'll see more of me here, lamely, but still....

nm - six states, one province, and 1.5 cider donuts later....

Friday, September 24, 2010

falling down again



Fall is here in Seattle. It seems as if summer was three minutes long and boom we're into fall. I am home for a while. Not a long while, but long enough to get a few projects wrapped up and get ready for winter. In the last month, I have been to Zurich, Paris and Spokane. All great cities, but honestly, nothing beats home.

We spent a lot of the summer waiting for Godot, or in this case, the contractor to decide if he had time to do a job that he had bid out in early March. Turns out he didn't and like most things, except for open heart surgery and negotiating a plane ticket in Mexico, its easier to just go ahead and do it.

TH, and a cast of characters - did an amazing job of the project and pretty soon we can call it done. Nothing is done until the last paint can is put away.

Things I set out to accomplish this summer have slow slushy deadlines. Things will get done, in due time. Right now I think it is time for a nap.

Friday, September 03, 2010

vivid

I will admit that I have been a slacker in the blogging department as well as the photography department. The photography thing bothers me the most. I take a picture everyday, but have not been disciplined enough to upload them on daily basis. I haven't done a good job of thinking about my subjects or composition, I just point and shoot, be it my iphone (shut up) or our nifty new canon s90.

Next week I am taking a all day photo class with my trusty DSLR - I cannot wait. I am learning that shooting with a fixed focal length is okay. I don't know why this hadn't occurred to me before - I shot with a 50mm camera all throughout grad school.

It is good to go back to basics, n'est ce pas?

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

happy new year

In blues

I am here, don't ask why.

The last year to the day has been interesting, but nothing I want to repeat.

My friend Jan believes that the new year begins with the school year, all bright and shiny.

If you want a do over, this is it.

Happy new year.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Not so pink

I have been doing some pretty deep thinking these days about the direction of where I want my writing and blog to go. I apologize to all who have come here (the three of you) in hopes of something deep or meaningful.

It hasn't been here, nor has it been something I want to share with the world.

I have been working on finding a purpose to what I am doing with updating the world. No one really cares what I think about Jon and Kate, nor the state of the government. My best comments and side conversations come from folks who enjoy my stories about food, travel, family and cooking.

To that end, we start over.

I'm moving the contents of this opus to a new site - tagging those posts that I feel relevant and share with you the skeleton of something I believe will make good reading and teach you a few things.

www.banamak.org

Here I will share what as I learn how to cook Persian food and learn a few things about my family - who were were, how we got here and where we are now. You will meet my mother, watch me learn to boil water for rice (really) and hopefully come back over and over again.

Remember, this is a work in progress, some things don't work yet. I had fully intended to spend every day in the past few months working on this - but time was not on my side.

So, be gentle. Helpful criticism would be appreciated.

Thanks to those who listened to me and made helpful suggestions - Viv, Keren, Beth and Carol and TH have been so supportive.

You rock.

Friday, March 26, 2010

well?

contrast

Three months later and not even a peep.

You know when your mind is full of things you want to write about and
you realize that sometimes some things are better left unsaid.

That is where I am. However, things are looking up (really!). I have
committed myself to something in public and have been made accountable. That always helps. Perhaps it is true - I'm usually much better under pressure.

I have been reading a lot these days about breaking out/changing things and making things happen. Most of this is not siss boom rah kind of reading, but how to starting making those changes. I think most of us are happy being miserable, or if not miserable, complacent. Content to keep on putting up with stuff that you wouldn't wish on your best friend but have no energy to fight.

No, its not always you, but it could be partially you. That my dear, is a hard thing to swallow.

In any respect, I'm here. Follow me tweet. I am moving on and as usual, a moving target.

nm hitting the save key to save my own life

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Saturday, December 05, 2009

fotobooth

I am really here. I just can't even bear to even begin.

Eat, Pray, Love my ass.

how about this:

Can, Stress and then let it go.

That is more like it.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Update

Things are under construction, stay tuned for a better blog.

a work in progress

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Thankful

- Ref 71 passage
- TH screening my work email and everything else
- Missy for putting up with my fretting and being a patient chocolate shopper
- Beth for her thoughtful emails this past week
- JP for sending SP pictures almost daily
- for the freedom to come and go as I wish
- for the familiarity that comes with visiting somewhere over and over again

- the wonder of finding something new

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Today

Constant, Genin, La Maison, Aoki, Hevin, Foucher...
Chocolated out

Monday, November 02, 2009

Cruise hair

There must be an art to how to create a hairdo that will withstand a transatlantic journey and a 10 day cruise from Barcelona to Venice while looking like you just walked out of Mr Armand's House of Beauty in Huckleberry, USA.

Other than that I so hope Missy gets on my flight we have a lot of Paris to recapture!

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Hotel pet peeve 36711

Phone on one side of bed and clock on the other.

Nice.

My rooms here in BCN have been on La Rambla. A bit loud but what a nice view. I managed to score the same suite on both visits.

Its a shame that I am here for such a short time. Monday means Paris and the familiarity of patterns and routines are comforting.

Walk, macaron, tea, chocolate, walk and hopefully do some mind clearing when the time is available.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Testing testing

One two three

Over my lack of trackball ghetto bb, as soon as I return I am buying
an iPhone . Wondering if my bb is really set to not roam.
Sent from my iPod

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

an apology

I have been remiss. I have been busy, overwhelmed and frankly really crummy company.

So, I wouldn't want you to have to suffer through any of this.

I am working on something now that I hope will come to fruition mid December. I will try and visit at least twice weekly, but honestly, sometimes it is just painful.

I'm off for a week's vacation - heaven help those who will be trying to contact me. It just isn't going to happen.

Be safe all.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Pickled peaches

oh the choices v2

We're in the middle of a canning frenzy. Honestly, we've been canning since June, but now, we're really getting into it. TH is also starting to dry fruit. Why? Because when neighbor's fig tree breaks branches under the weight of the fruit, you have to do something. Figs led to apricots and now peaches.

Peaches, we had a lot of them this year, we have two trees that produce -- one Babcock - the ubiquitous white peach and one yellow peach that has seen better days, but still produces fantastic peaches. The Babcock is directly outside our dining room window - TH would monitor her peach development and curse each squirrel who would eye her tender peaches.

Everyday was a peach orgy here -- breakfast, lunch and after dinner would see us slicing and eating peaches - TH likes hers with milk and I just like them. Peaches are one of the things that brought TH and I together in the beginning and that in itself is key.

Life around here can be sweet, but these days, I'm being sour. Work and family stress is making life with me a bit trying. Just ask TH and the dog. Instead of making peach conserves with my plethora of peaches - we try something else, a pickled peach. Imagine the concept of peaches with a little bite, but still sweet and with a non mushy texture. Pickled peaches are a great accompaniment for pork or just by themselves. You can can them, however we just make them as we need them. They are delicious and made even more delicious when made with peaches from your own tree.

Pickled Peaches - from Chez Panisse Fruits, Alice Waters

Makes six halves, can double or triple recipe

3 peaches
2 cups water
1/2 cup red wine vinegar (my guess is white would be just fine)
2 T honey (1 T is fine)
1/2 t peppercorns
4 whole cloves
2 allspice berries
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf - fresh if you have it

Pickle the peaches one day before you need to serve them to let the flavor mature.

Peel peaches - if they are ripe, the skin should peel right off, if not, plunge in boiling water for a minute and remove and place peaches in cold water to stop the cooking process. Skin should peel off easily. Cut peaches in half and remove the pits.

Measure water into a non reactive heavy bottomed sauce pan, I use Le Creuset for this. Add peppercorns, cloves, honey, vinegar, allspice, cinnamon and bay leaf and bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add peach halves and cook for 3-5 minutes under low heat, after 3 minutes they peaches should be tender. Remove pan from heat. Carefully remove the peaches from the pickling mixture (slotted spoon is good for this, or a 1 cup ladle), place peaches into a non-reactive container - I use pyrex or glass working bowls. Let pickling mixture cool, strain out the solids and pour liquid over peaches to cover. Store overnight in fridge and serve the next day. Will keep in the fridge for a week, good luck having them last that long.

Alice suggests serving with duck, me not so much. I like a nice pork loin.