OhMyLord

Y'all, will this snow day ever end?? Monday was MLK Day, Tuesday was a report-writing day, and then today, despite clearly plowed roads since late last night, school was cancelled. I, and every other mother I know, cannot wait to do the drop-and-run tomorrow morning. Yes there is snow, and yes it is extremely cold, but seriously. Let's get this party resumed. We have visited with friends, gone to the orthodontist, dropped off a gift, picked up the water bottle I forgot at the dentist yesterday (I think Jack's mouth has set a record for most expensive 7.5 yr old mouth ever at this point), watched a movie, played in the snow...I am now officially bored, frazzled and tired. I have done nothing on my own to-do list, my house looks like a tornado passed through, and my mom arrives tomorrow. Thank god.

Percy is setting new records for irritating-dogness, and Oliver has acquired the MOST annoying tic of constantly clearing his throat.

In an attempt to displace some of this vexing context, we made a gumbo last night and it was magnificent. I could eat gumbo every day and would enjoy doing so. It is comforting TO.THE.MAX. I also made two enormous Applejack Rabbits; sadly I feel a tinge of blech today which is certainly not being alleviated in any way by having been interrogated all day long.

The kids are so cute and good, but seriously. Let's get back to school!!!!

The Litter Police

It's a gorgeous day and as Percy needed a walk and the threat of snow looms, the boys and I decided to venture over to Starbucks. We were dreadfully low on coffee this morning, and another shot sounded marvelous and helpful. On the way we mourned the litter blowing this way and that, so decided to return home for a garbage bag and the boys' "grabbers" and do something about it. They had a great time, said it was "our own Earth Day" and took pride in the half-bag we collected. This activity is one I'll pull out of my pocket again: stewardship, consciousness, fine motor skills, sunshine. It's a win-win!

Em-i-lis 2013 in Review: month 1

It has become abundantly clear to me that I will never have time to write and post a thorough review of 2013 in aggregate, and so, dear readers, I will do so month by month. I hope you enjoy this monthly retrospective as much as I have enjoyed pulling it (later, them) together.

THE BEST OF EM-I-LIS: JANUARY 2013

I took my first writing class, Food Writing, and through it got to know four wonderful women. At the end of the course, three of them and I formed a writing group and have met every two - three weeks since. I met Lili in person in Louisiana this past December and may get to meet Laura and Catherine (and see Lili) later this year in NM: WWW Writing Retreat, here I come!

Tom and I spent four days in Charleston -our first time there- to celebrate his birthday. We loved the city, its food and coffee culture, the weather, the architecture... To read my recap of all we loved, click here. And please read what I consider one of my more amusing observations: Les Idiots a Le Bar.

Per the usual, parenting was often tough. I think this post captures that sense of struggle well!

I was flattered to win Fresh Farm Market DC's winter produce photo contest with this pic of persimmons:

And I have been forever grateful to have created my wonderful Leeky Sunchoke Bisque.

Lastly, I still believe these photos were two of my best last January; a resplendent moon and an equally luminous marmalade.