The meatballs bred, feeling grateful, off to bed

Oh my goodness, y'all, the meatballs just kept coming and coming and coming. It took more than an hour just to shape and fry them all. Wow. However, now I've got two enormous pots-worth, and my freezer feels sated once more. So does Tom. The boys were so darn cute this afternoon, and this evening I spent a lovely two hours at a Quaker Committee discussion on Silence. I love that Jack's school has a weekly meeting for worship, 20-30 minutes of kids sitting in silence together. There are other moments of silence throughout the day- at morning gathering, before lunch and so forth, and it's such a gift to a child to learn how to slow to stillness and honor their thoughts, whatever they may be. We are not adherents of any faith tradition, but I often feel I could be Quaker. In many ways, it seems an extension of the values my family already holds dear, which is one reason we are so happy that Jack attends the school he does. What a luxury to feel that each day we're sending our little one off to a place that we trust as much as we do our own home, to teachers that inspire us to be better parents, to peers that are growing together in the same community of respect and stewardship. As has Jack, T and I have made such extraordinary friends there. As well, being part of the committee that hosted the event tonight has been such an intellectually rewarding experience for me; it's really enriched our time at the school so far. Lucky, lucky are we all!

I quite doubt that I will, but I hope to maintain some feeling of this peace and zen during tomorrow night's debate. Mittens -in his infinitely smug and vacillating self- will surely have nothing of depth or value to add, and I fear President Obama will stoop to that level of vague and sweeping generalities rather than rise proudly above it. It is so disheartening to see how far pride in being smart, educated, candid and willing to compromise has fallen.

Thoughts from the morning so far

It is a full-scale gully-washer out there, and I love it. The kids are at school, and today is a longer day for both as Jack has theater after school and Ol stays for lunch and science. I say amen. After carpool, I went to the gym and showed it who was boss. Then I came home, turned on the Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas CD -oh yes I did even though it's only 10/2; these are the things you can do brazenly when no one is home to make fun of you- and made the most darling batch of mini blueberry-cream scones for a library meeting I've got tomorrow morning. I'm also bringing lemon curd, and really, is there a better combination? Well, there are but only equally so.

I decided to christen my new biscuit-cutter, and let me tell you/warn you, those suckers are sharper than you might expect. I immediately nicked my finger, but this might be my new favorite tool anyway. It's so pleasing, those perfect little rounds it produces. Oh my. Just when you think you're in control of nothing, you remember that you bought a 2" biscuit cutter, and all seems well in the world.

Today is my dear daddy's birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad!!!! You are the youngest 62 year old I know!

I'm about to embark on Project Meatball. These are the greatest meatballs in the world but they are an eNORmous job. As the recipe makes enough for 16 people (read: 80 or meatballs), I don't do this often, 4-5 times per year, but am always glad when I do.  It's the kind of recipe you should never halve because the amount of work really doesn't diminish, but your final product, of course, does. So, embark on this on a day like today which is really a perfect one for a meatball party. Then make friends with your freezer and for the next several months, at least, you'll be happy every time you defrost and indulge in these.

Patatas fabulous!

Ooh, this all turned out quite well, especially my pimentón potatoes. I served them with a garlic aioli for drizzling, and that was a fine decision if I do say so myself! I will post that recipe soon, but for now, some pics.

 I also made a radish slaw (using a green Luobo and a watermelon radish plus a kohlrabi- pretty, eh?) and a salad of bitter greens fresh from my garden, slicked with a lemon-garlic-oil dressing. Muy bueno!