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.

Muffins extraordinaire, a cute story, quietude

The day opened with the Sunday Times and a freshly made latte, a la barista Tom, spread before me. Bliss.

I read until my yen for apple cider muffins grew too great; only then did I remove myself from the couch and go make some. Happy am I that I did. These muffins are the absolute yummiest. I love them. Everything about them. I love their crumb, and I love the subtle fragrance and taste of nutmeg in every bite. I love the tender apple chunks studded throughout; they manage to taste gently poached and perfectly steamed. And I love that I finally took a fine photograph of them as you may know just how long I have struggled to do so (if you need a good challenge, try to take a pretty pic of muffins; go ahead, see if you want to eat what you see in your pics!).

Afterwards, T asked if I wanted to go to the gym together. Alas, no, my love. I do not. "I am going to park myself on the couch in front of the fireplace, light a fire and get my reading on." And that is what I have done. I'm still there even though he came home and is now back out. Maybe it relaxes him to run errands on a Sunday but I do enough of that every other day, with the kids, thank you. What I never do is read on the couch in a quiet home.

So anyway, we're both happy, and that's nice. Oliver went to a good buddy's birthday party this morning (thank you carpool who picked him up and dropped him back off at my in-laws' house), and three different mothers texted/emailed me this story: after eating two slices of pizza and wiping his greasy mouth, little O, folded his used napkin up into a flower for me. I've got video and photographic evidence of this most darling act. Could you die?!

I'm starting to get very excited about seeing my munchkins though I am less excited that they don't have school until Wednesday, and during that time Jack is having two cavities filled. Hmm. I'm almost nausea-free and am tonight making T a dinner from the Gramercy Tavern cookbook: baked clams; puffed potatoes. Asparagus on the side. And German Chocolate cupcakes (he didn't want a whole cake because he is trying hard to stay on his health wagon), some for us, some for my trainer whose birthday is tomorrow. I love her, she also doesn't want much in the way of birthday dessert, so splitting a half-recipe between the two of them seems like the way to go.

Now I'm hungry again...off to make those cupcakes!