You know how life gets to feeling stale some days. Blech. Lately just in a funk or something. I tend to get a bit mellowish when winter starts but it's not really depressed. First off, I don't really have much to get depressed about. I guess it's more a twofold sensation: 1) I work so hard and for what? This place we're living in? Not regretting it by any means and we do love it, but it's an adjustment being an owner. It's only been four months (feels like four years already) so of course it's more expensive in the beginning but it's getting old, all the things we need and all the money we are spending. Whatever. 2) I am having to readjust my own view of who I am in some ways. Since I was 20, I have always been a traveler and that was how I defined myself. Living all over and moving so much became part of my operating procedure and since we feel rooted to some extent here, I am having to consider what it means to not be a traveler. I know that we will travel more in the near future, but I don't really see myself moving anywhere, really. No more 2 year adventures in Africa or joining the Peace Corps or living in Vietnam. My life is too present here, I have too many responsibilities for that now.
We turned what might have been a lazy Sunday into a very industrious one, getting The Aerie all decked out for Christmastime. We had the Christmas music playing from the office while we decked the halls and trimmed the trees (our big Christmas tree and our little Monterey pine out back). Speaking of trees, we even added some Christmas cheer to the palm trees outside of our home.
Where the wild things are…cherry blossoms, koi and ducks at the Fort Worth botanical gardens.
This week's warm weather and clear-sky Santa Ana was ushered out today in a big way with rain showers (and even hail!) and a cold wind from the north.
The change in weather was a good demarcation point to change from Thanksgiving into Christmas, which we're getting an early start on this year. Of course, the first course of action is to get the tree.
Now Penny has never had a tree in the house, and I'm not sure she entirely knows what to think about it. Wait until we put the lights and decorations on tomorrow!
- 00:30 Celeb sighting: Was hanging at 21 Nickels with some friends tonight and local girl Eliza Dushku came in. Prettier in person than on TV #
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An oldie but goodie...
I'm not sure I'll get to making all of it, but I am set for the following menu for Thanksgiving.
There are a couple of extra chairs at the table if you're interested!
Now I'd better get prepping because so far all I've made is the cranberry sauce.
Thanksgiving 2009
Deviled eggs
Variety of cheeses with French bread
Corn Lemongrass Soup with crab and mussels
Arugula Fennel Mint Prosciutto Pomegranate Salad
Turkey – brined and deep fried
Cranberry sauce – with ginger and Cointreau
Traditional Stuffing with pancetta
Mashed new potatoes with skins on, and mascarpone and chives
Gravy -
Pearl onions roasted with a port reduction and bay
Green beans sauteed with wildrice, mushrooms, bell peppers and pinenuts
Crème Brule
Pumpkin pie with whipped creme
There's much to be grateful for and I try to remind myself of that every day.
Some days I forget.
But I'm glad there's one day of the year when we in the United States are invited to take stock of the abundance in our lives. I hope each of you are with people who are grateful for YOU this year and who express it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
After a couple of days of feeling out of sorts, it seems that Penny’s puppy pharmaceutical treatment has helped out immensely and that there was a very energetic and eager pointer ready for a big mountain hike this morning.
We took a great long hike down and then up to the top of the mountain The Aerie rests on. There were great views out to the ocean and even down to Point Loma.
Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!
A couple of shots I took while in Texas Hill Country this summer.
