And This Year's Card Will Be....

Yeah, you don't get to know what the card will be for this year *that* easily.

However, here is a look back at the previous ones, 2000-2008. While I started it drawing them in 2000, I have 15 because for the first few years, I did two or three (like an idiot, and used some great ideas). They are in order of years. Can you find where I put my name and date? You can see how my hair (length, cut, color) and my eyeglasses change over the years. And my cousins like to see how I will put Jackie Bear in them. And last year's, it was fun to see how many people got the clue that we were engaged, and for the first (but not the last!) time Will made an appearance.

My favorite? hmmm, I think it might be the mistletoe one... or going to London... or the snow angels... wait, no: the "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" piano... On second thought it is the cookies, or the snowman; no, no: the snow globe, or..... Oh, I can't decide!

Your favorite?

Why English School Boys Shouldn't Name Recipes

Will's mother sent Will a present: a cookbook of Great British Cooking. Don't laugh, the Brits *actually* have a cooking culture. Now, it isn't like the French tradition, but not everyone loves that much butter. I am not one of those people, but I am sure they are out there.

A quick look through the table of contents does prove that most of the great British recipes have names that are outgrowths of the private schools. Here is a taste (pun intended):

• Cock-a-Leekie Soup
• Arboath Smokie Pots
• Bubble and Squeak
• Perfect Mash
• Spotted Dick
• Jam Roly-Poly

and my favorite: Eton Mess, which is strawberries, cream, and meringue. yum. Can't wait to try this one!

Non-Turkey Meal!

We have made it through the leftovers and so time for a lighter fare: cherve and pear galette!



It is a variation of a savory crepe, actually. I made the dough with wheat flour (basically a pie crust recipe), adding for the middle bit of 2 cups ricotta, 2 cups goat's cheese, 3 eggs, fresh rosemary and thyme, and a bit of kosher salt. You then pleat the edges of the dough up around the cheese, using an egg wash to hold the pleats into place, freeze for 30 minutes and then bake at 375. I probably should have made the opening a bit smaller (and the dough not so thin, as it spread out in baking) so you could see the pleating better. After 30 minutes, I added the Bartlett pears, which I had previous grilled on a cast iron grill. Bake another 15 minutes, let cool for 20 minutes, garnish with parsley and fresh pomegranate seeds, and serve warm!

Served with a cup of soup and a nice mixed green salad, it was a lovely way to end the weekend after a whole lot of turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.

We then thought of all the stuff one could have in the middle (prosciutto! mushrooms! butternut squash!) and determined that when his parents come for their visit in December, we will make this again.

Dormer: Before and After

The dormer is now done! All the windows have screens. The ladders and the old slate have been removed from the yard. It looks great and like it has always a part of the house.

We are really pleased with the results and phase 1 of house redux is complete. Don't ask me about phase 2 or just how many phases there are...

In the meantime, here are some before and after photos!





And here is the street view with it done. Doesn't look out of place at all!

Black Friday

I am sure that everyone else who went out for Black Friday got the super great deal on the new flat screen hd tv, or Guitar Hero, or several new cashmere sweaters. We, however, got the best deal ever.

Will and I went to one store-- our hardware store. Yup, that is what our Black Friday consisted of: driving down the two blocks (hey! it was rainy) at 1:00 pm and going in and buying at more than half price a 5 gallon shop vac. Returning to the house by 1:20 pm. Regularly $50, but we got the shop vac for less than $20. What a deal. And it is a "Quiet Plus!" Not really sure what that gets us, but hey, for the price, we don't care!

Now, all that shopping has tuckered us out. We are going to lay on the couch and watch a movie.

A Captiol Thanksgiving to You!

Our table is laid, our guests are on their way, our bird is almost done! The only left to do is,

Wish You and Yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

Dormer Windows: Done.

The builders put in the windows in the dormer today and finished their part. We now have a complete 12 foot dormer in our roof. The roofers need to finish up the shingling on the outside (that is for tomorrow) and then they, too, will be done.

It is pretty fantastic the space and the light that the attic now has. Whenever we get it together to redo the space as a master suite, it will be so lovely and cozy and bright! The windows face the southern side and so the morning light will simply be wonderful. I am sure that Will is already thinking of all the plants he can grow up there.