joy {life}

Today is Callum's last day of exams! So, yeah, once he gets through two or so hours of pre-algebra (gah), we're free! And then my mom comes! Super bonus!

I actually really like the way Callum's school does exams. At first I was like, uh, one exam a day? Pick him up at noon every day for the next five days? Please. But, it works. It's worked. And here's what I really like about it. Every day is special. From the 7th grade right up through the 12th, everyone takes the same subject each day. So Monday for example, every student took their science exam. Yesterday, all the languages. Each morning, the students gather as they normally do, for chapel, and on the first day of exams the second graders came and sang them a good-luck song! One club handed out goodie bags of candy, and there was a bit of a celebratory air in the midst of all that test-tension. After chapel, the kids took a break and then they had a last study hall before the exam started at 10. Students were dismissed at noon each day, or they could stay until 1 finishing their test. Afternoon help sessions were available for those who had questions with certain subjects (cough, math, cough). All-in-all, I was quite impressed with the whole process. But what's even better? We're all done! And tonight Ama comes. Christmas can really begin.

Baking history :: chicken enchilada {life}

Callum had an incident at school yesterday (Don't worry; he's fine! He did good!) which necessitated a trip to the office for me. I'm so glad I got to be there and chat with the director of the middle school. He's a wonderful man who gives off a bit of an absent-professor air. When you start talking to him though, you know immediately that he's tack-sharp and that he just gets kids. If I were a kid in his middle school, I'd so appreciate how unflappable and calm he is. As a parent, I know I do! After we discussed what we needed to discuss, our conversation turned, just briefly, to the events of last Friday. "I'm so glad they are here," he said. "They need to be here. In school. Taking exams, seeing their friends. Doing what they are supposed to be doing."

He's right. The interwebs were pretty special yesterday, I thought. A really nice mix of reflection and light. Just what I needed. I hope it was what you needed too. And while I'm not completely ready to get back to normal (I find myself too desperate for change to be ready for that.), I'm ready for some normalcy around here. And when you're around here, what's more normal than food?

I can remember a conversation I had many, many years ago with one of my oldest friends. We were in college and she had told me about some fantastical meal a friend of hers had for dinner growing up (I wish I could remember what it was!). I remember being stunned at said meal, totally impressed until she pointed out, "I think it's just the kind of meal they regularly. You know, the way we have tuna noodle casserole (which Neel, by the way, calls "Tuna Pea Wiggle.") every week or so." Ah.

I think of that conversation every so often in the course of making meals for our family. What will Callum call the meals that pop in and out of our weekly rotation? Will they move forward a generation? Will they make it, as some of mine and some of Neel's have, into his own family's lexicon? I hadn't made these chicken enchiladas in awhile, so I was particularly happy when our boy said, "Oh good! I like those."

We do like them. Chicken is almost always my choice over beef, and the tomatillos make for a lighter sauce, one that's filled with spirit and tang. The recipe makes a gazillion enchiladas (like 8 big ones, maybe?), so it's great for us to have leftovers for the week. My friend Catherine first gave us the recipe, but now I've made it so many times that I kind of go by feel. I'll try to suss it out for you here and make up some measurements.

1-2 lbs. fresh tomatillos
1 onion, chopped
1 can diced green chilies
1/3 cup cilantro
1 teaspoon cumin
1.5 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup whipping cream
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (I use one pack of organic chicken breasts.)
6-8 large flour tortillas
vegetable oil
1.5 cups grated cheddar cheese
1.5 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

Husk the tomatillos and halve them. Broil for 7-9 minutes until soft and brown. Set aside and reduce heat in the oven to 375º. Saute´ half of onion in 1 tablespoon of oil until translucent.

Transfer tomatillos and onion to a food processor or blender, add chilies, cilantro, cumin, sugar, and salt and blend until smooth. Return sauce to skillet and add broth and cream. Heat until thick.

In a large bowl, combine chicken with half of onion, and half of each kind of cheese. Add 1/2 cup of sauce to chicken and combine.

I warm tortillas by wrapping them in a towel and popping them in the microwave for a few seconds (maybe 45-50?). You may have another method, so go for it! Spread 1/4 of sauce on the bottom of a 9X13 casserole pan. Put roughly 1/4 of the chicken mix into the center of the tortilla, and roll it up, placing the rolled tortilla seamed side down in the casserole dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Cover enchiladas with remaining sauce and cheese and bake until warm and bubbly, about 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy.

Annie made my figs from last week for Sam over the weekend, and that very fact filled me with delight! if you ever make one of my recipes, please! I want to know!

Weekend-Gram Recap, December 17 Edition

My friends. My heart is so heavy tonight as I write this. Time and again the peace of our country, our world, is shattered by senseless violence. Only this time it entered our schools and took away our youngest. Twenty little children, six brave teachers and administrators and the mother of the shooter. It's quite unbelieveable, really. And yet, it seems to happen again and again.

I was on the way to school to pick Callum up early from his exams when I first heard the news of what had happened. Thank God I was on the way to school. I knew he was safe. I knew he was safe, but I couldn't wait to put my eyes on him, to see his fist raised in triumph: another test done. Not much was known then, just before noon on Friday. But even then, as a mother headed to pick up her son, I could only imagine the fear that all those parents felt rushing to their own children's school. When you pick up your kid at off hours at Callum's school, there's a gate and a security guard, and you must stop at the entrance before coming onto campus. You get to know them (and I have some favorites) so that they simply wave you through each day. On Friday, I said to the guard who was standing there, "Thank you for being here." He looked at me like I had two heads! I imagine now he understands why.

This is not my tragedy. It's not my event to live through. I don't get to appropriate it. And you, my dear friends, certainly aren't coming here for sage words on violence or tragedy or loss. Yet, I'm a mother. I'm a parent. Our lives are centered around our home and school community. I am usually good at compartementalizing events such as this. I can see them, but they don't come in. This got in. I was on my way to Callum's school to pick him up when I learned the news. Kids should be as safe at school as they are at home. And these little children. Barely students. At six and seven, school is still such a wonder. They were still in love with the idea of homework. They didn't yet know if they were good or bad at math. They were good at being alive and now they're gone.

Really, I have no words.

So what did we do this weekend? We tried to do what I suggested to Erin at one point on Friday, we chose light and joy. Callum and I cooked together. We spent the weekend with the kids in our life. Dinner with neighbors. Another neighbor's daughter's birthday party. We spent time together. We laughed and I felt my eyes fill with tears a lot. Callum went to play with his friends, which is well and right and just what he should do. He studied for his exams, which is also well and right and just what he should do. But I thought a lot about those sweet and spunky kids, at my favorite age, those early elementary years. And their families. Those mothers and fathers. And the teachers? Teachers? Underpaid, unappreciated. I have dear, dear friends who are teachers, and they shouldn't be on the front lines. Oh, I can't bear the heartache.

I've had snippets of poems slipping through my head all weekend that I've thought to share with you. W.H. Auden, Stop All the Clocks

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

And also, Laurence Binyon who wrote For the Fallen about the loss of so many young men during World War I.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Callum and I play around with lovingkindness meditation. We are by no means practitioners of it, but anytime we fear that some one is hurting or in distress, we send them lovingkindness. I hate to send you to Wikipedia for more information, but it seems the most accessible approach. We've been doing it for years. We've been doing it a lot this weekend.

May you be filled with lovingkindness
May you be well
May you be peaceful and at ease
May you be happy

Callum and I send this lovingkindness out to everyone in Sandy Hook who is hurting
May they be filled with lovingkindness
May they be well
May they be peaceful and at ease
May they be happy

five things, december 14 edition

1. I think it's pretty flipping awesome that Neel went to Skyfall last weekend and now he wants to throw out his entire wardrobe and dress like James Bond. Tom Ford suits here we come! If only we could afford Tom Ford suits!

2. I think I'm overwhelmed, but we're getting there. Last week, when chosing a gift for Callum, Neel said to me, "Can we do this later?" Uh, no. We have to do it now. Have you seen my to-do list? Then this week, my dad texts me and says, "A box from Amazon is coming today. Don't open it." Cal and I get home to a tower of boxes from Amazon. Oh, and a box from Anthropologie. Three mugs inside (teacher gifts) and no packing materials. NO PACKING MATERIALS. No wonder it rattled when I picked it up. Who ships ceramics with no packing materials? Yes, of course they're replacing it, but still. Who needs time to be replacing mugs for teacher gifts? Last year we did too much. By the time I got to the New Year, the festive season had nearly killed me. And then the winter of 2012 really, really nearly killed me. This year, I'm paying attention and taking it easier. Not trying to do something every weekend night. Paying attention to my body and my heart. Trying to make everything fun and delightful for all of my beloveds and trusting that in the end, it will be. My mom gets here next week (cookies!) and my dad shortly after. By then, Callum's exams will be done. My Christmas will be complete. We're getting there.

3. I think that if Santa were to put a really beautiful pepper grinder or immersion blender or a cast iron skillet in my stocking I would not mind at all. Those are some things I've been wanting for awhile now, but they are so hard to buy for myself.

4. I think, as we near the end of the year, that I've been focusing the tiniest corner of my mind on my goals and dreams for the upcoming year. Ha! Sounds way more lofty than I feel, but there you are. I would really, really like to push myself with some photography projects. A 365? Don't know if I'm up for it. Something thematic? Hmmm...any ideas? I'm open to suggestions, for sure. What would you like to see me take more pictures of next year? Oh! And speaking of which, if I have time next week, I'll need your help picking which photo to hang in our guest bathroom. 

5. I think I've been thinking a lot about light lately. So often the internet is a place of light for me. Dorky, I know. But I keep thinking about Maple and Liza and how grateful I am that we met. If I couldn't hand her my card with my email or I didn't have this space, I may never have seen her again or found her lovely book. I keep thinking about how I am able to stay connected to my far-away friends through the internet and to each of you as well. Each of you a light in my life. My Jewish friends are celebrating Hanukkah by lighting their menorah each night (I've always loved this tradition.). Every morning, when I come downstairs, the first thing I do is light our Christmas tree. It's my favorite thing to do this time of year, in the early, early morning, to make our living room awash with that soft golden light. We're lighting candles at dinner and turning lights on in the house and outside too. All as we move, each day, closer to the solstice, I'm reminded that in the dark mid-winter, we are all of us, no matter our tradition, craving light. I hope this weekend, and all the days to come, brings you lots of light.

Meeting Maple {life}

One of the things I loved about Natucket was the overwhelming population of sweet pups we saw while we were there. We knew what we were in for when we were in line for the ferry and we saw a dear corgi resting her (?) chin on a collapsable wagon, waiting to go up the gangplank. I just have to hope that Violet never reads this post or she'll want to travel with us next time. Once on board we didn't see that corgi again, but we did meet Maple.

As Callum, Neel and I watched Hyannis grow distant, people came out on the deck to take a peek before heading back inside where it was warmer. Maple came out with her mama, nosing around at the crisp air. We were drawn to her, of course. Who wouldn't be? Callum and I immediately leaned in to pet her, but this sweet lady was a little too curious, and maybe a little too nervous for our attention.

She was nervous, her mama explained. She didn't know what to make of the boat and every time they went back inside, Maple barked. Then there was a Brittany who got a little pushy with her. So out again Maple came. Neel and I used to joke that when we walked our first-born pup Phoebe in the park, we knew the dog's names far better than their owner's names, but we made some great friends that way. By the end of our short trip, we knew that Miss Maple, so named because she was born in Vermont, was only 14 weeks old, and she did not like the boat. I also knew that I really liked Maple's mama. Liked her in that instinctive way that you just know that you like someone. Like, I knew that we'd be friends if we lived near each other or our kids went to the same school.

They looked so sweet snuggling, and you could tell that Maple was a little uncertain about the whole adventure, I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of them out on the deck together. But I'm pretty shy when you get right down to it, so I never really introduced myself or gave her one of my cards. When I got to Megan's and we downloaded the photos, boy did I regret my reticence.

"We'll run into them, I bet," Megan said. It is a small island, after all. So every time we went out, I tucked some SPL cards in my back pocket or my camera strap, and we watched out for Maple. We looked for her at the Cold Turkey Plunge. We looked for her at the Cisco Brewery. We looked for her every time we wandered around town.

No Maple. I'd pretty much given up, but you know what? This was Nantucket, and a little tiny part of me thought how cool would it be if we were on the same ferry heading home. Nantucket is covered in magical fairy dust, you know? Those kinds of things are bound to happen. So of course you know how it ends, don't you? We wandered into a toy shop on the wharf so that Callum could find a boat to take home, and there she was. No Maple, but her mama! Of course we were on the same ferry heading out, and of course I gave her my card. I was absolutely thrilled when she emailed me (I always doubt that people are really going to want to get in touch with me, for reals), and of course she was just as delightful as I suspected. Maple's mama's name is Liza, and we've been in touch through email and Facebook, and she tells me that Maple is an Australian Shepherd. I grew up with Aussies, so I had suspected as much. That morning, as we were leaving, we'd watched Maple quite literally dig her heels in on the gangplank and refuse to get on the boat, but she tuckered out as soon as we left the dock, and everybody made it safely home.

And it turns out that Liza is a children's book author. And she wrote this. How cool is that? You can imagine that we'll be giving this gem as gifts for years to come. I love it that she's a writer, and I love it even more that I made this wonderful connection so far away from home. I harbor a little day dream of meeting again and again on the ferry. I think it would be nice to watch Maple grow up.

And I wonder if we're going to have to take the other dogs someday too.

figgy, not pudding {life}

We have some parties under our belts and some coming up ahead of us, so I thought it might be nice to write a bit about one of my favorite appetizers. Hello stuffed figs wrapped with prosciutto, nice to meet you.

I can't think about figs without thinking of my friend Marianne. They are a quintessential late summer treat here in Virginia, and I can clearly remember her joy, one long-ago summer when we were first becoming friends, and another friend of ours named Shelly mentioned that she had a fig tree with more fruit than she knew what to do with. My next image in that filmstrip of memories is of a sun-warmed paper bag full of figs, bursting with sweetness.

Figs are decadent. Figs are sexy. They are lush and have texture. They are bold and unabashed. You either love them or you hate them, there's really no middle ground when it comes to figs.

Their season is short, a brief August window, during which I gobble up as many as I can in as many forms as I can. However this year my grocery store has been providing me with imports from California well into the fall. Figs are often, often paired with a salty ham like prosciutto to counterbalance their intense sweetness. Split down the middle, they can easily be stuffed with a soft cheese (goat cheese with honey makes a lovely filling) before warming in the oven.

For these figs, I choose a cheddar laced with chocolate (!).* The tang of the cheddar held the barest hint of cocoa, and it paired well with the heady honey sweetness of the figs. Once filled, wrap each fig in the thinnest prosciutto you can find and bake in a 375º oven until warm and the ham has browned and caramelized. Serve immediately.

Of course they're perfect just on their own too.

bluff walk {life}

One of the things that Neel and I bemoan about living here in Norfolk is the lack of wide-open walking spaces. My Friday hikes that I take with my friend Tracy are wonderful, but they are, admittedly, a haul from home. We've been planning for the past several Sundays to get out there for a family hike and have yet to stir ourselves. On our heads be it. No excuses, really, just the distance. We really need to pull it together.

If I lived in Nantucket, I would do the Bluff Walk in Sconset every day, I think (as long as it wasn't raining sideways, of course!). Siasconset, or Sconset is a village on the eastern end of the island, about eight miles from Nantucket proper. The village was originally an outpost of small fishing shacks, built to house fishermen during the cod season, which fell in the spring and again in the fall. Eventually the fishing shacks, which were originally one-room, dirt floor dwellings with cooking done in the open air, were winterized and expanded as more and more fishermen began to live in them year round. Because building is hard, even today, on an island (Let me think how many times we have to run to The Home Depot during any given reno project!), additions to the shacks were made using bits and pieces found on the island (sometimes from wrecked ships). Many of these cottages still stand today, and when you see picture of a quintessential rose-covered Nantucket cottage, you're likely seeing a house in Sconset.

You can reach Sconset by bus, car or bike (80 miles of bike paths traverse the island), and the village itself has all the basic necessities: post office, church, shops, restaurants. It is very much a summer community, however, pleasantly away from the bustle of Nantucket proper, but the place clears out almost completely after Labor Day. It was practically a ghost town when we were there.

We took a walk on Thanksgiving. Jon stayed behind to tend the turkey, but Megan piled all of us and the kids into the car and drove us the short trip to the villiage. Walking the bluff is essentially walking in someone's backyard. The path we were on wound along the sea, offering glimpses of the sweeping Atlantic on one side and quaint, rambling cottages on the other. The sea is winning. The ocean is eating away at the bluff, so that once wide back yards are creeping closer to the beach. Someday all of Nantucket will slip back into the ocean, and nowhere is this more evident than in Sconset.

We walked...north I guess, with the ocean on our right... along the path. The view was breathtaking, perched as we were above the sea. I wondered if this was what it felt like to walk along the beaches of Scotland or Cornwall maybe. A thready path worn among the grass, the scrubby cliff falling away beside me. Everyone wandered up ahead, and of course I lingered behind, camera at my side. Megan put it to a vote. Did we want to walk all the way to the light house or go down now and back along the beach? I was intrigued by the light, but I lost. We were getting ready for dinner, I suppose. The steps are private, but in the winter it must not matter as much. The beach walk was stunningly beautiful, with coarse sand that made it a bit of a hard go. By the time we got back to the village, the sun was slipping down.

Time to go.

Weekend-Gram Recap, December 10 Edition

1. Apple pie | 2. Mead | 3. Stollen | 4. Friday night dinner | 5. Dry ice | 6. Carousel Cakes | 7. Another Tidewater Sunrise | 8. Hydrangea | 9. Bench | 10. Latin | 11. Painting | 12. Groceries | 13. Movie | 14. Dinner | 15. Morning Walk | 16. Rainy Sunday Morning | 17. Lights | 18. Night Lights | 19. Violet Sleeping | 20. Violet Sleeping | 21. Violet Sleeping

If you look at that last row of photos, that's pretty much how I'm typing this blog post right now. Violet is draped across my lap, her head resting on my right arm. She's complaining that she can't get comfortable because I keep moving my arm (I'm typing), but still, she won't get up. We're a little worried about Violet because she's still favoring her back leg. It had seemed to have gotten better but she's back to not wanting to come up the stairs. Looks like it's time for a trip to the vet. Shhhhhh......

That's the only dim spot on an othewise lovely weekend. Well that, and the fact that I had to go to the grocery store. But the reason I had to go to the grocery store over the weekend instead of my usual Friday trip was a good one.

My friend Jackie had a lovely luncheon on Friday with a wonderful mix of women and artists. Jackie feels like she was put on this earth to feed people, and I think she was put here to take care of people. She tends us all so well. She had an amazing spread of food (all her favorite party food, she said!), and of course amazing bread. And mead! Mead! It was pretty spectacular. Especially in the middle of the afternoon. I had a lovely glow all afternoon.

We ate at home Friday night, which we don't usually do, but it was totally worth it because our friends Seamane and Rob had sent us an amazing Blue Velvet Cake from Carousel Cakes for Christmas! What a treat! Check them out...even Oprah approves! Of course we could have kept it frozen for up to 3-4 months, but of course we didn't! And I really think the best part was the dry ice that Callum got to play with.

So a bit of catch up on Saturday and Sunday. I felt like I was still recovering from all those headaches, so I mostly tried to take it easy. Neel and Callum went to Skyfall (loved it) and I got some Christmas stuff crossed off my list (loved it). Neel seemed to have forgotten the moratorium on buying oneself presents just before Christmas and he bought himself a bench for the garden. It's perfect. And it's okay because that's not what I'm getting him. Whew! I hope Santa knows.

Neel and I took a long walk Sunday morning along some of my favorite water stops, and then (sigh) I went to the grocery store while he got the lights up on the tree outside. And Callum studied. Exams start this week, and we're all feeling the pain. All of us. Not really. Callum is just working hard to prepare. Exams officially start on Thursday and he'll take one a day until the following Tuesday. But then? It's Christmas break! Then the real fun can begin.

So here we sit. I have one more fiddly project and a few little ones and then the work part of the holidays is taken care of. After that it's mostly fun stuff. I'm feeling a bit less overwhelmed, and a bit, just a bit like I've been touched by some holiday spirit. The merest of glancing blows. Like I'm trailing in its stardust. And how are you, my lovelies? Are all your plans coming along?

five things, december 7

1. I think last week had nothing on this one. The headaches, they are getting to me. Neel thinks it's a virus (no antibiotics). My mom thinks it's a sinus infection (yes antibiotics). I think I don't really care, I just need it to be over. Please and thank you. I have some things to do in the next few weeks, mmmmm 'kay?

2. I think this is going to sound a little weird, but I'm going to say it anyway. I'm thinking if having a small present or two for myself under the tree. There, do I sound like a ten year old or what?! (Please remember this when you read #4.) Part of what I loved about Christmas when I was a kid was all the projects and toys I had to play with after opening all the presents. A few years back I would have a knitting project ready to go, and since I can really get the lens I want just now, I'm thinking maybe a book or two. Maybe some new make up. Something small to pull out and play with. Thoughts? Childish and selfish? Everyone else is going to have toys to play with... just a little teeny tiny thing?

3. I think we were very excited to attend an event last night where this man announced his intention to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. I know I've talked about our involvement in Senator Northam's campaign's before (he's our district's state senator), but this time he's running for state-wide office, and Virginians? We honestly couldn't be represented by a better, more honest, straight-forward man. And here's something I found really interesting. I might possibly find politics, or political issues, even more fascinating than I thought I did. Everything Senator Northam mentioned that was important to his campaign (and as a practicing pediatric neurologist, he has a lot of cool topics on the list, like women's health issues and pediatric concussions), I am passionately interested in. Like really, really interested in. Callum said something great during one of the (6) speeches. He said, "The best thing you can do for your country and your state is vote." I couldn't agree more. That and serve. And when we got in the car to go home, he said, "I want to be a politican. And a scientist. Can I be both?" That's my boy. And then as I was saying how I was surprised at how interested I was in politics, he said something along the lines of (and I'm paraphrasing here), "Too bad you're so old." Yeah, well. Nevermind then. And no. I have absolutely no plans or any interest in running for office. But some other stuff, well, we'll see. (I think I need to learn more to dip a toe into this stuff, though. Aren't there some books I should read?)

4. I think that I haven't been as proud of my son in a long time as I was last night when he had to deal with a crushing disappointment. I don't write about him as much here as I used to. He's older (like me!), and his life is his life you know? I think a lot of what I'd choose to tell you about he wouldn't mind, but you know. Those aren't my stories to tell. Anyhoo, last night was a low, somewhat unexpected blow, and he took the news he got hard. He had every right to. But you know what? After a bit, he rallied and pulled himself together. Vowing to try again, to reach for this particular goal, next year. When he said that he was going to keep the rejection letter for motivation, well, this momma got prouder still.

5. I think I love this photo of New York City. We loved being there at the end of our trip over Thanksgiving, and if there weren't so many other amazing places to see, I'd regret even more that we didn't have more time there. I loved the city with a chill in the air. Just loved it. And I also couldn't end the week without taking note of the passing of legendary jazzman Dave Brubeck. Oh, I have the sads. He would have been 92 yesterday, so part of me feels like I can't complain about the ending of a life so well and fully lived, but the stunningly beautiful music he made was part of the fabric of my growing up. My introduction to music. Through his own work and through other great jazz artists like Manhattan Transfer and Al Jarreau honoring him with their own music. So Take Five and take a listen to this, and if you need to add some Christmas music to your list, you can't go wrong with his Christmas CD either.

Happy Weekend, my lovelies. My to-do lists have to-do lists, but I'm determined to plow through the bulk of it this weekend. What manner of wonderful are you up to?

Gray Lady {life}

Nantucket is 30 miles out to sea, and you can get there one of two ways, by plane or by boat. The plane trip, in an 8-seat Cessna, takes about 15 minutes. Oftentimes it's a bumpy 15 minutes, but at least the trip is short. Two boat options are available. The slow boat is a car ferry which is a 2.5 hour slog out to the island. We weren't taking our car, so we opted for the Hy-Line, the faster, less bumpy one-hour trip. The Hy-line makes the trip an easy one. As soon as we pulled in, someone was there to help with our luggage (I'd thought we'd be doing some slogging ourselves, but all the luggage is loaded onto carts which are put into the hold. We didn't see our food and wine again until we disembarked!) After standing in line with a jolly crowd of people, kids and dogs (and passing some extra pills of Dramamine up and down the line), we hopped up the gangplank and were off. It's just about the most exciting start to a weekend I've ever had. It was a blustery, cool evening, but we (and another intrepid few) stayed outside the whole trip. We didn't want to miss a moment. The trip goes fast. It's only an hour after all. And soon enough you're pulling past the Brant Point Lighthouse into Nantucket Harbor.

I certainly can't pretend to know a lot about the island, this little crescent that takes up 80 square miles of real estate off the coast of Massachusetts. Originally settled by the Native American tribe the Wampanoags, Nantucket was first discovered by the English in the early 1600s and settled in 1659. The discovery of whales off the New England coast of the United States in the 1600 shaped much of Nantucket's history, and between 1750 and 1840 Nantucket was considered the whaling capital of the world.

With the demise of the whaling industry, Nantucket turned to tourism, an industry that it's held firmly in hand for over a century. The year-round community of 9-12,000 residents swells to nearly 60,000 in the summer. Town, the cobblestoned area that has grown up around the harbor, is a rabbit warren of winding, one-way streets. It's about as picturesque and as quaint as you could hope a place could get. The weathered gray clapboards of the houses (along with the fog that can sock residents in for months at a time) truly earns this "far away land" its nickname of the gray lady, and the cobbles of the streets are a bumpier ride than on the ferry coming across 30 miles of ocean.

Charming shops line the streets, including a real-life pharmacy with soda fountain, men's and women's clothing stores and all sorts of bits and bots. Candy stores, gourmet shops, you name it. There is just one grocery store (a second recently closed), and plans to put in a CVS Pharmacy were met with much disdain and subsequently tabled. Many shops close up for the winter but open up briefly for the Thanksgiving holiday and a period of time after called Christmas Stroll. So we got lucky. I could have wandered the streets forever. Megan and I should have. We needed a few more days.

The weather was perfect while we were there. Low 50s, sometimes sunny, sometimes gray. Appropriately gray. The island sits in the gulf stream, so winters are actually fairly mild. If you can call socked in with fog, heavy wind and sideways rain mild. I think it would take some getting used to, living the island life, especially knowing that sometimes the wind gets up and the seas get choppy and the ferries don't run.

Sadly, the ferries were running when it was time for us to say good-bye. We weren't ready to leave. We wandered around town for a bit before lining up for the 10:35, and Callum bought a toy boat. Neel took his Dramamine (choppier seas on the way home) and sat inside watching ESPN. Callum and I sat outside with a host of other people, watching as the boat slipped from shore. I overheard a woman noting the color of the ocean near the Brant Lighthouse, wondering about the copper in the water (it did look uncommonly green), and suddenly everyone was throwing pennies overboard. And then a dad says to his daughter, "It's a tradition. Throw a penny in the water as you pass the lighthouse to bring you back again to Nantucket someday."

Of course, we did.

Nathaniel Philbrick has written a history of Nantucket that I just downloaded onto my Kindle called Away Off Shore. Other authors who write novels based on Nantucket include Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer (some good beach reads there!). To Gillian on her 37th Birthday was set on Nantucket, and of course there's always Moby Dick!

We Gather {life}

Look. I know you don't want to hear about Thanksgiving again. It's been ten days people. I get that. I'll try not to bore you here, but. But. How can I not take you back to our visit and honor the wonderful time that we had with our dear friends? Will I take you nibble by nibble on our meal? I'll try not to. Will I take you moment by moment through the weekend? Sigh. I'll try not to. Will I look back on the wonderful time we had and drag you along with me? Shrugs and grins sheepishly. Here you go.

cards and games and football and laughter

We've been friends with these guys for nearly a decade now. We've shared holidays and picnics, some heartache and a lot of joy. They've moved twice and we haven't. When we got to their house late afternoon the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the kids had a moment or two of shyness before quickly sharing stories over Minecraft and tips over Halo. Within half and hour they were chowing down over chicken wings and chowder (I kid you not) and the grown-ups were out the door to this place for dinner. It was nice. I'd go back.

official turkey and tee shirts, costumed plungers and gray skies

bundled spectators, chilly water and awesome hats

brave men face the water and return to the waiting arms of their towel holder!

For 11 years now, Nantucket has hosted the Cold Turkey Plunge to benefit the local children's library. My friend Megan had asked if we wanted to participate before we even arrived. Callum was an unequivocal yes. Neel an equally emphatic no. In the end, none of Megan and Jon's kids could be persuaded, so Cal and Jon braved the cold, and together with a great crowd (which included Vice President Joe Biden and his grandkids) the dove into the water at Children's Beach. What I love about this series of photos is how tense the look before they plunged and how happy they look after. They said it wasn't that bad. Hmmmm. The costumes were pretty funny too.

Conquering heroes.

forgotten sides and fire nights and baking (pumpkin roll)

lighting the candles at dinner and prosecco and twilight time

eggs and pumpkin rolls and all hands on deck

cocktails, a time or two

watching football and playing football, racing cars and dashing caps

I'll tell you more about Nantucket specifically later this week, but for me the keys to the visit were cooking together and being together. The kids played cards more than they played video games and one night we all locked in a violent game of spoons. The weather was crisp and not too chilly so we took long walks and the kids played football in a nearby field. We nibbled on cheese and crackers and had a cocktail or two. Time slipped lazily sideways. Just the way I like it.

Thanksgiving was the best of course. We did the plunge in the morning and had a leisurely rest of the day cooking and chatting. Took a long walk along a bluff in the afternoon and came back for a late dinner with ever-hopeful doggies. The boys were corralled into collared shirts and we ate until we were full and ate some more. And then there was some football. It's not a bad way to spend a holiday. On Friday, after shopping in town and a few other stops, we had Thanksgiving dinner on repeat. It was necessary since halfway through serving on Thursday we realized we'd forgotten to make two of the sides! Potatoes! Brussels!

After our toast, we went around the table talking about what we were grateful for. It was a little funny; it's hard for kids to not be a little bit self-conscious during times like that. But for the most part, even in the middle of all the joking and laughing, everyone was genuinely grateful and unafraid to say it. What did I say, I'm sure you're wondering? Well, I'm grateful for my family and for friends who feel like family. It's a lot to be grateful for.

Weekend-Gram Recap, December 3 Edition

1. Sunrise | 2. Extra Boost | 3. New House | 4. Tree tradition | 5. My bud | 6. Eight years old | 7. Dinner | 8. Snuggles | 9. Advent | 10. Garden time | 11. Camellia | 12. Sunset | 13. Beer-steamed mussels | 14. Star on top | 15. Movie night | 16. - 18. Jingle pups | 19. Find the plane | 20. Warm weather | 21. Weekend reading | 22. Wall art | 23. Decorations | 24. Nurse Violet | 25. White(ish) tree | 26. Football Sunday | 27. Oh Christmas Tree

I'm late this morning, and quite frankly, the weekend was a bit of a blur. And not in a good way. I've missed my hike three weeks in a row now, and I'm not liking that one bit. This week, however, my friend Tracy's need was more critical. She's just bought a new house (love), and I met her there to scope out the place and figure out where the heck to put all her stuff. It might be one of my all time favorite things to do. I get why all of you guys become interior designers! I really do! We figured out where to put the sofa in the living room and where to put the bed in her son's room, and I promised her that it wasn't really as small as she feared that it was. I'm in love with it and can't wait to see all her stuff moved in. Perhaps my camera and I will go and visit. What do you think?

We got our tree Friday night, which has to be my all-time favorite holiday tradition. (Sadly, a headache came along with me. It left for a little while on Saturday but was back Sunday morning, and that is why we're all moving so slowly around here.) Callum picked last year's tree and he wanted to match his great success (I insisted that it was our best tree ever, and they insisted that I say that every year. I get made fun of a lot around here.), but I think this year's pick was a joint effort. We've been to the same spot for years now and each years have the nicest guys helping us out. This year was no exception. For dinner we needed burgers and fries, so we hit a local joint. Unfortunately, the only spot for us was in the bar, complete with loud music and smoke. Took a night in the dryer and all day outside to get the smell out of our coats. Didn't really help my head either. I came home and promptly fell asleep. Goodnight Friday.

Good morning Saturday and hello dreaded Advent Calendar. I kid! I kid! We LOVE the advent calendar. Callum LOVES the advent calendar. It's...great. Warm lazy day. We righted the house (and Neel righted the yard) after our week away, and we got the tree pulled inside. Everyone is still completely wiped out, so we seem to be doing things in stages. We got the tree in the house and the star on top, but that was about it. After that dinner and a movie. We beer-steamed our mussels and they were fab, and Elf. Well, what's not to love about Elf? I've told you before that I'm always behind on everything, and it was the same with Elf, but once we saw it, it became one of our favorite Christmas movies. As we all sat in the dark (Lucy-the-beagle tucked on my lap like a baby) laughing our dang fool heads off, well, I was filled with contentment. It was nice.

I was meant to spend Sunday at MOCA, helping out with Photos with Frosty, but another headache meant I was stuck at home again. Neel even had to drive me to the grocery store! Still, I followed my mom's motto of never hurry; never rest and we got the tree decorated and finally, finally some art (that's been waiting for, literally ages) hung on our dining room wall. Finally. Quite possibly the best part of decorating the tree was giving each of the girls her own jingle bell. They didn't last twenty minutes last year, but all three girls are jingling all the way this year! And poor Thea. She's so low to the ground that her bell drags along as she walks! Headache = dismal, so I gave in after lunch and fell asleep on the sofa. Nurse Lucy curled up against my belly and Nurse Violet fell asleep on my hip. I was bookended by puppies (who are technically not allowed on the sofa, but who's counting?). After awhile Neel joined me (he's a weekend napper, plus he's getting over a cold.), and we must have dozed there for hours. My sweet boy worked on his homework (I could hear the tap, tap of his fingers on the keyboard of the computer.) and he regularly got up to check on me or bring me water. Good kid.

And you know, despite the pain and general fog, I can't complain. This was a good weekend. We rested and ate good food (if you haven't tried Andrew Zimmern's One Pot Sticky Wings, you really should.). Our tree is up, and our pups are so happy we're home. I have lots on my to-do list this week, but it's fun stuff (mostly), so that's good. It's all good. And you know what? Today would have been my granddad's 103rd birthday. Crazytown! I am so lucky that I've known such amazing men in my life, Neel and my dad, and certainly my granddad. In raising Callum, I have a lot to live up to. He's in some pretty special company. It's all good.