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NaBloWriMo day 18.

Believe it or not, even though today was our first day after the Eat on $30 challenge, we didn’t eat a bite until 2 pm because we were so busy prepping food and cleaning the house for our party tonight. We ate… leftovers from our week. Here’s what we had at the end of the challenge: a lot of brown sugar, a lot of white sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, star anise, a cup of milk, a cup of beef stew, two scallion pancakes, and a cup of fried rice. We had the rice and stew for lunch today.

My head hurts from all of the wine and the laughter tonight. So let’s get on with the menu and the pictures and let’s call it Good. Originally we had invited about 20 friends, but when several were already committed to other engagements, it whittled down to 6 guests plus the two of us. Instead of a giant finger food/appetizer party, I could accommodate a sit down dinner and really go all out.

spinach-feta phyllo triangles, mix of greek olives

bacon-wrapped dates, shrimp toasts

lentil soup, goat cheese stuffed squash

green salad with oranges, goat cheese, hazelnuts, and beets

sitting down to dinner

pan-seared scallop on roasted parsnip purée

lobster vol-au-vent (not pictured: crab mac & cheese)

tiramisu, raspberry bakewell tart, lychee panna cotta

winding down with dessert, but the conversation kept on going

We served Gewürztraminer with the appetizers that had an amazing flavor of lychee. Sauvignon blanc paired with our salad, soup, and the squash. Then everyone took a break and got up to walk around while Jeremy cleared dishes and helped me plate the next course – pan-seared scallops. That was served along with a Chablis – one of my favorites. Then with the crab mac and the lobster vols-au-vent, we had a bright and clean French Chardonnay. Jeremy took care of offering up tea or coffee with dessert(s) to round out the marathon meal. A lovely time was had by all. Once again, I’m pooped.

Let’s talk again tomorrow, yes? Sure thing.

It’s NaBloWriMo day #8. Hell yeah.

There are so many things that have raced through my brain today – things I could rattle on about for pages. But I’ll spare you… tonight. urb isn’t the place where I dump The Heavy anyway. Only my closest of friends are forced to suffer my full on rants and observations on life. Be grateful for that.

So how’s the weather over there? Hot? Cooling down? Here’s what it’s doing over here:

mountain weather is not for the thin of skin

Loveland ski area opened the ski season on Wednesday and A-basin follows suit Friday. First in the nation. Reason #326 to move to Colorado: our ski season kicks yours in the ‘nads! But seriously, we aren’t going to ski this weekend. We may be ski whores, but no one in this house really wants to wait hours in the lift line to ski the White Strip O’ Death (the single run of mostly man-made snow).

Today’s (tonight’s?) post is just a list of some things I like. I won’t be offended if you nod off, because I’m kinda nodding off myself here… Don’t get excited or anything. This isn’t creativity. It’s more like desperation. That’s what NaBloWriMo will do to you.

I like laughing.

I like cuddling with Kaweah on a cold winter day.

I like feeding my favorite people.

I like honesty.

I like puppies, kittens, and little kids with chubby cheeks.

I like that my grandma kicks ass.

I like the hour before sunrise when the world is quiet and anticipation for the day makes me smile.

i like rich colors

I like acts of kindness.

I like to hold my mother’s hand.

I like the damp smell of the spring melt in alpine forests.

I like sincere people.

I like my doctors, nurses, techs, and PTs who cared for me last year.

I like to walk with Jeremy into the wilderness.

I like creative people who use their powers to help others.

i like trees

I like science.

I like to be inspired.

I like to hug hello.

I like not caring what others think.

I like compassion.

I like night fishing for striped bass at 2 am with my dad.

I like to work hard.

I like waking up and remembering that my sister was in my dream.

I love this life I live.

By the skin of my teeth: NaBloWriMo day 6!

I had to tear myself away from a rip roaring tweetfest on Twitter just now because Jeremy innocently asked me, “Don’t you have to post before midnight?” Yes, yes I do. Yes, I am. Just that Twitter has slow moments and then around 10:30 pm, it kicks into high gear because Helen doesn’t sleep (we all have proof positive of this) and all of the west coasties like Alice, Ashley, and Chuck are wide awake because it’s only 9:30 pm there.

I really appreciate all of the feedback and discussion on my last post. I’ll lay out all of the details when the Eat on $30 challenge starts on Sunday. I think it’s important to keep in mind that food where one person lives does not cost the same where another person lives. Also that we don’t all live in the same climate to grow our own food or have similar access to good, affordable produce. It’s not about putting someone on foodstamps in your shoes, per se – rather trying to put yourself in their shoes. But let’s keep the discussion going! Awareness is the ultimate goal, so thank you.

My good friend returned from a month in Europe (mostly Paris) today and said she needed to see me. She said she had some “time-sensitive” stuff to give me. Yes, stuff is a technical term. Four of us met up for happy hour in Boulder on the patio of Brasserie 1010 where Marianne distributed wondrous, lovely presents.

no way no way no way!!!!!

les macarons, mon dieu

In addition to the lovely macs (cassis, orange blossom, mint, rose, bergamot, fig-date) she handed me three bags of Valrhona dark chocolate discs. Somehow the Chinese glutinous mung bean sesame balls and mung bean moon cakes I gave to Marianne and Beth seemed so… boring. But the two of them appeared psyched about the goodies. Actually, I’m betting that Beth was psyched about these:

gorgeous valrhona chocolates and caramels

so happy that marianne is back

Jeremy joined us later after he was done giving lecture and we chattered away (well, Jeremy not so much – he is a quiet one) in the brilliant autumn afternoon until the sun dropped behind the flatirons and it was time to go. We get one whole month with Marianne before she ships off for the ice (Antarctica) for 4 or 5 months.

Those macs were incredible. Yeah, you bet we ate them… TIME-SENSITIVE STUFF! The orange blossom was my *favorite* and the cassis was a close second. Jeremy was all about the bergamot (he’s an Earl Grey whore, what do you expect?) Even though I’m crazy for macs, they are nothing as wonderful as having Marianne home – even if only for a month. And I’m keeping the pretty pretty box. I’m going to keep it under my pillow.