Crackberry Friday: Cozy Window

It snowed here this morning. It was one of those pretty dustings that doesn't cause the roads to get too bad and touched everything with a sugar coating of the white stuff.
I took this pic out of my car window on the way to work this morning. The window just had a cozy look to it and I thought it was interesting that the greens on the left had a coating of snow but the ones on the right didn't. If I had my way, I would be at home looking out of a window like this one watching the snow fall with a cup of tea. Hopefully I will get that chance to do that sometime this winter. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the little bit we got today.

Crackberry Friday: The Fam

Oddly enough, out of all these people, I am the only one in the US. BTW. They don't know how to not look at a flash for a pic and the red eye fix was not doing any good.

I have had a headache for 2 days which is why I have not posted. Today while I was walking G-dog one of the neighbors said, 'Isn't it beautiful out?' It took all my self-control to not say, 'No, it's f-ing fall and should not be going up to 74 degrees along with humidity, the pressure going up and down like an f-ing yo-yo squishing my brain into the frontal left side of my eye socket.'

I merely said, "Yes, it feels like spring."

Crackberry Friday: Things to Do...

Due to technical issues I was not able to post this until today.



1. Go to work...ok call in sick to work because of migraine because dog threw up on the bed in the middle of the night.


2. Make sure I have enough Halloween candy.


3. Get cool 'fire' cauldron out for decoration.


4. Have lunch with Dad.



I hope I didn't freak you out or anything. Today is the anniversary of my Dad's death. I wrote a poem about it for Writer's Workshop a couple weeks ago. In that poem I mentioned the idea of celebrating "Dia de Los Muertos" because my Dad was a fan of Latin Culture. Seeing as this anniversary occurs the day before Dia de Los Muertos I celebrated is today with him.

It was a gorgeous day. The cemetary looks like a golf course, rolling hills beautiful trees and the only thing you can see that would cue you into the actual use of the land is the vases that are on most in ground plaques. I got a Wawa hoagie, bottle of water and Reeces Peanut Butter Cups (which he liked very much). I also brought flowers. (You'll notice in the pic, there is a Phillies flag. I am not sure who put it there but it was with a rose as well. I think it must have been my brother becuase he was born about 2 months after the last time the Phillies won the World Series.) So I sat on my yoga mat next to his resting place and enjoyed the silence, the blue sky, sounds of the birds and the peace I felt from knowing that beautiful place was where he rested.

Crackberry Friday: Evil Pumpkin

This is a mere 10 steps from my desk. It calls to me but no one else can hear. When you open it's top, it is noisy so everyone can hear you.

The plastic spoon only holds 3 at a time and all can hear as you futilely try to get as many as possible on the spoon at once, the corn clicking against the cheap plastic and echoing in the glass. Until, finally in your desperate need for sugar (at about 2pm daily) you snatch it off the desk and pour the corn syrup and honey goodness into your hand (trying to avoid the 'chocolate' ones b/c they suck and trying to get the last pumpkin one) and run back to your desk where your tea and warm chair remind you that you are only human and THAT is an evil pumpkin.

Crackberry Friday: A Tranquil Setting

Isn't this pretty? This is the Schuylkill (SKOO-kil) River. It is one of two rivers that flow through the Philadelphia area. This section happens to be next to my office building in a town called West Conshohocken (go ahead and try to say it). This is where we stand when we are chased out of the buiding by fire drills.

Have you heard of Boat House Row in Philadelphia? If you've ever watched a game with the Eagles in it they show that section of the river where the boathouses are outlined in lights. You know you've seen it. This river is part of the same one.

I took this pic with my handy Crackberry because I loved how the water was reflecting the trees. This river is almost always this peaceful. Even when it the current is swift it still just flows. I should really go out more and take advantage of this scene.

Crackberry Friday: Farm Share Week 1

First, let me say, please check out my earlier post today for an explanation of my poem. I know there were a few of you that were interested.

Second, I promise that Crackberry Friday will not only be pics of veggies. I was just very excited this week for my fall farm share to begin that I had to take a pic of my haul. If you have been reading my blog, you know how much I love food and cooking.

This was my haul

7 Tomatoes grown by Green Valley Organics

1 head Boc Choi grown by Scarecrow Hill Organics

2 sweet dumpling squash grown by Hillside Organics

1 bag (1/2 lb) wildfire baby lettuce mix grown by Elm Tree Organics

1 bag (1/2 lb) arugula grown by Farmdale Organics

3 special zucchini (some of the ones I could choose from were round!)

1 celeriac

1 bunch Swiss chard (not in pic 'cause I ate it)

____________________________________________________________________

I have been looking up fall veggie recipes for 2 weeks in anticipation of my farm share beginning. I have heard mixed reviews of chard so I decided that since P had hockey and would not be eating with me, this was the night to give it a try. I found a recipe for sauteed chard with garlic, right up my alley. As I was preparing the chard, I found myself excited at the prospect of trying something brand new. I chopped up the stalks and then rolled up the leaves and cut them into 1/2 inch wide strips. The recipe didn't call for it but I cooked the stalks too, just sauteing them longer than the leaves. I reheated my pasta and added the chard to it. I was in heaven! The chard was so good and the pesto pasta was perfect to round out the meal along with a bottle of red wine, of course. This was a excellent way to start my fall farm share. :) I am so excited to cook so many new things!

Crackberry Friday: Pepperidge Farm Remembers

Update at bottom

Can you name all the cookies in this box? I can. this was like the ULTIMATE in cookie bliss when I was growing up (ok, honestly, it's pretty good now too). We got this from a neighbor and let me tell you, I don't care what anyone says, if you like butter cookies, you squeal with delight when someone gives you one of these ('cause you know you can't buy them for JUST yourself the box tells you they are for Entertaining). Milanos, Brussels and Pirouettes OH MY!

When we were little we hardly ever saw these in our house. Mom and Dad were pretty tight with their money (ok with 2 kids 18 months apart and in private school they were actually smart with their money unlike me) and we only saw these as a really special treat or if we found Mom's stash. ;) Milanos were my favorite but as time went on and I was able to get these myself I broke out into the Chessmen and the Brussels and that other thin one made with brown sugar. Now I only avoid the ones with chocolate and fruit (ICK!).

I generally don't buy them unless I am in a funk and only cookies and tea will solve it. Last night when I saw these in the house I was like a little kid again. I finished ALL my dinner, put my jammies on and had some cookies and tea and let the waves of comfort wash over me. It was wonderful.

Aside: This is why I write. I can find something like having cookies and tea in my jammies , write about it and the good feelings just wash over me again. :)

Update: SOMEONE with the first initial P left the door to the kitchen open yesterday while we were at work and G-Dog ate ALL the cookies that were left in the box.  She feels much better after puking on my mom's bedroom carpet.

Crackberry Friday: Birthday Gift from P

I apologize for the blurriness of the image but my Crackberry skillz were lacking today. I tried like a dozen times to get the right lighting.

This necklace was P's birthday present to me. I picked it out at klacustomcreations on Etsy. Kristen is also a fellow bloggy friend at La Dolce Vita and I love her jewelry. I also asked her to create a piece with my blog name and I'll post that as well.

The thing I love about this necklace is it is exactly my style, a little funky, a little preppy. I have been wearing it non-stop since I got it in the mail. I was SOOO excited when I got home and it was waiting for me. :) You know what else is cool? If you have an Amazon wish list, they now have a button you can add to your links bar and you can add anything from any store or site to your wish list. It is so easy (unless you are P) and I love the fact that using it helps support independent creative people. :)

Kristen has many different quotes and little charms that can be added to your piece. She also supports some great organizations with donations from her pieces of her artwork. They all make wonderful gifts too. Please take a gander at her Etsy store.

Crackberry Friday: Pesto Mania

Two pots of basil
16 batches of pesto for the fall/winter
I've been wanting to do this for awhile now and I finally got it done. I have heavenly pesto from plants from this summer now safely in the freezer. Next, tomato sauce!

Crackberry Friday: Peter is 35!

So tired from being an old man. ;)

Peter has this thing about his age. He had a difficult time with 30. So much so that we actually had his surprise party AFTER he turned 30 because otherwise he would have been saying "I'm not 30 yet, blah, blah, blah" all night. Seriously, that is what he did for 6 months leading up to it. Now he is 35 and he seems ok with it. I am not sure if it's because he has come to terms with it or if it's because he knows he can still act like a 12 year old. Anyway, we are off to a lovely dinner tonight with his parents. I got him a cute card, chocolate covered pretzels and

Warhammer: Battleground for XBox 360.

Yeah, I am a glutton for punishment. The geeks guys at the game store were pretty impressed that I bought it for him. For about 5 minutes I was a cool wife.

Crackberry Friday: Or Karma Bit Me in the Butt

So, what you are seeing are the remnants of the Eagles vs. Panthers pre-game last night. On the left we have famous Chickie's and Pete's Crab Fries, hot dog wrappers and beers. On the right, you can see the monsoon rain that swept through Lincoln Financial Field last night. I would like to apologize to all the people who came out to see the game. You see, I told a little white lie/not completely false lie to get out of work at Lottery Yarn last night (am having dizzy spells again, just not to the point I made it sound). Friends of ours that I had not seen in ages had season tix and invited us. It really wasn't just the game, it was a chance to catch up with some of my favorite people. There would be people on-call at LY so calling out was not the worst thing in the world (hell I've gotten called in for stuff like this). The rain was not supposed to start till much later. Cue Karma bus makin' it's u-turn. We stayed until about 9:45pm. When we pulled into our friends place, the rain magically stopped. Cue Karma bus taking off after running over my ass.

We'll chalk this up to a leaning experience.

PS If anyone at Lottery Yarn reads this please keep it to yourself.

Crackberry Friday: G-dog!

I took this pic on our way up to the Cape. G-dog is SO good on long trips as long as she can lay down. She's like a little kid in that she'll fall asleep as long as it's highway driving.

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you all, unless you are a new visitor, that we adopted G-dog a year ago. We always knew when we brought a dog into our family that we would adopt. I was reminded of how important it is to consider adoption when I was out on Wed night. I was at a pet store (supplies, not selling pets) and they had some dogs there that were up for adoption with the foster parents. There was a little white and light brown pit puppy who was insanely cute. He was a mix and you could tell that he had a great personality; friendly and cuddly and would make a great addition to a family. Trouble is, he is tagged with that name: 'pit bull'. I really hope he gets adopted despite that strike against him. The only reason my heart didn't completely break was because he seemed to have a really nice foster Mommy. :)

PS: I have NOTHING against pure bred dogs or GOOD breeders. We had a Golden Retriever growing up and a German Shepard, both from excellent breeders. Keeping the breed strong by making sure the gene pool isn't too shallow is something good breeders do and I respect that.

Crackberry Friday: Power of the Cape

I jotted down some notes while I was at the Cape and one was about the power that seems to reside there for me. I wrote this down on my first night because of the massive thunderstorms that were rolling through and the way they made me feel. The lightening, the clouds and the wind seemed so much more fierce than they do at home. I am not sure if it was just the fact that we were next to the water but in my mind, it was the same power that pulls me there every year. Even though I am not there at this moment, I feel my heart physically being pulled away as if I should be moving back to that place.

The dreams I have there are more realistic and almost crisp; those dreams that seem so real you are not sure they didn't happen. I had a quick though emotional one while I was there. I dreamed that Peter and I had just arrived. It was night and my Mom came out to greet us. We walked into the house and as I turned the corner, there was my Dad, clear as can be. The dream lasted moments in my head but I remember he had on a blue tee shirt and shorts. His hair was the dark brown almost black with peppered grey he had before he lost it from the chemo. It was just so fast. Just a glimpse but there was so much in that glimpse. I saw that he had been relaxing in the sunroom, waiting for our arrival. He was looking forward to seeing us there and enjoying our time together. I felt all of this and so much more in just that short time. I am teary just thinking about it now and that is a big deal for me because I tend to block most emotions pretty much ever since he got so sick. The emotions that I was able to feel at the Cape, allowed me to relax and open up my mind while I was there. This is why I so strongly feel that I belong there. It's like when I am there, there is a piece of me that fits with the rest and then I am complete; able to cry, able to laugh, able to feel.

Crackberry Friday: Smoke

Picture it, P, T and A relaxing on the weathered gray deck, leaning on the white painted railing, chatting quietly as if loud noises might chase away the cigar smoke curling around their heads. The night is dark, the air is cool and slightly damp. Their brows in a state of relaxation not possible any other time but right here, right now.

There might be a pic here, there might not be. We'll see how it works out. Anyway, this is a pic of the guys smoking cigars on the deck. I thought about this post lat night as the smoke was wafting in my window. It wasn't a ton or anything, just enough to let some memories bubble up from the depths of my mind.

My Grandfather was a chain cigar smoker and my Dad enjoyed cigars as well. Both enjoyed smoking them out on the deck in the evening. It was a very always a comforting smell to me. Knowing that Dad was relaxing (he like me found it hard to do). I think it was when I same him most relaxed. Sometimes he would read a book if it was still light out but most of the time he would sit in one of the old captain's chairs and enjoy the evening cool.

P enjoys cigars and my brother T does as well and I like the fact that they seem to be continuing a tradition or maybe even paying homage to Grampy and Dad. Grampy after all, was the person who made coming to the Cape possible in the first place and Dad continued it.

Crackberry Friday: Patriotism in a Surprising Way

Double click to see in the best way. Merci.

Yes, I know what you are thinking. How could you post about the French today!?

Well, because if it wasn't for them we'd all be speaking English... wait, bad example

Ok, we'd be beholden to a monarchy, still not the best example...ummm

Anyway, there are plenty of reasons to be glad today that we did come out on top during the Revolutionary War. As much as there are things we may not like about the way our country is run, at least we are allowed to say so. So even if you are not crazy about the French, don't pigeon-hole them all and remember, essentially, we are part of the reason that Marie and Louis went to the guillotine (them giving us all that money and armed forces during the war and all, helping their country into bankruptcy and BTW MA did not say that thing about cake).

Anyway, this is The French Bakery. It is not a bakery really although they do have baked good there (almond croissants...mmmmmm). It is a little place in Chestnut Hill that Peter and I used to go on a weekly basis. They serve the same things year after year. It is EXACTLY what you would expect a tiny neighborhood bistro in France to be. Paul and Marianne have been running it for over 20 years. They always sit down with us between customers, trade gossip or talk about what they have been up to. We had them to our New Years Eve Party one year. They were the oldest people by about 20 years but they seemed to have a great time.

I think there are many things in there that have not been touched in over 20 years and that is part of the charm. In 1995 they were named Top Minuscule Eatery in Philadelphia magazine. Today I had "George's Special" which is only special because they only serve it during the summer. It is a shallow bowl filled with gazpacho and a scoop of crab salad in the center, served with slices of cornbread. P had quiche Lorraine, gazpacho and a salad. We are now home and I need a nap from my lovely brunch. Enjoy your 4th!

Crackberry Friday: Gossip!

Ok, kinda. Do you know what this is?

It's called a Gossip Chair. It was in my Nana and Grampy's home. The phone on it is a PB take on a vintage phone. When my Nana sold her home to move down here, I was asked if there was anything I wanted from the house. I was so scared that someone else was going to want this chair but fate played it's part and it was mine.

When I was growing up, this chair next to the stairway and it had a phone on it and an address book on the shelf under the seat. For many years the phone that sat there was an old black rotary phone, very heavy in the hand. It also was the first and only phone in the house and it wasn't a small home. Many an hour was spent in this gossip chair on the phone. I loved this chair and the phone. On holidays we would call family members that couldn't be with us from it and if I wasn't there for a holiday I could imagine the people I was speaking to sitting at that chair, under the stairs, beneath the clock.

My Nana's home was my favorite place on earth. There are smells and sounds and sights that I will forever associate with that house. When I was extremely stressed, I would dream about her home and it became a safe haven in my dreams. Having this chair in my home is like a dream come true.

Friday Crackberry: A History Lesson and Beer

Click to view larger

I pass this historic inn every day on my way to work. It is the General Lafayette Inn and Brewery. It is located in Lafayette Hill, PA. You can probably guess who the town and the Inn are named for, General Lafayette (duh). Here is some history about the place. If you don't have time to hit that link, General Lafayette spent time here and in the town which was called Barren Hill during the American Revolution (for you readers in the UK, that scuffle that happened after Concord and Lexington. BTW, HBO's John Adams taught me more about history than any history class). He fled at one point b/c the British had a plan to capture him there. They didn't (FAIL!) and he came back. He spent time in the Inn with his fellow strategists but history does not tell us if he slept there...maybe he just passed out at some point.

Anyway, now it is an eating and drinking establishment. They brew their own beer which is quite good. They have a Sunset Red which seems to be P's drink of choice but I like to sample the others when they come out. The Chocolate Porter is a thing of beauty and if you 1/2 it with the Red Velvet, well you have a really nice beer you can sip on for a good long time. P and his friend W spent many a night in this bar before I came along and a bit after. They even had their own mugs and thought themselves kings of the pool table. Now that W has a child and P plays flippin hockey or soccer every day (ok maybe not every day) their trips there are much fewer. I will always remember it as the first place I met my future SIL and was insanely nervous and the first place I was jealous (from of the attention P got from the female bartenders). Ah memories.

We have not been in awhile but I love looking at the building and thinking about the spirits of many generations past going on about the place. Maybe someday I'll catch a ghostly pic with my Crackberry. :)

Friday Crackberry Pic: Makin' Whoopie

HA!

What did you think you were going to see here!? I am going to run out of title teasers soon. Anyway, this is a Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish delicacy; the Whoopie Pie (yeah, yeah other places have them but they have a cooler name here). This is what Wikipedia has to say about them:

"A whoopie pie, sometimes alternatively called a gob, black-and-white, or bob is a baked good traditional to the Pennsylvania Dutch culture as well as New England, made of two small, chocolate, disk-shaped cakes with a sweet, creamy frosting sandwiched between them. In Western Pennsylvania they are known as "gobs."
Moist, creamy, and simply delicious with a cold glass of milk, they are popular both as a simple dessert or as a snack food. They can be purchased wrapped in plastic at Amish farmers' markets throughout Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio and are often found in restaurants and gift shops throughout Pennsylvania Dutch Country. They can also be found in most convenience stores and supermarkets throughout New England and in some convenience marts and supermarkets in New York as well as in Quincy Market located in Boston, Massachusetts. As one of the most common delicacies of the cuisine, recipes for whoopie pies are almost always included in Pennsylvania Dutch cookbooks."

I got mine today at the Conshohocken Farmers Market. Actually, today they probably should have called it the Conshohocken Farmer Market as there was a poor showing of farmers. Anyway, there was a nice Amish family there today and they happened to be selling whoopie pies (they had other stuff too but the WP's took precedence for me, it being lunchtime and all). Yes, I realize that the Amish have a bad rap in PA for being puppy mill purveyors and I shouldn't support that blah, blah but since they didn't seem to be selling any puppies, I purchased their pie. (Workin' the alliteration today, can ya feel it?)

Since the chocolaty goodness is now wafting to my nose I must close this post, grab some milk and have at my Friday Whoopie.

Friday Crackberry: Welcome to My World

This is where I spend 8 hours a day (give or take) 5 days a week. You can see my lunch on the desk, a pic of P and a really nice plaque from the Phila Museum of Art's Degas exibition. I also have a pear paperweight that weighs about 5 lbs. I threaten people with it.

I share this office with A. His desk is to the right. My office door is closest to the lobby so if our receptionist, who is part-time, isn't there I end up signing for everything and letting other advisors know their clients are here (if their clients are a-holes, I make them wait a little longer). I also am the go to person for the copiers, computers, mail machine and pretty much anything else office related. Yes, I am that girl in the office with all the answers. Not sure how I got that way but all day I hear, "Check with Jen, she'll know." and "Jen is the scanner working?" etc.

It's actually a nice place to work and I get along with everyone even if they irritate me. One of the other assistants has a candy drawer we all contribute to. It's just a good thing for me it's on the other side of the office.

Sorry for the boring post but I am actually feeling slightly under the weather (hoping that a few doses of Airborne will take care of it) and there wasn't anything particularly great to take pics of today. I will tell you a very nice thing my in-laws did for me last night. They are traveling to Charleston, SC this week. Last night they called and I answered the phone, FIL, "Guess what I am looking at." Me, laughing a little, "I have no idea." FIL: I am looking at the Cape Fear River and the bridge that goes over it from the Pilothouse [resaurant]. Me: "REALLY!? I didn't know you were going to stop there on your way." FIL: "Yes we decided to do it and stay the night." You see, they decided to stop in Wilmington, NC for the night and that's where I went to college and spent about 7 years of my life. I could tell exactly where he was from where he was standing and told him to look to his left to see my old boathouse. I really loved living there and have not been back since moving back to PA. It was such a nice surprise and gave me some time to think about all the great times I had there.

Friday Crackberry Pic

I took this during our torrential rain this week from the front seat of my car. This is the Spring Mill Cafe. It's a French restaurant with influences from the places the owner has visited. It is also a BYOB, which is nice. P and I go to this place every year for Valentine's Day and at other times too. They recently painted the rooster on the side of the building in celebration of their anniversary. It looks really good. There are also beautiful perennial gardens in the front. This is also a place that I pass by on my way to work.

There is a story connection too. P was very good friends with the owner's son when they were in grade school. Sometimes P would go to the restaurant with his friend after school and they would steal all the sugar cubes out of the sugar bowls and eat them. This guy now manages the place as his Mom is getting older and is doing more traveling. They once offered to take P to Morocco, a place they visited almost yearly but P's parents wouldn't let him go. :(

Anyway, I liked how this turned out, looking all watercolory because of the rain. It looks really cool when you click on it to make it bigger.