Calling…Home

Back in early November, we had dinner at the Little Tyke’s house.

After dinner, the four of us (adults) sat around sipping wine and chatting.

I made a reference to “back home” in Arlington…Washington, D.C.

Little Tyke’s dad gave me a quizzical look and asked, “So when are you going to stop saying…back home?”

Little Tyke’s family is most recently from the east coast also, but his parents have lived in many places…around the world.

I have since given his question a lot of thought and wondered “if” and when I would be able to stop referring to our home in Arlington as “back home.”

The answer came quite unexpectedly…quite naturally…and quite uneventfully.

I was in Chicago when I told my family…”I’d rather take the weather back home than what you have in Chicago.”

And I wasn’t talking about Arlington.

It’s nice to have a place to really call “home” again…and to feel like I’m really “at” home, which is how I felt when we pulled in to Laramie after our travels over the winter break.

Hope you’ve all made it safely back to your home…if you traveled over the holidays.

Just one of the many reasons…

Why the Legal Dude is a keeper and I’m glad he’s mine.



Yesterday, while we were at the store, he picked up a package of Pillsbury’s Crescent Rolls.

He wouldn’t say what he was making…just that it was something he saw on the Food Network Channel on one of his flights in or out of D.C.

He was bummed to discover the tube of Almond Paste that we packed from VA was rock hard.

I gave him the microplane zester.

It worked…sort of.

This is (what was left of) the end result.



The Legal Dude wanted more of the almond flavor.

They were tasty, but I agree about the almond flavor and would add toasted, shaved almonds and maybe some fancy sugar before baking.

Legal Dude would try it again…if he has the right kind of Almond Paste.

The Legal Dude is the better cook in our family and he usually does all the cooking on the weekends and for a lot of our dinner/parties.

But he doesn’t bake.

So I think it’s cute that he saw this recipe, kept it in his head and decided to give it a try.

Like I said…just one of the (many) reasons to be glad he’s mine…

So very honored…

Our littlest guest on New Year’s Eve…a soon-to-be 3 year old…has bestowed upon me the highest honor.

But first, a little background.

The little tyke and I bonded almost immediately when we first met back in September.

His parents are also recent east coast transplants to Laramie.

The little tyke has captured my heart and we’ve bonded over crackers…dinosaurs…building locks…and now, smoked salmon.

On New Year’s Eve, his mom informed me that the little tyke will soon have a birthday party.

He said he wants to invite three guests…

J and W (from pre-school) and…me!

So cute!

I can’t wait!!

A Bubbly Cocktail...

Came across a recipe for this cocktail while flying back home on Frontier Airlines...

Sparkling Cranberry-Orange Cocktail

I love sparkling wine and this recipe sounded tasty plua I wanted to try and "channel" some dear friends back East who make excellent cocktails...

The last tasty-sounding recipe I tried, however, didn’t make the “it’s a keeper” cut.

So I was a bit wary to try a new recipe on our guests last evening.

But I did…and I’m glad to say that it was a hit.

I found this cosmopolitan rimming sugar and decided it would create a nice decorative look as well as with the fresh cranberries.

Obviously I don’t know how to cut orange strips for garnish…



In my defense…I was in a hurry to get the drinks to our guests as they walked in the door.

Had a “duh!” moment this morning…realizing that I can make a batch and chill before the guests arrive…rather than making each cocktail individually.

Guess this is why I’m not a mixologist!

Flummoxed and a bit miffed…

Remember these photos?

Someone shoveled…pushed…all that snow onto our lot while we were traveling over the winter break.

Great for playing…but what happens when it all melts?

It’s got to ebb and flow…somewhere.

So I chased down a city plow truck driver who happened to be plowing the streets in our neighborhood the other day.

Nice guy.

He said he’d come take a look.

Alas. My new friend said, “The city didn’t do it…we would never plow a huge mound like this onto someone’s property, even when we have nowhere to put the snow.”

[He was blowing the mounds from the streets onto the Jr. High field across the street.]

He also said it was a much smaller vehicle that did the deed…

He doesn’t think the city can help us…that we’ll have to hire a private company to come plow it away.

My new pal was also surprised that “no one asked” if they could plow the snow onto our lot.

Hmm

Such are the surprises that await the unwary homeowner while they’re away…

The mice come out to pl(ow)ay!

A bittersweet New Year’s Eve…

Yesterday evening was New Year’s Eve...

Like you, we celebrated…and bid adieu to...a year gone by as we welcomed in the New Year.

In reality though, our “New Year” began nearly 5 months ago...when we drove into Laramie, Wyoming, and started this new chapter in our lives.

I’m glad I can say that it’s been (mostly) a good 5 months...adjusting to a new home, new friends and a completely different way of life.

This morning, though, I’m feeling just a smidge melancholic.

Hard to say why...but then I always feel a bit this way every New Year.

Maybe it’s the residual after-effect of celebrating.

You know...with the bubbly stuff.

Maybe it’s because I’d forgotten that we’re so far from home...and from friends with whom we’ve celebrated so many a New Year’s Eve.

Last night we celebrated with some new friends...neighbors who live up the street.

There were six of us plus two kid-lets and, of course, the teenager.

It was very nice and pleasant sitting in front of the fire-place, eating tapas-like finger foods and a slow cooked chicken madras dish by the Legal Dude, all the while chatting and laughing.

Even though it was all pulled together at the very last minute, we were organized and ready and I had an opportunity to really visit and chat with our guests...something that I missed at our parties back in Arlington.

It was nice...but different. But definately a nice different.

The Legal Dude and I talked about it this morning.

We determined what was different, and what we miss, is the “activity”---the planning, the preparation, the cooking and the execution of the party...and for me, the decorating and setting up---and of course, all our friends.

So while we had a great time and enjoyed celebrating in our new home with some new friends, it was a bittersweet occasion as we miss what we used to have...and do...every New Year’s Eve for the past 4-5 years.

But hey! There’s another new year...next year.

Who knows?

We might just have to start a new tradition here...

Wishing you all the best as you start your New Year.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a wonderful and peaceful New Year...