I hope your holidays were the best and that this New Year brings all of us health, wealth, joy and the "peace that surpasses all understanding". I know I need it. Our Christmas and New Year celebrations were just wonderful. We went to my cousin Nicky and his gracious wife Leanne's for "the fishes" on Christmas Eve. Danny made the bacala, it was the first time ever that I actually liked it. Sorry Grandmom. We also had the usual suspects, smelts, linguine and clams, plus Nicky made an amazing seafood cocktail with polenta, two kinds of calamari, as well as eel, really delicious raw oysters with cantaloupe and prosciutto. They were my downfall. I ate too many and didn't leave enough room for the grilled Branzino and Cioppino. I did have the Cioppino, but I wanted more. My nephew Pat made a Caesar salad that I now crave everyday. It was so garlicky that I had aceto for the rest of the night, but it was so worth it. The entire night was very enjoyable and fun to see the littles who are now old enough to be able to understand and appreciate all of it. Thank you Lea and Nicky for your hospitality. Our new, three week old baby cousin was there and I got to give him his bottle. It's been years since we had a newborn in the family. Welcome Alexander and congratulations on your beautiful boy Marilena and Larry! God bless all of you. Christmas Day was the biggest treat for the adults, because the Johnson kids were living with us and we got to share Christmas morning with them. It's been a long time since Jeanie's been home on Christmas morning. We had a great dinner, including the Italian Wedding/Holiday soup. It was really, really good if I do say so myself. Jay Jr. made a timpano. Wow, what a feat! Watch "Big Night", it'll give you an idea of what it's all about. Krista, Carter and Josie came for dinner on Saturday and we did Christmas all over again. Double the joy.
We spent early New Year's Eve having dinner at Georges'. The food was just terrific. I'm sad that chef Jeremy Duclut has left, but ever since he won "CHOPPED" he just got too many offers he couldn't refuse. I loved his food. For New Year's Day, Danny made the foie with a rose petal jam and Jay Jr. made pork belly, Gordon Ramsay-style. As usual it was fantastic! The cabbage and mashed potatoes that accompanied it were so good, even the next day. The belly was perfectly crisp on top and succulent on the bottom. The mashed potatoes just kept surprising me with every bite. I kept saying to jay Sr., "this is SO good" because it was. I ate most of the cabbage with caramelized onions and bacon. I can't wait to do it again next year. So now the sad part is that Jeanie, Derek and the kids moved to California. I don't even want to get started. My eyes are still puffy and at my age, I can certainly do without that. It's so quiet here...I'm not a fan. Danny and Gabriel had birthdays in December. Gabriel the 21st (10 years old) and Danny the 22nd (28 years old). HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS!
The hawks are still coming around and the chickens can no longer free-range. In addition to the female red-tail, there's a Cooper's Hawk (photo above) that swoops down while I'm feeding the juveniles. It got one of my bantams. I've lost too many in the past couple of weeks, so I'm going to downsize big time. Between the weather and predators, I've had it. If the chickens aren't happy, I'm not happy.
I took down my exhibit this past weekend. I sold 18 pieces. I need to recount, but it's very close to that. Thank you to everyone once again for their support and for coming out in the brutal weather. I am very grateful and appreciative. I've started back on Finn's final oil portrait. I hope to have it finished by the end of the week. One of my New Year's resolutions is to be more consistent with keeping this blog and painting. I resolve to be more serious and more in touch, so stay with me and send me some comments once in a while. It gets lonely in the studio with just the Ninja turtles and the tree frog.
Web Log
HAPPY 2010 | Monday, January 4, 2010
I hope your holidays were the best and that this New Year brings all of us health, wealth, joy and the "peace that surpasses all understanding". I know I need it. Our Christmas and New Year celebrations were just wonderful. We went to my cousin Nicky and his gracious wife Leanne's for "the fishes" on Christmas Eve. Danny made the bacala, it was the first time ever that I actually liked it. Sorry Grandmom. We also had the usual suspects, smelts, linguine and clams, plus Nicky made an amazing seafood cocktail with polenta, two kinds of calamari, as well as eel, really delicious raw oysters with cantaloupe and prosciutto. They were my downfall. I ate too many and didn't leave enough room for the grilled Branzino and Cioppino. I did have the Cioppino, but I wanted more. My nephew Pat made a Caesar salad that I now crave everyday. It was so garlicky that I had aceto for the rest of the night, but it was so worth it. The entire night was very enjoyable and fun to see the littles who are now old enough to be able to understand and appreciate all of it. Thank you Lea and Nicky for your hospitality. Our new, three week old baby cousin was there and I got to give him his bottle. It's been years since we had a newborn in the family. Welcome Alexander and congratulations on your beautiful boy Marilena and Larry! God bless all of you. Christmas Day was the biggest treat for the adults, because the Johnson kids were living with us and we got to share Christmas morning with them. It's been a long time since Jeanie's been home on Christmas morning. We had a great dinner, including the Italian Wedding/Holiday soup. It was really, really good if I do say so myself. Jay Jr. made a timpano. Wow, what a feat! Watch "Big Night", it'll give you an idea of what it's all about. Krista, Carter and Josie came for dinner on Saturday and we did Christmas all over again. Double the joy.
We spent early New Year's Eve having dinner at Georges'. The food was just terrific. I'm sad that chef Jeremy Duclut has left, but ever since he won "CHOPPED" he just got too many offers he couldn't refuse. I loved his food. For New Year's Day, Danny made the foie with a rose petal jam and Jay Jr. made pork belly, Gordon Ramsay-style. As usual it was fantastic! The cabbage and mashed potatoes that accompanied it were so good, even the next day. The belly was perfectly crisp on top and succulent on the bottom. The mashed potatoes just kept surprising me with every bite. I kept saying to jay Sr., "this is SO good" because it was. I ate most of the cabbage with caramelized onions and bacon. I can't wait to do it again next year. So now the sad part is that Jeanie, Derek and the kids moved to California. I don't even want to get started. My eyes are still puffy and at my age, I can certainly do without that. It's so quiet here...I'm not a fan. Danny and Gabriel had birthdays in December. Gabriel the 21st (10 years old) and Danny the 22nd (28 years old). HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS!
The hawks are still coming around and the chickens can no longer free-range. In addition to the female red-tail, there's a Cooper's Hawk (photo above) that swoops down while I'm feeding the juveniles. It got one of my bantams. I've lost too many in the past couple of weeks, so I'm going to downsize big time. Between the weather and predators, I've had it. If the chickens aren't happy, I'm not happy.
I took down my exhibit this past weekend. I sold 18 pieces. I need to recount, but it's very close to that. Thank you to everyone once again for their support and for coming out in the brutal weather. I am very grateful and appreciative. I've started back on Finn's final oil portrait. I hope to have it finished by the end of the week. One of my New Year's resolutions is to be more consistent with keeping this blog and painting. I resolve to be more serious and more in touch, so stay with me and send me some comments once in a while. It gets lonely in the studio with just the Ninja turtles and the tree frog.
I hope your holidays were the best and that this New Year brings all of us health, wealth, joy and the "peace that surpasses all understanding". I know I need it. Our Christmas and New Year celebrations were just wonderful. We went to my cousin Nicky and his gracious wife Leanne's for "the fishes" on Christmas Eve. Danny made the bacala, it was the first time ever that I actually liked it. Sorry Grandmom. We also had the usual suspects, smelts, linguine and clams, plus Nicky made an amazing seafood cocktail with polenta, two kinds of calamari, as well as eel, really delicious raw oysters with cantaloupe and prosciutto. They were my downfall. I ate too many and didn't leave enough room for the grilled Branzino and Cioppino. I did have the Cioppino, but I wanted more. My nephew Pat made a Caesar salad that I now crave everyday. It was so garlicky that I had aceto for the rest of the night, but it was so worth it. The entire night was very enjoyable and fun to see the littles who are now old enough to be able to understand and appreciate all of it. Thank you Lea and Nicky for your hospitality. Our new, three week old baby cousin was there and I got to give him his bottle. It's been years since we had a newborn in the family. Welcome Alexander and congratulations on your beautiful boy Marilena and Larry! God bless all of you. Christmas Day was the biggest treat for the adults, because the Johnson kids were living with us and we got to share Christmas morning with them. It's been a long time since Jeanie's been home on Christmas morning. We had a great dinner, including the Italian Wedding/Holiday soup. It was really, really good if I do say so myself. Jay Jr. made a timpano. Wow, what a feat! Watch "Big Night", it'll give you an idea of what it's all about. Krista, Carter and Josie came for dinner on Saturday and we did Christmas all over again. Double the joy.
We spent early New Year's Eve having dinner at Georges'. The food was just terrific. I'm sad that chef Jeremy Duclut has left, but ever since he won "CHOPPED" he just got too many offers he couldn't refuse. I loved his food. For New Year's Day, Danny made the foie with a rose petal jam and Jay Jr. made pork belly, Gordon Ramsay-style. As usual it was fantastic! The cabbage and mashed potatoes that accompanied it were so good, even the next day. The belly was perfectly crisp on top and succulent on the bottom. The mashed potatoes just kept surprising me with every bite. I kept saying to jay Sr., "this is SO good" because it was. I ate most of the cabbage with caramelized onions and bacon. I can't wait to do it again next year. So now the sad part is that Jeanie, Derek and the kids moved to California. I don't even want to get started. My eyes are still puffy and at my age, I can certainly do without that. It's so quiet here...I'm not a fan. Danny and Gabriel had birthdays in December. Gabriel the 21st (10 years old) and Danny the 22nd (28 years old). HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS!
The hawks are still coming around and the chickens can no longer free-range. In addition to the female red-tail, there's a Cooper's Hawk (photo above) that swoops down while I'm feeding the juveniles. It got one of my bantams. I've lost too many in the past couple of weeks, so I'm going to downsize big time. Between the weather and predators, I've had it. If the chickens aren't happy, I'm not happy.
I took down my exhibit this past weekend. I sold 18 pieces. I need to recount, but it's very close to that. Thank you to everyone once again for their support and for coming out in the brutal weather. I am very grateful and appreciative. I've started back on Finn's final oil portrait. I hope to have it finished by the end of the week. One of my New Year's resolutions is to be more consistent with keeping this blog and painting. I resolve to be more serious and more in touch, so stay with me and send me some comments once in a while. It gets lonely in the studio with just the Ninja turtles and the tree frog.
