tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27309200268769028162024-03-13T21:26:54.661-05:00Weasel's JourneyTrip Journals ~ Musings ~ EventsEloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.comBlogger555125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-20487388564262409872022-01-13T18:11:00.001-06:002022-01-13T18:11:25.529-06:00Printing A7 envelopes on an HP Printer<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYM2IQrZq-HTNUXWWIAOCJiVmwmxoBWNmruq22GgG5Z9GnWVALxQrlpbwaUWw1xfyKYUzCvlXQpmcwVuoMfmw7L2yotjp4eXQ-eFpl-Cv1PSHrqyDuNMx2i8zFqcqenqmhVGfMuwIrzhfHLCx_RI-vfYSKClUUjt7LoiW2PtpAM_wyqLY2rZnGEQDr=s4032" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYM2IQrZq-HTNUXWWIAOCJiVmwmxoBWNmruq22GgG5Z9GnWVALxQrlpbwaUWw1xfyKYUzCvlXQpmcwVuoMfmw7L2yotjp4eXQ-eFpl-Cv1PSHrqyDuNMx2i8zFqcqenqmhVGfMuwIrzhfHLCx_RI-vfYSKClUUjt7LoiW2PtpAM_wyqLY2rZnGEQDr=s320"/></a></div><br><br>
<span style="font-size:medium";>Not my usual blog content, but I wasted so many hours and so much paper trying to get my HP printer to print A7 envelopes for my Christmas cards that I thought I would share the solution I came up with here. I could not find a solution that worked for me anywhere online nor was anyone in HP support able to help with the issue. Every time I selected a size close to the A7 size and tried to insert my envelopes, I received a "paper size mismatch" error. Not sure why HP printers don't support this size envelope as it is standard in the States for invitations and Christmas cards, but here we are.<br><br>
<center><b>A7 Envelope Printing on HP 8020</b><br>
(this is my printer model, but users with other models had the same issue so I think this solution would work for those too)<br> <br>
***These instructions are for a Mac using Microsoft Word and Preview. You should be able to adapt them for a PC.</center><br>
<b>On printer set paper size as 5x8.</b> (When you open the paper drawer, the printer should ask if you want to keep the paper the same size and give you an option to change it.)<br><br>
<b>Set up your envelopes in Word.</b> (I use Mail Merge.)
<br><br>
<b>Save the file as a pdf.</b> (If you choose File>Save as, there should be an option to change the file format to pdf.)<br><br>
<b>Open in Preview.</b><br><br>
<b>Select File>Print.</b> Under "paper size" scroll all the way down to "manage custom sizes." Click on the + sign toward the bottom and enter width: 5 inches, height: 7 inches and click "ok". I renamed this custom size "A7 Envelope for HP 8020."<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikSyQ-MIgUYAtSPUQXNjX--7OgXFapmvOzPwyNynDvVv-LOkjRZxnEDZHsg5UUf_NpPz2AvYQu6Mj6KAZ98QYP_AvDS89uurNmBAtIQF0KAmhmxFIrB1AE-5bxdlENo9RuvoWqbffNLdicD07X443AAe4gCry7haD4ap7ra3lgWpZWlPAC7TrVldNv=s1366" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikSyQ-MIgUYAtSPUQXNjX--7OgXFapmvOzPwyNynDvVv-LOkjRZxnEDZHsg5UUf_NpPz2AvYQu6Mj6KAZ98QYP_AvDS89uurNmBAtIQF0KAmhmxFIrB1AE-5bxdlENo9RuvoWqbffNLdicD07X443AAe4gCry7haD4ap7ra3lgWpZWlPAC7TrVldNv=s320"/></a></div><br>
<b>Choose paper size as A7 for HP 8020 (7x5) in printer setup</b> (I had to create this size).<br><br>
<b>In print dialog choose "portrait" orientation. </b>This should result in your image being turned sideways.<br><br>
<b>To print the front of envelope, insert the envelope in the printer face down with envelope flap on left.</b><br><br>
<b>For return address on back, insert the envelope face up with envelope flap on left underneath.</b><br><br>
<b>Click "print."</b><br><br>
I hope this helps!<br><br></span>
Error: Paper Size Mismatch. The paper size detected by the printer does not match the paper size selected for the print job.<br><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWkGCuiN-4F1_PpPJ-iaxO8tl5uLOrrOpclMgZZq9A17H3KOo0XByZ0_T8IdNiRCaj00Og3V6sGNZWT85E2y8MJOQlhnOnOSNRlyCSGL7f5GEAhC4ZtwPXqiKzt1KGWMsHBw-SDwSoqjz9T3H5TMDTa0QCsVW8dAHhHxp0i9nOlLmjQ34hxod3g7Cj=s3728" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="3728" data-original-width="2750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWkGCuiN-4F1_PpPJ-iaxO8tl5uLOrrOpclMgZZq9A17H3KOo0XByZ0_T8IdNiRCaj00Og3V6sGNZWT85E2y8MJOQlhnOnOSNRlyCSGL7f5GEAhC4ZtwPXqiKzt1KGWMsHBw-SDwSoqjz9T3H5TMDTa0QCsVW8dAHhHxp0i9nOlLmjQ34hxod3g7Cj=s400"/></a></div>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-3410552235326094002014-10-09T11:15:00.000-05:002014-10-09T11:18:39.023-05:00Cooking Club September 2014.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15301292397" title="IMG_0873 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/15301292397_e2a658ac67.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="IMG_0873"></a><br />
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Last spring my Cooking Club was looking for a new cookbook. One of our members brought her copy of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Beverly-Hills-Kitchen-Southern/dp/0307701522/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=weassjour-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=OICCF3ALNNTVI3QX&creativeASIN=0307701522">My Beverly Hills Kitchen: Classic Southern Cooking with a French Twist</a></i> by Alex Hitz as a suggestion. I perused its beautiful pictures and delicious sounding recipes and began to read the introduction. Details of the author's childhood sounded familiar, so I glanced back at his name on the cover and was startled to realize, "I know this guy! He and I sang in children's choir at church many years ago!" <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307701522/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307701522&linkCode=as2&tag=weassjour-20&linkId=Z7EAEQLHLG2POBBC"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0307701522&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=weassjour-20" ></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=weassjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307701522" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />
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Shortly before my Cooking Club's September gathering where we would be using <i>My Beverly Hills Kitchen</i> for the first time, I looked up Alex on Facebook. I sent him a message and told him about our Cooking Club and that we had chosen his book for our current selection. I included a link to the <i>Dallas Morning News</i> article about our Cooking Club that ran in last summer's paper:<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15301237740" title="cook003 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15301237740_2ef9233fac_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="cook003"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/food-wine/food-wine-headlines/20130709-dallas-area-friends-gather-once-a-month-for-cook-book-club-see-their-favorite-recipes-and-more.ece"><i>Dallas friends gather once a month for cookbook club</i></a><br />
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I was delighted to receive a prompt enthusiastic response from Alex:<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15484720501" title="IMG_6551 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/15484720501_90dbe5138c_n.jpg" width="320" height="213" alt="IMG_6551"></a><br />
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He even posted about our correspondence on his Facebook page:<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15301113339" title="Screen Shot 2014-10-09 at 10.49.43 AM by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/15301113339_648a6b4d2a_n.jpg" width="313" height="320" alt="Screen Shot 2014-10-09 at 10.49.43 AM"></a><br />
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Our lunch featuring Alex's recipes was a smashing success. The dishes were delicious and flavorful and the instructions easy to follow.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15487878865" title="IMG_0867 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15487878865_281a89cce4.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="IMG_0867"></a><br />
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Appetizer: Bacon-wrapped dates<br />
Soup: Tomato Soup with Parmesan croutons<br />
Salad: Poppyseed salad with bibb lettuce<br />
Entrée: Chicken curry <br />
Vegetable: Carrot purée<br />
Bread: Sally Lunn Bread (I made this. It was even better the next day toasted with some butter for breakfast)<br />
Dessert: Dorothy's coconut cake (this was the star of the show!)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15301305777" title="IMG_0862 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/15301305777_0627609e79.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="IMG_0862"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15301215008" title="IMG_0865 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/15301215008_e615eb8496.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="IMG_0865"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15301309187" title="IMG_0870 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/15301309187_b0d3ab735a.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="IMG_0870"></a><br />
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My Cooking Club is looking forward to a great year with <i>My Beverly Hills Kitchen</i>!</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-60909421270211910782014-09-16T08:16:00.000-05:002014-09-16T08:16:00.347-05:00A movie recommendation and my current favorite thing to make for dinner.<span style="font-size:medium">Long time, no post! I'm going to try to get back in the blogging habit. Thanks to those who emailed and encouraged me to post again.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15254914375" title="Chef_2014 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3913/15254914375_be05d2928d_o.jpg" width="220" height="326" alt="Chef_2014"></a><br />
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This summer a Cooking Club friend invited me to see the movie <i>Chef</i>. I went in not knowing much about the film but found it to be completely delightful: a feel-good, witty story featuring the music and food of Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans and Austin (warning: the movie will make you hungry). <br />
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<i>Chef</i> will be released on DVD (linked below left) on September 30th. The soundtrack (below right) is also great.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KQTHKQC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00KQTHKQC&linkCode=as2&tag=weassjour-20&linkId=R4D7DLU4OQU4VFGP"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00KQTHKQC&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=weassjour-20" ></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=weassjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00KQTHKQC" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JS4VLQG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00JS4VLQG&linkCode=as2&tag=weassjour-20&linkId=ES2SNAT6VIF6VTET"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00JS4VLQG&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=weassjour-20" ></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=weassjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00JS4VLQG" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />
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In one scene in the movie, Chef Carl, played by Jon Favreau who also wrote and directed the film, prepares a late-night dinner for Scarlett Johansson's character. I was so taken by the pasta he made that I found the recipe online: <a href="http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/CHEF-the-Film%3A-Pasta-Aglio-e-Olio/58462/#.VBfJ3mSwJcg">Pasta Aglio e Olio</a>. I prepared the version from the movie once and then found <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio-recipe.html">Ina Garten's rendition of the same recipe</a> and decided I prefer that one because it has less olive oil and parsley and more Parmesan. I just wish I could master the way Chef Carl twists the pasta so artfully into a bowl.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15068365427" title="Pasta twist by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/15068365427_e928e80e3d.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="Pasta twist"></a> <br />
<i>(Source: <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/2014/5/22/how-to-seduce-scarlett-johansson-with-spaghetti">Food and Wine</a>)</i><br />
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I have made this Spaghetti Aglio e Olio many times this summer. It is an incredibly fast dinner to prepare and I usually have all of the ingredients, except perhaps fresh parsley, on hand. I'm amazed that a recipe with so few ingredients can be so delicious.<br />
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I hope you have a chance to enjoy the movie, the soundtrack, the pasta or all three.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15254234972" title="IMG_6545 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/15254234972_74d8ab22f3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_6545"></a><i><br />
The cast of ingredients<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15254235992" title="IMG_6546 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/15254235992_a916f12e8e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_6546"></a><br />
The ingredients after I've sliced, chopped, and grated everything. Notice a glass of wine has now joined me for this endeavor<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15067938260" title="IMG_6548 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/15067938260_7d30e8c23a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_6548"></a><br />
The pasta and garlic sauce boil and simmer in separate pots<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15068078758" title="IMG_6549 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3913/15068078758_0b350302bb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_6549"></a><br />
Just after stirring in the Parmesan and parsley<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/15068079878" title="IMG_6550 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/15068079878_41b1cd3d97.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_6550"></a><br />
Yum yum yum</i><br />
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<b>Spaghetti Aglio e Olio</b><br />
adapted from <i>The Barefoot Contessa</i><br />
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Serves 4.<br />
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2 tablespoons Kosher salt (for the pasta water)<br />
1 pound dried spaghetti<br />
⅓ cup good olive oil<br />
10 large garlic cloves, cut into thin slivers<br />
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes<br />
1½ cups reserved pasta water<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
½ cup minced fresh parsley<br />
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving<br />
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook al dente according to the directions on the package. Set aside some of the pasta cooking water before you drain the pasta.<br />
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Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a sauté pan large enough to hold the pasta. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it just begins to turn golden on the edges. Be careful not to overcook. Stir in the red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds more. Add the reserved pasta cooking water and one teaspoon salt to the garlic and oil and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Sauce should be reduced by about one-third.<br />
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Add the drained pasta to the garlic sauce and toss. Allow the pasta to rest off the heat for 5 minutes so that the sauce can be absorbed. Stir in the parsley and Parmesan and toss well (if you add the parsley too soon or while the heat is still on, it will clump fiercely and refuse to separate - trust me on this one). Add salt to taste and grate some fresh Parmesan over each serving.</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-6600440781257740882014-01-31T17:39:00.000-06:002014-01-31T17:39:27.117-06:00What's for dinner and Vivian strikes again.<br />
<span style="font-size:medium";><i>Determined not to let January 2014 come and go without one post from me!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/12242568224/" title="IMG_5694 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/12242568224_208b82f610.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5694"></a><br />
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In the most recent issue of <i>Bon Appetit</i> I saw a picture and recipe for Winter Squash Carbonara with Pancetta and Sage that looked really good. I decided to try it last Friday night as it was classified as a "quick and easy weeknight meal." The dish was quite tasty, but at my house it was definitely not quick, mostly because of the prep time involved (where is that sous chef when I need him?). Next time I would buy pre-cut butternut squash (Central Market sometimes has this in their produce section) or chop the squash in advance. Perhaps next time I might be more adept at peeling and chopping butternut squash, too, and hasten things along that way. <br />
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<b>Winter Squash Carbonara with Pancetta and Sage<br />
</b><br />
2 tablespoons olive oil<br />
4 ounces pancetta, chopped (I used the thick-sliced applewood bacon from the Central Market butcher because I think it is fabulous)<br />
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage<br />
1 2-pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into ½" pieces (about 3 cups)<br />
1 small onion, chopped<br />
2 garlic cloves, chopped<br />
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper<br />
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth<br />
12 ounces linguine<br />
¼ cup finely grated Pecorino cheese, plus shaved for serving<br />
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Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8–10 minutes. Add sage and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pancetta and sage to a small bowl; set aside.<br />
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Add squash, onion, and garlic to skillet; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 8–10 minutes. Add broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until squash is soft and liquid is reduced by half, 15–20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then purée in a blender until smooth (I used my immersion blender but had to transfer the squash to a deeper pot to do so); season with salt and pepper. Reserve skillet.<br />
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Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.<br />
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Combine pasta, squash purée, and ¼ cup pasta cooking liquid in reserved skillet and cook over medium heat, tossing and adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until sauce coats pasta, about 2 minutes. Mix in ¼ cup Pecorino; season with salt and pepper.<br />
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Serve pasta topped with reserved pancetta and sage, shaved Pecorino, and more pepper.<br />
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Note: Squash purée can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.<br />
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This salad is from <i>Cooking Light</i>. It is quite tasty. This time I used a mix of baby arugula and baby spinach.<br />
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<b>Arugula and Celery Salad with Lemon-Anchovy Dressing</b><br />
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6 cups baby arugula leaves<br />
1/2 cup diagonally cut celery<br />
1/4 cup almonds, toasted and chopped<br />
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (I omitted these because I'm not a huge parsley fan and there is already some in the dressing)<br />
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt<br />
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper<br />
1/4 cup (1 ounce) shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese<br />
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Dressing:<br />
2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves<br />
3 tablespoons water<br />
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
3 garlic cloves<br />
1 canned anchovy fillet, rinsed<br />
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil<br />
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Combine first 7 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. With blender on, slowly add oil. Process until blended.<br />
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***<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/12242318713/" title="IMG_5585 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/12242318713_8cb07de8a4.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5585"></a><br />
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The other day Vivian walked up to me and I noticed that the screen on her iPod Touch was completely shattered. I exclaimed, "Vivian! What happened to your phone?!" She replied, in that way that only Vivian can, "It broke."<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/12242708216/" title="Image 2 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/12242708216_5d287db35b.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Image 2"></a></span><br />
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Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-29742598901147105132013-12-20T11:40:00.001-06:002013-12-21T09:42:06.493-06:00Vivian and the Rudolph show.<span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/11467313073/player/3f543f92b7" height="375" width="500" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe><br />
Vivian loves Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Not just at Christmas, but all year 'round. She has several Rudolph t-shirts and books, and she frequently watches the <i>Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer</i> movie on her iPod.<br />
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Lo and behold, this year <i>Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer: the Musical</i> came to Dallas. Vivian's teacher, Mrs. Kemp, and her speech therapist, Melinda, took Vivian and her friend Will to see the show. They reported that Vivian loved it. From the looks of these pictures, I'd say she did!<br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/11467201724/player/22ba66f0f8" height="500" width="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/11467273636/player/9df072b45b" height="500" width="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/11467306763/player/bc1b8d0f97" height="500" width="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/11467204404/player/e4aaf3ccd9" height="500" width="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<i>After the show Vivian was able to interact with some of the cast members</i><br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/11467279026/player/4659d21c45" height="500" width="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-17347429645009591782013-09-27T16:31:00.000-05:002013-09-27T16:31:00.155-05:00A couple of funny Vivian stories.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9956028145/" title="IMG_5039 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/9956028145_389f17f31c.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="IMG_5039"></a><br />
<i>Vivian at a recent pep rally (which she calls a "pepperoli")</i><br />
<br />
Last week Vivian's teacher let me know that Vivian had refused to do her work one day but had instead fallen to the floor and pitched a fit. When Vivian got home from school, I said to her sternly, "Vivian, Mommy is VERY sad when you don't do your work." She looked at me and replied, "Vivian is happy."<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
Yesterday Vivian's school had a fire drill. Vivian's teacher knew the alarm would sound soon, and she realized with some concern that Vivian was deeply involved in working one of her favorite puzzles. Her teacher worried that Vivian would not want to leave the puzzle to go outside for the drill and might put up a fuss. When the fire alarm went off, however, Vivian jumped up from her chair, began waving her arms and moving quickly to door while yelling, "We have to get out of the building!"<br />
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Such a funny girl.</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-42570277981035957292013-09-26T15:20:00.000-05:002013-09-26T23:04:25.302-05:00Sweet Sixteen!<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9955872446/" title="IMG_5127 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5127" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/9955872446_fb5f049562.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Today my sweet Dots is turning sixteen. So far her birthday has been much sweeter than<a href="http://www.weaselsjourney.com/2010/06/not-so-sweet-16.html"> Vivian's sixteenth</a>, thank goodness! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9955843505/" title="IMG_5120 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5120" height="375" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/9955843505_8f24a5632a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i>Dots had to be at school at 6:20 for Cross Country practice so she only opened one present this morning<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9955868864/" title="IMG_5131 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5131" height="375" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/9955868864_477c99e27f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
She requested Chick-Fil-A for her lunch table so I bought that and carried it up to them around noon. Tonight Robert and I are taking Dots and four friends to her favorite restaurant<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9955849355/" title="IMG_5129 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5129" height="500" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/9955849355_883e394821.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I posted this picture on Instagram today. Dots was a funny, funny little girl. She adored this bathing suit and wore it under her clothes wherever we went for quite some time. On this particular day we were nowhere near a pool; this was just her outfit of choice!<br />
<br />
</i>Happy Sweet Sixteen to my sweet, beautiful girl!</span><br />
<br />Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-68093555889412666552013-08-30T07:23:00.000-05:002013-08-30T07:36:50.618-05:00Back to school 2013.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9629808738/" title="Vintage school days by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5506/9629808738_394aeddc06_n.jpg" width="256" height="320" alt="Vintage school days"></a><br />
<br />
My girls started school this week. College classes commenced for Will the week before; alas, I have no pictures of that to share. <br />
<br />
Dots is a sophomore in high school. Vivian is classified as a junior, but she can stay in school until her 22nd birthday so she also has three years remaining. 2016 will be a year of big changes at our house. <br />
<br />
Things seem to be off to a good start for the girls. Dots made the cross country team and has practice at 6:30 each morning, so she is out the door early (I can't say bright and early because it is pitch black when she leaves). Vivian has been very happy to get on the bus each day, and although there have been a few meltdowns when work or PE were involved, her teachers report that Vivian has generally been happy and cooperative.<br />
<br />
Here's to a good year!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9629662972/" title="IMG_5015 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/9629662972_26298d4cfb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5015"></a><br />
<i>Waiting for the bus. Vivian kept saying, "Where is my bus? It is time to go to school!"</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9626433279/" title="IMG_5025 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/9626433279_982b235166.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5025"></a><br />
<i>The bus is here! Vivian has been blessed to have had the same wonderful bus driver for 14 years!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9626434961/" title="IMG_5026 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5538/9626434961_f71b989e35.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5026"></a><br />
Happily aboard the bus<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9626436255/" title="IMG_5028 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/9626436255_90770a451b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5028"></a><br />
Dots heads out for the first day of her sophomore year. No early morning cross country practice today!</i> <br />
</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-28589160832206806352013-06-19T00:16:00.000-05:002013-06-19T20:57:35.363-05:00Vivian and the magic paper machine.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9082801970/" title="IMG_4528 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/9082801970_8c7b586312.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4528"></a><br />
<br />
Vivian loves to color. She can spend hours entertaining herself coloring pictures. Often Vivian requests Robert or me to draw an outline for her (a happy dog, a sleepy sun, three frogs, two flowers, etc.), but she will also draw three things herself (a sun, a moon and an apple - same shape, different color).<br />
<br />
I knew that Vivian's source of blank paper was my printer because I perpetually have an "out of paper" message on my computer screen. I assumed that Vivian opened the printer's paper drawer, took out what she needed and then closed it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9082800906/" title="Screen Shot 2013-06-18 at 10.19.18 PM by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3782/9082800906_084705bd2a.jpg" width="390" height="177" alt="Screen Shot 2013-06-18 at 10.19.18 PM"></a><br />
<br />
This morning, however, I entered my office to discover a stack of 30-odd copies of a medical receipt that I had inadvertently left on my printer's copier glass yesterday. I realized that to get paper, Vivian was pushing all of the buttons on the front of my printer until a piece of paper spit out. Since the copier glass is usually empty, most of the time Vivian would be rewarded with a blank piece of paper by hitting the "copy" button. I'm guessing that yesterday she kept hitting the button hoping that the printer would eventually avail her of a blank page but had so such luck.<br />
<br />
Today I showed Vivian where I keep a stack of blank copy paper, on a wire shelf just above the printer. I suggested that she get her coloring paper there and leave the printer alone.<br />
<br />
This afternoon I heard the printer's motor whirring and found Vivian sitting in front of the printer randomly pushing buttons and retrieving the paper as the printer supplied it. I decided that Vivian must view the printer as her own special paper vending machine and that she prefers the cause and effect of pushing a button to receive a piece of paper over just taking blank sheets off a shelf.<br />
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Such a funny, but resourceful, girl!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/9080648739/" title="IMG_4539 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/9080648739_2d74a5baea.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4539"></a><br />
<i>Coloring a "sleepy sun"</i></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com97tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-40568844252742052242013-05-15T09:37:00.002-05:002013-05-15T09:37:57.274-05:00Name that expression.<span style="font-size:medium";>Vivian's teacher sent me this series of pictures the other day. She was asking Vivian to show different emotions while her teacher photographed them with an iPad. Ms. B reported that Vivian really enjoyed doing this and loved looking at the pictures afterward and naming the emotion. I wish they included sound as well because Vivian has funny little sounds she makes along with the expressions (her sad sound is a little whimper and her angry sound is a grunt of sorts).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8741597332/" title="Image by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8741597332_67cee20317.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Image"></a><br />
<i>Angry.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8741597414/" title="Image 1 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8741597414_ea7a8980e6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Image 1"></a><br />
Happy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8740479331/" title="Image 2 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/8740479331_b2d69879bc.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Image 2"></a><br />
Sad. (You really need the sound effect to distinguish this from angry!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8740479411/" title="Image 3 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/8740479411_a98dedb962.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Image 3"></a><br />
Silly. (Vivian's attempt to stick out her tongue!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8740479691/" title="IMG_4478 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8740479691_045b55d8de.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4478"></a><br />
Sweet girl (her teacher sent me this one on another day to show me a flower Vivian had picked for me).<br />
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</span></i>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-13556998367638225902013-03-22T15:06:00.001-05:002013-03-22T15:06:11.613-05:00Aloha!<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573836228/" title="IMG_4052 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8573836228_9f09e615ca.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4052"></a><br />
<br />
We have just returned from a wonderful week in Hawaii. My mother joined us this year which was a special treat.<br />
<br />
Vivian has been so sweet and compliant lately, and she did really well on our trip. She loved feeding the fish in the koi ponds around our resort, and while it was never her idea to get in the water, she had fun kicking her feet and splashing Robert and me. We had one dramatic moment when Vivian fell into the pool fully dressed (and was quickly retrieved as I was standing right next to her). The incident did not faze Vivian one bit, but I had to grab every towel within reach and wrap her up quickly because she started pulling at her shirt and pants saying, "I can't swim in my clothes, I have to swim in my bathing suit." We have had countless talks on "we don't take off our clothes until we are in our room," but the concept clearly has yet to take root.<br />
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Here are a few pictures from Hawaii. I'm ready to go back!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572744401/" title="IMG_4053 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8572744401_330d0694b6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4053"></a><br />
<i>Shortly after our arrival. Vivian seemed pretty happy to be there but wanted no part of wearing her lei <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573838134/" title="IMG_4054 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8573838134_fb33363c1d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4054"></a><br />
View from our room<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572745939/" title="IMG_4060 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8365/8572745939_6bd7b9758b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4060"></a><br />
Dots brought along her hammock<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573839520/" title="IMG_4069 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8573839520_7eea2ae8ed.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4069"></a><br />
Robert and Vivi in the pool<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572747277/" title="IMG_4084 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8572747277_f9d1e615eb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4084"></a><br />
Two Vivians relaxing by the pool <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572747649/" title="IMG_4258 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8572747649_9fcdf2ed39.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4258"></a><br />
Vivian, Robert and me in the lazy river - Vivian is giggling because she thinks she is splashing Robert with her kicks<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8581086766/" title="IMG_4101 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8581086766_064d4be9c8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4101"></a><br />
Vivian going down a slide with Robert<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572749773/" title="IMG_4128 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8572749773_d0f0e7481e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4128"></a><br />
Robert reading a book on his iPad<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573843906/" title="IMG_4138 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8573843906_5f312e98e3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4138"></a><br />
The beach<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572752253/" title="IMG_4142 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8572752253_cff1b9afae.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4142"></a><br />
Katie and Dots at Happy Hour<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572753017/" title="IMG_4159 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8572753017_aed4e1ce30.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4159"></a><br />
Our dessert one night at dinner. This was incredible! It's coconut ice cream inside a chocolate shell coated in toasted coconut. It was as delicious as it was beautiful and creative<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572754033/" title="IMG_4160 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8572754033_3c31a93faf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4160"></a><br />
Vivian feeding the fish<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572754885/" title="IMG_4161 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8572754885_bd4899a478.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4161"></a><br />
Vivian would always say, "The fish are so happy now." I bet those fish miss Vivian!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573848180/" title="IMG_4168 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8573848180_eb82598613.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4168"></a><br />
Teenage girls by the pool {sigh}. Dots didn't know I was taking her picture - I think she was hiding from the sun<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573849150/" title="IMG_4171 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8573849150_cbdbc52ebf.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4171"></a><br />
Heading to Lahaina<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572757587/" title="IMG_4175 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8572757587_00f2d5f206.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4175"></a><br />
Annual kids picture by the <a href="http://www.weaselsjourney.com/2010/03/banyan-tree.html">banyan tree<br />
</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573855058/" title="DSC_0379 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8370/8573855058_f349db6632.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="DSC_0379"></a><br />
A happy Vivian<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573851468/" title="IMG_4182 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8573851468_703aeea2eb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4182"></a><br />
Strolling in Lahaina - this was a pretty quick trip as Vivian's new stroller is too big and clunky to maneuver very easily in the tiny shops. Plus Vivian's tolerance of/interest in shopping is even less than Robert's and his is pretty close to nil<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572761081/" title="IMG_4199 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8572761081_1101626512.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4199"></a><br />
Mama's Fish House - on the north shore of Maui<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572759339/" title="IMG_4189 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8572759339_cf192bb473.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4189"></a><br />
View from our table at Mama's Fish House. We ate lunch there one day<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573853046/" title="IMG_4191 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/8573853046_9e6062b6be.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4191"></a><br />
Robert doing his best to keep Vivian entertained until our food arrived. When Vivian's lunch of baked fish, fresh fruit and rice was set in front of her, she said, "I don't like my food!" and started to push her stroller away from the table. Robert distracted her and prevented a majorly unattractive scene in an otherwise lovely restaurant, and within about 30 seconds Vivian was devouring her lunch. (Notice that Vivian is wearing a different shirt than she had on just an hour or so before in Lahaina. I found a whale t-shirt for her in a shop. I asked Vivian if she liked it, and before I even realized what was happening, she had taken off her other shirt (which I took to mean "yes"). Thank goodness there was no one else in the store!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572762795/" title="IMG_4203 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8506/8572762795_4c45b6b9ea.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4203"></a><br />
Sunset from the lanai off our room<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573859370/" title="IMG_4246 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8573859370_be94823121.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4246"></a><br />
As I was enjoying a delicious lobster salad sandwich one afternoon at the Four Seasons, this egret walking on the hedge right by our table availed himself of the off-menu fresh gecko<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572763817/" title="IMG_4212 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8572763817_c9311886fb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4212"></a><br />
Vivian (wearing the whale shirt again) relaxing by the pool. She would tell me, "Make my chair a bed!" and often fell asleep<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8572765035/" title="IMG_4213 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8572765035_48ecd42a11.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_4213"></a><br />
View from my chair as I worked a crossword puzzle<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573858796/" title="IMG_4221 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8573858796_6dcfa3e26a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4221"></a><br />
Dots and Robert in a kayak<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573860642/" title="IMG_4253 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8573860642_881477865d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4253"></a><br />
Looking out over the pool and beach from our hotel's restaurant<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8573859858/" title="DSC_0433 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8573859858_36971a403a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="DSC_0433"></a><br />
Hawaiian sunset on our last night (photo credit to Dots)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8580081951/" title="IMG_0700 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8580081951_87f0199c78.jpg" width="500" height="373" alt="IMG_0700"></a><br />
Meanwhile, guess who thought Gulf Shores, Alabama with college friends sounded like more fun than Hawaii with the family!</i></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-17784775205553641582013-03-09T11:57:00.000-06:002013-03-09T11:57:00.712-06:00Valentine Luncheon 2013, part IV: recipes.<span style="font-size:medium";><br />
<b>Crab Salad</b><br />
from my friend Cynthia<br />
serves 6-8<br />
<br />
1 container jumbo lump crab meat<br />
2 scoops mayonnaise<br />
1 scoop Dijon mustard<br />
Chopped green onions<br />
1 jar capers, drained<br />
A couple of scoops of Kraft horseradish (red top in dairy section)<br />
Lemon juice<br />
Paul Prudhomme Seafood Magic (a bunch of shakes)<br />
Salt (if you think it needs it)<br />
<br />
Combine all ingredients. Serve on a bed of lettuce.<br />
<br />
***These are obviously very rough measurements that can be adjusted to your taste! I used five containers of crab and quadrupled everything else to serve 32 people. This was REALLY good and oh, so easy.<br />
<br />
<b>Fragrant Carrot Soup with Cilantro Cream</b><br />
from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615207839/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0615207839&linkCode=as2&tag=weassjour-20"><i>Peace Meals</i></a> by the Junior League of Houston<br />
Serves 10<br />
<br />
5-7 cups vegetable broth<br />
1 tablespoon olive oil<br />
1 medium onion, thinly sliced<br />
2½ teaspoons coarse salt, divided<br />
2 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1½ teaspoons cumin seed, toasted and ground<br />
1 teaspoon coriander seed, toasted and ground<br />
3 teaspoons peeled and grated fresh ginger<br />
pinch of cayenne pepper<br />
2 pounds carrots, peeled and thinly sliced<br />
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and thinly sliced<br />
½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice<br />
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro<br />
½ cup heavy whipping cream<br />
<br />
Heat the broth in a saucepan over low. Heat the olive oil in a stockpot; add the onion and ½ teaspoon salt. Sauté for 5 minutes then add the garlic, cumin, coriander, ginger and cayenne. Cook until the onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Add a little of the warm broth if the mixture dries out. Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and 4 cups of the warm broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until carrots are tender. Allow to cool slightly. Purée soup with immersion blender (or in small batches in a blender). Add orange juice and additional broth to achieve desired consistency. Season again with remaining teaspoon of salt and additional cayenne if desired. In a small bowl stir together the cilantro and cream. Serve soup with a drizzle of the cilantro cream on top. <br />
<br />
<b>Stilton Tart with Cranberry Chutney<br />
</b>from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Gourmet-Cookbook-More-than-recipes/dp/B001F7ATTE?ie=UTF8&tag=weassjour-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">The Gourmet Cookbook</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=weassjour-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001F7ATTE" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important; padding: 0px !important" /> <br />
<br />
***<i>I serve this hors d'oeuvres every year because it is so delicious, it looks pretty and festive and it can be prepared ahead and chilled and then brought to room temperature and sliced the morning of the luncheon</i><br />
<br />
Pastry dough<br />
1 cup heavy cream<br />
1 whole large egg<br />
2 large egg yolks<br />
¼ teaspoon salt<br />
¼ teaspoon black pepper<br />
5 oz. chilled white Stilton cheese, rind removed and cheese crumbled<br />
<br />
Make tart shell:<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350°F.<br />
<br />
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 17- by 8-inch rectangle and fit into 13 x 4 x 1 tart pan with removable bottom. Trim excess dough, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang, then fold overhang inward and press against side of pan to reinforce edge. Lightly prick bottom and sides all over with a fork. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.<br />
Line pastry shell with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake in middle of oven 20 minutes, then carefully remove foil and weights and bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes more. Cool shell in pan 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.<br />
<br />
Make filling:<br />
<br />
Whisk together cream, whole egg, yolks, salt, and pepper until combined.<br />
<br />
Put tart shell (still in pan) on a baking sheet and scatter cheese evenly in shell. Slowly pour custard into shell and bake in middle of oven until golden around edge and custard is just set, 30 to 35 minutes. <br />
<br />
Cool tart completely in pan on a rack. Cut tart into 32 rectangles and serve at room temperature, topped with chutney.<br />
<br />
Cranberry Chutney:<br />
<br />
2 large shallots (3 oz), coarsely chopped<br />
1 tablespoon vegetable oil<br />
1 (12-oz) bag fresh or frozen cranberries (not thawed)<br />
⅔ cup sugar<br />
3 tablespoons cider vinegar<br />
1 teaspoon minced garlic<br />
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger<br />
½ teaspoon salt<br />
generous pinch dried hot red pepper flakes<br />
<br />
Cook shallots in oil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, just until berries pop, 10 to 12 minutes, then cool.<br />
<br />
<i>(This makes more chutney than needed for the Stilton Tart. Leftover chutney keeps well for several weeks in refrigerator and is delicious on turkey sandwiches.)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Fig and Blue Cheese Savouries</b><br />
from <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/">Epicurious.com</a><br />
<br />
1 cup all-purpose flour<br />
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature<br />
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled<br />
Freshly ground black pepper<br />
About 3 tablespoons fig preserves<br />
<br />
1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.<br />
<br />
2. Place the flour, butter, blue cheese, and a few grinds of black pepper in the bowl of a food processor and process until the dough just comes together and starts to form a ball.<br />
<br />
3. Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times to pull it together. Then roll out to a 1/8-inch-thick circle with a floured rolling pin. Cut rounds out of the dough with a floured 1-inch round cutter and transfer to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Reroll the scraps (no more than once) and cut more rounds.<br />
<br />
4. Using the back of a rounded 1/2-teaspoon measure or your knuckle, make an indentation in the center of each dough round. Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon of the fig preserves into each indentation, using your finger to push the preserves as best as possible into the indentation.<br />
<br />
5. Bake the savouries until the preserves are bubbling and the pastry is light golden on the bottom, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.<br />
<br />
<b>Cranberry Cups with Warm Butter Sauce</b><br />
from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0960394648/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0960394648&linkCode=as2&tag=weassjour-20"><i>Colorado Collage</i></a> by the Junior League of Denver<br />
<br />
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
½ cup water<br />
½ cup evaporated milk<br />
2 cups flour<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
2 teaspoons baking soda<br />
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed and drained<br />
<br />
Butter Sauce:<br />
½ cup unsalted butter<br />
1¾ cup sugar<br />
1 cup evaporated milk<br />
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 12-cup muffin tin. <br />
<br />
In large bowl cream 3 tablespoons butter and 1 cup sugar until well blended. In a small bowl combine water and ½ cup evaporated milk. Sift together flour, salt and soda. Alternatively add milk mixture and flour mixture to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in cranberries (batter will be stiff).<br />
<br />
Fill prepared muffin cups ¾ full. Bake 20-30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool and remove from muffin tin. (May be prepared up to 1 day in advance. Cool thoroughly, cover and store at room temperature.)<br />
<br />
In heavy saucepan combine ½ cup butter, 1¾ cups sugar, 1 cup evaporated milk and vanilla over medium-high heat. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside. (Sauce may be prepared up to 3 weeks in advance. Cover and chill.)<br />
<br />
Place pudding cups on individual serving plates and top with warmed Butter Sauce.<br />
<br />
<i>I have to put in <a href="http://www.weaselsjourney.com/2012/02/whats-for-dinner-minnesota-wild-rice.html">another plug</a> for my VERY favorite iPhone/iPad app, <a href="http://www.paprikaapp.com">Paprika</a>. I have been slowly importing or manually entering all of the recipes I use into Paprika. There is a free version of the app, but I bought the paid version so that it will keep my recipes synced between my iPhone, iPad and desktop. I typically enter the recipe on my desktop, use the grocery list on it from my iPhone when I'm at the store, and read the recipe on my iPad as I am cooking. Paprika also has a handy email link that I use to send recipes when someone asks for one. Having all of the recipes from this year's Valentine luncheon in Paprika made it an easy task for me to cut and paste them to share here.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paprikaapp.com/"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/6849041853/" title="paprika by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6849041853_e44d8525b5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="paprika"></a></a><br />
<br />
I am not getting paid by Paprika to endorse their app, but I wish I were because I have told so many people about it!</i></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-58390547652343358902013-03-08T09:31:00.000-06:002013-03-08T09:31:00.111-06:00Valentine Luncheon 2013, part III: lunch is served.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490671504/" title="IMG_1030 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8490671504_5c80bfbfce.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1030"></a><br />
<i>Crab Salad, Fragrant Carrot Soup with Cilantro Cream, French bread and heart-shaped pat of butter<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490669916/" title="IMG_1028 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8490669916_975b2c6771.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1028"></a><br />
Living Room guests Elizabeth, Barenda, Wendy, Ellen, Ann and Nelene<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489568791/" title="IMG_1027 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8489568791_5ff08a95d2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1027"></a><br />
Den guests Laura, Page, Carrie, Margaret, Kim, Anne and Lori<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490667786/" title="IMG_1026 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8490667786_15bc861eed.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1026"></a><br />
Breakfast Room guests Heather, Carol, Melissa, Becky and Kathy<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8494264372/" title="IMG_1033 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8494264372_1b403d73e9.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_1033"></a><br />
Dessert: Cranberry Pudding Cups with Butter Sauce (yum)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490677560/" title="IMG_1053 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8490677560_4083cd2190.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1053"></a><br />
These fun friends stayed after lunch to visit: Elizabeth, Carrie, Susan, Laura, me, Anne, Kelly, Becky, Page <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489579823/" title="IMG_1055 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8525/8489579823_d79294d270.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1055"></a><br />
Elizabeth and Carrie with my sweet friend Donna who is usually on the other side of the camera<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489581159/" title="IMG_1057 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8489581159_aee5caa1aa.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1057"></a><br />
My terrific behind the scenes helpers Peter and Hossain<br />
<br />
</i>Stay tuned for recipes</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-81920355601366451772013-03-06T21:21:00.001-06:002013-03-06T21:21:29.685-06:00Valentine Luncheon 2013, part II: my friends.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490650654/" title="IMG_0992 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8088/8490650654_0867026f17.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0992"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490651688/" title="IMG_0993 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8490651688_9110620202.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0993"></a><br />
<i>Guests begin to arrive<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490649228/" title="IMG_0990 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8490649228_95b24aea23.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0990"></a><br />
Still in my Valentine apron with my friends Becky, Susanna and Barenda<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490653262/" title="IMG_0996 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8376/8490653262_30162a5daa.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0996"></a><br />
Ann, Marty and Laura enjoy a glass of Kir Royale (champagne with Cassis liqueur)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490654686/" title="IMG_0997 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8490654686_5b251beb36.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0997"></a><br />
My wonderful neighbors Melissa, Carrie, Anne and Nancy<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490656002/" title="IMG_0998 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8490656002_2aef7dfdc7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0998"></a><br />
Lori, Carol and Karey<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489557137/" title="IMG_1002 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8489557137_2590bdf7db.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1002"></a><br />
Here I am with two of my favorite former neighbors, Page and Heather<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490658786/" title="IMG_1003 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8490658786_c8dce3b960.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1003"></a><br />
and with Cooking Club friends Karey and Ellen<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489561423/" title="IMG_1008 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8370/8489561423_eb291a4302.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1008"></a><br />
Kim, Becky, Kelly and Julie<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490662870/" title="IMG_1010 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8490662870_9cee7e87cd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1010"></a><br />
My former roommates and longtime friends from SMU Elizabeth and Margaret<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489564033/" title="IMG_1016 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8489564033_d8cf049c59.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1016"></a><br />
Offering Becky and Kim an hors d'oeuvres<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489565239/" title="IMG_1018 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8489565239_9b0005b19c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1018"></a><br />
I have a lot of great neighbors! These are Anne and Susan<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489566571/" title="IMG_1023 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8368/8489566571_4cee330b2e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1023"></a><br />
Marty and Nelene</i><br />
<br />
I am blessed with a lot of really wonderful friends!</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-10832576748571046232013-02-20T21:27:00.001-06:002013-02-20T21:27:44.858-06:00Valentine Luncheon 2013: part I.<i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8494232130/" title="IMG_3955 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8494232130_1109b89652.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3955"></a><span style="font-size:medium"><br />
The invitation. Quote from Thomas Jefferson: "Friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489545123/" title="IMG_0980 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8489545123_de12d805fb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0980"></a><br />
My place at the dining room table. This china is called Brittany by Royal Crown Derby. I saw it before I was married on a table set for Valentine's at Gump's. I did not choose it for my wedding china, but it obviously made an impression because I remembered the name of the pattern some 13 years later when I began my annual Valentine luncheon. It had been discontinued but I have bought dinner plates from Replacements.com when they've gone on sale. This silver pattern was my grandmother's and is called Corsage by Stieff. I've added additional pieces from eBay and Replacements, but the pieces that belonged to my grandmother have her monogram on the back. I was named after her so at least the first initial matches mine! My crystal is Waterford Lismore and is the pattern I chose when Robert and I married in 1987 <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8494204610/" title="IMG_3944 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8494204610_f9d6400b70.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3944"></a><br />
Close-up of dining room flowers. I'm not sure the picture fully conveys how exquisite these were. The dusty miller mixed with the roses, tulips and orchids was absolutely beautiful<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8465956995/" title="IMG_3954 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8465956995_8903b1dd2f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3954"></a><br />
Living room table<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489581757/" title="IMG_3946 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8489581757_78c3bc330d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3946"></a><br />
Close-up of living room flowers<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489559963/" title="IMG_1006 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8489559963_fe471e3652.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1006"></a><br />
Den table<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8494221948/" title="IMG_3947 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8494221948_ea1078542a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3947"></a><br />
Close-up of den flowers<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8465955945/" title="IMG_3951 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8465955945_924ab2d5ab.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3951"></a><br />
Breakfast room table. You can barely see it, but this china and silver were ones I chose in 1987: Countryware by Coalport and Gorham Fairfax<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489582505/" title="IMG_3948 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8489582505_49dab1d6ef.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3948"></a><br />
Close-up of breakfast room flowers (I had the florist add some red to this arrangement since I would be using red placemats and glasses in here)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8489536795/" title="IMG_3942 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8489536795_59b0d93fe8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3942"></a><br />
Party favors. My friend Anne-Murray in Birmingham did these for me. Aren't they adorable? Inside are some Valentine chocolates and a little handpainted heart magnet that she cleverly attached to a washer tied with pink ribbon<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8494255446/" title="IMG_1046 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8494255446_3cc242529b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1046"></a><br />
Kitchen counter<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8493161817/" title="IMG_0982 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8493161817_9c8e689c65.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0982"></a><br />
Mantle in the dining room<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8494263182/" title="IMG_0986 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8494263182_2291d16730.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_0986"></a><br />
Corner cupboard<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8494266588/" title="IMG_1048 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8494266588_1fc719f054.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_1048"></a><br />
My mom sent me this pretty heart from Gump's that I hung on my den mantle<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490640722/" title="IMG_0977 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8490640722_795533acfa.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0977"></a><br />
Hors d'oeuvres of Stilton Tart with Cranberry Chutney ready to be served<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8490641854/" title="IMG_0978 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8490641854_f60d13857a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_0978"></a><br />
Becky with the other hors d'oeuvres, Fig and Blue Cheese Savouries. Friends who show up early at my house get put to work!<br />
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***New this year for my luncheon: <br />
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These heart-shaped placecard holders <br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=weassjour-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002PNP6XQ&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
<br />
and these organza table squares (two pink and one red)<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=weassjour-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00972I4G4&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-19583400346477575322013-02-11T19:52:00.000-06:002013-02-11T19:52:21.893-06:00Valentine Luncheon 2013: Sneak peek.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8467051884/" title="IMG_3949 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8467051884_084dd1414f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3949"></a><br />
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Today was my annual Valentine Luncheon. I will post in greater detail once I a)catch my breath and b)get the pictures that my friend Donna took, but I thought I'd show you a few in the meantime.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8465955945/" title="IMG_3951 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8465955945_924ab2d5ab.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3951"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8467052916/" title="IMG_3953 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8467052916_a6c220f86f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3953"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8465956995/" title="IMG_3954 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8465956995_8903b1dd2f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3954"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8467053980/" title="IMG_3956 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8467053980_aef61a8252.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3956"></a><br />
<br />
Happy Valentine's Day!<br />
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</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-41717979119193761032013-01-29T12:24:00.000-06:002013-01-29T12:24:12.416-06:00Vivian plays Santa.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8426649281/" title="Image by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8426649281_5588a5e2e7.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Image"></a><br />
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Vivian's teacher just sent me these sweet pictures of Vivian delivering her Christmas gifts at school last month. I didn't know I'd be posting about them so I neglected to take a picture of the gifts, but they were some cute Christmas votives that I bought at <a href="http://www.bellecose.com/">Belle Cose</a>, a wonderful home decor and kitchen store in Jackson Hole. As you'll see, Vivian has a LOT of teachers so I shop ahead for gifts at Belle Cose's fabulous day-after-Christmas sale every year. I also include a gift card for her main teacher and her two aides. <br />
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I have tremendous admiration and gratitude for these wonderful people who work with Vivian (and indeed for all people who elect to work with students who have special needs).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8426649533/" title="Image 1 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8426649533_eff4082840.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Image 1"></a><br />
<i>Vivian delivers her first gifts to the principal and his assistant (Notice the reindeer gift tag. Vivian LOVES Rudolph; indeed she sees no reason to limit his movie or clothing featuring the famous red-nosed reindeer to the month of December) <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8426649823/" title="Image 2 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8426649823_c14e7cd845.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Image 2"></a><br />
These nurses know Vivian well as they administer her seizure medication at noon every day. They refer to Vivian as their "triage assistant" because she checks on everyone else who's in the clinic that day to see if anyone needs a Band-Aid and to ask if they're okay<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8426650141/" title="Image 3 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8426650141_70b1f04955_n.jpg" width="239" height="320" alt="Image 3"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8426650579/" title="Image 7 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8426650579_9dfcfbaecc_n.jpg" width="239" height="320" alt="Image 7"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8427740052/" title="Image 8 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><br />
<Center><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8427740052_44a31d34e5_n.jpg" width="239" height="320" alt="Image 8"></a><br />
Miss Misty, Miss Shamela and Mr. Carl work with Vivian in the Living Skills room<br />
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</center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8427739612/" title="Image 4 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8427739612_31e55773db.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Image 4"></a><br />
"Ms. B" is Vivian's lead teacher. She is wonderful - so patient and creative in developing new ways to teach and motivate Vivian<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8427739736/" title="Image 5 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8427739736_201f5b1a63.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Image 5"></a><br />
Miss Ruby is one of Vivian's aides - she has a kind heart and quiet, gentle manner<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8426650469/" title="Image 6 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8426650469_dc8fe9c1a2_n.jpg" width="239" height="320" alt="Image 6"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8426650783/" title="Image 9 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8492/8426650783_0e255571d4_n.jpg" width="239" height="320" alt="Image 9"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8427740250/" title="Image 10 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><br />
<Center><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8368/8427740250_7d944e8c94_n.jpg" width="239" height="320" alt="Image 10"></a></center>Mrs. Kemp is truly an angel on Earth. She has worked with Vivian since preschool. Her husband, whom we love dearly as well, was Vivian's aide in middle school</i><br />
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Vivian could not deliver presents in person to her PE and Art teachers because it was finals week at her high school, but as you can tell, Vivian is blessed with many wonderful people who care for her and teach her every day!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8426651009/" title="Image 11 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8426651009_29e1081230.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Image 11"></a></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-83360575637585118762013-01-22T22:18:00.000-06:002013-01-22T22:18:54.841-06:00Having a ball in New Orleans.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407449350/" title="IMG_3866 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8407449350_86be70233b.jpg" width="435" height="500" alt="IMG_3866"></a><br />
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Robert and I went to New Orleans last weekend. I can't possibly put into words what a fabulous time we had, but hopefully these these <s>mediocre iPhone</s> pictures and I can give you a little idea.<br />
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Will is dating a wonderful girl named Page who is from New Orleans. Page's mother and I were friends at SMU. We reconnected at our 25-year reunion a year ago and discovered that we both had kids who were sophomores at TCU. After determining that her daughter and my son did not know each other, we arranged for them to have lunch. They have been dating ever since!<br />
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Last weekend Page was to be a "maid" in a Mardi Gras ball with Will serving as her costumed escort. Page's parents kindly invited Robert and me to be a part of the festivities as their guests and we excitedly accepted.<br />
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I flew to New Orleans on Friday morning. Robert had business in California, so he joined me later in the afternoon. <br />
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Page's mother picked me up at the airport, and we met two sorority sisters of mine who are from New Orleans for lunch at the St. James Cheese Company. I don't know when I have had such a great time catching up with old friends. One of the girls and I hadn't seen each other in almost 27 years, but we laughed and visited like our college days were just yesterday. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406360313/" title="IMG_3823 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8406360313_cb50fff1e5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3823"></a><br />
<i>Me with my friends Molly and Jennifer. Molly and my sister Marian were roommates for several years at SMU<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406359673/" title="IMG_3819 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8365/8406359673_5859f060ab.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3819"></a><br />
My "Ploughman's Lunch" - delicious!</i><br />
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After Robert arrived, he and I dressed for the ball and then we dropped Will off at the New Orleans Convention Center where he would be outfitted with his costume. Will texted me about ten minutes later, "My costume is pink!"<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407451618/" title="IMG_3826 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8407451618_95168f5c3a.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_3826"></a><br />
<i>Ready for the ball!</i><br />
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The ball itself was a fantastic experience. I loved seeing all of the ladies dressed in their beautiful gowns and long white gloves and the men in their <i>costumes de rigeur</i> (essentially tails with white waistcoat, white tie and white gloves). All of the ladies were seated around the dance floor, with the maids' mothers and grandmothers comprising the front row (the men stood at the back of the room). Page's aunt sat next to me and patiently explained the pageantry and protocol to me as I didn't have any idea what was taking place.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407456598/" title="IMG_3834 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8407456598_ffc6ecbc0c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3834"></a><br />
<i>Will and others in costume sat on the floor while the queen and her court were presented<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406362253/" title="IMG_3832 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8406362253_41a12ff91c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3832"></a><br />
Page and her dad<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407453634/" title="IMG_3827 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8407453634_9bed77e195.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3827"></a><br />
The Queen and King (by tradition she is a young lady around 20 and he is an older man)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407454160/" title="IMG_3829 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8407454160_f1dc137b4a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3829"></a><br />
These cute little pages helped carry the Queen's mantle. The woman on the left in the red lace dress was the Queen's mother<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407457338/" title="IMG_3836 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8495/8407457338_9379fb5b0f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3836"></a><br />
Masked man in a pink costume (guess who!) and his lovely maiden, Page</i><br />
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After the presentation there was a time of dancing. Will was given three "favors" by the Krewe and could call out someone to dance with him and present her with one (the favor was a pretty golden pelican pin). He gave his favors to me, Page and Page's mother. Page's mom had also provided Will with some miniature king cakes that he could give to Page's friends so that he could have an opportunity to dance with them.<br />
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Around 10 o'clock the king and queen processed next door to the "Queen's Supper." This was a lively party with a very fun band and a buffet of breakfast food. For this Will changed from his costume into tails. The Queen's Supper was quite a good time!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407457730/" title="IMG_3840 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8407457730_739b690cef.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3840"></a><br />
<i>Robert and Will<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406365075/" title="IMG_3843 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8406365075_6e2aacd2a0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3843"></a><br />
The band was great! At one point the pages got on stage and the singers tried to teach them a few dance moves. It was really cute to watch</i><br />
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The next morning we met Page's family for breakfast at the New Orleans Coffee and Beignet Company across the street from our hotel. Page and Will left soon after to drive back to TCU for the spring semester.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407451954/" title="Image by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8407451954_05a85e96ff.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Image"></a><br />
<i>Will is clearly dressed for a long car ride, not for breakfast!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406365685/" title="IMG_3846 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8406365685_bcd006f50e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3846"></a><br />
New Orleans is famous for its beignets and café au lait - yum!</i><br />
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Robert and I spent the afternoon at the National World War II Museum in the central business district of New Orleans. What a fascinating place! A new pavilion housing WWII aircraft was opening the following day, and we were able to sneak a preview of it. We also really enjoyed the "4-D" movie showing in a theater in the museum. The film presented an overview of WWII that was enhanced with effect such as seats that shook as a tank rumbled across the screen and snow that fell on the viewers during the wintry Battle of the Bulge. The exhibits in the museum were very interesting and well done, with many providing opportunities for multimedia interaction. We were there for the better part of the afternoon (and Robert would likely have stayed much longer had the museum not closed).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406366875/" title="IMG_3851 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8406366875_feb53d9282.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3851"></a><br />
<i>WWII planes displayed inside the new Freedom Pavilion<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407460864/" title="IMG_3857 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8361/8407460864_00824859de.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3857"></a><br />
A World War II veteran visiting the museum<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406368899/" title="IMG_3858 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8406368899_5d6260eb39.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3858"></a><br />
Leaving the museum we drove briefly through the very crowded French Quarter<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406369283/" title="IMG_3859 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8406369283_0445ea2951.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3859"></a><br />
I hopped out to take a picture of the Bourbon Street sign</i><br />
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For dinner Saturday night Page's mom recommended a restaurant in the warehouse district called Annunciation. I'm not sure that bad food even exists in New Orleans, but this was exceptionally good. An added treat was that my cousin Jenna and her husband Don who live near New Orleans were able to join us for dinner. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407464372/" title="IMG_3864 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8407464372_f626d72a9a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3864"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407463732/" title="IMG_3863 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8407463732_ae916f3128.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3863"></a><br />
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On our way to the airport Sunday we stopped for Poor Boy sandwiches at the Parkway Bakery and Tavern. I had the roast beef and Robert had fried shrimp. We definitely did not lack for great food on this trip!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8406372369/" title="IMG_3868 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8406372369_e2fe80714b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3868"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8407466342/" title="IMG_3870 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8407466342_882e4f1146.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3870"></a><br />
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As I told Page's mom, if I lived in New Orleans I would be fat and tired! But, oh, what a wonderful place to visit.</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-51922329216575449552013-01-10T21:04:00.000-06:002013-01-10T21:04:00.488-06:00Anniversary trip to Italy, part VI.<span style="font-size:medium";><i>I inadvertently left out the pictures from the last few days of our trip, so I'm reposting that portion with pictures</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121111865/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8121111865_376fc375bf.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Departing Positano</i><br />
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<b>Thursday, October 18</b><br />
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Robert and I caught the 10:00 boat from Positano to Amalfi town this morning. We wandered briefly around the town square and admired the beautiful neo-Byzantine facade of its church before boarding a bus for Ravello. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121127492/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8121127492_233721aa08.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Arriving in Amalfi Town<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121112371/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8121112371_aff382a34d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121112569/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8121112569_e608b278e8.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Amalfi's church</i><br />
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Ravello is situated some 1000 feet above the sea and is a charming town with fabulous views. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121112687/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8121112687_da52138f36.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121128294/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8121128294_05cf60977c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121128448/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8470/8121128448_4a1d93c61e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
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We walked through its church and past the ruins of the Villa Rufolo to the beautiful expansive gardens of the Villa Cimbrone. The "Terrace of Infinity" on the Villa Cimbrone's grounds afforded an especially magnificent view, and we also enjoyed the various smaller gardens with their little statues and lush vegetation. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121113231/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8121113231_1d374da8c0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>The lovely Terrace of Infinity at Villa Cimbrone<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121113427/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8121113427_15b2de3070.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
I liked this inscription at Mercury's Seat on the grounds of Villa Cimbrone. It is D.H. Lawrence's version of a poem by Cattalus dating back to 60 B.C.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121113591/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8121113591_868fca29e4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
View from Villa Cimbrone<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121113783/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8121113783_f58c4e40a0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Lovely little statue of David in the gardens at Villa Cimbrone (well, lovely except for Goliath's head at his feet)</i><br />
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We caught a bus back down the mountain to Amalfi. Before boarding our boat back to Positano we stopped for some very tasty gelato at the Gelateria Porto Salvo on the main square. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121129302/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8121129302_f7109bb09e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>School bus in Amalfi town<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121114125/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8195/8121114125_9510f18dd4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Stopping for gelato<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121114385/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8121114385_509fc3c1df.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Yum!</i><br />
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The boat ride along the Amalfi Coast was beautiful. The towns were lovely to view from the sea, and it was fun to look up at where we'd hiked the day before. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121114859/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8121114859_8661d1eaf9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
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Upon arriving back in Positano, we climbed the steps from the beach up to the Hotel Marincanto. As we passed the hotel pool, Robert and I remarked to each other, "That looks fabulous!" so we spent the afternoon relaxing at the pool enjoying a Bellini and snacking on some delicious olives. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121130466/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8121130466_156f05d7e1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>La dolce vita!</i><br />
<br />
We had booked dinner reservations at a restaurant called La Tagliata that was high on the mountain above Positano in a town called Montepertuso. The restaurant sent a bus to pick us up at our hotel. We met a nice couple on the bus from St Louis and decided to eat dinner with them. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121115389/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8121115389_957a88fef9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Waiting for our bus. I liked the gas station tucked into the curve across the street from our hotel<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121131088/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8121131088_00a0b5b859.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
La Tagliata<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121131002/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8121131002_11019b3587.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
With our new friends Mary Lee and Mark</i><br />
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La Tagliata serves everything family-style, and they bring a huge selection of food to the table (you don't order; they serve everyone the same selections). There must have been eight or ten antipasto dishes, four pastas, five or six grilled meats and four desserts in addition to wine! Everything was delicious, and we ate way too much. Midway through our meal a lady broke out a microphone and regaled us with some Italian music. We also enjoyed a great visit with our new friends from St Louis. All in all a fun and memorable evening!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121115539/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8121115539_03d997f389.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Pasta course - so good!</i><br />
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<b>Friday, October 19</b><br />
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Robert and I enjoyed one last breakfast on the lovely terrace at the Hotel Marincanto before departing for Rome. The hotel had arranged for a driver to take us to the Naples train station where a fast train for Rome leaves every hour. We hit terrible traffic in Naples but were able to catch the 11:50 train which got us to Rome right at 1:00. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121115955/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8121115955_9369b6e69b.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Mt. Vesuvius</i><br />
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We took a taxi from Rome's Termini train station to the Albergo del Senato and checked in for our last night in Italy. Our room was #212 (handy because it was the same number as our room in Positano and it had taken me three days to learn to say that in Italian!). This room was smaller and did not have a view of the Pantheon like our previous room, but it looked out onto a pretty courtyard and was still quite lovely.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121117423/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8121117423_dab293a84c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
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Amanda Ruggeri, on her <a href="http://www.revealedrome.com/">Revealed Rome</a> website, highly recommended Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini, as a very cool, cutting-edge ancient underground site. TripAdvisor.com also cited Le Domus as the #1 attraction in Rome. Intrigued, I decided we needed to see it for ourselves. The English tours were sold out for the first weekend we were in Rome, but I managed to buy two tickets for the 2:30 tour today.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121131424/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8121131424_7c5a3a8f57.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<br />
The tour began in a tiny office inside the courtyard of the Palazzo Valentini, which serves as the government offices of the province of Rome and is located just around the corner from Trajan's Column and the Vittorio Emmanuel Monument. The ruins of two incredibly opulent, Imperial Roman villas were discovered beneath the Palazzo when officials attempted to build a parking garage there several years ago. <br />
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Our guide led us down stairs of plexiglass situated several feet above an ancient staircase. We stopped in a room that had been used as a steam bath in one of the villas. As we stood on a clear floor above the ruins, a recorded voice described various aspects of the chamber while lights illuminated different areas to direct our attention and to recreate what different portions of the room would have looked like. In one room with a beautiful mosaic floor, the intact section was highlighted first, then a computer generated the rest of the floor as well as the walls, so we could picture exactly how the room appeared in ancient times. It was really neat! The tour continued through several rooms of both villas and finished with an explanation of some current excavations being done around Trajan's Column. The multimedia presentations were incredibly interesting and effective, and Robert and I both enjoyed this experience. I wish someone would duplicate it for all of the ruins in Rome!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356166383/" title="ITALY-ROME-ARCHAEOLOGY-MULTIMEDIA by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8356166383_c2f82f71d5.jpg" width="500" height="268" alt="ITALY-ROME-ARCHAEOLOGY-MULTIMEDIA"></a><br />
<i>You're not allowed to take pictures inside the exhibit, but I found this one on their website which gives you an idea of the plexiglass floor above the ruins</i><br />
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We left Le Domus around 4 and walked back to the Albergo del Senato. I stopped in a culinary shop to buy some food items to take home as gifts and souvenirs before retreating to the hotel rooftop to write postcards and work on my trip report (with my requisite Bellini and a bowl of olives). Meanwhile Robert relaxed in the Piazza della Rotunda in front of our hotel.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121131602/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8121131602_26b8aa6aeb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>On our way back to our hotel we passed these Roman schoolchildren on an outing<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121116435/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8121116435_03a189b4d8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Wonderful food shop near our hotel. I bought several bottles of balsamic vinegar as well as some truffle, olive and pepper spreads. Of course I also sampled a lot of items!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121116631/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8121116631_6be06eb664.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
My view from the hotel rooftop - ah!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356202675/" title="photo-90 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8356202675_2cd182f8b5.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="photo-90"></a><br />
The view from Robert's chair</i><br />
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For our last dinner in Italy we ate at Ristorante Santa Cristina al Quirinale. My Aunt Martha had told me this was her favorite restaurant in Rome, and I would say it was our best overall meal of the trip (that's saying a lot because we ate very well everywhere we went). <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121116989/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8121116989_f65043a235.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Ristorante Santa Cristina al Quirinale</i><br />
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Robert and I shared a "mezzo" (half-liter) of the house red wine and a first course of mushrooms stuffed with various cheeses. For his entrée Robert had a filet in peppercorn sauce that was fabulous, and for mine I ordered an absolutely delicious penne pasta with a tomato vodka sauce. We also enjoyed a side of very tasty grilled vegetables. A neighboring table ordered an apple torta for dessert that looked extremely tempting, but Robert and I decided we needed one last cup of gelato, so we took a leisurely stroll through the Piazza Navona and stopped at Frigidarium before returning to our hotel to pack.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121132368/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8121132368_2afceae5d3.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Our dinner</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121116819/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8121116819_2ac06d8994.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<br />
<b>Saturday, October 20</b><br />
<br />
Robert arose early to run around the streets of Rome, while I slept a little longer and then took a quick stroll in an effort to drink in as much of Rome's beauty as possible before our impending departure. We enjoyed breakfast in Albergo del Senato's pretty morning room before a driver picked us up to take us to the airport.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121117601/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8121117601_017df042be.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Inside the Pantheon - so empty this early in the morning!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121132974/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8121132974_07472077c2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Looking out from inside the Pantheon</i><br />
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What a wonderful trip this was! Each time I try to name my favorite part (the Path of the Gods, the Arco Naturale in Capri, the underground tour at the Colosseum), I remember at least as many other highlights (the Vermeer exhibit, Le Domus, dinner with Aunt Paula and Uncle Terry, gelato, the afternoon at the pool in Positano). <br />
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Robert and I are already plotting our next trip to Italy. Anyone care to join us?</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-35132151317778762822013-01-08T23:51:00.000-06:002013-01-08T23:51:00.326-06:001962: It was a very good year, part II.<span style="font-size:medium"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8357066190/" title="RobertCharles by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8357066190_ab95b85db6.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="RobertCharles"></a><br />
<br />
Last month my husband Robert and his twin brother, Charles, turned 50! <br />
<br />
My friend Kim had written a post on her blog, <a href="http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/">3 Peanuts</a>, about the 50th birthday party she had thrown for her husband where she'd hired a taco truck. I thought that sounded like such a fun idea for party, so I pitched the concept to my sister-in-law and we planned a similar event for our husbands!<br />
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Our weather in Dallas was unseasonably warm in early December, which I usually don't like at all for Christmastime, but for our party it was fabulous. Our guests were able to eat and mingle outside, and it really made for a fun time. <br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/taco.party.at.dallas">taco truck</a> was a HUGE hit. So many people commented on what a great idea that was (thanks, Kim!), and the food was delicious. The truck offered seven different varieties of tacos from steak, shrimp, chicken and brisket to veggie. We also had a margarita machine in addition to Cokes and beer.<br />
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We had a great turnout of friends and family, and Robert and Charles seemed to really enjoy the party. I think it made the idea of turning 50 a lot more palatable!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8350650795/" title="IMG_3642 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8350650795_ff80d88f82.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3642"></a><br />
<i>The taco truck pulled into our backyard and set up on our driveway<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8350653067/" title="IMG_3645 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8350653067_8eecc02355.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3645"></a><br />
Tacos were made to order as the guests selected the ones they wanted<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8351718142/" title="IMG_3646 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8351718142_4d6e25bab5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3646"></a><br />
Looking back toward our house. The margarita machine was behind the ferns on our back porch. Coolers with the other drinks were on the left hand side of the porch<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8351715814/" title="IMG_3643 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8351715814_d2627f0b01.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3643"></a><br />
We set up tables in our carport and on the driveway. Here Dots enjoys her tacos while visiting with her cousins Owen and Hollis<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8351719994/" title="IMG_4724 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8351719994_d7bd6ede15.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4724"></a><br />
Robert strung lights across our driveway which added to the festive atmosphere<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8351720906/" title="IMG_4731 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8351720906_0b95e37c29.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4731"></a><br />
Charles and Robert with their longtime friend and fraternity brother David and his wife Kelly<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8350657713/" title="IMG_4753 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8350657713_e7fde64e5e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4753"></a><br />
Me with our friends Reid, Andy and Ann<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8350658611/" title="IMG_4754 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8350658611_c2ac656425.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4754"></a><br />
Tacos - yum!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8350659237/" title="IMG_4757 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8083/8350659237_cd06f7c46e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4757"></a><br />
My parents drove in for the party. Here my mom visits with my friends Marty and Russ. Notice the darling centerpieces that my sister-in-law Patti made! She decoupaged old pictures all over white boxes and then placed a plant with some black tissue paper inside<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8350660193/" title="IMG_4763 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8350660193_be8392849f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4763"></a><br />
Singing "Happy Birthday" to Robert and Charles<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8350655079/" title="IMG_4706 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8350655079_d95f8af78c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4706"></a><br />
Close-up of Robert's cake. I ordered the cakes from <a href="http://www.societybakery.com/">Society Bakery</a> (one was red velvet and one was spice). They were so good!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8351724750/" title="IMG_4774 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8351724750_7f4f2fd89f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4774"></a><br />
The birthday boys with their proud mother<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8351726108/" title="IMG_4776 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8351726108_5abcf0686f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_4776"></a><br />
Our house decorated for the big birthday (and Christmas)</i></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-20822198568540527552013-01-06T23:28:00.000-06:002013-01-22T22:22:14.658-06:001962: It was a very good year, part I.<span style="font-size:medium"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356974608/" title="Mom and Dad Wedding Picture by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8356974608_b16986b0bf.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt="Mom and Dad Wedding Picture"></a><i><br />
August 18, 1962, Vidalia Methodist Church, Vidalia, Georgia<br />
**As one astute commenter noticed, I wore my mother's gown when I got married (see <a href="http://www.weaselsjourney.com/2012/06/silver-anniversary.html">this post</a>)</i><br />
<br />
Back in November my parents had a party to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. A lot of family and friends flew in from around the country to attend, and we had a wonderful time that evening.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356973860/" title="Biba Christmas Card 2012-1 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8356973860_825b9d7a38.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="Biba Christmas Card 2012-1"></a><br />
<i>Family portrait taken before the party. Vivian cooperated for all of about 10 seconds before falling down and rolling on the ground. The photographer was able to get a picture of Vivian by herself later and photoshop it in!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355641087/" title="DSC_4152-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8355641087_c7a9c5b3b4.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4152-M"></a><br />
Will with his cousins Matt, Jed and Henry<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356704328/" title="DSC_4156-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8356704328_74a47f59ed.jpg" width="298" height="450" alt="DSC_4156-M"></a><br />
Will and Dots<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355641239/" title="DSC_4192-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8355641239_14693b8f8a.jpg" width="298" height="450" alt="DSC_4192-M"></a><br />
Vivian and Robert (Vivian went back to my mom and dad's house after the picture - she can't handle being at a party with so many people - too much sensory overload for her)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356704470/" title="DSC_4196-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8356704470_3e549c3dd3.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4196-M"></a><br />
Me with Will and Dots<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356704530/" title="DSC_4220-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8356704530_b0b7e11417.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4220-M"></a><br />
My dad and mom<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355641457/" title="DSC_4243-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8355641457_95fc116c8f.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4243-M"></a><br />
Anniversary cake and cupcakes with pictures and clippings from the wedding in the background<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355957965/" title="DSC_4250-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8355957965_4eb514c46b.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4250-M"></a><br />
Dots, Will's friend Page, Will, my Aunts Nancy and Martha and me<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356705544/" title="DSC_4303-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8356705544_fac99364e7.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4303-M"></a><br />
My niece Guinn - she celebrated her 16th birthday the weekend of the party and my dad made a toast to her<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356705610/" title="DSC_4343-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8356705610_caa2fa36a3.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4343-M"></a><br />
Cousins out on the dance floor - the disc jockey played a lot of great music<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355642569/" title="DSC_4345-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8355642569_995bb117f1.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4345-M"></a><br />
My mom and her three sisters dancing to </i>We are Family<i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355642645/" title="DSC_4348-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8355642645_dc8dd336d1.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4348-M"></a><br />
My sister and me with our girl cousins. We had such a great time together that weekend!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355958033/" title="DSC_4289-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8355958033_0cba49ec01.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4289-M"></a><br />
Me with my Aunt Judy and Uncle Frank<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356705812/" title="DSC_4430-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8356705812_1fc4171d60.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4430-M"></a><br />
Nine of our twelve cousins on my dad's side came in from the party from Georgia, Louisiana, Connecticut, Delaware and Texas<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356150369/" title="DSC_4419-M by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8356150369_e158e513a8.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_4419-M"></a><br />
My dad with his two brothers (my Uncle Terry and Uncle Rod) and his sister (my Aunt Chris)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356706508/" title="IMG_3595 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8356706508_d555fedfc0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3595"></a><br />
My sister and brother and I hosted a brunch at my brother and sister-in-law's house the next morning for all of the out-of-town family and friends (I use the term "I hosted" very loosely as I didn't do anything but allow my name to be on the invitation!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355644439/" title="IMG_3597 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8355644439_7052426933.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3597"></a><br />
Dots, Will and Page<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356708842/" title="IMG_3598 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8356708842_b6c89cda19.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3598"></a><br />
Me with my cousins Susan, Wendy and Jenna<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355647319/" title="IMG_3602 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8355647319_a3903f963a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3602"></a><br />
Vivian enjoying her fruit<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8356711402/" title="IMG_3625 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8356711402_91b7760064.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3625"></a><br />
Will and Dots with their cousin Mary Grace<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8355648973/" title="IMG_0598 by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8355648973_1d50d99d6b_n.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0598"></a><br />
Vivian and me</i><br />
</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-86237142895876307262012-12-18T13:24:00.001-06:002012-12-18T13:24:02.572-06:00Run, run as fast as you can!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aFcMJPSSGz8/UNDBYMdr5BI/AAAAAAAAAr8/5il_aG-CxXI/s1600/IMG_3666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aFcMJPSSGz8/UNDBYMdr5BI/AAAAAAAAAr8/5il_aG-CxXI/s400/IMG_3666.JPG" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size:medium">Frantically trying to finish writing cards, wrapping gifts and baking cookies. Be back soon!<br />
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Merry Christmas!</span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-79815500994328624942012-12-01T14:30:00.000-06:002013-01-07T00:32:18.145-06:00Anniversary trip to Italy, part V.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121106681/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8121106681_5f085d4ca3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Breakfast at the Hotel Marincanto</i><br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday, October 17</b><br />
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We woke up early and enjoyed a good breakfast on the terrace before meeting our guide, Lucy, and setting off to hike the Sentiero degli Dei or "Path of the Gods." Another client of Lucy's, Megan from Melbourne, Australia, met us on the bus from Positano to Bomerano. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121122248/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8121122248_b57bbaf67e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>We're aboard a SITI bus exactly like the one we're attempting to pass - not for the faint of heart (like me)<br />
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Robert, Megan and Lucy - we alit at this little snack shop to wait for a different bus that would take us to Bomerano<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121123334/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8121123334_7d29e9a2ba.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Bomerano</i><br />
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In Bomerano we stopped at several tiny shops for Lucy to purchase provisions for our lunch: fresh meats, cheeses and pastries, then we set off for the trail. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121107113/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8121107113_3e4462279e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Lucy selecting rolls and other goodies at the bakery<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121107311/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8121107311_70755a0c96.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Look at the cute little Halloween cookies!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121123024/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8121123024_28c541d1cd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
The butcher/cheese shop<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121107763/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8121107763_79d055061b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Fresh yogurt - this was so good!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121108089/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8121108089_9a1f7990a8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Trailhead</i> <br />
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What a fabulous walk this was! The path is set high above the coastline and affords breathtaking views of the sea and the towns that comprise the Amalfi Coast. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121108405/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8121108405_dd876b1513.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Starting out on the hike<br />
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Horse corral set way up in the mountains<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121108829/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8121108829_17e41480c5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Doesn't this horse have a lovely view?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121124658/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8121124658_b515182559.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Ruins of a house along the Path of the Gods<br />
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Spectacular scenery abounds!<br />
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Robert, Lucy and me<br />
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Robert, Megan and Lucy<br />
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A delightful setting for our picnic feast</i><br />
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We walked almost 8 kilometers in about 4 hours, including our picnic lunch; it would have been a lot faster if we hadn't stopped so often to take pictures of the spectacular scenery! The trail was not difficult, but there was a bit of up and down and a few places where we had to scramble up and over a hill. (By walking the section from Bomerano to Nocello we bypassed the 1700 steps from Praiano up to Bomerano and the 2000 steps from Nocello down to Positano.) We returned from Nocello to Positano via a small local bus and bid a fond farewell to Megan and Lucy. <br />
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Lucy was a great guide, providing a lot of information on plants we passed as well as on the history of the area. We also really enjoyed the company of our new Australian friend, Megan. Robert and I both cited walking the Path of the Gods as our single favorite thing we did on this trip.<br />
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We changed for dinner and the walked a ways through the winding streets of Positano to have dinner at Mediterraneo. What an entertaining meal this was! Pietro serenaded the restaurant guests with his guitar, and Lorenzo, our waiter, also sang along as he flitted from kitchen to table. The songs were cheesy Italian favorites like <i>Volare</i> and <i>That's Amore</i>, but the experience was great fun and we stayed much later than we intended. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121111589/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8121111589_282069ae95.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Pietro at Mediterraneo<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121111677/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8121111677_74393c1e9c.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Lorenzo and Pietro serenading me</i></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-56132169282344992212012-11-26T17:39:00.002-06:002012-11-26T17:41:45.839-06:00Anniversary trip to Italy, part IV.<span style="font-size:medium";><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121116170/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8121116170_f77780ed8a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<br />
<b>Tuesday, 16 October</b><br />
<br />
We awoke to a gloriously sunny day. The view from our balcony was breathtaking: the sea was now a beautiful shade of blue and the lush vegetation and white buildings were much more vibrant than they'd appeared in yesterday's haze. <br />
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<i>View looking to the right from our balcony</i><br />
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The hotel offered a fabulous breakfast on the upstairs terrace. In addition to the usual selections of delicious meats, cheeses and pastries, La Minerva served freshly squeezed juices and prepared eggs to order. <br />
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<i>View from breakfast {sigh}<br />
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This was my favorite breakfast buffet of our trip. The dark cake was "Torta Caprese," and it had <u>Caprese</u> stenciled in powdered sugar on top<br />
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In the glass was homemade ricotta - delicious!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121101391/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8121101391_a3189b3e86.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
One more lovely view from Hotel La Minerva</i><br />
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Antonino at the front desk suggested a walk from our hotel to the Arco Naturale (Natural Arch) that wound along the sea past Capri's iconic Faraglioni Rocks, three jagged spurs that rise dramatically out of the water. In delightful contrast to our adventure yesterday, this walk followed a well-established path. There were quite a few stairs, but the views were spectacular; we especially liked the Arco Naturale. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121101571/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8121101571_9d58b3a015.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Looking up at where we hiked yesterday - the electrical tower on the top right<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121117244/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8121117244_c07889aa01.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
The Arco Naturale - truly lovely!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121101893/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8121101893_2b76e59748.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Looking through the Arco Naturale<br />
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Self-portrait - we were the only ones around - quite a treat!<br />
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An old cave along the path<br />
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Stairs and more stairs!<br />
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Spectacular views<br />
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Robert took this to show Will, our TCU Horned Frog<br />
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Capri's iconic Faraglioni Rocks<br />
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Magnificent views every way we looked<br />
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Robert trying to capture one of the views!<br />
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Another self-portrait<br />
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GPS map of our morning walk<br />
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Another glance up at where we hiked the night before</i><br />
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As the path entered Capri Town we stopped for delicious, if expensive and tiny, cups of lemon granita, a frozen slushy drink. We returned to our hotel to retrieve my coat and handbags (our suitcases had been sent earlier to the port via the mysterious porters). <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121119668/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8121119668_b451d6cf2e.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Enjoying my granita<br />
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The Piazetta in Capri Town</i><br />
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We hoped to take the chairlift to Mount Solaro but arrived in Anacapri with only enough time to snap a few pictures before needing to take a taxi back to the Marina Grande to catch our 1:50 boat to Sorrento.<br />
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I was very sad to bid farewell to Capri as I found it a beautiful and magical place. We wished we had had more time and definitely hope to return some day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121120736/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8121120736_dd1c5a09ea.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Capri's Marina Grande</i><br />
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Robert and I planned to take a fast ferry from Capri to Positano, but Antonino at our hotel informed us that the boats between those two ports were not running due to high waves. He advised us to catch a boat to Sorrento instead and he arranged for a driver to meet us there.<br />
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The journey from Capri to Sorrento only took 20 minutes so perhaps I didn't have adequate time to get seasick, but the water didn't seem terribly rough to me. Gian Paulo was waiting for us near our point of disembarkment, and we climbed in his car for the half-hour drive to Positano. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121120924/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8121120924_8da532c349.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Passing through Sorrento en route to Positano</i><br />
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The highway between the towns on the Amalfi Coast was like the Capri road on steroids. Enormous buses loaded with cruise ship passengers took hairpin turns that seemed to me would be challenging even in a Mini Cooper. Just imagine when two such buses met on a road scarcely big enough for one of them! I think I covered my eyes at least half of the way to Positano. Later Robert told me our driver while texting sometimes while he navigated! Oh, my, I'm glad I only knew that after we'd arrived safely. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121121028/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8121121028_ffa0b9e7b8.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>The road along the Amalfi Coast<br />
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No idea how we got past this truck. I'm pretty certain Robert took this picture while I covered my eyes</i><br />
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Positano is a picturesque little town built into the side of a mountain right on the coast. We wound around its tiny streets quite a while before arriving at our destination, the Hotel Marincanto. <br />
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At the street level the hotel only has a car park and a little structure housing an elevator. Robert and I took the elevator four stories down to the reception area, which was adjacent to a lovely patio overlooking the sea where we also ate breakfast every morning. We checked into our room, #212 (duo cento dodici), which featured a little balcony overlooking the sea and a nice patio with a view of the town.<br />
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<i>Our room at the Marincanto<br />
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Positano as viewed from our balcony</i><br />
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For dinner we ventured into town and down a pedestrian walkway near the beach to a restaurant called Lo Guarracino. We had a nice meal on their deck. I especially liked the linguini limone that I ordered; the sauce was really light and fresh. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121106481/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8121106481_cc8296449c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Our dinner at Lo Guarracino - I'd love to know how to make Linguini Limone like this</i></span>Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730920026876902816.post-36867755683179650692012-11-15T09:16:00.001-06:002012-11-15T09:16:51.450-06:00Anniversary trip to Italy, part III.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121111368/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8121111368_d0a7824d19.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
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<i>The Pantheon and Colosseum in the early morning when Robert left to run</i><br />
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<b>Monday, 15 October</b><br />
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I had read an article in the <i>NY Times</i> about a chapel in the Roman Forum called Santa Maria Antiqua that had been closed to the public since 1980 and had recently gone through extensive restoration of its Byzantine frescoes which date back to the 7th century. In early October it reopened to limited numbers of tours for just a few weeks and only on weekday mornings. I booked slots for us at the only time we could go (today at 9:30), though unfortunately the tour at that time was only in Italian! We walked to the forum in the rain and enjoyed seeing the frescoes (it was especially interesting to watch the restorations in progress that morning - what painstakingly tedious work), but I can't say that I know any more about Santa Maria Antiqua than I did before we went because we could not understand one word of our tour!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121096585/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8121096585_132ae36f3c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>Robert awaiting our tour of Santa Maria Antiqua (the chapel itself is around the corner to the right)<br />
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Exterior of Santa Maria Antiqua - the roof and exterior windows have been added to protect the interior<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121096883/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8121096883_e2f5b23689.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Ongoing renovations - this was fascinating to watch<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121097137/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8121097137_0569ce4f12.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Our tour guide - no idea what she was telling us!<br />
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Beautiful restored frescoes<br />
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Robert by the Temple of Castor and Pollux inside the Roman Forum<br />
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Trajan's Column</i><br />
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Leaving the Roman Forum, we returned to our hotel to retrieve our bags and catch a taxi to Termini, Rome's main train station. Termini was a zoo, perhaps because there had been a strike by the railroad the previous day. The "fast ticket" machines were malfunctioning for everyone, not just American tourists, so it took us much longer than expected to purchase our tickets. We climbed aboard a nonstop train to Naples and found our seats with only a few minutes to spare, but in just over an hour we were in Naples. <br />
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<i>View from the train</i><br />
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As we climbed into a waiting taxi, a heated shouting match erupted between our driver and another, accented by lots of Italian hand gestures. I never figured out what the fuss was about, but I gathered that either the driver or I had jumped the taxi queue. Yikes. The area around the Naples train station was as gritty and garbage-strewn as I recalled, so I was none too sorry to be away from there. Our taxi took us to the Beverello port where we caught a hydrofoil for Capri. The waves were very choppy and I was glad to have an empty seat next to me to lay my head on to ward off seasickness. After about 45 minutes on the boat, we arrived in a light drizzle to the lovely island of Capri. <br />
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<i>Approaching Capri</i><br />
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Porters greeted us and took our suitcases, asking for our hotel name but offering no receipt. I had read that this was how the system worked, so we left our bags and made our way to the dock. <br />
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A nearby funicular transports people from the main harbor (Marina Grande) to the town of Capri. We purchased tickets and climbed on board one of its little cars. (Several people on our funicular struggled to lug heavy suitcases up stairs and onto the car; I don't think they trusted the porter system!) In less than five minutes we alighted and walked the short distance to the Piazza Umberto I, known as "La Piazetta."<br />
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<i>Funicular</i><br />
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The day was rainy and overcast, so although I could tell the view from La Piazetta was lovely, it was far from spectacular. I liked, however, that most of the streets in Capri were pedestrian-only and that on the main road the cars were primarily taxis and skinny buses. <br />
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We wound our way down charming cobbled streets past exclusive shops with very fashionable window displays to our hotel, La Minerva. Antonino and Marco welcomed us warmly, and, lo and behold, our suitcases had beaten us to the hotel. Marco showed us to our room, which was bright and lovely with a beautiful blue tile floor and a spectacular view of the Mediterranean. <br />
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The lovely lobby of La Minerva<br />
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Balcony off our room<br />
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Our room at La Minerva</i><br />
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After we settled in for a bit, Robert and I walked back to La Piazetta and caught a bus to the neighboring town of Anacapri. The road that connects Capri Town and Anacapri is very narrow and extremely steep and winding. When two buses pass, they are so close to each other that it seems unbelievable that they don't touch! In addition, the road is carved into the side of a cliff, so the entire drive is quite hair-raising. <br />
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Anacapri has a chair lift that takes riders to the top of Mount Solaro, the highest point on the island. When we arrived at 5:15, however, the lift was closed. I had read that it was possible to walk to the top of the peak, so blissfully heedless of the increasing precipitation and impending nightfall, we set off down a pathway behind the chairlift. <br />
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For about 20 minutes we walked upward along a decent, recognizable path. There was not a clear moment where we realized we had left the trail, but at some point we were clearly bush-whacking and what appeared every so often to be a path was likely a trail used only by mountain goats! Rain was now falling steadily, but Robert and I continued upward, thinking that if we could just make it to the peak, surely we would find a better path down the hill. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaselsjourney/8121114654/" title="Untitled by weaselpm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8121114654_4ae808becd.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<i>The town of Anacapri viewed from our hike up</i><br />
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When we finally reached the top, we discovered it was a ridge with a fairly steep drop-off on the other side. The views looking out over the island were spectacular; even with limited visibility we could see the towns of Capri and Anacapri and the sea beyond. However, no human path was anywhere in sight, there was no sign of the chairlift, indeed, there was no indication other than a cell tower that people had ever even ventured up to that ridge! By now our shoes and clothes were soaked and it was nearly dark, but Robert remained calm and reassured me that getting down would be much faster and easier than going up had been. <br />
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<i>Self-portrait at the top - eek!<br />
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View of Capri town from the top - the harbor where we arrived is to the left</i><br />
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We walked along the ridge until we thought we could see the way the goats traveled down. We then set off through the brush and worked our way slowly down the steep hill. About an hour and a half after we had started on this ill-conceived walk, we arrived back at a gravel road. Robert and I high-fived and celebrated the rest of the way back to Anacapri and then caught a bus back to Capri Town where we were decidedly the least fashionable pair ever to set foot in La Piazetta. <br />
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We barely made it back to our hotel in time to shower and change for dinner. Following the GPS on my iPhone, we walked up one steep street after another to a restaurant called Lo Sfizio. I had read many reports that the restaurants in Capri were overpriced and mediocre, but Lo Sfizio was purported to be an inexpensive local favorite. Robert and I enjoyed a great meal of fresh bruschetta, caprese salad, pizza and seafood pasta. We were surprised to hear someone say, "Hello, Mr and Mrs Meachum" because we knew no one else on the island, and we looked up to find Marco from our hotel dining next to us with his girlfriend. After two complimentary glasses of ice cold limoncello (the local specialty liqueur), we returned to our room where we slept really well!<br />
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<i>Enjoying dinner and a glass of wine at Lo Sfizio<br />
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Caprese Salad - look at those beautiful tomatoes!<br />
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My Pasta Frutti di Mare<br />
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Toasting our adventure!</i></span><br />
Eloisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08974737894674278154noreply@blogger.com5