Here Comes The Sun

Sunrise By the Washington Monument

Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

~The Beatles

How are you doing now that we are on Daylight Savings Time?

 

Yeah!!! I'm so glad it's here!!  Winter seemed to have so many fits and starts this year -- chilly, snow then warmth, then cold again -- I think we really deserve to have Spring and a longer day finally arrive.

 

It was hard to roll out of bed Monday morning, having lost an hour and still recovering from my fall at the gas station, but I think the trade off is worth it.  A longer day means more daylight and that's a good thing because light affects my mood and maybe yours too.

 

When I leave my office building in the winter and it's already dark, that is a real downer for me.  It just doesn't feel right for it to get dark at 4:30 pm or 5 pm.  It means that it's dark when I go to work and dark when I leave work.  I do leave my office and go outside during the day either to go to run an errand or get lunch, but that's not enough. 

 

I love the longer days of spring and summer.  I just feel lighter and brighter and full of possibility.  Most people feel a surge of energy from sunlight.  The warmth and brightness of the light lifts your mood and makes you feel good and ready to take on some new projects: gardening, painting or just putting away the winter coats, boots and blankets.

So, as the Beatles would say, bask in the bright light little darling.
 

Bring On The Margaritas



Courtesy of Coastal Living

It's almost Halloween yet yesterday's temperature here in Washington, DC hit 80 degrees.

It is so hard to stay at my desk and work at the computer when I would rather go outside and take advantage of the incredible weather.  It's so hard not to leave my office and jump in the car and drive to the beach and enjoy the warmth of the sun and the sand between my bare toes.

Flip flops, T-shirts and shorts, don't give up hope.  I am not packing you away yet!!

Beach On!!

Remembering Sept. 11th

One of the reflecting pools at the
 World Trade Center memorial site in New York City

Eleven years ago today, on the crisp and clear autumn morning of September 11, 2001 in New York City and Washington, DC, people went about the business of getting ready to lead their lives.

 

In both cities, people were unaware of the destruction ahead.  People said good-bye to their loved ones and left for work.  They started another day in the one place where they wanted to do their jobs and raise their families.

 

But it was not to be.  Almost 3,000 people died from the terrorist attacks and through the powerful recollections of those who did survive, we come together today as a nation and remember and recollect the unique paths of those who gave their lives on this tragic day.  We honor their memories and pray for their souls.  Today has become a national day of service and community service activities planned for today include writing thank you notes to veterans and military families, collecting coats for the homeless and building houses.

We thank God that we got to know them even if it was a short period of time.

 

In particular, September 11th showed me in the most graphic way possible that life really and truly can change instantly and in ways you never imagined.  While you want to believe and need to believe that you will see someone again, you can't count on that happening.  If there is something you want to tell someone you must say it when you feel it.  If you admire someone, if you like someone, if you are thankful to someone or you love someone, make sure they know it.

 

Go out of your way today and please make sure that the people you care about know that they improve your life, bring joy to your life, and that they are special to you.

Happy 100th Birthday Julia Child!



Courtesy of Smithsonian Magazine

"I think every woman should have a blowtorch."

"Always start out with a larger pot than you think you need."

"I would rather eat one tablespoon of chocolate russe cake than three bowls of Jell-O."

Only one woman could have said all three of these fabulously witty things and that is Julia Child!

Child, the infamous American chef who also worked as a spy for the U.S. government during World War II, would have turned 100 today (she died in 2004) and restaurants from coast to coast are celebrating her landmark birthday by offering special parties and menus.

Child was truly an original and had a zest for life that was contagious.  I write about her today not only because of her extraordinary birthday but also because she served as an uplifting example of a woman who had tremendous resilience.  She suffered many disppointments in her personal life but she never let it get her down.  She forged on and became the author of many books and the energetic cooking teacher we know and love.

Personally, I have found that sometimes cooking can mentally take you out of yourself when you are in the midst of trying to figure out what life has handed you and in turn, the mixing, the measuring, and the spontaneous chemistry of cooking can go along way in creating harmony and healing in your beat-up soul.  Plus, you could end up with a great meal!

Speaking of great meals, last week I celebrated Julia Child's birthday a little early with three of my very good friends (VGF's).  We had the unexpected pleasure of tasting one of the special Julia Child menus offered at Ris, a delicious and charming Washington, DC restaurant owned and operated by the award-winning chef, Ris Lacoste.  We were treated to this oh-so appropriate Julia Child lunch at Ris by one of my one of my VGF's because she wanted to thank us for helping her when she accidentally fell and broke her arm and hit her head on a sidewalk (A Huge Ouch!!!!!) not too far from Ris.

It was tramatic at the time but now we are all very happy for her that she has healed as quickly as she has and is back to working and driving.  With her cast off, she proudly showed off the scars on her arm from the operation she had to have to stabilize the bone break.  It was a double celebration lunch -- friendship and Julia Child's birthday!! So perfect!!

 

Bon Appetit and Happy Birthday Julia!!!!!!!!!!!

Ris' menu was entitled, "All Things Julia" and here is a copy of the lunch menu:

LUNCH

Vichyssoise

with crème fraîche and chives
“My favorite Vichyssoise recipe.” – Chef Ris Lacoste

French Crudité Plate
leeks vinaigrette, celeriac remoulade, sherried beets
and French potato salad
A classic Julia preparation from any Paris café with market fresh local vegetables.

Moules Marinière
butter, herbs and vermouth, served with grilled bread
The French translation – “mussels sailor-style”.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sole Meunière
with lemon brown butter and parsleyed potatoes
“We rolled to a stop in La Place du Vieux Marché, the square where Joan of Arc had met her fiery fate.
There the Guide Michelin directed us to Restaurant La Couronne.”

Quiche au Fromage et Choufleur
Gruyère cheese, cauliflower and caramelized onions with your choice of salad or frites

(vegetarian)

Dueling Meatloaf

with mashed potatoes, summer squash with tomatoes and mushroom gravy

Taste Julia’s and Chef Ris’ meatloaf renditions side by side!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Salty Turtle Sundae
vanilla ice cream, salted pecans
chocolate and caramel sauces
One of Julia’s favorite indulgences from Lucky’s in Montecito, CA.

Almond Vacherin
with peaches and cream
Chef Ris’ seasonal tribute to Julia’s love for meringue and poached fruit.

October Snowfall in NYC

This past weekend I visited some people I love, in a city I love, even though the weather forecasters were predicting snowfall in October.  I didn't believe it would actually happen.  I thought it might be cold enough to snow but I never thought it would actually stick to the streets and accumulate.  Obviously, I was wrong.  By Sunday morning, CNN said New York City's Central Park received 2.9 inches of snow and thousands of dollars in tree damage.

Saturday morning, on the way to New York, it was heavy pounding rain.  Thank goodness I was not driving.  The traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike was heavy and my Vamoose busdriver was a pro!  We left Bethesda at 7 am and arrived in Manhattan a little after 11 am.  I would say that was great time under any weather conditions.

I then met my son, who is a senior at Fordham University, and we ran in the chilly rain to the subway to travel downtown and see the new 911 memorial at Ground Zero.  By the time we came out of the subway at the World Trade Center stop, the rain had turned to big wet snow flakes and the temperature had dropped dramatically.  On the way to Ground Zero, we walked past Zuccotti Park, home of the Occupy Wall Street protesters living in wall-to-wall tents.  I don't know how they were able to stay warm because the city had taken their generators the day before.  I was freezing walking around the city for about an hour.  I couldn't imagine what it would feel like to be camping out in a nylon tent with no heat.  The OWS protesters deserve a lot of credit for their steadfast commitment to a critical economic issue that desperately needs to be addressed.

My son and I were both anxious to see the new memorial and we didn't care how harsh the weather was.  The recently televised dedication ceremony on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and all of the pictures we had seen of the site made us want to go there even in the driving rain and snow and see it up close and personal.  But it was not to be because somehow we missed the information that visitors are required to reserve a pass to gain access to the memorial built to remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives to terrorism that awful day.

I guess we are spoiled by the fact that in Washington, DC visitor passes are not required at the numerous historic memorials scattered around the Nation's Capital.  You do have to go through security checks but you don't need a pass to gain entrance.  Unfortunately, we didn't see the 911 memorial on Saturday since we didn't have a pass, but we walked across the street to the new World Trade Center Financial building and went inside and looked at the 9/11 site from there.  It was enough for that day.  We felt we had done our best.

In the spirit of sharing, if you do intend to visit the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, you need to log on to http://www.911memorial.org/ before you go to visit the site and reserve a pass because visitor passes are required and will be checked.  Also, you will only be admitted at the time printed on your visitor pass. 

We were disappointed but we're not going to let it get us down or prevent us from seeing the new 911 memorial.  It's worth another try and now that I know the visitor routine, I'm looking forward to going back to Ground Zero and taking it all in.