Gloomy Day Gloombusters January 23, 2012

Hmmmm...too sweet?

Ok, at the risk of sounding like Julie Andrews, a little too happily singing, “These are a few of my favorite things“…I, like many of you, was feeling a little…gloomy today. The weather is terrible, snow on the ground AND it’s raining and gray and cold, and yeah, the Ravens lost to the Patriots. But I found there were quite a few things that made me feel better, so I share them with you in hopes they may offer the same respite. In no particular order:

Cardinal on the snow....so pretty...watched him for a while...

No, not whiskers on kittens, but a huge fuzzy Baby Girl tail!!

News that one of my favs, The Dogwood Restaurant in Hampden, will start offering Saturday and Sunday brunch this coming weekend….think about this: “Fried Chesapeake Oysters on Hoppin‘ John… fresh black-eyed peas braised with green chilies, andouille and the trinity, chipotle aioli.” That ain’t nothin’ but hopeful.

A funny crab hat gift(From Cafe HON)...come on, that is funny.

Thinking about George CLooney doesn't hurt either...

Listening to the soundtrack from The Descendants-preview the songs here…for a movie that had more than a few melancholy moments, the exclusively Hawaiian music is so lovely….very peaceful and surprisingly upbeat. It just makes me happy to hear it. Helps if I look at a pic of George Clooney at the same time…

Living wreath...still lives! There is hope...

This living ivy wreath I bought back in December…..it’s been gorgeous through the holidays…you just take it to the sink every few days and douse it with water, drain and rehang. A storm door in front of it protects it from the worst weather, but while it’s cold…it’s happy there. So I’m happy too.

She escaped the Christmas sweep….and lives to sing….

And this little angel is a Christmas decoration from my childhood, that somehow escaped the after holiday roundup. And she seems so ecstatic over the whole thing with her little harp and all, I think I may just let her stay out this year. Who’s gonna notice, really. And hopefully, one of these things has brightened your day too.

Baby Girl’s turns prognosticator! February 4, 2008

She was trying so hard to tell me something….something like, “Don’t listen to the naysayers…Eli will prevail, he will prevail I tell you!”
And you know what? Baby Girl was right on the money….gee, I wonder if she can pick horses, too.
Great game that…unless you like the Patriots of course. But for me, now Eli has a ring just like his brother’s, Tom Brady will have to get comfort from Giselle, the ads were great…especially the squirrel one…loved it…and an exciting ending. What’s not to like?
Had a lovely and memorable meal this weekend at Brasserie Tatinclose to Johns Hopkins U…you’re looking at my main course…a luscious braised lamb shank on pureed parsnips. Heaven!
And what I had forgotten was that it was still restarant week, and Brasserie Tatin has actually extended theirs another week(right now), because they had to turn away so many diners.
And it is a great deal….3 courses for 30 bucks, and if you like you can get wine pairings for each course for another $15.
This was dessert….their namesake dessert, the famous tarte tatin…and it was unbelieveably good….satiny carmelized apples on pastry, served with pistachio ice cream. Yummo.