Adieu, Boston, City that I've Come to Love

When I first came, I hoped I'd love.
The city, she called, and I followed her song.
I walked the streets to find a life
And what I found, became my home.

The river wound about my waist
Held me tight and never let go.
And always the sea danced so close
The gulls that flew above a testament to the waves
Their call an echo within my heart.

Time felt vast, the clock undone
but so soon it slipped between my hands
Giving way to a distant future
No longer bound to this one land.

I kiss her goodbye, all of her
My tears I give with grace and thanks
In hopes they join the waters that separate.

And I walk away
With promise to return
With my feet on the ground
Or in the skies
To the life I lived once
In which I thrived.

Montreal!

In the middle of April, John David and I took a trip to Montreal together, and experienced what it was to be French Canadian! We tried to speak some french, ate some bagels, and drank some bubble tea...it was wonderful! The city was incredibly diverse, was a bit trashy, and met us with beautiful weather and a mountainous terrain. Montreal gets an A, my baby an A+ for being such a good frenchy tourist with me...

Princess, the Gymnast

Please Eat Cinnamon

10 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

1. Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.

2. Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes.

3. In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections.

4. In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

5. It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.

6. In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.

7. When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

8. One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.

9. Researchers at Kansas State University found that cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.

10. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

Found at http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html

A Hamilton Family Easter

This past week I'd been feeling a bit homesick. Sad that I wasn't able to hop in a car and drive home to spend the holiday with my family in Texas, I was experiencing the pangs of separation from my parents and sisters, my bed and house, everything I associate with being home on the holidays. Feeling a bit sorry for myself, I was determined to have a good weekend despite the distance. I had planned to have a nice little Easter dinner, to attend a Unitarian church service in Cambridge and to spend some quality time with my temporary dog, Princess....

However, it just wasn't to be so. My friend, my ma'am, Ms. Rachel Hamilton of Wellesley, Massachusetts, who now resides in New York City, invited me to spend the holiday with her family. I had to release my former plans for the weekend, but graciously accepted. Saturday evening, I traveled with her to Welleslely, MA, right outside of Boston and got to enjoy some quality with her family and home, a welcome replacement for my own!

Sunday morning, Rachel and I took in a walk around Wellesley College, breathing in some fresh non-city air and then celebrated Easter with a fabulous lunch at the Hamilton's friend's and neighbor's house. Then, following dinner, the hunting began. All of us donned our own basket and rushed through the yard in search of both plastic and hard-boiled eggs. We all came away with some tasty and fun treats. It was overall a fabulous day! Thank you, to both Rachel and the entire Hamilton family, for your hospitality. And also for the eggs...(:

Photos of the hunt:

Homemade...everything!

St. Patty's weekend, for many, is a time to drink with leprechauns, clad in green and an air of alcoholic festivity. However, for others, perhaps the craftier of us, it is a time to make! To celebrate the holiday, John David and I decided to get creative.

First, we decorated some eggs to bring in Easter a bit early...

Secondly, we made homemade pasta...along with homemade beer bread and homemade butter. For those of you who have never made butter (usually this is an activity reserved for 4th graders and a rainy day at school), it is easy and ridiculously entertaining...all you have to have is cream, a small jar and a vigorous shake of the fist. Since John David had never had the opportunity to do this in his gradeschool career, it was added to the day's culinary feats. The bread was also a part of the menu because a) it had beer in it and seemed appropriate for the occasion and b) it is extremely good and also easy. I guess the pasta was something that both of us had never had a stab at, so it seemed warranted and spurred on the days devotion to cooking.

The following photos demonstrate the pasta making process:

1. Make a hole in the flour and add eggs.


2. Mix with hands.



3. Knead dough until elastic.


4. Roll dough to a thin sheet.


5. Slice into long pasta noodles and enjoy!


To top the night's ultimate dinner, we dyed the wine green! Happy St. Patty's day!

Windy City

This past weekend, I took a trip to Chicago, the windy city of the midwest, to see John David. We both took a break from our grueling jobs (or just his, rather...mine is quite pleasant on the time commitment) and had a great weekend, full of fabulous foods and adventuring. Saturday we kicked the day off with brunch at Orange with a couple of John David's friends before walking about the city and tending to a few things on the day's agenda. A good walk through the city is really all you need in Chicago, as you can catch great views of the city from almost any point within it. Architecturally, it is the greatest city in the United States. Hands down. Plus you have Lake Michigan to the East that provides a wonderful contrast to the complexity of the nearby streets.






Saturday night was a biggie. A bit earlier in time, John David and I won a gift certificate to this fancy restaurant company in Chicago, and it just so happened to encompass one particularly famous institution, Tru. We made reservations about a month ago, and while we could only get a spot at 10 at night, we were pretty excited about the promised dining experience. So, we held out on eats, watched a movie, Ratatouille to pump up our culinary experience, got gussied up and then headed downtown to Tru. What followed was madness, ridiculous culinary madness: 12-14 courses of bite-sized delicacies, all prepared and served beautifully, to be savored with every taste.






And we tried to do so! It was easy from the beginning. We were hungry and bright-eyed. Each dish brought surprise, articulate assessment. But by course 8 or 9, our stomachs got a bit tight; and by midnight, when we were still eating, our eyes got a bit tired. Nevertheless, we made it to the last course with a bit of caffeine, and were even sent home with more food for the morning after! The whole experience was incredibly fun and unearthly. Needless to say, it was a truly special occasion. (:







And the next morning, we immediately went for a long run. All that food got me craving a good work out! The rest of the day was spent exploring the outskirts of the city, making sushi, and more walks. We also visited John David's brother-in-law's culinary colleague, at her own bakery, called Sweetcakes. It was a great little coffee/pastry shop and reminded me a lot of Austin kitschyness. Plus the walls were a great seafoam green. See photos above and below...

























Oh! And here are the beautiful snapdragons that greeted me when I first arrived in Chi-town!

An 18-hole Hike

Catie and I took a trip this weekend with our new pup, Princess. We took the subway out to Swampscott, Ma, where her Uncle Charlie picked us up and drove us back to his house. Before arriving there, we stopped and had a walk along the beach front with Princess and Andy, Catie's uncle's dog.

Once at her uncle's house, we lounged about for a bit, taking in the country life and drinking cocoa, until we decided to pack up her uncle's car and drive out for a bit of hiking. We arrived at Lynn Reservation in Lynn, MA and hopped out of the car and onto a trail. I was amazed by the snow covering the ground and how it can change the appearance of a place so drastically.



The trail we were on soon opened onto these beautiful and open plains, trees on either side and ponds scattered about, and I said outloud that, "This almost looks like a golf course." Catie agreed but we both thought well that's probably not the case, until, that is, we stumbled upon a sand trap...it was then that we realized we were right in the middle of a giant golf course, beautifully covered in snow.









We had the whole place to ourselves and let Princess off the leash to enjoy the open expanses of land. Here is Catie and Princess dancing about on the snow.






I couldn't resist the urge to make a snow angel--the first real one of my life!
Or to walk on the ice...if only I had brought my skates. (:
At the end of the day, we made a little stop by Target, a time-old friend, dearly missed at times, and indulged in a few neccessties/unnecessities. The day was topped off with a pretzel and lemonade, that hit the spot for the ride home. Princess has slept all day today, a result of a long and satisfying trip.

Philadelphia, Shiladelphia

After my first day with Jossie ended (our Amish adventure, see below), we dedicated the next to Philadelphia itself, aka Center City. We greeted the day with some Swedish sugar waffles--scrumdidliumptious! And a walk along the river, which took us directly to the Philadelphia art museum aka the stage of Rocky Balboa's triumphant step run. This called for many photos, in attempts to capture a believable run along his same path. Once satisfied with what we got, we walked on through the rest of the city. I got to see the skyline up close, Love Park, Reading Terminal Market, as well as Independance Hall and the Liberty Bell. We finished the day with a great dinner at a diner, and a cozy night at Jossie's Apartment.










Doing the Rocky Balboa at the Philadelphia Art Museum.















Love Park, downtown Philadelphia.






















Liberty Bell in Old City.













Random statue in the middle of a dry fountain in Center City, Philadelphia.












Rittenhouse Square, where Jossie lives in Philadelphia. The lights at night were gorgeous, and I hope for Jossie's sake they stay up throughout the year!










Jossie in her cute little studio apartment! which looks just like an expanded version of her dorm room last year.

Amish Country!

This past weekend, I made a trip down to Philadelphia to visit my bestest of friends, Jossie, who is currently there, working for an architectural firm. We jump started the weekend with a little road trip out to Lancaster County, the area in which the Mennonite-derived religious group of the Amish reside.










We stopped at several places to experience the Amish life, the first being Dutch Haven (see above) where we tasted the famous Shoo-fly Pie recipe, and indulged in a few postcards and soft pretzels. While driving we also spotted many many many horse-and-buggies alongside the road, and the picture you see is my attempt at capturing this image. It was pretty uncanny seeing this alternative mode of transportation being so prolifically! We also witnessed a few antique scooters being utilized to get about town, one being driven by perhaps the oldest man with a beard I've ever seen...





Jossie and I pulled our rental car into the lot of "The Amish House," lured in by roadside signs, and toured a traditional Amish House (not sure that it was authentic, though, as it was set up by non-Amish people), learning about the Amish traditions, clothing, food, and culture. Probably the best part of the day, it gave us a better sense of what we were so casually seeing. This photo is of the Amish House.




Crystal dish display in Amish House.









Lastly, Jossie and I succumbed to our growling stomachs and stopped by the local indoors farmers market for some soup and chili, as well as a plethora of delicious samples. This covered wagon, which stood right outside the market, was a perfect photo opportunity.

And the Princess Arrives!

At last, our adopt-a-dog has arrived! Catie and I have volunteered to take care of Princess, a border-collie mix, for her owners, who are traveling to Cuba for four months to lead a program. For the next few months she is in our care and hopefully we'll keep her happy, as we attempt to "treat her like a princess," as told to do so by her owners. Wish us luck with our new roommate!

Oz meets the Dark Side

I forgot to share with all you faithful readers one wonderful thing about my Christmas Break--one of the more memorable things I did! I went to see the Wizard of Oz meets Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon at the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Austin with John David as part of a fabulous Christmas gift...and it was amazing! Not only are each respective works amazing, they are even better together! It screened at midnight and as the opening credits of Oz came on the screen, the music faded and Pink Floyd took over. It may have been purposeful, or maybe not...but the experience was amazing. And I must insert a shout out to my sister, Jennie...I never understood your Pink Floyd obsession until I sat through Dark Side of the Moon 3 times...they are a great band.

New Years Delight

For New Years, I celebrated in San Marcos with all my loved ones. We shot off fireworks, drank champagne, ate black eyed peas for good luck and also indulged in a special dessert. Chocolate dishes, created with love and care, topped with ice cream and peppermint pieces--thanks to Johnny D's fabulous ideas. It was quite delectable and easy to make, but we all eventually hit a chocolate wall and had to switch to salty foods for relief. But the night was wonderful. I had a moment to think about the upcoming year, and what I want it to be for myself and the people in it. My outlook is bright and I hope for a lot. More importantly, I hope for the best for all my friends and family, as well. Happy New Year, hello 2008!

Christmas Hats

So, everyone in my family received a hat this Christmas, as well as a few friends. I knit myself into a frenzy in the end, but succeeded in producing hats for all! These were two botched versions that got turned into lovely little christmas hats. Happy accidents, I suppose, and they are actually now two of my favorites. Christmas may just have to continue a bit longer this year...

A New Family Member

The Simpson household is adopting a new family member. A new younger sister for me, if you will, and her name is Emma. Now if you look at this picture, you will see a big fat puppy facing upwards, adorable as could be. And to her side is another little puppy tucked below the blankets. That one is Emma, sound asleep and snuggled up in the covers. The one in front is just her sister, but they look pretty similar. Either way, all of them are adorable little pups. Can't wait to get to know Emma when I return from Boston!

38 Years!

I was so happy to be home in time to celebrate with my parents on their 38th anniversary! December 22nd marked another year in their marriage, and we all had a lovely meal to commemorate and honor the two. Afterwards, we all walked along a trail of lights in a nearby town, all smiles and floating on good spirits. I love you, Momma and Daddy!

Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread houses. Delicious, homemade, and untraditional, if you will...Mine is the one that looks like Gandalf, the house is John David's take on the traditional housey-house.