The snows of March

It snowed . . .

I got to take Holly up to DC for an interview. Super fun--super cold day! Super fun because she knows all of the Metro stops, and all I have to do is go along for the ride. I LOVE that! No more planning on my part! I sought refuge in a Starbucks because it was a very brisk 36 degrees! I miss our trips up here.

Another puzzle.

And we had this conversation:

Trevor, baking a cake:

Trevor: It says, "Mix by hand"??!! :O
Me, distracted: Yes.
silence
Holly: It means to use a spoon.
Trevor: Oh, thank God!

We had more snow. (To be honest, spring snows are my favorite!)

Pumpkin definitely had the right idea.

Another dusting of snow a few days later. How pretty was this?!

Heading down our street, looking at Tinker Mountain.

 All was brightened up by this adorable gift box of candy that Lori sent for Easter, complete with pictures!

The Wonder of Book Buddies

Back in the fall, I volunteered through the Bar Association to be a reader to a city school elementary class. I was randomly matched up with a fourth grade class at Fallon Park Elementary. This was particularly exciting because we'd gone to this school frequently for Trevor's chess tournaments when he was in chess club many years ago.

The teacher had already begun reading Wonder to the class and asked if I would continue. Although I remember the book from the library, I wasn't familiar with it. I read to the class 30 minutes each Thursday afternoon. The class itself is amazing, so sweet, attentive, enthusiastic. This beautifully written book shows the perspectives of several different people in the storyline and details the life of a boy born with serious craniofacial deformities with the basic lesson of "Don't judge a book by its cover."

As we neared the end of the book, the class presented me with cards of thanks and an invitation to join them on a field trip to a local theater to watch the movie version.

 

Is that amazing that they spent so much time writing these beautiful cards and thoughts for ME? I am so very, very touched. It truly has been the best volunteer gig I've ever done.

So we went to the movie theater, the fancy one in Grandin Village that opened just for us. Imagine me in a theater with 300 kids. (It was like half the school, not just my little class of 25 or so kids.)

I survived.

And then it was ME time!

 

A burst of February

We returned to Chaos Mountain Brewery with friends and REALLY LOUD music.

* * * * *

Too puzzling for me. Everything else was sky! While I enjoy a challenge, it should be fun, and this was too much. I stopped here, returned it to the library, and refused to feel bad about it!

* * * * *

Valentine's Day. At lunch, I ran out and bought the kids candy from the fancy chocolate store downtown and then went across the street to buy Robert tickets to the symphony. I knew I was taking my chances that he would see the charge come through on the credit card. Sure enough, when I texted him that afternoon that I'd bought candy, he replied that he knew, he'd seen the email notification of the charge. I figured my surprise was gone. I tucked the tickets into a small gift bag and dropped the receipt into my work bag.

Meanwhile, my attorneys had gifted us with several little things, a basket with candy, etc.

When I got home, I pulled the assortment of work goodies out of my bag to show Robert. Of couse, the receipt was RIGHT THERE on top. I didn't see it (of course), but he did (of course!).  He was TOTALLY surprised--even if he didn't get to open the gift bag.

He'd not checked email again and hadn't seen the second charge come through.

So in addition to tickets to something he's long wanted to do, he also has a great story that he'll never (let me) forget!

His gift to me was two boxes of chocolate orange sticks, a favorite treat which we can no longer find locally. He ordered them online, and I found it amusing that he held his breath, hoping I wouldn't see the amazon order (I didn't). He pegged it perfectly--I ate the entire first box that first night. And on the second night, well, I ate the second box then. It was worth it!

 * * * * * 

Saw this on the internet and loveloveloved it! Couldn't get it out of my mind. What a beautiful day that will be, passing from this world and into the arms of Jesus for eternity.

* * * * *

My boy and his dog.

 * * * * *

We watched bits of the Olympics, something we've not done in more than a decade. The networks have spoiled it with too many commercials, but we found it by chance on NBC Sports Network, with virtually no ads. What a treat! To me, the Winter Olympics bring back sweet memories of our first months of homeschooling--I was as sick as a dog one morning, but I'd determined to let the kids watch the Olympic torch be carried down Littleton Blvd. I was likely in my pajamas, but we piled into the car, drove a few blocks away, and parked while we waited to see the runner pass by. Our science experiments during those few weeks were Olympic themed--freezing a sheet of ice on a pan, among other things. Precious times!

* * * * *

A different kind of picture, harder than it looked!

* * * * *

 Another Saturday night, another brewery, this time at Flying Mouse, just down the street.

Me, Westleyan, Judy    

And the reason why there are never pictures of me and Robert:

Ew, there's a giant shadow snaking across my nose. 

 Looks like Robert is falling asleep.

What are you saying??? And hate my face.

 He is DONE, NO MORE PICTURES! Maybe he'll let me try again next year.

* * * * *

And that was February!

Greg's Meatballs

I could make a sappy post about my old friend Greg West, but instead I'll just post his amazing meatball recipe. He's known for his cooking, and he's had times where he cooks voluminous amounts of food and shares it. I will always love him for taking Debbie and her dad food when John was sick with lung cancer. He doesn't often share recipes though, because he doesn't use them. So when he posted a brief meatball tutorial last year, I jumped at the chance to give them a try.

I cut the recipe in half and quite deliberately used a scale to weigh out 4 oz. meatballs, ending up with about 20 both times. Homemade meatballs deserve a homemade sauce, and I've used Hazan's famous recipe.

Greg's MEATBALL RECIPE

5# ground beef (80/20)
2# hot Italian sausage
2# sweet Italian sausage
1/4 C. garlic paste (in tubes at most grocery stores in produce section) (Kristine--made my own)
1/4 C. Italian herbs paste (in tubes at most grocery stores in produce section) (Kristine--made my own)
2 T. salt
2 T. black pepper
3/4 C. finely diced sweet yellow onion (Vidalia, Wala Wala) to name a few
1/4 C. finely chopped parsley
1/4 C. Heinz ketchup
4 Large eggs
2 C. finely chopped fresh sliced bread(1/8th in. dice) (sourdough, white or buttermilk acceptable. not flavored breads like Rye)
1/4 C. half & half

Pre-heat oven to 400°
In a separate bowl, add finely chopped fresh bread with half and half. Mix and let soak in.
Then, in a larger bowl, add all other ingredients. Top with soaked bread mixture. Put on latex gloves and mix thoroughly by hand. Do not use power mixer. Do not overmix or over-handle meat mixture. This will make the meatballs tough. If you prefer a harder meatball, substitute 1 C. dry bread crumbs for the finely chopped fresh bread. Portion out meatballs to desired size. I use a kitchen scale to make sure each meatball is to exact portion size but this is not necessary. The more uniform they are the more evenly they'll cook. (See figure 1)

Form meatballs by softly rolling them between hands. They should have no cracks on the outside of them when finished. They will crack while cooking if they do. I personally like mine huge (7 or 8 oz.) about the size of a small baby's head, but they can be anywhere between 1 oz or larger.
Place finished meatballs evenly on sheet pan. Bake for 5 min. @ 400 degrees for each meatball ounce. (5 oz. Meatballs will take 25 min.) You can broil on high for a few minutes to add a little color if desired. (See figure 2)

Once cooked, cool to room temperature.
Carefully rinse individual meatballs quickly under warm water to remove any excess grease. Place meatballs on paper towels and air dry. Once dry, they can be frozen in zip-lock freezer bags for later use.

The meatballs should be around medium rare after this cooking process. You finish cooking them completely once in the sauce.
If your meatballs are 2 oz.or smaller, place in large sauce pot and cover with sauce. Heat until hot, approx. 175°
If your meatballs are 3 oz. or larger, get a casserole dish large enough to hold your desired amount and fill half way with sauce. Place meatballs in sauce. The meatballs should be covered at least halfway. (See figure 3)

Bake at 400° until thoroughly hot. Approximately 25 to 45 min. depending on the size you made your meatballs. Once hot, remove from oven and top with generous portions of shredded mozzarella, Provolone and top with Pecorino Romano. Broil on high until Brown and bubbly. (See figure 4) Top with fresh chopped parsley for color contrast. Serve over pasta or in a crusty sweet French roll for an incredible meatball sandwich. Enjoy!!!

https://www.facebook.com/mushroom24/posts/10212626380039284

Because it was a new recipe with several steps, the first time I made them, it was a bit daunting. The second time, even though it was a year later, went much more quickly. It fed the four of us as a main dish (no pasta included!), and I froze half the batch to use later.

These are my completed meatballs. And Greg was right--they are absolutely amazing!

And Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce Recipe

The easiest to make homemade tomato sauce, the perfect accompaniment to Greg's Meatballs. Don't be fooled by the seeming lack of spices or flavorings. This is simple and sumptuous.

Hazan's Tomato Sauce


28 oz. can of plum tomatoes, undrained
5 T. butter
one onion, peeled and cut in half
salt

Combined tomatoes, butter, onion, and a pinch or two of salt in a saucepan.

Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and mashing any large pieces of tomato with a spoon.

Discard the onion before using sauce. This recipe makes enough for a pound of pasta.

* * *

When making my usual half of the meatball recipe, I double this one, which is enough to go with 10-12 meatballs.

Beginning in January . . .

Robert and I started off New Year's Eve at Jim and Peg's, along with some other friends and family. Jim has been working on a dinghy for their sailboat and had taken it out for a test float earlier in the week. He showed off his handiwork to Robert.

We left around 10 or so, and I made peasant pizzas at home to wait for the New Year to come in. Robert, Holly, and Trev were on the couch watching something. Quite literally, I was fixing pizza, glanced at the clock, and said, "Guys, it's 2 minutes past midnight!" Response: "Gosh, Mom, didn't you hear us just say it was midnight and cheer for the new year?" I DO tend to live in my own little bubble!

Pizza with creme freche (okay, it's sour cream), sauteed mushrooms and onions, thinly sliced apple, shaved parmesan and blue cheese--on top of homemade dough.

* * * * *

Me with Pumpkin in my hair!

* * * * *

FINISHED the pencil puzzle from Lori! A challenging one to be sure, but not to the point of being impossible!

Followed quickly by another puzzle--

and a wonderful three day weekend full of genealogy and loads of cooking:
Baked potato soup and bruschetta
Shrimp scampi
cookie dough (no baking here!)
banana bread
And this amazing dinner: weinerschnitzel, mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, sauerkraut, and sweet and sour red cabbage .

* * * * *

Snowed in for the day--a free day off of work!

* * * * *

Trevor's delicious dinner of Chicken Alfredo.

* * * * *

To Ballast Point with the Schroes and Dalls. It's tough getting this guy to take a picture.

Sour wench. As in Sour Raspberry Ale! And Peg, Canadian-turned-U.S. citizen, with her poutine! I must add that we are on the second floor that she engineered, along with the leaning window.

 * * * * *

And another puzzle. I liked this design, different top and bottom.

* * * * *

And the month winds up with the lunar eclipse on January 31! It was super cold that morning, and I was going to skip it--but Robert found it for me. It was beautiful, although we missed the eclipse by minutes after the moon sank down below our beloved Tinker Mountain!

A Best Day in Richmond

When the kids were little, we learned about the Terra Cotta Army discovery in China, an incredible tribute built to **the first** emporer c. 200 B.C. Discovered buried underground in 1974, this life sized army boasts 8,000 warriors, 130 chariots, 520 horses, and 150 calvary horses. Reread and try to wrap your brain around that for a minute!

At the time, we knew a Chinese exhibit would tour the U.S., but the schedule had not yet been announced. When we were in Richmond in November, we found out IT WAS THERE temporarily, and we made plans to visit.

All the makings for a great day:
Me, Trev, Holly, together again.
Road trip!!
MUSEUM!!!
And of course lunch!
Lastly, a special unannounced surprise.

At the entrance, I bought Trevor a museum membership, as the student membership cost the same as the exhibit admission, got him into the exhibit for free, AND gave us free parking. I also knew we'll find our way back here when he heads to VCU in the fall!

(Can I just say how happy it makes me that my kids love museums?)

The exhibit consisted of several rooms with artifacts from the excavation site (and maybe other Chinese?), ending with a room full of the Army figures.

 Imperial Edict on plaque, c. 221 BC

 8th Century bracelet of nephrite, agate, faience

I convinced Trevor to mimic the pose! Isn't he a great sport?! :::love:::

Showing the detail on the reverse, including the sole of his shoe.

The detail of the armor.

We took advantage of our time there and checked out the rest of the museum (Museum of Fine Arts). Incredible! It was Washington, DC comparable. Truly, it was huge and had incredible displays, rooms full of ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, African, and Native American collections. We literally ran out of time and didn't see everything but look forward to going back.

 Cast from Temple of the God Amun-Re

 Cast from Temple of Hatshepsut

Trevor and Holly - Native American Art

Holly and Trevor had chosen our lunch spot--Greek food, right on the same few blocks where Robert and I met up with Valerie and Gary a year ago at Mellow Mushroom, and where Trevor, Holly, and I ate at the Korean place in November.  In practically a miracle, I found parking easily, and the restaurant was sooooo good, definitely a spot to return to.

I had a small surprise lined up for our final stop before heading home. I drove over to the VCU Barnes & Noble bookstore and had Trevor pick out a VCU shirt for himself.

Trevor drove for the first hour home, a nice treat for me, and good practice for him to drive longer distances on unfamiliar roads. It was SUCH a fun day, one of those that we won't forget. Ever.