When will you visit the Washington DC area? This is up to you. When you do, reach out to me, you can send an email through the contact box on the left, or leave a comment on the day a post goes up. I would love to meet you for breakfast or lunch while you are here. I am glad to offer advice on how to visit DC (tip number 1, don't drive a car into the district.) I have visitors passes for Mount Vernon that I am glad to share, free admission for up to two adults. If you need helping getting to and from Mt. Vernon, I will try to help.
What have I been up to in the kitchen this week? Oh it is that time of the year. Last Thursday I made chicken pies. I had poached chicken from a couple of days before when I made stock. I steamed fresh carrots and green beans. Made cheesy mashed potatoes and a thick sauce with the chicken stock and a basic roux. Sauted a few mushrooms. I layered the chicken and veggies in ramekins, poured over the sauce, topped with mashed potatoes and baked in a 425 F oven for about 35 minutes. Lamb stew - oh my, thanks to Stephen's late mother Peggy for telling me how to make it.
Where have I been this week? The pool, the gym, Mt Vernon, the King Street Farmers Market, the Russian Grocery for caviar and chocolate, out to lunch at our favorite Vietnamese place, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, lots of grocery and specialty shopping at this time of the year. Into the city for a stroll around the Hirshorn Gallery.
Who have a talked to this week? My sweet bear. Ruth, Renee was back at water aerobics - I hadn't seen her for a few weeks - she fell the day before Thanksgiving landed on her face and broke her nose. Jon, Amy, Susan, Anna, Gabe, Max, Zack, and Mary. An editorial call, so Cathy, Emily, and others.
What have I been reading? I have been on a reading binge. Medium Raw by Tony Bourdain, and a book on spoken language written by a professor of linguistics. Interesting facts, it takes more brain power to talk than to listen. Dogs learn to recognize words and symbols, but can not be trained to use them.
What have I been writing? I finished an article on the importance of visiting people who are seriously ill, and hope to finish an article on travel planning. I committed to writing a fourth article before we leave for this year's grand adventure.
My greatest Wish for each of you? A gentle and peaceful Christmas and Holiday Season.
A Happy Yuletide to you too! And when I come that way you know I will twist your arm.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you can drag me out of the house, once or twice.
DeleteI don't know for what reason, but I'd like to read the article about visiting the seriously ill.
ReplyDeleteI am past long distance flights unless I can travel business class, which I could and I'd love to see Washington, but seriously your border control now frightens me. From once being brusque and impolite, they have moved on to being able to look at everything on your phone and social media. I am not wanting them to look at my Grindr profile, or messages.
Merry Christmas, and have a nice and pleasant time.
Check your email.
DeleteWishing you the same.
ReplyDeleteHave a great holiday!
DeleteYour article on the importance of visiting people who are seriously ill intrigues me. Wishing you a very happy penguiny/hamstery Christmas!
ReplyDeleteStay warm, and check your email.
DeleteI wish you and your Sweet Bear the same.
ReplyDeleteOn a sidenote: I have seen a video on Facebook where a woman has dressed her cat in odd costumes and them video's the cat who meows non-stop. Only the woman has recorded her voice saying: "What the Hell." It's stupid as can be but makes me giggle and now I am trying to get Rosita to say "What the Hell" all by herself.
And she just stares at me every time I say it, so either she's getting it or she knows her daddy is a moron ... Time will tell.
The author of that book would argue that the cat may repeat the sounds, but not understand the words, not be able to reformulate the words to express other thoughts, like a what is he trying to do.
DeleteI'm wishing you and Sweet Bear a very happy and peaceful holiday! Let the festivities begin.
ReplyDeleteI get to make lasagna today.
DeleteWishing you and your Sweet Bear a very Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you
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