Time Flies...

There it goes...getting faster every year!... Where did this year go?..
Happy New Year!

A New Addition...

I received this beauty for Christmas and took it's picture in the window before hanging it up with the others...It is so windy here today that the ornaments hanging in the kitchen were swinging ever so slightly..

A Night on the Town...

Mr O and I went out for dinner at a wonderful restaurant in the city...there was a special menu of Hanukkah small plates and we enjoyed all we tried..three types of latkes, lox on toasts, brisket, and an aromatic chicken tagine with pickled kumquats (my favorite)....I brought my camera but the few pictures I took of the food are poor...taking pics in a restaurant is challenging with the lighting and feeling self conscious! The two pictures here are taken after the dinner...the first Baptist Church and the big blue termite taken from the car window!

Movies on Memory...

"I think I may be beginning to disappear" - Fionna in Away From Her

Have been watching some movies with an "aging" theme...last week watched "The Savages" and yesterday evening watched "Away From Her". Both these movies explore dementia and how it touches family and caregivers as well as those suffering with it..Julie Christie does a spectacular job in "Away From Her" portraying the gradual loss of memory (yet remains beautiful). And Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman are wonderful as siblings with problems...Having worked in geriatrics - not to mention aging myself - these issues interest me.. another interesting tidbit - both films are mainly filmed in winter...I have a few more movies on the theme I plan to see...

photos obtained from flickr commons..

....the day after

Still a houseful in the morning but an altogether relaxing day...crosswords, eating, relaxing, dominos, eating again...the day after is always my favorite day..

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas..."

My mother made this crewel angel ornament about 30 years ago...She has age spots on her face...not unlike me! Merry Christmas to all!

Shellfish Minestrone

Shellfish Minestrone

8 servings

1 lb. shrimp

1/4 onion

2 cloves garlic

2 small ribs celery

1carrot

3 Tbs. oil

2 cups clam juice

3 3/4 cups chicken stock

1/2 tsp.dried rosemary

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

3 whole, peeled tomatoes

2/3 cup small macaroni
1/2 lb. scallops

Peel shrimp, reserving shells, devein and halve lengthwise. Chop onion. Mince garlic and celery. Halve carrot lengthwise and cut into thin slices. Cook shrimp shells with 2 Tbs. oil in a pot 3 Minutes. Add clam juice and chicken stock. Simmer 15 minutes. Strain broth. In the same pot, cook onion, garlic, celery and carrot in 1 Tbs. oil 5 minutes. Add herbs and tomatoes, breaking up tomatoes with a spoon. Add broth. Simmer 20 minutes. Add macaroni and cook 5 minutes. Quarter scallops, add with shrimp and simmer 5 minutes.

This recipe was originally cut out from a "For Women First" magazine at least 20 years ago..I wish I had cut the date out too. Like many frequently used old recipes it has evolved and is a little different than the original every year. I always double the recipe and often quadruple it . I use medium shrimp and large sea scallops. I usually use more onion, celery and carrot than called for. Ever since my daughter married a vegetarian I use vegetable stock when I make it (altho I think it tastes better with the chicken stock). I use canned diced tomatoes and throw in the juice as well. This year I will have to try using gluten free macaroni as my second daughter's husband has a gluten allergy..Like I said things evolve but this stew always tastes delicious and everyone always likes it. Serve with crusty bread and salad.

Happy Holidays!

Last minute..

Still very cold and the snow has a hard crust making it difficult for walking but good for pictures...my little tree outdoors was half buried in snow....Its getting late and I still am putting off some last minute chores...I'm very good at that...Did get the Almond Tart in the oven..

Joy!

Mondays are usually a day for joy - I watch my two grandchildren for my daughter most Mondays...today they are having a sleepover...the expression of joy comes so easily at their ages...I am fortunate to get to observe it and find it is not easy to capture on camera!

Snowy Sunday...

More snow today...a good excuse to stay in and bake bread, wrap gifts, keep warm...

White Cakes and Tophats...

The snow was fluffy and dry and it made lovely sculptures on outdoor surfaces...

Snow Day..

There is something about a snow day that is always exciting...Maybe it still feels like a "No School" day and that we are getting out of something more serious...maybe it's the anticipation of possibly being snowed in at length...maybe its the camaraderie in the stores... maybe it is the fun of sledding and walking in the snow...

Christmas Shopping..

I thought I might get outside to take some photos today but I ended up Christmas shopping in a very busy mall. With a prediction for snow tomorrow and possibly over the weekend many of us were trying to finish up our shopping lists....This Santa is a fairly new ornament..and he is carrying lots of bundles....appropriate for today I think..

Glass Ornaments..

Long ago my husband started buying glass ornament balls for my birthday or Christmas gift. Since then I have accumulated 30 different glass ornaments - mostly from him or other family members but some I bought myself. They are beautiful to look at but I find them a real challenge to photograph. They are either poorly lit, or out of focus, or the background is too cluttered. Like I said...a real challenge for me...

Monday with the kids...

I am trying and failing to get good pictures of the grandchildren - esp Mr J. - He is constantly in motion - especially if he sees a camera in my hand...here he is dressing up in Santa's hat and boots!

Recuperating..

A nice quiet day after the stress of preparing for a family Christmas party and then "enjoying" it too much!

Celebrating at Senor Flacos

Family, Friends, Margaritas, Fish Tacos, and Birthday Cake....not a bad way to celebrate!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I've been meaning to start a photo blog for quite some time now in order to preserve memories in a fun way and also to encourage myself to continue to take pictures and to learn more about photography. I'm going to try to take and post daily pictures for a year and maybe comment on what's going on.....I've never been successful at continuing a journal for more than a few days so this may not end up daily...but we'll see!