Seaboard Chronicles: Day 1

The long-awaited excursion up the coast of Maine, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island has finally begun!    The day started early; I pulled into the driveway to pick up my favorite traveling buddies at 4:20 AM and my internal alarm bells went off - the house was pitch dark.  I should have known.  They were in the driveway, bags lined up and ready to go.  Did I mention they're my favorite traveling buddies?

Great flights - I started reading Atlas Shrugged and that made the time fly.  It's been a long time since I got that thrill that comes from cracking open a book and realizing it's a really good one and you're going to have a hard time putting it down.  Looking forward to this...

First things first, lunch in Portland at Duckfat.  Divine.  Literally.  Carrie reserves her highest praise for very few establishments and straight up, this one gets it all the way.  The place is tiny and oh so hip (lots of comments from traveling companions concerning said hipness and probable political views) and I wanted to order literally every single thing on the menu.  I settled for poutine (Belgian fries fried in duck fat, topped with homemade cheese curds, duck gravy and a farm-fresh egg, and they aren't kidding on that one) and a caramel sea-salt milkshake (the. best. milkshake. I. have. ever. eaten.).  My very gustatorily conservative papa ordered a beef tongue reuben (which he liked!) and he and mom accompanied their fries with truffle ketchup and an incredible lemon-herb mayo.  I know I'm gushing, but seriously.  Amazing. (And for the record, yes, I wholeheartedly support green, sustainable and local.  Bite me! :D)

Being thus fortified, we headed north, to Freeport (home of the L.L. Bean flagship store and a pottery store that screamed Tune - had I been a richer lady she would be receiving a tremendously large shipment of pottery very soon) and then up the coast, through Wiscasset, Rockland, Camden, Belfast, Ellsworth, and finally down to Bar Harbor.  The sky was pretty overcast (hence the lack of quality in pictures - sorry) but it was still a great run.  This is new country to me, so I kept quite busy gathering impressions.  Probably the single most striking factor during the whole drive, the one that came up over and over, was the architecture.  The crisp, tidy saltbox houses (even in the less picturesque parts) and old Victorian mansions with their lush gardens and shapely trees were like balm to eyes made weary by endless mobile homes and shabby strip malls and scruffy bahia shoots.  The sense of history here is palpable; each town we passed through seemed to have been founded earlier than the last.  I think the oldest settlement we passed through was founded in 1736.  That's 40 years before we gained our independence!  Oh, and the seashore, with its sailboats, old railroad bridges and lighthouses, not to mention that hauntingly beautiful gray meeting of water and fog, was just exactly what I imagined Maine to be.

(Yes, that's Starbucks!)

See the lighthouse in the distance?

(This bridge was really cool, architecturally speaking)

Along the route, we stopped at the North Edgecombe Cemetery to have a look-see.  What a lot of history in that little plot - Civil War veterans, sailors lost at sea, small children, husband and wives, young and old, men and women; born as early as 1740 and as late as quite recently.  Honestly, it was very thought-provoking, wandering among the final resting places of so many people there on that quiet, green hillside, thinking of the lives that each of them lived, of the countless number that had stood on that very spot in years gone by, laying their loved ones to rest, and of those souls that have gone on to face their Maker.  Sobering thoughts, and ones that turn the mood rather introspective.  Our time is short, really; in the blink of an eye, our days pass and are gone, and when one stares that stark reminder of the sands of time in the face, one longs to draw close and cling to that Unchanging Hand, never wasting a moment, and never letting go of the only One who can steer us safely into harbor.  Anyway, I got so lost in thought, I had to be reminded that I could make a right turn at a stop sign and actually get moving again LOL!

Interesting...

We arrived in Bar Harbor around 7 or so, tired and hungry.  We checked into the West Street Hotel (great recommendation) and hopped across the street to the West Street Cafe (anyone want to guess which street we're on?) for...drumroll please...wait for it....LOBSTER!!!!!  This is Maine, folks, land of lobster dinners and lobster rolls on literally every corner, and that is no exaggeration.  Clam chowder, lobster, fries, coleslaw and blueberry pie, all for a very reasonable price, and all served in a most efficient manner - these Mainers (is that how you say it?) have mastered the science of pulling tourists in, stuffing their bellies with the local bug and sending them on their way, and a very good job of it they do.  Delicious food served by a friendly waitress in a warm, well-lit restaurant with cozy, low wood ceilings - a wonderfully satisfying end to a long day.

Tomorrow, it's on to Acadia National Park.

P.S.  The high today?  I think it was 68.  Yeah.

LET US SMILE

POEMS

POEMS COLLECTED BY MY GRANDMOTHER

LET US SMILE

THE THING THAT GOES THE FARTHEST

TOWARDS MAKING LIFE WORTH WHILE,

THAT COSTS THE LEAST AND DOES THE MOST

IS JUST A PLEASANT SMILE.

THE SMILE THAT BUBBLES FROM A HEART

THAT LOVES ITS FELLOW MEN;

WILL DRIVE AWAY THE CLOUD OF GLOOM

AND COAX THE SUN AGAIN

IT'S FULL OF WORTH AND GOODNESS TOO,

WITH MANLY KINDNESS BLENT-

IT'S WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS, 

AND DOESN'T COST A CENT.

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SADNESS,

WHEN WE SEE A CHEERY SMILE;

IT ALWAYS HAS THE SAME GOOD LOOK-

IT'S NEVER OUT OF STYLE-

IT NERVES US ON TO TRY AGAIN

WHEN FAILURE MAKES US BLUE;

THE DIMPLES OF ENCOURAGEMENT

ARE GOOD FOR ME AND YOU.

IT PAYS A HIGHER INTEREST-

FOR IT IS MERELY LENT-

IT'S WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS-

AND DOESN'T COST A CENT.

A SMILE COMES VERY EASY

YOU CAN WRINKLE UP WITH CHEER,

A HUNDRED TIMES BEFORE YOU CAN-

SQUEEZE OUT A SOGGY TEAR;

IT RIPPLES OUT, MOREOVER,

TO THE HEARTSTRINGS THAT WILL TUG,

AND ALWAYS LEAVES AN ECHO

THAT IS VERY LIKE A HUG;-

SO SMILE AWAY, FOLKS UNDERSTAND

WHAT BY A SMILE IS MEANT;

IT'S WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS,

AND DOESN'T COST A CENT.

A Blanket For Carrie

I began crocheting about 7 years ago.  It didn't come about because I really desired to learn, so I could create blankets and scarves, and various items.  Instead it came about out of a need of necessity.  My youngest son played the piano for the youth in our church, and I, being his mom, went to all his practices.  This equated to around 15 to 20 hours a week of just sitting in a chair listening to and keeping an eye on him.  After a minuscule amount of time of this sitting, I knew I had to find something to do with my time.  So I sought out someone to teach me crocheting.  When I had the basics down, I visited our nearest yarn shop and bought a pattern and about 12 skeins of yarn, and set off to crochet a blanket.  This I did, and was quite pleased with the result.  Then one day, Carrie and I were shopping, and into an Anthropologie store we skipped (more or less, if only in our hearts.  May I take a moment and sing the praises of this store? We love, love, love this place!).  So anyway, as we slowly made our way through the part of the store with the dishes and lamps and cookbooks and bedding, we spot this lovely hand crocheted throw. We fingered it.  We drooled over it.  Then we saw the price tag.  Carrie walked away from it as I stood firmly planted beside that gorgeous throw.  "I can make it", said I.  Carrie turned back.  "Really?"  "Yah, I can make it", I said twice now.  When something takes hold in my heart, I usually find a way (except playing the clarinet....).      
Once I got home from this shopping trip, I got on the Anthropologie web site to find that throw.  Then I printed it.  I studied and studied it.  I had a few crochet books, and naturally I bought more.  My goal for this blanket was to complete it in about 3 months.  I was determined to pull this off.  The funnest part of this was the fact that Carrie had no idea what I was up to.  This blanket was to be for her.

I went to a Hobby Lobby and bought yarn.  Now this blanket was for Carrie.  The very same Carrie that I would ride bike with in the dark of morning, in the middle of winter (we do live in the South).  On mornings when I would have 2 pairs of socks on (one being wool), and plastic bags wrapped around my toes (trying to keep them from freezing), Carrie would be either in flip flops or a canvas shoe.  Carrie does not get cold easily.  I bought acrylic yarn.  I wanted her to use this .  Had I bought wool, she would have only touched it maybe 2 weeks out of a given year.  With 13 skeins of yarn, pattern books, a hook and lots of anticipation, I began this delightful throw.

This blanket was a journey.  A lot of hours were spent thinking, planning and crocheting.  Many nights the light of my sewing room was on until after midnight.  It was all worth it.  Every minute, every long night, every stitch.  When my fingers ached.  When I wanted to do something different.  The look on her face the first time she saw the blanket, was totally worth everything!

Blessings

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee.  The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.  The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

- Numbers 6:24-26


These words came to mind this morning and kind of got stuck there.  It got me thinking about us human beings and the way we articulate affection and good wishes to one another. I thought about all of the different expressions of love or friendship or admiration that we say to one another: "I love you"... "How ya doin?"... "Have a good one"... "Take care"... "You're amazing"... We say these things all the time, sometimes flippantly and sometimes thoughtfully.

I thought then about what I'd pick if I were to pick the one thing I could hear that would mean more than anything else, what would set my world aglow, and drop like a treasure down into my heart.

I couldn't think of a single thing that could improve upon these words that the Lord himself spoke to Moses.  What could possibly be better than looking one whom you love in the eye, and with the full weight and power of Almighty God backing up every word, speak from a sincere heart this simple yet utterly all-encompassing blessing?    

So this morning, I'd like to send out these words to all of my loved ones, the obvious ones and the not-so-obvious ones, from the depths of a full heart:

The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you each and every day.  The Lord look upon you, wherever you are, whatever you need, and may our great God give you peace.

Amen.

Dinner on a Rainy Night...

Tonight was one of those nights where it felt appropriate to cook.  I'm no health food fanatic, but I'm kind of the opposite of a closet eater.  I tend to eat largely and obnoxiously when I'm out and about, so that when I have a night in, I often crave something healthy and maybe a bit on the lighter side.

So I was browsing Bon Appetit's October 2012 issue the other day (I'm way behind on my reading, obviously), looking for something to get for dinner, and ran across a recipe for Spinach with Chickpeas and Fried Eggs.  It looked tasty and healthy and easy and cheap, and what else is there, really? (as a general rule, anyway) so I picked up the ingredients next time I was at the store.

It's raining tonight, so I crawled into my sweats, cranked up my Planet Money podcasts and settled into that wonderful, blissfully comfortable rhythm of chopping and stirring that any fellow kitchen lover will recognize.

I sauteed some spinach with sliced garlic, set it aside and stewed tomatoes and chickpeas in chicken broth flavored with toasted cumin, smoked paprika, sauteed onions and more garlic; added the spinach and let it simmer for awhile, just to let the flavors meld.  In the meantime, a couple of farm-fresh eggs (courtesy of my baby sister) went into the fry pan with some olive oil.  I usually fry eggs in bacon grease, so this was new to me.  The eggs get all bubbly and crunchy around the edges.  You don't flip them; you just spoon some of the hot oil around the whites as they cook.  It was really cool!

The stew went into a bowl and was topped with a fried egg; then I decided to innovate and add a spoonful of Greek yogurt I had in the fridge, along with a splash of walnut oil and some salt and freshly ground pepper.  I've found that I really like adding a dollop of yogurt or sour cream and/or a drizzle of a nut or olive oil when I serve soups.  They add this luxurious mouthfeel that makes eating soup that much more enjoyable. (Ask Tunie; she'll tell you what a raging soup fan I am. Haha.)

It was good.  Warm and cozy and mellow and perfectly in sync with a rainy night.  I'm happy.


Spinach with Chickpeas and Fried Eggs
(hopefully Bon Appetit won't mind)

3 T - olive oil

4 cloves - garlic, thinly sliced

1 bag - spinach

1 cup - chopped onion 

1 t. - cumin seeds

1/2 t. - smoked paprika

2 - 15oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 - 15oz can - stewed tomatoes

3 cups - chicken broth

4 - eggs

Greek yogurt, olive or nut oil, salt and pepper, if desired

Heat 1 T. oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Saute one garlic clove until it just starts to brown, then add the spinach to the pot.  Cook and stir until spinach is wilted, but still bright green (just a couple of minutes).  Transfer the spinach to a bowl and set it aside.  Wipe out the pot and add another 2 T. of oil.  Add onion and remaining garlic; saute for a few minutes over medium heat until the onion is softened.  Add the cumin and paprika and stir until the cumin is toasty and the whole mixture is fragrant, another couple of minutes.  Toss in the tomatoes and chickpeas and turn up the heat a little; cook until the mixture starts to brown and stick a little, maybe 10 minutes or so.  (You know those browned bits add killer flavor to a dish.)  Add your broth, bring to a simmer, and turn the heat back down to medium; cook, stirring every so often and mashing a few of the chickpeas against the side of the pot, until the stew is thickened a bit; maybe 20 minutes.  Add the spinach and simmer for another 8-10 minutes for flavors to blend.  

Meanwhile, heat some olive oil in a fry pan and crack your eggs into the hot oil (a couple at a time).  Spoon the hot oil over and around the whites of the eggs as they cook.  As soon as they are set, slide them onto a plate. (Don't bother flipping them.)

Spoon the stew into bowls, top each with a fried egg, and add a spoonful of yogurt and a drizzle of oil if you like.  Add salt and freshly ground pepper, and go to town.  

Serves 4.

A NIGHT WITH FRIENDS

Last Saturday night, Carrie and I made a 3 course dinner for friends.  Taking our schedules into consideration, and the fact that we were a little rusty in the art of entertaining, we chose a menu that could be more simply prepared.  Simple though, does not mean tasteless.  Taste and color and texture are all very important to us.

1st COURSE

SALAD OF PETITE SUMMER TOMATOES WITH VINE-RIPE TOMATO SORBET

2nd COURSE

OPEN-FACED SANDWICH OF FLANK STEAK, SPINACH, CARAMELIZED ONIONS,

AND ROASTED RED PEPPERS

SUMMER VEGETABLE GRATIN

FRESH FRUIT

3rd COURSE

PLUM AND MASCARPONE PIE

And we are still smiling by the end of the night!  The dinner was a great success.  We only had one mishap (or was it two?), while preparing this meal.  When I made the garlic tuiles, I made them to thick and didn't bake them quite long enough.  So a couple of hours before guests arrived, I was making them again.  Just as a side note, if you enjoy cooking, a great cookbook is The French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keller.  Be for-warned though, this is not for the faint of heart.  Keller will send you in four or five different directions within one recipe to complete a dish. We have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge using this book, and it is a joy to use.  The Salad of Petite Summer Tomatoes came from Keller's book.  Starting at the bottom of the dish, the red sauce on the plate was a tomato coulis.  The green, basil oil.  The bread was brioche croutons (ahhh-so good Carrie! who is our exceptional bread maker!).  Layered on the crouton, were the tomatoes.  Next, which is hard to see, is a tomato sorbet. This dissolves in your mouth leaving a satisfying flavor to savor.  And finally came the garlic tuile.  This is garlicky, crisp and salty. The perfect bite to finish this dish.  Thank you Keller!