Goodbye, Cinnamon

We said a very sad goodbye to our beloved cat tonight. Cinnamon had nearly fourteen years of happy, well loved life. Her companionship has been a constant for me as she has followed me around the house the entirety of her life. She showed surprising patience for Abbott and Cal as they entered her life as infants, and complete devotion to them as they grew.

We will miss you so, so much Cinnamon.

a holiday cocktail

I hope your holiday weekend was everything you hoped it would be. I feel sad about it ending and Alexi heading back to work. The boys don't have school until Wednesday; we plan to make a gingerbread house, among other things.

Over the weekend we made pomegranate mimosas. This cocktail is perfect for entertaining, as it can be prepared ahead of time (I recommend making at least 15 minutes in advance; the flavor improves with a little extra time to mix). I bought the pomegranate juice at Whole Foods and bought their store brand (365); it was less than half the price of the other brands.

Pomegranate Mimosas

2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
6 ounces elderflower liqueur
1 bottle sparkling wine, chilled

Mix the pomegranate juice and elderflower liqueur in a pitcher. Add the sparkling wine. Pour into Champagne flutes or wine glasses and serve.

Makes 8 cocktails

The festive red color and the pomegranate flavor make these perfect for the holiday season.

This recipe is from the Park Avenue Potluck Celebrations, a cookbook that benefits The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (via Melissa C. Morris). This newly-released cookbook would make a great holiday gift while supporting a great cause.

Happy Monday to you.

celebrating

We had what was probably our best Thanksgiving ever; the day was relaxed from start to finish. I made what I pretty much always make, and I think all that practice is starting to pay off. A brined turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy (made by my mother in law - I don't like gravy and don't know how to make it), cornbread-sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle and green beans. For dessert, pumpkin pie and apple pie and cinnamon streusel ice cream. Everyone ate a lot of everything. There was play with hockey trading cards, stimulating conversation about travel, politics and aspects of life in China with our Chinese dinner guest. Such abundance: family and food and friends.

The surprise of the day was Cal losing his first tooth. We'd had no indication it was even loose. He bit into a piece of salami and out it came, creating a fair amount of emotional turmoil for him (and, admittedly, for me too - my 'baby' losing his first tooth). He decided to forgo putting it under his pillow - it made him too sad to think about having it taken away. And the thought of a tooth fairy sneaking into his room while he's sleeping was also just too much for him.

I hope your weekend is lovely! xoxo

(Cal's tooth fairy box. The tooth is staying in here for safe keeping.)

the upcoming feast

Despite the effort involved in planning, shopping and so forth, there is nothing like spending Thanksgiving in the kitchen and around the table with those you love. What are your plans for the upcoming feast? We're hosting. Alexi's mother and stepfather are here for the holiday; his cousin and another friend will also be joining us.

I hope your day is full of love and good food!

The Grateful List

Today I'm honored to have my friend Shari as a guest blogger. I'm inspired each and every day by her photos and thoughts; if I only have time to look at one photostream on Flickr on a given day, it's always hers. Her photos are here; her blog is here.

Each day my grateful list expands. Last week I was thankful for the evergreens providing much needed color in the drabness of stick season, sunshine passing through cattail fluff, a phone call from my husband inviting me to an impromptu lunch, another day of wearing only a lightweight jacket, and the indoor farmer's market. I am grateful for life, for every little bit of its goodness, and I love how I never know what may be on my list tomorrow. Puddles, chocolate cake, a red fox dashing across the field? We are so lucky to be the recipient of so many days full of wonder and simple pleasures. I try so hard not to forget it.

this man

Today is Alexi's birthday. I'm so thankful to call this kind, dedicated, capable, smart, adventurous, fun, loving man my husband.

Thank you for making the time to be an amazing father and husband Alexi...you're a keeper. Wishing you a year that brings you as much joy as you bring to those around you.

at this point in November

One thing I love about colder weather is soup. My favorite is french onion soup, or gratin lyonnais if you're at a french restaurant.

Have you seen the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles? Hilarious. I just added it to our Netflix queue to watch again; it's been awhile. Are there any other great Thanksgiving movies out there we should see?

I'm finally starting to focus on Thanksgiving. I've reserved a turkey and am at least mentally starting to plan. I'll miss my Grandmother's pecans this year; she always sent me a box from her trees.

the winner is...

I've been loving the morning sun we've been having before the rain starts midday.

Comment number 40, via random.org, is the winner of my 2010 calendar giveaway.

"Anonymous said...

Love, love the iced tea picture! Would so love a calendar!

~Julie"

Please email me (leciawphinney at yahoo dot com) your address, Julie, and I'll get it in the mail to you.

Thank you to all who participated!

second grade market

Last week the second graders at our school held a market for parents and students, modeled after the Pike Place Market. Abbott has looked forward to being a second grader running the market since he first shopped at it in kindergarten. Produce and crafts (made by the second graders) are sold; buskers perform. The kids learn about economics and many other things in the process of preparing for and running a market. The proceeds will be given to the Pike Market Community (services include a medical clinic, senior center, foodbank, and preschool). I loved getting to be a part of it all.

the cucumber

Every single day in his lunch, Abbott likes to take cucumber slices. A relative just sent me the information below about cucumbers (thanks Ed!); I had no idea it is such a powerhouse food.

"Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium,Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath. The phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.."

(Unfortunately the source wasn't cited in the email, so I can't properly give credit.)

It's been a wet, windy week so far in Seattle. How are things in your part of the world?

the perfect social activity

Our weekend included bowling and more bowling. At a school sponsored Parents Night Out Saturday and at a birthday party yesterday, pictured above. I think it is perhaps the perfect social activity.

Thank you for your amazing response to the calendar! - you've done my heart good. If you haven't yet entered the calendar giveaway and would like to, just leave a comment on my last post sometime before Wednesday night.

Happy Monday friends! xo