grace

Video of the Day = A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

sweet tuesday...a rediscovery

One of my favourites from childhood is The Sign on Rosie's Door by Maurice Sendak.This story is wonderfully imaginative with Rosie conjuring up characters like Alinda the Lovely Lady Singer to the Magic Man! She uses her gift of persuasion to involve neighborhood friends in pretend games and adventures.Sendak has the perfect touch for capturing the very essence of children and humour with his drawings and storytelling. It begins with these words: "If you want to know a secret, knock three times..."

pondering

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow seperately without growing apart. ~E. FoleyYesterday I worked in the book shop while it rained all day. I thought of a friend who is far away and I miss.

Song/Video of the Day = Across the Universe
sung by Rufus Wainwright, Moby & Sean Lennon

sweet tuesday on a thursday

Two books have been on my mind lately. The first is The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food by Judith Jones. It is an excellent biography filled with food stories. Judith has been a great strength for bringing us cookbooks from so many well loved cooks and chefs. Somehow she has managed mostly to stay under the radar with all the amazing accomplishments and contributions in her life. Not many know that she was also a huge influence in making sure the book Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl came to America. I am in awe and grateful for this lady for so many reasons including the ease in which we can purchase fresh garlic and such ingredients today. This is a delightful read.The second book I wanted to share with you is Judith's most recent cookbook titled The Pleasures of Cooking for One. It is full of gorgeous photographs (I couldn't resist taking many for this post!) that are combined with simple delicious recipes.It is clear through beautiful writing that she has a deep love for cooking. The suggestions are helpful and the portions are appropriate without being overwhelming.Xas and I have enjoyed flipping through the book and deciding on recipes to make. The other day I had a hankering to make soup and he immediately suggested Judith's pumpkin soup. Below I have included that recipe and the results!Pumpkin or Winter Squash Soup
The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones

page 88

1 tablespoon butter

1 medium onion, chopped fine

About 2 cups roasted pumpkin or winter-squash chunks

2 cups light chicken stock

1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

Salt

1 tablespoon heavy cream, or more as needed

A small fresh grating of nutmeg

Melt the butter in a small heavy pot, and saute the onion gently for 5 minutes. Add the pumpkin or squash and stock, and simmer for 30 minutes. Mash the pumpkin or squash right in the soup, using a fork or a potato masher, or if you prefer a smoother texture, puree the soup with an immersion blender or in a food processor. Stir in the ginger, turn the soup into a warm soup bowl, and spoon the cream over it, sprinkling of nutmeg on top.*I added a bit of grated Asiago cheese on top of the soup as well.

nightfall

Nothing like a nighttime stroll to give you ideas.

~J.K. Rowling

Song/Video of the Day = Microphone by Coconut Records

click whoosh: polaroid documentary

A couple weeks ago a Polaroid documentary titled Click Whoosh was posted by a group of women filmmakers and youth media educators who all work or have worked for Reel Grrls (a filmmaking program for teenage girls in Seattle). The team put together a 7 minute historical documentary on the Polaroid camera with celebrating the art that is sadly fading for some. The women submitted for the first time ever in 2008 to the International Documentary Challenge ...they won the grand prize. This year they entered once again and won best editing. Both documentaries are absolutely wonderful and worth the time to watch.

sweet tuesday

The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino is an imaginative fable about a boy named Cosimo who one day climbs into a tree and decides to never touch the ground again. Xas and I really enjoyed following Cosimo's adventures with people on land and those that join him above. As the Italian landscape is described from high up, you get to see the beauty of the country through gorgeous writing. Calvino gives an enchanting fairytale in the world of trees that keeps one guessing as to what comes next. A completely fun read.

sun outlines

Light comes to us unexpectedly and obliquely.
~H.M. Tomlinson
Song of the day = Autumn Fallin' by Jaymay