Saturday, January 31, 2009
For the love of okra.
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Big Picture
First Prize

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Inauguration revisited
I had never met the other ladies at our table at the Buzz Cafe, but from the outset it was clear we were bound by similar experiences. We sipped coffee and told tales of freezing bodies and warming spirits, of smuggled hand warmers, and not so glittering galas. I learned one woman lent the ball gown she wore to the Illinois Ball on Monday to a complete stranger for a ball on Tuesday; she expects it will be returned by mail. One strong willed lady rode her bike to the inauguration from Maryland while another travelled by chauffeured car and yet another wandered over from her hotel across the street right into the crowd. Someone mentioned the joy of seeing multi-generational families bringing wheel chair bound elders to witness history in the making, another mentioned the thirty or so children who were briefly lost in the crowd, and another spoke of volunteers bursting into tears as President Obama took the oath of office. There were surprise tickets, orange tickets, blue tickets, and no tickets at all and a few tickets left unused...each storyteller's experience was unique and each had their own voice, but all the tales were similar in theme...we are one.
Thank you CR for insisting we share our stories...you are quite the keeper of history.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday Dinner
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Dinner for Four
We invited some dear friends to share in a meal last night. I was in the mood to do some cooking and while most of the dishes I offered were variations on my regular culinary themes the meal was quite nice complete with fine wine and even better company.Fennel, Shrimp, and White Wine Crostini
Puree of Butternut Squash with Honey and Currents and Frizzled Sage
The day after
It was the trip of a lifetime filled with memories that will last least as long as the line we stood in!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Ball
Fact Number 1: Do not wear heels; comfortable shoes are a must.
Fact Number 2: Be willing to part with your coat; check it and you may never get it back.
Fact Number 3: Bring your own food; lines are long and sometimes fare is scarce

The convention center stop on the Metro line was closed for security reasons so we got off the train at Chinatown and started to walk. The streets were filled with extraordinarily well dressed people marching toward the well lit building that played host to eight of the ten official inaugural galas held on the 20th. As we narrowed on our destination it suddenly occurred to me we were being herded; we were a mass of adults in formal wear being funneled like sheep through gate after gate until we were turned out into our pasture...
The Midwestern Ball...True or False?
Fact Number 1: TRUE. Do not wear heels to the ball. I am sorry I did. The shoes were pretty, but my feet hurt for two full days following. There is no seating available unless you choose to sit on the floor in your gown and believe me there were many barefoot ground sitters around the perimeter of the room.
Fact Number 2: TRUE. The good news is I still have my coat, but I am certain there are folks who did not at the end of the evening. When entering the convention center greeters are calling out the locations of various balls and coat checks..."Western Ball Coat Check Second Floor"..."Mid Atlantic Ball Hall A"..."Home states Ball this way"...and on and on. It was overwhelming. We immediately made the decision to keep our coats. We tucked them under a set of drapes near the stage area and hoped for the best!
Fact Number 3: FALSE. There was food available throughout the evening and a cash bar. I will not comment on the quality of the offerings (think veggies and dip), but the suggestion people leave starving is false. We did not experience hunger desperation, but after returning home the rosemary and goat cheese sandwiches MCB made for us at 1:30am hit the spot!
Sheryl Crow performed to an enthusiastic crowd and proved herself to be quite an exceptional musician!
Friday, January 23, 2009
The "not quite" Parade
As much as we would have liked to have seen the First Family walk down Pennsylvania Ave I know we made the right choice...I'd bet every penny in my red leather purse the Obama Family would agree!
The Inauguration



What an incredible day for Father and Daughter to share. They were at once freezing, inspired, giddy, humbled, and honored.
Day of Service: January 19
After filling about 100 bags between the four of us the kids and I wrote letters to the troops and received these brownies as a thank you gift! I was exhausted and didn't even use a shovel or a paint brush!