My Irish ancestors settled in the Tuckaleechee Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains in the 19th century and made their living as apple farmers. I wonder how they would view New England's landscape, where harvesting apples in the fall is woven into the fabric of life and where the topography is at times so … Continue reading Mad Tom Apples: Sunday Photo Essay
Food
Nourishment
Fall term has been up and running for two weeks now at ballet school; that means that I have been sneezed and coughed upon by little people (and a few medium ones, too) for about as long. In years gone by I have been good for a solid head cold once a year but lately find … Continue reading Nourishment
Finding Family
This has been a Handsome Chef Boyfriend weekend through and through. I am writing from his place this weekend, hanging around an extra day on the chance I can meet a deadline in a foreign and yet ever familiar environment. It is messy and inconvenient for everybody concerned; tomorrow morning will come early, and I … Continue reading Finding Family
Hankerin’ for Red Onions
Handsome Chef Boyfriend arrived last night, which could mean only one thing: bad puns and good eatin'. (Okay, two things.) In the daily morning call we decided on homemade pizza for dinner. Get whatever you want for toppings, he said. My mom used to ask me if I had a hankerin' for something when I … Continue reading Hankerin’ for Red Onions
Travel Log: Maine Attractions
I know, awful title. But fitting after a birthday weekend in beautiful, coastal Camden with the King-o-Puns, my Handsome Chef Boyfriend. That happened weekend before last, a birthday gift HCB planned and handed to me with the admonition to put away my wallet. We had to move heaven and earth to make our little jaunt … Continue reading Travel Log: Maine Attractions
Living Small, Living Well: (Almost) Two Years of Handsome Chef Boyfriend
When Handsome Chef Boyfriend and I had our first delicate conversations in September of 2012, I told him that chefs are artists of the highest order of magnitude, to my way of thinking. I meant that. The two of us have so much fun with food--talking about it, finding, creating and playing with it, and … Continue reading Living Small, Living Well: (Almost) Two Years of Handsome Chef Boyfriend
Clear Brook Farm, 180 Degrees
We are spoiled in Vermont during the summer growing season with an abundance of gorgeous produce to be had in local Saturday farmers' markets and elsewhere. (I am okay with being spoiled, or spoilt as a Southern friend likes to say; the flip side of that is Vermont winter.) I have observed before that the … Continue reading Clear Brook Farm, 180 Degrees
Wednesday Morning
When I was a little girl my dad had a way of putting a positive spin on things during a challenging week. "It's Wednesday--Hump Day!" he would quip. "Friday will be here before you know it!" This rainy Vermont Wednesday morning the air outside is clean scrubbed. Inside a little of the the maple-cinnamon oatmeal … Continue reading Wednesday Morning
Saturday in Quechee Gorge: Photo Essay
If you hang out long enough near the swimming hole at the bottom of Vermont's breathtaking Quechee Gorge you will hear various languages spoken among the tourists. Yeah, it's a bit tourist trap-y, but it's an incredible geologic phenomenon; people come from all over (obviously) to see it. Which makes it all the more amazing … Continue reading Saturday in Quechee Gorge: Photo Essay
Charge Complete, Okay to Disconnect
"The main question is, Are you actually gonna cook in this amazing kitchen?' The answer came in turn as a question: "Do you want to eat?" I had put this to Handsome Chef Boyfriend a few nights ago during one of our twice-daily phone chats, referring to the beautiful house where I have been dog- … Continue reading Charge Complete, Okay to Disconnect
Sycamore Stories 