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the cocoa wasn't bad
Dec. 31st, 2011 10:14 pmA pretty decent day.
Woke up to children yelling "happy birthday Mummy!" (all sentences from small children end in exclamation points.) They brought me presents. Senor Onion handed me one and said, "look we got you another one!" I opened it and it was indeed something I own one of -a silpat. How lovely. I did need another one. Miss Biscuit handed me another present and it was a set of water colors. Mr. Jenner told me that there had been a considerable fight between the two of them over who was to give it to me when they were wrapping presents. I made some noises about painting pretty scenes once we move to England. Mr. Jenner looked at me like I was odd until I said, "I promise not to use the color black." There were books and DVDs and the usual things. After breakfast and laundry, I went to Elliott Bay Books and looked at books by myself. I had spent enough money over the year to earn a twenty dollar credit so there was that sense of feeling like I was getting books for free. The only problem was that I couldn't remember which books I wanted to get. I found a couple of things. I should remember to keep my list of books with me. I also went and had a hot chocolate.
I went down to the market to pick up the cassoulet for dinner and a few other lovely things to have with it. As I was waiting for the hostess to get my order of cassoulet (from Cafe Campagne) A gentleman who worked there (probably a GM) came wandering through. He was terribly well-dressed in that exquisite fashion that you see among many Frenchmen. Where things are casual but done just so that you wonder if they spent hours affecting such a beautiful look. He smelled alluring too.
I had a wander in Sur La Table. It was crazy in there as there was a bit of a sale. Nothing really called to me. People were salivating over any pile of whatever that had sale labeled around it.
The house was still standing when I came home. We went to a bakery and everyone picked out a glorious looking pastry to have for dessert. Senor Onion picked a chocolate eclair, Mr. Jenner chose a mille-feuille, Miss Biscuit immediately called for the strawberry tart, and I decided upon a choux a la creme. We also picked up a baguette, which we were to have with dinner but we ended up being too distracted with other food.
My friend Rebecca who is briefly in town visiting family for Christmas called me up and we were able to get together in the International District. I helped her find the right sort of stationary she had been searching for. She had picked up some in Australia(?) a few years ago and she had not seen anything like it since. I had suspicions that the book shop at uwajimaya would have what she wanted. And they did. Plus a few other pretty things. We wandered through the grocery looking at miles of things like wasabi peas, entertaining snacks, sauces, Durian fruit and mushrooms. Then I showed her Daiso the Japanese dollar store. I ended up finding a teeny Christmas tree that would be perfect for the dollhouse that belongs to Senor Onion and Miss Biscuit. I think I will save it for next year. I also found a pretty hankie with a tartan pattern. 100 percent cotton and all that jazz.
We came back for tea and sweets. This is our chance for what I call our once a year or two, extended conversation. Since we live in different places and while we keep in contact via assorted mediums, this is fun to speak face to face. As she was leaving I almost said, "well then, see you next year" But that won't be. The upside is she may be in western Europe in 2013, so we might be able to meet up in some fashion then. Because what the heck. We traded fun gifts. She gave me some home-made mincemeat and I gave her some chocolate raspberry jam and rhubarb jam. Certain local flavors that one misses when living in Texas.
As for dinner, it was nice. A platter of pickled and preserved things. Some bought, some home-made. a pate from DeLaurenti, and three cheeses. One of which was a birthday present from my Mom -which turned out to be Mr. Jenner's favorite of the three. After dinner we dove into our pastries. Miss Biscuit became quite messy and we laughed a bit as she tried to get out of her sticky clothes. She looked quite pissed off and said in a serious voice, "It's NOT funny." Now her feelings are very real and very much hers and I respect that but it was hard not to laugh when she said that. We did our best. Poor kiddo. Being two is so hard. She was very tired and grumpy toward the end.
Children are out like lights, I finished my last book of the year, we may drink some prosecco if we can stay awake long enough. Maybe I will have some cocoa. Oh the wild living that goes on.
So, things are about to change for real. England, I am going to be so in you, that I hope you are using protection.
Let's do this New Year thing shall we?
Woke up to children yelling "happy birthday Mummy!" (all sentences from small children end in exclamation points.) They brought me presents. Senor Onion handed me one and said, "look we got you another one!" I opened it and it was indeed something I own one of -a silpat. How lovely. I did need another one. Miss Biscuit handed me another present and it was a set of water colors. Mr. Jenner told me that there had been a considerable fight between the two of them over who was to give it to me when they were wrapping presents. I made some noises about painting pretty scenes once we move to England. Mr. Jenner looked at me like I was odd until I said, "I promise not to use the color black." There were books and DVDs and the usual things. After breakfast and laundry, I went to Elliott Bay Books and looked at books by myself. I had spent enough money over the year to earn a twenty dollar credit so there was that sense of feeling like I was getting books for free. The only problem was that I couldn't remember which books I wanted to get. I found a couple of things. I should remember to keep my list of books with me. I also went and had a hot chocolate.
I went down to the market to pick up the cassoulet for dinner and a few other lovely things to have with it. As I was waiting for the hostess to get my order of cassoulet (from Cafe Campagne) A gentleman who worked there (probably a GM) came wandering through. He was terribly well-dressed in that exquisite fashion that you see among many Frenchmen. Where things are casual but done just so that you wonder if they spent hours affecting such a beautiful look. He smelled alluring too.
I had a wander in Sur La Table. It was crazy in there as there was a bit of a sale. Nothing really called to me. People were salivating over any pile of whatever that had sale labeled around it.
The house was still standing when I came home. We went to a bakery and everyone picked out a glorious looking pastry to have for dessert. Senor Onion picked a chocolate eclair, Mr. Jenner chose a mille-feuille, Miss Biscuit immediately called for the strawberry tart, and I decided upon a choux a la creme. We also picked up a baguette, which we were to have with dinner but we ended up being too distracted with other food.
My friend Rebecca who is briefly in town visiting family for Christmas called me up and we were able to get together in the International District. I helped her find the right sort of stationary she had been searching for. She had picked up some in Australia(?) a few years ago and she had not seen anything like it since. I had suspicions that the book shop at uwajimaya would have what she wanted. And they did. Plus a few other pretty things. We wandered through the grocery looking at miles of things like wasabi peas, entertaining snacks, sauces, Durian fruit and mushrooms. Then I showed her Daiso the Japanese dollar store. I ended up finding a teeny Christmas tree that would be perfect for the dollhouse that belongs to Senor Onion and Miss Biscuit. I think I will save it for next year. I also found a pretty hankie with a tartan pattern. 100 percent cotton and all that jazz.
We came back for tea and sweets. This is our chance for what I call our once a year or two, extended conversation. Since we live in different places and while we keep in contact via assorted mediums, this is fun to speak face to face. As she was leaving I almost said, "well then, see you next year" But that won't be. The upside is she may be in western Europe in 2013, so we might be able to meet up in some fashion then. Because what the heck. We traded fun gifts. She gave me some home-made mincemeat and I gave her some chocolate raspberry jam and rhubarb jam. Certain local flavors that one misses when living in Texas.
As for dinner, it was nice. A platter of pickled and preserved things. Some bought, some home-made. a pate from DeLaurenti, and three cheeses. One of which was a birthday present from my Mom -which turned out to be Mr. Jenner's favorite of the three. After dinner we dove into our pastries. Miss Biscuit became quite messy and we laughed a bit as she tried to get out of her sticky clothes. She looked quite pissed off and said in a serious voice, "It's NOT funny." Now her feelings are very real and very much hers and I respect that but it was hard not to laugh when she said that. We did our best. Poor kiddo. Being two is so hard. She was very tired and grumpy toward the end.
Children are out like lights, I finished my last book of the year, we may drink some prosecco if we can stay awake long enough. Maybe I will have some cocoa. Oh the wild living that goes on.
So, things are about to change for real. England, I am going to be so in you, that I hope you are using protection.
Let's do this New Year thing shall we?
