Pure Love

There are lots of things underfoot in this new year, but something significant is missing from under our feet here at home. Our big dog, Bodhi, passed away last Tuesday. He was 12 and half years old and in dog years he was in his nineties. In June he was diagnosed with lymphoma, went through chemo all summer and was declared in remission in October. Thanksgiving weekend came and his appetite went. In December a dose of new chemo almost took him out, but then he rallied and was eating well and acting a little frisky. On Tuesday past, I came home to find him in a bad way. It was very sudden, the distress was evident and we had to take him to the vet. This is not to say that we did not know this was coming. The decision to do chemo was to buy us a little time. Throughout it all he had a wag in his tail and a light in his eyes. If it was possible, we could not have asked or found a better dog.













He was a handsome devil. He was sometimes called devil dog for a particular look he had, but in reality he had the sweetest disposition. Even the vet was surprised by his demeanor because as a chow/akita mix he was supposed to fit a snarky stereotype. Bodhi was named for being a bodhisattva; a wisdom-being that works for the complete enlightenment of all sentient beings. For us, he did his job nobly well. My heart is better and more full of compassion for having cared and loved this beautiful animal.

My wish is that I could write more to tell you about his full life, but it is still so heartbreaking that I am doing more weeping than writing. The fact is I have been trying to write this post all week. What I want to simply say is Bodhi brought us joy and he is very missed.

2 + 2 = FUN

Today is Cookie & Kiss' Birthday and they have come to town to celebrate! The request for dinner was Uncle Joe's pizza. Pizza is Kiss' favorite food and Uncle Joe was happy to oblige the birthday girl.



















She is all smiles while eating her pizza. Lovin' it!








































For dessert, chocolate cup cakes with marshmallow icing






































Cookie wasn't so sure about the marshmallow icing, but loved the cake. Kiss was another story. She loved everything about these cupcakes, especially the icing.
























































Best cupcakes ever!



















The Chocolate Cupcake recipe comes from A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. The cake was moist, tender, and delicious. Molly makes a chocolate glaze for her cupcakes, but I wanted to please a younger palate. Recently, I was cleaning out the cookbook shelf and came across a recipe I had clipped from Food & Wine, September 2003 for Marshmallow Icing. As soon as I saw it I knew this was the topping for the babies' birthday cake.


Chocolate Cupcakes
makes 12 cupcakes

1 ounce semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup hot brewed coffee
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup well stirred plain whole-milk yogurt (not low fat or nonfat)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line the wells of a standard-sized muffin tin with paper liners.

Put the semisweet chocolate in a medium bowl with the hot coffee. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and opaque.

In another medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the egg on medium speed until it is pale yellow, about 1 minute. Add the oil, yogurt, and vanilla, beating well. Gradually pour in the melted chocolate mixture, and beat to thoroughly combine. Add the dry ingredients all at once, and beat on low speed until the batter is just combined. With spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl and briefly stir to make sure that all the dry ingredients are absorbed.

Spoon the batter into the wells of the muffin tin, making sure that it is evenly distributed. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the cupcakes comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack, and cool for 20 minutes. And then very carefully remove the cupcakes and allow to cool completely before icing.


Marshmallow Icing

5 large egg whites
1 2/3 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cold water
1 1/2 cup light corn syrup
Pinch of cream tartar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Bring 1-inch of water to boil in a wide saucepan. In a large stainless steel bowl, whisk the egg whites with the sugar, water, and corn syrup until blended. Set the bowl over the saucepan and whisk the whites until the sugar is completely melted, 4 to 5 minutes. Rub some of the mixture between your fingers to be sure it's not gritty.

Remove the bowl from the saucepan and add the cream of tartar to the whites. Using a stand mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed for 1 minute to break them up. Gradually increase the speed to high and beat until until the icing is fluffy, firm, and no longer warm to the touch, about 1 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. Use right away.

Makes 6 1/2 cups of icing.

This last little note about the amount. Guess what? I didn't really see it until I was typing up the recipe. Of course, an abundance of icing was made. Way too much icing for a 12 cupcakes. I could have iced at least 3 dozen cupcakes, maybe 4. The icing is deliciously sweet. Cookie didn't really like the stickiness, but I got a big ole seal of approval from Kiss, as the pictures attest. Totally worth every sticky, sweet moment of pleasure. BTW, there were no complaints from the adults either. A crowd pleaser all the way around.

Beanie Babies

Okay...really a couple of teenagers in beanies.












This is my nephew who wanted to make his own beanie. He did a great job on his first beanie. He was able to finish it before he went skiing in Mammoth. Now he has requests to make some for his friends. I see another beanie making session in the near future. While showing him the ropes on the beanie I cast on for an identical one for my other nephew. They both picked out the same yarn. So danged cute. I love them to death.















This is the photo he sent me from his mobile after his mom brought him home the beanie. I got a thumbs up!



Here are some picks from my birthday hike at Pt. Mugu.



















This was the view from the top of the climb. I love how the ocean and sky merge together. You could see to infinity and beyond from the top. Amazing.




















Me & my honey.


And the reward....



















dinner at Malibu Seafood.
yum

byebye '09

Yesterday I got to spend time with my boys, Tyler and Andre. Be still my heart...Andre wants to learn how to knit a beanie and that required a trip to the Stitch Cafe for yarn and needles. When we got home we all knitted up some swatches while practicing our stitches and listened to Bob Marley.

When Uncle Joe got home the boys played Axis & Allies.



















While I made Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies.





































Taking over the world is serious business, so we interrupted the game for dinner at Cheebo. After dinner, the boys finished the game. Uncle Joe, playing Germany, won by taking Moscow. Then we all played all the Wii until after 11pm. It was a fun night hanging out at home.

Today we all went to China Town, where we picked up a bonsai tree for Tyler as part of his Christmas present. For lunch, we walked over to Phillipe's and ate everything in sight. Then we took a stroll to Union Station and were in awe over its grandeur. What a beautiful train station. Just being in the train station made me itch to hop on a train and get out of town. Now we are all sprawled out on the couch and watching Up. What a sweet movie.

Today was the just the most perfect way to end a pretty danged good year. Me and the boys walking in the sunshine and enjoying each other. Yep, pretty perfect.

I am off to join them on the couch.

I hope your year ends on a sweet note.

Help Name my Mom's Kitten

Meet my Mom's new baby. She rescued him this weekend as this little guy is the offspring of a barn cat. There are lots of dangers lurking about for a kitten on the fringe of the city. There are coyotes, owls, and hawks skulking about a barnyard. My Mom has been wanting a cat for a while and this cutie resembles a cat we had named Bartholomew. He's a polydactyl, which means he has six toes. He also has blue eyes.

The Naming Of Cats by T. S. Eliot

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

Now when this handsome little fella came home this weekend she first called him E.T. (Extra Toes). I told her I didn't really like that name. She said she liked Sammy. I liked Sammy and thought she could call him Sammy Six Toes or Sammy Sixty Six. Every good mobster kitty needs a solid nickname. Well today she told me his name is Tapo. That would be TAP (like the faucet) OH. What? Huh?! Does that mean something in some language? Nope, it's the name of the Canyon the barn is located in. My problem is that Tapo is neither pretty, nor dignified, nor special, or even cute. (On a side note: It's the animal hating husband that insists on giving this cute kitty the ugliest name he can think of. Animal haters shouldn't be allowed to have a say in the name, don't you think? They really don't have the talent for it. Okay...he's not exactly an animal hater but he is definitely not an animal lover. On the animal lover scale...10 being you LOVE animals...he's a two) The situation is very complicated as you can see. As Mr. Eliot expressed in his poem, the naming of cats is a difficult matter and so I turn to you.

I ask you to take a good look at this magnificent creature and please leave a suggestion or two of name worthy of this feline. Please no entries that rhyme with taco.

For an added incentive, if your name prevails to persuade and encourage my Mother's to change the name to yours I will personally send you a token of great appreciation.

Now give it your best shot as my Mom can be slightly willful, but I believe deep down she would like a better name too. No creature should be stuck with the name Tap-o, or Tappy, or T.P. for the rest of it's life. What? You know, you've got to give it a nickname. It just happens.

Vintage Photo Friday

Sisters: Nadine & Dixie

My Grandma, Dixie was the oldest of three sisters. Here she is with her middle sister Nadine. I am not sure what the year is (mom, maybe you can figure it out). They are in Springfield, Missouri.














Sisters: Mary Lynne & Cheryl
The next generation

Circa 1947, Culver City in Gran's driveway on Hubbard St. At the time my grandparents lived next door, in the duplex in the background.

More VPF

A special Thank You to all who attended the prom. It was truly an Enchanted Evening. It was undeniably special to revisit the memories, especially the fashions of the day, from home interiors to prom couture. Mwah! Love ya! K.I.T.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY

One year ago today, two precious babies were born












with all their fingers












and all their toes












Two completely perfect beings.

Love you. Love you.




VINTAGE PHOTO FRIDAY

















Beach, 1970

more photos

Vintage Photo Friday

Gran's 81st Birthday (February, 1971)
back left to right: Aunt Mary Lynne, Grandma's arm, Mom, Robert, Aunt Pat, and Cory.
bottom left to right: Great Gran and me.

This is my Great Grandmother's 81st birthday party. She was known as Great Gran to me. I am four years old and have no recollection of the party. It looks like the party is at my Great Aunt Pat's house. I think my dad probably took this photo. I am clearly more interested in looking at everyone's faces rather than at the cameras. There are four generations in this photo.

One of the details of the photo that I love is the little bit of chandelier in the upper right hand corner. Of course, I just love seeing a slice of my family. My Great Gran lived another 24 years and I do remember being at the parties for years 90 and up.

For more Vintage Photos.

Note to Mom, if you remember any details of this party please share.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

Cheryl Ann,

You are still as cute as a button.

I LOVE YOU!
Big hugs & kisses.