tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207509272012-02-01T10:21:22.407+01:00Our Jewish, Cajun, Taiwanese, American FamilyDim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.comBlogger9701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-73317044756177873262012-01-31T08:00:00.000+01:002012-01-31T08:10:12.135+01:00

After a nice Sunday walk in Vendicari, we ventured south to the fishing village of Marzamemi. Unassuming buildings pushing us towards the open space of the simple, but inviting piazza. Gorgeous stone walls, enticing doors painted vibrant turquoise and red,  boats bobbing in the water and a tasty lunch at Taverna La Cialoma (especially the octopus salad and eggplant with lemon ricotta). We were on

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-42808576764017815452012-01-30T10:00:00.004+01:002012-01-30T10:00:10.188+01:00

Vendicari Nature Reserve: flamingos, cormorants, colorful kingfishers, beach balls, fluffy winter grass...it is still one of our favorite spots in Sicily and it was fun to share it with Nicola.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-14302213874980085912012-01-29T08:00:00.000+01:002012-01-29T08:00:07.074+01:00

Here's a recent recipe from Camille: -Dig out two old bottles of strawberry milk from under the back seats of your van-Pour into a large pot-Stir-Measure-Stir again-Pour into a cup and try to convince your mother to drink it Here are two kid friendly cook books we like: Pretend Soup The Silver Spoon for Children Both of these cook books have illustrated steps so kids can follow and concoct

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-85449595881677781232012-01-22T22:59:00.001+01:002012-01-22T23:03:03.640+01:00

I have never been a fan of apples. Just hasn't been my thing. The crunch, the tartness, the sweetness, none of it ever really appealed to me. Until a few months ago when there was some kind of seismic shift in my taste buds. I think it might have started after Thanksgiving when I had a leftover bag of cranberries and decided on a whim to give Ina's cranberry apple cake recipe a try. I only

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-10393511171070179662012-01-21T11:04:00.001+01:002012-01-21T11:10:22.740+01:00

It's been an interesting week here in Lake Wobegone Sicily. For the past five days, the Sicilian truckers, farmers, and fishermen have been on strike. That may not sound like such a big deal, but it is turning into one. Big rig trucks and tractors have been blocking major intersections, toll booths, and even shut down parts of the major interstate/autostrada. Gas stations have been out of gas all

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-24109380033333864422012-01-18T21:28:00.000+01:002012-01-18T21:28:05.353+01:00

Nestled next to the railroad tracks, big green doors with a padlock, fresh roses in a water bottle as an offering, a remembrance, some sign of life and devotion.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-63035076008991609532012-01-17T23:43:00.001+01:002012-01-17T23:48:19.896+01:00

Hiking in the steps of Archimedes, soaking up the same stunning and strategic views he had of Siracusa, climbing through tunnels he designed over 2000 years ago: Eurialo Castle is the perfect place for an afternoon of time traveling. Which is exactly why swords are essential. Seeing our young friend with his trusty wooden sword reminded me of our first trip to Agrigento when Noah was around the

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-33081240862143616082012-01-13T18:59:00.000+01:002012-01-13T18:59:15.568+01:00

Musee d'Orsay, Paris, November 2011 Fiberglass books, dancing books, and moving gears. It's all been on my mind in the past few days. I love when overlapping experiences merge in these synchronistic snaps. I think it started with a recent viewing of Hugo which prompted me to re-visit the book and study those illustrations that captivated me so much the first time I read it.  I have to admit to

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-82633043324908121262012-01-12T22:37:00.001+01:002012-01-12T23:08:43.466+01:00

 Spotted outside the Salzburg Museum: a tree wearing a cheerful hand-knit sweater! And apparently knitted trees aren't unique to Austria. Check out these colorful and cozy trees in Austin, New York, and Seattle. Have any near you?

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-692456016248416652012-01-10T23:00:00.000+01:002012-01-10T23:00:28.520+01:00

I am sure I am not the only one who has noticed the surge in graphic novels for both kids and adults, right? Growing up, I was never really a fan of comics (except for The Far Side), but I have always loved books with little to no text. Once I had kids that love intensified and together we dove into some real treasures together.  And then Noah started learning to read. For a variety of reasons, 

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-34204810377784121592012-01-08T22:30:00.000+01:002012-01-08T22:30:44.680+01:00

For Mesmerizing:   Murmation For Parents:   The Birds, The Bees, and The FrogsFor Friends:    Margaret and HelenFor the Fridge: Magnetic and Mocking For Winter:  Volume Four of Alphabet GlueFor $5 Laughs:  Louis CK (not for family viewing!) For Chinese New Year: Dumpling Days For Traveling:   In 2012 For Spinning: The Bicycle Animation

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-77829708216757288652012-01-05T23:48:00.003+01:002012-01-06T00:21:55.573+01:00

They were disappointed by how small she was and that we had to stand so far back and that she was behind glass. But when Noah pulled out his camera, that famous face suddenly became much more interesting to both of them. I bet da Vinci never imagined his work would be viewed like this...behind so many layers of people, physical barriers, and digital lenses.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-81699039329970001362012-01-04T23:55:00.000+01:002012-01-05T00:07:07.650+01:00

 Same girl, different puddle, different bike: a new year.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-25824973165946339092011-12-31T12:09:00.000+01:002011-12-31T12:09:43.154+01:00

Once upon a time in South Louisiana two little girls eagerly pressed their faces to a big window and watched airplanes taking off and landing. They had been so excited when their parents proposed the trip to the airport to watch the planes. They had never done anything like that before and then the parents suggested that they all get on one of those departing flights. The girls couldn't believe

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-18059836935349552562011-12-30T23:18:00.001+01:002011-12-30T23:18:17.310+01:00

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-89074130915455609012011-12-29T22:01:00.000+01:002011-12-29T22:01:29.435+01:00

Lofer, Austria: an idyllic mountain village with a pretty creek running through the center of town, jagged  peaks towering above in all directions,friendly locals, and lots of snow! Truly a winter wonderland and one of our most relaxing trips ever.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-88012162019622096412011-12-28T00:59:00.002+01:002011-12-28T01:06:30.890+01:00

Latkes, dreidles, laughter, and my favorite moment of the evening: faces glowing in the light of the Hanukkah candles. I love our annual Hanukkah party, but that wasn't evident earlier today when I was frantically cooking, crazily cleaning, and fussing at my kids. I even went so far as to make the ludicrous declaration that our family would NEVER host a party of any kind, EVER again. Not my

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-24699034021779880942011-12-18T15:15:00.000+01:002011-12-18T15:15:58.617+01:00

The darkest time of the year has me craving light...candle light, fire light, star light, and holiday light. We are venturing north to the land of Mozart and The Sound of Music: a much anticipated ski trip in Austria. I have a feeling the cold temperatures and snowy mountains will have us all appreciating the warm glow of this holiday season. Hope you are enjoying this season, too.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-63754636127182317392011-12-16T13:36:00.000+01:002011-12-16T13:36:11.008+01:00

 Yep, those turkey feathers were re-purposed to make menorahs, too! Here's how: 2 egg cartonsOld MagazinesGlueColored Duct Tape and or PaintTissue Paper 1) Cut the end off one end of the egg cartons so you have nine candle holders. We used the cut off piece to add height for the Shamos.  2) Tape the two cartons together.  3) Enlarge each candle holder by snipping the tip off.  4) Paint or

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-7964285658301655542011-12-15T10:57:00.001+01:002011-12-15T12:48:34.995+01:00

The Procession starts at 3:30 in the afternoon with the staccato bursts of fireworks. Men carrying the elaborate silver statue of Santa Lucia emerge from the Duomo (Cathedral) and the crowd pushes forward to get a first glimpse. Prayers, tears, and shouts of "Viva Santa Lucia" ripple in currents around us. Women dressed in black with green neck scarves carry the glass and silver case with a

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-49484209834573751122011-12-14T00:11:00.000+01:002011-12-14T00:11:34.279+01:00

Siracusa, Sicily: "Sarausana je' Viva Santa Lucia!".  The crowd and the signs proudly proclaim in the Siracusan dialect that the beloved saint is a native of Siracusa. And it is true. She was born here, she died here, and she has worked miracles here. Last year we celebrated Saint Lucia in Belpasso. This year I was fortunate to spend a beautiful, sunny day in Siracusa...buying eye cookies,

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-67383829125231322772011-12-12T11:08:00.000+01:002011-12-12T11:08:55.603+01:00

There was a flurry of activity and colorful "snow" all over our house this past weekend: scrappy, polka-dotted snowmen! Aren't they cute? It all started with the discovery of the "feathers" from last year's recycled turkey. Those feathers (rolled up magazine pages) turned out to be the inspiration for several weekend crafting projects. Re-cycled, re-purposed, and used all over again in a new

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-80902953591134986162011-12-09T08:16:00.000+01:002011-12-09T08:16:52.978+01:00

Palazzo Biscari, Catania, Sicily One person, one focusCarving out time to just to sit in a quiet house Rolling out the mat and listening. My knees creaking and cracking as I fold them under.My neck bones grating, shifting and settling into place. My shoulders tensing and rotating. My eyes closing quiet breathing in and breathing out quietno music, just the hum of some appliance in the other

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-86180009773644265362011-12-08T09:46:00.004+01:002011-12-08T09:52:31.674+01:00

Our European letterboxing experiences have been pretty limited. Over the past three years in Europe, we have only been able to hunt for letterboxes on three of our trips: Dartmoor was the highlight, Venice was fun, and Munich turned out to be very expensive. Letterboxing just isn't as big here as it is in the States, but that doesn't stop us from hoping that we'll find more. Whenever we are

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-42178535008010718592011-12-07T10:00:00.007+01:002011-12-07T13:46:46.462+01:00

Thanksgiving Day, 2011, Cesaro, Sicily: A charming two year old friend of ours enjoying his version of the perfect Thanksgiving meal.  We all had such a good day together...a morning hike followed by banagrams, soccer games, book reading, laughing, minimal kitchen time (we were doing a farm stay but had brought along some of our favorite Thanksgiving foods), a nice big, leisurely meal and

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-55800155147576521182011-12-06T08:05:00.000+01:002011-12-06T08:05:55.924+01:00

How did it get to be that time of year again so quickly? The season of light and goodwill. The season of wonder and joy. The season of shipping deadlines, long lists, and intense emotions. The season that always seems to entail a visit to our public school with a fervent reminder that in a public school all children and their cultures should be celebrated, not excluded or pressured to

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-32964535183943196422011-11-29T21:49:00.000+01:002011-11-29T21:49:41.830+01:00

Daily hikes past cows, up and over rocky paths, following the Troina River, stopping to pick flowers, throw rocks into the water, and admire the striking vistas. Big, green, rocky hills covered with wild teasel, ferula, and trees with yellow leaves. The rainy season has started in Sicily which means everything is finally greening up. Sudden rains rinsing away the dusty, browns of summer.  Even

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-12438795988634171612011-11-28T20:22:00.000+01:002011-11-28T20:22:25.873+01:00

Palazzo Biscari, Catania, Sicily Tonight we will light a candle for Adam's grandmother who passed away this weekend. Ann was truly a beautiful woman who lived a long and vigorous life. She was one of the most candid women I have ever met. She was generous, kind, and driven. She loved dirty jokes, she was practical, and she turned organizing and cleaning into an extreme sport (I always heard

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-33479718100608324372011-11-24T10:00:00.002+01:002011-11-24T10:00:02.149+01:00

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris, 2011 Sending you and your families warm wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are headed off to explore Sicily's Nebrodi Mountains for a few days with friends. We have so much to be thankful for and while savoring our final year in Sicily, we are also starting to get excited about our next destination. We recently found out we will be moving to the Washington,

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-88072838536277934212011-11-23T11:24:00.002+01:002011-11-23T11:32:26.476+01:00

As much as we loved all of the Paris sweets, we also loved the savory side of Paris, too. All of those chalkboards beckoning us, tempting us, wooing us to stop,taste,and savor. I didn't realize how much I loved those enticing black and white signs until I got home and saw just how many photos I had taken of menu boards! A few of our favorite Parisian savory spots: Chez La Vieille "Adrienne" for

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-44062431594081262782011-11-22T22:01:00.007+01:002011-11-23T10:53:08.665+01:00

Here's my advice for anyone planning a trip to Paris: Paris Pastry. Seriously, forget the guidebooks, the bulky maps, the fanny pack, and any other cumbersome piece of tourist gear you might be considering for a trip to Paris. Pack pants with stretchy waistbands, leave all of your caloric guilt at home, and follow David Lebovitz's advice.His brand new app, Paris Pastry, was one of the reasons we

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-18517459233748248502011-11-17T22:03:00.001+01:002011-11-18T07:35:58.576+01:00

My last trip to Paris was over fifteen years ago. It was part of a quick backpacking trip through France, Belgium,and the Netherlands before starting summer session in Oxford. I was traveling with my college roommate. We both had small backpacks, a copy of Lets Go Europe, and very little money.We slept on the floor of a friend's small apartment and the only "fine" dining experience we had was in

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-14628646535391456292011-11-10T14:52:00.002+01:002011-11-10T14:55:57.413+01:00

Yep. I'll just say it. We are spoiled. Spoiled rotten. This afternoon we are headed to Paris. I haven't done a ton of planning because this is the plan I have in my head: eat croissants, wander, eat eclairs, wander, eat macaroons, wander, fantasize about running into David Sedaris at a puppet show, watch the kids explore one park after another while sitting on a bench holding Adam's hand and

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-12842362999815879012011-11-07T17:57:00.000+01:002011-11-07T17:57:08.999+01:00

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-52741547151124304692011-11-06T12:45:00.001+01:002011-11-06T12:45:55.436+01:00

Bright white, rippled ridges, jutting out from the southern Sicilian coast like a piece of frilly wedding cake just waiting to be climbed and consumed. And that's just what we did a few weekends ago when we had some close friends visiting us from the States. After exploring the dramatic landscape of Agrigento and a fun farm stay at Villa San Marco (beautiful views of the temples lit up at night),

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-49183676151250617452011-11-05T09:38:00.001+01:002011-11-05T09:39:46.521+01:00

That's right, the obsession continues. Noah was the flag zombie. Adam was the disco zombie. I was the conehead zombie. And Camille went with her own creation which we are hopeful will appear in future editions of the game: the polka-dotted, bad kitty-fairy. My proudest moment of creative inspiration came from turning a dumpster discovery (that great big gourd) into a pea shooter.  Halloween

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-42489741127771541082011-10-30T10:00:00.000+01:002011-10-30T10:00:16.224+01:00

Calling all fellow nature nuts, leaf gatherers, rock hounds, and acorn collectors! Please join us as we take part in a Nature Exchange being hosted by The Magnifying Glass. This is a fun way to share interesting bits and pieces from your part of the world with others in another region. Be sure to read this important post about carefully selecting what gets sent and be sure to photograph what you

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-5847483488383080542011-10-12T23:45:00.000+02:002011-10-12T23:55:15.342+02:00

Prague Municipal Library  Created by Slovakian artist, Matej Kren  Isn't it wonderful?

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-88182887811814305522011-10-10T23:55:00.001+02:002011-10-11T01:04:20.918+02:00

I have a reputation in my mom's family as a quitter when it comes to games and it's somewhat true. I don't like long, drawn out games like Monopoly and I can only occasionally finish my family's favorite card game, Rummy Roulette without falling asleep at the table. I guess I get bored too easily (and yes, I admit it, I hate to lose). I like quick, to-the-point games with the thrilling

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-42027658218069458292011-10-09T19:40:00.000+02:002011-10-09T19:41:59.825+02:00

That third year of the military wife cycle has officially kicked into high gear but with a new twist. We have lots of decisions to make in the very near future about our future. We are at an important crossroads in Adam's career...stay in the Navy or get out. It's a spot that seemed so far off in the future. A "down the road" place that has now suddenly jumped right in front of us. In the past

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-24735586571120306282011-10-05T21:30:00.000+02:002011-10-05T21:52:06.842+02:00

Red roof tops, spires,twisty little streets, and towers for bells and clocks and climbing...so many beautiful views, but this one from the top of the Powder Tower was my favorite.  We spent last week in Prague and I am now sorting though lots of pics and memories. Stay tuned for more.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-1834975368822499142011-09-22T14:20:00.001+02:002011-09-22T14:29:12.802+02:00

Camille and I have had some interesting conversations lately. The first one came up a few weeks ago before she started school (which, by the way, is going fabulously well!). She was helping me bake lemon bars. It was like one of those Hallmark commercials. A mother and  a daughter baking together in the kitchen. Afternoon sun lighting up the whole scene as the daughter looks into the mother's

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-23535358210346173422011-09-18T18:00:00.000+02:002011-09-18T18:08:57.026+02:00

THE THINGS HE LEFT BEHIND                      for Elemore Morgan Jr.                     8.6.1931- 5.18.2008  They have no work to do today these cows of his,no calves waiting for them to rise, no cud to chew.They sit and look at us. They are not made to missanything in the way we miss things, a shade of blue  he used to offset pink and purple and red in towers of cloud, how he set the force

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-50842743101595265582011-09-17T19:56:00.000+02:002011-09-17T19:56:35.085+02:00

Aren't they cute? Turtles are turning out to be very good pets for our family.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-37610258152786460112011-09-15T11:20:00.000+02:002011-09-15T11:30:44.867+02:00

 That perfect sunset lured us back and this time we brought a group of friends. We spent Labor Day back in Mozia in Western Sicily. In addition to the stunning sunsets, crab hunting, and kayaking, we also ventured over to the actual island of Mozia where we visited the lovely little museum packed with Phoenician treasures and explored some of the trails leading to excavation sites. We also spent

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-77028792811811738032011-09-10T13:43:00.000+02:002011-09-10T13:43:36.522+02:00

Second Saturday Artwalk in honor of Elemore Morgan, Jr. (my dad). Really wishing we could be there. If you are in Lafayette this weekend, please go!

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-31262861145577674892011-09-02T15:45:00.006+02:002011-09-02T16:10:37.810+02:00

This list should really be titled: things that grabbed us this summer. For Puzzling: Izzi For Feeding: Alice Waters and Ruth ReichlFor Laughing: Doc Martin and Louie and Knucklehead For Watching: Howl's Moving CastleFor Parenting: How to Land Your Kids in TherapyFor Listening : Wailin' Jennys and Radio LabFor Clowning:  A Family Trade For Creating: Anthropologie Displays For Time Traveling: 100

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-64815262041647015062011-08-30T15:42:00.000+02:002011-08-30T15:42:25.921+02:00

Mt. Etna, Sicily, ItalyAugust 29, 2011

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-3656586752473584662011-08-29T15:30:00.000+02:002011-08-29T15:38:33.464+02:00

Today was the first day of school. Noah eagerly hopped on the bus this morning and headed off for his first day of third grade. Camille hesitantly attended Kindergarten Orientation today. She's not sure about this whole kindergarten thing. It is quite a contrast to Noah who couldn't wait to start and spent the summer prior to Kindergarten studying the calendar and begging to start sooner.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-59052460396017487112011-08-22T21:20:00.001+02:002011-08-22T21:21:55.380+02:00

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-4442381522516645642011-08-08T08:20:00.003+02:002011-08-08T08:26:10.030+02:00

Take a close look at this horse we encountered while visiting Erice last month. He is sporting the equine version of a plastic Jesus on the dashboard. I am starting to wish we had some kind of protective element to add to our van this morning. We are loading up and heading to the land of Pippi, Ikea,Tomten, and Dala horses: Sweden! And we sure could use some divine intervention because we aren't

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-29280537866918496472011-08-05T16:15:00.004+02:002011-08-05T16:22:07.923+02:00

Toliet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, acrylic paint, ribbon and a busy pair of hands resulted in this fabulous garland for Adam's birthday celebration last weekend. I LOVE the way this turned out and also the flash of desperation (very last minute decision to gather neighbors and friends around the fire pit) which led to inspiration and a much needed way to decrease our stockpile of paper rolls.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-65254064611275481492011-08-04T07:50:00.001+02:002011-08-04T07:53:15.217+02:00

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-33064584220610333882011-08-03T23:20:00.000+02:002011-08-03T23:26:03.104+02:00

Here's another highlight from our time in the States: the five days we spent in New Orleans with Nana and Brooke. We did all of the kid friendly tourist things in New Orleans. All of the things I kept meaning to do with my kids on previous trips but just never quite got around to doing: The Aquarium, The Zoo (with that fabulous new water space), The Insectarium, Camelia Grill, Beignets at Cafe

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-15600896953823417602011-08-01T23:00:00.002+02:002011-08-01T23:11:32.534+02:00

Summer seems to be flying past us at warp speed this year. As I mentioned in last week's post, we are savoring our time at home right now and trying to make the most of these precious weeks before school starts again. And the summer edition of Alphabet Glue is turning out to be the perfect way to fully celebrate this sunny season. Annie has done it again. This second volume of Alphabet Glue is

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-73723540825993654362011-07-31T21:45:00.007+02:002011-07-31T21:54:01.661+02:00

Take a look at the sea creatures we made at the beach this year! Aren't they wonderful? I have been wanting to give glue batik a try for quite awhile. The beach house was the perfect place because we could do all of the work outside in a shaded spot with a big wooden picnic table, easy access to a hose, and multiple clotheslines for drying. Remember our painted fish shirts and the tie-dye ones?

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-31285405029222940452011-07-29T15:20:00.002+02:002011-07-29T15:25:03.642+02:00

Rewinding a bit to highlight some of our favorite adventures while in the States earlier this summer. Our annual family trip to Navarre Beach, Florida was filled with big waves, lots of shells, card games (Rat -a-Tat Cat, Spades), Banagrams, puzzles, fancy desserts made by Emee, Beyblades, a treasure hunt courtesy of Uncle Ron and Joseph, beach walks, and a very sunny family photo session (my

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-16936700744864846852011-07-28T18:20:00.002+02:002011-07-28T18:23:14.699+02:00

I know, I know, I know I promised to begin posting more regularly once we returned to Sicily, but the days of visiting and sightseeing with my sister and my cousins just flew by in a big sweaty blur. A good blur, but also a bit of an exhausting one and so after an intense month of day trips, weekend trips, and countless hours in the car, the kids cheered when I informed them that our new "

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-42643346550161451242011-07-13T22:20:00.001+02:002011-07-13T22:44:18.529+02:00

Small fishing boats bobbing near the pier, the Egadi islands purple and hazy in the distance, paddling in a bright green kayak, watching that glowing, orange orb disappear on the horizon and wanting to make it all last just a little bit longer. Stagnone Lagoon, Mozia, Sicily

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-24427467994100806862011-07-07T22:20:00.001+02:002011-07-07T22:26:46.527+02:00

Almond and Gelsi (Mulberry) Granita, Catania, Sicily We have returned to Sicily with all of her summer goodness...sunny beach days, cool nights, and granita (with or without a brioche) for breakfast. We are also happy to have several different family members visiting us this month which means we'll have many opportunities to indulge in all of our favorite Sicilian treats and hopefully discover

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-40760462940684612772011-06-18T08:47:00.000+02:002011-06-18T08:47:15.567+02:00

 It's all been good: the tree climbing, the dog chasing, the kitten training,the summer reading, the visits with friends, the pool time with cousins, the trip to New Orleans, and so much more. We are now leaving Louisiana and headed to Florida for our annual family beach trip. Sorry the blog posts have been so sporadic, but I have to admit it has been nice to be so unplugged. There will be lots

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-417970110581977032011-06-02T23:30:00.000+02:002011-06-03T06:31:57.891+02:00

Dappled morning light, bright green leaves, heavy humid air, my aunt's front porch:: summer reading in St.Martinville, Louisiana. We've been spending lots of time with Tin Tin, Pippi, and Harry. What about you? Any good summer reading suggestions?

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-56491155798727444262011-05-29T18:48:00.000+02:002011-05-29T18:48:41.670+02:00

Jacksonville Beach, May 2011  A very quick hello and update. Our time in Florida turned out to be even shorter than anticipated. We had a wonderful weekend on the beach which included the exciting opportunity to see the space shuttle launch, a night out with my book club friends, and lots of pool and beach time. The best and biggest surprise of our time in Jacksonville was that Noah did not

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-81287088305261621102011-05-14T14:13:00.000+02:002011-05-14T14:13:07.115+02:00

We flew on Friday the 13th and in retrospect maybe we should have picked a different traveling day. We barely made it on two of our flights. They lost our car seat and I think I may have food poisoning from eating some sushi in the Munich airport. BUT, we made it and we woke up to waves crashing, surfers on the horizon, and pelicans cruising for breakfast. Noah announced his plan for the day:

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-9544134822653938442011-05-12T23:55:00.002+02:002011-05-14T13:45:14.858+02:00

An erupting volcano, a pending surgery, selling a house, packing for a trip back to the States. Mt. Etna is erupting again. It was beautiful last night when we got out of bed at 1am to see it. It really was amazing. But I don't feel quite so charmed by it tonight. The airport has been shut down and we don't know if we'll be able to fly out tomorrow as planned. Needless to say tensions are high

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-34332633615073946332011-05-11T21:17:00.004+02:002011-05-14T13:58:51.844+02:00

 About two months ago, I listened to Garrison Keillor read Mark Jarman's Prayer for Our Daughters. I enjoyed it so much that I scribbled the name of the poem on the corner of the calendar in the kitchen. A few weeks later while doing dishes, I tuned into Terry Gros interviewing Tina Fey and I had a strange moment of synchonricity. I put aside the dishes, stood in the middle of the kitchen and

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-72692271566914946082011-05-09T20:20:00.000+02:002011-05-09T20:24:55.668+02:00

 Another good Sunday in Sicily: we celebrated Mother's Day by returning to Noto Antica. A delicious lunch at Borgo Alevira followed by a quick climb around the ruins. Good friends. Laughter. Kids running through clover. Perfect. ***Borgo Alevira is truly a Sicilian gem of a place...fabulous mix between old and new, gorgeous surroundings, a very enticing pool, attentive staff, great food. We

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-66305114399302908192011-05-07T23:55:00.002+02:002011-05-08T09:37:44.500+02:00

It was an old story. They’d both heard the tale many times. But a good story traveled like water, constantly flowing, making rivers from one person to the next, returning and filling them up all over again (p. 305). Those are the closing words in Kimberly Willis Holt's The Water Seeker. I love that image of a story as water, making rivers between us, filling us up and "constantly flowing". It is

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-9128976738544988782011-05-03T22:28:00.013+02:002011-05-03T22:40:22.730+02:00

Shovel. Bucket. Scissors. Gloves. Jug of Water. I almost always have these important items in the back of my van, especially this time of year in Sicily when the ditches are full of color. Glorious, billowy wildflowers just begging to be picked. Our dining room table, kitchen counter, hall table, bathroom ledge and even the jug near the front door are constantly being filled with different blooms

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-87548091524757320942011-04-22T21:30:00.000+02:002011-04-22T21:39:02.143+02:00

 Tourist trinkets, neighborhood storefronts, red postal boxes, and hand painted Easter eggs. And so many other things I wish I had good pics of: turquoise subway cars, red fizzy cherry drinks, the fancy yellow Szechenyi Bath House, neon green signs of spring appearing on branches. It is always fun to see what colors flavor the new places we visit. Budapest has its share of grey buildings and

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-43024011828838573722011-04-17T10:30:00.001+02:002011-04-17T10:50:26.732+02:00

My birthday is tomorrow but I have to admit that ever since my dad died it has actually become a pretty hard day for me. I just can't erase that birthday from three years ago.  It was the last time I ever heard his voice because they took him off the ventilators for a brief period. He looked awful but as the month progressed I realized in retrospect that it was one of his strongest days. I

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-77311677037845752702011-04-15T15:15:00.003+02:002011-04-15T15:33:16.468+02:00

Pussy Willow for Easter Trees Sweet Hungarian Wine Gabor and Friends under a Spotted Rudolph sign Fresh Spring Greens and Peppers Chocolate Easter Treats I have just returned from a fabulous trip to Budapest with two friends. Kid-free in a beautiful city full of great sites, good food, and fun company turns out to be a very nice combination! One of the highlights of trip was the market

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-9877307007048763032011-04-08T22:30:00.003+02:002011-04-08T22:33:31.242+02:00

 Are you familiar with these? I remember reading about them prior to our move to Italy and feeling excited the first time I spotted some in Rome. We found a lot in Florence at various points along the river. I like them. They are romantic, symbolic, and even a bit festive when bunched in colorful, shiny swags along railings. It turns out that they aren't unique to Italy and they aren't always

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-50778864080066626482011-04-06T17:10:00.001+02:002011-04-06T17:11:50.443+02:00

August 2010, Caltagirone, Sicily

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-21087497953460558102011-04-05T22:15:00.002+02:002011-04-05T22:21:53.096+02:00

Open the blinds. Ignore the piles of dirty clothes. Clear away the Legos. Unroll my mat. Close the door. Push play on one of Sarah's podcasts. Begin to breathe.  Ever since our return from Bulgaria I have been doing yoga in the kids' bedroom. I know it's kind of an unlikely spot and perhaps even a bit risky because of the Polly Pocket/Lego terrain, but it has been working well for me. It works

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-56465741485815413312011-04-02T23:00:00.000+02:002011-04-02T23:10:18.658+02:00

 We spent this afternoon falling in love with these Cirneco Dell'Etna puppies. Six little wrinkly Sicilian pups. Sleeping, playing, and wriggling their way straight into our hearts. Hope you are having a weekend full of similar sweetness and fun.  Congratulations to Karen and Vanessa for winning the Alphabet Glue give-away!

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-60697786410307505202011-03-31T10:40:00.001+02:002011-03-31T11:30:47.822+02:00

I love bread pudding. It ranks right up there with tapioca on my list of sweet, gooey, comfort that you can eat with a spoon. I grew up eating a lot of bread pudding. My mama has a reputation for her bread pudding. Most of the time it is the traditional combination of stale bread, raisins, sugar, eggs, milk. But other times, especially during our annual beach trips, my mom's bread puddings take

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-24875838939046181592011-03-29T21:30:00.001+02:002011-03-29T21:53:01.953+02:00

You know that question about having dinner with a famous person? Well, over the past couple of days Camille and I have been having a similar, but perhaps even more entertaining discussion. Here's the question: if you could create your own village full of your favorite characters, who would you want to be your neighbor? And what would their house look like?  It all started with Annie's new and

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-76919473010361409252011-03-28T22:30:00.002+02:002011-03-28T22:34:24.448+02:00

Sorry for the recent lack of blogging. I blame it on a combination of internet issues and the string of sunny days which drove us outside every day, all day. We needed that. So before March officially ends here is my March List: Ching Chong: "You destroy the power that racism has by turning it into something positive" Jimmy Wong in a recent NPR interview. Listen to the interview, watch the nasty

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-89684884315270850352011-03-23T23:40:00.001+01:002011-03-23T23:47:03.993+01:00

A few weeks ago she excitedly asked to take the training wheels off of her bike. One successful ride and then she refused to ride again. The feeling scared her and she insisted on only riding her tiny, old tricycle. This past weekend she asked to have the training wheels put back on. She's happily riding again. She'll let us know when she's ready to try taking them off again. She approaches life

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-17284739091063361332011-03-21T17:00:00.001+01:002011-03-21T17:01:19.537+01:00

Things are a bit off-kilter around here these days. I am engaged in a strange dance between guilt, worry, denial, distraction and everyday life. It started with the sad news from Japan and now has shifted a bit to Libya (if you look on a map you will see how close we really are). In general, I feel like we live in a fairly idyllic little bubble and I want that. I want to create a safe and happy

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-57383163608574890902011-03-17T21:20:00.001+01:002011-03-17T21:24:57.611+01:00

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-41177838427262558382011-03-14T17:01:00.004+01:002011-03-14T23:28:54.091+01:00

While cleaning out closets this past weekend, I came across a beautiful pack of origami paper. I remember getting it shortly before we left Japan (2006) and in a rare pack-rat moment of glory, I was very glad I had stashed that paper away. I spent most of this afternoon folding paper cranes and thinking about Japan. My heart was so sad and heavy, but as I started to fold and crease the little

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-41130981733647040602011-03-11T11:40:00.001+01:002011-03-11T11:41:17.030+01:00

 I have to be honest, I was kind of dreading "black". Black isn't really my color and I was kind of stumped by it, but that's why I like these kind of mini challenges. It prompts me to stop and look a little more closely at the daily details that fade into the mess of every day life. And that's exactly what happened with "black". Making a cup of tea this morning, I suddenly saw the black in the

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-56887474168350936022011-03-10T14:40:00.000+01:002011-03-10T14:42:38.248+01:00

Green succulents and a green box. I pulled the box off of our bookshelf with the thought of photographing it with something else, but then I opened it and discovered the birds. The birds are magnets made with scrap wood by a folk artist in Jacksonville, Florida. He sold them each year at the annual garden club sale and I loved adding to my little collection. It was such a nice surprise to find

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-88209737118095530452011-03-08T20:15:00.002+01:002011-03-08T21:24:08.862+01:00

 Yellow Mimosa flowers to celebrate today's Festa Della La Donna. Observational drawings thanks to some inspiration from Dawn. And a mix of purple, green, and gold in honor of Mardi Gras. 

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-10457991907127926522011-03-07T20:50:00.001+01:002011-03-07T20:56:05.390+01:00

  Pink tissue paper flowers taped onto driftwood by Camille. Dirty dishes in the sink. Gumbo on the stove. The soft light of a grey March day coming to a close. Grey and pink in Sicily. Jumping in a day late, I decided to join Francesca for her Week of Colors.

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-5897917532784612942011-03-04T12:40:00.000+01:002011-03-04T12:41:28.722+01:00

 "Rapunzel Fairy" by Camille and "Attack of the Volcano Monkeys" by Noah (inspired by one of his favorite books).  Our weekend weather forecast looks pretty dreary, so I am looking forward to watching this with the kids, baking hamantaschen, attending a local production of Annie, playing Mastermind (anyone remember that original game box? read this), napping, reading and have a nice lazy weekend

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-78273537567256333632011-03-03T20:55:00.002+01:002011-03-04T10:57:26.229+01:00

When I unwrapped a frozen lasagna a few nights ago, I was reminded of those annoying, motivational tampons from last year. Only this time I was greeted with chirpy words plugging the "possible" benefits of family dinners. Sentences like this: "Families who eat together might have children who get better grades". What is wrong with our society that we need these messages on lasagna and tampon

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-41950410025011872792011-03-02T23:55:00.002+01:002011-03-03T07:35:59.474+01:00

So in addition to seeing lots of museums, we climbed lots of stairs and did a bit of urban hiking. Our first big hike took us from the Uffizi Gallery, across the Arno River, and up to the Piazzale Michelangelo. We took it slowly. Stopping to admire the Ponte Vecchio bridge in the distance; dashing into a little market to pick up fresh fruit; noticing the water line marker from the 1966 flood, and

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-84205521486200278692011-02-26T13:00:00.002+01:002011-02-26T13:00:02.723+01:00

This is the cup of tea I had this morning. A simple cup of Earl Grey tea with a swirl of milk and a spoonful of sugar. It was perfect.  I have always been a tea drinker. I can actually break up chunks of my life into different teas: herbal tea obsession in college; lots of earthy green, twig, and buckwheat teas during my year of teaching in Japan; chai tea during grad school and our years in

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-76215276691709196312011-02-25T23:30:00.005+01:002011-02-26T00:14:36.306+01:00

It was a museum-heavy weekend in Florence. We knew that visiting museums would be a large portion of our trip because there is so much art and history to see in the famous city, but also because we knew the weather would be chilly and possibly rainy. In preparing for the trip, I once again got books that I hoped would bring the artists/scientists and their work to life for our kids. I also tried

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-85258579193554121912011-02-22T21:30:00.001+01:002011-02-22T21:41:57.071+01:00

Golden buildings, elegant arches, naked statues, stark winter branches against bright blue skies, museums, and lots of gelato: we took a chance and decided to spend a long weekend in Florence. It felt risky because the weather forecast called for rain and I dreaded leaving the Sicilian sun for a cold, dreary, and wet weekend. I am glad we took the chance. We only had one rainy day and even that

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-51974570395962127642011-02-18T07:00:00.014+01:002011-02-18T15:12:08.620+01:00

  These are two of my favorite shots from this year's St. Agata Festa. There is the youngest candle bearer that I saw all evening. Look at him covered in wax. He was so serious, so intense and seemed wise beyond his years. And then there was the friendly,beaming man selling his homemade St. Agata statues on a rickety table on a sidewalk. He was so proud of his handiwork and really how could I

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-48057313694787149372011-02-17T15:15:00.001+01:002011-02-17T15:19:40.393+01:00

It's Bird Week at The Magnifying Glass! Head over to win cool stuff, learn about birds, and take part in The Great Backyard Bird Count. You can also read the interview I recently did with Kimberly Hosey. I promise she will make you think, laugh, and want to pick up a camera. Her photos of birds are what prompted me to contact her. I have often admired (and been a bit jealous) of her ability to

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-70068317340165945262011-02-16T20:30:00.001+01:002011-02-16T21:31:01.944+01:00

This is just a quick post to collect a couple of things that have been bouncing around in my head and in my e-mail box. First, "the monster bag" which was a collaborative Christmas gift for my mom. Camille's monster is on the left and Noah's is on the right. They drew directly on the canvas bag and I embroidered over them. I have to admit it was pretty hard to part with it and maybe one day I can

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-41177801396990328232011-02-13T21:50:00.000+01:002011-02-13T21:53:45.337+01:00

 There were cupcakes,balloons, six giggling boys, Pokemon charades, and the beating of Pikachu (oops, I meant to say a Pikachu pinata....why do we take kids' favorite characters, turn them into a paper punching bag, and encourage the kids to beat the thing to pieces so they can eat the innards?). Our first big sleep-over party was a success and remarkably we all actually got some sleep. Hope you

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-67613246311704875752011-02-09T23:30:00.001+01:002011-02-10T23:48:24.578+01:00

This was how we spent last Sunday. Basking in the sun, eating excessive amounts of delicious food, and hiking through Bosco di Santo Pietro where I learned that cork trees don't really have corks hanging from their branches like in the Ferdinand illustrations. Usually, my favorite part of our Sunday adventures  are the hikes that we take, but last Sunday our lunch was the highlight of the day for

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-51842055237344051692011-02-09T22:25:00.003+01:002011-02-09T22:31:58.682+01:00

I never thought I'd be singing the praises of Pokemon, much less writing a post about it, but this is a post that has been percolating in my head for quite awhile. Those baffling little cards entered our lives nearly two years ago and continue to be a source of near daily entertainment, discourse, and serious study for Noah. He researches and reads anything related to this alternate universe. In

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20750927.post-65297040077274128612011-02-06T21:15:00.009+01:002011-02-06T21:23:36.279+01:00

Candles, lots of candles that will be carried through out the night. That also means lots of hot dripping wax and slippery streets. See those big candles in the second pic? Those big, heavy candles will be hoisted onto their backs and they will run through the streets all night long to honor St. Agata, to atone for sins, to express gratitude, and to be a part of a tradition that is hundreds of

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398185185844916216noreply@blogger.com3