“We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.”   -E.B. White

Friday, March 27, 2009

Back for more, y'all.

  Howdy peeps.  My lack of bloggin in the past 6 months leaves me a tad bit regretful...but it's back, and for good reason.
  In a very small nutshell, the past 6 months have been fantastic...transitional, but fan-freaking-tastic.  Mainly due to the great people who have entered my life in this time.  Kari, Inga, Alex, Jimmy, Bec, Staci, Romy, Nancy, Christine, Bob, Coral, Tarryn, Cuppy, Max, David, Mikey, etc. How can a gal be so lucky?  For reals.
  Here's what i've been up to....Finished the Med season in Spain, spent a few days in Barcie (Barthhhelona), landscaped a friend's yard (well, trimmed the hedge with sheers), learned to paddle board in the Outer Banks, drove cross-country (well, Jesse drove, ha), spent Thanksgiving in Seattle with fam, did a freelance trip in Bahamas for 45 days, lived in a crew house with my 2 best girlies, drank too much Strongbow at Waxy's, took a roadtrip to the FL Keys with my favorite kiwi, had an epic cheese, wine and guitar strummin party, took a surf trip to the land of Pura Vida, hung with friends in Charleston, surfed in some cold ars water, more great times in FL, awesome trip to Seattle, worked a dinner party on a boat in FL, coffee time with my Kar-Bear, picture sharing with my best mate Ben,  came back home to yogify and hang with mum and dad.....and here I am, sitting at the island, getting mentally prepared for leaving on Monday, and seeing (and working with) one of my favorite people on earth!     
     Kay, now that i'm caught up, it's time for s'more present-time thoughts....coming soon they will.  Lots o love and thanks for reading this craziness.  

Where has this southern gal been in the past year?

  • Bra, Italy
  • Milan, Italy
  • Venice, Italy
  • Cinque Terra, Italy
  • Paris, France
  • Sardinia
  • Ajaccio, Corsica
  • Calvi, Corsica
  • Portovenere, Italy
  • Portofino, Italy
  • Villefranche, France
  • Cap D'ai, France
  • Nice, France
  • St. Tropez, France
  • Cannes, France
  • Monaco, France
  • San Remo, Italy
  • Hilton Head Island, SC
  • Ft. Liquordale, FL
  • Seattle, WA
  • Nosara, Costa Rica
  • Charleston, SC
  • Waxy O'Connors, FL
  • Florida Keys, FL
  • Highbourne Cay, Bahamas
  • Harbor Island, Bahamas
  • Nassau, Bahamas
  • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Big Lake, Washington :-)
  • Mt. Vernon, Washington
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
  • Wilmington, North Carolina
  • Outer Banks, North Carolina
  • Stuart, Florida
  • Palma de Mallorca, Spain
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Rome, Italy
  • Sorrento, Italy
  • Sollerno, Italy
  • Agropoli, Italy
  • Positano, Italy
  • Amalfi Coast, Italy
  • Ischia, Italy
  • Isle of Capri, Italy

MY MENU MANTRA

I cannot overemphasize the importance of approaching each new menu or each new dish with a fresh attitude. Never look back, burdening yourself with the memory of the dinner that didn't quite work.  Nor should you endlessly repeat the comfortable dish that you have mastered: that promotes a stagnant attitude.  Move away from that safe old chocolate mousse recipe to new ideas, new cookbooks, and new restaurants for inspiration, motivation and incentive.  Learn to discriminate and choose the best of everything.  More than any other quality in other cooks, the one I most value is the ability to see precisely what is needed in a particular dish, dinner, or event.  This discrimination and attention to detail distinguish those dedicated and perceptive cooks I most admire.  -Alice Waters.