Tuesday, December 8, 2009

What's new around here

This has really got me scratching my head because what's new is . . . not much. 
Which presents sort of a blogging problem. Who wants to hear about the same things I blogged about last year? I certain don't want to write about them again, but maybe a little roundup would be alright.

We woke up to snow in the Berkeley hills yesterday, but we did that last year too. And besides, I did not have my camera with me. It was fun though, and I even let my carpool kids out for a quick snowball fight on the way to school. At least two of these three kids will spend a good part of the winter skiing in the Sierras on hopefully many feet of snow, but you cannot believe how delighted they were with a couple of inches in their own yards. 



Last night was our first hard frost of the winter (we don't have many), so Husband went outside to string lights in our citrus trees to protect them from frost damage, just like we did last year.





Inside, I made one of our favorite cold-weather meals, spicy Thai beef, which I served with coconut rice and wok-charred broccoli. I know: big whoop.


Well, the hot buttered rum I served a chilled Husband was a big whoop but, again, hardly anything new.

I  know! We roasted chestnuts on our woodstove! In my chestnut pan! We do this all the time, but I don't think I've showed anyone my pan. I wait patiently for the Italian ones to show up at our produce market (much better than the pale California or Korean ones). They're about double the price but worth every penny.

What is really new though is who likes them best.

The spotted devils
They make us do the peeling though. 

6 comments:

gandr said...

But how about dragging a sore shoulder around?

Laura said...

the lights on the citrus tree is an absolutely brilliant idea! My parents (Bay Area residents) sent me snow pictures today...you've gotten more snow than we have in New York at the moment!

carolyn said...

I'm making me a toddy tonight but what are you going to do tomorrow to keep warm with another spare the air day called ! Yikes!

Kristin said...

I'm so jealous that you had time for what sounds like a very relaxing evening. I was actually toying with Atheism last night (I'm an Episcopalian with very heretical ideas about what I consider God to be) so I could tell people I'd still be giving out the baked goods, but presents are out. I hate shopping, & that would give me more free time at this time of year to do what I enjoy...baking.

KatieGirlBlue said...

That photo of the lights in the tree is just lovely--it made me smile and think of Italy. And I shall now have thai food for lunch.

See how helpful your blog posts are? What's may seem boring to you is actually quite enthralling for those of us who long to live in the Berkeley hills!

Cindy said...

Yikes is right! Electric heaters, maybe?? Do you think anyone will require my neighbors not to drive their SUVs??? Maybe if I get mad enough, it will keep me warm. At least we have the hot tub!