flowers for the shower

I found this great Amy Butler fabric at the little fabric store down the road:


Funky victorian wallpaper. So I finally got off my butt and made a new shower curtain for the bathroom. Lovely!

Beef a la Anuja

Have I mentioned that MI is a magnificent chef? Well he is. Our friend Anuja is also a wonderful chef and MI borrowed this recipe from her and prepared a delicious dinner on a recent Sunday. One of my favorite things about fall is Sunday slow cooked meat - MI is a master. The recipe follows; Anuja used 6 lbs of meat for a dinner party and MI halved the recipe for us.

Beef a la Anuja

• Approx. 6 lbs slow cooking beef (any cut);
• generously salt and pepper the meat and sear in a hot pan on all sides, setting aside once browned;
• deglaze slightly with your favorite beer or add a little olive oil and slightly sauté whole onions studded with cloves (for 6lbs meat I used 4), 4 or 5 smashed whole garlic cloves and a couple of whole jalapenos ( this is only sauteed for a minute);
• add the rest of the beer and deglaze;
• add back the meat, a bay leaf or two and enough water to cover the meat.
• At this point I put it in a 250 degree oven to slow cook. Cook until the meat starts to fall apart. It might take anywhere from 2-3 hours;
• after the meat is done, pull out and set aside to cool so you can shred it;
• discard the aromatics;
• reduce the remaining broth (we reduced to 2.5 cups for 6lbs meat).
• Once the liquid is reduced, pour out and set aside to reuse the pot;
• In some olive oil, sauté 2 large sliced onions, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 sliced bell peppers (multiple colors), and chopped jalapenos (number varies on taste; since we were making it for a large group I only used one);
• once these are sauteed down a little add a couple of minced cloves garlic. The process to get them cooked down could take 20 min.
• Once soft add chopped tomatoes (we used one box of pomi for the volume we were creating) and add reduced liquid broth. Add some salt and pepper and simmer for 15 min.
• At this point, taste to adjust seasoning and start to slowly reduce the liquid to the consistency you want. We wanted to serve this as tacos so reduced it enough for it to be really thick when the shredded beef was added back. Some serve it with rice so would leave it soupier.
• When the liquid is at the consistency you want, turn off stove and add in the shredded meat, mix well and let it cool.
• You can also let this sit overnight so the flavors meld.
  Enjoy!!

MI also made a cucumber and asparagus salad with a lemon vinaigrette. Yum!

Happy Birthday Grampa

Today is my grampa's birthday. He passed away in January of 2007; here's a picture of me, grampa, grammy, and my cousin Ian in June 2006:


Sometimes I have an easy way with words, but when it comes to my grandfather I have a hard time articulating exactly what he meant to me and exactly how much I miss him. He lived a long life full of friends and family and I'm grateful that I got to be such an integral part of it. His passing was a blessing for him and my family as he had quickly deteriorated to stage 6 or 7 Alzheimer's and was only a shadow of the man I remember as my grandfather. That being said, knowing this does not make me miss him less.

My childhood and adolescence is wrapped in a quilt of memories created by my grammy and grampa Hatch. My dad said that today was a day of reflection for him and so it ended up being for me. Flashes of memories: grampa's sandy New Balance sneakers at the cottage door, sitting with him in the old red recliner, watching him and my grammy jitterbug around the cottage, mornings that smelled of coffee and tasted like egg on toast at 60 North St., his constant presence at all of my father's games while I stayed home with grammy, visiting him at the Print Shop, watching him run the Bath Elks Race with Melvin Mouse, his smile - every time my dad and/or uncle dean smile its a warm reminder of him; honest, infectious, joyful, full of love - it's amazing what some smiles convey.

When I was a very little girl I had a crush on my grandfather. That may sound weird, but I thought he was the best thing since sliced bread - the smartest, funniest, handsomest, strongest, most successful man I knew. What I discovered as I grew up was that he actually was all of those things. I adored him and idolized him and he did not disappoint. It always bothers me when people look back on family or friends who have passed away and only recognize the good without taking note of the flaws, but I think a lot of grandchildren have a unique perspective; I know I did. Grampa never had to discipline me or speak harshly to me to "teach me a lesson", that was my parent's job. He showered me with love and praise and affection, which I probably didn't deserve with such consistency. But that praise made me want to be the best human ever and to live up to his idea of me. I remember once, I was probably around 8, I was staying with my grandparents at the cottage for a week as I did each summer and I heard grampa say over the ceiling less wall while I dozed off to sleep, "Katie's such a good girl, she really is" and my grammy agreed with him. They thought I was fast asleep but I heard every word and felt so proud that they thought so highly of me. I look back at that moment and picture my grampa innocently reflecting on the day's activities and coming to the conclusion that I was "a good girl"; he made me want to make him proud and I did. What a feeling! So loved and accepted and warm and comfortable! What more could a little girl ask for? Nothing.

Right now I wish I was a little girl again so I could run up to grampa and throw my arms around him and wish him a happy birthday, but I also feel lucky that I had that chance for all of those years he was here and I'm thankful that I took advantage of it. I think one of the reasons that I feel such a sad heart sometimes when I'm at Popham is because his spirit is so alive there. He permeates the little cottage and envelops the land around it. I expect to see him climbing the ladder to clean the gutters or circling the cottage with the mosquito fog. My fond memories can sometimes feel like a punch in the gut. It hurts to miss him; but I'm so glad I had him to miss.

*sigh. a bit sad today. But I'm off to enjoy the company of my friends as grampa and grammy made a habit of doing; actually a life of doing. Work hard, play hard and love your friends and family with the fierceness they deserve - thanks for teaching me that.

First Kiss

He's all mine and has been for some time now.


3 years ago in August I was lusting after him and wondering when or if our casual "outings" and talks on the phone would lead to something more. We'd been on a couple of dates, hung out with friends, and had numerous email exchanges and phone conversations but after two months, still no kiss. I was too chicken to make the first move which left me wondering, why won't he? Is he just not that into me? Is there someone else? Is he gay? Does he just want to be friends? Is he a germaphobe? Does he think I smell or will taste like hot dogs? You know, the normal questions that go through a woman's mind while awaiting "the first move". For a number of reasons (I was afraid I forgot how to kiss, fear of rejection) the anticpation was making me nutso.

And then one evening in the very beginning of September we made plans to go to the movies to see Little Miss Sunshine (I still have the ticket stub in my wallet). The whole time sitting close to him in the dark theater my heart beat a bit faster and my palms were sweaty. On the ride home my insides were a frenzy of activity and as we made our way closer to my apartment I was a hot mess with the anticpation of goodbye. Our previous drop offs had consisted of an anxious me not willing to seal the deal and a seemingly reluctant p - I basically jumped out of the car as it rolled to a stop to avoid the awkwardness.

And so we arrived in my driveway. I glued my butt to the seat and fought the flight instict (god he made me all a flutter!)and we chatted for a bit about the movie and our upcoming week. As the conversation waned, I decided to go in for it - sort of. I decided to go in for a hug and see where it went from there. Nothing scary about a hug, right? So I leaned in, arms extended while simultaneously he turned away from me to cough into the window and so the result was an awkward side/arm embrace - not seamless. As I released his emprisoned arm I had a "fuck it" moment and I planted my lips on his. We kissed - finally. I kissed him and he kissed me back and it was good. I pulled away and let out a huge sigh of relief and said "thank god that's over with!" and laughed. I opened the car door and as I was about to flee he grabbed my arm and pulled me back to him and kissed me passionately. I melted in his arms and fell in love with him. I was in the movies, I had to be. It was the best kiss ever.

"Since the invention of the kiss there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind. The End."

Quick while I have a window!

I have been lax in posting to say the least and I blame work. I can no longer access my blog at work which cuts into precious writing time (I know, I should be working but that's just not as much fun). But for some reason the internet gods were looking down on me today and I caught a window of access to the blog! So without further ado, a brief look at Lucy's wedding at Popham Beach on August 1st:

16 William St.:


Getting low:


Serious about it:

And yes, my parents were there to witness (and partake in) the debauchery.

Lawson

I've been a terrible blogger. I blame the fact that my server at work has blocked all blogs! So now I am forced to update at home and I can always find excuses not to open my computer at home since I'm on it all day at work. 

BUT if anything, or anyone I should say, could spur me to write an entry it would be my new nephew, Lawson Royce Mayer!

I spent the most amazing afternoon at the hospital with VV and Drew and the newest member of the Mayer family. Mom and Dad were kind enough let me snuggle with the little guy for quite awhile and I couldn't keep my eyes off his perfect little face. Mom and Dad look amazing and are doing great. I can't wait to see my gorgeous best friend blossom into an amazing mother. She's already a natural. I love this little one so much already, I can't believe we're so grown up and VV is a Mama!!!! where did the time go? Just yesterday I feel like we were pulling the heads of barbies and driving around my grandparents retirement park in Florida in our favorite golf cart.

All my love to the Allen/Mayer/Frackelton fams!

tough times

These days, my job is getting more difficult. I like my new position, it offers variety and I'm busy and challenged daily. However, as the economy continues to plummet, the companies I work with are beginning to fall - hard. It's no longer a matter of holding someones hand through the downturn, I'm now seeing the true impact and am "forced" to liquidate a company's assets. It sucks. And on top of that, the top dogs within the bank and the OCC are beginning to scrutinize our portfolios, processes, and documentation. Conclusion - I'm lucky to have a job but we're all screwed.