Frittata, Walkabout and Catan

The next morning I was very excited to make a frittata for CPM and R. I beat about eight eggs with a bit of half and half, sauteed mushrooms and green peppers, and then put the eggs in a big skillet before adding the mushrooms, peppers, goat brie, tomatoes and smoked salmon. The result was quite delightful in my humble opinion.

After breakfast we took a bit of a woods and field walk.

Brutus was pleased about it.

This is just pretty.

Obligatory 'I have friends sometimes' shot.

We then played two additional games of Catan before CPM and R. headed out. I was quite happy to have the company and get to spend some time with them all. I am such a sucker for simply sitting around, reading books, playing games and cooking for people. It's basically all I want to do, and that is why I often think the best option for me would be to run a B&B somewhere wonderful. Of course I have also realized that most B&Bs don't actually make money so there's that small problem, but a girl can dream can't she? Yes. Yes she can.

Dog love.

NYC Salmon and Bagel; Icy Woods Walk

The next morning those of us without gluten allergies enjoyed toasted everything bagels (from NYC of course) along with the salmon pastrami that I asked L. to pick up from Shelsky's, as well as some of their horseradish cream cheese. Honestly the cream cheese could have been more horse radishy and the salmon wasn't quite as delicious as I remembered it from the crazy bagel I had a while back. Though perhaps they didn't entirely live up to my expectations, I won't say that I was actually unhappy. I was very happy.

After breakfast and laying about for a bit, we took another walk adventure in the now snow covered woods.

We had an especially good time breaking ice, of which there were a few different sets. Here you'll see Fatty holding on to a tree while investigating this particular ice pool.

Here you will see me truly thinking that I was about to be eaten by the ice (it was hard to sense how deep it would be once we broke through, so it was a little scary for a second). Poor L. didn't have very warm shoes/socks and even though she was wearing galoshes they weren't 100% water proof.

Ice. Ice. Baby.

Stop. Collaborate and listen. This ice is going to glisten.

My hat in a new configuration.

A lovely morning and afternoon. I was very sad to see the two of them leave shortly after our walk but I was very glad that they had been able to make it at all.

Cheesestravaganza, Country Walk, Sweet Potato Soup, Salmon and Snow

L. has not been having the easiest of times as of late, so I thought it would be nice if she and Fatty could come out to the country for a little respite. Additionally, she's in the process of trying out a new diet, which would pretty much put an end to her cheese consumption. This is, of course, a travesty. I figured if she had to bid adieu to cheese in all its glory, she should go out with a bang. So before going out to the country, I stopped at DiBruno Brothers to pick up a few stellar cheeses for us to all enjoy in a sort of final stand (for her...I simply cannot imagine my life without cheese). Mad props to the cheesemongers for being so good natured and chatty with me. They were equally sympathetic to L.'s cheese-less future and had good recommendations that further strengthened the list of cheeses already on my list. And just what was that list?

Well, some I chose based on previous McCrossen's cheese and wine events. Other cheeses made the cut due to a longer standing love of them. And then there were a few new ones I tasted at the suggestion of the mongers, and enjoyed heartily. So. Starting in the top left corner (the cutting board was a present from cousin K...it's a map of France with different cheese regions notated): Cabot clothbound cheddar; Hudson Red; Comte Essex; Fougerus; Ossau Iraty; Chatham Hearts; Truffle Tremor...with a Roquefort in the center.

Oh boy a good plate it was. I might could have gotten a bigger slab of the fougerus, and the Chatham goat was good but not as interesting as the goat's cheese I had wanted (which had peppercorns in it/it wasn't in stock). The Ossau Iraty was a definite nutty delicious success. And the cheddar remains some of the best that I've had.

I was very pleased with the plate. While L. and Fatty were driving to meet me, I began preparing some of the elements of the dinner we would eventually eat. Once they arrived, the cheese plate went out so all the cheeses could warm up and live up to their potential.

While the cheeses were warming up we went on a woodsy walk.

At some point during that walk, it started to snow. Also, we did a photo shoot of silliness.

This is me practicing to be a goal post in the Super Bowl.

While this is Fatty running.

And this is me out of chronological order.

His return.

So in addition to the cheeses, which we enjoyed with baguette and red wine (gluten free crackers for Fatty), I made a sweet potato chorizo soup with a little walnut/arugula pesto accompaniment. Turned out pretty well.

I also poached a salmon in white wine. The salmon was laid upon a bed of leeks and topped with shallots. Turned out nice, though I think I used a slightly too sweet white wine. It wasn't moscat sweet, but something a bit dryer would have made me slightly happier. Additionally, I made a brie/mushroom/pea risotto, but by that point in the evening I totally forgot to take any photographs of it.

Once we were properly stuffed we went back outside, where the snow had really begun to fall and stick. At some point we went back out to the field, feeling the snow fall on our eyelashes and seeking the stars from the crowds.

These two are always great company and I delight in being able to feed them from time to time.

Buying Locally, Walking Locally, Eating Tacos

I made a run into town to pick up some eating supplies for dinner on Saturday night, and for the rest of the weekend. But I held off on a few things because I knew I could buy them local at The Little Farm Store. Shout out to them! They have great eggs at certain times of the year (not now), as well as locally fed and raised beef in steak and ground form, not to mention cheese, ice cream and a few other tasty things. On my trip I picked up a pound of ground beer as well as half a gallon of raw milk. Such a beautiful day to drive around an area that is still more field and farm than subdivision and McMansion.

Once I got back to the house I took myself on a woods and stream walk. I carried a big stick, don't worry. No spiders offended this face. Props, also, to lending me her sunglasses for the last month. They were lovely.

Boots, creeks, boots, creeks.

And for dinner I made S. and myself lamb/beef tacos. I also made pico de gallo and guacamole. Additionally, I broke a blender. Dinner also included gazpacho that I made, which was quite delightful...but it just didn't photograph well on this particular evening.

Pizza and Scenes from Rehoboth

Soon others began rolling into town in order to partake in the celebration of LB's bachelorette-hood. BC was there very soon after my arrival, if not before it, but holed up in one of the two hotel rooms LX had reserved for us. They were nice rooms and both faced out on to Rehoboth Avenue.

Rehoboth really is quite packed during a Friday night. Plenty of folks walking the main drag or along the boardwalk. Traffic looked a right nightmare.

We ordered four pizzas from Grotto Pizza, which they were willing to deliver directly to our rooms. This was the mushroom and pepperoni. There was also a veggie variety, a plain ol' cheese, and some kind of Mediterreanean option.

After drinks and pizza in the room, we gathered ourselves and went exploring in the larger world. I had no idea how extensive the boardwalk really is, or that it had actual rides. This information was collected at roughly the same time the rides were shutting down. We stopped for poses with these rides but were told to cease and desist because the elephant and Thomas were antiques.

After a bit of a walk we went to the Purple Parrot for further drinks and karaoke.

A lovely first evening. It went on a bit later, complete with outfit changes and a first row seat to a drunk driver getting arrested before even moving his car an inch. Compelling stuff and lovely company.

Greeter Falls With Cousin J.

It just so happened that cousin J., who usually resides in Greensboro with her madre NCC, was going to be in the Sewanee area at the same time that I was visiting. This was not planned, but it was nice turn of events. I arrived in town on Monday evening, and on Tuesday afternoon I took J. to Greeter Falls and the Blue hole. these were two spots J. may have visited as a wee little lass, but she had no real  recollection of visiting either. It was a murderously hot week for the most part, and the lack of any substantial amount of rain fall over the last month was worrisome. Worrisome in terms of crops and the world we live in of course ... but more importantly in terms of water falls actually falling, pool levels being properly deep and the overall temperature listing towards bracing instead of boiling. In previous years I have found Greeter Fallsto generally be in a flowing state. But this time around it pretty fallow as far as water flow. The water was significantly lower than in any previous year, receded far enough from its usual outposts as to unearth entirely new rocks to my eyes. The falls weren't falling as much as slightly trickling. And that trickle was not the mountain stream coldness you might hope for on such a hot day, but more like  bath water. Nonetheless, I swam and there were enough spots in the pool that were cool that I didn't mind all the aforementioned drawbacks. Here is a photograph of me enjoying the water. I know my face is washed out, but you'll just have to trust that it is actually me. 

For the first half hour or so we were the sole folks at the pool, which is about a mile's hike from the parking lot. But soon enough a gaggled group of people joined us; two older men, one young boy and a range of girls who all attended the same dance studio in Florida (according to J.'s sleuthing). It was funny to see them descend on the place. J. had been taking her time about actually getting into the water, perched on a rock with only her legs in the water...soon enough this group realized that the rock was a pretty good launching point to the water. But they, too, took a bit of time to actually gather the gumption to jump in, which led to J. being surrounded by this whole group of people she didn't know.

J. back to being the solo owner of the rock. Or maybe that was a different rock?I think so, because her hair is wet there.

We had spread ourselves out on a particularly nice and flat rock along the pool. This was the view when I was flat on my back.

The trickle, it trickles.

Overhang.

Triumph.

Goofy.

After a good couple of hours at the "falls," we started making our way back out, but I wanted to also stop at "Blue Hole." In previous years I've never bothered, so satisfied with the water at the falls...but this year I wanted to better remember the 'hole.' I think that the last time I went there it was with NCC and J. when J. was either under two or 4. Can't remember which. J. was particularly taken with the fish that hung out near the pool's entrance and was dogged in her determination to catch one with her hands using only watermelon rind as bait.

Blue Hole was also markedly low and not as cool as you might have hoped for on such a hot day. But you could find a few cool spots to enjoy. We talked with a nice lady from Florida about dogs and manatees for a bit. And then another group came with fishing poles and overactive young boys, one of whom graciously offered us a piece of bread to further entice the fish.

In the end no fish were caught bare handed, but it can't be said that she didn't try.

And then we called it a day, packed up our stuff, hiked back up and out and drove the 45 minutes to where J. was staying in the valley. Well, it was more than 45 minutes because I totally missed the turn and drove a good 5-10 miles out of our way. The valley, even when lacking enough rain, was beautiful.