My Oyster

Quelqu'un m'a dit...

Someone told me...that you still love me. 

That is the song by Carla Bruni that I adore and listen to whenever I am in a french speaking city - like Brussels.  Beautiful.  So much emotion. 

When I sing along - and I always do, it makes me FEEL french.  Tho I am actually a Polish-Irish-American. 

Tonight in the hotel room I was singing along with Jean (for whom French really is a native tongue) and knitting after dinner and a very long day.  Carla and knitting are relaxing.  See above.

See below for a video of Carla Bruni singing to me.

Electrabel Nights are distracting me from my work...

The tower of the old Brussels city hall is sitting outside my window.

It is in direct view as I sit at my desk and gaze out the window. Trying to work. All night they have been trying out different lighting schemes on the tower for tomorrow's kickoff of the Christmas market in the Grand Place.

The pic above is one version. Blue. But I have seen red, green, sparkly white (like the Eiffel Tower at the top of the hour), mixtures of all of the above, strobe lights. You name it, they are trying it out.

According to the Brussels tourism website, "The ‘most beautiful theatre in the world’ looks its very best at this time of year. With the precious help of Electrabel, the Grand-Place will be transformed through the magic of sound and light into an enchanting world of poetry and symbols – the Electrabel Nights."

Electrabel is the local utility. Good marketing!

The pic below is the end result (from last year). I think we will see that tomorrow. I will likely even leave my desk to check it out in person.

Grand Place, Brussels, originally uploaded by convex02l.

Christmas in Brussels...

After an amazingly fast flight from DC (just over 6 hours), we got to the hotel at 730am or so and had no room yet - so Jean and I roamed around Brussels a bit. 

It is cold here.  I need a hat.  J'ai besoin d'un chapeau ou un bonnet.  That was french.  I have no idea how to say it in flemish.

We went to the Grand and Petit Sablons for breakfast then hung out in the lobby - with the Xmas decorators. 

They are decorating the Le Meridien with a Swedish holiday theme.  I forgot what it was last year.  They also seem to be doing up the city now with holiday decorations.

Here are some pics.

I loved this window. The little bear's legs kept flying up into the air.

A very nice flower shop near the Grand Place.

One of the gazillion chocolate shops here in Brussels.

The Galeries St. Hubert all dolled up.

And even more at my flickr account here.

Heading to Europe Today...

I am frantically packing (last minute as usual) for a two week business trip to Europe. 

I am starting in Brussels, then fly to Lisbon (that's Portugal for my readers with a grade school education), then fly back to Brussels.  Then the fast train to Paris - which I love.  The train that is.  Not Paris.  Sorry, never a big fan of Paris.  Jean is coming with me and it's his first time (despite being a native French speaker) to Paris - so maybe I will enjoy it more.

Here is a pic of each city.  First Brussels (view of the City Hall tower) - taken by me on my most recent trip there with Ma in June.  Then Lisbon - have never been, so pulled this one off the web.  Then Paris (from a visit to Sacre Coeur with Ma and Daryl about a year ago).

I will be blogging during the trip - so stay tuned.

Yes, I Did...

I took the pledge.  Buying handmade things. That is very cool. 

I like the rationale. 

It makes for better gift-giving.  Handmade gifts are one-of-a-kind and made with care that can be seen and touched.  They are the result of skill and craftsmanship that you don't find in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

It's better for people.  Buying handmade helps us reconnect.  Otherwise, we end up all looking alike.  We end up losing our ties to the local and human sources of our goods. 

It's better for the environment.  Handmade gifts are not a major cause of global warming or the poisoning of our environment.  Small-scale independent artists and crafters don't contribute to the mess of mass production.

I would add a fourth reason.  Buying handmade is more fun.  It's like shopping in an art gallery.  All the pieces are unique and have an interesting story.

I will do my best to live up to the pledge this holiday season. 

In truth, I am very attracted to handmade arts, crafts, and goods.  My favorite part of traveling is to look for locally made goods to bring home with me.  I like doing that at home in DC and Maine too.  So taking the pledge won't really be a hardship.  It's closer to me.

If you want to take the pledge or learn more - go here.

If you want to discover cool places to buy handmade - go here.

Enjoy! 

Black Friday in Gardiner, Maine...

It wasn't the Mall of America.  It wasn't even the Mall of Maine (or Maine Mall).  But it was just what we needed.

Quaint New England downtown (Main Street).  Fun and funky real Maine discount store (Reny's).  An original old-time diner with comfort food (the A-1).

Here is our afternoon.

Main Street in Gardiner.

Decking the Halls at Reny's.

Tut in the 99 cent room.

Deanna finds the perfect holiday cards.

The perfect gift...for everyone on your shopping list.

Finding nourishment at the Din-ah.

The beautiful interior of the A-1 Diner. In 1946 Worcester Diner #790 arrived by truck and was installed at 3 Bridge Street in Gardiner, Maine. Under the name of Heald's Diner, it served employees of Gardiner's mills and factories.

Carrot & ginger soup with grilled tuna and swiss sandwich.

The beautiful Gardiner town library.

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. ~Author Unknown

A beautiful day with family and friends. 

Here is our Thanksgiving celebration in photos along with some words.

Mike & Mira Su making it all happen in the kitchen.

Sarah going in for some appetizers.

Me and my creation - pumpkin cheesecake with vanilla-sour cream icing.

Sarah and Cory at the table.

Forever on Thanksgiving Day
The heart will find the pathway home.
~Wilbur D. Nesbit

Mammie's contribution - traditional mincemeat pie - with her signature tribute to Tut.

Deanna presenting Mammie with a pair of her handknit socks on Thanksgiving eve.

Chris with the feet of his uncle and grandmother.

The beautiful table.

Deanna making her creation - apple pie - last night.

The stuffing was particularly tasty.

Sharing the love.  More pics here.

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.--Charles Dickens

Apparently, I am writing this blog for 8 year olds...

I did this cute little web analysis of my blog.  It determined that the reading level of what I write here is just perfect for elementary school kids.  Ouch.

I also did the Huffington Post.  Ariana's blog reading level is Junior High.  A bit more high brow than me.  I guess I don't feel so bad though, cuz Dr. Phil's blog also requires an elementary school education.

In case any of you out there are interested...here is a top 10 list of additional reading for elementary school readers.

• The Folk Keeper • Franny Billingsley
• Walk Two Moons• Sharon Creech
• Because of Winn-Dixie • Kate DiCamillo
• Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key • Jack Gantos
• Among the Hidden • Margaret Peterson Haddix
• Our Only May Amelia • Jennifer L. Holm
• The Lives of Christopher Chant (3 book series) • Diana Wynne Jones
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe • C. S. Lewis
• The Thief • Megan Whalen Turner
• Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief • Wendelin Van Draanen

I'm dreaming of a white...

Thanksgiving.

Today it snowed here in Maine.  The first snow of the season.  It wasn't much.  It was heavy, wet snow.  Really just a thick dusting, but still very pretty.  And special.  The first snow is always kinda magical. 

I love snow.  Until Christmas.  Then I no longer have use or patience for it.  On December 26th, it moves from being a magical and pristine landscape coverlet to a dirty nuisance.

So even though this first snow may not last until Thanksgiving, we still have a good chance for a white Thanksgiving.  It might be in the forecast.

I don't know what are the odds for a white Thanksgiving here in Augusta.  As it happens, I do know the odds for a white Christmas in Augusta.  And they are pretty good, actually.   

90%  - that's for at least 1 inch on December 25th.  For 5 inches, it's 52%.  for 10 inches, it's 21%.

The odds for a white Christmas in DC?  Not so good, I am afraid.  It's a 13% chance for 1 inch.  7% for 5 inches.  And well, I guess it is impossible for 10 inches on Christmas day in DC.  0%

Here are some more snaps from today's pre-Thanksgiving snow.

Pumpkins for dessert...

Pumpkins, originally uploaded by Jiffy Cat.

I will make one of these desserts for Thanksgiving. Not sure which one.   You can click on each to see the recipe.

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
Gingerbread Pumpkin Moussecake
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel Swirl
Pumpkin Cheesecake

I have never made a cheesecake, but how hard can it be?