A Slice of My Life – Week 39

October 1, 2012

Another week of trying to figure out where things are, being lost only 85% of the time (last week it was 90%), doing the last bits of unpacking and picture hanging.  I figured out how we can walk to school.  It’s only ten minutes and it includes this endless stair way.  The first day we did it, I subconsciously thought, “Oh too bad I figured this out just in time for rain to start”.  And then I remembered that I live in Oakland now and that season, the one that is dark and rainy for nine months, doesn’t exist here.

We put up the weather vane.

I made the chocolate chip cookie recipe that is in the latest issue of Saveur.  It was a pain in the butt.  The cookies were good though.  Will post soon.

I have this little window seat in the kitchen.  I bought these pillows this week.  When I miss my friends, I imagine them sitting right there while I cook.

Soaking potatoes for oven fries.  It’s a step you have to take.  Read all my tips here.

I bought fennel pollen and promptly bullied Ashley for her shortbread recipe that uses fennel pollen because it’s amazing.  Coming soon!

Monkeys.

My hair and I have gotten to a previously unknown high in our lifelong relationship.  In other words, I am liking my hair better than I ever have.  Part of it is product, part of it is technique, and part of it is putting it in this ridiculous get-up every morning.  Interested?  Should I do a hair post?

Figs.  One of a very small handful of vegetarian things that I won’t eat.

I made this gigantic cake with them and plums and was careful to cut myself a piece of only plum.  The cake wasn’t as good as I thought it would be and who needs a 13×18-inch cake anyway.  Recipe NOT coming soon.

Awesome ice.

Picking lemons.  As you do.

This is my mom’s charm bracelet.  All of the charms were given to her by her grandmother.  When I was a child, I would ask her to see it all the time and she, knowing I would be gentle, let me.  A few years ago, she gave it to me and I wear it on special occasions.  I love the camera charm.  The charm below that is the Plaza Hotel in New York where my parents got married.  The anniversary date is on the bottom.

The special occasion of the week was getting invited to have brunch with Denise at her house.  Three years ago, I attended BlogHer in San Francisco and made some lifelong friends.  Cheryl, Tracy, Denise, and Allison all live in the Bay area and Denise put together a fabulous spread to welcome me.  I’m a lucky girl.

Saturday, we had two power outages in a row.  We ate dinner by candlelight out on our deck while the boys did a puppet show for us.

Farmers’ market avocados.  Heaven.

Today, Monday, is the clearest day we have had so far.  Also the hottest – 91 degrees!  Where did fall go?



22 Comments »

  1. yes, i am interested in a hair post…i’m intrigued.

    Comment by janet — October 1, 2012 @ 10:30 pm

  2. No comment about the shirt on your head.
    I will end the comment with my favorite thing.
    FIGS.
    xo

    Comment by stacey snacks — October 1, 2012 @ 11:38 pm

  3. yes, a hair post, please! i also wrap my hair in a cotton t-shirt after i wash it but i’d love to hear the rest…

    Comment by meredith — October 1, 2012 @ 11:41 pm

  4. Ah I’m jealous of all this Bay area amazingness! LOCAL avocadoes?? I thought those only happened in dreams.

    Comment by Joanne — October 2, 2012 @ 2:05 am

  5. I think Alex and I should come and sit on your bench and talk with you. You can cook…we will talk…then we can switch! Miss you being in Seattle but happy to hear of your days…sounds like some good new pieces are falling into place. xxx

    Comment by Toni — October 2, 2012 @ 2:43 am

  6. Picking lemons and market avocados? Amazing!

    Comment by Charlotte — October 2, 2012 @ 5:16 am

  7. Where did you get the pillows?!

    Comment by helen — October 2, 2012 @ 9:47 am

  8. Helen, I got them at Z Gallery!

    Comment by dana — October 2, 2012 @ 2:35 pm

  9. I am thrilled – I mean THRILLED to have y’all out in the Bay Area. Brunch was only one of many meals that you will have at our home. :)

    And … I love the figs! LOVE.

    Comment by Denise — October 2, 2012 @ 5:38 pm

  10. crazy bay area fall (indian summer) weather. i am not a fan… i want fall weather. :)

    your san jose friend – angie

    Comment by angie — October 2, 2012 @ 6:20 pm

  11. Somehow, I have a hard time imagining you being a bully, even for a recipe…

    Comment by Pam — October 2, 2012 @ 6:23 pm

  12. Dana! I’m addicted to your blog! You have inspired me and I’ve been having so much fun trying new recipes. Last night I made your yummy chick pea stew, loved it and Eric snarfed! Glad you are settling into your new home. It looks beautiful and the boys look really happy! Love the pictures and your stories, it really is beautiful. Things are great here, still organizing and unpacking. Love our new neighborhood, and school. Need some friends though :( “Hi” to all your boys for me!! XXOO

    Comment by Kitty — October 2, 2012 @ 7:15 pm

  13. Yes, hair post! Looks like you are settling in well. Rain has not started…crazy!

    Comment by brooke — October 2, 2012 @ 9:58 pm

  14. Dana, if I haven’t said it yet, welcome to the Bay Area! I commented on Tracy’s blog how jealous I was that you and she and Cheryl got to hang out … you three are my favorite bloggers! And with you a local now, I’m hoping the three of you will cook up some good stuff … and maybe invite your local fans to some cooking classes! Enjoy your new home and new neighborhood … I think you’ll like it here.

    Comment by Julie J — October 3, 2012 @ 4:32 am

  15. Yes to a hair post, just cause I’m nosey. That view is amazing! I’ll trade you my NYC skyline. And that brunch sounds like a dream, love all those ladies!

    Comment by Clara — October 3, 2012 @ 12:36 pm

  16. Hair post, please! Hair post!

    Comment by SallyBR — October 3, 2012 @ 1:36 pm

  17. Gosh, I hit the submit too soon, sorry… Just wanted to say I made oven fried sweet potatoes and soaked the slices in hot water for 1 hour. It made a huge difference, so I’ll be using the method with regular potatoes too from now on. Still trying to get the sweet potatoes to crisp up more…

    Comment by SallyBR — October 3, 2012 @ 1:38 pm

  18. Dana, Wonderful to hear of your new adventures in Oakland!!! Years ago I lived in San Francisco & reading your posts bring back memories! Being a long time vegetarian,I love your recipes!Thanks a million….

    Comment by Dorothy — October 3, 2012 @ 5:00 pm

  19. YES to the hair post. I am a recent curly girl and Devacurl convert after a Deva cut on vacation.

    Comment by Amy — October 7, 2012 @ 2:12 am

  20. Are you a Curly Girl now? It revolutionized my hair!

    Comment by Hilary — October 7, 2012 @ 8:23 pm

  21. Like all the other curly… (?) i’m saying big yes to the hair post and also really enjoyed this post. Thanx

    Comment by Idit — October 8, 2012 @ 7:02 am

  22. So great to see these tours through your days…dotted with familiar sites. Denise is such a wonderful hostess – wish I could’ve been there (and I see from Instagram you’ve discovered Daily Method. Ouch). Miss you!

    Comment by Megan Gordon — October 9, 2012 @ 5:20 am



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