Intermission

Aren't protea incredible?
Tomorrow I leave for Kauai for some time with my family. I'm excited to get away from the wintery weather again. A little intermission from the frigid temperatures.

Belle Jour

• listening to the sound of the dog licking his paws
  

back porch

This is the area between the kitchen and the back door. The blue shelves were here when we moved in. It's become a catch-all spot for our raggedy house plants.

notre chambre.

Besides painting when we moved in, we haven't done anything to the bedroom. The ceiling is still pale blue, as is most of the trim, and there's still dirty, gray, musty wall-to-wall carpet. There are unfinished fir floors underneath the carpet - it's our goal to have them refinished this summer. I think having refinished floors will make a HUGE difference in this room. There's only one window in the bedroom (which makes it nice and dark), and it (like most windows in the house) is in desperate need of refinishing/ replacement. I have big dreams for this room - hopefully we can chip away at it in 2009.

Sunday afternoon.

I've been sick for the past week with a lovely "virus" which manifested itself in a constant migraine. I'm looking forward to the end of it. I bought some sweetpeas hoping they'd lift my spirits. They do. Happy Sunday.

papier peint

It's unlikely that we'll ever wallpaper our house, due to my general indecision and my husband's dislike for it, however, I think it can be incredibly beautiful. Wallpaper would make a nice surprise in a closet, or small entryway. I love the designs at Trustworth Studios. Their designs are mainly reproductions of designs from the English Arts and Crafts movement, and they are all a little whimsical.

Inauguration

What a proud day.

Pie

I had a sweet tooth last night and decided to make an apple pie with some apples I've had in the crisper since September (surprisingly still crisp!). Apple pie is close to my least favorite pie (I love pumpkin pie, any berry pie, and rhubarb strawberry). I tend to make desserts that I'm not crazy about in a half-hearted attempt to limit myself, unfortunately it usually doesn't work. With that said, this pie is crazy-delicious. The contrast between the sweetness in the crumble topping, the tart bite of the apple filling, and the salty-crispness of the crust is just lovely. I even had it for breakfast this morning. I'm a purist as far as serving - I want pie uninterrupted by ice or whip cream, but this would be nicely complimented by either (if you're into that sort of thing).

Cinnamon Crumble Apple Pie
Originally from Bon Appetit (October 2003)

Crust
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 tablespoons (or more) ice water
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Filling
3 1/4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Topping
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Preparation

For crust:
Mix flour, salt, and sugar in large bowl. Add butter; rub in with fingertips until coarse meal forms. Mix 3 tablespoons ice water and lemon juice in small bowl to blend. Drizzle over flour mixture; stir with fork until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 30 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim overhang to 1/2 inch; turn edge under and crimp decoratively. Refrigerate while preparing filling and topping.

For filling:
Mix all ingredients in large bowl to coat apples.

For topping:
Blend first 5 ingredients in processor. Add chilled butter cubes; using on/off turns, cut in until mixture resembles wet sand.

Toss filling to redistribute juices; transfer to crust, mounding in center. Pack topping over and around apples. Bake pie on baking sheet until topping is golden, about 40 minutes (cover top with foil if browning too quickly). Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake until apples in center are tender when pierced and filling is bubbling thickly at edges, about 45 minutes longer. Cool until warm, about 1 hour. Serve with ice cream or whip cream, or just eat plain.

I love Puddle-town

I love my home. Today's a crisp, sunny, January day that reminds me why this town is so wonderful.
Portland Streetcar Warning Sign, Portland Map Tote, Green Heart in Oregon, For the Love of Portland Tote (via Frolic).

mimosa

According to Pantone, mimosa is the color of 2009. It's cheerful and vibrant when it's gloomy outside, and it's a great spring color (think Peeps, daffodils, tulips). Yellow has always been one of my favorite colors (see our house), but I've never been able to wear it well. Maybe with a cute little pair of yellow galoshes or a yellow umbrella would help with the winter blahs.

Umbrella, necklace, marigold seeds, bikini, tote, and galoshes.

Citron

dishes, dishtowel, and citrus juicer.

I'm convinced that citrus ripen in winter to keep us cheerful and sunny in the gloomy months. Lemon and orange are keeping me happy. It's a perfect time for toast with marmalade, lemon bars, and clementines as snacks.

grandma

I recently cleaned out some photos from an old hard-drive and found some scanned photos of my grandma. I love their little bob haircuts with little caps and mary-jane shoes.

Sunday.

Lazy Sunday afternoon. Wishing I was spending it watching The Graduate.

Printemps?

I know it's early, but I'm really looking forward to spring. The view out my office window is very gray and brown, I think I'd like it better if it were pink and blue. Just two more months of winter, right?

L'Arte

All images by Christopher Bibby. 

My parents spoiled me this Christmas with a little piece of art by Christopher Bibby. I love it. 

Inspiration Coiffure

Les Cheveux Nouveaux

I'm considering cutting my hair. It's been really long for the last 4 years, and I'm ready for a change. I had some fun with some online makeover tools last night. My husband is voting for anything in the bottom row. I'm looking for low-maintenance. Thoughts, anyone?

Resolutions.

I don't remember where I found this yellow door, but I love it.

I've been thinking about resolutions today, and what I want to accomplish in 2009. Honestly, I usually forget about my goals within a few months of making them, but I fully believe in the power of writing down your intentions. I've kept a journal off and on since I was 14, and it's surprising to realize how many past goals and dreams actually became realities. 

1. Run 1,000 miles. 
   
2. Paint all the remaining blue moulding and doors white. 
3. Finish office in basement. 
4. Install raised beds in the backyard & grow veggies. 
5. Start a weight lifting routine. 
6. Hone my kitchen skills.

Bonne Annee.

Marco Island, Florida sunsets.

Although the travel to and from was horrid, Florida was deliciously lazy. It was 82 degrees and sunny daily, and I spent most our time there laying in a hammock reading. It's a refreshing way to end the year.