One of my eagle-eyed friends noticed this and sent it on. Newcastle in the New York Times travel section:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/11/10/travel/20101114-SURFACING.html
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Our email sent to friends in England....
Dear all:
As some of you may know, November 25 marks this year’s Thanksgiving—that great American holiday celebrating the moment when colonials and Native Americans broke bread together in a spirit of harmony and thankfulness for God’s providence.
The reality that this never actually happened, that the colonials were basically starving to death before Native Americans educated them on the ways of the land, whereupon said colonials gave thanks by wiping out the Native Americans in epic proportions, of course only makes this holiday even more quintessentially American. The original name, “Turkey Genocide Day,” also quickly fell into disuse in favor of “Thanksgiving.”
As two Americans who know a little something about being completely clueless in a foreign land, Michelle and I would like to invite you to partake in a traditional American Thanksgiving meal at our flat on Nov. 25 at 7:00.
As we would in America, we plan to give a cursory moment to being grateful for life’s blessings before plunging into a epic feast of considerable proportions and then falling asleep on the sofa in front of a NFL game subpar even by American football standards. And, more substantially, share this repast with some of our good friends and new extended family who have welcomed us in building a new home in Old Blighty.
We hope to see you there! While quarters will be quite tight as our flat is rather small, we trust that will only help with the chumminess—and we understand that circulation is wise after a big meal anyway. Please do RSVP so we can think about where we will stack you. Of course please let us know about any allergies, food restrictions, and such too.
B & M
As some of you may know, November 25 marks this year’s Thanksgiving—that great American holiday celebrating the moment when colonials and Native Americans broke bread together in a spirit of harmony and thankfulness for God’s providence.
The reality that this never actually happened, that the colonials were basically starving to death before Native Americans educated them on the ways of the land, whereupon said colonials gave thanks by wiping out the Native Americans in epic proportions, of course only makes this holiday even more quintessentially American. The original name, “Turkey Genocide Day,” also quickly fell into disuse in favor of “Thanksgiving.”
As two Americans who know a little something about being completely clueless in a foreign land, Michelle and I would like to invite you to partake in a traditional American Thanksgiving meal at our flat on Nov. 25 at 7:00.
As we would in America, we plan to give a cursory moment to being grateful for life’s blessings before plunging into a epic feast of considerable proportions and then falling asleep on the sofa in front of a NFL game subpar even by American football standards. And, more substantially, share this repast with some of our good friends and new extended family who have welcomed us in building a new home in Old Blighty.
We hope to see you there! While quarters will be quite tight as our flat is rather small, we trust that will only help with the chumminess—and we understand that circulation is wise after a big meal anyway. Please do RSVP so we can think about where we will stack you. Of course please let us know about any allergies, food restrictions, and such too.
B & M
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Birthday flowers...
...for Michelle.
Includes a couple orange-ish Cala Lilies, which are a fave for a couple reasons....
what the hell....?
M mentioned we joined an organic food coop/scheme. Imagine my surprise when I go to pick up the veg bag and found the above.
It's a weird cauliflower variant; luckily, it tastes more broccoli-ish because I hate cauliflower. But we call it Viking veg because it looks like something you'd impale in someone instead of eating it....
Long Time No Post
This is M! I haven't posted in a really long time. Writing for my ganny was a huge motivation and kept me close to home, and I know that since she's passed I haven't been up to posting, but now I am!
Things have changed, in a major way in the Houston household. I've landed an editorial and marketing 'paid' (read, not really paid much) internship at the Press in Edinburgh, at the University. I have a 1.5 hour commute on the train, one way, but they're letting me work from home 2 days per week, which has helped out tremendously! I am teaching my own zumba and yoga classes and average about 80 people in each class---it's amazing how its taken off here. I have one lady who has lost about 60 pounds since she started my classes. It's so nice to have a huge group of women having so much fun and doing so much good for their health several times per week. On top of this, I've just finished a freelance editing job for several lawyers compiling a volume of essays. I was working around the clock for 2 weeks straight and B was cooking, cleaning, running errands, everything!
Since I am working in Scotland and living and working (zumba-ing) in England, I have developed a real sense of belonging here. It took about 6 months to actually be able to exhale here, and now, it's becoming second nature. I've made friends with a few really great women, so I get my 'girl' time and have friends that I can be myself around--not just the "so what do you do?" type of friends. I've helped some thru break-ups and normal 'catastrophes', they've helped me thru missing my family and my Ganny's death, so it's nice to have a sense of belonging here. We exercise, shop, and go see movies together. B has made some great friends and plays squash and football (soccer) each week, so we're achieving a nice balance!
I've also always loved cooking, but now I am obsessed. We've joined an organic vegetable delivery scheme where each week we get a bag of fresh, organic, fairtrade and/or local fruit and eggs. I read food blogs all the time.
I've discovered an amazing yoga podcast that I try and do as much as possible (I've meaning to tell you, Nadia, if you're reading!). It's Elsie's Yoga Podcast on iTunes....you won't be sorry!
While everything is new and continues to be new, it also develops into something so great, constantly! I miss home. I miss family, I miss rituals at home, I miss friends, but we have established our own rituals which is exciting. Not a replacement, but nice:) We are so excited to come home for Christmas--we haven' t been home in so long, and we have a long list of babies to see. Two of my best friends have had babies, (one more coming) since I left and the others were wee-little things, so we have lots of people to see. Not to mention all the family we can't wait to hug and squeeze!! Last but not least, Ethan will be coming home with us!!! FINALLY! I've made it without him, but honestly, have no clue how!
Our one year wedding anniversary is coming up (what a year!!) and we are escaping to a B&B in the English countryside for a couple days.
Thanksgiving is approaching and England doesn't do canned (they call it tin), pumpkin. However, a high-end department store (Fenwicks) has an American food section where I scored 7 cans for Thanksgiving! I'm taking off work and making a a proper Thanksgiving meal with all of our friends---very packed house!
I'm sure there's more and will post more details about the funny Scotsman I work with, and lots of other details....until then, BYE!
Things have changed, in a major way in the Houston household. I've landed an editorial and marketing 'paid' (read, not really paid much) internship at the Press in Edinburgh, at the University. I have a 1.5 hour commute on the train, one way, but they're letting me work from home 2 days per week, which has helped out tremendously! I am teaching my own zumba and yoga classes and average about 80 people in each class---it's amazing how its taken off here. I have one lady who has lost about 60 pounds since she started my classes. It's so nice to have a huge group of women having so much fun and doing so much good for their health several times per week. On top of this, I've just finished a freelance editing job for several lawyers compiling a volume of essays. I was working around the clock for 2 weeks straight and B was cooking, cleaning, running errands, everything!
Since I am working in Scotland and living and working (zumba-ing) in England, I have developed a real sense of belonging here. It took about 6 months to actually be able to exhale here, and now, it's becoming second nature. I've made friends with a few really great women, so I get my 'girl' time and have friends that I can be myself around--not just the "so what do you do?" type of friends. I've helped some thru break-ups and normal 'catastrophes', they've helped me thru missing my family and my Ganny's death, so it's nice to have a sense of belonging here. We exercise, shop, and go see movies together. B has made some great friends and plays squash and football (soccer) each week, so we're achieving a nice balance!
I've also always loved cooking, but now I am obsessed. We've joined an organic vegetable delivery scheme where each week we get a bag of fresh, organic, fairtrade and/or local fruit and eggs. I read food blogs all the time.
I've discovered an amazing yoga podcast that I try and do as much as possible (I've meaning to tell you, Nadia, if you're reading!). It's Elsie's Yoga Podcast on iTunes....you won't be sorry!
While everything is new and continues to be new, it also develops into something so great, constantly! I miss home. I miss family, I miss rituals at home, I miss friends, but we have established our own rituals which is exciting. Not a replacement, but nice:) We are so excited to come home for Christmas--we haven' t been home in so long, and we have a long list of babies to see. Two of my best friends have had babies, (one more coming) since I left and the others were wee-little things, so we have lots of people to see. Not to mention all the family we can't wait to hug and squeeze!! Last but not least, Ethan will be coming home with us!!! FINALLY! I've made it without him, but honestly, have no clue how!
Our one year wedding anniversary is coming up (what a year!!) and we are escaping to a B&B in the English countryside for a couple days.
Thanksgiving is approaching and England doesn't do canned (they call it tin), pumpkin. However, a high-end department store (Fenwicks) has an American food section where I scored 7 cans for Thanksgiving! I'm taking off work and making a a proper Thanksgiving meal with all of our friends---very packed house!
I'm sure there's more and will post more details about the funny Scotsman I work with, and lots of other details....until then, BYE!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Another day; another castle (Warkworth Castle and Hermitage)
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage/
http://www.strollingguides.co.uk/books/northumbria/places/warkworthhermitage.php
http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=warkworth+castle&fb=1&hq=warkworth+castle&hnear=warkworth+castle&cid=0,0,12537291456872143668&ei=ialvTL-mB9DK4gbw__TeCA&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=2&ved=0CB8QnwIwAQ
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A meal of family and friends (B speaking).
On our last wander around a farmer's market in Newcastle city centre, there was a farmer selling lovely assorted meats, including a good pork butt at a great price. We figured that was our excuse to have a couple friends over for a Dixie-style meal, which we've been wanting to do for awhile.
In honor of my father and all of his splendid culinary teaching, it was time to break out the eastern Carolina vinegar style pork. Armed with a trusty and reliable recipe from my friend Craig (thanks, mate), I cooked the pork for about seven hours in the crockpot. This particular hunk of meat had the fat wrapped around it in sort of a rind/shell, which I wasn't used to, and I should have salted it to do up crackling, had I been thinking about it. But the butcher had scored it that way with lots of deep slits, so I had the good sense to take some chilies from our new plant (see above) and dice them so I could stuff them into the slits as it slow-cooked for extra spiciness. As I stuffed and tucked, I was thinking of all the Thanksgiving and Christmases that I had seen Mom, Nik, and El do much the same thing with various roasts and meats. So in a sense everyone was there with me, family and friends.
M stepped up her game with greens, some gorgeous cornbread made from scratch (she's really getting away from all processed and non-natural foods as much as possible--I tell her she needs to start a food blog), plus some baked mac n' cheese (with three cheeses over the pasta that my cousin and her boyfriend left with us when they departed from the UK.) Topped off with some good English beer and some cookies that M made too, it was, in a word, unbelievable. We are happily stuffed. Thanks to all who helped--even though you weren't here, you were a part of it.
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