You are not American's Next Top Model

Yesterday I took advantage of the sun to scope out a spot on the side of the house that I've long thought would make a great setting for a family portrait; you know, that thing I'm always trying and failing to get!

On the side of the house there's a stack of logs for our landlord's fireplace. In front of the stack are several large tree stumps, laid out just like seats.



I thought I'd check out the lighting over there, the angles, how I could possibly set up the camera and how the timer would work.

The first thing I learned was that 10 seconds is definitely too short an amount of time to get from behind the camera over to the logs. The next thing I learned is that being a model must actually be incredibly hard. No more model jokes from me!

Anyone can take a dramatic looking shot of their face with some awkward camera angling, an far off gaze and some some low lighting, but what about the rest of your body?

I had no idea what to do with it.. it's inelegant, ungraceful and imposing. The results of this experiment are laughable, and I'm not sure that I can, even in context of my long-awaited family portrait, show my face again at the wood pile.

Attempt 1: Hunching over like a dude. Where are the feet?



Attempt 2: This reminds me of an early America's Next Top Model episode. I can hear Tyra Banks asking what's going on with my awkwardly bent arm, and why does it look like my butt is hovering in front of the log instead of on it?



Attempt 3: If you can't beat your height, use it, right? Still no idea what to do with arms or hands. Looking like I've got a bad taste in my mouth.



Yep.. some might suggest I need a day job. Maybe I'll try the family portrait this weekend..

Darden Towne Park

An integral part of keeping your dog tired = dog park.







"Where a dog can be a dog."

The Family Pumpkin(s)

Now what should we do with the big one?

Quote from Dinner

As I'm shoveling down the Laurabelle Salad: Spinach, Dates, Apples, Virginia Ham, Baby Swiss Cheese, Candied Pecans,& Maple Vinaigrette.

Note that I am not a salad eater.. at all.

Me: Mmm, this is really good!! (with a surprised tone)
Husband: I think you might hold the assumption that salad is supposed to taste bad.

L'Etoile

Last night we went to a nice restaurant in town called L'Etoile. My cooking class instructor last weekend named it as one of, in her opinion, the best restaurants in Charlottesville with a lot of talent in the kitchen... so we thought, "why not?"

We were put upstairs in a cute little room by ourselves.







Instead of wine or beer, we decided to enjoy the fall season by ordering the Royal Pippin cider from Albemarle CiderWorks.



It was a good choice that went well with the pork loin and duck we ordered as entrees.



This was the last photo I took before they seated another party in our room and I accepted that it's not the best etiquette to take photos of your food in a fancy restaurant. The salad included apples, cheese, spinach leaves, candied pecans and slivers of Virginia ham.



After dinner we went on a haunted "spirit walk," courtesy of Albemarle Historical Society. The walk started in historic Maplewood Cemetery, where we met several "spirits" or actors portraying historical characters. The tour continued out from the cemetery and to other "spirits" who chat with you in front of a former tavern, former opera house and you get a glimpse of an old trial at the County Courthouse.

Creative & Fun Pumpkin Ideas

I can't adequately express my feelings about fall or pumpkins. My husband can tell you that I never miss a chance to bake with pumpkin, that I look forward to pumpkin all year and I take an inordinate amount of time to scrutinize each and every pumpkin in the patch until I find the right one.

I don't always carve my pumpkins because I actually have a bit of an allergic reaction to squash! But there are lots of great things you can do even if you don't carve... like these!

Go classy


Go black & white


Go poetic


Or white on black


Go rustic


Be thorny


Be funky


Celebrate fall

Irish Cows

After leaving Carrick-on-Shannon we hit the road for Sligo. We made a number of stops along the way to explore ancient abbeys tucked away just off the road, beautiful lakes and these cows:

Carrick-on-Shannon

Wading through Ireland photos has resumed!

Carrick-on-Shannon was our first stop after returning to Ireland from Newcastle and renting a car.

Chris Greene Lake Park

We thought for sure that it would be too chilly for Biscuit to go in the water at Chris Greene Lake Park. We were so sure of this that we didn't even bring extra towels for the car.

We were wrong.



On the upside, Charlottesville in the fall at dusk is beautiful.

Cooking Class at First Colony Winery

Some lovely friends were thoughtful enough to get me a cooking class gift certificate a couple months ago. I chose wisely:

"Winery kitchen cooking classes are scheduled regularly at First Colony Winery in the rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont. Each class is designed to offer expertise with a different menu and set of cooking secrets that will lead you towards ever-greater confidence in home entertainment. These intimate participation style classes culminate with sitting down to our delicious lunch or dinner, paired with the delightful offerings of the winery’s cellar. The camaraderie is effusive as we converse with the vintner while enjoying his and our creations."

The menu was excellent:

"Potato Zucchini Soup / Crispy Chickpeas
Coffee Glazed Lamb Chops
Moroccan Roast Vegetable Couscous
Pina Colada Cake

This flavorful soup is thick and creamy without the addition of cream. We’ll make a glaze of coffee, spices, and rum to slather over lamb chops before grilling then serve these delicious little beasts with a mildly sweet very savory couscous. The cake is a meritage of three forms of coconut, flaked, ground, and creamed. It is heavenly topped with the tangy pineapple icing."

The class was a lot of fun and the food was sensational. There were 9 people in the class including me - well, 8 Washington, DC-based couples actually.. plus me! One couple just got married the night before, one was on a 2 year wedding anniversary trip, one was celebrating their retirement and one celebrating a birthday. I just celebrated the opportunity to scarf cake and not have anyone to worry about embarrassing myself in front of. I'm truly sorry I can't share the Pina Colada Cake with you... you'll have to come over for a dinner party. Mmkay?

Here is the best that my camera phone could do:

The lamb chops are glazed and ready for grilling, now we're cutting up fruit to go with the cake.



As the instructor got ready to ladel soup into bowls, I was the official crispy chickpea garnisher.



Potato & Zucchini Soup, crispy chickpea garnish and First Colony Chardonnay.





Time to grill those lamb chops!



Prepping the plates after a long day of cooking.





Coffee glazed lamb chops and Mediterranean couscous. Waiting on some First Colony Meritage to complement the meat.



My favorite, no surprises here. Pina colada cake with the moistest, most heavenly crumb. Served with First Colony's sweetest dessert wine.

Dog vs. Pants, Dog vs. Himself

Happy Saturday, everyone.



Sometimes it felt like the weekend would never get here. But when it does...



Maybe you feel like rolling around on the floor.



Following by some pants-eating.



I swear it looks like he's smiling; so pleased with himself.



Before it's time to attack pants again!



But why attack pants when you can eat your own tail?



Life is full of difficult decisions.