Doesn't get much better.

For valentines day this year Linda and I went to Cat's Cradle to see Brandi Carlile, a favorite for both of us. In addition to her stuff (fast, slow, new and old- and as you can see even unplugged) Brandi also covered Bob Dylan, Tears for Fears, the most spectacular Johnny Cash, Pasty Cline and brought out Amy Ray for a few duets and even got the audience in doing harmony. I really don't think I've ever enjoyed anything half as much as this.

patiently pursuing creative knowledge

This is my new mantra. I love too many things:biology, cooking ,art, music...But that should be a good thing. Including painting. And while I'm not about to make a life out of it, without it- i would not have a life.

Above are some works in various stages, mainly in progress

Chicken Love.

Ok so except for the whole gross salmonella thing, I love chicken. There is nothing more amenable to leftover creativity than a roast chicken. This one made many meals- some of which were balsamic artichoke and chicken pizza and chicken potpie with biscuits. An so it is no surprise that this is my favorite Julia episode....i think it's the knife waving....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ohiUbQyDhk

Snow in North Carolina + Old House = Cooking to stay warm

I don’t think I was prepared for how good the recipe was actually going to be. It had been built up like no recipe before, through blogs, written word and even movies. It had been on my list, but I hadn’t had the time.

The snow provided the time and the need to have an oven on for about 5 hours.

And so I made Julia Child’s Beouf Bourginion.

And promptly died.
Just a little.

Above are pictures of both the snow and the food.
My apologies for not having pictures of dessert: The best Coconut vanilla bean cupcakes, Linda’s fantastic contribution to the day.

A very satisfying Saturday spent hiking for ingredients, playing in the snow, talking with Cliff and, of course cooking.