A correction

Oh Peter, you blockhead.  Miscounting visited states?  For shame.

Rhode Island was number 37.  

New Hampshire was number 38.  

Sorry for the mixup, folks!

Dartmouth

Hey!  I know, you are dying to read tonight’s brief missive.  And here it is!

I will write up more on the New England trip when I get home, I promise.  A lot to talk about.  Friends, libraries, meals - so many highlights.  And here was one from today:  Dartmouth College.  The Ivy League.  A very old, very wealthy college in a bucolic, remote New England setting.  The sort of place one thinks about as defining a college.  It was lovely.

So here is a shot of the outside of the Baker Library.  We had a tour there today, and I was a delight.

On to Boston tomorrow!

No. 34

Rhode Island was the 33rd state I visited.  Today New Hampshire became number 34.

We left Providence late morning.  Ed drove.  North through the state and then on across the width of Massachusetts, stopping for lunch near Nashua after we had crossed the next state line.  

A Thai(ish) chicken wrap for me.  

We pressed on, stopping at one of the many liquor and wine no-sales-tax places the state is known for,

and finally making it to Lebanon, near the Vermont border.

It’s now past ten.  We have come back from dinner and FaceTimed Van.  More on this day’s adventure to come, but I head to bed one state richer in experience.

fitting in

Our last day in Rhode Island is drawing to a close.  We made it back from Narragansett in time to have a we nightcap at the hotel bar (yes, that is a martini in a white wine glass - apparently they only have two martini glasses at the bar)

(I did not finish my martini).  Soon to bed.  We have to pack in the morning, take the car to the airport, and then meet Ed for our jaunt up to New Hampshire.  Full days ahead!

So once again, it is a short entry for me and a photo or two.  We visited Ed’s library earlier today, and I continued a tradition of getting photos taken in a little reading cubicle in the children’s room.  Cute, no?

To bed, to NH.  I’ll check in quickly tomorrow!

Roger

We are back at the hotel after a day spent down in Newport.  Much to post, not tonight.  I want to get into comfy clothes, read a little head to bed.  Libraries to visit tomorrow, and a dinner down in Narragansett.  Looking forward to it all.

So, for tonight’s glimpse of the vacation thus far, here is a shot from the International Tennis Hall of Fame, items contributed by one of this year’s inductees, the great Roger Federer.  A legend, truly.

On to jammies and soon to bed….

sweet sweet jasmine

And another short post while we we are out of town.  The jasmine plants out back popped last week, and man oh man, are they gorgeously fragrant.  I absolutely love this time of year when the air is so perfumed all about.  Delightful.  If only this blog were scratch and sniff!

where we are

Hey, it’s me, checking off another state visited.  Number 33:  Rhode Island.  

We flew from Chicago to Providence earlier this afternoon, and we have settled into our hotel downtown.

 It’s a grey, damp day, but ah well.  It’s a nice break from the SoCAL heat.

More blogging to come in days ahead!

still cute as all get out

Conrad and I are en route today from Denver to Providence by way of Chicago.  Fun times.  More to come on the travels, but in the meantime, why not appreciate again that Olive is such a frickin' cute little girl....

Friday night before vacation

Writing this on Friday night, posting on Saturday.  Conrad and I have an afternoon flight from Burbank to Denver and an overnight at the Westin at the airport there.  I wish we were getting together with Laurie and Marc, but next time.  I hope!  My spring break looms, and time in New England beckons.  And what better way to head off on vacation than by enjoying dinner at Maestro?  You got me!

Mild evening temperatures meant we could sit outside.  No live music tonight, alas, but we still had a good time, and the restaurant (indeed, many of the restaurants in the neighbourhood), was doing some good business.  We ordered cocktails - a mezcal negroni for me

- and a starter of queso fundido,

and settled in to enjoy the evening.  Conrad and Van were across the table from me,

sipping their drinks.  Conversation ranged all over.  We had a good time.

Calamari followed the queso,

and then the cochinita pibil. 

My gosh, that last one, a pork dish, is so good.  Yum.

No dessert for us.  We came back to the condo for a bit, discussed Olympics tickets purchases, and then Van headed home.  A nice night before heading out of town, very welcome.

Happy Saturday, happy Easter weekend! 

April showers

The LA rainy season is not yet done with us even if it hasn't reared its head in weeks.  Not a heavy rain this past week, but we'll take it.  How lovely to see droplets on the olive tree leaves outside our front door the other morning.

It's April.  Conrad and I are leaving Van behind in California and heading east tomorrow for my spring break.  I'll see if Blogger is still not cooperating with use on my phone or not.  If it is, then it will be a bit of a break in blogging and then a return with vengeance when I get back! 

Gwen

Conrad gets back later today, gone to Chicago for conference since this past Saturday.  Ugh, what a drive to the airport that was, what with ramps onto the 110 closed off and with no warning as we approached.  Sigh.

Anyway, Conrad made it to Chicago no problem, and Van and I decided to get out of Pasadena for a date night out.  Gwen was his suggestion, and it was a good suggestion, indeed.

I'd seen Chef Curtis Stone appear as a judge or guest on Top Chef a couple of times, and I know that he is respected, but I didn't know much else.  I had assumed that because he was Australian, his restaurants were all there.  Apparently not, though.  Gwen is parked in Hollywood and is a Michelin one-star, I believe.  Based on the terrific service (the food was good, I promise), I can see why.  Van and I both commented on how much we appreciate the service there.  It really makes a difference in a dining experience.

So then, Saturday afternoon we got a little dressed up

(I always feel like I should, but then I see how other people dress for dining out nicely and I wonder why I bother) and drove over.  What a handsome space it is there. 

Love the Art Deco touches.  We waited a short bit and then were seated.  Again, a nice space.  Maybe too loud for Conrad, but a nice space.Cocktails to start, a Mai Tai for Van and a Vesper for me. 

We settled in for a nice meal.

We could have greatly indulged.  The wine list was terrific, and there were many smaller plates that looked appealing as well as some mighty fine meats.  We kept it relatively light and simple, though.  There was a trip of amuses-bouches: 

a consomme with shitake mushroom, a gougere, and a little beef tartare in a shiso leaf

(I ate Van's).  We also shared the English peas appetizer which, as the server promised, was more about the morels that were filled with shrimp. 

That foam/sauce was so good, and we really needed more of the hot, crusty bread to mop it all up.

Gwen prides itself on butchery and sells cuts of meats for cooking at home.  Given that, we knew we had to have a steak.  We opted for a 14 ounce New York strip.  What was interesting was, they didn't ask us how we wanted it cooked.  Van likes his steaks a little less rare than I do, but he didn't have a problem with it.  The steak came out sliced for us with a little roasted onion on the side. 

We also had the duck fat potatoes,

and there was a jus to spoon over the meat.  It was entirely satisfying.  Everything was salted just right, too, which I greatly appreciated.  We didn't rush over the dining, just enjoyed each bite.

We told the server we were saving room for dessert, and we didn't lie.  All of them sounded tempting, and in the end we chose the apple mille-feuille with miso-caramel. 

A good mix of sweet, tangy, and salty/savoury.  Yum!

Gwen is not an inexpensive meal although you don't have to break the bank to go there.  It's also not near us, so it won't be a regular place to go back to.  But I can happily see returning for another date night or to take visitors there.  Heck, I'd love to meet a friend like, say, Denny at the bar and have a cocktail and bite.  I'm glad Van suggested it.  We had a lovely date night all in all. 

remnants

Yesterday was monthly online drinks.  Rather late this month, and no Conrad or Chris to enjoy it with us.  Alas.

But it was a fun theme.  Over time, we've each purchased bottles of something or other to make a specific cocktail once, maybe twice, and then... yeah.  These bottles sit.  I have been ruthless and tossed a few, I admit.  I hate the waste, though.  So, this month we tried to address it.  Remnants - that was the theme.  I selected three bottles that sit there, staring at me, and made a cocktail with each.  Ranked from least favourite to favourite, they were

The Trade Secret. 

I didn't end up fully drinking this one, only a few sips to decide what I thought of it.  Not bad, and if I had only made this, I would have been happy.  A way to use the ginger liqueur I had purchased for our Britpop themed drinks.  I may try this cocktail again some day.

The Vanilla Sour. 

I can't remember what I bought the Galliano for, but I always associate it with the Harvey Wallbangers that my mother drank back in the 70s.  This was a simple drink, it felt light enough and elegant, and I ended up enjoying it as the first of two drinks with the gang.

The Naked and Sunburnt. 

A play on a Naked and Famous but the Ancho Reyes taking the place of yellow Chartreuse.  A very light burn to this one, just enough to make the chile known but not so much that Van didn't drink it.  I liked it, though, and I will definitely make this one again!

Next month:  make our favourite cocktail.  Now then, what is my favourite cocktail...? 

the flowers of South Pasadena

How about some prettiness to end the weekend.  I was out on foot before 7 this morning, mostly out and about in South Pas, having started out from Van's place.  Over 6 miles, a decent walk.  And a mildly cool morning, making for a comfortable walk at that.

And oh, the flowers....

Statice.

Brazil raintree.

Lantana, encased in some sort of fluff from a nearby tree.

Crimson bottlebrush.

Japanese cheesewood.

Nasturtiums.

California flannelbush.

And oh!  The pride of Madeira is starting to pop on Van's back slope. 

This little bee was surely enjoying that.

Happy Monday ahead.  May the flowers put you in a good mood for the week ahead.