Back from the Beach

Monday, April 29, 2013 – Back from the Beach

I’ve been without internet access since last Friday morning when I left for Rehoboth, Delaware.  Consequently, I’ve had a very relaxing non-electronic few days.  But now that I’m back from the beach, I couldn’t wait to sit down at the keyboard.  The three-day Mind, Body, Spirit Hadassah program that I attended with my friend Cheri more than lived up to my expectations.  And the bright sunny weather certainly helped make the weekend very enjoyable although the temperatures were still a little cool for the summery clothing I brought along.   

The gazebo at the beach in Rehoboth, DE

Cheri and I were both ready for an adventure when we set out on Friday morning.  Once we were over the Bay Bridge and off the main roads, we found ourselves in a different world.  Flat farmland stretches out across the rural Delmarva Peninsula.  We made a spur-of-the-moment stop in Greenwood, Delaware, one of the small towns that punctuate the unending sea of green.  It was the statue of the cow (steer?) standing on top of the cowboy tavern that first got our attention.  It drew us inside where we found the congenial pony-tailed owner of the establishment.   

The Greenwood Cowboy Tavern in Greenwood, DE

Unfortunately, there was nothing vegetarian-friendly on their menu or we might have stayed for lunch.  Instead, we strolled down to Yoder’s Country Store, which stocks some irresistible items, such as purple popping corn kernels (from the Amish country), dried kiwi, home-made graham crackers, and a few other essentials.  One of the advantages of traveling with a female companion – I didn’t have to justify my purchases. 

Shortly after 2 pm, we reached our destination, Rehoboth Beach.  After dropping off our bags at the hotel, the next item on the agenda was lunch.  We both wanted beach food, which we found at Irish Eyes Pub on Rehoboth Avenue, only a block from the water.  Mmm, sweet potato fries and a crabcake Caesar salad make a well-balanced meal, especially when you add a cone of vanilla frozen custard for a calcium-rich dessert. 

Next, we headed towards the ocean.  Rehoboth has a long, wide boardwalk, perfect for strolling.  And when you’re tired of strolling, you can plant yourself on one of the white wooden benches and look out at the water.  I could listen to the sea forever.  The rhythm of the waves is like a pulse or a heartbeat that reawakens some long ago memory of the womb.   

Too chilly for swimming, but just right for walking

 

Eventually, though, we headed back to the hotel to pick up our Hadassah name tags and tote bags.  The evening was devoted to getting acquainted with other Hadassah members from the region (northern Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania), and learning more about Hadassah’s work in the areas of medical care, medical research, education, and conservation, primarily in Israel.  After dinner, we joined in a short Shabbat prayer service and an enthusiastic Hebrew songfest, which brought back memories of long-ago summers at Camp Blue Star in the mountains of North Carolina.

Saturday featured a creative prayer service conducted by Dr. Andrea Lieber, a religion professor from Dickinson College, whose exuberance was contagious.  I even purchased her book, The Essential Guide to Jewish Prayer and Practices.  The highlight of Sunday was a presentation by Dr. Jeffrey Morrison, a physician in New York City who emphasizes a holistic approach to medicine and health.  As a result of his extremely interesting and thought provoking talk, I’m going to make some changes in my diet.  You can read about his work in his latest book, Cleanse Your Body, Clear Your Mind. 

While Hadassah was the primary focus of the weekend, it’s no surprise that food and wine also played a major role.  We were very pleased to find that Rehoboth possesses an abundance of restaurants that serve more than the typical beach fare.  Café Azafran, the Spanish restaurant where we dined Sunday evening, is a prime example.  A glass of sherry, assorted olives, warm crispy bread dipped into fragrant olive oil, asparagus a la plancha, seafood Tarragona (a zesty mélange in a tomato-y broth), and a Nutella goat cheese cake with raspberry sauce – the meal was every bit as delicious as it sounds.  

Nutella and goat cheese cake at Café Azafran

 

We found the perfect happy hour venue, a restaurant called a(MUSE), with a selection of small plates that delighted the eye as well as the palate.  Over the course of two visits, we sipped wine and sampled a white bean dip flavored with preserved lemon; refreshingly marinated mushrooms garnished with radishes and hazelnuts; and some smoky grilled cauliflower.   

The marinated mushrooms at a(MUSE.)

 

And our choice of restaurant for Saturday’s lunch proved so satisfying that we returned the following day.  Green Man Juice Bar and Bistro offers an array of healthy juice drinks and smoothies, salads, soups, and sandwiches.  I recommend the Green Man, a light and tasty juice blend of kale, apple, pear, cucumber, and spinach.

The Hadassah group and the weekend crowds departed from Rehoboth by late Sunday afternoon.  At the same time, storm clouds were rolling in.  Rain fell throughout the night.  On Monday morning, Cheri and I rushed through the nearly deserted damp streets to The Gallery Espresso for The Last Breakfast:  a mammoth portion of raisin-studded oatmeal for me and a gluten-free crepe for Cheri – more than enough food to stave off hunger until we reached our own kitchens.   

The Last Breakfast (2013)

Soon, we were on our way back home.  Although Garmin was directing us, we managed to take a few detours, some intentional and some not.  Since we weren’t on a tight schedule, we were able to enjoy the spontaneity of a road trip.

I found Elliott napping comfortably when I arrived back at the house.  He had managed beautifully in my absence (with the much-appreciated assistance of Matt and Marshall).  Everything was in order.  If they had any wild parties while I was gone, they remembered to clean up the house afterwards – which is encouraging because I’m leaving again next Saturday for a week in New Mexico. 

About Time

Thursday, April 25, 2013 - About Time

What a difference a few days can make!  My backyard is curtained in green, as the trees have dressed themselves seemingly overnight in fresh shades of spring.  All through the neighborhood, the signs of the season are clear.  Tulips have burst into brilliant colors, Japanese maples are ablaze with crimson leaves, and dogwoods have erupted into dancing clouds of pale crème and pink blossoms.  While walking yesterday morning, I came across a weed-choked lot where a tangle of glycine (wisteria) was growing wild on a mound of dirt.  The vines, with their purple flowers, instantly evoked memories of the South of France, where glycine draped across stone walls or hanging over terraces was a common sight.  Everyday, more and more azaleas are popping open.  I’m treated to a dazzling display whenever I look out the window.  And all of this occurred in such a short time.  

Time has been on my mind in my art history class as well, where we seen to be racing through the centuries as the end of the semester approaches.  We spent so many weeks at the beginning of the semester getting to know the artists of the Renaissance that it was a bit of a shock to move into the 17^th century and make the acquaintance of Baroque artists such as Velasquez, Rubens, and Rembrandt.  Suddenly, the Baroque Era gave way to the frivolities of the Rococo, and before I knew it, we were in the midst of the 18^th century Enlightenment and the changes in the visual arts seemed to come so rapidly.  At our last class, we were looking at Jean-Louis David’s monumental historical paintings, such as The Oath of the Horatii, in the Neo-Classical style.  Today we’ll be looking at historical paintings by Goya and Delacroix in the Romantic style.  When I think back over what we’ve covered in the past few months, I get a case of mental whiplash.  But I’m enjoying the class tremendously, especially because my professor always anchors our analysis of the art in its historical context.  It would have wonderful to take this type of course while I was getting my undergraduate degree in history – but it’s never too late to add to one’s knowledge. 

As far as my schedule goes, this has been an ideal week.  Two days of subbing left me with enough time to get through myriad other activities without feeling too rushed.  Yesterday, while Elliott and Matt worked on painting the downstairs bathroom, I took some self-declared “me” time and went to the mall to do a little shopping.  Now that I have a few new items in my spring wardrobe, it’s time to banish the turtlenecks, corduroys, and boots.  Bring on the warmer weather!  And I’m hoping that I’ll have an opportunity to try out my new purchases this coming weekend at the beach.  I’m going to a three-day Hadassah program (Mind, Body, Spirit) in Rehoboth, Delaware.  The agenda is pretty full, but I’m bringing along my Kindle with a book on the conversos in New Mexico in preparation for my Road Scholar trip in May.  Also on my Kindle is the classical French drama Horace written in 1640 by Pierre Corneille.  I downloaded it yesterday after a little online research revealed that the story corresponds to The Oath of Horatii by David.  Of course, the play is in French.  Actually, it’s in 17^th century French verse.  If I get very ambitious, I’ll read it on the beach.  Then again, maybe I won’t.  I first attempted to read Corneille during my freshman year in college.  I still cringe when I think back to that French literature class.  But maybe it’s time to try again. 

While I’m away, Elliott has a full range of activities planned with Matt and Marshall, so I know he won’t be bored.  I’ve already heard them plotting about going out for dinner and making an excursion to Ikea. 

Cloudy with a Chance of Tomatoes

Saturday, April 20, 2013 – Cloudy with a Chance of Tomatoes

When Elliott doesn’t put in his hearing aids, he becomes the master of creative communication.  The latest example of this unique form of entertainment occurred yesterday while we were out taking a short walk on our street.  Heavy rain was predicted and the sky looked stormy.  A jogger passed by and called out that there was a tornado watch in effect until 10 p.m.  Elliott looked puzzled.  I repeated the information.  Then he looked even more puzzled.  “A tomato watch?” he asked, incredulously. 

He seems to forget to put his hearing aids in quite often.  In fact, he forgot to take them along when we went up to New York last weekend.  However, that didn’t prevent him from hearing the big announcement from Elisa and Christian about their engagement.  One week later, we’re still sharing the news with friends and family, and I’m settling into my new role as mother-in-law-to-be.  And I’m back to operating on DC time.  (It was on our most recent visit to the Big Apple that I realized New York City is in its own time zone.  Whenever I’m there, I automatically switch over to a stay-up-late, get-up-late schedule.)  Fortunately, I didn’t have any problem getting up at 5 a.m. the past two days when I subbed at Annandale High. 

It was been a stressful week for everyone, with thoughts of the Boston Marathon ever-present.  While I was subbing on Friday, I kept the television in the classroom turned on to CNN throughout the day.  The Convento Crew convened at dinnertime yesterday to celebrate Bud’s birthday and the well-being of Ellen and Michael.  Michael ran in the Marathon and Ellen was waiting near the finish line to greet him.  Ellen was positioned between the two explosions, and Michael was half a mile from completing the course when the bombs went off.  I’m so grateful that both were unharmed.  

As usual, our gathering was a lively one.  Inspired by Elisa and Christian, we shared the stories of our own proposals before sitting down for a German dinner prepared by Pam.  (I brought the veggie-wurst.)   Then, just as we were finishing off the birthday cake, the news came in about the capture of the second bombing suspect in Watertown.  We ended the evening with a sense of relief and satisfaction, tempered by sorrow for all of the victims. 

Elliott Steps Out

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 – Elliott Steps Out

Elliott leads the walkers for the first 100 steps.

Continuing the story of our New York weekend, here’s how Saturday unfolded.  It started much too early, with a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call.  At 6 a.m. we were in a cab, zipping down to Bowling Green, deep in the heart of the financial district at the southern tip of Manhattan.  And the reason for this bizarre behavior?  To help my brother Harvey celebrate his 60^th birthday.  Last spring, he announced that it was his intention to mark this milestone event with a walk around the entire island.  You can see the route at the Shorewalkers website.  

Granted, my brother is an avid walker, but 32 miles in one day sounded a bit extreme to me.  However, our friend Joel (the MedTrekker) and his friend Liz thought it was a great idea and flew in from California to participate.  A few others decided to join them.  Shortly after 6:30 a.m., just as daylight began to filter past the towering skyscrapers, the brave little group set out, with Elliott the Centenarian taking the lead for the first hundred steps.  While the rest of the group continued on their walk along the Hudson River, Elliott and I wisely searched for a cab to take us back to our hotel roomlet.  

We were in occasional phone contact during the morning as the walkers made their way up the west side of the island.  Shortly before noon, we got a call from Harvey, telling us that he was forced to abandon the walk because of unexpected back pain.  Maybe next time he’ll use a proper backpack rather than a tote bag when setting out on a trek of this duration.  But the others were continuing, after a break for coffee and snacks. 

Meanwhile, Elisa and I headed uptown via subway to the American Museum of Natural History to see an exhibit called Our Global Kitchen:  Food, Nature, Culture.  There was plenty of fascinating information about how food has developed over time, how food has spread, how it’s marketed, how it’s grown and prepared, how it’s used in celebrations, etc.  The exhibit also presented sobering statistics about the impact of a meat-based diet on the environment and on health.  In fact, it made a very convincing case for a more plant-based diet.  

By very late afternoon, I decided to join the walkers for the last 3 miles of the trek.  I met up with them in the park at the east end of Houston Street and walked south along the East River, passing the Williamsburg Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge.   

Brooklyn Bridge as the sun goes down

 

The walkers who finished the walk - Joel, Liz, Barbara and Sarah

Frankly, I was amazed that they were still able to move, and a couple of them were clearly in pain.  Before long, our thoughts turned to food, and specifically, where we could find it.  The financial district is fairly deserted on the weekend, and no one wanted to walk any more than necessary.  Fortunately, one of the walkers knew about the Stone Street Historical Area.  

  

Right in the midst of the modern office buildings, it’s a nearly hidden cobblestone street lined with restaurants.  Miraculously, a phone call confirmed that Smorgas, a Scandinavian restaurant on Stone Street, was open and could accommodate eight people at 8 pm.  Elisa, Christian and Elliott joined us there and we had another celebratory dinner.  This time, Elliott had some of his favorite foods, including herring, meatballs, beets, and cucumber salad.  Exhausted but still elated, we bundled into a cab after dinner and headed back up to the LES. 

Smorgas Chef on Stone Street

A sampling of Scandinavian food at Smorgas Chef

Up on the Roof

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 – Up on the Roof

This photo was taken the Sunday morning after the engagement.

I’ve been so elated since Elisa and Christian got engaged last Friday that I haven’t been able to sit down and write for several days.  I was too much in the moment, savoring every second of the excitement that continued throughout the long weekend.  Now that I’m back at home, however, I’m finally starting to come back down from that cloud.  

The big moment took place shortly after Elliott and I arrived in New York for a visit.  We had known for a couple of months that Christian was planning to propose to Elisa, but we had no idea when it would actually happen.  The proposal took place up on the roof of their apartment building on the Lower East Side after a long day at work for both of them.  The fact that it was a gray, chilly, damp and windy evening didn’t make it any less romantic – just think Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw on the moors in Wuthering Heights, but with the twinkling lights of the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop.  By the way, thanks to Teri, Christian’s mom, for noting that their engagement has a theme song, Carole King’s Up on the Roof.

Elisa was totally surprised by the timing.  Christian proved himself to be a master secret planner.  He managed to obtain Elisa’s ring size, arrange for a beautiful ring to be made up, and then lure Elisa onto the roof at the right moment without arousing any suspicion on her part.  They were beaming when they came over to the hotel just minutes after the proposal.  We were all especially touched by the fact that the ring Christian gave Elisa incorporated the diamond that my father had chosen for my mother’s engagement ring 66 years ago. 

Memorable moments deserve great food, and our dinner that night became a festive celebration.  It took place at a nearby restaurant, a tiny, quintessentially Manhattan place called GentlemanFarmer.  The food was imaginative and delicious.  Here come the details.  (You knew I couldn’t skip this part!)

First of all, we toasted with a Zinfandel rather than the more traditional champagne or other bubbly stuff.  Then we shared three starters:  tuna tartare, a beautifully layered dish with the raw tuna crowned with an avocado-based topping on a bed of sugar peas and figs; a Spanish-influenced dish of baby octopus, potato, Niçoise olives and arugula; and a dish of lobster tail with beurre blanc and white truffle on a beautifully seasoned bed of frisée.   All three were winners.   

 

Elliott declined to participate in this part of the meal, however.  He was saving his appetite for the rack of lamb he ordered.  Elisa, Christian and I had plenty with two main courses:  a tasty dish of red snapper on a bed of vegetables, and a stellar mushroom tortellini with truffles.  (We decided to skip the wild boar, bison ribs and ostrich steak that were featured on the menu.)  Of course, you can’t celebrate without dessert, so we ordered a pear tart with vanilla ice cream and a luscious crème brulée. 

It was already ten p.m. when we walked out into the chilly darkness but we were all too excited to go to sleep.  Elliott and I went back to the hotel and I started making phone calls.  It was well after midnight when I finally got to bed.  By the way, the location of our hotel (the Comfort Inn on Ludlow Street on the LES) was great, but I would not recommend it unless you like postage-stamp sized rooms. 

More weekend details to follow, including a couple of museum exhibits, a 30-plus mile trek around the perimeter of the island of Manhattan, and lots more celebrating and eating.

Missing AHS

Thursday, April 11, 2013 – Missing AHS

Taxes are finished, but I don’t feel like celebrating.  It was an excruciating ordeal that left me exhausted, and I’m just glad it’s over.  I’m continuing my morning walks in the woods.  It’s fascinating to watch the transformation of the forest as it sheds its drab winter palette.  Each day sees new bursts of color from flowering bushes, vines, and trees.  The birds are certainly enjoying the new season, judging from their non-stop chatter.  At every rustle in the leaves, I expect to see our frisky neighborhood fox appear again, but today’s wildlife sighting was confined to squirrels. 

With all that’s been going on at home recently (remodeling the bathrooms, preparing taxes, etc.), it’s no wonder I’ve been feeling the urge to get back to Annandale High.  When I was teaching, it was so much easier to escape from the stress at home.   I’m looking forward to getting back there soon to do some more subbing.  In the meantime, I enjoyed seeing many of my AHS friends today at Cindy’s.  It was billed as a tea party.  However, we were all in agreement that temperatures were too hot for tea.  Instead, Cindy served lemonade and iced tea.  And Ola prepared a special Egyptian treat – a delicious and refreshing cold beverage made from dried hibiscus.  A couple of hours of sipping, nibbling, and catching up on school-related news (there’s always some drama playing out) helped get my mind off family concerns.  It was around this time of year that I used to start counting down the days until final exams and the end of the school year.  I’m still feeling a little lost without that structure to my life.  

Suddenly, Summer

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013 – Suddenly, Summer

Such freakishly bizarre weather here, with temperatures in the low 80s yesterday and approaching 90 today.  I decided it would be too hot for a third walk around the Tidal Basin.  Instead, I settled for a walk through the woods yesterday.   There was some drama playing out in the treetops.  I spotted a couple of turkey vultures overhead.  And while I was trudging up the path, I had a pretty close encounter with Mr. Fox, who was crossing the path a short distance ahead of me.  He stopped for a fraction of a second and stared at me, then bolted off into the brush.  It all happened so fast that I didn’t even have time to panic.  This afternoon, the only reason I ventured out was to visit a few of my favorite weeping cherry trees before their delicate blossoms succumbed to the intense heat.  I am now officially blossomed out.  

 

Much earlier this morning, I was out doing my annual garden clean-up.  This involves cutting back the liriope before the new growth appears and hacking off the advancing arms of some very aggressive juniper.  And as long as I was sitting in the dirt, I went ahead and started pulling out some of the numerous weeds in the front flower beds.  I really love weeding.  Unlike so many other gardening tasks, like planting trees or seeds, which require endless waiting, weeding provides instant gratification.  You pull a weed, and it’s gone!  By the time I stopped, I had filled up one of those enormous plastic trash bags and felt immensely satisfied.  So weeding is actually very therapeutic.  But please don’t ask me to come over and weed your garden.  I’ve done enough for one year.  

Reporting from Cherry Blossom Central

Monday, April 8, 2013 – Reporting from Cherry Blossom Central

Only a few blossoms were fully open.

On Saturday, I went into DC with a friend to walk around the Tidal Basin and admire the cherry blossoms.  There were lots of people (and their pets and strollers), but not many blossoms.   

The recent cold snap made the cherry trees a little reluctant and we really had to search to find blossoms that were open.  However, I was amazed at how the city and the National Park Service have turned this annual occurrence into a major event.  For the first time, I saw all sorts of tents along the walking route. At the information tent, I learned about the four stages of cherry blossom development: florets visible; peduncle elongation; puffy white; full bloom.   

Several tents were devoted to various kinds of cherry blossom related merchandise (mugs, shirts, books, origami, parasols, tote bags, etc.).  There were even packages of seeds in case you wanted to grow your own cherry tree.  I was tempted, but I managed to exercise supreme restraint.  There were also tents selling food, both Asian and American.  In addition, there was a stage set up and the entertainment was free, multicultural (salsa music, Bangla dance and cherry blossoms?), and continuous.  There was even a zumba class going on in front of the Jefferson Memorial.  

You can plant seeds and grow your own cherry tree!

Since the blossoms were still in their infancy on Saturday, I decided to return to the Tidal Basin on Sunday with another friend.  I was hoping that the warmer weekend temperatures might encourage more blossoms to open fully.  As anticipated, there were a few more blossoms, but there were also many more people.  One highlight of Sunday’s walk was the chance to hear a live performance of Japanese music performed by a group of koto players.  

They played Sakura, which I learned in elementary school.

The cherry blossoms are expected to reach their peak around mid-week, so I hope to get back into DC on Wednesday.  But even without masses of pink and white blossoms, the Tidal Basin is one of my favorite places to walk.  This past weekend, I got my first glimpse of the recently completed Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.  I’m not quite sure how I feel about that monumental semi-relief statue of Dr. King.  It reminds me of ancient Egyptian sculptures of the pharaohs.  And I always love to visit the FDR Memorial, which looked especially appealing at this time of year. 

That pose looks very severe to me.  What do you think?

 By the way, when I say I walked around the Tidal Basin, that isn’t quite accurate.  It was more like doing the cherry blossom shuffle.  This is the technique:  Slide your right foot forward a couple of inches, then slide your left foot forward a couple of inches.  Repeat.  Pause every five or six steps to gaze up into the tree branches, turning your head from side to side.  Try to avoid collisions with low tree limbs and swinging telephoto lenses. 

Blossoming

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Friday, April 5, 2013 – Blossoming

It’s finally happening, as we all knew it inevitably would:  the cherry trees are well on their way to full-fledged glory.  Blossom-mania has overtaken the entire city.  On Thursday evening, we attended an opening of an exhibit for DC FotoWeek, which focused on the cherry blossoms.  Bob Epstein, an old friend of Elliott’s from his days teaching at the Corcoran School of Art, was one of the featured photographers.  His large format images of blossoms, printed on white aluminum, were ravishingly beautiful.  Of course, I’m eager to see the cherry blossoms in person.  On Saturday morning, I’ll make my first circuit of the Tidal Basin.  

At the FotoWeek DC exhibit

Robert (Bob) Epstein and Elliott in front of Bob's paintings

Although we had several wintery days this past week, with temperatures only in the 40s and stinging winds, the weather has finally turned spring-like.  I celebrated today by planting pansies and herbs – basil, dill, and chives – in pots.  My gardening skills are quite rudimentary, but I find that getting my hands full of dirt gives me a certain childlike pleasure.  After a busy day shopping and eating at Ikea, Elliott took a late-afternoon nap while I sat outside in the sunshine with the neighbors and toasted the new season with a glass of chilled Central Coast white wine, redolent of apple blossoms, honeydew and peaches.