All my scattering moments are taken up with my needle. ~Ellen Birdseye Wheaton, 1851
Here I am 'just taking a few things to the studio' and stopping quickly for some basil. I've been gone 2 hours. Good thing TY doesn't notice whether I'm there or not until he gets hungry. I left my hotel this morning at 6:30 because I was SO PISSED at the tv situation- all they have is pay-per-view. I couldn't even watch local news! I tried every damn button and unfortunately hit one in error and ended up watching a hideous SNL that was so awful and not funny that I turned it off. AND had to pay $5.63 including tax for something I didn't want in the first place. So instead of staying for the free breakfast, I left and blasted home at about 80 mph, nobody on the road, doncha know it's early Sunday morning and I was back by 8:30. As soon as I got off the turnpike I called TY to meet me at our favorite truck stop where I ate a truckers breakfast. Felt much better after that. Alice performed beautifully, I think I'll keep her until one of us dies.
The meeting at FIT's (Florida Institute of Technology) Ruth Funk Textile Center was great. In fact they like us so much that there will be a Florida show there next summer, and the next year another SAQA show. If you're in Florida, you must go- it's a great resource for all of us down here in the swamps. Martha came down from CT and gave a docent tour of the Master's show from her book, but it was so much better seeing them all in person. Afterwards we adjourned to the auditorium where I was on a panel with her and Jane Gaskins where we answered questions and gave information. Turns out the questions weren't all marketing like I feared, and instead I felt like perhaps I did have good information to share from all my years at it. Swiss-Cheese-Brain only hit me once, how embarrassing. That was followed by a quick sharing of work, and a long dinner at a riverside funky seafood place. Lovely setting, food was 'meh...', Stella was stellar.
Then back to the hotel, a Marriott. MAKE SURE if you book with a Marriott that you ask about the tv situation. Bummer. I hiked out to the car and grabbed my iPad and watched an episode of Arrested Development- I'm trying to catch up before the new series starts, I think, next week. So, I am now off to grab some basil and return home because we have friends coming over to see our pictures. Fortunately TY has his all arranged and ready to go. I'm gonna say that my iPad isn't charged. Don't tell.
But I WILL share with you our last meal in Amsterdam! Our kids got together and surprised us for our anniversary with a meal at a fabulous restaurant just outside of the city. I'm not sure how they found DeKas, but it was perfect- a wonderful end to the trip. In fact they got us the chef's table in the kitchen so I was so excited. It was a 7 course meal with wine pairings and I had to call uncle after about 4, but soldiered on only taking minuscule tastes and tiny sips, even getting up and taking a tour with one of the chefs midway. Each chef's course was presented to us by it's maker, then the wine was explained and away we went.
OMG, a STORK! What do you suppose that might mean???
The greenhouse that was converted into a restaurant. See the nest up on top of the stack? There were two of them
Walking around to the front, past the gardens where they grow their own produce
Oh no, MORE wine??? Taken from our table in the kitchen
Second course, huge fat asparagus
Third course, Tiny little quail legs and stuffed breast with the smallest radish I ever saw.
A turnip cake, who'd a thunk it? Followed by a piece of sea bass wrapped in procuitto. We tried to stop here, but they insisted on our dessert--- we compromised by only getting one!
Somehow I am missing 2 courses- one was in the beginning before I remembered to grab my camera- foie gras on tiny toast and a tomato jam on another toast. Nibble nibble. But I'm still missing one...
A rhubarb/pistacio confit with white chocolate foam and a scoop of homemade pistachio gelato. Waddle on home!
And that dear bunnies, is why everybody should go to Amsterdam!
Ohhh, a baybe squirrel!
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