December views, day 26

We're some pretty happy campers around here.
My fabulous sister sent me these gorgeous fabrics for Christmas, from talented Australian textile designers Hollabee, Pippijoe and Lara Cameron. Mmmm, yummy. They are mostly fat quarters, with a couple of half metres. What shall I do with them?

The whole family's gone crazy over my new macro lens, as you can see:

Finally, I have to present you with an up-close food shot. These were a big hit at yesterday's feast, so I thought I'd share the recipe too.
Super Simple Ricotta Chive Mini Tarts
2 sheets bought pie pastry
250g ricotta
50g grated tasty or cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons finely snipped chives
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Mini muffin baking tray
1. Preheat oven to 210°C. Cut 2" rounds of pastry and place in lightly greased baking tray holes.
2. Mix together the two cheeses, eggs and chives in a bowl. Spoon some into each case. Bake for 10-15 minutes until pastry and cheese are golden.
Serve hot or cold.

December views, day 25

Another wonderful Christmas Day, filled with friends, laughter, silly hats, great food, a warm fire, and love.

You can see all the photos here.

December views, day 24

Christmas pyjamas, well received.

Happy, happy Christmas.

December views, day 23

The Christmas Eve performance is a Lauren tradition, but she won't be here at the appointed hour tomorrow evening. So she requested we watch her dance this afternoon instead. Two numbers, with all her signature moves. Ah, Christmas just wouldn't be the same without her dances.

Earlier in the day I made some oh-my-god-delicious sweet/spicy/salty nuts that I am trying desperately to keep my hands off until Christmas Day. Here's the recipe:

2 cups unsalted mixed nuts
1-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1-1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
kosher salt

Toast nuts in a dry skillet over low heat until fragrant. Drop in butter to melt, and toss and cook nuts for a few minutes longer. Meanwhile, stir together the sugars and cayenne in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the nuts and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar caramelizes. Transfer nuts to a baking sheet, spread in a single layer and sprinkle with the kosher salt. Let cool. Try not to eat them all at once.

December views, day 22

I left work early enough to see the sun set over the Pacific. On the other side of this ocean, my son wakes up on his yacht, and my father sees the briny blue from his kitchen window. Hi Dad! Hi Jesse and Rhea! I wave across the waves to you.

I am now off work till after New Year. Yayy! It'll be my first real break since starting this job last March. I plan a lot of reading, hiking, and art time. R&R at its best.

December views, day 21

Dog Lovers' Monopoly, an early gift for the resident dog lover.

December views, day 20

In our house, dishwashing is man's work. Ian's the #1 dishwasher; if he's not here, Josh takes it on. I've been trying to get Lauren acclimatized to the task. After all, when Ian leaves home next year it'll be her after-dinner chore. She is exceedingly unimpressed with the idea. Her hands are way too dainty for all that yucky food. I'll have to get her some rubber gloves with faux fur cuffs, I think. But for now, I'm grateful for my dishwashing men.

December views, day 19

On the way home. In case you ever need it, the tsunami evacuation route is up this side street. Good to know.

December views, day 18

I take a lot of photos on my commute, mostly while stopped at lights, but sometimes while moving (I keep my eyes on the road, honestly. I just point, shoot, and hope for the best.) This one includes the dirty marks on the windscreen, at no extra charge. Click to embiggen.

December views, day 17

Remember who you are.

December views, day 16

I was making good time on my morning commute, so I stopped at Malibu to enjoy ten minutes' beach peace. Thank you, seagulls, for your perfect birdiness.

December views, day 15

This has been a favourite potluck dish of mine for nearly ten years. I annotated the cookbook in Feb 1999 with the note "Wonderful mix of flavours." It's my contribution to tomorrow's departmental holiday luncheon.

Lentil, Olive and Mandarin Salad
Adapted from Weight Watchers' In A Flash cookbook

1 cup dried lentils
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
One 11-ounce can mandarin orange sections, drained*
1 small red onion, diced
1/4 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed green olives
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Put lentils in a saucepan covered by 2 inches of water. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes or until tender but not falling apart. Drain and run under cold water to cool.

In a medium bowl, mix the lemon juice, oil, garlic, cumin and salt. Gently stir in the lentils, mandarin sections, onion, olives and parsley.

*You can use fresh mandarins or small oranges instead. Cut off the membranes from each section.

December views, day 14

I'm on the home stretch with Christmas gifts. Not having a baby handy, I used a very endearing monkey to test out my SIL's baby wrap. Seems to work just fine. In fact, I experienced a flashback to my babywearing days (could it really be 20-odd years ago?) Some days I think I'd have another if I could. I love babies. But I also love a good night's sleep.

December views, day 13

Took a misty, drizzly hike in Franklin Canyon with my friend Gina this morning. Spot the bunny.

December views, day 12

December views, day 11

So SoCal. Love the seagull.

December views, day 10

Next in line.

December views, day 9

Chipotle meatballs, ready to take to work tomorrow for the holiday potluck.

December views, day 8

December views, day 7

December views, day 6

After the HSL (housework/shopping/laundry) was done today, I offered Lauren some suggestions of places we could go this afternoon. A Kwanzaa festival. A Festival of Lights celebration. The Local World's Fair. She looked at them all and said, "How about a hike?"

Absolutely, my dear. I gave her the book to pick one, and off we went.

It was just lovely, strenuous and beautiful. And on the way home ...

...serenaded by love songs from the back seat...a wonderful sunset.

December views, day 5

Reflections, shadows, grids.

December views, day 4

My guys' hands.

December views, day 3

Workplace shapes.

December views, day 2

At the top of Topanga this morning, I emerged from the cloud and stopped to look back over the San Fernando Valley. Hard to imagine that there's millions of people down there in the fog, taking showers, eating breakfast, driving to work, arriving at school, walking the dog. It could be wilderness. I wish it was.

December views, day 1

Sometimes the blurry shots are the best.
The Malibu tunnel on the way to work all aglow.

My friend Shawna visited me at my desk to sip tea and update me on her Thanksgiving.

The planetary alignment on the way home got me excited. I took this on the evening commute with the camera resting on the roof of the car, but decided I really needed a tripod. So as soon as I got home I gathered up the family and tripod and we went looking for high ground. By then too much time had elapsed; Venus and Jupiter had slipped too low in the sky to be seen from our vantage point.

So I took more blurry shots of the fairy lights.

A good day. Happy December!