In the Morning Light

In the morning, right after I feed my dogs, I go outside with my camera and under the watchful eye of the Crony Brothers and Barnaby, I take pictures of my garden in the morning light.  So much for solitude at dawn.

This winter has been foggy and mysterious.  

The sunrises through a light fog shroud me in gauzy pink light that remind me of Monet's impressionistic paintings.  

And I forget myself as I click away with my camera hoping to merely capture a glimpse of the beauty surrounding me.  As the pastel colors fade, I hear The Crony Brothers' garage door close.  Show over.  And I smile to myself. 

Barnaby versus the Fridge

As of tonight, the top of the fridge is no longer a safe place to hide things from Sweet Barnaby.  My (oh so ornery) Pirate carefully placed a new dog bone to hang over the precipice of the top of the fridge.  I interrupted his plan when I walked back into the house and found My Pirate poised with iPhone in hand to document the moment.  I reached for my camera and Sweet Barnaby reached for the bait all the while muttering and howling in frustration. 

It’s time to go permanently clean off the top of my fridge.  Where should I hide the dog treats? 

Repairing the Poetry Post

One morning in December, I discovered the poetry post box lying in the front bed on top of a perplexed euphorbia.  The poetry box was either ripped off the post by the Neighborhood Miscreants or simply fell because the screws were too short.  I'll never know.  I scooped up the undamaged box and sat it in the garage where it was slowly hidden by layers of clutter.  My clutter.  Hidden until I took a halfhearted attempt to clean the garage over the weekend, just so I could feel that I had earned my T-bone steak dinner.  

As I pushed my clutter around in the garage, I watched a familiar dog walker approach the post and touch the screw holes on the empty poetry post.  I realized that she felt the absence of the poetry and might fear that the box had been stolen.

So, I shook off the box that still held one rain stained autumn poem.  Oh dear.  And asked My (loving) Pirate to reattach the poetry box to the post with longer screws, while I took pictures.  

That looks so much better.  Now, I don't have to try to dodge the complaints of the poetry lovers in our neighborhood.   Because you know how they get!

I even took some pictures of the dead Rubus Lineatus leaves to possible add to the top of my next poem in the poetry box.  And the T-bone steak was delicious.  

My Pirate and Pok Pok

Ever since I handed My Pirate the new cook book, Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand, by Andy Ricker with JJ Goode, our roles have reversed in the kitchen. I'm running to my new favorite Asian market, Tola Angkor Market, to pick up last minute items like shallots, limes, and mint.  We've been shopping for new kitchen equipment that the cookbook suggests.   A couple of weeks ago we purchased a Thai clay mortar and wooden pestle for mixing salads.  My Pirate is working his way through the salad chapter and I'm loving every minute of it.  

I'm normally the one going through crazy phases in the kitchen, but this time I just get to stand back and encourage him.  And nosh on some pretty amazing food.  Andy Ricker's recipes translated for the home cook make for a convincing version of my favorite Pok Pok dishes.  And whenever I've been able to pry the book away from My Pirate, it's a great read.  So far, his book has exceeded my expectations.  

Som Tam Thai (Central Thai-Style Papaya Salad)

Andy Ricker brought Thai street food to Portland in the form of a food shack named Pok Pok.  Now he runs four restaurants in Portland and two in New York City.  If you live near one of his restaurants, you simply must go and try their Khao Soi curry soup, Vietnamese fish-sauce wings, and a drinking vinegar.  It will change your life or the very least wow you.  Whenever I'm across the river in Portland, I like to drop by Pok Pok and order a bowl of Khao Soi, and add so many roasted pepper flakes that my nose runs as I eat it.  It's fantastic.  

My Pirate uses our new Thai clay mortar and wood pestle to mix up fantastic salad dressings.  

Ricker's cookbook will never take the place of Pok Pok in my heart, but it's wonderful for those nights that we want to stay in and cook.  My kitchen is filling up with new ingredients and kitchen gear and I'm enjoying their influence in our cooking.  Last week, I made a tuna melt out of the leftovers of Yam Tuna, a Thai Tuna Salad and my eyes rolled into the back of my head as I ate it.  Everything old is new again!  

Food 52 recently featured JJ Goode and included several recipes from the Pok Pok cook book.  Check it out.

And out of curiosity, what is your favorite Pok Pok dish? 

Barnaby and Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day January 2014

Last month, my camera lens kept pulling towards the seed heads in my garden.  This week, I was thrilled to discover an emerging Sweet Coltsfoot, Petasites japonicas, blossom in my backyard.   Today, I snuck out of the house to capture a few shots of it while My Pirate was busy cooking out of the new Pok Pok cookbook.  

                                                                                     Now you see it!

Unfortunately, Barnaby decided to help me...

                                                                                       Now you don't!

Oh Barnaby!  

What? What?  Who me?  

Please don't forget to visit our lovely hostess, Carol at May Dreams Gardens and see blooms from around the world!  What's blooming in your garden right now?