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I know you've all been hitting Refresh over and over and over again for days in hopes of seeing the pound cake recipe reviewed, wondering when oh when will she post?

And I hate to disappoint my fans. But sad to say, I didn't end up making the pound cake b/c I didn't have enough unsalted butter (and after checking with 4 of my neighbors - no luck), so I made two of my stand-by favorites for the events I needed goodies for. So that my phone won't be ringing off the hook ("Please, Ruthie, please! Recipes! Recipes! Goddess of Cookery, Please!") I thought I'd share the two recipes I did make, favorites of mine.

They can be found on Allrecipes.com, a site I became very familiar with up in Princeton since I didn't take any cookbooks. . .

Pumpkin Flaxseed Quickbread
and Best, Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

So no need to call.

Skillet-Barbequed Pork Chops, p.6 of Sept./Oct.

My conclusion about these Cooks Illustrated recipes is this: I'm not willing to make the time on an everyday basis. They always taste great, but because they're doing it the best way, there are too many steps for an average day. And for some reason my kids need attention (?!) and other things have to get done around here. So while I like having the recipes for experimenting or when Keri is watching the kids while I spend the afternoon cooking, they aren't practical for every day.

For example. These pork chops. Took forever. But they were really good, as expected, and really nice with the Helen Corbitt's corn pudding I love, and some nice green broccoli. So make them if you have the time! We had quite a lovely dinner this evening.

Even after I write all that, I'm still going to make the pound cake recipe in this cookbook tomorrow. I can't help myself. This cookbook keeps luring me in! Bill, Bill, why did you do this to me? I can't stop!

After a bath. . .

Harry's darling curls.

Coq au Vin

This is the Coq au Vin recipe I keep raving about. I'm making it again this week for some friends coming for dinner. I've been leaving out the bacon and cognac, for reasons of fat and cost, respectively, and it's still divine, especially when served with cornbread stuffing.

February 22,1908 to February 22,2008

Emma Anita Brown Bone was born 100 years ago today! Happy Birthday, Mama! We miss you.

Taking After Aunt Emily

I missed getting it on video just now, but Sophie was reading her Ballet School book for her class (she's playing school) and she was just demonstrating the ballet positions for the class as illustrated in the book! She got up to "seventh" and "eighth" positions. It was priceless! I tried to get her to do it again for the camera, but she wasn't having it, as class was moving on. Just had to share the moment with you all!

The Backpack and other adventures of the week

We're continuing to try to get our big 15-mo.-old to walk! Harry is just too content with his lightening crawl. Here's Jackson helping with the cause:
(missing video)

The boys' room has been the most dorm-like neglected room of our apt., and on Friday morning on a whim the boys and I drove to the Pottery Barn Outlet in San Marcos (about 50 minutes) to look at rugs. I think that "whim" was the Holy Spirit's kindness, because all rugs were 60% off already discounted prices. I bought an 8x10 100% wool rug for the boys' room for $108, along with a blue Roman shade (originally $129) for $5.99! And lastly, we got a monogrammed backpack for Jackson for $2.07! He was so excited about it that he slept with it at naptime that afternoon. And then this morning Matthew took Jackson with him on a quick run to campus, and as usual, Jackson had to wear his tie ("school" = "work" in his mind, as they are equated for his Daddy. A side note: this week we went to visit a preschool co-op that some friends are doing, thinking about the possibility for next year, and right before we left, Jackson ran back to get his tie for the occasion) and this time the backpack got added to the have-to's. I took a picture before they left:

It looks like he's upset here, but he's trying to make a funny face for the picture. :) The backpack is far too big, as you can see.
Another milestone for the week was Jackson saying his ABCs all the way through for the first time. Here he is showing off:
(video missing)
Our friends the Michelsons (from Princeton) are coming to visit this weekend. YAY!

I happened upon my grandmother on the internet today. It's an older article, but thought others might be interested too!

Photos

Hi Fam,

David and I are in Starbucks, sitting near the fire on this cold (!) day, looking at wedding photos. We're doing well here in Pittsburgh. I've enjoyed a few weeks of settling in (getting our place set up was so much fun), and now am working as a temp, doing admin stuff for various companies in the area. David is in the full swing of the semester (papers, presentations, meetings for set building, etc). We've been blessed with the company of good people up here and had our first dinner party last week. I would post pictures of all of these things, but my digital camera charger is misplaced. However, in the meantime, here is a link to some wedding photos. (These are the photographer's favs. Sweet Ruthie is sure that the "entire world" wants to see them, so at her request, here they are: http://slideshows.jaredplatt.com/pooley-ss.)

with love,

Lynn

Me to Jackson today, "I think Harry will start walking in the next few days, don't you think?"

Jackson, "Yeah. And then we'll teach him how to drive."

Pandora: A Paris Patron

I am fired up to tell you that you can now establish your own Twila Paris Pandora station that will play a wonderful mix of JMT, Fernando Ortega, Sara Groves, and of course Aunt Twila. Just go to Pandora.com and create a "Twila Paris" station, sit back with a slice of St. Louis chocolate cake, and enjoy.

Benjamin sayings

I'm trying to come up with something as clever as 'Jacksonlocutions' but I'm having a hard time.  Anyway, here are a couple funnies from the B-boy:

After rough-housing with Daddy in his bedroom, Josh said, "Benjamin, you're so silly."  "No, Daddy.  I'm crazy."  Uncle Cody, an evaluation, please?

In the car after a trip to the grocery store during which I bought him the grapes he was asking for:  "I'm proud of you, Mom."  Thanks, little guy!