Dog Art Today

Dispatch from Dog Bar: TFADBBBTPB is a Big Hit

Layla coloring (Darby photo in background by Grace Chon)

Labor Day weekend ushered in The First Annual Dog Bar Bocce Ball Tournament and Plum Bake (TFADBBBTPB) at my house.  And although the event was small, just my sister Sheila, her husband Greg, and their girls, Layla and Sabrina, it was wildly successful -- the one-day event spread into the whole weekend.  Unfortunately, we had so much fun we forgot to take lots of photos.  With the help of Google Images I've pieced together this report...

First things first.  Sheila, Layla and I went next door to Pauline's to pick plums.  We wore our boots (I got to wear my red Wellies for the first time, thank you Allison) to ward against the burrs and Layla carried the basket.   The tree was so heavy with tiny French plums, Layla could pick them without a boost up.  Sadly, once we filled up the basket, she tried to lift it and was knocked off balance into a thorny bush and scratched her arm.  Not too bad, but there were tears.  Sheila hoisted her up piggy-back-style and we walked up the hill to the apple trees and picked some more fruit before heading home.

To distract Layla from the gash and the little drops of blood on the back of her arm.  We skipped the plum bake portion of the day and went out back to figure out Bocce Ball.  We raked the enclosed pit next to my deck and absorbed enough of the rules to give it a go.  Let me tell you, Bocce Ball is FUN.  Again, no pics, but this groovy Italian family getting their game on gives you the idea...

Bravo!       

...see how there are several generations playing?   It really is a game that is fun for the whole family.  But when the girls got bored and we set them up with crayons and paper, giving us an "Adults Only" round, I felt the true pull of Bocce.  It could get very addictive and I began to see why several countries outlawed it at various times throughout history because their people were just too distracted by it.  In fact, supposedly  English Admiral Sir Frances Drake was playing Bocce when he was told that the attack by the Spanish armada was imminent.  His response: “First, we finish the game, then we have time for invincible armada.”

 

"Just one more game," Sir Frances Drake

I also found this image of miners playing, appropriate for the Gold Country I now call home...

 

And, I guess once the kiddies go to bed and the wine keeps flowing (yes, you can drink and play), things could get interesting...

 

"Bocce Ball" by Gary Ruddell via Gregg Chadwick's blog.

Anyway, we played a few more rounds then had dinner.  I made tomato and cucumber salad, cole slaw with carrots and corn, and farfalle with portobello mushrooms and sage.  Yummy, I must say.   And that was it.  No plum bake.  Luckily, I had baked two plum tortes the night before, so the Bocce Ball didn't prevent us from having dessert.

So, Layla and Sheila came over the next morning (top photo) and we got baking.  Here's me making sure I have doubled the recipe correctly...

"Two sticks of butter equals one cup."

"Plum Blossom" by Eizan, c. 1820

Sheila turned her attention to chutney (more on that in another post).  And Layla and I played cooking school.  I taught her word like batter, offset spatula, and springform pan.  Then, I showed her how to place the plums just so...

 

my plum torte

Layla had other ideas...

 

Layla's plum torte

    Regardless, they both turned out great...

ta da!

If you have any plums, I highly recommend this recipe.  It's from the New York Times, passed along to me by my mother.  We grew up on it.  It's a classic, because it is deceivingly simple for how good it turns out.  In fact, we gave a plum torte to Pauline as a thank you for her generosity with her fruit.  The next day she was raving about it and begging for the recipe.  "Don't forget!" she said.  "If you do, I am going to call you."   Now, when an 87 year-old woman who grew up in an orchard demands a recipe, you know it's good.

So that was the inaugural TFADBBBTPB.  Can't wait for the second annual one.  Or the next round of Bocce.  Anyone up for a game?

P.S. I am getting my first CSA box today (community supported agriculture or farm share).  Wonder what the farmers will give me.  It feels kind of Christmas-y, without the stress.  Stay tuned to find out what I got...

Sonoma Weekend With Darby and The Girls

Last weekend, I traveled to Sonoma County,CA with my sister Sheila Cameron (Grass Valley), four girlfriends; Cindy Sanborn Hytner (Grass Valley), Kara Haspel Lind (San Francisco), Anahita Ross (Los Angeles), and Meredith Driscoll (Pittsburgh) for the Mutt Lynch Dog Days of Summer event.  Darby came too.  We had an amazing time.  Here are some highlights...

We rented a sweet Victorian house in Geyserville.

Lunch at Diavola was outstanding!

First stop was a short walk into town to Diavola Pizzeria & Saumeria.  It was just Sheila, Meredith, me, and Cindy (right to left), since Kara was still in San Francisco picking up Anahita whose flight was delayed.  Lunch was one of those experiences that will stand out as one of the best ever.   Truly right up there with any Italian pizzaria, if not better.  We had the salami and cheese plate -- the meats are made in house, roasted asparagus, with truffled pecorino and pancetta, the BLT panini, and the Sonja pizza with tomato, mascarpone cheese, arugula and prociutto.  Wine was a Palmina, Pino Grigio from Santa Barbara and it was lovely.  I never want to eat store bought meat again.

Darby the local

Next, we walked a few doors down to Locals tasting room where we tried the indigenous wines.  Diane Lieberman, the manager, allowed Darby to join us as long as he didn't bite.  He loved it, and we discovered (and bought lots of) some great Sonoma County finds.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Brian, Cindy, and Gretchen  2. dinner is served: Sheila, Cindy, Anahita, me, Amy, Morgan and Kara  3.  Morgan and Trixie  4.  Zucchini and Gretchen's pretty Fiestaware

That night, Cindy's high school friend, Brian Crebs, invited us all to dinner with his wife, Gretchen,  and two beautiful daughters, Morgan and Amy.  Gretchen, is a fifth-generation, Geyservillian, who lives in her grandmother's Craftsman house.   Her father, Harry Bosworth, owns the Bosworth and Sons General Merchandise store in town.  After dinner, Gretchen confessed to us that the "new" outside dining table we all sat around came from the back of her dad's store and was probably her grandfather's mortician's table. 

Mutt Lynch Winery

The next day, we all went to Mutt Lynch Winery where I met Chris and Brenda Lynch and the winning artist in our Dog Art Today - Mutt Lynch Winery contest, Kellie Oliphant-Burns.

 

Kellie Oliphant-Burns, Brenda Lynch, Me and Darby

The Dogs Days were a whirlwind of dogs and dog artists and wine.  I know I am biased, but the Leeroy Out Loud! Meritage is fantastic.   Also, the event was a tremendous success for the Healdsburg Animal Shelter.  $3,200 was raised for them that weekend.

1. Harry Driscoll's new hat  2. Harry Bosworth in his store  3. Cindy browses

Later, Cindy, Meredith, and Anahita stopped by Bosworth and Sons and met Gretchen's dad, Harry Bosworth.  Meredith picked out a red cowboy hat for her son, Harry.

Another great meal.  This time at our house.

Then the girls went into town, back to Diavola.  Later, we all got in the hot tub, had some more wine, and turned on Saturday Night Live.  It was the first and only time the TV was on all weekend.

Good-bye, Geyserville

Sunday morning, we said good-bye to our house and made a plan to do it all again next year.  Hope you can make it.

Photo of Kellie, Brenda, and me by Darrell Zoromski

Happy Birthday, Me!

My parents had an awesome tradition of taking the birthday girl out to dinner by herself to the restaurant of her choice.  It made us feel special and sophisticated.  This is a photo from my birthday dinner in 1978 when I turned 12 (5th grade).  I chose The Samurai, a Benihana-like restaurant where the chef prepares dinner at the table with a dazzling knife show.  I can see the special Buddha cocktail glass, with the straws sticking out of his belly, that I got to take home.  And I remember that dress because it was my sister's, bought at a pre-teen store not a kids' clothing store, so finally getting to wear it made me feel very grown up.  Thanks, Mom + Dad.  I had a great night!

Happy Halloween! Guess Who Darby Is...

This is one version of his character.

Not sure? What about this version...

Another angle...

If you guessed...

...you're right!

Actually, these costumes were originally made by my friend Meredith and me for a trailer spoof I was making on Gladiator when it came out in 2000. Alas, I lost my financing and never finished it. Darby was such a good sport about shooting and so was his cousin, Dan (may be rest in peace), who played the Emperor...

Hope you and your pups have a very Happy Halloween!

P.S. EternallyCool.net, my new favorite website about coolness in the Eternal City (Rome), reports:

Italian archeologists have discovered the tomb of the ancient Roman hero said to have inspired the character played by Russell Crowe in the film ‘Gladiator’.

Daniela Rossi, a Rome archeologist, said the discovery of the monumental marble tomb of Marcus Nonius Macrinus, including a large inscription bearing his name, was “an exceptional find”. She said it was “the most important ancient Roman monument to come to light for twenty or thirty years”. (read more)

Happy Birthday Regs!

Regan, look how cute you are in your "Regs" shirt. Hope you have a happy birthday! And feel free to use this as your new Facebook photo.

(Sheila and Dad, you look cute too.)

Sweet Dreams Grumble Kitty

Grumble Kitty and Logan

Please keep my sweet sister, Regan, in your thoughts.  She has suffered another loss. Her beloved Grumble Kitty died in her arms last night. Regan has been so strong moving forward in her life after her husband Terry died in February, but this has rocked her completely, again.

Grumble Kitty was her cat for close to 18 years, almost as long as she knew Terry.  The saddest part is that Regan noticed that he was never the same after Terry died.  She suspects that as much as anything Grumble may have  died of a broken heart.

Regan, I am thinking of you and love you very much.

Prayers for Dana

Dana with Regan's dog, Logan, and her dog Baloo (on left).

My sister Regan has been trapped in the nightmare of cancer land for several years.  Two years ago, her husband Terry was diagnosed with melanoma, and in February he passed away.  My mother has had two surgeries (very successful) for breast cancer.   And last winter, Regan learned that one of her best friends, Dana, 35, had been diagnosed with breast cancer too – a very aggressive kind.

Regan, Dana and her boob cake and a fundraiser for her.

Dana has been living the horrific life of a cancer patient for the last several months with determination, humor, and the support of her family, friends and fiancé, Chris.   She writes about facing her mortality and realizing "little of what I wanted to do [in her life] involved boobs,"  in a profoundly moving and ultimately incredibly hopeful letter she recently sent to her loved ones.   Regan has posted it on a new blog called Chasing Whale Sharks – one of Dana's dreams.  She will also be updating reports on Dana's double mastectomy that is scheduled tomorrow, August 12.

Baloo

Throughout her ordeal, Dana has been very proactive about asking for a miracle.  And she is deeply appreciative of all the prayers she has received from people of all faiths.  As she puts it "Graciously I would state that I was non-denominational.  We did not care from what corner of the universe it came, or how and what you call your God; we would take it."

Somehow, something worked because Dana's prognosis went from bad to worse to suddenly, miraculously, better.  But her journey to wellness is far from over, so please keep her in your thoughts tomorrow and say a prayer to whomever you call your God.

Thank you.

P.S.  Don't you think Logan needs to visit the cancer ward in his Yoda costume?!

8.14.08 Update: Dana's surgery went well. She is up and about and hopefully ready to leave the hospital tomorrow. She sends her thanks for all the prayers and positive energy sent her way. I do too : )

Happy Birthday Kathleen!

Kathleen is my older sister.  She is the one whom I followed around like a puppy before Sheila and Regan came along and did the same to us. 

Kathleen always had the better costume (witness the photo above) when we played dress up.  She always got perfect ringlets when my grandmother would rag curl our hair using flat beer to set it (did everyone do this or is it an Irish thing?)  She had a tutu and a pogo stick and cool gymnastics shoes like Nadia Comaneci, our hero.

Needless to say, I wanted to do everything she did until the little sisters showed up and I could enjoy the perqs of being a big sis myself. 

I know you've moved beyond ringlets and costumes, Kathleen, but you still deserve the best in life.  I have no doubt that with your grace and fortitude all your dreams are with in your reach.

Now a bit of nostalgia.  Look back to 1976 when we all thought we would be Olympians and our parents thought we would break our necks ...

Hope you have a Happy Birthday!
Love, Moira