Joe recently came across some “Finger Limes” –  a elongated colorful citrus fruit, native to Australia.  When cut open (either longwise or down the middle) you find yourself faced with tons of caviar-like beads.  Put a little bit of pressure on the skin and these beads are loosened up & begin to spill out.  If you eat these plain, they are very tart and explode in your mouth.  They are often used to garnish seafood dishes, used in cocktails, to make marmalades, butters, sorbets, or even pickled!

For the finger limes we squeezed them over pan seared day boat scallops with minced red & orange bell peppers.    It would be great for an hors d’œuvre at a wedding or bridal shower.

(i have to google hors d’œuvre every single time)

A few weeks ago, Joe and I decided to have an early dinner somewhere we’d never tried before.   There is this place, Applewood.  We have read and heard only good things, but somehow always pushed it to the back burner when treating ourselves to a night out.  This particular night, we just hit the pavement.  We weren’t sure where we would end up.  A few blocks away from our apartment, hunger set in- full speed.  I asked Joe – “Where is this Applewood place? have you ever seen it? it must be on a side street.” Joe responded as we crossed over 8th avenue and 11th “I actually think it’s on this street.”   So, we headed down.   We eventually ran into the restaurant, tucked into the first floor of an unassuming apartment building.   We were greeted first by a “bus man” – not a boy, he was an actual man!  Who led us to hostess.   Now, I must add quickly that we haven’t had the best service at any restaurant since moving here.  We are both veteran servers, which makes us a little harsh when it comes to judging-but usually our opinions are justified.  That being said, the service here was ultimately just so refreshing.  We got smiles, conversation and attentiveness.  She sat us at the last free table outside, and the bus  man re-greeted us, shortly after our waitress came and was super friendly and helpful.

I ordered the puebla cocktail; jalapeño-infused tequila, muddled cilantro, agave nectar, lemon juice.  Joe got a beer.  Next came bread and three spreads, one of which was lamb liver pâté, it was interesting.  For our meal we ordered three small plates to share.   Grilled squid with fresh watermelon, seared day boat scallops and asparagus with chopped bacon.  It was all outstanding.  Remember, this was weeks ago and I am still craving the entire meal.  Although, their menu is always changing so next time it will be something new! But, I might have to repeat the puebla, it was that good.

Well, here it is.  The last ever update to this blog that I will make from within my first Brooklyn home.  Chapter 1 began June 2010 when we moved in, it’s ending- but Chapter 2 + more is just beginning.  Remember when you were a senior in high school and you had to pick a quote for under your picture? I was so conflicted.  Everyone had Dashboard quotes, Dr. Seuss something or another or a bible verse.  I couldn’t find anything to identify with, so I picked one that just always stuck with me- “Every exit is an entry somewhere else.”  I always knew it was obvious, but a thought usually left unthought. Also, I actually refer to it often in my life, especially at times like this.  So, anyway- our first uhaul trip has been completed and the boys just got back to begin trip # two.  Meanwhile,  I’ll clean up, pacify the animals (they are so wuubed) and pack the fridge.  So long 50PPSW! You were so good to us.

This past weekend Joe and I went down to the Jersey Shore.   I was able to get my Dad’s beach house for a few days and even with the move right ahead of us, we were both craving beach time.  My friend Misty, her boyfriend Nicholas and her son Lucas joined us from Brooklyn. Thats right, all five of us + Stinky jammed ourselves into my teeny car Friday afternoon and actually made it in record time, no traffic.  If you are familiar at all with Staten Island or NJ Parkway South traffic on a Friday in the summer, you know how impressive that is.

We had a very relaxing weekend that consisted of old & new friends alike, boat time, the beach, shopping, good food, summery cocktails and a lot of beer runs- luckily there is a liquor store right across the street.

In midst of all the relaxation and fun stuff, somehow both Joe and myself ended up with a painful sunburn.  We applied + reapplied sunscreen AND this was our first time in the sun, but it still happened.  Also, a pseudo tidal wave crashed on us (and all of our stuff) soaking both mine and my mom’s phones, my point and shoot camera, Joe’s iPod, the flip cam, and my newest issues of Cook’s Illustrated, Real Simple + Reader’s Digest.  SUCH A BUMMER.  Everything is on life support, except for my Mom’s phone and my flip cam.  They are donezo.  Somehow, we have the worst luck with our electronics.  Also, when we left the house to come back to NY, my laptop was left behind.  

So here we are, back in NY.  Getting ready to move.  I am applying aloe like a fiend to make sure I don’t peel (although my nose already is.)  I don’t have my computer which has about 5 entries worth of edited photos, so I have no content to post and am on a really old, slow, computer.  I am bummed.  I have to pack a lot today.  Stinky and Pippen are starting to get confused with all the changes.   Cha-cha-cha-changes.  I just can’t wait to move forward with this new chapter in our lives.

I still haven’t packed a single thing.  Honestly, I’m not sure what my major malfunction has been in delaying this process.  As you all know, we have to move. Somehow, we lucked out and found an apartment that we loved- quickly.   We signed our lease a month ago today, but still haven’t begun to pack! wtf, us.   Even worse, we have let any chores or duties of finding places for things slack this past month, because of the moving mentality.  What’s the point, really?  Our apartment is currently at a standstill, the calm before the storm.  As I walked around today surveying the scene, where to start, what boxes would fit what, I noticed how incredibly dusty everything is.  Now that is delaying me even more, because I don’t feel like cleaning.  So I took a “break.”

Amidst my procrastination,  I came across pictures of this beautiful abandoned Paris Flat.  It once belonged to Mrs de Florian, who deserted her home and never returned sometime in the 1900’s.  How breathing taking are these photos? Can you even imagine opening a door and finding this? That Mickey Mouse doll, the oversized vanity, an ostrich!   I love how she has her paintings framed and sitting on chairs.  I wonder if they will leave her apartment as is, or pack it up. Can you imagine what a task that would be? I’d really love exploring it.

Mrs. de Florian passed away in 2010, I wonder what would happen to this apartment if I just left it for 70 years. Would anyone be impressed? Or just annoyed? Any tips for efficient packing? I’m struggling over here!

In March, my Mom and I took a trip to Brooklyn General.   I had heard from several customers at the cafe that I should check this place out, for their yarn selection.  I read online they had fabrics and ribbons and everything a crafter could wish for, oh my.    I had no idea what we were really getting into, we spent 3 hours in the store!  Pacing back and forth, matching ribbons and lining, going between paisley and polka dots.  Floral and plaid prints, rick rack & boyish buttons.   Once home, we sat around all night, laying the fabrics together, trying all different combinations.  I wanted to have a secret pocket in each, lined with a fabric from the other’s stocking body.  I felt like I was in under my head, but I had three months to complete the gifts, I was good.  I even already had the cards purchased AND drafts of what I’d scribble inside.

Life, got crazy.  The fabrics sat in the original bag, folded and ribbons still wound.  I thought about them constantly, but felt overwhelmed.  The week before Heather’s shower, I got cranking.  I set up the sewing machine, read the instruction manual, figured out how to wind a bobbin and thread a machine, it was a headache.  I’d never done this machine business before.  I thought about giving up and hand sewing, I think I made about 30 consecutive calls to my Mom for her words of encouragement.  She was such a huge help, gotta love having such a talented and patient Mama.

The day before the first shower, Joe and I headed to New Jersey.  He was driving his Granny up to Vermont to visit with family, Mama Moderno and I were going to crank out the stocking.   In true Mother/Daughter fashion, we first went to Patio Bar to split crab cakes and get a beer.  Then we stopped at a local surf store, where I bought a romper and we bought Joe some new threads.  I needed a good box for the girls to store the stockings in amongst Christmas goodies, found that at TJ Maxx (I also found a ‘Lucky’ tote bag for myself!) and then we stopped at JoAnn’s for more fabrics, maxi skirt patterns and a constant “ooo, aaah, ma, look at this!” fiasco.  We just love to shop together.  We also love to craft together, and that’s what we did.  Until 4 a.m.  We made the sweetest, most perfect stocking for Clara Belle.   I also made a “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament with scraps from the stocking fabric.  I am so pleased with the way everything turned out.  

The following Sunday was Mandy’s Baby Shower.   You’d think I would have learned my lesson, but I waited until the last possible minute- again.  I am trying to work on getting projects completed in a normal time frame, I really am!  I am also still amazed with myself every single time I complete something like this in 6 hours.  Honestly  I had a hard time coming up with the plan for this one.  Mandy is having a little boy, but she is not really into the masculine themes that come with the territory.  She is a dreamer, a lover of all things nature – a true poet.  I wanted to incorporate all these things.  It was tough. Yet in the end, I couldn’t have loved this stocking more.   I had chosen the three main fabrics at Brooklyn General, then came across a soft green plaid, the perfect ribbon, and three buttons that my Mom gave me from her own jacket as a little girl.  I  sat on the floor in my living room and watched The Lion King, The Jungle Book & Aladdin.  Joe ran to the store and brought home the ultimate plethora of junk food (as if I were the pregnant one here!)  Mandy’s shower was a lot of fun.  She had it co-ed so Joe was able to come with me and hang out with Tony a bit.  Her sister’s fiancee is one of my brothers best friends since childhood, so it was great for us to see him also.  Lots of familiar faces and also amazing food choices.  I’ve never been to a party with such a selection of cold pasta and vegetable salads.  Joe and I were like kids in candy stores with all of it.

my brother spent his 30th birthday with us.

we took a walk to bierkraft, ended up meeting up with joe, had a bizzare experience with a lost cat, chilled in the apt, my dad joined the next day and we all had brunch.

peace, ashley

So, it is indeed Wednesday.  A few years back, when I used to basically troll tumblr on the regs, I noticed this “GPOYW”  I just ignored it at first, then it didn’t go away.  I got on google, and figured out this meant “Gratuitous Picture Of Yourself Wednesday”  I still, never participated.   I do take Gratuitous Picture Of Myself Everyday.   Having a little camera on my computer makes the the HAPPIEST! I still remember getting my little Logitech webcam at Best Buy for 49.99 and then chatting with the Gibs.  Oh man, so fun.  Anyway, back to this GPOYW biznaz, I’m going to try to get into it.  Or maybe, just publish my GPOME (Gratuitous Picture Of Myself Everyday) on Wednesday.   SO, here it goes.  A collection of my photobooth pictures from this past week. Mostly, from today.