It was a very busy weekend. Friday was a snow day so I finally began my annual cookie blitz. Since last Christmas there has been a boy at our church who has been begging to come help me bake cookies this year. Every time he sees me I hear, "Mrs. Lime! You and me, we're gonna bake cookies for Christmas this year, right?" I always said I'd be glad to have him come help. When the time came I asked him last weekend if he'd be available this weekend. When we had the snow day I asked if he'd like to come over Friday instead. Keep in mind my kids have not wanted to participate in the annual baking melee for a while. Since this boy joined us it brought out the volunteer spirit in Isaac. Here are the two helpers I had for most of the day.
It worked out well. Our helper likes measuring things but not mixing or cracking eggs. He measured, Isaac cracked eggs and washed up in between the 9 different doughs we made up, I mixed. They both helped me get cookies on trays and in and out of the oven. On Friday we got through baking 4 of the 9 doughs before everyone passed out for the night. Yesterday I finished baking 3 more doughs. So far I've done 66 dozen cookies. I sent my newest helper home with a big bag for himself and said it was up to him as to whether or not he shared them with anyone. When I sent him home with more on Sunday, he confided that he had hidden the others in his room. I told him his secret was safe with me.
Saturday my dad invited me to go into Philadelphia to see A Chorus Line at the Forrest Theater since he is a subscriber and my stepmother couldn't go with him due to her somewhat complicated recovery from knee replacement surgery. I felt bad that she couldn't go but she seemed quite happy to let me enjoy the ticket with Dad. I brought her a bag of cookies though so she'd have a treat for the day. Kind of a lopsided trade, I know.
It's been a long time since I had the chance to go into Philadelphia (and I do love that city) and even longer since I saw a show anywhere. Seeing Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River as we drive in always makes me happy. We actually came in behind Boathouse Row so I swiped the picture below. For a panoramic view of the gorgeous effect of the year round lights on Boathouse Row as well as the Philadelphia Art Museum (which I am REALLY itching to get back to) click here. Really, take a minute and go check it out.
*image from http://www.cis.rit.edu
As we headed toward Center City we could see City Hall with William Penn perched atop. When I was a kid no building reached above Billy's head. It gave the city a unique feeling because it was "short." Times change though and now there are several buildings that exceed his height. Of course I had to look among the international flags to see if I could find the colors of Trinidad and Tobago flying. The flags are labeled and go alphabetically so it was easy to search. Sadly, there was no flag in between Turkey and Ukraine (nor was it before Turkey where it should have been...I do actually know how to alphabetize...it's Monday morning, ok? I have a Cookie hangover). Mayor Nutter needs to account for this, in my opinion.
After the show we had about an hour and half to kill before our dinner reservations. Since my stepmother's knee has been a major hindrance for her for a number of years I think it was a treat for Dad, as much as for me, to be able to amble around the city. He wanted to check out the Holiday Spectacular that plays in the lobby of the brand new Comcast Center so we headed that way. It was pretty nifty. Here's about 3 minutes of the show in case you are interested. there was some very clever stuff that I didn't capture but this gives a feel for it.
Once it finished we hoofed it back to the restaurant but I paused long enough to try to capture City Hall at night. I'm not terribly experienced with nighttime photography and I didn't have my tripod. All things considered, I was reasonably satisfied with the results.
It worked out well. Our helper likes measuring things but not mixing or cracking eggs. He measured, Isaac cracked eggs and washed up in between the 9 different doughs we made up, I mixed. They both helped me get cookies on trays and in and out of the oven. On Friday we got through baking 4 of the 9 doughs before everyone passed out for the night. Yesterday I finished baking 3 more doughs. So far I've done 66 dozen cookies. I sent my newest helper home with a big bag for himself and said it was up to him as to whether or not he shared them with anyone. When I sent him home with more on Sunday, he confided that he had hidden the others in his room. I told him his secret was safe with me.Saturday my dad invited me to go into Philadelphia to see A Chorus Line at the Forrest Theater since he is a subscriber and my stepmother couldn't go with him due to her somewhat complicated recovery from knee replacement surgery. I felt bad that she couldn't go but she seemed quite happy to let me enjoy the ticket with Dad. I brought her a bag of cookies though so she'd have a treat for the day. Kind of a lopsided trade, I know.
It's been a long time since I had the chance to go into Philadelphia (and I do love that city) and even longer since I saw a show anywhere. Seeing Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River as we drive in always makes me happy. We actually came in behind Boathouse Row so I swiped the picture below. For a panoramic view of the gorgeous effect of the year round lights on Boathouse Row as well as the Philadelphia Art Museum (which I am REALLY itching to get back to) click here. Really, take a minute and go check it out.
*image from http://www.cis.rit.eduAs we headed toward Center City we could see City Hall with William Penn perched atop. When I was a kid no building reached above Billy's head. It gave the city a unique feeling because it was "short." Times change though and now there are several buildings that exceed his height. Of course I had to look among the international flags to see if I could find the colors of Trinidad and Tobago flying. The flags are labeled and go alphabetically so it was easy to search. Sadly, there was no flag in between Turkey and Ukraine (nor was it before Turkey where it should have been...I do actually know how to alphabetize...it's Monday morning, ok? I have a Cookie hangover). Mayor Nutter needs to account for this, in my opinion.
We parked and walked to the Forrest Theater, which was built in 1927. It was named for 19th century actor Edwin Forrest. According to the website, it's the oldest continuously operated opera house in the US. It's quite lovely. I swiped these pictures from the Schubert Organization website. I didn't figure the folks I was sitting next to would be all that thrilled to have me snapping away. The show was terrific.
Once it finished we hoofed it back to the restaurant but I paused long enough to try to capture City Hall at night. I'm not terribly experienced with nighttime photography and I didn't have my tripod. All things considered, I was reasonably satisfied with the results.
Dad took me to The Oceanaire because he is all about fine dining. I have to say this is the sort of place that is so far off my radar because it is so far outside of my budgetary constraints but wow! The food was to die for. When I raved about the amusees bouches (thank you, Food Network for informing me as to what the heck an amusee bouche is [translation: mouth amuser, a single tasty bite of something]) the waitress brought another plate which Dad shoved in my direction. Then someone else brought us another pair of them and Dad pushed them to me again. Uh, yeah. I got 5 tasty bites and I'd have been happy to eat a whole plate of them but there were some crab cakes that were melt in your mouth good, cider roasted squash, spinach salad, and then a creme brulee that could have fed both of us. Uh, yeah...I needed someone to roll me out to the car when it was over.
Good time was had by all though.
Good time was had by all though.
