World Travelers

My Dad and Stepmom had a tough 2008, healthwise. A few months ago when their doctors gave them the “all clear” to travel, they embarked upon a nearly three-month cruise around the world, from which they returned last weekend.

We’re looking forward to stories and photographs of glorious islands Jim and I may never get to see. I finally got to talk to Dad for a few moments from our new digs in Utah. He told me he talked with Andre Soltner (formerly of Lutece) and got something signed for me (exciting!) but hasn’t come upon it yet while unpacking. Apparently Chef Soltner is running a cooking school north of NYC. He said he used to teach at Peter Kump’s, from which I graduated. I’m sure a chef of his stature wasn’t on staff but came in on a Monday in the “star chef” role, as did Daniel Boulud and Patrick Clark while I was in attendance.

It’s ironic that they took eleven bags with them. We took a suiter, two suitcases and a flat wardrobe box for six months. Granted our ambitions were different. We took a dog, files, electronics (yes, Val, the PSIII had to come with us), my knives, utensils, foodstuffs and spices, tea towels and my KitchenAid food processor.

Last time here, a few years ago in a smaller non-vacation town, we had to cobble together our own corporate apartment. Now we’re in a lovely home with way more than four plates and four forks and two towels. We’re in a lovely home and could conceivably entertain here, if I hadn’t chosen the dining room table for my desk. A MacBook can be moved easily, but not with papers, a 24″ monitor, trackball, headphones for Skype, modem and a wireless keyboard. Oh well, we’ll work it out.

Family and friends do want to come visit, and I think a guest-free weekend will become an anomaly over the summer. By then the farmers’ markets will have opened up, the snow will have melted and the grasses and mountains will be verdant. Today is so nice I’ve opened the doors in the master bedroom and shut the screens as we have streams a few feet away and the bugs that live around water love my blood. Always have. Since I was a kid I’ve always had bees, gnats, mosquitos and no-see-ums around. The no-see-ums are the worst. Let’s not go there.

I made the bed this morning watching hot air balloons come over the Preserve from Park City. Luckily the camera was a few feet away from yesterday’s birdwatching shots so I’ll see how those came out.

Thanks again for visiting! I may be able to get in a couple more winter stews as I hear there are two or more snowstorms on the way. Tonight it’s homemade hamburgers with avocado and Australian cheddar. Oh my, I don’t have ketchup. Jim’ll have to stop at the store because he can’t have frozen waffle fries without it. Heaven help me, what was I thinking???

Certain foods are very expensive here (pasta) and others are much less than in Texas (eggs, orange juice). Utah is growing more artisanal foods such as cheeses, breads, even salt. I read about it in Park City Magazine, “Utah On The Plate.” For the first time, local restaurants are using local produce when they can, including lamb, ice cream and other products. That’s always good to hear. At least up north, it’s not really cattle or corn country. It would be a shame if tourism was the only thing Utah excelled at, because ski season is nearly over and there aren’t many people living in our community right now.

We bought Zoe a nylon zip-up “playpen” yesterday, but it was 4′ X 4′ X 28″ high and without adding the top or bottom we realized we didn’t really have a place to put it, so I took it back. I’ll find another. Unfortunately she has a huge (Rottweiler size) metal crate and the 2nd largest airline crate that fits on all planes, but they’re in storage 1,500 miles away. Zoe weighs 40 lbs but we like her to have an orthopedic mattress underneath for her non-hips and give her plenty of room to move around.

I’ll keep writing if you keep reading. It still doesn’t feel like Spring up here but I hope you’re enjoying asparagus, fresh peas, ramps and fiddleheads. In a month I may be able to plant a few herbs in a container, maybe a tomato plant. Home Depot had a great deal this weekend. Bring in your own container or buy one there, buy your plants. They’ll plant them for you and give you the potting soil for free! The catch is that there are no outdoor plants to purchase because it’s too darned cold! Cheers, Dee