Dining Delights | Peaches Prattlings

{December 18, 2014} Team Holiday Party

Tonight was the team holiday party for the project I am on.

We went to Pinstripes, http://pinstripes.com/, an upscale place for food, fun, bowling and bocce! When I saw the indoor bocce fields/lanes/pitch/whatever, I thought about my favorite family in Wisconsin, JS, his wife, TS and their girls M&M, love that family!

We had a nice dinner and after dinner, Santa showed up to give us presents! The team members who had family events, babies, weddings got a little something extra, for the rest of us, we got Starbucks coffee mugs and slipper socks, a can koozie and some candy, how nice is that! [sorry, I forgot to take a picture and it’s already packed].

After dinner, we all headed to the bowling area, put on our shoes, check out my socks! and divided into teams on 4 lanes and bowl we did! There was a prize for the highest individual score and one for the lowest individual score, want to guess who won for lowest personal score? The prize: An elf on the shelf and a Kenny G CD of Christmas Favorites! Score!

We had a good time, some good laughs and then it was time to get to the hotel and pack and talk to you.

Happy second night of Chanukah!

{November 28, 2014} Today, I am thankful for…

So very many things!

Today is the American celebrated holiday of Thanksgiving. It is the day we give thanks, it doesn’t matter to anyone else what you are thankful for, they are your thoughts and if you want to share them, go for it, if you want to keep them to yourself, go for it!

Today was a simple day, got up way too early, par for the course, but had a good time playing with the girls, making egg sandwiches, hanging with my brother-in-law, dad and my sister, nice and easy. At some point ACS and dad took the girls to the local high school football game, for the longest running rivalry football game, between Needham and Wellsley High School, the Thanksgiving game has been played on Thanksgiving day since 1882! How’s that for tradition! http://needhamhistory.org/features/articles/needham-wellesley/

While they were gone, GES and I tried to watch a terribel movie, Adult Store and when that didn’t work, we put in “And So it Goes” but didn’t get far because everyone came home and it was more time in front of the fire, holiday movies on The Hallmark Channel, doesn’t this all sound so idyllic?

Then it was time for me to make my corn souffle while everyone took showers to get ready to go to T&S S’ house, we piled in two cars and off we went. We got there, headed in and joined the commotion! There were 4 families there, each with two kids, then three granddads, two grandmas and one extra auntie, me! When I got there, I found out that Little E went home last weekend and told his mommy that he wanted Auntie J to come and babysit! I am SO ready for that! I am spoiled!

We all worked together to get the finishing touches done on the food, heating up things, setting things on the table and then it was time to sit down to eat. Now, as most families do, you go around the table to talk about what you are thankful for and our fabulous hostess started. There are a lot of things that this group is especially thankful for and it was a very touching and tearful time, it has been a tough year and we are so thankful to have made it through and come out of it and we can see 2015 will be here soon and it will be the start of a wonderful new year.

After TS, then it was my turn, then my dad’s and so on down the line. There were some funny things said, some insightful, poignant, tearful and of course, whenever the kids have a turn, it’s always adorable. Some kids are thankful for their friends, their family, their grandparents, their food and we all laugh and smile when they say it, they are being honest. Last, but not least was our very own MGS and she became a bit shy, so together we said for her…”Let’s eat!”

Hours to prep and cook, minutes to devour! The funny thing is the one question I am asked the most at this time of year “But Auntie J, what are you going to eat? Well, if you think about it, usually, all but the turkey and stuffing are vegetarian! We had greenbean cassarole [made with cream of mushroom soup], brussel sprouts with carrots, green beans, there was vegetarian stuffing, carrot souffle, mashed potatoes, home made applesauce, rolls and cranberries, now you tell me…out of all that, what couldn’t I eat?

After dinner, we all helped to clean up, then started to prep the desserts. We had apple crumble, pumpkin pie, fresh fruit, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate and heathbar cookies, coffee cake, peacan pie and ice cream. I think we were set!

After cleaning up we were treated to a show by all the kids, SO cute and then it was time to go, the kids were getting tired and wound up and the grownups were in food coma mode! Time to pack up, suit up and head home. We got outside and it was flurrying, so pretty and I loved watching MGS trying to catch snow flakes on her tongue!

Home for pjs, relaxing and talking to you!

I know I have said this before, but I am thankful to you, my friends, family and follwers for taking the time to read my posts, comment, like and enjoy my posts. I am thankful to have an audience who likes what I have to say and I will forever be greatful! I hope you all had a fabulous thanksgiving and got to spend the day with friends and family.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

{November 15, 2014} A wonderful visit!

Today was a great day!

I had lunch with CS, LB and I got to meet LB’s sister, my granddaughter, Baby L! What a doll baby! The last time I was in Las Vegas, she was “on the inside”! She was born a few days after we left, so this was my first meeting!

When they came to pick me up in the GINORMOUS pickup truck, LB was in the back seat smiling at me, ready to get some lunch. We went over to SLS, f/k/a Sahara hotel and went to a place called 800 Degrees Neopolitan Pizza. We ordered two pizzas, pepperoni for CS and the girls and a pesto, roasted garlic, eggplant and I have to tell you…fan-freaking-tastic!

The great thing was it didn’t take LB very long to warm up to me this time, she was excited to see me, held my hand, you know I love that. At one point, she said she was cold and I gave her my sweater, it was too funny as the sweater is pretty big on me, so you can imagine what it was on her! Then she was done sitting and came to crawl onto my lap and asked me to read her the boook I got for Baby L, Goodnight Colorado, I don’t know if you know the Goodnight Moon series, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight_Moon. As soon as I finished, “Read it again, JJ’ and again. Three times was it! After I finished reading, I got the best question “Are you coming to my house to play?” Big sigh. Was I happy? You bet your sweet bippie!!!

We had a great time talking. This was the first time I had the opportunity to have one on one time with CS and it was fantastic. It was fun to chat, catch up on family and day to day stuff, the future and all that’s happening in her life and the family, it felt great. Thank you, I’m looking foward to the next time.

After lunch it was time for dessert, we stopped for gelato, chocolate for LB and her sister and let me tell you, just like all wee tots, they wear it well!

Then it was time to go, CS had to go pick up Uncle Bubba from school and I had to get ready to volunteer for the 5k. “When we drive back to your hotel, would you sit in the back with me and Baby L?” Oh yes! Of course! You know how tickled I was! Sigh! I love that little bit!

When we got to the hotel, I gave everyone kisses and we agreed to FaceTime soon and hopefully see each other soon!

Think JJ had a smile on her face the rest of the night? You betchya!

{November 9, 2014} My weekend in Atlanta

I spent the weekend in Atlanta and now I want to tell you about it. Sit back, this might take a bit…

I already told you about my flight to Atlanta on Thursday, fun, but ended wonderfully. Friday I got up, had breakfast and got to work, had a few calls, then lunch, more work and then I went to the rental property management company office to pick up the key to my house. I then drove to the house only to be thwarted by two medium sized dogs barking at the door, so I messaged the property manager and told her that I would schedule a set time when I come back so they can put the dogs in the garage, oh well. I did get to talk to a neighbor for a bit, she told me the tenants are very nice and they are fitting in well in the neighborhood.

Off I went, back to TS’ house to get some more work done and then we went to a nice Medeterranian restaurant with SF, it was nice to catch up. The service was mediocre, every pot of tea was luke warm, but the food and the company were stellar, so the entire evening was a smashing success. That night, we watched The Call, which you probably read about the other night.

Saturday morning, we went to meet BG at Corner Bakery for breakfast. After breakfast, we went to a consignment shop so she could pick up some things she had there as well as money for stuff she sold, I got the cutest picture of a pair of Chuck Taylor’s, yeah, I know, like I need more stuff with no place to put it!

Then we went to the mall so I could pick up a few things from Victoria’s Secret and then back to my car, I headed out to see JCT and her family where her mom was doing a craft fair. After visiting with them for a bit, I headed to see SDL and Miss A!

We played and snuggled, and walked, what an amazing kid Miss A is! She is growing up so fast! And walking, wow!!! Eventually we went to get some dinner and her favorite Mexican restaurant, which I really enjoy, and I had been craving Mexican. We ate, talked, danced, walked, had a great time. Then back home for bath and bed.

This morning was breakfast and Skype time with SDL’s mom, MomMom, it was great to see her! After breakfast, I headed out to see KAB and baby A, who’s not such a baby anymore! It was so good to see my grandson! He’s one and a half and getting so big! W played and I got hugs and kisses, it was awesome! It was really good to catch up with KAB and J came home and we talked about the game.

I left there and headed downtown to Atlantic Station to do some retail therapy while I waited to meet CKM for dinner in Decatur. I bought a pair of boots and got some holiday shopping done!

Then I headed to The Brickstore Pub in Decatur and CKM showed up and we had a great dinner and caught up, so great to see her! It’s been too long! After dinner, we walked and talked and caught up some more, even better!

Now, I am chilling out, going to crash in a bit and head to Chicago in the morning. You tired after my weekend?

Goodnight!

{November 7, 2014} After being sick at work/Travel Day

This is a dual blog post because i want to talk about two things and it’s my post, so there you go.

So, as you know, I wasn’t feeling well this week and had to stay in bed yesterday. Since I am relatively new to the project, everyone knows who I am and yesterday, there was a big meeting and I was noticeably absent and this was the meeting where the project manager was supposed to introduce PM and I to the group, oh well. So…today, everyone wanted to know if I was feeling better, it was very nice, but a little weird. Even at the airport, when I landed in Atlanta, I saw some of my teammates and they were asking. So nice, but weird. It was definitely appreciated, but at the same time, not the kind of attention I want and how much information do you give? Ramble over.

As for traveling…I left some perishables with the hotel until Monday, I didn’t feel like traveling with them, so that was good. I got an text that my 4:50pm flight was delayed until 5:36pm, go figure, apparently due to high wind, it finally started getting cold in Chicago. Then I have no seat, I will get that at the gate. When I get to the Delta counter, wait with everyone else to drop my bag, about 30 minutes, great…then going through security, TSA pre-check, but a random check, really?

Get to the gate, there was an announcement that there was a gate change, go to the new gate with everyone else, it’s for an earlier flight than ours, how could a flight leave before it was supposed to when it was delayed. Then go back to the original gate and wait with everyone else, finally getting in line because the one woman at the counter said it would be a while, they were still working on the flight that just left.

Got on the plane and waited and waited and waited. Finally took off, as soon as we land, EVERYONE [well, almost everyone] gets up, like that’s going to help. Finally get off the plane, get my bag, break a nail getting the bag off the conveyor belt, what? And lost a charm off the bracelet I got in Ireland, pook. Did meet a nice guy that works for Deloitte as well, he overheard me speaking with someone about what I did. We are both working for the same partner on different projects.

Get my car, which is an Impala, or land yacht as I like to call it. It’s clean, good stereo and rides smoothly. I make it to TS’ house and it’s a wonderful reunion, she feeds me home made veggie soup and is so wonderful because she is a meat eater and used to flavoring with meat, but accommodated me and it was heavenly. I am not eating very much at the moment. There was salad and her mom’s home made pickles. I was in heaven. A wonderful end to a long day.

Goodnight my friends!

{November 1, 2014} Post Halloween – No rest for the tricked or treated!

The day started WAY too early! Especially after GES and I were up all night talking about Christmas movies!

EJS decided she was going to wake me and try to scare me with her orange vampire teeth…eeek! Then it was up for the last soccer game of the season, or so we thought, next week there is a make-up game. The game continued, even after the freezing rain started and I must tell you that EJS is a beast on the field! So very proud of her!

On the way home, stop at the local farmers market for treats! Apple cider donuts, scones and bagels, yum! One donut on the way home of course! At home, get ready for play date number one. Then JS and AS show up to hang out and after a while, dad and I head out to Walmart, I need some tubs for my stuff.

Back home, I drop dad and the stuff, realize I forgot something and headed out and found GES, not that she was lost or anything, but the day after Halloween is a must to shop for deeply discounted stuff for next Halloween, of course! I got home and DB was there with her two adorable kids, N and Baby A, what a couple of doll babies. You know Auntie J loves to play with the babies! This was also play date number two for the day.

JS and ACS came home while we were all visiting and eventually DB and the kids left, then it was time for GES and ACS to get ready for their night out to dinner with friends. About 6:30, it was egg and cheese sandwiches on english muffins for everyone left at home while watching futball and How to Train Your Dragon 2. After the movie it was time for books and bed, there were wee tots ready for sleep!

Lots of laughter of course, especially when I was helping MGS get into her pj’s and she ended up with both legs in one! That resulted in uproarious fits of laughter. And again, EJS was so generous when MGS couldn’t find her “lovey” [something they each have in different colors that they sleep with] and EJS said “That’s ok, I always have a spare!’ What a good big sister!

Eventually the kids were asleep and dad and I hung on the sofa watching bad tv mingled with some sports while I nodded off here and there, thinking about sleeping. After the parents got home, everyone went to bed and guess who “woke up”! Laundry, packing, clearing off the bed. And here it is almost 1am and I’m still talking to you! I am beat!!!

When do we set the clocks back?

Good night!

{October 28, 2014} Team Dinner

Today is the second day on the new project in Illinois.

There was a team dinner, a farewell to two people leaving the project, but I found out that there are quite a few team dinners that happen more often than not and just about all 25 people from Deloitte will go to dinner, it was nice.

We went to a nice Mexican Restaurant, Mago Grill, http://www.magogrill.com/arlingtonheights/index.html in downtown Arlington Heights, it looks charming, I’m looking forward to getting to know the area.

The guacamole was terrific, it was fresh, made table-side, always a good thing, fresh guacamole, especially now that I actually like avocado and guacamole! The rest of the food ordered was very tasty according to everyone and they enjoyed their drinks.

It was nice to get to know fellow team members, barely talk about work, have a good meal, make friends, relax, laugh and detach from the day. Looking forward to the next one.

{October 17, 2014} Day Nine in Ireland

I got the sweater…where’s the boy?

Today I got up earlier than ever and then errand my book, showered, packed and headed down to the pub across the street for breakfast. My waitress had just gotten back from three weeks in Spain, why don’t we do holidays like that?

I stopped by the chemist on my way out because I did not want to bring this cold back with me as my souvenir! The sudafed is working wonders! I got on the road and drove and drove and drove, I stopped in Kildare, but realized I am going to be there tomorrow, so I headed on to Dublin.

As the gps couldn’t find things and I stopped using it last week, I wanted to do what I could from memory and I was pretty darn good! I did stop by a hotel at the airport for help, but I got there! Then I chilled for a bit and got on the bus for City Center. I got off at Trinity College and did something I haven’t done since I got here, retail therapy!

First thing I did actually, was get some lunch at KC Peaches, a lovely place with delicious, healthy, home grown ingredients sandwich. Then I headed to the Sweater Shoppe! And I got it! You guessed it! My Irish knit sweater! It was really hard to decide what looked right and felt good where I wouldn’t itch thinking about putting it on! Merino wool is itchy!

Ok, so I have the Irish knit sweater…where’s the Irish boy? Maybe I have to wear it to find him! Then I went into a few stores and picked up a few things, I can’t tell..someone might be reading this!

I walked up and down the streets, it’s a serious bustling city, I love it! It started raining on the way and never really let up. Someone asked me to pick up a tshirt at Hard Rock, so I headed to Temple Bar, http://www.templebar.ie, where all the bars seem to be, well, not all, but chunked together. This is where it happens! The noise, the music, the sites, the sounds, lovely! This is where you go for a bit of craic!

After The Hard Rock, I walked around the area and found…Boxty! http://boxtyhouse.ie, a restaurant that had and knew what a boxty was! OMG! I was in heaven! I ordered boxty scraps which were boxties cut like French fries, yum! And some awful vegetables, when the waitress said they were awful, I should have listened. But…the homeless guy I am sure enjoyed them both!

After dinner, I had the bread and butter pudding, yum! Very light and not a huge portion, easy to enjoy and walk off.

I spent some more time walking around, then found the bus and headed back to the hotel, unloaded the rest of the stuff from the car, brought it to the room, had a quick shower and headed downstairs for my complimentary drink and some live music.

I ended up getting an amaretto and cream, it was ok and I’m working through the effects of the cream, but that’s my problem! I sat at the bar for a while waiting for someone to notice me and ask what I wanted to drink. I saw out of the corner of my eye, a guy down the bar tell the bartender I was waiting. When I caught his eye later, I thanked him. I thought he was waiting for someone, he had a bouquet of confetti roses.

I told him they were pretty and he came over to ask me if I wanted to smell them and then tell me that he bought them at ya the grocers today and would give them to the first nice person he talked to..guess who.

We proceeded to talk for about an hour, I found out all about him, his company and the girl that got away that he’s trying to win back good luck! It was fun talking to him, he’s from Montreal and in Dublin in business.

I also talked to the singer, when he was finished, a great guy who was a lot of fun to listen to. He would ask if the crowd liked someone and I answered, so he directed a bunch towards me! He was funny and very talented and gave me his card, so I could email him to get a few tracks he wrote, lucky me!

Now, here I am sitting in bed writing to you and needing to get some sleep because I’m running a 5k in the morning! Wahoo! A 5k in Ireland! Go me! Something I wanted to do and now I’m going to do it!

Goodnight!

Positivity Challenge – Day #29
1 – I am thankful I found my way to the hotel…sans GPS (with a little help from a very nice person)
2 – I am thankful to have found a restaurant that serves boxty!

{October 15, 2014} Day Seven in Ireland

Only three days left? What? Hurry. Have to do everything!

Kidding! I decided a few days ago that whatever I don’t get to this time, that means that there will be a next time. I remember being physically sick when I got on the plane to go home from Paris, until I made the decision to go back and all was right with the world. Besides, NB and I have a date to keep in Ireland, so I will be back!

Isn’t it interesting, when you have a long trip ahead of you and you think you’ll get to everything and you have all the time in the world and then you’re on the back end of the trip and realize that it’s almost over and where did the time go? Well let me tell you where I went today! Have a seat, it’s gonna be another long one!

I woke up leisurely, well, sort of…the only thing that I didn’t care for at the B&B last night was the fact that I could hear the people talking next door, turn over in their beds and snoring, fun, huh? Other than that, lovely.

The day started very wet, I knew I would not be spending a lot of time outdoors until the rain cleared up and I was wishing I had brought my wellies, but a rainy day in Ireland is better than…well, anything else! I headed out down the road toward Midleton, I was going to go to my brother-in-laws Mecca…The Jameson Whiskey Distillory, yup, me! I had to represent!

It was a fascinating tour, we learned about the process of milling, malting, the kiln, I rang the big bell and we learned that it takes the trees used for the barrels between one hundred and one hundred and fifty years to grow and they only get about two barrels per tree! We also learned that you cannot reuse the barrels for whiskey, so they are used for other alcohol and maybe even made into furniture!

After, we had a choice, straight up shot or cocktail, I had the Jameson ginger lime, it was…yeah, just like I thought, but there will be a video posted soon! And guess who is getting a little something that he wouldn’t be able to get in the states or online! Who’s the rockstar now!

After the tour, I sat down for a bowl of soup and invited a woman to join me as there were no other seats available. She happened to arrange travel for different groups and she comes to Ireland about four times a year and just recently discovered a relative a few miles outside of Midelton! She and the group were from Boston, go figure! We chatted about where to go next as people often do and we were all going in the same direction.

The coach driver, Michael, gave me a recommendation for what to do next as well as where to stay in Kinsale. I thanked them and went on my way.

(I went to a pub/restaurant to listen to some music and now that I’m in my room, they’re finally doing Irish songs and singing along…go figure!)

I decided to go to Cobh, pronounced Cove, formerly called Queensland, http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobh.
It has a fascinating history, Annie Moore, the first woman admitted to Ellis Island left from Cobh, it was also the final port of call for The Titanic, as well as a major embarkation port for convicts heading to Australia, among other emigrations.

There is a lot of rich history in Cobh, not to mention the amazing views, smells and sounds of the water…sigh. I went through the museum and saw some actual things left over from the Titanic, don’t tell, but I snuck a photo or two for EJS, who is obsessed with the ship! I also got her a com reactive coin, I can’t wait to give it to her!

After Cobh, I headed to Kinsale, the Gourmet Capital of Ireland! http://kinsale.ie. it is a beautiful coastal town that I have fallen in love with. Lovely people, views, boats and I have walked the town so much I feel like I could give directions! The hotel I am staying in, The White House is a very nice hotel, the nicest, aside from the Hilton, so far. One of the things I think I may have figured out is if you show up later in the day to a hotel, they give you a better rate because it’s getting late and they may not sell the room otherwise! Breakfast will be included.

I think the host is the former mayor of Kinsale! I believe that was his picture in the paper on the wall! There is a fantastic tribute to 9/11 the driver had told me about and on the way out of town, there is another tribute, a woman planted a tree for everyone who perished, I will check it out tomorrow.

After I checked in, I decided to go for a walk and then look for something to eat. The walk was lovely and then I decided in the Blue Haven for dinner, a very nice carrot, persimmon and ginger soup, wow! After dinner, I went in search of the ghost tour I was told about only to find out I was a week too late, bollocks! I went back to the Blue Haven for a pot of tea, a tart crumble and some great live music.

After a while, it was walk the 100 meters to the hotel, jump in bed and talk to you! Guess what tomorrow brings…Cork and the Blarney Castle…you know what that means!

Until tomorrow!

Positivity Challenge – Day #27
1 – I am thankful to be in a nice hotel across from some pubs and there is live music serenading me tonight.
2 – I am thankful to have met a nice person who recommended this hotel to me.
3 – I am thankful to find a toilet close by whenever I seem to need it!

{October 14, 2014} Ireland Day Six

A fine Irish evening to ya!

I woke up in Waterford, ready to greet the day! I got ready and went out into the town of Waterford, walked around a bit and headed for the Waterford Crystal Museum.

Now, I am not a huge fan of crystal, but to tour this facility and see how they create these masterpieces is a must! First, you find out that it takes eight full years to become a master glass blower/cutter and that the FIRST ever woman is in the apprenticeship program right now!

These blowers and cutters work for years, some even forty for Waterford! They also work from memory, never have a pattern on the piece when they cut, just a grid. If there is a new piece, they memorize the pattern, that’s it. Every single piece is made and cut by hand. It really was amazing! http://www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com
(I made it through without knocking anything over!)

Next, I went to the Medieval History Museum, very interesting learning about the Vikings and the history of Waterford, the entire time, I thought about my GA Renaissance times and friends. I miss them and that time. http://www.waterfordtreasures.com/medieval-museum

After the museum, I went for a walk and went into the Christ Church Cathedral Waterford. It was a very pretty cathedral with a beautiful stained glass window, an amazing organ and I lit a candle for the B and K family, how could I not?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Most_Holy_Trinity,_Waterford

I walked down the bustling street, exactly how I imagined a busy afternoon would be and stopped in a little place for an awesome, fresh made veggie burger and unnecessary chips.

I went back to the car and chatted with the attendant, who asked me if I’d ever been to his home of Scotland, I told him it was next! Then we somehow got on the subject of NY and he said he spent time in Brooklyn and did I know the ….family, nope. He then asked where I was going next and recommended Dunmore, a lovely little fishing village that had homes with thatched roofs, oh yes!

I headed out to Dunmore, it was a lovely drive and there it was, beautiful! Right on the coast and across the way…Hook Lighthouse! I walked down a path to the beach below the cliffs, spectacular!
http://www.discoverdunmore.com/tourism/web

Eventually, I got back in the car and headed towards Cork, I was going to stop in Dungarven and look for the castle, but I kept going and stopped in Youghal, pronounced ‘yall’ http://www.youghal.ie/index.php

I found the Avonmore House B&B, reasonably priced and went in search of food and I found The Quays Bar & Restaurant, one of the few places serving food and settled in in with everyone else watching futbal, Ireland vs Germany and had a nice veggie stir fry.

Back at the B&B to talk to you! Who knows what tomorrow holds after breakfast?

Positivity Challenge – Day #26
1 – I am SO thankful that after Sunday it will be a VERY long time before I smell dung on a daily basis!
2 – I am thankful to know that the US is not the only country focused on breast cancer awareness.
3 – As a granola girl, I am thankful to see that Ireland is number 2 for recycling in the UK!

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