12 Days and Counting

Most would think that a count down at this time of year would be to Christmas. But not for me. I am counting down the days until Colleen arrives home in the good old US of A from her semester abroad studying in Florence, Italy, and traveling all over Europe. She has visited: Croatia, Spain, Germany, France, England, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy (of course), and those are only the places I know about! She left on her adventure in September and I can't wait to get my arms around her for a huge hug!

Colleen says Ciao to her Papa in September.

46 Hours...

...that is all the time we had in San Antonio, Texas. We jetted down Friday night and jetted back Sunday night. It was short, but oh so sweet. We enjoyed two days of golf, the best ice cold margaritas, delicious chips, salsa, and guacamole, and just being away on vaca.

We stayed at the two year old JW Marriott, the second largest in the world with 1002 rooms. Second only to the JW in Indianapolis with 1003 rooms. There were two TPC golf courses, spa, multiple pools with slides and a lazy river, huge conference center. A destination resort for sure.

We only saw San Antonio from the air, and everything in Texas really is bigger! Just look at the size of that TV screen in the sports bar and the number of beers on tap. Yowzer!

Day Trippin

I recently tagged along on a day business trip with Jim to Duluth which is about 2 1/2 hours north of Minneapolis. A pleasant drive on a beautiful morning, even if it was 0 darkhundred. 

Sunrise and ground fog over the MN countryside.

Duluth from the Skyline Pkwy

Duluth sits along the shoreline of Lake Superior whose largesse and beauty astound. The largest freshwater lake in the world it could contain all of the Great Lakes plus three additional lakes the size of Lake Erie.

Lake Superior from the harbor.

The craggy lake shoreline.

The landmark  aerial lift bridge built in 1905 spanning the harbor is only one of two in the world (the other is in France).

Aerial Lift Bridge

Driving along the 36 mile Skyline Parkway highlights included the Chester Bowls park and ski area including two very cool wooden ski jumps.

Ski jump complete with stairs!

I came across birders looking for eagles, hawks and other migratory birds that fly along the parkway on their way south for the winter because they won't fly across large bodies of water. Winter arrives early in northern MN, it was 32* with a hard frost when we arrived and the tourist attractions I wanted to visit were already on their winter weekend schedule for the season. A return visit is a must!

What it Takes

Here's what it takes to spend 35+ hours traveling from Martha's Vineyard to Minneapolis:

2 books: Silver Girl, World Without End
4 magazines: People, More, Elle, and Vogue
4 movies: Bridesmaids, Something Borrowed, Mother, Company Men
1 comfy pillow
earplugs
fuzzy socks
Advil PM
Pandora Radio

Interesting adventure, not sure of a repeat performance though.

What a Day for a Bike Ride

Bike Path

Kite Surfer on Sengekontacket

Nantucket Sound

Taking advantage of a perfect fall day in late September I set off for Oak Bluff, a 20 mile round trip bike ride. One reason I love this particular ride is that it snakes along the beach with beautiful vistas of Sengekontacket Pond on one side and the Nantucket Sound on the other.

Gingerbread Houses in OB

East Chop Light overlooking Nantucket Sound

It is the ride our family took on our first visit to the Vineyard in the summer of 1996. Although I had received email alerts that Steamship Authority boats were being diverted from OB to Vineyard Haven, it didn't register how windy it was until I had reached my destination of the East Chop Lighthouse and turned around to head home. 5 miles in and I was wishing I had some money to hop on the bus, bike and all. Battling a headwind the entire 10 miles, I made it back tired and sweaty.

One Day

What just happened?

One day we are at the beach soaking up the summer sun, sand and surf. The next day fallen leaves line the rain soaked streets.

One day the crowds bustle from store to store. The next day the streets are empty.

One day it is summer. The next day it is shoulder season.

I am looking forward to spending September on MVY; forging new territory. 

Wedding Mania Part 2: The Dress

This weekend was all about getting the details of the wedding hammered out - sort of an Engagement Retreat. We also took a walk down memory lane pulling out my wedding gown from 30 years ago. It was hermetically sealed, but it had been in the attic, down the basement and in my closet for so many years I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised upon the reveal that it was in perfect condition. Em was a good sport and tried it on for her old mother. What fun!

Deja Vu

Mother and daughters.

Wedding Mania Part 1: The Engagement

Hurricane Irene wasn't the only news last weekend — Emily and Kevin got engaged! Kevin had a lot of confidence asking me to assist with the surprise. Not only did I have to keep a secret, get her to the chosen venue, but I had to document the event with pictures! Luckily, I didn't disappoint!

Surprise!

 Grammie was also able to be present which made it that much more special. She was so happy she cried.

Happy tears.

Kevin thought of everything including Em's favorite champagne, Veuve Clicquot. We made it a family affair and toasted the newly engaged couple at Nell, Colleen's place of employment (she abstained of course). Only wish Melissa could have been present, but we've only just begun.

Happy family, missing Mel though.

 And so wedding mania commences. Stay tuned.....

The  newly engaged couple. 

Reunion 1979 - 2011

Arriving in DE, yippee!

I have never attended a high school or college reunion, but after spending two days with two friends from my early years in Boston, I see what all the fuss in about. Although Sherri Schaeffer nee Ciuffetelli, Patrice Dunn nee Bonsignore and I (Mary Murphy nee Kerrick) have different memories of the exact sequence of our time living together, and it was only in fact for about two years, our friendship has spanned 32 years to date, 3 weddings, and 9 children. Our best recollection of our last get together was about 20 years ago -- we had a LOT to catch up on. We ate, we talked, we drank, we talked,  we talked and talked and talked over good food, good wine, and beautiful accommodations. 

Outside Sherri's lovely abode.

Patrice and Sherri

What I learned: never underestimate the power of Christmas cards, Patrice loves puns, Scott is a great cook, CRS (can't remember s***), don't wait so long between reunions!

Sitting on the Amtrak Acela Boston bound train zooming along on a blue sky day smiling at the memories. Happy that I'm not in a car zooming along I-95.

Stormy Weather

Storm approaching....

 It was a wild one last weekend at Norton Point on South Beach. All set up for a beach day when we heard some rumblings then watched as this storm came our way passing directly over our spot on the beach. We hunkered down and rode it out in our cars. Call us crazy! Thunder, lightening, rain, wind, clearing for a few hours, and then fog. We ran the gamut of elements.

In a fog.

But, there is no stopping a beach day. We enjoyed ribs, wings, caprese and caesar salads, sirloin, king crab legs, grilled veggies, brownies and .....

S'mores!

Nothing like a beach day on MVY. What fun.

Just My Luck

As my followers know, I have been enjoying cooking and eating many new recipes from the Cooking Light website. That was until last Wednesday. When I woke up and poured my morning glass of ice coffee, something was off. Strange, but not troubling, until I had breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and anything I ate or drank was followed by this horrible bitter, metallic taste in the back of my mouth. Thinking it would just disappear as randomly as it appeared, in true Kerrick fashion I powered through. After three days and countless teeth brushing and mouth rinsing to no avail, I turned to the expert: Google. Sure enough within the space of a mouse click I had my diagnosis: pine mouth. The culprit: pine nuts. Specifically, pine nuts from China. I have purchased and eaten many foods with pine nuts and never experienced this phenomenon. I have never even considered where pine nuts come from to be an issue. Apparently, we should all pay more attention. Although not everyone experiences pine mouth, enough people do that there is even a notation about it in Wikapedia. Worse still, it lasts anywhere from a few days to two weeks. I am on day 6, just my luck.

Choosing Healthy

No matter what your lifestyle, it is always a challenge to eat healthy and make it savory! After a long Memorial Day weekend of overindulging, I resolved yet again to make better choices. So, I know this might not be news to you healthy eaters, but I discovered the Cooking Light website and the endless recipes with fresh ingredients, interesting flavors, and most important, low calories. In particular, I ventured to experiment with using MyRecipe.com to plan, organize and save recipes I want to try and to make shopping lists. Tonight it is Beef and Mushroom Sloppy Joes. Looks and smells delicious.

Zentangle

An artsy friend introduced me to this creative pastime about a year ago, and I thought "that's cool" and left it at that.  But, in my ongoing quest to keep busy while I bounce between MVY and MSP, I decided to give it a go, and it is addicting. Often considered yoga for the mind, Zentangle takes practice, patience, and skill. It is purported to calm the mind, reduce stress and improve focus. I don't know about that, but I do find it relaxing, rewarding AND less expensive than some of my other favorite hobbies i.e., golf, pilates, needlepoint and can be done anywhere. So, have pen and paper will travel, you never know when you might be the recipient of a Zentangle design by The Spicer! Here are a few samples....

Delta Gamma Golf: Round Two--A Family Affair

One for all and all for one.

How lucky am I that four out of five family members golf? It makes for fun get togethers, friendly competition, and lively conversation. Two of the five are Delta Gamma Sorority sisters. Check them out at:   http://www.deltagamma.org/. Support for Sight is their philanthropic cause, so when the annual Duke DG golf tournament fundraiser came around this year, it was a no brainer. We didn't win any prizes for our golf, but we looked great! Check it out:

Putt for dough, drive for show!

Next on the tee.

On the course and lookin good.

Golf Divas!

Although the weather was cool and overcast, we enjoyed being together, supporting a good cause, and doing something we love. There's always next year!

All finished and still smiling.

From Traditions to Transitions

It's that time of year again; the time I look forward to each year. No not the holidays... transition. Transition from life in the real world to life in the bubble of Martha's Vineyard. So much to look forward to...
* settling into our new home
* spending time with our girls and our MVY friends
* sunny warm days spent at the beach or poolside
* evenings by the outdoor fire sipping wine
Ten days and counting.

Traditions

Like many families, baking has a long history of tradition. I have fond memories of fresh baked whole wheat bread at Granny Kerrick's house and poppyseed at Christmas and Easter on the Lawrence side. I have tried my hand at the holiday baking for years and just like my mother before me, I never quite know why sometimes the dough rises better, is lighter tasting, and just comes out better than other times.

Poppyseed hot from the oven.

After recently visiting my sisters who both had homemade whole wheat bread for breakfast, I decided it was high time I began baking bread for Jim and I. Today was the day. I took a page from Kate's book and halved the recipe so it only yielded one loaf. I had to call Jo as my recipe didn't say how many times to let it rise (two). I came across whole wheat yeast in the supermarket and decided to give it a try as well. I did have a few bumps though. As I was panning the dough after letting it rise twice, I remembered that the second rise should be in the loaf pan. So I had to let it rise a third time after which I remembered that my mother always poked it a few times with a fork before rising and baking. Despite my pedestrian efforts, my first try in many moons was delicious....

 If you make a trip over to MVY this summer, you might be in for a treat. I am hopeful that repeated tries will help me refine (haha) the process.

Tis the Season

Although I haven't been truly religious since my departure for college in 1977 (maybe even before that), I have slowly evolved into a Catholic in name only. You know the ones, you only see them at church on Easter and Christmas. I have tried other faiths on for size over the years, but it just never felt right. I was an interloper, a misfit, an impostor. I say instead that I am spiritual, moral, a person of faith. So when my daughter inquired what I was giving up for Lent, I not only didn't have an answer, I hadn't even thought about it. That said and the fact that Lent started two weeks ago, I have decided to give up my daily Starbucks/Caribou coffee run. Anyone that knows me, knows that I never miss a day it is so ingrained into my routine. Sacrifice and discipline are good, even if it isn't because of religion. Check back with me on Easter.

New Favorite Past Time

Day One

The beach

My new favorite past time at the beach is hunting for shark's teeth. They come in different sizes and are gray, black or brown. In ten years the average Tiger shark sheds 24,000 teeth! My friend and mentor, Janet Koegler, got me started. She showed me what to look for and gave me a head start with a few teeth. My first day was a modest find of 9 teeth (12 including the teeth Janet gave me). However, I am a quick learner and yesterday I found 15 and today was a personal best of 33! It doesn't look like much, but I still have 17 days to go!

Total to date!

Ahhhhhhhhh

80 degrees
Sunny
Beach
Ocean
Golf
Paradise
Colleen

Where Am I? What Day is It? What Time Is It?

Beautiful Palm Springs. That snow is fresh from a storm that blew through on Friday night.

For the first time in a long time, I am confused. I returned home to MSP this morning at 2 a.m. after ten travel packed days. Boston (Atlantic Ocean), Orange County (Pacific Ocean), Palm Springs (desert and mountains), Minneapolis (snow). Two oceans, three states, three different time zones. Is it a wonder I'm confused? Oh yeah, Ponte Vedra on Friday!

Loppet? What's a Loppet?

Twinkly luminaries light the way.

The question begging to be answered is:  "what is a loppet?" The word loppet (so much fun to say) is Scandinavian in origin meaning a great gathering of skiers who ski on specifically groomed trails of varying distances, include enormous amounts of food and drink, and usually end with a party or celebratory banquet and dance. Who wouldn't want to attend such an event? The annual City of Lakes Loppet is a two day cross country ski festival featuring the beautiful trails and lakes of the Twin Cities. There is a 33K Freestyle Loppet that draws about 2000 competitors and encompasses three or more lakes, a Minne Loppet for the under 12 set, a 7K Skijoring Loppet (think cross between dog sledding and X-country skiing and watch the YouTube video at the end of the post), and the 5K Luminary Loppet which Jim and I attended on Saturday night. Thousands of Minneapolis neighbors came out to enjoy this 6th annual night of lights.

One of 1200+ ice luminaries.

Chicken and eggs.

The entire Luminary Loppet is run and manned by almost 500 volunteers. The luminaries are  mostly made in 3 gallon buckets. One ingenious volunteer rigged a contraption he dubbed "The Water Cow" that can make 12 3-gallon luminaries a minute (he studied engineering in a previous life).

Me and the Viking.

Luminary Pyramid.

Fire dancers.

Along with skiers, bikers, snowshoers, walkers, kids and dogs we enjoyed the luminary lit 5K route that snaked around the ice on the the Lake of the Isles. There was an ice sculpture contest, fire dancers, a luminary Pyramid, Enchanted Forest,  and Icecropolis. Not a detail is overlooked, including hot cocoa stations to warm the belly and fire pits to warm the digits.

Directional on the lake.

Jim at Icecropolis

The twinkling crystal of the luminaries created a magical glow across the lake and even with all the spectators, there was a the quiet peacefulness about the night. I embrace the Minnesotan view that it's not about the weather.