StephanieL

I can't believe I never knew that a vibraphone is essentially an electrified marimba.

Seared lamb shoulder chops, roasted parsnips and delicata squash, and Japanese eggplant cooked with pomegranate molasses, served over pureed RG Yellow Eyes and topped with pomegranate seeds and chopped parsley.

Because I happen to have not only a bottle of boiled cider but also a jug of spiced cider concentrate on hand, I made King Arthur's Apple Cider Snickerdoodles. They're very good, at least the ones I tried right out of the oven.

True, but we've also gotten some amazing "gifts", including an Insta-Pot, this expensive tea blend from Bellocq, and homemade Diwali sweets. I've given away everything from clothes that don't fit me anymore to a gaming chair.

We visited the big Marin Farmer's Market in San Rafael for the first time yesterday. Allegedly the 3rd largest farmer's market in California, it certainly ranks right up there in size with the one I went to in Paris years ago. We were actually planning to go to the monthly antiques French Market, thinking "Oh, we'll just pop in the farmer's market"--no way would we have had the capacity to handle both. Market haul: Japanese eggplant, delicata squash, and a lamb shoulder chop for dinner; apples and grapes; Nilgiri tea; pita; a small bottle of cherry mead; bialys from Wise Sons; and a mushroom-stuffed pretzel ball for a snack.

At 81.

Austrian trip next June is a go! We received the invitation yesterday and have already RSVP'd. The happy couple's wedding website is very thorough, with information on travel details (including a reminder that US visitors will need a visa next year), the hotel where they've already reserved a block of rooms, links to the high-speed rail line that will get you from Vienna to Graz, and even what to wear (cocktail dress--an excuse to get a cute new outfit). We'll certainly stay a few extra days. We both want to see Vienna and N is dying to go to Salzburg for the day.

Mango daiquiri + Benadryl did the trick for me last night. RTBC today: someone at work brought in homemade French apple cake, and someone else brought in persimmons from their garden.

I didn't either. It's incredible how much he accomplished.

Reading what happened in the 5th made me grateful for needing to be at chorus rehearsal that night. I'd have broken something had I witnessed it in real time.

Ooh, I may add feta to my avocado toast tomorrow!

I made the Gigantes Plaki recipe from the new RG book, using the Royal Coronas; because I wanted it to be a main rather than a side dish, I added lots of feta on top before baking. I'm lucky enough to live near a store that sells several varieties of feta; I went with a creamy French sheep's milk variety.

Do they not have a reliable 4th starter?

At 79. She had multiple sclerosis for many years.

Fraudsters steal more than 22 tons of "high-value" Cheddar from Neal's Yard Dairy.

I still can't believe that Boone put in Nestor Cortes and not Tim Hill.

Is it a premonition of sorts that Fernando Valenzuela passed away this week?

The weather was quite lovely in Chicago over the past weekend. At least it looked that way out the windows of the convention center.

A lot of South African terms and expressions have crept into my speech over the last 17 years. Strangely, N hasn't picked up all that much Yiddish.

Dingbat of the day: my boss, for creating a Glassdoor account, complete with job alerts, using our department's shared Gmail address.

I have heard that it's a lovely weekend in Chicago. 🙄

I'll take 1977-1978. I'm working a meeting in Chicago, and I stayed up to watch Game 5 even though I was dead tired. I thought, "I'll just stay up to watch the 10th inning and will catch up tomorrow if they go longer."

Heartbreaker for the Yanks last night.

The Reblochon we currently have is so pungent that we're storing it in a glass container.

I have a picture of N riding the Cyclone, her face an expression of utter terror.