Dark Clouds, Silver Linings, and Lemonade

When we last saw our possessions......

I've always said when life gave me lemons I not only made lemonade, I made nicely packaged, well- branded lemonade.  As I sit here typing, the lemons have, quite simply, been run over by Bekins Moving Solutions.  The last update we received on all of our worldly possessions placed them somewhere in Arizona.  They will be, at best, one week late and at worst....well, we're not going there right now.

So....where does that leave us, Lucky Hill, and Dan's gallery?  Lucky Hill is not looking so lucky and Dan's gallery will be a little lacking in the number of paintings hanging.  The plan as of 9:00 p.m. last night is to open for the July 4th holiday with the ten paintings we have, smile a lot, and tell everyone never to use Bekins for their moving needs.  We're off tomorrow to Bangor to get a temporary sign, copies of Dan's CV and recent write-up in Southwest Art Magazine, and an exterior gallery announcement.  All of which were already printed in L.A. and are happily nestled in protected boxes on the Bekins truck.

Anchored Off the Coast is anchored in the truck

While dark clouds have hovered over us....literally and figuratively....here in Castine for the last few days, there are silver linings.  New friends and neighbors have offered assistance left and right.  Gordon and Lynda delivered folding chairs (padded!) and two folding tables a couple days ago and trumped that with a loveseat yesterday.  Constance, our landlady, e-mailed asking if she could bring any kitchen or household necessities we might need when she arrives in town this weekend.  Sara, Brenda, and Lyn offered to help set up the gallery/shop if there was any hope of a moving van arriving prior to July 4th.  I know I'm forgetting many, many people who have jumped at the opportunity to help us and it is only because the offers have been so numerous and generous.  Dan and I thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts.

I try to be mature and look at the big picture by saying Dan and I arrived safely and are healthy....the truck will get here when it gets here....and life will go on, but it's still frustrating.  As our dear friend, Jim, said in his e-mail, this is only a bump and not an over-the-cliff moment.  It's nice to have friends and family who can keep us centered and grounded during trying times.  We are very lucky.....truck or no truck.

Early Morning Storefront....ready to hang tomorrow

Father's Day at an L.A. Landmark

While things are beyond crazy right now with the move, we were fortunate to be able to celebrate Father's Day here in L.A. with Dan's daughters, Kammy and Nicole, Kammy's husband, Jon, and their baby, Samantha....the first grandchild in the family.  We felt the perfect way to end our time in L.A. was to finally introduce the kids to an L.A. institution....Canter's Deli.  Dan and I had made Canter's something of a tradition in our two years in L.A.  Whenever Dan sold a painting or won a painting competition, we went to Canter's to celebrate.  At some point, we realized he was selling too many paintings and our waistlines couldn't handle the fare on a regular basis and it was relegated to only the most special of occasions.

The pickle plate

For Dan, Canter's represents one thing....meat.
Pastrami to be exact.... and pile it high and deep, please (to coin a phrase from the classic movie, What About Bob).  Being married to a vegetarian has made Dan partake in the beast whenever an opportunity arises.  His children must take after their father as it was brisket, roast beef and another pastrami around the table.  Me?  I ate my avocado melt with a clear conscience.  Nothing compares to the plate of pickles that miraculously appears on the table.  Crisp, crunchy, and spicy.  Sheer deli perfection.

But the thing that always turns head and leaves mouths hanging open is the pastry and dessert case as you enter.  It is an absolute wall of decadence.  Rugelach, cheesecake, and cookies....oh my!  Wayne Thiebaud would have been in his glory and had all the subject matter he needed to carry him through canvas after canvas.  Jon was taken with a black and white cookie, Kammy the carrot cake, and Nicole and I just about everything that didn't move.  It really is a dessert extravaganza and the guys behind the counter only make the whole experience that much more memorable.

Total and complete bliss

Sami has been teething for quite awhile and I was really hoping she would cut her first tooth at Canter's.  I think it would have been a sign she was a certifiable L.A. baby.  Alas, there was no tooth that happened to appear in the booth at Canter's beneath the poster of Guns n' Roses, so it's pretty safe to say the first tooth will ultimately emerge behind the Orange Curtain.  You know where we stand on L.A versus the Orange Curtain line, but no matter....she's still the cutest baby around and I think she could have a future in pictures.   Mr. DeMille, she's ready for her close-up.

It was a wonderful....albeit tearful....Father's Day and we're so happy the load-in for the move was slotted for the 18th and 19th so as to afford us this great memory at a memorable L.A. institution.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day and for those whose Dad is no longer with them, a day of loving memories.

Pile it high and deep, please

Moving Purgatory

This morning I woke up and decided I'm in "moving purgatory".  I know the end is in sight, but it doesn't feel that way at the moment.  While the bulk of everything is packed, it's those sniggly little stragglers still needing to be popped into boxes that are driving me crazy.  It probably doesn't help that I placed the first round of orders for the store on Friday.  Perhaps that makes everything worse as I really just want to be in Maine getting Lucky Hill up and running.  Speaking of which, you can check out my first blog post for Lucky Hill at luckyhillhome.blogspot.com

I realized I haven't had any cooking posts for quite awhile, as my kitchen is more or less packed.  More by my standards, less by others.  I've been trying to use up a lot of what I have in the larder, but this was one of those days we really needed veggies.  With packing at a height and tying up loose ends, I knew exactly what fit the bill.

The first time I had Israeli cous cous was in Miami in 1998 when I was there for my first freelance design contract.  As with a lot of my freelance contracts, I ended up working in my room most nights and ordering room service.  The first night I ordered the mixed vegetables over Israeli cous cous and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.  It was wonderful.  The second night I ordered the same.  And the third.  And the forth.  By the fifth night, when room service picked up they knew what I wanted before I ever uttered a word.

Israeli cous cous is now a staple in my pantry.  While this may not be the same dish I had in Miami, it is one Dan and I love.  It's super easy, totally yummy, and you can easily modify it based on the veggies that are in season.

Israeli Cous Cous with Mixed Veggies

4 cloves garlic, finely sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 medium zucchini, sliced
2 medium yellow squash, sliced
1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
Israeli cous cous, prepared per directions (I use a
      box of Trader Joe's Israeli cous cous)

Warm the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat and add the garlic.  Cook the garlic until slightly golden.  Do not overcook the garlic!  With a slotted spoon, transfer the garlic to a small bowl.  Add the zucchini and yellow squash slices to the saute pan and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until tender and beginning to color.  Add the grape tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes soften and start to break down.  Return the garlic to the pan and simmer with the vegetables for five minutes.  To plate, place the cous cous in the bottom of a bowl and top with the vegetables.

Castine, Maine......Our Next Adventure

Sunrise over Lucky Hill

When we tell people we're moving to Maine, the responses fall into two camps.  From people who have never been to Maine, the replies range from a simple "Why?" to a more visceral "Have you two lost your minds?"  When you pose the same question to people who have been to Maine, we unanimously hear "We love it there, but you aren't planning on living there year-round, are you?"  So to clear things up from the get go, the coast of Maine is an amazingly beautiful place with incredibly friendly residents and a rich artistic tradition that has always captivated us.  The last time we checked we hadn't lost our minds, but that could change at any moment.  And yes, we are going to live there year-round.  On this point, we were greatly relieved to have met numerous year-round residents of Castine at the Tarratine Gallery opening during our May trip.  They seem to survive quite nicely and we're hoping to do the same. 

The Pentagoet Inn

As we're leaving L.A. next week, it might be nice to share some images of our new hometown....very un-L.A.  I most often find myself attaching the words "idyllic" and "magical" to Castine.  Dan and I happened upon the town on our first trip to Maine purely as a result of a detour.  After parking the car, we wandered around the town with our mouths hanging open.  It seemed impossible to us that such a perfectly preserved place still existed.  I've described it as a New England version of Williamsburg where real people live.  And, yes, there have been occasions where Norman Rockwell's name was uttered in describing the perfection.

I was lucky enough to spend my birthday in Castine last month.  We were staying at the Pentagoet Inn and I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and opened the curtain in our room to find the most spectacular sunrise.  After I woke Dan up and made him get out of bed to see it.....and after he stumbled back to bed....I headed out with my camera for an early morning walk around the still sleeping town.  These are some of the photos I took that morning. Enjoy.....I know I did!

Castine Variety

There are over 100 historic markers around the town

Emerson Hall

The Unitarian Church

Castine has the oldest post office in continuous operation

Dyce Head Light

Bah's Bakehouse and Stella's

Stunning homes stand watch over the harbor

The Town Green

Stately white clapboard homes line the streets

The gardens at Leila Day Antiques

I was thrilled to see lilacs everywhere....

And banks of lilies-of-the-valley

The most perfect cottage garden at the Pentagoet Inn

Another historic marker on Main Street

     Sunset at Wadsworth Cove

The Long Goodbye

On the road again well wishes

"A thought....."  The second I read those words in an e-mail or hear them over the phone, I know our dear friend, Ridge, is posing something magical.  I'm not entirely sure if they were the exact words in the e-mail in which Ridge offered to host a going away party for Dan and me, but that's how I will always remember it.  The date was set for last night and the event, as is always the case when one hikes the 64 steps to the house on the hill, was the perfect mix of excellent food, bottomless bottles of wine, and jovial company.

Dan's brother, Vic, and his partner, Thuan, drove over from the desert and our dear friends, Jim and Mike, up from behind the Orange Curtain.  We were joined late in the evening by Ridge's grand nephew, Richard, and his partner, Michael.  Not surprisingly, the guests provided lively conversation, strolls down memory lane, and so much laughter a baby skunk decided to check out the festivities and wandered right up to the screendoor. 

Our wonderful host

Upon entering the living room, complete with the million-dollar view of L.A., we were greeted with a yummy display of hors d'ouevres backed by a presentation that provided everyone an overview of our soon-to-be home town of Castine, photos of the new home/shop/gallery, and well wishes on our next adventure.  Corks popped and everyone wandered onto the deck to take in the sunset.  When Ridge said dinner was something "simple" it's a safe bet to say his idea of "simple" and mine must vary greatly.  Dinner was a lobster salad on the half shell, perfectly poached salmon with a silky sauce sprinkled with dill, and roasted veggies all beautifully plated on a bed of spinach.  Simple?  No.  Exquisite?  Absolutely. 

I don't know if Ridge keeps a dosier on all of his friends, but he always astounds me when he manages to remember my favorite things.  I could swear the last time I was over at his house I commented on the stunning golden orange roses in his garden.  Amazingly, they were at the center of the table amid an array of pillar candles.  And when the red velvet cupcakes appeared for dessert, I couldn't help but whisper to Ridge that he had, once again, remembered they are my favorite.  I was beyond touched when Ridge offered me the most beautiful handknit Irish throw for use in the shop as display.  The warmth the throw will provide during those long cold Maine winters will not only be due to the thick wool, but also in knowing it was Ridge's.  It will be comforting to look across the shop and feel he is with me.

Red Velvet cupcakes from Lark Cake Shop

Time is winding down and emotions are running high for me.  I can be so incredibly stoic about some things, but such a crybaby about others.  Last night proved more than a little hard to say goodbye to our family and friends.....who I also regard as family.  Ridge pointed out that we have only known each other for two years, but through my tears I told him there are some people you meet along the way who are fast friends from the start.  Ridge was one of those people.  Dan and I are blessed to have friends who are family and family who are friends.  There aren't enough words of thanks we can offer Ridge for his generosity, hospitality, and friendship so Dan and I will simply say, "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts".
 

Dan, me, and Ridge at the end of a perfect evening

No Longer Ours

Our apartment is quickly beginning to feel as though it is no longer ours.  I'm trying not to be sad as I know we are going to another place we love and will make ours, but it tugs at my heart nonetheless.  In my mind, there are three definitive things that transform "an address" into "our home".... books, cooking, and art. 

The boxes and boxes of books were packed first.  For a few days I tried to keep some cookbooks and design books unpacked or in boxes that hadn't been sealed, but quickly realized I was just delaying the inevitable and took the tape gun to them as I had to all the others.  They are now simply labeled by room as "Books (K)" or "Books (D)".

No longer my kitchen

There had to be a line of demarcation between our life in L.A. and our new life in Maine.  For me, that revolved around my kitchen.  I knew I had to pack up most everything not deemed absolutely necessary prior to our trip in May.  It really didn't come down to the fact I have too many sets of china and kitchen goods and needed more time, but rather because I didn't want to see the things that had created and been the backdrop for so many memories.  It was, and possibly always will be, my dream kitchen (see the "In the Kitchen" page for a tour), but now it's time to for me step away from the stove.

Saturday the art came down.  It was the final action that transported the apartment back to looking more as it did when we first walked through it over two years ago.  Strange how painted bits of canvas....Dan's, mine, and others....can define a space so completely.  Other than "Paul's Liquor", which is so large it will remain on the wall until the very end, everything else has been packed safely in boxes within boxes.
 

The management company has started showing the apartment to potential new occupants.  The first few left me cold and feeling even more sad... unable to simply get up and say "hello" when they came in.  I quickly realized I wanted someone to move in who loved it and saw all the wonder in it we did.  The wood burning fireplace.  The vintage tile in the bathroom.  The exquisite crown mold- ing.  The warm wooden floors.  The sublime light that streams in through the front windows.  And, of course, the kitchen and my beloved stove, "Georgia".  My first sign of hope was a young woman who trains dogs.  She loved our antiques and all the details that caught our eye.  And then there was a lovely woman who came through Sunday afternoon who had lived in New York.  I found myself bounding out of my chair telling them about the kitchen, extolling the wonders of the stove, showing them all the unique nooks and crannies for storage,  yammering on about our dear neighbors across the way and their adorable dog. 

The living room bathed in beautiful light

I know this desire for the apartment to go to someone who loves it as much as we do is silly, but the thought of someone bringing in a microwave and never discovering the amazing firepower of "Georgia" makes my head spin.  To not curl up with a book in front of a roaring fire on one of those rare cold, rainy L.A. nights is beyond comprehen- sion.  In some ways it feels like we've lived here forever.  I can remember sitting on the floor in the empty living room waiting for Dan and our dear friend, Chuck, to arrive with the moving van containing our possessions.  I was overcome by a sense that this was going to be a wonderful home.....and it was. 

This was one of the posts I most dreaded writing.  I will now go blow my nose, dry my tears, and resume my packing so we can get on to our new home.....a home we will also love and fill with just as many wonderful memories.

Dan's painting, "Paul's Liquor", will hang to the end