shiso mama

Because I work in a museum, it’s often difficult for me to go to a museum for fun, even when there’s a show that I want to see. But I’ve been thinking lately that it’s been so long since I’ve taken Otis with me to a museum, and feeling a little anxious that he wasn’t getting enough exposure to art, and to museums, which are such a big part of my life. So last Monday, when Otis stayed home from Grandma R’s house, we had a rare playdate together - first to Tartine for croissants, and then to the SFMoma for the Olafur Eliasson exhibit. I was a little concerned before we got there, because Otis kept asking, “Are we going home now? Where are we going? Why? What’s art? THEN are we going home?” But it turned out to be a fantastic date. The Eliasson exhibit is such a perfect introduction to museums for small kids because it is so experiential, and it was so rewarding to see him get excited and have fun. I think it can be challenging to pick a good exhibit for small kids to explore (other special exhibits were of black and white photography, which would’ve bored him to tears) but we really enjoyed this show. If you happen to be local and are looking for something to do, the show’s up through Sunday.

Thanks to GoodyBlog (the blog for Parents magazine) for the mention today. Also a big belated thank you to Jules for the mention on IkeaHacker of our chalkboard art table. Have you folks checked out this site? It’s got great ideas for changing and personalizing Ikea products. Love this and this.

I know this little mini-surge of collages smacks of New Year’s Resolution, but I swear it’s not true!  It’s just that I woke up New Year’s Day, with my belly still full of fried foods, and felt inspired to kick F out of bed to move Otis’s dresser into my studio for me.  Now I have a more organized, workable space (although Otis’s closet looks like I’m holding a sample sale in there).  And now, with my mom visiting, I’m suddenly finding myself with more time on my hands, leaving me free to run away and hide while my mom is chased around the horse by a passel of plastic animals.  So you see, I’m not that disciplined after all.  

We started off the year like the gluttons we are. We cooked and ate all night on New Year’s Eve. We started off with chopped liver on this bread that everyone’s been making and now we know why: it’s sheer genius - so easy and so soo sooo good (if you make it, definitely read the update). Then we served up steamed mussels before we moved on to the fryer and fried up some potatoes and panko-crusted portabellos and zucchini to go with our homemade aioli. We didn’t even get to our ragu and fresh pasta until 11. We were so stuffed that we had to wait until the next day for our friends to come back for leftovers, round 2 of frying (onion rings, mushrooms and more zucchini) and this chocolate pie from the latest issue of Bon Appetit. Are you disgusted? Well, for us it was the perfect way to celebrate.

I’m generally not one for resolutions, since I have this vague sense of setting myself up for failure, but this year, I have made one: I am going to stop reading Perez Hilton. It’s such a bad habit, and I always feel a little dirty afterwards. Anyone make any good resolutions this year?

Are you doing anything fun tonight, friends? We’re going to be spending the kid-free night cooking and eating with friends (who are bringing over a deep fat fryer, yay baby!), celebrating a birthday, and counting down until midnight - although, if recent history is any indication, you’ll find me face down, asleep on a plate of pommes frites, a fried Twinkie still clutched in my hand, by 10:30 or so. Happy new year, and we’ll see you next year!

I couldn’t even remember what number this was, it’s been so long:

Thank you so much, my friends, for all your well wishes and congratulations. It means so much to me that you’re still there, even after the long silence, and the even longer absence of collages. Funny, I don’t really know most of you, yet it was so thrilling to be able to finally tell you. I’m happy to report that I’m actually feeling better! I wouldn’t have believed you before the weekend, but food often actually tastes good again! I’m on less friendly terms with my toilet! And the self-pity, she is on a brief vacation. So, life appears to be all rainbows, puppies and cupcakes. For now, anyways. The pessimism, she NEVER goes on vacation.