Just made Martha Stewart’s upside down pear cake recipe ( used apples instead of pears per Mikes request). Just came out of the oven. It’s for tomorrow nights dessert but I thought I will be busy using the oven to bake a ham and scalloped potatoes tomorrow so baked cake today. It smells divine! Thanks to my sister Jocelyn for the recipe.
When spreading the batter, be careful not to disturb the pears, which, after the cake is baked and inverted and the fruit is caramelized, will grace its top much in the way apples do a tarte Tatin.
On a very overcast and cold morning Mike decided we should have an adventure and visit great works of art from all over the world. How do you see Michaengelo's "David", "The Pieta" and Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise Bronze Doors" and other major works of art and still stay in southern California? Why you take a trip to Glendale's Forest Lawn. If you have never been it's a wonderful way to see replicas of many famous sculptures. The Glendale Forest Lawn location has been a Southern California landmark since 1906. It has a world-renowned art museum, extraordinary statuary, and the Hall of the Crucifixion-Resurrection which is home to two of the largest religious paintings in the Western hemisphere. We were two of four people in the museum on this rainy morning. Masks are required but admission is free. We have been many times and we always enjoy the solitude and grace of the grounds as well as the beautiful art. Mike said he could sit and stare at the beautiful Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise Bronze doors for a long time and he did. I think you would have to rise very early in the morning to get this up close view if you were in Florence Italy. The details are so beautiful. ( Gates of Paradise, Italian Porta del Paradiso, the pair of gilded bronze doors (1425–52) designed by the sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti for the north entrance of the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence. Upon their completion, they were installed at the east entrance.) Be sure and visit the Mausoleum to see The Pieta and a stained glass Mural of "The Last Supper". Also see the largest painting in the Western Hemisphere: the "Crucifixion" A theater was built to house this paintings and on the hour there is a 25 minutes informative film. On this rainy day we were the only ones in the theater for the opening hour. Such an interesting place to visit. Highly recommend.
It’s been chilly all day. I decided to make a hearty vegetarian curry. It’s got baby carrots, onions, potatoes, baby eggplant, peas and shiitake mushrooms. Serving over jasmine rice. I also made a favorite Cole slaw recipe for Mike. Painting is taking up a great portion of the days.
We’ve been watching movies at night. We liked the quirky “Dont Look Up” with an all star cast: Leonardo Di Caprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and many more. Hope everyone is warm and safe.
The best friends are taking a break from playing hide’n seek. We watched as their mom said “go hide Sam’s toy Jude!” Jude would take the toy into the other room while mom held Sam. Then Jude comes back to mom and mom says “Go get it Sam!” Sam disappears and soon returns with his stuffed bear in his mouth!” We all applaud and yell Yayy! Jude raises his arms in the air and jumps up excitedly. Then we do it again. They love playing this game together. This boy and his dog inseparable. Note: boy and dog have separate baskets of toys. Neither bothers with the others basket unless asked to do so.
Meanwhile his granmma and grandpa are painting on a cold day in Southern California.
The sun is shining but rain is coming. Feeling so happy. We are playing music. Mike is really into the painting. I said I was going to take a break and he said “but the light is so good right now!” I said you sound like a true artist. Neil Young started singing “Cinnamon Girl” and I said “I gotta dance!” He Warned “Be careful!” No wild abandoned moves for me sadly. Happy Monday all!
I watched the kids open their xmas presents via face time. Sofia calls me to play Barbies with her new Barbie airplane and i can watch Rocco play his ukelele and dance. I can hear Jude begin to talk.
We are counting our blessings for the technology that helps us stay connected. I am feeling so grateful.
