While Grandma Kelly, Erin, and I cuddled with Aeli and his nasty stomach bug on the futon, Stefin and a few good friends held a solstice ceremony outside: sweats, yoga, meditation, and some readings. I would have participated if not for that pesky rotavirus. But being as it was, I think we had lovely, albeit vastly contrasting, shortest-day-of-the-year experiences.
3 days ago:
Made this Lechon Asado, with the esteemed assistance of my mom. Thank goodness, because this pork shoulder was about twice the size I was anticipating. I don't know if I would have had the gumption to hack apart that joint of raw meat. But Grandma Kelly did it in style.
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| "A butcher would probably be really mad at me for how I'm doing this." |
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| And with the other half of the shoulder? Delicious pulled pork crock-potted in Brooklyn Black IPA, maple syrup, and bbq sauce. |
2 days ago:
After a walk through the quarter- where the vibe was quite strange- (more Bukowski than Santa Claus), we brought worker-bee Erin home to feast on some pulled pork, while we continued to fail to put Aeli to sleep, even though he was super tired. He just teetered on the brink and once was out for fifteen minutes, but that's the most we've gotten from him this afternoon. In "Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" (a gift from Stefin's mom), it says that nothing under 45 minutes really "counts" as a nap. So. Good for us.
In happier news, I made these Pecan Bars (not sure if I can resist long enough to get to the step about chocolate dipping...). Holy yum. (And butter!)
Yesterday:
Aeli went to the park with the g'rents and Auntie E. (Photos below by Erin)
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| "G"s Louise! |
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| Photo by Aeli and Erin |
Later, we went to the Celebration in the Oaks at City Park and successfully missed it yet again! This time, because it was closed (last time- it was about to close- and I started to go into labor).
Today, of course there was the excitement of gifts, and family traditions relating to gingerbread, melted cheese, and terrible jokes (where you're like, "Was that a joke? I thought you just weren't making sense.")... but mostly it's just magical to all be hanging out together.
Currently working on: crepes for us, a nap for Aeli, and a delicious beer. Ho ho ho!
