For the third year since José moved to Boston in 2013, we have treated ourselves once a year to an airbnb rental on Cape Cod, which happens to be a converted barn in the woods like a a mini house with gorgeous beams on its ceiling, and a charming row of starfish overlooking the driveway. The first year we spent one night here, the second year, two nights, and this year, we booked three nights, but the owner kindly offered a free fourth night as a Christmas surprise.
We have especially fond memories in this barn because the first time we were here, we were on standby to hear about Buster's arrival from Virginia and not sure if he could make it for Christmas or for New Year's (he flew in on Dec 30, 2013). When we adopted him, his name was "Price" which he didn't respond to. Although Lucy loved having the beaches to herself that year, she would have loved even more having a playmate.
This year, we decided to load up the car with groceries and for two weeks I have been looking forward to the meals we wanted to cook in the apartment. I made kielbasa with orzo and homemade sauce, and some gingerbread cookies; José made celeriac and leek soup, and pancakes with pecan butter and blueberry rhubarb jelly earlier today. We've also been pigging out on speculaas and pepernoten (gingerbread buttons dipped in chocolate) sent from our friend Jessica in Holland. Tomorrow José is roasting a pork shoulder that we picked up at a local farm right here on Route 6A and some friends are joining us from Boston.
The mutts have been utterly spoiled with canned food like sardines and salmon all weekend and are starting to stink-- although we like the smell of ocean in their fur for the first couple days. I call 'em salty dogs. I can't wait to give them a minty bath. We like to pick them up a tuffy shark, lobster or squirrel from the Cape Cod dog for Christmas and we crack up at how crazy they go for it.
I am always enamored with the wreaths on the pretty wooden doors on the Cape. We often wish out loud that we could live out here year round and I think if we wish it enough times, it will work itself out.
We were blessed to have a pre-holidays trip to California on December 11th to see both of our families there, and I spent some time on memoir research as well as visiting everyone. My writing class is wrapping up January 15th, and my classmates all will miss the amazing support and discipline we have found in our group of 10 or 12. I hope that we will continue meeting as 'veterans' of the first memoir generator class offered at Grub Street.
Next year's plan (for me) is to read a ton of memoirs I can learn from, at least one book a month, and to take notes on techniques. The first one on my list is Boy Kings of Texas. My hero in memoir writing is Mary Karr and it was a treat to hear her speak in Cambridge on her book tour last Fall. Another author I look up to is Alysia Abbott whose memoir Fairyland is currently being adapted for the screen by Sofia Coppola. I was thrilled to take a few classes from A.A. at Grub this year. José is considering entering graduate school in the Fall of 2017 in microbiology but hasn't decided which school(s) he's interested in yet. There was no time for a mixmas this Winter, but I have plans to make one in 2016!
In case I missed sending it to you, this squee heard round the world posted by Monterey Bay Aquarium was the internet highlight at the end of the year.
Cheers, and Merry New Year.