29 years

 

“Although we try to control it in a million different ways, 

the only things you can ever really 

do to time are enjoy it, or waste it. 

That’s it.” 

– A.J. Compton

Our anniversary was on Sunday. In some ways, 29 years seems like yesterday, but so much has changed since then. Including us. We miss those dear faces, no longer with us.

The symbol is "furniture" for this odd ball anniversary. Ho hum. But if you can make it to 30, "pearl" sounds much better. Late February (a dreary, indoor month) seems like a odd time to get married. I can't remember the reason, we were probably just in a hurry.

We didn't go anywhere this weekend, but I made a coconut cake and a terrific French onion soup.

The soup base starts with a giant (and I mean giant) pot of sliced onions. The caramelizing process takes about an hour of careful tending.

Finally, you add red wine to de-glaze the pot. I doubled the amount, which never hurts. Then beef broth and seasoning, then simmer another hour until the flavors come together. Like I say, it takes all afternoon, but eventually the onions become nothing like onions--all melty and sweet. 

Finally, topped with homemade croutons and expensive grated Gruyere cheese finished under the broiler.  John, the onion soup connoisseur, said it rivaled anything he's ever had in a French cafe and requested it once a week. Now that's wishful thinking.

Well, we've gone from sub-freezing temperatures to warmish drenching rain. Heavy snow in the mountains, river flooding on the western side of the Cascades before things settle down later this week.