The Lifeys 2013!

Yes friends, it's time once again for that most hallowed and anticipated annual event--the Lifeys!  Where the Daring Duo (C doesn't get to vote yet) gives awards to the best things in the year.  With no further ado...

Best Trip Abroad--bringing C to her ancestral homeland, March/April  (we wanted a picture right at the "Welcome to the US" sign at customs, but apparently that's not allowed).

Best New Danish Destination--Sandbjerg Gods, Sønderborg, Denmark  (seriously, do a Google Image search for this)!
      runners-up-- Vejle, Denmark and Ry, Denmark

Best Meal Out--lunch in Tucson at the Tucson Tamale Company, March
      runner-up-- dinner in London at Nakhon Thai, August

Best New Thing to Cook--Red Lentils and Spinach Masala
       runner-up-- Almond Butter Cups

Best Books--The Help, by Kathryn Stockett; and
       Island Beneath the Sea, by Isabel Allende

Best Accomplishment--tiny C learning to walk!

Best Month--July

Best New Game--Citadels

Happy New Year!

December 24--Advent at ADAFT 2013!

Merry Christmas from Denmark!  The Daring Trio wishes you all a very God Jul!

 

December 23--Advent at ADAFT 2013!

Sure, everyone plans out Christmas dinner in loving detail.  Everyone knows "a turkey and some mistletoe help to make the season bright."  (Not for the turkey, mutters the Scandinavegan darkly).  But how many really consider Christmas breakfast?

Consider it considered, darling readers! 

I love oatmeal, and B often tells me that my morning bowl is an astounding thing to behold.  True, but I'm not going to take pictures of my oatmeal and put them online.  That's going too far, although I am not joking when I tell you there are whole blogs devoted to oatmeal.  But what is does mean is I am eminently qualified to tell you about a certain festive bowl of oatmeal I'm planning. 

Here's the deal--Americans think Christmas is all about cranberries, maybe pumpkin, and fruitcake.  While those things might make good oatmeal, Danes are ahead of the game because their favored Yuletide dessert is rice pudding with stewed cherries and almonds.  Just replace "rice pudding" with "rolled oats" and voila, breakfast is served!  I will admit to wavering--while I've got the oats and cherries ready to go, should I stir in almond butter?  Or sprinkle toasted almonds on top?  Or both?

Eh, it's going to be tasty and festlig either way!

December 22--Advent at ADAFT 2013!

Today, E and I were thinking about the Christmas classic "Away in a Manger", and I realized that I had a hazy, at best, understanding of what exactly a "manger" is. Does it have applications outside of Christmas songs? A quick google image search suggests: not really.

Anyway, it turns out that it's a trough. I can see why we prefer "manger", since "Away in a Trough", and "she wrapped him in swaddling cloth and laid him in a trough" just don't have the same ring.

A manger, sometimes called a trough

December 21--Advent at ADAFT 2013!

We took a trip to the small town of Ry today. It's in a beautiful part of Denmark, with lots of lakes and an unusual amount of topography (for Denmark). Here's the train station where we arrived:

 And here is what some lakes look like (in summer - we got a different view!)

 We had a nice walk, a cold, rainy picnic lunch, and some well-earned hot drinks in a cozy cafe. I had gløgg!

December 20--Advent at ADAFT 2013!

It's another delayed post, I know.  I thought long and hard before writing this, because, sad to say, there is some Grinch-iness to report.

I love the Union Square Christmas decorations in San Francisco.  And there is no better way to admire the lights on the square than by riding the glass elevators at the St Francis Hotel.  A very reliable source has informed me, however, that it is now possible to board the elevator only with a key card--and only one that corresponds to a "special" hotel room.  St. Franciscans, have you lost all your holiday joy?  Generations of Bay Areans are devoted to your elevators. 

Since I can't be there, even on ground level, I've been poking around for more pictures of the tree and decorations.  Enjoy!

December 19--Advent at ADAFT 2013!

This is the last week of classes at the ballet school and there have been many special little festive touches.  Yesterday one of the modern teachers gave Christmas cookies to her students at the end of class.  One of my kids noticed, and, knowing that I'm American, took it upon herself to act as a cultural ambassador, saying,

"Look, E, these are brunkager.  We have them at Christmas."

Couldn't have said it better myself, kiddo.  So, these are brunkager, and yup, Danes eat them at Christmas!