Letters from Santa

A few weeks ago, Bob the Mailman came to the door. The girls opened it and said, 'Oh hey, Bob.......MOM!!!!!!' He directed the girls back into the house. 'Ladies, I've got some important business to talk about with your mom.' I knew what it was, but I love the topic so much I was happy to listen again.

Every year, a volunteer at the Key West post office answers letters addressed to Santa. If you get it to your carrier during a short window of time, in an envelope addressed to Santa Claus at the North Pole, with the child's name and address in the upper left hand corner, your efforts will be rewarded with a sweet note from the big man. Along with the Key West Holiday Parade and caroling on the Conch Train, these letters are one of my favorite Key West Christmas traditions.

The girls wrote their letters and I got them to Bob, meeting him at his truck when I heard its distinctive rumble out front. And the night before we left for points north, a letter for each appeared in our mailbox. I packed them away and surprised the girls with them here at my parents' house in Pennsylvania. I bet the neighbors down the street heard their squeals of delight....it was awesome. Santa was thoughtful to include details from their letters in his replies, advising Mari to be sweet to Josie, and vice versa, to stay on the 'nice list' throughout the upcoming year. Advice I hope they take to heart.

So as I sit at my parents' dining room table this morning, with my coffee in a Christmas mug and a plate of their killer cookies nearby, I am happy to be here physically but with the spirit of the holidays in Key West in my heart. It certainly doesn't snow on our little island, but there is a special Christmas spirit to make up for it.

Merry Christmas to everyone reading this! With a special holiday shout out to our favorite mailman, and to the super awesome person who makes the time to answer Santa letters during the postal service's busiest time of year.

Countdown to Christmas

I just logged into the US Postal Service website to put my mail on hold for two weeks. That makes it officially official....we are leaving town and heading north! The girls are completely excited, and I may be even more completely excited. I am really looking forward to getting away after an especially busy fall. And it's Christmas!! We haven't made the journey over the holidays since our first year here. That trip scared us, to be honest. In the few days before we were set to leave, each of us got a simply horrendous stomach bug. First Mari, then Josie, then me, then John. Fortunately, it was brief for each of us, so we headed north a few days later than scheduled. And by the time we arrived, the adults were really feeling the strain of being sick and driving 24 hours. That holiday break went by in a feverish blur. The girls are older, and those germs brought home from school are pretty rare. We are ready to give it another go! And after living in Key West for five Christmases, we have all missed the nip in the air and the seasonal delights of being up north.

We are all hoping for snow. Just a little, to arrive during the week we will be at my parents' home in Pennsylvania, so that we can watch it through the windows. Other than some flurries, John and I are certainly hoping we don't see much snow through the car windows until we reach our destinations. First up, a few nights in Maryland to say hello to friends and take up a big table at La Paz. Then to my family in Pennsylvania and hopefully the girls first ski lesson and some ice skating. On the way back to KW, we are going to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. I can't wait to show the girls one of my favorite places from my youth. And our stay at the Williamsburg Lodge came with passes to something called 'Christmas Town' at nearby Busch Gardens, which I'm sure they will love, whatever it is.

Key West has some of the longest school breaks around. It seems like we were just on Thanksgiving break. We've actually had three weeks of school since then, but it has gone by quickly. After this full week, the girls won't return to school until January 6th. So even after our travels and holiday celebrations, we will have the best part of the week here at home to get centered and rest up before 'real life' starts again. That may be the best present of all this year. Time away, and time at home. I am looking forward to relishing both.

I love a parade :)

I do! And so do my kids, my husband, and just about everyone else I know. What's not to love? It's like the whole town comes together to pat each other on the back and celebrate the common good we all work toward every day. This past Saturday brought the Key West Christmas Parade. Every year it starts with the roar of the KWPD motorcycle patrol, with the officers decked out in lighted necklaces. Next comes the mayor, city commissioners, local dignitaries...all waving and tossing candy to the kids lining the streets. Let's cheer for the Boy Scouts and the Key West High School Marching Band! As a parent, I'm clapping for all the time I know those kids' parents spend getting them to and from meetings, practices, and special events. Since we moved here, we've had several people say things like 'how can you raise kids on a party island?' Those people should come to this annual event to watch the display of life beyond Duval Street. Just about every church on the island had a lovely float filled with kids and families. The Boys & Girls Club, a group that assists many local children after school and during the summer, had a float just bursting with holiday cheer. Farmer Jeanne walked with the MCSO Animal Farm's two miniature ponies dressed as wise men, and the local ASPCA brought big cheers just because who doesn't like to see a bunch of dogs wearing antlers? I know I do. Bob the Mailman jumped down from the USPS float to directly hand the girls some candy, and one of their teacher's (marching with the Butterfly Conservancy float) crossed the street for hugs. The Old Town Trolley and Conch Train carry many groups, with lights strung around all the windows and waves and more candy coming from the people inside. And, of course, being a small town, we've got some fire trucks. And boats! Lots of boats. There just really isn't anything more festive that a lighted boat in this town. This year featured lots of 'Frozen' themed floats....aren't we about done with that? Not by the look on the faces of the young ladies in the crowd. They just really aren't ready to 'Let it Go.' And bubbles! A few floats had huge bubble wands, sending glistening orbs into the air. We were lucky enough to watch the parade from nice chairs in front of my hair salon on Truman Avenue. The girls filled two bags with candy, and John and I enjoyed stuffed mushrooms, shrimp, antipasto skewers, and other yummies passed by servers in pink Santa hats. We rode our bikes the short distance from our house to the salon....it still feels like a luxury to do that in December. On the way over, I passed groups of neighbors on Catherine Street mingling on front porches with Red Solo cups of cheer, probably an annual tradition before parade viewing. On the way back, the side streets were abuzz with families walking back to their cars, kids running around with excitement over all that candy. As my daughter Mari said, it was awesome.

Talkin' Turkey Day

OK, by now just about everyone has heard my spiel about brining the turkey. My lectures are working! I have been getting requests for my brine recipe for several days now, enough so that I posted it on Facebook. (see below in case you have missed seeing it previously).

So for this year's pre-Thanksgiving blog post, I am going to talk about two other important parts of the traditional meal - gravy and mashed potatoes. I make both ahead and reheat while the turkey is resting after coming out of the oven. The time it takes for the turkey juices to redistribute (about an hour) is the same amount of time it will take for the mashed potatoes to be heated through until bubbling and for the gravy to simmer and thicken.

To start the gravy, I make a stock a few days in advance. I picked up a package of turkey necks at the grocery store this week, but turkey wings will also work. I roasted the necks and an onion (peel on, for extra flavor) at 400 degrees until brown and slightly caramelized (see photo). This will give the stock deeper color and flavor. These went into a stock pot along with a rough-chopped stalk of celery. I added about 2 cups of water and 2 cups of stock from the grocery store. I generally use chicken stock, but when I went to make it last evening we had only beef stock, so in it went. The stock simmered for about 2 hours. I discarded the necks and onion and placed the pot in the refrigerator. The fat will rise to the top and solidify....you can just pop it off before heating. You can use the fat to start your gravy, or use butter or oil, whichever you prefer. Add flour to the melted fat, whisking and cooking for several minutes, then add the turkey stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until thickened. Taste....does it need more salt and pepper? When the turkey is resting on the carving board I pour the pan drippings into one of those fat separating cups, discarding the fat. The good stuff left on the bottom is added to the gravy base for even more turkey flavor. If for some reason it just isn't tasting the way you want (which can happen, despite your best efforts), a tablespoon or two of chicken or turkey base (in the soup aisle at the grocery store) will round things out.

The mashed potatoes recipe was given to me by one of my students, back when I ran a little cooking school in Maryland. The extra ingredients allow the potatoes to be reheated several times without drying out. Before making them this way I remember heating up mashed potatoes with milk in a sauce pan, and the texture was never right after that first time. Yes, these have a some extra fat and calories for sure, but it's Thanksgiving. We can worry about that later. When we wake up from our food coma, after the football game. And after some pumpkin pie and a brisk walk around the block. Enjoy your dinner and your day....Happy Thanksgiving!

The Recipes

Turkey Brine

1 cup salt
1 cup brown sugar
2 oranges, quartered
2 lemons, quartered
6 sprigs thyme
4 sprigs rosemary

Dissolve the salt and brown sugar in two gallons cold water. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Add the turkey and chill overnight. (If you have an extra-large turkey and need more brine, use 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup brown sugar for every gallon of water.)

Day Before Mashed Potatoes

5 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 stick butter
1 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add potatoes and cook until fork tender. Drain and return to pot. Add remaining ingredients and using a masher or hand mixer, combine until smooth. Add milk or cream to thin if needed. Transfer to a baking dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temperature before baking for approximately 45 minutes at 350, until heated through and bubbling.

It's in the Air

This is my favorite time of year in Key West. The major tourism events are over, the humidity has finally gone, and the holidays are just around the corner. We've actually had a brief hot spell, but today's forecast promises a return to coolness with falling temps this afternoon. My windows will be open and the curtains will be blowing in the breeze. And that breeze is what late fall/winter in Key West is ALL about. It's just heavenly....cool air with the scent of the sea and tropical flowers somewhere in the background.

This is the time of year that I truly appreciate living here. The light changes to make the shadows deeper. Flowers and plants that were on break from last fall and winter and just bursting with blooms. After struggling to wake up in darkness each morning (is it 2:30 in the morning or 6:30? Both looked the same before daylight savings arrived a few weekends ago) my whole family starts stirring as the sun starts to rise. And after a full day of doing whatever it is we do, it's refreshing to see the sun start to set earlier. Especially when you may need to grab a light sweater or wrap to sit outside and enjoy it. People have told me that they could never live here year-round because they would miss the seasons. Ours are certainly different than those of the mid Atlantic region, but each season is distinct and brings its own pleasures. Maybe we just have to look for them a little harder.

It has been busy, busy, busy here on Duncan Street. I haven't had the time to sit down and write a blog post since October 30! In the last few weeks we have covered everything from getting braces to redoing the girls' room to organizing a large-scale school event. And don't forget that pesky kitchen renovation, lurking in the background of all the other activities and events. I am thrilled to report that the new counter tops arrive tomorrow. Those plywood counter tops WILL NOT be missed! We still have some painting to do throughout the house and one wall of accent wallpaper to hang, but after the construction and mess and long wait for completion, I am looking forward to tackling some easy DIY stuff.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I am so happy that my obligations are met and our home is falling into place just now, the week before the big day. I am extremely thankful this year for many, many things. I am looking forward to cooking my favorite meal of the year in the new kitchen space, and to serving it to family and friends on the long dining table we had moved from Maryland. The table was the board table at one of John's father's banks (he was president of five banks in his career). His parents had it refinished and used it for a dining table for many years, and they passed it on to us when we finished the major reconstruction on our 1897 row house in Frederick. That table held hors d'oeuvres at our wedding reception, rows of silver julep cups at our annual Kentucky Derby bashes, and Mari 'cruised' between the chairs while she was learning to walk. I look forward to making many more memories gathered together around it here in Key West.

Scary Stuff

So Key West has survived another Fantasy Fest. The revelers have taken their body paint and tutus and gone home. It is noticeably quiet this week here on the island, which isn't surprising because the population grew by more than 50,000 during all the festivities. I am not an expert on Fantasy Fest, by any means, but for those of you reading this who may not know what it is, let me give you a brief overview. Originally, the week-long party was started to get tourists to Key West during the slow season and to raise funds for local organization AIDS Help. Over the years that week in October has become the busiest of the entire year and the various fundraising events have raised millions, so the plan certainly worked. There are some events, like the Headdress Ball, that are original and have a huge following. The photos I see each year, of fantastical costumes and huge, intricate, animated head wear, are beyond amazing! Unfortunately, there are some newer events, like hiring porn stars to 'host' parties at bars, that are popular with a certain crowd but not so popular with long-time Fantasy Fest supporters, or even local business owners. It's gross, and frankly, kind of skanky. I'm sure Ron Jeremy is a nice guy and all, but I cringe every year when I read where and when he is hosting some type of 'dungeon of desire' event. This past Monday, just a day after this year's Fantasy Fest ended, the front page of the local newspaper announced a new group forming to look at the event and rethink where it is headed. I think that is a great idea.

With two girls aged 8 and 10, Fantasy Fest week can be tricky. When you still have conversations about why we need to wear underwear at all times or bathing suits if it's just us, you certainly don't want them seeing a grown-up walking around in nothing but a g-string and body paint. 'But SHE isn't wearing clothes!' This is an argument that I don't want to have. We got lucky this year and missed running into any celebrants who strayed from the Fantasy Fest Zone. Yep, there's always some dude who needs to go to Publix in a tutu sans undies, or something like that, and local parents have stories that will crack you up, for sure.

Some quick thinking on my part prevented not only my kids from seeing some crazy stuff, but also Mari's third grade classmates whose parents may have been brave enough to bring them to Tropic Cinema this past Saturday. When I realized that her 10th birthday party was scheduled for the same day as Parade Day, I immediately called the cinema office. They agreed that changing the date would be best, since the festivities could affect attendance, and that they would prefer to be closed if I didn't mind moving the party date, so that those heading downtown for the biggest day of Fantasy Fest wouldn't be asking to use the bathroom. That could have gone wrong is so many ways. Like, just so many ways. Mari is excited for her party coming up this weekend. The kids get popcorn, a drink, and a candy bar plus one of the theaters to themselves to watch 'Mr. Peabody & Sherman.' And I will certainly enjoy it more without worrying about covering eyes or explaining what the heck that lady wasn't wearing.

Best Laid Plans

I love the following quote by John Lennon, so much so that I Googled it and read the Wikipedia entry before writing this to get the exact wording and original usage, since it's one of those often used expressions that people tend to mess up. 

'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.'

It's from the song 'Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)' which was on Lennon's final album, Double Fantasy. His line is one of the guiding principles in my life. When I start projecting more than a short time in the future, or relying on several things to fall into place before something else can move forward, I always tell myself 'Whoa....this won't end the way I want it to.' I'd rather enjoy the process than try to direct it, and trying to realign the universe is both exhausting and futile. I'm more of a seat-of-your-pants kinda girl. Do the parts you have to turn in to others on time, and let the rest fall into place. Which is why I can live in Key West. Everybody down here is on some similar plane. The 'Type A' people of the real world would go nuts.

All of my zen and good intentions have certainly been put to the test with our kitchen renovation. I am proud of myself for getting through it without completely losing it, although I will admit there have been a few times I've been close. Because in my life of daughter raising/Brownie leading/school event planning/2nd grade homework photocopying/t-shirt selling/Box Tops counting, I can leave the details of each activity behind by walking into my sanctuary....my little island home. Until my sanctuary looks like it blew up. And is quite dusty. And we have to use paper plates and plastic cups for eating around the coffee table. Then, well, I may get A LITTLE TESTY about those plans that were made and those dates we were hoping for. My husband may have replacement words for 'a little testy' but those words might not be appropriate for this format. 

Yesterday the countertop people came down from Miami to make a template for my new quartz work spaces. They won't be back for 10 to 15 business days, but it was still a day for celebrating because we got through all the heavy construction to get to that point. The next two weeks will be focused on the fun stuff, the smaller, detail projects, the ones I've been waiting for. Painting, wall paper, putting stuff in its new home....that kind of thing. And after the quartz is installed, the tile back splash....ta da! For fans of HGTV's Fixer Upper, I am approaching the part of the project where Chip and the crew leave, and Joanna and the kids walk around the house putting lovely things in all the right spots. Finally. The week without water in the kitchen, the food pantry in the living room, the take out meals, the dusty foot prints all over are all part of the process.

I took a hard look at my calendar yesterday and had to laugh at some of the things I had planned/offered/promised to do in the upcoming weeks. I regrouped. Because even though I had hoped I would be ready to host a jewelry trunk show in two weeks, I won't be. Thank goodness I booked Mari's 10th birthday party at another site (even if I did have to move it ahead a week due to Fantasy Fest nudity.....more on that next blog post). We've got school off on Friday, two birthday parties this weekend, Brownies next week, multiple Halloween events, Mari's birthday party, Veteran's Day, and Brownies again, ending with the school's Fall Festival on the 14th....did I mention I was chairing that? But things will quiet down after that. I swear.