Boiled Bagels

I lived in New York for 5 weeks on Criffer's couch. Technically, that could be called visiting, but I consider anything over a month living. I also lived with bagel snobs in college, including Jersey-born Sarah, who took me to NYC for the first time, and Manhattan-born Maia, who introduced me to the term "bread circles."

Bread Cir•cles noun

1. An inferior bagel that has not been properly boiled, lacking the interior/exterior texture of a true bagel. See also: Roll with a Hole.

Bug Under Glass by Kevin Clarke

My years of working at the RISD Nature Lab made a huge impression on me. I am drawn to natural history museums, and I've got a small collection of animal skulls at home as well as a growing mineral collection. In my dream house there is a room of built in curio cabinets to house my collection.

Of course, contrary to many pieces of historical taxidermy, I would prefer my collection to be naturally harvested. Enter Bug Under Glass, or B.U.G. (I see what you did there.)

Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce

Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce

Adapted from Bigoven.com

• 10 ounces pasta

• 1 large red pepper

• 1 head of broccoli, chopped into medium pieces*

• 2 cups heavy cream (I used 1.5 cups cream, some cream cheese and milk)

• 2/3 cup parmesan cheese, shredded

• 2 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed

• 1 pinch salt

Playing House

Vintage alpaca love

We're not only house sitting at the moment; we're dog sitting a very sweet old bird dog named Bella. Last week the family discovered she has renal failure, so we're making her very comfortable and trying to make sure she's eating enough. She's a bit feeble, but still feisty enough to sneak into the alpaca paddock behind me and frolick through the garden when I'm collecting zucchini.

Rhubarb Blueberry Crisp

Gardens in New Zealand are teeming with rhubarb, one of my favorite vegetables that I never use. Our lovely hosts Chris and Paula sent us away with a large bunch of their crop, so I decided to do some baking.

Pumpkin, Bean & Corn Stew

This stew is an old favorite of mine, and I've made it twice in the past few weeks to rave reviews. I've been making this stew for years, but I forgot about it for a while, so this is the first time I've made it since meeting Sam.

It's great with butternut squash, but pumpkin works just as well as I discovered in New Zealand, where I haven't seen many butternut squashes. Pimientos are available here, but for $8 a jar, I discovered it is much cheaper to roast a red pepper, and the taste is just as delicious.

Little helpers

We've been working on the exterior of Kate & Jason's house this week, and we've had some eager little helpers in their sons & their sons' friends.

Inspired: Wood collages by Richard Pearse

Cowshed (L) Naki (R)

I've always loved salvaged wood collages, and these pieces by New Zealand artist Richard Pearse are blowing my mind. According to the biography on his website, Richard currently lives in a shed in Patea, South Taranaki.

Botanic Gardens therapy

When I'm feeling down, the Botanic Gardens always cheer me up.

With so many beautiful plants and flowers in one place, birds chirping and ducks quacking, how can you not be happy?

Farewell friend

This week I've had to say goodbye to my oldest friend, Mikey Hamm. I don't remember exactly how we met, but one of my earliest memories is hiding in a bush with him around age three. I thought we were going to get married, but I couldn't picture Mikey as a grown up, so I would imagine his little boy head sitting atop a grown up body in a tuxedo, standing at the front of the church. When his family moved away for a few years, I cried.

Though we weren't close in junior high or high school, I was happy we rekindled our friendship as adults. He was a little less blonde as an adult, but just as sweet, with an outgoing, cheerful and silly attitude and a legendary red moustache. We laughed a lot about the past and celebrated our adult lives, from my marriage and travels to his big move to New York. He was so excited about life, and I'm still in shock that he's gone. I thought we'd have years yet to rebuild the friendship that dwindled in our teenage years. I thought he'd be a hilarious old man.

When someone is taken from you suddenly, it makes you realize how precious life is. Appreciate your loved ones, and tell them how much they mean to you. You never know when it might be too late.