Beaufort, SC

My parents moved earlier this month from Jacksonville to Beaufort, SC, north of Savannah.  My dad's retired and both of us are out of the house, so they were looking for a different pace of life, away from work and traffic and really anything that could become a stressor.  After agonizing (and driving everyone around them bonkers), they chose Beaufort--or, to be more exact, Lady's Island, just south of Beaufort.

Nicholas and I drove down last Saturday, anxious to see their new house and get away from DC for a week.  I stuck around the house to help unpack while Nick went down to Jacksonville for a few days.  While it was stressful and busy and exhausting (thirty years' worth of stuff that has been moved up and down the east coast...good lord), I honestly can't wait to go back.

Tuesday

If you read this blog, or just know me in general, you've probably figured out by now that I'm not happy unless I'm making something, whether it's dinner, dessert, a new skirt or a project in InDesign.  I like tangible things, which is probably why I enjoy "stuff"--I have five bookcases full of books, boxes of CDs in storage, and many, many more DVDs than I could ever watch.  Having these things, for whatever reason, also makes me happy--though I know that's an unpopular opinion and makes me materialistic.  Whatever.  I like books.

So I got a bee in my bonnet yesterday to bake.  And sew.  Oh, and work, because I still do that.  And despite the trouble with the bag (sewing through eight layers of fabric and interfacing is not fun), I was happy.  I was home, I was doing my own thing.  Offices tend to suck the life out of me; at home, I actually saw the sun (shocking) and had a little tabby who helped me along the way.

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting

Our weekly desserts are still chugging along in Casa Sposetta (slash-Regnier), but last week, thanks to Harris Teeter's weekly sales, we decided to switch it up.  We were all ready for Lemon Pie Bars: I had lemons, graham crackers and butter on my shopping list, and my zester was just waiting for me.  However, things didn't turn out that way.

Bourbon Bread Pudding

Did I tell you I bought the Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook?  I did, I think.  And did I tell you how sad I am to discover it once I've left Savannah, once I no longer frequent the Bull Street library right near the bakery, once it's no longer on my drive to and from work?

Bummer.