Letters from a Libra

Following Foliage to Umstead Park

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 23:57:00 +0000

Our 30 for 30 is officially over, but we're still trying to check out new spots and new things to do around the Triangle. Today, we headed to William B. Umstead State Park in Wake County to check out some of the foliage.

The trees are just starting to peak around here, and it's the perfect temperature for walking (mid-60's). We hiked Sal's Branch Trial which is about 2.8 miles. It intersects with Big Lake where people can rent canoes in the summer (sorry, Mom, no swimming allowed. What's with that? Maybe there are snakes.)

It was another place that reminded us of some of the parks we used to walk in Massachusetts. It's nice to still be in a place that changes with the seasons and has quiet trails that are not that dissimilar from what we're used to. The three of us are big fans of fall and all the parks are perfect places to go this time of year.

30 Days of Turning 30 Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 01:09:00 +0000

It's not easy celebrating a birthday for a whole month. I think it falls under the category of "too much of a good thing." I do, however, think it was good for me and Tommie to push ourselves to get out more, keep track of local events, try new things, and to be more conscious of how we spend our days--before we're so old we can't remember anymore.

It's no surprise that a lot of what we do involves eating. At least half of our 30 posts included some kind of food. It's also promising to see that the majority of things we did cost little to no money--even some of the events we attended were free. There are a lot of cool free things to do around Durham if you look. Our most expensive days were spent at big events like a concert and the state fair.

I'm sad October is over, but we can't force ourselves to have fun forever--it's tiring. This was good practice for the upcoming months when we have a couple weeks around the holidays to do fun things with guests, and now we know a little bit more about the place we live.

30/30: Finishing with Food Trucks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 04:46:00 +0000

October 30th

We'll finish the month off the way it began--with food. Always with food.

Carrboro had a mini food truck rodeo tonight so we stopped by and grabbed a pork butt with asian style slaw sandwich from The American Meltdown and an NC cornbread chill bowl from Foster's on the Fly.

It was a nice warm night (around 70 degrees) and we ate in the square.

Sadly, our birthday month is coming to an end, but I know we will continue to eat well and celebrate the rest of the year.

30/30: Floats Between Failures

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:40:00 +0000

October 29th

We couldn't decide what to do last night after dinner. We tried finding a highly-rated Mexican frozen treat shop but failed, so we landed at The Parlour with a root beer float made with malted cinnamon ice cream. They do make really good, creamy and flavorful handmade ice cream here.

After that, we tried to get fries at a local hamburger joint but it was just closing so we failed at that too. We must be running out of steam.

30/30: Ice Cream Sunsets

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 03:30:00 +0000

October 28th

Today was a miserable day to be 30--new and unwanted medical experiences, doctors with needles, a lot of pain, and many tears (on my end) reminded me that getting older really sucks.

For being so brave (sadly, that was me being brave) I later needed to treat myself to a pumpkin and carmel apple ice cream sundae from Maple View Farm.

Afterwards, we opened the hatchback of our Subaru and watched the sunset over the open fields in Hillsborough. Getting older sucks, but ice cream and calming sunsets are some of the little things that attempt to make it slightly more tolerable.

30/30: Seafood Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 05:30:00 +0000

October 27th

I grew up on the coast, and if you ask me, there's no such thing as too much seafood. It was our first time broiling bacon wrapped scallops, which we enjoyed for lunch.

Then later, our friends cooked us a delicious birthday dinner of baked brie with apple butter, barbecue shrimp, and apple crisp.

I think we hit all of Tommie's favorite food groups today: bacon, cheese, and seafood.

30/30: Day at the State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Oct 2013 02:27:00 +0000

October 26th

Tommie's favorite part of the North Carolina State Fair was probably the quiet garden. He's really not a "fair" kind of guy. I couldn't convince him to come on The Swinger with me, so I had to go on it alone. The last time I was on one of these I was probably a pre-teen--sometimes it's still fun to fly around.

But we did look at the cute goats and bunnies, the honey bees, and giant pumpkins, and played a game of skee-ball together.

We didn't go overboard with fatty fair food because we had to stop at Bosphorus on the way for more Lachmacun, but we did get some hot apple cider, and tried fried Oreos (to which Tommie responded madly, "Couldn't they at least be double-stuffed!"). He's a sucker for cotton candy though which might be one of the only reasons he attends these things.

30/30: Free Night

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 00:53:00 +0000

October 25th

It was a long week, so tonight we took a free pass.

Tommie brought home free food from work for dinner and we curled up (Maya included) to watch a few episodes of Homeland.

30/30: Pie in the Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 04:00:00 +0000

October 24th

A craving for key lime pie got us in the mood for baking last night. We've made easy key lime pie before (using our blender) but the twist tonight was also making the graham cracker crust (we usually just buy it pre-made).

The crust is just graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter chilled for an hour.

Here's the recipe for easy key lime pie:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

- Whip two large eggs in blender (we have a whipping attachment) until light and frothy.

- Add one 14-ounce can of condensed milk.

- Add 1/2 cup of fresh-squeezed lime juice.

- Blend to incorporate and pour into pie crust.

- Bake for about 12 minutes, then chill for a couple hours before serving.

30/30: Taste Test

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 02:00:00 +0000

October 23rd

Geer St. Garden gets mixed reviews among our friends but it's a popular spot in Durham so we thought it was high time we check it out for ourselves.

Tommie ordered a burger and fries and I went with the grilled fish tacos. We both think the tacos (which come with three--a couple small fillets in each) is a good deal and it was tasty. Everything is priced moderately--a little on the high side with $5 sides, so I can see where some people would shy away in favor of another spot. Still, the food is well-prepared and the atmosphere is casual/contemporary. We sat outside on the patio that has pretty string lights and picnic tables. With the weather cooling down it may be one of the last nights we can dine al fresco.

30/30: Up and Running

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 04:00:00 +0000

October 22nd

This may not seem like the biggest deal but for two wanna-be DIY-ers little feats like getting our second shower up and running is a big to-do. We finally got all the pieces and installed a new shower head and knob in our master bath shower.

You can read more about this and our other house projects at: The Amberican Dream.

30/30: Blinded by the Light

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 06:30:00 +0000

October 21st

We saw Tommie's favorite band/idol/hero/man-crush, NIN, play at the PNC arena in Raleigh.

Trent puts on a concert with a light show attached (I keep telling Tommie it's the same as what Moby used to do, but apparently it's a little more involved than that).

There were lots of lights--I'm not sure how the band has not gone blind playing all these shows. At times, I put on my sunglasses and closed my eyes and it was still too bright. Then again, I have large sensitive eyes...and I'm old.

NIN puts on a good show as far as entertainment goes. Tommie, of course, loved it even if Trent forgot to give him a 3oth birthday shout-out.

30/30: Checking out City Parks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:58:00 +0000

October 20th

Durham's city parks are great--and there are a lot of them. Sandy Creek Park is close to where we live but we hadn't been to it yet assuming it was small and too close to a busy road, but we decided to venture there today and were pleasantly surprised to find a nice field with picnic areas (even a bocce court) and multiple trails to walk along the creek and woods.

It was the perfect fall morning to be out in the sun and crisp air.

30/30: Masquerading

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 03:14:00 +0000

October 19th

Tonight was our birthday milestone masquerade. It was also our first occasion hosting a group of people in our new house!

I set up different "stations" for mask-making, cupcake decorating, eating, and hanging out. We were turning 30, but I basically wanted to throw myself a kid's party--I'm pretty sure that's a sign of some kind of crisis, but I'm okay with it.

Our guests were kind enough not to make fun of me, even getting into the spirit themselves, and we enjoyed a nice night of conversation in between crafting and food eating (Tommie's "famous" buffalo chicken pizza was a hit).

Thanks for being a part of our 30th!

30/30: Art and Baking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 03:29:00 +0000

October 18th

On the third Friday of every month, Golden Belt downtown has open art studios. We also stopped by a gallery on Foster Street that was promoting a new documentary about Patrick Dougherty--he creates the coolest art from sticks. He had an installation at our old college campus (Wheaton College in Massachusetts) several years ago which we saw with my cousin.

(Below: Patrick Dougherty's work at Wheaton.)

The rest of the night was spent party prepping. I got a jumpstart on my baking. The cupcake-to-person ratio will be about 4-1, so according to my standards, just right.

30/30: Good Food Makes 30 Easier to Swallow

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 03:39:00 +0000

October 17th

(Amber's Birthday)

A couple minutes from our house, in between intersecting roads, there is a small "island" of delicious food. Nana Taco is one of those places--we end up there a lot, but NT's mother restaurant, Nana's, is a fancier restaurant across the street. We hadn't gone there yet because we didn't have a good excuse, but turning 30 seemed like a good one.

The entrees in particular were very good. Nana's has seasonal menus to keep things fresh and local (it changes monthly). Our night involved smoked salmon, shrimp risotto, maple leaf duck, maine halibut, and poached pear crisp.

I might officially be 30, but I still have the rest of the month to let it settle in.

30/30: Happy New Era!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 04:01:00 +0000

October 16th

For my last photos in my twenties, I wanted to pay homage to my running status as the world’s last young, old person. Though, if it wasn’t a Wednesday night in North Carolina (and probably if my sister was around)…I’d prefer to be spending my last hour watching the Thunder Down Under.

I tried to think of something ceremonious I could do. People like to plant trees. I recalled a seedling packet for a Japanese Red Maple (I love those trees) that we received as a favor during a wedding we attended when we first moved to San Diego. I have no idea if the seeds will still sprout, but I planted it right before midnight and made a wish.

Of course, I had to stay up until midnight of my birthday just like you do on New Year’s. Only I’m the only person cheering, “Happy new era!” like the crazy old lady I now am.

30/30: Last Pictures of a Young Man

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 02:18:00 +0000

October 15th

(Tommie's Birthday)

I made Tommie take pictures before the clock struck midnight on October 15th to capture his last moments in his twenties. Then I woke Maya up and bothered her too.

This is the first birthday that's sitting heavily with me--it feels substantial and scary, which is why I'm trying to disguise it as "fun."

At 10:30 last night, I suddenly felt anxious about Tommie turning 30, as if he might drop dead the second it happened and I told him he should be spending his last hour doing something crazy--he should go to a strip club or something! He said I wasn't making him feel better. So, his last moments of youth were spent doing work on his computer and yelling at me for taking annoying pictures.

And just like that, we're halfway through 30 to 30!

30/30: Butter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 03:08:00 +0000

October 14th

It's actually really hard to think of different things to do every day for a month--especially on weekdays. This is how one ends up having a butter-themed night.

It all started when Tommie decided we should cook something we've never cooked before so he simmered some chicken thigh meat in Indian butter sauce and I made rice with butter and fresh ground turmeric.

Then I remembered that one of my co-workers recently told me I should watch the movie Butter about an older foster child and the couple who adopts her. I was looking for a good time to watch it, so I ran with the butter theme. The movie was okay--a little too much over-acting, but the girl's story was cute.

So, this is how we ended up watching Butter, eating butter chicken with butter rice followed by ice cream with peanut butter sauce and calling it a night.

30/30: A Poetic Evening

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 02:19:00 +0000

October 13th

After some light house projects and a couple rounds of bowling for Tommie with his guy friends, we spent the evening at a free poetry reading by Richard Blanco (Obama's inaugural poet) at The Carolina Theatre.

I always enjoy poetry readings because you get to learn about the backstory of the poet and it givers greater depth to their poems. Blanco's poems (and stories) were very entertaining and funny, and explored concepts of culture, identity, and family, which are universal themes, therefore, easy to relate to. It's great to see a poet like him gaining traction and interest.

After the reading, I had my book signed and told him that he ironically lives in the same small town in Maine as my parents (I did tell him, Dad, that you two have yet to meet. He said that eventually it seems everyone there does end up meeting, so don't worry there's still time.)

30/30: Past, Present, Future

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 02:34:00 +0000

October 12th

We did a few 30 for 30 activities today. First, we checked out the opening of Durham's History Hub. It makes great use of a central spot downtown and showcases Durham's past in a contemporary way.

Next, we made a stop in Cary to get some authentic Turkish food at Bosphorus Restaurant. Sometimes we really miss the food we enjoyed on our honeymoon in Turkey, so when we read the positive reviews for Bosphorus, which is about 25 minutes away, we couldn't wait to try it...especially Tommie--he has a serious love affair with Lahmacun (a kind of pizza with ground beef and spices/herbs on it).

Here he is enjoying it in Turkey...

And here in North Carolina; reunited at last...

I had chicken pide which is a kind of pizza made with authentic Turkish pide--the kind of bread we loved to eat during Ramadan in Istanbul. It was delicious.

We ended the evening in my weird world of writing by listening to a panel discussion about memoir writing at Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh. I love memoirs and would like to write one someday so I find it interesting/fun to listen to different writers' stories and how they came to publish them. Tommie is good sport to go with me though I'm pretty sure he'd rather be stuffing his face with another Lahmacun.

30/30: Hidden Oasis

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 03:58:00 +0000

October 11th

After forcing Tommie to do some evening errands with me, we went to Straw Valley Cafe for chai lattes. They also have a beer & wine barn so there's something for everyone here.

People have been telling us about this funky little spot sandwiched between the 15/501 and a bunch of strip malls, but it's hard to believe it until you see it with your own eyes.

This zen-like compound is complete with cozy rooms, bamboo bordered grounds, and all kinds of cool indoor/outdoor nooks to sit in. It doesn't feel like it belongs where it is; probably because it was built in the 1950's as a residence before all the roads and stores were built up around it. It's tucked quietly behind all the chaos so that you feel like you're somewhere completely removed from it all.

We sipped chai on the open patio, listened to a good soundtrack of music, and decided that we'll definitely be coming back.

30/30: Night at the Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 01:33:00 +0000

October 10th

Since it was free admission night at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University and we hadn't been since last spring, we thought we'd check out what kind of new exhibits were cooking.

I liked everything, but I really enjoyed Doris Duke's Shangri La exhibit. I had no idea about her private collection of Islamic art and the five-acre estate in Hawaii (now a cultural center) where she housed it.

Several beautiful photographs of the estate were lit up in large light boxes. The 3D effect made me ~~feel like~~ wish I was there. I really appreciate the style and the architecture--maybe because it reminds me of our honeymoon in Turkey, or because it involves a lot of pretty lanterns, and you know I'm a sucker for that.

30/30: Hot Chocolate on a Cold Night

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 01:49:00 +0000

October 9th

The temps have dropped here in NC so we thought it would be a good night to try a cup of hot chocolate from Coco Cinnamon. It's a cool spot for a hot beverage.

30/30: Dessert Before Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 22:54:00 +0000

October 8th

We stopped by Hummingbird Bakery for a little dessert before dinner, which I'd probably do every night if I wasn't such a responsible adult.

We split a lemon drop and pumpkin cupcake. I love anything lemon and everyone loves anything pumpkin this time of year. The cake and frosting on the pumpkin was delish. I should have gotten another one for dessert after dinner.