Right by the BNSF Metra tracks a stone's throw west of the Riverside Metra station, Riverside, Illinois

Tomato sauce base.

Tomato sauce di Piazza Sant'Eulalia

Hudson, Ohio, USA, February 2008.

Apple strudel

Hudson, Ohio, USA, May 2009.

From the breakfast bar, Cameron checks out paint colors.

At the end of Eastern Avenue, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England

When Chris comes to visit, he can happily stay in the cold storage closet... It's perfect for him.

Jet cocks her head in the cutest way imaginable when I ask her questions.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, September 2008.

Bagels

Hudson, Ohio, USA, May 2009.

Nephew's gift to Jet; he picked it out all by himself.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, December 2007.

Cameron's workspace/music studio

...I made some little pumpkin cakes.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, November 2006.

Layered chocolate fudge cake

Hudson, Ohio, USA, January 2010.

Chicken breasts stuffed with goat cheese, caramelized leeks and thyme

Hudson, Ohio, USA, May 2009.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, December 2007.

One Jet on the chair, one Jet on the Dell laptop and one-third Jet in the painting on the wall.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, April 2008.

Note all the artwork, by Jet and by Nephew and by a professional.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, January 2010.

Husband and Jet have a little stare-down.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, January 2008.

Desperately trying to remember its "safe word."

(Nephew took this one, too, of the greyhound statue in the foyer where my family likes to hang their coats when they visit.)

Hudson, Ohio, USA, November 2007.

Anadama bread

Hudson, Ohio, USA, May 2009.

Fregula Sarda with roasted zucchini, ricotta salata and olives

Hudson, Ohio, USA, April 2009.

This will become the creme brulee layer.

French yule log

Hudson, Ohio, USA, December 2008.

This is what happens when Mom cleans out her closets.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, October 2009.

hallway outside master bedroom

The kitchen - not much to furnish here! Josh is very proud of the metal fruit bowl by the sink, which he snapped-up for 39p.

Though it appears that he is disciplining her, Husband is merely preparing for the next round of Nose Bongos.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, August 2007.

Such a cute nose.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, September 2008.

Once, this ficus was alive, too.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, March 2008.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, April 2008.

Sweet and sour and hot mustard. (I prefer the hot mustard.)

Egg rolls

Hudson, Ohio, USA, February 2008.

Macaroni and cheese

Hudson, Ohio, USA, February 2009.

...but really it looks like Jet and I are gazing at the moon, or the stars....

Hudson, Ohio, USA, January 2008.

I dig my orange salad tongs.

Lemony lima bean, chickpea and zucchini salad

Hudson, Ohio, USA, April 2008.

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2009: Jason and Monique's First Home (on military base)

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Some family gathering / party photos by Aunt Gretchen

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Jet sitting by "her tree."

Hudson, Ohio, USA, December 2008.

Ribollita

Hudson, Ohio, USA, November 2008.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, October 2009.

Deconstructed pesto lasagna

Hudson, Ohio, USA, March 2009.

maccablo.com/

Jet briefly relaxes on the front porch.

Hudson, Ohio, USA, October 2007.

bookcases at end of upstairs hallway near Eddie's office

Leite's chocolate chip cookie dough, after it has rested for at least 24 hours.

Leite's consummate chocolate chip cookie

Hudson, Ohio, USA, November 2008.

Breakfast cookies

Hudson, Ohio, USA, October 2008.

My copy of "Betty Crocker's Cooky Book" is 45 years old. It has been used -- and loved -- for each of those 45 years.

Chocolate crinkles

Hudson, Ohio, USA, May 2008.

Roasted tomato marinara

Hudson, Ohio, USA, September 2008.

Potato latkes

Hudson, Ohio, USA, December 2008.