"The House" by Richard Wilbur

The House
by Richard Wilbur August 31, 2009

Published in the New Yorker, 8/31/09


Sometimes, on waking, she would close her eyes

For a last look at that white house she knew

In sleep alone, and held no title to,

And had not entered yet, for all her sighs.


What did she tell me of that house of hers?

White gatepost; terrace; fanlight of the door;

A widow’s walk above the bouldered shore;

Salt winds that ruffle the surrounding firs.


Is she now there, wherever there may be?

Only a foolish man would hope to find

That haven fashioned by her dreaming mind.

Night after night, my love, I put to sea.

Imagine if twitter had been around hundreds of years ago..:-)

Click on image to enlarge:

Best-ever Carrot Cake

Best-ever Carrot Cake---delicious and easy to make. Recipe is from "The Bountiful Arbor," cookbook of the Jr. League of Ann Arbor:
Serves 12.

1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 firmly packed brown sugar
2 C. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. baking soda
1 7 ou. can crushed, pineapple, with juice
1 cup oil
1 tsp. salt
4 eggs
1 7 ou. package shredded coconut
2 C. grated carrots
1 C. chopped walnuts

Frosting:
8 ou. cream cheese, softened
½ c. butter, softened
Pinch salt
1 lb. powdered sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice or orange juice
½ tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350; grease a 9 by 13 inch pan. Mix sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and oil together. Add pineapple, oil, salt and eggs; mix well. Fold in coconut, carrots, and walnuts. Pour into prepared pan; bake for 35-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cook cake before frosting.

Beat together cream cheese, butter, and salt. Beat in sugar, a little at a time. Add juice and vanilla to moisten. Frost cake.

New Fave: Quick fry-up for breakfast, brunch, or supper

(Serves two)
In microwave, bake 3 medium red potatoes. (Prick each potato before baking.)
Heat 1 T. olive oil in medium fry pan.
Chop up potatoes. Add to pan. As they brown, chop up 4 T. onion. Add to pan. Break 3 eggs into pan and scramble, mixing well.
Serve with wasabi drizzling sauce. (I use Trader Joe's wasabi sesame sauce. You can also add Asian spices to regular sesame oil)

Obsidian with hydrangea

Meryl Streep's many voices

Alex's Fall