dinner in portsmouth

I arrived in Portsmouth, NH to stay with my cousin Jody for a few days while I attend the Greenbuild Conference in Boston.  She and the girls had grilled chicken ceasar salad waiting - Rose, 15, had made the dressing from scratch and Gracie, 9, prepared dessert of bananas topped with dark chocolate pudding.  It brought back favorite childhood memories - I can't tell you the last time a fixed pudding!

As usual in their busy (Jody is a Doctoral Professor at Brandeis University and a published writer and her husband Ross is a Doctoral Professor at MIT), but eloquently organized household, a glass of wine, yummy cheese and conversation proceed dinner, and candles are lit around the living and dining room.  Cozy and welcoming, with Bella the dog resting in my lap with her enormous loving eyes.  The table was set with handmade pottery, candles and linen napkins in shades of ocean blue.  We spent some time playing Apples to Apples afterward, Rose and Grace lobbying in lawyer fashion for their pics.