What, no presents for me?

Today is T's birthday and we've kept to our tradition of indulging in sticky sweet store bought, baked at home, Pillsbury Cinnamon Buns for breakfast while opening presents. She's inspecting her new Kindle at the moment. Raspberry has guarded and sampled the buns and soaked up the oven heat, resting on the stove top. She's guilty of many kitchen crimes. We actually have made a cookbook for holiday gifts on the Mac, Cooking with Raspberry, Assorted Recipes and Kitchen Crimes

Tonight we're going to a members' event at my favorite museum in Boston, The Isabella Stewart Gardner, Mrs.Jack's place. It's the scene of the most infamous and unsolved art heist, a heartbreaking crime. I've included a link, but we'll be attending the Mozart Holiday evening, cocktails and savory and sweet hors d'oeuvres in the cloisters, a spirited performance by Paavali Jumppanen and Elaine Hou in the Tapestry Room, holiday brass and caroling around the poinsettia-laden courtyard, and explore the museum's unique, inspiring galleries. The museum is modeled after a Venetian palace with an astonishing collection that Mrs. Gardner lived with and celebrated, throwing amazing parties during her lifetime. She left it all to us upon her death with unique stipulations... nothing can ever be moved or sold. The terrible theft and the empty frames and missing pieces are even more glaring and shocking. The museum is one of the shimmering jewels of Boston, it's undergoing a controversial addition, and has been a place of joy and solace for me since my early childhood. As a student at Wheelock College I spent many hours there, just gazing into the courtyard, as my mother had done before me while at the same college. I have never ever been to an evening opening, so I am very excited, we will enjoy ourselves totally I'm sure.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Cinnamon Sphinx

The best present

Cooking with Raspberry