hello, 2012!

January 2, 2012January 6, 2012 ~ jama ~ 42 Comments

Happy New Year, Friends!

Would you care for some Korean dumpling soup?

Whoever declared January National Soup Month was a genius. Soup is the only way to begin a new year, the only way to begin anything, really.

So, did you have a good holiday? I’m still in a cookie coma, and Cornelius is way out of control.

Mr. Hatley, our resident erudite, is very good at reading recipes aloud. Like Cornelius, he’s definitely not lacking in the confidence department.

What are you most looking forward to in 2012?

This will be my “learn new technologies” year. Quite a challenge for someone who’s still chiseling letters on stone tablets. The other day, I bit the bullet (actually the Apple), and purchased my first — *wait for it* — MacBook.

Step into the light, she said.

I’m also determined to become a better photographer. Yes, a new camera, my fourth Canon. Don’t call me to take your wedding photos just yet, but if you have a freshly baked cupcake lying around, I’d be mighty tempted to snap it!

Come Spring, I will purchase my first smart phone. (Is that applause I hear?) This will actually be my first mobile phone ever.

*pause while you pick yourself up off the floor*

I need to make it easier for Paul, George, Bob and Colin to ring me up!

Speaking of Bob, saw him recently at Madame Tussaud’s, along with a bunch of other cool people.

(Click here to see my Facebook album, “Fun at the Wax Museum.” )

I’m looking forward to cooking up ~~lots more mischief~~ many socially redeeming blog posts during 2012, and hope you’ll drop by often, bibbed and ready, to slurp, taste, nibble, nosh, chew, and drool right along with me.

Stay tuned for our first Soup of the Day celebration for 2012 featuring Dumpling Days by Grace Lin. Yes, I know. It’s the PERFECT book to kick things off.

Till next time, Happy Reading, Writing, Eating, and Playing!!

Thank you for being you, and for being here.

Love ♥,

jama
xxoo

“A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere.” ~ Joyce A. Meyers

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the first gift of christmas

December 25, 2011December 24, 2011 ~ jama ~ 12 Comments

Just in case you were wondering,

I believe!

Happy Christmas! Have a magical day.

Peace, Joy and Love from all of us here at Alphabet Soup!

See you in 2012 for more delicious mischief!

♥,

Jama, Cornelius, Hatley, Kris, Twinkles and Tiptoes
xxxooo

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beary christmas in leesburg, virginia

December 20, 2011December 19, 2011 ~ jama ~ 14 Comments

Every year, I crave an old fashioned Christmas. Simple joys are the most meaningful, the most enduring. One need only step back in time.

Leesburg is the kind of place where there are wreaths on every door. Charming, quaint, picturesque — a town where people actually smile more and have time to chat.

You can tour the historic district in a carriage if you like,

wave to the snowman as you go by,

guess what’s in those presents on the porch.

Continue reading →

moose, moose, bear

December 1, 2011November 30, 2011 ~ jama ~ 6 Comments

When I received Hatley the Moose as a birthday gift two weeks ago, little did I realize what mischief would ensue.

He began leaving me little notes expressing his displeasure:

Seems Hatley has an identical twin brother named Butler, who is a tad slimmer. Both were adopted by my 12-year-old niece Julia on a summer trip to Epcot Center. The Moose Brothers are decidedly Canadian, but with Indonesian flair.

hatley and butler — Hatley (left), Butler (right)

Despite the lavish attention bestowed upon Cornelius the entire time he was in Hawai’i, he was jealous of Hatley from the start — doubly jealous when he realized there was not one, but TWO meddling mooses. So he decided to spy on them Thanksgiving Day. The rascal.

hatley and butler oranges — Beware meddling mooses!

If you’d like to see Cornelius the Villain (naughty, naughty boy) in action, please read, “The Missing Meal” at Julia’s brand new blog, Julia Talk. Herbivores will likely enjoy this tasty tale of stealth and surreptitious salad lightly seasoned with ursine silliness. Cornelius moonlighting? Boy, has he got a lot of explaining to do!

My only solace is that now the Moose Brothers are separated — one in Virginia, one in Hawai’i. That should keep Cornelius out of trouble, right? Right?

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just the bear essentials

August 21, 2008July 26, 2011 ~ jama ~ 31 Comments

Time to play!

As of tomorrow, alphabet soup will be on Blog Vacation!!

It’s time to turn off the stove, put the dishes away, and take a little break.

What will I be doing?