Holiday reflections (white chocolate blueberry cheesecake)

White chocolate blueberry cheesecake


One highlight of Christmas Day I didn’t mention was the white chocolate blueberry cheesecake I made. Two weeks ago a link to the recipe appeared here, but it’s worth posting behind a cut for posterity. Mom said it was the best cheesecake she had ever tasted, and I’m inclined to agree.

This holiday has passed like a blur. Every day has been packed. I don’t know how I’ve managed to stay on all this time with the girls. I used to get cranky a lot more readily. Mind you, their entertainments are becoming more entertaining for me. Tonight I feel the first hints of exhaustion. Admittedly, one thing that keeps me going is knowing it will only last another week. Then I can relapse into solitude.

On the other hand I feel more energized than usual. I wonder whether fulltime parenting was really what I might have been cut out for, but fate hasn’t allowed it, and I try not to wallow in what-ifs. It makes sense to make the best of this time together while I can.

I’ve also been grateful for Danny’s company these past two days. But I’ve had no time for LJ, and have missed it.



( the recipe )

Insects at the Textile Museum

Leaf insects





Brenna studies a collection


( +1 )

One of djjo's Christmas gifts to me and the girls was a family pass to the Textile Museum of Canada to see A Terrible Beauty, an installation of insects in design, showing now until May 14, 2006. This afternoon Danny, Marian, Brenna and I spent two amazing hours perusing this remarkable museum, particularly the bugs. I strongly recommend the exhibit to anyone with an interest in natural history or design. Artist, curator and collector Jennifer Angus, who lives in Wisconsin, has created similar shows around the world. This one took inspiration from textiles. The display, occupying four rooms and incorporating 15,000 insects, elaborates on themes found in Victorian collages and wall coverings. Grasshoppers, cicadas, leaf insects and jewel beetles are prevalent. It might sound gruesome but even Brenna, initially dubious about the excursion, was fascinated once we arrived. Angus's artist biography declares the specimens were only obtained from environmentally reputable dealers. Each room presents a different visual experience, notably a two-storey-high quote from Lewis Carroll made of some 2,600 insects. Also intriguing were six small table displays of antique collection boxes containing insects embossed with words from 19th Century literature. This experience is simply too bizarre and lovely to miss.