Transfixed

They've got to be looking at something rull, rull good:

Pretty Patterns

Just some pretty shapes and colors. Nothing to see here.

The lighting at the Continental in Rosslyn is pretty funky.

Wallet patterns. The bottom left is my new billfold from Jack Spade. I love casually fishing my new wallet out of my pocket and casually laying it on the table, fishing for compliments. Out of an estimated 20 attempts, I've only successfully caught a compliment once, but it was worth it.

Thanksgiving 2011

It's been a day, and I'm finally fully recovered from Thanksgiving. The recovery process was grueling, consisting of napping, munching through leftovers, and more napping, but I've come out on the other side a stronger person. (?)

Mom and Dad were a whirlwind, cooking and cleaning from first thing in the morning to when guests began to arrive at 3:00. (P.S. who decided that Thanksgiving is the one day where families across America become geriatric and eat dinner by 4:00pm? I think we need an intervention.)

 They cooked according to a tight schedule, a Carlson tradition.

We set out a few appetizers (above, a tart Cranberry chutney and cream cheese).

Oh hey! Another tart got in the picture!

Awww, don't be mad Bonnie.

This app was my creation: a sugar and nut-glazed brie with nuts served with apple slices and crackers.

We added the extra leaves to the table, and set it for twelve. 

Every year we grill the turkey, but this year my dad brined it overnight, which added a lot of moisture back into the bird.

And my dad carves it up. He always likes reassuring the turkey as he rips through it's flesh: "I promise this'll hurt me more than it hurts you." <slices off turkey's leg>

Loading up the plates for the first round of helpings.

Some of the sides. (The yellow pot was mine, a corn and wild rice casserole I've made for the last several years. This year it was better than ever, which I attribute to not measuring a damn thing as I mixed the ingredients together.)

My plate. So much good food! And notice, I didn't let a single instance of cranberry touch the plate. Cranberry jellies and jellos were sent from hell to ruin Thanksgiving dinners, and I resist Satan's urgings (OK, my mother's) to just give it a try.

And to satisfy your curiosity:

1. Grilled turkey
2. Turkey giblet gravy
3. Green bean casserole (yes, with the cliche fried onion topping.)
4. Corn and wild rice
5. Oven-roasted sweet potatoes
6. Sweet potato casserole (yes, with the cliche marshmallow topping.)
7. Mashed potatoes
8. Cornbread stuffing

After dinner we retired to the family room, where Liz was kind enough to ink up my leg. I now have original "poetry" covering my shin, calf and foot, so I promise to never wash that leg again. I'm all about preserving arts in America.

So that was my Thanksgiving. I hope everyone had a restful and fun holiday!

Brigham's 30th Birthday Party

Last night, my friend Daphne's older brother Brigham turned the big 3-0, and Daphne asked me to come and take pictures at the party.

Daphne's parents have a farm a half-hour outside of Washington, D.C., where they often host Barn Dances, arguably the most fun nights you can have in the DC area. I can't think of a better 30th birthday party than herding 100 of your best friends and family into a barn for dancing, drinking and merriment.

The idea is pretty simple: after chowing down on BBQ and fueling up on liquid courage, a barn dance instructor will crank up the country music and guide the audience in group dance.

The instructor (above in the red and black shirt, holding the mic) calls out the dance steps. Here, everyone is promenading with their partners.

The adorable Kiplinger family: Brigham, Sutton, Daphne, Ann and Knight pose with the birthday cake.

This work of art was homemade by one of Brigham's friends.

Brigham has a lot of friends and family! Photo bomb courtesy of the random dog.

Knight pulls a move as the crowd mixes things up.

I can't wait until summer when we're sure to have another barn dance!