...
please go easy on me.
those words ran through my head as we drove over the bay bridge and into the massive, sprawling city of san francisco a couple of nights ago. it was dark by the time we unloaded our gear into our very 70's style, corporate-furnished apartment, so waking up to the skyline interrupted by the "dizzying" buildings (the kind of buildings that make you dizzy when you look up at them) was a shock.
i woke up our first morning here, semi-ready to introduce myself to the city. i hope she likes me. determined to not become a hermit while we are here, i thrust myself outside and onto the streets, after walking the husband to work. with no general plan or direction, i walked through downtown, trying to blend in as a local.
one of my first stops was a
whole foods, right around the corner from our apartment. glorious, hippie-filled, whole foods. it was like walking into a home away from home. i was ecstatic we had one so close. i picked up an orchid plant to take home as a house-warming gift for the husband and myself.
no better way to make yourself feel at home than flowers. i felt very
cosmopolitan walking around with flowers sticking out of my reusable shopping bag, and making my way through the crowds on the street.
baggage. everyone has a lot of baggage...the good kind. with public transit as the main source of transportation, everyone wears backpacks or drags suitcases and bags down the street with them. made my mary-poppins-style bag seem small in comparison. there are people everywhere. and they even look different. they dress for life, not for fashion. the air is cold. i love it - it feels like we've stepped into a different world. scarves, coats, gloves...oh, how i've missed you. everything, is so different from L.A.
i'll spare you the details of every stop i made on my first day, but i will tell you this: change is scary - and i've never handled it very well. but so far, i love everything about san francisco. i love having to rely on my feet to get everywhere we want to go. i love the old buildings, the architecture, the coffee shops on every corner and the feel of the city.
and lucky for us, it already feels like home.
more details to come.
cut the kabocha into large chunks. it's tough to cut through, but so worth the work. we left the skin on, since we purchased a locally grown, organic kabocha. 
as the beans boil, strain off any foam that rises to the top. let the beans boil, uncovered, for about 5 minutes, as this allows the gases to release. cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 40 minutes. check the beans ever 10 minutes or so, adding water to the pot if the water level appears to dip below the bean level. 
after 40 minutes, arrange the squash on top of the beans and add more water to keep the beans covered. cook for another 20 minutes, or until the beans seem soft and tender. add the shoyu to the beans, and cook 10 more minutes. 
serve garnished with the cilantro or parsley....or dive right in.
usually, if i ask nicely, "hey coco, do you want some cocoa?"...i can get cort to make me some. he does the best job. tops it off with some non-dairy whipped cream and a marshmallow. 
mix all the ingredients in a big bowl. stir together until mixture is soft and gooey.
let cool, and then cut into bars
sometimes i just like to look at cute things. 
...please go easy on me. 
for the husband's birthday, he bought me this jacket from my favorite store. said it was for me and the cool weather we will be facing in san fran. that's right, for his birthday. doesn't make sense does it? this boy surprises me no end. what a guy.
i adore this girl. she is only getting better with age. happy birthday sweet sister....xo. 
