Don't Try this at Home

After our Carnival celebration at Binche last week, we had a bowl full of blood oranges from the parade. Connor was pretty uneasy about eating the red oranges so I decided to try to make a Blood Orange Tart. My friend, Kathryn, made a similar recipe several years ago and I remember the delicious the treat fondly. I bought the tart plate below the day after eating Kathryn's tart way back then in hopes of duplicating her dessert. It took me until today to pull it off. Or should I say to attempt to pull it off.I made the "curd" filling 2 days ago. It had to sit for 1-3 days. I was a little nervous that it was not as congealed as it seemed it should be. But onward I continued!
This is my attempt at making my first ever pie crust. I didn't have a rolling pin, so I used Connor's!

I was a little unsure as to if the tart was even going to fit in the freezer to cool.

Luckily it fit by the skin of its teeth.The tart actually looked pretty in the end. Unfortunately when we cut into it the filling did indeed goop out as I feared it would. And the texture didn't really make it appealing. Oh well. It made for pretty photos. Now I know why they call them "blood" oranges - I definitely feel like I put my blood, sweat and tears into this one.

But let's end this post with some cute Connor photos instead of my cooking failure:

Think you've got enough friends in your stroller, Connor?!?
Connor found these beads from a free goodie bag from a movie premier last night.
The necklace and bracelet made for hours of fun!

Wildcats and Sunday School

I know I am posting a lot this month, but I am just having so much fun with our family and our travels and am anxious to share and document. So hopefully you are having fun with us too - and not sick of us already! I am taking the tactic of trying to take more bite-size pieces with my posts rather than to overload too much in one entry. But as any proud parent, we think everything is super cute so the filter is very difficult.
Last night we all cheered on the Davidson Wildcats in their nationally televised game against Butler. Unfortunately Stephen Curry and the team played hard but didn't win this one. But it wasn't for lack of us cheering! We still have our fingers crossed for another Cinderella March Madness run - we'll see!

And this morning our family served as greeters for our church service at the International Protestant Church. I snapped some photos before we left and they were just too sweet not to share right away.
When I look at Connor all dressed up I think immediately of all the donors of the outfit - she is literally dressed in their love. The dress was Aly Yamamoto's, the shoes mom got us when they were way too big (kids feet grow fast!), the tights were Rose Mary's, even the diaper came from Carol stuffing some American Pampers in her suitcase. Thank you for making Connor look so pretty!Click here for Wildcats and Sunday School (full album)

Ode to Oscar

We had really fallen out of rhythm of seeing movies while living in Atlanta. The theatres were not close to our house and the company of good friends and a happening neighborhood (hooray Oakhurst!) meant there was always something better to do, trumping a night at the movies.

But the temptation of having a theatre 3 blocks away in Brussels and my new stay-at-home-mom status means the movies make a perfect escape for me. Kirk has generously stayed with Connor several nights to let me indulge several shows. And it has been a great year for movies!

I had never been to the movies by myself until coming to Brussels. It always seemed pretty lonely to go dateless. But it is not true! There is something about nestling in amidst strangers (especially strangers speaking a foreign tongue) that is peaceful and calming. Plus the theatre around the corner is also a historic building. It originally seated nearly 3,000 and opened in 1933. Check out the main auditorium of the last movie I saw. Isn't it breathtaking? Kinda reminded me of The Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The golden hue was warm and wonderful.

The differences about movie-going here versus in the States are not too many. First-run American movies run as "Version Original" meaning in English. The previews however are often in French for European movies. The only strange difference is that Belgians tend to not have as much awareness about personal space. They don't really abide by that unspoken "leave a seat between you and your neighbor" rule. And when the film is over they don't make quick moves to gather stuff and leave. I end up waiting til the credits finish and lights come on before I can skirt past my neighbors to leave. Oh! And you have to pay 35 Euro cents to use the bathrooms here. I will never get used to paying to go to the potty!

After my solo movie nights I skip back home in the cold night air and come back renewed and alive - ready to resume role of mother and wife. And usually with tears still in my eyes from the show. I am a complete sap and always cry at movies.

Recently I went to see "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt. I usually don't swoon too much for movie stars, but Brad is quite debonair in this film. And the plot is one of the more unusual I have ever seen. It is a terrific love story with a twist. Plus the leading lady is a stunning redhead, which is always a plus.

I also saw "Bride Wars" - predictable plot and the paper here only gave it a measly one star...so know that going in if you see it. But honestly, I loved it. The tale of friendship among women made me long for my wonderful girlfriends back home.