deeply missed

An excellent Uncle, full of love, generous spirit... he loved life, lived it fully... with gusto, and is gone too soon, too early. He traveled the world, tasted, appreciated, felt each moment with intelligence and enthuiasm. Uncle Dudley always knew what was the best way to prepare something, where to find the best restaurant, and eager to share his loves. Uncle Dudley was also an inherent teacher. I implicate him in many of what have become my own favorites, and received an education with nearly every visit:

How to be a suprub host
Laver with bamboo salt
garlic noodles
Ribs!
It's nice to have a handful of blueberries from your own yard for breakfast
discerning chinese tea
and wines... wonderful wines: williams seylem, the best places in Napa to taste and learn
source for chinese wisdom, translations, etc...

I had a dream last night, when he passed away. I saw him, looking as I remember, healthy, in a lovely well-lit room, though in a hospital bed. I said good-bye and gave him a kiss, and he smiled... the rest of the dream was a little weird, but the basic feeling of gratitude and love remained. It didn't feel as sad as I feel today.

Visiting their house, I can still hear Uncle Dudley's voice... his laugh either a chuckle or a guffaw. I see the way he sits back in his chair at the dinner table and crosses his arms when he is going to tell a good story or leans in when he is telling something new, some insider secret. He was so expressive with hands and the way he says "oh no" by wiping his hand over his face. When we came to visit he would always find a special bottle of wine and we are expected to know or learn some new subtley of flavor or variety... so many things he would share with us would have a great story, a history, or something facinating about it. Uncle Dudley lived to do what he loved, to share, to eat, to play. He taught us to have a true interest, curiosity, and enthuiasm ... and to share with others, smile laugh, be a good person and to love.

here is his obituary

Dudley Cheu Dudley Cheu, Assistant Professor at UOP's Dugoni School of Dentistry and dedicated son, husband, father, and grandfather, died July 3rd, 2009. He was 68. Dudley was born on March 25, 1941 in Canton, China before moving to the United States in 1951. He did his undergraduate work at Pacific Union College, UC Berkeley and USC in Sociology and Biology and received his DDS from Northwestern University in 1970. He earned his MBA from University of Pacific in 1999. After leading a successful private dental practice for over 25 years, Dudley taught dentistry at UOP for 15 years. During his term at the dental school, he was recognized several times by faculty and students in recognition of teaching excellence. He was an active member of the ADA and CDA, volunteering at countless events and programs, serving on many committees, and helping with local arrangements at scientific sessions. His passion for food was unparalleled as travel itineraries were prioritized against proximity to the best local restaurants. If you knew Dudley, most likely you would have shared a meal and engaged in good conversion, excellent food, fine wine, and memorable laughs. His contribution to UOP, dental societies and even his recent trip to Cambodia teaching local dental students was a fine example of his life work and interest; his love for his wife, his boys, grandchildren and his faithfulness to his Mom all sum up such a rich and fulfilled life. He is survived by his mother, Phyllis; beloved wife Genevieve; his two sons, Jason and Derek; and grandchildren, Kaylee, Kellen and Clark. A celebration of Dudley's life will be held at the Marin Art & Garden Center on Sunday July 12, 2009 at 2pm. (30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960) In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be made to support medical research at UCSF. Donations may be made to the UCSF Foundation/ Dr. Lawrence Way's Research Fund (B1289) in memory of Dr. Dudley Cheu, c/o Sarah Krumholz, 220 Montgomery Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/10/MNCHEUDUDL4.DTL#ixzz0WWNQNKO

razzleberry jam

After a big weekend picking berries like crazy (we got four pints from Sauvie Island ... cohos I think and then some Willamettes from Rowell brothers... about 8 lbs I think, though we ate a lot and Val probably brought over another 5 lbs. Val came over and we made about five batches of Jam... raspberry jam! One of my favorites (heck, I think they're all favorites in turn :).
For most of them we used the recipe on the pomona pectin box. We got, hmmm lets see 19 half pints (sent 10 homewith Val) and four pints of jam out of five batches... the first four with the pectin, the last with just a load of sugar (mostly made the pints).

summer bliss

Raspberries from the prolific bush down the street. A little uber-creamy vanilla yogurt (though maybe a custard one day when we are up to it). Whipped Cream. Crushed Amaretti cookies. Bittersweet chocolate shavings.

Cape Disappointment

Last parliament

Of owls that is... I should say mysteriously... for now!
I have arbitrarily decided that a good parliament of owls is a group of 6, with two tufted owls in the bunch. This group also had button eyes and were looking quite wise indeed.

Seeing Red..

It's that time of year! We hit Kruger's farm stand and picked a flat of strawberries... after pondering for about 30 seconds ended up purchasing two extra flats to bring on home for jam. ho boy do we have a bit of Strawberry Jam! With about half of our berry haul (a flat and a half), we ended up caning 18 half pints and 9 pints of Strawberry Jam! Honestly, I just got tired, and ran out of pectin... in fact our last batch may remain a little bit soft, but still yummy. I basically used the recipe in the Pomona Pectin package, with the full 2c sugar per 4c berries. Our actual favorite way to enjoy strawberries through the year is on strawberry shortcakes! Fresh of course is best, but we also have also frozen several batches (we're in the process right now, so I can't say how many). We've been putting in one quart of berries plus about a quarter cup of sugar, to get them all juicy. I've got to go and make sure that we're saving enough to enjoy fresh... we've been known to get a little too carried away putting up fruit, that sometimes we don't save enough for us now!!!

more owls and inspiration

Yep, I said it, more owls. I made another set for little Lilly. I have one more in the works but am loosing a bit of steam. I still think they're super cute though ... how fun. For baby Lilly we used felt circles for eyes instead of buttons.
Plus added in a few gift bags. I've done these for the past few birthday gifts for the kids. They're fun, and if the kids we've given them to are anything like Owen, he certainly likes to use the bag as much as whatever is inside.


On another note, I've had a wonderful past week... decadent you may even say. Owen and I took a trip to visit our dear friends in Florida. There were screened in porches with rockers and porch swings, sunshine and beaches.
bleached shells and wood.

Green everywhere and myriad wildlife.
Afternoon naps, soaking on the beach and in the bay, and glorious outdoor showers.

lovely.........

to follow up on a lovely weekend, B. took me to see Pink Martini at the Schnitzer, so much fun, it was definitely more of an orchestral crowd v. jazzier one, but still super fun to see. Plus... a night out, a concert, dinner at Kenny and Zukes. sweetness. Today to top off our week of debauchery we took a long lunch to watch Coraline at the Living Room. Pshew. Tomorrow I grab a huge pile of papers to grade to keep me occupied. Our summer gets a little crazy after this weekend, it has been nice doing a bit for myself... feels crazy luxurious.