New York State of Mind

Posted by on Jul 3, 2011 in dish | 0 comments I’m writing this from my new apartment in El Barrio. It’s nice: One decent-size bedroom, a living area, a full kitchen, and a shoehorned bathroom, parquet floors, natural light. You know, something that would rent for more than I pay for my 4 bedroom, 2 bath house on a quarter acre in the ’burbs because even though I’m in Spanish Harlem, this is MANHATTAN, baby! It’s worth the outrageous money...
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Color Him Father

Posted by on Jun 19, 2011 in dish | 0 comments This photo is courtesy of the Wayback Machine–Christmas, 1982 to be exact. I made my social debut at the Chester Assembly in the small South Carolina town where my Daddy grew up. That’s me with the handmade silk dress (thanks, Mama!), my graduation pearls, and my grandmother’s kid gloves. The handsome man on my arm is my father, John N. Gaston, III.There’s no denying I’m my father’s...
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Mother Lode

Posted by on May 8, 2011 in dish | 0 comments   There she is–Miss Carolyn, new mother of the first grandchild on both sides of the family. And there I am, all hair and bright eyes, bushy tail carefully concealed in a blanket. I posted this picture on Facebook and was astonished at how many people swore I looked just like my mother. The joke in our family is how much of a carbon copy of my Daddy I happen to be, so hearing from a...
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Girls’ Night In

Posted by on Mar 11, 2011 in dish | 0 comments Tomorrow is the church Men’s Retreat, so Mr. Man will be spiriting Frick away for an overnight and a cookout. While they’re shivering in a pup tent in 30-odd degree weather, Frack and I will be getting our X chromosome on.Admittedly, mimi doesn’t stray far into the female end of the spectrum. I somehow missed the Cute Shoes and Darling Accessories alleles in my genetic profile. Pink has never...
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Kitchen Smackdown, Family Style

Posted by on Jan 30, 2011 in dish | 0 comments Today the church music ministry held its annual cookoff. This year’s twist? Take a firefighter favorite recipe, make it your own, and submit it for judging by actual firefighters. Mama, sis, and yours truly all entered–different categories, as it turns out–and brought home two wins! My mother is an excellent cook, so I was not surprised at all when her version of Low Tide Chicken won...
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