Digging Out in Fairmount, Philadelphia

Philadelphia's ice covered streets

A crisp, sunny day

Snow Covered Roofs

Forgotten summer

We spent today just like everyone else on our street, digging out the car and preparing for a sluggish commute that will come too soon in the morning. Here are a few photos of Fairmount, our spot in Center City, Philadelphia. MM & RY 2010

Update: A Snowy Day in Philadelphia, Take 2

Art Museum Neighborhood

Snowy View from a Colorful Bay Window

Six Dollars a Dozen

Icicles at the Baptist Church

Snowflakes

Digging Out

Sadie and Lily

Fairmount, City Hall in the Distance

The snow fall has stopped. The dogs have run. The dig out of the Snowpocalypse, AKA Snowmageddon is underway in Philadelphia. Reports are stating that this is the largest snowfall on record for the city. However, since we already had a near record snowfall earlier this winter, everyone seems to have very specific plans for how to proceed. For our part, sidewalk is clear and the back yard stoop has a small opening for access. The shovels are stored at the entrance of the home, along with Sadie’s sweater, leashes, boots, scarfs, and gloves. The dogs will surely want to go out a couple of additional times tonight! MM & RY 2010

A Snowy Day in Philadelphia

A view of Wallace Street under cover of snow

There is a relentless heavy snow storm underway in Philadelphia and across the Mid-Atlantic region today. Here are some of our photos taken during the storm in the Fairmount – Art Museum, one of the neighborhoods in Center City, Philadelphia. We observed that the major roads are plowed, but the piles of snow that have been moved to the sides of streets are making it difficult to cross streets by foot. There were people sledding down the steps of the Art Museum! And, our dog walking friends were out in force with their furry companions.

Statues at the base of the entrance to Philadelphia's Art Museum

Can't cycle on the streets right now anyway...

Ready for action

Watching over the kids on sleds

Kids on Sleds

Snow covered lawns

The Shops on Fairmount

MM & RY 2010

A View of North Broad Street, Philadelphia

Here is a view of North Broad Street. This photo was taken from City Hall a couple of years ago. We walk here from Fairmount often. It’s a lot easier to travel around Philadelphia’s Center City grid by foot or via buses.  MM & RY 2010

Colorful Homemade Crocheted Rug

We treasure this homemade crocheted rug passed down from family members through the years. The colors are sunshine bright, made possible from the leftover yarns from so many sweater and sock knitting projects that preceded it. It’s current users are a couple of decadent Fairmount Dogs, better known as Sadie and Lily. Sadie, our mini-poodle, bounces from one surface to another throughout the night and into the early morning hours. Eventually, she settles down in a cozy corner to snooze away until the smells and sounds of the morning coffee reach her always-ready nose. MM & RY 2010

Fairmount Winter Delight – A Bird in the Tree

In Fairmount, a neighborhood in Philadelphia’s Center City, we are experiencing bitter cold weather and a dusting of snow this weekend. We spotted this bird who duo seem to be just as cold – yet also brave enough to investigate the street views from the branches. MM & Ry 2010

A View of The Divine Lorraine Hotel

The Divine Lorraine Hotel, located on North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA. Click here for another view of the hotel. MM & RY 2010

A View from the Divine Lorraine Hotel

A view from the Divine Lorraine Hotel on North Broad Street between City Hall and Girard Avenue. MM & RY 2010

Row Home Pizza

Pizza is one of our favorite foods! One of the best aspects of seasonal holidays is that we have the time to make it from scratch. Here is our simple recipe for pizza sauce and dough. Our favorite: anchovies with green peppers, topped with mozzarella and romano cheeses.

Sauce

Ingredients

2 shallots
2 cloves garlic
5-6 thinly sliced roma tomatoes
1 tbs parsley
3 tbs butter
2 tbs olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine

Instructions

1. Saute in 3 tbs butter: 2 diced shallots and 2 cloves garlic
2. When garlic and shallots are melted in butter, add 1/4 dry white wine; cook until reduced
3. Add 5 thinly sliced fresh roma tomatoes to the mixture; cook on med. low heat for 10 – 15 mins
4. Add 8 oz can tomato sauce to mix, cook another 10 mins
5. Add 1-2 tbs virgin olive oil to sauce slowly; mix thoroughly; season to taste

Dough

Ingredients

3 – 3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 package dry yeast
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Mix yeast in 1 1/4 cup warm water, wait 10 minutes until yeast bubbles to use
2. Add yeast mixture to flour and salt mixture; add olive oil to dough
3. Mix all ingredients until flour absorbs water and oil
4. Kneed dough on solid surface for 10 minutes until dough is smooth and all the flour is absorbed
5. Allow dough to rise for 2 hours
6. Divide dough into two or three sections, roll out to form pizza shape
7. Add sauce onto dough
8. Cook dough with sauce for 10 minutes in 500 degree oven
9. Add cheese and toppings of choice 10 minutes before finished baking 

Pizza should take 20 minutes to bake.

Ingredients

 

Pizza Dough

 

The Sauce

 

It's Ready!

 

Sadie Guards the Oven

 

MM & RY 2010

Sadie’s Stair Step

A major architectural feature of our home is the staircase that connects the first and second floors. It’s most interesting feature? The steps are the perfect size for Sadie to use as a mini-den. She is quite an acrobat, and the stairs have become her own personal runway. She bolts up; sometimes she launches off at the bottom. Our boxer, Lily, can not keep up with her. Neither can we! MM & RY 2009