On this day one year ago I gathered some of my favorite objects and headed over to Jen's house to create this little blog. I had no idea what I was doing or what I was getting myself into.
Completely naive. Exactly as it was about fourteen years ago when I put on my first white coat.
Somehow these experiments are the most rewarding. Everything is dessert when expectations are none or few.
With two prolific writers as parents, writing wasn't something I
thought I could rent even a dog-eared corner of the market in. But a few years ago my mother gave me her blessing to write. In pure Susan Lydon fashion she wanted me to start with a book which she had a working title for. My father, Micheal Lydon, gives props in his handsome Eggbeater t shirt or his effusive words which pepper the comments section. Both remain behind the scenes with grammar and spelling advice.
Eggbeater has traveled North and East and has plans for South and across the pond in 2006. Eggbeater T shirts can be found in such States as Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, Texas and two have made it to Paris.
Eggbeater has started controversy and quelled minor uprisings, eaten exquisitely, won an award, added to an extensive jam collection, learned how to roast all sorts of meats, explored digital photography, embraced technology and even enjoyed a little HTML writing, moved, consulted, taught, written and reported for KQED, answered a myriad of industry, fruit and baking queries through email and in person.
Thank you to everyone who stops by, links Eggbeater to their sites, comments, uses an eggbeater to whip cream, buys t shirts, says hi at the farmer's market, gives advice, answers questions, starts or participates in colorful conversations or is just there lurking!
Hippo Birdie Two Ewes, Eggbeater!
Happy birtday! I like the top pic very much, just the right one for a birthday!
Posted by: Ilva | 05 March 2006 at 01:31 PM
forgot the h in the birthday, here it is!
Posted by: Ilva | 05 March 2006 at 01:32 PM
Shuna--
Happy birthday to Eggbeater, indeed! I only recently discovered the world of blogging and, upon first visit, I instantly fell in love with yours. I look forward to reading more of your lovely prose so that I can continue dreaming of your West Coast.
Posted by: Hungry Hippo | 05 March 2006 at 01:55 PM
HB! Congrats.
And look -- you managed to gain some weight. :D
Posted by: cookiecrumb | 05 March 2006 at 05:36 PM
Happy birthday to you! May the great adventure continue!!
Posted by: Bea at La Tartine Gourmande | 05 March 2006 at 06:51 PM
And many hoppy terns.
Posted by: Lindy | 05 March 2006 at 08:39 PM
Cease not.
Posted by: RCap | 05 March 2006 at 09:39 PM
You are a continual joy and delight to read. And Eggbeater is a Pisces! Isn't that delightful... Keep on swimming! xoxo, J
Posted by: Jennifer | 06 March 2006 at 01:03 AM
Happy Birthday Eggbeater! And hats off to Shuna for creating and nurturing such a beautiful thing during this past year. I can't believe its been a whole year since "mandarinquat" entered my vocabulary (and consciousness). Thank you!!!!
Love,
Melissa
Posted by: melissa | 06 March 2006 at 09:51 AM
Happy Birthday and all the delicious & inspiring thoughts!
Posted by: misha | 06 March 2006 at 12:44 PM
Happy Birthday Eggbeater! Dang, it doesn't feel as though it's been a year, are you sure?
A year on the internet is equal to approximately 7 in human years.
What's next?
Posted by: Dr. Biggles | 06 March 2006 at 01:16 PM
What a wonderous, thematic image you begin your post with! I need not say what that structure hopes to mimic & thereby envoke in us what the true form & fragrance always does...
Posted by: RCap | 06 March 2006 at 01:46 PM
Eggbeater never ceases to delight!
You write with so much wit and passion,
you've almost turned me into a cook!
Keep those great pics and words coming.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: ruby | 06 March 2006 at 06:15 PM
Congratulations on one year of wonderful writing, stimulating and beautiful images, mouthwatering comestibles, and provocative thought!
Mazel tov, Shuna! And thank you for giving us this treasure of a blog.
Anne
Posted by: Anne | 06 March 2006 at 06:57 PM
Pretend this is a package with a box of sparklers to celebrate the birthday of Eggbeater -- and a loaf of bread (peasant, hearty) and sea salt, traditional housewarming gifts.
Though I can't hand them to you in person, the wishes are here!
Posted by: Kudzu | 06 March 2006 at 08:16 PM
Shuna, thanks so much for the gift of Eggbeater. Happy blogaversary to you and your thoughtful, beautiful, entrancing blog.
Posted by: Julie | 06 March 2006 at 09:46 PM
EGGBEATER HAS GREAT FRIENDS!!
Thank you for the support and encouragement. I am hoping to grow eggbeater far and wide, thick and thin, stout and lean, here and there, salt and sweet, sea and sky, desert and forest, river and stream.
Thank you for taking the journey with us.
Posted by: shuna fish lydon | 07 March 2006 at 02:49 AM
Thank you for being born, Eggbeater.
And Shuna -- could Eggbeater go in a northwest direction sometime this coming year?
I wear my Eggbeater t-shirt proudly in Seattle.
Posted by: shauna | 07 March 2006 at 09:41 AM
Congratulations on your anniversary! Your site is firmly on my regular read list.
Posted by: Food Dude | 07 March 2006 at 05:11 PM
Happy Birthday and congratulations!
Posted by: Marianne | 07 March 2006 at 05:31 PM
Happy Birthday to Eggbeater and to the chef that tends it! May the next year bring grand new adventures and much joy--I can't wait to read along.
Posted by: Tea | 07 March 2006 at 08:21 PM
Congratulations on your first year..Eggbeater!!! Looking foward to hearing new adventures from your new home.
I to am wondering if Eggbeater will be making a trip to the Northwest in the near furure...
Posted by: Devon | 07 March 2006 at 08:33 PM
Buon compleanno!
Happy Birthday ... all the best in the year to come!
Posted by: Ivonne | 08 March 2006 at 12:32 AM
Ah yes, the first couple of posts! I remember them so well. I stumbled upon you far before you became famous in learjet speed! I enjoy each and every post. Keep writing, it suits you.
Hippo Birdies, two ewes!
Posted by: chronicler | 08 March 2006 at 12:37 AM
Famous? Am I famous? How come I'm always the last to know?!!
yes yes Yes, The pacific northwest is on my internal agenda. But I am going to wait until the weather is not so cold & wet! Eek I don't want to get stuck in the snow in the mountains!
believe you me, Portland calls to me incessantly like a sexy siren...
Posted by: shuna fish lydon | 08 March 2006 at 12:56 AM
Happy B-day
Posted by: Derek | 08 March 2006 at 07:49 PM
Shuna, your mother's photo is so hauntingly beautiful.
I have returned so many times intending to comment about how I understand why you chose to post her picture on your anniversary blog.
Your year has been defined by your mother.
She lives in you.
Her portrait inspires a gush of words and at the same time awed silence--so fitting a reaction to a woman who was about words and thoughts. This is a snapshot of life...beautiful, gritty, strong and bold, fragile and vulnerable. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations, dear one. Well done. (Thanks also for the happy, proud pic of your father's smiley t-shirted face.)
"..And at the moment that my camera happened to find you
There was just a trace of sorrow in your eyes."
-Jackson Browne
Posted by: jen's mom | 11 March 2006 at 12:57 AM
Happy Birthday, Eggbeater!! Happy Birthday, Shuna!!
We love seeing how much pleasure you are bringing to so many people!! More, more!!
Posted by: Dad and Ellen | 15 March 2006 at 08:32 PM