Grateful Friday

Sometimes my dreams scare me. Not just the truly frightening ones, but the dreams that are so insanely intricate, evocative or just smart. Last night I was playing a part in a movie. It was a damn good story too. I've also come up with great ideas for books while I sleep. Books I've yet to write. I've made some compelling points in difficult conversations that I wish I could be brave enough to share in waking hours. What scares me is that all these ideas, thoughts, opinions, desires....they exist somewhere in my brain. I am grateful for the brain.

About 4 a.m. this morning I was startled awake. Wide awake. I guessed the time before I verified it on my phone. After about a half an hour, I decided that I was well rested and should maybe get up and get a jump start on the day. I'm still stuck on or near 9 o'clock most days. I was cozy in bed with my guys so it was hard to motivate. I thought about all the things I could do with an extra few hours in my day should I just get up. All that thinking eventually tired me out and I drifted off again. That's when I had the major motion picture dream. Then I had a hard time getting out of bed at a reasonable hour because I wanted to see how the movie ended. I'm grateful for the ability to entertain myself.

I cannot believe it's Halloween tomorrow. We've I've had a lot of fun dressing up over the years. There was the time I showed up at a Halloween party that said come in costume only to be the only guest to do so. I was a full fledged witch...unrecognizable, except Mike wasn't in costume either so it was rather embarrassing. There was another time that I was a witch and I won a costume contest and literally turned my girlfriend alabaster when I came into her bar before closing. One year Mike went as Guy Fieri and I was an Iron Chef.  Come to think of it, we won for that too. I really loved the days of costuming my kids. Teddy was a bear (of course), Barney and Sully in his first three Halloweens. He won a school contest the year he dressed up as a nerd. It was a riot. Lils has been an angel, a lady bug, a butterfly, a rock star, a nerd, a witch to name just a few. This year there won't be any costumes. Trick or treat is cancelled. I'm not sad that my door bell won't be ringing all day, but I do feel for the kids that are missing out on yet another tradition of childhood. It seems to me that there are so many simple ideas to trick or treat safely. We'll do our own thing: carve a couple pumpkins, light all the candles and cue up something scary. I'm grateful we all like thrillers.

Ted's reported that he's got plans to go to a small party. Madison used to be the place to be on Halloween. Now State Street is all boarded up after rioting and looting. I'm glad he's having a little fun. He's earned it. He's been working hard and he landed the internship for a fortune 500 company this summer. Lils took herself to Michaels this week to get the supplies to make a blanket. She recognized the need for an outlet...for stress relief. Right now school is all the work and none of the fun. At some point, we have to weigh the cons of this, the impact on mental health, the long-term consequences. I'm grateful my kids are smart and self-motivated. Strong too.

Before long, the kids will be embarking on their second semesters. October will be a memory and we'll be in the whirlwind of the holiday season. This is my favorite stretch of months every year. The pandemic hasn't changed that, but it does make it ever more important to find and savor the joy moments. Moments like curling up in bed with Tigger for a night of reading. I finally finished The Dearly Beloved. It was not hallowed by me. The characters were flat as pancakes. That is the kiss of death in a character-driven novel. I blew through The Guest List in 24 hours partially because it was overdue and also because it was a quick whodunnit. Last night I picked up Gilead. I think it may be too soon after Wall's novel to fully appreciate. Moments in my kitchen. This week I made a Morning Glory Bread that was packed with apples, carrots and pineapple and then topped with nuts. I roasted squash and toasted the seeds. This feels like a good weekend to have something simmering low and slow on the stove top. I think it's time for a batch of my mom's pumpkin bread. Time outside in the fresh fall air doing yard work and taking trail walks. These are the moments that make life feel normal during this time of uncertainty, hostility, and confinement. I'm always grateful for the extraordinary ordinary.

 

 

Weekending

It's already Thursday, and I'm just now here to write about last weekend...on the cusp of another weekend. I'm not inclined to write much lately. I think that's because life has become very small in 2020. That's not a bad thing either, but there is a quiet redundancy that does not call for frequent testimony. Of course, Covid is a bad thing, but good things can come from adversity. I can also say that I feel protective of my opinions right now and that exercising my First Amendment rights seems like something that is inviting reproach. But I digress because what I came here to espouse upon was the wonderful weekend we had celebrating our 25th anniversary. Twenty-five years! We went 30 miles north and it was another world. Life has not changed much in small town America and I cannot lie: it felt like a breath of fresh air. For the most part, people were practicing social distancing and wearing masks, but they were not fear mongering. They were living their lives, taking care of business, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, and smiling behind their masks.

 We took our time getting on the road Friday much to Miss Bit's chagrin because it was another rainy, chilly day in a stubborn forecast of foul weather. Lil's was excited to have the house all to her very own self...something that is a rarity now that we're all homebodies. And yes, we can trust our sixteen year old to stay home for a weekend solo. We picked up groceries and lunch on the way to Windmill Beach. The plan for the night was to find a place to watch the first Badger game of the season. We settled on a little place in Belgium sight unseen and we lasted until half-time. We love local haunts, but this place was indeed haunted, think Twilight Zone, and despite the fact that it was a sports bar, they had two tiny televisions. We went next door to quaint Lake Church for the second half, and it was a good move on all fronts. We enjoyed our night out alone together.

 Saturday morning we were up early anticipating Pete and Sue's arrival. They've never been to WB or any of the little towns in the vicinity so we were excited to show them around. And we definitely made the rounds. It was a dry day and the sun even showed up for a bit so it was perfect for bumming around. We stopped at the Oostburg bakery for goodies for Sunday morning, visited the Sheboygan farmer's market and lamented all weekend that we didn't buy the pork bundle. We had a boozy lunch at Il Ritrovo. Pizza four ways...well, two as the boys had the same pie. I am a pizza Napolitano girl. Upon our waiter's, Mr. Personality's, rec, I ordered the Occhio di Bue and now I will want a soft egg on every pizza I order. He also hooked me up with an oaked Montepulciano that sort of blew my taste buds. We cleaned our plates and then headed north to Kohler for some shopping and late afternoon cocktails. I love gifty type stores because I can always find something unique. Something for me, something for Lil and something for Ted. She was happy with the fru fru facial kit and nostalgic candy I brought home. His goodies are in route to him via USPS so hopefully he gets them before Halloween. Our last stop before heading home was the Market at Wood Lake to pick up the fixings for dinner. It was a no brainer: steak, shitakes, shrimp, potatoes and asparagus washed down with a nice Stags Leap...easy and festive. We toasted long lasting marriages and friendships early into the morning.

 

I was up first on Sunday so I finally finished my book. We had a slow start, but eventually we bundled up and walked what we could of the beach both ways. The lake is high and the beach is non-existent to the north and the south after a few houses. We hiked up deserted Marine drive instead. The eagles were in their nest. The colors are past peak, but the trees are still showy. I made a late brunch when we got home: eggs benedict and fruit. The boys watched a little more football, played another game of crib and Sue and I enjoyed the view that never gets old for a little longer before packing up. It started to snow before we hit the road. That was a bit serendipitous. We arrived home at dinner time, and Lils was surprisingly happy to see us. Tigger waited for us in our bed the 48 hours we were away. And as always, it was wonderful to be away and even better coming home to Casa Wags.

 

 

Grateful

 Today I give thanks for...

Twenty-five years of marriage to the love of my life.

Then.

Now.

We've been together longer than we were apart, and we are better together. Wednesday I came home from work to find a special bottle of wine and a cheese plate courtesy of my guy. He went to the fancy cheese store to buy some Pleasant Ridge Reserve. Later we drove north to a sweet little spot in a town on Lake Michigan and we had a lovely dinner just the three of us. We invited Miss Lil.

The braised pork stroganoff with homemade papparadelle and creme fraiche was the best thing I've eaten all year.

Today we are heading north again to WB for a little getaway. The weather is dreary so we won't be walking the dunes. Instead we'll take our time. The plan is to find a local spot to watch the Badger game. The first Badger game of the season.

Tomorrow Pete and Sue are joining us. I think we'll hit the Sheboygan farmer's market, grab some lunch at Il Ritrovo or Field to Fork, do a little shopping in Kohler and then head home to make dinner and play Wizard. Perfect for the pandemic. Twenty-five years ago we spent 10 days together in Mexico in celebration of our marriages earlier in the year.

Maskies.

Connections. It was heartwarming to get so many messages, calls and cards of congrats. A couple unexpected gifts too.

Quality time with my girl this past weekend. 

Tall pines. 

This watch cat.

Tigger came home. He decided to venture off the front porch one evening. We forgot he was outside for maybe hours. Usually he sits like a statue, but he had the cajones and the time to wander. He came tearing from down the block at full speed when we went out with flashlights. He's not been out alone since. The end.

Chinese take in.

Ted crushed his mid-terms, he landed a coveted job as a portfolio manager for The Capital Management Club and he has a final interview for a summer internship at USB today.

Lil's has all As. School at the dining room table sucks, but she's rocking it.

Pumpkin seeds. I stocked up on pumpkins for just this reason. A perfectly roasted seed is a seasonal delight.

Pot pie deliveries this week. One for Alan after Karen's surgery and another for Linda because it's her favorite.

With tri color carrots and carrots and potatoes.

I was able to watch the entire debate last night.

I'm almost through Dearly Beloved. Thank God!

Good and Beautiful

 It's a grey, rainy day. It's a Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, Grover Washington Jr. kinda morning. That coupled with the fact that it's Sunday and that I have the house all to myself makes this my very favorite kind of Sunday morning. Mike is at the cabin with his brothers, Ted left for Madison on Friday and Lily has yet to return from a sleepover. Tigger is back in bed. I'm a stickler for a daily and particularly made bed, but he's a big fan of soft nooks and crannies, so I indulge him. I'm grateful that Lils and I pulled the trigger and went to the wildlife sanctuary yesterday. It was a perfect fall day for trail walk with friends. Wild life sanctuary is a glorified name for a zoo, but believe me when I tell you this is like the Ritz Carlton of zoos. I only feel a slight sense of guilt for their captivity. Lily drove us in her new Jeep along country roads bursting with color. The drive alone filled me up. The stories from the day will be the fox who didn't like me and the elk we're not sure either really liked Lily or really did NOT like her. The wolves were out, the raccoons were playful and we weren't charged by any buffalo. On the way home, Lily let me stop at a favorite butcher despite the fact she has a no meat rule for her car. I swayed her by telling her I was in search of chicken wings. Chicken is not meat. That's another rule. We were famished so we picked up sandwiches for an early dinner and called it a day. I had thoughts of going out, but all she wanted was Potbelly's. How used to we are all becoming to being home, doesn't bode well for local establishments. 

Blau's was out of fresh chicken wings so I'm thinking I'm going to make a hearty pot pie for Sunday dinner instead. Mike usually comes home from the cabin chilled and tired so I won't send him out to the grill in the rain. It' the quintessential day for spending time in the kitchen, lost in the pages of a book, or binge watching something girl friendly. I got into Liar last night on Prime. I think I can get through the first season before the Packers play today. It's a good psychological thriller. I'm rather stuck in my current read: Dearly Beloved. It's reminiscent of Crossing to Safety, which holds a special place in my book-loving heart so I'm thinking it's me not the story. Timing.

Speaking of which, I had a long overdue visit with a friend Friday night at her request. She's been going through the roughest of rough patches and was finally ready to connect. Things have eased up in her world to where she could catch her breath. We shared a great night. We talked about the tough stuff, but also the good old days of Marquette and Rufus King boys, swapping Esprit sweaters and Sargent Zwitter's Algebra class. I made a big Caesar salad and kept the wine flowing. In the morning, I was saddened to hear that things are exploding in her world again. Timing. No rest for the weary. The other shoe. All I can do is pray for her. It doesn't feel like enough.

I've been saying lots of prayers lately for people I know and also some I don't know. Things feel heavy, dark, divisive. And then I come here and I'm focused on the bright spots in this good and beautiful world.  

 

Grateful

Today I give thanks for...

Sleeping with the windows open. We've had a beautiful week of warmer than normal weather.

Lunch with family yesterday. My brother in law made sandwiches and brought mom and dad over for a visit on the patio. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

Ted came home last night. He was back in Madison for two whole days. We won't see too much of him though as he came home to spend time with a friend who just moved back.

These two besties. Peanut, who has been gone for a year (sigh), was always her baby, but she's won over his brother now. One way she did this was by taking him outside often. Also by brushing him.

Lil's and I had a mid-week movie night. We both loved The Peanut Butter Falcon. It was the perfect feel good flick.

Fall. Today I'm going to get some mums and pumpkins for my porch.

Mike's going to hang some new light fixtures in our hallway.

Thursday night, Mike and I delivered dinner to friends. Pat just had his third knee replacement and we were celebrating the fact that the third time has got to be a charm. It was a happy visit.  I made them my Moroccan Yogurt Marinated Chicken and Red Lentil Dal. Mike grilled the meat and some veggies and we completed the meal with Naan. It's how I show my love...I cook for you. I think the Sweeneys know they are loved. 

This is the gist of the Ras El Hanout. It's a tasty blend.

Mike, our grill master. Bone on bbq chicken breasts are our fam fave.

King of the porch.

One last galette. There were no tomatoes to be found at the farmer's market this week, but Sue dropped some off from her garden. I did score another yellow watermelon to Miss Bit's delight. This time I used a dill Havarti and it was my favorite.

Ball jars.

 Friends are coming for dinner tonight. I'm excited to see them and to catch up. When I'm done here, I'm going to stuff my Portobello mushrooms and make salad dressing.

Thank You

Today I woke up because my cat was petting me. Mike was already on a Zoom meeting at his desk in our room and Lily was in the middle of Physics class at the dining room table. I was dreaming that I was having a baby. I was equal parts over the moon and filled with dread. Sounds about right. It's a beautiful sunshiney day. What we used to call Indian summer, but that's not PC any more. I don't get the slight on this one though. This is the time of last harvest and the native Americans were the first farmers of this country. So much turmoil. Today's news is all about the potential for uprisings if a verdict does not go a certain way. Businesses are boarding up, schools are cancelled and the national guard is on alert. I'm feeling equal parts angry and sad. In theory, it will be a normal Wednesday for me because the threat is on the other side of town. For now. Today I'll work, take a mid-day break to visit the farmer's market hoping to get one more yellow watermelon, read, write, make dinner for my family and watch the debate that I hope is more about issues than insults. Voting is the only way I know to be heard right now.

Yesterday before Ted left to return to Madison, he completed his absentee ballot. Every vote counts. I stopped home mid-day to make him lunch and see him off. He went home with clean clothes, enough to stock his frig and pantry for the next month and flannel sheets. The nights are getting chilly. Mid-terms are next week. Hard to believe, and yet I bought my first Christmas gift this week and Ted is already interviewing for an internship next summer. I put out the few Halloween decorations I have last night and then I settled in to watch a movie on Prime. It was called The Lie and I thought it was decent. It's been awhile since I've been able to say that.

Monday was hectic with Mike, Ted and Lil all trying to find comfortable, quiet space for school and work. I was happy to leave for the office for some alone time. I made Ted's favorite dinner on his last night home and we watched the Packer game despite the fact that I have less interest than ever in professional sports. It was family time.

There was a good amount of that over the weekend too. That and golf. After school Friday, Lily went to pick up her new clubs and then went straight to the range to try them out. She was quite pleased and even said yes to golf in the rain Saturday. Friday night I made a big pot of spaghetti and we had an impromptu dinner with friends around the kitchen island. Just enough for everyone. Then Saturday the boys left for the annual Evans Wegehaupt Match. I made the last tomato galette of the summer, another round of roasted tomato soup, and a batch of Magnolia Bakery cupcakes for my dad's birthday celebration later in the day. I had to ditch the first bowl of frosting because it wasn't the right consistency. The butter wasn't warm enough. Rookie mistake. My dad and Judy hosted an end of summer/birthday bbq. The day felt refreshingly normal. Driving west and noticing the fall splendor, good food, family gathered in celebration, the big buck coming out at dusk to eat the corn my dad leaves in the yard...it was a much needed break from pandemics and politics, and all I can say is thank you. I needed that.

Grateful Friday

 Today I give thanks for...

The month of October. It's my favorite and I plan to enjoy all 31 days of it.

Farmer's market finds. I have one month to take advantage of the fresh, local produce.

Yesterday I got a note in the mail from my friend who is fighting for her life. How she had the energy and wherewithal to write to me, I'll never know. She just finished her 5th chemo treatment and she has one more to go before she gets another scan. She is such an inspiration and a beautiful soul, and I pray a survivor. 

Our painting projects are done. I love the family room. It's so much brighter. I reconfigured some things and it seems bigger too. Now we have to get the floor installed and then furniture. It's going to be such an improvement. We also had the upstairs hallway painted. Why did it take us 15 years to do this?

Before and after...

A belated birthday dinner with my parents. It was so nice to go out and enjoy a meal. I had scallops, which I almost always get when I can. They were like butter.

My dad is joining this century. We gave him an unused iphone and he was like a kid at Christmas. Of course, he's yet to get a plan or get it activated.

Facetime for keeping us connected.

Bring your pet to school day.

BLT day at work yesterday. We had lunch by 11:30.

Celery juice for breakfast. Lil and I approve when it's mixed with cucumber and a fresh lemon. It's best on ice too. It's so easy to make.

Skillet breakfasts.

Debate vibes. Before and after...

Everyone's favorite family member.