Oh...Hey

I don't usually or ever blog on a Saturday night, but since the urge has escaped me lately, I thought I'd oblige now that it's here. Nothing profound...just life. It's already been a very good and full weekend. Tonight we are Netflix and couching it. We are in the midst of the German thriller Dark. It is fantastic and mind-bending and thought provoking. It's a series I'll re-watch at some point because I expect to understand it better the second time around. And it's no surprise that I traveled through time in my dream last night. I wonder where I'll go tonight.

We ushered in the weekend with Candace. She came for happy hour and it was so so good to catch up. She let me know that it's been a month since we were together at the Rickie Lee Jones concert. Time flies. She came with our favorite funky brie with bleu cheese. A bottle of wine later and we were mostly caught up.

Since we had snacks for dinner, we woke up hungry. Mike's cheesy egg muffins were the perfect quick breakfast to give us fuel for the day. We took advantage of the beautiful day to continue spring clean-up in the yard. Mike cut the lawn for the second time in a week. We got just enough done to say yes when my brother and sil stopped by for happy hour. I put together a pizza using the cheese orphans and stray Italian meat charcuterie in the deli drawer. A quick balsamic dressed vinaigrette for the baby arugula for the top was perfection. This is going to be my go to crowd pleaser this summer. There are 101 iterations. That's a lot of happy hours. 

The skies are rumbling. Storms are on the way. I'm glad that they held off until dark. Today was Crazy Legs and Mifflin Street Days in Madison so the kids were out and about. It was fun to get random pix throughout the day. Lily will be home this time next week. I'm looking forward to it.

weekending

 

I saw my first chipmunk of the season this morning. I'm surprised he slept so long because it's been such a mild winter and early spring. We spent a good part of the weekend in the yard and filled all of our yard waste bins to the brim. When they're picked up Friday, we'll fill them again. We have yet to touch the back yard. It feels so good to tend to the yard and to get things done. It's not time for flowers yet, but soon.

There were so many neighbors out and about. We met the couple who bought the house across the street. They had good juju and were friendly. I know they'll be a nice addition to our simpatico block. The warm weather brought out new neighbors behind us as well, but we've yet to meet them.

As a reward for our labor, we decided a movie and pizza date was in order. Civil War really unnerved me until I read about it Sunday morning.  With a little context, I am thinking about it differently. Any movie that makes me think, is not all bad.

Sunday we were back at it so it was a mostly productive weekend although there's always more where that came from. Peppered in was an impromptu dinner with Jess to celebrate the boss you know what she is. She just accepted a new job with a new company. So beyond excited for her. Also we had a little happy hour with my brother. It was good to catch up and to see him on the mend.

At the end of the weekend, we threw some burgers on the grill and I made potato salad. It's not something in my wheelhouse, but I threw together the usual suspects and it was D-licious. I had some Yukon gold stragglers and with the price of groceries these days, I'm hell-bent on not wasting food. 

At least one of the kids will be home for the summer. I have a feeling Teddy will be splitting his time between Meryl Madison and Milwaukee as he takes on the CPA before joining corporate America in mid-August. Lils is chomping at the bit to return to Casa Wags. She's over school and ready for a change of pace and scenery. I'm looking forward to the same.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Spring inspiring some overdue projects although I not at all grateful that we had to take down the 3 majestic pines that towered over the yard. Ted once climbed to the top of one of those trees and I thought I was going to have to call the fire department to get him down. They were especially beautiful after snowstorms and they were home to many birds and critters as well as the resting place of a gazillion baseballs and golf balls.

Fiery Red most recently took up residence in the boughs. Today I spotted him in front on our Maple. I think he's relocated.

 

 

We'll do a little spring cleaning inside and outside this weekend and really that's all that's on our agenda.

It's too early to do any planting, but I'll pull out some spring decor and put out the new yard spinner I recently bought that I have the perfect spot for.

Godmother and Godson at the Memorial Union on a sunny Saturday.

 

Magnolia buds. A bustling, bursting campus.

Vicarious living. 

Loie was persistent with her knitting despite the fact that Gus kept her from making progress. She indulged his every whim.

I rigged up a play tower for the kit kats who had to be alone this week after so much attention. Gus jumped right in and on. Hazel is a little more discerning. They've been playing more together and it warms my mama heart.

Lils got the job! She will be the nanny for 2 girls this summer: a 6 and an 8 year old. I think she's going to enjoy the camp of two as opposed to the summer camp cast of characters.

 

This sexy quiche. It tastes as good as it looks.

                                                 

  Gus thinks the flowers are delicious too.

A new pink sweater. I'm back to feeling color.

 

Amber. I put it on the other morning and it made me happy all day long.

 

Open windows. 

The AAAaaaahhh woe woe woe of the mourning doves in the yard.

 

 

weekendings

Lately I've been forgetting to stop in here. It's been a weird, but wonderful couple of weeks. There was no Easter gathering. We skipped church because Lily returned from Seaside at midnight. I won't do that again, but I must confess that I haven't been going at all regularly. It's really not a good thing.

Good Friday we had lunch with my brother and then dinner with my MIL and BIL. I cannot tell you the last time I've eaten out for two meals in one day. Not doing that anytime soon even though both were lovely. Shopping Costco with my brother was a trip and seeing my MIL after her months long trip was long overdue. I have to admit that I felt sad. Mark's birthday was the 28th and he's been on my mind. My heart's been heavy. He'll be gone a year soon and I so miss his kind soul. His loss leaves a huge hole in the family.

We had a speedy visit with Miss Lil before we packed up the car with groceries and ready-made, homeade meals for both kiddos and headed back to Madison. Baking and cooking for them was my church this weekend. I hope God understands.

We arrived at Ted's before he did. He flew overnight from Hawaii and made it home shortly after we made it to Brooks Street. He and Meryl were tired from a fast, fabulous week and overnight travel, but we got to hear a little about their trip and see some stunning pictures before leaving them with a pasta dinner and time to re-calibrate for the week ahead. The re-entry they were none too excited about.

There's a month left of classes. He'll be a Masters of accounting, Meryl will get her degree in Journalism and Lily'll be a junior (or really a senior thanks to those AP classes she worked so hard for and are now on the way out because "fairness"). It's a challenging month too because spring fever is contagious and infectious. It's near impossible to remain focused and it's inevitable that melancholy will set in especially for the grads. Those lasts are tricky. Heck I feel it too and I'm 30 never your mind years removed.

I'm home all alone now, but my aunt came for a visit Wednesday and kept me very very busy in the best of ways. It was a visit that was organic and effortless. That's the best kind of guest. She's comfortable at Casa Wags and she fits right in. Nothing makes me happier than when people are comfortable in my home. Make yourself at home, help yourself, my house is your house are not just rote sayings. It's what I mean and want.

We had lots of time together and with others too. I think my favorite was Thursday night when she chopped all the fixings for a kitchen sink salad and I made a loaf of bread, and we ate while watching Top Chef, which is in my city this season. It was just a relaxed and ordinary night. The rest of our time was go go go and there were plenty of other highlights.

We visited with my parents over lunch and Teddy over a pizza and a pitcher of beer at Memorial Union. She got to see both of the kids' pads and meet some of their friends. It was a beautiful day for a walk around campus. We also went out with two of her oldest friends...friends I've known literally my entire life. My brother and SIL came for a visit Sunday afternoon and then Loie left at the crack you no what of dawn Monday morning. 

Mike left for a few days in Chicago Monday afternoon. I'm here with Hazel and Gus who are missing Mike and Loie. Hazel's been especially chatty and Gus has been waking me up in the middle of the night for snuggles. His little wet nose against mine usually does the trick and when that fails, he bites my sleeve (and sometimes my arm) to get me to pet him. I'm a sucker for his sweet face.