Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Finishing a book and feeling like I'll be able to complete my goal to read at least one a month in 2025. I used to read several at a time and several a month, but I've had a year long reading fast for reasons I cannot pinpoint so I'm being realistic and setting myself up for success.

 

Reasonable goals. The kind that make sense, move me in the right direction and are empowering rather than demoralizing.

A new pair of Uggs.

A midweek classic...Rain Man. I hadn't seen it since the 80s.

Tickets to see the NYC Contemporary Ballet next week. It's a tribute performance to honor David Bowie. I'm missing my season tickets and hoping that the line-up next season brings me back to the theater.

Comfort food. This Chicken Soup with Gnocchi was ridiculous especially with a skillet of homemade foccacia. 

A midweek family walk on a 50 degree evening.

Lily is loving London. It's another whirlwind weekend jaunt that included most of the newbie musts...Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, vintage markets, Nandos, fish and chips and a pub or two. Tomorrow night they have tickets to see The Book of Mormon.

Meryl and Manny are on the way for an impromptu visit.

Snow is in the weekend forecast.

Last week's SNL. I was LMAO. It's about time.

This sweet girl...Sister One Paw. She sits like this all the time.

 And a few more...

 

 

And Just Gus.

 

Deep Winter

 

I'm fully embracing the January lull. My calendar is quiet. My cats are cuddly. Yes, even Gus who usually prefers Mike's lap. He's become a mama's boy much to Hazel's chagrin so he sneaks on when he can. She's known to shoo him off and stake her claim. 

The days are getting longer and colder. Winter finally arrived, but still not enough snow IMO. It's the kind of weather that calls for the first hot toddy of the season, movie nights and comfort food. I just finished Ina's memoir and was inspired to make her Outrageous Brownies. With a pound of butter, pounds of chocolate and five eggs they are indeed scandalous, but also delicious with a glass of cold milk. I'm a big Barefoot Contessa fan and have cooked my way through many of her books, but somehow I never landed on this recipe.

 

Ted's earned movie picking cred. He's come up with some good ones. I love when he proclaims it's a movie night because I know I'll be entertained and the bonus is spending time with him. I love having him home and while I know he'll likely be moving out sooner than later, later is fine with me.

We're all living vicariously through Miss Lils who is traveling the world and loving it. Thank God for FaceTime. This past weekend she was hang gliding in the Swiss Alps and making chocolate. The weekend before she was eating pasta, pizza and gelato, touring the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel. She leaves for London on Friday. In between weekend jaunts, she's getting to know Barcelona and eager to see the rest of Spain as well.

When I look at her itinerary, I feel very boring, but it's okay because I am dull and happy. A good free day is a lazy morning, crossing a couple things off my to do list and then come what may. The biggest decision of the day is do we go out or order in.  Last weekend we invited Pete and Sue over last minute. Mike picked up Mama Mia's and we had a chill, fun night at home with friends. Sunday we accepted an impromptu invite to meet the fam for lunch in the fifth ward. It was sort of perfect. And here we are fast approaching what is sure to be another slow weekend and that's perfect too.

 

  

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Technology. Being able to connect in real time with Lily as she travels abroad is just the best for my mama nerves and also such fun for me as a wannabe traveler. I feel like I'm with her as she visits La Familia Sagrada one day and the Colosseum the next.

 

Opportunity. She's in Rome this weekend. They booked their economy flights, packed their tiny back packs and are having a big experience in their first foray out of Spain.

 

A house all to myself last night. Mike was out and Ted went to Madison. I made a naughty grilled cheese for dinner that I shared with Gus and I binge watched Nine Strangers before tucking into bed with my girls Hazel and Ina.

Back to the books. Ted inspired us to commit to reading every day for 75 days. Yes, Ted my son who has never been a big bookworm. I have missed this ritual of curling up with a good read and a cuddly cat so I must thank him.

Memoirs. One of my favorite genres. Ina is someone I admire so this book is a good fit for me.

Moving. Another intention for the new year is to do this more. Mike and I bundled up and took an end of day walk yesterday and it was a reminder that even when it's cold, there's nothing like fresh air for PMA.

Getting shit done. It's a theme at Casa Wags right now. Last week, I whipped Lil's room into shape. I started with her room because I was missing her and being in her space felt good. And also because I've no earthly idea where to start in my own room.

 

Cats in costume. These are their new looks. I think they wear them well.

Two dates last weekend. Friday night Costco run followed by dinner out with my brother and sister-in-law. Saturday night dinner with my guy at a Thai restaurant we have wanted to visit for years. It was fantastic.

 

Zero plans for this long, frigid weekend aside from deChristmasing. Yes, our trees are still up and lit and yes, I will miss them, but it's time.

 

Holiday Inventory

I have not been a very good family historian. This space is our running family record more than anything these days. When I started this blog, I was working through the grief of losing my mom. Writing was therapeutic. It also became my mission to capture the moments of our lives so that someday when I am gone, my kids would have a answers to any questions that come up, that they would know how much I love them and that they would be able to hear my voice when reading my words. Now that Ted and Lils are young adults, they don't need me to be their memory keeper anymore, I tell the same stories and they let me know they've heard it before and I know they know how adored and cherished they are. I am shushing out what will become of this space. There are still stories to tell, but the minutiae doesn't feel quite right.

 

That being said, here are lots of photos and a few highlights from our December.

 

Enjoying: 

 

The hygge of lots of twinkle lights and calm, simple decor.  Yes, our trees are still up and lit every night or cloudy day.

 

 

 

 

Baking with Lily and Gus. We only made our eight favorite kinds. Sorry if you received any kitty hair with your cookies.

Game and movie nights. Our current favorites are Catch Phrase and Wavelength. Always cribbage for the boys too. I can recommend Yesterday and Captain Fantastic, but most everything else was rather meh.

 Homemade pizza night too.

Cooking for the kids. Lily, our resident chicken only girl, requested a steak after years of no red meat. Mike went out and bought a couple beauts and she remembered that she really really likes steak. She asked for Spanish Sheet Pan Chicken for her last meal I guess in homage to her destination. She is prepping to be a more adventurous eater as she travels Europe.

Loving:

All the beautiful blooms on my Christmas cactus and that she blossomed right on time.

How much cats love Christmas. They are like little kids in and on everything.

 

How much Grandma and Grandpa love Christmas too even when they say no presents.

 

When you give just the right gift...a solar AI bird feeder for the avian loving grandparents, a travel poster for your brother from his latest trip for his growing collection, tickets to see a show of choice in London's Theatreland.

 Christmas Eve mass...the four of us in our pew. I was next to a parishioner whose son was in the procession to the manger. She broke out her good camera and started snapping away proudly. I shared that my kids were a part of that tradition for many years. She looked at me knowingly.

 

When Manny comes to visit. Meryl too! They came late Christmas Eve for a little holiday cheer before heading to California for the rest of the holiday.

 

Grateful for:

 

Family who come for one last good bye.

 

I

 Thinking about:

 

2025 goals. I'm going with intentions over resolutions. What it means to live my best life. Our trip to Spain. It's time to start planning. Visiting my aunt and uncle in Arizona. This year we celebrate thirty years. Lily turns 21 and Ted 25. How to celebrate?