the living is easy in mid july

We just returned from a late afternoon walk. It was only 87 degrees with 70 percent humidity. That's actually a cool down from the last scorching stretch. I suggested we head to the beach for a dip in Lake Michigan, but Mike went to the shower instead. I'm jonesing for a swim. The water was unswimmable for most on the 4th save for the young and brave, but rumor has it that it's in the 70s right now. That's as good as it gets, which is, by the way, beautiful. One of these nights.

Summer is moving right along at a clip that makes my head spin, which is strange because I haven't been busy. My mood is such that I'm happy at home with a book, a recipe, a puzzle, a cat, a nap, a chat, or the peace and quiet. Perhaps, that's why I'm dizzy...I'm frantic over all the things I'm missing. That's not it though...I'm a JOMO not a FOMO girl and I always say yes to the things I really want to do.

Things like Windmill Beach on July 4th. The weather was meh, but the company was good and the fireworks went off as planned. It's my favorite to sit on the beach and see the displays from all the little and not so little towns along the shore to the north and to the south. This slightly foggy, almost chilly night, the beach was lined with bonfires too. Cue the kumbaya.

Things like reading until I drift off no matter the time of day or night. I finished Whistler and immediately went deep into a book hangover. I loved these characters and the ending was just right, but still I wanted the story to go on. I tried to finish the last section of The Chronology of Water, but I have lost traction with the disjointed story and the stomach for the visceral everything. Upon Dani Shapiro's rec, I ordered Dog Days. It finally arrived, but it is another kaleidoscopic recounting that asks for more attention than I'm up for at present. It's summer. I want a summer read.

Things like cooking simply and seasonally. The Sour Cherry Galette is on repeat at Casa Wags, and probably will be until I make one for everyone I know, or cherry season ends. In fact, tomorrow I'm going to buy the market out and freeze all the containers I can. I made the biggest batch of herby ranch ever for Lily recently. It's quickly disappearing. That being said...dinner most nights is cheese and crackers, an egg or two, or a bowl of cereal with lots of fresh cut fruit.

These days the cribbage board lives on the kitchen island and a crossword puzzle is always making the rounds. My bed rarely gets made and the laundry sits clean, but unfolded in baskets around the house. Most mornings I roll out of bed rested at the last possible minute, put my hair up, rinse off, and take my warm lemon water and iced cold brew to go in record time. When I want something sweet, I grab a handful of cherries, and once in awhile a good old-fashioned dreamsicle or ice cream bar. These can also be dinner btw. Life is simple, the days are long and the living is easy.

 

 

The Glad Game

I almost cannot believe I didn't mention the weather in yesterday's post. Don't worry...back to regular programming. It's cat on a hot tin roof scorching. It's supposed to be. It's almost July. I'm not a heat seeker, but I'm going to Windmill Beach this weekend and Lake Michigan is still in the refreshing 50's so a little hot air is all good to tease the cold plunge swimming will be. I'm feeling extra patriotic this 250th birthday. And while we are still a baby nation, we should be mostly proud of what we have achieved in our infancy. We're on a precarious precipice without doubt, but this is not the time to cut down and divide...it's a time to celebrate, lift up and look ahead with a shared resolve to mend and grow. And to notice that we are better than this dumpster fire we can't seem to extinguish.

This morning when I opened the blind, I was greeted by the best sign of hope. Our resident bluebird was perched on the telephone wire seemingly looking right at me. I decided then and there that I was going to channel my inner Polyanna all day and maybe all week. I'm playing the Glad Game.

By the time I made it downstairs to make my mug of hot lemon water, which I have neglected lately for my new iced coffee obsession, the cranes were in the yard at their watering hole. They are the coolest creatures. The other day I went to put some seed down for them and they started to approach me from the middle of the yard. I was a couple feet from them, which was surreal. Mike and I laugh that we are are now those people who fuss over the birds in the yard.

It was a short day in the office for me. I'm not feeling work much this week. It's a good thing the rest of the world seems to share that sentiment. If it were up to me, there would be shut-downs the weeks of the 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas through New Years. Luckily I have the flexibility now to make that happen, but for the better part of my working years, if the stock market was trading, I was working. Life is so much better now.

I came home early to snuggle Hazel and start Anne Patchet's new novel, Whistler. My parents brought it as a hostess gift on Father's Day and I have to say that a new book is my new favorite treat for having a party. I was in after just a couple pages. I'm going to have to show restraint so that I can bring it to the beach this weekend along with our new cabana towels, my sour cherry tart, and the ingredients for refreshing transfusions, my summer drink.

 

 

What is True?

 Do the things in your story really happen?

 Isn't that the question when it comes to life? 

Did this really happen to me?

~Lidia Yuknavitch  

I got home yesterday right before the skies opened up and the rain came down. That was the perfect invitation to lay down and pick up my book. The Chronology of Water is as heavy as the sodden air, and I'm okay with that. I like an afternoon storm and a broody read especially together. Memory is at the center of this memoir...the things we remember, the unreliability of our memories, the hold they have on us and the way we can harness their power. And then, of course, there is the whole discussion about what does it matter how or what exactly happened if it makes us feel a certain way.

This is the kind of story that must be taken in small doses. It's raw and painful, and provocative. I closed my eyes after a while and confronted a far away memory I know is incomplete. It's a pivotal part of who I am so many years later. Some missing parts came to me. These pieces brought with them a welcome wave of peace even as I still have holes. We are the sum of so many parts plenty unknown to us. We take what we can get.

I often ask myself what do I know to be absolutely true. This is an existential question that is worth exploring but almost impossible to answer...at least for me. Truth is absolute and so little in this life is unadulterated, pure, outright. 

  

Thankful Lately

Today I give thanks for...

Check-ins with Lils as she travels across Europe. I'd be a wreck if I couldn't text with her daily, and chat with...literally see her face...often. Today they're on the train to Prague. Last stop was Poland. Yesterday they toured Auschwitz. She said it was heavy and draining, but she was glad she chose to go.

 

 

The travel the kids are doing has my dad waxing on about seeing his roots. I don't see them taking on a trip like this on their own and I said as much to Mike. My sweet man suggested we take them. We pitched it to them on Sunday. By Monday night, they informed me that their passports are good until 2030. I've already been researching and hope to make it happen before year-end.

The brevity of life has been slapping me in the face lately. Instead of curling up in the fetal position, I want to do and say all the things that matter. The things that matter to me. Not so much lofty or worldly. Closer to home. And things are really people...the people in my orbit.

James Patterson. He was the 2026 keynote speaker. He delivered. His speech was funny, self-deprecating, honest and insightful. It wasn't hawkish, preachy or full of too many cliches, but let's be honest - cliches are cliches for a reason. He told a story of five balls...one rubber, the others glass. Work you can drop, but family, friends, health and spirit are more fragile and require the most care. I'm keeping this one.

 

Elizabeth Strout's Oh William! I finally picked it up and am reminded how I love the way she gets into the nitty gritty of her characters. I know them. They are me...flawed, but mostly good, surrounded by people, yet often marooned.

 

The girls hired a photographer to follow them around campus one afternoon. It was a brilliant idea to get the iconic shots. It certainly took the pressure off me on the day off. In fact, I didn't take many photos over the weekend. I was in the moment instead of capturing it for later, and as much as I cherish pictures, it was the right place to be.

 

 

I wanted one decent family photo of the four of us. Lily was kind enough to put her dress back on since she changed the minute she got home. We're all a little weathered from the wind and the thirty minute walk from Camp Randall to West Washington, but this is us. And the rest of us too.

Cin, Cin! The Friday before we had dinner at Lily's favorite restaurant just off State Street. Three courses, all delicious, in three hours. I'm going back for that octopus deliciousness. My rack of lamb was just as good. As is tradition, we went next door to the piano bar to sing until our hearts content.

 

Badger spirit, red and white, Go Bucky, Jump Around, Lake Mendota and Lake Monona...the isthmus, Memorial Union, Bascom Hill, State Street Brats, and so many other things that make Madison special, as well as the shared pride we have in being a family of UW-WI alumni. 

The birds are back. We have a couple bluebirds nesting in the yard. Daily sightings remind me of my mom in the best way. We also have a pair of sand hill cranes who are visiting often. We all love to watch them including Hazel and Gus.

 

This goofy, lovable little guy.

 

 

This sweet, sassy little girl.

 

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Dry January (pic taken in December)

 

A good and quick week back to work.

Getting up early this morning to take Ted home. We stopped for Starbucks. I love time in the car with my kiddos. They play me the new music and spill some beans.

Ted showing up at 11 o'clock pm...after basketball...staying for dinner and them spending the night.

 

Pistachio lattes.

Remembering George Ezra's Barcelona...A native man sang in a foreign tongue, I still ache to know the song that he sung. We also sang along to Dear Theodosia, one of Ted's favorite songs from Hamilton. Mine too.

Hugh Jackman. 

Gus and Hazel playing hide and seek and chase.

Snow in the weekend forecast.

Trees are still up and I have no plan to take them down.

 

 

Starting a new book and committing to regular reading in 2026. I have a healthy stack to get me through.

My true and constant companion.

 

 

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

The energy and excitement of NYC. It's never been a place I had a desire to call home, but I love visiting. This trip reminded me that I want to visit in December. The decorations were going up and it felt so festive. I've never done Christmas in NY. Yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas spirit feels abundant this year and maybe a little early, but I'm feeling it too.

I've started my holiday shopping. I'm having fun with it this year.

A successful trip to NYC, an excellent December for Katz Consulting and a return spring trip in the works. 

Mike's birthday was the day after I left, but we celebrated over the weekend with takeout Thai and presents. His last gift arrived on his bday as if I planned it that way. His trio of Hub's peanuts was a hit. Hub's are also another sign that tis' the season. The chocolate covered are insanely delicious.

 

Sister Hazel Mae missed me while I was gone. Really missed me. She protested by sleeping in a basket of my sweaters and was not here usual loquacious little self. It's so good to be loved by Hazel.

 

 She's not letting me out of her sight since I've been home.

 

Celebrating my mil's bday this month too.

 

Family is coming to town from Long Beach and Austin for Thanksgiving next week. I'm so looking forward to some cousin time. I think we're all feeling the more the merrier.

A catch up call with my uncle last night, and a nice long chat with Meryl tonight.

Holiday hints...a wheel of Rush Creek Reserve, a wine delivery, Trader Joe's Mini Mint Star Cookies and a twinkle lit ivy wreath, Frasier Fir candles, and cinnamon tea just for starters.

 

Sarah Snook in It's All Her Fault. She's so good! 

Ted stopped by to get a car. After basketball, he's coming back to hang with me. I like a little mom/son Friday pizza and movie night. 

Toll House Bars with extra chocolate chips. If 2 cups are good, 4 cups are better. I only had one, but I hope the guys at deer camp are enjoying them.

Violet roses in a blue McKenzie Childs vase for Sue's b-day, and her thanking me for being Kristinized.

  

Soup weather. Mike is now the maker of Lasagna Soup because he makes it best. Lily requested Broccoli Soup when I returned Saturday evening.

 

 

 Cats in the kitchen.