Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

10...TEN hours of sleep last night.

A beautiful week of 65 degree days and cooler temps at night.

My toe is on the mend. I'm really hoping that it's not broken and that I just tweaked it good.

Cheeks. That's what I call him for obvious reason.

 

Earl. That's my starter. I think I righted it, and will have fresh bread this weekend. It'll be my second bake and first solo.

 

 This was my first...

 

Signs from beyond. My orchid, dormant for at least a year, chose to bloom on my Mom's birthday.

 

 

My Puras. The scents are so good and there are so many. I already stocked up on Frasier Fir for the holidays.

Kitty snuggles. It's rare for Hazel and Gus to cuddle up, and yet they did so twice this week so just maybe this is the start of something sweet and new.

 

 

Finally getting into the salon for a cut and color. I hadn't been since April. I'm tired here after 4...FOUR hours in the chair.

 

My Dad dropped off bottles of water he pumped from the spring by his house and a container of his ham and bean soup.

My Dad finally got hearing aids. 

Good neighbors.

Ted bought a truck for a little side hustle he's pursuing. He's always been an entrepreneur. 

 

 Ted's appetite. That's a brat, a hot dog and an Italian.

 

 Always this girl...hard at work, or playing Minecraft.

 

 

 

 

 

Adieu August

It dawned on me on this the thirty-first day of the month that August was long and lingering in a way I don't remember. This is the first year in decades that there is no back to school hoopla in our house.I think not having that looming, allowed for a rather chill stretch of days that I dare admit I'm a little sad to see go even as I know that the rest of the year is my muse, my bard. 

So August, I'm grateful for your lessons and your blessings. Thank you for...

Our CPA...yay Ted! He powered through his last exam to earn his credentials.

A clean mammogram. Making an appointment to take care of some dental work I've been putting off and committing to finding an eye doc.

Moving ahead on some home improvement projects. 

Leaving the watercolor bin on the kitchen counter all week and coming home to find that Lils has been painting in her free time. 

Crafts and games.

 

 

 

Audible. I started a new book during my walks.

Two new pairs of Hokas for all the miles I'm going to log this fall. 

Thinking about resurrecting book club soon.

Biergartens on a beautiful day.

 

Lake Michigan beach days. The water is finally warm enough to stay in, but also refreshing. 

 

A pretty new Brooks Bros afghan for fall.

 

Speaking of which, temps are dropping overnight making for perfect sleeping weather especially with new percale sheets.

My first tomato sandwich of the summer. August yields are abundant and tomatoes that taste like summer are worth the wait. 

All the fruits. Black plums, juicy nectarines, the sweetest cherries and giant green grapes that pop when you eat them. 

Meats on the grill and Mike's expertise.

 

 

Pedis with Grandma Judy and Lils. It's our August tradition. After the pampering comes the shopping and then the eating. Grandpa meets us for dinner. It was Angelina's this year and it was quite good. The cup of chicken pastina made me excited for soup weather. The eggplant strips were perfect and my meatball as big as my head.

 

That week that the whole fam was holed up at Casa Wags.

 

 

 

 

Movie dates with my guy. Last week we saw The Odyssey. It was long and loud, but it was a solid 8 for me and popcorn for dinner is always a 10.

Peanuts in the shell for the chippies. When I was a little girl, my parents would perch me on the front porch with a bowl of peanuts and the chipmunks would come and take them right out of my hand. These days they cautiously retrieve the treats as I keep my distance.

GNO last Thursday. It started with cocktails at Candace's swanky new digs with a lake view and then we walked over to my sil's where we enjoyed the city view and the Billy Joel cover band on the square below from the comfort of the 30th floor.

 

 

Slinky Minky and Stinky Dinky aka Hazel and Gus.

 

 

Mike enjoying a weekend at the cabin with his brother.

Lily was helpful around Casa Wags in his absence this week watering flowers, feeding cats and unloading the dish washer.

She finally unpacked. Michael helped her purge, organize and rearrange her furniture. They're a good team.

 

A catch up call with my uncle and texts with my cousins. Molly just left her daughter for freshman year. TJ and Kate are back after summer travels in Japan and South Korea and the Grand Canyon. 

My flowers have come back to life thanks to the soggy weather. 

The sun, the moon and sky.

 

 

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

My country. Yep, I'm going to say it because while it's not fashionable, it's true and whether you admit it or not...you know it, or most the world wouldn't want to come here. I've never shied away from acknowledging our flaws, but the people are not the problem. The politicians are. Red and blue and now commie red too. I'll save that narrative for another time. This weekend is for celebrating and that is what I intend to do.

 

My first morning view and a houseful of cats. All 4 are accounted for.

 

Crossing paths with a doe on our walk this morning and that we made it home just as the rain started.

 

 

A book that makes me excited to get up and to go to bed. Anne Patchett's characters are so full of grace.

 

Whipping up steak fajitas for dinner at 10 o'clock because that's when they come. Impromptu, but fresh and delicious and together.

 

Finally getting rid of the ridiculous chair and a half, which was always too big for our cozy family room and usually always empty because it's not practical for a gathering. We replaced it with two low profile chairs that make much more sense and are a better use of the space. Of course, it's now an unwanted addition to the living room until we can get rid of it.

 

Room for two.

 

 Knowing who is boss. The cozy basket is the most coveted spot. The cave is second.

 

Summer things. Icy Arnold Palmer's, crisp grapes that pop when you bite into them, pop-up storms, hydrangeas as big as my head, Kopp's custard even for dinner, beer gardens for happy hour, farmer's markets, outdoor concerts, butterflies by day and fireflies after dark, pretty toes, no shoes, and freedom. 

 

 

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for... 

A short week of work and a beautiful week of windows open weather.

 

Lily made it through her first week...only 4 days...of work. She already got a holiday, a bonus and a paycheck. 

A full house of girls getting ready for Don Toliver tonight.

A Tuesday night date for pizza and a movie with my guys. Obsession did not disappoint. 

Lily planned, shopped for and made dinner for us this week just because she wanted to. She made a mean chimichurri sauce for her steak and potatoes. 

A girl's day last Saturday. We saw And Juliet and then had an early tapas dinner. The performance had amazing energy. I literally smiled through the show. Meryl and I loved. The grandmas liked it. 

 

Dinner on the patio, cold sangria, hot potatas bravas, juicy barbacoa tacos and churros y choocolate.

 

Project Hail Mary. We rented and very much enjoyed this sweet little movie last night. Not to mention Ryan Gossling is a class act. Eva Mendes too. They are committed to raising their daughters out of the media spotlight. 

A couple new skirts. This is going to be the summer of the skirt for me.

 

A new cat tree from our neighbor. Her furbaby was not a fan. Hazel and Gus are loving it never mind that our living room looks like a cat cafe. Anything for the kit kats.

  

 

My very own patio cranes.