Can you say psyop?

How are you? I ask so I can share that I am in a weird place. Really you say. Let me tell you I'm experiencing low level anxiety behind the mostly happy, peaceful facade. On one hand I'm baking loaf of bread after loaf of bread and delivering them warm with fancy butter. On the other, I'm researching bug out bags, heirloom seeds and generators.

I'm getting the news from various sources all day long (yes, highly problematic). What is happening? Take Paris. Are these really students wreaking all this havoc? According to the "mainstream media," yes. These frustrated kids want more teachers and desks. X and reels show something much different and very sinister. What is real? I can honestly say that I'm not sure anymore.

Last night I was scrolling through my phone and the algorithm became glaringly obvious: every fourth video was political unrest. Riots in France, and Greece, Amsterdam, which I'm not seeing anywhere else. The other three were thrifting, Broadway shows and bread baking. Makes some sense. I stepped into a Goodwill recently in search of a big old bowl for mixing my sourdough and now I'm inundated with influencers proving that one man's junk is another's treasure. I searched for entertainment options for my upcoming trip to NYC on my PC and the bread baking is obvious and welcome. Nothing new here, just disturbing. We know our phones are listening to us and yet we make it so easy to be Big Brothered. We keep them in hand day and night.

AI only muddies the water. The ability to create, manipulate, and distort information is a real problem. Agendas and objectives must be considered...questioned. Heck, everything must be questioned. Everyone. And do your research, your due diligence because life as we know it is perched on the precipice. 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Warning- Rant to Follow

 I. give. up.

I'm officially depressed. Literally down and out.

Yesterday I had a fight with the hose and the hose won. I mean my toe (broken), knee (sore), elbow (aching), and hand (bruised) had a fight. I got tangled up while watering and went down, took out a full bucket of water and skidded across the pavement. I sat still, soaked and stunned while the chippies raced around me stuffing their cheeks with peanuts paying zero attention to my lack of grace. I was grateful for the tree cover shielding me from entertaining my neighbors.

Okay it could have been worse, but there goes the many after work walks I was so looking forward. Shoes are out of the question for the foreseeable future. Restricted activity will leave plenty of time to attempt to sort what is going on with my starter. Despite lots of feedings, it doesn't seem to be fermenting. I'm guessing my ratios are off. It's my first solo effort, and I'm hoping it's not my last because an airy, tangy slice of bread with butter would make me feel much better right now.

weekending

Yesterday we celebrated my dad's 79th. Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday. I celebrated her at church today by lighting a candle after mass. Lily wanted to introduce Michael to our parish. It was her invitation that prompted us to attend. I'm well aware no invitation is needed, but sometimes it's that subtle suggestion that reminds us what's missing. It was missing. And while we weren't in our familiar pew, we attended a sister parish so we could connect with Father Tim. He is a spiritual font of inspiration and good chi. St. Rita's is small and humble...lively and welcoming. It was a comforting start to the day.

A cool, gray day that welcomes comfort. I defrosted some lasagna soup for dinner to go with my very first loaf of sourdough. The fam has sampled and given approval so I'm in the process of feeding more starter for another batch because this one won't last long. The kit kats are napping, we just watched the Packers win and none of us are lamenting the come what may quintessential fall day. There is nothing better than a fall Sunday. I swear by it.

That being said, the front end of the weekend was no slouch. I got my Pete and Sue fix Friday night. We went out for burgers and then back to Casa Weslow for more dish and drinks. We had lots to catch up on, yet were home at a reasonable hour for more fun Saturday. We had a nice time on Woods Road. My Dad was luke warm on a gathering, but I think he had a really fine time partially due to his new hearing aids and the wise decision to order in. I was in charge of the cake because I am the family baker, yet I too relied on the experts. I bought a cake Friday, realized it was still at home halfway to the party and then stopped to buy another cake on the way. No idea what I'm doing with a whole cake, but grateful I signed up for Nothing Bundt rewards.

I'm ready to take Father Tim's missive and make kindness a priority this week.   

 

 

 

Just a Few Words

What a difference a few weeks make. When I last checked in here, I was still deep in a summer state of mind. Although it's officially summer for a few more days, signs of fall are everywhere. Mike made the first pot of soup as temps cooled, a delicious steak fajita with rib eyes that were a little fancy for that purpose, but enjoyed nonetheless. Enjoyed while watching the Packers despite the fact they gave the game away. My aunt, who was visiting from Arizona last week, bought my first mum of the season, and some of her sourdough starter, Earl, for fresh bread. All week we fed and proofed and completed the steps. Tomorrow, I will bake off the loaves. Nothing says cozy like bread baking in the oven.

It was a good and full week of visiting: family suppers in, dinner and brunch out with friends, binge watching true crime and old family movies, catching up into the wee hours, stocking up on local favorites from The Spice House, Sciortinos, Usingers and Cheese Mart, cooking together, just being together. I'm already looking forward to more of the same when we visit in November. 

I've been off this week...tired and a little blue. It's a tricky time for me. Monday would be my Mom's 78th birthday and one week later will be eighteen years without her. Missing her is a constant slow burn, but this week my feet are to the fire. My Mom was known to say, What doesn't kill us, doesn't kill us, and I'm still living and loving the best I can one day, one week, one month at a time.

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.

 

 

HBD to Me!

Today is the end of my birthday week. Friday was THE day, but it was a week of special treatment and extra care. That's what I love most about this 7 day tradition...not all the hoopla, but the acts of kindness and consideration. I felt the love and that's the best gift of all.

It's no secret that I love a rainy day. It rained and rained and rained Friday. I slept in, Mike made me brunch, I read and brought out my watercolors until the sky cleared long enough for a walk. That was the only thing I really wanted to do. I was hemming and hawing about evening plans. Truthfully, I would've been happy to stay home, but wasn't disappointed that we ended up at Lisa's for pizza. It's a flashback. It's been a family spot for as long as I can remember and it's been awhile. We got our sausage roni with extra cheese and toasted my mom. That was her pie and it was her day too. 

 

As I'm gaining on sixty, turning another year older feels serious. I lost my mom right after her sixtieth birthday so it's an elephant in my room life. I don't see sixty as a harbinger, but as a reminder that life is short and time is more valuable than ever ala there's no time like the present. This is the time each year I take a personal inventory...I take stock in the coulds and shoulds and the needs and wants in an effort to be a better human. For some reason, I'm finding it extra formidable.

Saturday we met my parents at the beer garden for an afternoon visit. They came with birthday gifts for me and Lils, and not one, but two Lisa's pizzas. Great like minds. It was a beautiful day for a little day drinking and the park was festive with families and dogs and even a band.

We had just enough time to clean up to make it for happy hour at Ted and Meryl's. They were perfect hosts! After a couple rounds of cocktails and Secret Hitler, we ended up downstairs at The Swinging Door for dinner. It's another old haunt that reminds me of my mom. It was a lovely day start to finish spent with my peeps and that's what matters most to this older gal.