Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Mikey is home sweet home.

I just found out that Elizabeth Strout has a new book out. I've got a few to finish before I can justify starting another so hopefully this is the incentive I need.

 

 The day lilies are in bloom. They make the front of the house look so happy. Peonies too.

 

 

 Fresh herbs on the patio.

 Strawberries in the flower bed.

 Salad weather. Especially when there is fresh burrata and a good medley of Italian olives in the frig.

 

 

 Happy hour.

 

A cease fire in the Middle East.

 

Getting out for a walk before storms rolled in last night.

 

 Knee is good and neck is too.

Scheduling a call with my aunt last night. No work talk...just catching up and talking about travel plans. 

These two. Such special souls. 

 

This picture of Lils I found on my phone. She reminds me of my mom. I think it's the sunglasses.

 

Gus helping Ted and Meryl make salsa for a pool party last weekend.

 

 Their spots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink nails.

July 4th sales. Our 30 year old washing machine must be retired. Dan cannot fix it because they no longer make the part he needs. He didn't charge me for the service call and confirmed that Speed Queen is the way to go. They are being delivered Tuesday so no laundry for me this weekend!

Impromptu plans with Pete and Sue tomorrow.

It's supposed to be a beautiful 75 degree day tomorrow. Perfect for a walk and cocktails on the patio.

I took some pictures and I wrote some words this week and it inspires more. 

 

Oh Hey

Summer is rolling right along, but on the calendar it only just started, and on cue the extreme heat hovered and scorched. Ted picked up a slip & slide. I came home from a long overdue mani/pedi Saturday afternoon to quite the spectacle: Ted and five bikini babes in the backyard flinging themselves across the yard like they did when they were kids and so much closer to the ground. I didn't take a picture, but I'll remember the smile it brought to my face for a long time. Of course, these kids are all grown up and I truly ponder how? when? wtf? I love this season of parenting (most of the time). My two are amazing young adults that I'm lucky to spend time with. I suppose I'm waning a little because Ted and Meryl are moving next week to a loft in the Third Ward. So not far away, but it still feels like an ending. Yes an ending, but followed by a beautiful beginning.

Last week I tagged around a bit with Meryl while she was apartment hunting since Ted was hard at work. I tried to keep my opinions to myself except for when a matter of safety. She pared it down to two that they both toured on Saturday and made a decision. The place is light, airy and updated in the building next door to some of Ted's buds. I think they're going to have lots of fun living within walking distance of so many cool spots. I'm excited to see what they do to make it their own.

It brought me back to the first place Mike and I lived together. It was no where near as enviable in style or location as the kids' digs, but we had a lot of fun in the couple of years living there. When you opened the front door, you had a view straight into the bathroom. My closet was in the front hall and exercise equipment was part of the living room decor. There was no fancy workout room or other amenities. We also weren't shilling out the rent they are, but new job and promotion and they're off. I made them promise to come home often and to bring Manny when they come for Sunday dinner. He kind of likes it here at Casa Wags where breakfast is served at 9 o'clock and there are seats with a view.

 

Yes, he's on the counter.

 

And on Gus's hammock.

We did a little stopping in the wards and the lower East side on our way home. The public market for a snack, Ashley's store for new apartment inspiration, Gloriosos for a cartful and Kopps where Meryl treated us to both flavors of the day. Hard to choose between red velvet Oreo and chocolate chip cookie dough. It was nice to spend some one on one time and I told her as much because I'm working on saying the things I assume people know.

Mike's been on the road the past two weeks...MA, NH, OH, PA...coming home just in time for the weekends. Two weeks ago we celebrated the fathers at my dad's. We were able to enjoy the deck on the beautiful, mosquitoless day. There were turkey galore though and a yummy bbq. My dad grilled and made Cherry Clafoutis for dessert. That was a first. I'm usually the baker, but I'm loving how my Dad and my brother are getting into it too just like my grandpa did later in life.

My biker boy.

Theirs and mine. The best.

And keeping it real with these two.

 

My Dad's favorite gift.

 

I didn't get a picture of Mike and the kids, but Lils and I got a selfie.

Last Saturday we celebrated Jess's fabulous fifty. She's been my little sister since we first met when she was 19! It was a nice, one table intimate crew for what was an impressive tasting menu and a lovely gathering. We ate everything from caviar, to pork belly to quail eggs and the most delicious corn bisque garnished with popcorn. She hired after dinner music so we refreshed drinks and convened outside to enjoy all the Taylor Swift covers. Jess is a diehard, loud and proud Swifty and it's just one of the things I love about her. I didn't take many pictures because Jess is not a fan, but Candace grabbed us for one sweaty shot. Hello 90s. Evidence. We came. We celebrated. We loved.

 

I love these ladies so much. Tried and true through good times and bad.

And these ladies too.

Lils is living her best life this summer. She's working hard and saving money, having fun, keeping fit. Her life is a life in balance and I aspire to be more like her.

Gus though...he lives the most charmed life of all. 

 

Proof of Life

 

I've been sleeping like and with the dead. My dreams have been full of strife, conflict, unrest...demons. Not the evil kind, but those that are self-made and harder to battle. I'm thinking I need to rethink my evening programming choices.

Last night Ted and I got sucked into a animated film about a robot, a goose and a fox. It was nostalgia on high. We didn't miss a Disney or a Pixar film for a decade plus, but before that was news and 1923 so yeah...not very zen.

That being said, when I woke from literal mayhem, I was greeted by the most beautiful morning after yesterday's heat and late night storm. It's a window open kind of day. I'm already looking forward to my evening walk. Whatever was going on with first my right and then my left knee has abated. Just so the rain stays at bay until I'm done. I love a good thunderstorm when I'm home safe and dry.

On the hottest day of the year, we made pasta. I had beautiful fresh peas which are perfect with parmesan, pancetta and pasta. Today's leftovers are hitting the spot with a side of big, fat, roasted asparagus I made for Ted because he has yet to learn the worth of the pea. Lily had ice-cream. It's dairy and summer.

I cannot believe it's already Thursday or mid June for that matter. We are just about half way through 2025. Fleeting time disquiets me. Ironically, the whirlwind silences me. I lose my words and stop thinking in stories. It's pops and buzzes. Flashes. Moments on the move.

Yet today I felt compelled to wear pink, green and pearls, listen to music on my ride to work (Boz Scaggs, The Stones and Paul Simon) and to come here today. Not with anything illuminating to say...more like a proof of life. I'm here. Life is good for the most part. I am happy most of the time. I feel blessed always.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Baking means you have more than enough: more flour, more butter, more eggs, to make more cake than you need for just you. It means you have something to give away. Baking is an act of generosity, and thereby an act of freedom, since to be generous is to be free from the smallness of thinking only of yourself. Jessica Fechtor

What a beautiful sentiment from Jessica Fechtor's memoir Stir. This quote sums up what I so love about baking. The cake I recently made was lovingly shared with neighbors, friends and co-workers.

Saturday afternoon with my book on the patio. A curious doe approached me and got unusually close. I was reading aloud. I think she liked the story.

Spring babes. A mama turkey and her dozen poults scurrying across the yard. 

A new hummingbird feeder. 

New toys for my girl and boys.

A patch of strawberries has taken over my front flower garden. I had nothing to do with it. A little birdie must have dropped a seed and while they are taking over, I'm letting them bear fruit and ripen because my kids eat their weight in strawberries every week and why not.

Summer hours. A very short day today. 

Friends who are family. Fristers. My tribe. 

Champagne toasts to 50 years of life and 30 plus of friendship. 

A new pair of Reefs. They are my go to flip flops, but man have they gotten pricey. I found my faves at Nordstrom Rack for half the price.

The first brats of the season that Mike grilled for us in a total deluge in the dark.

Thunder and lightning. Cloudy days. 

My fave snack right now: rice cake with peanut butter and banana: sweet, crunchy, fast and filling.

Shopping my house. The way moving something can give it new life.

Commissions. Just enough for summer tuition and new brakes for the kids' car.

BLTs.

A trip to Arizona is in the works for this fall. A little anniversary surprise for my guy as we'll be married 30 years in October. 

My mil's bran muffins and that no one else in my house likes them so they are all mine.

Lily has a standing Thursday night tee time with friends.

JFK Jr. I applaud him for stating the obvious and taking on big pharma and the industrial medical complex.

Life, liberty and freedom. 

 

 

 

 

Just the Way I Like It

 

It's June and we're falling into our summer routines, which is to say not much structure at all and that, of course, is par for the course. I sleep in as long as I possibly can because I've yet to abandon my night owl tendencies. Truth is, I concede that I'm an erstwhile early riser. The kids are hybrid employees, but Ted's team doesn't make it in much. He happens to be in the office today and Lily is working from home. I never know until I get up in the morning just who is occupying their bedroom offices. This working from home is getting expensive because my two have become serious coffee drinkers. They love the Nespresso. I just placed a $100 order yesterday that will hopefully get us through the month. I also placed an order for wine. I won't divulge the amount or how long I expect it to last. Oh, and that's for me. I drink my cuppa at work where I happily go M-F.

The evenings are a crap shoot. The kids are busy as they should be. Sometimes dinner is at 8 o'clock, sometimes 9 o'clock...sometimes not at all. I try to keep the fridge stocked and to cook a few meals each week with lots of leftovers. Last night Lily went for a walk with a friend after work before hitting the gym. Ted loaded up his bike and went to train with a friend who is doing an Iron-man soon. They were home after dark and dinner was what they could find.

The driveway is a maze of cars, the mud room is littered with Hokas and Birks and Reefs, there is never enough ice and the sink is usually filled with dishes. I steer clear of their rooms unless I need a blood pressure surge. We had a family meeting about expectations, considerations, chores, but here is where I fail in my parenting. I am a big softie who was raised by one who championed the motto if you want something done right, do it yourself. I'm ignoring the messes because these days are numbered, and I just want to embrace and enjoy this full house feeling.

Ted and Meryl are apartment hunting. Her new job starts mid-July and I think they're hoping to be settled in by then. I've loved having Teddy back home this past year, but I'm excited for the two of them to get their own place and I'm beside myself that they are here instead of NYC or Denver or Cali. Now I'm well aware that they may not stay here forever, but I'll take for now, and so many of Ted's close friends have returned to Milwaukee because it's a rather awesome place to live.

This week flew by after a pretty chill weekend. We went out for a fancy dinner Saturday night with Pete and Sue and spent the rest of the time close to home. All lovely. This weekend will be more of the same. Happy hour with the girls tomorrow and then some planting, some cooking, some reading and writing and fingers crossed lots of walking if my knee feels up to it.

It really is the little things in life that spark the greatest joy. 

 

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

A short week and a low-key work-from-home Friday.

Time for a mid-day walk and a yummy kitchen sink salad for lunch. 

Payday for all four of us! Lily's two weeks in and is enjoying her new job.

A trip to the nursery for some flowers this week.

Happy hour with neighbors and Gus last Friday.

The first ribs of grilling season.

 

The first cherries too...crisp, sweet and tart.

 

A long weekend Sunday bbq with friends.

 

Veterans and their families for all of their sacrifices.

Fresh-cut lilacs that smell so sweet and remind me of our Humboldt Ave compound.

When I asked my husband where I should get dessert from last weekend, he suggested I make something because homemade is always better. I have to say that everyone who tastes this Strawberry Short Cake, raves about it. 

Sweet lady Hazel always by my side...helping me fold laundry.

Meryl accepted a position as a reporter for a local station. She and Manny will be moving to town later this summer.

 

Madrid

 Finally the day we have waited 30 years for arrives. Our travel to O'Hare and through security is seamless. We even have time for a drink before we board.

 Our flight is easy...even comfortable. I sleep for most of it. Mike not so much. Soon we will see Lily. We're excited. Viva Espana!

Madrid was the perfect introduction to Spain. It's quaint and lively at the same time, rich in history, art and tradition, easily navigable, yet full of sweet spots and surprises. It's a big city with small city vibes. We flew overnight and arrived during siesta so we obliged. Our first post-nap stop was El Mercado de San Miguel for a little happy hour: olives that tasted like butter and 4 Euro chatas of wine...two of my faves. Every city has at least one market, and they are always bustling. When in doubt, it's the place to go for a snack or a meal or just to people watch.

 

Mike did some searching and found the cutest little place nearby for dinner and luckily they were able to fit us in. The signature dish of Meson de Champinon is the mushroom and of course, we had to order them along with some other tapas. Small plates are my favorite way to eat. A little of this, a little of that. Every bite is different and thus completely satisfying. The food was so good and the atmosphere festive. The Spanish guido in the NY tee belting out Sinatra with the organ player was great entertainment. A post dinner walkabout lead to Plaza Mayor, which was nothing if not charming under the crescent moon. Plazas are another brilliant city staple throughout all of Spain. 

 

Day two, which was really day one, started where the night before ended in Plaza Mayor. We met up with Lexi for the start of a walking tour of the city. Lily turned us onto doing this when visiting a place for the first time. I found Lexi online and just knew she would be fun. It was a small group tour (about 20 people) that felt intimate. She was entertaining and informative in equal measure, which makes sense because she's a Brit and an erstwhile history teacher. And if I lived in Madrid, I would want to be her friend. We ended the trek on a hill standing in the founder's footsteps looking out on the Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace with a perfect view to show us Madrid truly is in the middle of nowhere. Lexi sent us on a solo walking tour through Madrid to La Macarena in La Malasana neighborhood for a lovely late lunch. It was a local spot a bit off the beaten path. Local spots are the best spots especially when vetted by someone you'd hang out with, break pan with, drink vino with.

 

 

 

 Said vino lead to siesta. God are Spaniards smart. We are still unseasoned visitors. That means we're going to dinner too early. Too early because lots of walking and small plates means we are hungry. Cava Bajo seems like the place to go because it's basically restaurant row -51 to be exact. Dinner was meh. It was a combination of lack of atmosphere (hello the 5 O'clock 8 0'clock club) and ordering wrong, but a spontaneous stop at a blues club redeems the night. Hello La Coquette. We wait in line to be ushered into this little cave in the basement to drink V&Ts, eat sun flower seeds and feel very cool hanging out with the locals listening to some pretty great live music.

 

Day three is our final day in Madrid and I already know that we could and should have a day four in this city aptly described as the Spanish Paris (btw I've never been to the French Paris). And while I want to stay longer, Lily will be waiting for us when we arrive in Sevilla the next day and for that we can hardly wait. Today we are touring with Marta and our first stop is the Royal Palace just in time for the changing of the guards. The Palace burned down one Christmas Eve and all of the art and treasures just happened to have been removed hence The Prado, which otherwise would not exist. The Bourbon king invited all of the opulence that is Versailles. Think lots of gold, ornately embroidered walls and murals for days. Oh and 3400 rooms. Cozy. Marta dished on the royals entertaining us with stories of "The Ugly Family" (think inbreeding), Maria Luisa de Parma the perpetually pregnant king queen, Philip V the "frog king" of Spain, and one story of salacious behavior after another all while we toured the proper palace.

 

 

Post tour we walked clear across the city to get to the Prado. The Museo is in an area that gave off Michigan Avenue Chicago vibes that I really didn't need. I love how walk-able Madrid is. Along the way Marta waxed on points of interest and we saw parts of the city we had not yet seen. I can still hear her saying, or something like that. When I knew we were Madrid bound, the very first thing on my to-do list was visiting this museum. Marta really shined as a docent. Her love of art history was apparent and I was ever grateful. I'm not going to lie...the Prado was a little overwhelming to take on in an afternoon. I was most excited to see Las Meninas, but Tintoretto's Washing of the Feet and Goya's black paintings are the works that stayed with me.You want to talk about lead poisoning. The only people worthy of more gossip than the royals and artists.

 

 

After logging 20,000 steps before 3 O'clock, we stopped for a snack and a cold Estrella before...yep...siesta and then shower. We had no dinner plans. We quickly learned that reserves are only really necessary for a handful of establishments. The Bibos and the Botins of the city, which are not quite our vibe. We ended up street-side enjoying Tortilla Espanola and croquettas with a view of Botin, It was sort of perfect. We thought about trying to squeeze in to see what all the hype was about, but instead ducked into an Irish pub to dodge the sprinkles and watch a little futbol with the local mafiosos.

 It was a good choice because we had an early morning train to Sevilla and Lily.