Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

A much needed break from Instagram. I feel like I have a healthy relationship with this platform, but sometimes it's good to step away.

Realizing I have JOMO not FOMO. There is joy in missing out, in shedding the people and things that no longer spark joy in my life.

Spring showers. I'm a pluviophile, which is to say a lover of rain.

My husband for taking care of business. Next week we get our tree work done. Sadly, our big Ash has succumbed to the Emerald Ash Borer. And while I hate to lose trees, we're also having the crab apple in the front removed because it isn't healthy either. He also found us a new accountant.

Getting to chat with my aunt and uncle on Saturday. They are both vaccinated and hopefully we can see them this summer.

A pileated woodpecker in our yard. I only got to see Mike's pictures, but I hope it comes back.

There seems to be a light at the end of this COVID tunnel. With more people getting vaccinated and the move toward herd immunity, there is the promise of normalcy.

A good week at work. Business is picking up and we are all very excited about that.

I finished The Power Couple.  I started so strong reading half the book in a night and then I limped along partially because I disliked the power couple, and the way the author, who is a man, wrote about women. I finished it and now I'll forget it.

Last night Candace came to share a bottle of Bordeaux and what's been going on in our lives lately. She also came with a basket filled with baking tools that she won in an auction. It felt a little like Christmas.

Accumulating Easter basket loot.

Palm Sunday this weekend and knowing we will be in our pew.

Weekending

It was a stretch of sunny, warm for just spring kind of days. I felt compelled to finally pack away the last of Christmas, to hang spring wreaths on doors and to plan a whole meal for the grill. It's not time to plant flowers or to open windows, but it will be before long. Saturday was the first day of spring after all. The birds are loud and the critters are frisky. It's in the air.

Jess felt it too and she was looking to get out so we decided to have dinner at Casa Wags Friday eve. Mike was out watching the Badger victory so it was just the girls. I stopped at a local market and stocked up on an assortment of cheese orphans. They're the just right sized leftover pieces from the giant block. It's a great way to try an assortment of fancy varieties. We enjoyed the four strays equally and devoured the entire container of garlicky green olives. That would have been enough except that I promised her dinner. By Friday, the frig is spotty and I don't eat meat so I decided on easy Egg Yolk Ravioli with a big pot of sautéed baby spinach. Not bad for the end of the week if I do say so myself. We tucked an egg yolk between two wontons, seasoned them and sealed them tight and then boiled them for a quick couple minutes. Brown butter and Parmesan completed the dish. Fresh herbs are also nice, but Friday. There was just enough Triple Chocolate Tart to call dessert for our guest so it was sort of perfect. I still owe Jess a whole tart of her own. It reminded me of the good old days when we would get together at least once a week and often on a whim.

Saturday was a beautiful mid- March day so after to dos, Mike, Lily and I were eager to get outside. We went for a walk to get our daily dose of vitamin D. We were hoping to take the river trails, but the ground is still too wet so we stuck to the path. The wind was off the lake so at times the wind was brisk, but the sun is strong this time of year. It's all about the sun. Truth be told we had tickets for 4:30 mass, but as they day unfolded it was church or exercise. We decided on the later and only a tad guiltily. I was responsible to bring dessert to Pete & Sue's that night. I made a Stout Skillet Brownie to be served with a scoop of whiskey pecan ice cream. Let's just say that we all cleaned our bowls. Dinner was a lovely end to the same kind of day. And while Mike and I agreed to be home by midnight, we missed our curfew by an hour. We can always burn the midnight oil when we get together. The code words for the night were body guard and thrust. These two have gotten us through this pandemic. And pretty much life.

Sunday morning was lazy. Just the way we like it. Lils had lots of homework. The amounts lately are staggering. We got in workouts, a Zoom call with Ted, and a Badger loss this time. Mike prepped and grilled the fixings for fajitas for dinner and they were ahmazing. They tasted like summer. And while that is what is to come, I'm content where we are right now.

Home

\'hom\

1. A dwelling place

2. A social unit

3. To the center or heart of something

4. Native land

5. Focus point

6. Heaven

St. Paddy's Day makes me wistful. It was one of my mom's favorite days of the year. She was proud of the Irish heritage bestowed upon her by her father, Mack McGurk. I never met him, but I feel like I know him because a little leprechaun told me that my mom got her smiling eyes from him. There is comfort in knowing they are together telling jokes and toasting with green beers.

I wore her shamrock scarf and carried my lucky charm with me all day. I felt like she heard me when I told her I missed her and cannot believe it's been eleven years. I know it's no coincidence that I pulled up her obit yesterday. She was with me. Reading it brought back the memory of writing it with her a couple weeks before her passing. It sounds macabre, but it was a comfort to us both and we laughed as much as we cried. I felt relief that I wouldn't have to write her goodbye in the throes of grief. It gave her a semblance of control. We both felt the repose of accepting what was happening. Surrender, although nothing about it was sweet.

I also made the connection between Teddy's business school application being due on this day... March 17th. I felt buoyed by clichés like luck of the Irish and third times a charm. I may have asked for divine intervention. For the love of God, this kid has gone way above and far beyond. His grades could not get any better. His professional and personal experiences are standout. It's competitive especially given his demographics. I read his essay before submition yesterday and I was impressed by the level of insight he portrayed. Things have always come relatively easy for my firstborn. This has not been easy and in this lies a valuable lesson...one of perseverance. Grit goes a long way.

He's thinking of coming home this weekend. I like to think he's missing us. I think it's his gym. Normalcy to be honest. I'm so grateful he can get on a bus and be home STAT. I was a frequent flier on the Badger Bus. I missed home as much as I loved my new life. So many of my friends were still there, my mom, my dog and the boy who broke my heart just before I was set to go.

I started feeling schmaltzy after we had a visit last weekend from a young man who lived at Casa Wags  before we did. We bought the house from his parents. He was showing the house across the street. He called his mom in Atlanta and told her he was outside. She urged him to knock on our door. We asked him in for a walk down memory lane. There have been countless times I've wanted to knock on the Idlewild house door and be invited in. I envied his mettle. He was all I had my graduation party in this room, I had the big room upstairs, is that bathroom still pink, I watched Falcons games with my dad in here. And then he told us that his dad passed in October. He passed from Covid. It wrenched my heart when he said with disbelief, I had two healthy parents in September. I know what that feels like. He thanked us and mused that the house has good karma. I couldn't agree more.

Weekending

It felt like spring this weekend. We went for a long family walk at the lakefront on Saturday afternoon. It was sunny and in the 60s. It was a dog and baby parade. I saw everything from a bare chested biker to people all layered up. Yesterday it was cool and crazy windy. It's starting to snow right now and that's about right for spring in Wisconsin. We're betwixt and between. Cue the seasonal confusion.

We stayed close to home for the most part of the weekend and that is fine with us. I was happy that Lily got together with girlfriends for a sleepover Friday. She's been spending most of her time at home studying and working out in her free time. I'm supportive of her commitments to school and health, but I think the isolation that is this pandemic has made these teenagers feel withdrawn. The aloneness starts to be normal. It's not. It's not healthy. I try not to prod and pry because that is a surefire way to shut down teenagers, but I worry. And I get it because I am feeling the same way.

While she was away behaving like a teenager, Mike and I behaved like tired adults at the end of the week. We made pizza and watched movies. We had two good picks and the perfect relaxing, entertaining night.

Jess accepted an invitation to come for burgers on the grill Saturday night and it was just so good to see her face after several months. It was also good to finally pick out carpet. I knew Jess would give me her honest opinion.

Sunday was the perfect day of sleeping in, sitting with my book, spending time in the kitchen and getting in a workout. I made a Zucchini Gratin I've had on my mind. It was a simple dish of onions, zucchini, cream, bread crumbs and Gruyere and it was perfect alongside grilled chops and wild rice. I also made individual triple chocolate tarts and I didn't even realize it was 3.14. Jess was the initial inspiration for this dessert so if you happen to read this...I owe you one. I just dropped off two at Linda's for her birthday. She's still home recuperating.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Acts of kindness. It's what I'm working on for Lent. I did pretty good this week.

Allen v Farrow. Salacious. I'll never be able to watch another Woody Allen film. I Googled him and found out that he adopted two girls with Soon Yi. They look shockingly like she and Dylan when they were young. Rich, white, powerful men can do what they please.

Daffodils. I always buy the bunch that has yet to bloom.

It only takes a day and then they last all week.

One pan meals. I have to talk about this Spanish Sheet Pan Chicken because it's as delicious as it is easy. It's adapted from Smitten Kitchen. I don't add chorizo because it makes it too greasy. I add jalapenos because we love the heat. I use boneless, skinless thighs. Don't skip the olives or the quick pickled red pepper. They add briney and bright elements that cut the richness of the dish.

 

And my new favorite is the simple frittata. You just heat up your cast iron skillet. Saute your meats and veggies.

 

Add your eggs (8) and cheese. Let the bottom cook on the stove top.

 

Put it is the oven until it's browned and no longer jiggly.

 

And serve.

Enjoy.

 

 

When Mike goes to Costco with my list although when Ted goes too, it's very pricey. And yet, I'm so grateful that he cooks healthy meals for himself.

Green grapes. Tart, but sweet and crunchy right now.

Jammy eggs with seedy toast. You put the eggs in boiling water for exactly 6 1/2 minutes and then you plunge them into an ice bath, peel, put on toast and salt and pepper. It is my go to fend meal lately.

Taking care of my health. Physical and financial this week. I had a good annual exam with my doc and we had a great meeting with our financial adviser.

I'm still on a news strike.

Shamrocks. I found a couple with sweet lilac flowers. 

I finished When We Were Mermaids the other night. It was entertaining. Then I got halfway through The Power Couple the same night. I'm reading for escape right now.

  

My quartz roller. I don't know if it's making a difference other than relaxing me, but that's something so I'm using it twice a day.

Not attending every argument I'm invited to. Sometimes the best way to diffuse anger whether it's justified or not is simply to say little more than I'm sorry and then to move forward without grudge or judgement.

A pretty new birdbath for my yard, which soon will be lush and green. The snow completely melted this week as we had days in the 60s.

Spring ahead this weekend.

 Zero plans for the weekend. It will be a come what may stretch of days.

Weekending

It's been awhile. I've been keeping things close to the vest. It's not unusual for me during times of change. Currently the change is the weather. The change of seasons has been known to upend me. Yes, even when the changes are more light and warmer temps. When my equilibrium is upset, I feel it.

Yet at the end of this weekend, I feel full. Full as in happy. It has been a stretch of days spent with family and friends. After QT, getting out, gathering - it feels good. The snow is melting, the birds are singing and I'm thinking about flowers and dreaming about that first thunderstorm.

Sue and I had a date Thursday. Our guys were at their hangout playing cribbage so we did a little furniture consignment shopping finding a few interesting odds and ends, and then we came back to Casa Wags for dinner and drinks. I pulled together my second frittata of the week...my second ever. It was a bit of challenge as by Thursday reserves are depleted. We enjoyed the basic ham and white cheddar dish that was elevated by adding shallots and brightened by topping with thin slices of super sweet tomatoes. With a side of pan fried potatoes and a slice of toasted multi-grain bread, it was a delightful meal with a nice cabernet that flowed as easily as our conversation. We visited for hours, but still Sue was home before Mike.

Teddy came home rather spur of the minute on Friday. He needed GFL. That stands for gym, food, laundry in the Guido tradition of GTL (gym, tan, laundry). He's already back at school with clean clothes and stocked shelves. Mike is left with the sore muscles after trying to keep up with a twenty year old at the gym. We headed to my brother and sil's for an impromptu visit Friday evening. After pizza, we sampled an array of cupcakes and aperitifs. We also shared stories and laughs and then played a new game. It was kind of a late night, but one we all agreed was well worth the lost sleep.

That made Saturday a long day as I labored through shopping, chores, chauffeuring and cooking. Linda was released from the hospital early afternoon after over a week in isolation. I picked her up, took her straight through the Starbucks drive thru and then got her settled at home. To say I am relieved is an understatement. Then I got busy in the kitchen fulfilling her request for a pot pie with no carrots and extra peas. I made one for Ted with lots of carrots and no peas, and one for Mike with carrots and peas. I aim to please. #foodislove. I also made a mammoth pot of veggie soup for the week, and twice baked potatoes at Ted's request to go alongside the tenderloin that was dinner. I forget how fun he is to cook for and how well we eat when he is home.

After a lovely family dinner, we convened in the family room to watch a movie. I opted for No Escape because I love Owen Wilson and a good thriller. We were all on the edges of our seats. It was intense. There is no place I'd rather be than with my three on a Saturday night.

I was up early Sunday for a workout before church. I was so grateful to be going to church as a family after QT, and also knowing that Father Tim was presiding over mass. The gist of his homily was that life is messy, but awesome so we should smile. He delivered this message via stories of three people in his life that he gave last rights to last week. You should know that his sermon was much more eloquent than my summary. Post mass we headed to our new favorite brunch spot to meet up with my brother and sil. It was delicious and fun and lively. People were even eating in the aire libre. It was a balmy 30 something degrees. That goes to show how people are willing to do anything for a little normalcy. In true Ted fashion, he ordered two entrees: breakfast tacos and a big Belgian banana waffle topped with nuts and cream. He cleaned both plates and even had room for a couple beignets dipped in chocolate. I didn't finish my one plate, but I still had to come home for a nap before finishing the mound of laundry and delivering Linda's dinner. She admitted to having a rough day. Today she's a little better. The humble pie is getting credit.

We had another lovely family dinner at Casa Wags and the meal was another Teddy request. Spanish Sheet Pan Chicken was on the menu. I made some tweaks and I do believe I've perfected the dish. Ted took the leftovers back to Madison.

I really didn't want the weekend to end, but it did and too soon. Ted is back in serious student mode, Lils has the ACT this week and she's closing in on confirmation, Mike will be back at his desk which is now in the guest room working longer hours than before he was virtual, and I will keep working on my Lenten promises and this successful first quarter I'm having at work. I'm grateful for more positivity and regularity and balance.