week-ending

Everyone is back at school. Ted and Meryl left early Sunday and Lily was back in time for her 9:55 this morning. They'll be home again in a few weeks that I know will fly by.

We woke up yesterday to flurries as promised...just enough to be pretty. It was a good day to take our time and do only what absolutely needed doing. We stayed home save for a quick trip to stock Lil's up on cold brew and rice cakes and other necessities like real food. I baked more peasant bread so she could take a loaf home with the good Irish butter. Snowy days and baking bread sort of go together. 

So do movie marathons and Christmas tree decorating so there was that too. We went with a smaller tree again this year. That means we don't have room for all of our boxes and boxes of ornaments and so Lily and I picked and we chose favorites. Gus got in the way supervised and Hazel slept in her bed under the bright twinkle lights...Hello LED. I'm not sure I'm the biggest fan. After trimming, we filled our fajitas that I made so very easily on a sheet pan...one sheet pan. They were delish. We hung in for both parts of The Mocking Jay before an early bedtime. Catching Fire was earlier in the day. Now I'm ready for the new Hunger Games movie, a quiet week, a lot of salads and plenty of water.

 

Full

I was grateful to wake up to a cloudy morning. I've had enough of the sun. A little snow is in tomorrow's forecast and I'm okay with that too. The house is full and everyone is still asleep. It's been a couple days of festive over-indulgence and sleep is the best reset. Exercise too, but that will come later.

Yesterday I had the post-holiday hangover. Not from too much wine or turkey, but from the fact that it was over. It goes so fast...too fast and it's so good that sometimes it makes my heart hurt. When the kids suggested we go out downtown for dinner, I did what I rarely do to them: I said no. Turns out that was a good choice and we all said so before the night was over. We gathered around the island while Ted and Meryl made dinner. Mike and my brother played cribbage and we all chipped in to help here and there. Ted doesn't do anything low key. His homemade french fries were all impressively the exact same size for even frying. Their menu was inspired by Raising Canes and Meryl's love of Takis. They nailed it right down to the sauce.

After dinner, we settled in for a few rounds of Quiplash. Taki was, not surprisingly, the common thread. Lil came home with friends who are still asleep upstairs with Gus the house gigolo mascot. It was my favorite kind of night: spontaneous, go with the flow, easy. Casa Wags is happiest when it's full. I'm happiest then too.

I'm not exactly sure what is on the day's agenda. The kids have plans with friends. I'll probably do some shopping and cooking so I can send them home with a little leftover comfort from the weekend. We talked about getting a tree. I'm ready. The dining room tree is up and lit. It made me so happy to linger around the table in the twinkle lights last night with my peeps. A little more of that is all I need.

Thanksgiving Eve

I'm finally relaxing with a glass of wine and SNL skits from Thansgivings past. It was a busy day of work and errands and holiday prep, and I only have to bring a tart. As a hostess gift, I'm bringing my parents a breakfast basket for the day after when they surely won't feel like cooking. Someone once did that for me and I remember what an unexpected treat it was. I hope they feel the love in the naughty breakfast casserole and homemade pastries.

Cooking for others brings me immense joy, but I have to admit that I'm a little out of practice. I was really glad that I had a big pot of chili for the kids' staggered arrivals last night: 7 o'clock for Lils and just shy of midnight for Ted and Meryl. They're all out tonight catching up with friends. I'm quite content to be home, but I remember how much fun it was to see old friends and crushes.

I'm happiest that they are all home. I slept so soundly last night with them tucked in their beds down the hall. Especially now with all of the pain and suffering humans are inflicting on humans. And while I'm always thankful for the blessings that are mine, it's a challenge to not have a heavy heart. So what I'm trying to say not very eloquently is that my heart is happysad. I'm aware that my happiness is not guaranteed or everlasting or enough or everyone's.

Tomorrow I'll be the first one up. I'll have my coffee with the parade and my mom. It's my time...our time. The kids are going on a turkey trot and Mike and I will take a walk before we make our way to my parent's for turkey two ways, too many sides, a million unfinished conversations, a dozen family photos where no one is looking and more importantly an abundance of tradition and togetherness. I'm 100 percent good with that.

Hump Day

I left work early enough to need sunglasses on my drive home so I could walk in the daylight on this unseasonably warm Wednesday. I've been loving my evening walks. I usually don't mind walking in the dark, but I've been on a true crime podcast kick and last night I got a tad spooked. My only companions were coyotes and owls and the unsettling stories in my ear buds head.

I was on the path by 4 o'clock. It was dark by the time I approached my driveway an hour later and the sweetest sliver of a crescent moon hung in the sky. The days will continue to get shorter until the solstice next month. Most people groan, but I can be a stubborn contrarian. These days of less light fill me with fealty and reverence. Tis' the season. I embrace it.

I'm going to hold onto it to the point of putting up my dining room tree this week. It's a little early for me to deck the halls, but holidaying my house brings me lots of joy and joy is in short supply these days in the wide world. I'm determined that it won't be at Casa Wags. I've started Christmas shopping slowly. I'm going with the mantra less is more. Fewer things and more acts, deeds, expressions, experiences. No one I know needs anything that I can give them other than something thoughtful that brings a smile and reminds them they are important to me. That's this year's mission.

a little weekending

I woke up this morning before my alarm feeling better than I have in days. I've been fighting off a cold. No, it's not Covid. When people hear my voice, they give me disapproving glares. I should wear a sign that says I don't have Covid. 

Mike's birthday was Sunday so we spent the better part of the weekend celebrating him. That did not speed my recovery one bit, but I'm not complaining. It was worth it. Friday we met my brother and sister-in-law at a hip and happening spot in our old stomping grounds for happy hour. It was a beautiful night to be out and about. I almost didn't recognize the small village where I grew up, and lived most of my life. We ended up at a favorite spot for dinner just down the road, which is known for it's pizza napoletana. The arugula salad was a hit as were the chianti and the blood orange limoncello.

The restaurant was busy and that is good to see as the owners contemplated retiring recently. They decided to stay after the community weighed in as to how much they would be missed. There is a lot of heart in their. Food made with love is the very best. I appreciate the family recipes and the fresh, simple ingredients, and I'm pretty sure that my brother and sil, who are foodies, will be back as well. And hello sticker shock. We have NYC prices in the Midwest now.

Saturday was an absolutely gorgeous fall day to take a hike in a nearby nature preserve before we headed to Pete and Sue's for the inaugural dinner in their stunning new kitchen.  As always, it was a delicious and fun night that lapsed into the wee hours before we even knew it. That meant a slow start to a lazy Sunday at home, and we both agreed it was what we needed.

I'm making the Birthday Bolognese tonight and it'll be a good bowl of comfort to beat the Monday blahs. And while that might sound fancy, trust me it's anything but. It's all about quality ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, a nutty Parm and good pasta - pappardelle for us tonight - and patience. We have it all.

 

weekending

I knew it was going to be a good day when I woke up early and then realized I gained an hour. Slow to go Sunday mornings are my jam. I like to make my coffee and take my time easing into the day. That extra 60 minutes made for guilt-free lounging. A little Food Network, some news, kitty time, puzzles, FaceTime with the kids and the list for the day ahead. Really the only thing on it was finishing up our fall yard clean up so after a rare breakfast - we aren't breakfast people even though breakfast food is one of my favorites - we got busy in the yard. It was a beautiful day for being outdoors too so it was actually a pleasure. Hazel watched from windows and doors. Gus retreated to the basement den where he has claimed a basket of blankets as his own. He's our very own prince and the pea.

It was so good to catch up with the kids. Lily had a rough week, but a much better weekend. She stayed in one night and went out the other, went on a coffee date and stocked up at the farmer's market. I have a care package ready to send tomorrow to tide her over until Thanksgiving.

Ted has been crazy busy teaching and learning. I hadn't talked to him since he was home a couple weeks ago. Thank the lord for Meryl who is so good to send me pictures. They were an uncanny Ken and Barbie for Halloween and this weekend they got all dressed up to celebrate one year together. What a year it's been! They ended up at the piano bar where they met. I love young love. I love them.

 

We had a celebration of our own last night. My mother-in-law is turning 80 years young, We had a lovely and delicious dinner at the Range Line Inn and then returned to Casa Wags for dessert: cupcakes and champs. Two bottles for six of us! It's been a trying year for the Wags family losing two pillars and I think we all needed to come together to celebrate a happy occasion. I am certain this is going to be a much better year for her.

Last week we also celebrated Candace's retirement. There was more champs, a ride or two on The Hop, and seafood at the Public Market. Lots of reminiscing and some good laughs. I am over the moon for her to be free of what I know is a toxic work environment. The good thing, the best part of it is that it brought us together. If not for I wouldn't have a Candace or a Jessica in my life. 

My mom was so right when she said that to be blessed is to be able to count your peeps on one hand. Not every friend is a ride or die and that's okay, but we need our tribes. The few friends who know you and love you through the good times and bad, the pretty and the ugly. They know your heart and they protect it. They know your secrets and they keep them. I'm blessed to have a handful of them.