weekending

I saw a single, scrawny patch of snow on my way to work this morning. Friday's inches melted away. That is spring snow for you. Here one day and gone before it sullies. It's actually behaving like spring now. The temperatures are erratic, but more seasonal, and it rained most of the day. Daffodils are adding color to our landscape. My iris are coming up prolifically. I had to replace a bird feeder because our resident red squirrel, Fiery Red, chewed through the one that lasted all winter while he slept. When I say all, I mean 10 weeks give or take.

The days are getting longer and soon life will be busier. That's all the permission I need to lean into stillness. Truth is I wanted to write laziness or sloth, but I'm working on positivity so I won't. This weekend was languid in the best of ways. Deliberate. Decadent. Divine. We stayed up late watching movies and slept in. Mike made his homemade hash browns and I made scrambled eggs and we actually ate breakfast albeit at lunchtime. We rallied to celebrate my brother's birthday Saturday night and I'm so grateful we did because he is someone to be celebrated. My sil invited us to Ca'Luchenza for a special night of good food and company. I'm pretty sure when I go back I'll be content with an order of focaccia, a cup of brodo, a shared order of the pasta du juor and a visit from the Amaro cart. 

I feel like I'm on spring break. I'm getting pictures and updates from the kids. She is having fun in Seaside sleeping in a little casita with her girlfriend. The rest of the family is in the main house. He is living large in a 9 person villa he's sharing with 4 others on Oahu. Mike and I are good at home with Hazel and Gus.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

A snow day. It started to snow big, fat flakes just as I was going to bed shortly after midnight. I knew it continued through dark because of how quiet this morning was. There is a palpably peaceful, insular feeling about inches of snow.

 

Lily was home long enough to do some laundry, pack for spring break and have a home-cooked meal. Chicken Souvalki and Lemon Potatoes and Crumbl Cookies were a good send-off. She's on her way to Florida.

Jess accepted an impromptu invitation to join us. We had so much food because Teddy and crew were going to spend the night at Casa Wags before leaving for Hawaii, but Mother Nature had other plans. It was a good pivot.

He's on his way to O'Hare right now and will be in Oahu before tomorrow.

Someone has been snuggling more with me.

And also getting along better with his sister. I guess he's growing up.

Hazel and Gus turned 4 and they wore their party props for exactly 4 seconds...long enough for a blurry photo or two.

 

A GNO with Candace and the Duchess of Coolsville. Rickie Lee played a single set of many of my favorites in an intimate setting at Turner Hall. It was such a great night with two of my best girls. Once she came on stage, I put my camera away and just basked in the experience.

Mike and Lils had a dad/daughter date of their own. They golfed at Missing Links, got Qdoba and then watched The Walking Dead.

Jodie Foster. I have recently appreciated her roles as Diana Nyad and Detective Danvers. 

My favorite co-worker.

 St Paddy's Day spirit and pops of color.

weekending

Today was a good day for a Monday. A Monday after a long, full, red and green weekend cheering on our Wisconsin Badgers and celebrating our Irish roots. Bucky gave us three good games and two exciting wins. I think I perfected my corned beef. I made one Saturday and then another Sunday. I'm a fan of oven cooking: an hour per pound at 350 degrees and then a quick broil. The longer the meat can rest, the better. I also made Shepherd's Pie that was my favorite ever. We all licked our bowls clean. A batch of Guinness Brownies is a definite, decadent make again.

I cut out of work early to meet Mike for Friday's game. It was a great afternoon for a day date with my guy and our team. I was shocked he wanted to watch with me because I am a neophyte when it comes to college basketball or really basketball period. Turns out that I enjoy it and always time with him.

Saturday we met Pete and Sue for happy hour at St Paul's after the Badger win. The four of us haven't been together since Zihua. That meant we had a mountain of catching up to do. Dinner was at Casa Wags. I love cooking for them because they are always so appreciative and gracious and such fun. They approved of the St Paddy's day spread that also included melt in your mouth cabbage sautéed in Irish butter and a traditional loaf of soda bread.

What can I say...I wanted all the usual suspects and so I made them even though it was a bit overkill on the starch. It worked perfectly too because my brother and sister-in-law came for some On Wisconsin and a little slainte Sunday and I just carried on the theme. The Reubens were ridiculous and I sent them home with two Shepherd's Pies for the week even though I really wanted to keep them. That's how much I love them!

They Don't Build Them Like They Used To

 

It's another unseasonably beautiful day in the neighborhood. Yesterday we opened windows and walked in short sleeves just before sundown. A tour around the yard showed that green shoots are showing. I almost went to the store to pick up something for the grill, but decided that Caesar salads would suffice. After years and years of making this salad, I believe I finally nailed the dressing. Mike believes it too.

I love this time of year when all the kids come out to play and you can see how much they've grown since fall. Our neighborhood is changing again. When we moved in with a baby and a toddler 18 years ago, we were the young ones who stretched to buy our perfect for us home. We're the empty nesters now and I love seeing the families moving in. The house directly across the street and another right behind us are in the process of being sold. I'm anxious to see who our new neighbors will be. And yet I'm also heartened by the wonderful neighbors who watched our kids grow up and are still here.

Mike is itching to move. It's fiscally motivated thanks to the dreaded "T" word. I agree with him on that front, but I'm not ready to move on just yet. I moved often as a kid. Not as frequently as an army brat, but enough to feel more nomadic than settled. And while my houses were within a mile radius, nothing ever truly felt like home. Casa Wags is my home. I see all of her faults and warts and still I love her unconditionally. I'm one of those odd people who say that I wouldn't sell my house and buy a bigger, better one if I won the lottery. No, I'd just do all of the things on my wish list to make Casa Wags an even better version of herself.

One of Lily's friends said that our house is so inviting and cozy. It's one of the best compliments I've ever received. It's warm and comfortable, but it's also got some real good juju. If these walls could talk, the stories would be beautiful. Not all happy, but more than not. The memories and milestones give this girl her good bones and solid foundation. I'm blessed she's my home.

Grateful Friday

Today on the heels of another weekend I'm grateful for all of the fun we had last weekend in Madison. We went to attend the Badger game and live it up a bit. Teddy was first to point out that it's likely the last hurray while both he and Lils are students. We certainly made the most of our time together. Our epic 20 hour day, will go down as a top day despite the Badger loss and not only because of the 70s in March.

We all met up at Ted's for a little pre-gaming.that involved sprinkle cupcakes and strawberry shortcake jello shots in honor of two of our Pisces. Lils and Meryl were the dynamic pong duo. We played a quick round of Quiplash before game-time. It's a tradition.

While the Badgers lost, I still loved watching the team on the Ab Nicholas Court. I was a bit nostalgic despite the fact that it was my first Badger basketball game ever.

 

Post game we went back to Ted's for more Quiplash (BRad finally won) and we ordered some pizzas. We checked into the Edgewater at the end of the day, and got ready for the night. We walked up to the square and put our name in at the Old Fashioned where I enjoyed my extra briny dirty martini and their rather delicious version of nachos: homemade chips topped with chili and cheese.

The kids and friends trickled in and we were seated for dinner that included lots of laughs with these lovely ladies.

We ended the night by closing the Piano Bar, which is where Teryl met. We got champs with sparklers and seats right in front. We sang along to everything from Billy Joel to Frank to Abba to Coldplay. It was still beautiful for our walk home and we slept with our windows open.

Sunday we had a lazy morning before heading out for brunch at La Brioche where the cinnamon rolls were ridiculous, coffee was copious and conversation was peppered with stories from the day before.

We made it home in time to give the kit kats dinner. They were definitely happy to see us.