weekending

This morning I spotted my first chipmunk of the season and a fat bellied robin having the time of her life splish splashing away in the bird bath. Hazel hogged the one wide open window all the day long. I told Gus I'll clean out the rest of the sills before the next gorgeous day. Today was it for this week I'm afraid.

It was beautiful yesterday too. We took advantage of the weather to get some yard clean-up done. It was either that or packing away the Christmas decor that is all over the basement. Fresh air won. I have an urge to speed the plow because we bought new patio furniture and I just know we're going to be spending a lot of time enjoying it. We decided to get rid of the table and chairs in favor of more conversational seating. After we cleaned the back, we walked the front.  Last summer wild strawberries took over our front garden and after the first frost, moles tunneled in and out of the whole front yard. I need to transplant some irises and ferns. I have a long list of to dos. I have good intentions and ideas, but I lack the green thumb. But like most things in life, a little hard work and a couple Googles go a long way.

After back to back episodes of AFHV, we finally sauteed the chicken cutlets we bought for last week's Sunday supper when we weren't sure we had enough meatballs because we weren't sure who was coming to dinner. That's par for the course these days of cooking for just two: quick cook it or freeze it before the use by date. They were delicious so I'm glad we finally got to them. Now we'll spend the rest of the week getting through them.

Saturday we had a date with Pete and Sue. We drank cold cervezas at Koz's while we mini bowled and then we had dinner at 3 Hermanos in homage to Fat Tony and sweet Lily who was on her way to Cancun. She made it and is having a well-earned spring break. The water is just as stunning as it was when I was there several decades ago when I was in college. I wasn't thrilled about her going, but things have calmed down and the girls are staying at an all inclusive so there's little reason to leave. They are channeling the relaxing beach vacay. They plan to save the sight seeing for Europe in May.

 

Last week we celebrated my brother's birthday mid-week at a favorite restaurant that had a Trattoria pop-up for the night. We ordered right. We ordered most of the menu and we tasted it all. Chef Kyle killed it and it was one of those perfectly satisfying meals without feeling like too much. Think kale and ricotta crostini, crudo, fresh cut mortadella, pasta three ways and a sirloin steak that I can still taste. The best part was celebrating my bro who keeps my life from being boring. I know he felt the love.

This time next week, Lily will be home from spring break and Easter will be behind us. Next up: cousin TJ's visit, graduation and New York. All good.