So...whats for dinner?

We didn’t get anything stronger than drizzle this morning (guess the south suburbs got slammed), but it’s getting dark out (an hour earlier than last night) and there’s faint rumbling going on. Whoops--not so faint. The chair cushions are in, the deck umbrella’s shut. Good thing I didn’t light the grill for the pork chops I bought--looks like pan-seared salmon and various salads for dinner instead.

Weird thing has been happening. I bought a dozen Vitality Farms Pasture-Raised Jumbo eggs, as I usually do for frying, poaching, or soft-boiling (I buy Amish large brown organic eggs for recipes, ordinary omelets, & scrambling). Sat. morning I made a classic French rolled omelet, which requires two eggs plus an extra yolk. Cracked one open--a double-yolker. Cracked the second--ditto! Two in a row! Then yesterday, I cracked one to fry....yup, double yolk again. My housekeeper cracked a couple for my son--both doubles! And this morning to fry......you guessed it! SIX in a row! I looked up superstitions surrounding it--except for the old Norse mythology of it being an omen of an impending death of a friend or family member, they all have to do with either fertility, an impending marriage or good fortune. Well, I did get good news yesterday. But as to fertility? The boat’s sailed for me, and my female cat is a spay. Marriage? Gordy isn’t seeing anyone. Maybe I need to buy a lottery ticket......

There is a scientific explanation. Normally, the odds are 1 in 1,000 eggs. The exceptions? “Adolescent” hens who release another ovum before a shell can form around the first one. (Just like fraternal-twinning being commoner in pregnancies among both young and perimenopausal moms). And there’s actually a breed that does that on a regular basis.

Went to B’way Cellars Italian 20/20 wine tasting & buffet. I managed to steer clear of the pastas, arancini, risotto, pizza and desserts and stay fully low-carb: Caesar (skipped the croutons) and antipasto salads, insalata Caprese, salumi (capicolla & prosciutto) and cheese (provolone, Parm. Regg., gorgonzola), portobello mushrooms, olives, sausage & white beans (carb, but the good high-fiber kind), and whitefish piccata. Wines to match, as well. For dessert, I waited till I got home and had an apricot and a couple of large strawberries.

Dinner was the last of the chicken - sliced and piled on toasted pumpernickel bread. Dessert was pretzels. Let's hear it for the salt replacement for these hot climates. Popcorn would have been better but I was too tired after PT to even make that.

Like Eric, I'm trying to clean out both the fridge & the freezer. Meals have been interesting, to say the least. The only fresh things i bought at the grocery this week were: a head or red leaf lettuce, a couple of tomatoes, 5 limes, and a personal sized watermelon.

We're playing dominoes this afternoon and i made a Lemonade Pie. It sounds delicious. Hope it tastes the same. I'll report back later.

SpecialK, I'm so sorry to hear of your neighbor's young son! My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends!

Of course, I have added them to my prayer list. 🙏🙏🙏

Had a low-carb (4 gm net) bagel with cream cheese, lox, tomato, onion, dill and capers at noon. Tonight was our rabbi’s last service before retiring and becoming our second Rabbi Emeritus (our first, who still teaches, just turned 100 and his wife is 101). I knew I had to eat early but didn’t feel like making a full meal, so I had a few Marcona almonds and baked a frozen cauliflower-crust mini-pizza in the toaster oven (topped with basil from my garden). This time I baked it directly on the rack--it didn’t stick, but never got crispy either. Meh. At the Oneg Shabbat after the service, I skipped the cakes and cookies and had some cheese, fruit and a sliver of dark chocolate. Just had a scoop of tuna and Jerusalem (diced tomato/cucumber/onion/parsley) salads--didn’t mix any tahini into the latter as I usually do. Have an early morning--gotta get Bob up in time for an 8am emergency dental appt. (he chipped a tooth), and I have to be out of here before 11 am so I can be in w. suburban Bartlett by noon for setup & soundcheck for a 90-min. outdoor gig from 1-2:30 at the Festival of the Arts. Hoping the stage is covered. We have to provide our own P.A. system, but we are getting paid. (Best kind of gig--built-in audience that gets in for free, we get paid no matter what. Those don’t come along very often). It’s supposed to get up near 90 tomorrow, with it getting muggier by the hour. Showers starting out there by 6 pm (I’ll be long home by then) and 8 pm here. Storms by midnight. Looks like I’ll be grilling indoors.

Had two fried eggs and black coffee this morning before heading out to Bartlett to play an outdoor concert --where I guzzled two bottles of water. It was 96--not that hot to you in the S. and SW, but the hottest we’ve had in Chicagoland this year. Cranked up the A/C on the way home and drove with elbows out horizontally, so the cold air would blow on my armpits. For lunch I had heirloom tomato, basil, a mozzarella “pearl” and baby greens, with aged balsamic and olive oil. Tonight I defrosted a bone-in loin 1/2” pork chop, seasoned it with both alder-smoked and espresso sea salts and ground some black pepper. Grilled it, along with a sweet potato, which I cut in half and seasoned with a little salt & cinnamon (ate half the sweet potato). Sauteed some Brussels sprouts in olive oil--finished with supermarket balsamic and black truffle salt. Had a Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese. Ate out on the deck, watching the planes fly in towards O’Hare, the fireflies flitting, listening to fireworks being set off in Andersonville, one neighborhood south, for Pride weekend.

Minus, I have no idea if lemonade pie is my thing, but I do love anything lemon! Almost sounds like a cheesecake.

Dinner tonight was a pork schnitzel, standard dredge except I now use Panko breadcrumbs for the final "dip." [ADDED: had some farmer's market broccoli with a bit of parmesan cheese on top. Local broccoli is a wondrous thing, unlike its long-haul, winter cousin.]

The washer part just arrived [these poor guys working on Sunday night until 8pm] and we will learn the fate of this machine. Mr. 02143 has saved enough energy to take her apart and put her back together. Olivia went on her first plane rides on Friday and did great. Today, she went swimming in her handsome new suit at the hotel pool! She is in Louisville with two close friends, visiting another friend who just had her third baby. Anyhow, thought I would share two recent pictures since Olivia is not a newborn anymore.

on the plane in her own seat.

Love this kid!

*susan*

Wow. Everyone is sure busy!

Specialk, so sorry to hear about the neighbor. That is sad. Prayers.

I had to attend a funeral for my cousins daughter. Her husband died from a brain issue. Sad, he left behind an 8 year old and a 10 year old. She broke down during the service a couple of times and she was not alone.

Susan, im impressed with your AirBNB! I hope you are full every day you want to be.

Nancy, so sorry your dad is not exactly happy at his place now. Perhaps time will help.

Minus, hope your PT goes well and you don't need it long.

Eric, i can see, it is hot down there. My nephew and his family live in Buckeye. Hot , way too hot for me. It got to 90 here. But its cooler by the lake! LOL! Actually it was 87 in the house, STILL NO AC this year. But i sit in frontfront of the fan until the breeze turns and comes off the lake, then i sit outside.

Lacey, im glad your DIL is a calm person. They are in my prayers.

Kidney stones stopped hurting, so called my doc he said keep the CT forfor a flare so they can see whats going on, so cancled the one on the 20th. So far so good. My major cold is gone and Im doing great.

I had pork chops with Kalamata olives and sweetie drop pepper butter. Yes. One of the home chef recipes LOL. Sweetie drops are red, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, slightly hot peppers. About half as hot as an jalapeño. Really good. Cucumber salad as well. Yum. yesterday was just a turkey sandwich

Sorry I know I missed a lot if you. Im reading but not posting

Much love to all.

Minus, fingers crossed and in your pocket as you go through this procedure! Rooting for the easy fix!

Susan, Olivia is just so adorable!

Left CT this afternoon for NJ after a delightful overnite visit with my "stepmother". She is such a trooper....been through so much physically, yet carries on impressively. Sharp as a tack, good humor, and well connected with a strong social network despite so many close friends dying over the last 20 years. A pragmatic and spiritual soul, she has her own departure well planned, so enjoys life and prepared for afterwards. We went to a local Italian restaurant last night, and several folks came over to greet her and chat. ...a well connected and respected lady, who turns 89 this coming month.

At the Italian restaurant, DH and I loved the menu, but lamented the fact that braciole was not a choice. Anne suggested that we ask if they might have it....and lo and behold, they did!! It could have been cooked a bit more to tenderness, but they get A for effort!

We had lots of traffic from there to here, but finally arrived in late afternoon, much to the delight of my grands who immediately handed me sidewalk chalk to use on the flagstone walkway with them. We never stopped moving until they crashed quite late...and first day at new camp tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will share some pix of the Persian vegan meal we had tonight with a large crew. It was sumptuous! Heartfelt chat with and about DDIL's dad is happening along with every other busy activity here. It is extremely hard to picture this scene minus him.

More tomorrow. I am wiped....

Sandy, Yay! You finally can get your thumb taken care of, what a relief that will be!

45 years?!? Congratulations!! I'm so excited for you! Happy Anniversary!!

GREAT news. The problem with the port is a 'fibrin sheath'. it's a growth that functions like a one way swinging door - in only. So hooray, I can use the port for the nuclear contrast for PET/CT on Wed. And then get it taken out next month. Thanks to everyone for sending good luck.

Sandy - Both of my thumbs do pretty much what you're describing. I too get cortisone shots below the web and it often takes 2 or 3 days for complete reaction. Interesting that my left thumb started at least two years before I had any issues with the right. Left is down to a shot every 9 months to a year. Right is still requiring a shot every couple of months. And oh, Happy anniversary.

Lacey - sounds like a good trip so far. Isn't it fun to go out with 89+ folks and see all the people they know and hear their views of the world. Looking forward to the Persian food pictures.

Susan - how did the washing machine repair go? I can't imagine running around to borrow a machine with people booked all of July.

Special - I hope you are hanging in there with your neighbor. How devastating to lose a child.

Moon - glad you're out of pain. Always good to see your posts.

Missing Carole but I know she's glad to be out of the heat & humidity of LA.

Minus, Oh I am so relieved for you!!! That is great news indeed. Is the port removal done with anesthesia or without? I have never had a port so I am not well-versed in all the things ports.

The replacement part allowed us to do 1.5 loads before it failed again. Not acceptable! A new machine will arrive tomorrow morning. Not anything we had budgeted for, but it is a turnover day and I need a washer. Sadly, all the sheets that I cleaned for the BNB will be needed for our own bed tonight since our sheets were that final .5 load and they are totally soaked with soapy water. New person comes tomorrow afternoon, so the minute that machine is installed, it will be put to work.

Stomach hasn't been happy today, so food is of little interest.

I think Carole has her hands full managing that summer resort. Previous summers we have been told stories of boats, fancy breads, fish fry's, fishing, and fabulous food.

Hope Lacey is having a marvelous time with the family.

*susan*

Also relieved for you, Minus, but know you will be most content when this is in the rear view mirror.

DH and I spent most of the day with DDIL'S parents supporting them as they process and plan for the next steps for treatment of her dad's lung cancer. He will start chemo next Tuesday.

On a lighter note, here is a pic of our grands about to be picked up for their first day at day camp. Note ratio of kids (2!) to adults/cameras (5!). We are a crazed group!

Here are some food pix from yesterday's Persian Vegan meal....

I cannot name a thing other than salad! But all was delish and I learned that I really like green beans with basmati rice mixed with tomato paste and cinnamon.

Dead tired tonight...heading home tomorrow.

Lacey, that is an amazing feast! Who did all that cooking? What a huge effort it must have been! I do find the number of adults with cameras to memorialize the first day of camp as funny as you do. These children must feel that the entire world revolves around their accomplishments. When do you meander back home? Can we assume you head to lake soon?

Minus, I seem to have missed when you are having that port removed. Can you restate [in case my weak brain just missed it?]

Today was a big kitchen day, and it was bloody hot and humid. Dumb me. I made three loaves and 5 rolls with the latest rye dough. My current guest was quite excited by rye bread for his breakfast, so that is what he is getting! A rye roll with a mini Bon Maman strawberry jam, the house made granola, fruit salad [he makes it in the morning from the available apples and bananas and he has NICE knife skills.] This guest is here for a full week, so it all feels different. This visit is a bit more personal. Did I mention that my tumor markers are stable? I just can't remember..... anyhow they are. No more Dr. Christina until mid-August.

*susan*