So...whats for dinner?

Celia: Glad to see you back on the boards & loved your vacation pictures. Thanks for the dressing recipe.

I treated myself to a broccoli salad from Chicken Salad Chick yesterday. Delicious. And picked up my free bundtlet at Nothing Bundt Cakes. I got their flavor of the month - Lemon Raspberry - and it wasn't as good as the White Chocolate Raspberry. Whipped up some guacamole with avocados & tomatoes that needed to be used immediately. And ate it immediately too - which was not planned.

I'm having a bout with dry mouth. I never even knew such a "thing" existed until during chemo (OMG 7 years ago!!!). I've had no problems since so now I'm researching this excitement that wakes me in the middle of the night with my tongue glued to the roof of my mouth. I have already modified my eating habits some & it looks like more changes in store. In the mean time, there is something new called "Saliva Max" that has appeared since my the Biotine of my chemo days. Periodontist gave me some samples. But what about my Marona Almonds roasted in sea salt (sigh). And horrors - it might just be aging....

Carole - my thoughts are with your family.

We've been watching hurricane news as well. A very worrisome storm. Carole - I'm so hoping your family and property fare well. As you know, that's a favorite area of ours and I don't know how they will cope with a devastating storm on top of the terrible Covid situation.

Speaking of Covid - after we returned from our trip, my BIL and his wife (of the contingent who flew to NC) came down with COVID. As a precaution, we all got tested even though we hadn't had contact with them for 9 days. We were all negative thankfully. We were all vaccinated and they had very mild cases but it's still worrisome. They're pretty diligent about mask wearing too. Ugh. Everyone do what you can to stay safe.

Minus - because of allergies, I live with dry mouth - due to a combination of antihistamines and breathing too much through my mouth - so I feel your pain. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and can't even swallow. I keep a bottle of water bedside. In addition, my eyes tear even at night so I often wake with my eyelids stuck together. Not a pretty picture lol.

This week I visited the farmers market and got the last of the local sweet corn and green beans, tomatoes, onions, cucumber and peppers. I regret not getting some lovely eggplant. Dinner tonight will be a reverse seared tri-tip roast, potato salad with tiny potatoes and the aforementioned sweet corn off the cob. Of course, there will be sliced tomatoes as there are every night. I have a squash that needs using but that may need to wait till tomorrow.

Eric - I hope Sharon recovers as quickly as you.

Wahhh! I missed the pictures Bedo! Good to hear from you. Please take care of yourself.

It's been so very hot here but we have had pop up storms that cool things temporarily (even though it feels like the jungle while it's raining). We have a promise of cooler temps starting Monday. I hope so. We've made good headway in eliminating one or possibly two of the three storage units. We hired someone to haul a BUNCH of stuff so I'm hopeful that we can get it down to one by fall. It looks much more manageable now. We just need some cooler weather because even though the units are air conditioned, it's hot work. During the process, I found the box that had all the winter hats. scarves, boots and gloves. I had been searching for it since we moved so now I'm prepared for the next winter at least lol. I still haven't found the crock pot or my favorite baking dish.

auntie - funny you say that - for several reasons - but I had a moment when I considered offering to paint my neighbor's house interior. She is looking for someone and I am sure I could beat some of the estimates she has gotten, lol!

WC3 - good to see you.

Linner was broccoli salad from Chicken Salad Chick, NorQuin Golden Quinoa boil in bag with Lemon Pepper and a Nothing Bundt Cakes bundtlet - white chocolate w/raspberry. Happy hour was 1-1/2 glasses of Crimson Thread red blend wine from CA. (luscious aromas of dark cherry, blackberry & blueberry, tempting hints of brown sugar spice are complemented by supple notes of vanilla & a round velvety finish)

Last night was a braunsweiger (sp?) sandwich with tomato, lettuce and mayo. Side was chips. I didn't really have a dinner plan and didn't feel like cooking. The sandwich was good and I was satisfied.

We decided last night that we would go out to breakfast this morning but I'm feeling so worried about Ida and my family in Louisiana that I don't know if we'll go.

Sorry to be so absent, but have to pop in to send wishes for Carole’s family (and property) to be safe through Ida’s landfall.

Am in NH…spent the month of August busy here with family visits, and, in between, trying to rest to get this enduring (cognitive/executive function) concussion symptom to heal. Late this past week we went home briefly for a med appt, and to connect with my longest childhood friend whose DH had a hemorrhagic stroke while they were on Nantucket and landed in a Boston hospital. While still here we helped her access a medflight service to get him back to DC (their home), but his brain bleed continued and he died this morning, after they decided not to have him undergo brain surgery for the bleed. I was impressed with how my friend and her DH managed his end of life needs. But so ssd. Life is precious….

Our meals here have been mostly grilled chicken or fish (with local corn and my salads) except for when DS1’s crew was here. DH made TWO paellas…regular, and one vegan, for the docvegans. Pretty uninteresting in my opinion. They took us out to Ledgewater, a nice restaurant here, to celebrate DH’s “trombones” birthday. We were amused to see both of our lean grands wolfing down big steak dinners. Things were lively while they were here since the docvegans never stop moving…hiking, biking, boating, calling their practices, etc. We spent lots of time playing with the 9 and almost 11yo grands, which was fun since we haven’t seen them in 20 months. We were so lucky that they were here for our only long stretch of warm sunny days all summer! Rain has been frequent…with intermittent stifling hot/humid days.

This past week, DS2 and crew came with the plan for us to care for Amelia while they worked, since her daycare was closed, and they were both too busy with projects to take vacay time. We had lots of fun with that little tyke who loves to talk, explore, “exercise”, eat pancakes, swim,…..and exert her strong will on a moment’s notice! A fun and challenging little girl! We left them here on Thursday while they hosted some friends with kids for a few days. We returned last evening and reconverted the house from “kiddie central” to “retirement haven”. I am looking forward to not expecting anymore house guests since planning still feels challenging for me. But it worked out well with lots of support from DH.

I only read this last page, so am not totally updated about all of you. I hope everyone remains well, and stays safe from Covid/Delta, Ida, and any impact from our ongoing international crises.

Eric, I thoroughlyenjoyed that chuckle!

Oh my gosh Sandy! That story is just awful & I am so sorry for the woman & her friend.

Carole, anxiously looking for pictures/reports fro your area. Hope all are safe.

Sandy what a tragic story.

They still haven't found the driver of the van that hit & dragged Linda Mensch. They have podcam video of the van, and a clear hi-res photo of the distinctive license plate (a "vanity" white-on-black White Sox logo plate). That tells me two things: one, the van was likely stolen; and two, a stolen vehicle was used to prevent identification of the driver. This definitely had to have been a deliberate hit--but the local media has yet to do the math. (Those of us in both the local legal and music communities doubtless know the score).

Bob got his booster shot today.

Last night we grilled a ribeye & Vidalia onion; stir-fried Chinese long beans; and an insalata Caprese using our homegrown tomatoes & basil over arugula. Tonight, grilled eggplant parm. (Bought Bob the tamales & empanadas he'd requested, but he came home having had pizza brought into his office by a drug rep.). It was the last neighborhood farmers' market of the summer. No coffee beans--the Guatemalan guy sold out within the first hour (which I missed because I was waiting to have my 7-yr-old original equipment dead battery jumped). This time I got more okra, Santa Rosa plums (MI-grown), striped eggplant and Bob's Mexican stuff--which he'll take to work tomorrow & nuke for lunch.

Carole, I’m very relieved to hear your news about storm damage. I hope power can be restored sooner rather than later. Seeing the power grid damage, it will be a monumental task.


Last night was reverse seared thick pork chops with a garlic/honey/soy sauce glaze, corn off the cob and applesauce. Tonight is an unknown.

Oh thank goodness Carole. It may be hard to find someone to do the yard cleaning with all the damage in the state, but so glad family AND house OK!!!

Special - did I read somewhere with my muddled brain that you were (or are) thinking of driving to CO to see your son?

minus - yes, that is the plan for the last half of Sept. We had planned to take I-10 and then cut north after NOLA, but may need to re-route on the westward leg due to the storm. I have not seen my firstborn for two years! Hard to believe, but my sense of time is warped by staying home so much - which I am back to, because um...Florida. Sheesh. My BFF from CA will be there in CO also - I have not seen her since Jan of 2020, but we are all vaccinated/masking and we have all been super cautious so we are going to do it! We plan to cook at home - rented a townhouse on Airbnb - and will be doing outdoor activities like hiking/kayaking/drinking wine in the hot tub out back, so hopefully not in close contact with any crowds.

Great news, Carole, that your family made it through Ida safely and that your property “merely” requires a Paul Bunyan clean up.

Apparently, Ida is heading East now and in a day we are forecasted to get more drenching rains. Farther south of us the towns are being warned of possible tornados with the storms. Ugh!

Minus, I feel for you with the computer screw up. Hope you are able to sort it out, but totally lost files are panic inducing! Tia Maria sounds pretty calming though……:).

Special…so happy for you that you have such a nice trip planned to spend time with not one but two fave people! Stay home as much as you can beforehand since lord knows how rampantly that Delta variant will be taking advantage of its total license to spread granted by that narcissistic politician! I seriously worry for my good friends in South FL. On a happier note, your Rays are again looking so strong this season, even the Red Sox announcers were singing their praises tonight…for talent and character. The Sox are stinking up a storm of late and now riddled with Covid…can barely field a team beyond new “twelve yesr olds”. Sheesh! I’m feeling impatient for the NBA to start! Our ticket schedule arrived…so now, just patience.

Enjoyed marinated grilled chicken last night with my usual salad and a sauteed toss of balsamic laced veggies and orzo with some parm grated over it.

Pardon photo on its side....

Tonight DH cooked Cornish hens, mashed cauliflower with gravy and boiled cabbage.