thoughts from along the broken road...

Ten on Tuesday: January 24, 2012

2012-01-24T23:02:00.002-05:00

Subjects of the Last Ten Emails I Received

1. "Home-baked Snacks" (All Recipes Baking)

2. "Get Today's Recipe: Mexican Meatball Soup" (Cooking.com)

3. "Re: [Fond of Snape] Comment: 'Picnik...also bananas'

4. "The Disney Fantasy Becomes a Reality" (Disney Insider)

5. "MegaVote: Florida 12th 1/23/12"

6. "Grab Your 365+1 Prompt"

7. URGENT

8. Important Tax Return Document Available

9. Random Daily Tidbit

10. LOOK!!

That is some riveting content, right there, huh? Pretty indicative of my inbox at any given time though. Cooking emails. Disney Passholder newsletters. My daily photo prompt. And some super creative subject lines in emails between friends--I guess we've moved past impressing one another with our cleverness? Ha!

Menu Plan Monday: January 23, 2012

2012-01-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

Monday: Quick and easy dinner of sausage burgers and fries.
Tuesday: Ah yes. The pork steaks from last week. Wild rice and a veggie.
Wednesday: We have a gift card from Christmas for Bonefish Grill that we plan to use.
Thursday: Spaghetti and meatballs. Salad and garlic bread. Great comfort food. And pretty brainless to cook.
Friday: Stuffed chicken breasts from the freezer. Rice from the pantry. Leftover salad from the fridge. Done and done.
Saturday: We're going to fly by the seat of our pants. We live on the edge, people!
Sunday: Cheeseburgers? We'll see.

Notes from last week's menu: I needed to make a last minute switch in my dinner plans, so we swapped Tuesday and Wednesday. On Saturday, I ventured to Disney and ate at such odd times that I wasn't hungry for dinner, so we had the wraps on Sunday instead and pushed Sunday to this week.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Stream of Consciousness: January 22, 2012

2012-01-22T23:18:00.000-05:00

I love that on the weekends, T makes the bed. Without ever being asked. And he does it just the way I like it. (Even though I suspect he thinks I am a little ridiculous for caring so much.)

I really like the Aveeno shave gel I switched to recently. But it smells *exactly* like these date-filled cookies with a cherry on top that my Gram used to make. I will never not find that weird.

The Patriots played for the AFC Championship today. The game was a classic nail-biter, one they probably won thanks to a bit of bad luck for the Ravens kicker missing a field goal that would have tied it and sent the game to overtime. After that kind of intensity, the last thing I wanted--even less than I wanted it before--was to have a replay of the Super Bowl from the 2007-2008 season. But the Giants and 49ers went to overtime in their game, and the Giants kicker did not pull the ball wide, setting up a Super Bowl rematch I could have lived without. I'll probably need to self-medicate to get through the Super Bowl in two weeks.

On a happier note, pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Fort Myers in 28 days. I can almost smell the hot dogs and Cracker Jack now!

It's going to be in the 80s all week. I know I live in Florida, but for Pete's sake. Could I at least have the pleasure of some low 70s and call it Winter? Because 80? Is *not* Winter.

One Little Word: Commit

2012-01-21T22:59:00.000-05:00

There has been this online "project" put together for several years now by a blogger and scrapbooker named Ali Edwards. It's called "One Little Word" and the basic idea is that you choose a word to be the theme of your entire year, a springboard, a catalyst, for living the kind of life you want for yourself. I never intended to participate in it, not because I have any particular problem with it--I actually think it's a great idea--but more because I don't scrapbook anymore and I am a "play by the rules" sort of girl. However, I did elect to do another "online challenge," for a photo-a-day project, and one of the prompts centered on photographing your one little word. I played along, chose a word, photographed it, and that was that. And now...I find it creeping into my every day life. Funny how that works...

My word is "commit."

For obvious reasons, that is a big word for me in 2012. I am going to legally and officially commit to a man. Not that I haven't already, but...there's a difference. That's *why* people take marriage seriously: because they feel it's a deeper commitment than just "being committed." (And yes, I know, maybe you don't need it to "define" *your* commitment to another person, and that's ok, but for *me*, it is a big deal. The commitment of marriage means something to me. It is a declaration I wish to make.)

With any luck, I will be committing to a house in 2012. We'll see.

And now I see this word--commit--sneaking into more than just these Big Things.

I am committed to growing out my hair. Even on the days it makes me loony.

I am committed to this photo project.

I am committed to some personal goals and wishes.

And just this morning, my photo prompt arrived in my inbox: "living your word." And I looked at my plan for today: a trip to my happy place, to Disney World. And I realized that, while I am always up for a day in the world of magic and sparkle, I am especially drawn there when I have been exposed to too much crabbiness. I have made the decision, the commitment, if you will, to take the flood of negativity that rises up around me and push it aside, replace it with things that fill me with joy. I am committed, to myself and my mental well-being, to not be weighed down by the world around me.

I don't know if I am "doing this right." Maybe this is one of those things that cannot be done wrong. What I know is that "commit" is finding a way into my 2012 in ways I had not anticipated. And that's pretty cool.

I Want Wednesday: January 18, 2012

2012-01-18T09:41:00.000-05:00

**After seeing bits and pieces of it in the past, and reading on more than one occasion, glowing recommendations, (not to mention that it is one I know T enjoys), I Want to actually see Band of Brothers in its entirety.

**I Want to see John Adams too, after hearing more than one person say it was wonderful.

**I Want Rachael Ray to sell her Little Hoot Dinnerware Set as separates. I just don't need the mugs, but I love the bowl and dishes!

**I Want to try Essie LuxeEffects Topcoat in Pure Pearlification! It looks so pretty!

**I am not sure which I Want (I need to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of both), but I'd like to try either The Grow Box or The Earthbox, once we have a house.

**I Want some See's truffles! Limited edition Black Forest and Strawberry, to be specific.

What the WHO?

2012-01-16T14:46:00.000-05:00

I am all for stopping to appreciate the small things. I believe I make that abundantly clear. One of my favorite things about the apartments where I live is the wide variety of wildlife I encounter. Just the other day, as we were doing our daily post-work walk, we saw an owl swoop from one set of trees and perch in another. (We presume, to scope out the squirrels that we fatten up with the nuts we toss to them as we do our laps.) Each time we passed the tree where he was sitting, I had to stop and peer up into the branches at him. He was majestic and amazing.

Until last night.

I was awakened in the wee hours by a very chatty Mr Owl. Sitting in the tree directly outside the bedroom window. And very much NOT using his nighttime voice. For a good half hour, I lay there, wide awake, listening to "Who-who-who-WHOOOO! Who-who-who-WHOOOO!"

I don't know if he finally gave up or if sleep finally overtook me, despite his chattering, but I can tell you this: At random intervals today, I have caught myself thinking "Who-who-who-WHOOOO!" much like one would be plagued by an earworm. He obviously planted that seed in my brain while I was slumbering.

I will also bet on this: No way did he catch his dinner with all that hooting and hollering. Every tasty morsel was getting plenty of warning to stay safely hidden from sight.

Menu Plan Monday: January 16, 2012

2012-01-16T09:38:00.000-05:00

Monday: We must be on some kind of "long narrow pasta" kick, because we had a spaghetti dish late last week (with leftovers lingering into Monday's lunch) and we have Linguine with Clam Sauce up first thing this week. Some warm garlic bread and a salad will round things out.
Tuesday: I am having dinner with a friend. T is going to fend for himself.
Wednesday: A friends of T's handed off a bunch of hot dog buns they didn't need from some sort of event, so before they get stale, we'll make an easy dinner of hot dogs, chips and a pickle.
Thursday: T is going to make some barbecue chicken (on the grill, I think?). We'll do up a quick noodle side dish and maybe some corn. Or maybe a salad. I don't know.
Friday: We haven't had fish sandwiches in a long while. They sounded good to me. We'll have them with some mac & cheese.
Saturday: We'll do up some honey mustard chicken wraps. Nothing fancy.
Sunday: T decided that he was in the mood for some pork (probably my least favorite of the "common meats" but I will still eat it). I left it up to him and he found some pork steaks. I'll do up some wild rice and a veggie that sounds tasty to me at the time.

Notes from last week's menu: I really have nothing to add. We followed the menu to the letter. I guess we either planned well or didn't feeling like thinking about it anymore!

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Rain-washed.

2012-01-12T10:39:00.000-05:00

We spend a lot of time talking about how "it's the little things that matter," but I've noticed we spend a lot less time actually living that out. I watch the status messages on Facebook and the steady stream of Tweets bemoaning the lack of this and lamenting the absence of that. I very rarely pat myself on the back, but I do feel that I do a fairly decent job of being more grateful for the blessings I have than focusing on what I don't. Even my "I Want Wednesday" posts are meant to be more about tongue-in-cheek daydreaming than in actively wanting or expecting (though there are some cases in which I do actually plan to save up my "fun money" for a special splurge). But I won't say I that I get it right one hundred percent of the time either. I have my moments...and I feel kind of ugly when I see them in retrospect. It's a constant work-in-progress.

Which is why one of my very favorite things is when I catch myself so immersed in a "little things" moment that I lose track of the rest.

For weeks, now, I have been musing on a particular blog post. (For real. It's been a side note on my Daily To Do List, probably since mid-November, tacked next to "Blog" -- in parentheses, of course, because I fully embrace any possible opportunity to use parentheses. And ellipses. Ahem.) I was waiting for the right time. Which was tricky, because it's the dry season, here in Florida, and I needed it to have rained. And not only to have rained, but to have rained overnight, and to not have dried before my commute. (I don't know why this mattered so much, but...there you have it.)

Last night, it rained. And this morning, as I turned onto the highway on-ramp, I caught sight of the inspiration for this seed of a blog post. It's not something I've ever been able to photograph, mostly because I am driving, and if it isn't safe to text while driving, it's probably even less safe to be operating a camera while behind the wheel. But also, I am not sure I can translate that image accurately with my camera. (Perhaps someone with more skill might be able to, in fact, I am reasonably certain they could. But I don't think I can, and while this might be a red flag for not selling myself short and letting my fears prevent me from accomplishment and all that, let me also say that I'm not sure I would want to anyway. Sometimes an image and the feeling need to simply live in your mind, waiting to be enjoyed "in the moment" when that moment happens again.) I wanted to share it on a morning when it was "true."

Whoa. Tangent.

Back to this morning. I turned the corner onto the ramp, and I saw the sun cresting the horizon. The sky is that perfect blend of pastel Easter hues: soft gold around the sun, followed by layers of peach and rose, fading into pale blue, with just the faintest hint of lavender at the far edge where the sun's rays haven't warmed it yet. There are a few wispy clouds, the final reminder of the rain that has passed through. There is the muted haze of fog, gauzy and light, rising from the damp earth in the distance. And then there is the road. That ugly pavement transforms under the morning light, shimmering fresh with the last of the standing rainfall. There is just *something* about it. The way this glistening rain-washed world looks. The ordinary that I don't see, not to appreciate, most of the time, but that reels me in on a morning like this. My eyes sweep the view my whole trip up the ramp and along the highway until I reach my exit. And then the spell is broken with the change of the angle of the sun, now throwing shadows instead of light.

But it stays with me, brightens me, that image. Something so simple. Something that cannot be purchased or forced into being. Something that I have to wait for, patiently, and that I must be observant in order to receive it.

I love the "little things." Rain-washed mornings. The particular sound of a squirrel crunching through a nutshell. Scrolling through my Google Reader and catching sight of a photo on a blog that causes me to actually catch my breath. Watching the flight of a owl as he moves to a new perch. Life teaches some harsh lessons at times, but this one has always been my favorite: Open your eyes and take the time to find joy all around you.

When people wonder why I so often appear content, this is the reason. Cross my heart. I am surrounded by wonder and the only cost is the effort I make to really see it and to be grateful.

I Want Wednesday: January 11, 2012

2012-01-11T09:31:00.000-05:00

**I Want more fun jewelry to wear. Like this Triple-Strand Beaded Bracelet. I love the colors.

**I Want a better way to store spices in my cabinets. This is a common gripe heard around our home. While lack of kitchen real estate is part of the issue, a whole mess of tiny little bottles not designed to work together (even if you purchase only one brand) (which I don't) just isn't conducive to even organized chaos on that shelf, no matter how much space you have for storage. You have to pull a minimum of two-thirds the contents out to find anything and inevitably half a dozen fall over. I have been stockpiling possible spice storage ideas over on Pinterest, but I can't help but feel no matter what system we end up implementing in our eventual house, the Interlocking SpiceCare System would make it even better!

**When I was catching up on some of Rachael Ray's shows that the DVR caught while I was on vacation, I decided I Want to try a Brachetto d"Acqui Rosa Regale. I am so intrigued by a sparkling *red* wine...especially if it tastes like berries!

**I Want to create some kind of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day traditions for us. We don't go out for New Year, so our "celebrations" are pretty, well, non-existent. I don't know if it will be a special meal or some kind of "thing" we do or what, but I feel like they need *something*...

**While I am not afraid to wear a little color on my eyes (I have a silvery-blue and a navy that I love to pair together!), I am a big fan of shades of grey-silver, bronze or brown most days. (I like the way those colors work with my blue eyes. What can I say?) I have been very good about using what I've collected (some of it was unopened for quite a while even, I had such a stash of eye shadow), my selections of these colors are starting to run dangerously low. As soon as I saw the Urban Decay Naked2 palette, I Wanted it. Badly.

**I've had my lunch bag for about three or four years now. It's still serviceable but the day is coming that it will need to be retired. I've been trying to consider what I Want for its replacement, when the time comes, and I am thinking that the Rachael Ray 2-in-1 Hobo Tote might just be it.

Menu Plan Monday: January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T09:28:00.000-05:00

Monday: T had a taste for some scallops, so he stopped at the fish market on his way home from work to pick some up. We will be having Scallops with Mushrooms and Spinach.
Tuesday: We have some buns leftover from last week's burgers, so T will grill up some chicken breasts for sandwiches and we'll have some creamy garlic shells on the side.
Wednesday: There is some sour cream in the refrigerator that I don't want to go to waste. I made a couple of suggestions on using it up and T decided that we would have kielbasa, pierogies (which will use up the sour cream) and sauerkraut.
Thursday: The weather is supposed to get chilly again this weekend and I've been thinking about Chicken & Dumplings lately. Seems like the right time!
Friday: Time for a meal we haven't had in quite a while -- Spaghetti with Sausage and Goat Cheese! Great way to use up the baby spinach that wasn't needed for Monday's dinner.
Saturday: At this point in the menu planning on Saturday, I had a mini meltdown because it was lunchtime and I was hungry (and I am not nice when I get too hungry), so we stopped discussing the menu. Later, we decided that we'd make grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, since we have half a load of bread and an open package of ham.
Sunday: High on a shelf where I constantly forget about it, we have some boxes of Hamburger Helper, for those times when you just want to slap an easy meal on the table and call it a day. We'll keep it simple and get some of that used up!

Notes from last week's menu: The only adjustment we made was to move Saturday's meal to Sunday, so we could go out to dinner on Saturday instead.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Motivation.

2012-01-05T11:24:00.000-05:00

Anyone who has ever grown out their hair understands the frustration. Especially if your hair has been pixie short for the better part of a decade, and up off your shoulders nearly two. The up-side is that my hair grows quickly, so the growing out process won't take a painful amount of time. The down-side is that my hair grows quickly, so it gets ridiculously shaggy between trim-and-reshape appointments.

I've noticed that my feelings on my hair during this process are cyclical. I have several tolerable days in a row, followed by a day or two of awful, and just when I have a good mind to call my stylist and scrap the whole plan, I have a great hair day. Lather, rise, repeat. (Ha. A hair-related joke. I am so clever.)

And so, every morning, when I break out my blow dryer and my hair wax and my hair spray and my brushes (I have had no use for a hairbrush in at least a dozen years and now I need two OMG), I also pull out the page I printed out. I lay it on the bathroom counter as I dry and finger style and fuss with my locks. Partially because this style is new, so I need the visual assistance in conquering this new style (or a modification of it, at this point, anyway)...and partially because I need the motivation of seeing "the prize," so I don't take a pair of scissors to my head in a fit of madness.

It better be worth this.

P.S. The upper right is the plan for the wedding. That's my other motivation.

I Want Wednesday: January 4, 2012

2012-01-04T09:17:00.000-05:00

Gosh, it feels wrong to "want" right after such a bountiful Christmas! And yet...

**I Want some cookware that can go from stove top to oven. There are some recipes in my "draft file" that call for this step and I would be forced to transfer from a pan to an oven-safe baking dish. The Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Deep Saute Pan with Lid, 13" is big enough and deep enough, and even the lid can be in an oven up to 450 degrees!

**And then there is this Emile Henry Flame Top 7-Quart Round Oven. I love that color of blue and the fact that it is not only safe to use on the stove and in the oven, but will also withstand the broiler! (For that price, though, I suspect this will be something I Want for a good long while.)

**For a while now, I have thought that an immersion blender would be a good tool to add to my kitchen. I've scoped out several different brands and models, but at the moment the Calphalon Electrics 3 in 1 Immersion Hand Blender, with its various tools is the one I Want.

**I Want to own this Rachael Ray Serving Platter. Sure, it could be used for its intended purpose of serving food, but it could also work as a tray for the coffee table, as the base for a centerpiece on the dining room table and who knows what else! Plus, that color red...

**I've been using the same flimsy pink plastic bowl for salads for probably the last seven years. I Want a "big girl" salad bowl. I like that this one is big and deep (and of course, red), as well as creating some visual interest, but I am torn, because the Rachael Ray Salad Bowl does not have a cover, which is a feature I've grown used to having...

Right Now: January 3, 2012

2012-01-03T23:14:00.000-05:00

Outside my window... it is chilly! This is the coldest it has been in over a year!

I am thinking... that my feet are awfully cold. It's going to take forever to feel warm again.

I am thankful for... to come back to after vacation.

From the kitchen... there are screams of frustration. We are battling tiny ants that will not. go. away. Even though the kitchen is clean and every open package of food is sealed in a container or a zip-top bag.

I am wearing... yoga pants and a long-sleeve tee. And socks on my freezing feet.

I am creating... some revised Task Lists for myself on Gmail. I am a big fan of paper-and-pen lists but the Gmail Task Lists are super handy for remembering things, regardless of my location, and for reminding myself when my paper list isn't in front of me.

I am going... to get my hair trimmed (it needs to be de-shag-i-fied and reshaped badly after nearly eight weeks!) and pick up my wedding dress on Saturday.

I am reading... a book, several magazines, and a bunch of blogs.

I am hoping... that we are doing seeing 80 degrees until at least April.

I am hearing... the ceiling fan clicking slightly, the fan in my laptop and the hum of the refrigerator.

Around the house... there is too much clutter. We are outgrowing this apartment.

One of my favorite things... is relaxing on the couch in the evening. The ants have robbed me of that tonight, as I had to once again unload the entire pantry and engage them in combat.

I don't understand... WHAT THE ANTS WANT!!

I wish... I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.

A few plans for the rest of the week... We already covered that! Hair appointment. Pick up wedding dress. The rest is the same old, same old.

A picture to share...

The photo from today's photo-a-day prompt. Also? My coping mechanism for THE ANTS OMG!

2012 Wishlist

2012-01-02T15:02:00.000-05:00

I have decided to rename my goals to being a wishlist--a "self wishlist," if you will. Let's see what happens...

1. Find a house, move into it and be completely unpacked.
2. Plan a wedding (without losing my mind or going over budget).
3. Finish catching up on magazines, with a goal of having no more than the current month's issues and the previous month's issues in my magazine basket.
4. Organize my file cabinet and create a "home owner's binder" for aforementioned house.
5. Rebuild the savings after whatever aforementioned house depletes a portion of it. (Sorry, the actual number is confidential here.)
6. Back up my photos and music *monthly*.
7. Scan in all my old photos.
8. Finish organizing the pages I've pulled out of magazines.
9. Be caught up to within one week of all blog reading. I hare being behind to the point that I now feel silly leaving a comment.
10. Take at least one photo every day. I have found a great site that emails me a photo prompt daily.
11. Read at least ten books.

2011 goals: the sort-of reprise

2012-01-02T13:25:00.003-05:00

I never shared this last year, but I had a running list of goals for myself for 2011, here in draft form. I found (as you can see) that I was less than motivated--although, I *was* more motivated than this list would appear at first glance! I blame lack of accountability. And so... I have a new plan for 2012. Starting with showing what a bum I was in 2011. Ha.

~~1. create a cleaning schedule.~~
~~2. organize my closets.~~
3. catch up on my magazines. (I didn't finish this *entirely* but I did manage to go through a *ton* of really old magazines that I still can't believe have moved with me all the times I have moved. I am now down to only--ha ha, only--magazines that are under one year old, and the cooking magazines that I don't intend to part with quite yet.)
4. organize my file cabinet. (Yeah, ummm... whoops. I did weed out and shred a bunch of old paperwork but that is as far as I got.)
5. back up my music & photos monthly. (I did this more along the lines of quarterly.)
6. finish organizing all the magazine pullouts. (I started. I have not finished. Work in progress.)
7. get. caught. up. and stay that way. (Ha.)
8. photo every day. (Fail.)
9. read more. (The only reason I didn't cross this off is because while I did read more, it also took me eight months to read one book. To be fair, the book was very thought-provoking and required considerable attention. All in all, I finished six books, the same as in 2010, but that one book should have counted as three--seriously, it was 1100 pages and was written in three separate parts.)

Menu Plan Monday: January 2, 2012

2012-01-02T09:27:00.001-05:00

Monday: Since Monday is a holiday and we can get an early start on this one (it takes a while), T is going to make some Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and we'll use up the last of the green beans (which must have been exceptionally fresh, because they kept a considerable time).
Tuesday: I've had a craving for Tortellini Florentine Soup, so I will whip some up, and we'll round it out with some warm bread and a salad.
Wednesday: T will pop some burgers on the grill, while I pop some tater tots in the oven.
Thursday: Sandwich night! BLTs are always a favorite.
Friday: T suggested Slow-Cooker Stuffed Cabbage, so he will get that started in the morning, before work, and it will bubble away all day in the Crock Pot while we work.
Saturday: I think we will roast up a whole chicken, with some carrots and some boiled potatoes (with some butter and a dash of salt) on the side.
Sunday: We're going to play Leftover Roulette. As in: if we have any, we'll eat them. If not, we will fly by the seats of our pants.

Notes from last week's menu: Well, actually, that would be the menu from two weeks ago. Last week, I was visiting Nichole and Daniel in California, so I didn't have a menu. Regardless, we followed the menu with only some minor tweaks. Wednesday's chicken was marinated in the garlic & herb marinade. Thursday, we substituted steamed fresh green beans for the french-cut version, since we had a two-pound bag of them for Christmas dinner and no need for that many. Friday's squash was yellow Summer squash. And for Christmas dinner, T decided on Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: December 2011

2012-01-01T07:01:00.000-05:00

A photo of me:

1) Candle scents this month:
Hollyberry. Cranberry. Autumn Fields. Hot Apple Pie. Mistletoe. Hazelnut Coffee. Mountain Berry. Christmas Cookie. Christmas Cupcake. Christmas Rose (tried this one but it smelled more subtle until I lit it; we last about ten minutes until I had to blow it out & toss it--something that happens only rarely, but makes me glad I only buy votives unless I *know* it's a scent I really love). Be Jolly. Deck the Halls.

2) What I am reading this month:
I finished "Atlas Shrugged" (Ayn Rand) -- finally!! -- and started "Love in the Time of Cholera" (Gabriel Garcia Marquez).

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"A Baby Changes Everything," Faith Hill. "A Cradle In Bethlehem," Vince Gill. "O Little Town of Bethlehem," Sarah McLachlan.

4) Movies I saw:
Santa Clause 2 - nothing special, but it was on in the background while we trimmed the tree. Elf. Holiday Inn. Home Alone. A Christmas Carol (George C Scott). Disney's A Christmas Carol (the full-length animated one, not the short Mickey one). The Polar Express. A Christmas Story. The Nativity Story. It's a Wonderful Life. True Grit. And the standard Christmas shows: "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "Dr Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
The one that stands out most in my mind is Sore Loser: Parenthood (season 3, episode 9). That was, without a doubt, such believable acting that I actually forgot that it was acting at all. Dark Was the Night: Grey's Anatomy (season 8, episode 9) was very intense, even beyond an "action" level. I mean, there was plenty of intensity from the action but the *emotional* intensity blew even that away. And This Is the Way the World Ends: Dexter (season 6, episode 12) packed one *heck* of a cliffhanger punch!

6) Something yummy I made:
My Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Sandwich No-Bake Cookies absolutely blew. my. mind. It just doesn't make sense that something that simple should be *that* tasty.

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Columbia Harbour House (Magic Kingdom). Via Napoli (Italy pavilion - EPCOT). Panera.

8) Five things I am loving this month:
1. Google Chrome and the fact that I can sync it up between computers so all my bookmarks are available to me no matter where I use the Chrome browser! 2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich No-Bake Cookies - seriously, someone needs to take these away from me before I weigh a million pounds. 3. The way the lights on the Christmas tree reflect on the silver garland I have hanging around the window. 4. Feeling extremely small and insignificant while standing underneath a sequoia. 5. The outstanding customer service I received from United Airlines when my flight back from California proved to be a bit...challenging.

9) A goal I had for this month:
To finish Atlas Shrugged - successful!

10) This month I looked forward to:
Ten days off from work.

11) Something that made me cry this month:
Christmas music. There was something about my Christmas playlist on my iPod that made the words catch in my throat as I sang them. Perhaps it was that I wasn't just singing along with words that are familiar, some for as long as I can remember, but that I really soaked in what they were saying. It was not an uncommon sight to see me driving with damp eyes.

12) A photo I took this month:

This is a grove of sequoias, on the Congress Trail, in Sequoia National Forest, called "The Senate." Not that the photo possibly does their enormity justice...

I Watch TV: December 27, 2011

2011-12-27T16:06:00.000-05:00

1. Name a tv show of which you have seen every episode at least twice:
Friends. Everybody Loves Raymond. Sex and the City. Grey's Anatomy -- except for this most current season.

2. Name a show you couldn't miss:
The DVR makes must-see tv less urgent, and online and OnDemand viewing are a good safety for most DVR failures, but the ones I am most quickly drawn to? How I Met Your Mother. Parenthood. Grey's Anatomy. The Good Wife. Mad Men. Dexter. The Big Bang Theory. Fringe. Blue Bloods. Pan Am. Once Upon a Time.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show:
James Spader. (Though it didn't work for The Office. Still not interested.) And Tom Selleck.

4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show:
Ryan Seacrest. Maybe he doesn't qualify as an actor, but he would still make me want to change the channel as soon as possible.

5. Name a show you can, and do, quote from:
Friends. All the time.

6. Name a show you like that no one else you know enjoys:
I don't know, thanks to my online buddies, that there is *any* show I watch about which I can say that! I think I know at least one person with whom I have each of my shows in common.

7. Name a tv show theme song which you have been known to sing:
Friends. Frasier. Two and a Half Men. The Big Bang Theory.

8. Name a show you would recommend everyone watch:
Fringe - This is one crazy, cool show with so many awesome details, but you do have to start from the beginning. Boston Legal - One of my hands-down favorite shows. Parenthood - Some of the best acting, writing and cast chemistry *ever*. The Big Bang Theory - So.Freaking.Funny.

9. Name a tv series you own:
Friends. Boston Legal. Sex and the City. Mad Men (through season 4). Grey's Anatomy (through season 7). Private Practice (through Season 4). T owns Dexter (through season 5). Season 1 of The Big Bang Theory. And I would love to add Everybody Loves Raymond and Frasier to the collection, and start with the first couple seasons of The Good Wife and Parenthood.

10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium, but has surprised you with his/her acting choices on television:
I have been very pleasantly surprised by Donnie Wahlberg on Blue Bloods. He's really good!

11. What is your favorite episode of your favorite series?
Oh man... I can't narrow it down to anymore than two. Friends, "The One with the Ballroom Dancing" (season 4, episode 4) - when Chandler wants to quit the gym. Sex and the City, "An American Girl in Paris, Part Deux" (season 6, episode 20) - that ending is just the best.

12. Name a show you keep meaning to watch, but you just haven't gotten around to yet:
Boardwalk Empire.

13. Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad?
I gave up on ER after they killed off Dr Green. I tried to watch Friends With Benefits but I gave up on it very quickly. I am sure there have been others, but if they weren't worth watching, they weren't worth remembering either.

14. Name a show that's made you cry multiple times:
Grey's Anatomy. Private Practice. Harry's Law. Parenthood. Men in Trees.

15. What do you eat when you watch tv?
It depends. I've eaten meals while watching tv, and snacks too. There isn't really anything specific I save for tv-watching. Anything I eat is fair game for eating while I watch tv.

16. How often do you watch tv?
Most evenings.

17. What's the last tv show you watched?
I haven't watched a *show* in several days since I am a houseguest with friends; we've been watching movies. I believe the last show I watched was an episode of Grey's Anatomy when I was catching up on some backlogged DVR.

18. What's your favorite/preferred genre of tv?
I watch all sorts of tv. I have equal shares of crime drama, legal drama, medical drama, sitcom and what have you. If it's well-written and entertains me, I am likely to enjoy it. It's easier to say that I loathe reality tv. The closest I get to it is Top Chef.

19. What was the first tv show you were obsessed with?
Hmmm... Full House? Beverly Hills 90210?

20. What tv show do you wish you had never watched?
I don't watch if I'm not interested, therefore I have none I wish I hadn't watched.

21. What's the weirdest show you enjoyed?
I guess I would need a better definition of 'weird' because it could mean 'mind-bending' or it could mean a show that just made me shake my head that I would watch it. Going with the latter, I would say Ghost Whisperer.

22. What was the single most memorable program you ever saw on tv?
Vague questions like this one and the last irritate me. Do they mean the whole series? A single episode? A stand-alone show? While it wasn't my favorite episode, the episode of ER when Dr Romano gets his hand chopped off has always stuck in my mind. I was horrified. That was the very last one I ever watched.

23. What tv show scared you the most?
Fringe routinely scares me. I have to watch on Saturday mornings when it's light out and there are many hours before I sleep again.

24. What's the funniest tv show you ever watched?
Friends. The Big Bang Theory. Both have made me laugh hysterically on many occasions.

25. What show was cancelled too early into its run?
Cane. Men In Trees. Lipstick Jungle. And if it doesn't get picked up for another season, I will add Pan Am to this list too.

courtesy of Kwizgiver

Glad tidings of great joy I bring!

2011-12-25T02:13:00.000-05:00

To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild
This little child of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the earth

These are the signs that you shall mark:
The swaddling clothes and manger dark
There you will find the infant laid
By whom the heav'ns and earth were made

Come here, my friends, lift up your eyes
And see what in the manger lies
Who is this child, so young and fair?
It is the Christ Child lying there

Ah, Lord, though you created all
How weak You are, so poor and small
That You should choose to lay Your head
Where lowly cattle lately fed!

Were earth a thousand times as fair
And set with gold and jewels rare
It would be far too poor and small
A cradle for the Lord of all

My heart for very joy must leap
My lips no more can silence keep
I, too, must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradlesong:

Glory to God in highest heav'n
Who unto us His Son has giv'n!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new year to all the earth

("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come," v. 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15)

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv'n...

2011-12-24T23:51:00.000-05:00

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wond'ring love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the king
And peace to men on earth

My heart is so full...

2011-12-23T21:12:00.000-05:00

When you are small, at Christmastime, a tree surrounded by mountains of gifts is just that: so. many. presents!!

But when you grow up, and you see your tree packed full, all you can think of is how very loved you are.

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

2011-12-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

I have loved books for as far back as I can remember. One of my favorite Christmas traditions, growing up, was the reappearance of two beloved books on the table in the sitting room. I still take a few moments each Christmas Eve to read them, lighting the eyes of my proverbial inner child (who is always quite alive and well!). Of course, I always reread the story of the Nativity--that is what Christmas means to me, above all else--but then there are the fanciful, magical books... The first was "Jolly Old Santa Claus" (Maryjane H Tonn, illustrations by George Hinke).

The story itself was captivating, told like the reader is being given a special "insider's" tour of the North Pole--what child doesn't like a peek into Santa's workshop?!--but the illustrations were the true treasure. This book is set up in a way that was a bit unique: the story is told on pale blue pages, with words and a few simple sketches, but then you turn the page to find full-color pages, so packed with detail, each demands you stop to really observe, almost as if you are actually inside them. Somehow, they always seemed to be exactly how I imagined it all really looked. To this day, I still stop to stare at each, before I continue with the story.

The other book is "Santa's Christmas Journey" (Roger Brooke, illustrations by Elizabeth J Miles) and it is told in rhyme.

Something about the cadence of this story has always appealed to me:

This is the story of how once a year
I fly round the world with eight trusty reindeer.
And bring to each child in each house in each land
A wrapped Christmas present, delivered by hand.

The story is wonderfully woven, each page decorated with the most wonderful pictures.

This year, my mom insisted I open one of my gifts a few days early. Inside was the newest book to add to my collection, the classic, "The Night Before Christmas," by Clement C Moore.

Further back than my memory can draw up, this book was my favorite bedtime story--so much so that I asked for it year round, and could recite along with it, knowing exactly when to turn the page. The best part, though, is that she chose one of the recordable books that Hallmark puts out (you know you've seen the commercials more than once), and so tied with this book and its personal memories, I have my mother reading the story, just as she did when I was very small, something that will become even more of a treasure should I ever have my own small child with whom to share these traditions.

I Want Wednesday: December 21, 2011

2011-12-21T14:12:00.000-05:00

**A blog I was reading swore that the book, "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day," changed her view on baking bread. For the longest time, I have thought that I Want to try my hand at homemade bread, but I've been very intimidated by merely the thought. I wonder if this book would be the catalyst...?

**I have two little clear glass mixing bowls; they nest nicely, which is good for limited cabinet space issues, but they are a little, well, *small* for some things. T has a great big mixing bowl that belonged to his grandmother...but it's, well, great big. And I don't know. It just bugs me that the next size I graduate to from kinda-too-small is holy-huge. And so, I dream of something wonderful, like this 5-piece Parker Bowl Set, in its cheerful colors and perfectly graduated sizes that nest. That's right. I sadly dream of mixing bowls I Want in my kitchen. I hear these things happen as you get older.

**The neck strap on The Precious is getting pretty gross, and truth be told, it isn't the most comfortable thing ever. I keep saying I Want a new one but I don't know exactly what I want to get. I do find myself drawn to the colors in this one.

**I Want to leave cookies for Santa on this Jingle Elf plate. It's he adorable??

Settling in for a long winter's nap.

2011-12-19T23:41:00.001-05:00

I'll be dreaming of a white Christmas...

Menu Plan Monday: December 19, 2011

2011-12-19T11:24:00.000-05:00

Monday: There was *still* a little sauerkraut left, so a quick and simple dinner of hot dogs and kraut is on tap.
Tuesday: They had a really good sale on the ravioli we like (Celentano Mini Round Cheese) so I grabbed a couple packages. Apparently, I had that same plan the *last* time they went on sale too, because there was a pretty good stash going on in the freezer already. So, in the interest of freeing up some freezer space, we'll make some ravioli with some ground Italian sausage, and round things out with a little garlic bread and a salad.
Wednesday: T is going to grill up some chicken--not sure yet if we will marinate it in some garlic & herb marinade we have on hand or use some barbecue sauce--and then I'll make some corn and we'll finish up the salad from Tuesday.
Thursday: It's been a while since I've made my Meatloaf Patties and we'll have a bunch of potatoes around (way too many for Christmas dinner for just two people), so I will whip up some mashed potatoes and make some French-cut green beans.
Friday: We decided we needed some fish on the menu this week, and after some debate, we settled on Marinated Grilled Tilapia. I'll make up some wild rice to go with it, and we'll have whatever squash looks good at the store when we get closer to the end of the week.
Saturday: Keeping it super simple: grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Sunday: Christmas dinner will be a baked ham (courtesy of T), some mashed potatoes, an as-yet-undecided veggie (trying to pick between two recipes) and some rolls. We're keeping Christmas dinner a little modest, since I will be traveling next week and T will be stuck alone with the leftovers.

Notes from last week's menu: We stayed on track, last week, until we got to Thursday. Neither of us really felt like cooking (bad news on a night that the recipe is a little labor-intensive!), so we postponed the quesadillas and got some takeout from Wendy's instead. As it turned out, leftovers were sparse, so Saturday turned into quesadilla night and T made some tuna casserole on Sunday.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

You're the Charlie Brown-iest.

2011-12-18T23:20:00.000-05:00

Between Christmas preparations and keeping up with regular television shows on the DVR, we just haven't gotten to any of my favorite Christmas shows or movies yet. Tonight, we began remedying that.

A few favorite quotes:

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all really. Maybe it just needs a little love." (Linus, "A Charlie Brown Christmas")

"Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights, please! And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.' That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." (Linus, "A Charlie Brown Christmas")

"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags! He puzzled and puzzed til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more!" ("Dr Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas")

Christmas Angels - Silver

2011-12-17T16:52:00.000-05:00

The final angel, Silver - Beauty, is Arianne. She my my very favorite. I love the delicate snowflakes on her gown. I love her soft beauty and the fact that she reminds me to take in the beauty of Christmas in the middle of the crazy rush and the commercialism.

Arianne comes on wings of brightest silver, reminding us to rejoice in all the beauty we see and hear in this breathtaking season - in the chime of a silver bell ringing clear and pure on the crisp air, in the silvery winter light that bathes the landscape, in the snowflake that spins and glitters as it falls. Arianne brings with her a soft and delicate message of wintertime beauty.
(description found on ornament box)

Christmas Angels - Blue

2011-12-16T15:10:00.000-05:00

Azura (Blue - Peace) is one of my favorite of the five angels. I love both what she represents about the Christmas season and the details of her gown. I think she captures the feeling of peace perfectly.

Azura gently reminds us of the hush of a starry December sky and the still, unhurried moments at the heart of the season. From the hint of pale blue in a frozen pond to the deep blue of a winter midnight, her gown of calming blues brings feelings of peace. She reminds us, too, of the close friends and family who bless us by sharing those quiet moments with us.
(description found on ornament box)

Christmas Angels - Gold

2011-12-15T09:09:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite representations. I love what my third angel, Gilda, stands for: Gold - Tradition. Traditions are very important to me. I love the celebration of a ritual that has been passed down from my grandparents to my parents to me...and maybe one day my own children and grandchildren. There is a warm comfort in thinking about all the times a tradition has been honored by people I love. When I look at Gilda, in her golden gown, I think about what she is intended to mean, about the people I love, about the generations-old traditions...and the new ones I've created with T.

Gilda represents time, memory and every precious thing that endures. Her gown of gold brings to mind the star that tops the tree or the golden glow of a flame passed from candle to candle. She brings her message of gratitude for those who have shared in our traditions through the years - passing them on, receiving them, creating new ones. She is a shining celebration of tradition and the many ways it enriches the season.
(description found on ornament box)

I Want Wednesday: December 14, 2011

2011-12-14T13:42:00.000-05:00

**I Want to try Dunkin Donuts mint hot chocolate. If only it weren't still EIGHTY DEGREES here! (Stupid La Nina.)

**While we're talking about unrealistic wants, something on my "I Want" list for quite a while now is a mortar and pestle. This one is...not inexpensive. But I've looked at the cheaper ones and I remain unimpressed. Therefore, I also remain mortar-and-pestle-less.

**I have zero kitchen real estate left for important things, never mind something *so* frivolous, but how cute are these hot dog plates?? I hate when my hot dog tips over and either leans in my potato salad or falls out of the bun all over my potato chips. This would solve that issue. Plus, so cute! I can't help it. I Want.

**I Want this Half Pint Garden!! Then again, I also want enough natural light in my home not to kill it.

**Falling somewhere between frivolous (because I have been using clear plastic Gladware for years and it's worked just fine) (also, remember, kitchen real estate is currently at a premium) and somewhat realistic and useful is this Homemade Cookie Jar. As I said, I by no means need it, but do I Want somewhere cute to store the cookies I bake? Why yes, yes I do.

**My one completely serious item this week (I'm serious about the others, but expectations are nearly nil) is a real ice cream scoop. I Want one that will eliminate me needing to leave the ice cream on the counter until it gets soft enough to scoop with one of my cheap regular spoons without bending the darn thing, because letting it melt and then refreezing it just messes with the quality of my ice cream, and I take my icea cream *very* *seriously*, friends.

Christmas Angels - Green

2011-12-13T14:08:00.000-05:00

The second angel is Green - Generosity, and her name is Esmerelda.

Esmerelda calls to mind the spirit of giving that marks the season - the wreath of pine inviting us into a friend's house, the holly bough on the mantel above a welcoming fire or the glowing tree where we place the gifts our hearts have chosen with care. In her evergreen gown, Esmerelda brings with her the joyful message of generosity.

(description found on ornament box)

Menu Plan Monday: December 12, 2011

2011-12-12T23:36:00.001-05:00

Monday: We have a stash of Barber frozen stuffed chicken breasts. We'll pop a couple of those in the oven, whip up some white rice with gravy (there's a little chicken stock in the refrigerator that needs to be used up), and round it out with a salad.
Tuesday: We have an appointment right after work, so we needed something simple for dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs will pull together easily. Pop some garlic bread in the oven. Eat up some more of that salad from the night before. Dinner should be ready in no time!
Wednesday: T will grill up some brats. We have some sauerkraut in the refrigerator to use.
Thursday: There are some tortillas already open from last week, so we'll use them up making some Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas.
Friday: The owner of the the company I work for is taking the office staff (plus significant others) out for dinner for Christmas!
Saturday: Maybe we'll have leftovers. Maybe we won't have any left and we'll have to fly by the seat of our pants.
Sunday: We have a bunch of stuff in the freezer and the pantry. We'll cobble something together, I'm sure.

Notes from last week's menu: Last week was a little crazy and I never got a menu posted. I wish I could tell you I even remember everything I ate last week, but I've been racing through Christmas preparations so that packages could get mailed out in time. I know we had BLTs one day. Friday was the company Christmas party. Saturday, I was at EPCOT; I had a slice of pizza at Via Napoli in Italy. Sundat, T grilled up some chicken for wraps. I think Monday was fettuccine alfredo with chicken and broccoli? Yeah. Crazy.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Christmas Angels - Red

2011-12-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

Back in 2005, Hallmark had a collection of ornaments called "Joyful Tidings." There were five angels in the collection, each wearing a different color representing part of the Christmas season. I fell in love with them immediately, but at nearly $20 each, there was no way I would be adding them to my collection of Christmas angels. The following year, though, thanks to some skillful Ebay maneuvers, I managed ot get all five in my possession for a grand total of $24--two of them for only $2 each! I look forward to taking them out each Christmas. The details are amazing and they truly do convey the spirit of Christmas. I have been meaning to photograph and share them for several years now.

The first of the angels is Red - Love. Her name is Cordelia.

Cordelia wears warm red to help her do what angels do - bear messages from heart to heart. She brings to mind the rosy cheeks a mother kisses when her child comes in from the cold, the crimson ribbon on a package for a special someone, or the red-mittened hands that reach out to embrace a friend. Cordelia serves as a tender reminder of love in all its forms.
(description found on ornament box)

Christmas by number.

2011-12-11T23:49:00.000-05:00

No, we will *not* be breaking into a rousing rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas, thank you very much.

Cookie recipes baked: 5
New recipes tried: 3
Number that were a complete visual disaster: 1
Cookie sheets in rotation: 3
Dozens of Soft Molasses Cookies: 2
Shortbread Bites baked: 200
Shortbread Bites sampled: 7
Number of Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree Cutouts: 17
Fingertips burned: 1
Temperature of oven rack at the time of unfortunate contact: 350
Peppermint Stick Cookies baked: 48
Number it felt like: 80 bajillion
Peppermint Stick Cookies that broke: 11
Number that fell on the floor: 2
Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Sandwich No-Bake Cookies made: 67
Number sampled: 2
Hours in the kitchen: 14
Happy tastebuds: all of them

Merry, merry.

2011-12-10T22:17:00.000-05:00

A Saturday spin around the World Showcase at EPCOT to take in some holiday cheer.

Oh, ho, the mistletoe...

2011-12-09T23:48:00.000-05:00

...hung where you can see...

I love that he will humor me for silly photos at the company Christmas party.

Weekend Agenda: Christmas Preparations

2011-12-08T22:07:00.000-05:00

1. Company Christmas party.
2. Finish my Christmas shopping.
3. Wrap gifts.
4. Bake cookies.
5. Church, because I will badly need to slow down and refocus.

This Confetti Life was the inspiration for this post!

I Want Wednesday: December 7, 2011

2011-12-07T19:40:00.000-05:00

It's a theme this week! If you saw my collection of Christmas tree ornaments, you would know that I have no sad, bare little tannenbaum. I have no need for another ornament...at least not until I have a house & can put up multiple trees! But I adore Christmas tree ornaments and Crate & Barrel has *so* many this year that I Want.

These Glitter Stripe Ball Ornaments are adorable. I love that they look like they have garland & ornaments wrapped around them! And if you could see my tree, you would know that I love ornaments that are shiny or glittery--these are *both*!!--because they reflect my tree's colored lights, especially when a breeze from the open window makes them dance just a bit.

These Rustic Silver Reindeer would serve two purposes. 1) They are shiny. 2) My tree has some repeated themes (beyond shiny and/or glittery): snowmen, snowflakes, icicles, angels, stars, nativity scenes, jingle bells and baking/cookies. There are some other random ornaments there are well, but these "images" are my favorites. However, I have no reindeer! And I wouldn't mind starting up a new collection.

I just like this Swirl Tree. It's different!

These Metallic Glitter Dust Ball Ornaments are so classy with their subtle dusting of glitter and their rich colors, which I love but don't have anywhere on my tree, and I am a sucker for the classic round ball ornaments.

I have decided there isn't enough red on my tree (lots of blue, white, silver and clear) and these Glitter Ball Red Ornaments would certainly look pretty sparkling on it!

Snow Flurry Ball Ornaments!! This is a totally different take on my snowflake theme!! Love!

I can't even list all the ways that this Tinsel Tree Ball with Snow Ornament is adorable.

Ohhh... Snowflake Ball Ornaments... And I love that they use some brown. I love chocolate brown.

I love these Glitter Snowman Ball Ornaments. Love. *Love*.

All aglow.

2011-12-06T11:34:00.000-05:00

Last one from The Spectacle of Dancing Lights, I promise.

Star light, star bright...

2011-12-05T13:19:00.000-05:00

I still don't know what it is about this photo that I love so much. Even though Hollywood Studios is my least favorite Disney Park, I always really enjoy the Christmas decorations there.

Christmas Time Is Here...

2011-12-04T21:33:00.000-05:00

1. Worst Christmas song?
The Twelve Days of Christmas. One year, I got trapped in the airport in Houston, awaiting my connecting flight to California, which was a plane delayed arriving from Buffalo. It was getting later in the evening. The terminal had nearly emptied, enough so that the music could be heard clearly. And it was stuck on that song, on constant loop. If I ever hear that song again... My one and only exception is the version done by Straight No Chaser.

2. If you were a Christmas character, who would you be?
Christmas character? Like from a Christmas show or movie? Probably Linus in "Charlie Brown Christmas."

3. What type of decoration should stop being made?
I can't think of one that should stop being made but I do believe it should be made impossible for people to combine steady, flashing and chasing lights. Just pick one and go with it. The combination make my brain hurt!

4. Tastiest holiday treat?
I love anything that combines chocolate and peppermint!

5. Favorite pop culture Christmas icon?
Buddy the Elf!

6. Know how to make cookies/brownies/cake from scratch?
Um, yes. And that is still on my Christmas "To Do" list!

7. Ever cut your mouth on a candy cane/candy?
No... Is this a common hazard from which I have been spared?

8. What other country would you like to experience Christmas traditions?
I don't know how "adventurous" this is, considering my family heritage, but I think Germany would be at the top of my list.

9. What kind of pattern/pictures do you like on your wrapping paper?
Snowflakes are a particular favorite!

10. Will you make a Christmas picture for your blog/Facebook profile?
Specifically? No. But I am sure there will be some taken that will find their ways to those places!

11. Three best things about Christmas?
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, when I feel an indescribable combination of peace and joy. Finding the perfect gift for someone special to me. Sitting in the glow of just the Christmas tree lights.

And the stockings were hung...

2011-12-03T23:05:00.000-05:00

...by the counter with the care? By the candle? By the recycling?

I Sing in the Car: December 2, 2011

2011-12-02T18:25:00.000-05:00

The Christmas playlist on my iPod is in full swing.

1. Mistletoe and Holly - Frank Sinatra

2. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus - Daniel Renstrom

3. Christmas Time Is Here - Sarah McLachlan

4. Caroling, Caroling - Nat King Cole

5. White Christmas - Martina McBride

6. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Lady Antebellum

7. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Josh Groban

8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Jewel

Wonderland

2011-12-01T23:22:00.000-05:00

We took a vacation day and went to play at Disney. We ended the day by kicking off Christmas. The lights and snow never get old...

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: November 2011

2011-12-01T14:57:00.000-05:00

A photo of me:

Quite possibly my most favorite photo taken of myself in years!

1) Candle scents this month:
Autumn Fruit. Be Thankful. Orchard Pear. Cranberry Chutney.Cinnamon Stick. Mulling Spices. Cafe Au Lait. Vanilla Satin. Mountain Lodge. Pumpkin Pie. Maple Pancakes. Spiced Pumpkin. Harvest. Apple Cider.

2) What I am reading this month:
I didn't do much reading this month. By the time I climb into bed, I've been ready to sleep. So... I am *still* reading Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand). I am determined to finish this book before the end of 2011!

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"The Best Day," by Taylor Swift. "Crazy Girl," by Eli Young Band. "Just a Kiss," by Lady Antebellum.

4) Movies I saw:
Shrek the Third.

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
Hands down, the one that sticks in my mind the most is "The Good Guy Fluctuation" (The Big Bang Theory): "Bazina, punk! NOW we're even!!" You know you've found a good episode when you have a line that immediately becomes part of your everyday language. "In-Between" (Parenthood) made me tear up more than once (too bad I was watching at work over lunchtime!); this show is so freaking good. And then there was "The Rebound Girl" (How I Met Your Mother). Holy bombshell, people!

6) Something yummy I made:
The Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans I made for Thanksgiving were outstanding (if I do say so myself).

7) Restaurants where I ate:
California Grill (Disney's Contemporary resort hotel). Yak & Yeti (Disney's Animal Kingdom). O'hana (Disney's Polynesian resort hotel). Kouzzina (Disney's Boardwalk). Biergarten (EPCOT, Germany pavilion).

8) Five things I am loving this month:
1. See's Apple Pie Truffles. Like a perfect little mouthful of apple pie a la mode. 2. Marie's Honey Mustard dressing. I love a good honey mustard. The problem is finding a good one. So many are either too sweet or too mustard-y. This is one the perfect balance! 3. The time change: it is *finally* getting light out side before 8am! I loathe dark mornings. 4. Our new real estate agent. 5. Cooler weather.

9) A goal I had for this month:
To find a dress and a hair style for my wedding. I wanted to find the dress while Nichole was in town on vacation, so I wouldn't have to go alone, and I needed to settle on a hairstyle so I would have time to make sure my hair would be long enough (if necessary). Done and done!

10) This month I looked forward to:
Playing at Disney with two of my best friends. It wears me out, but since we live so far apart, I have to take advantage of these opportunities when they present themselves.

11) Something I want to be thankful for this month:
I am grateful that my family and friends back in New England made it through the Halloween snowstorm safely, even though some were without power for a considerable period of time. I am also thankful I live where that kind of storm is even less likely that it was there. (In the twenty-five years I lived up there, I never once recall snow being on the ground for Halloween.)

12) A photo I took this month:

I Want Wednesday: November 30, 2011

2011-11-30T12:16:00.000-05:00

**Ever since that really rainy round of Food & Wine Fest, I have craved a good raincoat. After some careful consideration, I Want a Three-Quarter Length Mesh-Lined Rain Coat from LL Bean. In "deep red," of course. It's a good length, lightweight (since I rarely have cause for a wool lining during the Florida rainy season), and it has a hood.

**A cool front moved in Monday evening, leaving me craving cozy beverages. I Want a steaming mug of this hot chocolate from Williams-Sonoma. Any of those flavors sound delicious, but the peppermint is really calling my name at the moment. I don't know what it is about that packaging too, but I am so drawn to it!

**I actually need some new makeup brushes. My old ones are several years old and they are ready to be replaced. I know some people will insist I should be more picky about purchasing better quality brushes, but I just can't justify a pricey set from Sephora. I would feel too guilty if I didn't get many years out of them! And then I saw this Sonia Kashuk set for sale at Target. I Want them! They are so silvery and sparkly and pretty! What a cheerful way to start each day!

**I have this great, comfortable zip-up red sweater that I wear like a jacket for most of the winter. There are some days that it isn't cold enough for me to break out my actual winter coat (let's face it, in Florida, those days are rare), but I need just a little something more than the sweater. I think that "something" is a scarf. Nothing too heavy. I Want just a bit of softness to wrap around my neck. I bet this Featherweight Gauze Wrap from Land's End would do the job nicely. And the navy blue would pair well with the bright red of my sweater. It could be my winter tribute to the Red Sox colors!

**I Want to break into my stash of winter Yankee Candle scents. These are the new ones I decided to try out this year (in addition to all the old favorites, of course). I am especially excited about Mountain Berries and Cherries on Snow.

**I am the first to admit that the last thing I need is another votive holder. I have so many to choose from already, for every single season. But I cannot help myself. I adore the crackled glass votive holders Yankee Candle comes out with. The Autumn and Winter ones are my weakness. I Want one of each of these!

(top, left to right: Nature's Crackle, Pinecone Crackle, Amber Leaves Crackle. bottom, left to right: Berry Crackle, Autumn Leaves Crackle, Winter Bird Crackle)

Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker.**

2011-11-28T22:49:00.000-05:00

I was born in October. I lived my first twenty-five years in New England. My favorite season, without a doubt, is Autumn. I don't get much in the way of Autumn, following my relocation to The Sunshine State nearly a decade ago. (Seriously. A *decade*. My Lord, where does the time go...?)

All that is a preface to share that I cannot--truly, I am physically unable--pass a dried leaf on the ground without stomping on it. My opportunities are too few and far between. And there is nothing quite so satisfying as the crunch of a dried leaf under your shoe. (You may take this for granted. You don't realize its value until you don't have piles of leaves around you. You're probably consumed with raking them up. If you moved away from Autumn, you would miss them. Trust me on this.)

Nearly four weeks ago now, I got to play at Disney World with two very dear friends. We may have been at Food & Wine Fest, but I can assure, the following took place without any adult beverages contributing to this uninhibited moment of joy. When a carefully constructed pile of this nature presents itself, there is but one thing to do.

**I didn't have a wet sucker, but I also can't resist dropping quotes from classic Charlie Brown holiday specials either.

Menu Plan Monday: November 28, 2011

2011-11-28T12:16:00.000-05:00

Monday: We have some potatoes to use up from the ten-pound bag T bought last week and there are still some fresh green beans in the veggie drawer, so I will be making Shepherd's Pie for dinner tonight. We have some salad in the refrigerator too.
Tuesday: Time for something completely different to wake up the taste buds! Sausage, Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells with a salad and some garlic bread. (We'll actually use up some of the brown-and-serve rolls from Thanksgiving to make the garlic bread!)
Wednesday: Mid-week Advent services start tonight, so I need something quick and easy. (I originally had the stuffed shells here but then realized that wouldn't be a good plan with church starting at 6:30. Nowhere near enough time to prep, bake and eat that dish before church, and *no* chance I was waiting til I got home!) T will marinate some chicken breasts and then grill them to make grilled chicken sandwiches. Probably a quick, lazy noodle side dish and I'll be refueled and ready to head back out by 6:10.
Thursday: We decided to take a vacation day to play at WDW. The crowd should be a little lighter during the week and I am ready for some Disney after taking the last several weeks away from it after so much time there over Food & Wine Fest. I'm not sure what we'll have for dinner, but it will be somewhere in the parks.
Friday: T has been talking about making this soup he had at Olive Garden a while back. He finally found a recipe for it and the weather here is supposed to be "unseasonably cool" most of the week, so we'll be trying a new recipe. Hopefully, we'll use up the last of the rolls with some butter as well.
Saturday: We have some kielbasa in the freezer that's been shoved around for a while. Time to use it. We'll have some pierogies and sauerkraut with it. A good hearty meal.
Sunday: We'll have to see what leftovers are still kicking around from earlier in the week. If we've already cleaned them up, Sunday dinner will be a surprise!

Notes from last week's menu: I really have to say, the whole week, including Thanksgiving dinner, went perfectly. Any leftovers from earlier in the week were cleaned up for lunches--including the most enormous baked potatoes I have *ever* seen in my life, big enough for one potato to cover two meals! I tried three new recipes, all successfully and all keepers! The Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans were rather easy to assemble, but the best part of this dish is, believe it or not, *not* the bacon but the sauce! Also, at T's request, I made my first ever Classic Pumpkin Pie (I've made plenty of no-bake pies, but I've never actually baked one--in any flavor!--all on my own!) and it was really good! I guess a baked pumpkin pie is another one of those dishes to go on the "I hated it as a kid, but my tastes have expanded since then" list of surprises. The Leftover Turkey Pot Pie wasn't the prettiest thing I've ever made, but it was a great way to use up some leftovers from the meal and have it taste different enough.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Menu Plan Monday: November 21, 2011

2011-11-21T22:37:00.000-05:00

Monday: T has a couple of steaks calling out to him from the freezer. We'll have baked potatoes and grill up some Summer squash in a balsamic marinade.
Tuesday: Something easy = grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, chips and a pickle on the side.
Wednesday: Attempt number two at pizza..
Thursday: Thanksgiving! We'll be having roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, (new recipe!) Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans, cranberry sauce, and, for dessert, (new recipe!) Classic Pumpkin Pie.
Friday: Hahahahaha. Did you see how much food we're making for Thanksgiving? For TWO PEOPLE? We'll be eating leftovers.
Saturday: Time to break up the monotony: (new recipe!) Leftover Turkey Pot Pie.
Sunday: More leftovers.

Notes from last week's menu: Monday and Tuesday went off without a hitch. Monkey wrench! (imagine the sound of tires screeching) I ended up with a cold/weird virus of some sort that arrived out of nowhere and kicked my rear with some odd symptoms. I didn't want anything for dinner on Wednesday. Thursday, I felt better, so we had Wednesday's tuna cakes. Friday, I felt like poo, so I doped up on DayQuil, T grabbed dinner from Zaxby's and we bumped the pizza to the following week. I ate a lot of chowder the rest of the weekend while I recovered.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Down for the count.

2011-11-18T18:23:00.000-05:00

I have no idea what form of virus I am battling, but I feel yuck. It started Tuesday with a throat that wasn't even enough to call sore, just a little scratchy feeling that would come and go, so I started Zicam-ing myself. On Wednesday, it was mostly gone, and I felt fine--I thought my immune system had won! go me!--until about three in the afternoon, at which point I hit a wall. I was sleepy driving home but I made myself walk with T, as per our usual routine, hoping it would perk me up. It had the opposite effect. I was so wiped out by the time we finished that I sat on the couch and stared on my shoes, trying to will myself the energy to untie them. I sat on the couch, staring vacantly at the television. I had zero appetite and couldn't imagine even summoning the ambition to move a fork from a plate to my mouth and then chewing anyway. I was nauseated for about twenty minutes, but nothing happened and it went away. Then a spiked a mid-grade fever for about a half hour. I felt it break with a giant shiver. My energy came back slightly but no appetite. I went to bed early. On Thursday, I blew my nose a couple of times and my throat felt like I had been yelling at a sporting event for hours--raspy but it didn't hurt. I thought I was going to get away with a couple of mild symptoms. Until today. At roughly 10am, all heck broke loose in my head. I went through an entire box of Puffs in five hours. My head never hurt but I felt like poo. So, on my way home, I stopped at the drugstore for a DayQuil/NyQuil pack (liqui-gels...no liquid death flavor for me!). I plan to DayQuil myself until an appropriate bedtime, at which point I will dose myself up with NyQuil and see you in a couple of days.

::sigh::

I Want Wednesday: November 16, 2011

2011-11-16T14:03:00.000-05:00

**I Want to try growing my own potted herbs, once I have a home that gets a little more sunlight, and I thought these reusable plant tags would be a great idea for marking the pots!

**I lack the skill to wrap cords neatly, meaning my various chargers, cords and earbuds are left "open" and messy or they end up in a tangled jumble (especially when I travel), so I am intrigued by these bobino Cord Wraps. I Want neatly wrapped cords!

Menu Plan Monday: November 14, 2011

2011-11-14T22:39:00.000-05:00

Monday: I have a craving for honey mustard, so grilled chicken wraps it is!
Tuesday: We have some pork steaks in the freezer that need to be used. T will grill them and we'll have some corn and a salad to round out the meal.
Wednesday: I wanted something a little lighter, so we went with Tuna Cakes. A little bit of broccoli with butter on the side.
Thursday: We decided to get some takeout this week (rare for us)--some chicken from Zaxby's sounds good!
Friday: Can't remember the last time we had pizza.
Saturday: T makes a great New England Clam Chowder.
Sunday: We'll shoot for leftovers. There are *always* leftovers from the chowder.

Notes from last week's menu: Things were crazy the past couple of weeks. I wasn't home several days (friends vacationing at WDW!) and the menu was all over the place. I felt a little break was in order. Time to get back on track though!

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Food & Wine Festival 2011: Top 5

2011-11-13T12:21:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty certain no one is shocked that I am not picking just one straight-up favorite Food & Wine Fest dish. I mean, this is *me* we're talking about. And I tried dozens of dishes. You should just be impressed I managed to narrow it down to a "Top Five."

5. Lobster & Scallop Fisherman's Pie (Ireland)

4. Lettuce Wrap with Roast Pork & Kimchi Slaw (South Korea)

3. Pumpkin Mousse with Craisins & Orange Sauce (Hops & Barley)

2. Crispy Shrimp Taco with Chipotle Lime Mayo & Cabbage on a Flour Tortilla (Mexico)

1. Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet & Sour Pineapple Chutney & Spicy Mayonnaise (Hawaii)

and...

...because you *knew* I couldn't stick to my self-imposed limits...

...go ahead, I'll wait while you laugh...

...two Honorable Mentions, that were so close, but ultimately had to be eliminated.

Seared Mahi Mahi with Steamed Rice, Hearts of Palm & Coconut-Lime Sauce (Brazil)

Parisian Cosmo Slush (France)

People Pics

2011-11-12T12:22:00.000-05:00

In the weeks leading up to Nichole and Daniel's Disney vacation, Nichole and I texted back and forth making various plans, and one of the things we agreed most heartily upon was that we never take enough photos of *us*. There are plenty of photos of sights and foods, but not the people. It was time to remedy this. We weren't sure what this would entail, exactly, but we did decide that there would be some silly photos. Because, really, what's better than photos that make you laugh every time you revisit them, right?

There were the "say cheese" photos...

and the random candids...

and the silly ones...

And then we decided to stage our runs through Test Track (since we've ridden so many times, we know right where the camera is, and often we just look distracted). Here's where things started getting priceless. Here you have dead people in the front seat...

...which evolved into Angry Darumas in the back seat...

...and finally, a car full of people preparing to crash--the best part was, sitting in the front seat, we had no idea our entire car was in on it until we saw the photo come up on the screen at the Test Track exit!

And then, Nichole had a brilliant idea. If you go to Disney, each of the parks has designated "Kodak photo spots," otherwise known as those touristy spots that everyone stops to take their photo. Nichole decided that we should locate each of them (thanks to our handy park map--first time I've needed one of those in more than eight years!) and take our photo. Things started off pretty tame...

...with a hint of silliness...

(Not as easy as you might think to make yourself part of a totem pole.)

...until inspiration struck. And then we were cooking. See, each of these Kodak photo spots has a little marker. And on that marker is a staged photo, with the basic idea of showing you which background you're looking for, something like this:

Except most of them are super cheesy. And that was when we decided to re-create them.

Oh. Yes. We. Did.

And now we have a new mission the next time they come to visit: three more Disney parks full of Kodak photo spot inspiration! Because this? Was a success. I am unable to scroll through these photos without giggling.

It's photos like these, the way the make me feel, that keeps me toting my camera along.

Those last two? I love that we're laughing. The Disney photographer had my camera. He told Daniel to cross his arms over his chest. We weren't sure what he was cooking up for a pose...until he told us it was just because he hates the Patriots.

Get out your cameras. Make some memories. It's how we bottle moments of time while we have the chance.

Food & Wine Festival 2011: The Final Round

2011-11-10T12:21:00.001-05:00

With just one more trip to make around this oh-so-delicious world, I had a very specific plan of action. It started with a replay at Hawaii of the Kaluha Pork Slider, before embarking for...

SINGAPORE
Shrimp Cake on a Sugarcane Skewer with Singapore Noodles.

I wasn't sure what I was going to get from Singapore. I knew it wasn't going to be a Singapore Sling, and I'd had the Beef Randang last year, so I knew it was too spicy for my taste. I am very picky about the ways I will eat shrimp, so I was taking a risk on the shrimp cake, being the only other option on the menu, and I ended up surprised! The shrimp cake had a great flavor and the texture was not at all what I feared. The noodles were actually cold, like a salad. I couldn't believe I had been so skeptical!

I had to chase that with another Pumpkin Mousse from Hops & Barley, followed by yet another favorite: the Lettuce Wrap from South Korea, before a new dish from...

ARGENTINA
Beef Empanada.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed by this one. Last year, they served a cheese and corn empanada that was quite good, but the beef filling in this year's was dry and, well, kinda boring. I had much higher expectations for this one and it just fell flat. Thankfully, though, I had one last destination...

DESSERTS & CHAMPAGNE
Lemon Chiffon. Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial.

What a perfect way to end the 2011 Food & Wine Festival. Some bubbles and a light refreshing lemony cloud.

As always, I am sad to see Food & Wine Fest draw to a close. However, for the first time ever, I managed to try every single dish on my list! I completed my passport ("What's that?" you say. Oh yes, my passport. We'll be discussing this soon!) and now it is time to contemplate my Food & Wine Festival 2011 Top Five! Stay tuned...

Food & Wine Festival 2011: Round Seven

2011-11-08T12:20:00.000-05:00

At this point, I had tried nearly everything on my list, which made choosing what to eat next a lot easier. And the first place I had on the itinerary was...

CHEESE
Artisan Cheese Selection. Sterling Vitner's Collection Meritage.

The first cheese (moving from left to right) was Le Delice de Bourgogne Lincet--it was a very smooth, mellow cheese, served with a drizzle of honey. It was my least favorite of the three, but still very good. I mean, c'mon, it's *cheese*. The next cheese was a Chevre Affine Wyngaard Kaas--a very creamy, buttery cheese that tasted amazing with the dried cranberries, and this one was my favorite. The last cheese was Thomasville Tomme Sweet Grass Dairy--a very creamy, almost melty cheese served with some fig. With my taste buds wide awake, we departed for...

...Mexico. But on the way, it started to rain, so we took a detour into the Mexico pavilion (aka "somewhere dry") to wait it out. When it *finally* let up, I made a beeline for a replay of the Crispy Shrimp Taco. Some dishes are way too good to have just once! And *then* it was time for...

AUSTRALIA
Lamington.

This was not my first time having this delightful little dish. I remembered it well from last year's Fest and I was definitely looking forward to having it again! The cake was moist and buttery, the chocolate was fudgy and the coconut shavings were just a hint of sweet. To round out the day, I made my way to...

SOUTH KOREA
Boolgogi BBQ Beef with Steamed Rice and Kimchi. Myung Jak Bokbunjajoo (Raspberry Wine).

I really enjoyed the beef, especially with the rice. The kimchi was good but powerful. I could have done with a smaller portion, though. The raspberry wine was good, but not quite as sweet as the one they served last year. This one tasted slightly more like a dose of cough syrup. Oh well. Win some, lose some, right?

Food & Wine Festival 2011: Rounds Five and Six

2011-11-04T12:18:00.000-04:00

The next two rounds took place in very close succession because Nichole and Daniel had arrived in Florida! On Wednesday, after much consideration, I started out my tasty travels in...

BRAZIL

Seared Mahi Mahi with Steamed Rice, Hearts of Palm and Coconut-Lime Sauce.

I'm not sure what I expected from this dish but I quickly discovered that I had greatly underestimated its deliciousness! The fish was seared perfectly, and the rice was, well, rice. But that *sauce*. I don't even know how to really describe it. It was just... difficult not to actually lick that little plate. Instead, I saved room for...

SOUTH AFRICA

Seared Filet of Beef with Smashed Sweet Potatoes and Braai Sauce.

First, I should point out that I am not typically a huge fan of sweet potatoes--these sweet potatoes are yummy though, spiced well, and nice and creamy. The beef was really a vessel for that sauce. I won't even pretend to know what it was, but I can tell you that it was good! Not really barbecue-y, which you might guess, but it was tasty. (Not as plate-licking amazing as the Mango Barbecue Sauce from the previous two years though.) And then it was time for...

BELGIUM

Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream.

"What's so adventurous about a *waffle*?" you might ask. To which I reply, "Absolutely nothing. But I ate in Brazil and South Africa to lead off, and I was starting to get full. Trying to keep in mind that we had dinner reservations that evening, I felt it was time for dessert, and I am not one to pass up an airy waffle with delicious berries and fluffy whipped cream. So there."
-------------------------------------------------------
The next day found us starting the tour in the opposite direction. Daniel was on a "seafood mission" for the day, but Nichole and I were on a "what looks tasty mission," so we tried nibbles of Daniel's dishes here and there, until we found ourselves in...

FRANCE

Escargots Persillade en Brioche. Parisian Cosmo Slush.

Nichole claimed the "little hats" and then I made Daniel peer inside and find me the one with the smallest snail (I'm brave enough to have tried escargot before, but they have to be *small*) but really? Who wants to pass up buttery garlic bread? You almost don't even know the snail is along for the ride. As for the slush, it is a grown-up beverage made especially for me. It's slushy and cranberry and the alcohol is disguised very well, and it's really just very refreshing. We headed for the next destination on Daniel's Seafood Tour, which just so happened to have something on my own to-taste list, in...

NEW ZEALAND

Seared Sea Scallop with Kumara-Red Curry Puree and Apple Radish Salad. Mohua Central Otago Riesling.

The scallop had an excellent sear and texture (not chewy at all) (nothing worse than a chewy scallop) but I think like preferred last year's scallop dish a bit more. The curry puree was a little spicy for my palate, and while it was balanced by the crispy, cool tartness of the salad, once the scallop and the salad were gone, I had little desire to finish the remaining puree. I would tell you more about the wine, but the curry was messing with my taste buds. I think there was a hint of pear or green apple to it, but I was far more interested in dousing the flames in my mouth, so I could make my way to...

ITALY

Cannoli al Cioccolato.

This little bite of heaven was exactly what I needed, and more than I dared to hope. There was a sweet ricotta cheese filling in a chocolate-dipped cannoli. They claimed there was "candied fruit" involved there, somewhere, but I have to tell you, if it was there, I missed it. (Which, truth be told, is fine by me, because when I think of candied fruit, I imagine that scary stuff found in fruit cake or hot cross buns. ::shudder::)

And then I was full. I waved the white flag until Sunday.

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: October 2011

2011-11-01T17:01:00.000-04:00

A photo of me:
Ummm... I promise to be better about this next month...? ::looks sheepish::

1) Candle scents this month:
Cranberry Chutney. Macintosh Spice. Spiced Pumpkin. Cinnamon Stick. Maple Pancakes. Candy Corn. Harvest. Mountain Lodge. Pumpkin Pie. Napa Valley Harvest. Mandarin Cranberry. Autumn Leaves. Vineyard. Autumn Wreath.

2) What I am reading this month:
Still working on Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) but I'm nearing the end! (Holy heck, this book has taken me for.ev.er. to finish.)

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"Sparks Fly," by Taylor Swift. "Little Moments," by Brad Paisley. "Baseball Ballet," by Terry Cashman.

4) Movies I saw:
No time for movies with MLB playoffs *and* tons of new tv to watch.

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
The entire MLB playoffs - one of the best post-seasons I've ever watched.

6) Something yummy I made:
I was dying to finally make my Pumpkin Chili and it was *so* good.

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Macaroni Grill. Miller's Ale House.

8) Five things I am loving this month:
1. The scanner on the wireless printer T purchased a while back. My old one was clunky and slow and the scanned images left something to be desired. This one scans wonderfully! I am no longer dreading scanning in my piles of old family photos. 2. Food and Wine Fest at EPCOT! 3. MLB playoffs - Seriously, even with my team far from "in the picture," every single one of these series have been exciting to watch. I have been glued to my tv. This is my kind of drama! 4.The variety of options available for watching television shows: "live," DVR, OnDemand, online, DVD. Sure is different from how things were when I was a kid: if you missed a program, tough luck. 5. Shout Color Catcher sheets - I tried them on a whim, since they were on sale *and* I had a coupon, but I wasn't sure if they were just another product designed to sucker the consumer. I am pleasantly surprised! That red shirt that always bleeds just a little? No pink tinge on any other laundry!

9) A goal I had for this month:
It was my birthday month. I am exempt from all goals. Heh.

10) This month I looked forward to:
Food & Wine Fest! Are you kidding?? I look forward to this from the second the previous Festival ends. And more comfortable weather.

11) Something that made me laugh this month:
Tito filled in on FOX for two ALCS games as a color man. In the first game, when asked how he was feeling about the change of pace, he replied "I wanna chew, and I wanna be able to curse at will. And I can't do either." I loved his candor and, let's be honest, I loved that he wasn't Tim McCarver. It was a special treat to see this side of Francona, especially the side of him that is a clearly a fan of baseball. And it was also very, very amusing. ;-)

12) A photo I took this month:

Food and Wine Festival 2011: Round Four

2011-10-27T18:58:00.000-04:00

Yikes. It has been almost a whole week since I did my most recent spin through Food and Wine Fest, and I still haven't taken a few minutes to sit down here and record it! And it was *very* much worth sharing. Oh, yes, it was. The crowds were the heaviest I had seen so far for this year's Food & Wine Fest--probably because the weather was ridiculously gorgeous. There were a ton of locals there (easily identified by our long sleeves and jeans in the low-70s air). I hit the World Showcase, hung a hard left, and landed in...

MEXICO
Grilled Ribeye Taco with Chipotle Pepper Sauce and Scallion on a Flour Tortilla. L A Cetto Petite Sirah.

The flavors were wonderful. It carried a little warmth, but that was to be expected with the Chipotle Pepper Sauce, and the steak was cooked very nicely--not at all tough or dry, and almost no fat. The one complaint I had was that the scallion was left whole. This made for some messy eating, since when the tip of it ended up in a bite, the whole thing just pulled out of the taco in one piece. They should have chopped it up to avoid Chipotle Pepper Sauce sunning down your chin. The wine was not one that I would likely enjoy on its own, but with the food, it was perfect. It was more earthy than fruity, but it was very light, and didn't leave a heavy lingering aftertaste at all, but it had enough "oomph" to stand up to the bold flavors of the taco. After wiping my chin and hands off, I set sail for...

SOUTH KOREA

Lettuce Wrap with Roast Pork and Kimchi Slaw.

This is a carryover from last year's Festival, but it was--and remains--one of my favorite dishes. The roast pork is perfectly seasoned and shredded. The kimchi slaw and the sauce they topped it with add just a little kick, but the lettuce cools it right down: perfect balance of flavors. There is just no way I could pass this one up. I love to find quiet little spots to eat. It gives me a break from the crowd chaos & allows me a little space to take the photos I want. (You wouldn't believe how many smart aleck remarks I get from passersby, as if it should matter to anyone that I choose to photograph details I enjoy. But I digress.) I decided to backtrack a bit at this point in the direction of...

GREECE
Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey.

This may have been one of my least favorite selections so far this year. It wasn't *bad*. It was just...a lot of cheese. It was about the consistency of melted mozzarella, but there was easily enough for four people there. And it made me wicked thirsty. The honey helped to temper it a little bit, but I would have pushed people out of the way to get to the water fountain, I think, if I'd had to. I decided I needed to set out for my next stop, so I could get a bottle of water. Off to...

HAWAII
Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise.

This. was. heaven. On a teeny tiny little bun. The slider may very well end up being my favorite new dish this year. The pork was delicious. The pineapple chutney complemented it perfectly. The mayo wasn't that spicy but it didn't need to be. The bun was soft (but not in danger of being soggy). I find it slightly ironic that pork is probably my least favorite meat, and yet, the two best things I've had this year have been pork! I had just enough room left for dessert, so it was time to beat feet for...

IRELAND
Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Baileys Ganache.

This is a Food and Wine Fest standard. I've had it before. If they keep bringing it back, I am sure I will have it again. Really, how can you go wrong with warm chocolate cake? (Except for when you try to photograph it on a wall painted white. Even in the shade, the photo was still all blown out, no matter what I tried. Oh well. It was time to enjoy the cake. So I put away my camera for the day & grabbed my fork.)

Round Five will hopefully be this coming Saturday. According to the current forecast, it's supposed to be rainy in the first part of the day, so I may delay if the afternoon forecast looks a little less soggy. Time is running out and I still have a list of things I want to try. Good thing I will be spending quite a bit of time at WDW next week!

I Sing in the Car: October 27, 2011

2011-10-27T11:51:00.002-04:00

Every time "I'll Be There for You," by the Rembrandts, plays on the radio, I will think of the show Friends, without fail. (I can even picture many of the scenes that showed during the opening credits as I sing along!) (No, I am still not over the fact that that show has ended.) This morning, it came on the radio as I drove into work. As I sang along...

No one could ever know me,
No one could ever see me
Since you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with,
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you...

I couldn't help getting a different set of images in my head...

Menu Plan Monday: October 24, 2011

2011-10-24T10:57:00.000-04:00

Monday: Out to dinner with a friend.
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes.
Wednesday: Grilled chicken wraps.
Thursday: (new recipe!) Stuffed Peppers.
Friday: (new recipe!) Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole.
Saturday: Food & Wine Fest: Round Five.
Sunday: Leftovers?

Notes from last week's menu: The menu worked just fine...until Sunday, when we didn't have any leftovers left! We decided we felt like some Linguine with Clam Sauce, so we just added what we needed to Sunday's grocery list.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Gram's hands

2011-10-22T09:54:00.000-04:00

For all the photos that I have amassed, one that I don't have is of my Gram's hands. I wish I'd had the foresight to know how important it would be to capture tiny details back then, when the opportunity still existed. Time is a cruel teacher though. We are often granted the wisdom of a lesson only after some chances have passed, and while we can carry this knowledge forward with us, hopefully using what we've learned, we cannot apply these lessons retroactively.

It has been ten years since my sweet Gram moved from this world to the next. A whole decade without this wonderful lady, whom I loved dearly.

One of the characteristics I loved most about her was her hands. By the time I knew my Gram, she was no longer a young woman. Her hands were wrinkled. There were age spots. Their youth had long since given way to the slightly gnarled look of years gone by.Those hands had worked hard: as a housewife and in the gardens, raising babies (and then grandbabies) and growing vegetation alike. But I will swear to you, to this day, that those hands were pure magic.

They rolled out the most delicious pie crust ever to grace taste buds, fingertips pressing the dough into the dish, leaving barely visible concave ovals behind: the symbols of love expressed in feeding her family.

They could make any green thing grow--and grow abundantly! Flowers blossomed. Vegetables flourished. Fruit trees produced until their branches hung low to the ground. And those same fingers could coax life back into wilted leaves or what appeared to be a dead, dry stick.

Those hands harvested the fruits of the garden and turned them into meals, into canned goods, into jams.

They took the walls of a house and made them into the warmth of home. Flowers were arranged and seasonal decorations came out of slightly dusty boxes year after year. And they tirelessly cleaned and tidied in the wake of a thriving family.

They worked hard, scrubbing laundry and hanging it out to dry, no matter the weather. They ironed. They mended. They folded. They hung up.

Those hands rested with questioning concern on warm foreheads, stroked the feverish heads of children, rubbed the backs of the brokenhearted. Somehow, they were always as warm or as cool as they needed to be. And they always *always* brought comfort.

When I was a small girl--and a not-so-small girl--I would sit beside Gram on the couch to watch tv or to visit. She would take my hand in hers. She would pat my hand or squeeze it, in a gentle but firm one-two-three pattern (I love you), and I would respond in turn. I remember how, despite their labors and the abuse of years, those hands were never too tired, and they were never dry or rough. Though her knuckles showed the bony appearance of age, the undersides of her fingers were rounded, plump and soft.

When I miss my Gram, her hands often spring to mind. I can bring their memory to the surface of my thoughts, but I always think "If I had a photo of them to look at and remember..." It wouldn't bring her back, but I would have that visual reminder, one I could share that would bring my words to life in color. You just don't realize the powerful treasure that some pixels printed on paper can be...

I Want Wednesday: October 19, 2011

2011-10-19T07:20:00.000-04:00

**The chance of me *ever* spending $84 on this Velvet Plush Pumpkin Trio is less than zero, but if someone is giving them away? I Want them. ;-)

**I Want these adorable Halloween Plaid Appetizer Plates purely because they are adorable and I am in a Halloween frame of mind.

**I Want this Trick or Treat Dishtowel to brighten up my kitchen!

**And I Want this Halloween Owl Dishtowel simply because how cute is he?? I have *no* owls in my Halloween decorations.

Food and Wine Festival 2011: Round Three

2011-10-17T14:05:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was *so* much nicer, weather-wise, than the one before it. It was nearly perfect. (If it had been about five to seven degrees cooler, it would have been absolutely perfect!) It was warm, slightly cloudy, breezy, and the crowds were only moderate, which is always a pleasant surprise on a Food and Wine Fest weekend! T came with me for this round and we started off in...

CHINA

Xinjiang Barbecue Chicken Stick.

This was really tasty. The chicken was very moist. The flavors were more honey and soy, with a hint of "something vaguely warm," as opposed to what one might typically expect with "barbecue," but this was by no means a bad thing! And really, how can you go wrong with food on a stick? Right? We finally departed our quiet shady bench in China for...

POLAND

Golabki. Kilebasa and Potato Pierogie with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream.

We took our plates and found a quiet bench in Italy (talk about defying the laws of international travel!) where we could eat. These are not "new and exciting taste adventures." These are tried an true old favorites that must be savored and enjoyed! The golabki (stuffed cabbage, for those of you who, like my bother, declare that if you can't say or spell it, you aren't eating it) was good, but a little greasy (not inedible, just noticeable, and may have just been this batch, as I don't recall this being an issue in the past). We were comparing and contrasting with the stuffed cabbage recipe we do at home in the CrockPot. This one has a bit more bacon taste to it. The kielbasa and pierogie were pretty much what you would expect, if you've had them before. the caramelized onions always surprise me with their sweetness! And with that, it was time to try something new in...

FRANCE

Coq au Vin sur Gratin de Macaroni. Merlot, Chateau de Beauregard-Ducourt, Bordeaux.

All that is a really fancy way of saying "red wine braised chicken with mushrooms and onions, and macaroni gratin." It wasn't much to look at (especially with so pretentious a name!) but it had really nice flavors. The red wine sauce was not overpowering and the serving size was generous. I am not typically a red wine person, but this one wasn't bad. It started out a bit dry and earthy, but at the end there was just a hint of a "plummy, jammy" taste left lingering. I won't even pretend to know what wine the meat was braised in, but the dish and the wine I picked worked well together. After that, I was kind of full, so we wandered over to the other side, and rode Living With the Land and Test Track. When I had a little more room, we made our way to...

IRELAND

Fisherman's Pie.

This is some kind of yummy. It's sort of like a Shepherd's Pie, only instead of ground beef and gravy, there were bay scallops and bits of lobster in lobster bisque, in with the vegetables. And it was all topped off by a layer of mashed potatoes and some melted Irish Cheddar. I am not usually a huge fan of lobster--it's a little rich for me and the texture isn't my favorite--but it was so good in this dish! We ended up sharing it, because the portion is a little large if you have eaten in multiple countries and still want to have some dessert in...

GERMANY

Apple Strudel with Karamel and Vanilla Sauce. Selbach JH Riesling QbA.

This is another returning favorite, but how can you pass up apples and caramel and vanilla? Ok, maybe *you* can, but *I* cannot. This strudel is so light and the flavors are so made to be enjoyed together. And since I went with the Spatlese back on Round One, I *had* to get a Riesling this time. It was super light and a little crisp, with just enough sweetness to go with dessert, but not so much that it became sickeningly sweet. I kept trying to decide what flavors I was detecting in it--peach? green apple? melon?--but either my tatse buds were on slap-happy overload or it was some combination of the three. I never could determine which it was.

We headed for the car, tummies full and content. And if the extended forecast holds, it will be in the SEVENTIES for Round Four. I cannot *wait*!!

Menu Plan Monday: October 17, 2011

2011-10-17T11:31:00.001-04:00

Monday: Ham steaks, mashed potatoes, corn and a salad.
Tuesday: Pumpkin Chili.
Wednesday: BLTs.
Thursday: Marinated chicken in the CrockPot, some noodles and peas on the side.
Friday: Fish sandwiches.
Saturday: Food & Wine Fest: Round Four.
Sunday: Leftovers?

Notes from last week's menu: We stuck to the plan, to the letter! Birthday dinner was at Macaroni Grill. Subs came from the Publix Deli. And the whole week of meals was delicious! T is an especially big fan of the Tortellini Florentine Soup. He raves about it and I always feel a little guilty accepting his praise because it really is ridiculously easy to make. This time, instead of chicken, we browned some ground sausage instead. *So* very yummy!

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

12784 days.

2011-10-13T22:59:00.000-04:00

I was listening to the radio one morning on the way into work. The DJ said he didn't want to be in his twenties again, because he looks back, and all he sees is young and stupid and who wants to relive that?

Now that I am officially smack in the middle of my thirties, I feel like enough of this decade has gone by for me to say it's been one of the best I've had so far. It always strikes me how resistant people are to turning thirty. When I look back, though, it hasn't bothered me. I had a great childhood, no question about it. I remember those days often and fondly. But after childhood comes the teens. I don't know *anyone* who is interested in revisiting those awkward, uncomfortable and often difficult years. Even though my teen years were far from awful, I truly don't miss them.

Where it seems people get hung up is on their twenties though. So many lament the loss of their twenties, speak wistfully of rewinding time, even refuse to acknowledge a year higher than 29. I look at my twenties as some of the most challenging years of my life. "Young and stupid" does not even scratch the surface of my twenties. There were a lot of growing pains. A lot of scars accrued. A lot of questions that either had no answers or, worse, had answers I'd rather not know. There were hard lessons, and expectations that led to disappointment. All signs pointed to "Life is unfair." Upon turning thirty, I have never once looked back at the previous decade longingly. The fact is, I would rather shut the door on most of it, keeping only what I have learned and what those lessons have made me.

Thirty has been good to me. Each year of this decade has been better than the one that preceded it...and not because anything was lacking. It's all just gotten better with each additional birthday candle, even when I am convinced it couldn't possibly be better than it is.

In my twenties, I was more worried about who I wasn't. In my thirties, I'm concerned with who I *am*. I am no longer focused on the ways in which I believe I fall short, the mental images of my future that haven't played out the way I had planned, and all the ways in which I am not good enough--whether that voice was my own or that of someone who claimed to care about me. I look in the mirror with clearer eyes. I see someone I *like*--maybe not everyday, but most days--and on the days that I don't, I am no longer afraid to hold that gaze and decide how to make myself better, not because I believe I am a failure, but because I finally see my own worth. And I am worth improving on this person, making her someone I can look in the eye and smile. I no longer accept being mistreated or derided or squashed until I feel inadequate. I am capable of forgiveness, but I have learned that forgiveness must be desired, and if it is not, I have to forgive for my own sake and simply walk away quietly, because I deserve not to carry that baggage with me, weighing heavily on my heart and stealing my joy. There simply is no room in my thirties for the joy-stealers and those who mean emotional harm. In my thirties, I am strong enough to walk away when I need to, and humble enough to admit when I am wrong.

More than once yesterday, I was asked, with a wink, "How old are you now? 29?" and my answer was a steady "I'm 35." I am not afraid to own that number. I am proud of the person I am now, that I wasn't ten years ago, proud of what I have survived and that it didn't beat me. Life is too precious to wish the years away or wish I didn't reach a particular number, when far too many people are denied that gift. Perhaps it's cheesy or cliche to say that. So be it. All I know is that I would rather have the additional days, adding up to a bigger number, than to *not* have it.

No, thirty-five does not scare me. I am at the center of the best years of my life and I want nothing more than to embrace it, and see where we go from here.

I Sing in the Car: October 11, 2011

2011-10-11T11:28:00.001-04:00

Nope, not a playlist this time. Instead, some lyrics I especially love that played on my way into work this morning. Lyrics I sing along with every time I hear them.

Just ask him how he made it
He'll tell you faith and sweat
And the heart of a faithful woman
Who never let him forget

Be a best friend, tell the truth
And overuse "I love you"
Go to work, do your best
Don't outsmart your common sense
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy

Always treat your woman like a lady
Never get to old to call her baby
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy
(from "Love Like Crazy," Lee Brice)

So much is made of "grand romantic gestures," and while they are momentarily nice, I would trade them all for "regular everyday love" like this. The kind of love that is real. The kind of advice that forms the building blocks of a solid relationship. The kind of love that greets you in the morning, giving you a grateful heart, and will welcome you home at the end of the day into the comfortable warmth of its reliability.

You know, the kind of love I count as a blessing in my life every single day. So, I sing along and I smile.

Food and Wine Festival 2011: Round Two

2011-10-10T11:50:00.002-04:00

Round Two was, shall we say, something on the soggy side. I had stalked the weekend forecast for over a week, so I was fully prepared for a washout. I checked the weather Saturday morning, and it claimed there would be a break in the rain between noon and two. It was raining pretty hard (read: sideways) when I arrived, so I parked and chilled out in my car for a while, waiting on the rain to lessen. I watched people get out of their cars and head out bravely...only to return within ten minutes, get back into their vehicles and drive away. I had a good stash of magazines in my car, nowhere pressing I needed to be, and the urge for some more yummy food.

I waited about an hour and the sky seemed lighter, so I popped on my poncho (I got it at Disney about four years ago for around $8 when a surprise rain storm caught me off guard--I would say I got my $8 usage out of it, though, and I will need to replace it soon, since the snaps have come apart, but it's served me well on multiple occasions in the parks and one rainy day at Fenway, covering not just me but also Nichole!) and headed out into the drizzle, making a direct line for...

CANADA

Cheddar Cheese Soup.

I figured soup was a great way to start this wet windy trip. (Don't be deceived by the sunny photos of the booth and menu; I took those all on my first round, and good thing, because no way would I have taken out my camera in this weather!) I covered the top of my soup with my hand, so it wouldn't get watered down with rainwater, and made my way to France. There is a tunnel separating some shops there where I knew I could eat in relative comfort, out of the elements, and my camera wouldn't get rained on. The soup was a great idea. It was warm (though no longer hot by the time I reached my destination). It was cheesy without being stringy or goopy. There were chunks of potato, some pieces of bacon, and a hit of black pepper. Warmed me up nicely.

Tucked my camera safely back into its plastic bag, stowed it in my backpack, got the backpack under the poncho with me, pulled up my hood, and marched back out into the rain, headed for...

PORTUGAL

Pastel de Nata.

I had *no* idea what I was getting into, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised! The cast member handed me my dish with a second plate inverted over the top to protect my food. This time I made my way to the Fez House in the Morocco pavilion. I knew I would find a quiet, mostly dry spot to photograph and eat. The only way I can describe this dish is that it was sort of like a breakfast pastry. The outside of it was definitely a flaky dough, like a danish. The inside was a lighter, fluffier version of a cheese danish. It was definitely made of egg, but it could have been egg and cheese. But here is the catch: it wasn't savory. It was sweet! There was a sweet crust of caramelized sugar on the top! There is no way I am doing this dish justice. It was like nothing I have ever tasted before. I would eat it again though!

And then, it was back out in the...wait...it's almost stopped raining! I don't even need my hood now! Off to...

JAPAN

Pork Kakuni.

Every year, the Japan booth does sushi. (I've been told it's pretty "basic and lightweight" as sushi goes too.) This time there was something additional on the menu and I was determined to try it! Again, no idea what I was getting myself into, but how do you know if you don't just try sometimes, right? This. was. delicious. It was this super tender, super juicy pork that had been marinated in teriyaki (at least that's my guess) and either braised or slow-cooked. It just melted apart, not the least bit dry. And they squirted just a bit of wasabi over the top, which gave it just a hint of warmth without making your eyes water and your nose run. I scurried off under the overhang in the Japan pavilion to eat, and it's a good thing I did, because about halfway through my rather generous portion of pork, the skies opened up again.

So much for a ninety-minute window. I hunkered back down under my poncho hood and had to clamp it close around me because the wind was whipping and I was pretty soaked from just above my knees down by the time I arrived in...

MEXICO

Flan.

I decided to head inside the Mexico pavilion to eat, even though I knew the lighting would be dim for getting a photo. The flan tasted good--how can you go wrong with vanilla and caramel??--but having never had flan before, I was unprepared for the consistency. It was a lot more dense and heavy than the custard I am used to. And the serving was about the size of a deck and a half of cards. It was rich and also chilled, and I was feeling like a drowned cat, stuffed into a box with about a hundred other drowned cats. It's probably not fair of me to say I found the flan less than enjoyable solely on its own merit, but I was full and wet and ready to head home, so this was probably my least favorite thing I've tried so far this year.

The rain came down in sheets and the wind made my poncho flap so hard, the snaps finally disconnected from the plastic. My shoes had water squishing out of them by the time I reached my car. I could have wrung the water out of my jeans. The best idea I had: leaving dry yoga pants and shoes in the car. I slithered out of my wet attire (I was perfectly dry from thigh to neck) and was cozy dry for my drive home. Here's hoping Round Three is a little less...duck weather-ish. ;-)

Menu Plan Monday: October 10, 2011

2011-10-10T10:20:00.000-04:00

Monday: Sausage burgers.
Tuesday: Roasted chicken, wild rice and broccoli.
Wednesday: Going out for my birthday.
Thursday: Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas.
Friday: Subs.
Saturday: Food & Wine Fest: Round Three.
Sunday: Tortellini Florentine Soup.

Notes from last week's menu: We stayed on track, but had to add in a dinner for Sunday as we had already finished up all our leftovers from earlier in the week. we ended up having steak with some mashed potatoes and a salad. The Hashbrown Casserole was very tasty and fairly simple to make, as long as you have the patience to wait an hour or so for dinner, once it gets into the oven.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

The House that Built Me: The Yard

2011-10-07T20:16:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year when I start aching to be outdoors more. Here in the tropical Sunshine State, I experience the phenomenon of "Reverse Hibernation." Everyone know that bears and people who live in climates with the traditional four seasons spend their Winters sealed in their snug dens. Down here, it's the (six-month) Summer that traps us indoors, windows closed, shades drawn, in an attempt to escape the majority of the extreme and uncomfortable weather. Last weekend though, we had a cool front (read: it was 80) and since then, the air has taken on a different feel. The temperatures have rebounded back to the upper 80s, but the air is no longer weighty and oppressive. I can feel it trying to become beautiful again and that makes me hungry for its arrival, so I can fling open my windows and play out in the sunshine without melting into a messy puddle of goo.

I started thinking about the yard at Gram's and Gramp's house. I spent my fair share of time outside as a child, and their yard was the ideal place to be.

There was the perfect combination of open, sunny space and big old shade trees.

The grass was as soft and cool as satin on bare Summer feet. The yard filled with deliciously crunchy Autumn leaves and delightful drifts of snow to climb during the Winter. There were lovingly tended flowerbeds and fantastic places to hide.

All manner of rocks, perfect for climbing, sitting on, leaping off and one perfectly flat rock, covered with lichens, that made a great place for watching puffy clouds form shapes on lazy afternoons, especially when it was sun-warmed.

It seemed each area of the yard had its own personality, constructed by its unique inhabitants. The front yard had a blue spruce, with its silvery sharp needles; two white birch trees, which remain my favorite trees to this day; an ash tree at the corner of the driveway; and two tall evergreens, standing like sentinels on guard in front of the house. The south side of the yard had several ash trees along the property line, an enormous rhododendron bush,

and two snowball bushes that were in perfect view, across the driveway, from the windows over the kitchen sink.

The immediate backyard, which lay between the house and the orchard,

had the garage; some forsythia; a crotchety old Red Delicious apple tree that Gramp threatened on more than one occasion; some lilac bushes; two stately evergreens; a Tamarack tree, with the tiniest, softest needles ever, like stroking kitten fur; two maple trees (one came down after Hurricane Gloria came through, the year I was in fourth grade); a beech tree that my brother abused regularly with a yellow plastic wiffle ball bat; and this creepy burned-out old stump from a tree that had been struck by lightning long before I had been born. The north side of the yard had a line of evergreens--different from the other varieties--separating our yard from the neighbor's, and this wonderful Japanese red maple that was a fiery rich red, and rivaled those white birches for the position of being my favorite.

The flowerbeds changed their fashion statement from season to season, and year to year. Gram loved roses and daffodils, tulips and chrysanthemums. There were bluebells and violets and snowdrops and black-eyed Susans. Tiger lilies and johnny-jump-ups and potted geraniums. The yard laughed and sang for joy, color popping everywhere, under her experienced eye and her green thumb. Everywhere you looked, flowers greeted you cheerfully, except in the cold of Winter.

I couldn't get enough of being out in the yard. There were games to play and imaginary adventures to weave. I reveled in the change of seasons, even before I could appreciate that some places didn't know their wonder.

All Summer long, I would chafe to get out of the house, early as Gram would release me, running my bare feet through the dew-drenched lawn. I would hot-foot across the driveway in the heat of the midday, cooling my feet in the grass on the other side. I would lie back on its plush green and stare up at the blue sky. My brother and I would improvise a game of "volleyball", over Gram's clothesline--more fun when a sheet blew in the Summer breeze between us, until Gram would chase us away from her clean laundry, and then we would drive her equally crazy playing dodge ball off the side of the house. (How we never broke a window, I'll never know.)

With Autumn came waiting at the foot of the driveway for the school bus, under the fire of the foliage.

The lawn turned beige, the Summer flowers gave way to their more hardy cousins, and I gleefully shuffled through the yard, upsetting the piles of leaves my grandparents had spent the better part of their days raking--you remember all those trees I described, right?--for the purpose of my delight and pleasure of course! (Ha. They just exchanged a glance up in Heaven over that one. I know it.)

There was nothing better than the brisk wind to rosy my cheeks, as I whirled around the yard, invigorated after the chill drove away the lazy heat of Summer. To this day, I will seek out whatever minuscule pile of dry leaves that may exist, purely to relive that satisfying crunch under my shoes.

Autumn marched into Winter, out in the yard. Some years, the yard stayed sullen and brown, alternating between frozen hard and a muddy mess when dreary rains chose to fall from lead grey skies. But the best years brought a yard glittering with snowfall.

I knew all the places the drifts would be deepest. On snow days, on weekends, in the sparse minutes of remaining daylight after school, Gram would fruitlessly attempt to keep me inside the warmth of the house, but I would insist on bundling up anyway, clomping out into the dazzling snow glare to tumble down snow banks and run in slow-motion as I broke through the crust into the powder beneath. The sharp air would steal away my breath and make my eyes water, but still I would leave my foot trail all around the yard, only coming in when I could no longer feel my extremities, my red face smarting from the shock of the heated kitchen. And then I would press my face eagerly to the window, watching the Christmas lights glow on the backyard evergreens and waiting for the next snowfall to provide me with a fresh canvas.

And then it would be Spring again. Tiny grey-green buds on the branches of the trees. Slivers of grass pressing out of the matted brown. Before I knew it, overnight it seemed, there would be green everywhere again.

The freedom of running through the yard wearing only a light layer made me feel like a colt freed from its stall. I would shout to my brother from the opposite end of the yard. The first whine of a lawnmower would carry on the breeze. Chasing hummingbirds and butterflies from blossom to blossom. Spotting the first fat bumblebee. The whole world appeared to be alive from the vantage point of Gram's yard. And it would all begin again. I knew no season that wasn't perfect for being out in that yard.

The backyard saw a screened gazebo, perfect for Summer lunches. It hosted family reunions and dried loads of laundry with the outdoor freshness that only sunshine and breeze can truly achieve. It was the place for play and for chores. We would shell sweet peas and grill hamburgers. We would rake and shovel and stay out of the way of the grown-ups mowing. We played alone, we played together, we argued, as only siblings can, and then the yard was big enough to cool off separately, until it was time for some new game. That yard knew wiffle balls and tennis balls and plastic playground balls. It endured our feet and our bikes and the flop of our young bodies onto the ground. It was, quite frankly, the best yard I've ever seen.

I Sing in the Car: October 6, 2011

2011-10-06T18:25:00.000-04:00

Today's playlist:

1. I Go Back - Kenny Chesney
2. Crazy Town - Jason Aldean
3. Love Like Crazy - Lee Brice
4. Gimme That Girl - Joe Nichols
5. Something to Be Proud Of - Montgomert Gentry
6. Who Knew - Pink
7. Daughters - John Mayer

Right Now: October 5, 2011

2011-10-05T14:03:00.000-04:00

Outside my window... it is sunny, warm & breezy. It's still in the mid80s, but something has changed since that cool front came through over the weekend. The air feels different. The humidity has decreased and the heat is no longer unbearable. I think I might be able to make it until the return of the 70s after all...

I am thinking... it's a good thing my hair grows quickly because my stylist really missed the mark on what I was asking for this past Saturday. ::cringe::

I am thankful for... the few days of cooler weather we had over the weekend. As I said, it *might* be enough to get me through the rest of ~~Summer~~ October, when more comfortable temperatures (should) finally arrive.

I am wearing... jeans, a short-sleeved button down (white with stripes in various shades of green and a gold thread woven through very subtly) with a green tank underneath and my brown heeled boots.

I am creating... the plan of attack for my next culinary trip around the world!

I am going... to cut out last Sunday's coupons and file them away tonight, even if it kills me.

I am reading... the fifth chapter (Part Three) of Atlas Shrugged, and some magazines that need to be read and recycled!

I am hoping... a cup of cold water materializes on my desk. I don't feel like going to get one for myself. I may have to get over that if I don't want to stay thirsty though.

I am hearing... some kind of machinery-created noise from the shop and someone walking around upstairs.

Around the house... Halloween decorations have emerged!

One of my favorite things... a good discussion among friends in which we may all have slightly different opinions, but everyone speaks respectfully.

I don't understand... how Red Sox ownership managed to avoid "seeing" the clubhouse issues for TWO YEARS. They are either too preoccupied with all their other business ventures to pay attention or they are just downright ignorant. I don't know which is worse.

I wish... I were taking a nap on a hammock in the shade, with a book open across my chest & a cool beverage nearby.

A few plans for the rest of the week... would be watching the MLB playoffs (have to get in as much baseball as I can before the long Winter ahead!), maybe squeezing in a few minutes of regular tv-viewing to free some space on the DVR,a nd of course, Food and Wine Fest: Round Two on Saturday!

A picture to share...

I am loving the theme unobtrusive, yet perfectly fitting, theme of this year's Food and Wine Fest!

I Watch TV: 2011-2012, Premiere

2011-10-04T19:58:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I give the DVR (ok, fine, both DVRs) a good workout during tv season. This year's lineup (not including any sports and my weekday background noise staples):

Sunday: The Good Wife. CSI:Miami. Dexter. PanAm (new).

Monday: How I Met Your Mother. Two and a Half Men. 2 Broke Girls (new).

Tuesday: Parenthood. Body of Proof.

Wednesday: CSI. The Middle. Harry's Law. Modern Family. Up All Night (new).

Thursday: The Big Bang Theory. Grey's Anatomy. Private Practice. The Mentalist. Whitney (new).

Friday: CSI:NY. Blue Bloods. Fringe.

Saturday: Rules of Engagement.

And three that haven't started yet: Top Chef. Mad Men. Once Upon a Time (new). And I would like to get my hands on the DVDs of Boardwalk Empire's season one (I don't get HBO to watch season two, which just started, anyway, so I'm not in any rush).

I don't watch all that live, which would be impossible anyway. Some of it I won't get to for a while still, while MLB playoffs are still going and NFL is on. Two(ish) weeks in, I haven't watched PanAm yet, and the three new sitcoms are still on the bubble. There's nothing I like better than to unwind with my favorite television pals in the evening, when my day is done.

Food & Wine Festival 2011: Round One

2011-10-04T10:29:00.000-04:00

It's here! It's here! I am beside myself with excitement. I've been looking forward to this since the last one ended and it is *finally* here.

The 2011 theme is Passport to a World of Flavors.

And this year, they have a cranberry bog!

As the photos show, though, it was glaringly bright. And let's be honest, the delicious smell of food was beckoning me. I made one full circuit of the World Showcase, snapping photos of the booths and menus, and then it was time to get down to business. I made a beeline for...

SCANDINAVIA
Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberries.

I have to tell you, I have no idea what a lingonberry is, but they taste like a cross between grapes & cranberries (at least to my taste buds). They were a pleasant complement (or is it compliment? I looked it up, and even now, I am still unclear which I want to use. I am pretty sure I chose the right one... I digress. You get the point.) Anyway, they were a pleasant complement to the meatballs, which were not at all dry and were very well seasoned. The berries added a just little bit of sweet-tartness.

I have to pause here to say how pleased I am with the booths' creativity this year. No more plain little uninspired huts. They are actually themed to the countries they represent! I love it!

I was equally pleased with the theme of...

GERMANY
Goulash Soup. Selbach-Oster Estate Spatlese.

I am the first to tell you that I have zero idea what I'm doing when it comes to pairing wines. However, the menu didn't offer a pairing with the soup, so I was on my own. I expected there to a be a little zip-a-dee-do-da (hey, we *are* at Disney World) to the soup--I was correct--so I went with a light, sweet Spatlese, instead of the Riesling, to which I would normally gravitate. It worked perfectly!! The sweetness tempered the zing of the soup, which was a tomato-based broth with some peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and beef. The only thing missing would have been some nice crusty bread with some butter.

After some pondering, and some wandering back and forth between several countries, I decided on...

MOROCCO
Harissa Chicken Roll.

I have *no* idea what was inside it, other than the obvious chicken, but it was mildly spicy and very tasty. The outside was crisp but not at all oily. I have to admit, I was really excited that they brought a new dish to the Morocco booth. I haven't been crazy about some of the past offerings (either I tried them and just didn't care for them or they didn't appeal to me at all), but the chicken roll gets a definite thumbs up!

I decided to call it a day, with just enough room for a little something sweet from...

BELGIUM

Guylian Belgian Chocolate Seashell Truffles.

They actually come packaged in a little box, which I heard some guests complaining about, but I was perfectly fine with that. I mean, it is still Summer here in Florida, no matter what the calendar says, and the chocolates needed to be kept on ice to prevent melting. The boxes provided an additional layer between both the ice and the server's hands, so by the time the truffles were in my possession, they were still perfectly intact. (They did start to melt at first touch to my fingers though, which only reaffirmed the decision to serve them boxed.) The truffles were adorable, very well detailed and *so* tasty. I nibbled them in a quiet shady little corner of the France pavilion, perched on a stone wall.

It was a good initial round of the Food and Wine Festival, one of the very few ways in which Disney can be even better and happier than it always is. I can't wait to get back at it this coming Saturday for Round Two!

Let me ask you something.

2011-10-03T19:03:00.000-04:00

If you could ask one question of the following .....what would your question be?

1. Your iPod

*What* is your obsession with Dave Matthews? I have a total of four songs out of 869 that are his. How is it that I hit shuffle & I get at least two of them every single time?

2. Casey Anthony

Do you avoid all mirrors? Because whatever the verdict, there is no way you don't at least know what happened & I cannot imagine how you look at yourself.

3. Your ex's last ex

Better you than me? Other than that...not my problem.

4. Your pet

I don't have a pet, but could you learn to speak English or grow thought bubbles over your head? Some of those antics, facial expressions and reactions are priceless & I would *love* to know what they're actually thinking!

5. John Lennon

I know you're universally loved & all, but I have to admit that (before it totally turned me off), when American Idol did "Beatles" weeks, I fast-forwarded. Don't hate me, ok?

6. Your great-grandmother on your father's side

Would you tell me all about Gram (or Gramp -- it didn't specify which great-grandmother!) as a child? As much as you can. And go slowly, because I need to record every detail.

7. Your mirror

I know you can't help being honest, but could you at least learn to do so with a little compassion? Sheesh.

(courtesy of The Queen's Meme)

Menu Plan Monday: October 3, 2011

2011-10-03T11:09:00.000-04:00

Monday: Meatloaf Patties, mashed potatoes and carrots.
Tuesday: Broccoli & cheese stuffed chicken with some rice and a salad.
Wednesday: (new recipe!) Hashbrown Casserole and some fruit..
Thursday: Ravioli with sausage and roasted red peppers, garlic bread and salad.
Friday: Grilled chicken sandwiches.
Saturday: Food & Wine Fest: Round Two.
Sunday: Leftovers?

Notes from last week's menu: We stuck with the menu, with the addition of a salad mixed in a few days We didn't have enough leftovers to stretch through Sunday's dinner, so we improvised with some grilled ham & cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

This is how I feel.

2011-10-02T23:15:00.003-04:00

In the short time that has passed between my annual Sox season end post and this one, something that can only can classified as a stunning turn of events has taken place, leaving with me with messy pile of emotions to sort through.

Disappointed - It was a lost season with a team that should have--could have--been so much better.

Heartbroken - For Pedey, who plays the game the right way. For Tito, who should never have been forced to feel he owed anyone in Boston an apology for anything, much less "failure," or that the only answer was to leave. For the real fans who truly care.

Betrayed - By some of the players I praised not three days ago, who have been arrogant, ugly and disrespectful, and whom I know look at with a suspicious eye, unsure of what I will learn next about yet another player I thought was worthy of loyalty.

Disgusted - By an ownership that is more interested in its collection of business investments and touting sell-out crowds than in supporting & maintaining what should be the crown jewel, not the after thought. An ownership not caring about the Red Sox until there is some bad press. An ownership that is shocked to learn of a troubling clubhouse culture TWO YEARS in the making. Not to mention an ownership so clearly out of touch with what the true fans find important.

Conflicted - How do I root for a team that has been intertwined in my personal history for three generations that I currently find deplorable. How to separate the good guys from the problem children. Howto remain loyal without condoning this kind of behavior. I wish I could boycott the Sox to drive home a point, but I suspect that will only hurt me.

Fed up - With being personally insulted by "fans" of other teams who not only openly admit that they don't start watching baseball until August, but are proud of it. Who feel fandom gives them free license to be mean, in the name of "friendly banter." This is not even something I can gain distance from by turning off the television or disconnecting from the internet, because the worst of the assault is coming from actual people I deal with face to face. Let me be the first to tell you, Rays fans and "fans" alike: Do not be so vain as to think this is about you. What I am feeling right now has NOTHING to do with you or your ball club, where you are right now or how you got there. It is turned completely inward. It has to do with the disillusionment and disenchantment that comes from loyalty to a team you love that is run by people who sicken you, who pander to the type of "fan" that any *true* fan cannot stand, whether they wear the colors of your biggest rival, a team you only really think about when your schedules cross one another, or--the very worst of all--embarrass you by pretending to be one of you, sporting the same logos but nowhere near the same heart, and a team that fields self-absorbed, entitled cry babies intermingled with players who deserve the cheers & support of their fanbase now more than ever, for continuing to play the game the right way, to the bitter end, despite the terrible attitude creeping like a virus through the clubhouse.

I don't know what fixes this. I don't know where the healing comes from. I...just don't know.

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: September 2011

2011-10-01T15:11:00.000-04:00

A photo of me:

1) Candle scents this month:
Vanilla Lime. Midsummer's Night. Bahama Breeze. Sea Harbor. Black Cherry. Midnight Cove. Tropical Fruit. Orange Dreamsicle. Tahitian Tiare Flower. Mango Peach Salsa. Evening Air.

2) What I am reading this month:
Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand).

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"Fall" by Kepano Green. "She's Everything" by Brad Paisley. "Feels Like Tonight" by Daughtry.

4) Movies I saw:
Hall Pass--and may I say that I was *totally* scandalized!

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
Jacoby Ellsbury's inside-the-park home run on September 19, which may or may not be the highlight of a very bleak September for the Red Sox.

6) Something yummy I made:
Baked Summer Squash. It's good to have new ways to change up the usual veggie side dishes.

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Bob Evans. Miller's Ale House.

8) Five things I am loving this month:
1. Mint.com 2. New tv! 3. The Grocery IQ app I downloaded onto my iPod for my grocery list. 4. The way the Patriots came out of the gate, guns blazing. 5. Pumpkin spice muffins from Dunkin. Mmmm...

9) A goal I had for this month:
To use up some of the baking mixes that have been living in my pantry for a while. I managed to successfully make some brownies. I still have a few things left to use though. It's still too hot to do much baking.

10) This month I looked forward to:
New tv!!

11) Something that made me cry this month:
We went to see the Red Sox play in Tampa on September 11. They did a really moving tribute to the lives lost ten years ago. Stood there with tears dripping off my face, because I had one hand over my heart & the other waving the United States flag they handed out to all fans on their way into the stadium. I laughed at that same game as well. Who knew Alfredo Aceves was so quirky?? We sat behind the Red Sox "bullpen" & couldn't stop watching his antics! (Lucky for us, since the game itself was another reason to cry.)

12) A photo I took this month:

Pumpkin Spice muffins from Dunkin. Delicious beyond belief.

And so it goes.

2011-09-29T12:14:00.002-04:00

I woke early this morning after dreaming I bit Joe Girardi. (It helped. I endorse this method of therapy.)

Here's the thing. So many pontificate on "good on paper isn't worth any more than the paper it's written on," but this team? Actually *was* as good as they looked on paper. And we saw it from May through August. It's so easy to focus on how horrifically the wheels came off as the calendar flipped to September. The September and April versions of this team were tragic underachievers. We expected more of them, not because they looked good on paper, but because they *showed* us their collective worth for the bulk of the season. This stings so much today, not because they disappointed us all season, but because they *were* exactly who we thought they were, when we grew hoarse cheering them on through the heart of Summer.

I wish I could put my finger on what went wrong, if only to understand how a team turned from light to dark as easily as we flip a switch. They were awesome...until they weren't. It is the seemingly inexplicable change that confounds, that leaves us slack-jawed in bewilderment, wondering how it all comes unglued without warning--no cascading scroll of damaged players, no clubhouse drama to distract, no glaring hole left unaddressed. There are many demanding a scapegoat, some kind of symbolic head on a stake, but there isn't any one person to blame here. (This "Fire Tito" talk defies logic. Do you have a list of managers you'd like better? I don't.) They were fabulous as a team...and they crumbled as a whole. In the end, they simply beat themselves. Truth be told, after the way September went, last night's season ending didn't really come as that much of a shock as the media is portraying, if you're deep-down honest with yourself.

Maybe this is all just a cyclical molting, a shedding of the bandwagon, culling out the half-hearted & the "pink." Those who remain are those who have always remained, arms encircling the newly initiated. This is their rite of passage, for, it seems, we all must have our hearts crushed & persevere to prove we bleed Red. Those of us who have survived our heartbreaks in seasons long since archived nod knowingly to one another. We've been there. And here we are still. Because we don't love our team less. Instead, we love them more. As a friend of mine so aptly stated, "Dear Red Sox, my heart was yours to break." Was and still is.

What the fresh-faced class of 2011 does not yet know is the unique thrill of victory following this kind of staggering loss. But for the 85 years of defeat, culminating in the agony of 2003, we were rewarded with the exhilaration of 2004, something that can never be replicated, let alone exceeded. (Truly, *nothing*, will ever top that, but for those who were not yet one of us, find yourself a copy of Faith Rewarded, you'll still appreciate it now, I assure you.) For the broken team of 2006, we received the glory days of 2007. I thought, perhaps, injury-plagued 2010 would be paid off by the team assembled in 2011, but, in retrospect, 2010 wasn't really painful enough (for us--definitely painful for those physically involved) to warrant the spoils. There really is nothing like suffering the end of your season not once, but twice, in under three minutes, though. (That's a new one. Consider us old-timers freshly renewed in our credentials.) What we do now is cling to the belief that better days are within sight. That's just how it works here, in the post-2004 times -- cynical, but with a healthy dose of hope the previous generations of Sox fans never had.

To my 2011 Red Sox:

Josh Beckett: I've had such a love-hate relationship with you since you arrived in Boston. You're like that high school boy I know I shouldn't date, but every time we fight, I still find myself wanting to make up. Right now, we're securely in the love-side of things.

Jon Lester: I know there are some doubters. I wear your jersey with pride.

Clay Buchholz: You were sorely missed. Rest up. Heal well. I wish we could have seen you healthy for this entire season, because you were pure joy to watch while we had the opportunity.

Tim Wakefield: I've known no greater joy than a knuckleball dancing merrily, eluding even the most potent of bats, swatting madly at the butterfly. I don't have words for how much I wanted you to have number 200 and I am so glad that you do.

John Lackey: [unsuitable for print] ps. I know, I know. You wanted that pitch, he could have caught that if he'd really tried, and no one better dare emerge from that dugout with the intention of taking the ball from your hand, even if they have to collect it from your arm, which came unhinged and is lying somewhere in the vicinity of the visiting team's on-deck circle.

Diasuke Matsuzaka: I hope your shoulder is ready for 2013. After your contract expires.

Erik Bedard: I've always had a little soft spot for you. I don't know where 2012 will find you, but if it's somewhere in our organization, I'm ok with that.

Dan Wheeler: I hope we pick up your option. I don't think we saw enough of you to fully appreciate what you bring to the pen.

Rich Hill: I hope we haven't seen the last of you. I was heartily saddened when the news of your season-ending surgery was released. Reliable lefties are like unicorns, it often seems.

Daniel Bard: We all struggle. Let it make you stronger for having survived it. Don't let it rot your brain. You're better than the last month.

Jonathan Papelbon: It's no secret you've never been my favorite. They're going to try to pin this on you, because you held the ball last. I don't. It was a team loss.

Scott Atchison: You are such a quietly dependable guy. It didn't go totally unnoticed. On the other side of a television screen, somewhere in the middle of Florida, a girl squealed "Atch!!" every time you started warming.

Alfredo Aceves: I am afraid I lack the words to express what I feel. For someone deemed a health risk, you were a horse. You went the distance several times over, you immersed yourself in what it means to be a Sock from day one, and if I get to laugh at your antics in the coming seasons, I promise I won't forget how much you gave this team. You are not human, with that gargantuan effort--it sure felt like you pitched in all 162 games. I'm not sure *what* you are, other than bat poo crazy. But you're a welcome addition to my 2012 team if that's the deal that shakes out.

Franklin Morales: Your pick-off move to first base is sweet, sweet music. Like Mr Miyagi with the chopsticks and the fly.

Tek: I don't know what the future holds, but you will always be the Captain. I really hope you retire one of us, where you belong.

Salty: I didn't know what to think of you when you arrived in 2010. I remained skeptical as the team gathered at The Fort. You're one of us now.

Ryan Lavarnway: I look forward to the day you take your final Pawtucket shuttle to the Fens, whenever that may be.

Papi: I don't know what magician's hat you pulled your 2011 bat out of, but thank you for that.

JD Drew: You had a lot of detractors. I was one of them. I haven't been for a long time. I never forgot what you did in 2007. I know, better than most, that quiet doesn't mean apathetic.

Youk: Ouch, buddy. Feel better. We missed you all season long.

Mike Aviles: I appreciate your enthusiasm. I'm sorry we showed you something far more ugly than what you had in Kansas City. I'm sure you weren't expecting that. I hope you get to stick around on our bench to see something more in line with what you thought your trade here would bring.

Josh Reddick: I don't know if we'll see you or Ryan Kalish, someone yet unknown, or some combination thereof patrolling right field, but you've come a long way kid.

Mumbles: I know everyone is screaming viciously about your contract. I wasn't at the top of the list of people who were tickled when it happened. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm rooting for you. I haven't given up. Boston is nothing like the Juice Box, is it? It's a lot to take in. A lot of pressure to have fans who actually show up and care. You get a hall pass for 2011. Let's see the real Carl Crawford in 2012, ok?

Scoot: If ever there was an unsung hero on this team, among all the glittery big names, the loud mouths and the overpowering personalities... I'm all for your club option being taken.

Adrian Gonzalez: If 2011 was you at eighty percent, still recovering from shoulder surgery, man, oh man. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us.

Ells: I have *never* been so wrong. I wrote you off as just another diva outfielder made of glass. You came out swinging to the tune of a career year, showing MVP-caliber play (whether you get it or not), slinging yourself around centerfield like you were coated in titanium and wearing a super hero cape. I will eat my 2010 criticism with pleasure. I'm sorry you chose Scott Bor@$$ to represent you, but I hope there's a way we can keep you right here in Boston, even if that number comes with a luxury tax and an obscene number of zeros.

Pedey: Everyone talks about your stature. What I want to know is how a body that miniature holds that much heart. I picture you kind of like Atlas, but with Fenway Park hoisted on your shoulders. You talk the talk, and then you walk the walk even better than you say you will. You make plays in the field that defy physics, logic and belief, even when I see them in replay from six different angles *and* in slow motion. On the day Tek passes off his C, whether you wear one there or not, I will see it burned over your heart.

I don't know what 2012 will bring (though I pray it includes Tito at the helm and Don Orsillo's cracking voice & giggle fits), but I know this:

I will be ready. 162 games is never enough. Nevah evah.

Menu Plan Monday: September 26, 2011

2011-09-26T06:54:00.000-04:00

Monday: Cheeseburgers and some mac & cheese.
Tuesday: Marinated pork roast in the Crockpot with Classic Green Bean Casserole.
Wednesday: Pizza.
Thursday: Barbecue chicken, basked potatoes and corn.
Friday: Tuna casserole.
Saturday: Food & Wine Fest: Round One.
Sunday: Leftovers.

Notes from last week's menu: We stayed right on track. I am not sure if it is just that we are that awesome at menu planning or if we're just too lazy to deviate from the menu as it is. Heh.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Menu Plan Monday: September 19, 2011

2011-09-19T11:55:00.000-04:00

Monday: I am meeting a friend for dinner, so T will be fending for himself.
Tuesday: Fish on the grill, (new recipe!) Baked Summer Squash and some boiled potatoes.
Wednesday: Breaded chicken breasts and Pesto Angel Hair with Broccoli.
Thursday: Cheddar dogs, chips and a pickle.
Friday: Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and a salad.
Saturday: New England Clam Chowder.
Sunday: Leftovers.

Notes from last week's menu: Other than swapping Saturday & Sundat, we stuck right to the menu!

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Menu Plan Monday: September 12, 2011

2011-09-12T11:54:00.000-04:00

Monday: Stuffed Shells, garlic bread and salad.
Tuesday: BLTs.
Wednesday: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham with a salad.
Thursday: Chicken (marinated in a balsamic herb marinade) on the grill, noodles and zucchini squash.
Friday: Steak on the grill, broccoli and Cheesy Potatoes.
Saturday: Kielbasa, pierogies and sauerkraut.
Sunday: Leftovers.

Notes from last week's menu: The only change ended up being that we skipped the subs on Saturday because we still had plenty of leftovers on hand that needed to be eaten.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Menu Plan Monday: September 5, 2011

2011-09-05T06:54:00.000-04:00

Monday: Cheeseburgers, Cucumbers in Sour cream and tater tots.
Tuesday: Zesty Calzones and a salad.
Wednesday: Parmesan chicken fingers, Zesty Potato Salad and baby sweet peas.
Thursday: Ravioli with ground sausage, salad and garlic bread.
Friday: Shepherd's Pie.
Saturday: Subs from the Publix deli.
Sunday: Grilled ham & cheese sandwiches.

Notes from last week's menu: There weren't any changes to note. We stuck right to the plan.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: August 2011

2011-09-01T22:32:00.000-04:00

A photo of me:
Ummm...

1) Candle scents this month:
Honeydew Melon. Mountain Lake. Kiwi Berries.

2) What I am reading this month:
Still reading Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand). Closing in on the last part though!

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"Some People," by Leann Rimes. "I Just Call You Mine," by Martina McBride. "Edge of Desire," by John Mayer.

4) Movies I saw:
No time for movies. It's baseball season!

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
The Jacoby Ellsbury walkoff home run on August 3, even though I cringed as they beat the heck out of him when he reached home plate.

6) Something yummy I made:
I made some very tasty cinnamon crumb coffee cake. Lasted me a whole week for my mid-morning snack!

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Miller's Ale House. Boston Lobster Feast. Five Guys. Aloha Isle. The Terrace Grill.

8) Five things I am loving this month:
1. Marco Rubio's speech on the Senate Floor: "If my house is on fire, I can't compromise about which part of the house I'm going to save. You save the whole house or it will all burn down." 2. The Red Sox "clinching" the season series against the Yankees for 2011, taking ten of the first 12 games played! 3.Lists. 4. The Red Sox bats! Wow!! 5. The fact that I can play my iPod through my car stereo.

9) A goal I had for this month:
To not wilt from the never-ending Summer?

10) This month I looked forward to:
Not much, really. It was kind of a low-key month.

11) Something I want to be thankful for this month:
I feel extremely fortunate that, in the present economy, my employer is thriving.

12) A photo I took this month:
I *know* I took photos in August. They cannot possibly still be on my camera...could they?

Menu Plan Monday: August 29, 2011

2011-08-29T14:51:00.000-04:00

Monday: Scallops with Mushrooms and Spinach.
Tuesday: Stuffed pork chops in the Crock Pot, broccoli and salad.
Wednesday: Kabobs and wild rice.
Thursday: Linguine with Clam Sauce, garlic bread and salad.
Friday: Grilled fish, squash and noodles.
Saturday: BBQ chicken in the Crock Pot, rice and carrots.
Sunday: Leftovers.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Menu Plan Monday: August 22, 2011

2011-08-22T06:52:00.002-04:00

Monday: (new recipe!) Creamy Chicken, asparagus and wild rice.
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage.
Wednesday: Grilled ham & cheese sandwiches.
Thursday: Leftovers.
Friday: Meatloaf Patties, mashed potatoes and green beans.
Saturday: (new recipe!) Barbecued Whole Chicken, Zesty Potato Salad and corn on the cob.
Sunday: Leftovers.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

I Want Wednesday: August 10, 2011

2011-08-10T18:57:00.000-04:00

**I am positively drooling over these London Hurricanes from Crate & Barrel. I Want a set to decorate for the seasons & holidays. I love their decorating versatility!

**How gorgeous would two or three of these Crate & Barrel Zinc Hurricanes flickering cheerfully out on a deck? I Want to be sitting out there with them right now.

**The state of my kitchen towels has been declining over the past several months. They are still serviceable, yes, but some are faded or stained, others are frayed and a couple have sprouted holes. I would say about half are ready to be retired to the cleaning rag pile. A recent email from Crate & Barrel sent me browsing. If I were in the market for spending (I'm not--so what I have will have to do), these are the towels I Want to make their home in my kitchen. There is something so friendly about a cheery towel hanging in the kitchen. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I know it makes me smile.

The House that Built Me: Yellow Bedroom

2011-08-06T09:50:00.000-04:00

The yellow bedroom. Gram always called it the west bedroom. At one time, it had been my aunt's childhood bedroom, but I always knew it as my own, and I inhabited it so often, it might as well have been.

The two windows overlooked the backyard. If you looked between the tree branches, you could see the orchard beyond. On sultry Summer nights, I would lie in the twin bed, listening to crickets chirping. There wasn't any air-conditioning, but with the windows opened wide, the occasional breeze would cool the room for sleeping, the gauzy pale blue and yellow curtains fluttering ever so gently.

I would fall asleep to the deep darkness you only find in the country, the serenade of the night sounds forming a lullaby. And in the morning, I would awaken to the muted morning light. I firmly believe this is why I still sleep with the blinds cracked. My internal rhythm responds perfectly, waking with the growing natural light.

The bed had the comfort of a familiar space. I knew exactly where the comfy spots were. The feather pillows were soft & somehow always cool. The sheets were worn with age, but not worn out, just that weathered softness of many washings, and they smelled of sunshine & fresh air. There was always a bedspread, though they would swap in & out with Gram's mood--sometimes white, other times yellow or pale green--and in the Winter, there was the softest lavender blanket. I remember, as a small girl, seeking out its edge to rub between my fingers while I grew drowsy.

Like my bedroom at home, it was yellow. I was never a fan of my yellow bedroom walls at home, but here, it was cozy & cheerful. The furniture was a warm brown, and laid out on top of the dresser, on an old mirrored tray, were all Gram's lipsticks, her "rouge" and her compact of pressed powder and her blue eye shadow. I would open & close them, listening to that satisfying snap, occasionally testing it out just a bit. Gram didn't use makeup everyday. It was for special occasions, trips to the mall, holidays and going to church. Gram was always beautiful to me, but she seemed even more lovely when she would change from her typical work clothes, accessorizing with her beads & her clip-on earrings, and then standing at that dresser, "putting on her face" from all those little containers in front of the mirror on the wall, as I watched her, perched on the edge of the bed.

On the wall, over the headboard of the bed, was a print of a little girl picking wildflowers in a meadow. As Gram would buzz in & out of the room, stepping over my paper dolls or my Cabbage Patch Kids, she would so often look at that framed print & recite to me: "There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid." I spent so much time in this room. Playing imaginary games, reading on the bed, recovering from various maladies--both physical & emotional.

The yellow bedroom was a cocoon, an oasis of sorts, from the trials & traumas of growing up. I played there and sulked there. I cried there and dreamed there and felt safe there. I dressed for school, took refuge there, spent precious hours there. That yellow bedroom remains one of the most peaceful places I have ever known.

I Want Wednesday: August 3, 2011

2011-08-03T09:26:00.001-04:00

**I have been drawn to the Rachael Ray 3-piece Bubble & Brown Baker Set ever since the first time I saw Rachael heft one of these to her oven. I Want it in red. Of course.

**I Want these Glass Canisters for my bathroom. First, though, I need a bathroom that can handle these lovelies.

**I Want an ice cream sandwich. Nothing fancy. Just the old-fashioned soft chocolate cookies and the vanilla ice cream sandwiched between them in the white paper wrapper. I haven't had one in ages.

**You will almost never hear me say something like this but I Want the Sephora Collection Moonshadow Baked Palette -- In the Nude. What can I say? I think I was sucked in by the words 'sparkly' and 'glittery' and 'diamond dust shimmer.'

**First, I Want more counter space in my kitchen. And then I Want Crate & Barrel's Two-Tier Fruit Basket.

Menu Plan Monday: August 1, 2011

2011-08-01T22:48:00.000-04:00

Monday: BLTs.
Tuesday: Marinated chicken on the grill, noodle side dish & some squash.
Wednesday: (new recipe!) Creamy Ham Casserole with a salad.
Thursday: Steak on the grill, mashed potatoes & green beans. (Could be moved to Saturday, pending possible plans on Thursday evening.)
Friday: Fish sandwiches with mac & cheese.
Saturday: Leftovers.
Sunday: Leftovers? Egg salad sandwiches?

Notes from last week's menu: Sunday's dinner became a pizza when we efficiently cleaned up all our leftovers over the weekend. The Honey Mustard Chicken was a keeper, although I think next time I will use equal amount mustard & honey (the original recipe called for 1/3 cup homey & 1/4 cup Dijon mustard but that was a bit sweet for my taste--I prefer my honey mustard with a bit more zing) but it was a tasty recipe for sure!

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: July 2011

2011-08-01T05:58:00.000-04:00

A photo of me:

This is what happen when T tries to get me to smile more for photos. Things get silly quickly.

1) Candle scents this month:
Juicy Watermelon. Cherry Lemonade. Sweet Honeysuckle. Pineapple Cilantro. Island Guava. Fruit Salad. Storm Watch. Ocean Blossom. Beach Walk. Granny Smith. Island Spa.

2) What I am reading this month:
I am almost exactly halfway through "Atlas Shrugged" (Ayn Rand) & every time I put it down, I cannot wait to pick it back up again to see what happens next.

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"The Woman With You," by Kenny Chesney. "Life Ain't Always Beautiful," by Gary Allan. "I Never Told You," by Colbie Caillat.

4) Movies I saw:
Tombstone.

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
The Meredith monologues at the beginning & end of the season finale of Grey's Anatomy, "Unaccompanied Minor"--some of the best in a long time.

6) Something yummy I made:
The sauce for the Brown Sugar Glazed Pork came out *so* good this time!

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Macaroni Grill. Gigi's.

8) Five things I am loving this month:
Mike Lowell making appearances at Red Sox games. Pinterest. Making my diamond sparkle. The Red Sox going 20-6 in the month of July, the best July record in franchise history. Peanut Butter M&Ms--seriously wondering if I need an intervention the way I can put these things away.

9) A goal I had for this month:
To actually tell my hair stylist I wanted to make some kind of change. Don't get me wrong. I still love my hair. And it's questionable to make a change when people still tell you how cute it is. But it's been more than eight years. So I asked her if we could change it just a *little* & see where it went. For now, we're just growing out the top a bit. We'll see what happens next.

10) This month I looked forward to:
Catching a weekend Sox series in Tampa! Got more than we bargained for when the Sunday night game went 6 hours & 16 innings. Also: the air conditioning for the entire dome is located on the press level. Bring a jacket if you ever sit there. Bonus: Got to have an early dinner with friends while in the area!

11) Something that made me cry this month:
It is an unbelievably helpless feeling to watch someone you love in so much pain & know that there is not a single thing you can do to make it stop.

12) A photo I took this month:

First really beautiful sunset I've caught in a long time. I miss having more than two windows that look at something more than directly into tree trunks.

The House that Built Me

2011-07-30T18:15:00.004-04:00

I have mentioned my Gram & Gramp and their home, and the place they have, front & center, in the my personal history, many times. Over the last few weeks, as I have browsed through some old photos, and again as I composed "Where I'm From," a seed of an idea was planted & taking root.

I was blessed to have two homes as I grew up. I lived with my Dad & brother in the same house where my Gramp was born, but I believe I spent at least the same amount of time in my grandparents' home. It was the place where Dad dropped us off before work, when I hadn't already spent the night. It was where we gathered in the evening, after work & school. It was the site of holidays & weekly Sunday dinners. I spent my Summers running wild through the three & a half acres of grass & trees and riding my bike up & down the quiet street.

So many of my memories find their home here. I can close my eyes and see it all, even now, to the minute detail. The sights, tastes & smells. The way it sounded & felt. Each creak as the house settled. Each hiss of a radiator. The view from every window. But if there is one thing I have learned in my three and a half decades on this earth, it is that memories cannot be taken for granted. They can slip away silently, leaving sadness when the power the recall loses its vitality...or worse, when a memory is so thoroughly lost, we aren't even aware it ever existed.

And so, bit by bit, week by week, I believe it is time to capture & record it. I want to recollect, wander quietly down memory lane & let the images surface, where I can grab them & turn them into more pieces of my recorded history. All of these fragments that make up The House that Built Me.

I Sing in the Car: July 29, 2011

2011-07-29T19:27:00.003-04:00

Today's playlist:

1. As She's Walking Away - Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson
2. Sparks Fly - Taylor Swift
3. A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans
4. Here - Rascal Flatts
5. Crazy Town - Jason Aldean
6. I Run to You - Lady Antebellum
7. Whatever It Is - Zac Brown Band
8. Back to December - Taylor Swift
9. Stand - Rascal Flatts

Where I'm From.

2011-07-26T19:18:00.001-04:00

I am from clotheslines hung with freshly washed laundry blowing in the breeze, from half-gallons of Hood ice cream and Chevrolets.

I am from the white house on "The Hill," from the blue-and-yellow kitchen filled with sunshine and the scent of apple pie, from Sunday dinner after church and chocolate milk in the mornings and the scratchy red living room carpet and the yellow bedroom looking down over the backyard.

I am from the Mountain Laurel and the White Oak, the lilacs and the snowbells in Spring, the black-eyed Susans and the clover-studded fields of Summer, the generations-old apple trees and the fiery foliage of a New England Autumn, and the spruces and the evergreens with their Winter ermine wraps.

I am from annual road trips to Cooperstown and Christmas Eves at Aunt El's and two previous generations of Red Sox fans, from Steven and Mary and Mildred and Walter. From those who gave me life and those who taught me how to live it.

I am from the stubborn and the hard-working and the close-knit and the belief that homemade is always best.

From you'll crack your head open and come inside before the jackyls get you and if you take care of your things, they will last longer and say your prayers.

I am from the Lutheran Church. From confirmation classes and Christmas Eve Candelight services at midnight and Good Friday Tenebrae with the slamming of the Bible in a pitch-black sanctuary. From The Lord's Prayer and the twenty-third Psalm and the Apostles' Creed. From stern looks for whispering in church and sitting in the balcony with Heather M, feeling grown up.

I'm from the Old Country with roots so ambiguous they seem untraceable, from kielbasa and sauerkraut, from a country corner of the Northeast United States and a cellar full of home-canned jams, jellies, relishes and pickles.

From the Halloween when Dad made us laugh by wearing a fuzzy orange tail as he escorted us from door to door, the time Josh gave me chicken pox and he had only a few spots over a long weekend but I was covered from head to toe and missed two weeks of school, and the way we would pester Gram starting on December first until she dug the boxes full of Christmas decorations from deep in a closet.

I am from photos nearly a hundred years old now, cracked and faded and peeling, handed down to me with their shaky script on the backsides. From family stories that should have been recorded when the opportunity still existed. From comfortable traditions and a large extended family and real honest-to-God love. I am from their past and my past and memories that are priceless treasures.

I have seen this prompt circulating for years. I've always been drawn to it, but was too afraid to try one of my own, telling myself it would never measure up to those I read in the words of others. But then I realized that this is *my* story and one I cherish, one worth remembering and capturing and sharing. I think I could compose this post a thousand times, and each time it would be different. And each time it would be beautiful. It is where I am from.

Sigh.

2011-07-25T20:23:00.002-04:00

A friend went in to have her baby today. I know these things take time but I'm anxious to hear that everything went well. It will weigh on my mind until I do.

sigh

A couple of other friends are going through what I will graciously call "rough patches." My heart hurts so much for them. And there's nothing I can do.

sigh

The last couple of weeks have been a roller coaster of emotion. The highs are as exhausting as the lows.

sigh

Today has felt like an eternally long day.

sigh

It's a very helpless feeling to watch someone you love hurting.

sigh

Seems as though nothing went quite right today. Nothing was horribly wrong or even a little wrong. It just wasn't...right.

sigh

I messed up the rotation in my co-managed fantasy baseball team. I really hate when I do that. Tim Hudson will probably throw a perfect game tonight as a result. You're welcome, Braves fans.

sigh

My head is full.

sigh

Menu Plan Monday: July 25, 2011

2011-07-25T09:26:00.000-04:00

Monday: Roast chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy and some steam cauliflower.
Tuesday: Cheeseburgers on the grill and Creamy Cucumbers.
Wednesday: Tuna noodle casserole and a salad.
Thursday: (new recipe!) Honey Mustard Chicken and a salad.
Friday: Tortellini Florentine Soup.
Saturday: Leftovers.
Sunday: Leftovers?

Notes from last week's menu: We stuck to the menu. Leftovers were consumed so we had grilled ham, cheese & tomato sandwiches with tomato soup for Sunday's dinner.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Right Now: July 24, 2011

2011-07-24T23:23:00.000-04:00

Outside my window... it's dark & quiet. It's going to be dark & quiet inside my window soon too.

I am thinking... the month of July has been a wild ride of ups & downs.

I am thankful for... a job, even if it wears me down some weeks.

From the kitchen... comes the scent of an Ocean Blossom Yankee Candle.

I am wearing... yellow capri-length pj pants & a green tank top.

I am creating... a stiff neck sitting this way.

I am going... to bed very soon.

I am reading... Atlas Shrugged still but that is no indication that the book is bad! It's long & sometimes I need to stop & reflect on what I've read.

I am hoping... things go smoothly for a friend whose baby will be arriving tomorrow.

I am hearing... ESPN. Sunday Night Baseball just ended & they are doing some MLB highlights.

Around the house... it's homey & comfortable. I need to stop & appreciate that more.

One of my favorite things... is when Tim Wakefield gets a win. Today? Number 199.

I don't understand... why people are so inconsiderate. It's not cool to use all the washers in the laundry room. I try to use no more than three at a time, even if that means doing laundry in multiple batches.

I wish... I had a long weekend. This past week at work kicked my tail.

A few plans for the rest of the week... watching the Sox (duh) and getting some new foam filling for the couch cushions--you may be thinking "big deal" but trust me, it is.

A picture to share... of a common view around here.

Menu Plan Monday: July 18, 2011

2011-07-18T06:27:00.002-04:00

Monday: BBQ chicken on the grill, corn, a noodle side dish and a salad.
Tuesday: Tilapia Parmesan Saute, wild rice and a salad.
Wednesday: Goulash, garlic bread and a salad.
Thursday: Brown Sugar Glazed Pork, rice and Summer squash.
Friday: Kielbasa, sauerkraut and pierogies.
Saturday: Leftover.
Sunday: Leftovers? Grilled ham & cheese sandwiches?

Notes from last week's menu: We ended up skipping the Stuffed Pepper recipe & went with some Hamburger Helper instead.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

I Want Wednesday: July 13, 2011

2011-07-11T23:03:00.006-04:00

**I Want a Microplane Grater-Zester. The grater I have now is kind of awkward.

**And I Want this Microplane Paddle Grater too. Just because.

**I guess we're on something of a theme with the rough surfaces this week? I am intrigued by these files & I Want a set.

Menu Plan Monday: July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T20:01:00.004-04:00

Monday: Chicken and Dumplings.
Tuesday: Homemade calzones.
Wednesday: (new recipe!) Stuffed Peppers.
Thursday: Fettuccine Alfredo, salad and garlic bread.
Friday: Baseball game.
Saturday: Baseball game.
Sunday: Meeting friends for dinner before heading to the baseball game.

Notes from last week's menu: The Slow-Cooker Stuffed Cabbage was excellent. Not too difficult to assemble & very tasty.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!