Thankful

 

It’s War

 

Gruyere Cheese Omelette

With a tablespoon and a half of butter and a third of a cup of gruyere, this makes for a very rich and buttery Saturday morning omelette treat. A second course of Benton’s bacon and a FlourHead scone have set the course for an extreme diet cheat day. I’ll jog tomorrow.

 

 

 

Oredigger!

 

Cupcakes and COVID

 

Still Life in COVID Times

 

And Another Thing About Getting Older

I really can’t see a damn thing. Readers are now an almost full-time necessity, even if only to see the meal I'm eating. Eyebobs are my readers of choice. Apparently I can’t even grocery shop without them.

nut what I wanted

I bought a giant delicious bag of cashews the other day, only to get home and find they are . . . unsalted.  See the giant labeling tell?  UNSALTED.  What use is a cashew that's unsalted? None, that's the answer to that.

On the other hand, a benefit of getting older is that five years ago I wouldn't even DREAMED of buying an enormous bag of cashews--calories, cost, etc.  Now I'm old enough to throw caution to the wind.  Live for the day, kick back, enjoy the good things in life, you know. All this new perspective on life is great, of course.  I just need to find my readers first.

Saturday Morning Apple Pancake

A ten out of ten morning.

Beautiful Fall

 With a little lettuce peeking through.

Carrying On

In the midst of a tumultuous election season and worldwide pandemic that really should be inspiring feelings of panic, rage, and dismay, I find myself instead deeply and profoundly . . . bored.  SO BORED. It's completely selfish and silly, of course, but to counteract the ennui, I'm embarking on a bit of an anti-boredom campaign. 

First up: conquering a cookbook.

I has this one.

Everything I've made from The Gourmet Cookbook is good--it contains some of the best recipes from the sadly now-defunct Gourmet magazine.  Plus, one of my personal heroes, Ruth Reichl, put it together and provides witty and insightful commentary.  I've only made maybe 20 of the recipes, so now may be the time to delve deeper?  Other than trying to avoid calories associated with the Pandemic 15, why the heck not?  

After vigorously complaining about the tight circles I'm running in these days, I randomly opened up a page this morning for the Spouse. He blindly chose a recipe for . . . Jicama and Cucumber Chile Spears. Apparently a popular Mexican street snack?  Not too caloric?  Refreshing on hot summer days?  Seems perfect for the unseasonably warm November weather we're having here in Knoxville.  

Where does one find jicama in Knoxville?  I'm on a quest.  

What's on your anti-boredom agenda?

Holy mackerel!

This blog is not dead yet!

Sailboat

Our neighbors have recently gifted us with a small sailboat their son has outgrown, and although East Tennessee is not much for wind, there are occasional afternoons when a breeze will kick up enough to allow a short cruise.

This is Boy Wonder, with his cousin, sailing on Fort Loudoun lake the other day.   I was glad to catch them upright, because most of their sailing experience currently centers on capsize recovery.  I suppose full body and boat immersion is just part of the fun.

'Tis the Season

For basketball, that is.  We've been having fun watching Boy Wonder play with a KYS team that's doing very well this year.  The team has some speed, a little bit of height, and is gaining confidence, which is great to watch.

The boys all seem to get along and have a good time.  Ten year-old boys are easy to please.

Except when their parents consistently forget their red basketball jerseys, and they're stuck wearing the spare team jersey,  lucky number 13.  

Then the parents must be scolded and reprimanded for not reading team e-mails more carefully and doing the wash on time.  

Jeez--try to pull it together, MOM.

Holly Jolly

This year, Christmas somehow seems more doable and not nearly as overwhelming as years past, and I'm not sure why. I've been humming carols, listening to Boy Wonder sing Christmas songs, decorating the tree, and hanging stockings, all without feeling the least bit like any of it's a chore.  That's new.  Usually, I'm kind of a grump at Christmas.

I even took an artsy picture of our mismatched Christmas ornaments, check it out:

I would like to bake some cookies, but I can't figure out when I'll have the time.  Those shortbread pecan bars are calling to me, though.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

"Mom, This Camera Is Broken"

Boy Wonder's nighttime photo efforts:

Artsy!

Beautiful Dewees

We've been spending some time in coastal South Carolina with family and friends lately and hope to spend a good deal more. There is something compelling about the lowcountry: the history, the light, the everchanging water.  (Plus, you guys, the shrimp and grits are not to be believed.)

Some pictures from earlier this fall:

Abandoned WWII submarine spotting tower

House in the trees

Barefoot Boy Wonder

Morning birds

Happy Miss M on the fishing dock

Dewees ferry

Siblings

There's something about a younger brother that riles up the usually gentle Miss M:

Miss M (blowing minor Boy Wonder annoyance completely out of proportion): Well, how would you like it if I stomped your face?

Me:  MADDIE.  Be an example.

Miss M:  I AM, MOM.

Me:  No, you're not.

Miss M:  You didn't say I have to be a GOOD example.

Thirteen

Thanksgiving 2013

Funny This and That

Boy Wonder (from another room, excitedly): Hey! I bet you can’t guess what the theme of my . . . my . . . my . . . thingamajob is.

(confused silence from other members of household)

(long pause)

Spouse: Well. You’re right about that.