Getting Into the Groove

Our "Welcome to Fort Collins" bouquet from DM, MK, and our Colorado Fun Kids. 

We arrived in time for LG's 11th birthday, May 17. 

Visited LG's classroom for each student's presentations on an individual state. LG's is Virginia--her daddy's birth state. 

Our experience with DIRECTV got off to a shakey start. All good now. 

My reward for a miserable few days dealing with wifi, DIRECTV, moving details, etc. 

We were here for NJ's Spring Poetry Recital, and her Kindergarten final recap. Precious. 

Visiting family kicked me into cooking again (finally). We did a full-out Mexican-Southwest meal. Plenty of leftovers for both DM's family and CA and me. 

Had the girls for our first sleepover in our flat, and found this cutie on our walk to Cozzoli's for pizza. 

Saturday morning, we all walked to the farmers market. 

I baked some fully-loaded Raisin Bran muffins. 

Helped our DIL as she assisted in an friend's wedding prep. Then, she was honored to be a bridesmaid in the combination Vietnamese-Indonesian-American wedding. 

We've been visiting DM's family's church--Mountainview Community. 

Our farmers market radishes-Demi baguette-butter-salt for Sunday's lunch. 

Preparing my mother's potato salad recipe for our Memorial Day cookout. 

Holiday Spirit

I've gone Christmas decor "lite" this year. Aiming for some Christmas spirit while keeping the details few. We're not entertaining here at all, though we did Thanksgiving.

Keeping Christmas simple was also imperative as the master bathroom remodel begins, finally, on the 26th. Had to change-out our tile selection after almost 9 months of waiting. The color is more pedestrian, but probably better for eventual resale.

Very excited to see and enjoy the final result. I've gotten some new towels, and am keeping some I've had for 2+ years. Love these from Target. Expensive and they are wearing well. Very absorbent, and I love the ribbing.

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving table.

Oprah's. Thanksgiving for 35. Rainbow Room, NYC.

We carved our turkey Martha's way. A very good thing.

A New Toy

Really loving this photo option I found on our Mac desktop. Makes me feel creative!

Happy New Year!

CA persevered with a small celebration, despite
the back pain procedure he endured this a.m.

Antipasta Salad. My contribution to our New Year's.

Holiday Weekend Alone

Plenty of time to work on my projects.

 

 

Pots to fill.

 

 

 

Lemon Zest Petunias and Blue Lobelia to arrange.

 

 

 

My nightstand to finish priming. Paint colors to consider.

 

 

But until this sunny morning, the rain and wetness has precluded all outdoor tasks. Unfortunately, I've been lulled by the lazy, hazy cloudy and wet weather, sucked into the Internet-app world trying to figure out how I'm going to enjoy following my blogger friends post-Google Reader. This crucial problem requires much research. Hours and days.

 

 

Maybe a double espresso under the lemon trees will get me moving.

 

 

 

Or not. Those martinis aren't mine. Definitely not mine. What do you guess? Lemon-drop?

 

 

Well, it is Mother's Day in France. And the Cannes Movie Festival was exhausting...

 

These Were Waiting for Me

CA often buys me daffodils for Valentine's Day. A reference to our first date and a friend singing a folk song (that sure dates me--1966!) called Seven Daffodils.

I may not have mansion, I haven't any land
Not even a paper dollar to crinkle in my hands
But I can show you morning on a thousand hills
And kiss you and give you seven daffodils.

I do not have a fortune to buy you pretty things
But I can weave you moonbeams for necklaces and rings
And I can show you morning on a thousand hills
And kiss you and give you seven daffodils.

Oh, seven golden daffodils all shining in the sun
To light our way to evening when our day is done
And I will give music and a crust of bread
And a pillow of piney boughs to rest your head.

A pillow of piney boughs to rest your head...


These are Seven Daffodils Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/

The Way to a Man's Heart

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/dutch_baby/

Uncharacteristically, I am up before the sun and prepare a special breakfast for my Valentine: his own personal-sized Dutch Baby and brown sugar bacon; along with fresh orange juice and espresso.

By all measures CA should be extremely overweight. God bless his fantastic metabolism. Actually, he takes great care of himself and eats far less than ever in the years I've know him, but the man cannot resist good food. And, today is all about food.

Soon, my great friend LL and I head to Chicago for another of our food adventures. First stop is Jarosch in Elk Grove Village for butter cookies and brownies. We've plans to redistribute the wealth--sharing the edible goodies with friends and family. Jarosch Bakery's been a northwest Chicago suburban mainstay for over 50 years. Hope it never goes away.

Speaking of going away--in past years these edible adventures have typically included Ana, Ida and Me, Ricci's and Company, and Garrett Popcorn Shops, which have (sadly) gone out of business.

So today, we're mapping new destinations beginning with Jarosch, which LL has never visited.

After touring LL's sister DV's beautiful 4-story West Loop townhouse, we drive to the newish French Market for a long-awaited experience. FYI: The first hour of parking at the Metra Parking lot is complimentary when you spend $20 and present the required punch card.

This is an European market experience (extremely small Naschmarkt) and an immediate delight. I quickly find some rose-colored sea salt from Bolivia, our favorite tortillas, baguettes, Niçoise olives, and fresh ginger. LL opts for French-style macarons and croissants, while DV finds some gorgeous veal chops.

Miraculously, we pounce upon on-street parking just outside Club Lago for a fun Italian lunch. DV's delightful daughter works just across Superior and joins us. We laugh, tell stories, gossip, and relax into the experience. Lovely.

LL and DV conspire to shock me with a visit to Peoria Packing Butcher Shop--my first ever visit and I love it. The variety and freshness of the meat is unprecedented. I'll come back with CA someday with a cooler and ice.

A fine adventure--a day filled with wonderful food and fun friends.

(I decided not to share the photos I took as I realize they will be offensive to some. Although, I was dazzled by the details and overall experience. I'll just say that no single part of any critter raised for consumption was overlooked. Fantastic.)

Anti-Cupid? Or, wise words...

Loving this clever, tongue-in-cheek column in today's Chicago Tribune: Office romances rife with pitfalls, by Rex W. Huppke, I Just Work Here.

Love is in the air.

Either that or Dan over in accounting went a little nutso with the Axe Body Spray this morning.

Regardless, in the spirit of Valentine's Day and shameless column hooks, let's talk about office romances, the perils of workplace flirtation and the fact that this t-shirt really highlights my abs. (NOTE TO MY BOSSES: If you comment on my abs, I'll sue you faster than you can say "magnificent.")

First is the simple question: Is it ever a good idea to become romantically involved with a co-worker?

Answers and more fun here...

Rex Huppke is a very good writer. I love reading well-written anything.