Some of my favorite people

Four generations of my husband's family gathered at our house yesterday. It was precious.

I've lost my husband's heart to a 16-month-old.

I don't mind a bit.

Cliff, his daughter, her daughter, and Cliff's father.

Goofballs, all.

Louisville: A Stranger is Just a Friend You Haven't Met Yet

Unless you're trying to merge onto the freeway, or change lanes. Then, f$@# you.

Downtown Louisville

Just back from a work trip to Louisville, KY. While there, I attended a professional conference, but I also had the chance to see some sights. Louisvillians are a really friendly bunch. They were all eager to see that I had enough to eat, that I knew what to see while in town, that I was going to "come back and see us, now." Truly, I was a friend they hadn't met yet.

Eggs and grits for breakfast. Add a biscuit and coffee and I'm in heaven.

This is a Kentucky Hot Brown. Toast, turkey, tomato, bacon, Mornay sauce, and mushrooms. AKA heart attack on a plate.

I spent some time wandering in the beautiful Cherokee and Seneca parks. I dabbled my feet in the creek and listened to the bugs and birds. I enjoyed all the green. I imagined this must be what it looked like in Daniel Boone's time.

Cherokee Park. Beautiful. GREEN.

One night I went to a true neighborhood dive - no a/c, just big fans going; beverages were listed on the greasy menus as "coke products." I ordered the fried chicken and I swear they went out back to kill it, it took so long to get to me. And, they served me up half that bird. It was pretty amazing. "Baby, when you want chicken, we give you CHICKEN," cracked the sassy waitress before going outside for a smoke.

I found a fantastic little cafe with the most amazing fresh baked bread, sweet iced tea, and soup.

Not to mention the peanut butter and ganache "sin bar."

I enjoyed a personalized tour of amazing architecture in Old Louisville. I also survived the summer storms.

I didn't get to drink any bourbon, but according to all my new Kentucky friends, I'll be coming back for another visit.

Blog Break!

I'm leaving tomorrow for a professional conference in Louisville. Pictures, stories, and more - when I return.

Meanwhile, discuss:

• Are humans essentially good or essentially bad or does it depend on their environment?

Toodles!

Lunch

Lunch today is brought to you by Eatwell Farms: potatoes, green beans, and garlic. With a little shallots and olive oil for good measure.

A memo

TO: people who spit their gum out in the drinking fountain
FROM: a page from her book

Hello. I don't know you, and you don't know me. But when I was getting a drink at the drinking fountain in my place of business, I noticed your wad of gum sitting on the drain in the water fountain. And I have questions for you.

Where do you think that gum is gonna go?

And if it accidentally fell out of your mouth, and you don't want to pick it up and put it in the trash can that's five feet away, what makes you think someone else wants to?

Really, people.

Baking on a Saturday Afternoon

Berries and peaches from the Farmer's Market.

A pie, and a teeny cobbler.

Quinoa, which I've been dying to try!

Zucchini from my farm-box, stuffed with quinoa, tomatoes, garlic, white beans, parmesan cheese, and olive oil.

Smells so good!

Scrappy Sunday

It struck me how long it's been since I scrapbooked...and I didn't want to spend the afternoon asleep on the couch (again). So today I got out the paper and pictures and got to work.

Some tunes to scrapbook by...

New paper! (Although I didn't end up using this today...)

Ditto...

One of today's projects - a book of cat pictures...

I wanted to do some more greeting cards, too, but I ran out of time for today. Maybe next Sunday.

Hankering

It's amazing what the brain remembers; especially tastes and smells. I don't remember when I learned to make this coconut toast (sometime back in childhood, my mother showed me how), but I do remember its sweet goodness. Every now and then I get a hankering for it!

It's so easy - take a slightly stale loaf of sweet french bread (not sourdough), slice it up, dip each slice into sweetened condensed milk, then into grated coconut. Pop it under the broiler until the coconut browns. Pour a big glass of milk, or a nice cup of coffee, and enjoy.

Delicious.

ps. you were expecting photos, weren't you? Well, I ate it all up before I could get the camera. I'll try to take some pics next time.

Vacation, all I ever wanted...

Just back from a short trip to the east coast to see my old college BFF and her family, who live in Salem, MA.

This is a BFF who I can call, any time, and we pick up the conversation as if we never stopped talking. It can be a two minute check-in, or a one hour fill-in; a quick "hello" or a long "OMG, you would not believe...." From family to friends, to husbands to life goals - no topic is safe from us.

We like the same things - wandering the streets, antique-store cruising, eating, reading....


One of the best parts of the trip was meeting Levi. Levi joined my friend's family last fall, after years of prayers, and lots of agony. He is a great little guy.

With me, she gets an excuse to play tourist and try funky little cafes and new restaurants.

We're on vacation together! Which means beer to go with our seafood. And onion rings as well as french fries.

We had time for a road trip to Concord, where the wandering, eating, and talking continued.

How yummy does this look? It was a work of art. I should have asked for the recipe, but I doubt these crusty New Englanders would've given it to me.

Levi and I got along just fine. I can't wait to watch him grow up. And I can't wait for our next visit!