Wednesday, April 14, 2010

As Long As We're Home

     Well since we've been unexpectedly grounded the last couple weeks, I've had some fun in the kitchen.  I got on-line and bought a couple of cast iron pans and I love them.  They just cook everything so nice.  Blackened pork chops, Pan Seared King Salmon - Steve called it fish candy (in a good way).

     Fennel Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Sauce.  Holy Cow!  I licked the plate.  Happy to share the recipe, it was really easy.  Feeling all homesteadie with my cast iron and fancy new recipes, candles burning, and a hand knit towel to dab damp fingers.  Then had to mop up a major blackberry juice spill with mounds of paper towels...  oh well.  It's a work in progress.  BTW, I'm getting fat.   :-(

    
     And, of course there has been knitting.  One of our dealers and friends in Kansas City just had a baby.  I've struggled with the usefulness and practicality vs. fun and cuteness of baby gifts, so this is my latest idea.  It's a hooded towel and wash cloths, served up with a satchel of home-made goat's milk soap. The soaps were made by the sister of our dealer in Lafayette, so they are a special treat. New mommy, Lauren, is a sailor and a Hobie Cat dealer, so the sailboat will hopefully be a hit. 





     We were washing the poor ol' truck and heard music coming from the neighborhood lakeside bar, The Wet Deck. It's about 1/2 mile from our place.  We could see tons of cars parked at the end of the road, and the music was unusually loud.  Figured it must be a party, so we hopped on the kayaks and peddled down to see what was going on.  Thought we'd hang out on the water and listen to the band.  It was a crawfish boil, but we were too late, out of crawfish, darn.  So we just hung out and watched the party from afar. It was a great end to the afternoon.  

     Steve had two fishing poles, I hadn't brought one, so he gave me one of his and look what happened.  You know how I feel about actually catching the fish.  It's a white bass. Steve had his phone, so we got a picture, then catch and release.

    




As long as I'm posting pictures, this one is just cute.
Steve & Lucy the Wonder Dog

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Nothing Really Happened

Steve and I were heading back to Livingston from a day trip to Dallas. I was driving. A gal ran a stop light in front of us going about 30mph. I just had time to brake before we hit.  I guess the big truck won, the impact felt like hitting a card board box. I thought to myself wow, that wasn't bad.  Then her car flew up in the air and started rolling. She hit two more cars before landing upside down. Amazingly, everyone was fine.

I spent the weekend hugging my hubby, trying not to dwell on what if.  All of the cliches are coming to my mind:  life turns on a dime, life can change in an instant.  

I have one of those rare opportunities to take the situation, and instead of just having life happen to me, I have a choice. I can get the truck fixed and and move on like nothing happened, because nothing really happened.  Or, I can keep on hugging my hubby with that extra special feeling of thankfulness to be with him everyday, for the rest of our lives. 

I'm so lucky. I get to choose.