Kielbasa with Black Beans, Roasted Peppers and Onions and Corn… Mezze Platter before Supper

Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Blustery day… temps in the low 50’s… cloudy with scattered sprinkles…  few folks out… picking up kids from school… heads down against the wind… scarves flapping wildly… hustling along carrying book bags while little ones scamper ahead oblivious to the chill 💨 

Leisurely breakfast for two… Mr Sam sleeping in… snuggling with the radiator… the hubs enjoying cottage cheese and roasted tomatoes with his hot coffee ☕️ Another delicious banana 🍌with iced coffee🧋sitting at the kitchen table discussing supper… Mr Sam finally joining the party just in time to lick the rest of the cottage cheese remains from the hubs dish😽

The hubs off to his workshop… creative juices flowing… Packing up Mom’s goodies… some books from our local trading group… food for the week… a random pair of her sunglasses discovered in our house and finally mail… it’s off to the races… stopping by the market for a few fill in items…  then off to Mom’s for a visit.  

She is so looking forward to seeing Cyrano at her movie theatre (there is one in her complex) however the showing has ended… so glad to find both it and the original one from 1950 available on cable… she is excited to see the original again with José Ferrer and Mala Powers…  grateful to set it up for her to view after supper 🎥 

Arriving home hungry… setting up a quick snack platter to share… roasted tomatoes… hummus with roasted peppers… blueberries… almonds… peanuts… celery, carrot and zucchini sticks… cheese cubes and a few wheat thins… just enough to hold us till supper is ready… enjoyed with a glass of Josh Cabernet 🍷 

Supper tonite… fresh corn and black beans… cooking in olive oil flavored with the smokiness of the kielbasa slices browned in the pan first… oven roasted peppers and onions… a sprinkling of minced fresh parsley 🌿 Delicious and light after our earlier snack 🧀 🫐 🥜 

Cautiously optimistic regarding peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia… trust but verify… hoping for the slaughter to end and peace to rein for the peoples of both countries #peaceforukraine 🇺🇦 

Second boosters now available... if you are immune compromised or have comorbidities now is the time for self care #GetYourJabOn  Elderly are recommended as well 💉Mask up as needed… and wash those germy hands 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts? 

Salmon, Collards, Rice, Dumplings and Salad

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Defrosting!  Thermometer shivered up to 45°F today… new daffodils poking out of the ground… violets appearing… crocus and tulip stems… forsythia blooms ablaze in bright yellow… tree buds swollen almost to bursting… 

Fat breasted male robins feasting on worms and bugs as the ground thaws… sparrows chasing one another in spring mating rituals… temps climbing back to seasonal… with any luck spring has sprung 🪷🌱🪺

Breakfast for three… kibble and pets for Mr Sam… cottage cheese and the last banana 🍌 with hot coffee ☕️ for the hubs… iced coffee🧋and an orange 🍊… into the office for a few hours of work… endless paperwork 📝 Mr Sam snoozing on his window perch nearby… the hubs off to his workshop… designing exciting new creations 🪚🗜

Supper tonite… roasted salmon loins with old bay seasoning… collard greens and bacon… a side of leftover fried rice and dumplings from last nights Chinese food order…  crisp green salad of romaine, red cabbage, cucumber, red onion, tomato, Kalamata olives and fresh chopped hydroponic parsley in balsamic vinaigrette… a glass of Vinho Verde alongside 🥂 Wild berry zinger tea for the hubs 🫖 

The possibility of successful peace talks…  an answer to worldwide hopes…  between Ukraine and Russia… our hearts are with the Ukrainian people who’s lives have been shattered… their towns and cities destroyed 🇺🇦 

CDC has authorized a second booster for those with underlying g health concerns and the elderly… Mom’s MD has recommended she get the jab 💉

Now is the time to practice self care #GetYourJabOn  mask up when needed and wash those germy hands 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Empress 1908

 Had cocktails with Mariya Tuesday at her home after taking Grandma to the MD for her check up… a bit stressful… was there a looong time while they tried (and failed) to poke her for blood 🩸 Her veins are so difficult to find when she is chilly… finally we packed it in and left… rest of visit went well 🥰

Sweet Mariya offered a great option to relax post visit… never had Empress 1908 Gin before… besides the fabulous color… OMG that BLUE… which… btw… turns purple-pink when the pH is lowered by adding acid (lime) and tastes smooooth with hints of floral notes… definitely getting my own bottle to enjoy 😋💕

Chicken Vegetable Soup With Turkey Meatballs & Herby Breadsticks

 Variantes supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Arctic blast returning with fury… temps dipping down to 23°F… blustery wind gusts topping 35 mph… forget real feels… stepping outside feeling disappears within moments… mostly cloudy not helping… few breaks of sun for warmth ☀️ Squirrels 🐿 hiding… too cold for nibbles… birds out pecking at seeds on lawns… few flowers surviving the deep freeze… couple of daffodils that bloomed early succumbing to the cold 🥶 

Breakfast for three… kibble with a side of whey for Mr Sam… cottage cheese and berries for the hubs along with hot java ☕️ Iced coffee🧋(yes, even when it’s 23°F) and an orange 🍊  

Yesterday afternoon… wrapped the greenhouse radish, snap pea and turnip seedlings with a heat lamp and vinyl tablecloth supported on chicken wire to keep the babies warm during the cold snap… they’re about  12°F warmer than outside temps… just enough heat to keep them from freezing 🪴 

Paperwork and laundry 🧺 day… too cold for any outside activities…  managed to get a bit of sun in the office during a break in the clouds ☁️ 

By 5 pm had enough… time to play in the kitchen 😁

Perfect day for leftover chicken vegetable soup for supper… adding in turkey meatballs… warming and filling...  making a quick rising dough for herby breadsticks to complement the soup… so chilly today… first rising of the dough in a slightly warmed oven…  after shaping did the second rising above the cast iron radiator in the dining room and kitchen… worked like a charm… served alongside a glass of Vinho Verde 🥂 Decaf coffee ☕️ for the hubs with a chocolate for dessert 🍫 

The war in Ukraine displacing over 3.5 million creating a humanitarian crisis… our hearts are broken 💔 We desperately hope for a peaceful resolutions amidst the chaos #peaceforukraine

BA2 continuing to slowly spread in the NYC area now accounting for almost half of new infections… excellent time to #GetYourJabOn and practice self care… mask up when needed… and wash those germy hands 😷💕

How was your day?    What’s on your plate?    Thoughts?

London Broil… Roasted Eggplant & Chicken soup

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Slowly slipping back into winter… temps dropping each day… tonite in the high 30’s… by tomorrow night the low 20’s 🥶  Showers mixed with bright sun as the clouds shift…  a few dark ominous thunder boomers passing us by to the north and west… group of sparrows chirping at one another...  vying for mates…  healthy male robin hopping about in the grass during the drizzle waiting for a worm or bug to come up for air ☔️ 

Breakfast for three… Mr Sam’s healthy appetite apparent as he scarfs down his kibble…  mini wrap of turkey and Genoa salami each with hot coffee ☕️ for the hubs…🧋iced pour moi… he is off to his workshop to create… enjoying the wood of a few discarded pallets 🔨🪚

Saturday play day in the kitchen…  chopping vegetables… onions…  garlic… parsnips… celery… red pepper…  sautéing till softened… adding in homemade chicken stock…  simmering low and slow as the vegetables tenderize…  couple of bay leaves… rosemary branch… sage stalk… Penzey’s Mural Spice Mix (thanks Marcia) adding in a cooked diced chicken breast… celery leaves and fresh parsley… juice of one lemon… a final adjustment of salt and pepper and voilá… delicious warming chicken vegetable soup 😋

Supper tonite… chicken soup 🥣 warmth for the soul… london broil  🥩 rice 🌾 roasted balsamic eggplant 🍆 Friends dropped by… Andrew & Mariya joining us for a Prosecco toast 🥂 and Ice cream 🍨 for dessert… vanilla for Andrew and the hubs… espresso chip for yours truly 🍦 All in all a delightful day 🙃

Caught the President on the evening news in Poland meeting with NATO leaders… Ukraine 🇺🇦 getting battered in this unnecessary war… hoping for a quick resolution for the people of both countries 🥺 as they suffer needlessly #peaceforukraine

New BA2 Covid infections on a slow rise… finger crossed that we don’t experience another surge…  influenza cases rising as well…  keep those masks handy folks… catching the flu is no fun… great time to practice self care and #GetYourJabOn  Mask up when needed… and wash those germy hands 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Hash: Corned Beef, Potatoes, Asparagus, Corn, Tomatoes, Peppers and Fresh Parsley &. Fried Queso Fresco

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Raining… breezy… raw day… temps in the mid 40’s…  trees, grass and bushes soaking in the moisture… humans and animals staying inside… few rounds of downpours thudding on roof and window panes…  dreary afternoon ☔️ 

Breakfast for three… Mr Sam enjoying his kibble… particularly hungry today… the hubs coffee ☕️ and an egg on toast… iced coffee🧋and a banana… rainy afternoon sitting at the office desk doing paperwork... Mr Sam snoozing on his window perch nearby... the hubs in his office organizing hydroponics supplies after his lettuce harvest… a quick break in the action for lunch… chicken salad on a bed of hydroponic lettuce and halved grape tomatoes 

Supper tonite…  hash… leftover corned been cubed and sautéed with potatoes… asparagus… peppers… grape tomatoes… garlic & onion & black pepper… delicious… served with breaded fried queso fresco and chips… a glass of Vinho Verde alongside 🥂 the last of the hamentashen for dessert 😋

Watching the rising tide of displaced Ukrainian families… women and children fleeing for their lives… men and women fighting a relentless enemy… our hearts are broken 💔#peaceforukraine 🇺🇦 

Covid BA2 the newest variant of Omicron now making up more than half of new infections... thus far new infection rates are still low… increasing slowly… time for self care #GetYourJabOn  be part of the solution… mask up when needed and wash those germy hands  😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?    Thoughts?

Tortellini with Roasted Onion & Tomato, Hydroponic Lettuce Salad & Sliced Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Olives

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Spring warmth knocking at the door…  bright azure skies… mild afternoons… light breeze… male robins abound singing their mating song 🎶 spotted a few doves sitting on tree branches… haven’t seen our cardinal pair yet… squirrels 🐿 digging in the soft earth helping remove volunteers (unwanted oaks) from the garden and lawn… hoping for another bird nest in our bushes or yard this season 🪺 

Breakfast for three… Mr Sam enjoying his morning kibble along with a taste of scrambled egg… the hubs eating his egg on a toasted english muffin with his morning java ☕️ Iced coffee🧋today… flying out the door… off to the market for Mom’s grocery trip… picking up a few odds and ends for our fridge as well 

Terrific bounty today… five bags of two dollar produce… tomatoes… cucumbers & zucchini… summer squash & eggplant… peppers… cauliflowers couple of onions and green plantains…  so psyched… rushing home to unpack and enjoy an afternoon walk with Mariya 🏃🏻‍♀️ Tree buds getting ready to pop… bushes sprouting new leaves… grasses just beginning to grow 🍃

Supper tonite… fresh tomato and onions roasted then simmered…  spinach and cheese tortellini with olive oil and black pepper… salad of hydroponic lettuces… chopped tomatoes sliced cucumbers and Kalamata olives served with an avocado crema… Wild Berry Zinger tea for the hubs 🫖 

Our hearts are heavy as Ukraine withstands the continuous bombardment by Russia…  Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen serving over two million meals thus far… feeding over 200,000 folks daily in Poland alone #peaceforukraine

The new covid variant BA2 currently accounting for almost half of new infections in the NYC area… cases ticking up slightly… finger crossed 🤞 that another wave is not ahead #GetYourJabOn  practice self care… don’t risk your health 💕😷

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?    Thoughts?

Sausage, Salmon, Potatoes, Mushrooms and Cabbage

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC… 

HAPPY SPRING 💚💚💚

So incredibly excited… winter is finally coming to an end with its frigid temperatures 🌡 and blasts of icy cold wind 💨 🥶 Soon fat buds on trees will burst forth… gorgeous blooms beckoning birds and bees 🐝 alike to drink warm nectars…  squirrels 🐿 already sensing changing seasons chasing one another up and down trees beginning their mating rituals… returning male robins calling out daily for seasonal mates… their sweet voices heralding dawn each day ☀️ 

Breakfast for three… Mr Sam enjoying his kibble and a few greenies (keeping those teeth clean) the hubs hot java ☕️ on tap with cottage cheese and berries… yours truly selecting the usual iced coffee🧋and banana 🍌 

Lazy Sunday…  spent time fussing over houseplants… watering…  cleaning… soon time to feed them again…  visiting the new babies in the greenhouse… radishes have all popped up… each about 1” tall… snow peas quick growth almost 6” already… bush beans right behind… back in the dining room tomatoes have all erupted from the soil… tiny seedlings 🌱 peeking out… cucumbers already 3” high… waiting on peppers to show themselves.  Everyone got a good watering and spray for humidity 🪴 

Supper tonite… sweet sausage pan fried… salmon filet… sautéed mushrooms in a garlic pepper cream sauce… cabbage remaining from our Irish supper and roasted baby potatoes with olive oil and salt… a slice of Irish soda bread with sweet butter… alongside a bright crisp Casual Garcia Vinho Verde 🥂

Spring brings with it the blessings of the Great Earth Mother who provides her bounty for us so long as we care for her in return…  let us all think of those in Ukraine 🇺🇦 going without at this time of conflict as we count our many blessings and share in the gratefulness we feel for our lives here in America and nations across the globe who provide safety and freedom for their people #peaceforukraine 🇺🇦  make your blessing count #GetYourJabOn and be part of the solution in the fight against covid 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Flounder Meunière… Cinnamon Yams… Roasted Asparagus… Hamentashen… Irish Soda Bread and Freshly Pickled Kirby’s

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC… 

Couldn’t make up my mind what holiday to celebrate today… 

Soooo… celebrate BOTH!!  

Happy Purim 🎉 

Happy St Patrick’s Day ☘️💚 

from the Big Wet Apple 🍏 

Chilly day… overcast skies… steady light rain 🌧 folks out with umbrellas 🌂 picking up kids from school...  neighbor with his dog out for a hurried walk…  a new squirrel 🐿  showing herself today… grey with blonde areas of fur on her tail… back… belly and face…  looking like she had an argument with a bottle of peroxide…  digging in the soft wet earth looking for acorns 🌰 

Late breakfast… sleeping in on this drab day…  coffee ☕️ 🧋for two…  yogurt with blackberries, raspberries and blueberries 🫐 for the hubs… banana 🍌 pour moi… Mr Sam enjoying his taste of whey followed by morning kibble 😽

Playtime in the kitchen… pickling Kirby cucumbers… baking Irish soda bread with currants…  baking hamentashen… one half filled with homemade mixed berry preserves… the other with fig preserves… kitchen smelling heavenly 

Supper tonite… flounder filet meunière with mashed cinnamon yams and roasted asparagus… slices of Irish soda bread… a glass of crisp Vinho Verde 🥂and for dessert… warm hamentashen

Nervously watching covid infections ticking up in China and Europe as a new variant of Omicron spreads across the globe 🌎  local infections still very low… vaccines… boosters and prior infections still capable of warding off serious illness and hospitalization  #GetYourJabOn  now is the time to practice self care and be part of the solution 

Ukraine continues to be inundated with bombs  #peaceforukraine 🇺🇦 💔be mindful of how fortunate we all are to be here in America 💕😷

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Spinach Cheddar Pie… Roasted Chicken and Tomato Avocado Salad

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

HAPPY π DAY 🥧

What a day!! Temps rebounding into the mid 50’s… bright azure skies… light breeze… a sip of spring… a tonic for the soul… bird song gloriously filling the trees… even the buzz 🐝 of landscapers blowers a reminder of the beauty ahead 🌷truly a day to be outside… enjoying a splendid afternoon ☀️ 

Breakfast for three… cottage cheese and berries along with coffee ☕️ for the hubs… 🧋iced coffee and a banana 🍌 pour moi...  kibble and snuggles for Mr Sam 😽

Such a delightful day on tap… off to the market for some groceries...  spending the day with Mariya…  shopping buddies… making quick work of a tour through the aisles… prices still helping keep budgets in check… picking up staples for Mom as well… back home… unpacking the goodies… time for a delightful afternoon walk… two ladies trudging up the avenues of Bayside Hills… fresh air… a bit of exercise… getting the legs in shape for spring activities ahead 🏃🏻‍♀️

Supper tonite… it’s π day… spinach and cheddar pie 🥧  roasted chicken and tomato avocado salad with lime vinaigrette… a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside 🥂 espresso chip ice cream for dessert 🍦

Hoping the peace talks provide the beginnings of a solution to the war in Ukraine 🇺🇦 giving the Ukrainian people back their homeland… watching the horrors of war unfolding hurts our souls #peaceforukraine 🇺🇦

China is once again battling a serious outbreak of Covid following the ending of the Olympics… finger crossed 🤞 for the people suffering with infections that they heal quickly… now is the time to #GetYourJabOn  practice self care and be part of the solution… avoid serious illness 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Did you have π 🥧?  Thoughts?

Winter White Bean & Sausage Soup & Warmed Naan

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Another wild weather day here in the Big Windy Apple 🍎 Starting the morning out in the mid 40’s… bit of rain… passing snow shower… breaks of sun… mid afternoon winds arrive… clouds return bringing a snow squall... temps drop 20 degrees… winds ramp up 35 mph gusts to 50…  everything freezes solid… tonite temps bottoming out near 20°F with wind chills in the single digits 🥶💨 The Lion of March is BACK… so glad my seedlings are in the dining room safe and sound 🌿

Breakfast for three… kibble for Mr Sam with a nap next to the radiator… the hubs enjoying hot java ☕️ with eggs and toast… 🧋iced coffee and a banana 🍌 pour moi… a relaxing afternoon…  drinking tea in the office with the hubs… Mr Sam napping on the window perch 💤 

It’s tax season… ugh 😩 time to dust off the calculator and get those receipts ready… spent some time adding up costs...  pushing a pencil until the drudgery of it wore thin… off to the kitchen for playtime! 

Supper tonite on this cold windy evening… Winter White Bean and Sausage Soup…  family favorite on a chilly night… with warmed naan and hot tea 🫖 for the hubs… capped off with a shared chocolate orange scone 😋

Trying to keep abreast of the crisis in Ukraine without getting overwhelmed… very difficult to walk that fine line… the news 🗞 is grim… our hearts are breaking 💔 feeling helpless… grief stricken and angry at the unnecessary cruelty #Peaceforukraine 🇺🇦 

Meanwhile… covid infections continue their slide giving us all a much needed break from the isolation and loneliness of the pandemic… fingers crossed that this lull lasts #GetYourJabOn  and be part of the solution to eradicate this disease 😷💕

How was your day?   What on your plate?   Thoughts?

Turkey Meatloaf, Pasta and Roasted Tomatoes & Chocolate Orange Scone

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

🎵 Lovely day 🎶 temps in the low 50’s… migrating birds returning to the Big Apple 🍎  robins... starlings… grackles… all making appearances… our sparrows… mockingbirds… cardinals and blue jays now sharing their landscape with returning flocks… mama squirrels 🐿 babies bigger than in the fall… gobbling up every acorn 🌰 they can find… digging little round holes in the garden and lawn as spring fast approaches 🌿 

Breakfast for three… the hubs enjoying his coffee ☕️ with oatmeal, craisins and walnuts… Mr Sam munching kibble… iced coffee🧋all of us busy bees as we each venture forth to the day… Hubs in his shop working on a new project… Mr Sam snoozing on his window perch enjoying the rays… yours truly out for a few errands following the days calls and appointments… a chance to escape into the warm afternoon for a respite ☀️ 

Excitement at 4pm… a knock at the door… package from Butter Moon Bake Co in Colorado… Chocolate Orange Scones from Ava Truckey have arrived… tea time as the box is carefully opened revealing eight perfect scones… one disappearing shared between the hubs and moi…  a true afternoon  delight 😋

Supper tonite… cucumber, red onion and tomato salad with hydroponic basil and balsamic vinaigrette… turkey meatloaf with lemon and olive oil dressed pasta… roasted tomatoes atop… an Orange Lime Blossom preceding the meal 🥘 

As the siege in Ukraine continues we are horrified by the murder of innocents… maternity wards… schools… hospitals… apartment buildings  bombed… citizens forced to flee their homes and country… watching their hopes and dreams dashed 😢  Hoping to see karma for all those who continue to perpetrate this horrific war 😡 #peaceforukraine 🇺🇦 

As inflation heats up raising prices on everything from gas to food we are grateful… living in a safe space here in America… seeing covid infections fall… having life saving vaccines available #GetYourJabOn be part of the solution 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Tunisian Chicken with Yogurt Sauce , Roasted Carrots, Parsnips and Asparagus & Malfada with Lemon Juice, Zest and Olive oil

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Weather to write home about… from a high of  72°F to snow and ice on the ground… March keeping its reputation… apparently we are in the Lion phase at the moment…  waiting impatiently for the lamb phase… arriving soon?? 

On the plus side… snow drops are up nodding their lovely white bells… daffodil stems protruding… trees are showing flower buds… hubs saw the first robin Tuesday ( our annual competition… first one to see a robin gets a chocolate bar 🍫 hubs wins most years) Temps pleasant today… almost 50°F  Light winds and a spectacular sunset 🌅 

Breakfast for three… hot java ☕️ and yogurt with berries for the hubs… kibble for Mr Sam… iced coffee🧋por moi… lunch a turkey and genoa salami mini wrap then off to Mom’s to deliver her weekly groceries and visit.  Chipper and chatty, Mom is doing well… mostly stable… enjoying her weekly bridge games… her visits with friends and her stack of books 📚 

Supper tonite… Tunisian chicken with yogurt sauce… roasted asparagus, carrots and parsnips… malfada (pasta) with lemon zest, lemon juice and olive oil… special thanks to our son Mark and DIL Andrea for introducing us to this wonderful recipe… so delicious… served alongside Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc…  dessert… Vanilla coffee ☕️ and chocolate chip brioche for the hubs 😋

The continued war in Ukraine 🇺🇦 breaking our hearts 💔seeing the country torn apart… citizens fleeing devastation… hoping for resolution soon #peaceforukraine   Covid infections, hospitalizations and deaths all decreasing nationwide… many mask mandates lifted… now is the time to #GetYourJabOn  practice self care and be part of the solution 💕😷

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

New England Clam Chowder, Turkey Cutlets, Sautéed Kale, Fresh Homemade Baguette

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

A brief morning rain…  afternoon weather morphing into bright skies…  few clouds remaining overhead… light breeze… 68°F  a taste of spring… folks out wearing light jackets…  hats and scarves off…  kids playing ball at the playground…  little ones with parents on swings and slides… neighbors out prepping ground for spring gardens… life slowly returning to the Big Apple 🍎 

Breakfast for three… the hubs coffee ☕️ and cottage cheese winning out  over yesterdays omelette… iced coffee🧋and a banana 🍌 Mr Sam enjoying his morning kibble followed by a nap 💤  Afternoon skies begging for outdoor activities… Mr Sam stretching out on the deck… hubs taking a nice long walk… yours truly in the greenhouse watering rosemary and thyme… checking supplies… soon time for spring clean up 🧹🧼🧽 

Post walk lunch… baked beef empañadas… light and delicious… our local market baking them fresh… a walk post lunch… no jacket required 😁

Supper tonite… New England clam chowder… Turkey cutlets with sautéed kale and bacon crumbles… fresh homemade baguette 🥖 served alongside a glass of Sauvignon Blanc 🥂

Trying a new take on breading for the cutlets… salt and pepper… then instead of egg and crumbs… used potato flakes… stuck like glue to the cutlets… no egg needed… so delicious… flavor of french fries… we both enjoyed it immensely 😋

Dessert… dear friends brought us mini eclairs yesterday filled with Bavarian cream and topped with dark chocolate… scrumptious… with tea for the hubs 🫖 

Ukraine continues to suffer needlessly at the hands of a childish dictator only interested in the accumulation of power…  our hearts are broken for the Ukrainian people 🇺🇦 facing immense obstacles as they fight valiantly for their democracy.  We all need to be grateful for our democratic government… it may be messy… and loud… but it allows us the freedoms we enjoy today… never forget…  tyrants who would take it from us continue to exist even today 🇺🇸 

Covid infections, hospitalizations and deaths continue to fall… we are excited to see the cautious lifting of mask mandates in many areas of America 🤞

How was your day?   What on your plate?   Thoughts?

Spicy Shrimp and Cheesy Grits with Hydroponic Arugula

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Bright ineffective sun…  temps still in the 40’s…  waiting impatiently for a warm up coming to the Big Apple 🍎 in the next few days 😁

Lots of new bird calls this afternoon… couldn’t see the chirper… hearing their calls… spring approaching… bringing new voices to the party 🐦 a hoping for another nest in our bushes or trees… last years robins nest was delightful 🥰

Breakfast for three… Mr Sam meowing loudly as his kibble approached… the hubs enjoying an omelette with his morning brew ☕️ iced coffee🧋on the menu for yours truly along with a turkey mini wrap 🌯 

Scooted out for a bit… cold but sunny… checking in on the greenhouse… waiting for the new planting season to begin… spending the afternoon caring for the houseplants… xmas cactus… aloe… spider plants… Swedish Ivy… pothos…  a giant split leaf philodendron… two short palm trees… Gardenia and lemon tree… both waiting for access to the deck 🍋 

Planting seeds for the greenhouse… broccoli… bush peas… snow peas and turnips… first crops moved into the greenhouse early April… cold loving plants… the first harvest.  Tomatoes… sweet peppers… eggplant… cucumbers and hot peppers all waiting till may when last frosts are passed… heat loving crops for second harvest… getting excited for the work ahead… loving the feel of earth in hand once again 🥰

Supper tonite… a nod to New Orleans… spicy shrimp and cheesy grits… 

Roasted shrimp spiced with Cajun spice blend (from Mountain rose herbs) chili powder…  ground coriander… salt and pepper and olive oil…

Grits cooked in chicken broth with salt & pepper… added in 1 tbsp butter… 1/2 c Parmesan and 3/4 c of grated horseradish cheddar off the heat… stirring until melted and creamy… shrimp atop the bowl of steaming grits 🍤 

The hubs hydroponic arugula (forgot a pic 😢) a delicious side dish of greens… served alongside a glass of Sauvignon Blanc 🥂

In honor of National Pound Cake day… dessert… peach pound cake with vanilla bean ice cream and decaf coffee ☕️ for the hubs 

As Putin bombs Ukraine our hearts break for the people of both countries… Ukrainian people suffering needlessly in an amoral invasion… Russian people unsupportive of Putin’s illegal war losing their few freedoms as well… an horrific situation… let clearer heads prevail… End this conflict NOW 

#peaceforukraine🇺🇦 🇷🇺 

Covid infections below 2% in the NY for the first time in months… mask mandates being lifted across America little by little… hoping that the pandemics grip on our country is lifting 🤞 Excellent time to #GetYourJabOn  be part of the solution… practice self care… mask up where required and wash those germy hands 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Mezze Platter

 Vaccinated supper tonite…  Live from NYC…

Low 40’s… sun playing peek a boo between the clouds ⛅️  Parents snuggled into coats… scarves flailing in the breeze… gloved hands holding backpacks and car keys as kids leave school…  mama squirrels babies out sunning for a bit on tree branches mid afternoon… still so tiny… late season births 🐿 

Breakfast for three… hot coffee ☕️ & cottage cheese for the hubs… 🧋for yours truly… kibble for Mr Sam.  He has been glued to the hubs since his return…  like a pup with his mama… following his feet 👣 around the house 😻

Grateful for the warmth of the sun through the office windows 🪟 keeping Mr Sam snug on his carpeted perch 😽 catching a snooze 💤 Bills and calls the order of the day… the hubs checking in on his hydroponic garden… lots of growth in the past week… harvesting basil 🌿 arugula 🥬 tomatoes getting taller… radishes and cucumber growing bushier 🥒  Lunch for the hubs… leftover pizza, salad and hot tea 🫖 

Supper tonite… mezze platter:  black bean dip… guacamole… roasted tomatoes… avocado… kalamata olives… cucumber spears… sliced tomato… romaine leaves… crackers… marinated beets… garbanzo beans with tomato soup and tortilla chips…  a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside 🥂

Light… filling… fun to eat 🙃

Seeing the devastation in Ukraine…  citizens fighting for their hopes and dreams… bleeding and dying for democracy 🇺🇦  Never forget how fortunate are we all are to be living in a country that allow us the freedoms we too often take for granted 🇺🇸 #peaceforukraine

Practice self care #GetYourJabOn and be part of the solution 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Pizza Night & Salad… Planting Fields Arboretum Trip

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

 50°F  🎶 Blue skies 🎵 Light breeze… a beautiful day to celebrate being alive…  sparrows chirping to one another in the trees… mockingbirds squawking across the yard… a pair of cardinals callin to one another… mama squirrel out munching acorns 🌰 keeping her brood full

Breakfast for three… hot coffee ☕️ and oatmeal for the hubs… iced coffee 🧋and a banana 🍌 for yours truly… kibble for Mr Sam 😽 A chance to relax and catch up over a leisurely meal…. make a couple of mini wraps for lunch… grab an apple… trail mix… a bottle of water… and out the door 🚪 

Off to the planting fields arboretum… a historical state park a half hour drive…  a beautiful park with walking trails…  fabulous plantings…  glorious rose trellis…  best of all two stupendous greenhouses.   Camellias and Clivia in one…  blooms beginning in mid February…  Orchids… Cacti… succulents…  and tropical plants in the main greenhouse…  a local paradise 🌺 

Spending a few hours strolling amongst astonishing beauty…  photographing the flowers…  enjoying the solitude of few visitors midweek…  lunch in the main greenhouse…  sandwiches among the bromeliads and orchids… the cacao tree loaded with pods… a few ripe… many still yellow… aaaaaah… chooocooolate… mmmmm 😋 

Supper tonite… NYTimes cheesy pan pizza and tomato cucumber red onion salad with balsamic vinaigrette… a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside… Mr Sam enjoying his beef and liver pâté

Grateful to be alive… our thoughts and conversation flowing back to the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦 as we walked among the gardens… admiring the flowers…  appreciative of the leadership and democracy of the United States at this time of catastrophe #peaceforukraine

Do your part to end the scourge of covid #GetYourJabOn

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?