Eating in Solidarity with Ukraine 🇺🇦 Kasha Bowl with Shrimp & Olives

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Another cold bright day… cloudless sun filled skies… temps in the low 30’s… moderate wind…  folks bundled up walking to pick up kids back from winter vacation at school…  scarves whipping in the wind…  huddling into jackets… hoods up…  few birds out and about… mama squirrel snugged into her messy nest keeping warm 🐿 

Breakfast with Mr Sam… kibble for the puss…  iced coffee🧋yes, even when it’s cold out… a few cubes of munster cheese…  sitting in the office… grateful for the sun streaming through windows warming the space… Mr Sam snoozing on his perch alongside…  the never ending flow of paperwork… calls… letters…  reading… lists to make and refer to...  keeping details from slipping through the cracks…  laundry 🧺 linens and towels… a welcome break 

The hubs enjoying his last day in Denver… long morning walk…  lots of photos of his beloved mountains 🏔 getting a fresh load of snow ❄️ atop the peaks… by afternoon walk much of it melted as temps in Colorado warmed into the low 50’s… even Estes Park at 8500’ rose above freezing for a few hours

Supper tonite… eating in solidarity with Ukraine 🇺🇦… kasha bowl with onion, roasted zucchini, cauliflower, mini sweet peppers, Kalamata olives and shrimp… a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside… Mr Sam enjoying his turkey and giblets pâté 😻

As covid mask mandates expire and we move from pandemic to endemic vaccinations become even more important in the weeks and months ahead #GetYourJabOn  practice self care… be part of the solution 💉 

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

Kasha Bowl with Roasted Veggies and Shrimp

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Bright azure skies… temps in the mid 40’s… all remaining ice disappearing… deck clear save for little piles of acorn shells once again on the railing 🐿 

Hawk circling overhead… possibly searching for lunch? Folks out walking…  doing yard chores…  meeting neighbors for a quick chat… life returning to the Big Defrosting Apple 🍎 

Breakfast for two… kibble for Mr Sam…  iced coffee🧋and a banana 🍌 for yours truly… a lovely visit from a dear friend for midday coffee and a chat… fun visit with the kids… DIL doing beautifully… two months to go 👶 so excited 🥰 

The hubs and Colorado son arriving safely… hubs unable to visit with the family as DIL tested positive for Covid today 🥺😢 Disappointing part of life these days… he will be staying at the Hampton Inn Denver Airport for Sunday and Monday nights prior to flying home Tuesday ✈️  The trip was a resounding success… they enjoyed their time together immensely 🥰

Supper tonite… kasha grain bowl with roasted veggies (zucchini, cauliflower, sweet mini peppers) and shrimp… quick and delicious 🍲 alongside a glass of Vinho Verde 🥂

The people of Ukraine in our thoughts all day today… feeling heaviness and desolation…  an unnecessary violation of international law and the borders of a sovereign nation… eating Kasha in solidarity with the Ukrainian people

🥺😢💔

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

Girls Night Supper

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC… 

🎶 Blue skies 🎵 in the Big Apple 🍎 today… remaining ice melting… temps in the mid 30’s…  bright sunshine… sparrows chirping… mockingbirds screeching… squirrels squawking…  folks out busying themselves with errands…  walking to the park…  clearing debris from fallen branches… ice storm remnants 🧊 

Breakfast for two… kibble for Mr Sam 🧋for yours truly… quick trip to pick up a few books from our local book swap group for Mom… a stop at our favorite bakery… back in time to throw in another load of laundry 🧺  Is it me or does laundry seem to multiply all on its own? 

Having a girls night supper…  a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc… a quick and easy vegetarian supper…  oven roasted veggies (asparagus, brussel sprouts, sweet red peppers, zucchini)  over toasted kasha 🇺🇦 with butter and a sprinkle of salt… a few pastries (sfogliatella, linzer tart and black & white cookie) all shared, of course… and a cappuccino to top it all off 😋

A fun evening of giggles and wine… just what the doctor ordered 🥰

The hubs and son arrived in Kansas City, Missouri tonite… plenty of time to grab a bite to eat and relax… two long days of driving behind them… one ahead...  onto Colorado Springs in the morning 🏔 Hello Rockies 🌄

Hubs will have two nights with DIL and the grands before flying home on Tuesday

Watching the catastrophe in Ukraine 🇺🇦 as Russia continues its invasion into a sovereign neighbor…  our hearts are heavy in solidarity with the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦🥺😢 #SupportUkraine

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

Kasha Grain Bowl with Roasted Veggies

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Wild weather here in the Big Icy Apple 🍎 Wednesday 68°F and balmy…  enjoying coffee out on the deck… Thursday night… Ice Storm… whaaaat?   Beginning around 11pm the pitter patter of sleet against the roof and windows… by early morning 1/4” of ice accumulating on lawns… sidewalks… roads… and cars 🚘  9am a cold rain slowly melting the frozen ground… early afternoon bright sunshine… temps in the low 40’s… most of the ice disappearing 🤷🏼‍♀️

The hubs and Colorado son left Friday mid morning… post ice storm… driving sons newly acquired vehicle back to his home in Colorado Springs... packed up sandwiches for the road…  green apples… bag of trail mix… water… juice… waving goodbye as they drove off into the rain.  Hubs and son will be on the road three days stopping in Columbus Ohio first night… Kansas City Missouri second night and onto the Springs by Sunday evening.  Three long road trip days…  plenty of time to chat and enjoy each other’s company…  share a few meals…  and arrive safely.  Hubs will spend a couple of days with his DIL and grandkids before flying home Tuesday evening. 

Breakfast with Mr Sam today… 🧋for yours truly…  kibble for Mr Sam… spending the day in the office… sun shining through the windows warming Mr Sam on his perch nearby…  dashing off between calls to drop in laundry 🧺 house unusually quiet post visit 

Our last meal together Thursday evening… roasted chicken thighs… baked russet potatoes… roasted mini sweet peppers… baked acorn squash and sautéed broccoli rabe (not pictured) crisp green leaf lettuce salad with cucumber, avocado, red onion, tomato and avocado… a delicious end to a two week visit 🥰

Tonites supper… kasha grain bowl with roasted veggies… mini sweet peppers… tomato… zucchini… asparagus and brussel sprouts…  smashed avocado with lime juice and sour cream on the side…  glass of Sauvignon Blanc… simple and fresh… Mr Sam enjoying his Fancy Feast Chicken and Beef pâté nearby 😻

Our hearts break for the Ukrainian people… tonite we are all Ukrainian 🇺🇦💔

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

Kielbasa… Rice… Black Beans & Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chippers

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Stunning day… temps in the low 60’s…  gentle breeze… a taste of spring…  birds singing… chirping…  squirrels 🐿 out digging little round holes in the soft earth… sniffing out acorns 🌰 leaving pile of shells along the deck rail… delightful afternoon ☀️ 

Breakfast… coffee for two ☕️🧋out on the deck… soaking in the warmth and sunshine… Mr Sam relaxing on the sunny boards… eyes closed… face absorbing rays 🌞 Popping into the greenhouse… rosemary flowering tiny purple blooms… thyme healthy and full… gave everyone a good drink…  leaving five one gallon bottles inside absorbing warmth through the day… radiating it back during the chilly night 🌚

Hubs and Colorado son spending the day working on the snowblower… tuning it up… getting it in top top shape for the next storm… Spent time in the office… enjoying the sun shining through the windows… Mr Sam napping on his perch alongside 💤 

Supper tonite…  kielbasa with rice and black beans… threw together a bunch of items in the pantry & fridge and created a brand new recipe we all loved 🥰 so pleased…  a few cookies baked up for dessert 🍪 

Sautéed one chopped vidalia onion in olive oil with salt and pepper… sliced the kielbasa on the bias… added to the pan browning both sides… added in 1/2 c Sauvignon Blanc to deglaze the pan… added in 2 c water… one 8 oz can unsalted tomato sauce…  another 1/2 c Sauvignon Blanc… 1 tsp thyme… 1/2 tsp ground oregano… 1/2 tsp coriander… 1/2 tsp cumin… 1 tsp smoked paprika… 1 1/2 c brown basmati rice… stirred together… covered… brought to a boil… reduced to simmer for 20 minutes… added in 2 cans drained and rinsed black beans… simmered for another 10 minutes… added in another 1/2 c water and 1/2 c Sauvignon Blanc… simmered for another 15 minutes until the rice was cooked through… added in 1 tbsp dried parsley and stirred in off the heat.  Let it sit for 5 minutes then served topped with fresh chopped parsley… smokey… flavorful 😋🥰

Covid infections decreasing… many areas rolling back mask mandates… hoping this indicated a change in the pandemic 🤞 great time to #GetYourJabOn  practice self care… be part of the solution…  mask up where required… limit interactions if ill… fly through the market and wash those germy hands 😷💕

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

Twosday… National Margarita Day… Taco Tuesday… Vodka Margaritas… Burritos & No Shell Tacos

 Vaccinated supper last night… Live from NYC…

Missed posting last night… so here goes… 

Twosday AND national margarita day AND taco Tuesday… well that didn’t leave much decision making for supper… 

Fresh margaritas… hold the salt thank you… delicious 🍸

Two burritos each… for Twosday… of course 🌯 

And finally tacos… hold the shell please 🌮

What a fun supper… far better than that taco place with the bells 🔔 

Happy Palindrome Week 😷💕

Salmon, Yogurt Dill Sauce, Fries, Asparagus, Sprouts & Hydroponic Salad

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Bright azure skies… light breeze… temps in the low 50’s… wow… delightful afternoon… walking with the hubs… neighborhood looking well kept…  couple of houses rebuilt into larger homes… listening to birds chirping happily in the trees…  sure they’re enjoying the fleeting warmth as well...  mama squirrel 🐿 chubby as ever…  leaving a pile of acorn shells on the deck rail 🌰

Breakfast…  coffee for two… his hot ☕️ yours truly iced🧋cottage cheese and blueberries on the menu…  post walk game day… rummikub… lost three in a row to the hubs…  he is sooo much better at visualizing the numbers in new arrangements…  but fun regardless 🥰

Supper tonite…  roasted salmon filet with dill yogurt sauce…  seasoned fries… roasted asparagus and brussel sprouts…  hydroponic lettuce salad with tomatoes, onion and fresh basil from the hubs 2nd floor office farm 🥬

Blueberry muffin and decaf for dessert 🧁

Covid deaths worldwide have surpassed five and one half million souls… new infections continuing to decline  #GetYourJabOn  practice self care and contribute to the end of this pandemic…  mask up… limit interactions… sail through the market and wash those germy hands 😷💕

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