Keto - Days 1 & 2

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Mediterranean Keto day 1…

Breakfast…  espresso with 6 tbsp half and half over ice 🧋Good, but not my jam… it was meh 🫤 

Lunch… two hard boiled eggs with two tbsp mayonaise and two baby pickles… that was a hit 💥 

Supper…  chicken tenders marinated in olive oil and spices… sautéed and served alongside haricots vert with bacon and a lettuce cucumber olive and avocado salad with olive oil and red wine vinegar… a glass of Gatao Vinho Verde alongside 🥂 incredibly filling and delicious… gotta love bacon 🥓 

Late night snack… two mozzarella sticks and a tall glass of water 💦 

Mediterranean Keto Day 2…

Learning a bit about what tastes good to the palate and what feels good in the tummy… made a few changes…

Breakfast… espresso with 1 cup whole milk over ice 🧋😋

Lunch… two hard boiled eggs and two tbsp mayonaise… skipped the pickles… and lots of water 💦 

Supper…  grilled skirt steak… romaine, cucumber, red onion salad with creamy caesar dressing (hubs ate the tomatoes) and broccoli with melted shredded sharp cheddar… a glass of Gatao Vinho Verde alongside 🥂Just delicious and so filling 😋

Late night snack… hard boiled egg, 1 Tbsp mayonaise, chicken tender leftover from yesterday 🍗 

Feeling excellent… walked 45 minutes yesterday and 55 minutes today with Mariya… lots of girl talk and sweat!  Such fun ♥️

BA-5 Omicron has arrived… super contagious… lots of folks catching it… make sure you #GetYourJabOn  mask up as needed and wash those germy hands 😷💕

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

Happy Fourth 💥🎇

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 🇺🇸🎇💥

Stunning… bright azure skies… low humidity… temps in the mid 80’s… picture perfect day to celebrate with family and friends... gathering for the first time since the pandemic began 🥰  Unfortunately not a great day for Mr Sam… spending the time inside the house… windows and doors shut tight… keeping the sound of fireworks at bay 🙀😻  

Lots of delicious food at our son and DIL’s home… burgers, hot dogs, sausages, skirt steak… potato salad… sole slaw… macaroni salad… cowboy caviar…  plenty of cold beer 🍺 and wine 🍷 

Fun appetizers… 7 layer dip… empanadas… salsa… lots of chips and crackers for snacking… crudités and onion dip… and finally watermelon… butter cookies… red white and blue skewers (strawberries, blueberries and marshmallows) and cupcakes 🧁 

Our contribution to the feast… 7 layer dip (recipe courtesy of the Washington Post) and a sugar baby watermelon 🍉 

Just delightful… watching the local fireworks from the back deck… lasting  about an hour…  spectacular show…  our little Princess 👸🏻 slept through the whole racket… smart mommy keeping the volume up on her white noise machine… drowning out most of the noise 💥 

Today begins the diet… time to lose the pandemic pounds… all the bread making…  baking and desserts finally catching up with us both… pants too tight… cholesterol too high… hubs sugar higher too…  Mediterranean Keto for us both… wishing us the strength to follow through and the determination to complete our regimen… fingers crossed🤞 that it’s not too difficult 🙃

Covid still around… make the choice #GetYourJabOn and join the solution… mask up when necessary and wash those germy hands 😷💕

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

Sautéed Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Veggies & Mango, Tomato, Cucumber Salad

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Getting hotter each day as summer progresses… temps up to 88°F… luckily humidity low so warmth tolerable…  backyard nest getting larger… the male robin sitting on it for a bit yesterday… no attention today… not sure why robins would be nesting now… a bit late in the season… curiouser and curiouser… lots of mockingbirds, sparrows, starlings about… pair of hawks circling on overhead thermals… Mr Sam eyeing them all from the comfort of the warm deck boards 😽

Breakfast for three… coffee for two ☕️🧋salami and jalapeño jack wrap for the hubs… banana for yours truly… no appetite in the heat… Mr Sam watching the birds alongside his kibble and cool water in the shade 💦 

Greenhouse duties on the daily chore list…  topping tomatoes… checking cucumbers… peeking at peppers… backfilling basil… tying up wiggly stems… admiring nasturtiums… waiting for blooms on the morning glories, gardenia, marigolds  and zinnias… lots of buds holding promises of flowers to come… lemon tree showing loads of new growth… rosemary and thyme full and healthy 🪴 

Supper tonite… a platter of room temp roasted veggies (asparagus, tomatoes, peppers and haricots vert)  bruschetta on toast, roasted red potatoes and sautéed chicken thighs with lemon pan sauce and mango cucumber tomato salad 🥭 Gatao Vinho Verde alongside 🥂

Excited to finally have a new washer and gas dryer… waited six months for the washer and dryer to arrive (supply chain issues) The last washer was 34 years old (and leaking a bit)  the gas dryer almost 55 years old (and running too hot…eeek) Having fun trying all the different cycles… enjoying the scent of freshly washed clothes once again!  Grateful to be able to wash at home instead of a laundromat ☺️  It’s the little things that make life joyful 💛

Covid still around folks… couple of friends diagnosed in the last week with Omicron… mild symptoms… still no fun to be sick in the summer ☹️

#GetYourJabOn  Mask up in public settings and wash those germy hands 😷💕

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

Ground Turkey, Penne, Veggie Sauté… Pork Chop with Asparagus, Carrots, Ciabatta and Bruschetta & Sliced Mango with Mint

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Stunning day… temps in the high 70’s… low humidity… bright azure skies… energizing after days of sticky heat… no occupants of our backyard nest resulting in it being removed last week… today two robins have seemingly decided to adopt the same spot… nest building beginning once again over the garage lights facing the house… hoping these two lovelies decide to move it 🤞with their pretty blue eggs 🪺 

Breakfast for three out on the deck…  coffee ☕️🧋for two… with turkey and salami mini wraps… Mr Sam lying on the warm boards snoozing nest to to his kibble and water 😽

Hubs hanging in his workshop… yours truly out in the greenhouse… fussing over plants… giving the morning glories a larger pot in their corner spot near the back door…  tomatoes 🍅 looking fabulous... lots of itty bitty tomatoes getting larger each day 😁 Planting mini sweet peppers this year…  lots of teeny peppers growing… green so far… cucumbers quite prolific… harvesting two good size Kirby’s thus far… plan has many more to come 🥒 

Supper tonite… fridge clean out...  ground turkey sautéed with olive oil, onion, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, red pepper flake… a bit of leftover juices from a recent pernil… a small can of unsalted tomato sauce… a bit of white wine… about 6 ounces of uncooked penne… brought it all to a boil… covered and simmered for about 12 minutes… added in roasted tomatoes and onions from the oven… some chiffonade parsley leaves and voilá… dinner is served… alongside… a crisp bright Vinho Verde... El Gatao 🥂

Couple of past suppers… grilled pork chops with roasted asparagus and carrots… ciabatta with bruschetta alongside… crunchy… adding a zing to the meal… sliced mango 🥭 with fresh greenhouse mint 🪴 

Went to the movies for the first time in 2+ years yesterday to see Maverick… highly recommend… excellent entertaining film… extremely well done… a needed break from all the drama of daily life 🎥 

Watching the Jan 6 hearing today… need time to process all the information received… a bit overwhelming for sure…  still simmering regarding recent SCOTUS decisions relative to personal autonomy and gun rights in NY 🤨

Getting your booster? #GetYourJabOn and stay healthy as covid continues to decline in America… mask up when needed and wash those germy hands  😷💕

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

Crisp Skin Striped Bass, Asparagus & Curly Fries and Mango Salsa

 Vaccinated supper tonite... Live from NYC…

Rainy day in the Big Wet Apple 🍎 long slow drizzle keeping the skies overcast… temps in the high 60’s… robins hopping about in the lawn gobbling up insects and worms…  coming up for air in the soggy grass… caught a quick glimpse of our new tenant in the early morning light… too dim for identification thus far…  afternoon break in the waterworks giving parents and kids a chance to get home without umbrellas or slickers ☔️

Breakfast for three on the fly… coffee ☕️ and oatmeal for the hubs… iced coffee🧋to go for yours truly… a few errands and a stop at the market for Moms groceries before our usual Wednesday visit… Mr Sam on the deck… awning extended giving him cover against the drizzle… snuggled in his box 📦 snoozing… kibble and water adjacent 😽

Hubs working in his shop enjoying the cool temps… off to the market 🏪 amidst misty afternoon skies… Mom looking comfortable in sweat pants and matching sweatshirt… her apartment comfortably chilly on this cool day… brought her a new load of books 📚 for her enjoyment 👵 Sat chatting for a while… listening to her discussing her latest novel… her interest peaked… suddenly it was time for her supper… snatched a couple of hugs and quick kisses… off to cook for the hubs 🥘

Supper tonite…  crispy skin striped bass in a lime butter sauce… courtesy of our son Mark’s recent catch… with roasted asparagus spears and sliced stems… seasoned curly fries… mango salsa and ciabatta toasts… crisp green salad and a lovely dry Vinho Verde alongside 🥂

FBI delivering grand jury subpoenas to many involved in the fake electors attempt at overturning the Presidential election Wednesday…  

Jan 6 committee members now requiring security details due to sharp increases in threats of violence and death against them and their families 😢 Next hearing Thursday at 3pm 

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

Roasted Chicken Thighs, Oven Roasted Potatoes & Mango Salsa

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

A string of lovely days here in the Big Apple 🍎 Moderate temps 🌡 low humidity… energizing weather… a new tenant arriving in the backyard… not sure who the new resident is yet… large nest atop the garage exterior lights… too late for a robin… most birds have already fledged… a dove maybe?  One has been around often as of late… We shall see 🕊 

Breakfast on the deck… coffee for two ☕️🧋egg and cheese sandwich for the hubs… banana for yours truly… still don’t understand the “hot coffee on a hot day cools him down” 🤷🏼‍♀️  Each to his own 🥰 Mr Sam stretched out on the warm boards taking a nap 💤 

Spending time in the greenhouse… topping the cherry tomato plants… trying a new plan this year… shorter plants… higher yields...  time will tell if the results work well… last years forest was a bit unmanageable 😂 So far it’s working well 🤞

Supper tonite… roasted chicken thighs with oven roasted potatoes and mango salsa… crisp green salad… split a beer with the hubs… a gift from our son and DIL… Schwartzbier… a delightful dark ale… delicious 🍻 Ice cream for dessert 🍦

Watching the January 6 Hearings… massive amounts of evidence… painfully apparent… America came too close to losing our democracy… a planned widespread attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power… the basis of our democracy… attempting to overturn the will of the people to elect our own representation… and it hasn’t stopped yet 😢

We must not be silent… we must not let this pass without consequence 😐how was your day?  What’s on your plate?   Thoughts? 😷💕

Eight Foot Bench

 Braggin’ on the hubs work once again… proud of his carpentry skills 🥰

8’ bench completed… 

Made from repurposed wood… 

Final waterproofed and sealing done…

Came out stunning… so pleased ♥️♥️