Maddy & Viv are winging their way home to Australia as we speak.
Did I mention that Madeleine will be getting her Aussy citizenship sometime this year? She gained residency a few years ago… it’s all quite the process. Anyway, I’ll have a dual-resident daughter!
I neglected to have anyone take photos of me with the girls when we did the blanket photos, so took care of that when we went out to Ali’s on Friday.
Maddy & Viv left from there for Milwaukee to begin their journey.
It was too hot outside for Malina & Davy. 😉
Ginny discovered this weird growth (fungi of some sort?) on the tree we were standing near. Then she poked it with a stick to see if it was soft or hard… it was sort of medium soft/hard. The inside was sort of like a chocolate truffle, the outside was pearlized white… I made sure to tell her that it was definitely NOT CHOCOLATE!!
Anyway, darn it. I can’t believe that Maddy’s visit is over so soon!! At least we had a good one.
It’s been a whirlwind around here! I’m already mad that I haven’t taken more photos while Maddy & Viv have been here. But then…
…at least I’ve taken a few good ones! This was Friday night, the fella in back next to Viv is Patrick Martin, cousin of Katy’s husband (she’s wearing the “Door County” sweatshirt). He’s a musician & has been in the area (up north a little) working on some new music and dropped by for a tour of our house… and to pick up Katy to take her home to Milwaukee.
That picture — all those smiling faces — makes me very happy.
Patrick Martin! What a nice guy!! Spotify artist page linked above if you’d like to have a listen — it’s indie pop & fun!
I had a nice four-day weekend! Friday’s “Thanksgiving” went well, though we changed up the menu quite a bit from what I’d originally planned. There was a spatchcocked chicken and, boy, was it ever good. Just simple salt & pepper, and a little Penzey’s Sunny Spain. I’ve blanked on the rest of what we had, except for roasted baby red potatoes & a gluten-free cherry crumble.
The kids had fun at camp, and were happy to be home!
I took some “me” time on Saturday to finish a set of four dishcloths for Maddy & Viv.
They’re going to use them as washcloths… they’re that soft & nice!
On Sunday morning we went down to the Grignon Mansion to stroll the grounds & enjoy a car show. Viv was invited to take a seat! That was a lot of fun… and it’s been ages since I’ve been to one.
I’ve been learning & re-learning some new card games, too.
My first time playing Phase 10 and I WON! I haven’t been quite as successful at SkipBo, Nerts, or Cribbage. We’ve had up to five or six people playing any given game at any given time. Nerts is crazy with that many people!
Kate, Maddy & I went to see Deadpool & Wolverine yesterday. It’s ridiculous, very violent & bloody (the guy in charge of blood had his work cut out for him), and funny. It took a little bit to get our bearings, the Marvel Multiverse not being something with which any of us are very well “versed.” But we caught on, and I laughed out loud a few times (at least once when no one else was laughing… heh). I like both Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman, so there’s that, and Matthew Macfadyen was hilarious, and Emma Corrin was a really great villain! There were a bunch of other entertaining cameos, too.
I spotted a mourning dove nest in the yew tree by the apartment stairs a few weeks ago.
There are at least two squabs in the nest — you can see their eyes on either side of mom/dad. Maddy & Viv have seen them being fed. The chipmunks have ravaged my cherry tomato plants since we don’t have cats around… but we’d never have this with cats around, either.
At one point, I thought I might finish a pair of those socks while Maddy & Viv were here… nope! And I barely started the gnome when I decided to put it aside for a minute & knit some more dishcloths — I’ll send those home with Maddy & Viv, so time is limited for that! It’s currently taking about two nights of knitting to knock off one dishcloth, and I’d like to add one or two more.
READING
I finished a book! Why We Cook: Women on Food, Identity, and Connection, by Lindsay Gardner. I started this book over a year ago — it’s personal essays, recipes, Q&A’s, so no real “flow” or storyline to follow — and I’d just pick it up when I felt like it. I enjoyed reading about so many different women & their experiences — home cooks, writers, restauranteurs.
Plucked from the nightstand when I closed “Why We Cook” (because I can’t not have a book underway), I’m currently reading A Fair Isle Nurse, by Mona McAlpine (60 North Publishing). The book is also available from Shetland Wool Adventures, and on Kindle. I have barely started but I think I’m going to enjoy it a lot!
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I haven’t heard anything from campers or hikers but am delighted for all of them that the weather has improved so much this week. We’re going to have a big family dinner on Friday when we’re all together again and I’ve decided that I want to do a play on Thanksgiving. Maddy & Viv are never here for that. I don’t want it heavy, as it tends to be in November, so am thinking Spice-Rubbed Spatchcocked Chicken (sub for turkey), Creamy Corn Pasta w/Basil (sub for stuffing/dressing), Oven Fries with a yummy dip, a simple fruit or veg salad, maybe something with zucchini (’tis the season!), and a cherry pie (because I accidentally bought tart cherries the other day instead of sweet)! I’d love to hear about it if something comes to mind or you have a light bulb moment!
