maison rustique

We had it yesterday and then about 1/4 inch of snow overnight. But wicked cold. Only 13 right now and not expected to get any warmer despite some sun. Tonight and tomorrow morning will be worse. Single digits. How the heck did I ever live in Boston and walk all over the city? Of course, I was 40+ years younger then.

Swiss steak with rice and buttered spinach. Meh. I need to re-learn to cook.

I really hate winter, but we have had some wonderful sunsets lately. I seldom take pix of them because when they occur, I generally have about a dozen cardinals on the deck, but I disrupted them for a few seconds to snap this last night.

I bought everything to make Swiss steak, but then realized late afternoon that it was too late to get it going. I knew the thin pork chops I'd gotten would cook quickly, so went with that and some pantry lemon & thyme stuffing.

Took the words right outta my mouth.

"There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there A-telling me I got to beware I think it's time we stop Children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong Young people speaking their minds Are getting so much resistance from behind Time we stop Hey, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down What a field-day for the heat A thousand people in the street Singing songs and a-carrying signs Mostly say hooray for our side It's time we stop Hey, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you're always afraid Step out of line, the man come and take you away We better stop Hey, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down"

I have a wonderful primary care doctor. He got bumped way up in the St. Luke's system about 3 years ago and is now Chief Medical Officer or something like that, so only sees patients 1 1/2 days a week now. BUT, he doesn't take on new patients and since it was initially difficult to get an appointment with him, many of his patients switched to a different doctor. If I send a message to him through the St. Luke's system, he will even answer on a Sunday. He calls. He is wonderful. But he is not a Spring chicken. Every time I see a St. Luke's envelope in the mail, I cringe and think it will be notice that he is retiring. (His wife is also a physician, but she retired about 10 years ago.)

I have no idea how mine will turn out. This was the first year since RG began that I did not have their black eyed peas to cook. I had to make do with supermarket beans. And couldn't get mustard greens--have collards and turnip greens. And we didn't have ham for Xmas, so I had to buy some and was not happy with it. I tried Penzey Ozark blend in it this year, too. A total experiment.

You made me nervous. These are the only skinks I know!

On my husband's last Father's day his daughters sent a lovely plant arrangement. He never really understood what it was and kept carrying it out of his room and putting it in other places in the facility. The staff would bring it back but it sort of got neglected in terms of watering. At the time he died, there was one straggly plant left alive. My sister took it and I completely forgot about it. She potted it and nursed it and it is now huge and gorgeous. She recently brought it to me.

Two Bluebird couples came to celebrate the Solstice this morning. Pardon the winter grunge on the windows and deck.

Found some BBQ Rancho Gordo beans in the freezer from earlier this year. Heated them up with a couple of my ribs from the other day.

Pork tenderloin, apples, onion, Brussels sprouts with butter, white wine and seasonings.

@Wilfrid I was not familiar with pounti, so just looked up recipes. I'll be making this--will try your almond flour idea!

Here in the mid-west it has been ping-ponging between brutally cold and unseasonably mild. Craziest winter ever.