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I’ve talked about perks before. Here. Here. And here. I’m adding one to the list. A perk being living down the street from the Port Ewen Fire Department. When you can walk out of your front door, turn left and witness the raising of the flag. And not just any flag, but the raising of a very large flag. I’m definitely proud of our country’s flag, what it means, represents and carries. And some how when it was raised at the end of my block the warm feeling in my heart was stronger than usual.
September 11, 2001 is a day that changed an infinite number of things. The way nothing surprises us, what fear means to children of those we lost, the men and women in uniform stateside and abroad, the transfixed look on our faces as we watched television for weeks and possibly the greatest change was the way we felt as Americans that day. An attack made us all as vulnerable as the person to our left and to our right. The attack made us all equal. Equal in that we all could have been there.
Some say that the 9/11 attack is much like the day that JFK was shot, as in you will always remember where you were. I was at home. It was my second year at Hofstra and I didn’t have class till later in the day. My phone rang, I said, “Hello.” “Turn on the tv.” “What channel?” “It doesn’t matter. I love you. I have to go.” I turned on the television and took a moment to focus on what was on the screen. And then from the left side of the screen I watched the second plane hit the south tower of the World Trade Center. I froze. There was no blinking, breathing or movement. And there I sat for the next three days.
I hope we never forget. I hope the memory lives on in all of those who were alive on that day. I hope it becomes a moment in history that is spoken about with not just sadness, but the amazing energy of the heroes. The supporters. Those who passed. And their loved ones.
May I always live some where there is a special memorial with a large flag on this day.
The foodie hostess offered
Local cheddar cheese
Rochester brewed beer
Warm semolina bread
Mixed green salad with strawberries, blue cheese and balsamic
The spirited red-head brought
Soup with roasted pumpkin seeds
The token guy and his small princess offered the table
Paella with chicken, shrimp and sausage
The menu exploded with
BBQ chicken thighs and legs
Baked chicken on a bed of sweet kale
Pasta Primavera with fresh ricotta
Local corn on the cob
Complimented with
Malbec and Shiraz
Spicy Thai shrimp
And capped off with
Local apple pie and vanilla ice cream
Dark seasoned coffee
Countless laughter
Full bellies
A dash that warmed hearts
Promises to have a leftover dinner soon
And a splash of banter
All in a night’s view
This came out of my oven last night.
They are pillow cookies.
Inspired by the lovely Bakerella, I went to town with brownies, chocolate chips, cookie sheets and goodness.
They will be enjoyed by an unsuspecting group of friends tonight for Jon’s birthday. Jon (also known as Jonny Goose, Goose and you know, the one with the badge or the cop) is the kindof friend that comes and retrieves critters with little hands from your yard when they are trapped in a “safe trap” which is supposed to be a humane way for critters with little hands who eat your flowers to get out of your yard. He is the kindof friend that laughs out loud when you tell him you fed the critter with little hands celery because you felt bad and are paralyzed by fear. He is the kindof friend that says please and thank you. And means it. He is the kindof friend that really would do anything he could to help. He is the kindof friend that calls you for advice when he has to leave an awkward situation. He is the kindof friend that brings you a book on lifting weights for women because he thinks it will help and isn’t judging or challenging you. He is the kind of friend that isn’t sure where his journey is going to take him, but is ready for the adventure, whether he thinks so or not. He is the kindof of friend who thoroughly enjoys my cooking and tells me so. It doesn’t take much to appease me in the friendship department. Or move me to make pillow cookies, chocolate zucchini bread and strawberry cheesecake for a friend’s birthday.
More to come after the treats and spirits…
Baby, it’s hot outside.
Sticky.
Sweaty.
And at the exact same moment in time, it’s gorgeous.
Mesmerizing.
Breathtaking.
Heading to dinner in Tivoli on a warm summer’s night, I spotted the most wonderful launderette, The Lost Sock. Huge front windows, open front door and solid brick exterior walls. Cute. Quaint. Heart it.
I have one of the most amazing butterfly bushes I have ever seen in my back yard. I’m not even sure I had ever seen butterfly bushes before this one actually. What is even more amazing is the gorgeous butterflies that come all the time. The latest and most grand was this week’s visitors. They are tiger swallowtail butterflies (Papilio glaucas). They are known to be strong fliers with distinctive yellow and black striped markings on the wings and body.
Wedding in the country have all types of guests. These friendly dudes came roaming on up on a wedding celebration. They would appear and disappear throughout the day. Mirage like. Many blessings to my dear friends Alli and Paul. And the cows.
One would think with all of this heat and sweat and stick, that baking would be curtailed. No fear, goodness is still coming out of the kitchen.
The first dinner at the house was homemade pizza.
And a birthday cake for my lovely friend and co-worker.
Mini mixed berry cuppers with homemade raspberry glaze for brunch with friends.
Summatime, you can stay for a lil while longer, that tundra is not welcome around these parts.
In the midst of all of the insanity there is peace… Friday night I found it in swimming, an ice cream cone with rainbow sprinkles and dinner at home.
Home Sweet Home.
And then I had to leave the following morning for Long Island. And I didn’t want to leave. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. Driving back to my parent’s house there was a twinge of pain, it wasn’t until hours later that I realized I wanted to be at my house. Granted it’s a rented house. But a house none the less! And who knew that a few short weeks could form such a bond. Minus the complete lack of morning routine, the endless floors and bugs and not knowing where I am in the morning when I open my eyes, it’s a good relationship. Then again it’s the most consistent relationship going at the moment.
Home Sweet Home.
At least when the eyes are opened and there isn’t a moment of dread where you put your hand out and see who’s next to you. Or the moment when you close your eyes as tight as you can to see if when you open them the person in-front of you would magically appear / disappear. Or the moment when you wish you could take back that toxic slur that you just spit out without thinking first and is floating towards the person it was intended for about to smack them square in the face. Those moments of dread are much more intense the moment that I open my eyes in the morning. That split second is right before I realize I am safe in my bed at the house.
Home Sweet Home.
Why, hello there little peaches that I picked from my backyard. It’s very nice to meet you and your little friends.
When told of your arrival, most reactions from my country bumpkin’ friends included a sweet serenades of this:
I personally was thinking with much excitement and joy this:
And about all of the wonderful things I could make with you. Especially this from the Pioneer Woman. This from Smitten Kitchen. And this from Joy the Baker.
Happy 4th of July to my sweet little guests, you are going to be a major star at the housewarming party this weekend.
And from 1991, and no other reason that I heart this song, sweet America:
Day after the move…
When did I become old enough to rent a house. A whole house. One with 3 bedrooms. Two bathrooms. And a roommate. Who is also a grown-up. I would have liked to sleep in said new house last night. I was prevented from doing so. By more bugs than I would like to ever see again. I don’t know what is wrong with screens. I like screens. In fact. I heart screens. They keep bugs outside. Where they belong. And then I could have slept in my bed. Bed is where when you go to catch some shut-eye. I have not been getting enough ZZZZs for the last week or so. Nervous energy robs you of sleep. And then you are a walking zombie. Not a cute look. Boxes. Another set of things that rob you of sleep. The “to do” list is larger than the done list. I think I have a list problem. I have a list for work, the new place, the old place, events, gifts and thank yous scattered about. Everywhere. Did I finish my latest list? Maybe I need a how to consolidate my lists list. That would be splendid. Apparently dirt is not on my list. I didn’t order all of this. Or the bugs. Certainly not the bugs. I am not grown up enough to deal with large unidentifiable flying, crawling, moving things. Absolutely not. No way. No how.
Three days after the move…
First night sleeping in new house. Was that sleeping? Not by “normal” peoples definition of the word. I would call it kindof sortof sleeping. Like closing your eyes and being completely aware of crawling critters and white noise and space and quiet. A lot of quiet. The neighbor folk say the firehouse alarm will be loud. They are either the slowest department without any emergency or I have tuned out the noise. Maybe it was all of the years in the city. Where everyone tunes out everyone. And the sirens. And the people. And the traffic. There are less full boxes. And more piles of stuff. That needs a home. Ideally there is an end to the unpacking and organizing, but that light at the end of the tunnel, anyone seen it yet?
Seven days after move…
A whole week has passed. I actually live in the most colorful house in all the land. Literally. Not joking. A yellow dining room. A blue room. A red and orange kitchen. A multi-colored backyard. A teal hallway. And then there is the whitest upstairs ever. I guess they needed a break. I heart the color. Who knew a rental could bring such color. I certainly wasn’t expecting it. And my straight forward wear a suit to work everyday roommate certainly didn’t either. Funny how the most straight forward of people can surprise you. In many ways. But not in toilet paper and bathroom etiquette. Heart the color, heart the roommate, heart the blue room.
One week and two days after the move…
Sitting in the man cave watching tv and writing. The first moments of feeling like I live here. In the colorful house on the river. With the roommate. And less boxes. The planets have been misaligned lately. As if we all have been a lil off. And all it took was a cable connection. A clean light. Put away bras and underwear. And the belief that everyday will be a lil better. A lil safer. A lil brighter.
Hey, hey, hey, no matter how life is today
There’s just one thing that I got to say
I won’t let another moment slip away
I say hey, hey, hey no matter how life is today
There’s just one thing that I got to say
I won’t let another moment slip away
