Could it be Magic...

Well, it's official-I've kicked my 'man' to the curb...

Rocky Balboa aka/my Jeep Wrangler and me are through.  It's been two years and I am over him.  Yes, he was handsome and muscular and could take me places I never dreamed of going.  As fun as it was, the ride was just too rough for this old chick.  It was an amical parting and we swore that we would remain friends.  My brother, car salesman extraordinaire, promises to match Rocco up with someone more his style.

I admit to having an affair on poor, unsuspecting Roco.  I have had my eye on a vehicle that I could get in and out of without the risk of breaking a hip and seats that were electric so I can baby my frozen shoulder.  I needed a smoother ride with a more refined style and luxuries baby, luxuries!

 My brother told me he had the perfect ride and could sell me it with a D plan, a rebate, a return customer discount, a coupon, and a family discount.  I was ready in a hot second.  Steve hooked me up as usual.

My new wheels are giving me what I need and I love the smooth ride.  It is a lovely dark berry color and as I always do, I've named him.  Berry Manilow is my new fling.  He's older and wiser and so very accommodating.

So, I'm officially sporting an adult vehicle-no more Mustangs or Jeeps.  I love Berry Manilow and don't care who knows it!

Now if Sirius would just co-operate.  I need a Barry Manilow station!   XO

Until You Come Back to Me...

   

Can you stand yet another 'simple pleasures are the best' rants?

I spent hours walking the beach this weekend.  The sun was out with just enough breeze. I met a family enjoying their first Lake Huron beach vacation.  The children were throwing beach balls in the water and letting the waves return them.  They were children-playing with beach balls.  I was touched at their old school, simple fun. The water was so warm and I spent long minutes just standing and marveling at the waves.  A doe jumped out of some weeds a few feet from me and I'm not sure who was the most surprised.  She ran off, but not before we actually locked eyes.  She was so beautiful.

And how about my beach treasures?  I found lots of sea glass including one piece of the elusive cobalt color.  Crockery pieces that I like to imagine were part of some dinnerware on a ship.  Then there's the heart shaped rocks that I also collect.  I love to 'glass' and Saturday was a boom day.

And dinner tonight was the perfect summer dinner.  BLT's with tomatoes, lettuce and sourdough bread purchased from the farmer's market.  So yummy and a taste of sunshine in every bite.

Just a lazy weekend that got me all 'reset' for another busy week.  How about you?  How do you reset?  If you don't know, may I recommend a long beach walk and a BLT?

Have a wonderful week, my darlings.  XO

Aint No Way...

I am not a great cook.  I have no natural ability, plus I find it very dangerous.

For a person who loves eat, this can pose a dilemma.  Family and friends know that my contribution to dinner will most likely be a salad or a bottle of wine.  Safe and simple-except for the one time I dropped and broke a bottle of wine on my big toe.  In addition, everyone will testify that I practically need a safety helmet to butter toast-a truth that has been proved over and over.

Family lore recalls me having baked a turkey into turkey jerky by cutting off the breasts because they seemed fatty.  Those were some amazing, brown turkey bones, and very low-fat!  And aren't the sweet potatoes the stars of the show anyway?

Once, when splitting a chicken breast in half, I managed to split my palm in half.  5 stitches later, my hand bears the scar and everyone still winces whenever I grab a knife.  Recently I left a pan in a pre-heated oven and thoughtlessly grabbed the pan with my bare hand.  July 4, found me sporting a white, raised 'Calphalon' branding, again on my palm.  Clutching an icy cocktail seemed to alleviate the sting.

The same friends witnessed me twice! burning to tar, a brie and croissant dish, that I knew was already stretching my culinary limits.  The wail of the smoke detector alerted us before I burnt down Kristin's cottage!

I once dropped a flaming marshmallow on the top of my foot. proving that even cooking over a bonfire has it's perils!  I now prefer to just unwrap the graham crackers and Hershey bars and wangle someone else to take the risk.

And last week, while popping popcorn-the one dish I have truly mastered-a hot, errant half popped kernel flew out and dropped down my top. In my distress, I tipped over some hot butter and-you guessed it-burnt my wrist.  I finally dumped the damn thing out but not before incurring a third degree burn between my chi chi's.  OUCH!

So all of you Cooking Channel and recipe aficionados, have at it.  I've got one life to life and I prefer to do it while perusing a nice menu.

And an icy cocktail-just in case!   XO

Tusk...

10 Good things this past week....
*The perfect, fresh macaroons from a bakery in Dearborn. (Thanks, Jimmy)
*Combing 5 (yes, 5) beaches for beach glass.
*Finding the most beach glass at our own beach!
*A five mile walk with Kristen. Much needed venting time!
*Spotting a meteor on Friday night by the campfire.
*Diving into the new Kristen Hannah novel.
*Dogsitting for Ernest for a few days!
*Boating with friends on Sunday.
*Cheering on the Tigers with my homies.  They even won!
*Writing a quick blog and hitting the hay-I'm beat.

Have a great week, my Dears.  Love from a tired old Chick. XO