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

Light Me Up...

Happy Monday, Dolls!  What a gorgeous weekend it was! I witnessed people all around me enjoying their hobbies.  Four wheelers and jet skis raced by and some even gave me a quick wave.  Sailors and yachters doing their thing under a clear, blue sky.  Runners, bikers and walkers tearin' it up along M25.  Randy, indulging his hobby, went fishing all day and scored some walleye.  Even those ambitious gardeners had perfect temps for that activity.  And what did I do, you wonder?

I read.  Yep, I read.  Why does reading seem like a less than ambitious hobby?  Sitting on my couch or lazing in my hammock with a book or my ipad, engrossed in a good story gets looked at as 'lazy.'  Really?  I call it the best, most available way to escape.  And sometimes I even learn things.  But as a hobby, reading still doesn't seem viable to most people.

In checking the New York Times bestsellers list, I see that I have read 6 of the top 15 books and that's just in the non-fiction category.  I love it and have a whole big box on deck for more of my 'lazy' days.  How about you?  Anyone read any good books lately.

And lastly, how great was it that I got to see my cousin, Evan play in a tournament baseball game that was actually held in my area?  I loved seeing him blast a home run and then be named VIP of the game. You are a star as well as this weeks 'Blogstar!' Congrats and GO EVAN!!

Have a great week doing whatever hobby cranks ya up.  Even if it's 'just reading!'  XO

Times Like These...

So...Last fall, on a typical friends outing, four couples came to the stunning realization four of us would be celebrating major milestones birthdays-all in July-all as Cancerians!  After a few cocktails we vowed that we would have a birthday banger fit for a 30, 40, 50 and 60 year old.

On Saturday we all gathered at gal pal Kristen (and Bob's) house for the big celebration.  Because we are all cancerians, it was perfectly fitting that we feast on king crab legs and filets.  Bobby, celebrating his 50th., provided steaks and crab legs and Kristin set the gorgeous table pictured above. We convened to the garage bar for apps and drinks and celebrated our cleverness at realizing the kismet of our birthdays coupled with the perfect century numbers that our ages were turning.   I was 60, Bobby was 50, Shannon was 40 and Nicole was 30 (dirty!)  Four generations having a great time and marveling at the friendship that spanned time.  In addition to the wonderful dinner, Kristin provided a luscious cake that had enough candles to alert those hotties at Harrison Twp. Fire Dept.!! It was a very special night for me.

I have to admit, turning 60 is a bit of a quandary.  I can't believe how fast time has flown by and I now am very careful to slow down and enjoy life more-before it entirely passes by.  I enjoy and savor every single moment.

My sister and my Mom, along with my brother surprised me at the beachhouse last Friday for a full weekend of celebrating.  We shopped, ate, drank and walked the beach together.  It was nothing short of a perfect party for me.

My family and friends give me life, in every way.  The benefit of growing older is realizing and savoring these precious moments and storing the memories away for the darker days.

Thank you all, my Dolls. You are the best and mean the world to me.  I love you all so much.
XOXO

Unstoppable...

Did you ever just straight up be proud of someone? As I sat at the 4th. of July BBQ, I was busting my buttons over this charming, smart friend.   Although I didn't have any buttons, well....it's obvious that I was busting outta something....

Meet Cory Messing.  I met Cory about 18 years ago at our beach house up north.  We are dear friends of his parents and Cory got dragged down to our bonfires.  Over the years he had put up with me visiting the family farm and asking a million (stupid!) questions.  Do the cows have names and do you know them all?  Which ones are boys and which ones are girls?  Who's a heifer? Can I pet them?  I have oohed and aahed over the baby cows-they are called calves, Jodi, as well as piglets and kittens.  I love farms and animals and Cory was a very patient tour guide and barely smirked over my 'Cityot' demeanor.

As the years flew by and Cory was in high school, we understandably saw less of him.  But we always looked forward to when he would drop in, and again, indulge us as we asked him how school was going and remarked on his growth spurt.  Always polite and respectful, it was a joy watching him grow up-a fact we marveled about at his graduation party.

Cory is now almost 27, a Registered Nurse and an engaged man.  He drove up for the day to attend the BBQ and thoughtfully answered all of our health questions.  As an R.N. in the E.R.,he has seen so much.  I couldn't be prouder of this soft spoken, giant of a man.  Did I mention he is 6'6" tall?  The proverbial gentle giant!

Next year when Cory marries it will again be a very proud moment.  He is everything you could ever want in a son and a friend.  I feel happy and lucky to know him.  

And proud, very proud.  Hugs my friend-even if I have to get on my tip toes! XO