A Rainy Day Catch-Up

I have a personal rule to never complain about rain.

In my mind, drought is infinitely worse so when it begins

to feel more like Seattle or England around here, I stay

optimistic and just count our growing, green blessings.

Years ago, I would look upon my soggy--and thus weedy--garden 

in a panic but these rainy days, I tend to other indoor things.

Like a hot drink!

The weeds will come out in due time and order will be restored.

In between rains, I've continued to push myself physically.

I had a goal to jog a non-stop mile by the one-year "anniversary"

of my surgery.  I long for the days when five miles felt great and fun,

but there has been a lot to overcome.  And I also have pain that I still

fight daily (and nightly) so I'm kinda proud of meeting my little goal--early.

I see the neurosurgeon in a couple weeks.  I'd like to say I was as

optimistic about that as I am the rain but, I just don't know.

I've been working mentally and spiritually, too, by watching a series

of Scott Hahn videos for Lent and listening to podcasts when I walk.

My husband and I will be teaching our last Confirmation

class of the year this coming weekend.  And, I'm reading

My Battle Against Hitler by the philosopher Dietrich Von Hildebrand

and prepping to do a review on it for a blogger-friend.

I also have two other books going on the side.

All this sound like a lot?  Read on...

In the kitchen, well--a bit of a long story

but my husband and I ended up doing a dinner for over a dozen

 wonderful priests and I wanted it to be perfect. So, fanatic that I am,

I did what I always do, and that's start 2 weeks in advance.

I fed the chickens carefully to get the richest eggs.  I watched

you-tube videos on torching techniques and I tried different sugars.

(for the record, turbinado sugar won out)

And I actually got sick of creme brûlée--who does that?!?

All this just for one of the two desserts.

By the way, I beg you to try out this

lemon butter sauce on asparagus some time--oh my!  

Diethood

(My preference was to cut back on that little teaspoon of sugar--almost by half.)

We really like to treat guests when we cook:

garnishes, sauces, presentation--the works.

I take my hat off to caterers--that was a whirlwind of five hours!

Though the perfectionist in me knows of those few little flaws,

every plate came back empty and with compliments so I'm doing

my best to fight my inner self and just call it a success.

More than anything, we were extremely grateful for the opportunity

to show these men our thanks for all that they do.

With the boys, we've been doing some road trip college visits.

Track season is also in full swing and, because both boys compete,

I find myself watching a lot of field events at least once a week.

(shot put, discus, triple jump, pole vault, etc)

Now, for the sewing room.

Not as much time spent there these days but yes I did get

started on two baby quilts.  I completed one just today; the top

of the second is just a few rows from being complete.  Both are

using the above pattern from Fons & Porter.

And I just realized this is getting long so I think I'm going to

stop with the above "teaser" and follow-up with the

finished quilt tomorrow hopefully, after I gift it away

to the "new" mom.  Well, it's her eighth baby but new

life is always a big celebration, right?

Maybe it's the weather?  Maybe it's all the activity but the last

couple weeks have left me feeling tired all. the. time.

so today has just been a re-charge kind of day.

I never regret pushing myself but it was just

time for a little break.  I'd take a full-on retreat or

vacation but as that's not a possibility right now,

I'm settling for another cold and rainy spring day!