A good weekend

It was a good weekend here at the Casa de George. Saturday was gorgeous and I spent the morning doing household chores. My arms are still tired from trimming bushes with the hedge shears. (And I hardly made a dent). We really need some electric hedge trimmers . . .

 

I rewarded myself Saturday afternoon with a cocktail and a snack.

I love me some guacamole.

 

That evening, George and I went to the bus stop in Newark, DE to pick up my son who was coming from NYC for Father’s Day. (No, George. That’s the wrong bus. We’re waiting for the Megabus).

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Father’s Day was pretty good. Our sons rode with us to visit my husband’s folks in NJ for lunch. The food was delicious, and we had a nice time. For the record, I love mimosas.

Each time the thought of work would creep into my head this weekend, I banished it immediately. Will. Not. Think. About. Work. And it worked. The not-thinking-about-work thing, I mean. So by the time Monday morning rolled around, I hit the ground running. You know how you have days when you cannot believe all that you have accomplished? Well, today was one of those for me. I got so much done at work, then kept at it through dinner and the dishes, too.

 

I made this tonight, after seeing it on Pinterest this weekend. Unfortunately, I can’t embed the photo directly to my blog anymore as they’ve updated their website. Here’s the link, though. When you get there, click on the photo to get the recipe.  Super easy, and super delicious. I served mine with Yukon gold potato wedges in butter & parsley, and freshly steamed green beans although it does look pretty on this bed of arugula and peas.

Pan Fried Chicken Paillard

 

Whenever we have lightning and thunder, George sticks very close to me. This is where he lies if we happen to have a storm while I’m in the kitchen cooking. He sure doesn’t leave much room for me to get to the stove, does he? (Please don’t be too jealous of my pink countertops. And the fact that I have to use a desk lamp for light. It makes me feel very retro, thank you).

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I’ve been trying to figure out how to get (afford) an anti-seizure medication for my husband. This has been sort of an on-going thing since he was hospitalized a few weeks ago. We tried a med that I could afford, only it had horrible side effects, so that was off the table. I tried applying to receive the expensive med for free (laughably, I make too much, which I really don’t). Finally, the business manager at work sat down with me and we figured a way to do it through my insurance company’s Express Script. I was ready to give up, especially since I had to call the insurance company no less than three times today. Ordering through the pharmacy at Johns Hopkins would have cost me $1000 for a month’s supply of pills, out of pocket. This way will cost just over $150. I mean, if it all works correctly. (Fingers crossed).

I keep this photo at my desk, taken at the beach when my husband was in his mid 30’s. He is blonde and tan and beautiful and best of all, he is laughing. This photo helps me keep my resolve when it comes to dealing with medical issues.

The script has been sent and once they call to set it up with me, it will be on its way.

I hope that means it will be a good week ~

Hope it is for you!

Photo memory lane

I’ve filled this post with photos that I found on my Flickr stream. I haven’t been on Flickr lately, and many of these are from 2009 or 2010. I haven’t picked up my camera in over a week, and for many of you who visit this blog, you’ve seen these before but they just happen to be pictures I like.

 

Beach rose, taken in Gouldsboro, Maine at our vacation rental cottage.

 

Canada geese family, taken in Chesapeake City, Maryland.

 

Riverside Park, NYC 2009.

 

Sam & Maria, taken in Mathews, Virginia 2009.

 

Wild pony taken at the state park on Assatague Island, Maryland.

 

One of my favorite things to have for lunch in the summertime.

Recipe here: Watermelon Salad

 

 

This is a view from the top of Champlain Mountain and was the last real hike I took. My husband and I hiked the Beachcroft Trail at Acadia National Park in Maine in June of 2010. The views at the top were incredible. My knees have since told me that they weren’t having any more of these shenanigans, though. But I’ll always remember that “I did it!”

Wrote about it here: Hiking the Beachcroft Trail

 

 

And last but not least, an image I took in the summer of 1986. My husband with our eldest son on the left, and our best friend, Warren, with his eldest child on the right. I love this photo and everyone in it.

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Hope you liked. Crazy weather here today with a wicked storm that blew through this morning, turning the day into night with its violence. Am off to the kitchen to make dinner. Tonight it’s broiled salmon, sauteed onions, peppers & zucchini, and rice. Hope your evening is a good one.

Comfort

When did I become so introverted? I’m sure this too shall pass, but right now I prefer keeping to myself except when I have to go to work. And it sure is quiet here on the hill.

I’m making goulash for dinner tonight, a comfort food that makes my husband happy. It’s a very uncomplicated recipe and it makes the house smell nice. All week long, we were doing nothing but take-out meals because I’d either get home too late, or we had doctor’s appointments. So tonight there will be something simmering on the stove.

 

I can’t thank you enough for your words of encouragement on my last post. The love seems to flow here and this blog is keeping me sane and grounded because of it. And wonder of wonders, my husband is actually started to feel a little better a couple of days ago. He opted to take a treatment that his doctors offered to him and it is already giving him some quality to his life.

So that’s good news.

 

Each year, for as long as I can remember, I have put together potted planters and hanging baskets and sadly, I just don’t have it in me this year. I tried to get the magic going a couple of weeks ago, but I could see it was turning into a dismal failure. Rather than beat myself up about it, I’m consoling myself with the fact that not all summers will be like this. Let it go, I told myself. Next year will be different.

Besides, I have a few geraniums from last year that look fine in their pots.

And I bought a hanging basket to cheer up the little back porch.

Enough.

 

I bought this for myself in Bar Harbor last year.

 

 

And the birds continue to visit the feeders, as long as I keep them filled.

 

 

Hello, laser eyes.

I took this photo while watching a movie on Netflix last night. My husband told me I had too many pillows on the couch. It was because they were all at one end.

Ok, don’t laugh at my viewing choices this weekend. All were documentaries. One was a History Channel presentation on pirate ships. There was an entire section dedicated to Blackbeard. The other was about Lewis & Clark, from National Geographic. History interests me. But my favorite video was one called Happy. In it, psychologists tracked people from all over the world to see what it was that made them happy.

It confirmed my belief that the reason I am able to get through some adversity is because I am basically happy. And when I’m not, I address it – usually with a dose of nature. I recommend the documentary.

 

I left the house for an hour on Saturday and went to town to get a pedicure as a reward for doing my chores.

I decided that I truly dislike the color. If they were the same color as depicted here, I could live with it. But in reality, the color is closer to more of a neon pink. Totally not me.

GOULASH

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1-2 cloves garlic, diced
• olive oil, about 1 to 1 1/2 tbsp.
• 1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes (with juice)
• 1 small can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup jarred pasta sauce
• 1 to 1 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup water (or more)
• 1 to 2 cups dry pasta shapes
• Freshly ground parmesan cheese (for serving)
• Heat skillet, add olive oil, then onions and sauté until translucent. Move onions to far side of skillet, adding ground beef, then cooking until browned. When beef is done, stir with onions, then add diced tomatoes, sauces, soy sauce, seasoning, bay leaves, and water. Cover and simmer on medium to medium low heat for 20 minutes. Add dry pasta (I use 2 cups), adding a little more water if necessary, and continue to simmer on medium to medium low for another 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves and let rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle fresh parmesan on for kicks.

Sorry I posted a recipe under a picture of my feet. How very impolite of me.

Hope your week begins (and ends) well ~

Evening with the 50mm

I have been terribly absent from this space and, for my regular readers, I apologize for this. I’ve been remiss in online visiting as well, which is why you don’t see me very often at your space. I took these photos a few evenings ago and they’ve been sitting in this post since then. It’s become one which I’ve re-written over and over again.

It’s time to just say it, I guess.

My husband is not doing well and this is why I can’t write. I believe you may have suspected this and although it’s not my story to tell, it’s a story that affects me in every single way.

 

This is the chair where he used to sit after working in the garden. I was actually taking a photo of the sun glowing in the trees behind it, but the empty chair is the thing I notice first. He cannot work in the garden anymore and I don’t have that much extra time to do so. Plus, I am tired when I come home.

He was hospitalized last week for several days after I took him to the ER at Johns Hopkins for what appeared to be brain swelling. (I was correct). He is stable now, and this week I began working full time again but only because our son is in the house with him during the day. Our son works 3rd shift and he keeps an eye on his dad, texting me throughout the day. Mostly, he tells me that his dad is taking a nap.

 

 

I cancelled the trip to Maine because I don’t want him to be too far from his doctors, and it’s just too risky driving with someone in his condition.

I do not know how long I will be able to continue to work, but so far, so good.

 

But I damn well do not want one bit of sympathy for my life as it is now. I don’t see it as terribly, awfully sad. My husband was diagnosed over nine years ago with a brain tumor that would continue to recur and was given three to six months to live. I read online back then that the median for most people with this particular type of tumor would be to live about 18 months after such a diagnosis. He has had more than nine years.

He has amazed his doctors. They have much respect for him.

And much interest in his case.

 

We have had nine years to enjoy each other’s company, to appreciate the little things, and to try and live as best we can with the blow we’d been dealt.

It’s not always peachy, but you knew that. Geez – I’m not a freaking saint.

 

 

We moved to this wonderful old manor house in 2008 and became its caretakers. It has been a refuge for both of us ever since.

 

I will not continue to write about my husband’s illness,

although you may hear it from time to time.

It doesn’t define who we are.

Who I am.

 

 

I am thankful.

I am kind.

I am empathetic.

I am strong.

I am afraid.

(but only sometimes)

I am blessed.

 

 

Goodnight, sun.

Another day is done.

I did my best.

With no regrets.

 

Thank you so much for your continued support, your visits, your kindness. All of the photos in this post were taken at dusk with my Nikkor 50mm lens. It lets in a lot of light. And it’s all about the light ~