Memphis

Ed is painting the upstairs while I am in Memphis taking care of sister Linda post surgery. Found this gem while cleaning out the closet. Because sometimes you need a bubble wrap hat. 

Ivy’s backpack. 🙄

Made chicken tetrazzini to take. Messed up every pot in the kitchen. 

Mom sent roses. 

Loved the cats. 

Madeline hated me!! Hiss hiss. 

Frogs were there. 

Her appetite has been erratic so when she thinks of something that sounds good I spring into action   Cod was this night’s choice. 

Spatchcock chicken. We watched a bunch of food shows. My fav Ina Garten’s was making this. 

Roasted vegetables. 

For some reason homemade chocolate chip cookies sounded good to her. I obliged. Made a second batch. 

Then she said how about with walnuts. I obliged. 

In all I made 5 batches of cookies. 

Freezer is full for future cravings. I am done here. Oh wait...filet mignon and rice casserole tonight. 

Not Republican

So....we have been getting door to door campaigners lately. They have caught me off guard so far but I was ready to break the news to the next one that believe it or not , I’m not Republican. So I open the door and this energetic little woman says “I always know the Republican houses because of the flag flying!!”    And I replied “well that is interesting because you have come to the door of one of the few Democrats in Madison and we like the flag too! “ She was all flustered and said well your house is in my list have you moved recently? I said no but good luck with your campaign. 

Finally a blossom was close enough to the ground so I could reach it. 

I adore that smell. 

Look what a fun treat for us! A new a/c unit!! At least we will be cool. I would rather have taken a trip across Europe which would be about the same price. 

Pepper likes my cereal milk. 

Truffles got a new toy from MG. It even still squeaks. 

Not Republican

So....we have been getting door to door campaigners lately. They have caught me off guard so far but I was ready to break the news to the next one that believe it or not , I’m not Republican. So I open the door and this energetic little woman says “I always know the Republican houses because of the flag flying!!”    And I replied “well that is interesting because you have come to the door of one of the few Democrats in Madison and we like the flag too! “ She was all flustered and said well your house is in my list have you moved recently? I said no but good luck with your campaign. 

Finally a blossom was close enough to the ground so I could reach it. 

I adore that smell. 

Look what a fun treat for us! A new a/c unit!! At least we will be cool. I would rather have taken a trip across Europe which would be about the same price. 

Pepper likes my cereal milk. 

Truffles got a new toy from MG. It even still squeaks. 

Amy gave me this great old bed she replaced with one she liked better. I have always told her I loved it. Ed and I shined it up a bit. 

I needed it in my guest room. Come stay with me!

Sunday brunch at Bonefish. Bang Bang shrimp eggs Benedict. 

Amy found this old pic of Toby. She thinks it looks like a toothpick in his mouth. 

Filled up my sheep with ivy. 

How I spent Memorial Day. 

And it was Sophie’s choice for her 31st birthday celebration. She loved it. 

Mother’s Day weekend

Many years ago Jan and I asked to have a family campout for our Mother’s Day present. People thought we were crazy for roughing it but we love the outdoors. And we are hardly roughing it in state park cabins. 

We got to Leroy Percy State Park in the Delta in the middle of nowhere. Ivy and I drove up together which was a treat in itself. I love driving through the flat land. 

It was foggy and rainy but beautiful. 

We had a fire in the cabin all weekend thanks to Joe’s contribution of scraps from his wood turning. 

Joe caught this great image early Saturday morning featuring our pet egret for the weekend. 

It cleared enough a time or two for Ed to try his luck. Caught a little bass or two. 

Everyone queued up for hamburgers cooked...inside. 

They were still great. 

Thank goodness we had a big ole screen porch to watch the rain from. 

Keeping the steaks dry is very important. 

Thanks to these two. 

Morning dawned a bit clearer. 

Ivy headed back early for her long drive. So happy she came. 

And the head Mama! Still camping at 92. 

Presents of course. 

Loved the scenery on the way home through the Delta. 

I feel bad for the farmers with all the flooding. This is actually a field. 

Book Club

Kathy greeted us with this beautiful table featuring lots of her mama’s nice things. 

We all love Lee Smith and her memoir was a delight. I even chose Ivy’s name based on a character in her book Oral History. 

She based her menu on things her mama might have served back in the day. How about French onion dip and potato chips? 

She sat down with her mama’s actual recipe box for inspiration. After a few nostalgic whiffs ( she said it still smelled like home) , she chose Coke salad...

... Chicken Divan with saffron rice, layered salad ( a family fav at our house) and rolls. 

To finish it all off, she made Woolworth’s icebox cheesecake to honor the Dimestore theme. It was light and fluffy not really like cheesecake as we know it. Great meal and discussion.