It was cooler and then not. One pile of dirt has been dispersed, the other sifted of rocks. More news on patio in another post.
I made lemon squares and cut K’s hair. Worked on a bunch of chapters. Yesterday, met “the guys” over at the lake.
Saturday afforded some beautiful late afternoon light.
K cleaned gutters and I laid additional slates in the landing area. One of the beauties of watching a professional crew is learning how to do something. My rubber mallet, small yellow level, and trowel have been busy!
For instance, I’m interrupting the median plantings so that when the nearby elementary school resumes in-person learning, it’ll be clear where to step. A good use of the multitude of rocks uncovered in our patio project. My mother used to joke that rocks are New England’s best crop.
Recording the above because dinner prep is in the works. I’m roasting tomatoes, soaking beans, chopping olives and cooking rice for a rice, corn, and bean salad. Tons of garlic and shallots will add flavor.
Fortuitously, even before the obscenity that is Ivanka hawking Goya beans on her twitter feed, I ordered heirloom beans from California. Very exciting for this mid-level foodie!
Two friends are coming over to watch Hamilton this evening. I’m excited way out of proportion to the event. I’ve seen both friends recently and have already watched Hamilton once, but it feels special.
For one thing, I haven’t had a reason to tidy the living room in a LONG time. Plus, I love an excuse to rearrange the furniture (we’ll sit six feet apart and wear masks – except when eating).
And when have I cooked for friends last?
Learning to live safe and be social during this pandemic? Me too, but haven’t had anyone visit indoors yet. Wait, I did show the cat sitter teens around the house! VERY exciting, your plans, for sure! Sounds like great fun. I bet your friends are excited, particularly to share a meal (you are such a wonderful cook!). I have to see Hamilton again in slow motion with the subtitles on (makes me feel like a pathetic old person), but I missed a lot the first time. Cheers for all your home-bound-progress, the stone work and the gardens looks gorgeous.
I had the subtitles on the first go round. Essential, in my view. The lyrics come so fast and you want to catch them.
Spoke with D yesterday. I’m excited you guys are watching Hamilton since she hasn’t seen it. And envious of her getting to eat your cooking! Have fun!
Part of the thrill for me is that neither D nor B stream much by way of television so this is something nice that I can offer them. Ken printed out playbills for us!
(((Dee))) your crazy paving is looking good & will be a lot easier to maintain than a lawn, had to google to confirm that cranberry beans are what is known as Borlotti beans here in Australia, I use them in my brothers red beans and rice recipe (that he gave us back in 1995 and has been a main staple at the table here ever since) as they are “juicier”
There is sooooo much less grass. It’ll look better in the late summer too when it dries up around here. I haven’t used the cranberry beans yet. Serving with rice is a classic combo.
I smiled at your ” no reason to tidy the living room in a while” ….mmm, same here, I’ve had visitors but most are still working in essential services, so we gather outside……easy to do in a sub-tropical winter.
I clean often but tidy not so much. I’d forgotten how much I rely on having company for sweeping pick ups.
Its amazing how motivating guests can be for a reluctant housekeeper. I always find I am much more efficient when somebody is coming over. I hope you have a great time with your friends. Your yard is looking so inviting!
Hamilton was even better the second time. Some of the songs stuck and I didn’t have to work as hard to follow the story.
no more goya fro me either, and just a lot of time battling ants here.
Ugh ants. We’ve had them in the kitchen this year. And since Finn can open the back slider screen on his own, we keep getting big fat annoying flies, too.
weird how different life is on either side of the pond, your (self-imposed?) lock-down seems to last forever….in the Netherlands we’re out and about: shopping, holidaying, visiting, eating out, whilst trying to keep a safe distance but mask-less; wearing a mask is mandatory when using public transport, in neighboring countries Belgium and Germany wearing a mask in public is required….personally I’m not hyper social at the moment but that’s due to parent situation, I do wonder tho where we are all heading….
love the crazy paving and have been a big fan of beans and pulses for many years now!
On the other side of the pond you haven’t had Fox News dumbing down 40% of the population for years and you also have rational leadership. This shitstorm rests on widespread anti-science propaganda, stupid American individualism, and on the corrupt GOP who will do nothing to stop our insane president. We just topped 5MM cases. Last week 1,000 people a day were dying. Massachusetts is one of the states that has squashed the curve, but a recent uptick in new cases made our governor reinstitute some restrictions. We haven’t fully opened yet. So, no these are not self-imposed. Not even particularly over cautious. I don’t know anyone who would yet sit inside a restaurant and have a meal. Our library is still closed. Schools will not fully open in the fall. Yesterday I went to a garden center and the day before, the farmer’s market. Yahoo! A big weekend. Hope your caregiving is in balance with self care. I know how hard that can be.