Sunday evening

It was a gorgeous day here today. I took my MIL and her dog for a walk this morning, which was very pleasant. My small emergency back-up dog and I need to run, so we run about 90 seconds away from them and a minute back and then we walk a bit and then we do it again. My plan is to be able to run a 5K by September. We'll see, but I am working on it.

DH was away until about 2:30 -- when he got home we took both dogs to the beach and threw tennis balls for them. Our old dog needs exercise and swimming is the easiest on her joints. When we got home I started some chicken breasts and thighs brining (a double handful of kosher salt and a little sugar in enough water to cover the meat) and thawed some green beans I put up last summer.

We had grilled chicken, roasted green beans dressed with tamari, sesame oil, and rice vinegar, mushroom risotto, and a salad. Risotto, by the way, is no where near as difficult and fussy as it is rumored to be. Saute some mushrooms and onions in 3 or 4 tablespoons of butter, then add the washed rice (arborio is best, but you can cheat and use sushi), stir it around for a bit and then add some wine or water or stock -- a cup, maybe, and stir it. When the liquid begins to be absorbed, add a little more and stir it again. Continue until it is done. It does not require constant stirring -- just when you think of it.

DH and I had a glass of Salmon Run Riesling, which we have been enjoying this summer.

Later tonight some friends of friends who are temporarily homeless are coming to look at our attic apartment. I hope they like it, because what we're offering is free housing in return for cleaning the place up. God knows it needs it.

Not dead or starving

I cannot believe it has been almost 5 months since I posted. I took a 14-week teaching position in a fourth-grade classroom and it ate every moment of my day.

So what's new: we had a party on May 30 for about 50 people. Winnie and I made tiny spanikopita triangles, maki rolls, chicken satay, and ice cream novelties (brownies with fancy ice cream inside). It was some fun -- we hired the same band we've used for 15 years and they were hotter than ever. I wore a polka-dot dress I had made; it felt good but the photographs show a handsome polka-dot bus.

On the dinner front: Winnie was home but is now in northern Ontario, CB is in Santa Fe, leaving DH, the vegetarian daughters and me. Lots of strata made from bread left-over from community supper, green beans from the freezer (so they're gone before the new ones come -- if they ever do, since we have had nothing but cold weather and rain for the entire month of June).

Right this very weekend it is only Locket and me, as daughter number two is away at a horse show and DH is at an Aikido weekend. I took her out for a shared seafood platter and it was good. I invited people for an impromptu dinner party tomorrow night but since I haven't heard I assume they are not coming. We're having grilled chicken whether they come or not.