Change

While life returns to normal, nothing is the same.




Fair winds and following seas, Dad.

April in the C

C.  C stands for cone.

Our sweet little guy had another aural hematoma and is stuck in the cone. He is so good about it. And we just don't know how to prevent them from happening.  Hopefully there is enough scar tissue in the second ear to prevent another event like this again.

For another few weeks, he looks like this.





Poor little guy.

Earlier in the month, we had a lovely trip north to check on our little slice of heaven and check out some wine.   There was a bit more snow around but the water and the sky was magnificent.





We went wine tasting sponsored by the uber cool Brew Krew and came home with quite a haul.  This will provide us with wonderful wine through the summer.



Looking forward to opening up the cottage.  Soon but not soon enough.

Tamara's insanely, ridiculously, amazingly delicious meatloaf

My friend Tamara is a chef extraordinaire.  I want to live next door to her so I can just go over with wine and eat her food. I asked for help updating meatloaf recipes. Tamara sends me this:

Meatloaf equal parts beef & pork, eggs, crumbs.  Sometimes I use Italian or Bratwurst instead of plain pork, out of the skin of course.  Put all the things you'd like on a hamburger, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, mustard, bacon, grilled onions, mushrooms etc.  Mix everything together, divide in half.  Put half in the pan, put your favorite cheese in the center, put the rest of the meat over it, top with sauteed onions, bacon or whatever you want.This will be the best you have ever had.

I ask for measurements.  Mortals need measurements. 

She sends this:

To increase the fat content you might add flax seed oil or maybe flax seed.  I don't measure but I'd give a good squirt of each, probably 2 T. will be enough.  Extra eggs and no crumbs will keep it a bit softer and less dry.

I love her.  She is superhuman.  I am mortal. So to make it, we did this, with measurements:

1 lb ground beef (from our grass-fed cow, not a lot of fat)
1 lb ground pork
1 egg
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 T Mickey & T's All American
1-2 T BBQ sauce
1-2 T ranch dressing
1-2 T mustard 
onions (I like them raw)
cheese - about 1/2 a cup (we used 3 cheese)

We did what she said.  Mixed everything together, divided in half.  I put half in the pan, added the cheese in the center, and then covered with the rest of the meat.

I put a couple of squirts of BBQ sauce,mustard, and ranch dressing on top. Cooked uncovered to 165 degrees. Then we let it sit, covered, for about 10 minutes.

 It is unbelievable.  It is unlike any meatloaf that I have ever had and I will have a hard time making anything else. Ever. Again.

Because we are tweakers, the next time we make this (and we will make this again), I will add chopped pickles.

 Enjoy!

life

I had a weekend EOTE with my girlfriend.  We ate good food, drank good wine, and sat squarely on the beach.  For hours. And got to enjoy the absolute magnificence of our surroundings.

We had a beautiful full moon.





While Samson was happy at the Happy Place, I have to confess, I missed his sweet face.



But we had Ms. Bella to keep us company.


I read a wonderful book by John Ortberg.  In it was this quote:

Inspire me. Remind me that my life matters; call me to be my best self; appeal to whatever in me is most noble and honorable. 

Life matters.  

#whyIstay

if you visit Twitter and search on the hashtag #whyIstay, you will see a litany of reasons people stay where they are.

Apparently in Michigan, 37% of the population would leave the state if they could.  We are not part of the 37%.  We lived afar for years and years - east coast, west coast, and all kinds of states in between, courtesy of the Navy.  When given the choice, we got to come back.  Come home.

Here are a few reasons #whyIstay.







awesome neighbors.







We < 3 Michigan! 

Sunday wrap up

It's been a busy couple of weeks.  Reading.  Writing.  Working.  Leaves.

I can't believe how many leaves we have on the ground.  Hopefully, we will have our leaf clean up folks come on by and haul them away before they are covered in snow.

It snowed this weekend.  I can't say that I was ready for it.  I am still thinking that I can have one more swim in Lake Huron before we close up the cottage for the winter.

That's what it's like in my fantasy world.

I love where I live.  But there are times when I miss the view.  There is something so calming about looking east and seeing traffic.







And there are these folks floating by.


'
This year is coming to an end.  It's been another wonderful year.  Busy at work.  Lots of driving. Taking care of Mr. Handsome.



We have great plans for Thanksgiving.  Hope you do too! Happy Thanksgiving week.

reality check - relay for life

Each year, Paul takes care of the logistics for the East Grand Rapids Relay for Life.  It's a tough job - setting up, tearing down, saying no when he wants to say yes, hauling trash, setting up power - everything that makes the event run.  Along with the hot-dirty-man work, he also raises money.  This year, from generous family and friends, over $3500.  And it's still coming in. 

It is overwhelming to see the number of people who come out to support this event.  To see the number of kids running around, taking part.  The names on the huge electronic board.  The white sashes.  The white sashes on young people.

Whew.

I went and took some pictures.























If you are well, be thankful.  And donate if you can.  If you are battling, helping someone battle, or have lost someone to cancer, these events are for you.  And for the world.  So we can all have more birthdays. 

May in Michigan

It's beautiful here.  I feel like a broken record but if you haven't been to the east side of the state of Michigan, you haven't seen sunrises like this:


The weather here?  You just never know what you are going to get.  Three years ago at this time, it was almost warm enough to swim in Lake Huron; over Memorial Day weekend of that year we were swimming.  Last year, it hit 80 in March and we were in the water in June.

This year?  well, who knows.  It's snowing in mid-Michigan as I write this and I strongly suspect that we won't be swimming in two weeks.  Or even three.Who cares.  It's gorgeous here and it never stops Mr. Handsome.



We had a good walk on the beach and he couldn't stay out of the water.  Despite to cold south wind and very cool temps.

And we spent the day reading.  I had plenty and finished two.


And tonight, we have rain pouring down from the heavens, a fire in the fireplace, and baseball on TV.  Life is good here, just East of the Equator.

A litte holiday post ex

We had a wonderful few days off.  It's been a quiet, relaxing, and reflective weekend.  It's wonderful to watch the sun rise, the waves pound, and yes, even the snow fly. 

We never do the traditional stuff on Thanksgiving.  For us, the traditional is the non-traditional food.  Paul made a magnificent beef tenderloin complete with shallots in a mustard and red wine reduction. 

And there was wine.  And a few pictures. I only have pictures of the beef before it's cooked.  By the time it's done, who cares about pictures?

From 2012-11-23

I do contribute.  I made the tossed greens.  It's complicated.  But I am always up for a challenge.

From 2012-11-23

Wine.

From Thanksgiving 2012

From 2012-11-23

So it's almost time to go.  Time to pack up the leftovers, the clothes, the camera gear, and recyclables and head back to real life.  This little slice of heaven is never very far from my mind. 

Cheers to the rest of the weekend.  

Monday

The weekend came and went.  We are spending our time in the final stages of TBTB.  The new couch comes on Tuesday.

Until we return, I think often of our other home and the beauty surrounding it.

From Fall in the O

From Fall in the O

Happy Monday.

Farm, food, and fun

I am ready to sell my house and go farm.  We had a glorious time this weekend visiting our friends Paul and Marj at the world headquarters of Mirror Lake Organics.

We had a blast, despite a minor run-in with a yak. We had all kinds of good food and drink.

From Farm Fun 2012

From Farm Fun 2012

We had a glorious tour of the farm.

From Farm Fun 2012

From Farm Fun 2012

Hamlet the pig (really how cute is that name?)

From Farm Fun 2012

The sheep

From Farm Fun 2012

and yaks

From Farm Fun 2012

and llama

From Farm Fun 2012

after a wonder meal, we enjoyed a bonfire in the ring of fire

From Farm Fun 2012

and enjoyed the company of Iorek, the BWD (big white dog).

From Farm Fun 2012

now, we just need to learn to drive.

From Farm Fun 2012

Ready to make a return visit. Soon! Cheers to the weekend.