HAPPY HALLOWEEN

It was really warm today - 74* here and I had the windows open all day, big bowl of candy even though we get no trick or treaters here and my ipod on. I spent two hours with QVC on, listening to music, eating candy and playing a game on my laptop. Nice quiet day which is a good thing given that I have no voice and no one home to spend time with today.

I am heading outside to see the little kids walk by all dressed up in their costumes. The little ones go into town and do their trick or treating at the businesses. It's one of the things I love about this town.

My daughter and I carved pumpkins this year to get in the spirit and I think they came out good - mine is above. It was easy and I really enjoyed doing it. I am planning on lighting the candles in them tonight.

Hope where you are there are cute kids and candy, nice weather and love.

Apples

Here in New England in the Fall apples become abundantly available. They are sold in tote bags for very little money and it is one of the things I look forward to every year. For me it's like rediscovering an old friend and I spend weeks discovering all the ways that I love apples.

Today it's a large pan of apple crisp made because I don't feel well and the thought of it fills me with comfort. I will use my apples on hand, toss them in sugar, cinnamon, zest of lemon and top with lots of flour, sugar, butter, cinnamon, ground flaxseed and nuts. When it comes out of the oven I will eat large bowls of it topped with a little light cream drizzled on it.

Perfect food in my book today.

WiFi and Back

I finally am on a wireless connection with a brand new laptop! I bought the laptop that made me the happiest and have been enjoying having it.

I had a fairly uneventful summer - not much time on the deck in the sun due to migraines and health issues. I ate much lobster (even though I shouldn't due to an allergy) and spent time with family and friends.

In the fall I paid off some debts and was able to book a cruise for my dh who works too hard. I went out to visit my friends in AZ, went to Las Vegas for a few days. I was in a car accident 2 days before we left for the cruise which made the travel harder.

Now I am home, pain is much less and I have been cleaning/organizing the house. Getting ready for the holidays and winter.

Our next trip is to Hawaii in January.

Hot Days, Fevers and Hip Pain

It's been a difficult week for me. I am out where the sun shines and temperatures rise during the day and I have a fever with some fairly uncomfortable hip pain. I have been trying to do some bodywork to help with the hip pain but it continues to ache.

This morning I took a shower and went outside to sit in the sunshine while my hair dried. It was very hot and I was only able to sit there for a short amount of time. I did get some mail written to friends back home and wrote in my journal which was nice.

Now I am ready for my fever to abate and to lose the hip pain.

Epic Dinner with Friends Last Night

Those of you who know me know that food is both my love and my enemy - I am a "foodie" in every sense of the word and even though I suffer for my love I am a faithful to it. Last night I had a meal that I will remember for every day of my life and I don't know if it will ever be surpassed.

It was a beautiful sunny day and my friends were celebrating their wedding anniversary by going out to dinner at a wonderful steakhouse where they are friends with the Executive Chef. I and another couple joined them for dinner and the Chef decided to do a few special dishes for the table.

We started with appetizers - the ladies had oysters - blue point, fanny bays and gulf. The blue points were my favorite and were wonderful, cold and briny. The gentlemen had large shrimp cocktails and the table shared a large crab cake with remoulade that was killer. The soup and salad course was lobster bisques and a large lump crabmeat, shrimp, avocado, orange segments, dates and almond over mixed green salad. The ladies all had wine - two had a wonderful Rodney Strong Merlot and one had a Davinci Chianti. The entrees were next and OMG this is where the Chef really did his best - A jumbo 5lb crabmeat stuffed lobster, a 7 bone veal prime rib roast with a morel port wine reduction! Also a dry aged filet and a lovely parmesan crusted dover sole with a lemon beurre blanc. Sides (which were just overkill) were parsley buttered potatoes and potato & gruyere fritters. We were all moaning at this point but the Chef then delivered his coup de grace - coconut macaroons made with freshly grated coconut and fresh coffee.

This meal lasted for 3 hours, filled with good conversation and good friends. I will never forget it and even though I could not keep up and didn't eat much I loved every single moment.

good lord where does the time go???

End of April and I realize that I haven't been here in months. Mostly it's because I have an awful PC at home and because I have not felt human for much of this time. Depressing fact but there it is.

Weather finally turning on the East Coast and I am getting ready to open the deck for the summer. That will cheer me because I love sitting out there in the sun and watching the ocean. It also gets me out of the house more - even if it's only 100 yards!