The Sandwich Life

Catching Up

I feel like I'm a bit behind with pictures. Writing posts is quick...it takes longer to pop pictures in....so a little catch up....

 

Three of my favorite men in life: Doug Fink, ELB, and Pat Daily. As we were walking down the street to meet them Ernie asked if I saw them and I said, "yes, I believe it's the table with the two grey haired gentlemen" and we both laughed. Aren't they all gorgeous?

 

 

Strawberries for cobbler from our very own garden!

 

 

We forgot to add the vanilla so we just drizzled it on...it worked....

 

 

3rd barbecue sauce experiement: mustard sauce. Not bad, not my favorite....

 

 

The give away pile from the great cupboard reorganization. I might have a table at CynthiaFest and put it all there with a 'free to a good home' sign. Whaddya think?

 

 

For anyone that doesn't particularly care for radishes...but does like red meat...this salsa will change your mind about the first!

 

 

The early attempts at stopping the chicken stock flood.

 

In other non-pictorial notes the old Tufte house next to us is for rent...anybody want to be our neighbors? Must be friendly and like music.

 

Not Bad....Just Off-kilter.....

I was kind of out of sorts this weekend....for some reason I just felt off kilter.  I don't know why.  Lots of little things I guess.  Saturday was going fine until both boys managed to hurt my feelings.  Owen told me my teeth were yellow.  I know, I know...go ahead and laugh.  But even knowing that I was not blessed with the best of teeth (I shouldn't write this now everyone will start looking at my teeth) it hurt my feelings.  Then Leo was cross with me and for whatever reason they threw me into a funk.  A neighbor and friend is moving and the whole situation has me tasting a mixture of sadness, frustration and anger in my mouth.  And I can't find bi-fold doors that I like.  I hate bi-fold doors.  I'm trying to get over it....kind of like with snakes.  Although I'm not SCARED of bi-fold doors.  Eh, I don't know.  I woke up yesterday sleepy and couldn't get over it.  Puttered and did some stuff and then laid down on the couch to read a book I'm in the midst of....only to wake up a few hours later....just in time to figure out what to wear to a dinner we had to go to last night.  Bleh...although the dinner was nice.

I mean all is fine.  The boys apologized sweetly (Owen pointed out that his day was being ruined to because Dad was mad at him.  I pointed out that this wasn't about him.  He thought a bit and agreed) and Leo gave me hugs and kisses without being asked....and they both did some extra yardwork...ha! I can't do anything about my friend's situation and bi-fold doors....well...sigh....I just don't know.  Any bi-fold door solutions/suggestions/alternatives out there?

Here is Leo getting ready for the ceremonial first shower of the bathroom.  You can imagine how pleased he was about me taking pictures.

Here is Owen standing up for his brother and saying, "Can't Leo just take a shower in peace?"

Here are my mother's 19th c yelloware bowls that I am using to hold our detergent etc.  I showed them delightedly to the boys and they just blinked at me.  Ernie took pity on me and said, "come on guys....look how happy she is" so they politely said it looked good.  And yes I still need something on the window so the gutter on the garage isn't staring in at us.

It's Monday and I have to work through Saturday...BUT I get to have lunch with one of my favorite people today.  So onward I guess....onward.

 

 

 

Saturday

Saturday was a lovely day.  A few scuffles and minor skirmishes here and there as I hope is typical of a family of four....but overall it was just lovely.  Owen woke me up so I could come down and watch the Advent calendars being opened and then Ernie and I took off for the antique show out at Gordyville in Gifford.  We bought nothing to sell but came home with two presents for ourselves.  Ernie actually bought something for himself.  Yes, you read that right....Ernie, who NEVER buys anything for himself!  He was smitten with a guitar he saw though.  I asked him if he wanted it and he said no but didn't seem convinced so we walked through the rest of the show.  I bought myself a Ruby Thumbprint bowl.  I don't know why....but I just wanted it.  I have a Ruby Thumbprint toothpick that was my great-grandmother's---my mother's mother's mother----the French Canadian Plouffe whose tourtiere I make at the holidays.  My mother said she always loved it and one time she admired it and her grandmother told her she could take that home with her and she was so thrilled.  And when I was growing up my mother had a ruby flashed compote that always sat in the middle of the kitchen table.  I have it now and love it.  So I guess I've always had a soft spot for ruby flashed stuff even though I've never collected it, nor even bought much of it to sell (although I do remember a gorgeous New Jersey ruby flashed covered butter in mint condition we had....and a lovely compote in Snail, I think it was....those are on my list of things I sold that I kinda wish I'd kept).  Anyway....it just looked so festive sitting there on its white draped table amongst all the other things, and it was marked all of $15.....we got it for $12 and I think it will be lovely on our Christmas table.  It's got a tiny chip and some nicks on the ruby but I don't care.  So after that we headed back to look at the guitar again.  Lord but husband looked so beautiful as he stood there holding it and tuning it, his head cocked so he could hear.  So now my baby has his Christmas present:  a WWII era Harmony guitar!

walking to the car:

We meandered a bit on the way home.  We drove by his parent's house in Gifford----we were so pleased....it looks loved and well cared for.  We drove through the dreary fields and it was just beautiful. 

We drove through downtown Gifford and admired the Christmas tree by the grain elevator.

note the ornaments made of cds....

As we drove through Flatville people at the Lutheran church were setting up the nativity scene....but by the time we headed back home they were all done.

We thought about heading over to Bloomington for another show but were afraid we wouldn't make it back in time for Owen's guitar lesson.  So instead we trundled home and brought in the Christmas trees.  Ernie and Owen headed out for his guitar lesson (he's got Life Begins at the Hop and is now happily started on Generals and Majors in his quest for all things XTC).  Leo minecrafted and I puttered about.  They got back and we went outside to put lights up on our fence and a tree or two.  Our beloved Heather and Evaline wandered by and we chatted to them while Leo persevered putting lights up. 

Later Ernie and I went and met our friend Boo at Huber's for Kilborn Alley.  The band sounded great and I was perched at the big table by the front window and when I turned around I could  see some kind of teen dance going on across the street at the old Park District building that is nestled in Eisner Park.  Some salty popcorn, a couple of glasses of chardonnay and a lovely group of people at the table.  We walked home in the drizzle feeling happy. 

A lovely day.  Man, you gotta savor it when they're like that.

And no....there isn't any light on the band....

and see....if you peer through the porch at Huber's across the street---you can the twinkle of a Christmas tree through the door and people dancing through the window on the left....you may have to use your imagination a bit but it's worth it....

Halloween

I almost murdered my small son last night.  After days, weeks, MONTHS of working on his costume, five minutes before we were supposed to leave all of a sudden EVERYTHING was wrong with it.  The shield was too heavy, the belt wasn't right, people were going to laugh at him.  I won't even go into the rest of it.  And for much of the evening it was similar complaints....and the belt DID keep slipping...and at one point he sadly said, "I'm disappointed with how few adults seem to know who I am."  At a couple of houses people commented on what a great Link he was so then he felt better.  When we got home however, suddenly all the miseries were forgotten as he enthusiastically told Leo, "it was GREAT!"

It was a glorious evening---cool but not too cold, the leaves rustled, there was a crescent moon and lots of stars....  Leo was again a masterful candy giver and even though it seemed lighter than usual on the streets he gave out all but a couple of pieces of our candy.  Owen sorted his candy out, parceling some to Leo and some to Ernie and me.

The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Baseball Player, Captain Rex (I believe) and Link:

a blurry, but somehow endearing picture of Owen and Eamon:

the crowd at Gail's house:

Watseka, Marty Stuart, the 4th of July and Vacation

I'm way too bleary to write a coherent post.  Suffice to say we had a glorious 4th of July weekend.  BUSY!  Way, way busy but all good.

Friday night dinner with beloved friends.  Saturday we fussed and cleaned and planned.  Left around 5:00 for a quick drink and appetizer dinner at Destihl (very pleased----we'll go back).  Then off to Watseka we drove for my beloved Marty Stuart.  I used to be card carrying fan club member but I confess I have lapsed.  We haven't seen him in about a million years.  Watseka Theater?  WONDERFUL.  Highly recommended....they've done a wonderful job and the place is really small and so wonderfully intimate.  I splurged on the most expensive tickets so we were third row center and it was worth every penny.  Check out their schedule.....  We had Marty sign the cd booklet for the Ghost train cd and then managed to lose it as we were talking to Harry Stinson (whom we remember from Dead Reckoning days).  Oh well....

Here's a classically horrible picture of Ernie with Harry.  I know, I know, I should have taken another....but I love even Ernie's bad pictures....

Here's one my videos with my standard cut off intro.  And I say OWEN is a walking impulse.... hmmmm.

 

Afterwards we were planning to hit one of Watseka's hot spots that our friend Amy had recommended but we were too tired....so we drove on, stopping only to take a picture of the Porky Barn which, according to Marty Stuart, was the last place the Louvin Brothers played (known as the Pinewood I believe at the time).  Damn it smelled good in the parking lot....

The next day a friend from Chicago came down with her family.  Could she HAVE two cuter children?

They are a gorgeous family and it was lovely to have them with us.  Thanks to Linda and Rob and Rebecca and their respective kids for making it a lovely evening!

On the 4th we went to our little neighborhood parade and the boys BROKE my heart right in two by saying they were too old to participate.  Sigh....but it was wonderful just the same.  After they all took off I made the mistake of lying down on the couch to read.  Around 3:00 Owen burst into the room yelling, "MOMMY, MOMMY, MOMMY....I'm sorry to ruin your sleep but it's TIME TO SWIM!  ARE YOU COMING?"  I tried to blink myself awake and reminded myself that I had promised that I would go with them so I could adequately admire their jumps and dives and underwater flips.  So Ernie and I trudged off and had a perfect time watching the neighborhood kids and friends all enjoy Vicky and Greg's pool.  What lovely people Vicky and Greg are.  I headed back eventually to start stuff for dinner.  Spent an hour trying to figure out a problem with Lego Universe but finally mastered it.  Man, there is NOTHING better than having Leo come close to me and whisper, "thanks for doing that Mom" with glowing eyes.  NOTHING better.  We ate, we sat and waited for the sun to go down and then we headed out into our field with lots of neighbors and friends to watch our neighborhood fireworks.  One of the best 4th's ever.  I didn't think we could top last year but it was a pretty great day....

Now.....onward to vacation...or at least attempting to prepare for it!

 

Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1.  I'm starting to be a bit overwhelmed by how fast vacation is coming.  This weekend is busy too....with things scheduled everyday...then back to work for two days and we're off.  It's definitely time to start making lists---and trying to keep those lists short so I don't bring three times the amount of things that we need.

2.  My big news:  ROD PICOTT and AMANDA SHIRES in OUR HOUSE on Friday, November 18th!!  Yes, why I AM delighted!  Details to follow but I think we're pretty much set....

 

Here's Owen's (and my) favorite song:

 

And two wonderful videos from Amanda Shires:

 

 

3.  O.k...now obviously our family is not particularly um....fastidious when it comes to haircuts.  However it's time for our annual hair cuts and we are at a loss.  The woman (Kim...I think her last name was Turner) who just to be at the Custom Cuts near Schnuck's is gone and she is the ONLY person who has cut the boys' hair except for Leo's very first hair cut.  We are desolate.  And THEN we drove down Chester Street the other day only to see that Salon 76 is closed....which is where Becky Nelson cut MY hair.  What to do? What to do?

4.  My fence is coming, my fence is coming, my fence is coming!  Because we are tired old wimps we are not putting it in ourselves but shelling out hard earned money for a length of fence around part of our front yard.  It will provide a better backdrop for the garden and hopefully block out of some of the neighbors' ummm....comings and goings.....and comings and goings....and the cars that pull up there...when they aren't pulling up to meet them in the park for brief exchanges.  Sigh.

5.  Maine, Maine, Maine.....I can't wait to be there....

6.  Another picture from Cheekwood:

Things I Did This Weekend

Went to lunch with my husband

Took a nap

Watched Owen mow the grass

 

Grilled chicken and cooked our first batch of Swiss Chard from the garden for dinner

Watched the first episode of  Treme

Went to the Farmers' Market

Got my eyes checked and ordered new glasses

Went on the garden walk with my husband

Sat at the table in the front yard with my kindle and a glass of wine

Harvested and ate some radishes

Ate a smoked burger along with a salad with radishes

Watched the King's Speech

Read the Sunday paper while eating Ernie's homemade biscuits with a little cheddar and some mustard aoli

Went to see Cars 2 with the family courtesy Owen who had turned in his 299 stickers he got in school for movie passes

Ate movie popcorn with Owen

Went to Sunday lunch with the boys and discussed the movie, allowance, savings accounts and charity

Went grocery shopping with the boys and ran into friends

Whimpered when Ernie accidentally broke my favorite 1850s salt dish we were using (Bulls Eye with Fleur-de-lys)

Looked for a Bulls Eye with Fleur-de-lys salt dish online to no avail

Sat outside in the front yard looking at cookbooks and pondering the yard

Sat and talked with our beloved neighbors Linda and Rob as all our kids ran around and played

Changed our mind on dinner and had bratwurst

Watched Next Food Network Star with Owen

Went upstairs to read while Ernie, Leo and Owen watched an episode of Ice Road Truckers

Got woken up by the storms and let Owen crawl in with us

The End

Weekend Plans

I am floatingly happy that today is Friday.  I am so happy to have gotten through this week.  I had a work event last night but it was only an hour and a half and quite pleasant.  I was also clever enough to convince my sweet husband to come with me so he could take me out for a drink afterward.  Oh, and if the woman I met last night that mentioned my blog reads this----I wish I'd asked you your name and told you to come to one of our house concerts....please pretend I did!!!

The plans for the weekend are some kind of combination of the following:

Friday lunch with my husband (YAY!)

Finish taxes

Work with my sister on her taxes

We actually have a couple of lovely invites this weekend but they overlap....try to figure out how to work that

Work on turning our "fourth room' upstairs into a Lego room

Go out to lunch with all my guys

Try to drive for an hour to see if the radio comes back on in the Honda

Possibly, possibly bite the bullet and have a serious conversation with my husband about the State of Our Van and What to Do About It

Cook something fun

Send Ernie and Owen out to celebrate Record Store Day and hang out with Leo

Listen to some of the new music we have

Any other suggestions?  I am open......

Here are two pictures Ernie took on his way to the Science Fair.  Our neighbor's tree and four of our favorite people on the planet.

Well THAT was quick.....with a lot of parentheses

Three day weekend....so why the hell did it feel so short? 

Here's our neighbor Dave helping us jump our car (the van is in the shop and when the mechanic talked to Ernie he kept sighing a lot....the mechanic, not Ernie.  I don't think it's good when your mechanic sighs a lot).  Ernie kept telling Dave that 'we' left our lights on.  Finally I said,  "what is this WE business?" and he changed his story a bit.

The laptop died....a trip to the Apple store fixed it of course but yet more money.  Oh, and because the battery was dead on the Honda now our radio/cd player won't work.  We found the code (Judi was very organized) but still can't figure it out.

Then the garbage disposal broke (it's been on its last, uh....blades, whirls? for ages but it has officially given up the ghost) and given that we're having a party I'd like water to be able to go down the drain.  We eventually got it unstuck so at least the sink drains (Ernie's gotten to be a master of this) and I ordered a disposal online.  A Waste King mostly because I really liked the name (we are the proud owners of two vintage Rain King sprinklers).

Leo needs to have his science experiment chosen by the end of spring break.  Suffice to say he'll be cutting it a bit close as it's 4:19 on Sunday afternoon.  And God help me if I make a suggestion.  He just came back from the park VERY upset because Owen and his friend were making fun of him for liking Playstation.  They themselves are Nintendo men so they were calling it Poopstation which almost made Leo's head blow off.  Angst and fury ruled so I deemed it not the best time to bring up the Science Fair.

And Kane Welch Kaplin is playing in Nashville on April 8 and in Columbus on April 9 and I have an all day work event on the 9th.  I don't even have the energy to hiss.

HowEVER.....while I didn't get half of what I wanted to get done this weekend, I DID make some very fine to-do lists.  And of course come Friday, on April Fool's Day, I'll be the happiest of girls with Phil Lee and Tom Mason in my house.  AND our beloved neighbors Rob and Linda are NOT moving away so a great sigh of relief has been whistling through our little neighborhood....

Put it on your calendars people.....Friday evening....Phil Lee and Tom Mason here in our very own little ramshackle house.....$15 for all adults and it will be worth every penny of that and so much more!!

Snow....and A Tricky Fellow

Man our alley seems long when it's covered with snow.....and no snowplow.  Ernie dug the Honda out though. Then I watched supportively while some he and some neighbors pushed out a stuck card down the block and happily went back inside.  Being in the house I hadn't realized quite how bad it was so I was happy I ventured out just enough to make me appreciate the warmth inside!

A pretty quiet snow day.....lots of reading....a good episode of the Gilmore Girls....great dinner and a hell of a fire built by Owen.

Leo is proud of his Lego sign (he based it on the Hollywood sign), and rightfully so. I think it's quite striking.

 

I got an email from my beloved Sarah Eckhardt the other day.  She is finishing up her dissertation and listening to some of the taped interviews she did with Hedda Sterne.  She sent me this quote she thought I might enjoy:

At work, at the museum, Josef’s assistant, Cynthia, has a really wonderful child.  His name is Leo and he’s three and a half.  I keep track of what he says because I tell everybody stories about her son.  He says wonderful things.  Like they were driving and he was upset because it was dark and he kept saying, “Turn the lights back on!  Somebody turn the sky back on!”  When the fireworks went off at Fourth of July he was very scared and he thought the sky was breaking and so Cynthia told him it was ok to go to bed because his dad would fix it overnight and in the morning he remembered and said, “Daddy fixed the sky!  Daddy fixed the sky!”  And he was running all over the house.  He is very smart.  He is a very smart child.

It made me laugh and cry a bit at the same time---because I realize how much you forget---and it made me wish I'd started this blog long before I did.  Once in awhile I go back and read old bits of it and I'm amazed....amazed at how long ago it's been since I started writing this.... and how things have changed for better and worse.  Time is an awfully tricky fellow.