Post-Lawyer Spinach

I cooked up some spinach with arugula and a little splash of soy sauce.  Add to that a sunny-side up egg from J Russell Mikkelsen's coworker's chickens and a piece of thick cinnamon toast generously buttered, and I feel much much better than I did an hour ago, sitting in a strange lawyer's office in Dublin, signing off on a law suit to settle my car accident case.  I feel fortified.

A Lot Less

Wow.  It's just really true.  If you aren't running around after 24 six- and seven-year-olds all day, you just are not as hungry.  Today I had cereal, a small bowl of chicken soup, toast, and a few cherries.  All day.  It's 6:15.

Beach Burger Plus One

On Saturday, we drove with the top down all the way up to the lighthouse in Point Reyes.  It was glorious - sunny and breezy at the same time - as we drove through the rolling hills on Lucas Valley Road, the sudden redwoods, and finally, the ocean all around us.  Our destination was a little spot called Drake's Beach Cafe that I heard about on Weekend Sherpa.  Drake's beach was cool and required layers, and of course the family dog, Monty, was not allowed.  We were reminded of this by the adorable red-headed ranger, no more than 22 years old, who approached us as soon as we were out of the car.  No big deal.  We would just have our lunch and then find another spot where Monty could happily retrieve his greenish yellow ball.

Lunch was a difficult decision for me.  Jodacious ordered a burger.  Easy peasy.  Longing for the burger, but not sure I want to go down the red meat road, I wavered between grilled cheese and fish and chips.  It was the beach!  The fish and chips seemed imperative.  But it was cold!  A grilled cheese with soup seemed comforting.  Then I saw the cook breading the fish right in front of me.  So, fish and chips it was.  Jodacious said, "What's fish and chips?"  Oh, dear.  I better get him to Hull, stat.

We sat outside on a wooden deck facing the ocean and shared a root beer.  Monty, of course, attracted just the right amount of attention.  When lunch arrived, I was pretty hungry.   But here's the thing about fish and chips:  I don't like it that much.  It's too much fried, fried, fried.  And fried food must be consumed instantly, while it's still very hot.  And there's something about the frying that changes the flavor of the fish, and not necessarily for the better.  All conflicting feelings aside, I dug into the fish. It was too hot, and I burned my tongue.  The fries were not crispy enough, very thin, and even a little soggy.  A few fries into the meal, I abandoned them.  The fish was flaky, but the flavor was off, and the batter was too thick in places.  After two pieces of fish, I felt overwhelmed and done.  I must admit, Jodacious loved his burger, and I was jealous.

The great thing about the beach is that even if your meal stinks, you've still got the OCEAN.  So, we hopped back into the car and drove a little way to South Beach where the water was a clear sea-foam green even as the waves crashed, Monty ran after a ball, dug an amazing hole, and we sat in the sun, as happy as clams.

Last Day at Peralta

A bar of 73% dark chocolate and a dish of Marcona almonds soaked in sunflower oil.  The boxes are packed, the tears were shed.  Now, I'm lying motionless on the couch with Milo stretched out over my legs, watching some movie on the Roku, chocolate and nuts by my side.  It's time for resting, swimming, oceans, snuggling, playing, and GOOD FOOD.  Schoooooool's out. For. Summer.

Babybels

This one's courtesy of darling Jodacious:


My babybel cheese is too delicious. Every time I go to grab one, I find them fewer than how I left 'em. There's only one fridge here, so it's not like a can keep them at my desk. 

:(

Oh well, hopefully they're making my co-workers happy!

Eggs!

The lovely and winning Jodacious brought me eggs from his coworker's chickens.  So, this morning, I am quite joyfully and heartily eating a fried egg and toast, black tea with cream, and apple juice.  The eggs are much richer than I am used too, the yellow almost orange and the flavor very chick-like.   I am so glad I woke up before my alarm this morning and had time to have a breakfast that surpasses oatmeal in every way.  I should have taken a picture, but you see, I was too anxious to dig in, and the egg is already gone.  Many thanks go to the author of Eating Animals for leading me to discover the deliciousness of eggs from chickens that scratch and peck and walk around outside.  I'm no vegan, but it's nice to eat food I feel great about.

Apple Pie from dear Elizabeth

Aunt Liz's apple pie


Geneology brings us deliciousness - apple pie via Hawaii via NJ via Italy!

Twizzlers

Because report card writing on a rainy day in June requires a mindless, chewy snack.  Zipping through them (both the report cards and the Twizzlers), and feeling pretty good about it.

Maple, maple, you're my favorite

Today's after work snack:  plain yogurt, sweetened with maple syrup, topped with fresh raspberries.  C'mon summer!  We're moving along, even if you are not yet with us.  I feel relieved it was only one rainy day recess today, not three.

The truth is, maple syrup is good on anything.  It really makes the whole day better.  I remember tapping the maple trees as a little one at my beloved Montessori school.  School never was that good ever again.