TWTW - the one with the relaxing

Friday I got a lunch walk in before the rains came. The sky cleared enough for a sunset so after work we went down to the bay to glimpse that, then it was upstairs to make dinner - roasted veggies and beef stroganoff - and MFD arrived with Gus and Mae around 7:30. We went down to the apartment after eating because Bruce was being a nudge who wanted to go to his space. I finished a book and fell out around 11:30.

Saturday We were up early to walk the dogs, and I did the sunrise solo which meant I could walk into the water (in boots, I'm not a sadist). The waning crescent moon was clearly visible in the sky and it was magic.

Ocean City does an Earlier Than the Bird shopping event on the main street every year and people wear pajamas or costumes to shop, winner wins a turkey. People looked freaking amazing. I also got good deals. It was my first time attending and I liked it!

I did the prep work for sweet potato/yam marshmallow casserole (let me know if you want the recipe, I don't have it up yet) and spinach casserole for Friendsgiving and started a new book. We took a family beach walk, I painted my nails (OPI Now Museum, Now You Don't - I asked MFD to bring me a nail polish from home and this is what he brought), then I took Bruce and Ben down to the beach while MFD was fishing. This weekend last year we got Ben and took him to the beach two days later. He's much more comfortable there now, frolicking like a boss, rubbing himself in seagull poop and eating shells. Bruce is as comfortable there as ever, so comfortable that he dines there on sand crabs that are alive and wouldn't stop so we had to go home.

I put the casseroles in the oven, showered, and we went to Frank and Amanda's for Friendsgiving. I love these people, friends of over 27 years, and their partners, and this tradition. There is something about being around people who were there in your formative years that is irreplaceable. Lots of laughs and seriously delicious food, everyone brought their A game this year. We got back to the shore around midnight and I was asleep soon after. Thanks Frank & Amanda for hosting this year!

Sunday I slept in until 8 and that was amazing. We walked the dogs before MFD headed off to mummery and then home to Philly, and I did a blissful nothing all day aside from read, walk dogs, address 140-ish Christmas cards, do some blogging, pay some bills, and run the dishwasher. It was glorious.

Monday I was up walking dogs at 5, then went back to bed for a nice little sleep in. I changed the sheets, cleaned up the leaves and shit outside, picked up holds at the library, and made a quick grocery store run. I got everything I need for the week down there because the store is not a nuthouse. 

It was super warm since the wind was low and I took Bruce and Ben to Surf Road beach to frolic along the jettys for a few blocks. It was so deserted and beautiful, just like I like it. Bonus, found an awesome shell up by the dunes as I was leaving. 

When we got home I packed up, took the trash and recycles out, and was back in Philly by 3:30. A quick unload of the car and popping a load of towels in the wash, then I was off to the post office and Marshalls. I did three more loads of laundry and started Christmassing, including bringing the mugs down and washing them. Since we painted the living room purple, I'm going through our stuff to see what is not red or what can be spray painted LOL. 

Weekly food prep: Hard no. I took a frozen breakfast burrito and am buying lunch today, annual Tuesday before Thanksgiving happy hour after work. I'm making a turkey tomorrow so we'll have leftovers on the weekend. I will make power breakfast muffins and breakfast burritos to freeze tomorrow as well.

This is my one day of work this week. HOLLER.

TWTW - the one where august came courting

Friday night on the boards after a self-imposed 3 pm early dismissal. Trash person dinner at 6th Street Grill, Surf Art Show with a band on the Music Pier, saw a proposal, and washed it all down with some Kohr Bros.

Saturday coffee wearing my friend making shirt followed by hanging with the dogs. Turnover work included new pillow shams and trash cans, cleaning fans and air conditioners, and meeting with a contractor/handyman. Isn't this exciting?

Saturday on the beach was windy which means I had umbrella anxiety. Lunch was Ike's, eaten while marveling at a high maintenance family of 10 that sat right up on us. We also tested our new We Are 40 beach cart (A+).

Saturday night was lazy as fuck. I finished a book and started another and did my Amazon order for the week. 

Sunday's sunrise was hands down one of the best I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. It was like watching the universe painting a water color in real time.

A quick stop for coffee, cleaning up the dump, and a rendezvous with my girl Marla of Luck Fupus and her boyfriend who are hanging in our place to celebrate her birthday today. Happy birthday my friend!!

Leaving at 10 am on a Sunday equals a drive time that is reminiscent of the off-season. I started some laundry, dropped off tired dogs, then had a nice, long, big lunch with Carol's family at the William Penn Inn. Thanks Ruth & Pete! I was so hungry I didn't take pics of the food and so busy talking I didn't take pics of the people. Carol sent me some but alas this was already written by then. I drug my tired ass to Target after. 

Weekly food prep was super complicated, you guys. Breakfast: Dave's powerseed toast with PB and a side of a banana. Lunch: baked chicken thighs with fresh Jersey tomatoes. Snacks: sugar snap peas and Noosa cherry vanilla yogurt. Dinners are pasta salad and pork tenderloin. I only need it for Monday and Tuesday.

Sunday ground itself to a halt with reading, painting my nails, and three episodes of Ozark.

Favorite day tomorrow.

How was yours?

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

TWTW - the one with the peace and quiet

There's something about being by the water, something that slows the churning in your brain and replaces it with serenity and lollygagging.

There's also something about arriving at your aunt's lake house after midnight on a Friday with two adults and three dogs making a ruckus and being greeted with open arms.

There's something about spending time in a beautiful place with people you love, whether you're doing things together or just doing things separately in the same space.

There's something about a meal outside, where the steaks are reminiscent of the Old 96er and the grilled corn makes you want to eat it off the cob even though you never do that.

There's definitely something about taking eleventy billion photos of your dogs without anyone judging you. They take them for you instead.

Not to mention the reading of books and magazines, the snack spreads, the gelato, the swimming, the lounging, and the sitting by the water, the breeze skimming over limbs heavy and full of a drowsy summer afternoon...there is indeed something glorious about all of those things.

Then there is Sunday night, when you arrive home after battling traffic on the Northeast extension, and your husband goes to work and your dogs pass out snoring and you're left alone with the Sunday night blues and the brownies you brought home, which you eat for dinner instead of the buffalo chicken pasta salad you whipped together at 7 p.m.

There's also being grateful in hindsight that you left after 9 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. on Friday, because you got to do your weights, change your sheets, wash your towels, write a few blog posts, process your iced coffee in bulk, and paint your nails in Essie Madison Ave-hue, which Lori also did that night, three hours north. Kismet, no?

It was weird to write this blog post without using the first person. Try it. It's weird.

I can't sign off without wishing my great friend Jill a fabulous 30th birthday today. Cheers girlfriend! xoxo

What about you? Did you get any peace and quiet?

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

the weekend getaway that was

Diary of a mad hausfrau: MFD had a listing appointment so I was able to change the sheets, clean both baths and the kitchen, put laundry away, empty the dishwasher, sort the mail and vacuum the entire house. I love coming home from a weekend away to a clean abode. As you can see above, los perros were anxious to leave so as soon as MFD got home on Friday we were gone with the wind.

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We hit bad weather and had a bit of a harrowing drive, finally arriving at Lori & Jack's close to 11.

The dogs were ecstatic, and we were happy to have a weekend of relaxing ahead of us.

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Geege was up most of the night. He was too excited to sleep. 

We were up for good early on Saturday, which required a lot of coffee.

I didn't mind being up early since it was Lori's birthday and we had a lot to get in!

Excuse the schizophrenic photo frames in this post. 

Variety is the spice of life? Yes. That's the ticket. 

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A damp but invigorating walk in the woods. Lots of dogs scampering and fall foliage.

My boys were on the go with Max, Lori's youngest puppy.

Check out Darby, who's blind and will be 15 in December. She was out there

trucking along over the river and through the woods with the rest of the pack. Miracle dog!

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A quick jaunt into LeRaysville to The Cheese Factory.

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The LeRaysville Market. I'd never been there and was bowled over by their selection and prices.

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A stop at the Dandy is a must. I love the coffeepots. 

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Enjoying the great outdoors

Excuse my fuzzy deer

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I was showered and in my pajamas by 2 pm. It was fabulous. We feasted on a snack food spread,  watched a bunch of college football and had a blissful doze.

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Steaks on the grill, twice baked stuffed potatoes, steamed broccoli, red wine and cake from The Flying Cow Bakery. Happy birthday Lori!

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Dates from Hell on ID Channel

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I'd like to have coffee like this every day.

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Sunny Sunday woods walk

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One of Jack's big breakfasts. 

True fact: I only eat pancakes at Lori & Jack's.

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A seamless two hour and 45 minute ride home with some very tired dogs and some 

glorious fall foliage views. And of course the requisite MFD photo in Meshoppen.

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Enchiladas for dinner. Ole!

I sauteed some chicken and onions, added a bit of sour cream, enchilada sauce, 

cumin, garlic powder and some Tastefully Simple fiesta mix. 

I plopped some of that in the middle of whole wheat tortillas, grated some cheese on top, poured

enchilada sauce over them, added some more grated cheese on top, and baked at 400 for 20 minutes.

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Sunday soup: tomato, basil & cheddar

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TV: Revenge, Hart of Dixie, Vampire Diaries

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the weekend that was

What a wonderful weekend. I love going to Lori & Jack's, and it was even better this time because it was Lori's birthday and I got to spend it with her. I was so relaxed that I couldn't even bring myself to do the mountain of laundry that's currently in the basement. 

Toodleoo, tootsies. Happy Monday.

I'm linking up with Sami's Shenanigans, Five30Three, and Join the Gossip for the weekend update - check them out!