snippets of the weekend 2.20.2023

Friday I painted my nails at lunch and worked until just after 3. We headed to Dad & Carol's in rain and holiday weekend traffic, coming through at the right time to see a magnificent on the road sunset. We were welcomed to our B&B with pillow candy and signage. Carol had pulled pork and salad and snacks out. Stephen & Aubrey and the kids arrived soon after us. We were all up Saturday morning by 7 for Lola's pancakes. 

We headed out to Cape Henlopen State Park and walked up one of the observation towers and around the historic parts from WWII, then down to see the lighthouse. It was low tide and I got some great rocks and pics. We headed back to the house to eat, read, relax, and play Barbies. LOL

In the afternoon we bowled and snacked at Lefty's, and most did the arcade while Aubrey and I took a quick walk over to HomeGoods. Stephen, Dad, and Carol took the kids to the pool while me, MFD, and Aubrey lolled around watching TV and reading.

Sunday we had coffee and bagels and around noon we headed into town to walk around, do the playground and some shops, and have lunch outside. We hit it at the right time because it was chilly by the end! Back to the cars through the troll hole sidewalk. The town is really cute and I love walking around down there. We drove around some of the older houses on the way back to Dad & Carol's and plan to do some wandering around those streets next time we're down. Denny & Fran popped in when we got back and then MFD and I packed up and hit the road. We made it home before 7 and I was in bed by 10. 

weekending reels on Instagram 

 Another great family weekend in the books! It's always nice to be together and it was great to be outside so much in February, which always feels like a gift. Thanks to Dad & Carol for hosting us!

No three day weekend here, you know the drill.

TWTW - the one with Memorial Day

Took refuge from the collective angst and pain in this world right now and from the crowds at the shore to spend the long weekend with one of my people at her lake house with the dogs. MFD stayed back with Billy Cat and did mummery shit. I arrived Thursday night and left Tuesday morning. 

I finished a book, read three more and a short story, and started a fourth. Lounging with dogs, spending most of the time outside, easy but good food. 

sdfsd

Black raspberry soft serve from Antol's Drive-in. Shopping small in Montrose, a town I love. Mimosas, nice wares, and immaculate vibes at Cold Creek Gardens in Wyalusing - I got a rose bush and a frog reading a book statue. 

It was the peace and quiet, good energy and laughter I needed. 

Thanks Lori, always, for everything! Mostly for being one of my people. 

Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Another lovely Thanksgiving weekend in the books. On Thanksgiving Eve, MFD and I took that ride over the bridge onto the Jersey side to spend the night at Frank and Amanda's. Many laughs and too many Michelob Ultras for me. I came home way too late smelling like a fire pit.

Thanksgiving day dawned sunny and warm. We took the dogs for a walk (during which I found $5, score), cleaned ourselves up and headed to my Mom's. Dinner and visit one down, we travelled on to the Leidy residence, where Mindy and Andy were hosting their first Thanksgiving in their new home. The day was delightful.

I found five dollars and you did not.

Every year while people are out pepper spraying their fellow man on Black Friday, Peters and I pack up a car, toss Gus and Geege into the backseat, and travel north for three hours until we hit North Woods, the Wentzel home in Bradford County, for the annual second half of Thanksgiving weekend. It is so relaxing and lovely up there, and I am mostly without cell phone service, which is awesome. My dogs absolutely love it, they can frolic freely in the woods and sniff all over God's creation. This year's activities included walks in the woods, wine, a bridge dedication ceremony, stuffing ourselves with Thanksgiving leftovers and at the Chinese buffet, patronizing local businesses on Santa's Sleigh Ride, telling stories, making a shit mess out of a Gingerbread House, loads of laughs and more wine.

This bridge will take us over the creek and through the woods, but not to Grandmother's house

Tranquility and coffee to kick off the day

I'm truly grateful for my family and friends...and that the weekend of food and booze excess is over. Stick a fork in me, I'm done!

These dogs are done too.

Sunday...back to reality. My current reality is interesting for someone with OCD tendencies like myself. When I sit on the living room couch and look into the dining room, I see the side of my pantry, my fridge, my old coffee maker, an empty bookshelf with a bag of contractor trashbags on top of it, a cabinet with potato/onion pullout bins, a handsaw, a broom, a dog toy, dog bowls, a toaster oven, a Phillies hat, a bottle of wine, a bin of dog food...it looks like fucking Hoarders up in here, none of those things belong in that room!

Serenity NOW.

Deep breaths. I know it will be worth it in the end. Last night MFD was singing "Look at this fucking flooooor," and saying "Hon, come here. Look at this," every five minutes as he removed the moldy sub floor. Curse you kitchen leak. Curse you.

So friends, please cut me some slack if I'm teetering on the edge of sanity as we try to get this shit in check over the next three weeks.

Dear tiny crowbar wielding, demo mask wearing, wall scraping, appliance replacing, searching for salt and pepper shakers amongst the rubble baby Jesus: please let this go smoothly, and let us not kill each other in the process. AMEN.

Back to the grind,

SMD
p.s. Dear Lowe's: Your appliance sale was stellar. Thank you.

Crabtopia

We spent the weekend in Chester, MD, visiting our good friends Meem and Doug. We had a lovely and relaxing time. It's  insane that we don't visit them more often since 1. We love to hang out with them 2. it's an easy, quick drive 3. crabs. Not the gross kind either, dirtbags. These glorious lovelies:

The crab that walks too far falls into the pot ~ Haitian Proverb

Meem's parents live on Cox Creek and have a dock that you can fish and crab from, and instead of just setting traps Doug & MFD actually crabbed on Saturday with bait and nets. Meem has been crabbing since she was in the womb so she lent a hand. I observed and was a lazy asshole. Crabbing butts pictured below.

Lucky for us, Meem and Doug picked crabs in advance. This weekend's menu included:

• Meem's muffins (bacon cheddar mixture on an english muffin, baked in the oven to savory deliciousness) with fresh crab mixed in. Superb.
• Crab cakes. Meem's mom's recipe. No filler, fresh crab. I ate it then died.
• Crab fried rice. Again, so good you could drop dead and be happy because you just ate it.
• Steamed freshly caught crabs supplemented with a dozen from Mr. B's.

Holy shitskies, people. Really. Everything was phenomenal. Meem is a fabulous cook and Meem and Doug are wonderful hosts. And they sent us home with crabs, homemade frozen egg rolls, and figs freshly picked from Meem's mom's trees. Oh happy day.

Also:
1. Friday night we left our house at 11:15 p.m. and had a totally bizarre full moon ride that was a cross between Adventures in Babysitting sans kids, Pleasantville sans time travel and Back to the Future sans flux capacitor. Doo doo doo doo.
2. I learned how to make egg rolls at the hand of the master (Mimi). Everyone who comes to a gathering at our house within the next year, expect to have egg rolls made by moi.
3. The drive home on Sunday was made in almost two hours of awful white knuckler rain, the worst I've ever driven through for such a long duration. Yikes.

And that was the weekend that was. Sunday night blues, commence.

Crabfully yours,

SMD

p.s. I cannot say crab without saying FRab. Someone's kid said that when they were little. Who was it?
p.p.s. I cannot say crab without picturing one singing.

Image property of Disney