Cynthia Voelkl Food and Cooking, Gardening, General Life

In which tiny little nasturtium leaves inspire me

Well, damn. I’m in a bad mood today. Last night my trio of men pissed me off, Ernie got mad at me, and my buttermilk brined chicken was not a success. This was disappointing as it was a last minute trial before doing the same with the turkey next week. It was not a great evening. They say not to go to bed mad but sometimes you just have to go to bed.

Dragged myself out of bed this morning after reading too long and talking to Hattie. I did the exercise bike as I’ve been doing every morning. I know it helps but it hasn’t helped with walking strength as much as I hoped. Ernie made me a dry chicken breast sandwich on toast and I sat down to peruse turkey recipes. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. How many turkeys have I made? Hmmm. I started cooking Thanksgiving in the late 80’s. Hell, I’ve probably roasted some 40+ turkeys but I still worry and fret and then experiment. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not.

Good Lord, I wonder how many chickens I’ve roasted.

Ernie’s at the store picking up what we forgot yesterday and then I’ll try making my gravy base today. And I’ll probably look at some more turkey recipes.

I can’t be completely negative though because I looked at my little vase of nasturtiums that Owen had picked for me and while the flowers are starting to go, it also has shot up the tiniest little nasturtium leaves. It does my heart good. If they can do that then I should be able to conquer my grumpiness.

Oh, and the balsams are here!

Onward.

Cynthia Voelkl Food and Cooking, Gardening

The King of the Glories: Heavenly Blue is Here

I’m so incredibly grateful to Susan for planting my morning glory seeds this spring. I wasn’t sure anything would come of them given that I ignored them but they have been such a joy. This week the Heavenly Blue morning glories finally started blossoming. Heavenly indeed. I can’t tell you how much I love these.

I got my COVID booster shot today. We went out to breakfast because we just didn’t want to go home. Henhouse in Mahomet. Incredible hash browns….on my top ten list. I didn’t care for the sausage but the eggs were ok and the iced tea came with not only an iced tea spoon but a lemon wedge with a curly topped toothpick.

The alley border in fall: grass, marigolds (thanks again, Susan) asters and gone-by goldenrod at the end.

Last night’s dinner of zucchini and cherry tomato pasta:

Cynthia Voelkl Food and Cooking, Gardening, General Life, The Animals

Happy birthday to Leo and other notes

I was feeling kinda rough yesterday so I cancelled most everything except for Hattie’s appointment at the vet. She had to be shaved…poor girl. Man, she was pissed but now I think she’s enjoying her new sleek softness. She does look as though she has a giant head now, but it’s a look, as they say. Just look at her, as much as she loves her Ernie, she’s still my girl.

I made an ok dinner last night. The concept was good…need to refine it a bit. It was chicken thighs braised with apples and mustard. I needed more mustard though. Next time…there’s definitely potential.

I give you Triple Mustard Man: Raye’s t-shirt, Raye’s hoodie and Raye’s can cooler.

This is one of those Strawberry Vanilla hydrangeas. We planted this a few years ago because my sister Judi loved the color pink but it’s never done much. This is the pinkest and proudest it’s ever been. I am softening on it.

Nasturtiums just love this weather.

Unexpected pleasure of the day was a quick visit from Annette and Bill. No photographic documentation unfortunately.

Most importantly of all, it’s my sweet Leo’s birthday. Twenty-three years old. Happy birthday, Leo, with all my love. He’s with Tal in Minneapolis and I’m thinking they are having a great time. Can’t wait to have them both back here. The salt and pepper shakers are reunited!

And then there’s these two.