Isn't Everyday Cat Day?

Born in the barn....

......found sofas to be more comfy than hay bales.

 Can't blame them.

Quietude

We had a quiet day. Mark got the stalls cleaned. I got dinner prepped. I did say it was a quiet day.

I had a brisket in the oven for a few hours. Yes, under the onions there is a beef brisket. The onions absorbed all of the goodness as the brisket slowly cooked. I never tire of wonderful slow-cooked winter meals.

Now another year begins. 2025 was unstable and unsettling. Will we be turning a page? Ever hopeful. We do what we can and we appreciate what we have. I appreciate all of you. May it be a good year.

Another Year

Happy New Year

 Sing It Loud

Gatto Day

We got about 7 inches of snow. It did pretty the landscape. One of the benefits of snow is it covers up the deferred outside maintenance.

This troublemaker has been with us for three years. It was the end of December 2022, an evening with -25 F/-32 C temps. 

He was mewing pitifully and shivering. I brought him in and wrapped him up till he was warm and wanted down. He wasn't one bit concerned about the German Shepherd and fortunately she was used to cats. The two of them formed a tight bond.

                     

He has always held a high opinion of himself.

A Day of Rest

On the incase anyone is under the delusion that I am a tidy cook, let me remove any such thoughts. I put the lasagna together on Friday. I made focaccia and a blueberry clafoutis. As well as a right big mess. I don't know how I manage in such chaos, when chaos in general drives me up a wall. It is one of life's mysteries.

To my immense credit, I got the horror squared away and my son, the now former chef, is able to live in the fantasy of his mother being tidy in all things.

Howard B. Hound gives his full-throated approval.

Dear Mark was taken off the naughty list when he brought in wood for the tri-annual lighting of the bat cave. This year it will be a bi-annual lighting.

We had a good day with son and daughter-in-law. They both really liked the vegetable lasagna and the clafoutis. So, I would say it was a success. I was exhausted and asleep by 8:00PM and did not wake until 8:00AM. Wow. Part of the exhaustion is related to my limited exposure to peopling. Take an introvert, place her in the country and watch as she slowly becomes a hermit and you have....me!

This is what this morning looks like. It's very pretty.

 

It's Me

Hello, my pals. I hope you all had a pleasant day whether you celebrate Christmas or simply celebrated life. Our day was peaceful. I spent most of my time in the kitchen, which, when I think of it, is where I spend my time most days. It is my domain.

We had a mist all day and then some rain overnight. This is not wanted, but the weather ignores me when I complain. Still complain. I didn't get to light a fire in the bat cave, which some would call a large fireplace, because the wood is outside (Mark didn't do his job) and got wet. Tomorrow. 

Speaking of tomorrow......Matthew and his wife are coming for lunch. I have food prep work to do today so I don't have to think about it tomorrow. The trials. The tribulations.

So now I will fill the screen with our Christmas dinner starting with a flourless cake.

The order is reversed as the osso buco was dinner, not the cake. I didn't have parsley so I made the gremolata with celery leaves and basil. I liked it better than the traditional. A simple pilaf and broccoli and we had dinner. I do love braised food.

To break up the monotony of food, a photo of the boys. With food.

 I plan to check in with you all later today. I'm off to make focaccia.

Merry Christmas

One and All

Vroom Vroom

A quick note to say I'm going offline for a few days. I got a little energy back and plan to make the best use of it. Which, much as I wish it were, sitting at my desk playing at the computer half the day is not the best use. I'm going to give my friend, Lori, credit where it's due. We speak occasionally and yesterday we did. She made me feel so much better. Oh, I went to Costco this morning. It's the first time I have been there since February 2020. I've ordered online when I need something. I'm going to make it a scheduled trip every six weeks. I even walked out of there under $300!

A little smile. Frieda has a plastic obsession. Not chewing but licking and laying on it. Don't judge her too much, she is a tortie after all.

Ho-Hum

It's cold. It's windy. It's dreary. No, not my heart, although.....outside. I've spent these cold days in the kitchen, which, honestly, is where I spend my days in general. I made Denise's (the English Girl) soda bread. It is a favorite for me and it's very good.

I made soup, which yielded three lunches.

Then last evening I made fish for dinner. I guess fish is the focus here as the rest is out of focus.

I am not feeling holly-jolly. I'm grateful there is no need for me to pretend. It will be Mark and yours truly for the holly-jolly day. I plan to have osso buco. Perhaps Julia Child's Gateau au Chocolate. Might as well mix cultures, besides the Italians taught the French to cook. Before you yell at me, look it up. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Matthew and his wife will come for lunch on Saturday. She was advised by her doctor to end her vegan diet due to some health issues, so she is once again vegetarian and much easier to cook for. We will have a vegetable lasagna with a white sauce, an Italian salad and, I think, a blueberry clafoutis. Mixing food culture once again.

Forget Caturday. It's Gattoday.

Sorrow

 

I hope you can see this if you are not on Instagram/Threads. I've felt like this for days, ever since I heard those comments. I wanted to cry.

https://www.threads.com/@lady_star_gem/post/DSWVnjUEQXU?xmt=AQF05YtUM8icsBoZdgxAhT152kjp-ijhKVF4ePE-HQCHnhUIYJyBVoRscSlRJyskRKhWBZ8&slof=1