Congrats to Beth Howard @theworldneedsmorepie on the release of her first film, PIEOWA. If you need a light, heartwarming slice of fun or a little peace (piece?) of mind, don’t miss the remaining showings at The Varsity. So well done!
Good food, great party, loads of well wishes and ❤️. We celebrated this sweet human well. Graduation 2021 is a wrap. 😘Thanks to the village who helped me pull it together. You know who you are. 😜
Nothing like a derecho to keep things in perspective. Today, the usual worries-COVID, the current state of the union, and the uncertainty of the upcoming school year-didn’t cross my mind once. Instead the day was about helping family clean away debris, while offering a shoulder to lean on...pandemic be damned. Despite the chaos left behind by Mother Nature, there was something zen about the atmosphere. No power, no tv, no internet...just the hum of chain saws, generators, and work chatter. Keep the Midwest in your thoughts. For every fallen, twisted massive tree and limb-strewn yard like those belonging to my mom and my sister and brother-in-law, there were another half dozen similar scenarios within a one block radius. #thatsalotoffirewood #iowaderecho #marshalltownstrong
We recently moved my father-in-law into assisted living. As I was cleaning out an old trunk I discovered a front page of my hometown newspaper from 1920 and this little gem was nestled next to the headline. What a difference a century makes.
First time Naan-er. There’s a learning curve, for sure, but I’m not complaining about eating this batch before giving it another go. Evidently I have not yet reached carb-fatigue!
Quarantine mindset: this could be lunch. There’s lots of oats Involved (ignore the caramel and chocolate) so it’s good for you. Thank goodness it’s too hot to eat because I’m trying to save these bar cookies for care packages for my mom and Drew’s dad. Pulled pork in the works too. #kitchentherapy #quarantinecooking #staysafestayhome
My teenager requested meat loaf for dinner. Specifically my dad’s meat loaf, which-as you can see written in his chicken scratches-was nothing extraordinary. No doubt developed when my parent’s marriage was fresh and new and they hardly had a pot to you know what in. There’s a lot of oatmeal to extend that pound of beef! He made it for Jordan many times when she was a youngster when she stayed with my folks as I traveled for work, so I knew her request came from a need for a little TLC and comfort. If meat loaf could give her a little security in this upside down world, how could I deny? Well, when it comes to meat loaf, I live in a house divided. Apparently for my spouse, meat loaf was such a dreaded childhood dinner experience that he can’t even make the leap to try a recipe that isn’t his mother’s. No cajoling, coercing. He was steadfast. Not unaccustomed to short-order cooking I whipped up a quick stir fried rice for him and meat loaf for her. Me? I stood between them-neutral like Switzerland- and like a good food editor ate both! But I, like my daughter, savored every bite of that humble little meat loaf, remembered my dad, and felt a little better about the state of things.
I’ve seen many posts similar to what I’m about to write so admittedly, I’m piling on, but these first bright petals lifted me today. #itsthelittlethings
