the planning

 I'm trying something new. I am airing my tent out after wiping it down with warm water and vinegar. 

Then Lysol.

I am grateful for the guides, the opportunity and the equipment to comfortably fall asleep on a mountain.

a near catastrophe

 

Power went out the morning after the evening I ruined a protein that I took pictures of, wrote about and obsessed over the best way to cook it and serve it and watch them eat it. I made inedible for human consumption the chorizo stuffed boneless two inches of straight protein that I massaged and promised to two people. I will not give up.

Today I am grateful for goals, those two, a pleasing enough tenderloin and whoever is out there helping my refrigerator hum again.

an electric sander

 The delivery will include two boneless chorizo stuffed pork chops. (Half of hers I hope she gives me, but I also hope she loves it so much that she tells me to go get my own.) I'll roast the asparagus with an olive oil, lemon and pepper on a preheated foil lined pan at 400 degrees (?) for ten to fifteen minutes maybe. The cauliflower will be similar but with garlic and cheese. Those baked beans will reintroduce that bacon, green peppers, sweet onion, brown sugar, Blackburn's syrup, black pepper, ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Then those Sara Lee rolls brushed with a salted butter. A couple of halved green and black grapes on the side of the plate.  He'll have a fresh jalapeño, and I better be serving lemon pie for dessert. I wonder if they'll just let me watch them eat because that's not creepy.

I am grateful for loaners and an increase and home and spring and dinner for the both of them.

the guy

 He said, "I've never seen anyone wash a paintbrush out like that."

I am grateful for a roller and a paintbrush and a can of paint and if I'd only listen and how he said, "I reckon we'd done good working together if we'd done it about ten years." I am grateful for today.

tis the season

 I am grateful for a birthday and breakfast and stories and turkeys and prepping and planning for outdoor meals.

Memphis, 24 hours and returning with Como love

 

I am grateful for a road trip, onion dip, grandkids, old friends, her back porch, sleeping on a couch, my hair therapists, a good washing, a farm to table chorizo stuffed pork, the patty melt, the hamburger, those fries, the five dollar wine store and plenty of bacon for breakfast.

I think I am going to sous vide them, put them on ice for about 10 minutes, rub the seasoning on and then do a quick but effective sear in that bacon grease. 

Then earn it with a couple of mountains.

ohemghee

 

Did someone say early spring? It really is about the porches.

Today I am grateful for an outdoor room and time.

current and upcoming

 I am grateful for conversation, groceries, carpentry, busy, busy people, her time, their time and sharing space with each other.

pinot on the porch

 Yes, I was sanding a metal pole when the lightning struck with thunder immediately thereafter but quickly before admitting that powers greater than me thought it best I listen to the rain and forget the sanding for an evening.

Today I am grateful for porches, laughing till we cried, checking on each other, dinner plans, the drive and a toast to well being.

work, me

I am grateful for time and focus.

stretching a Sunday

 I am grateful for the early morning chirp, gathering around an old table, a walk, two meals, two hugs, a late afternoon purr and the place with more sanding paper.

slowly

 

It took over a year before I used any.

I am grateful for honey barbecue wings, french fries, a waffle, a call, a visit, finally hearing her, the excellent news, the muscle it took and two cups of vinegar per one gallon of water.

deconstruction of a Friday afternoon

 

I am grateful for the rain, the sun, the moon.

prep work

 

I am grateful for a quote, a job, a list, a guy and a tank of gas.

I don't want to wish a day away but the ending is nice

I am grateful for a smile, a warm shower, the cows, the cat, home.

interrupting the crickets

 for a short statement about the cows:

They're good.

I am grateful to finally warm up and the kindness of those who listened as I complained about being cold.

one day our paths will cross maybe

 

I am grateful for a little time to plead though it seemed to do no good.

slow morning light

 At some point I had to give up chasing that hour.

I am grateful for a slow morning, a single guitar, a blue sky, a proper hug and fresh air.

an object in motion

 Jimmy Dean ground sausage - one hot, one regular - fried in a skillet together. The grease of which is later used to wilt the spinach, sweet onions and white mushrooms on top of a homemade marinara cooked down into a thick olive oil, garlic, tomato, chili powder, sugar, basil and red pepper flakes over my first ever sticky yeast dough of which I needed to knead more. Mozzarella and feta because I vowed to not go overboard.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share the food I love.

the ultimate chocolate cookie

The recipe for chock-a-block chewy chocolate cookies is on page twenty-one in "Today in Mississippi" for members of the East Mississippi Electrical Power Association. In it, Martha Hall Foose may not mean to list half a teaspoon of vanilla extract. She doesn't include it in the directions. I left it out of the second batch while adding two tablespoons of expresso powder in replacement of the same amount of cocoa powder, a cup of toasted pecans and a cup of those Skinny Dipped dark chocolate plus sea salt baking bits.  Two of the eleven will be dessert after the Delta deep dish pizza tomorrow for brunch.

 I am grateful for good food, a fine broom, a proper mop and a reason to clean.

marshmallows and chocolate chips

 

I am grateful for a ride, vitamin C, a place to sit and reasons to cheer.

gluttony

 

I am grateful for gas, a nap, real cookie reviews, lemon, cucumbers, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, celery, chicken thighs sous vide with a garlic and chili powder sear, cashews, peppers in three colors, water and coffee. 

camera shy

 

I am grateful for plenty of work, his new photos and how he inspires us to imagine.

Chocolate cookies from the EMEPA magazine coming soon

 Three cups powdered sugar per eight cookies, I think it read.

I am grateful for the way she says his name, the soreness of muscle and bone, brand spanking new internet, a sweet phone call and a night at home.

soundtrack of the birds

 

I am grateful for three long walks with her as the head of the team and him trailing with his tongue hanging out, her approval, the text from him, the help from her and groceries from Cash Saver.

Dear Heflin,

 

Your Piggly Wiggly looks like the Perdido Key Publix and thank you, thank you for that spur off the Pinhoti along with the beautiful plate of meat from Si Señor and disc golf and sweet people. I am grateful for such a beautiful place to walk in what could not have been better weather. I am grateful for the creeks and the trees and talk of when we'll bring him with us.

I needed that time. It did my heart good.

tradition of the Yoo Hoo in the Goggins Challenge

  

Yep. It's time. I think he would approve.

I am grateful for gear and food and gas and good shoes and a meal we share.

work

 

Today I am grateful for a mentality.

music

 I am grateful for breakfast, a broom, a mop, a long walk, some rest and waking up to a sweet note.