Monday, June 13, 2011

Perfect Day




Holy smoke, it's been busy around here. We had Mother's Day, and several bridal shower brunches, several big-deal graduation celebrations, the end of the school year and the sports season.

To round up the school year end, we had the Science Fair and the Medieval project. Even the poison guy who came to spray the aphids in our pine trees today, was still bemoaning his own grandaughter's sixth grade castle building three weeks ago! I couldn't even complain, as his castle had to be built of edible materials...ohno...ours thankfully, had no such requirement...it was cardboard. Baseball ended late Saturday night, with a championship win for Carter's team! Go Giants! Lacrosse ended Sunday, with an all-day tournament on the shore of Lake Tahoe.

I packed a lunch of salami and brie, fruit and chocolate. I took a chair and the fluffy rose-colored throw I've been crocheting for Piper...since she was born. She's nearly four and I still have to start on the plum-colored one for her twin, Sasha! We left late, the car was low on gas, we had scanty directions...The kids grabbed pads, helmets, sticks and flew out of the car. I felt rushed as I carried the cooler, chair, blankets; I gave little thought to where I wanted to sit. I chose the goal-end of the field, just because very few people were there.

I settled in with my crocheting, and looked up at the scene before me. The view brought me to tears. Beyond the dark turqouise lake, the mountains were covered with snow. The pine trees all seemed to be turning and dancing in the sunlight---free from the brutality of winter. Even the sound of the wind through their needles was song. In the winter, the trees crack and whine and whip!

Two fields were over-run with boys in some stage of play or warm-up. Harrison and Carter were thrilled to be part of the party atmosphere of so many people enjoying the sport they love best. Four teams played several games each, in a series of eliminations. I was content to sit in the sun and take it all in.

Though the air was slightly chilled, the sun was warm and shining with certainty, for the first time since it started to snow, last September. As I was cherishing the day, I realized that it was one of the most peaceful of my whole life. We ended this perfect day with an icy swim at Sand Harbor and a sushi dinner. It dawned on me then, that I have a lot of days like this! I'm so grateful!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Ski Sandwiches


I love the hot-latte time of year! I love the wind whipping around and the night sky so clear and bruised-blue that it breaks my heart. I love when you go outside and get the giddy surprise of snowflakes suspended in the air like fog would be. There is a lot of complaining around here though, because it's nearly summer, and winter is still here. It hasn't stopped snowing, and is nearly time for it to start again!

The ski resorts stayed open till Memorial Day, so I faced the necessity of quick dinners for the kids. I started off grilling smoked gouda, pear, and butter sandwiches with chicken soup, and then shifted to Swiss and kosher dill pickle with mustard. The Swiss and pickle sandwiches were so delicious that the kids wanted them in their school lunches...everyday for MONTHS!

After all of that, I put capers with mayonnaise in the food processor and slathered it on French bread with smoked salmon and fresh dill...ohmygosh. Then I made egg salad and kind of overdid it with lemon juice. I thought to drizzle lemon juice on the bread to make it more juicy...! Grilling all of these in olive oil makes the big difference and now that I've served these with various combinations of soup on our lunch menu, I'm delighted to get so many compliments for something so easy! Try these!

These little sandwiches are going down in family history as something to look forward to, after an icy day out there. I'm grateful it kept snowing!

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