Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Potpourri on Wednesday

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• And now it’s cold again. The wind kicked up last night and with it came a drop in the temperature. We’ll be in the thirties today and tomorrow. Another warm-up on the weekend, then back to cold, then a warm-up…you get the picture.

The slab of ice is shrinking a bit, though you would think after four days of unseasonably warm weather followed by lots of rain, that it would have disappeared. Nope. That’s how thick it is. I hacked at the edges of it yesterday afternoon, breaking up whatever I could, but the central part of the slab is still going strong. It’s not giving up easily. Will this be the “Winter of the Ice Slab?”

The sun just made an appearance. Huzzah!

• I’ve been watching Grace and Frankie (just a bit at a time, I like to extend the pleasure) and David Letterman’s interview with Barack Obama, both of which you can find on Netflix. It’s articulate and funny and serious and it makes me long for the days of a presidency that was reasoned and sane. (Side note: I haven’t been able to crack the Pete Souza book yet. It’s just too painful.)

I bought Fire and Fury  by Michael Wolff (about the Trump administration) when I was in the city and I’m just about ready to dig in.

• Observation: why are the nails on my right hand (I’m right-handed) longer than the nails on my left hand? Every nail on my left hand has broken recently, but not so for the right. Wouldn’t you think the hand I lead with would have the broken nails? Hmmm.

• I stocked up on groceries yesterday and grabbed some things for the apartment, as well. After spending a few days there, we realized that we didn’t have a vegetable brush, a dishwashing wand (the kind you fill with dish soap), a steamer – that sort of thing. Don doesn’t have time to hunt down these necessities as he’s in rehearsals all day long.

• While there, I noticed this in the dog toys section of the store:

As if I would let my beloved Lambchop be chewed up! I mean, really! I rescued her, brought her home, and she has joined her fellow Lambchops upstairs in the bedroom. They’re getting along famously.

• The newest season of Schitt’s Creek  starts tonight on Pop (a cable channel). I love that show.

• Oh, and I made Cloud Biscuits last night. Comfort food.

• Speaking of comfort food, last night Don said wistfully, “I wish I had more of your cookies.” He means the chocolate chip cookies I made last week. I can take a hint. More cookies on the way.

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

Comments

  1. I think many of us are truly in mourning over the change in administrations. That is why we tearfully look at photos or clips of President Obama and his time in office. A man of such generosity, intelligence, and humanity doesn’t come along very often.

  2. Oh, I loved that interview, too. But then, both men are favorites of mine, so of course I had to see it. Don’t know if I could do the Michael Wolff book, as it would just make me madder!

    My chocolate chip cookie recipe is constantly being made in my kitchen. I’m a fan of cookies, in general, but Mr. Wizard will only love chocolate chip—and really, anybody’s recipe will do for him, I think. I make them so often that the recipe is burned onto the tip of my brain and ready at all times. It is a rare day when none can be found in the freezer.

    • I just have to figure out when I’m going back and then I’ll make the cookies the day before. I don’t want them to get stale.

  3. I loved the interview also……makes me sad. Also love Frankie & Grace. I don’t know why but I seem to always buy houses where the driveway is in the shade. Good luck!

  4. I miss both, our former beloved President, and our former First Lady. So gracious, level-headed, grounded, well-spoken…I could go on and on! But…that is not our reality. So I complain about the weather…and watch cat videos (only for a short time…I laugh too hard!), to get me out of my January funk!

    As far as your nails are concerned…I take biotin for stronger nails…it does work, but it takes months. Just keep slathering on the hand lotion. They are more easily broken when they are dry. And they are dry because of the weather. See…we’ve come full circle. Enjoy your day! ;)

  5. Ooohh, thank you for rescuing Lambchop! The Letterman interview with Obama is so wonderful and uplifting, and reading “Fire and Fury” is such a downer. I’ve only been able to read it in small increments of time. I have the Pete Souza book on the coffee table and so many of my favorite pics are in there. So glad the kids gave it to me for Christmas.

  6. I totally understand how you feel about delving into the Souza book. I actually cry when I see clips of Obama on the news. It truly is like we went to some parallel universe to have this hideous mess we are dealing with today. I remember the day the Obamas left on their very first vacation as the First Family, and Michelle came off the plane dressed in capris and a sleeveless top and the Republicans were in a fury. HOW could someone represent the country like that. Then I look around and it is too crazy to even comprehend. Porn stars, racism, and general stupidity abounds and they grin and high 5 over what a great job they are all doing. Where am I?

    Baking cookies sounds like the best idea. Not watching the news while you are baking sounds even better. Hope you have a trip to see Don soon so Stella can do her part! Have a good Wednesday, Claudia!!

    • I don’t understand and I never will. Such hypocrisy and corruption. It’s as if they trying to annihilate the Republican Party forever. They’re on their way to that very end.

  7. Oy. I miss the Obamas so much I bookmarked the Obama WH website & photo galleries. I look around there & sometimes flee to YouTube to watch old WH ceremonies [the Kennedy Center honors, the Medal of Honor and Medal of Freedom ceremonies – there are dozens of Obama WH videos still available]. I watch them & sigh – and then humbly beg the Universe to return us to those days when even if you disagreed with a given President’s policies, you could still respect the man AND the office. Neither of which we can do right now. PS – you really piqued my curiosity, Claudia, so I Googled the nail deal, and according to several entries there, nails on the dominant hand MAY be stronger because they get “exercised” more [they manipulate things more often than the less dominant hand]. Hey, I guess this makes sense, right? In all other things, that which is exercised grows stronger. And I know it’s too late but I always scrub veggies with that plasticky mesh netting that comes with certain veggies [baby potatoes, pearl onions etc]. Read it as a tip [decades ago] & found that it does a great job on virtually all produce]. Good for stuck-on bits when dishwashing too. Plus a bonus – that which was stuck rinses out of the mesh fairly easily, keeping things cleaner [and the netting itself is quite durable – hangs in there a long time]. I actually wind several mesh bags into each other for more “oomph” [looks rather like one of those body wash puffs]. Wow, now THIS is an eclectic comment [President Obama, fingernails & vegetable brushes]. LOL!! I love it. Have a great Wednesday! Peace.

    #Resist
    #ProtectMueller

    • Great idea, Janet! I have taken those mesh bags, cut into wide strips, then sorta finger-crocheted several into a messy ball , then used it to scrub dishes. Now I’ll have to make a few for veggies!

    • Oh! Well, too bad I’m not ambidextrous, but I’m not! Thanks, Janet.

      We like a stiff brush when scrubbing veggies – we eat a lot of baked potatoes!

    • I can’t even bear to watch it, Diane. It’s horrifying and without compassion. How can we do this to our fellow citizens?

  9. I unfortunately watched all the Grace and Frankie episodes last weekend. Big mistake! Can’t believe Jane Fonda is 80 years young.

    Canadians miss the Obamas too; the contrast between the two families is like night
    and day. It is difficult to listen to far right Republicans run the FBI down. All
    deflection on their part and FOX News is responsible for so much division of Americans. Thank goodness for Rachel, Lawrence, Joy and Lawrence on MSNBC.

    • Unbelievable. And they call themselves the party of law and order. What hypocrites they are!

  10. Lamb Chops a chew toy? I don’t think so! Not now, not ever. Bless you for rescuing the poor dear.
    I have Fire and Fury. I am afraid to read it.
    I don’t have the Pete Souza book, but it is on my list.
    I am left handed, The nails on my left hand are always longer. Weird, I know

  11. Tell us about Cloud biscuits. Or did I miss that post? Sounds great on these
    cold nights. Stay warm and keep
    counting your blessings. We certainly
    have an abundance of them even if it
    is cold and wintery. I keep reminding
    myself that these freezes will rid us
    of a lot of bugs come spring and summer.
    Thanks for keeping us posted on Don
    and that whole experience. Loved the
    photos of NY , the streets and apartment.

  12. Dear Claudia sending you a big new years hug from a cold Michigan. I watched Letterman interviewing President Obama and for a brief moment the pressure and disappointment of having 45 for president receded to the back of my mind. So much damage done in one year! Started reading Fire and Fury but had to remove the cover and put it away because I can’t stand looking at #45 face!

    • Yes, I found my shoulders dropping when I was listening to Obama. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a President that we could trust, like Obama?

      Good advice – I’m going to remove the cover, too. Not only is it badly designed, I can’t stand looking at him either!

  13. Ooh, chocolate chip cookies! My daughter made macarons for the first time this past Monday….coffee macarons with chocolate ganache and they are almost all gone. She’ll experiment with lemon macarons with lemon buttercream weekend. She keeps cookie dough balls in the freezer for when we want a fresh cookie or two. I think there are coffee-toffee and snickerdoodles in the freezer at present. I spend time at Costco pulling the Obama books over the books about he-who-shouldn’t-ever -be-named. I know it’s childish, but it makes me feel better.

    • Oh good for you! I’ve done that before! I’ve also covered up Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity’s books! It isn’t childish at all, Wendy!

  14. It is cold again today but I’ve hardly left my bed so I wouldn’t really know. I’ve had a day of less pain meds but more sleeping. I know it’s the body healing but it’s frustrating to not be able to stay awake long enough to read. That is what I have missed this week. That said I’ve been able to watch tv and that has helped pass the time. The ice slab sounds scary to be honest! Take care and bake cookies! Hugs!

    • It will take a while, my friend, and I know it’s frustrating! I’m glad you can at least watch television. Take care of yourself. xoxo

  15. I try to stay away from all the news. It seems each station has their own story and version of the topics. I admire Mrs. Laura Bush. She always seemed so classy ,too. Did you hear what President George Bush 43 said recently concerning Mrs. Obama? He said we just clicked and are friends. I love that Lamb Chop. We collect Lamb Chop products.
    Marilyn

  16. “The Ice Slab That Ate Mockingbird Hill Cottage”…lol…a great title for the book you are going to write about this horrible Winter Claudia!…I have not watched the interview but will try to find it online now that I know about it…I would love to read”Fire and Fury” if only to reassure myself that there are intelligent people out there that the same way we all do here at the blog!

  17. Claudia I have also watch the Letterman interview with President Obama and yes I am a Canadian and I miss both he and his wife – intelligent and well spoken humans.
    Can you share your receipe for Cloud Biscuits – I have tried several recipes without success.

  18. Claudia, Me Too!
    I am about to start Fire and Fury, too!
    My husband just told me 1.7 million copies have been sold to date, says CNN!
    unheard of, for a book released just three weeks ago!

    Perhaps, share your thoughts as you read it. I would like to know what you think of it.

  19. Just reread my comment. What I was trying to convey re Grace and Frankie, was
    I should have been smart like you and only watched one show at a time. Absolutely love the series.

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