The Days Of the Week...

...are all running together.  

Not in a bad way, but in an 'end of the school year, gearing up for summer' way.

Here's a rundown of 'lately'.  First up...flowers.  Even in the poor days, I always made room for fresh flowers in the food budget, if possible.  Not fancy florist flowers...regular grocery store flowers are just fine by me.  I'm not fancy and I like my flowers not fancy, too.

Had a hankering for Italy which lead to a hankering for bresaola.  It's a million dollars so I usually just ask for a few paper thin slices...it's a cured beef along the lines of prosciutto.  I lay it on a plate and top it with a heaping pile of arugula, drizzle it with olive oil and a few shavings of parmesan and serve it with lemon wedges.

It looks pretty and tastes prettier.

The garden has been full of people the last few days and I am feeling so blessed in the friend department.  We just have good people in our lives.  People who have walked different walks and talk different talks (whatever that means, but it sure sounded good) and I'm just trying to sit and enjoy all who walk in.

So far, so good.

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I usually don't like fancy but sometimes it's fun to set the table with dishes that we've brought home from all different places.  Lots of candles and a table that just barely fits everyone elbow to elbow makes for a more intimate gathering.

The menu for this party:

wood grilled foccacia with a ricotta/lemon/basil spread

bresaola with arugula

pot roast

porcini risotto

lemon tart with fresh whipped cream

I have set garden party meals that I make and mix parts of them up from party to party (depending on how many are coming) so people don't get bored with the food.  I like to be a guest at my own parties and I only make things that are completely cooked before my friends arrive except for one part...usually the grilling of bread or vegetables.  We've pretty much got it down now and our goal is for people to feel that we truly want them to be here.

Because we do.

The weather in SoCal has entered the time of year where the mornings are grey and chilly and drizzly and then, just when you begin wondering whether or not the sun will ever shine again, it does just that.

And with my work year winding down, yet still going 100 miles/hour,  I haven't had a whole lot of time for hiking lately.  Instead,  I've been walking around our lake and wow...I live here.  Hard to swallow the real estate prices...but the view is worth every penny.

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 I had a two-day long managers meeting where we sat in a conference room for hours and hours and hours.  And hours.  As meetings go it wasn't so bad...but summer is coming.  Summer is coming.

 I love summery meals.

A lot.

But hey...I'm not picky.

In preparation for summer vacation, I've got a few books downloaded and ready to read, a newish pair of flip flops that are almost super comfortable (but not quite yet) and the beginnings of tan lines beginning to show.  I'm beginning to get that feeling...the feeling that I'm going to have a moment to catch my breath for the first time in a long time.

I'm also gearing up by rewatching all seasons of Gilmore Girls during every free moment that I have.

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 In fact,  I'm currently curled up on my bed watching back to back to back episodes.  There's a black cat next to me and a black dog at my feet.  Supper will be roasted chickens with roasted veggies...potatoes, brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, whole garlic and green beans.  The perfect Sunday supper.

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