Tagged: goodthings

07
Aug
2009

SPEEDING UP

Each time I think maybe there isn’t anything more to write about, the sky is the blue that it was today and I realize all over again that one can never have enough of it. If the sky is a wonder and a joy each time it’s that blue, that cloudless, endless blue, then why not everything? Even the things I’ve written about before suddenly strike me as relevant, as fresh, as interesting they did the first time. This time we twist them, we come at them from another angle. We open them up, unfold them like a flower, and...

20
Jul
2009

YUMMY THINGS I LIKE TO PUT IN SALADS, THOUGH NOT ALL AT ONCE

Leaf lettuce Romaine lettuce Ruccola Pearl tomatoes Avocado Plum tomatoes Yellow cherry tomatoes Sun-dried tomatoes Kohlrabi Black olives Artichoke hearts Hearts of palm* Snap peas Snow peas Cucumber Red, orange or yellow bell peppers (sparingly) Dried cranberries Cold boiled potatoes Hard-boiled egg Tuna Bacon (real bits) Broccoli Asparagus Pistachios Pine nuts Feta cheese Red onion Scallions Parmesan cheese Croutons** Mushrooms Carrots Lentils Seedless grapes** Chopped boiled ham Couscous A little pasta *YUM! Why is it so hard to find them in Sweden? I haven’t had them in ages! **Once in a blue moon What do YOU like in your salads?...

11
Jul
2009

SWEETER FOR THE EATER

Our cherry tree is the second one we’ve had; only 4 years old. The first one died after a year and we were a bit worried about the current one last summer as it had a bad bug infestation which my mom and I treated with soap and water. Two of the branches are dead and need to be removed. Last year we had a total of FOUR cherries. But this year: BUMPER CROP! We had to put blue net up and everything and the crows and jackdaws and magpies made concerted efforts to tease out the dangling rubies through...

17
Jun
2009

WHATEVER I WANT TO DO AND ALL DAY TO DO IT, TOO

What’s your idea of the perfect vacation? I waffle between not wanting to do anything at all but sleep in, lay on the sofa and read, and read some more, to making travel plans and go-go-going every day, getting something out of every minute. This week, the first of a 4-week vacation, has been a nice mix of the two, which suits my waffling heart to a T. I had plans every day but not the whole day and some of them fell through or were changed and all of them involved nice things. It’s only 2 days until the...

11
Jun
2009

LIGHT TOMORROW WITH TODAY*

My stomach was so upset with nerves before my doctor’s appointment this afternoon that I seriously thought I would throw up. All for a little lump! I got there early and the doctor was an older man, a bit bear-like, with a kindly expression. It was the fastest I’ve ever been felt up in my life. 😀 He examined me and then said that he couldn’t really feel anything that warranted worry: “nothing dangerous,” he said. But he’s scheduling me for a mammogram just to be sure. I feel much better, I have to say. Tomorrow is my last day...

10
Jun
2009

YOU’VE GOT TO DO SOME DANCING TO GET IN THE MOOD!

I’m not in the MOOD to write. What AM I in the mood for? Glenn Miller songs and convertibles. Summer evenings and those retro lawn chairs made of soft round strips that make lines on the back of your thighs. Backrubs, footrubs, headrubs. Deviled eggs and rice krispie treats. POPSICLES. digression/ I bought a box of Hello Kitty popsicles at the grocery store this evening, partly because they were grape & cherry flavored (!) and partly because I wanted to see the expression on Karin’s face when I handed her the box /end digression I’m in the mood for cleaning...

11
May
2009

THANKS, I NEEDED THAT

Despite the ups and downs of sorrow the sun keeps on shining and I muddle along. I dragged Martin up off the sofa and made him go for a walk with me after dinner this evening. The sun was lowering, but still high in the sky; it hasn’t reached its zenith yet…we’re still enjoying the lengthening days. It’s cool in the evening air, there’s an autumn-y nip in the spring sunlight which is rather refreshing. I much prefer a cool, sunny spring to a direct dive into humidity and heat, so no complaints here. We pulled on fleeces and started...

14
Mar
2009

FOR THE BIRDS

Hearing that (another) friend has been diagnosed with cancer has put quite the damper on my weekend, even though I think, given today’s medical advances, that she can beat this, it’s still a horrible experience for her and her family to go through. The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about. I’m not thinking about what it would mean to ME to receive such a diagnosis; my mind skitters and leaps about it, looking distractedly in the other direction, pulling my sleeve and pointing, not letting me dwell on any of those grotesque and overwhelmingly awful scenarios. *** Martin and I took...

02
Mar
2009

WHO NEEDS HAPPY PILLS?

*happy mail dance* A new pair of pants and a card from my mom. Thanks, mom! A box full of orange-flavored tic-tacs from my brother.* Thanks, John! A card & a photo of a park in early spring from a friend. I’m continually flabbergasted and touched by the thoughtfulness and generosity of people, especially and most mindbogglingly, from those I have never met. Last week I posted about the cruddy mood that had rained all over my parade and was threatening to eat me alive, and today in the mail I got a card prompted by that post from Bethany....

21
Feb
2009

SUCH A FEELING’S COMING OVER ME

What a perfect day this has been! Anders got home last night from Spain, ending my 3 weeks of husband-less-ness and it just got better from there: ♥ sleeping in (no better way to start off my day!) ♥ being in a really good mood ♥ sparkly sparkly snow and sunshine ♥ whizzing through 3 loads of laundry…mmmm, clean soft clothes! ♥ several really productive hours catching up on the overload at work ♥ a half-hour walk soaking up sunshine with Martin: we saw geese in a V, a horse, 2 poodles (1 big & 1 small) and a pheasant...