Goodies

 Our dear reader Chocolate has let us know that the Brora clearance sale is back online, well done ordering the cobalt coat Chocolate!
I somehow missed that it was back up, I don't think they sent out an email.

It's funny too because I had decided last evening to place an order this morning at Brora, for something full price alas, and for a very festive reason.

Today is our darling Middle Rascal's birthday and while I of course planned her present weeks ago part of it didn't ship.
I've been trying to figure out what to replace it with these last days and I finally have it sorted.

We'll see her, and her Rascal brother, on Saturday for a birthday lunch.  I can't wait!

I'll tell you what I chose for her later, it needs to be kept well under wraps in case she reads the blog this week.

So many tempting goodies at Brora, not just in clearance but their summer range is looking so good too, with all of the linen and the espadrille sandals.

Here again is the link to the site in case you want to see for yourself!

Have a really wonderful day today,
xoxDani

Feed a Cold

 We pretty much have the Plague in our house.  It started last week with MrBP suddenly reeling with a terrible cold/flu type virus.  I was feeling like I was fighting it off until Monday evening when it suddenly hit me full-force.  Lil' Rascal has it too, in fact everybody we've come in contact with has it.

Middle Rascal is coming home this weekend to attend an academic conference and yesterday she texted me a picture of the outfit she's planning to wear:

Medieval Plague Doctor

 I've been doing the most sensible thing I can think of which is to cook up lots of vegetables in soups and gratins.

 For lunch yesterday I cooked a very simple soup of shallots, portobello mushrooms, fresh parsley, loads of chopped kale, and potatoes.  Sautéed the lot, covered with water and herbed sea salt, boiled for about 15 minutes and it was ready.
One of the worst things about this virus is the sore throat so it was very soothing!

Do you know what else is soothing on a sore throat?  That's right, a giant glass of wine.  I had a half bottle of lovely un-oaked Chardonnay from France in the refrigerator, leftover from the weekend, so I thought I'd better whip up something that would do it justice.

Aduki beans are the sort of beans you could give to non-bean lovers and they would still be happy.  They are softer, with a creamy texture and are easier to digest than other beans.

 They are perfect in a vegetable gratin.  I had about five fresh zucchini delivered in our organic vegetable box yesterday so I sautéed those with, again, lots of shallots, some herbes de Provence and fresh parsley.  I added the rinsed beans followed by a giant splash of cashew cream.

 I topped the lot with nutritional yeast, some fresh grape tomatoes (cut in half), more parsley, olive oil, and coarse salt.

 Bake for about twenty minutes at 350 and you're done.

It went perfectly with that giant glass of chardonnay.

I've woken up this morning feeling worse so I'll be tucked in at home, doing some more cooking.  I think I'll take the opportunity to rethink my travel colour story to New Orleans too, thanks so much to all of you who gave me packing-up advice on yesterday's post.  You guys are the best!
Don't get the Plague,
xoxDani

Rascal Reunion

Miller Time

The week flew by and here we are at the start of the Family Day long weekend.

This hasn't always been the case, but this year for the holiday Monday all of our Rascals will be home: the older two will make their way back to the homestead from Toronto and we'll have our houseful back.

It's difficult to describe how much I miss my older, independent rascals.  Did I mention they are very independent?  I guess this is what made them truly "rascals" when they were younger, they all have strong personalities and "minds of their own".  Our youngest is still a teenager so we're still in the thick of real rascal behaviour... but I have the perspective of seeing the other side of that now.

When we have kids we groom them to exist outside of ourselves, and it's a long road from infant to young adult.  Some exhibit rebellious spirits that need careful coaxing and understanding from the get-go, others are perhaps much calmer and closer during the childhood years but then snap into a "different personality" during adolescence.
What I've noticed is that the centre of the individual, that bright light constantly shining during childhood, comes back in early adulthood.

So, even though my older rascals have forged lives of their own, and they are independent from us in every way, I still feel as connected to them as I did when they were young children.  Yet I have to exist knowing that they are walking around in the world, navigating all kinds of situations good and bad... without me.
I know that all parents go through this, and this is the end-goal of parenthood, but I still find it shocking.

We try to drive in to Toronto every three weeks or so to see our older rascals for lunch or dinner but we've been unable to do so since Christmas.  So I sent them care packages instead, a box of Clarins skin care and make-up ordered from the website for our older daughter (as a graduate student she really appreciated the luxury of this) and this care package for our Ole Rascal son.

 Ole Rascal famously has the stomach that is an "Empty Pit of Misery" so of course I sent filling foods.  Lots of potato gnocchi, some ramen, dark chocolate and a bit of tea.  He is most definitely a coffee fellow but he does drink tea in the afternoons and evenings.

I sent him some pumpkin seeds which are terrific for sprinkling on everything but are very good on potato gnocchi, especially paired with the sun-dried tomato pesto I sent.

I had to add a book to feed the soul!  Ole Rascal studied physics and works as a software developer, but since graduating University and immediately going into a demanding job he seems to really enjoy reading fiction.

I found some stainless steel containers perfect for transporting lunch to his office, and an extra-large water bottle.  Stay hydrated Ole Rascal!

If you have any care package ideas I could use for the older rascals please let me know.

Today I'll be prepping the house for our long weekend, planning the dinner menu for Monday, buying flowers for the bedrooms, tidying and polishing. My favourite kind of day.

I hope yours is a happy day, which might seem an unattainable objective after the devastating news out of Florida this week.  Sometimes when the world seems heavy and perhaps hopeless due to all of the grim news it can be difficult to find a balance.  These are the times our humanity is in question.  This is when we need to look to the core of the best of ourselves, our love and care for each other, to see us through.
Love to you,
xoxDani

ps I'm going to halt my daily posting streak for a couple of days due to the Rascal Reunion.  I'll be back for Mop Philosophy Monday xx