GoldMopCypress of Celeste
Jan. 3rd, 2023 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ismoThis being a new year and all, I suppose I should be less lackadaisical about blogging. Otherwise it will all just disappear, like tears in rain, etc. Of course, it will anyway, eventually. Never mind, tra la la, happy birthday J.R.R. Tolkien!
The weather people on TV have confirmed my suspicion that we've had close to no sunshine at all in the last five days. It's been dark and rainy. For the first time this winter, I've observed the annual ritual nod to "Valley Winter Song" by Fountains of Wayne:
And late December
Can drag a man down
You feel it deep in your gut
Short days and afternoons spent pottering around
In a dark house with the windows painted shut
Okay, it's not as bad as all that. Most of our windows aren't painted shut. I do potter my way through the short days, though. Today: washed a bunch of dishes, put away laundry, called Madame. We chatted briefly before she had to excuse herself for the usual old person reasons, and then she never came back. However, I am excited to hear that her son was coming to take her to an appointment with the ear doctor. She said they still weren't going to turn the implant on yet--just talk about it. SIGH. Why so complicated . . . . I've edged the WIP up to 59,000 words now, which makes me feel better, although I also think, for Pete's sake, why is this taking so long!
Part of the reason is having too many sick friends. Yesterday I had a fairly appalling conversation with Wol. I was glad to speak to him and learn that yes, they did in fact amputate his foot, but he's still alive and kicking even if with only one leg. However, he is both irate and disoriented about a number of things. This is not my first rodeo with people having unwanted procedures while experiencing dementia, but let's just say it's not a thing that sparks joy for anyone.
While I was working on the WIP, the Sparrowhawk went out to forage for a new dishwasher. The old one is falling apart, and we suspect it is leaking as well, although we've had a repairman here a couple of times trying to fix it. So we stopped using it--hence the handwashing of dishes. As usual, we couldn't have the appliance we wanted, and the one we could have cost more. We've replaced the freezer, the refrigerator, and now the dishwasher, at the worst of times for replacing anything! I hope the stove keeps working.
We used up all the leftovers, so I cooked tonight. I thawed a pork tenderloin, but it was still a bit frozen in the middle at cooking time. So I cut it into medallions and browned them with some bacon trimmings the Sparrowhawk had saved in the refrigerator, and then also browned onions, apples, and cabbage, seasoned it with salt and pepper, harissa, some fresh ginger that was hanging around waiting to be chopped, and a splash of maple syrup, and let it simmer in the big cast iron skillet. It was tasty with some mashed potatoes and salad. A word to the wise: harissa is spicy! Exercise caution as you sprinkle it around. I liked the degree of spicy that we attained tonight, but maybe not everyone would. A hot, sweet, and spicy meal brings a touch of sunshine into the house even when it's dark by 5:30
The weather people on TV have confirmed my suspicion that we've had close to no sunshine at all in the last five days. It's been dark and rainy. For the first time this winter, I've observed the annual ritual nod to "Valley Winter Song" by Fountains of Wayne:
And late December
Can drag a man down
You feel it deep in your gut
Short days and afternoons spent pottering around
In a dark house with the windows painted shut
Okay, it's not as bad as all that. Most of our windows aren't painted shut. I do potter my way through the short days, though. Today: washed a bunch of dishes, put away laundry, called Madame. We chatted briefly before she had to excuse herself for the usual old person reasons, and then she never came back. However, I am excited to hear that her son was coming to take her to an appointment with the ear doctor. She said they still weren't going to turn the implant on yet--just talk about it. SIGH. Why so complicated . . . . I've edged the WIP up to 59,000 words now, which makes me feel better, although I also think, for Pete's sake, why is this taking so long!
Part of the reason is having too many sick friends. Yesterday I had a fairly appalling conversation with Wol. I was glad to speak to him and learn that yes, they did in fact amputate his foot, but he's still alive and kicking even if with only one leg. However, he is both irate and disoriented about a number of things. This is not my first rodeo with people having unwanted procedures while experiencing dementia, but let's just say it's not a thing that sparks joy for anyone.
While I was working on the WIP, the Sparrowhawk went out to forage for a new dishwasher. The old one is falling apart, and we suspect it is leaking as well, although we've had a repairman here a couple of times trying to fix it. So we stopped using it--hence the handwashing of dishes. As usual, we couldn't have the appliance we wanted, and the one we could have cost more. We've replaced the freezer, the refrigerator, and now the dishwasher, at the worst of times for replacing anything! I hope the stove keeps working.
We used up all the leftovers, so I cooked tonight. I thawed a pork tenderloin, but it was still a bit frozen in the middle at cooking time. So I cut it into medallions and browned them with some bacon trimmings the Sparrowhawk had saved in the refrigerator, and then also browned onions, apples, and cabbage, seasoned it with salt and pepper, harissa, some fresh ginger that was hanging around waiting to be chopped, and a splash of maple syrup, and let it simmer in the big cast iron skillet. It was tasty with some mashed potatoes and salad. A word to the wise: harissa is spicy! Exercise caution as you sprinkle it around. I liked the degree of spicy that we attained tonight, but maybe not everyone would. A hot, sweet, and spicy meal brings a touch of sunshine into the house even when it's dark by 5:30
