Walnut Pesto

I know...I take my sweet ass time getting back to you and all you get is condiment for crying out loud. I'm working on it people. And, I won't lie, this pesto is pretty damn good. Just before the first frost my basil plant finally decided to show up in the garden. I got enough basil leaves to make 16 ounces of pesto, 8 ounces of regular pesto and then 8 oz of this more hearty earthy walnut pesto. I got this recipe from another blogger, that I hadn't read before and I absolutely love the name of her blog...Kiss My Spatula. Here is a link to the recipe on her website.

I've got a confession. I've been listening to Christmas music on Pandora all week. Yes, I'm one of those people who will go into a department store in October and cry foul over all the Christmas trees, decorations, etc., and then get in the car and blast my Swinging Christmas cd all the way home. I'm even going to make gingerbread biscotti this weekend, so take that.

Tis the season...

I'm Back Bitches!

There is nothing the body suffers that the soul may not profit by.

--- George Meredith.

These past two weeks have been confusing and heart breaking and amazingly beautiful all at the same time. I don't know why life takes the turns that it does and how invisible hands lead you down paths that you never knew existed. But what I do know is that there is a lesson in all of this...there has to be, and I know that it will not reveal itself all at once, it will unfold little by little over time. But what I do know is this; tomorrow is not promised to you, do not take for granted that you will have the chance to tell people you are sorry or that you love them or that more bluntly put, that you fucked up.

I watched as a disease that my father fully brought upon himself robbed him of his ability to speak, his ability to move, his ability to verbalize his final thoughts, his eyes had to speak for him...I'll never know if I read them correctly. He thought he had more time, but the disease moved so rapidly through his body, systematically shutting down his faculties, rendering him mute and unable to move, trapped with all his unsaid final thoughts. This is the heart breaking part, the part that will forever cause an ache at the bottom of my heart. He had more to say...yes, it shouldn't have taken him 33 years to say it, but he had more to say damn it.

Do yourself a favor...

Tomorrow set your alarm for a few minutes earlier than normal, take two minutes to wrap your arms around your husband or wife, put your head on their chest, listen to their heart, be grateful for what you have, tell them you love them.

Be a good friend. I can't thank my friends enough for all their kinds words, for sending me letters, for checking in on me, for coming to my fathers wake, for sending me wine. Thank You.

Realize that you can't change the past, but damn it you have a hand in the future. Make a better future for yourself.

Help someone who needs it. A lot of people just need a little help.

Be Good.

Until further notice...

I hate to write this post...it just sucks...where I'm at right now.

I have spent the better part of two days at a hospice center - trying to say goodbye to a father I never knew.

Never in a million years would I have pictured myself at the deathbed of a father who was absent my entire life.
Never would I have thought that when this day came I would be filled with so many emotions, least of all sadness.

But I am sad, and frustrated and angry at how life can switch gears on you so quickly that you feel your legs will give out from under you if you move just the slightest inch. I'm walking a fine line between all my emotions right now.

I will be back...when I am back to being myself...I'm trying to find her right now.

I will be back as soon as I can.
Jules

Five Years...Amazing

What do you say? What do you say when it just gets better and better....every year, every day. I love you more than I could ever put into words. I love you in my bones, in my breathe in the beat of my heart. I had no idea that a persons capacity for love could grow so much beyond the bliss of "I Do". I didn't know it was possible, but I love you more today than I did then, and I'll love you more tomorrow. I know that whatever happens you are there, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad. You are my foundation, the base upon which all the good things in my life flourish. You make me so unbelievably happy. Thank you Chris, for sharing this life with me.

Happy 5th Anniversary!

A Week in Napa...

I just spent a week in Napa, I'm taking a nap, and then I'm off again for a business trip for the week. I'll be blogging my experience this weekend. See you then.

Jules

Salsa Fresca

Did I mention I have a shit ton of tomatoes?

I did right. I have so many of them that they are falling off the vines to the ground and I'm just leaving them there. This is so sad. CB has been averaging about a tomato a day, either in his sandwich or in a salad at night. Don't even get me started on the cucumbers. I've got ones in the house that are as long as my arm, and I saw one this morning laying on the ground that was literally as thick as my calf.

So, I took Hallie's advice on peeling tomatoes [Pick tomatoes that are fully colored and tender (but not mushy or soft) and clean them well. Dip 2 to 3 tomatoes at a time into boiling water, removing after 30 seconds with a slotted spoon. Slide off the skins and remove the core.] I did this to about six of them, peeled them, seeded them and then chopped them fine. I combined this with chopped fresh cilantro, chopped sweet onion, lime juice, lime zest, and a little salt and pepper. It was delicious. We ate it with big crunchy corn chips.

Rating = Good