Crazy Weather

Hi Folks,

Weather is weird today. We are going from 70 down to 27. Wind is blowing like crazy out there 25-35 mph, gusting to 45 miles per hour. I was just sitting out in shorts and a t-shirt and wasn't at all chilly, and then tonight we have a 100% chance of  precipitation and we may have ice pellets! 27 degrees! Craziness.

I'm at John's this weekend. John harvested some stuff from the garden today. A surprising amount of stuff.

Fartichokes, chard, carrots, parsnips. And a stray onion.

Mint and lemon balm for tea.

Little roasted bites of carrots and beets. Delicious!

Dad has a new thing, a lot of muscular soreness. Mom took him to doctor and dad had x-rays. Doctor says it is arthritis. Dad has never had arthritis. I told Mom to take him somewhere else, but she said we'd give the medicine the doc prescribed a chance. Patience is not my strong suit. We are wondering if he took a spill, maybe on one of his strolls around the yard? Just speculation. He has been pretty miserable with it. He has a follow-up this week, and Kathleen may go along. Mom is still his cousin, Ione, and I'm still his sister, Noreen. He is still in a good mood, despite this new pain. He never was one to let things beat him down. Hopefully he'll come out of this. It's hard to see him so sore, he is usually so spry.

Headed down south for a mini vacation . . .

Where am I? If you guessed Lincoln IL you are correcto!

I was a little thirsty at my BBQ supper at Bandana's. I went to get camera to take a picture of supper, but I forgot to take a pic! We shared a pork sammy with slaw and a baked tater stuffed with BBQ and topped with cheese. It was delish. There was okra too.

The doughnut holes on the menu intrigued me. The waitress told me they taste just like funnel cakes, but I was dubious, so I had to try some. Turns out she was right!

John at Cahokia Mounds. I AM not sharing the picture of me doing my mini squats (part of the PT for my sore knee)!  Oh yeah, did I mention I finally went to doctor for my sore knee! Trying out some physical therapy. It is helping. I did the lower flight of stairs at Cahokia with no pain. Didn't press my luck on second half, just did my PT exercises and enjoyed the lovely view and weather.

It was windows down weather the whole weekend. Just gorgeous.

At Gioias, an Italian deli on The Hill, I had the Spicy Daggett,

Hot Salami, Hot Coppa, Capicolla smothered in Spicy Giardiniera Peppers and Pepper Cheese

BAKED ON GARLIC BREAD! http://www.gioiasdeli.com. Go there. Eat. A friendly, fun place, busy as hell. John was boring and had a dipped roast beef sandwich. It was really good.  I say when you are at a place where there is homemade salami, partake! And we each got a free cookie. What is not to like!

We hit the Global Market and DiGregorio's on The Hill and now we have a lovely blend of pizza cheese in the freezer, some mozzarella and meunster with manchego and romano and parmigiano reggiano and asiago and fontina. Oh the suffering! And yes, there was canolli.

If you are in a store and  peek in doorway and see little old Italian ladies making tortellini and ravioli, you must buy some!

I made bread (I hope, it is still rising), and there is spinach and roasted garlic ravioli for supper. I'll post a pic if it is blog-worthy!

Nothing much else going on. John might get some kittens. I think he should get 2 so they can keep each other company. We shall see. I moonlit . . . moonlighted . . . worked on election day for the County Clerk. It was fun! Lots of energy around on election day.

Nice to have a long weekend.

Happy Veteran's Day.

Kay :)