Weekending with Sara.

...sigh...the kitchen counter seems so empty now that it's just me and one laptop. For most of the weekend, it was dueling MacBooks and today it was that plus Sara's work computer. Busy fingers tapping across keyboards....

Sara arrived just in time for Friday night snacks.

Saturday, she and I had lunch with my mom,

and made a quick trip to Costco for mussels and wine before coming home to Queer Eye (this relaunch of the series is excellent - and I love seeing Atlanta in all the external shots) and snuggling with Holly.

Marc cooked the mussels for dinner and we had a delicious meal ... with basketball (and no photos)!

Sunday did not go as planned. My left eye was swollen shut when I woke up. Marc and Katie agreed it looked like pink eye (?!?!) and Sara drove me to urgent care. Yep, pink eye. I have two kinds of drops and my eyes are looking better, but still swollen. I missed Confirmation Sunday, and Sara and I missed the wine tasting and seeing the boys. We did enjoy a nice bottle of Shiraz with the rest of Queer Eye

and Katie was good about FaceTiming with the boys in the tub.

Not quite the same as being with them in person, but definitely a lot healthier for them! And I know it wasn't the weekend Sara had in mine, but I couldn't imagine a better buddy for laying low. There are definitely worse ways to spend some forced downtime!

Here's to a new week ... and a healthy one!

Mid-February Weekending.

... started out with blue skies and temperatures warm enough to have the roof open in the car - this is Friday afternoon on my drive home.

Thankfully Saturday and Sunday weren't as rainy as the forecast predicted (meaning Marc did leave the house for several hours both days to "hit balls" which judging by the state of his clothes, he did) but I still think the best parts of my weekend were spent indoors:

Catching up with Sara. I listened to her latest 2+ hour podcast and then had a long FaceTime (about much more than Homeland).

Watching the amaryllis. Another flower stalk has started (this is #7!)

and the blooms are still going strong.

Saturday evening we watched Longmire while I snuggled with Holly and worked toward finally seeing colors change on my Parallelogram Scarf.

And then yesterday morning, we met up with our favorite toddlers and their parents for breakfast. Marc hadn't wanted to commit to any daytime plans (in case the weather turned nice), but he agreed to 7:30 am when Katie texted Saturday evening. Leaving the house dark-early in the rain was completely worth it!

I love how Katie can get Sam to smile

and how Charlie can actually make Marc laugh!

What made you laugh this weekend?

Unraveled Wednesday.

I've spent most of today right here, drinking tea, snuggling Holly and alternately knitting and listening to The Immortalists (on my phone, which I had to pick up for the photo) with reading pages from To the North (which thanks to some actual daytime reading time has captured my attention ... but not enough to totally set aside the knitting and listening!) ... there might've even been a quick cat nap :-)

also listening to The Immortalists ... on my phone, which I had to pick up to take this photo

because yesterday afternoon/evening looked like this!

I spent an hour at Katie's with my two favorite kiddos before picking up Sara. The three of us had a wonderful dinner out. I can't remember the last time it was just the three of us. for dinner. or I got home at 10pm after an evening out!

observant readers might note that I'm wearing a new sweater ... hopefully to be revealed later this week!

Thankfully there has been no unraveling on my latest project - a black cardigan! This is the second time I've knit Fine Sand (another one of Heidi Kirrmaier's wonderful designs), so it's helpful that the pattern is familiar. I don't even really need to look at the knitting except on every 6th row; that's when those pretty lifted increases happen. And that, my friends, is the secret to knitting black yarn - don't look!

Happy Wednesday!

Hello from New York!

Well hi there, it's been a while!

leaving Madison, Sept 16

If you follow me on Instagram, you know we arrived safely last Monday and have since made Sara's apartment into a home.

last Monday evening 

Friday afternoon

We've also had time to explore - a play on Thursday, local restaurants, the 9/11 memorial and Central Park.

dinner out after the play, Thursday evening

9/11 Memorial, Saturday morning

view of the Upper West Side from Central Park, Thursday morning

Her neighborhood on the Upper East Side is great - lots to do, family friendly (the mama part of me feels like she's safe) and easy access to the rest of the city thanks to the brand new 2nd Avenue subway (which will - hopefully - be the site of an FO photo shoot later this morning).

neighborhood wine bar, Sunday afternoon (we've since completed the puzzle!)

Sara has a good friend here (about ten blocks away) and two more friends visited for the weekend. It feels like she's in a place (and the mama part of me feels especially good about that!)

hosting friends, Friday evening

We had one more lunch out yesterday and I got to see the friend's apartment and meet her dog.

Sara and Cody

Today Sara and I are taking the train to New Haven. My mother-in-law passed away on Saturday and the funeral is there tomorrow. The whole family (including the two great grandsons) is coming; it's going to be a wonderful celebration of her life and legacy. I won't be home until Sunday, and don't expect to be back here until next week. I do hope to share bits and pieces on Instagram before then.

As always, thank for you for reading and being part of my story. xoxo, M.

Think Write Thursday | Again for the Very First Time.

Today's Think Write Thursday topic is to tell about a book we wish we could read again for the very first time. It took me all of about two seconds to come up with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - the seventh and last installment of the Harry Potter series (and even better if I could do it over the first two days of a girls beach week like I did back in 2007).

It's no secret that those books (and the movies) are all-time favorites. I'm grateful I got to experience the story as it evolved. and it's crazy to think that we once lived in a world where we didn't know how the story would turn out!

A quick search through the mere-et-filles archives turns up quite a few mentions of Harry Potter - and many of them were Ten on Tuesday posts. Here's one about the things I love about the books, and this one about D.E.A.R. is a keeper if only for that adorable Charlie photo at the top (almost exactly a year ago!). I even found one from before I read that seventh book - about what I was planning to read on that beach trip (too bad there wasn't book bingo back then!)

But my favorite post - for reminding me about a wonderful time - is this one, from August, 2011.

Sara and I had a great day together just before she went back to school (her sophomore year at Georgia Tech). We saw the Harry Potter movie, we had lunch ... and of course we took a photo. Don't  we look young! (and happy!)

Thank you Kat and Carole for a fun topic and a great excuse to travel down memory lane!

I'm headed off to South Carolina this morning. I do have plans to blog with my iPad... and maybe this time I'll get the photos right!

Hell Yeah Homeland.

Sara is a huge Homeland fan. I've known that for years; she's the real reason I watch the show and feel connected to the story. But what I didn't learn until last fall was that she created a whole website  and community around the show. It's called Hell Yeah Homeland. 

Part of my "preparation" for Sunday night's episode was reading through posts about the season and then listening to a few of the podcasts. I'm consistently impressed by the quality of the writing. Sara and six others host the site. The "six others" was a fairly recent addition and much needed - it is a ton of work! and the additional perspectives have created some interesting and fun dynamics in the conversation. 

Season 6 is almost to the halfway point and things are getting ... tense in Sara's world. While I was visiting, I was privileged to watch her interact with the site and her team members. 

And on Monday, we recorded a podcast. For reals, y'all, it's on iTunes. 

I listened to it for the first time yesterday and was impressed - not only with the quality of the production (that's all Sara) but also our conversation. You can even hear my needles clicking (finishing up the second of Sara's apartment socks). 

The feedback from the community has been wonderful. 

two of my favorite comments

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I can't imagine Sara being this passionate and dedicated to anything different.

Throwback Thursday | These Two.

From Thanksgiving, 1998. I found the top photo earlier this week and thought about how nice it was going to be this year to have these two together again in the kitchen (with me!) Not that there's much cooking left to do - but I know we'll be gathered around the counter eating snacks ... and then of course cleaning up!

It wasn't until this morning, when I scanned that photo, that I realized the one below (previously shared here) was taken the same day.  These two clean up nicely don't they?

I love that we're together for this holiday weekend. I wonder if they'll let me recreate these two photos?!

Wishing you and yours a most wonderful Thanksgiving.

Happy Twenty-fifth.

...to Sara!

I've been thinking a lot about siblings this past week. Twenty five years ago you became the little sister and of course Katie became the big sister (and our family was complete :-)

I guess it's no surprise that many of my favorite photos of you include Katie as well. These are a few of the ones scattered around the house.

November, 1991

our Christmas card photo for 1994 - I wanted matching outfits... can you tell you're wearing the same blouse?

our Christmas card  photo for 2007 - no longer worried about the matching outfits!

We were visiting Katie in NYC ... and it snowed! - 2009

at Katie's wedding - May, 2013

But while you'll happily stand beside Katie and smile, you're your own person... and always have been. (I don't suppose you'd end up in Wisconsin otherwise, right?!)

You're never afraid to try new things... like being the first one in our family to try ballet!

1995 (almost 4 years old)

and you have an infectious joy for life.

2007

Happiest of wishes, dear Sara!

xxoo - M.

Cooking with Sara.

I've written before about how much fun Sara and I have together in the kitchen. This past weekend, we cooked more than yesterday's post (and my Instagram feed full of blue skies and cocktails :-) might've suggested. But it wasn't until Monday that we cooked together. For brunch, we made a spinach mushroom strata and sangria. It was delicious (especially accompanied by a mini-marathon of the last season of Sex and the City episodes). and you'll have to take my word for it since I forgot to take photos.

So I made up for it with dinner. a very non-traditional 4th of July menu, featuring fresh produce and bread from Sunday's market, leftover burrata from Friday's dinner and a pork loin with garlic, thyme and rosemary (that Sara wanted to learn how to make).

It took a little bit (and we had a few dishes to wash), but it was worth every minute.

Sara also made a rhubarb compote, which she served with a dollop of greek yogurt just before the fireworks started. Perfect ending to a lovely meal.

Weekending, Madison Style | 2016.

Ha - why mess with a good thing, right?! Apparently this year's visit was almost an exact duplicate of last year's. So maybe I should simply call them our traditions.

The day before the long weekend, Sara works. I hang out, enjoy a run, walk to Trader Joe's for dinner provisions, prepare dinner, then enjoy time on the balcony and by the lake with my knitting and/or a book. It's fun to have a special cocktail and plate of appetizers ready for Sara when she gets home (upper right).

We go to a matinee. This year we saw Finding Dory on Saturday afternoon. The theater has been renovated since last summer and now has a bar (upper middle) and those super comfortable recliner chairs. We loved the movie. and it gave us the perfect excuse to re-watch Finding Nemo, too!

We celebrate a belated Mother's Day with cocktails and dinner (and Uber) at Merchant. (lower left and center).

We go to the Farmers Market. This year we skipped the huge market at the Capitol on Saturday morning in favor of the neighborhood one we could walk to on Sunday morning. There was a wonderful selection of fresh vegetables and Madison Sourdough. We only needed a few more things  and we had food for two dinners and a brunch.

We go to Sardine for brunch (upper left).

We watch the fireworks at the lake from Sara's balcony.

Along the way, we have plenty of time to catch up and simply enjoy each other's company. I also get to read (I finished three books), knit (slow progress, but at least I'm on size 3's now) and enjoy the neighborhood. All too quickly, four days pass....

I talked with my mom last night and enjoyed sharing a few of the stories. We agreed it's a huge treat to visit your grown children and see them doing well. Indeed it is.

Thank you, Sara, for another wonderful weekend!

FO Friday | Eleventh Hour.

I spent much of last week knitting a new afghan for Sara. This is Purl Soho's Eleventh Hour, knit with Lion Brand Thick and Quick. held double. on size 36 needles. This wasn't nearly as quick a project as I thought it would be. maybe because I made it almost twice as big? and I'm glad I did - it's about 70" long and 52" wide. An afghan for snuggling up (especially in Wisconsin) has to be this big!

Sara chose the main color when we visited the Lion Brand store in New York back in April. But I chose the pattern, the border color...and the timing to knit it!

I even managed to make it a surprise. Here's what last week looked like "behind the scenes".

There's more information on my Ravelry project page if you're interested (that's the only online place I go where Sara doesn't follow me :-)

Cheers to the long weekend and happy Friday!

 

 

Weekending City Style.

...begins of course, on Friday. We set out in the morning under clear, chilly blue skies and headed down to Chelsea.

First stop was Cookshop for an early lunch. We started with burrata and it was the best we'd had. That toast was spread with roasted garlic and the cheese was nestled into a wild nettle pesto.

After lunch we headed to the High Line. This was our first visit and wow! what a great space. also WOW! it was windy and cold. 

We got off at Chelsea Market and made a bee line to Ninth Street Espresso.

We wandered around the market for a while to warm up. What a fun place it's turned out to be! On our next trip, we'll definitely plan a meal-time stop, hopefully on a weekday so it's not so crowded.

Next we headed to Pottery Barn and then made a quick stop at Lion Brand for Sara to pick out a color for a new afghan. All that cold wind wore us out and we headed back to our apartment via Union Square (where I finally saw #blueskyblooms!)

We got cozy with our books, took quick naps and then had fun with Yelp figuring out a fun place to go for cocktails. We had dinner reservations on the Upper East Side, so we looked around there. Lo and behold we found The Penrose. Super fun on a Friday night. We had cocktails and a cheese plate and enjoyed lots of people watching. The Upper East Side has changed a lot in the five years since Katie lived there!

We walked to dinner at Seamstress. I have no photos of the food, but it was all delicious. Sara said it was her favorite meal of the trip and I'd have to agree (we set a very high bar in that regard!) I did get a few photos of Sara, certainly my favorite dinner companion.

Saturday we packed up, checked out and headed to the Upper East Side to meet a friend of mine. We had brunch at Isabella's and I did take photos.

smoked salmon omelette for Sara

and smoked salmon platter for me

Then all too soon, it was time to go (and raining!) We shared a cab to the airport...and flew our separate ways home. The only bright spot about getting home late on Saturday was getting to see this guy (and his mama!) on Sunday!

I can't wait to go back - or really anywhere - with Sara. She's such a fun and easy travel companion. Maybe next time she'll manage tickets to Hamilton and invite me along!