I know what you DON'T want....

In three days, Mrs. Hinkelgruber's best friend will be as old as Mrs. Hinkelgruber.  And that means, old!

And, that means Mrs. Hinkelgruber needs a dessert for Sunday's dinner that's not beer ice cream.  But, that doesn't mean I know what she wants!  It'll probably be something chocolate...or not...maybe something with fruit...or nuts....oh, who knows - it'll be good!

Fall is coming...

It's raining...oh, yeah...you all looked out your windows and saw that, didn't you.

We went wine tasting yesterday with some friends and had a terrific time.  Had a great lunch at a little Mexican place that is ridiculously inexpensive.  So, in the interests of the economy, I made up for that with the amount of money I spent on wine.  Gotta stock up!?!  Winter's coming!

And they said it wouldn't last!

Well, OK, I don't really believe anyone said that, but Mr. Hinkelgruber and I celebrated 28 years of wedded bliss!  I simply find it hard to believe we've been married longer than we haven't.   We celebrated by going to a restaurant we've been going to since even before we were married and got to reminisce with the owner.  Our lives have been decidedly happier than hers - especially in the past two years.

This is the younger son's last week at home before returning to college. And, it's a mixed blessing, seeing him go.  But, three short terms of college left and the grown-up world will await him!

OK, I got warm!

Well, you'll notice that this week's menu is a day longer than usual - we're back from vacation and Mr. Hinkelgruber is back to cooking meals. Funny what a week of restaurant meals can do for you...(seven pounds, a feeling of slothfulness).

You'll also note that the menu is just slightly on the lighter side (see above!).

Our vacation was fantastic, but Sin City was unusually humid for the desert.  (You know that phrase, "But, it's a dry heat,"?  Turns out there's something to that.)  One day, the humidity was at 35%.  Now here in our neck of the woods, that's really not anything to think about. Combine it with 108 degree temperatures, and you get abject misery! But, I'm not complaining, mind you.  My feet got warm for the first time in a while - without the aid of a bottle of wine.  (That came later.)

Well, it's off to the gym - yes, I put it in print - that means I really have to go.  Only have five weeks until our next big adventure!

Ninety degrees and a visitor...

Ninety degrees!  It finally happened...ninety degrees!  Mid-August and the heat of summer finally arrived.

College boy and his buddy head for Las Vegas to celebrate their 22nd birthdays.  The puppy will miss the smoking walks she's been getting.

We had the most interesting visit today - the woman from whom I received the keys to our house when we first bought it came by with her son.  She was born and raised in the house in the '30s.  It was fun to see her face when I told her that she had given me the house keys and she realized that I was the same person from 27-or-so years ago.  We gave her a tour of the house so she could see the kitchen.  And, she marveled the bathroom was still the same.  (Me, too!)  I think she was pleased.

College boy is home!

The youngest Hinkelgruber kid is home for the rest of the summer now and the fun abounds!  There's never more laughter than when he's home.

I finished another sweater and have two more in the works.  I love seeing them come together.

Happy Anniversary!

How many people do you know who have been married to the same person 51 years?  Mrs. Hinkelgruber's eldest sister is celebrating that very thing on this marine-cool Saturday.  Congrats, Sissy!

Another trip to the farmers' market today and a dark chocolate-almond torte in the oven - what could possibly be better on an August Saturday?

Three weeks 'til Vegas!  I can hardly wait!