Five Things Friday

A weekly gratitude list: 

1. Rudy the dog. I am not a "dog person," or much of a pet person at all. We got Rudy for my son for Christmas five years ago, when he was still struggling with the aftermath of cancer, as a companion and something to look after. Ben has moved out and on with a wonderful, healthy life, but Rudy's still here and now heads up the hospitality committee at our house. When I walk him around downtown, people from all over holler, "Hey Rudy!" He barks once, quietly and politely, when the doorbell rings, and - being the most nonthreatening-looking dog ever - most people warm up to him quickly. He's an icebreaker for nervous folks and a general furry bunch of goodwill. I honestly love him. 
2. The hybrid Zipcar. I got to use our new Zipcar membership when I picked up Riley last weekend. He was thrilled to get to open the car with the membership card and watch how much gas or battery charge we were using while driving. Honestly, we both got kind of excited about that. 
3. Bananas. We rarely eat them since they're not local, but the Co-op had some very ripe ones for free a few weeks ago which I quickly snagged to freeze for smoothies. It was the proverbial slippery slope. Dang, they are good. 
4. Wine. John and I made a New Years resolution to drink a bottle of wine every Friday night. We are quite aware that this could be a very bad resolution for a number of folks, but for us - both virtual teetotalers our entire lives - it's something new and fun to look forward to doing together at the end of the week. I think we need a little help with wine choice though. I have been judging by how local and  organic they are and am seduced by artful labels.  This has resulted in some pretty awful stuff that needs to be turned immediately into sangria. I am also grateful it's orange season. 
5. My life at the Green House. Today when I was dishing out oatmeal and garnishing locally-grown (and donated by a friend) grapefruit with (also-gifted) strawberries, and watching people hanging out by the fire enjoying the good food and being so friendly and kind and happy to be eating here, I had a feeling of deja-vu. This is what I once dreamed of, and sometimes it looks exactly like I dreamed it. I used to have that feeling sometimes when my childen were little - that I had once imagined future children, and here they are, so much more than I expected. Now I realize how dependent this phenomenon is on my own inner disposition, whether I recognize these things once in a while, or ignore it, or even become aggravated by it (These kids are keeping me from the book I wanted to read! What? You want tea instead of coffee?!). I'm grateful for the times I see how good this is. 

Comments

[Cara Dobrev]

Oy - as Mama of a little one, I do sometimes need the reminder that this was just what I wanted. And then other times, I can't soak her in enough. It's a teetering balance for me, parenthood.

You might consider turning the wines you don't enjoy in to vinegar. Homemade red wine vinegar is incredibly good. We simply use a generous amount of cider vinegar as a starter and then pour in any wine that doesn't get finished or that we don't like, adding wine when we have it and only adding starter if we run so low on our own vinegar that there isn't enough. (I use an old cider vinegar jug with cheesecloth over the top for my container. Of course, a quick Google search will yield instructions on the 'real' way to make vinegar.

[Kelli Brew]

Thank you for the wine-to-vinegar tip! One of them seemed well on its way to becoming vinegar already... Hopefully our wine choice will improve over time, but this is good to know and I'm sure will be put to use before the year is out.