Two Down, One to Go

I came home from seeing my father on Sunday afternoon thinking I would tear upstairs to the sewing room and get those three outer borders on this Little Village quilt. And I just couldn't. I was running on empty. The kind of empty where you just want to sit and play solitaire, or scroll mindlessly through Instagram, or watch make-up gurus on YouTube.

So, I did nothing. I may have read my book for a bit, but certainly did nothing sewing-related. Or housework related, or cooking related. And that's that. My weekend was a wrap. My dad is great, and oh, get this! He has gained almost 10 pounds since my sisters and I started staying with him and making sure he eats three times a day. Back in January, he was quite frail looking in the low 150's, and was 163 when he saw his doctor last Friday. She was a bit alarmed at the sudden gain, but my sisters and I are delighted. He seems much more robust. I told him he weighs more than I do, and he looked at me skeptically.  Seriously Dad? Give me some credit.

Monday was better. Eva and I put in our time with homeschooling. Long division. Ugh, that is a time sink. We took a walk with a friend who has been housebound (even more than normal!), made a delicious coffee cake, and started a new book called The Beast and the Bethany.

When Eva left at 2:30 I did go upstairs and got two of the outer borders on. I wanted to make the lentil soup that Kathe recommended recently, so I quit around 4:30 to cook.

That's my story and I am sticking to it.  Some notes on the recipes linked above: The coffee cake calls for
2 1/2 cups of cake flour OR a combination of regular flour and corn starch. Use cake flour. I got the most amazing rise and the cake was really good. I was afraid it wasn't done after 55 minutes and left it in the oven for another 5 minutes, and probably should not have done that. The recipe calls for an astonishing amount of streusel for the top, but trust me, go with it.

The lentil soup has a twist that makes it so much better. Kathe emailed me when I asked readers for their favorite soup recipes, and this one is a keeper. It is called Molly Ringwald's Mom's Mom's Lentil Soup. Everything about it is pretty standard: lentils, onion, celery, carrot, broth, a ham hock. But then you add a pound of browned Italian sausage at the end and that takes it up considerable notches.

Wish you could smell my kitchen right now!

Comments

[Robby H.]

Looks like you have all the bases covered on the kitchen front. Drooling over here.

I imagine your dad's doctor was a little surprised by his weight gain. Although he's probably both eating and drinking more with company to share it with as happens with so many older folks.

[Mary]

I just love your quilt top. I still need to add a couple borders to mine, but I'm just not feeling it either.

[Jan]

That's terrific news about your dad's weight gain! You & your sisters have really made the effort & it's paying off! What a great feeling of accomplishment you all must have! Your border is just right to frame those houses! Have a good week! Stay well!

[Debbie R.]

Glad to hear that your father is doing so well. The quilt is looking good. And your descriptions of the cake and soup are making me very hungry! As for those "empty tank" times, you described them perfectly. And your recipe for filling your tank — doing nothing — is just what is called for. Have a great week.

[Lindah]

Good news about your father! He is well blessed to have his daughters around him to care and demonstrate their love for him. Your little village is looking so good. The white blocks make it really sparkle.

[Ina]

That is wonderful about your dad. I would have thought the doc would be delighted. I read in the paper yesterday that the entire nation has gained weight this past year. Your dad's gain was intentional. The nation? Not so much. ;p

The quilt is really lovely. Hope you can get out for a walk again today. It is good for the mind. Besides, Eva needs the break too.

[Anita L Jackson]

o gosh, I love those cakes!