Another Chapter ... Same Book.

Recently, I was reminded of this blog in an indirect way. I googled it. Then giggled. The site was not saved in my Favorites folder. Yeah. Fuh-nay.

 

Rereading old posts (back from 2009!) brought back so many memories - good and bad - and how cathartic it was for me to have this blog during those years.

 

These days, I have left the blogging to the ones more dedicated to the art.

But, I still love the idea of keeping this one alive.

 

My twins are now three. Almost four, if you must know! 

I blinked a few times and each have crossed joyous, scary, memorable and touching milestones each time.

Here is a recent pic of my cuties! Summer 2015.

 {Let's quickly catch up!}

 

We live in Central Florida now. A big move from the Northeast from all that we've ever known. Florida is home to a few things I probably should have known prior to coming down...

1. Bugs. Lots of them. And they are B.I.G. And they are many. And they are not my friends.
2. Lightening. Did you know that Florida is the lightening capital of the world? Ok, just the U.S. Apparently, Africa is the lightening capital of the world. At least that's what Google told me. 
3. Rain. The summer months here (June, July and August) are considered the rainy ones in Florida. Not sure why I didn't think of that. Rain leads to flooding. And bugs and slimy critters trying to share our inside space. Trust me. I know. We just had our own Battle of the Bulge here [of the red ant variety].  Did I mention bugs are not my friends?

Not everything in Florida is bad.

     For one, from September to May, the weather is supremely more glorious.

        And we can technically go swimming year round in the heated pool.

           Disney is but just a short drive away.

              Not to mention the plethora of other theme parks.

                 And there is no ice to chip off my windshield and snow to shovel 

                 during the winters up north that seem to be stretching longer and longer each year.

 

So to backtrack (or to come full circle for the glass half full folks), I created this blog as a sort of ... therapy ... and to keep personal questions at bay. They were too painful to talk about then. Sometimes still now. But not nearly as much. Actually, these days, I feel warmth when I think or speak of Nari and Matthew (the first).

 

Time wrote so many unwritten pages from our earlier life chapters to the one we're living now.

 

I'm resurrecting this blog to write about this chapter and ones to come.

Full of life, follies, futures, frills and food. Okay. You got me! Mostly about food.

 

     I love to buy it, find it, cook it, taste it, look at it and dream about it!

 

My husband (who puts up with all of my crazy) has been after me to start a food blog.

I think I'm grossly underqualified to do so but don't mind doing it for my own sake and for fun.

 

So here we go again!

 

Hamilton Rain - When It Rains It Pours!

(Oh! Just realized that the original title made a poor pun. You know 'cuz we're in Florida now?  [blank stares and crickets, huh?]  Oh, never mind!)

 

You're still reading the same book with the same characters but an entirely new chapter ... with lots of food references, kitchen gadgets, menus, recipes, reviews and who knows what else! AND hopefully the two or three people that read this will post their food ideas too with pictures and their thoughts on gadgets they've used. Stay tuned, folks!

 

Vene, Vidi, Edi!

My bounty from a successful local farmer's market run (seems few and far between around here!).

 

Happy Halloween

This Halloween is a strange one because we're experiencing so many changes in our lives. We didn't decorate or put our usual lights up outside our house this year because we're packing and moving. We didn't stock up on Halloween treats or get into costume. And most of all, I'm not really sure if I'll be excited to see all the little witches, princesses, spidermans and ghosts trick-or-treating this year.

Regardless, we will be stocking up on candy today. We will be putting on the spooky music and brew our glühwein to sip while oohing and ahhing at the creative costumes.

Our street has an especially high volume of activity. Most of it can be attributed to the fact that several houses on this street decorate to the extreme for most of the major holidays. One decorates for EVERY SINGLE holiday of the year. I don't know where they store all of the tacky inflatables and lighted plastics! Their basement has to look like a mad funhouse!

Happy Halloween to all the ghouls and goblins that have dressed up to celebrate the passing and beginning of another season.

That's most important to remember.

We're here for the living
and
I appreciate every reminder of that.

Dawn of a New Day

I've decided that instead of replacing this blog with a new one to chronicle this journey Ken and I are taking, we are going to continue the blog and take turns posting our thoughts and rants. We want to capture the whole of our lives that began with a tragedy that won't be forgotten.

As a "new" official family, we have so many plans, ideas and thoughts we want to share with our friends and extended family. We'd also love to hear your comments, ideas and answers to questions we post as we feel our way through this wonderful thing called life.

Right now, I'm taking some down time with Ken, my close ones and myself. I'm recovering physically and healing emotionally.

There are moments of guilt for feeling things like happiness and having an appetite. Foreign emotions but not obstacles.

We are also planning to move back up north. We'll sorely miss being so close to the city and the bright lights but we're happy to trade those in for a calmer setting and a different kind of bright lights ... the stars.

Ken and I feel so very blessed to be surrounded with our family, friends and understanding bosses at work.

Keep us posted on all of your lives ... through comments on this blog, through email or by phone ... because we'll be posting updates here for you all to let the people who care about us know that we're doing okay and haven't given up hope.

Hugs for all!!