A Turn For The Better

 

I can say without a doubt that today has been the best day since my kidney stone attacked me. Although I did have my usual morning bout of pain it was neither as bad nor did it last as long as yesterday's. I did pop a pain pill and drank a bunch of water and then I stomped around the yard. On my third circuit, I could already feel the pain abating, like the ocean's tide going out, slowly but surely. And then...it was over. And since it had not been so bad, it didn't wipe me out the way the other ones have and I had far more energy to do a few things around here. 

As you can see, I fed my sourdough and it is bubbling away, happy with its infusion of whole wheat and white flour. I even used the starter that is supposed to be thrown out to make a loaf of cheat bread with a little yeast and a tiny bit of milk and a spoonful of sugar in it. That is still rising. 

I decided to make a salad that I always make new-born mamas. 

The recipe comes from a very, very vintage Southern Living magazine and it has things in it that no one in their right culinary mind would use these days like a dressing made with vegetable oil, chili sauce, sugar, soy sauce and wine vinegar. Well, I guess all of those are all right, really, but if I used all of the oil and sugar recommended we would probably die tonight. It also has thinly sliced beef in it, sugar snaps and tomatoes, spinach and red onion, along with hard boiled eggs and sesame seeds. I don't have any spinach but I picked a bunch of lettuce and some kale and I don't have a red onion but I have a sweet onion and those will do. The name of the recipe is Peking Beef Salad and I am thinking that the tablespoon of soy sauce and sesame seeds are what makes it qualify to be titled "Peking." It's certainly not the Heinz chili sauce or hard boiled eggs unless there's something about Asian cooking that I do not know. 

Anyway, I surely have a goodly plenty of sugar snaps. 

That's about a half gallon right there. 

I also washed the sheets, dried them (in the dryer) and put them back on the bed. I just was not up to it yesterday. And after I'd done all of that, I was pretty much done but the best had yet to come. 

Lon and Lis came over to Tallahassee from Gator Bone to play a set at the Word of South Festival. 

Liz Sparks sent me this picture. Can you see Vergil and August and Levon off to the right? Jessie had to work. 

It's a big deal and lots and lots of musicians and authors play and read and are interviewed at these things. I haven't seen Lon and Lis in so long. They've been taking care of Lis's sister who has had several surgeries since Christmas and many, many complications, not to mention needing complicated care throughout. That has been the focus of their life and honestly, I can't even remember the last time we saw each other. Obviously, I was not up to going to hear them today but they stopped by on their way home and had a cup of coffee and we got a very short catch-up visit with so many hugs and kisses. 
My god, but it was good to see them. 
Lis brought me that pretty little rose you can see behind my starter and I finally gave her the Christmas present I'd gotten her and since her birthday is next week, it has ended up being her Christmas/birthday gift. 

And so hasn't this been just the very best day? 

I feel almost 50% my real Mary Moon self. I'm tired. I will admit that. But I got some shit DONE. And I got to see my beloveds. 

I am so, so grateful. 

Love...Ms. Moon