The Simple Things in Life….

I am a fairly easy woman to please.  All I really need is peace in my home, a healthy family, a roof over my head and a good glass of wine..well that last one isn’t so much as a need but a good way to end the day ????

Last night I had such a craving for tomatoes, fresh cheese and basil.  I know, it seems like I seem to need this once a week.  But there is just something about this combination of flavors.  It is so fresh , so vital and alive.

The cheese was fresh and from a local place I love and the basil was from my mother in law.  She gave me a little bag of it that she grew herself.  Some went into the caprese bread topping I made and some I used in a cake.

This isn’t much of a recipe, more of a story, really.  Sometimes the wold is moving at such a fast pace that before you know it a weeks goes by in a blink of an eye.  Days go by, doing the same things in and out.  Do we even notice this?  Do we ever pause and take stock of what we are missing?

That is what I am doing in the next few days.  We really haven’t done very many ‘fun’ things this summer I was told yesterday by my sulky oldest son.  I asked what he wanted to do and he replied “swim…for fun”.  My heart broke for him a little as I realized that I have been so focused on my own personal things that are going on that I never stopped to think that they might need a break. A real disconnect.

So I sat down at the kitchen table, cut up my tomatoes, cut a large bunch of basil, cut my little mozzarella balls into slices, sliced my warm baguette, gave a sprinkle of salt, a few cracks of pepper and a wash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  And by myself, I sat and formed a plan to put a smile on all of our faces.

So for the next several days my 2 sons and I are going to reconnect.  We are going to swim, tell stories, play card games, watch movies, sleep in, eat with our fingers, stay up late and catch fireflies.  We will find fossils, take hikes and watch birds.  It won’t really matter because we will be together.  No distractions, no sickness, no doctors or bad news. No school work no deadlines.  Just the 3 of us.

I am always a little paranoid as a relatively new blogger to ‘leave’ the page, not post every day, etc.  This is because I am a little insecure with this all being so new and all. I have worked hard to gain readers (THANK YOU ALL) and I always think if I don’t post every day then people will stop reading.  Now, don’t laugh at me.  Even the most seasoned writers feel this way (as one recently told me :).

I have a few things that are set to come out while I am ‘checking out’.  I hope you like it.  I have a great collection of new recipes that will be on here on Sunday. Just in time for all of your holiday cook-outs!

I hope you have a great holiday weekend and I promise that I will return your comments, emails and posts when I get back ????

Enjoy something simple today.  Take a deep breathe, survey how lucky you are and smile.