Monday, October 29, 2007

Goodbye Girl



Just coming down from a nice, long weekend visit with my sister Emily, newly of NYC. I know we've gone longer without having a visit from her before, but just knowing she's been so far away makes the heart grow fonder.

"What do you want to do this weekend?" I asked her after she arrived. "I just want lots of huggin's and lovin's," she said. "Family stuff." No problem; we've got bags of 'em. All I wanted to was go to the Farmers' Market Saturday morning.

Of course, I woke up with a killer of a headache Saturday morning, also known as Le Migraine. I haven't had one since July, gracias dios. "Can I do anything for you?" Emily asked. "No..." I said, slumped on the couch. She emptied the dishwasher anyway. Two imitrex and three advil later, she and Anna and I went out the door, headache be damned.

I don't know if it was the glorious fall sunshine, or buying all that local produce, or all the drugs (most likely), but an hour later I was finally feeling better. I was thrilled by how much was being offered, and bought the last radishes, cucumber, butternut squash, AND eggplants at several stands. I got everything I wanted, except I didn't see any pumpkins or apples.

Poor Emily's bag got lost between Dallas and Austin - and it was GATE-CHECKED! - so she went shopping in the afternoon with Anna, and of all people, Anthony. He's not a shopper, but has gotten Macintosh-lust lately, and not the kind at the Farmers' Market. He went to the Apple store, they went to Macy's, and I prepped for the grill. My Chippendale kitchen help notwithstanding.







I was pleased that everything on the table was local, except the onion (from Colorado). The lamb chops (grass fed) were tender and devoured by my sister and I (it's genetic) and the kids (they love anything on a bone). The token chicken breast was from Costco for Anthony (he is not a lambophile). The grilled portobello mushrooms were TO DIE FOR; we all wished I'd made more of those.

Anthony left for work Sunday afternoon, much easier to take with Emily being around. Monday Anna was off of school for a teacher-in-service. All day long she kept saying, "I'm so glad I'm off!" because she got to bike around the lake with Emily while I jogged, clean and carve her jack-o'lantern, and go to lunch with little Bev. While she was at ballet class, I took Emily back to the airport. It was a great weekend. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of these days, I'm coming to your house for dinner. Your meals always look and sound so friggin' DELICIOUS. Especially when you have Chippendale kitchen help! Hee!

Laura said...

Aren't sisters great fun?!

peevish said...

Hi Emily!

That food looked so good!

Anonymous said...

I just keep imagining the 'lamb chops' dancing round the field hahaha looks very yum yummy...

Joey said...

What a fabulous weekend! I, too, had my sister (and many other family members) over for a great dinner this weekend. I love it when my sister comes around.

Emily said...

It was a great visit. It does seem like it's been longer than usual. Weird that distance does that.

Thanks for such a great weekend! I love you all so much.

Dana said...

Your food always looks incredible. I suspect you have a better Farmers' Market in Pflugerville than we have here. I'm with Anth on the Lamb Chops, though. The few times I have accidently had lamb...it was divine. I can eat a cow, I can eat a chicken (even with chicks in the next room), I can eat a fish...I cannot wrap my mind around eating a cute, sweet little lamb. (I've never eaten veal, either!)