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.