Wow.

One personality trait of a good pirate is being able to handle life with sizzling romantic flare. Eeeeekkkkkk!!!!  What a superb weekend!!! This has been the most special weekend I have had in years. 

The Pirate Husband drove through fourteen hours of rain, sleet, and snow on Friday from Savannah, Georgia to come home for a hot weekend date.  It's 5am Monday and he's returning already.

Saturday we prepped and packed ourselves for our little get-away weekend, heading south to Cincinnati. This means the Pirate Husband put on a suit! Not only is he the most charming man I have ever met, he's also the most handsome.  Women young and old still swoon over him and they don't mind commenting, even to me! I have learned to curb the green-eyed monster and just gush along with them, as he pretends to blush.  That man!  For instance, the elderly lady who volunteers at the local library listened to his Great Loop adventures with relish; she actually asked me, "Does he need anyone to carry his suitcase?"  Hmph.  I'll be carrying his suitcase, thank you very much indeed!

We must have tossed around twenty-five different ideas for dinner before the youngest son and his wife suggested The Melting Pot.  

Fondue at The Melting Pot

It was quite tasty, quietly romantic, and we, of course ate more than we should....but skipped desert. 

We drove about twenty minutes into the heart of Cincinnati, climbed the hills into Eden Park to the Cincinnati Playhouse to see a really good production of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"  It was darling.  Kate Cook held her own as Miss Elizabeth Bennett and John Feltch was great as her father, Mr. Bennett.  The show was very good, even for pirates who aren't so interested in innocent, English romances.  The Pirate Husband behaved impeccably and we had such a memorable evening.(Eeeeekkkkk!)  How I do love him with all my heart.

Kate Cook as Miss Elizabeth Bennett

After the show ended we made our way into Northern Kentucky to the Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast in Burlington.  The proprietress, Mrs. Nancy Swartzell, was there to greet us at the door even though it was nearing midnight.  So sweet.  Not just with kindness but Nancy was also cheerful.  Our room was supplied with espresso and homemade cookies - just the thing for a couple who skipped the chocolate fondue at dinner!  We stayed in "Catherine's Room", which was cozy, impressively clean and tidy, smartly decorated, and adorned with every necessity we could imagine.  The home was originally built in 1830 and one might not think that in the tiny town of Burlington you'd find such upscale lodgings but the service, the home, the grounds, the food were excellent.  

Breakfast was amazing and Nancy blessed the five couples staying there with radiant smiles; her husband, Bob, working quietly and diligently by her side in the kitchen.  The Pirate Husband had the heavy-duty three cheese quiche and, as I couldn't decide between the creme brulee' French toast or the orange marmalade stuffed French toast, Nancy prepared one of each for me.  The small antique table was set just for us with fine linens and china, our own freshly brewed pot of French roast coffee, near the window overlooking the front lawn.  

Before checking out we spent almost an hour chatting with Bob and Nancy - great people, I hope to see again some time soon.  Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast

Willis Graves Bed and Breakfast 

The Dining Room

                         

"Catherine's Room"...and Our Room

Nancy Swarzell Whipping Up Breakfast

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe

This is a very old picture of us taken probably ten or eleven years ago in Los Angeles but that same smitten joy on my face for having that man's arm around me is how I feel this morning.  

In Love with My Pirate Husband

Ypérochos

Today was a fabulous day!  Spent the better part of the afternoon in Mason at the new Greek restaurant, Remezo...kalyteros!!

www.remezo.com

A friend of mine from Greece is the general manager of Remezo and this was the first visit.  What's not to love about Greek food?! I can't even begin to describe the lamb - tasty just won't do to describe it!  The atmosphere was elegant but so comfortable. That's the way Nik (Nikolaos Sarlis) does things, though.  He likes to pull a chair up to the table, sit down and visit with you like you are an old friend, or even family...and before you know it, that's just what you are, old friends.  So happy for him!

To top things off was the most delectable dessert, galaktoboureko!  That was a lot of fun trying to learn the correct pronunciation but I sure gave it several tries!  (Do not roll the "R"!)  This particular galaktoboureko came from the owner's grandmother's recipe; you know grandmas always keep their best recipes secret!  I sure hope Remezo's becomes the best kept Greek restaurant secret in the Cincinnati area!

                                 

Mechanic

I either need a mechanic or I have to become a mechanic.

Romantic, right?

Charlie Allnut: Well, Miss, ‘ere we are, everything ship shape, like they say. Ah, it's a great thing to have a lady aboard with clean habits. It sets the man a good example. A man alone, he gets to livin' like a hog. Ha, ha. Then, too, with me, it's always: 'Put things off. Never do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow.' But with you: 'Business before pleasure.' Every time. Do all your personal laundry. Make yourself spic-and-span, get all the mending out of the way, and then - and only then - sit down for a nice quiet hour with the Good Book. I tell you, it's a model - like an inspiration......http://www.reelz.com/trailer-clips/51049/the-african-queen-clip/?ap=1 

Tu Me Manques

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkA-64dDC7w

"Tell me right away if I’m disturbing you,” he said as he stepped inside my door, “and I’ll leave at once.”“You not only disturb me,” I said, “you shatter my entire existence. Welcome.”

Do I Look Like a Plumber?

It fell to me to once again put on my plumber's hat and unclog a drain.  This was .... awful.  The shower in the main bathroom was beginning to drain very slowly and what's a lone lady to do? Grab the rubber gloves, the red bucket, a screwdriver, baking soda, vinegar, and a Turbo Snake.  That's right, a Turbo Snake.  

My daughter-in-law heard that I'd be digging in and removing loads of nastiness out of the shower drain and she brought this handy little tool over.  

It worked very well.  The Velcro end attaches itself to the great big globs of greasy, grimy (gopher guts, mutilated monkey meat, chopped up baby birdie feet) hair and "soot".  The stiff wire feeds well through the drain pipe; I think I need to invest the $3.95 in my own little Turbo Snake.  

I finished off with lots of baking soda and vinegar, followed by a hot water chaser.  The smell, though, is burned on my brain, stamped forever in my olfactory system.  Yuck.  

God bless all plumbers every where.  

Penn Sings It Best

Winter Storm Titan

6pm Eastern Standard Time

Double darn it.  Big fat flakes have started pouring from the sky once again.  I drove to six places before finding any salt for the driveway.  Most people prepare when they have ten days notice that a major snowstorm is headed their way.  Me?  Well, I'll believe when I see it.  I'm believing it now.  

My favorite variety of flakes are falling - the ginormous fluffy ones that quickly build up.  The kind that makes you feel all Narnia-like and you expect that Mr. Tumnus will pop around the corner with his many packages, inviting you in for tea and biscuits - only to lure you to sleep....guess I'll make that cup of tea for myself.

 

Sisu

Sisu - A Finnish Character Trait

I really don't know if it is me that won't give up or this eternal winter that just keeps lingering.  Maybe both.  Again, I grabbed my trusty shovel and just cleared inches of snow off the three-car-wide driveway into piles feet high....well, at least a foot high!

Sisu is a Finnish word generally meaning determination, bravery, and resilience. However, the word is widely considered to lack a proper translation into any other language. Sisu is about taking action against the odds and displaying courage and resoluteness in the face of adversity.

It's my darned pride that keeps me going.  The guys from the city who clear the snow from the roads just smile and wave and for the life of me I can't stand it.  Do they pity me?  Ugh, I hope not. Are they laughing?  No problem. Whatever they do, I hope they're not looking at my backside while I work.  

There's a part of me that wants someone else to clear the driveway.  The women in my life are not clearing their driveways of all this snow.  There's a tiny spark of jealousy that burns inside that I really wish I could extinguish.  Why should I resent shoveling snow?  I actually enjoy it while I'm out there alone...as long as no one is watching, smiling, and waving.  

The thought hit me that no one in this neighborhood helps anyone else.  That's quite sad.  Not that I want any of these neighborhood fellas to look at me as some damsel in distress who needs help - I don't.  But if I was the one with a fancy snow blower, I'd be out clearing driveways for the sheer joy of helping someone else and making their day a little brighter in the land of Ohio winters.  Next year; I'll look for a snow blower in the spring and make plans for next year.  I contemplated taking my trusty shovel and helping someone clear their driveway; but who would it be?  Mike had shoveled his, Dave had his fancy snow blower out earlier, Jack had all his adult kids visiting, the other Mike (no, he mocked my organic dandelion yard at the associational meeting), the pastor wouldn't like that, Bill is in Florida with his snowbird wife, the others either have snow blowers or they pay $50 for a service to remove it....fifty dollars.

The crisp winter air helped clear my head and the workout was actually exhilarating as I sang this old tune:   

Tuff Enough