Birthday Bash

Today is Sister No. 4's Big 5-0.   She was born when I was 18 months old, we shared a bedroom growing up, and even lived in the same dorm in college.  Almost all of my childhood memories include her.

Friends, the last time I spent No 4's big day with her, we were both in grad school.   Too. Long.

 I was delighted to be able to make her cake for her this year.    Check it out at www.addapinch.com: 

 The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe (Ever).  This cake is amazing (the espresso powder makes it), but being with my little sister on her birthday was the very best part of the day.

Narrative Medicine

Last weekend I met up with my college roommate.  She lives on the west coast, so we don't get to see each other as much as we would like....but every time we get together, we pick up right where we left off...as if no time has gone by.  She and her husband are both cancer survivors.  Invariably, part of our conversation will veer toward the big C.  I used to try NOT to talk about cancer.  I used to try to pretend it had never happened to me...  Not. Anymore.

Everyone has a story to tell and sharing your story is healing.    Medical science has finally, officially, recognized this fact and given it a name:  Narrative Medicine.  Columbia University Medical Center even has a Program in Narrative Medicine.  Hallelujah!  Surviving cancer is part of my story.

Soul Work

Today is a beautiful Fall day in Northern Michigan, but  check out what the waves brought up earlier this week.  Monday and Tuesday were rainy and crazy windy...

...yikes.

Friends, it was the perfect time to stay inside, listen to the wind howl and the rain on the roof, and finish some Needlepoint North business.  This will be made into a pillow soon.

Thankfully, I did not lose power like some of my neighbors, so while I stitched away, I binge watched this BBC series.  I absolutely loved it.

The second is just as good as the first.  What a treat!  Judi Dench is one of my very favorites and her character is priceless.  I love a good storm! ( as long as I have electricity.) 

Cheer for the Irish

Friends, I have spent a few September weekends at ND this year.   I was there  to cheer on the Irish, but my biggest cheer is for what you won't see on NBC--the Catholic character they have maintained while climbing the college ranks.

I love that they put the little log chapel on their 175 year banner.

I love to light a candle and kneel to say a prayer at the grotto.

I love the real bells that ring faithfully each day.

I love walking through this door...

...for mass 30 minutes after every home game.

I love attending these lectures before each game.

I love that they have preserved the view of touchdown Jesus with the addition around the stadium.

I do love an Irish victory, and the real victories are outside the stadium.

Amen.

Queen Jane

Friends, I have been doing a lot of driving lately, so thank God for the audio book.

I love all things Jane Austin, especially "Pride and Prejudice" ...so I had to check out "Eligible".  

This read is very entertaining and clever, and sure made me think of how social conventions have changed in the last 200 years.

It reminded me of this cute movie, which is a modern day "Emma".

Well, Jane, they say imitation is the greatest form of flattery....

B's Tailgating Brownies

Friends, football season has arrived and you all know what that means:  a lot of tailgating,

 connecting with old friends,

and cheering for the Irish.

B usually requests her favorite brownies for every tailgate....I got this recipe from her volleyball coach back when she was 11 years old, and it is always a big hit.  

1 stick of butter

1/3 cup and 1/2 cup evaporated milk

one box German chocolate cake mix

2 bags of caramels

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F.  Butter a 9x13 inch pan. 

In a mixer, combine the melted butter with 1/3 cup evaporated milk and the cake mix.  It will be thick.

Spread half of this mixture in the prepared pan.

Bake for 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the caramels with 1/2 cup evaporated milk in the microwave.  Stir  until smooth.

Pour the caramel mixture over the first baked layer.

The remaining half of the cake mixture goes on top of the caramel mixture.  I do this by scooping out a spoonful of the cake mixture, flattening it in my hands, and setting it on top of the caramel mixture.  I try to evenly space the flatten pieces onto the caramel, and then fill in the empty spaces with the chocolate chips.

Bake for 20 more minutes.

There are a few steps to this recipe, but it is so worth it.  Trust me.  Or trust B, who really knows her chocolate.

Or trust all her friends that come to my tailgate for the brownies.

Good Enough

Thursday was an unusually calm afternoon....one of those rare days where the lake is so smooth, you can see all the way to the bottom, even in the very deep water.  Big T and I decided to take the kayaks out to look for rocks.  

All summer I have been on a quest to find the perfect petoskey stone for our new fireplace.  We have accumulated an impressive collection...but have not found the one.  The masons are ready to start...so I am running out of time.

We found a lot of beautiful granite, some very cool fossils, and a few petoskeys...but not the perfect one.  Big T has suggested we just buy one. I will not even consider it. I insist we must find the one.

As I was floating around looking at so much God-given beauty, feeling so grateful to be there with Big T,  I realized that the hunt is the best part...

..

...and that perfection is really overrated.  Good enough is a much better mantra for my life.