Things I learned while pet-sitting

Happy almost-July!

Oh hey, I’m posting and it’s not Monday. As Erin would say, whot!?

As I have previously mentioned, I have been house-sitting for the past week for close friends. In addition to being the most amazing foster family to my dog, Maggie, they also have two cats. It’s been a full house! It has also been a learning experience for me, because as we all know I am not an animal person by nature.

~

Some things I’ve learned:

1. Animals make you happy. How can you be sad or angry when a furry face is staring up at you, so grateful that you are sharing an apple slice? Even when you’ve just cleaned up some wayward turds that didn’t make it outside because your dog is 15 years old and slightly incontinent. TMI? Sorry.

2. Animals make you crazy. I talk to myself on the regular, but around the animals I took it to a whole new level. I thought they might enjoy hearing my voice, but by the end of the week I’m positive they thought I was nuts.

3. I’m definitely a “dog” person, but my inner animal is a cat. This was my first prolonged period of time spent around kitties, and I realized we have a lot in common – sensitive, inquisitive, enjoys comfort, and needs constant access to a toilet.

4. Sometimes you need to take pills, and that’s okay. I am allergic to cat hair. Generally I eschew most forms of medication, but this week I was on a double-shot cocktail of Claritin and Benedryl to take the edge off of my runny nose and itchy eyes. Guess what? I’m still here!

~

I didn’t cook or take too many pictures this week. It was super hot and after I got home in the afternoon I was pretty stagnant. Cereal for breakfast, and easy lunches/dinners. You know?

Smart Bran with banana and almond milk.

Puffins and raspberries in almond milk.

 

Fried egg sandwiches on sprouted english muffins…cooked in lots of butter and lazily eaten off of cutting boards.

 

Salads – still loving the sweet potato/almond butter combo!

~

Well I’m going to tidy up around here and then head over to my mom’s, where I will be house-sitting some plants! Ha!

 

Have a great weekend!

Jam of the day: Of Monsters and Men “Little Talks”

Read Full Post »

New dinner with my mom

This week I am house-sitting for some close family friends while they are on vacation. One of the reasons these people are so dear to us is that they adopted our dog, Maggie, five years ago when we couldn’t keep her any longer. Maggie is now 15 years old and I don’t know how much longer she has, so it’s been nice to spend time with her.

My mom came over last night to visit Maggie and have dinner with me. We are both people who love trying new things, so when my mom offered to bring over some of her CSA kale, I proposed that we make a dish neither of us had ever tried: a massaged kale salad!

We used 1 bunch of kale, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, juice of have a lemon, and a sprinkle of sea salt. I decided that it needed more color, so I chopped up a beefsteak tomato on top.

On the side we had some olives and sliced baguette (from Allegro Hearth). Plus San Pellegrino to drink. Aren’t we fancy?

It doesn’t happen often, but I love it when my mom and I can cook an easy meal together. Bonus if it’s trying something new!

Happy Monday my peoples!

~

PS – A very dear friend of mine recently listened to a podcast about Fred Rogers and told me this story. Fred Rogers was at an event and scheduled to speak immediately following a raunchy comedian. He knew he needed to shift the tone of the room, so he asked the audience this:

“I want you to think of everybody who has ever loved you in existence.”

Apparently the feel of the room changed in an instant and I totally get it. Is that not the most comforting, warming thought? Now when I am feeling anxious or afraid or sad I think of everyone who has ever loved me in existence. It is perfect!

Jam of the day: First Aid Kit “Emmylou”

Read Full Post »

Happy Dad weekend and June eats

Big news!

I am signing the lease for my first apartment in Pittsburgh today! I am so jazzed about living in Pittsburgh full-time again. The last few years at college have seen me through so many changes, but my support base at home has always remained unwavering. While I’ve missed the city, I’ve missed the people even more. This place is good people (<– a phrase we say quite a bit around these parts).

Move-in day isn’t until August, which coincides well with the end of my lease in State College. Speaking of, it doesn’t look like I’ll be back there until I go to move out. I’m in Pittsburgh full-time for the summer and it is wonderful. For the most part I’ll be staying at my dad’s but I am also going to be house-sitting for a few weeks when different family and friends go on vacation. I like house-sitting. I like to immerse myself in an alternate setting and imagine a different life, with a different name and identity – I go all out! Sometimes I develop accents and speak in them to myself when I’m alone. What, you don’t do that too?

~

So what have I been eating for the last two weeks? I thought I would share today!

~

1. Fruit. It’s summer, after all.

~

2. Bagels from Mediterra. They just started making pumpernickel bagels. Be still my heart.

~

3. Salads. I usually eat at least one a day because they are so easy. Spinach is abundant right now and the toppings don’t require pre-planning.

With tomatoes, bell pepper, chickpeas and peanut vinaigrette.

With carrots, peppers, plain tofu, and peanut dressing.

With tomatoes, raspberry dressing, and lots of black pepper.

With steamed sweetpotato and almond butter (thinned with a bit of almond milk).

~

4. Scrambled eggs. Shocker! I eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or an afternoon snack.

~

5. Spinach-almond butter wraps on brown rice tortillas. I cannot get enough of this combination!

~

6. Beef jerky. I can’t remember if I’ve ever had beef jerky, but this came from the vendor at the market who sells pickles and zucchini blossoms to my mom. Tasty, but a little tough. Maybe jerky isn’t for me.

The word “righteous” totally brings to mind dudes in colorful sneakers and flat-billed caps.

~

I also spent some QT with one of my favorite people this weekend:

My dad!

Happy Father’s day and happy birthday to my great pops. He doesn’t look a day over 45!

~

Happy Monday everyone!

Jam of the day: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds “If I Had a Gun…”

Read Full Post »