Friday Michael the Transformer came and took away the kitchen doors and drawer fronts to refinish them and let them outgass across the street at his house.
He cautioned me to pace myself with clearing out, now that I can see what was behind the doors. Hm. Not sure how that's done.
And an hour after he left, I'd sorted the two left cabinets
One thing led to another and I remembered the ginger in the fridge still waiting to be diced. Instead, having also remembered the microplane, I thought I'd just grate the ginger, skin and all, and dice what was left.
Now it's in the freezer ready to use. I don't like peeling and dicing ginger despite the lovely smell, so I think the microplane will be the go-to from now on.
I was given it and thought I'd never use it. But it's so much easier than the way I used to zest lemons and limes, and now process ginger.
I don't like prepping food at all, but do it because I need to. I do like the results though.
Then I went out and pulled out a huge armload of daylily foliage and dayflowers. I set them down to settle before carrying them to the woods to dispose of them. The front area looks much less wild now
Then later I noticed a feature about items better made at home than ordered in a restaurant. One was about poaching shrimp in a court bouillon, which I'd never done.
I don't have any white wine but I had the necessary peppercorns, lemon slices, salt and you can use bay leaf but I used curry leaves.
I'd prepared this blog then I got a call from a local friend, to say our longtime mutual friend died Thursday. She'd been sick and we'd been anxiously following her for news recently but it's still a shock.
I went to visit her husband right away and at his request notified other mutual friends and neighbors. She'd requested no services, a quiet private ceremony only. She was in her sixties.
Three of my friends used to plan to be my caregivers in old age. I have now outlived all of them. Please do vibes or prayers or what you do, for her widower and son. Her son has now lost his partner and his mother over just a few weeks.
Not a happy day, more of a getting through it day.
Oh Boud, that is sad news indeed. Sad for her family, and sad for you to outlive yet another longtime friend. That's one of the not-often-talked-about, but difficult, aspects of aging. Bless you for taking over the notifying job so her husband could concentrate on grieving.
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
I just wanted to do something for him, and it was what occurred to me to offer. Done now.
DeleteYes, one of the things that makes me realize I'm old is when people go. So many relatives and friends.
That poor family. Tragic. I’m sure everyone will rally around and help them through this time. The pain will never go away but they will get to a point where they won’t need as much help from family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI feel so much for her widower. Their son lives a couple of hours away, and he lost his partner quite recently. They both, husband and son, depended heavily on my friend's advice and skills.
Delete60s is too young to die.
ReplyDeleteI grate ginger like that too, but peel it first and freeze it in ice cube trays, one teaspoonful per cube.
To me, sixties is like a kid.
DeleteI've usually diced ginger and discarded the peel, but I decided that I don't see a reason not to use it, grated finely, like lemon zest.
I'm so sorry, to be left when a cherished friend or family member dies must be very very sad. I've prayed for all of you, her friends and family.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kirsten. Yes, it's a lonely thing.
DeleteYes, things do get hidden behind doors.."out of sight, out of mind" as they say.
ReplyDeleteIt is satisfying making fresh food ourselves..and realising that we aren't saving that much time or expending too much effort!
Sending good thoughts to them. Losing one family member hurts..but two...
I couldn't really see into the cabinets. They're at floor level and seeing into the back isn't feasible without lying on the floor.
DeleteYou certainly understand about loss, and thank you for your thoughts.
No, not a happy day at all. Any loss is painful, but she was much too young. My heart goes out to her friends and her family.
ReplyDeleteShe was such a friend, great company, and used to say she'd be there for me when I needed care at home. So much younger than I, who knew she'd go first. Her husband is lost. He's very capable of cooking and taking care of himself, that's not new, but he's never been alone till now.
DeleteWe all have big plans, don’t we? My heart is aching for him and for you (and for their son).
DeleteTroubles do pile up for some.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and your friends as you mourn the loss of a dear one.
ReplyDeleteAs we grow older, long-time friends are especially precious and new ones are harder and harder to acquire. Yes, she was much too young.
ReplyDeleteThis friend is one of the links with Handsome Partner. She was our friend, and attended his death bed. So many memories, some very funny.
DeleteCleaning out cabinets when the doors are off is so much more satisfying.... you can actually see what you are up to. Sending sympathy thoughts for the loss of your friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm finding surprising useful things which had been back there in the dark.
DeleteThe comment you left on my post last night worried me so and this morning I came here first to see what the sad news had been.
ReplyDeleteSad indeed, Liz. I am sorry for you and for all of her friends and yes, especially her husband and son. We have so many words for death, for the death of a loved one but "loss" is perhaps the most accurate one there is. One second a person we love who has been and who is a part of our lives, a thread in the very weaving of our existence, is no longer there. They take part of us with them. We never get used to that, do we? It is hard. And we find ourselves at a loss.
I am thinking of you and of your friend's husband and son.
I am sorry for your loss.
Today I'm filled with memories of all kinds of times we had together.
DeleteI'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. We realize that we have to live through so many losses the older we get. I'm glad you could help out her widower.
ReplyDeleteI saw that same article about making restaurant dishes at home. I don't go to a restaurant often anyway...
It was worth reading just to learn about a court bouillon. I'll do that again.
DeleteI need to look out for what I can do for her widower, not easy because he's a very inward person who can know a person for years before responding to their greetings. She carried the social weight for both of them.
I share with all your blog-friends condolences for this loss of a dear friend. We elders expect those younger to continue like we have, for some reason. There's no logic. I enjoyed seeing your post about your industrious cabinet rearranging, as well as the court bullion. I've frequently tossed a bay leaf in with shrimp when boiling, but never tried your poaching method. And this old chicken hasn't used a microplane, and would have to go to YouTube to learn how!
ReplyDeleteI wrote a reply which has now vanished. The gist is: thank you for the condolences.
DeleteAnd I blathered on about microplanes.
I'm sorry for the loss of a friend. Even when expected the loss still strikes hard.
ReplyDeleteExpecting it is different from believing it will really happen.
DeleteDeath comes so suddenly, even when expected. Those left behind have to navigate a path through it
ReplyDeleteSo true. Fortunately the friend who told me simply said I'm talking now with J. He told me H. has died. Simple, direct, no stupid euphemism for died. I'm grateful to her.
DeleteThat microplane looks like a good tool to have.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about your friend. 60s seems so young to me. Comfort to her husband and son.
I think sixties is young, too. Only a few years older than my son.
DeleteKitchen cabinets were tevolutionized when wverything became pull-outs (drawers in my language). I resisted loss of shelf space but was converted when I realuzed how much easier it becomes to get at the things ine would normally push to the back. Not saving the daylilies for cordage then?
ReplyDeleteSlide outs are different from drawers, I think better. I have both, different uses. I also have many bags of foliage for cordage use, not going to run out soon!
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