• 

I started laundry at an ungodly hour this morning. My work room was uneventful and Larry was still asleep.

***

I went out back, while the fog was lifting. It is such a strange time in our lives. I have so much to say and share, but there is to much being said already. I will keep still. When you are 65 years old, people view your opinions as being expendable. I hope beyond hope that I never treated the older people in my life like that. It is disrespectful and degrading.

***

• 

Lion sits on the Green Egg {grill} table. He is very old and has the most wonderful face. I appreciate the things around me. I am honored to be married to Larry and am happy to be experiencing these history making days.

It would be so easy to become grumpy and opinionated now but these are the days to respect and show kindness. It is wonderful to be alive. I have the best friends in the world and Larry is my everything. {Larry, I love and adore you} So, as I get ready to start my day, I send you joy. I send you patience and respect. Today is a beautiful day. Follow your heart and be happy.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Hello. It has been a long time coming. My own knitting channel on YouTube.

I started knitting at the age of 5. Ok, do the math. Sixty years. I also taught knitting for the City’s Park and Recreation department for 20 years…and now, I am going to just share my basic techniques online.

Find the first class below. {I have taped 4 classes so far} I tape my own classes, so please be kind. It takes me awhile to video but it is fun and most of all I hate my voice!

Please grab a skein of yarn and knitting needles. Join me and learn to knit. If you already know how, I will be teaching techniques as I go along.

I’d love for you to join me.

Love you.

Me

AKA Chef Valentine

My husband likes quiche. The way I make quiche. It took me awhile to discover the perfect process. Today I am sharing it. Please be creative and enjoy. It is so easy…..

DIY Quiche Ingredients

1 pre-made uncooked pie crust -sit it out 1 hour prior to baking.

1 cup meat cubed small {cooked ham, steak, salmon, sausage, duck or whatever you have in the fridge} OR a steamed-par cooked veggie. Broccoli, asparagus, or maybe Jalapeno peppers? This can be a meatless dish also.

1/3 cup finely chopped onion {optional}

1 cup cheese (use cheese that pairs well with your protein.

4 large eggs at room temperature

2 cups heavy cream

salt {do not use to much depending on your meat}

pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Put pre-made pie crust in 9″ pie plate. Flute edges and prick all around with a fork.

Bake pie crust for 10 minutes.

While crust is baking, saute meat and onion in a small amount of butter. Take off burner.

Let pie crust rest on counter while preparing quiche filling.

Mix 4 eggs and 2 cups of cream. I use a whisk and whisk it for 4-5 minutes. Add salt, pepper and if you are adventurous, try other spices, like cayenne pepper or fresh thyme.

Time to build your quiche:

Put meat and sauteed onion over bottom of prepared/cooked pie crust.

Sprinkle cheese over meat and onion.

Gently pour egg/heavy cream and spice mixture gently over other ingredients..

Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or till knife comes out clean.

When quiche comes out of the oven, let quiche sit on counter while you prepare your salads, about 10-15 minutes.

Serve with your favorite white wine or I like Ginger Ale with my quiche.

• 

Last night we had a hot dog, cheddar cheese quiche. {left overs from the night before} IT was amazing and Larry keeps talking about how good it was. Have fun making your own version of my quiche…

Love you beyond a dozen eggs.

Me

I am late posting on the blog today. Who really cares? One day is running into another at a speed that I cannot comprehend. It makes me sad. We need to make a memory every day. Isn’t that a law of nature? {smile, please}

My yesterday held a special treat. Jami came to The Cottage! She brought her dogs and we practiced social distancing. It felt like a breath of fresh air…and the dogs! I loved the sweet energy that the dogs brought to the visit.

• 

It was beautiful outside and we visited about so many things. Life as we know it is much different since we sat down to visit last. Then….the visit got crazy. Jami got the pug mask from my work room…..you know the rest. It was a Tolbert moment.

• 

We had not laughed that silly kind of laugh in ages. Even the photo makes me laugh!

• 

Jami brought me one of the new Simplicity mugs and the umbrella to match….. I am using the mug now. Thank you Jami. I loved our visit and my goodies.

I am very late this morning. BECAUSE….my favorite Girl, Matilda invited me to Zoom chat with her. It was awesome.

I learned to ZOOM! {so, who wants to chat with me???} And I taught Matilda how to make paper dolls. We each learned something new. It was a very good morning.

• 

In the photo above, Matilda is holding up her paper dolls. Matilda is so amazing! Granted, making paper dolls is a lost ART, like balancing a check book, setting the dinner table correctly or writing a thank you note. But…what are Grand Mothers for? Grand Mothers unite! Now is the time to teach our quarantined Grandchildren the important things in life.

Make this day lovely……

Love you BEYOND the moon.

Me

• 

I finished knitting a sweater yesterday. All it needs is buttons. The yarn was soft with mohair and the person I made this for is a total sweetheart. I think that I will wrap it up in tissue and mail it to her in a huge bubble envelope. I hope she knows that it was made with love, just for her.

Two days ago, I started a new sweater. The yarn is from a little shop in Paris and I had started a sweater with it last year but disliked it. So, I frogged it and started a new sweater with the Paris yarn. I like how it looks and feels now! Stay tuned for updates.

• 

I now have a knitting channel on YouTube. It is interesting to video myself teaching something I have done for 60 years. Secret: I kind of LOVE it but the video aspect of it is crazy. It takes 5 “takes” to get a good video. (and they are very amateur)

How are YOU doing? Many of my friends are justifiably stressed out now. I do not know what people are thinking….lets all just be KIND ok? Yesterday on the blog, I asked for happy, funny things. ONE person wrote to me.

This Journal is for me. It is my coffee and my morning ritual. Please don’t jack around with me. Read my words but don’t try to change my mind or “fix” what is wrong with my opinion. Thanks. Wink.

Have a wonderful day. Find someone to be kind to and smile often. Life is truly wonderful.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

• 

In this day of COVID-19, life is very different from what it was 5 weeks ago. Larry announced to me this morning that it has now been 4 weeks that we have been sheltered in place.

The week before quarantine, Larry and I had a whole day with Matilda. {our beloved granddaughter} Time with her means very much to me. She is an amazing small person. Smart, funny, creative, kind…the list could go on and on.

Matilda and I have a “date” every other day. She usually calls me and we set an appointment and then, at the special time we will meet online to play a game. It is called TERRARIA.

I am very bad at this “gaming” and I wonder why Matilda is so patient with me. While we play, we have the CHAT open so we can visit, laugh and she can teach me how to play the game.

I took the photo above yesterday. The figure in the white dress is my character named Abby. I know how to chop down trees and use the magic mirror. Matilda is guarded with what she teaches me…she still likes to trick my character and sometimes kill me.

Isn’t life unique and wonderful?

Please be careful and happy. Try not to judge others. We are all just trying to do the best that we can. Lets try Kindness?

Love you beyond online gaming.

Me

• 

He is risen, indeed.

Larry and I wish you Happy Easter and Happy Passover.

Please have a wonderful, thoughtful day and know that we send each of you love.

Toujours,

Robin & Larry