Dirt:Poor Little Me

I have a confession to make. I sat in bed last week and cried my eyes out. I was sharing with my husband how lonely I am. Truly lonely. Like when I moved to town and had no friends. This was a hard burden to share.  After all, it is one of my own creation.

The truth is, my life revolves and has for some time around my girls. Friends were made with them as the common link. Now, everyone, including me is busy with teenagers and helicoptering.  We are getting them out the door and ready to leave the nest, leaving little time for ourselves. Most of my girlfriends are in the same boat, I think. Or maybe it is just me.

I have a solitary job. I have solitary hobbies and I am turning into a solitary person. I am reverting to my natural introverted self and it is depressing.  The solitary life  burden bore the proverbial straw the other night with an offhand comment by my husband, meant to be funny.

I am swimming in self pity right now and it is starting to feel pretty selfish. Getting it out of the darkness of my interior conversations and into the light felt pretty good.

What am I to do?

Not really sure. Poor me.

Dirt: Weird

Hope your weekend was lovely. Mine was rushed, but very good. I cleaned my house, drove to Murfreesboro to see my sisters and then had  Steve's college roommate here for 24 hours.

Seeing my sisters is always great. However, this time was so rushed, I really felt discombobulated after.. My sister had her house decorated for the holidays already. Literally, Santa was waiting when I walked into the door.   I am a firm believer that our country is going to hell in a hand basket and skipping Thanksgiving is the finest example of this. But whatever floats  your boat.

1975 or 1976 Christmas

Cooking: Easy Peasy and Some Bragging

These are some pictures from a hike that was recently taken. Yes, the dog climbs ladders. If you have met our dog, you know he is a freak. The fall here in Chattanooga is absolutely glorious this year. These were taken two weeks ago and now the colors are amazing!

Cooking: Still in Pjs!

Oh yes! Stayed in PJ's until 7 pm yesterday! Then I took a shower and put a fresh pair on! Not a step outside and not a brush to my hair.

I went through all of the upstairs closets yesterday. And the game cabinet. And the linen closet. 6 garbage bags later, I am feeling a little better. Today, I hit the office, downstairs linen closet and the kitchen.

I am so tired of my house being a wreck because no one can put their crap away. So, I am decrapping the house. I plan on donating all our crap to Teen Challenge  ( I know someone who went through their program and it worked) and calling it a day.

Still coughing like a lunatic, so I am in a hybrid of workout pants and pjs. Ellie and Steve went hiking and though I wanted to go, I knew that I would never kick this cough if I did not stay home. I will however, venture out to return something and get some groceries. People have to eat!

I have two inspirations this week for food. Dinner A Love Story is always my go to blog and cookbook for recipes that work. If you have not read that blog, go now. If you don't have the first book, get it now. I am asking for the second for Christmas.  The second inspiration is a book I just read (The Quaker Cafe). The book itself was a step above beach read in topic, but about that heavy.  However, one of the characters eats a sweet potato every day because she thinks it is better than an apple a day for health. I plan on roasting a few and taking them to work.


This week is not different than any other. Swim meet, math competition, choir rehearsal and work. Just like all the other working parents and kids in the country, we are all over the place.  I hope you are bundled up and enjoying the sunshine.

This dog is glad it is November...not so hot!

Casa Swann Happy November Menu

• Asian Shredded Chicken Salad (Steve is smoking two chickens on Sunday)/Asian Salad/Grilled Salmon Burgers
• Veggie Loaded Fried Rice (swim meet night, rice will be made Sunday)
• Magic Pork Tenderloin/ Sweet potatoes/ Kale and Parmesan Salad
• Tortilla Soup/ Chicken

Cooking: No Halloween and two recipes

Holy Smokes! It is FREEZING! We had a mini version of Halloween last night. One kid is out of town the other is grounded, so no parties or trick or treating for us. We did give out candy and then about the time the polar vortex hit, shut off the porch light and called it a night.

Warm day  a few weeks ago when I hiked to Lula Lake on Lookout Mountain

Delaney was supposed to row in the nation's largest regatta this weekend. However, she had already committed to a Model UN conference and had to choose on or the other (in September, mind you). She chose her first commitment and wisely, it turns out. They canceled the event she would have rowed in and now it looks like the whole Head of the Hooch is going to be canceled. That stinks as people come from all over the world for this weekend.