We have had a great week in South Carolina. The weather has been perfect for walking outside and even a little bit of sun bathing. We head back to New Hampshire on Tuesday after spending a night in Charleston. It has been quite a week. Some of it sad but most of it has been good. A dear friend became quite ill and died unexpectedly. However being able to help a little with the family and offer condolences in person was healing. We saw a lot of our friends and had good visits and catch ups with everyone.
Update on Jenny Lane
This week was dedicated to the plumber. He came in and reworked all the temporary plumbing and installed the drains for the sinks and the shower and the laundry room. The room still looks rough by any standards but it is beginning to look like it might be something soon. The new window was installed in the bathroom which is providing a great deal more light in that area. The little window will be moved after the insulation goes in. We are anxious to get back to see the progress for ourselves.
Walking and More Walking
I made the most of my time here and got out for a 5+ mile walk every day. It was glorious and the weather cooperated beautifully. Sometimes with a friend and other times on my own when I would actually do the audio prompts from the Peloton app. They were good motivators. It usually took me two 45 minute classes to get around the island and back. A couple of mornings I woke up early and saw the most perfect sunrises. Certainly makes you want to leap out of bed and get the day going when it looks like this.
Today, I was sitting and reading on the couch and I heard a lot of splashing coming from the water. Zeus (the dog) and I went rushing out to find a dolphin feeding between our dock and the one next door. We watched him for quite awhile just going back and forth and a Great Blue Heron watched carefully along with us. Zeus barked at him but it had no effect on the dolphin. It made my visit complete. I kept scanning the marsh to see if they were around and had resigned myself to the fact that it was probably too cold for them here so they had gone to Florida. So happy I was wrong.
Valentine’s Dinner
John and I joined friends for a Valentine’s Dinner at the Pub on Saturday night. I was so impressed with my appetizer. It was a crab cake served so it looked like it was in a net. It was delicious. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the special treatment by the staff from the folded napkins that looked like roses to the superb meal and a rose for the ladies at the end.
A Recipe to Share
One of my most favorite foods when I am in the south is Pickled Shrimp. When I’m not in my own kitchen we buy it from a local spot that makes home made food almost as good as our own. So we did that a couple of times this week. There is quite a story about it and part of the story is that Pat Conroy said “When I die, I fully expect all the shrimp in Beaufort to be pickled that day.” He was known for taking pickled shrimp to the homes of friends when a person in their family died. Here is the recipe if you would like to try it yourself.
Pickled Shrimp
(from The Pat Conroy Cookbook: Recipes and Stories of my Life by Pat Conroy)
1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion
4 bay leaves, crushed
1 (2-ounce) bottle capers, drained and coarsely chopped
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup cider vinegar
½ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1 teaspoon coarse or kosher salt
1 teaspoon celery seeds
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 pounds large (21-25 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
Mix all ingredients except shrimp in a large heatproof glass or ceramic bowl. In a medium stockpot over high heat, bring 4 quarts abundantly salted water to a rolling boil. Add the shrimp and cook until just pink, about 2 minutes. (The shrimp will continue to “cook” in the marinade.) Drain and immediately transfer to the marinade. Bring to room temperature, cover tightly, and marinate overnight in refrigerator. Transfer shrimp and marinade to a glass serving compote or bowl. Serve chilled.
