We are back in New Hampshire and it is cold as well as snowy. With high winds and rain in the middle of the week, then deep freeze and snow squalls on the weekend, we experienced it all. During the big storm we lost another tree. It came down in the woods but it had been slated to be cut down this spring as we knew it was in bad shape. If you look at the trunk of the tree you will see it is coated with mushrooms. This, we were told by our tree person, means the tree was not healthy and needed to be cut down. Mother Nature took care of it for us.

Valentine’s Day Departure

We left Dataw on Monday which was Valentine’s Day. It was a beautiful day and we were sad to say goodbye, especially to Zeus, who had been our raison d’etre for 12 days. We became very good friends. I think he was sad to see us go too. We drove up to Charleston where we met his humans and transferred the car to them and they dropped us off at our hotel. We spent a lovely evening at a local restaurant with a very amusing waitress who kept us laughing all through our dinner. It was not the evening we had envisioned but it worked out just fine and the full moon really added to it. It was beautiful as we walked to our restaurant but I wish I had taken a picture the next morning when we left for the airport at 6:30am and the moon was just setting. It was magnificent.

Update on Jenny Lane

Progress is being made on the laundry/bathroom renovation. This was an extremely busy week with our plumber being here for two days at the beginning of the week. He returned the following day as John had texted him that the ice maker was not hooked up. Mason arrived and hooked it after saying he absolutely could not have John enjoy his evening drink without ice. He is a good man is our Mason. Then Bill, our electrician and his trusty side-kick Steven, were here for two days. I am truly amazed at what they have accomplished. It was not enough to just rework the drain pipes but all the heat pipes had to be raised up so we can install a dropped ceiling. The pipes are in for the shower and the toilet as well as the vanity. We have the design and we have picked out the cabinetry. It will be approximately 12 weeks before we see any of them but that is the way things are now. The electric work was even more complicated, if that is possible, than the plumbing. The main circuit for the sewer pump was redone – out with the old, in with the new and improved – new electric for the washer and dryer, light switches for overhead lights, conduit for the heated floor, and the overhead heater/light/fan installed. The fact that I can look at all the wires and plumbing and actually know what it is all for means I have spent too much time looking at those rooms and asking loads of questions.

This coming week we believe we will have the insulation done and some walls put up. We were patiently waiting for Jason (the insulation person) as his insulation keeps out mice and other critters. It is worth the wait. It is such a small job for him but he said he could squeeze us in. Sometimes I wonder what we did to deserve these folks who go out of their way to make things happen for us. We are looking forward to seeing what Monday and the coming week brings.

Soup Lady Strikes Again

It just seemed like soup weather once again so I got out my favorite recipes and decided on a double batch of Big Batch Adventist Soup – to which I now add a bunch of kale and some shredded chicken to make it considerably heartier. However, I found a new recipe that is definitely a keeper. Next to my favorite Mushroom Soup, I think this one may be a tie. It is pretty easy to make (see the shortcuts I used) and it couldn’t be healthier for you so make up a batch and enjoy it.

Bon-Appetit Green Curry Lentil Soup

Ingredients

4 servings
2 Tbsp. virgin coconut oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped (I used prechopped)
1 1″ piece peeled ginger, finely chopped (I used prechopped)
1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
¼ cup Thai green curry paste
1 medium sweet potato, peeled, cut into ½” cubes (I used prechopped)
¾ cup brown or green lentils (I used red because I had them)
4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (I used a mix of both)
1 13.5-oz. can unsweetened coconut milk, shaken well
4 cups (loosely packed) baby spinach leaves
½ tsp. (or more) fish sauce (be very careful with this, I used a 1/4 tsp)
Small handful cilantro leaves with tender stems and lime wedges (for serving)

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onion, garlic, and ginger; season with salt. Cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent and starts to soften, about 3 minutes. Add curry paste and cook, stirring and scraping bottom of pan constantly, until paste is fragrant and slightly darkened and mixture starts to stick to pan, about 3 minutes.

Step 2

Stir sweet potato and lentils into onion mixture, then add broth and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook soup, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes are cooked through and lentils are tender but not mushy, 20–25 minutes.

Step 3

Add coconut milk to soup; return to a simmer. Add spinach and fish sauce and cook just until spinach is wilted, about 30 seconds. Taste soup and season with more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.

Step 4

Ladle soup into bowls and top with cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.