A Friday Buffet
No. 031 A five-star walk and the most gorgeous [long] weekend ahead.
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Hello!
The birds are chirping, the sun is shining oh-so-bright, and Pepper had a wonderfully successful walk in which she didn’t bark at, or jump on, any passerby that we encountered. Hooray! We call that a five-star walk because it’s, well, the first time that has happened in the two weeks since we brought her home. Yay Pepper! To celebrate, she got part of a (dog) cookie and is now sleeping happily by the windows.
The gorgeous weather that’s expected for this long weekend has put a pep in my step (pun intended) and I am just so excited to be outside as much as possible. It’s Memorial Day Weekend and we all deserve some time to relax, unwind, and have lots of successfully peaceful walks.
It’s been a busy week here with work and training Pepper to not bark at every human, animal, or leaf that looks her way; I’d say we are making exceptional progress. She’s so smart, which is helpful, but it also means she doesn’t forget anything and constantly wants to go to her favorite spots on every single walk. That also means we’re all getting between 15K - 20K steps in per day! Wow. I’m thankful for the great weather and the unexpected, constant exercise.
In other Pepper-related news, she’s eating well, loves parading her toys around the house, and has been consistently sleeping through the night. I’m quite pleased we’re no longer getting up before 6am; I shouldn’t even be typing that. I feel like now our luck won’t last. We shall see…
Beyond her eating and sleeping schedule becoming far more organized, we’ve been introducing Pepper to friends and family and she’s thriving! Everyone loves her, she loves everyone, and anyone that greets her with hugs is an immediate favorite. She even met our friend’s adult golden doodle and they had a great time playing together in their fully-fenced backyard. Amazing! I’m currently getting quotes to finish the fence in our yard ASAP. ;)
While our decision to adopt Pepper came at a time I wasn’t expecting, she has been the most fun addition to our home. She’s so joyful, energetic, loving, and all-around happy. What a treat! As a bonus, she has no interest in people food and doesn’t even try to steal popcorn when I drop it on the floor. Win!
This week there was a lot of learning for all of us and a lot of adjustments related to the new member of our household. However, I think we’re making incredible strides in every area. I even managed to sneak out for errands here and there without Pepper seeming to care. It is such a delight having her around, but I do want to keep certain aspects of our life as they once were a couple weeks ago.
In fact, we may even try going out for dinner(!) this weekend for the first time in weeks and leave Pepper to her own devices. She’ll be fine, right? ;)
Speaking of eating…
Oh, were you wondering if I’d ever talk about food again? Well, lucky you! Seth is home so we’ve actually been cooking! Well, he does the cooking. I do the planning, shopping, and photography.
Keep reading for three great [gluten free] dinners we enjoyed (devoured) this week. :)
Egg Roll in a Bowl - We love this delicious, weeknight staple from All the Healthy Things. It comes together quickly, has terrific flavor, and can easily be made with the protein of your choice. This time around we used ground pork - yum!
Open-face Cheesesteak Sandwich - One of my favorite sandwiches ever (truly), this cheesesteak was ridiculously good. American cheese, peppers and onions, mushrooms, and a hearty pile of shaved steak. Served on a GF baguette, which was basically acting like a plate, this sandwich was messy and marvelous. Roasted potatoes on the side for an ultimate comfort-food dinner.
Broccoli and Chicken Meatball Pesto Pasta - On a whim I decided it was a pesto night so we put together another go-to for a hearty, fairly healthy pasta dish. GF linguine (I love the fresh GF pasta from Taste Republic), Bear Pond Farm basil pesto, broccoli, and homemade Italian chicken meatballs. Scrumptious! Don’t forget plenty of fresh, grated Parmesan on top. ;) This meal makes for excellent lunch leftovers, too.
A Buffet for Today: 5/26/2023
A moment for the legendary Tina Turner. Her music was superb and ‘Proud Mary’ will be a forever favorite worthy of dancing from the first beat to the last.
Make sure you’re caught up on Succession before the series finale this Sunday…
Not sure we’ll need one, but Pepper may need a jacket.
Treated myself to the Clare V Flat Clutch for the summer and I’m already thinking a second color may be necessary. Add a Shortie Strap to make it even easier to carry.
I saw someone on Instagram highly recommend the J.Crew Cropped Cashmere Crewneck and now I’m debating between all of the colors.
I love every idea on this Summer Checklist. Relaxing - it’s good for everyone!
Planning to eat on the deck as often as possible; most likely with White Chicken Chili Corn Dip.
Wait, this Summer Simple Tote is a great option, too. Clare V has excellent handbags of all shapes and sizes.
Dreaming of bar seats at Faccia a Faccia. One of my must-go spots in Boston if you’ve never been!
Cheers and joy. Have a wonderful long weekend!
Mollie
